The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the International Conference on Green Hydrogen via video message today.

The Prime Minister began his address by extending a warm welcome to all dignitaries at the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen and said that the world is going through a crucial transformation. He emphasized the growing realization that climate change is not just a matter of the future but its impact can be felt now. “The time for action is here and now”, Shri Modi exclaimed. He noted that energy transition and sustainability have become central to global policy discourse.

Underlining the nation’s commitment towards creating a cleaner and greener planet, the Prime Minister informed that India was among the first G20 nations to fulfill its Paris commitments on green energy. He said these commitments were fulfilled  9 years ahead of the target of 2030. Throwing light on the advancements in the past 10 years, the Prime Minister said that India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity increased nearly 300% and solar energy capacity got over a 3,000%  boost.Shri Modi underlined that we are not resting on these achievements and the nation remains focused on strengthening  existing solutions while also looking at new and innovative areas, saying this is where the of Green Hydrogen comes into the picture.

“Green Hydrogen is emerging as a promising addition to the world’s energy landscape”, the Prime Minister remarked, adding that it can help in decarbonizing industries which are difficult to electrify. He gave examples of refineries, fertilizers, steel, heavy-duty transportation and several other sectors that would benefit from it. PM Modi also suggested that Green Hydrogen can be used as a storage solution for surplus renewable energy. Reflecting on the National Green Hydrogen Mission launched in 2023, the Prime Minister outlined India’s goals to make it a global hub for the production,  utilization and export of Green Hydrogen. “The National Green Hydrogen Mission is giving an impetus to innovation, infrastructure, industry and investment”, PM Modi said. He highlighted the investments in cutting-edge research and development, partnerships between industry and academia and encouragement for start-ups and entrepreneurs of the domain. He also touched upon the great potential for the development of a green jobs eco-system and highlighted the government’s effort towards skill development for the nation’s youth in this sector.

Noting the global concerns of climate change and energy transition, the Prime Minister said that the answers to such concerns should be global as well. He stressed the critical need for International partnerships to promote Green Hydrogen’s impact on decarbonization and stated that scaling up production,  minimizing costs and building infrastructure can happen faster through cooperation. He also expressed the need to jointly invest in research and innovation to push technology further. Recalling the G20 Summit held in India in September 2023,  the Prime Minister highlighted the special focus on Green Hydrogen and underlined that The New Delhi G-20 Leaders’ declaration adopted five high-level voluntary principles on Hydrogen that are helping in the creation of a unified roadmap. “All of us must remember – the decisions we make now will decide the lives of our future generations”, he added.

Prime Minister Modi today called for greater global cooperation in advancing the Green Hydrogen sector and urged the domain experts and the scientific community to lead the way. “In such a crucial sector, it is important for domain experts to lead the way and work together,” he said, emphasizing the need for collective expertise to address the challenges facing the Green Hydrogen industry. The Prime Minister also encouraged scientists and innovators to propose public policy changes that would further support the sector. Shri Modi posed critical questions to the global scientific community, asking, “Can we improve the efficiency of electrolysers and other components in Green Hydrogen production? Can we explore the use of seawater and municipal wastewater for production?” He highlighted the need to address these challenges, particularly in using Green Hydrogen for public transport, shipping, and inland waterways. “Exploring such topics together will greatly help the green energy transition across the world,” the Prime Minister stated, expressing confidence that forums like the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen would drive meaningful exchanges on these issues.

Reflecting on humanity’s history of overcoming challenges, the Prime Minister said, “Each time, we overcame adversities through solutions that were collective and innovative.” He emphasized that the same spirit of collective action and innovation would guide the world toward a sustainable future. “We can achieve anything when we are together,” Shri Modi remarked, urging global efforts to accelerate the development and deployment of Green Hydrogen. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister extended his best wishes to all participants of the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen. “Let us work together to accelerate the development and deployment of Green Hydrogen,” he said, reinforcing the need for collaboration in building a greener and more sustainable world.

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today shared the famous speech delivered by Swami Vivekananda in Chicago, USA, in 1893.

