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Showing posts from January, 2023

Budget 2023: Key points announced by FM Nirmala Sitharaman so far.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday presented the Union Budget 2023, the last Budget of Modi 2.0 before General Elections 2024. This is the first budget of the "Amrit Kaal", she said during her speech. She said that budget 2023 hopes to build on the foundation of the previous budget and blueprint for India at 100. The growth of the country at 7 per cent in FY23 will be the highest among all the major economies in the world. Here are the key points FM Sitharaman has announced so far: Under PM Kisan Yojana, the Centre has made cash transfers of Rs 2.2 trillion so far. "The country is far more formalised now", FM said.  There have been 96 million of new LPG connections, 2.2 billion Covid-19 vaccinations for 1.02 billion people and 478 million of new Jan Dhan accounts.  In line with its commitment to ensuring food security, the Centre has implemented PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana from January 1, 2023, a scheme to supply free food grain to all Antyo

G20 to strengthen India’s role in world economic order: FM Sitharaman.

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New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the G20 Presidency has given a unique opportunity to strengthen India’s role in the world economic order. “We are steering an ambitious people-centric agenda to address global challenges and facilitate sustainable economic development,” she said while presenting the Union Budget in Parliament Wednesday. “The Indian economy has increased in size from being tenth to 5th largest in the world in the last nine years. We have made significant progress in many SDGs, the economy has become a lot more formalised, efficient implementation of schemes has brought about inclusive development,” she said.

US to train Indian astronauts, cooperate on planetary defence.

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New York: The US will provide advanced training for an Indian astronaut and the two countries will cooperate on planetary defence against dangerous asteroids and comets, according to the White House. Strengthening cooperation in human space flight through an exchange that includes advanced training for an Indian astronaut at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, was among the initiatives launched at the inaugural meeting of the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in Washington Tuesday, the White House said. National Security Advisers (NSA) Ajit Doval of India and Jake Sullivan of the US led the iCET meeting at which space, scientific, defence and commerce officials participated.

Budget 2023: Made cash transfer of Rs 2.2 lakh crore under PM-KISAN scheme, says Nirmala Sitharaman.

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The government made cash transfer of Rs 2.2 lakh crore under the PM-KISAN scheme, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday. Presenting the last full Budget of the second term of the BJP-led NDA government ahead of the general elections in 2024, she said the mission of the government is to achieve knowledge-driven economy. She further said Indian economy has become more formalised as witnessed by significant enhancement in digital payments. Institutional credit in agriculture sector grew as much as Rs 18.6 lakh crore in FY22 from Rs 15.8 lakh crore in FY21.

Budget 2023: Provided free foodgrains to 80 crore poor people; no one went hungry during pandemic, says Nirmala Sitharaman.

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The government ensured that no one went hungry during the pandemic by providing free foodgrains to 80 crore poor people, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday. In times of global challenges, G-20 presidency gives an opportunity to strengthen India's role in the global order, she added.

Budget 2023-24 hopes to build on foundation of previous budget, blue print for India@100: FM Nirmala Sitharaman.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said the Budget for 2023-24 hopes to build on the foundation of the previous budget and blue print for India@100. This is the first Budget in Amrit Kaal, she said. This is the last full Budget of the second term of the BJP-led NDA government ahead of the general elections in 2024. Sitharaman is presenting her fifth full Budget after she took over as Finance Minister in July 2019.

Joe Biden believed to have invited PM Modi for state visit to US.

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US President Joe Biden is understood to have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state visit this summer, PTI has learnt. The invitation has been accepted in principle and officials on both sides are now working on mutually convenient dates, according to multiple sources, who noted that it is currently in the early stages of logistical planning.

G20 calls for global support to improve debt situation.

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Chandigarh, January 31 As the world economy struggles to come out of a pandemic slump, the call for global cooperation was a major item on the agenda of the first International Financial Architecture Working Group two-day meeting of G20 which concluded today in Chandigarh. The meeting was co-chaired by France and South Korea. The Indian presidency was represented in the meeting by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and the RBI.

Nitish should stop making people of Bihar suffer: Ravi Shankar Prasad.

