The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Gujarat’ program via video conferencing today. During the programme, the Prime Minister inaugurated and performed Bhoomi Poojan of more than 1.3 lakh houses across Gujarat built under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and other housing schemes. He also interacted with the beneficiaries of Awas Yojna.

Addressing the gathering, The Prime Minister expressed happiness that people from every part of Gujarat are connected with the development journey of Gujarat. He recalled his recent participation in Vibrant Gujarat which has completed 20 years. He praised Gujarat for organizing a grand investment event i.e. Vibrant Gujarat.

The Prime Minister underlined that a home owned by the poor is the guarantee of their bright future. But as time passesd by and families began to grow, the Prime Minister emphasized the government’s efforts to build new homes for every poor and mentioned about 1.25 lakh whose Bhoomi Pujan was carried out today. He congratulated all the families who received their new home today and wished them a bright future. Shri Modi stated, “When work of such scale comes to completion, the nation calls it ‘Modi ki Guarantee’ which means guarantee of fulfillment of the guarantee”.

The Prime Minister praised the organization of today’s programme where so many people assembled at more than 180 places in the state. “Your blessings in such large numbers further strengthen our resolve. Recalling the water scarcity of the region, the Prime Minister mentioned initiatives like Per Drop More Crop and drip irrigation which have helped agriculture in Banaskantha, Mehsana, Ambaji, and Patan. He said development efforts in Ambaji will give a huge boost to the number of pilgrims. He said that the broad Gauge line from Ahmedabad to Abu Road which had been pending since the British period will create a large number of jobs.

Speaking about his village Vadnagar, the Prime Minister touched upon the recently recovered ancient artifacts dated to 3,000 years old that have been drawing tourists in large numbers. He mentioned places like Hatkeshwar, Ambaji, Patan and Tarangaji and said that North Gujarat is gradually becoming a tourist center similar to the Statue of Unity.

Touching upon the successful organization of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in the months of November, December and January where Modi’s guarantee vehicle reached lakhs of villages in the country, the Prime Minister said that crores of people from Gujarat became associated with the Yatra. He lauded the government’s efforts in helping 25 crore people rise out of poverty in the country and also praised them for benefitting from schemes, managing the fund wisely and crafting their lives as per the schemes to beat poverty. The Prime Minister expressed confidence and urged the beneficiaries to come forward and support this initiative and contribute to uprooting poverty. Touching upon his interaction with the beneficiaries earlier today, the Prime Minister hailed their self-confidence which got a boost with their new homes.

The Prime Minister said, “Today’s time is the time of creating history.” He compared this time period with the time period of Swadeshi movement, Quit India Movement and Dandi March when freedom became the goal of every citizen. Creation of Viksit Bharat has become a similar resolution for the nation, he said. He highlighted Gujarat’s thinking of ‘National development through the progress of the State’. Today’s programme is part of Viksit Gujarat for Viksit Bharat, he added.

The Prime Minister noted the strides made by Gujarat in PM Awas Yojana and informed that more than 9 lakh houses have been constructed in the urban areas of the state. Under PM Awas – Gramin more than 5 lakh houses have been constructed in the rural areas. He said new technology is being deployed to ensure quality and rapid construction. He mentioned 1100 houses constructed under the Lighthouse project.

Prime Minister Modi reiterated that the construction of homes for the poor is taking place at a rapid pace when compared to the pre 2014 era. Pointing out the meager funding for the construction of houses of the poor and the leakages in the form of commissions etc. during earlier times, the Prime Minister said that the money transferred for homes of the poor is now more than 2.25 lakhs and is being transferred directly into their bank accounts, eliminating the middlemen. He also touched upon the freedom of building homes according to the needs of the families while also building toilets, tap water connections, supplying electricity and gas connections. “These facilities have helped the poor in saving money”, he said. PM Modi also emphasized that the homes are now registered in the name of women making them homeowners.

