Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, on October 12, 2024, virtually dedicated to the nation 75 infrastructure projects of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at a cost of Rs 2,236 crore. These projects – 22 roads, 51 bridges & two others – are spread across 11 States/Union Territories. Nineteen (19) are in Jammu & Kashmir, 18 in Arunachal Pradesh, 11 in Ladakh, nine in Uttarakhand, six in Sikkim, five in Himachal Pradesh, two each in West Bengal & Rajasthan and one each in Nagaland, Mizoram and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Raksha Mantri inaugurated the projects from the Headquarters, Trishakti Corps in Sukna, West Bengal. One of the main highlights was the inauguration of the Kupup-Sherathang Road in Sikkim which serves as a crucial link between Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg and Zuluk axis.

In his address, Raksha Mantri termed the projects as a testament to the Government’s unwavering resolve to keep strengthening the border infrastructure and ensuring socio-economic progress of these areas. He added that these projects will go a long way in enhancing the defence preparedness of the country. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat by 2047’ can be realised through such infrastructure projects, he said.

With the inauguration of these 75 projects, BRO has completed a total of 111 infrastructure projects in 2024 at an overall cost of Rs 3,751 crore. This includes 36 projects worth Rs 1,508 crore, such as the state-of-the-art Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, inaugurated by the Prime Minister earlier this year. Last year, 125 infrastructure projects of BRO were dedicated to the nation at a cost of Rs 3,611 crore.

Raksha Mantri commended the grit and determination of the BRO personnel for completing the projects in a time-bound manner even in most challenging terrains and harsh weather conditions, adding that the government, in its third term, aims to further bolster the border infrastructure with more promptness. Referring to the increased allocation of Rs 6,500 crore for BRO in Union Budget 2024-25, he expressed hope that it would not only contribute to strategic infrastructure development, but will also prove helpful in socio-economic progress in the border areas, including the North East region.

Raksha Mantri pointed out that the governments before 2014 were of the view that the development of border areas can have an adverse impact as it may be used by the country’s adversaries. He emphasised that border infrastructure development has been the priority area of PM Modi-led Government ever since it came to power as these regions, especially the North-east, is crucial from the socio-economic & strategic perspectives. “In the last decade, we have built a vast network of roads from villages to cities, which has resulted in the country witnessing progress at an unprecedented pace,” he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh assured the people that new dimensions will be added to the development of border areas. India will be one of the safest and strongest nations in the times to come, he said.

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Defence Secretary-designate Shri RK Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari, DG Border Roads Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, General Officer Commanding, Trishakti Corps Lt Gen Zubin A Minwalla were present with Raksha Mantri during the virtual inauguration, while Sikkim Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang was at the main site in Sherathang.

Governors of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram; Lt Governors of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh; Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand; Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences & MoS in Prime Minister’s Office and Personnel & Public Grievances and MoS of Law & Justice and Parliamentary Affairs attended the event virtually.

While presenting the Indo-US Endowment awards to 17 winning teams, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, MoS (I/C) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh emphasized AI enabled collaboration between the two countries.

The Department of Science & Technology and the USA are working together to elevate and expand the Indo-US strategic technology partnership and to connect scientists from both the countries to collaborate on emerging technologies such as AI and smart connected cities, said Dr Jitendra Singh.

The Minister was speaking at the United States – India Science & Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) award function here, in which United States Ambassador Eric Garcetti also participated. These awards are given in the field of Critical and Emerging Technology.

Dr Jitendra Singh congratulated all the 17 winning teams who have been given the opportunity to work together to develop AI-enabled technologies, decision support system, GPT-powered AI, development of technologies for quantum communication, robust quantum sensors under themes of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Technologies.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, “I am happy to say that as a part of the U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), new implementing agreements have been executed between the science agencies to expand international collaboration in a range of areas to build a robust innovation ecosystem. The DST – National Science Foundation joint call in the areas of (i) Computer and Information Science and Engineering, (ii) Cyber-Physical Systems and (iii) Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace has resulted in the award of 11 high pitch proposals.”

India and the US are at the pivotal point with the technologies shaping up for the future like Artificial Intelligence, Advanced manufacturing, block chain, green energy, quantum computing, getting ready to make one of the biggest technology transformations of the century.