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying that he should stop making the people of Bihar "suffer" due to his governance. Talking to ANI, the BJP leader said, "Bihar CM Nitish Kumar used to say that I will die but not form a coalition with Tejashwi Yadav. He must stop making the people of Bihar suffer due to his governance." "The people of Bihar have decided to vote for BJP, and riding on that we will win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and 2025 Vidhan Sabha elections by big margins," he added. Earlier on Sunday, BJP MP Sushil Modi said that there will be "no coalition" with Janata Dal (United) in the future as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has become a "liability" now. Talking to reporters here on Sunday, the former Bihar Deputy CM said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, Home Minister Amit Shah and all senior leaders have made it very clear that

'Fearless, decisive' government ensuring development: Prez Murmu.

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President Droupadi Murmu with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi proceeds to address the joint sitting of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget Session, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore New Delhi: The Budget Session of Parliament began on Tuesday with President Droupadi Murmu’s address to a joint sitting of both Houses at Central Hall. This was her first address in Parliament after taking the oath as the country’s President. In her maiden address, President Murmu talked about the efforts made by the government to improve the quality of life of India’s people due to which “every Indian’s confidence is at its peak and the world’s outlook towards India has changed”. She thanked people for electing a stable government for two consecutive terms and said the country has a government that was “stable, fearless, decisive”, giving a thrust to “virasat” (heritage) as we

Union Budget 2023-24: BJP to Hold Nationwide Campaign to Highlight Pro-People Measures.

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New Delhi: The BJP will start a 12-day nationwide campaign on Wednesday to make people aware of the "pro-people" measures announced in the Union Budget, party leaders said. The campaign that will begin the day the budget is presented in Parliament will be coordinated by senior BJP leader Sushil Modi and it will conclude on February 12, they said. BJP president JP Nadda has formed a task force comprising nine members, including party general secretary Sunil Bansal and heads of its farmer and youth wings, to organise discussions, press conferences or seminars on the Union Budget in all districts of the country, they said. A day after the Union Budget is presented in Parliament, chief ministers of all BJP-ruled states, as part of the campaign, will hold press conferences, party leaders said, adding that in states where the party is not in power, BJP unit heads and leaders of opposition in the assembly will hold press conferences. In 50 major cities of the country, mi

India, US launch iCET, elevate strategic partnership: White House.

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India and the United States have elevated their strategic partnership with the launch of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology or iCET, the White House said as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met his US counterpart Jake Sullivan here. "We are committed to fostering an open, accessible, and secure technology ecosystem, based on mutual trust and confidence, that will reinforce our democratic values and democratic institutions," the White House in a fact sheet following the conclusion of the iCET inaugural meeting between Doval and Sullivan on Tuesday.

Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE rename Dubai's ‘Al Minhad’ as 'Hind City'.

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On Sunday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, renamed the Al Minhad area and its surroundings as 'Hind City'. The Hind city is connected through crucial roadways such as Emirates Road, Dubai-Al Ain Road, and Jebel Ali-Lehbab Road, and the city is divided into four zones, namely Hind 1, Hind 2, Hind 3, and Hind 4, spread over an area of 83.9km.

Indian Economy To Grow 6.5% Next Fiscal Year: Economic Survey

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New Delhi, Jan 31: India’s economy is projected to slow to 6.5 per cent in the fiscal year starting April but will remain the fastest growing major economy in the world as it fared better in dealing with the extraordinary set of challenges the globe has faced, the Economic Survey 2022-23 said on Tuesday. India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.5 per cent in 2023-24 compares with an estimated 7 per cent expansion in current fiscal year (April 2022 to March 2023) and 8.7 per cent in the previous year. Like the rest of the world, India too faced an extraordinary set of challenges in tightening financial conditions and supply chain disruptions from a prolonged war in Europe but “withstood them better than most economies”, the annual document detailing the state of the economy said. The survey tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, stated that India is the world’s third largest economy in PPP (purchasing power parity) terms and fifth largest in ter

My Govt Has Been Recognised As Decisive One: President Murmu.

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NEW DELHI, Jan 31: In her first address to Parliament as President, Draupadi Murmu on Tuesday expressed her gratitude to citizens for electing a stable government for two consecutive terms and said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has been identified as a decisive government. “My government always kept the country’s interest paramount, showed the will to completely change the policy-strategy,” she said in her pre-budget address to a joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in Central Hall of Parliament today. “From the surgical strikes to the tough crackdown on terrorism, from the LoC to the LAC, from the abrogation of Article 370 to the triple talaq, my government has been recognised as a decisive government,” President Murmu said. In her maiden address to the Parliament, President Droupadi Murmu expressed her gratitude to the citizens. “Wherever there is political instability anywhere in the world, those countries are surrounded by a massive crisis. But

IIT Madras techies develop indigenous hyperloop.