Shri Modi said that Vivekananda introduced India’s ages old message of unity, peace, and brotherhood, which continue to inspire generations.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“On this day in 1893, Swami Vivekananda delivered his iconic address in Chicago. He introduced India’s ages old message of unity, peace and brotherhood to the world. His words continue to inspire generations, reminding us of the power of togetherness and harmony.”

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the Semiconductor Executives’ Roundtable at his residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg earlier today.

During the meeting, Prime Minister said that their ideas will not only shape their business but also India’s future. Mentioning that the coming time will be technology driven, Prime Minister said semiconductor is the basis of the Digital Age and the day is not far when the semiconductor industry will be the bedrock for even our basic necessities.

Prime Minister emphasised that democracy and technology together can ensure the welfare of humanity and India is moving ahead on this path recognizing its global responsibility in the semiconductor sector.

Prime Minister talked about the pillars of development which include developing social, digital and physical infrastructure, giving boost to inclusive development, reducing compliance burden and attracting investment in manufacturing and innovations. He underscored that India has the capability to become a trusted partner in a diversified semiconductor supply chain.

Prime Minister talked about India’s talent pool and the immense focus of the government on skilling to ensure that trained workforce is available for the industry. He said that India’s focus is to develop products which are globally competitive. He highlighted that India is a great market for investing in hi-tech infrastructure and said the excitement shared by the leaders of the semiconductor sector today will motivate the government to work harder for this sector.

Prime Minister assured the leaders that the Indian government will follow a predictable and stable policy regime. With the focus of Make In India and Make for the World, Prime Minister said that the government will  continue to support the industry at every step.

The CEOs appreciated India’s commitment to the growth of the semiconductor sector and said that what has transpired today is unprecedented wherein leaders of the entire semiconductor sector have been brought under one roof. They talked about the immense growth and future scope of the semiconductor industry. They said the centre of gravity of the semiconductor industry is starting to shift towards India, adding that the country now has a suitable environment for the industry which has put India on the global map in the semiconductor sector. Expressing their belief that what is good for India will be good for the world, they said India has amazing potential to become a global power house in raw materials in the semiconductor sector.

Appreciating the business friendly environment in India, they said that in the world of complex geopolitical situation, India is stable. Mentioning their immense belief in India’s potential, they said there is unanimous consensus in the industry that India is the place to invest. They recalled the encouragement given by the Prime Minister in the past as well and said the enormous opportunities present in India today were never seen earlier and they are proud to partner with India.

The meeting was attended by CEOs, Heads and representatives of various organisations including SEMI, Micron, NXP, PSMC, IMEC, Renesas, TEPL, Tokyo Electron Ltd, Tower, Synopsys, Cadence, Rapidus, Jacobs, JSR, Infineon, Advantest, Teradyne, Applied Materials, Lam Research, Merck, CG Power and Kaynes Technology. Also present in the meeting were Professors from Stanford University, University of California San Diego and IIT Bhubaneswar.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the first meeting of the Governing Board of Anusandhan National Research Foundation at his residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg earlier today. The meeting focussed on discussion about India’s Science and Technology landscape and redesigning of research and development programmes.

During the meeting, Prime Minister said that today a new beginning has been made with the first meeting of the Governing Body of Anusandhan National Research Foundation. Prime Minister stressed on the need to identify and remove obstacles in the research ecosystem of the country. He talked about setting big targets, focusing on attaining them and doing path breaking research. He said that research should focus on finding new solutions to existing problems. He emphasised that problems might be global in nature but their solutions must be localised in accordance with Indian needs.

Prime Minister discussed the need for upgradation and standardisation of institutions. He suggested preparing a list of domain experts on the basis of their expertise. He also talked about developing a dashboard where information related to research and development happening in the country can be easily tracked.

Prime Minister stressed upon the need for Scientific monitoring of utilisation of resources for research and innovation. Saying that this is an ambitious beginning, he said the scientific community of the country should have faith that there will be no dearth of resources for their endeavours. Discussing the positive impacts of Atal Tinkering Labs, Prime Minister suggested that grading of these labs can be done. He also discussed research in various areas like looking for new solutions to the environment change, battery ingredients for EVs, lab grown diamonds, among others.