Appreciating the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, he said, Government of India is creating an enabling innovation ecosystem with recent reforms like design linked incentives for semiconductors, PLI schemes for automobiles, drone policy and removing barriers through initiatives like faceless assessment.

Advancing the Research and Innovation Value chain and fostering the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in young minds has witnessed a phenomenal growth in India, said Dr Jitendra Singh, as evident from the Start-Up ecosystem gathering speed, scale and momentum. From 350 odd start-ups in 2014, the number swelled to over 1,40,000 Start-Ups. India is also home to over 110 Unicorns where 23 of them emerged only last year, which is a sign of India’s rapid upward ride on STI (Science, Technology & Innovation) ladder.

Governments of both the countries established the USISTEF in 2009 for supporting promising joint US India entrepreneurial initiatives on co-developing products or technologies that are beyond the ideation stage. Over the years, the program has had a significant impact, both in terms of the development of new products and technologies and in seeding new sustainable collaborations between US and India inventors.

Prime Minister (PM) attended the 19th East Asia Summit (EAS) on 11 October 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

In his address, PM stressed on ASEAN’s central role in the Indo-Pacific regional architecture, in India’s Indo-Pacific Vision and in Quad cooperation. He underlined that India’s participation in East Asia Summit was an important pillar of its Act East Policy. Noting that a free open, inclusive, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific was important for peace and development in the region, he spoke of the similarity and common approach between India’s Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative and ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific. He emphasized that the region should pursue a development based approach rather than one pivoted on expansionism.

Reiterating the importance of the EAS mechanism and reaffirming India’s support to further strengthen it, PM recalled support received from EAS Participating Countries on the revival of Nalanda University. PM took this opportunity to invite the EAS countries for a Heads of Higher Education Conclave to be held at Nalanda University.

The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues affecting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Underlining the severe impact of conflicts on the Global South, PM highlighted that the path of dialogue and diplomacy based on a humanitarian approach must be adopted for peaceful resolution of conflicts in the world. He further reiterated that there was no solution for them to be found on the battlefield. Prime Minister stressed that terrorism along with cyber and maritime challenges posed a serious threat to global peace and security, for which countries must come together to combat them.

Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister of Laos for successfully hosting the East Asia Summit. He conveyed his good wishes to Malaysia as the new Chair of ASEAN and expressed India’s full support to it.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Central Committee of Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Lao PDR in Vientiane today. Prime Minister congratulated President Sisoulith for successfully hosting the ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit.

The two leaders discussed bilateral ties and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the close partnership. They noted that India-Laos contemporary partnership was deeply rooted in age-old civilizational bonds. They expressed satisfaction at the ongoing collaboration between the two countries in the fields of development partnership, heritage restoration and cultural exchanges. Highlighting that 2024 marks a decade of India’s Act East Policy, Prime Minister noted its salience in adding further momentum to India’s engagement with Laos. While referring to civilizational ties between the two countries, Prime Minister called for strengthening people-to-people ties through the opportunities presented by the new Nalanda University. President Sisoulith thanked Prime Minister for India’s humanitarian assistance to Lao PDR in the wake of floods caused by Typhoon Yagi.

​Prime Minister thanked President Sisoulith for the support extended by Laos to strengthen India-ASEAN ties. The two leaders also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, on October 11, 2024, virtually inaugurated Prerna Sthal at Burdang in Sikkim in the memory of 22 soldiers who lost their lives during a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood at the South Lhonak Lake in the state in October last year. Owing to the bad weather in Gangtok, Raksha Mantri carried out the inauguration from Headquarters, Trishakti Corps in Sukna, West Bengal.

Addressing the gathering, Raksha Mantri paid tributes to the fallen heroes and commended their unyielding spirit to stand firm for the country in every situation. He stated that the Prerna Sthal has immortalised the sacrifice of the bravehearts and etched their bravery in history forever. The Memorial will remind the people of the soldiers’ courage, and act as an inspiration to them always.

Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that while such memorials are a symbol of the sacrifices of the soldiers, they also give shape to the collective consciousness of the people, awakening the sense of national pride in them. “Every Indian possesses the sense of national pride. But it’s not always awakened as one gets busy in personal life. The memorials and Prerna Sthals awaken this sense of national pride. They are a bridge between the past & the future, which binds many generations together The National War Memorial in New Delhi, which has the names of about 26,000 fallen heroes inscribed in golden letters, is one of the shining examples,” he said.

