Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called for joint efforts to develop India as a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub. He emphasised the need for MRO services to safeguard our defence equipment and systems, and protect our defence forces. He was speaking at the inaugural session of the seminar on “Sustenance in MRO and Obsolescence Mitigation: Op capability Enhancers in Aerospace Domain” organised by the Indian Air Force at Aero India 2023 on February 14, 2023. Shri Rajnath Singh pointed out that the self-confidence and morale of our defence forces will be strengthened by using indigenous equipment. He mentioned that due to geo-political developments India is taking steps to strengthen its defence sector and assured that the government is committed towards making the best equipment and platforms available to our defence forces to bolster National security. Shri Rajnath Singh further mentioned that along with combat readiness the government has focussed on Aatmanirbharta in defence production, and preparedness. As a result, India is moving ahead in the field of defence production, he said.

The Raksha Mantri listed various initiatives to develop self-reliance in the IAF, such as the Akash Weapon System, LCA Tejas, Long Range Surface to Air Missiles, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft and the order for 15 Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachand’. He also informed that there would be 160 of the Prachand helicopters in the Armed Forces in the future. He expressed confidence that these steps would help to reduce external dependence of the Armed Forces. “While we should procure the best equipment and systems, our efforts should focus on developing our own equipment and systems to strengthen the Indian Defence sector”, he added.

Speaking on the need to give a push to indigenisation, Shri Rajnath Singh mentioned that the requirement for minimum 50% indigenous content in ‘Buy Indian- IDDM’ category currently does not include maintenance. He suggested that the procurement cost as well as maintenance and support should have 50% indigenous content to make the acquisition truly “Buy Indian- IDDM” and give a boost to Aatmanirbharta. He further pointed out the need to consider the cost of defence products over their entire lifespan. “The Life Cycle cost of high value defence equipment, including service and maintenance, should be examined at the time of acquisition for a clear estimate of total expenditure on these products throughout their usable life, and to enable us to get better value for money”, he suggested. He said that this will also enable us to understand the overall financial implications and estimate the level of indigenisation in particular defence equipment.

The Raksha Mantri expressed confidence that the IAF would scale new heights not only in the sphere of security, but also in terms of self-reliance.  He appreciated the organisation of the seminar, saying that it will promote efforts to build a self-reliant Air Force. He also commended the dedication of the IAF and its role as a first responder and relief activities during the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, saying that the efforts reflect India’s contribution to international relations and its duty towards the world.

The Raksha Mantri also launched the IAF Electronic Maintenance Management System (e-MMS) during the inaugural session. E-MMS is one of the largest and technologically complex digital Enterprise Asset Management solutions implemented in the world. Compendiums of Innovation & Indigenization Requirements of the IAF and the Maintenance Journal of the IAF were also released. Earlier, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari delivered the welcome address at the inaugural session. He emphasised on the contributions of MSMEs and startups towards upgradation and sustenance of legacy fleets. He urged the aerospace and defence industry to take opportunities in IAF’s objectives of capability enhancement and deterrence, assimilate technologies involved, set up R&D centres and evolve viable business plans to meet future requirements of the Armed Forces. He also pointed out that there is a huge potential for overhaul through part testing and outsourcing, and mentioned how IAF has successfully indigenised approximately 65,000 lives of spares.

The second session focused on the Indigenization and ROH requirements of the IAF. The key areas of discussion were ‘Scope for MRO, Obsolescence Mitigation & Development of Repair Technology, Certification Process, Industry Perspective on MRO Opportunities & Emerging Technologies and Opportunities and Challenges in Commercial Off the Shelf Technology.

The seminar was held to communicate IAF’s revenue indigenisation and Repair and Overhaul (ROH) requirements to private enterprise. It provided a forum for industry and IAF to work out plans for attainment of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Dushyant Chautala, Senior officials of the Ministry of Defence, Defence Forces, DPSUs, DRDO, private industries (including foreign OEMs collaborating with Indian companies), IAF personnel and representatives of various Operational and Maintenance Directorates also participated.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various projects of the Haryana Cooperation Department in Karnal today. Many dignitaries including the Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Manohar Lal were present on the occasion.

In his address, the Union Minister of Cooperation said that recently the Union Cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi took a decision that the Government of India will set up a Cooperative Export House which will export all agricultural and handicraft products to the world markets. Shri Shah said that he had appealed at that time that the states should also set up their own export houses and those export houses should become members of the Government of India’s export house. He said that the Haryana government has made a very good start by beginning this work so soon.

Shri Amit Shah said that it was a long standing demand of the people associated with Cooperation that a separate Ministry of Cooperation should be created in the country. He said that in the 75th year of independence, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi took a historic decision and formed a separate Ministry of Cooperation. He said that during the tenure of about one-and-a-half years, the Ministry of Cooperation of the Government of India has made new beginnings in many fields. He said that first of all the work of strengthening Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) was started, model bye-laws were established for them and recently PACS have been allowed to work as CSC (Common Service Center). Now these PACS will be able to do 20 different activities.

