Union Minister Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah addressed the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of B V Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering & Technology as the Chief Guest at Hubli, Karnataka, today. Several dignitaries including Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi, Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri Basavaraj Bommai, Swami Shri Brahmarishi Gurudev of Vishwa Dharma Chetna Manch, Tirupati were present on the occasion.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that today is the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai and the country can never forget his contribution. He said that today is also the birth anniversary the first Army Chief of independent India, K.M. Cariappa, who not only set many goals for the Indian Army but also achieved them through his bravery. Shri Shah said that in this journey of 75 years from independence till now, India has indisputably strengthened its position and showed its potential to the whole world. He said that since last 107 years, Karnataka Lingayat Education Society (KLE) has enlightened the lives of millions of people through education.

Shri Amit Shah said that the journey of KLE Society which started from a small school in 1916 has reached to 294 institutions today. About 1,38,000 students are studying here. Running this society for 107 years in a very democratic and transparent manner is an example for the education system of the entire country. He said that today, KLE Society is making a huge contribution in the health sector with infrastructure having capacity of more than 4000 beds. In this, there are 1700 health facilities where free treatment is provided to the poorest of the poor. Shri Shah said that KLE Technical University has had a bright history since 1947 till date and many of its students have contributed for the country and the world in many fields.

The Union Home Minister said that an indoor stadium of seating capacity of 3500 is built at a cost of about Rs 25 crore, has been inaugurated today. It has facilities of two courts each for badminton and squash, one court each for basketball and volleyball and tables tennis. Two separate gymnasiums for boys and girls are also made. He added that the promise made by KLE Society to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to send one of its students to the Olympics will be fulfilled very soon.

Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has laid the foundation to make India a great Nation, which was dreamt by our freedom fighters. Shri Shah added that India was at number 11 in world economic ranking from 2004 to 2014, but after Shri Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, it leaped to 5^th position in span of 8 years. It shows our country’s fast progress across the world. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has cherished the dream of making India a 5 trillion dollar economy, after achieving this, many possibilities will arise for students of technical university like you.

Shri Amit Shah said that in this journey of 75 years from independence till now, India has indisputably strengthened its position and showed its potential to the whole world. Under Make in India Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has taken many initiatives to make India the production hub of the world, as a result of which India has reached to 5th place from 11th in the world economy today and is expected to reach the 3rd place by 2027. Shri Shah said that registrations of patents show the future of any country. In 2013-14, 3,000 applications used to come for patent registration, which increased to 1.5 lakh in the year 2021-22, this shows how far our youth have progressed in the field of research. He said that in 2013-14, out of 3000, 211 patents were registered, which has increased to more than 24000 in 2021-22. He said that under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, 4.3 Crore beneficiaries were given a loan of Rs 2,66,000 Crore. Shri Shah said that the Digital India Mission has opened many possibilities for the youth of the country. The Fit India Mission along with Khelo India has opened up many possibilities for the youth to advance in the field of sports. He said that new initiatives in the field of animation and gaming are also being taken. Along with this, under Suryoday Scheme, the Prime Minister has opened up areas like artificial intelligence, drones, semiconductor, space, genomics, pharmaceutical and green energy for the youth of the country. Shri Shah told the youth of the country that they should move out of the traditional thinking and framework and think new.

The Union Home Minister said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has opened immense possibilities for the youth in every field. Today, the number of IITs in the country has increased from 16 to 23, IIMs from 13 to 20, IIITs from 9 to 25, AIIMS from 7 to 22, medical colleges from 387 to 596 and universities from 723 to 1,043, this shows that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Under Modi, the Government of India has increased the base and scope of education. Apart from this, Shri Modi has also increased the number of colleges from 36,000 to 48,000. He said that the campus of National Forensic Science University will be built in North Karnataka. He said that forensic science is going to become a huge sector in the country in the coming days and to get trained human resources in this field, we have set up National Forensic Science University. This vision of Shri Modi will open a lot of possibilities for science students because in the coming days we are going to make forensic evidence compulsory in crimes of having more than 6 years of punishment and then, at least 50,000 forensic science scientists will be required. In this series, the opening of ninth campus of the National Forensic Science University of Gandhinagar is starting here today.

The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that in 2022, India achieved a record export of about US $ 400 billion. The Prime Minister has taken many initiatives in the country. Earlier, no initiative was taken in the field of startups, in 2014 there were only three unicorn startups in the country, while today more than 70000 startups have been formed, of which there are more than 75 unicorn startups, more than 30% startups have been created by girl students. He said that 45% startups are from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, which shows that the youth of the country is full of enthusiasm and potential and wherever they are, no one can stop them from achieving success now.

Shri Amit Shah said that on the occasion of 75 years of independence, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi proposed to the country to celebrate the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and aimed at our young generation to understand, read and know the 90 years of freedom struggle from 1857 to 1947 and by taking inspiration from the lives of our freedom fighters, apply them in their lives. Shri Shah urged the gathering to read about 90 years of independence and said that we are breathing in free India because of the sacrifices made by the lakhs of people, we all are indebted to them.

The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that it is not everyone’s destiny to die for the country, but everyone has the right to live their life for the country. In the year of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, we all should take a pledge that no matter how successful we become in our lives but the goal should be the same that we have to create a great India and bring India to the first place in the world. Technical students studying here should become the biggest technocrats in the world, but at the same time keep the aim that India should be first in the field of technology in the world.

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal called for the creation of an international network of mentors, investors and entrepreneurs to strengthen the global startup ecosystem. He said that this network must support and inspire startups, act as a team to facilitate exchange of ideas, best practices and funding mechanisms and promote collaborations in Research and Development. He was addressing the inaugural session of the Inception Meeting of the Startup 20 Engagement Group of G20 in Hyderabad today.

The Minister said that it is not just the role of individual nations to support innovation and added that it will have to be the collective responsibility of world nations to nurture a global effort to incubate startup ecosystems in all parts of the world, thus creating a global startup ecosystem that is inclusive, supportive and sustainable to address global challenges,

Shri Goyal said that India was proud to highlight the progress & potential of the global startup ecosystem as the host nation of G20. He noted that the Startup20 Group had been established under India’s G20 Presidency for the first time, as part of India’s special focus on innovation.

The Minister expressed confidence that innovation would be the strongest pillar that would help build a developed India in the Amritkaal. He said that innovation has been a catalytic force for the economy and social and public good. “Innovation in today’s world goes beyond achieving mere economic objectives as it also considers societal inclusion and environment sustainability”, he said.

The Minister observed that India had begun its startup journey with the foundation stone laid by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in 2016 with the launch of the Startup India Initiative. He said that in the last 7 years, it had helped in fostering entrepreneurship and promoting newer and newer ideas, helping startups grow and flourish by creating an ecosystem that is conducive for growth. He added that the capabilities of our startups in different areas- be it energy, be it financial inclusion, where fintech played an important role, be it our fight against pandemic when remote healthcare and food delivery became very important, be in online learning which is today becoming very natural, be it our work in agri-tech, helped us face a number of challenges.

