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Showing posts from February, 2023

IAF pilots will soon have indigenous aviation helmets, to be made MKU sub-brand Kavro.

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For the first time Indian armed forces will be equipped with high-quality, aviation helmets which will be made by MKU under its sub-brand Kavro. Common Aircrew Helmet for different aircraft including Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) `Hawk’ and Kiran trainers, for MiG-21, and Jaguar fighters, Lightweight Integrated Aircrew Helmet for the Su30 and MiG series fighters will be made by the company under `Make in India’ initiative at its facility located in the UP Defence Industrial Corridor.

Bharat Forge Arm, Rolls Royce Join Hands To Indigenously Develop Niche Naval Propulsion Technologies For Indian Navy.

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Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bharat Forge, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Rolls-Royce Marine North America to develop naval propulsion systems for the Indian market. The agreement includes a partnership between KSSL and Rolls-Royce for the licensed manufacturing, design and development, pre-sales and sales support, installation, testing, commissioning, and aftermarket services and support of the propulsion systems.

India launches 1st indigenously developed ATS system for DMRC; becomes 6th country to have its own ATS products.

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India achieved another milestone on Saturday by launching the first ever indigenously developed Train Control and Supervision System. The i-ATS (Indigenous-Automatic Train Supervision) system has been launched by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on its first corridor i.e. Red line (from Rithala to Shaheed Sthal). With the launch of i-ATS, India becomes the sixth country which has its own ATS products after France, Germany, Japan, Canada, and China.

Centre turns focus on key G-20 meeting.

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Diplomats are working to ensure a smooth gathering of Foreign Ministers on March 1 in New Delhi, close on the heels of the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine; given the growing global polarisation with the G-7 and EU on one side and Russia on the other, India is likely to seek a consensus. With the one-year anniversary of Ukraine war next week, India’s top diplomatic machinery has been working the phones and racking up air-miles to ensure a smooth G-20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) on March 1, less than a week later, where Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will attend.

Entire GST compensation cess dues will be cleared, announces Nirmala Sitharaman.

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Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced that the central government will clear the entire dues of the pending balance of the GST compensation, as decided at the 49th GST Council meeting. "As of May 31, we cleared all the dues. There was something left in the name of dues for June. Even that is getting cleared," Nirmala Sitharaman said announcing the clearance of all GST dues to the tune of ₹16,982 crore.

Two Lakh Cooperative Societies, Vibrant Village Programme, New Battalions: Key Cabinet Decisions Today.

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The Union Cabinet met on Wednesday and took some important decisions for development in various sectors such as agriculture, border security, roads, and infrastructure, in the country. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Information & Broadcasting L Murugan later discussed the various proposals that came up during the Cabinet meeting.

Namami Gange Mission-II: River Ganga Rejuvenation Projects To Move Forward With A Budget Of Rs 22,500 Crore Till 2026.

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In an aim to further enhance the significance and need to maintain River Ganga, the government of India has approved Namami Gange Mission-II, till 2026, with a financial allocation of Rs 22,500 crore. This budget includes the project expenditure for existing liabilities amounting to Rs 11,225 crore, and additional Rs 11,275 crore financial allocations for new interventions through the mission. Bishweswar Tudu, Minister of State for Jal Shakti, stated that a total of Rs 14,084 crore has been released by the centre to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), from the Financial Year 2014-2015, till January, 2023. “Out of this, Rs 13,607 crore is released by NMCG to state governments, state missions for clean Ganga and other agencies for implementation of projects related to Ganga rejuvenation," he added. Cleaning and balancing the natural character of the river is a continuous process. The government of India aims to support the efforts of the state governments in add...

Indian Navy’s Project 75: Russia Offers Joint Development Of Amur-1650 Submarine With 80% Localization.

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Russia has offered to jointly develop with India a non-nuclear submarine based on the Russian Amur-1650 submarine after it stated that it would not be bidding for India’s ambitious Project 75 (India) or P-75I diesel submarine project. The Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Vladimir Drozhzhov, said on the sidelines of the ongoing Aero India 2023 show that the development of this proposed submarine based on Amur 1650 will include a localization level of up to 80%. This proposal comes when India is looking to sign an agreement to develop diesel-electric submarines under the P-75I this year. The country issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to five foreign contenders, including Russia, in 2021.