Reiterating that Yuva, Kisan, Mahila and the poor are the four pillars of Viksit Bharat, PM said that their empowerment is a top commitment of the government. He emphasized that ‘poor’ include every community. Benefit of the schemes is reaching everyone without any discrimination. “Modi has stood guarantee for those who had no guarantee”, he said. He also mentioned Mudra Yojna where entrepreneurs of every community can get collateral-free loans. Similarly, Viswakarmas and street vendors were provided with financial means and skills. “The biggest beneficiaries of every poor welfare scheme are Dalit, OBC and tribal families. If anyone has benefited the most from Modi’s guarantee, it is these families”, he said.

“Modi has given the guarantee of creating Lakhpati Didis”, the Prime Minister remarked, informing that the nation is already home to 1 crore Lakhpati Didis including a large number of women from Gujarat. He reiterated the government’s effort to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis in the next few years and said that it will hugely empower poor families. He also mentioned ASHA and Aanganwadi workers who are now included under Ayushman Yojna in this year’s budget.

The Prime Minister underlined the government’s emphasis on reducing the expenses of the poor and middle-class. He mentioned free ration, inexpensive treatment facilities in hospitals, low-priced medicines, cheaper mobile phone bills, gas cylinders under Ujjwala Yojna and LED bulbs reducing electricity bills. PM Modi also touched upon the Rooftop solar scheme for 1 crore houses to reduce electricity bills and create earnings from the extra electricity generated. He informed that under the scheme, about 300 units of electricity will become free and the government will purchase electricity worth thousands of rupees every year. Speaking about the solar village built in Modhera, PM Modi said that such a revolution will now be witnessed in the entire nation. He also mentioned the government assisting farmers in setting up solar pumps and small solar plants on barren lands. He mentioned that work is also underway to provide a separate feeder to the farmers through solar energy in Gujarat allowing farmers to get electricity for irrigation even during the day.

Underlining that Gujarat has been identified as a trading state and its development journey getting a new impetus for industrial development, the Prime Minister said that the youth of Gujarat have unprecedented opportunities being an industrial powerhouse. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister said that the youth of Gujarat is taking the state to new heights in every sector today and assured everyone of the support of the double-engine government at every step.

Background

The program is being organized at more than 180 places across all districts of Gujarat, with the main programme held at district Banaskantha. The state-wide program witnessed the participation of thousands of beneficiaries of various government schemes including housing schemes. Chief Minister Gujarat, other Ministers of the Gujarat Government, MPs, MLAs and local-level representatives joined the program.

Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the New Delhi World Book Fair at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, today. Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to India, Mr. Saleh bin Eid Al-Husseini; Minister of State for Education, Smt. Annpurna Devi; Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Shri Sanjay K. Murthy; Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Shri Sanjay Kumar; Chairman, National Book Trust, Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe; Director, National Book Trust, Shri Yuvraj Malik, and other dignitaries were also present at the event.

Inaugurating the 52nd edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair Shri Pradhan highlighted that this year’s theme of the fair ‘Multilingual India: A Living Tradition’ is celebrating India’s linguistic diversity and global literary traditions. He also said that the fair is a harmonious amalgamation of literature, diverse cultures artistic expressions and knowledge. Multilingualism is the core of our diversity and therefore, language and books are assets to realise the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, as envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Pradhan added.

He also emphasized the need to nurture a book-loving and book-reading society that fosters forward-looking ideas for building a progressive social order as the country marches to realise the goal of Viksit Bharat.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Mr. Saleh bin Eid Al-Husseini stressed the mutual commitment to deepen ties between the countries. He drew similarities between India’s Amrit Kaal and the 2030 vision of Saudi Arabia as there is a shared commitment to a better future.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched the app of the National Digital Libraries for All, announced in the Budget 2023-34. National e-library ( राष्ट्रीय e-पुस्तकालय) is a first-of-its-kind digital library for accessing a variety of non-academic books for Children and Adolescents based on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision statement, “When citizens read, the country leads.”