Shri Goyal noted that the world is facing a multitude of global challenges, from climate change to poverty and inequality. He expressed his firm belief that innovation can lead the way in solving these problems. The Minister said that in the Indian startup context, our entrepreneurs are using their creativity and ingenuity to tackle these challenges head-on. He cited the examples of digital public goods like Cowin, UPI and ONDC as means to tackle problems and ensure inclusive growth in India by redefining social innovation.

The Minister said that growing participation from Tier 2 & 3 markets that are swiftly embracing latest technology, has pushed envelope for local startups in India with new ideas to succeed. He said that through G-20, India was trying to transfer our expertise, so IndiaStack will be GlobalStack and transform the way people use technology, helping take technology to the common man. He added that developing nations must transform themselves from being destinations for low-cost, outsourced software and support services, to becoming global Tech and Innovation hubs. He also highlighted that India had climbed to 40th rank in the Global Innovation Index (GII) of WIPO taking a huge leap of 41 places in 7 years.

Shri Goyal noted that India has been nurturing the innovation spirit right from the school level onwards through Atal Innovation Mission. He said that India also has active programs for supporting startups with many nations around the world. “Some of the prime examples are the Indo-US, Indo-UK, Indo-Australia partnerships where we explore supporting deep tech startups, that contribute to circular economy, and address basic needs like health, water, agriculture, education, financial inclusion etc”, he added.

Shri Goyal gave the Mantra of ‘SENSE’ i.e. Share, Explore, Nurture, Serve & Empower for growth of startups. “When I see the enthusiasm all around us, I get a sense of changing mindset, I get a sense of urgency, I can sense that Startup 20 will become a very powerful body which will change the way that the world recognizes and respects startups”, he said.

He expressed confidence that the discussions in next 2 days would lay the foundation for strong actionable recommendations for G20 leaders to deliberate and start a Global Startup Revolution, helping us truly make a difference to the future of startups all around the world.

Startup 20 will see participation of delegates from G20 nations and nine special invitees from observer countries, representatives from multilateral organizations as well as the Indian startup ecosystem. The group formed under G20 after India assumed presidency is holding its inception meeting from January 28-29 anticipating a productive development of policy recommendations on entrepreneurship and innovation priorities of and across G20 countries for the years ahead. The meeting will create a global narrative for supporting startups and fostering synergies between startups, corporates, investors, innovation agencies, and other key ecosystem stakeholders.

G20 Sherpa Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO NITI Aayog, Startup20 India Chair Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, senior government officials and other dignitaries were present at the inaugural session.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the ceremony commemorating the 1111th ‘Avataran Mahotsav’ of Bhagwan Shri Devnarayan Ji in Bhilwara, Rajasthan today. The Prime Minister performed mandir darshan and parikrama and also planted a neem sapling. He also performed Purnahuti in the ongoing Vishnu Mahayagya at Yagya Shala. Bhagwan Shri Devnarayan Ji is worshipped by the people of Rajasthan, and his followers are spread across the length and breadth of the country. He is revered especially for his work towards public service.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed happiness in getting the opportunity to be present on the auspicious occasion. The Prime Minister emphasised that he has not come here as a Prime Minister but as a pilgrim who wishes to seek the blessing of Bhagwan Shri Devnarayan Ji. He also expressed gratitude for being able to perform ‘purnahuti’ in the ongoing Vishnu Mahayagna at the Yagya Shala. “I feel blessed by getting ‘darshan’ of both Devnarayan ji and ‘Janta Janardan’”, the Prime Minister said. “Like every other pilgrim who is here, I seek blessings from Bhagwan Shri Devnarayan Ji for the constant development of the nation and welfare of the poor”, the Prime Minister further remarked.

Highlighting the grand occasion of the 1111th Avataran Diwas of Bhagwan Shri Devnarayan, the Prime Minister noted the cultural programmes that are taking place here for the past week and the active participation of the Gurajar community. He praised the efforts of every individual in the community and congratulated them on the occasion.

Referring to the continued ancient flow of Indian consciousness, the Prime Minister said that India is not just a land mass but is an expression of our civilization, culture, harmony and possibilities. He talked about the resilience of the Indian civilization as many other civilizations could not adapt to the changing times and perished. Despite many efforts taking place to break India geographically, culturally, socially and ideologically, no power could finish India, Shri Modi said.

“The India of today is laying the foundations for a grand future”, the Prime Minister said as he credited the strength and inspiration of the Indian society that preserves the immortality of the nation. Throwing light on the contributions of the strength of the society in the thousand-year-old journey of India, the Prime Minister noted the energy that stems from within the society in every period of history and acts as the guiding light for everyone.

The Prime Minister said that Bhagwan Shri Devnarayan always gave precedence to service and people’s welfare. The Prime Minister recounted Shri Devnarayan’s devotion to the people’s welfare and his choice of service to humanity. “Path shown by Bhagwan Devnarayan is of ‘Sabka Vikas’ through ‘Sabka Saath’ and the country, today, is following the same path”. The Prime Minister said. For the past 8-9 years the country is trying to empower every section that has remained deprived and neglected. We are moving with the mantra of ‘precedence to the deprived’, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister recalled the time when there was huge uncertainty about the availability and quality of ration for the poor. Today, he said, every beneficiary is getting full ration and getting it free. The Ayushman Bharat scheme has addressed the worry about medical treatment. He said, “We are also addressing the poor section’s concern about housing, toilet, gas connection and electricity”, he said. Underlining the financial inclusion that has taken place in recent years, the Prime Minister said that the doors of banks are open for everyone.

The Prime Minister opined that no one knows the worth of water as much as Rajasthan. He lamented that even after many decades of independence, only 3 crore families had received tapped water connections in their homes and more than 16 crore families had to struggle for water on a daily basis. With the efforts of the Central Government in the last three and half years, the Prime Minister informed that more than eleven crore families have received tapped water connections so far. He also mentioned the holistic work that is being carried out in the country to supply water to agricultural fields. “Be it the expansion of traditional ways or adoption of new technologies for irrigation, the farmers are supported in every step”, the Prime Minister said as he informed about the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme through which Rs 15000 crores have been directly transferred in the bank accounts of the farmers of Rajasthan.

Referring to Bhagwan Devnarayan’s campaign to make ‘Gau Seva’ a medium of social service and social empowerment, the Prime Minister pointed out the growing spirit of Gau Seva in the country. He mentioned the nationwide vaccination campaign for foot and mouth disease, the establishment of Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog and Rashtriya Gokul Mission. “‘Pashu Dhan’ (Cattles) are key parts of our rural economy apart from being integral to our faith and tradition, that is why, for the first time, Kisan Credit Card has been extended to the animal husbandry segment and herders”, the Prime Minister asserted. Similarly, the Gobardhan scheme is turning waste to wealth.