The country’s first Minister of Cooperation said that the cooperative export house built with state-of-the-art facilities in Haryana’s Karnal, all arrangements from testing, branding, bank linkage, letter of credit to export will be made. He said that till now HAFED has accomplished exports worth Rs.650 crores. Shri Shah said that Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Manohar Lal has established a joint animal shelter under the aegis of Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation, and many enterprises like animal feed, veterinary medicine and vaccination etc. are associated with it. He said that not only the poor will be associated with animal husbandry, there will also be a clean environment in the entire village and Gobar gas can also be produced.

Shri Amit Shah said that a co-operative milk plant with the cost of around Rs 200 crore has also been inaugurated here today. The plant has the capacity to process 5 lakh liters of milk per day and it will benefit many cattle herders. Apart from this, an ethanol plant with a cost of Rs 150 crore has been set up and it has a capacity of 90,000 liters per day. He said that ethanol blending reduces the import of petroleum products in our country and the environment is also protected due to this organic fuel. Shri Shah said that ethanol blending was less than 1 percent at the time of government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was formed in 2014. This has increased to more than 10 percent today and it will be further increased to 20 percent by 2025. He said that this will increase the income of sugar mills, APMC’s waste & waste paddy will be used and the country’s import bill will also be cut drastically.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that to make cooperatives relevant again and the backbone of rural economic activities, it is very important to spread awareness and for this Internet Radio ‘Sahakaritha Vani’ has also been launched here today. Through ‘Sahkarita Vani’ major scientific information related to farming, animal breeding and improvement in the quality of milk etc. will be available to the farmers from time to time. Shri Shah said that the NCDC, running under the aegis of the Government of India, has today released Rs 10,000 crore to Haryana for various works of Cooperatives, which will be provided to farmers’ cooperatives on low interest.

Shri Amit Shah said that Shri Manohar Lal has done a lot to transform Haryana. He said that Haryana has always been associated with the country’s security, but today we can say that every tenth soldier in the Army is from Haryana.  He said that it is a matter of great pride for Haryana that it is the land of Braves hearts. Haryana’s Strong farmer is second in the country in production of food grains and milk, which is a huge achievement. Shri Shah said that the players of Haryana also win many medals for the country. He said that today Haryana is the country’s first and only state with fully educated panchayats. Shri Shah said that by providing a gas stove to every household, Shri Manohar Lal has made Haryana the country’s first smoke-free state. Apart from this, Haryana was the first to provide toilets in every house and the maximum numbers of ODF villages are also in Haryana. He said that the growth rate of Haryana’s industrial production is 10 percent today. Apart from this, Haryana is about to become the largest software exporter and by registering 4119 start-ups, Haryana is taking the lead in this sector as well. He said that Haryana alone produces 50 percent of all the cars manufactured in the country. Shri Shah said that today Haryana has also taken many initiatives for the cooperative sector and these steps will prove to be ‘Sanjeevani’ for the poorest of the poor.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that we have started a campaign to make the District Cooperative Bank NPA free. He said that in this year’s budget, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set a target of a big scheme for the country’s cooperatives. Under this scheme before 2025 PACS will be established in every Panchayat of the country and 2 lakh new PACS will be made. He said that since independence 65 thousand PACS have been made, and now we have set a target of creating 2 lakh PACS in next 3 years. This shows how big the scale of the cooperative is going to be. He said that the government has also brought a new Cooperative Policy, and apart from this, 3 cooperative societies have also been fomred by the Government of India.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 14th edition of Aero India 2023 at Air Force Station, Yelahanka in Bengaluru today. The theme of Aero India 2023 is “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities’ and will witness participation by more than 80 countries along with 800 defence companies including around 100 foreign and 700 Indian companies. In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’, the event will focus on displaying indigenous equipment/technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that Bengaluru sky is bearing testimony to the capabilities of New India. “This new height is the reality of New India, today India is touching new heights and transcending them too”, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said that Aero India 2023 is a shining example of India’s growing capabilities and the presence of more than 100 nations at this event shows the trust that the entire world shows in India. He noted the participation of more than 700 exhibitors including Indian MSMEs and startups along with the well-renowned companies of the world. Throwing light on the theme of Aero India 2023 ‘The Runway to a Billion Opportunities’, the Prime Minister expressed that the strength of Atmanirbhar Bharat keeps on growing with each passing day.

Referring to the Defence Minister’s Conclave and CEO Roundtable that is being organized along with the show, Shri Modi said that active participation in the sector will enhance the potential of Aero India.

The Prime Minister underscored the importance of Aero India taking place in Karnataka which is the hub of India’s technological advancement. He said that this will open new avenues for the youth of Karnataka in the aviation sector. The Prime Minister called upon the youth of Karnataka to deploy their technological expertise in the field of defence to strengthen the country.