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Since 2018, engineers from IIT Madras have been working on a hyperloop project called 'Avishkar'. The team have now partnered with a tech startup called TuTr Hyperloop to build India’s first cargo hyperloop system. The Avishkar project will be further developed for commercialization with help from TuTr Hyperloop. For this purpose, a 400-meter test track with a 2-meter diameter will be constructed at the new Discover Campus at Thaiyur, near Chennai. It will be the largest hyperloop test facility in the world. In the first phase of its operation, the hyperloop will be carrying cargo. The teams are in talks with authorities to explore opportunities to install the system at the Chennai port and airport. The cargo version is expected to achieve speeds of around 100-250 km/h, while the inter-city passenger version is expected to reach over 600 km/h. Hyperloop is a high-speed transportation system that uses magnetic propulsion to accelerate pods through a tube. The vacuum

Two new Vande Bharat trains from Mumbai; PM Modi may flag off the services on Feb 10.

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Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to flag off two more Vande Bharat Express trains from Mumbai on February 10. The new Vande Bharat express trains will be from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) station to Shirdi and Solapur. An official confirmation by the Railways about the launch is expected to arrive soon. Prime Minister will be reaching Mumbai in February for the opening of the Dawoodi Bohra community’s Arabic Academy in Andheri East. According to reports, the launch is scheduled to take place at 3 pm on February 10 and the inaugural run from CSMT to Shirdi and Solapur to CSMT will also take place on the same day. This will be the first time a state getting two intra-state intra-state Vande Bharat express.

"Ain't Switzerland...": Nagaland Minister Shares Arunachal Resort's Pics

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New Delhi: Nagaland minister Temjen Imna is known for his sharp sense of humour. He keeps his fans and followers informed with interesting and important updates on the Northeast region. On Saturday, Temjen Imna shared photographs of a resort in Arunachal Pradesh's Anini comparing it with popular tourist destinations such as Switzerland and Kashmir. Mr Imna also asked Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu to invite him to the neighbouring state. "This ain't Switzerland nor Kashmir! This is the newly completed Chighu Resort at Anini, Arunachal Pradesh. Such a wonderful site! Isn't it? @PemaKhanduBJP Ji when are you inviting me ? To visit, contact: https://arunachaltourism.com," he tweeted sharing the pictures.

Tripura 2023: How Deft Manoeuvrings By BJP Stumped Tribal Party Led By Royal Scion.

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The BJP has trumped tribal party Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA), also known as ‘Tipra Motha’ by dramatically resurrecting its ties with the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT).  The Tipra Motha was expecting the IPFT to enter into an alliance with it or merge with it since both the tribal parties share the common goal of carving out a separate Tipraha state for tribals. The IPFT fought the 2018 Assembly elections in the state in alliance with the BJP and won eight seats. But over the past two years, as the Tipra Motha captured the imagination of the tribals and started gaining strength, the IPFT suffered loss of hundreds of its workers and functionaries to the Tipra Motha. 

Mumbai’s Upcoming Coastal Road, 70 Per Cent Project Complete.

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The upcoming coastal road project between Princess Street Flyover and Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL) in Mumbai has reached 70 per cent completion level. “Progress status of Coastal Road Project (South part) being implemented by BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) from princess street flyover to BWSL, 70 per cent work completed,” MD of Mumbai Metro corporation Ashwini Bhide tweeted. Once completed, the ambitious 10.58-km-long coastal road project (phase 1) will add an 8.5 km long and 20-metre wide sea promenade to the city between Priyadarshini Park at Napean Sea Road and the Worli side of the Bandra Worli Sea Link. The first phase of the coastal road is being built by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) at an estimated cost of Rs 12,500 crores to speed up the suburban commute to and from South Mumbai. The project is to be constructed in two phases. The second phase involves connecting Bandra Sea Link to Kandivali Junction. Work on this stretch is yet to commence

India ‘Shining’ Brightly, Shows ISRO Report:

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Did the electrification of nearly three crore households in India since 2017, under the Saubhagya scheme, and the construction of almost 50,000 km of national highways since 2014 contribute to the increase of 43% in Night Time Lights (NTL) in India over the past decade? Two senior government officials told News18 that these could have been major factors with electricity, and specifically LED bulbs under the Ujala scheme, reaching every household, and the lit-up national and state highways contributing to India shining bright in the luminosity data analyzed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The data is often considered an indicator of the growing economic activity and for assessment of developmental patterns which can be co-related with infrastructure development, says the ISRO report on the decadal-trend analysis carried out by the Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).