Recalling the Paanch Prans during his address to the nation on Independence Day last year, the Prime Minister reiterated the objective of taking pride in our own heritage, breaking the slavery mentality, keeping our responsibilities towards the nation in mind, remembering the martyrdom of the freedom fighters and walking the path shown by our ancestors. He underlined that Rajasthan is a land of heritage where one can find the excitement of creation and celebration, where one can find charity in labour, where bravery is a household ritual and the land is synonymous with colours and ragas.

Shri Modi noted the sterling contribution of personalities like Tejaji to Pabuji, Gogaji to Ramdevji, Bappa Rawal to Maharana Pratap and said great personalities, leaders and local deities from this land have always guided the country. The Prime Minister, especially, noted the contribution of the Gurjar community which has always been synonymous with valour and patriotism. “Be it national defence or protection of culture, the Gurjar community has played the role of protector in every period”, he said and gave examples of Krantiveer Bhoop Singh Gurjar also known as Vijay Singh Pathik who led the inspiring Bijolia Kisan Movement. Shri Modi also recalled the contribution of Kotwal Dhan Singh ji and Jograj Singh ji. He also underlined the bravery and contribution of Gurjar women and paid tributes to Rampyari Gurjar and Panna Dhai. “This tradition continues to flourish even today. It is the country’s misfortune that such countless fighters could not get the place they deserve in our history. But New India is rectifying these mistakes of the past decades”, he added.

The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of the new generation of the Gujjar community in taking forward the message of Bhagwan Devnarayan Ji and his teachings. He noted that it will empower the Gujjar community as well and it will help the country to move forward. Underlining that the period of the 21st century is significant for the development of Rajasthan, the Prime Minister emphasised the need to unite and work for the development of the country. “Today the whole world is looking towards India with great hope”, the Prime Minister said. He further added that the pride of this land of warriors has also increased with India’s show of strength in the whole world. “Today, India speaks on every major platform of the world with unfettered confidence while reducing its dependence on other countries. We have to live up to the expectations of the world by proving our resolutions”, the Prime Minister remarked as he expressed faith in succeeding with the blessings of Bhagwan Devnarayan Ji and Sabka Prayas (everyone’s effort).

In conclusion, the Prime Minister noted the coincidence that in the 1111th year of Bhagwan Devnarayanji who appeared on a lotus, India assumed the presidency of G-20 whose logo also shows the lotus carrying the earth. He concluded by paying tributes to the social energy and atmosphere of devotion on the occasion.

Union Minister of State for Culture, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Head Priest of Malaseri Dugri, Shri Hemraj Ji Gurjar and Member of Parliament, Shri Subhas Chandra Baheria among others were present on the occasion.

In the 6th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC), the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, interacted with students, teachers and parents today at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. He also witnessed the exhibits of students showcased at the venue before the interaction. Pariksha Pe Charcha has been conceptualised by the Prime Minister wherein students, parents, and teachers interact with him on various topics related to life and exams. About 38.80 Lakh registrations have taken place this year from 155 countries in this year’s edition of PPC.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister highlighted that this is the first time that Pariksha Pe Charcha is taking place during the Republic Day celebrations and noted that those visiting New Delhi from other states also got a glimpse of the Republic Day. Throwing light on the importance of Pariksha Pe Charcha for the Prime Minister himself, he pointed out the millions of questions that are posed as part of the programme and said that it gives him insight into the minds of the young generations of India. “These questions are like a treasure trove for me”, the Prime Minister said. He pointed out that he would like the compilation of all these questions which can be analysed by social scientists in the coming years giving us a detailed thesis about the minds of young students at such a dynamic time.

On handling disappointment

Addressing a question regarding family disappointment in the case of poor marks from Ms Ashwini Kendriya Vidyalaya student from Madurai, Tamil Nadu,  Navtej from KV, Pitampura Delhi  Delhi, and Priyanka Kumari from Navin Balika School in Patna the Prime Minister said that there is nothing wrong with family expectations. However if these expectations, he said, are due to social status-related expectations then it is concerning. Shri Modi also talked about ever-increasing standards of performance and growing expectations with every success.  He said it is not good to be bogged down by the surrounding web of expectation and one should look inwards and link the expectation with one’s own capabilities, needs, intentions and priorities. Giving the example of the game of cricket where the crowd keeps on rooting for fours and sixes, the Prime Minister said that a batsman who goes out to bat remains unperturbed even after so many people in the audience plead for a six or a four. Drawing the link between the focus of a batsman on a cricket field and the minds of students, the Prime Minister said that the pressure of expectations can be obliterated if you remain focused. He urged the parents to not burden their kids with expectations and asked the students to always evaluate themselves according to their potential. However, he told the students to analyse the pressures and see if they are doing justice to their own potential. In such a situation these expectations may spur better performance.

On preparation for exams and time management

Addressing the questions about not knowing where to start the preparations for the exam and the stressful situation leading to forgetfulness from Arushi Thakur a class 11th student from KV, Dalhousie, and questions about time management during exams from Aditi Diwan from Krishna Public School, Raipur the Prime Minister stressed the importance of time management in general life with or without exams. He said work never tires, in fact not working tires a person. He asked students to note down the time allotment to various things that they do. He said that it is a general tendency that one devotes more time to the things that he likes. He said while allocating time to a subject, one should take up the least interesting or most difficult subject when the mind is fresh. Instead of forcing one’s way through, students should tackle the complexities with a relaxed mindset. The Prime Minister asked if the students have observed the time management skills of mothers working at home who perform every chore in a timely manner. He also added that they barely get tired by doing all their work but also find the time to engage in some creative work in the remaining time. The Prime Minister pointed out that by observing their mothers, the students can understand the significance of micro-management of time and thereby dedicate particular hours to each and every subject. “You must distribute your time for greater benefits”, the Prime Minister remarked.

On unfair means in exams and taking shortcuts

Rupesh Kashyap, a Class 9th student from Swami Atmanand Govt School in Bastar asked about ways of avoiding unfair means in the exams. Tanmay Biswal of Konark Puri Odisha also asked about the elimination of cheating in the examination. The Prime Minister expressed happiness that students had raised the topic of finding ways to deal with malpractices during the exam and pointed out the negative change in the morals where a student takes pride in fooling the supervisor while cheating in an exam. “This is a very dangerous trend”, the Prime Minister said as he asked the society as a whole to ponder about it. He also noted that some schools or teachers who run tuition classes strive for unfair means so that their students excel in the exams. He also asked students to refrain from wasting time in finding ways and preparing cheating material and spend that time in learning. Secondly, “In these changing times, when life around us is changing, you have to face exams on every step”, the Prime Minister said as he noted that such people can only clear a few exams but eventually fail at life. “Life cannot be successful with cheating. You may clear an exam or two but it will remain questionable in life”, he added. The Prime Minister told the hard-working students not to despair at the temporary success of the cheaters and said that hard work will always benefit them in their lives. “Exams come and go but life is to be lived fully”, he said. Giving the example of people at a railway station who cross the platforms by making a way on the railway tracks instead of crossing the foot overbridge, the Prime Minister pointed out that shortcuts will not take you anywhere and said, “Shortcuts will cut you short.”