HAL, German firm HENSOLDT to jointly produce Obstacle Avoidance System for Indian helicopters.

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Bengaluru: German defence firm HENSOLDT is set to share full range of critical technologies with state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for manufacturing of Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS) for Indian helicopters. The OAS is a key equipment that helps in improving situational awareness of pilots and thereby reduces the possibility of accidents, besides enhancing mission accomplishments, according to aviation experts. The HAL is looking at production of OAS for the Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), officials said. The indigenously designed and developed ALH is a twin engine, multi-role, multi-mission new generation helicopter in the 5.5 tonne weight class. The HENSOLDT and HAL made the announcement on the collaboration covering design and IPR (Intellectual property Rights) for manufacturing of the Obstacle Avoidance System for Indian helicopters and for potential future exports on the sidelines of Aero India 2023, the German company said.

Thales, Bharat Dynamics join hands to produce 70mm laser-guided rockets in India.

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Thales and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up manufacturing facilities in India to produce precision-strike 70mm laser-guided rockets (FZ275 LGR). Through the agreement, BDL will become a part of the FZ275 LGR global supply chain,

Relief in the offing as strategic T5 tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar highway nears completion.

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Come March 15 and a chronic issue, which not only plagued 247-km-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway for many years but also resulted in deaths and injuries, would be a thing of the past. The commuters would be able to bypass the Panthyal stretch in Ramban district, a point highly prone to shooting stones, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is all set to complete the construction of 800-metre-long tunnel called T5. The tunnel is a part of the highway realignment project, which would put an end to the ghost of shooting stones and disruption of traffic. Ramban deputy commissioner (DC) Mussarat Islam said, “The stretch at Panthyal was the most problematic one on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH44) because of the shooting stones, but the NHAI has promised to hand over the T5 tunnel to us by March 15. It would put an end to the problem of shooting stones and subsequent disruptions in traffic movement.”

இதுதான் மோடி மாடல்!

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இதுதான் மோடி மாடல்! கர்நாடகாவின் தும்கூருவில் அரசு நிறுவனமான ஹிந்துஸ்தான் ஏரோனாடிக்சின் (HAL) இலகு உபயோக ஹெலிகாப்டர் (Light Utility Helicopter) தயாரிப்பு தொழிற்சாலையை பிரதமர் மோடி அவர்கள் 6 2.23 அன்று நாட்டுக்கு அர்ப்பணித்தார். இந்த ஹெலிகாப்டர் மோடி அவர்களின் தாரக மந்திரமான 'இந்தியாவில் தயாரிப்போம்' என்பதின் அடிப்படையிலான 100% உள்ளூர் தயாரிப்பு! இரண்டு பைலட்டுகளும் , 6 பயணிகளும் இதில் பயணிக்கலாம். இது நாட்டின் வடக்கு எல்லையின் சியாசின் பனிப் பிரதேசம் போன்ற மிக உயரமான பகுதிகளில் இயக்க ஏதுவானது . ராணுவ வீரர்களை ஏற்றிச் செல்லவும் , வான் வழி ஆம்புலன்சாக உபயோகிக்கவும், எல்லைப் பகுதி ராணுவத்திற்கான பொருள் விநியோகம் செய்யவும் உதவும். ஏன் , தரையில் உள்ள இலக்குகளைத் தாக்கும் பீரங்கி ஊர்தியாகவும் பயன்படுத்தலாம். 20 ஆண்டுகளில் 1000 ஹெலிகாப்டர்கள் தயாரிக்க திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.இத்திட்டத்தால் சுற்றியுள்ள பகுதிகளில் 6000 பேருக்கு வேலை வாய்ப்பு கிடைக்கும். (இரா.ஸ்ரீதரன்)

150,000 delegates likely to visit India for G20 meetings in 2023.