“When the country moves forward with new thinking, new approach, then its systems also start changing according to the new thinking”, the Prime Minister said as he highlighted that Aero India 2023 reflects the changing approach of New India. The Prime Minister recalled when Aero India used to be ‘just a show’ and a window to ‘sell to India’ but the perception has changed now. “Today, Aero India is India’s strength and not just a show”, the Prime Minister said as he stated that it not only showcases the scope of the defence industry but also showcases the self-confidence of India”

The Prime Minister said that India’s successes are bearing witness to its capabilities. Tejas, INS Vikrant, advanced manufacturing facilities in Surat and Tumkur, said the Prime Minister, are the potential of Aatmnirbhar Bharat with which the world’s new alternatives and opportunities are linked.

“The new India of the 21st century will neither miss any opportunity nor will it lack any effort”, the Prime Minister said as he noted the revolution brought in every sector with the help of reforms. He underlined that the nation which used to be the largest defence importer for decades has now started exporting defence equipment to 75 countries in the world.

Referring to the transformation of the defence sector in the last 8-9  years, the Prime Minister said that the aim is to take defence exports from 1.5 billion to 5 billion by 2024-25. “From here India will take rapid strides to be included among the largest defence manufacturing countries and our private sector and investors will play a big role in that”, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister called upon the private sector to invest in the defence sector which will create new opportunities for them in India and in many other countries.

“The India of today thinks fast, thinks far and takes quick decisions”, Shri Modi said as he drew the analogy of India in Amrit Kaal to a fighter jet pilot. The Prime Minister said that India is a nation which is not afraid but excited to soar to new heights. India is always rooted however high it flies howsoever is its speed, the Prime Minister stressed.

“Aero India’s deafening roar echoes India’s message of Reform, Perform and Transform”, the Prime Minister remarked. He mentioned that the entire world is taking note of the reforms made for ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in India and touched upon the various steps taken to create an environment that favours global investments as well as Indian innovation. He touched upon the reforms made in Foreign Direct Investments in defence and other sectors and the simplification of processes for issuing licenses to industries while also increasing their validity. The Prime Minister said that in this year’s Budget, tax benefits for manufacturing units have been enhanced.

The Prime Minister said where there is demand, expertise as well experience, Industry growth is  natural. He assured the gathering that efforts to strengthen the sector will keep going forward even stronger.

Governor of Karnataka, Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Basvaraj Bommai, Union Minister for Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia and Union Minister of State for Defence, Shri Ajay Bhatt were present on the occasion among others.

Background

In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’, the event will focus on displaying indigenous equipment/technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies. Prime Minister’s emphasis on Aatmanirbharta in the Indian Defence sector will also be displayed, as the event will showcase the country’s progress in design leadership, growth in UAVs Sector, Defence Space and futuristic technologies. Further, the event will promote the export of indigenous air platforms like Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The event will also help in integrating domestic MSMEs and start-ups in the global supply chain and attract foreign investments including partnerships for co-development and co-production.

Aero India 2023 will witness participation by more than 80 countries. Ministers of about 30 countries and 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are likely to participate in Aero India 2023.

Aero India 2023 exhibition will witness the participation of more than 800 Defence companies including around 100 foreign and 700 Indian companies. The Indian companies participating in the exhibition include MSMEs and start-ups, which will showcase the advancement of niche technologies, growth in aerospace and defence capabilities in the country. Major exhibitors in Aero India 2023 include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called upon Indian & global industry leaders to support the Government’s endeavour to design, develop and manufacture cutting-edge products, using critical technologies, within the country to attain complete ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence, with the overall objective of achieving shared global peace and prosperity. He was addressing over 70 CEOs of local and global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) during a Round Table organised as part of Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru on February 13, 2023.

The Raksha Mantri asserted that India does not want to remain just an assembly workshop and is looking to engage with friendly countries in defence and security based on sharing expertise and capabilities under the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He assured industry leaders that the government is open to new ideas and is committed to fully harness the energy, entrepreneurial spirit and capability of private sector partners in the area of defence production. He extended government’s full support towards removing obstacles and facilitating businesses.

Shri Rajnath Singh voiced the Government’s resolve of nurturing a vibrant and world-class defence manufacturing industry, terming it as the key driver of Indian economy. He enumerated a number of far-reaching reforms undertaken by Ministry of Defence to create a business-friendly climate in the country. These include setting up of defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; simplification of industrial licensing processes; hike in cap on FDI in defence; opening of government trial and testing facilities for the private sector; increase in capital outlay for defence in Budget 2023-24 and launch of Technology Development Fund and Innovations for Defence Excellence. He said, these reforms will enable Indian defence products to compete with established global defence and aerospace companies.

The Raksha Mantri stressed that indigenisation is the mantra for India today, unlike in the past when import was the default option. He appreciated the growing enthusiasm & greater participation of private players in defence production and expressed confidence that the CEOs Round Table will sow the seeds of successful new ventures and partnerships, boost investment, expand indigenous manufacturing and bolster aerospace and defence ecosystem in India. He stated that the partnership between Government and the Industry is based on equality & mutual trust.