During the meeting, the Governing Body decided to launch a programme in hub and spoke mode by pairing universities where research is at nascent stage with top tier established institutions in mentorship mode.

Governing Body also discussed several areas of strategic interventions of ANRF which include global positioning of India in key sectors, aligning R&D with national priorities, promoting inclusive growth, capacity building, driving scientific advances and innovation ecosystem, as well as bridging the gap between academic research and industrial applications through industry-aligned translational research.

The ANRF will launch programmes on solution-focussed research in mission mode in select priority areas like Electric Vehicle (EV) mobility, Advanced Materials, Solar Cells, Smart Infrastructure, Health & Medical Technology, Sustainable Agriculture and Photonics. The Governing Body observed that these efforts would impactfuly supplement our march towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

While underscoring the translational research with active participation from the industry, the Governing Body also emphasized on promoting fundamental research for advancement of knowledge. It was decided to set up Centers of Excellence to support interdisciplinary research in humanities and social sciences. It was also agreed that there was a need to empower our researchers with flexible and transparent funding mechanism towards achieving ease of doing research.

The Governing Body also directed that the ANRF strategies should align with the goals of Viksit Bharat 2047 and implementation should follow global best practices adopted by research and development agencies across the world.

The meeting was attended by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education as the Vice-President of Governing Body, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India as Member Secretary, Member (Science), NITI Aayog and Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research and Department of Higher Education as its ex-officio members. Other prominent participants included Prof. Manjul Bhargava (Princeton University, USA), Dr. Romesh T Wadhwani (Symphony Technology Group, USA), Prof. Subra Suresh (Brown University, USA), Dr. Raghuvendra Tanwar (Indian Council of Historical Research), Prof. Jayaram N. Chengalur (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) and Prof. G Rangarajan (Indian Institute of Science).

About Anusandhan National Research Foundation

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has been established to promote research and development and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s Universities, Colleges, Research Institutions, and R&D laboratories. ANRF acts as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy.  ANRF forges collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research institutions.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the first Foundation Day program of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) as the Chief Guest at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi today and launched key initiatives for prevention of cyber crime. The Home Minister dedicated the Cyber ​​Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) to the nation and launched the Samanvay platform (Joint Cyber ​​Crime Investigation Facility System). Shri Amit Shah also inaugurated the ‘Cyber ​​Commandos’ program and Suspect Registry. The Union Home Minister also unveiled the new logo, vision and mission of I4C. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Union Home Secretary Shri Govind Mohan, Director IB, Special Secretary (Internal Security), Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police/Senior Police Officers of various States/Union Territories, officials from various government organisations, senior officials from various banks/financial intermediaries, FinTech, Media, Cyber ​​Commandos, NCC and NSS cadets were present on the occasion.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah underlined that I4C was established in 2015 under the ‘Safe Cyber ​​Space’ campaign on the initiative of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, since then it is continuously moving towards becoming a strong pillar of a cyber secured India. He added that in the 9-year journey from 2015 to 2024, this idea turned into an initiative and then into an institution and now it is moving towards becoming a huge pillar of a cyber secured India.

Union Home Minister said that development of any country is impossible without cyber security. He said that technology proves to be a blessing for human life and today technology is being used extensively in all new initiatives. He said that the increasing use of technology is also creating many threats and that is why cyber security is no longer limited to the digital world but has also become an important aspect of national security. Shri Shah said that platforms like I4C can make a huge contribution in dealing with such threats. He called upon I4C to continue awareness, coordination and joint efforts with the concerned stakeholders. The Home Minister said that no single institution can keep cyber space secured single-handedly. This is possible only when many stakeholders come on the same platform and move forward on the same method and path.

Shri Amit Shah said that four major cyber platforms of I4C have also been launched here today. He said that Cyber ​​Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) was a vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, which has been launched today. He said that along with this, Cyber ​​Commando, Samanvay platform and Suspect Registry have also been inaugurated today.

Union Home Minister said that in a vast country like India, having a separate Cyber Suspect Registry for each state would not serve any purpose because states have their own boundaries but cyber criminals have no boundaries. He said that it was the need of the hour to create a Suspect Registry at the national level and connect states with it to create a common platform to fight cyber crime. Shri Shah added that this initiative will help us a lot in preventing cyber crimes in the coming days.