‘Information war…’: Russian foreign minister slams BBC documentary on PM Modi.

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Russia on Monday attacked the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over its documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has triggered a massive controversy both in India and abroad. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov's spokesperson has accused the UK broadcaster of waging an information war not only against Russia but against other countries following an independent policy, ANI reported. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that it is yet another evidence of BBC waging an information war on different fronts - not only against Russia, but also against other global centers of power pursuing an independent policy" the spokesperson said.

Dronacharya Desh Prem Azad Sports Invitational Trophy for U-19 boys to be held in Mohali.

First edition of Dronacharya Desh Prem Azad Sports Invitational Trophy for U-19 boys to be held in Mohali from Jan 30 to Feb 12 

Women's T20I Tri-Series , India vs West Indies.

South Africa Women's T20I Tri-Series , India vs West Indies 6th Match, at East London, South Africa at 6:30 PM  

Khelo India Youth Games opening ceremony to begin at Bhopal ,Madhya Pradesh

Khelo India Youth Games opening ceremony to begin at Bhopal ,Madhya Pradesh 

Sarva-Dharma Prarthana to be held at Gandhi Samadhi, Rajghat,New Delhi.

On occasion of 75nd Death Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi & Martyr’s Day Ceremony, a Sarva-Dharma Prarthana to be held at Gandhi Samadhi, Rajghat,New Delhi at 9:45 AM  

Delhi High Court to hear pleas by JNU student Sharjeel Imam 2020 riots case.

Delhi High Court to hear together two separate pleas by JNU student Sharjeel Imam seeking regular bail and interim bail in connection with a 2020 riots case involving allegations of sedition 

GCPAS MAHE to organise a three-day cultural festival, Amrit Yuva Kalotsav.

Sangeet Natak Akademi & Gandhian Centre for Philosophical Arts & Sciences (GCPAS), MAHE to organise a three-day cultural festival, Amrit Yuva Kalotsav, to commemorate the 75 years of Independence in Manipal from Jan 30 to Feb 1 

G20, 1st International Financial Architecture Working Group Meeting to begin at Chandigarh.

Two-day, G20, 1st International Financial Architecture Working Group Meeting to begin at Chandigarh; Union Agriculture Minister Tomar & Food Processing Industries Minister Paras to inaugurate meeting   

Budget session of Parliament, beginning Jan 31.

Ahead of Budget session of Parliament, beginning Jan 31, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde to convene a meeting of 48 state MPs in Mumbai to discuss a slew of issues to be taken up with Centre  

Meenakshi Lekhi on a two-day official visit to Greece.

Union MoS Meenakshi Lekhi to be on a two-day official visit to Greece , MoS to hold discussions with Greek Ministers of Foreign Affairs & Culture 

Nitin gadkari to inaugurate conference on ‘Future of Mobility.

Union Road Transport & Highways Minister to inaugurate conference on ‘Future of Mobility: India’s Journey Towards Net Zero’ organized by FICCI via video conferencing at 11 A.M 

Amit Shah to inaugurate S.G.M.L Eye hospital in Ujjain.

Union Home & Cooperation Minister Amit Shah to inaugurate S.G.M.L Eye hospital in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh through video conferencing 

Pralhad Joshi to brief media after meeting with leaders of Political Parties.

Union Parliamentary Affairs, Coal & Mines, Minister  Pralhad Joshi to brief media after meeting with floor leaders of Political Parties in Parliament at Room No. G-074, Parliament Library Building, New Delhi. 

All-party meeting ahead of Budget Session.

Government  to  call an all-party meeting on ahead of Budget Session of Parliament  at Parliament House Complex New Delhi at 12 PM  

BCCI announces ₹5 crore prize money for Team India, support staff for winning ICC Women's U-19 T20 World Cup.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced a prize money of ₹5 crore for the Indian team and support staff members for winning the ICC Women's U-19 T20 World Cup. India crushed England by 7 wickets in the final at the Senwes Park in Potchefstroom to win the inaugural edition of the tournament.

Madhya Pradesh: CM Chouhan extends greetings on Narmada Jayanti.