The CEOs Round Table was organised on the theme ‘Sky is not the limit: opportunities beyond boundaries’. The participating companies included Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industries, General Atomics, Liebherr Group, Raytheon Technologies, Safran, General Authority of Military Industries, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, BEML Limited, Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge, Dynamatic Technologies and BrahMos Aerospace.

This platform was to forge partnerships between domestic and global Industries of the aerospace and defence sector to address the present and future global needs and discuss the importance of supply chain strategy and operations as the world deals with the aftermath of the pandemic and global disruptions. More than 75 companies, including 28 foreign OEMs from 15 countries and domestic companies & DPSUs participated in the discussion. There was official participation from Countries of Sudan and Saudi Arabia. The significance of roundtable discussion as “dialogue between equals” was emphasised.

A short film highlighting the robust Indian defence ecosystem showcasing indigenously designed, developed platforms were projected exhibiting Indian capabilities and strengths. The participants were apprised of the opportunities in the defence manufacturing industry and continued pro development and pro-growth policies offered by the country through the DPSUs, MSMEs and private Industries.

Many foreign OEMs made announcements regarding their plans for investments and collaborations including Safran, Boeing, Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Thales in defence and aerospace sector. General Atomics and Bharat Forge announced to deepen their collaboration in aircraft components and parts. Hensoldt announced Design/TOT and IPR transfer of obstacle avoidance system for Indian Helicopters and co development of Advanced Multi Sensor Electro-optics Airborne Gimbals for Indian and world market. CEOs of domestic companies including Bharat Forge, L&T and Mahindra Defence Systems shared their views on major reforms and their impetus for robust defence system under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The CEO Roundtable engaged industries for co-development and co-production to make India a Commercial Manufacturing Hub and base for global product support, while exploring Indian and Global market.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande and Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane also attended the Round Table.

The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presided over the opening session of DHARA 2023 (Driving Holistic Action for Urban Rivers) organised by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in Pune today. DHARA is the annual meeting of the members of the River Cities Alliance (RCA) and provides a platform for senior officials including Commissioners, Addl. Commissioners, Chief Engineers and Senior Planners of over 100 member-cities in India to co-learn and discuss solutions for managing local water resources.

Shri G. Asok Kumar, Director General, NMCG, Shri Vikram Kumar, Municipal Commissioner, Pune, Shri Hitesh Vaidya, Director, NIUA were also present on the occasion. The opening session also witnessed the launch of Urban River Management Plan for Ayodhya and Aurangabad and ‘75 River Initiatives’ – a Compendium. The Union Minister inaugurated the event by unifying the water collected from 52 participating cities in a Jal Kalash.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that rivers are synonymous with civilizations and after several decades of using our rivers for survival, we must reflect on what we have given the rivers back, otherwise our future generation will bear the brunt of water scarcity. He expressed his happiness on the fact that over 40 Municipal Commissioners are present today at the event and reflected on the importance of de-centralized planning in effectively managing water resources. “The planning can best be done at the level of the local self-bodies and that is the reason why their presence here is of immense importance,” adding, “Through the local bodies we can directly connect with the people, which is absolutely essential for the success of any programme concerning water.”

Shri Shekhawat said that the country is going through a crucial time and has completed the 75 years of independence. He also said that technologically-driven change that has been witnessed in the past few decades make it all the more important for all of us to collectively work in the direction of making a ‘Viksit Bharat’ as envisioned by our Hon’ble Prime Minister. “The world is looking at us because of our growth, especially since India has been handed over the G20 presidency,” he said, adding, “During an event in Bhopal – Vision@2047- it was emphasized by me that we have accepted the challenge of Viksit Bharat and it is our collective responsibility. I was happy to see that 25 states participated in that event and made presentations on their plans for water related issues.” He added that water availability is the basis of making Vision@2027 target a success and it is our firm belief that requirement of water is directly proportional to the growth of the economy.

He also said that caution has to be exercised in ensuring that our programmes on rivers do not get limited to infrastructure development but we must try and establish a robust people-river connect. “It is necessary to reestablish the respect for water, which went down from generation-to-generation as part of the traditional wisdom of our forefathers,” he said, adding, “It is time that we generate that sentiment in the younger generation by using social media, which is a powerful tool in the times we live.”

He added that the Ministry of Jal Shakti is working holistically for providing safe drinking water to every household, groundwater management and recharge, aquifer mapping, river rejuvenation and India is among the countries with one of the biggest financial allocation to the water sector. “We have to move ahead with a firm resolution and we will certainly achieve our targets,” he said.

He expressed his happiness over the trajectory of increasing members of River-Cities Alliance from 23 to 107. Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, water as a sector is raising above the silos. “If every city (107) which is the member of the RCA will take a step forward, we will take 107 steps forward and that is the need-of-the-hour,” he added.