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Nearly 1.50 lakh foreign delegates are expected to arrive in India this year to participate in various G20 meetings to be held in 56 cities, Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Tuesday. Addressing reporters, Reddy said after independence and till 2014, only 13 antiquities which were smuggled out of India, were brought back. Whereas during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to various countries, 229 relics or monuments were brought to the country. India is hosting (heading) G20 this year. Officials and minister and delegates from 29 countries (20 countries of G20 group and nine special invitees) will be coming to India to participate in various meeting. The meetings will be held in 56 cities in India. Approximately 1.50 lakh foreign delegates are expected. Along with them their family members and associates are also expected." Owing to COVID-19 pandemic, he said the tourism sector suffered heavily for two years. However, the revival started in 2022 as d...

Income Tax Conducts 'Survey' At BBC's Delhi, Mumbai Offices; Employees' Phones, Computers Seized.

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Income Tax officials are conducting 'survey' operations on the Indian offices of the British public broadcaster BBC in both Delhi and Mumbai, sources said on Tuesday. According to sources, IT personnel were verifying certain account documents in the BBC's finance department. Income tax officials arrived at BBC offices located at the national capital's KG Marg for the survey. The British broadcaster's office at Kalina Santacruz in Mumbai was also surveyed, sources said, adding that the survey was limited to business premises of BBC only. According to reports, a team of IT officials arrived at the BBC Studios office in Kalina Santacruz around 11.30 am today and survey is going on since then. There is no IT activity at the BBC News office at Linking road Bandra West. It is learnt that the tax officials are conducting verification of certain account documents in the finance department of the BBC offices. During the investigation, the mobile phones of all the...

India, US and Brazil to establish a global biofuel alliance.

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India, Brazil and the US, as leading biofuel producers and consumers, will work together during the next few months towards setting up a global biofuel alliance along with other interested countries. “This alliance will be aimed at facilitating cooperation and intensifying the use of sustainable biofuels, including in the transportation sector,” the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) said in a statement.

PM Modi endorses Indian Oil's 'Surya Nutan' solar cooker at India Energy Week.

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India Energy Week 2023 is underway in Bengaluru, and the air couldn't be more electric (pun intended, of course). At the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed many items of significance, but how much does a new helicopter, improving green hydrogen, or moving to new ethanol even mean to the common man? However, there was one item that stood out in that regard. Modi touted Indian Oil's novel Indoor Solar Cooking System, called the ‘Surya Nutan’, mentioning that "in the next few years, solar cook-top will reach three crore households". But is the stove really worth all the hype? Let's find out. The solar cooker has two components: the main stove, which is attached via a cable to a solar PV panel that sticks to the roof. After the initial set-up, the company claims that daily captured sunlight will be enough to cook enough for a family of four during the day and night. In addition, it can even be plugged into the electric grid when cloudy days hi...

G20 Agriculture Deputies' first meeting begins in Indore, to discuss climate smart initiatives.

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The first meeting of Agriculture Deputies under India's G20 presidency began in Indore on February 13 to discuss host of issues, including climate smart initiatives in the farm sector.

No Fundamental Right To Bear Arms In India' : Supreme Court Takes Suo Motu Case On Unlicensed Firearms.

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The Supreme Court on Monday registered a suo motu case to curb the large number of possession and use of unlicensed firearms in the country. Terming the trend as "disturbing", a Bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna registered the case while hearing the bail application of a murder accused. "According to prosecution, an unlicensed firearm was used and offences under Sec 302 along with 307 of the Indian Penal Code was registered. We have come across several cases where this phenomenon of unlicensed arms and this trend is very disturbing". The Bench also noted that unlike in the United States, no one permitted in India to carry firearms unless authorised. "Unlike the US constitution where the right to bear arms is a fundamental right, under the wisdom of our founding fathers, no such right has been conferred on anybody under the Constitution....It is the greatest significance to preserve life of all that resort must be made to stop unlicensed ...

Why Namami Gange’s success lies in wetland conservation.