Raksha Mantri saluted the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers who make the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland, terming it as a debt the nation can never repay. “Those who do not know us or are not related by blood, protect us with their lives. We can never repay this debt. I salute all the soldiers who put their lives at stake, so that others live in peace,” he added.

“This Prerna Sthal is a testament to the bravery of our soldiers. It is a reflection of harmony which keeps us connected with each other. It is a symbol of national security, which assures us that the nation is in safe hands. It is a proof of our resolve to serve the nation. This Memorial will remind the people of the sacrifices of our soldiers, and inspire them to remain dedicated & take the nation to newer heights,” Shri Rajnath Singh said while concluding his address.

The ceremony was organised by the Trishakti Corps. Governor of Sikkim Shri Om Prakash Mathur, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, General Officer Commanding 17 Mountain Division Maj Gen Amit Kabthiyal & other senior officials attended the event and paid homage to the fallen heroes. The families of the soldiers were felicitated on the occasion. Defence Secretary-designate Shri RK Singh and General Officer Commanding, Trishakti Corps Lt Gen Zubin A Minwalla were with Raksha Mantri at Sukna.

Prerna Sthal, a memorial jointly constructed by the Governor of Sikkim and the Indian Army, stands as a symbol of courage and sacrifice. The memorial will inspire future generations of soldiers and serve as a reminder of the Indian Army’s unwavering commitment to the nation. Additionally, the Indian Army has restored the area surrounding the memorial, which was devastated by the floods, transforming it into a scenic memorial site, reflecting both remembrance and resilience.

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal said that two way trade between Europe and India can grow exponentially if both sides understand each other’s concern and cooperate meaningfully. He was speaking at the launch of the Federation of European Business in India (FEBI) in New Delhi today. Speaking of the India-European Union (EU) partnership, Shri Goyal added that respect for democracy and rule of law and similarity of views on fair trade will help our trade to grow exponentially.

Shri Goyal remarked that the world today cannot work on the principle of retaliation but has to find solutions through mutual cooperation. Shri Goyal added that EU’s policies and actions like rules related to deforestation, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), non-adherence to Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), etc. have impacted the Indian industry. The Minister stressed on the importance of fair, equitable and balanced trade practices.

Speaking about the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Union, the Minister said that the focus should be on business and trade issues and not on extraneous items falling outside the remit of FTA. Shri Goyal highlighted  that European companies are attracted to India not just for its market but also the vibrant democracy, rule of law, demographic dividend and decisive leadership that India provides which assures stability and growth.

Shri Goyal said that in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s mission to make India a developed nation by 2047,  as the Indian economy grows from US$3.5 trillion to US$35 trillion, it offers European businesses the chance to participate and benefit.

Shri Goyal congratulated FEBI for taking the initiative for being a voice of Europe and added that FEBI should act as a two way bridge between EU and India. The Minister highlighted the role of FEBI as a body to take trade engagement between the two sides to the next level by ensuring that the concerns of businesses of both parties are addressed.

Speaking about the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC), Shri Goyal called for mutual support in business practices and trade. He identified key areas of engagement for the council including green technology, clean energy, global value chains, strategic technology missions, and semiconductor missions.

Shri Goyal paid homage to Late Shri Ratan Tata, stating that he was someone who brought Europe and India closer to each other. The Minister cited the successful business expansions of Tata Group under his leadership. The Minister noted that he was a true friend of expanding business between the countries.

The Federation of European Business in India (FEBI) was launched today, highlighting the strong economic ties between India and the European Union. According to the Ambassador of the EU to India, H.E. Herve Delphin, the European bloc remains India’s largest trading partner, with over 4,000 European companies operating in India. He also announced that the India-EU Summit is set to take place in India next year and ongoing discussions around the FTA further strengthen bilateral relations.

The 21st ASEAN-India Summit was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 10 October 2024. Marking a decade of India’s Act East Policy, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi joined ASEAN leaders to review the progress of ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of cooperation. This was Prime Minister’s 11th participation in the Summit.