Delivering the opening address, Shri G. Asok Kumar, DG, NMCG welcomed the guests and said that Namami Gange Programme was launched to rejuvenate River Ganga and its tributaries. He said that water was hardly a priority for municipal commissioners but under Namami Gange Programme, they were urged to bring water into their main agenda and we have been successful in doing that. “Namami Gange has been selected as one of the world’s top 10 flagship programmes from over 160 countries which is a testament of the success of Namami Gange Programme.”

Talking about the 2^nd National Ganga Council meeting that took place on 30^th December 2022, Shri Kumar said that the Hon’ble Prime Minister mentioned during the meeting how rivers are extremely important vehicles for economic growth and emphasized the direct connection between clean rivers and the country’s GDP and growth. “The Hon’ble PM espoused the concept of Arth Ganga in the first NGC meeting to focus on improving the lives of the people living on the banks of the river basins. The contribution of the Hon’ble Prime Minister in bringing back the respect for water is unparalleled,” Shri Kumar added. Shri said the vision for Swachh Bharat Mission laid out by Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi paved the path towards a paradigm shift in the approach to urban management which can be seen in several improved health indicators.

Shi Kumar expressed his happiness on the fact that the members of the River Cities Alliance have crossed the 100 mark and the urban water issues are now being address in totality. “Water has always been kept in silos; one H2O was divided into multiple units. The creation of the Jal Shakti Ministry in 2019 was, perhaps, the first attempt at breaking those silos,” he said, adding, “Another important factor is the encroachment of our water bodies, which are the backbone of the traditional wisdom of water conservation and rainwater harvesting.”

Shri Kumar urged the municipal commissioners to manage their water resources well to see tremendous growth in health, economy and overall well-being in their jurisdictions and add value to their cities. “NMCG has taken a lot of initiatives like making Urban River Management Plans, Thesis Competition etc. to develop models for water as a development resource and RCA is certainly one of the most important steps in the direction of effective urban water management,” he said, adding, “Water sector is a niche area and good work done will pave the way towards an efficient water management and make India water secure.” He ended his address by expressing hope that the unique ideas and solutions presented in the deliberations will be used by the city planners with DHARA becoming rain stream that can help make India a river-friendly country.

Day 1 of DHARA 2023 saw sessions on ‘Innovative Examples of River Management within India’, ‘Innovative International Case Studies for River Management’, ‘Strengthening the Agenda for Urban River management’, ‘Youth for Rivers’, ‘Experiences from International River Cities’.

Mr. Himansu Badoni, Executive Director, NMCG; Mr. S. Vishwanath, Director, BIOME Solutions; Mr. Ramveer Tanwar, Pondman of India; Dr. Kartiki Naik, Urban Development Specialist, World Resources Institute; Mr. Gaurav Anand, Swacchta Pukare, Jamshedpur; Mr. Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Chief Advisor, NIUA; Col. Andy Pannier, Secretary, Mississippi River Commission, USA; Ms. Martina Bukard, Programme Director, GIZ, Germany; Dr. Harry Virahsawmy, Head of Urban Water, Alluvium Consulting, Australia; Dr. Anitha Sharma, Counsellar for Water and Urban Development, Embassy of Denmark; Dr. Srinivas Chokkakula, Ministry of Jal Shakti Professional Chair, Centre for Policy Research; Prof. Mr. Vinod Tare, Founding Head, cGanga and Mr. Dheeraj Joshi, Deputy Secretary, NMCG were among the panelists of the sessions on Day 1.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted all radio listeners, RJs and all others associated with the broadcasting eco-system on the occasion of World Radio Day. Shri Modi has also urged citizens to share their inputs for Mann Ki Baat programme on the 26th February, 2023.

In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said;

“Greetings to all radio listeners, RJs and all others associated with the broadcasting eco-system on the special occasion of World Radio Day. May the radio keep brightening lives through innovative programmes and showcasing human creativity.”

“Since it is World Radio Day, I would also like to take the opportunity to remind you all of the 98th #MannKiBaat programme on the 26th. Do share your inputs for the same. Write on MyGov, NaMo App or record your message by dialling 1800-11-7800.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation, the 246 km Delhi – Dausa – Lalsot section of the Delhi Mumbai Expressway today. He also laid the foundation stone for 247 kilometres of National Highway projects to be developed at a cost of more than Rs 5940 crore. The Prime Minister’s emphasis on the building of excellent road infrastructure as an engine of growth, development and connectivity in New India is being realised by the construction of a number of ongoing world-class Expressways across the country.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed pride in dedicating the first phase of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to the nation. He underlined that this is one of the most advanced expressways in the world which presents a grand picture of developing India.