The राष्ट्रीय e-पुस्तकालय shall promote and foster a love for life-long reading habit among students and provide diverse literature options including various genres such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biographies etc., which will cater to different reading preferences and help students explore diverse types of literature in the language of their own choice. It will also, encourage critical thinking and imagination, which can help students develop & enhance their creativity and analytical skills and support literacy and language development among children and adolescents by engaging with books beyond their academic curricula. It will provide exposure to literature of Indian languages and foreign languages and create and foster cultural awareness, patriotism and empathy with an intent to realise Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

The राष्ट्रीय e-पुस्तकालय for Children and Adolescents shall provide accessibility in a device agnostic manner to age appropriate reading material for 4 different age groups – 3-8 years, 8-11 years, 11-14 years, and 14-18 years. Books in the राष्ट्रीय e-पुस्तकालय will focus on the history, culture, scientific and other achievements of India to develop a sense of pride amongst young Indiansand shall contain books from all the 23 (twenty-three) languages under the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India, apart from English. As of now, more than 30 reputed publishers have been onboarded and more than 1000 books have been uploaded on the platform.

Shri Pradhan also unveiled the innovative learning E-learning platform, ‘E-Jaadui Pitara’, which is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, comprising puzzles, riddles, and stories. The inclusive and informative content, translated into 22 languages using Artificial Intelligence (AI) aims to transform early childhood education.

The Minister also released Special Modules aligned with NEP 2020, teaching-learning resources and subject-specific modules. Resources promoting G20 initiatives, Viksit Bharat and Nari Shakti Vandan were also released by the Minister, which highlight India’s commitment to social development and empowerment.

Shri Pradhan also released the “Igniting Collective Goodness Mann ki Baat @100” anthology, comprising 100 episodes of the radio show, and published by NBT-India in 12 languages. He also released four new titles under the “Creating Intellectual Heritage” project, published by NBT-India.

Shri Pradhan also released the Hindi and English Braille editions of the book Exam Warriors penned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and published by NBT-India.

The inaugural session was followed by a tour of the book fair, with the inauguration of the Theme Pavilion, a Photo Exhibition on the Journey of the History of Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh, and the Guest Country Pavilion of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Themed around ‘Multilingual India: A Living Tradition (Bahubhashi Bharat: Ek Jeevant Parampara)’, the New Delhi World Book Fair 2024 celebrates the mosaic of languages weaved into the cultural fabric of the nation. As per tradition, with a country as the Guest of Honour at NDWBF – this year the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the esteemed Guest Country, fostering cultural exchange, literary discourses, and dialogues between the two nations. NDWBF 2024 will be open from 10-18 February 2024 at Halls 1 to 5, Pragati Maidan from 11.00 am to 8.00 pm. Entry is FREE for children in school uniform, for senior citizens, and for differently-abled. Tickets are available online at ITPO’s website and at select Metro Stations.

“Fragile 5” to  “Top 5”, India’s journey of the last ten years is a case study in itself, which would amuse and enthuse any student of Economics, said Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.

From cynicism and scams of the past, the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been an opportunity to get over that dubious distinction, he said, adding, this marked the beginning of the journey from pessimism to optimism.

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, was addressing the Global Business Summit ‘The Big Shift – Measuring the Forces of Change’  organised by the Times Group in New Delhi.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, in the last ten years under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership, India recorded a rapid rise across various global parameters and universal benchmarks.

Today India has emerged as the fifth largest economy in the world and in the Global Innovation Index we ranked 81 in 2014, we have jumped 41 places, today we are No. 40 in the world, he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, India has the 3rd largest Startup Ecosystem globally and is home to the fastest-growing unicorns.

“From just over 350 StartUps in the year 2014,India grew over 300 times. After PM Modi gave the clarion call ‘StartUp India, Stand Up India’ from the ramparts of the Red Fort in his Independence Day address and rolled out the special StartUp scheme in 2016, today we have over 1,30,000 StartUps, besides more than 110 Unicorns,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, even though talent was never lacking in the country, the missing link of enabling milieu was created under the leadership of PM Modi.