Shri Amit Shah said that from today onwards, I4C is also starting a public awareness campaign. He said that efforts will be made to speed up this campaign through more than 72 TV channels, 190 Radio FM channels, cinema halls and many other platforms in the country. He said that this campaign cannot be successful unless the victim knows how to avoid cyber crime. Shri Shah said that creating awareness about the cyber crime helpline 1930 and other platforms of I4C will increase its utility and help us prevent cyber crimes. The Home Minister requested all the state governments to join this campaign and spread awareness in villages and cities.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that CFMC has also been inaugurated with the idea of ​​​​bringing banks, financial institutions, telecom companies, Internet Service Providers and police on a single platform and this will become a major platform for prevention of cyber crime in the coming days. He said that CFMC should work to identify the modus operandi (MO) of cyber criminals using different data and prevent it. Shri Shah said that under the Cyber ​​Commando programme, a target has been set to prepare about 5 thousand cyber commandos in 5 years.

Shri Amit Shah said that ‘duty to share’ instead of ‘need to know’ is the need of the hour and for this nothing can be more effective than the Samanvay platform. He added that the Samanvay platform has been taken forward with a data-driven approach and this is the first attempt in the country to create a shared data repository. The Home Minister said that the four initiatives launched today have been taken together by I4C and the police across the country, they will make a huge contribution in making the fight against cyber crime more robust, effective and successful.

Union Home Minister said that the number of internet users in the country was 25 crores on 31 March 2014, which is 95 crores on 31 March 2024. He said that due to the increase in downloading speed and reduction in cost, data consumption has also increased a lot. He said that earlier the average usage was 0.26 GB which has increased by almost 78 times to 20.27 GB today. Shri Shah added that due to the Digital India initiative, many facilities have become online in the country. He said that 35 crore Jan Dhan accounts, 36 crore Rupay debit cards, transactions worth Rs 20 lakh 64000 crore have been done digitally in 2024. He said that 46% of the world’s digital transaction volume is taking place in India today. Home Minister added that when digital accounts and digital transactions increase, the need for protection from digital fraud also increases a lot.

Shri Amit Shah said that in 2014, only 600 panchayats of the country were connected to the internet, whereas 2,13,000 panchayats are connected with the internet today. He said that with the increase in digital transactions and use of digital data, the responsibility of securing it from cyber fraud has also increased. He said that we are facing many challenges like sale of important personal data by cyber criminals, online harassment, women and child abuse, fake news and tool kits, misinformation campaigns and, even today, we need to do a lot to deal with them.

Union Home Minister said that in three new criminal laws – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) – all legal arrangements have been made to make our country cyber secured. He said that through many technology driven initiatives, they have been given a legal form. He said that many efforts have been made to ensure that investigation is based on scientific methods and to improve the quality of probe.

Shri Amit Shah said that I4C has done a great job in its journey of 9 years and in the short span of one year after becoming an official part of the Ministry of Home Affairs. He said that the biggest achievement of I4C is the 1930 national helpline number and it is the responsibility of all state governments and stakeholders to popularise it. Home Minister suggested organising an awareness fortnight to popularise the 1930 helpline. He said that all state governments and the Ministry of Home Affairs should take the initiative and organise an awareness fortnight after six months. Shri Shah said that if a campaign to popularise 1930 is run simultaneously on all platforms, then definitely the victims of fraud will feel safe, it will be stopped immediately and a fear will also be created in the minds of fraudsters.

Shri Amit Shah said that so far I4C has issued more than 600 advisories, blocked a wide range of websites, social media pages, mobile apps and accounts operated by cyber criminals. He said that a National Cyber ​​Forensic Laboratory has also been set up in Delhi under I4C. Shri Shah said that so far more than 1100 officers have been trained in cyber forensics and this is our very important and ambitious program to take this campaign down to the districts and tehsils.