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Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan extended his greetings on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti to the citizens of the state and the country. According to the Hindu Calendar, Narmada Jayanti is observed annually on Shukla Paksha Saptami in Magha month. It is believed that the Narmada river originates from Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh on this day. The devotees worship Narmada river on the occasion and it brings peace and prosperity to their lives.

Bhopal: MP to make presentation on rural tourism at G-20 meet in Gujarat.

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Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A presentation on rural tourism in Madhya Pradesh will be made at the Tourism Working Group meeting of G-20 to be held in Rann of Kutch in Gujarat from February 7-10. A side-event themed on Rural Tourism for Community Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation will be organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India on February 7. The side event also has a session to showcase India's rural tourism cases.In the session, participants have been invited to share innovations and experiences on the projects run under Responsible Tourism Mission of Madhya Pradesh. Besides MP, only Kerala has been invited for the presentation. Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Sheo Shekhar Shukla said, 'It is a matter of great pleasure that a presentation on rural tourism will be made at the G-20 working group meeting. Rural tourism has a great potential for economic development, social transformation and inclusive community participation.”

Senior Army Officer Reviews Security Situation Along LoC In J&K’s Rajouri, Poonch.

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JAMMU, Jan 29: Army’s 16 Corps Commander Lt Gen Sandeep Jain visited different sectors along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri and Poonch and reviewed the overall security situation, officials said on Sunday. Lt Gen Jain, the General Officer Commanding of Jammu-based 16 Corps, nicknamed as White Knight Corps, visited Naushera, Bhimber Gali, Poonch and Krishna Ghati sectors and interacted with the troops, the officials said. The officials said Lt Gen Jain appreciated the high standards of professional excellence and operational preparedness during his interaction with the troops on the ground. Army and other security forces are on high alert in the twin districts to scuttle infiltration attempts from across the border and neutralize the terrorists involved in the recent attacks in the Jammu region. Seven persons were killed and 14 others injured when terrorists attacked Dhangri village on January 1. Two terrorists were killed when they tried to infiltrate fr

Rashtrapati Bhavan's Amrit Udyan to open for public from January 31.

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Rashtrapati Bhavan's Mughal Garden has been renamed Amrit Udyan. The iconic garden is all set to open for the public from January 31 as President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday inaugurated Udyan Utsav-2023, the opening of the Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens. The gardens are open to the public once a year. This year, it will remain open for visitors from January 31 to March 26 between 10 am and 4 pm. However, it will remain closed on all Mondays and on March 1 and 2 (G20 meetings) and March 8 (Holi). Among other things, visitors will be able to see specially cultivated tulips of 12 unique varieties which are expected to bloom in phases. This time, the gardens -- Herbal Garden, Bonsai Garden, Central Lawn, Long Garden and Circular Garden -- will be open to the public for about two months.

Indian Army has advantage over PLA on border, says former Army chief General Naravane.

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New Delhi: Former Army chief General MM Naravane has said that India’s military, for the first time, enjoys an advantage on the Sino-Indian border vis-Ć -vis China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLC). “We should negotiate the (Sino-Indian) border with China from that position of advantage,” a Business Standard report quoted him as saying while addressing a New Delhi-based think-tank Foundation for Non-Violent Alternatives (FNVA) at the release of its new report ‘Resetting India’s Tibet Policy 2022’. Between January 2019 and April 2022, under the leadership of Naravane, the Indian Army experienced border unrest as the PLA made incursions into Indian territory at many locations in Eastern Ladakh.

Andhra Pradesh: Construction Of Visakhapatnam’s New International Airport At Bhogapuram To Begin Within Five Months.

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The upcoming greenfield international airport at Bhogapuram in northern Andhra Pradesh is located 45 km from Visakhapatnam and 25 km from Vizianagaram. Initially the airport will be built by GMR Group to serve six million passengers per annum and it will be scaled up based on passenger traffic growth.

J&K govt creates 1,569 posts for transfer to Ladakh.

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Srinagar, Jan 27: The J&K government on Friday ordered creation of 486 posts, 104 Gazetted and 382 Non-Gazetted for transfer to Ladakh. Besides, it ordered creation of 1083 posts of Teacher (Grade-II/III), in applicable Pay Levels as per the relevant Recruitment Rules for transfer to Ladakh, with immediate effect. Cumulatively 1569 posts have been created by the government.   The order by the government is in with the apportionment of Assets, Liabilities and Posts of the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir between the Union Territory of J&K and UT of Ladakh.