“Space reforms undertaken by PM Modi lifted the veil of secrecy that shrouded India’s Space programmes. With the opening up of the Space sector, the common masses have been able to witness the launch of the mega Space events like Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, four-five years back, we had just one StartUp in the Space sector, today we have around 190 private Space Startups after opening up of the sector, while the earlier ones of them have even turned entrepreneurs. There has been an investment of over Rs.1,000 crore by private Space Startups in the current financial year from April to December 2023, he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, even though our Space Research programme started in the year 1969, the year when the US landed first man on the moon, we caught up fast with the Space faring nations and last year Chandrayaan-3 made a historic touchdown on the virgin lunar south polar region where nobody has landed before.

Identifying Biotechnology as the driver of India’s future economic growth, the S&T Minister said our bioeconomy is currently valued at nearly $140 billion from $10 billion a decade ago.Today there are more than 6,300 BioTech Startups and over 3,000 Agritech Startups, he said.

“We have huge bioresources in India, – In the Himalayas, herbs, Aroma Mission is creating new opportunities while the Deep Ocean Mission has been launched to tap India’s huge sea bed wealth along the more than 7,500 kms coastline,” said Dr Jitendra Singh.

Stating that the “Anusandhan National Research Foundation” will pave the way for a greater Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in scientific research, Dr Jitendra Singh said the NRF will be a better model than the United States’ NRF.

“NRF budget envisions a funding of Rs. 50,000 crore over five years, out of which about 60%-70%, is estimated to come from non-government sources,” he said.

Reiterating that the age of silos is over, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the NRF envisions integration between Public and Private sector and will provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) – 2020.

Dr Jitendra Singh said this is possibly the best time for Innovators, R&D and Startups. PM Modi has delivered the right ecosystem that supports and augments Innovation, promotes entrepreneurship and fosters a thriving industry.

Mentioning that PM Modi liberated us from the self-imposed shackles of the past, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Government scrapped about 2,000 obsolete rules and deregulated the economy that earlier proved to be detrimental to attract FDI and spur growth.

Today the world is hailing India’s leadership, said Dr Jitendra Singh, adding that we are excelling the world in tackling Climate Change, in our efforts towards Green Energy and Zero Emission and PM Modi’s initiative of launching the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) during the historic G20 Summit last year.

Stating that the world today awaits India to lead the way, Dr Jitendra Singh said the youth of today will be the architects of PM Modi’s “Viksit Bharat” @2047.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi replied to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address to Parliament in Rajya Sabha today.

Addressing the House, the Prime Minister said that the 75th Republic Day is a significant milestone in the nation’s journey and the President during her address spoke about India’s self-confidence. Prime Minister Modi underlined that in her address, the President expressed confidence about India’s bright future and acknowledged the capability of the citizens of India. He thanked the President for her inspirational address that provided guidance for the nation to accomplish the resolve of Viksit Bharat. PM Modi also thanked the Members of the House for a fruitful discussion on the ‘Motion of Thanks’ on the President’s address. “Rashtrapati Ji’s address emphasized India’s burgeoning confidence, promising future and immense potential of its people”, the Prime Minister said.

Speaking regarding the atmosphere of the House, the Prime Minister remarked, “The opposition cannot suppress my voice, because the people of the country have given strength to this voice”. The Prime Minister recalled the time of leakages of public finance, ‘fragile five’ and ‘policy paralysis’, and said that the current government worked with great consideration to bring the country out of the earlier mess. “During the Congress government’s 10 years of rule, the entire world used words like ‘fragile five’ and policy paralysis for India. And in our 10 years – among the Top 5 economies. That is how the world talks about us today”, said

The Prime Minister also emphasized the government’s effort to remove the signs of colonial mentality which were ignored by the earlier governments. He listed new ensign for the defence forces, Kartavya path, renaming the Andaman Islands, abolition of colonial laws and promotion of the Indian language and many other such steps. The Prime Minister also mentioned the past inferiority complex about indigenous products, traditions and local values. He said all this is being addressed earnestly now.