Union Home Minister said that keeping in mind the complaints of cyber crime,  7 Joint Cyber ​​Coordination Teams have been formed at Mewat, Jamtara, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam and Guwahati and they have yielded very good results. He said that I4C has also launched an effective awareness campaign on various social media handles under Cyber Dost. Shri Shah said that with all these efforts we have definitely reached a point but our goals are still far away. He said that to achieve the goal, we will have to make a precise strategy and move forward together in the same direction.

Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC): CFMC has been established at Indian cybercrime Coordination Centre (14C) in New Delhi with representatives of major banks, Financial Intermediaries, Payment Aggregators, Telecom Service Providers, IT Intermediaries and States/UTs Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). They will work together for immediate action and seamless cooperation to tackle online financial crimes. CFMC will serve as an example of “Cooperative Federalism” in law enforcement.

Samanvay Platform (Joint Cybercrime Investigation Facilitation System):  The platform is a web-based module that will act as a one stop portal for data repository of cybercrime, data sharing, crime mapping, data analytics, cooperation and coordination platform for Law Enforcement Agencies across the country.

‘Cyber Commandos’ Program: Under this program a special wing of trained ‘Cyber Commandos’ in States/UTs and Central Police Organizations (CPOs) will be established to counter threats of cyber security landscape in the country. Trained Cyber Commandos will assist States/UTs and Central Agencies in securing the digital space.

Suspect Registry: As part of this initiative a Suspect Registry of various identifiers is being created based on National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), in collaboration with banks and financial intermediaries for strengthening fraud risk management capabilities of financial ecosystem.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today welcomed His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in New Delhi. Both leaders held fruitful talks on wide range of issues.

Shri Modi lauded Sheikh Khaled’s passion to enhance the India-UAE friendship.

The Prime Minister posted on X;

“It was a delight to welcome HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. We had fruitful talks on a wide range of issues. His passion towards strong India-UAE friendship is clearly visible.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has urged the people of India to actively participate in the nomination process for the prestigious Padma Awards.

Shri Modi emphasized the importance of recognizing grassroots-level heroes who have made significant contributions to society. Emphasising the transparent and participatory approach of the nomination process, Shri Modi has expressed his happiness at the number of nominations already received and urged more people to nominate deserving candidates for the prestigious Padma Awards through the official portal at awards.gov.in.

In a X post, the Prime Minister said;

“Over the last decade, we have honoured countless grassroots level heroes with the #PeoplesPadma. The life journeys of the awardees have motivated countless people. Their grit and tenacity are clearly visible in their rich work. In the spirit of making the system more transparent and participative, our Government has been inviting the people to nominate others for various Padma awards. I am happy that several nominations have come. The last day to nominate is the 15th of this month. I urge more people to nominate inspiring personalities for the Padma Awards. You can do so on- awards.gov.in”

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal expressed confidence that the auto component sector will reach the $100 billion export target by 2030 making the sector one of the largest job creators in the country. Hemade this statement at the 64^th Annual Session of Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) today in New Delhi.

Shri Goyal said that as India is progressing to become the third largest economy in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the auto sector must also strive to become the world leader from currently being the third largest auto market in the world. He urged the industry leaders to set a roadmap to achieve the target. Shri Goyal stressed on combining organic growth with outreach across the world along with technological improvements.

The Minster encouraged the industry members to focus on Research and Development (R&D). He urged the participants to take benefit of the Rs 1 lakh crore Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) fund and utilise it to support public-private academia partnerships in the auto sector.

Shri Goyal said that India’s auto sector is well poised to attract investment from abroad and the industry can explore investment from EFTA countries. He further stated that India should be ready to capture the opportunities in new-age technologies like Electric Vehicles (EVs) and its related ecosystem along with other upcoming opportunities like bicycle sector.

The Minister invited the attendees to make use of the Government’s recent initiative industrial smart cities for their development and export promotion. He urged the industry to become indigenous suppliers and manufacturers become a leading exporter of auto components. He also spoke of the advantage India has in its 1.4 billion aspirational Indians and said that there is huge scope for auto sector to achieve economies of scale through the domestic market.

The Union Minister emphasizedthat the Government is committed towards making India ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. Shri Goyal lauded ACMA for their theme of ‘Viksit Bharat’, fostering self-reliance and promoting global competitiveness reflecting the spirit of new India.