The Prime Minister said that when such modern roads, railway stations, railway tracks, Metro and airports are constructed, the country’s development gets momentum. He also highlighted the multiplier effect of the investment on infrastructure. “For the last 9 years, the Central Government is also continuously making huge investments in infrastructure”, the Prime Minister remarked as he noted investments worth more than 50,000 crores for the construction of highways in Rajasthan. In this year’s budget, the Prime Minister informed that there has been an allocation of 10 lakh crores for infrastructure which is 5 times more than the allocation in 2014. He underlined that the poor and middle class from Rajasthan will greatly benefit from these investments. The Prime Minister underscored the benefits of investment in infrastructure on the economy and said that it creates employment and connectivity

The Prime Minister stated that when investments are made in highways, railways, ports, airports, optical fibers, digital connectivity, construction of pucca houses and colleges, every section of the society gets empowered.

Elaborating on another benefit of infrastructure, the Prime Minister said that economic activities are getting a boost. He said with the construction of the Delhi – Dausa – Lalsot highway, the travel time between Delhi and Jaipur will be reduced. The Prime Minister said that along the Expressway Grameen Haats are being established that will help the local farmers and artisans. He underlined that the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will benefit Rajasthan along with many areas of Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat and Maharashtra. “Tourism spots like Sariska, Keoladeo National Park, Ranthambore and Jaipur will draw huge benefits from the highway”, he said.

Speaking about the three other projects, the Prime Minister said that one of them will give Jaipur direct connectivity with the expressway. The second project will connect the expressway with Ambala- Kotputli corridor near Alwar. This will help vehicles coming from Haryana, Punjab,  Himachal and Jammu Kashmir to travel to Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Lalsot Karoli road will also connect the region with the Expressway.

The Prime Minister underlined that the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor are going to become two strong pillars of progress for Rajasthan and the country and will transform this entire region including Rajasthan in the times to come. He noted that these two projects will strengthen the Mumbai-Delhi Economic Corridor and the road and freight corridor will connect many regions of Rajasthan, Haryana and Western India with ports. He said that it will create new opportunities for logistics, storage, transport and other industries as well.

Highlighting that the Delhi Mumbai Expressway is powered by the PM Gati Shakti Masterplan, the Prime Minister informed that arrangements have been made to lay optical fiber, electricity lines and gas pipelines, and the leftover land will be used for producing solar energy as well as warehousing purposes. “These efforts will save the nation a lot of money in the future”, the Prime Minister remarked.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister highlighted the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ for Rajasthan and the county, and said, “The government’s resolve is to make a competent, capable and prosperous India.”

Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Kailash Choudary, PWD Minister of Rajasthan Government, Shri Bhajanlal Jatav and Members of Parliament were present on the occasion among others.

Background

The 246 km Delhi – Dausa – Lalsot section of the Delhi Mumbai Expressway has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 12,150 crore. This operationalization of this section will reduce the travel time from Delhi to Jaipur from 5 hours to around 3.5 hours and provide a major boost to the economic development of the entire region.

Delhi Mumbai Expressway will be India’s longest expressway with a length of 1,386 km. It will reduce the travel distance between Delhi and Mumbai by 12% from 1,424 km to 1,242 Km and travel time will be reduced by 50% from 24 hrs to 12 hrs. It will pass through six states – Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra and connect major cities like Kota, Indore, Jaipur, Bhopal, Vadodara and Surat. The Expressway will also serve 93 PM Gati Shakti Economic Nodes, 13 Ports, 8 Major Airports and 8 multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) along with spurs to new upcoming greenfield airports such as Jewar Airport, Navi Mumbai Airport and JNPT port. The Expressway will have a catalytic impact on the developmental trajectory of all adjoining regions, thus contributing in a major way to the economic transformation of the country.

During the programme, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of 247 kilometres of National Highway projects to be developed at a cost of more than Rs 5940 crore. This includes a 67-km long four-lane spur road from Bandikui to Jaipur to be developed at a cost of more than Rs 2000 crore, a six-lane spur road from Kotputli to Baraodaneo, to be developed at a cost of about Rs 3775 crore and two-lane paved shoulder of Lalsot – Karoli section, being developed at a cost of about Rs 150 crore.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the year-long celebrations commemorating the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi today. He also released a logo for commemoration.

Upon arriving at the venue, the Prime Minister walked past the panorama and live representations of Arya Samaj and also offered Ahuti Arpan in the ongoing Yagya. Later on, he handed over the LED Mashal to youth representatives as a symbolic carry forward of the spark ignited in this programme reinforcing the messages of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati to the rest of India and the world.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister called the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati historic, an occasion to create a future and inspiration for the entire world. Referring to  Maharishi Dayanand’s ideal of making the world a better place, the Prime Minister said in this era of discord, violence and instability, the path shown by Maharishi Dayanand gives hope.

The Prime Minister underlined that the auspicious occasion will be celebrated for two years and said that the government has decided to celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati. Throwing light on the continuous practice for the welfare of humanity, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for being able to offer Ahuti Arpan in the ongoing Yagya. Referring to the good fortune of being born in the same land where Swami ji was born, the Prime Minister stressed the continued attraction of the ideals of Maharshi Dayananda in his life.

