Tag - India

“Hate-in-India and Make-in-India can’t coexist”: Rahul Gandhi Targets PM Modi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the exit of some global brands from India and said “Hate-in-India” and “Make-in-India” cannot coexist.

The congress leader also talked about the high unemployment rate in the country and asked PM Modi to focus on the “devastating unemployment crisis”.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “The ease of driving business out of India. 7 Global Brands. 9 Factories. 649 Dealerships. 84,000 Jobs. Modi ji, Hate-in-India and Make-in-India can’t coexist! Time to focus on India’s devastating unemployment crisis instead.”

In another tweet on Tuesday Gandhi said that over 450 million Indians had lost their hope of getting a job due to Modi’s “masterstrokes.”

“New Slogan of New India: Har ghar berozegaari, ghar ghar berozegaari (there is unemployment in every household). In 75 years, Modi ji is the first Prime Minister of the country whose ‘masterstrokes’ have left more than 450 million people in hope of getting a job,” tweeted the Congress leader.

‘Afghanistan was thrown under the bus by the world’: Jaishankar replies to Europe

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday countered criticism of India’s position on Ukraine, saying that how an entire civil society was thrown under the bus by the world in Afghanistan.

Responding to a question from Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt at the Raisina Dialogue, Jaishankar reiterated that India’s position has been very clear regarding conflict in Ukraine.

“I think where the conflict in Ukraine is concerned, we have a very clear position that has been articulated. A position which emphasises the urgent cessation of fighting, which urges a return to diplomacy and dialogue which stresses the need for respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” said Jaishankar.

He further stated that Asia face its own sets of challenges which often have an impact on the rules-based order.

“You spoke about Ukraine, I remember less than a year ago what happened in Afghanistan, where an entire civil society was thrown under the bus by the world or we in Asia face our own sets of challenges which often have an impact on the rules-based order,” said Jaishankar.

Netflix partners with I&B Ministry to launch ‘Azadi Ki Amrit Kahaniyan’

As part of the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur on Tuesday launched ‘Azadi Ki Amrit Kahaniya’, a short video series created in collaboration with OTT platform, Netflix.

Minister Anurag Singh Thakur while addressing the audience and media said that the Ministry of I&B has been a vital part of Amrit Mahotsav celebrations with various initiatives. The idea of Azadi is intertwined with women’s emancipation in India and the Minister remarked that the term Azadi or freedom holds a wider connotation for women who have to fight stereotypes and taboos in the society as well.

Speaking on the collaboration Thakur said “this initiative aims to bring out inspiring stories of Indians and these stories shall motivate and empower more people to achieve their goals”.

He added that this was a long term partnership where different themes and diverse stories will be highlighted.

“Netflix will be producing twenty five videos on themes including women empowerment, environment and sustainable development and other days of significance. Netflix will produce two-minute short films for the Ministry which will be shared on social media platforms and telecast on Doordarshan network”, Thakur elaborated.

Thakur elaborated on the multiple dimensions of this partnership and said Netflix and Ministry will continue to organize training workshops and master classes to encourage film makers in India to create inspiring content on various topics under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

“Netflix and ministry will partner to develop a creative ecosystem by organizing training programs for post-production, VFX, animation, music production among others and will be organized on ground and virtually”, he announced.

The Minister stated that the partnership between the Ministry and Netflix was only a beginning and will not be limited to Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Speaking on the occasion Bela Bajaria, Head of Global TV, Netflix, said that India was one of the most vibrant entertainment industries in the world and India was remarkably well placed in times of internet entertainment.

“Netflix is excited to be part of a time when stories from India are being exported to the world and the best Indian stories are being discovered and loved on a global stage”, she said.

Bela Bajaria also said that “Netflix is proud to partner with MIB to celebrate and acknowledge the evolution of India over past 75 years by celebrating its beautiful art, culture and storytelling”.

She further added that it was “in pursuance of this partnership Netflix has created a series of short videos based on real life stories aimed to celebrate achievement of people from all corners of India”.

Speaking about the first set of videos in the series, Bajaria said that these stories are of incredible women who have fought against the odds to achieve their dreams. Netflix’s commitment to India is strong and growing and Netflix will continue to find the country’s finest stories and share them across the globe, she remarked.