Meat Stalls Banned Within 10 Km Of Bangalore Aero India Show Venue.

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Bengaluru: The Bengaluru civic body on Friday ordered closure of meat stalls, non-vegetarian hotels and restaurants from January 30 till February 20, in view of the Aero India Show. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in its public notice said that there will be prohibition on serving and sale of non-vegetarian dishes within 10 km of the Yelahanka Air Force Station. The Aero India Show will be conducted from February 13 to 17.

Rs 620 Crore Facelift Of Ayodhya Railway Station.

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The project to redevelop and model the Ayodhya railway station building along the lines of the under-construction Ram Mandir has entered its second phase. RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited), a Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, has invited bids for the Phase- 2 work of the station. The holy land of faith, devotion and spirituality, Lord Ram’s birthplace Ayodhya has been the focal point of the devotion and faith since ages. The place attracts innumerable devotees from all over the country.

Raja Chari, NASA astronaut nominated as US Air Force Brigadier General.

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US President Joe Biden nominated Indian American astronaut Raja J Chari as Indian Air Force's brigadier general. The nomination was announced on Thursday and will have to be confirmed by the Senate. As per the US defence department, the Senate approves all senior civilian and military appointments. Colonel Chari, 45, has been nominated for the appointment to the grade of Brigadier General. It is a one-star General Officer rank of the United States Air Force, just above Colonel and below Major General.

Arunachal showcases tourism potential at R-Day parade.

NEW DELHI, 27 Jan: Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday showcased its tourism potential at the Republic Day parade here. The tableau of the state displayed the potential for tourism in the fields of adventure, sports, ecology, culture, religion, history and archaeology. Arunachal is strategically located in the eastern-most part, sharing boundaries with Bhutan, China and Myanmar. The tractor portion of the tableau depicted the Donyi Polo airport entrance gate and the state bird hornbill, amidst lush green landscape adorned by orchids.

India-US ties is of great importance to us: Biden admin ahead of NSA Ajit Doval's visit.

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India is an important partner of choice for the United States, said the Biden Administration ahead of the crucial visit of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Ajit Doval is scheduled to visit the US for talks with the top American leadership, including his counterpart Jake Sullivan. “India is an important partner of choice for the United States in a number of spaces, and that includes trade cooperation,” State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel was quoted by PTI as saying.

Isro’s latest rocket to carry US company’s satellite.

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BENGALURU: Isro's latest rocket, Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), is all set for launch with the space agency aiming for an early February launch carrying three payloads. While the main payload will be an Earth observation satellite - the EOS-7 - the mission is also expected to launch Janus-1 from US firm Antaris and a third payload from a domestic player.

Karnataka allows pre-university courses in schools from next academic year.

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In a bid to boost the quality of education at the school level, the Karnataka government has allowed pre-university courses (PUC) from next academic year. The PUC courses will be offered in the state government-run residential schools. "Start the Pre-University Colleges from next year in those schools which have completed 10 years and the students are in 10th standard," Bommai said after inaugurating 'Science Expo-2023' of the Karnataka Residential Education Institution Society (KREIS) at the Palace Grounds here. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that all residential schools will also have to conduct competitive examinations so that students are prepared for challenges once they complete their education and go out in search of jobs.

Indian-Origin Professor To Lead "Best And Brightest" Scientists In US's Texas.

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Houston: Ganesh Thakur, an Indian-origin professor in the US, has been appointed as the vice president of the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology (TAMEST), an organisation that brings the state's top scientists and researchers to advance research, innovation and business in Texas. The TAMEST board of directors on Tuesday appointed Dr Thakur, a Distinguished Professor of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Houston (UH), vice president alongside Brendan Lee, who will serve as the president. Originally from Jharkhand, Dr Thakur is the first UH faculty member to lead TAMEST.

US demonstrates its military might in Beijing's backyard.

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Over a few hours under grey skies, dozens of combat planes and helicopters roar on and off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Nimitz, in a demonstration of US military power in some of the world's most hotly contested waters. MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and F/A-18 Hornet jets bearing pilot call signs like "Fozzie Bear", "Pig Sweat" and "Bongoo" emit deafening screams as they land in the drizzle on the Nimitz, which is leading a carrier strike group that entered the South China Sea two weeks ago.

INDIA’S G20 PRESIDENCY | KU among 15 institutions in country to host Youth-20 events.