Recalling India’s condition when Dayanand Saraswati was born, the Prime Minister stated that India was marred and weakened after centuries of slavery and was losing its aura and self-confidence. He recalled the numerous efforts that were underway to crush the ideals, the culture and the roots of India. Swami ji dispelled the notion of any deficiency in the traditions and scriptures of India, he pointed out that their real meaning is forgotten. The Prime Minister recalled the time when the false interpretation of Vedas was being used to belittle India and traditions were being deformed, in such a time Maharshi Dayanand’s effort came as a saviour. “Maharshi Ji started a strong campaign against social ills like discrimination and untouchability.” Shri Modi cited the reactions against his emphasis on duty as a challenge in the 21st century to illustrate the enormity of the effort of the Maharshi in his time. “Evils that were falsely attributed to religion, Swami Ji removed them with the light of religion itself”, the Prime Minister explained. Mahatma Gandhi, said the Prime Minister, considered Swamiji’s fight against untouchability as his biggest contribution.

The Prime Minister underlined that Maharishi Dayanand ji also emerged as a logical and effective voice against the stereotypes that had flourished in society regarding women. He informed that Maharishi Dayanand ji strongly opposed discrimination against women and also initiated campaigns for the education of women while underlining that these facts are more than 150 years old. Even in today’s day and age, the Prime Minister said, there are societies which deprive women of their right to education and respect, but it was Maharishi Dayanand who raised his voice when equal rights for women was a far-fetched reality, even in the western countries.

The Prime Minister emphasized the extraordinary nature of the achievements and efforts of Maharishi ji. He said that people’s spirit and regard for him 150 years after Arya Samaj and 200 years after his birth is an indication of his prominent place in the journey of the nation. “In the Amrit Kaal, the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati has come with a sacred inspiration”, he added.

Shri Modi said that the country is following Swamiji’s teaching with great confidence. Referring to Swamiji’s call ‘Back to Vedas’, the Prime Minister said “today the country is confidently calling for ‘pride in our heritage’”, as he noted the confidence of the people of India to lay the path of modernity while enriching the culture and traditions at the same time.

The Prime Minister dwelled on the expansive notion of religion in India which goes beyond rituals and is defined as an entire way of life. ‘With us, the first interpretation of religion is about duty’, the Prime Minister said. Swami ji, the Prime Minister said, took an inclusive and integrated approach and assumed responsibility and leadership of many dimensions of the nation’s life. The Prime Minister further elaborated on the wider role of the sages and saints in Indian life by referring to the achievements of Indian sages in philosophy, Yoga, Mathematics, policy, diplomacy, science and medical science. Swami ji played a big role in reviving that ancient tradition, the Prime Minister added.

Reflecting on the teachings of Maharishi Dayanand, the Prime Minister noted the various organizations established by him during his lifetime. Even though Maharishi lived with a revolutionary ideology, the Prime Minister underlined how Maharishi connected all his ideas with order and institutionalized them to establish various organizations that have actively taken up various welfare work in different sectors for decades. Giving the example of Paropkarini Sabha, the Prime Minister said that the organization was established by Maharishi himself and propagates Vedic traditions today through Gurukuls and publications as mediums. He also gave examples of Kurukshetra Gurukul, Swami Shraddhanand Trust and Maharishi Dayanand Trust and noted the numerous lives of youth that have been shaped by these organizations. The Prime Minister also noted the significant contributions of Jeevan Prabhat Trust in social service and rescue operations during the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat and underlined that the organization was inspired by the ideals of Maharishi Ji.

The Prime Minister underlined that the country is witnessing progress with non-discriminatory policies and efforts which were a priority for Swami Ji also. “The service of the poor, backward and downtrodden is the first yagya for the country today.”  He cited housing, medical treatment, and women empowerment in this regard. New Education policy promotes modern education with emphasis on Indianness as taught by Swami ji.

The Prime Minister recalled Swami ji’s definition of a realized person, a person who gives more than he takes is a realized person. This has relevance in myriad spheres including the environment. Swami ji understood this knowledge of Vedas deeply, the Prime Minister said. “Maharishi ji was a student of Vedas and a saint of Gyan Marg”, the Prime Minister said. India is leading the world in the quest for sustainable development. The Prime Minister referred to Mission LiFE in this regard and said the environment is being pushed as a special agenda of G20. The Prime Minister said that Arya Samaj can play a big role by promoting these modern ideals with the foundation of ancient wisdom. He asked them to push natural farming. The Prime Minister also mentioned the push for Shri Anna.