The Ministry and Netflix have collaborated to produce the first set of videos featuring seven Women Change makers from across the country who share their experiences in breaking the glass ceiling.

 

India creates world record by waving 78,220 tricolors simultaneously

On 23 April 2022, India entered the Guinness Book of World Records by waving 78,220 tricolor flags simultaneously at the “Veer Kunwar Singh Vijayotsav” programme at  Duler Ground in Jagdishpur, Bhojpur, Bihar.

Ministry of Culture said that the occasion was a tribute to the glorious victory of the then King of Jagdishpur, Veer Kunwar Singh, who is considered one of the ‘heroes’ of the freedom struggle of 1857.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Culture under the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The attempt was witnessed by representatives of the Guinness Book of World Records and attendees were asked to wear bands for the physical identification. The complete event is documented in video form.

In his address, the Union Home Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned that in 2047, India should lead globally and this can be our true tribute to all brave freedom fighters like Veer Kunwar Singh.

Babu Veer Kunwar Singh emerged as a prominent leader of the Indian freedom struggle of 1857, who even at the age of about 80, fought bravely against the British colonial rule. He belonged to the Ujjayini dynasty of the Parmar Rajputs of Jagdishpur, a part of present-day Bhojpur district, Bihar, India.

At the age of 80, he led a selected band of armed soldiers against troops under the command of the British East India Company. He was the significant‘hero’ of the freedom struggle in Bihar against British colonial rule. He is popularly known as Veer Kunwar Singh.

 

 

India 3rd largest military spender in the world after US & China

India’s military expenditure in 2021 is the third highest in the world at $76.6 billion, according to the data released by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Monday. India is behind the United States and China but ahead of the United Kingdom and Russia.

SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources.

Globally the military expenditure increased by 0.7 per cent, to $2,113 billion.

“Total global military expenditure increased by 0.7 per cent in real terms in 2021, to reach $2113 billion. The five largest spenders in 2021 were the United States, China, India, the United Kingdom and Russia, together accounting for 62 per cent of expenditure,” according to the data by SIPRI.

SIPRI said that India’s military expenditure was up by 0.9 per cent from 2020 and by 33 per cent from 2012.

“In a push to strengthen the indigenous arms industry, 64 per cent of capital outlays in the military budget of 2021 were earmarked for acquisitions of domestically produced arms,” said SIPRI.

According to the data by SIPRA, US military spending amounted to $801 billion in 2021, a drop of 1.4 per cent from 2020.

China, the world’s second largest spender, allocated an estimated $293 billion to its military in 2021, an increase of 4.7 per cent compared with 2020.

Deaflympics 2021: Anurag Thakur sends off Team India’s contingent of 65-athletes

On Monday, India’s Deaflympics 2021 contingent received a rousing send-off ahead of embarking for the Games, starting May 1. Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Thakur, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Nisith Pramanik and other dignitaries graced the occasion.

A total of 65 athletes will be participating at the Games in Caxias Du Sul, Brazil, making it the largest and the youngest contingent ever from India to participate in the Deaflympics. They will participate in a total of 11 sports disciplines: Athletics, Badminton, Judo, Golf, Karate, Shooting, Swimming, Tennis, Table Tennis, Taekwondo and Wrestling. The Games are scheduled from May 1 to May 15.

Showering the contingent with the best of wishes, Anurag Thakur mentioned, “On behalf of everyone in the country, I not only give the best of wishes to all of you but also want to say that you have already shown your mettle by getting selected to represent India for the Games. Since this is the biggest contingent, I also believe we will also get the highest number of medals from Brazil. India will be the next big sporting powerhouse, be it in Olympics, Paralympics or Deaflympics. India will not stop. This century is ours and we will keep on unfurling India’s flag on all sporting arena.”

India had sent a delegation of 46 participants in the last Deaflympics in Turkey in 2017, bagging a total of 5 medals, which included 1 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals.

I&B Ministry Blocks 16 Youtube News Channels For Spreading Disinformation

On Monday, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting issued directions for blocking sixteen YouTube-based news channels and one Facebook account by utilizing the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021.