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Delhi-based bird nerd Abhijay Jha visits the lush wetlands within Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh every year to spot migratory birds who call it home in the winter months. This year, the marketing executive returned home disappointed. “Unexpected rainfall in the months of October and November last year had revived several dried wetlands, especially seasonal marshlands on the Ganga floodplains. I was expecting a record number of migratory birds, but very few were around,” he says. The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) 2023, conducted in January at the sanctuary, too, recorded a decrease in species diversity from 45 to 38 compared to last year. Some of the winter migratory waterbird species seen this year included the Greylag Geese, Barheaded Geese and Ruddy Shelduck that come from Central Asia. According to the AWC, one reason for this decline could be that the revived wetlands (due to unseasonal rainfall) have largely dried up while the existing bigger wetlands ar...

Badminton Asia Mixed Team C'ship: Fit-again PV Sindhu to spearhead India's challenge.

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Completely recovered from a stress fracture on the left foot that kept her away from the circuit for five months, a fit-again Indian shuttler PV Sindhu is confident and sounding positive ahead of the ongoing season. Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, said her injury has "completely healed" and is aiming to go full throttle this year. Sindhu was sidelined with injury after winning the Commonwealth Games women's singles gold in Birmingham in August and made a comeback at the year's first event -- Petronas Malaysia Open 2023 -- where she lost a three-gamer in the opening round to Carolina Marin of Spain. Sindhu made another first-round exit a week later at the India Open at home, but said she was "happy with my footwork, skills and strokes" on her return to competitive action in Kuala Lumpur. "I'm completely alright now. Physically and mentally I'm completely fine. Injuries happen but it's important to keep your body healthy and ...

KIIT Organises ‘Konvergence’ to Showcase Richness of India’s Cultural Heritage.

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Bhubaneswar, Feb 13: It was an evening dedicated to the classical dance forms of India as well as folk dance at the ongoing KIIT Silver Karnival. The colour and the richness mesmerised the audience and kept the students hooked to their place as the artists weaved their magic with speechless performances. The artists had converged from across the country in the National Cultural Festival ‘Konvergence’ organised to commemorate the Silver Jubilee Celebration of KIIT Deemed-to-be-University.

Modi meets Yash, Rishab, former cricketers over dinner in Bengaluru.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met with Kannada actors Yash and Rishab Shetty, and former cricketers Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad, along with some other noted personalities from various fields, including start-ups, here. According to sources, the meeting took place over dinner hosted at the Raj Bhavan here on Sunday after Modi arrived in the evening to participate in the inauguration of 14th edition of Aero India. They said Modi told the actors that the film industries of the southern states have given a great boost to India’s culture and identity through their work. He particularly appreciated how they have encouraged the participation of women. The prime minister stressed the need to leverage the ITIs to provide courses related to films especially in areas needing technical expertise and also remembered late actor Puneeth Rajkumar during the interaction, the sources said. He informed the sportspersons about the measures being taken by the central go...

G20 meetings to be held in 56 cities, special focus on tourism’.

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Union Minister for Tourism G Kishan Reddy on Monday said that conferences regarding G20 are going to be held in 56 cities in India and during this time there will be a special focus on tourism. G Kishan Reddy said, “According to the statistics of ASI, there are more than 3,600 monuments in the country and it will be a center of attraction for guests and tourists coming from all over the world.” He said that more than one lakh tourists are likely to come from G20 countries. “In terms of tourism, the government is making such wonderful arrangements that on their way back, lakhs of tourists will talk about the whole world as brand ambassadors of Indian tourism”, he added. Reddy said, “Apart from domestic tourists, tourists coming from abroad should not face any problem in reaching the 56 cities which are sites of archaeological tourism.”

G20 members working together to bring collective SOP on crypto: FM

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On a query posed over crypto mining in Lok Sabha, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said under India’s Presidency, G20 members are working together to bring a collective standard operating procedure on it. While replying to a query from DMK MP T Sumathy, the Finance Minister said, “At the moment, they (cryptocurrencies) are largely unregulated in India; whether it is mining or the asset or whether it is the transaction, we recognise that it is completely driven by technology and a standalone country’s effort to control and regulate is not going to be effective.” After saying that China is tracking down crypto miners, India could be an alternate destination if regulation is certain and infra is provided, the member of Parliament asked how the government was planning to regulate crypto mining in India. Sitharaman also added, “There is an evolving consensus and that’s why we are raising this issue in the G20 and having a detailed discussion over the issue so ...