Emphasizing that lots can be learnt from the Maharishi’s personality, the Prime Minister narrated the story of an English officer who came to meet Maharishi and asked him to pray for continuous British Rule in India to which Maharishi fearlessly replied, “Independence is my soul and the voice of India”. The Prime Minister said innumerable freedom fighters and institution builders and patriots took inspiration from Swami Ji and gave examples of Lokmanya Tilak, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Veer Savarkar, Lala Lajpat Rai, Lala Hardayal, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil and other freedom fighters. He also gave examples of Mahatma Hansraj, Swami Shraddhanand Ji, Bhai Parmanand Ji and many other leaders who found inspiration from Maharishi

The Prime Minister said that Arya Samaj has the legacy of teachings of Swami Ji and the country expects a lot from every ‘Arya Veer’. He also informed that next year, Arya Samaj will begin its 150th year. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister congratulated everyone for organizing the momentous occasion with great planning, execution and management. “In the Amrit Kaal, may we all find inspiration from the efforts of Maharishi Dayanand ji”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat, Union Minister for Culture, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Ministers of State for Culture, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal and Smt Meenakshi Lekhi, President of Delhi Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Shri Daram Pal Arya, Mahamantri of Delhi Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Shri Vinay Arya, and President, Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Shri Suresh Chandra Arya were present on the occasion among others.

Background

Born on 12th February 1824, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati was a social reformer who founded Arya Samaj in 1875 to counter social inequities prevalent during the times. Arya Samaj has played a crucial role in the cultural and social awakening of the country through its emphasis on social reforms and education.

The government has been committed to celebrating the social reformers and important personalities, especially those whose contributions were not given their due yet on a pan-India scale. From declaring the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Muda as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas to participating in a programme commemorating Sri Aurobindo’s 150th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been leading such initiatives from the front.

There have been commitments to the tune of lakhs of crores to invest in Uttar Pradesh and this has been made possible due to the honest government and safe environment in the state, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal said today, while addressing the UP Global Investors Summit in Lucknow.

The fast pace of progress that we can see and feel in the Global Investors Summit in Uttar Pradesh is due to the capable leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said, adding that Uttar Pradesh is now on the move and no one can now stop its progress.

Shri Goyal recounted the story that started way back in 2017 when UP Assembly elections were in progress. ‘At the time we were given the task of making a manifesto for the party. We met people across the state and people from all sections of life wanted change and able administration. We wondered where we will get the required funds to do what was to be done. Prime Minister was clear that whatever we promised in the manifesto will have to be implemented’, he said.

The Minister said that at the time Home Minister Shri Amit Shahji said that we will have to do three things: to put an end to land-mafia, sand-mafia and liquor mafia. Shri Shah said that if we are able to do this, there will never be a shortage of resources in the state, Shri Goyal added. The way UP has progressed in recent years shows that an honest government, a government working for the welfare of the people, a government that does not tolerate any wrongdoing, can ensure necessary revenues and take the state to new levels of achievement, Shri Goyal said.

Union Commerce Minister pointed out that there have been commitments of several lakhs of crores rupees by investors at this Summit. It is the proof that the people now believe that it is now easy to invest in the state, that the state has an honest system, that law and order is in place and the investors have invested their faith in the people of the state, he said. They believe that the people of UP will, even in the future, vote for such honest government, he added.

Speaking of Ease of Doing Business Ranking, Shri Goyal said that it is done across the country to assess where it is easy to do business and that India has jumped in the global ranking in the recent years. He pointed out that the Prime Minister believed in competitive and collaborative federalism and therefore there is a ranking of states also. UP now ranks at number 2 in the country among the states, he said.

The progress of Start Up India in Uttar Pradesh is a matter of satisfaction, Shri Goyal said. UP was an emerging ecosystem state in 2020 but in 2021 ranking, UP is the leader in Start Up ecosystem, he pointed out. There are 8,277 Start Ups in the state and the state is on 4th number, he said. Shri Goyal wondered “Who could have thought this possible a few years ago?” He said that he had the opportunity to speak to some young men and women who are running some of these Start Ups and could see their enthusiasm and their wonderful ideas.

Shri Goyal said that India signed three important Free Trade Agreements last year and this year also we were hoping to sigh two or three FTAs. They will open the doors for the breweries and wineries of UP as they will get market access, investments and technologies. “I saw in the presentation today that there are 28 fruits and 4 flowers excluding grapes that are found in UP which can produce various kinds of wine in the state. These products will have ready markets worldwide,” he added.

Shri Goyal pointed out that the increase of UP’s excise has gone up three times despite reduction in rates. This is because of the honest system enforced in the state and due to breaking the back of liquor mafia. This is an example for the entire country, he concluded.The speeding up of approval of licencing in the state has helped the state attract investment and it is smooth and investor friendly, Shri Goyal said.

Shri Goyal said that Prime Minister has asked all states to take export as a special responsibility and in this,UP has taken a lead. One District One Product was taken seriously and now in the last 5 years the exports from UP has doubled. Telecom equipment export from UP has increased 63 times, fruits and vegetables have increased 26 times in this period, he noted. There are immense possibilities for the state to grow.

This is truly a land of opportunities because we are doing reforms not because of any pressure but because of our conviction that it will take the state and country ahead in Amrit Kaal. This summit has been done at the right time to attract large amounts of investment in the state, Shri Goyal concluded.