He said that the efforts of the government towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) is bringing a change. Shri Goyal urged the industry stakeholders to educate customers, especially for commercial vehicle owners, on the usage of OEM (original equipment manufacturer) products for their value for money, quality, cost-effectiveness and longevity they provide in terms of repairs and spares.

Shri Goyal praised ACMA for its participative and proactive approach in Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. He said that hosting world class mega-exhibitions like Bharat Mobilityis a testimony of our success in our entire value chain as it provides a platform to showcase India story to the world. Bharat Mobility 2025 is going to be grander, to have greater international participation presenting India’s auto sector to the world, the Minister said.

Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada attended the event in a session later today. He also encouraged auto component sector to promote exports. He added that component sector benefits from the growing auto sector in the country and urged the participants to create more jobs in the country. Shri Prasada further noted that their efforts will complement government’s effort in skilling and technology focused policies.

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today greeted the nation on occasion of Ganesh Chathurthi.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“समस्त देशवासियों को गणेश चतुर्थी की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। गणपति बाप्पा मोरया!”

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with  teachers who have been conferred the National Teachers Awards at his residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg earlier today.

The awardees shared their teaching experience with the Prime Minister. They also talked about interesting techniques used by them to make learning more interesting. They also shared examples of social work being done by them along with their regular teaching work. Interacting with them, the Prime Minister commended their dedication to the craft of teaching and the remarkable zeal they have displayed over the years, which has been recognized through the Awards.

Prime Minister discussed the impact of the National Education Policy and spoke about the significance of attaining education in one’s mother tongue. He suggested that the teachers can teach local folklore to students in different languages, so that the students can learn multiple languages and also get exposure to the vibrant culture of India.

Prime Minister said that the teachers can take their students on educational tours to explore India’s diversity, which will aid their learning and also help them get to know about their country in a holistic manner. He added that this will boost tourism and give a fillip to the local economy as well.

Prime Minister suggested that the awardee teachers should connect with each other through social media and share their best practices so that everyone can learn, adapt and benefit from such practices.

Prime Minister said that teachers are rendering a very important service to the nation and the responsibility of preparing today’s youth for Viksit Bharat rests in their hands.

Background

The purpose of the National Teachers Awards is to celebrate and honour the unique contribution of some of the finest teachers in the country who through their commitment and hard work have not only improved the quality of the education sector but also enriched the lives of their students. For the awards this year, 82 teachers from across the country were selected which includes 50 teachers selected by the Department of School Education & Literacy, 16 teachers by the Department of Higher Education and 16 teachers by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today met with Mrs. Abe, wife of former Japanese Prime Minister, Late Shinzo Abe. During the meeting, Shri Modi fondly recalled his close personal friendship with the late Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe and highlighted Abe San’s strong belief in the potential of India-Japan relations.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi also expressed deep appreciation for Mrs. Abe’s continued association with India.

The Prime Minister posted on X;

“Pleased to meet Mrs. Abe this afternoon. Recalled my close personal friendship with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. Abe San’s belief in the potential of India-Japan relations will remain a source of enduring strength for us. Deeply appreciate Mrs. Abe’s continuing association with India.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the program marking the launch of the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative at Surat, Gujarat via video conferencing today. Under this program, approximately 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures are being constructed across the state to enhance rainwater harvesting and ensure long-term water sustainability.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that an important campaign is commencing from the land of Gujarat by the Ministry of Jal Shakti today. Talking about the havoc wreaked by the monsoon season, Shri Modi said that almost all regions in the country had to face the adversities due to it. The Prime Minister pointed out that he had not seen or heard such torrential rainfall in almost every tehsil during his time as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He said that Gujarat had to face an extreme crisis this time and the departments were not fully equipped to handle the situation, however, the people of Gujarat and the country stood shoulder to shoulder in such dire situations and helped each other. He further added that many parts of the country are still reeling under the effects of monsoon season.