Aero India 2023 gives India new identity in the world: Rajnath.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Monday stated that Aero India Show 2023 has given a strength to the Indian defence sector and a new identity to the country in the world. He was addressing the gathering at Yelahanka Airbase in Bengaluru at the inaugural programme of Aero India Show 2023. “In the last few years, our defence sector has travelled a long journey. The sector has achieved many successes. These successes have become pillars of the Indian defence sector. Aero India is one of those pillars. Step by step it has strengthened India’s defence sector,” Rajnath Singh said. “Under PM Modi’s leadership, the country is achieving glory in all sectors. The country has made a mark in the political and economic spheres of the world and emerged as a strong player,” he said. “Aero India show exhibits the aerospace sectors’ prowess. This show has two important characteristics. One is height and another is speed. These two characteristics also symbolize the PM’s working personality,” ...

Div Com reviews Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra arrangements.

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JAMMU, Feb 13: Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar today chaired a preliminary meeting of concerned Deputy Commissioners and line departments and reviewed the arrangements for upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2023. The meeting was attended in person by Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Avny Lavasa; DIG Jammu Kathua Range, Shakti Pathak; Commissioner JMC, Rahul Yadav; SSP Jammu, Chandan Kohli; Director Tourism Jammu, Vivekanand Rai; DIG CRPF, Ashok Samyal; SSP Ramban/ National Highways, Mohita Sharma; SSP Security, Additional CEO Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, Rahul Singh; Joint Director Information, Sapna Kotwal; Deputy Director Planning, Munish Dutta; Chief Engineers of JPDCL, Jal Shakti, ARTO Jammu and other concerned Officers while Deputy Commissioners of Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Ramban along with concerned officers participated through video conferencing. The Div Com emphasized upon the need to make adequate arrangements well in advance by working in close coordinat...

Frozen waterfall attracts tourists.

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POONCH, Feb 13: Nandichool frozen waterfall is attracting visitors and tourists from the Union Territory as well as adjoining states of Jammu and Kashmir to take a glimpse of the frozen waterfall in Loran area of Poonch. It takes about two hours to walk to reach the tourist destination ‘Nandichool’ where locals as well as outside trekkers from Rajouri, Jammu, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh are visiting everyday to witness the beautiful view of the frozen waterfall. Pertinent to mention that it is one of the highest waterfalls in J&K where tourists are visiting in summer as well as winter to see the mesmerizing views of the waterfall, while this the footfall has increased drastically as compared to previous years.

4 -day Maha Shivratri Mela to begin on Feb 17 at Peer Kho.

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JAMMU, Feb 13: Mahant Peer Rajinder Nath of Peer Kho temple Jamwant Gupha, Mayor Jammu, Rajinder Sharma and Sunaina Sharma Mehta, Joint Director Tourism Department today announced that four days Peer Kho Maha Shivratri Mela organsied by Tourism Department Jammu in collaboration with Peer Kho Temple will commence from February 17 at 4 pm. Addressing a joint press conference here, today they said Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar will inaugurate the Mela as chief guest. During the four day Mela , cultural programme, devotional songs besides amusement park and food stalls for children and devotees will be the attraction of the Mela. The traditional Bhandara will be held on February 19 at Peer Kho temple Jamwant Gupha and on February 20 the concluding day, Indian Wrestling will be held in which leading wrestlers from J&K and other parts of the country will participate. They said Shivratri festival has great religious and cultural significance and is celebrated by...

PM Modi kick-starts India's Air Might show, calls it 'runway for billion opportunities'.

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Aero India 2023, the five-day event which began in Bengaluru on Monday, is expected to be this year's biggest air show with the highest rate of participation. The show will feature top international think-tanks, major aerospace companies and world leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the 14th edition of India's largest aerospace and defence exhibition, Aero India. At the event, the prime minister bolstered the 'Make in India' campaign and gave a fresh impetus to the domestic aviation sector. The five-day event will include aerial displays by aircraft and helicopters along with a large exhibition and trade fair for aerospace and defence companies.The prime minister also released commemorative stamps at the event. According to defense officials, as many as 809 exhibitors, including 110 foreign ones, had confirmed their participation at the show at Air Force Station Yelahanka, being positioned as a platform for 'Make in India for the ...

Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Voiced Support For Women, Campaigned Against Social Evils: PM Modi — Top Quotes

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed a gathering at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here on the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati. The Prime Minister said that path shown by Swami Dayanand Saraswati instills hope in crores of people at a time when the 21st century is unstable due to numerous conflicts. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the year-long celebrations commemorating the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati.  Here Are Top Quotes From PM Modi's Address - This is a historical moment, an opportunity to write the history for the future. Maharishi Dayanand ji believed we should be the ones moving the world towards development.  - It is my good fortune that I was born on the land where Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati was born. - Maharishi Dayanand ji came forward and revived the understanding of Vedas in society. Today, the country with full pride is calling for 'pride in our heritage'.

Namaste India! US F-35, Russian Su-57 Likely To Debut At Aero India 2023; Both Countries Eye IAF Fighter Jet Deal.

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Aero India 2023, which will take place in Bengaluru from February 13 to 17, will feature some of the world’s most advanced fighter jets, including US F-35 and Russian Su-57 stealth aircraft. However, the US-made F-35 fifth-generation fighter jet draws the most attention due to the possibility of its participation in both static and flying displays at the air show’s venue, the Yelahanka airbase of the Indian Air Force.  The F-35 Lightning II is the most sought-after multirole, stealthy, supersonic fighter built to address the needs of the United States and allied defense forces for an affordable next-generation fighter. 

Seventh Operation Dost flight reaches earthquake-hit Syria with over 23 tons of relief material.

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The seventh Operation Dost flight reached earthquake-hit Syria on Sunday with over 23 tons of relief material. The Indian Air Force C17 carrying relief material, medical aid, emergency and critical care medicines, medical equipment and consumables took off from Hindon Airbase in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad. The death toll across Turkey and Syria following Monday's earthquake reached 28,192 on Saturday.

Govt. working to equal number of medical UG and PG seats in 4 years: Health Minister Mandaviya.

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Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said the government is working to equal the number of undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats within four years so that all MBBS graduates can pursue PG courses.

4.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Assam's Nagaon.

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An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 on the Richter scale struck Assam's Nagaon on Sunday. The earthquake occurred at 4.18 pm today, the National Center for Seismology said. "Earthquake of Magnitude:4.0, Occurred on 12-02-2023, 16:18:17 IST, Lat: 26.10 & Long: 92.72, Depth: 10 Km ,Location: Nagaon, Assam," the NCS tweeted.

Sitharaman says new income tax regime lets people decide on consumption, saving.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the government should not underestimate the ability of the taxpayer to make decisions on saving and consumption, with the new income tax regime giving them more freedom to choose. In her Budget presented on February 1, Sitharaman renewed the push for the new tax system which was introduced three years ago but has not found many takers in the absence of exemptions and deductions.

Prez appoints Governors for 12 states, Ladakh.

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President Droupadi Murmu has accepted the resignation of Bhagat Singh Koshyari as the Maharashtra Governor and has appointed Ramesh Bais as the Governor of the state. Koshyari's exit comes following a recent controversy over his comment on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In January, Koshyari expressed his desire to resign from the post and devote time to reading and writing. The President also accepted the resignation of Radha Krishnan Mathur as Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. "The President of India has accepted the resignations of Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari as Governor of Maharashtra and Shri Radha Krishnan Mathur as Lt. Governor of Ladakh," an official statement by the President's Secretariat informed. President Murmu also made fresh appointments for the post of the governor for several states, including Bihar, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh, among other states. Here is a list of the new appointments. (i) Lt. General Kaiwalya Trivikram...

Chief Justices Appointed To 4 High Courts; Two Set To Retire In Next 5 Days.