Giving insights about the President’s address regarding the four most important castes namely Nari Shakti, Yuva Shakti, the poor and Anna Data, the Prime Minister reiterated that the development and progress of these four main pillars of India will lead to the nation becoming developed. The Prime Minister said that the 20th-century approach will not work if we want to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The Prime Minister also touched upon the rights and development of SC, ST and OBC communities and said that abrogation of Article 370 ensured that these communities get the same rights as the rest of the country in Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, Forest Rights Act, Prevention of Atrocities Act, and domicile rights for Balmiki community in the state were also implemented only after the abrogation. He also mentioned the passing of the bill for OBC reservation in the local bodies of the state.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the steps to honour Baba Saheb and also pointed out the event of tribal women becoming the President of the nation. Speaking about the government policies for the welfare of the poor, Prime Minister Modi underlined prioritizing the development of the SC, ST, OBC and Tribal communities. He mentioned pucca houses, cleanliness campaigns to improve health, Ujjwala gas scheme,  free ration and Ayushman Yojna to empower these communities. He also mentioned that in the last 10 years, scholarships for SC and ST students were increased, enrollment numbers in school rose, dropout rates were reduced significantly, a new Central Tribal University was established taking the number from 1 to 2 and the number of Eklavya Model Schools increased from 120 to 400. He informed that enrolment of SC students in higher education  has increased by 44 percent, ST students’ enrolment by 65 percent and OBC enrollment went up by 45 percent.

“Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas is not just a slogan, it is Modi’s guarantee”, Shri Modi exclaimed. The Prime Minister cautioned against spreading a mood of despair based on a false narrative. The Prime Minister further added that he was born in an independent India and his thoughts and dreams are independent leaving no room for a colonial mindset in the nation.

The Prime Minister said as opposed to the earlier mess of the public sector enterprises, now enterprises like BSNL are leading roll out of 4G and 5G, HAL is doing record manufacturing and Asia’s largest Helicopter Factory is HAL in Karnataka. LIC too is thriving with record share prices.  PM Modi informed the House that the number of PSUs in the country increased from 234 in 2014 to 254 today, and most of them are giving record returns drawing the attention of investors. He further added that the PSU Index in the country has witnessed a two-fold rise within the last year. In the last 10 years, PSU’s net profit saw an increase from Rs 1.25 lakh crore between 2004 and 2014 to Rs 2.50 lakh crore, and the net value of PSUs increased from Rs 9.5 lakh crore to Rs 17 lakh crore.

The Prime Minister said that he understands regional aspirations well as he has passed through the process as a Chief Minister of a state. PM Modi reiterated the mantra of ‘States development for Country’s development’. He gave assurance that full support will be provided by the center for the development of the states. Emphasizing the importance of healthy competition for development among the states, the Prime Minister called for competitive cooperative federalism.

Throwing light on the challenges of the once-in-a-lifetime Covid Pandemic, PM Modi recalled chairing 20 meetings with Chief  Ministers of all states and credited the entire machinery for tackling the challenge head-on.

He also mentioned spreading the exposure and glory of G20 to all the states as events were organized all over the country. He also pointed out his practice of taking foreign dignitaries to different states.

Continuing with the role of the states, the Prime Minister gave credit to the states for the success of the Aspirational District Programme. “The design of our programme takes the states along and is for taking the nations forward collectively”, he said.

Drawing an analogy to the functioning of the nation with that of the human body, the Prime Minister reiterated that even if one State remains deprived and underdeveloped, the nation cannot be considered developed similar to how a non-functioning body part affects the entire body.

The Prime Minister said that the direction of the nation’s policies is towards ensuring basic facilities for all and raising the standards of living. In the coming days, our focus will be going beyond ease of living to improving quality of life, he said. He stressed his resolve to provide new opportunities to the neo-middle class that has just come out of poverty. “We will provide more strength to the ‘Modi Kavach’ of Social Justice”, he added.

Highlighting the government’s support for those who have arisen out of poverty, Shri Modi declared that the free ration scheme, Ayushman scheme, 80 percent discounts on medicines, PM Samman Nidhi for farmers, pucca houses for the poor, tapped water connections and construction of new toilets will continue at a fast pace. “Modi 3.0 will leave no stone unturned to strengthen the foundations of Viksit Bharat”, he said.