On working hard vs working smart

A student from Kozhikode Kerala asked about the need and dynamics of hard work versus smart work. Giving the example of smart work, the Prime Minister highlighted the parable of the thirsty crow who threw stones in a pitcher to quench his thirst. He emphasised the need to closely analyse and understand the work and highlighted the moral from the story of working hard, smartly. “Every work should be first examined thoroughly” he added. He gave the example of a smart working mechanic who fixed a jeep within two mins for two hundred rupees and said that it is the work experience that counts rather than the time spent working. “Everything cannot be achieved with hard labour”. Similarly, in sports also specialised training is important. He said that we should focus on what needs to be done. One should do hard work smartly and in the areas that are important.

On recognising one’s potential

Jovita Patra, a student of Class 10th from Jawahar  Navodya Vidyalaya, Gurugram asked about doing well in exams as an average student. The Prime Minister appreciated the need for having a realistic assessment of oneself. Once this realisation is there, the Prime Minister said, appropriate goals and skills should be set by the student. Knowing one’s potential makes a person very capable, he said. He asked parents to do a correct assessment of their children. He said that most people are average and ordinary but when these ordinary people do extraordinary deeds, they achieve new heights. The Prime Minister said India is being seen as a new hope in the global economy. He recalled the time when Indian economists and even the Prime Minister were not seen as proficient economists but today India is seen as shining in the comparative economics of the world. “We should never be under the pressure that we are average and even if we are average there will be something extraordinary in us, all you need to do is to recognize and nurture that, ” he said.

On handling criticism

Mannat Bajwa, a student from St. Joseph Secondary School, Chandigarh,  Kumkum Pratapbhai Solanki, a class 12th student from Ahmedabad and Akash Darira, a Class 12th student from Whitefield Global School, Bangalore asked the Prime Minister about tackling the people who hold negative views and opinions towards him and how it affects him. Ashtami Sen, a student of Class 11th from DAV Public School in South Sikkim also raised a similar question about tackling the critical standpoint of the media. The Prime Minister stressed that he believes in the principle that criticism is a purification yajna and the root condition of a prospering democracy. Emphasising the need for feedback, the Prime Minister gave examples of a programmer who puts up his code on open source for improvements, and companies that put up their products for sale in the market asking the customers to find the flaws in the products. He also pointed out that it is important to note who is being critical of your work. He said that parents these days have got into the habit of interrupting their kids instead of constructive criticism and urged them to break this habit as it will not mould the lives of the kids in a restrictive way. The Prime Minister also highlighted the scenes from the Parliament session when a member who is addressing the session on a certain topic doesn’t deviate even after getting interrupted by members of the opposition. Secondly, the Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of labour and research in being a critic but observed the shortcut trend in today’s day and age where most people pose allegations rather than criticism. “There is a huge gulf between allegations and criticism”, the Prime Minister remarked as he urged everyone to not mistake criticism for allegations.

On gaming and online addiction

Dipesh Ahirwar from Bhopal, Aditabh a class ten student asked his question via India TV,  Kamakshi asked her question via Republic TV, and Manan Mittal via Zee TV asked questions about the addiction to online games and social media and resulting distractions. The Prime Minister said that the first decision is to decide whether you are smart or your gadget is smart. The problem starts when you start to consider the gadget as smarter than you. One’s smartness enables one to utilise the smart gadget smartly and treat them as instruments that help in productivity.  He expressed concern that, as per a study, the average screen time for an Indian is up to six hours. In such a situation gadget enslaves us, he said. “God has given us free will and an independent personality and we should always be conscious about becoming slaves to our gadgets”, The Prime Minister said. He gave his own example that he is rarely seen with a mobile phone despite being very active. He said that he keeps a definite time for such activities. One should not avoid technology but restrict oneself to the things of utility as per one’s need. He also gave the example of the loss of capability for table recital among the students. The Prime Minister said that we need to improve our capabilities without losing our basic gifts.  One should keep testing and learning in this era of artificial intelligence in order to preserve one’s creativity. The Prime Minister suggested ‘technology fasting’ at regular intervals. He also suggested a demarcated area as a ‘technology-free zone’ in every household. This will lead to the enhanced joy of life and you will come out of the clutches of slavery of gadgets, the Prime Minister said.

On stress after exams

Addressing the questions from Nidah, a student of class 10 from Govt Model High Secondary School, Jammu about channelising the stress from not getting the desired results even after working hard and Prashant, a class student of Shaheed Naik Rajendra Singh Rajkiya School, Palwal, Haryana asked about how stress affects the results, the Prime Minister said that the main reason for stress after exams is not accepting the truth about if the exams went well. The Prime Minister also mentioned competition among students as a stress-inducing factor and suggested that students should live and learn from themselves and their surroundings while strengthening their inner capabilities. Shedding light on the outlook towards life, the Prime Minister remarked that one exam is not the end of life and overthinking about the results should not become a thing of everyday life.

On benefits of learning new languages

Addressing questions by R Aksharasiri, a class 9th student from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Rangareddy, Telangana and Ritika, a class 12th student from Rajkiya Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Bhopal about how one can learn more languages and how it can benefit them, the Prime Minister highlighted the cultural diversity and rich heritage of India and said that it is a matter of great pride that India is home to hundreds of languages and thousands of dialects. He said that learning new languages is similar to learning a new musical instrument. “By attempting to learn a regional language, you are not just learning about the language becoming an expression but also opening the doors to the history and heritage associated with the region”, the Prime Minister said as he emphasised learning a new language without it being a burden on daily routine. Drawing an analogy where the citizens take pride in a monument of the country that was built two thousand years ago, the Prime Minister said that the country should take similar pride in the Tamil language which is known to be the oldest language on earth. The Prime Minister recalled his last address to the United Nations Organisations and highlighted how he specifically brought up facts about Tamil because he wanted to tell the world about the pride he holds for the country which is home to the oldest language. The Prime Minister highlighted the people from North India who devour the delicacies of South India and vice versa. The Prime Minister stressed the need to know at least one regional language from India other than the mother tongue and highlighted how it will brighten up the faces of people who know the language when you talk to them. The Prime Minister gave the example of an 8-year-old daughter of migrant labour in Gujarat who spoke many different languages like Bengali, Malayalam, Marathi and Gujarat. Recalling his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day last year, the Prime Minister threw light on taking pride in one’s heritage, one of the Panch Prans (five pledges) and said that every India should take pride in the languages of India.