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New Delhi: Four judges, including two who will retire later this month, were on Sunday appointed as chief justices of high courts. Justice Sonia Giridhar Gokani, senior-most judge of the Gujarat High Court, was appointed its chief justice. Once she takes oath, she will be the only woman chief justice of a high court.India has 25 high courts. Justice Sabina is functioning as the acting chief justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. However, Justice Gokani will demit office on February 25 upon attaining the age of 62. Justice Gokani is drawn from the judicial service of Gujarat. "Besides being the senior-most judge, the appointment of Justice Gokani as Chief Justice will bring a sense of inclusion and facilitate a representation for judges drawn from the services in the office of Chief Justice," the SC Collegium had said last week while recommending her name. The Collegium had asked the government to "immediately" appoint her as the chief justice follo...

India to organise World Hindi Conference in Fiji.

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India is set to organise World Hindi Conference between February 15-17 in Fiji. A 270-member delegation from India will visit Fiji for the event. Representatives from 50 countries will participate in the event and representatives from South and Northeast India will be presenting papers at the conference. “Hindi has made limited progress in the United Nations. U.N. press releases are now available in Hindi. We are trying to get Hindi its rightful place at the U.N.” said Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), MEA.

K.R. Puram-Whitefield metro line will be opened after March 15: BMRCL.

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The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), which is carrying out trial runs on the K.R. Puram to Whitefield line, is confident of opening it for commercial operations after March 15. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, in his address to the joint session of the state legislature on Friday (February 10), said the line would be ready in March. BMRCL has already started submitting records to the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety, which gives the final go-ahead after safety checks. The safety inspections are likely to happen by February 20.

Hampi Tourism Circuit to include Lakkundi in Karnataka.

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Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday announced the inclusion of Lakkundi in the proposed Hampi Tourism Circuit and said that a master plan will be prepared to provide facilities to the visiting domestic and international tourists. Speaking after inaugurating the 'Lakkundi' Utsav here on Friday, he said, "The inscriptions tell about the glory of Gadag district as that of the Vijayanagar kingdom. The confluence of the beautiful sculpture is Lakkundi and the government will take steps to make this historical place popular besides giving the impetus to the promotion of tourism. Lakkundi will be included in the Hampi Circuit and will be developed." The CM said Gadag district has been the 'Karma Bhumi' of Kumaravyasa, the birthplace of noted poet Ranna who was responsible for the birth of the Kannada language and taking this language to new heights. He was given shelter at Daana Chintamani Rani Attimabbe. The government is giving impetus t...

IAF, Aerobatics team perform during full dress rehearsals ahead of Aero India Show on 13 February.

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Ahead of 14th edition of Aero India show, IAF and Aerobatics team performed full dress rehearsals at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru. The 5-day event will start on 13 February. A huge crowd turned up for the dress rehearsals leading to massive traffic in the 20-km stretch between Bengaluru city and Yelahanka Air Force Station.

Made-In-India Armed Drone, Archer-NG, To Fly For The First Time In June-July This Year: Report

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Archer-NG, an armed drone designed and built in India, could be flight tested for the first time as early as June-July this year. The drone is capable of carrying 300 kilograms of weaponry. The weapons that it can carry include indigenously developed smart anti-airfield weapons (SAAWs) and anti-tank guided missiles. An upgraded version of the Rustoum-1 drone developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Archer is capable of flying at an altitude of upto 22,000 feet. The indigenous drone has an endurance of 12 hours and a range of around 220 kilometers, and is capable of both conventional and auto take-off and landing. Apart from destroying targets, the drone is also capable of providing real-time, high-quality imagery and signal intelligence. A successful flight of the drone will be a significant achievement for India, which has so far lagged behind countries like China and Turkey in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles. The utility of drones ...

India's G20 Presidency: KU set to host C-20 Working Group Meeting on 'Gender Equality and Disability’.