2. In his address, PM reiterated India’s support for ASEAN Unity, ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Calling the 21st century as the Asian century, he noted that India-ASEAN ties were critical to guiding Asia’s future. Emphasizing the vibrancy of India’s Act East Policy, PM noted that in the last ten years India-ASEAN trade had doubled to over USD 130 billion; ASEAN is today one of India’s largest trade and investment partners; direct flight connectivity established with seven ASEAN countries; promising beginning made with Fin-tech collaboration with the region; and significant progress made in restoration of shared cultural heritage in five ASEAN countries. PM underlined the need to complete the review of ASEAN-India FTA (AITIGA) in a time bound manner towards harnessing greater economic potential for the benefit of the ASEAN-India community. PM also spoke about the progress in India-ASEAN knowledge partnership through the scholarships provided to ASEAN youth at the Nalanda University.

3. In keeping with the Chair’s theme of “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”, PM announced a 10-point plan which includes:

i) Celebrating the year 2025 as ASEAN-India Year of Tourism for which India would make available USD 5 million towards joint activities;

ii) To celebrate a decade of Act East Policy through several people centric activities including Youth Summit, Start-up Festival, Hackathon, Music Festival, ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks and Delhi Dialogue;

iii) To organise ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave under ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund;

iv) Doubling the number of scholarships at Nalanda University and provision of new scholarships for ASEAN students at Agricultural Universities in India;

v) Review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement by 2025;

vi) Enhancing Disaster Resilience for which India would make available USD 5 million;

vii) Initiate a new Health Ministers’ track towards building Health Resilience;

viii) Initiate a regular mechanism of ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue towards strengthening Digital and Cyber Resilience;

ix) Workshop on Green Hydrogen; and

x) Invited ASEAN Leaders to join ‘Plant a Tree for Mother’ campaign towards building climate resilience.

4. In the meeting, Leaders agreed to create a new ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2026-2030) that will guide both sides in realizing the full potential of the ASEAN-India partnership and adopted Two Joint Statements:

i) Joint Statement on Strengthening ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Stability and Prosperity in the Region in the context of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) with the Support of India’s Act East Policy (AEP) – Leaders recognized the contribution of India’s Act East Policy in advancing the partnership between ASEAN and India. Full text of the Joint Statement can be accessed here.

ii) ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Advancing Digital Transformation Leaders appreciated India’s leadership in the field of digital transformation and welcomed partnership with India in digital public infrastructure. Full text of the joint statement can be accessed here.

5. Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister of Laos for successfully hosting the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and for his warmth and hospitality. Prime Minister also thanked Singapore for its constructive role as Country Coordinator over the last three years and looked forward to working with the Philippines, the new Country Coordinator for India.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, MoS (I/C) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh today chaired a joint meeting of senior officials from all Science Ministries and Departments.

The Minister reviewed the progress of ongoing projects and budget utilization, emphasising synergy and breaking down silos to enhance coordination and efficiency.

Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the need for timely and optimal use of budgetary resources, urging officials from key departments, including the Department of Science & Technology, Department of Biotechnology, ISRO, CSIR/DSIR, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Department of Space and the Department of Atomic Energy to accelerate their work on several projects announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Minister also reviewed the status of projects announced during the Budget this year and the Budget over the last decade. He also took up follow up discussion on Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

In line with the government’s focus on transparency and citizen engagement, Dr. Jitendra Singh called on senior officials to leverage social media platforms more actively. “Our presence must be felt on social media, particularly to engage with the younger generation,” the Minister stated, highlighting the importance of effective communication to showcase India’s scientific progress.

The meeting is part of Dr. Jitendra Singh’s ongoing efforts to create synergy among the various science departments, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and that projects are delivered on time. He also took stock of the projects highlighted in the PRAGATI platform and directed officials to fast-track their completion.

The Minister’s strong focus on accountability, efficiency, and outreach underscores the government’s commitment to driving India’s scientific and technological progress.

Dr Jitendra Singh also shared the Mantra of sustainable ecosystem based on pooling of knowledge and resources in collaboration with the non-governmental sectors in PPP mode.

The Minister highlighted the importance of early industry linkage and multiplication of benefits for common people when initiatives like these achieve scale and volume. He also assured that all the departments under ministry will act in coordination to achieve the common objective.

The department also sought his guidance of further integration and improvement of the portal to become a single nodal joint for all scientific departments.