On the role of teachers in motivating students

Sunanya Tripathi, a teacher from Cuttack, Odisha asked the Prime Minister about motivating students and keeping classes interesting and disciplined. The Prime Minister said that teachers should be flexible and not be too rigid about the topic and syllabus. He stressed that teachers should establish rapport with students. Teachers should always promote curiosity among students as it is their big strength. He said even today, students value their teachers a lot.  That is why, said the Prime Minister, teachers should take time to say something. Regarding ways of establishing discipline, the Prime Minister said that instead of humiliating weak students, teachers should reward strong students by asking questions. Similarly, by establishing a dialogue with students with discipline issues instead of hurting their egos, their behaviour can be guided in the right direction. “I believe that we should not go the way of corporal punishment to establish discipline, we should choose dialogue and rapport”.

On the behaviour of students

Addressing the question from Smt Suman Mishra, a parent from New Delhi about the behaviour of students in society, the Prime Minister remarked that parents should not limit the scope of the behaviour of students in society. “Let there be a holistic approach to the student’s development in society. The Prime Minister advised against restricting students to a narrow sphere and encouraged an expanded circle for the students. He recalled his own advice that the students should be encouraged to travel outside after their exams and record their experiences. Setting them free like this will enable them to learn a lot. After class 12 exams they should be encouraged to go outside their states. He asked parents to keep pushing their children for new experiences. He also asked parents to be vigilant about the moods and situation of their situation. He said this happens when parents treat themselves as custodian of God’s gift i.e. children.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister thanked everyone present on the occasion and urged parents, teachers and guardians to dilute the stressful environment that is being created during exams to the maximum extent. As a result, the exams will be transformed into a celebration filling the lives of students with enthusiasm, and it is this enthusiasm that will guarantee the excellence of students

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated The National Logistics Portal (marine) in New Delhi today.

The National Logistic Portal (marine) (NLP) is a project of national importance, as envisaged by the Ministry of Ports Shipping Waterways and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. It is a one-stop platform aimed at connecting all the stakeholders of the logistics community using IT, to improve efficiency and transparency by reducing costs and time delays and achieving easier, faster, and more competitive offerings of services, to promote the growth of the logistics sector and thereby improve trade. NLP will be a single window for all trade processes of the logistics sector spread across the country covering all modes of transport in the waterways, roadways, and airways along with an E-marketplace to provide a seamless end-to-end logistic service coverage.

NLP Is a one stop marketplace where all logistic stakeholders are integrated for easier, speedier & competitive services thereby promoting trade and growth.

The implementation of NLP had been initiated in July 2021 with the development of NLP Marine as a first phase. It is an “open platform” that allows the coexistence of multiple service providers to provide EXIM-related services independently or by combining different connectivity options. It has the capability to integrate with various Port Operating Systems/ Terminal Operating Systems, ICEGATE, Other regulatory agencies, and stakeholder(s) systems in the ecosystem. It aims to reduce regulatory complexities and enhance the ease of doing business by moving towards user-friendly paperless trade. This will be accomplished by utilizing the prowess of IT infrastructure to develop a single window, centralizing all necessary documentation, compliance certifications, and formal procedures necessary for the EXIM trade.

INTEGRATED PLATFORM FOR EXIM STAKEHOLDERS

The activities of NLP Marine are categorized into four distinct verticals viz. i. Carrier, ii. Cargo, iii. Banking and Finance and iv. Regulatory Bodies and Participating Government Agencies (PGAs). This will enrich the user experience through end-to-end tracking of the shipment with notifications at each stage, seamless exchange of documents, and the ability to securely transact with transparency and speed.

The NLP Marine experience is enhanced further with the Latch On feature, which facilitates the trade in providing the required features that are not directly embedded into NLP Marine, by linking through systems developed by other agencies seamlessly without duplication of efforts. It is envisaged that many standalone applications, developed by multiple vendors, users, and other stakeholders will integrate with NLP Marine through appropriate curation. It also enables digital transactions for payments required for the clearance processes such as Port charges, CFS charges, shipping line charges, transportation charges, etc.

Addressing the gathering Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “The Prime Minister on 15th August 2021 announced the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to provide systematic, multi modal connectivity to various economic zones for seamless movement of people, goods & services resulting in efficient conduct of logistics and economic activities. To fulfil this mission Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has developed the NLP (marine) is an “open platform” that allows the coexistence of multiple service providers to provide EXIM-related services independently or by combining different connectivity options.”

Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that under the able guidance and leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has developed four indigenous Vaccines in just two years.The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in Ministry of Science & Technology has through “Mission COVID Suraksha”, delivered four vaccines, augmented the manufacturing of Covaxin, and created necessary infrastructure for smooth development of future vaccines, so that our country is pandemic ready, he said. These vaccines were developed in collaboration with various.

The four vaccines are- ZyCoV-D- World’s 1^st and India’s indigenously developed DNA Vaccine, CORBEVAX^TM-India’s first protein subunit vaccine, GEMCOVAC™-19 – World’s 1^st and India’s indigenously developed mRNA vaccine and iNCOVACC-World’s 1^st and India’s indigenously developed intranasal COVID-19 Vaccine.

Speaking after a high-level meeting with Secretary DBT Shri Rajesh Gokhale and other senior officials of the Department, following the formal launch of Intranasal Covid Vaccine,Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that financial support for vaccine development, as well as, expert scientific and technical oversight and monitoring for various COVID-19 vaccine development activities, were provided under this Mission.

Dr Jitendra Singh underlined that in the wake of the pandemic crisis, vaccine development for COVID-19 was accorded the highest priority by the Modi Government and accordingly, “Mission COVID Suraksha” was announced by Government of India, at a total cost of Rs. 900 Crore, under Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 package. The aim was to enable development of safe, efficacious, affordable, and indigenous COVID-19 vaccines in an accelerated manner, the Minister pointed out.

Dr Jitendra Singh emphasised that “Mission COVID Suraksha” also supported augmentation of manufacturing facilities for enhancement of COVAXIN® production at Bharat Biotech’s Malur facility and Indian Immunologicals Limited, Hyderabad.

Dr Jitendra Singh informed that “Mission COVID Suraksha” required a strong public-private partnership (PPP) model to deliver the vaccine on an urgent basis. He said, DBT had the required strength and infrastructure to develop such a model and work with the scientific community, as well as, vaccine manufacturers to deliver vaccines in a short span of time, which was needed by our country and also the global community.

The Minister also added that DBT with its more than three decades long experience in vaccine research and development already had basic scientific strength through its Autonomous Institutes and also an industry-academia interface agency, i.e. BIRAC for enabling accelerated vaccine development and hence, DBT was entrusted to lead the implementation of this Mission by BIRAC.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, the COVID-19 pandemic brought intense challenges to the global scientific community, both in terms of managing the infection and preventing it. The Government of India, has been praised globally by the international community for its leadership at the highest levels and its vision to manage the pandemic.