The Prime Minister remarked that water conservation is not just a policy, it’s an attempt and a virtue as well; it has generosity as well as responsibilities too. “Water will be the first parameter on which our future generations will assess us”, added Shri Modi. This, he said, was because water was not just a resource but a question of life and the future of humanity. He added that water conservation was, thus, the foremost among the 9 resolutions towards a sustainable future. Shri Modi expressed happiness towards the inception of public participation in the meaningful efforts of water conservation. He extended his best wishes to the Ministry of Jalshakti, Government of Gujarat and all the stakeholders in the initiative.

Highlighting the necessity of environment and water conservation, the Prime Minister pointed out that India is home to only 4 percent of the freshwater in the world. He explained, “Even though the country has several magnificent rivers, large geographical regions remain bereft of water and the water table is also receding at a fast pace.” He underlined that water scarcity combined with climate change has had a huge impact on the lives of people.

Despite the challenging conditions, the Prime Minister emphasized that only India has the potential to find solutions for itself and the world. He credited the understanding of India’s ancient scriptures and said that water and environment conservation is not considered bookish knowledge or something that arose out of a situation.  “Water and environment conservation is part of India’s traditional consciousness”, PM Modi exclaimed. He said that the people of India belong to a culture that considers water as a form of God, rivers as Goddesses and Sarovars as the abode of the Gods. “Ganga, Narmada, Godavari and Kaveri are revered as mothers”, he said. Quoting ancient scriptures, the Prime Minister explained that saving and donating water is the highest form of service as all life forms began from water, and are dependent on it. He underlined that India’s ancestors knew the importance of water and environmental conservation. Referring to a couplet by Rahim Das, the Prime Minister highlighted the farsightedness of the nation and expressed the need to take the lead when it comes to water and environment conservation.

The Prime Minister highlighted that ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative was kicking off from Gujarat and has witnessed many successful efforts towards ensuring accessibility and availability of water to the last of the citizens. Shri Modi reminisced about the situation of Saurashtra two-and-a-half decades ago when the previous governments lacked the vision of water conservation. He added that he resolved to overcome this grave crisis and ensured the completion and commission of Sardar Sarovar Dam, pending for decades. He further added that Sauni Yojna was also started by drawing water from areas of excess and discharging it to areas facing shortages. Shri Modi expressed happiness that the results of the efforts made in Gujarat are today visible to the world.

“Water conservation is not just a matter of policies but also social commitment”, the Prime Minister said, highlighting the importance of a conscious citizen, public participation and people’s movement. He pointed out that even though water-related projects worth thousands of crores have been initiated in the past, the results are only apparent in the past 10 years. “Our government has worked with a Whole of Society and Whole of Government approach”, PM Modi remarked. Throwing light on the work done in the past 10 years, the Prime Minister said that silos were broken on issues related to water for the first time and the Ministry of Jal Shakti was created to fulfil the commitment of the whole of the government approach. He touched upon the resolve of tapped water supply to every home through Jal Jeevan Mission and informed that tapped water connection was available in only 3 crore households earlier compared to more than 15 crore today. He credited the Jal-Jeevan Mission for clean tap water reaching more than 75 percent of the households in the country. He lauded the local Jal Samitis for their contributions  to Jal-Jeevan Mission and said that women are doing wonderful work in paani samitis all over the country just like the women who did wonders in the paani samitis of Gujarat “At least 50 percent of the participation in this is of village women”, he added.

Highlighting how Jalshakti Abhiyan has become a national mission today, the Prime Minister said that be it renovation of traditional water sources or construction of new structures, individuals from all walks of life, ranging from stakeholders to civil society to panchayats are involved in it. Explaining the strength of public participation, Shri Modi underlined that the work on Amrit Sarovar started in every district during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and has resulted in construction of more than 60 thousand Amrit Sarovars in the country today. Similarly, he added, the Atal Bhujal Yojana also involved the responsibility of villagers in managing water resources for recharging groundwater. Further, he added, ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign started in 2021 has a large number of stakeholders involved today. Speaking of ‘Namami Gange’ initiative, Shri Modi underlined that it had become an emotional resolution for citizens and people were giving up old traditions and irrelevant customs to ensure the cleanliness of rivers.