Dr. Jitendra Singh reviewed the present status of ‘One common portal’ for all kinds of scientific research.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah paid tribute to legendary industrialist Ratan Tata in Mumbai today. Home Minister laid a wreath on the behalf of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji.

In his post on ‘X’ Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said, “Have joined millions of Indians to grieve the sad demise of Ratan Tata Ji. Also laid a wreath on behalf of PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji. Ratan Tata Ji will always be remembered as a beacon of patriotism and integrity. As an industrialist respected across the world, he steered Tata Group into global prominence. His life & commitment to the nation stand as a pole star in India’s industrial landscape”.

Shri Amit Shah said, “He led the Tata group with clean corporate governance, adhering to the rules, and made efforts to build a better society through the Tata Trusts. Ratan Tata Ji’s legacy will continue to guide those who lead the industrial sector of the country for a long time to come”.

In another post Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said, that “Deeply saddened by the demise of legendary industrialist and true nationalist, Shri Ratan Tata Ji. He selflessly dedicated his life to the development of our nation. Every time I met him, his zeal and commitment to the betterment of Bharat and its people amazed me. His commitment to the welfare of our country and its people led to the blooming of millions of dreams. Time cannot take away Ratan Tata Ji from his beloved nation. He will live on in our hearts. My condolences to Tata Group and his countless admirer.

Today, I am embarking on a two day visit to Vientiane, Lao PDR at the invitation of Prime Minister Mr. Sonexay Siphandone to participate in the 21st ASEAN-India and the 19th East Asia Summit.

This year we are marking a decade of our Act East Policy. I will join the ASEAN leaders to review progress in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and chart the future direction of our cooperation.

The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

We share close cultural and civilisational ties with the region, including with Lao PDR, which are enriched by shared heritage of Buddhism and Ramayana. I look forward to my meetings with the Lao PDR leadership to further strengthen our bilateral ties.

I am confident that this visit will further deepen our engagement with ASEAN countries.

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today condoled the passing of Shri Ratan Tata. Shri Modi said that Shri Tata was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being who endeared himself to several people with his humility, kindness and an unwavering commitment to making our society better.

In a thread post on X, Shri Modi wrote:

“Shri Ratan Tata Ji was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time, his contribution went far beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and an unwavering commitment to making our society better.”

“One of the most unique aspects of Shri Ratan Tata Ji was his passion towards dreaming big and giving back. He was at the forefront of championing causes like education, healthcare, sanitation, animal welfare to name a few.”

“My mind is filled with countless interactions with Shri Ratan Tata Ji. I would meet him frequently in Gujarat when I was the CM. We would exchange views on diverse issues. I found his perspectives very enriching. These interactions continued when I came to Delhi. Extremely pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family, friends and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for various development projects in Maharashtra worth over Rs 7600 crore via video conference today. The projects of today include the foundation stone laying of the upgradation of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur and the New Integrated Terminal Building at Shirdi Airport. Shri Modi also launched the operationalization of 10 Government Medical Colleges in Maharashtra and inaugurated the Indian Institute of Skills (IIS), Mumbai and Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) of Maharashtra.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that Maharashtra is being presented with 10 new Medical colleges and important infrastructure projects including the modernization and expansion of Nagpur Airport and construction of a new terminal building for Shirdi Airport. He congratulated the people of Maharashtra for the development projects of today.

Recalling his visit to Mumbai and Thane to inaugurate projects worth Rs 30,000 crore, the Prime Minister mentioned that development projects worth thousands of crores such as the expansion of Metro network, upgradation of airports, highway projects, infrastructure, solar energy and textile parks have been initiated in various districts earlier. Shri Modi underlined that new initiatives have been undertaken for farmers, fishermen and animal keepers while the foundation stone for Wadhawan Port – India’s largest container port has also been laid in Maharashtra. The Prime Minister remarked, “Never in the history of Maharashtra has development taken place at such a fast pace, on such a large scale, in different sectors.”