Details of the 4 COVID-19 vaccines supported under Mission COVID Suraksha, which received EmergencyUse Authorization (EUA), are given below:1. ZyCoV-D- World’s 1^st and India’s indigenously developed DNA Vaccine.Received EUA on 20^th August, 2021 for use in 12 years and above age group; Then EUA on 26^th April 2022 for 2-dose regimen;2. CORBEVAX^TM-India’s first protein subunit vaccine. (Received EUA on 29^th December 2021 for use in >18 age group; subsequently on 22^nd February, 2022 for use in 12-18 year age group; and on 26^th April, 2022 for use in 5-12 years age group; included as heterologous “precaution dose” on 4^th June, 2022);3. GEMCOVAC™-19 – World’s 1^st and India’s indigenously developed mRNA vaccine. (Received EUA on 28^th June, 2022); 4. iNCOVACC-World’s 1^st and India’s indigenously developed intranasal COVID-19 Vaccine(Received EUA on 6^th September, 2022 for use in primary series for 18 years and above and on25^th November, 2022 as homologous and heterologous booster).

Secretary, DBT, Gokhale informed that the clinical trial sites supported under Mission COVID Suraksha have facilitated clinical trials for ZyCoV-D, Covovax, GEMCOVAC™-19, CORBEVAX^TM, Covaxin Booster, rBCG (Serum Institute) and J&J’s COVID vaccine. An electronic volunteer database of nearly 1.5 lakh subjects has also been prepared.

Animal challenge facilities and immunoassay labs at DBT Autonomous Institutes, offered crucial services to vaccine developers.

Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, an Autonomous Institute of DBT, offered hamster models and neutralization assays for ZyCoV-D and CORBEVAX^TM.

THSTI bioassay lab has also been recognized as one of the 7 labs of the global CEPI network.

National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi, an autonomous institute of DBT, provided immunogenicity assay services for iNCOVACC Phase III clinical trials.

“National Institute of Biologicals is playing a vital role in ensuring that only quality biological products reach the health system, thereby strengthening our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s mission of ensuring quality health and wellness for all”. This was stated by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya during his video address to the National Summit on Quality of Biologicals, organized by the National Institute of Biologicals (NIB), here today. Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, also addressed the summit through video message.

The National Summit will act as platform to bring together stakeholders, regulatory authorities & academia for interaction on various aspects of quality assurance of biologicals. These interactions will spearhead capacity building, technology enhancement and development of newer biologicals for promoting and safeguarding public health contributing towards government’s mandate of ‘Healthy India’.

Dr. Mandaviya noted that “biological drugs have emerged as a choice of therapy along with conventional chemical drugs. The medical emergency over the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic has seen our Biopharma and diagnostic industry prove to be strategic assets to meet the public health requirement not only of our country but globally, which has given meaning to the statement of universal brotherhood “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, that is, “the whole world is one family”.

Congratulating NIB for bringing multiple stakeholders in a single platform, the Union Minister said that “this summit will provide a base for gap analysis in the currently prevalent quality assurance approaches in India”. “It will help upgrade the infrastructure and technologies of the country’s biopharmaceuticals and in-vitro diagnostic industry and enhance its capacity to develop world-class products and promote public health”, he stated.

He also commended NIB for realizing the need for trained human resource in the biopharma sector and for taking initiative towards National Skill Development Programme. He further added that NIB, Blood Cell in collaboration with NHM knowledge is providing training to post graduate students on “Quality Control of Biologicals” and providing technical assistance to blood bank officials to strengthen blood services and to develop and enhance analytical skills and technological knowledge. He urged NIB to further strengthen the training programs to prepare qualified human resource in this particular field.

Dr Mandaviya also highlighted the need to initiate studies using state-of-the-art analytical platforms to promote the development of pharmacopeial monographs for new biologicals made from updated technologies. He said that if such products are developed indigenously, “the treatments will become more affordable for the common man and also our public health system will become stronger”. “Industry, academia and the regulatory network will have to work together to spur indigenous development of new biological medicines, including existing drugs for the treatment of rare and neglected diseases, innovation on new product categories such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy and personalized medicines”, he stated.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharti Pravin Pawar highlighted that, “NIB is uniquely positioned to conduct thorough and unbiased evaluations of the quality of biologicals”. She stated that “NIB does not just focus only on testing and evaluation but also plays a key role in promoting good manufacturing practices, monitoring and reporting adverse events, and collaborating with other regulatory agencies and industry partners to ensure the quality and safety of biologicals”.

Highlighting the need to adopt digital interventions in the biopharma industry, she urged the biopharma manufacturers to evolve “keeping these disruptive changes in mind, and build bioprocess models for the future. The regulators as well as the Testing laboratories should also keep in pace with these emerging technologies and practices so that these lifesaving medicines are introduced into the market at fastest possible pathway”. She also urged the industry representatives to “focus on increased thrust on R&D and innovation, self-reliance in API, upgrading quality standards, increased digitization, regulatory simplification and increased thrust towards exports”.

A coffee table book was also launched by the dignitaries at the event.

Shri. Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Health Ministry; Shri S Gopalakrishnan, Special Secretary, Health Ministry; Shri Jaideep Kumar Mishra, AS & FA, Health Ministry; Shri Rajiv Wadhawan, JS, Health Ministry; Dr Anup Anvikar, Director, NIB; Dr Harish Chander, Deputy Director (Quality Control), NIB; and senior officials of the Union Government were present. Dr. Pramod Kumar Garg, Executive Director, THSTI and Prof. Y. K. Gupta, President, AIIMS Bhopal; were also present.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal today urged students to make sustainability an important element of their lives stressing that sustainability is going to determine the future of the planet.  He was delivering his remarks at the inaugural ceremony of DAKSH 2023 at Christ University, Bengaluru via VC.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Goyal also asked everyone to adopt LiFE- Lifestyle for the Environment so that in day-to-day lives we start focusing on a circular economy, start eliminating wastage and start recycling and reuse.

Terming the students as the Catalyst of the new India, Minister said Government can only act as enablers, help in providing the ecosystem and strength economy, facilitate ease of doing business, ensure adequate availability of technology/ digital connectivity, improve skiing universities, provide infrastructure but pointed out that all of this is as good as the maximum use one can make of this enabling environment.

To become a leader, the Minister said, there has to be a continuous journey of learning. He hoped Christ University would create leaders of tomorrow, who will make the Indian flag proud all across the world. He asked them to become leaders of innovation and set very high targets in whatever work they choose to do. He said that all of us are students all our lives, learning new things every single step. He also noted that Bengaluru has created a huge startup ecosystem be it in space, e- commerce, digital payments, agritech and has emerged as a trusted partner across the world. He asked the students to embrace the future with confidence, embrace the emerging changes and keep exploring how we can become more relevant and impact the lives of common man.