According to a statement, the blocked social media accounts include six Pakistan-based and ten India-based YouTube news channels, having a cumulative viewership of over 68 crore.

The channels were used to spread fake news over social media on matters related to national security, India’s foreign relations, communal harmony in the country, and public order. None of the digital news publishers had furnished information to the Ministry as required under rule 18 of the IT Rules, 2021.

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting stated that the content published by some of the India based YouTube channels referred to a community as terrorists, and incited hatred among the members of various religious communities. Such content was found to have the potential to create communal disharmony, and disturb public order.

Multiple India based YouTube channels were observed to publish unverified news and videos having the potential to create panic among various sections of the society.

Examples include false claims related to announcement of a pan-India lockdown due to COVID-19 thereby threatening the migrant workers, and fabricated claims alleging threats to certain religious communities, etc.

YouTube channels based in Pakistan were found to have been used in a coordinated manner to post fake news about India on various subjects such as the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir, and India’s foreign relations in the light of situation in Ukraine, etc. The content of these channels was observed to be completely false, and sensitive from the perspective of national security, sovereignty and integrity of India, and India’s friendly relations with foreign States.

 

India, European Union To Launch Trade And Technology Council

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi held talks with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi on Monday. Both of them agreed to launch the EU-India Trade and Technology Council at their meeting.

“PM Narendra Modi held talks with EU_Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi today. They reviewed progress in the vibrant India-EU Strategic Partnership & agreed to deepen cooperation in areas of trade, climate, digital technology and people-to-people ties,” tweeted MEA spokesperson Arindam Baghchi.

A press release by the European Commission read, “This strategic coordination mechanism will allow both partners to tackle challenges at the nexus of trade, trusted technology and security, and thus deepen cooperation in these fields between the EU and India.”

According to the press release, both sides agreed that rapid changes in the geopolitical environment highlight the need for joint in-depth strategic engagement.

“The Trade and Technology Council will provide the political steer and the necessary structure to operationalise political decisions, coordinate technical work, and report to the political level to ensure implementation and follow-up in areas that are important for the sustainable progress of European and Indian economies,” read the statement.

The press release stated that the decision to set up a Trade and Technology Council will be the first for India with any of its partners and second for the European Union following the first one it has set up with the US.

Do not travel to Pakistan for higher education: UGC, AICTE urge Indian students

The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) have advised students not to go to Pakistan for higher studies.

A joint notification issued by the UGC and the AICTE said that any student who pursues a degree from Pakistan will not be eligible for seeking employment or any higher studies in India.

“All concerned are advised not to travel to Pakistan for pursuing Higher Education, Any Indian national/Overseas Citizen of India who intends to take admission in any degree college/educational institution of Pakistan shall not be eligible for seeking employment or higher studies in India on the basis of such educational qualifications (in any subject) acquired in Pakistan,” read the joint notification by UGC and AICTE.

The notice, however, makes an exception for Pakistani migrants who have been granted Indian citizenship after they obtain Security Clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs.

“However, migrants and their children who have acquired higher education degree in Pakistan and have been awarded citizenship by India would be eligible for seeking employment in India after obtaining Security Clearance from M.H.A,” the notification read.

Digital transactions worth Rs 20,000 crore taking place in India every day, says PM Modi

In his monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that BHIM UPI has rapidly become a part of our economy and habits. Modi said even in small towns and in most villages people are transacting through UPI itself.

Modi encouraged citizens of India to undertake a ‘Cashless Day Out’ experiment to see how digital payments are being adopted across the nation.

Modi said that last March UPI transactions reached around Rs 10 lakh crores.

“At present, transactions worth about 20 thousand crore rupees are taking place in our country every day. Last March, UPI transactions reached around Rs 10 lakh crores,” said Modi.

Talking about the water conservation PM said that 75 Amrit Sarovars will be built in every district of the nation.

“During the Amrit Mahotsav, 75 Amrit Sarovars will be built in every district of the country. You can imagine how big the campaign is. The day is not far when there will be 75 Amrit Sarovars in your own city,” said Modi.