Recalling the recent recognition of Marathi as a classical language, the Prime Minister remarked that when a language gets its due respect, it’s not just the words but the entire generation gets a voice. He added that the dream of crores of Marathi brethren was fulfilled with this. Shri Modi noted that the people of Maharashtra celebrated the recognition of Marathi as a classical language. He added that he was receiving messages of happiness and gratitude from people across the villages of Maharashtra. Shri Modi remarked that the recognition of Marathi as a classical language was not his work but a result of the blessings of people of Maharashtra. The Prime Minister underlined that the works of progress in Maharashtra were underway due to the blessings of luminaries like Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Jyothiba Phule and Savitribai Phule.

The Prime Minister noted that the results of the assembly elections  published yesterday for Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir and the voters of Haryana had clearly revealed the mood of the people of the country. He added that the victory in Haryana for the third consecutive time after successful completion of two terms was historic.

Prime Minister Modi cautioned against those who play divisive politics and mislead the voters for personal gains. He also pointed out attempts to induce fear among Muslims in India and convert them into votebank and also expressed disdain towards those indulging in casteism in Hinduism for their benefit. Shri Modi warned against those trying to break Hindu society in India for political gains. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the people of Maharashtra would reject efforts to break the society.

In the last 10 years, the Prime Minister said that the government has begun a ‘Maha Yajna’ of creating modern infrastructure for the development of the nation. “Today, we are not only constructing buildings but laying the foundation of a healthy and prosperous Maharashtra”, the Prime Minister said, referring to the inauguration of 10 new  Medical colleges in the state to improve the lives of lakhs of people. He said that Thane, Ambernath, Mumbai, Nashik, Jalna, Buldhana, Hingoli, Washim, Amravati, Bhankdara and Gadchiroli districts would become centers of service for lakhs of people. The Prime Minister underscored that the 10 new Medical colleges would further add 900 medical seats in Maharashtra taking the total number of medical seats in the state to about 6000. Recalling his resolve to add 75,000 new medical seats from the Red Fort, the Prime Minister said that today’s event is a big step in this direction.

Adding that the Government had eased the Medical Education, the Prime Minister remarked that the doors to new avenues were opened for the youth of Maharashtra. He added that the priority of the government was to ensure that as many children from poor and middle class families become doctors and their dreams are fulfilled. Shri Modi said that at one point of time, there was a huge challenge of non-availability of books  in mother tongue for such specialized studies. The Prime Minister said that the Government  ended this discrimination and the youth of Maharashtra would be able to study medicine in Marathi language. He added that the youth will fulfill their dream of becoming doctors, by studying in their mother-tongue.

The Prime Minister remarked that the Government’s effort to make life comfortable was a big medium to fight against poverty. Lambasting the previous Governments for making poverty the fuel of their politics, he added that his government has lifted 25 crore people out of poverty within a decade. Elaborating on the transformation of health services in the country, Shri Modi said “Today, every poor person has an Ayushman card for free medical treatment”. He added that recently the elderly aged above 70 years were also getting free medical treatment. Shri Modi noted that the Essential medicines were available at very low prices at Jan Aushadhi Kendras and the stents for heart patients were made cheaper by 80-85 percent. He added that the Government had also reduced the prices of medicines necessary for cancer treatment. Adding that medical treatment had become cheaper due to the increase in the number of government medical colleges and hospitals, Shri Modi said “Today the Modi government has given a strong shield of social security to the poorest of the poor.”

The Prime Minister emphasized that the world only trusts a country when its youth is filled with confidence. He noted that the confidence of today’s young India is writing the story of a new future for the nation and highlighted that the global community sees India as a significant hub for human resources, with vast opportunities in education, healthcare, and software development across the globe. To prepare India’s youth for these opportunities, the Prime Minister informed that the government is aligning their skills with global standards. The Prime Minister mentioned the launch of various projects in Maharashtra, including the Vidya Samiksha Kendra, aimed at advancing the educational framework and the inauguration of the Indian Institute of Skills in Mumbai, where future-oriented training will be provided to align the talent of young individuals with market demands. Further, Shri Modi highlighted the government’s initiative of offering paid internships to youth, a first in India’s history, where students will receive a stipend of Rs 5,000 during their internship. He expressed happiness that thousands of companies are registering to be a part of this initiative thereby helping young individuals gain valuable experience and opening new opportunities for them.

The Prime Minister said India’s efforts for its youth are yielding significant results. He said that India’s educational institutions are standing on par with the top institutes globally and highlighted the growing quality of higher education and research in India as released by World University Rankings only yesterday.