Shri Goyal opined that over the years the country has not adopted Quality with the same enthusiasm as we should have. He urged everyone to become brand ambassadors of quality and spread the message of importance of quality so that all of us start  insisting on quality as consumers, and offer quality in goods and services as stakeholders of the economy.

Concluding his remarks, Shri Goyal said our future is intertwined with each other and emphasised that together this nation will transform into the world’s most powerful nation. He exhorted everyone to unite and move ahead with the sense of purpose to make India a superpower. “Let’s focus our actions around people, progress and the planet”, he added.

Responding to a question by a student on Industry and academia collaboration, Shri Goyal said that NEP came out in 2020 but unfortunately due to covid, could not have outreach programmes with many universities. He said the Government is engaging with universities across the world, pointing out that Stanford University has expressed their interests and is looking at expanding collaboration between India and the USA. India is also in talks with Gulf countries and exploring having offshore campuses of IITs and IIM in middle east countries. He informed that Australia and India are in dialogue to offer joint degree/ dual degrees for students of  both countries. India is in dialogue with the UK for mutual recognition of degrees and supporting each other with offshore campuses for colleges of both the countries. He also reiterated that the government will only act as an enabler, it is the universities which will have to engage with each other and expand their operations.

On important focus elements while deciding upon FTA negotiations, Shri Goyal said Government believes in having more and more stakeholder engagements, to get feedback on policy and help them improve their business. Government tries to quickly act and resolve the problems faced by industry. He said the Government has been successful in helping the start up ecosystem and service industry. Further, he urged the Management of Christ university to have a competition among their students, wherein they can suggest what needs to be done by the government, business, industry.  Those who give best suggestions can be awarded, he added.

When asked if the GST collections are increasing due to increase in production or due to inflation, Shri Goyal said inflation could be a small element to that but emphasised that a large part of GST increase is attributed to economic activities. He said that increasing imports signal that economic activity is picking up in India and this increased demand will encourage new investment thereby creating new jobs. He also pointed out that inflation has largely been in energy products and India has been able to maintain other products at reasonable levels.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the NCC Cadets and NSS Volunteers today. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister remarked that it was the first time that numerous children dressed up as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had come to the Prime Minister’s Residence. “The mantra of Jai Hind inspires one and all”, the Prime Minister said.

Recalling his interactions with the youth of the country in the past weeks, the Prime Minister noted celebrating Vir Bal Diwas a month ago where the valour and courage of Vir Sahebzades was celebrated all over the country. He also mentioned the National Youth Festival in Karnataka, his interaction with the first batch of Agniveers, young sports players at the Khel Mahakumbh in Uttar Pradesh, children at the Parliament and his residence, and Bal Puraskar Awardees. The Prime Minister also highlighted the Parkisha Pe Charcha interaction with students that is going to take place on 27th January.

The Prime Minister narrated two reasons for the importance of this dialogue with youth. First, because of the energy, freshness, novelty, and passion of youth through which all the positivity keeps inspiring him to work hard day and night. Second, said the Prime Minister, “all of you represent aspirations of dreams in this ‘Amrit Kaal’ and you are going to be the biggest beneficiary of the ‘Viksit Bharat’ and you carry the biggest responsibility of building it.”

The Prime Minister said that it is encouraging to see the increasing role of youth in various dimensions of public life. He recalled the massive participation of youth in the events of Parakram Diwas and other events of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav which is a reflection of the youth’s dreams and dedication to the country.

The Prime Minister noted the contributions of the NCC and NSS volunteers during the corona pandemic and highlighted the efforts of the government in encouraging such organisations. Throwing light on the preparations of the government to make the youth ready for the challenges faced by the border and coastal regions of the country, the Prime Minister informed that special programmes are being run in dozens of districts across the country where special training is imparted with the help of the army, navy and airforce. He noted that this exercise will not only make the youth future-ready but they will also have the capability to act as first responders during the time of need. The Prime Minister also highlighted the vibrant border programme where villages near the country’s borders are being developed. “Efforts are being made to boost the capability of the youth in border areas so that families can return to villages where better opportunities are created for education and employment”, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister told the cadets that in all their successes, the contribution of their parents and families is present and it is ‘Sabka Saath’ Sabka Viswas, Sabka Prayas’ that is responsible for that. “The scope of your success widens when your goals are linked with the goals of the country. The world will see your success as India’s success”, the Prime Minister said. Giving examples of scientists like Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Homi Jehangir Bhabha and Dr CV Raman, and sports personalities like Major Dhyanchand and others, the Prime Minister said that the entire world considers their milestones and achievements as India’s successes. “The world sees a new future for itself in India’s achievements”, he said. Noting the strength of the spirit of Sabka Prayas, the Prime Minister said that historical successes are those which become the steps of development for the whole of humanity.

The Prime Minister underlined one more uniqueness of the current timeframe, which is the unprecedented opportunities for the youth. He cited campaigns like Startup India, Make In India and Aatmnirbhar Bharat and India’s focus on the future of humanity as new inspirations. He said that the country is at the forefront of AI, Machine learning and other futuristic technologies. He also noted the robust system that is in place for sports and other such activities. “You have to become part of all this. “You have to search the unseen possibilities, explore unseen areas, and find unimagined solutions”, he said.

Noting the goals and resolutions of the future are extremely important for the country, the Prime Minister said that equal emphasis has to be laid on key priority areas of the present. He urged the youth to keep themselves aware of the changes taking place in the country and asked them to participate keenly in the ongoing campaigns. Mentioning the Swachh Bharat Campaign, the Prime Minister said that every youth in the country should take it up as a life mission and suggested working towards keeping their locality, village, towns and cities clean. Similarly, he asked them to read at least one book on freedom fighters during the Amrit Mahotsava. He also asked them to undertake some creative activity like poetry, story or vlogging pertaining to some freedom fighters and ask their schools to hold competitions for these activities. The Prime Minister also suggested the youth take up afforestation work near the Amrit Sarovars that are being built in their districts and also create awareness about maintaining them. He also asked the youth to take part in the Fit India Movement and persuade their family members to participate in it. He touched upon inculcating the culture of Yoga in every home. The Prime Minister also urged the youth to keep themselves updated about the G-20 Summit and engage in active conversation about India’s chairship.

Mentioning the resolution of ‘pride in our heritage’ and ‘freedom from the mentality of slavery’ the Prime Minister highlighted the role of youth in these resolutions. And suggested that in their travels they should include heritage sites.  “You are young, this is time for you to make your future. You are the creator of new thoughts and new standards. You are the trailblazer for New India”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Union Minister of Defence, Shri Raj Nath Singh, Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Ministers of Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda, Union Ministers of State, Shri Ajay Bhatt, Smt. Renuka Singh Saruta and Shri Nishith Pramanik were present on occasion among others.