Referring to his appeal to the citizens to plant one tree under the ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ campaign, the Prime Minister stated that groundwater level rapidly increases with afforestation.  He highlighted that crores of trees have been planted under ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ in the past few weeks. Shri Modi further stressed the need for public participation in such campaigns and resolutions and said that the water conservation efforts are turning into a public movement with the participation of 140 crore citizens.

The Prime Minister called for urgent action on water conservation and emphasized the need to adopt the mantra of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recharge, and Recycle’ to secure the nation’s future regarding water-related issues. He stated that water can only be saved when its misuse ends, consumption is reduced, water is reused, water sources are recharged and contaminated water is recycled. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of embracing innovative approaches and modern technologies in this mission. He pointed out that around 80 percent of India’s water needs are met through agriculture, making water-efficient farming crucial for sustainability. He stated that the government is continuously promoting techniques like drip irrigation in the direction of sustainable agriculture. He also spoke about campaigns like ‘Per drop more crop’ and said that it is helping conserve water while also increasing farmers’ incomes in water-scarce regions. Shri Modi highlighted the government’s support for the cultivation of crops that require less water such as pulses, oilseeds, and millets. Furthering the discussion on state-level efforts, Shri Modi encouraged states to adopt and accelerate water conservation practices. Acknowledging that some states provide incentives to farmers for growing alternative crops that consume less water, the Prime Minister urged all states to come together and work in mission mode to drive these efforts forward. He said, “We must promote traditional knowledge, like creating ponds near fields and recharge wells, alongside new technologies.”

“A huge water economy is linked with availability of clean water & success of water conservation”, emphasized Shri Modi. Explaining further, he said, Jal Jeevan Mission had provided employment as well as self-employment opportunities to lakhs of people like engineers, plumbers, electricians and managers. The Prime Minister pointed out that, as per WHO estimate, about 5.5 crore human hours of the citizens of the country will be saved by providing piped water to every home. He added this initiative would help save the time and efforts of our sisters and daughters, which in turn would strengthen the country’s economy. Shri Modi pointed out that health was also an important aspect of the water economy. He added that, according to reports, while untimely deaths of more than 1.25 lakh children can be prevented, more than 4 lakh people can be saved from diseases like diarrhea every year by Jal Jeevan Mission, which would lead to a significant reduction in out of pocket expenditure.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the significant role that industries have played in India’s mission for water conservation and thanked them for their contribution. He expressed gratitude to the industries that have met Net Zero Liquid Discharge Standards and Water Recycling Goals and highlighted the efforts of various sectors in addressing water sustainability. He also noted that many industries have initiated water conservation projects as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. Shri Modi praised Gujarat’s innovative use of CSR for water conservation, describing it as a record-setting effort. “Gujarat has set a new benchmark by utilizing CSR for water conservation. Approximately 10,000 borewell recharge structures have been completed in places like Surat, Valsad, Dang, Tapi, and Navsari” Shri Modi emphasized. He further added that these initiatives are helping address water scarcity and recharge groundwater resources in critical regions. Further emphasizing the collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector, Shri Modi announced, “Through the ‘Jal Sanchay-Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan,’ the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Gujarat government have now launched a new mission to create 24,000 more such structures.” He described this campaign as a model that will inspire other states to undertake similar initiatives in the future.

Concluding the address, Prime Minister Modi expressed the belief that India would become a global inspiration in water conservation. “I believe that together, we will make India a beacon of water conservation for all of humanity,” he said, extending his best wishes for the continued success of the mission.

Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C R Patil were virtually present on the occasion among others.

Background

To further the Prime Minister’s vision of water security, the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative seeks to conserve water with a strong emphasis on community partnership and ownership. It is driven by a whole-of-society and a whole-of-government approach. Building on the success of the Jal Sanchay initiative led by the Government of Gujarat, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with the State Government, is launching the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative in Gujarat. The Government of Gujarat has endeavored to mobilize citizens, local bodies, industries and other stakeholders to ensure a water-secure future.

Under this program, approximately 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures across the State are being constructed with community partnerships. These recharge structures will be instrumental in enhancing rainwater harvesting and ensuring long-term water sustainability.