Shri Modi said that the world’s eyes are now on India as the country has become the fifth-largest economy. “Future of the global economy is in India”, the Prime Minister remarked, noting the new opportunities brought by economic progress, especially in sectors that were once neglected for decades. He gave the example of tourism and pointed out the lost opportunities in the past to fully utilize Maharashtra’s invaluable heritage, beautiful natural sites and spiritual centers to develop the state into a billion-dollar economy.

The Prime Minister stressed that the present government includes both development and heritage. Touching upon building a bright future inspired by India’s rich past, the Prime Minister mentioned the new terminal at Shirdi Airport, the modernization of Nagpur Airport and other development projects underway in Maharashtra. He said that the new terminal at Shirdi Airport will greatly benefit devotees of Sai Baba allowing more visitors from across the country and abroad. He also spoke about inaugurating the upgraded Solapur Airport which will now enable devotees to visit nearby spiritual destinations such as Shani Shingnapur, Tulja Bhavani and Kailas Temple thereby, boosting Maharashtra’s tourism economy and creating employment opportunities.

“Every decision and every policy of our government is dedicated to only one goal – Viksit Bharat!”, exclaimed Shri Modi. He added that the Government’s vision for the same was welfare of the poor, farmers, youth and women. Therefore, he added that every development project was dedicated to the poor villagers, laborers and farmers. Shri Modi highlighted that the separate cargo complex being built at Shirdi Airport would help the farmers a lot as various types of agricultural products could be exported across the country and abroad. He added that farmers of Shirdi, Lasalgaon, Ahilyanagar and Nashik would benefit from the cargo complex by easily being able to transport products like onion, grapes, guava and pomegranate to the big market.

The Prime Minister remarked that the government was constantly taking necessary steps in the interest of farmers such as abolishing the minimum export price on Basmati rice, removal of ban on export of non-Basmati rice, reducing the export duty on parboiled rice by half. He added that the government has also reduced the export tax on onions by half to increase the income of farmers of Maharashtra. Shri Modi also added that the Government had decided to impose a 20 percent tax on the import of edible oils and significantly increase the custom duty on refined soybean, sunflower and palm oil to help the farmers of India to benefit with higher prices for crops like mustard, soybean and sunflower. Shri Modi also added that the way the government was supporting the textile industry the cotton farmers of Maharashtra would be greatly benefitted.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister said that the resolve of the present government is to strengthen Maharashtra. He expressed happiness with the state’s pace of progress and congratulated the people of Maharashtra for all the development projects of today.

Governor of Maharashtra, Shri C P Radhakrishnan, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis were virtually present on the occasion.

Background

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the upgradation of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur with a total estimated project cost of around Rs 7000 crore. It will serve as a catalyst for growth across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, aviation, tourism, logistics, and healthcare, benefiting Nagpur city and the wider Vidarbha region.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the New Integrated Terminal Building at Shirdi Airport worth over Rs 645 crore. It will provide world-class facilities and amenities for the religious tourists coming to Shirdi. The construction theme of the proposed terminal is based on the spiritual neem tree of Sai Baba.

In line with his commitment to ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare for all, the Prime Minister launched the operationalization of 10 Government Medical Colleges in Maharashtra located at Mumbai, Nashik, Jalna, Amravati, Gadchiroli, Buldhana, Washim, Bhandara, Hingoli and Ambernath (Thane). While enhancing the undergraduate and postgraduate seats, the colleges will also offer specialized tertiary healthcare to the people.

In line with his vision to position India as the ‘Skill Capital of the World’,  the Prime Minister also inaugurated the Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) Mumbai, with an aim to create an industry-ready workforce with cutting-edge technology and hands-on training. Established under a Public-Private Partnership model, it is a collaboration between the Tata Education and Development Trust and Government of India. The institute plans to provide training in highly specialized areas like mechatronics, artificial intelligence, data analytics, industrial automation and robotics among others.

Further, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) of Maharashtra. VSK will provide students, teachers, and administrators with access to crucial academic and administrative data through live chatbots such as Smart Upasthiti, Swadhyay among others. It will offer high-quality insights to schools to manage resources effectively, strengthen ties between parents and the state, and deliver responsive support. It will also supply curated instructional resources to enhance teaching practices and student learning.