The Prime Minister said that strides in the medical infrastructure will continue in the next 5 years and medical treatment will be more affordable, every house will have piped water, saturation of PM Awas will be achieved, electricity bills will become zero for crores of houses due to solar power, piped cooking gas in the entire country, startups will increase, patent filing will break new records. PM Modi assured the House that in the next 5 years, the world will witness the capabilities of Indian youth in every international sporting competition, public transport system will be transformed, Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign will attain new heights, Made In India semiconductors and electronics will dominate the world, and the country will work towards reducing energy dependence on other countries. He also mentioned the push towards green hydrogen and ethanol blending. PM Modi also reaffirmed India’s belief in becoming Atmanirbhar in edible oil production.

Continuing with the vision of the next 5 years, the Prime Minister talked of the promotion of natural farming and millet as superfood. Drone use in agriculture will see a new increase.  Similarly, the use of nano urea cooperative is being promoted as a people’s movement. He also talked of new records in fisheries and animal husbandry.

Prime Minister Modi also drew attention to the tourism sector becoming a huge source of employment in the next 5 years. He underlined the capability of many states in the country to drive their economy solely by tourism. “India is going to become a massive tourist destination for the world”, he added

The Prime Minister also highlighted the strides in the field of Digital India and Fintech and said that the next 5 years present a positive future for India’s digital economy. “Digital services will further India’s progress”, he added. “I have full faith that our scientists will take us to new heights in the field of space technology”, the Prime Minister said.

Talking about the transformation of the grassroots economy, the Prime Minister mentioned Self Help Groups. He said, “3 crore lakhpati didis will write a new script of women empowerment.” “By 2047, India will re-live its golden period”, the Prime Minister said underlining the government’s commitment to Viksit Bharat.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister thanked the Rajya Sabha Chairman for the opportunity to present the facts before the House and the nation and also thanked the President of India for her inspirational address.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 1330 crores in Viksit Bharat, Viksit Goa 2047 program in Goa today. Shri Modi also took a walkthrough of the exhibition showcased on the occasion. The development projects of today include a boost to infrastructure in the education, sports, water treatment, waste management and tourism sectors. The Prime Minister also distributed appointment orders to 1930 new Government recruits across various departments under Rozgar Mela and also handed over sanction letters to beneficiaries of various welfare schemes.

The Prime Minister began his address by highlighting the natural beauty and pristine beaches of Goa and said that it is the favorite holiday destination of lakhs and lakhs of tourists from India and abroad. “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat can be experienced during any season in Goa”, he remarked. He also drew attention to the great saints, famous artists and scholars who were born in Goa and remembered Sant Sohirobanath Ambiye, playwright Krishna Bhatt Bandkar, vocalist Kesarbai Kerkar, Acharya Dharmanand Kosambi and Raghunath Anant Mashelkar. PM Modi paid tributes to Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar ji on her death anniversary and also highlighted her close association  with Mangueshi Temple located nearby. “Swami Vivekanand derived new inspiration from the Damodar Sal in Margao”, he added. PM Modi also spoke about the Lohia Maidan and Chieftain’s Memorial in Cuncolim.

The Prime Minister talked about the exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier, popularly known as “Gõycho Saib” that will take place this year. Mentioning the exposition as a symbol of peace and cohesiveness, the Prime Minister remembered Saint Queen Ketevan of Georgia also whose holy relics were taken to Georgia by the Minister of External Affairs. “Peaceful co-existence of Christian and other communities is an example of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’”, he added.

Elaborating about the 1300 crore rupees worth projects that were either inaugurated or for which foundation stone was laid today, PM Modi, said that the projects related with education, health and tourism will give a new push to the development of Goa. “Permanent campus of the National Institute of Technology and campus of National Institute of Watersports and integrated waste management facility, 1930 appointment letters will take the state’s development to new heights”, he said.