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Srinagar: With India assuming the Presidency of the G-20 Group of countries, the University of Kashmir (KU) would be among the 15 premier academic institutions in the country to represent the nation in hosting the prestigious Youth-20 events. The Y20 events are being held in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision that calls upon the country to present its experiences, learnings, and models as possible templates for others, particularly the developing world, during India’s G20 Presidency. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chancellor of J&K universities, has called for an active participation of educational institutions in the G20 meeting to be held in J&K and asked the universities to conduct seminars and discussions on the G20 conference. KU Vice Chancellor, Prof Nilofer Khan said that it was an honour for KU to be part of the Youth-20 events being held under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), a statement

ISRO Likely to Launch the Second Batch of OneWeb's 36 satellites in March This Year.

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The second lot of 36 satellites belonging to the UK-based Network Access Associated Ltd (OneWeb) will be launched by an Indian rocket sometime in March 2023. "The OneWeb satellites are slated for launch during the first or second week of March by our rocket," an official of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS. Meanwhile, OneWeb on Wednesday said the 36 satellites are on their way to India.

First woman IPS officer from Himachal awarded President's Police Medal.

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The first woman IPS officer from Himachal Pradesh, Satwant Atwal Trivedi, has been awarded the President’s Police Medal for distinguished service, according to an official statement. Trivedi, a 1996-batch officer, is currently posted as the additional director general of police (ADGP) in the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau. She also holds the distinction of being the first woman IPS officer in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Border Security Force (BSF) and is known for raising her voice on issues related to women in uniform.

Govt to sell 30 lakh tonnes of wheat in open market.

New Delhi The Centre on Wednesday announced sale of 30 lakh tonnes of wheat in the open market from its buffer stock to check rise in prices of wheat and wheat flour (atta). The proposal to sell stocks in the open market was taken on Wednesday by a group of ministers, headed by Home Minister Amit Shah, to bring down the retail prices. As per the government data, the average prices of wheat across major cities stood at `33.43 per kilogram on Wednesday, up from `28.24 per kg a year-ago. Average prices of atta (wheat flour) stood at `37.95 per kg as against `31.41 per kg a year ago.

Govt to implement NEP in graduation, technical courses.

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Panaji Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said his government will introduce a foundation course and a graduation level course as per the national education policy (NEP) in educational institutes from the next academic year. Addressing a state-level seminar on the NEP at Sankhali, Sawant said there is confusion over the implementation of the policy in technical education.

President’s police medals for DGP Singh, SP Borkar.

Panaji The Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi has declared the President’s police medal for distinguished service and the police medal for meritorious service to four police officers from Goa police on the occasion of Republic Day, 2023. The President’s police medals for distinguished service have been awarded to the Director General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh and Superintendent of Police (SP) Vishram Borkar. The police medals for meritorious service have been awarded to DySPs Santosh Dessai and Harishchandra Madkaikar. Meanwhile, the government has approved the award of Chief Minister’s Bravery Award, 2022 to late Danson De Souza on the occasion of Republic Day on January 26, 2023 for saving human life.

India moving past 'mentality of slavery', embracing rich heritage: PM Modi.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India was moving past a "mentality of slavery" and exhorted the country's youth to embrace India's rich heritage, said a press release by the Prime Minister's Office. Addressing the National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets and National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers in New Delhi, PM Modi said, "You are young, this is time for you to make your future. You are the creator of new thoughts and new standards. You are the trailblazer for New India", added the statement. Mentioning the resolution of 'pride in our heritage' and 'freedom from the mentality of slavery' the Prime Minister highlighted the role of youth in these resolutions, as per the statement. Noting the goals and resolutions of the future are extremely important for the country, the Prime Minister said that equal emphasis has to be laid on key priority areas of the present. He urged the youth to keep themselves aware of the

India Targeting $2 Trn Merchandise, Services Exports By 2030: Goyal

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India is targeting USD two trillion in exports by 2030, equally divided into merchandise and services, said Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday.   While speaking at an event, Goyal said that India has invited Egypt to participate as a guest country in the G-20 meetings during its presidency which is a testament to the high priority India attaches to its relations with Egypt.  "We have a history of close and friendly bilateral ties based on shared values and a common vision for regional and global peace and prosperity," he said.  The minister said that both countries have also been working together to promote cultural and educational exchanges, hosting each other's students and scholars, and organising cultural festivals and events.  This has helped to deepen mutual understanding and promote people-to-people ties between the two countries, he added. The minister further stated that India is one of Egypt's largest trading partners, with bilater

Republic Day 2023: PM Modi wishes Indians, to visit National War Memorial.