Your Excellency, President Sisi,

Ministers and delegates from both countries

Friends of the media,

At the outset, I would like to extend a warm welcome to President Sisi, and his delegation to India. President Sisi is attending our Republic Day celebrations tomorrow as the chief guest. It is a matter of pride and joy for the whole of India. I am also happy that a military contingent from Egypt is also participating in our Republic Day parade and adding glory to it.

Friends,

India and Egypt are among the oldest civilizations in the world. We have had continuing relationship for thousands of years. More than four thousand years ago, trade with Egypt used to take place through the Lothal Port of Gujarat. And despite various changes in the world, our relations have been stable, and our cooperation has been continuously strengthened.

Our cooperation has deepened in the last few years. And for this, I would like to give a huge credit to the able leadership of my friend President Sisi.

This year, India has invited Egypt as a guest country during its G-20 Presidency, which reflects our special friendship.

Friends,

At one side of the Arabian Sea is India and on the other side is Egypt. Strategic cooperation between the two countries will help in promoting peace and prosperity in the entire region. So in today’s meeting, President Sisi and I decided to elevate our bilateral partnership to the level of “Strategic Partnership”. We have decided that under the India-Egypt Strategic Partnership, we will develop a long-term framework of greater cooperation in political, security, economic and scientific fields.

India and Egypt are worried about the spread of terrorism happening around the world. We are unanimous in the opinion that terrorism is the most serious security threat to humanity. Both countries also agree that concerted action is necessary to end cross-border terrorism. And for this, together we will continue to try to alert the international community.

There is also immense potential for enhancing security and defence cooperation between us. In the last few years, there has been a significant increase in joint exercise training and capacity building between our armies. We have also decided in today’s meeting to further strengthen cooperation between our defence industries, and enhance the exchange of information and intelligence related to counter-terrorism.

Misuse of cyber space to spread extremist ideologies and radicalization is a growing menace. We will extend cooperation against this also.

Friends,

We have closely observed the adverse effects on healthcare infrastructure and global supply chains during the Covid pandemic. President Sisi and I have remained in close contact during this challenging period, and both countries have sent each other immediate assistance in times of need.

Today, we have held extensive discussions on strengthening the food and pharma supply chains affected by the COVID and the Ukraine conflict. We also agreed on the need to increase mutual investment and trade in these areas. Together we have decided that in the next five years we will take our bilateral trade to 12 billion dollars.

Friends,

We commend Egypt for successfully hosting COP-27, and for its efforts to ensure the interests of developing countries in the climate sector.

India and Egypt have had long and excellent cooperation in the United Nations and other international forums. We both agree on the need for diplomacy and dialogue to resolve international disputes.

Excellency,

I once again extend a warm welcome to you and your delegation to India. I also wish you and the people of Egypt a very Happy New Year.

Thank you very much!

DISCLAIMER – This is the approximate translation of Prime Minister’s remarks. Original remarks were delivered in Hindi.

On the eve of the Republic Day 2023, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh felicitated the 25 winners of Veer Gatha 2.0 at an event organised in New Delhi on 25 January 2023. Veer Gatha 2.0, the second edition of project Veer Gatha was organised in the backdrop of overwhelming success of Veer Gatha Edition-1 last year which was jointly initiated by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Shri Rajnath Singh gave away the winners a cash prize of Rs 10,000, a medal and a certificate, in the presence of Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt. 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, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane were also present. Over 100 NCC cadets and students from Army Public Schools & Cantonment Boards were in attendance, with students and teachers from over 500 schools joining virtually.

Congratulating the young winners, Raksha Mantri commended their bravery, zeal and creativity, and expressed confidence that the young generation will provide a new and better direction not only to themselves but also to the society and the Nation.

Applauding the role of Veer Gatha in inspiring values of patriotism in the young students, Shri Rajnath Singh said, such projects will play a crucial role in infusing values of morality and bravery along with education among students. In the recent past, the Government has taken several steps, which will help in the all-round development of our children in the coming times, he added.

Highlighting the growing popularity of Veer Gatha, Shri Rajnath Singh said, in such a short span of time this project has gained immense popularity, and has become a movement in itself.

“Last year there were 8 lakhs participation, whereas this time the number of these entries has crossed 19 lakhs. Within a small span of time, it has been able to reach millions of children. This is how a movement occurs,” said Raksha Mantri.

Shri Rajnath Singh underscored that crores of children are indirectly connected with this project which is also the aim of this project. Connecting with the children of the country, and keep them motivated is what nation building is, he added.

“Integration is the first requirement for any construction, be it a building, a society, an organization, or a nation. Without the process of integration, nothing can be built. The project is connecting the children across the country with the long-standing heritage of Indian-ness, and is building their personality. The better we build the personality of the children, the better and stronger the nation-building will be,” said Shri Rajnath Singh.

Underlining the importance of valour in day to day life, Raksha Mantri said, “When I talk about valour and courage, I do not only mean the valour and courage at the battlefield. These virtues are absolutely necessary in day to day life. Only using arrows and swords is not courage. If there is wrong somewhere, then raising voice against it is also an act of great bravery and courage.”

Shri Rajnath Singh further added that great personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Chandrashekhar Azad, Khudiram Bose, Ashfaq Ullah Khan kept on speaking the truth throughout their life, no matter what cost they had to pay for it.

Raksha Mantri also suggested that such felicitation should also be organised at state and district level as well, so that the project reaches out to more number of people.

Thanking the Ministry of Defence for conceptualizing  the Veer Gatha project, Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that the joint efforts of the both the ministries  are moving in the right direction, as it has generated immense interest amongst students of all age groups across the country.

ShriDharmendra Pradhan said the Veer Gatha project is perfectly in tune with the aims and aspirations of the National Educational Policy 2020 and has been re-emphasized by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi himself through Panch Prann – to take pride in our history and culture.

“More needs to be done to highlight the acts of bravery in our history textbooks where brave heroes from several regions who even laid down their lives for the motherland have been largely ignored, and forgotten,” he added.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan called for integrating the stories of gallantry award winners in the school curriculum to inspire students.

On the occasion, Param Vir Chakra Awardee Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar narrated his real-life story of the Kargil war where he overcame all odds and played a crucial role in India’s historic victory. He encouraged the children to take inspiration from the courageous soldiers who selflessly serve the motherland without caring for personal safety.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has praised achievement of 11 Crore Tap water connections under Jal Jeevan Mission. Shri Modi also congratulated to all those who have benefitted from this initiative and compliments to those working on the ground to make this Mission a success.

In response to a tweet by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Prime Minister tweeted;

“A great feat, indicative of the ground covered to ensure ‘Har Ghar Jal’ to the people of India. Congratulations to all those who have benefitted from this initiative and compliments to those working on the ground to make this Mission a success.”