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Srinagar, Feb 11: The University of Kashmir is set to host a two-day C20 Working Group Meeting on 'Gender Equality and Disability', a mega event that draws national and international experts to formulate Policy White Papers for discussions on the G20 platform. Civil-20 or C20 is the Official Engagement Group of G20 providing a platform for civil society organisations, NGOs and policy-planners to engage important stakeholders and address the root causes of "gender inequality and disability" The event being held at KU's Gandhi Bhawan from February 13-14 comes amid the University’s selection from amongst 15 premier institutions in the country to host Youth20 events as part of India’s G20 Presidency, a significant milestone in the varsity’s imprint and visibility on the national academic landscape. The C20 GED WG Meeting focuses on policy dialogues concerning two sub-themes including "Women's Safety" and "Engaging Men and Boys", bes...

PM Modi unveils first leg of Delhi-Mumbai expressway today.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Sohna-Dausa stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan’s Dausa on Sunday, said officials of the district administration and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The Sohna-Dausa stretch, expected to significantly cut travel time between Delhi and Jaipur to around three hours from the current five-hour, 40-minute drive, will reduce the burden on the Delhi-Jaipur highway and improve connectivity between Gurgaon, Nuh, Palwal and adjoining areas.

Asked If PM Modi Could Convince Putin To End Ukraine War, US's Response.

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New Delhi: The United States today said there is still time to stop the Ukraine war and added that it welcomes any effort that could lead to the end of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. "I think there's still time for Putin to stop the war. I think there's still time for it. I will let PM Modi speak to whatever efforts he's willing to undertake," said White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby. "The US would welcome any effort that could lead to an end of hostilities in Ukraine."

Delhi-Meerut RRTS project update: Rapid rail likely to clock 180 kmph inside tunnel!

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New Delhi: The Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) has gradually started taking shape before its partial launch in 2024. The 82-kilometer rapid rail is likely to smoothen commute by providing reliable, safe and high-speed service. The two kilometer tunnel from Delhi's Anand Vihar to Vaishali Metro station has started to take shape. The work on the ramp for tunnel has been started. It is said that the rapid rail would be able to speed at 180kmph inside the tunnel. However, the normal speed would be kept at 160kmph for regular operation. The under construction tunnel is being given shape from Anand Vihar to Sahibabad. This tunnel will end at Vaishali metro station.

YSRCP MP Magunta Srinivasula Reddy's son arrested in Delhi liquor scam.

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The Enforcement Directorate on Friday arrested YSRCP MP Magunta Srinivasula Reddy's son Magunta Raghava in connection with the Delhi liquor scam. He was arrested in connection with ED's money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy case. Raghav Magunta was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Friday evening, officials told PTI.

PM Modi flags off 2 Vande Bharat trains from Mumbai.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off two Vande Bharat trains, one between Mumbai and Solapur and another between Mumbai and Shirdi. The inauguration ceremony was held in Mumbai, with Union Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in attendance.“For the 1st time 2 Vande Bharat trains launched. They'll connect financial centres like Mumbai & Pune to centres of our devotion. It'll benefit college-going & office-going people, farmers & devotees”, the prime minister said.

Isro successfully launches SSLV to space.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation on Friday launched it's new offering, the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), on a second demonstration mission to Low Earth Orbit. It has been developed to shoulder the burden of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and cater to the small satellite launch market. SSLV lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota for a 15-minute flight to Low Earth Orbit with three payloads weighing over 350 kilograms. The primary payload on the mission was the Earth Observation Satellite-07 (EOS-7). The launch vehicle also carried rideshare payload Janus-1 and AzaadiSAT-2.

Aero India to see largest-ever United States delegation.

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US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Elizabeth Jones will lead the largest-ever US delegation to Aero India to be held here from February 13. “It will be an honour to lead the largest-ever US delegation to Aero India to showcase the world-class equipment, training, capability and interoperability the U.S. industry and military offer," Ambassador Jones said. As India modernises its defence capabilities, certainly we want to be the partner of choice. We are increasingly focused on mutually beneficial co-production and co-development partnerships. We see India as an indispensable partner for a safer, more prosperous, more open, and freer Indo-Pacific region," she said. A cross-section of US military members and impressive aircraft will also feature at the five-day aerospace and defence show, a press release issued by US Consulate General Chennai on Friday said. In the spirit of bilateral support for India's largest aviation exhibition, the United States Ai...