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Republic Day 2023 latest: The Prime Minister said that Indians should move ahead in a united fashion to realise the dreams envisaged by our freedom fighters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wished Indians on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day. The Prime Minister said that Indians should move ahead in a united fashion to realise the dreams envisaged by our freedom fighters. Republic Day will be celebrated today at Delhi’s Kartavya Path. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu will be present during the celebrations along with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Republic Day Chief Guest. This year, the Indian Army will showcase Made in India weapon systems such as MBT Arjun, Nag anti-tank guided missiles, K-9 Vajra howitzers, Akash air defence missiles, and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles among others.  Before the parade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the National War Memorial in Delhi to pay his respects to martyrs. Defence Ministe

President Murmu to lead nation in celebrating 74th Republic Day; 6 Agniveers to also take part in parade.

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Six ‘Agniveers’ will be part of the Navy’s marching contingent during the 74th Republic Day celebrations on Thursday when the ceremonial parade will take place on Kartavya Path amid patriotic fervour. This was stated in a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence on the eve of the celebrations. President Droupadi Murmu will lead the nation in celebrating the Republic Day, and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will be the chief guest at the ceremonial event. The military assets which will be displayed during the parade include made-in-India equipment, showing the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, officials had earlier said. Main battle tank Arjun, Nag Missile System (NAMIS) and K-9 Vajra will also be showcased, the defence ministry said in the statement.

India keeps rank as world’s fastest-growing economy with 5.8% rate.

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United Nations, Jan 25 : India will remain the fastest-growing major economy recording a growth of 5.8 per cent this year, while the rest of the world will grow by a paltry 1.9 per cent, the UN said on Thursday. The UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report sliced off 0.2 per cent from the 6 per cent gross domestic product growth projection made last May without affecting India’s rank as the country faces headwinds from the global economy. Overall, the report said: “Growth in India is expected to remain strong at 5.8 per cent, albeit slightly lower than the estimated 6.4 per cent in 2022, as higher interest rates and a global slowdown weigh on investment and exports.” Next year, the UN expects India’s economy to grow by 6.7 per cent. The WESP gave a positive picture of India’s jobs scene, noting that its “unemployment rate dropped to a four-year low of 6.4 per cent in India, as the economy added jobs both in urban and rural areas in 2022”. For the world, the

Padma Shri honour for Duitara maker, musician.

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SHILLONG, Jan 25: Duitara maker and musician Risingbor Kurkalang was awarded Padma Shri award in the field of Art (Folk Music) category. The award was announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the eve of Republic Day on Wednesday. Kurkalang who hails from Laitkyrhong village is a gifted craftsmen who has made a name for himself by making the best string instruments using the wood of the Jackfruit tree, U Dieng Slang, Puma and others. His instruments are being sold to various parts of the country including Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and others besides Shillong and several villages across Khasi Hills. The instruments are also on display at the Meghalaya Age stalls in New Delhi. He has also collaborated with the Welsh musician, Gareth Bonello of The Gentle Good fame for the album Sai-ThaiƱ Ki Sur (the weaving of voices). Speaking to The Shillong Times, Kurkalang said he got a call from Delhi on Wednesday morning to verify if he was the artist who has collaborated with the

Strong Tremors Hit Delhi-NCR As 5.8-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Nepal.

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Earthquake In Delhi-NCR: Strong earthquake tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR regions on Tuesday afternoon triggering panic among local residents. According to the National Center of Semiology, an Earthquake of Magnitude 5.8, occurred on January 245 at 14:28:31 IST, Lat: 29.41 & Long: 81.68, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Nepal. As per the National Center for Seismology, the intensity of the earthquake was 5.8 on the Richter scale.

UP Board Exam 2023 Big Update: Govt To Impose National Security Act On Students Caught Cheating.

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UPMSP Exam 2023: The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Siksha Parishad (UPSMP) has released the UPMSP class 10 and Class 12 date sheets. According to the dates announced by the board, the class 10 and class 12 examinations will start from February 16, 2023. The exam for Class 10 will end March 3, 2023 and the Class 12 Exam will end on March 4, 2023. According to a Times Now report, students who are caught cheating or copying in any way will be imposed with the National Security Act 1980. But this is not only applied to students, teachers or professors involved in the cheating racket in any form will also be imposed with the same act.