“Even though Goa is small in area and population”, the Prime Minister said, “It is socially diverse and people of different societies and religions have been coexisting in peace for several generations.” He highlighted the mantra of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and lauded the spirit of the people of Goa who have always given a befitting reply to those trying to harm the harmony of the state.

Referring to Swayampurna Goa, PM Modi praised the good governance model of the Goa Government leading to the foremost position of people of Goa on the parameter of well being. “Development of  Goa is proceeding rapidly due to the Double -Engine government”, He said. The Prime Minister mentioned saturation of Har Ghar Nal se Jal, electricity connections, LPG coverage, being Kerosin free, open defecation free and saturation coverage in many of the central government schemes. “Saturation leads to elimination of discrimination and full transfer of benefits to all beneficiaries. That is why I say, “Saturation is true secularism, Saturation is real social justice and Saturation is Modi’s guarantee to Goa and the country”, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister mentioned the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra where more than 30 thousand people in Goa availed various benefits.

Touching upon this year’s Budget, the Prime Minister said that it has provided impetus to the government’s resolution of saturation of schemes. He declared that the government is now guaranteeing two crore houses to the poor after the target of 4 crore pucca houses have already been achieved. He also urged the people of Goa to create awareness among those who have been left behind in availing pucca homes. He informed that in this year’s budget, PM Awas Yojna and Ayushman Yojna will be further expanded.

The Prime Minister touched upon the Matsya Sampada Yojna in this year’s budget and said that it will further bolster assistance and resources to the fishermen community, thereby boosting seafood exports and the income of fishermen. He further added that such efforts create lakhs of job opportunities in the fisheries sector.

Highlighting the government’s efforts towards welfare of the fish breeders, PM Modi mentioned the formation of a dedicated Ministry, PM Kisan Credit Card facility, an increase in the insurance amount to Rs 5 lakh, and subsidy for the modernization of boats.

“Double engine government is making record investments in infrastructure along with running big schemes for the welfare of the poor”, the Prime Minister stated, highlighting the fast paced development of roads, railways and airports in the country. He pointed out that Rs 11 lakh crore has been allocated for infrastructure developments in this year’s budget compared to less than Rs 2 lakh crore 10 years ago. He said that new employment opportunities arise and the income of every person increases where development projects are taking place.

Regarding the government’s efforts in enhancing connectivity and establishing Goa as a logistics hub, the Prime Minister stated, “Our government is working towards improving connectivity in Goa and transforming it into a logistics hub. The inauguration of the Manohar Parrikar International Airport in Goa has facilitated continuous domestic and international flights.” He also mentioned the country’s second longest cable bridge, New Zuari Bridge, which was dedicated to people last year. Underlining the rapid infrastructure development in Goa, including new roads, bridges, railway routes, and educational institutions, the Prime Minister remarked, “These developments are propelling the growth of Goa to new heights.”

Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s rich cultural and natural heritage, emphasizing the government’s efforts to position India as a holistic tourist destination. He stated, “Every form of tourism is available in our country, on a single visa. Previous governments lacked vision for the development of tourist destinations, coastal areas, and islands.” Recognizing the potential of eco-tourism in Goa’s rural areas, the Prime Minister underscored the government’s focus on promoting tourism in Goa’s hinterlands to benefit local residents. The Prime Minister also listed initiatives to enhance tourism infrastructure in Goa with the development of modern facilities such as food courts, restaurants, and waiting rooms to make Goa an even more attractive destination.

“The Government is committed to developing Goa as a tourist destination for conference tourism”, the Prime Minister remarked, recalling his visit to the India Energy Week 2024 earlier in the day. He  mentioned multiple important G20 meetings and big diplomatic meetings taking place in Goa in the past years. He also gave examples of tournaments such as the World Table Tennis Championship, World Beach Volleyball Tour, FIFA Under-17 Women Football World Cup and 37th National Games that were organized in Goa taking its identity to the entire world. He assured that Goa will become a huge center for such events in the coming years

He lauded the contribution of football in Goa and honored Brahmanand Shankhwalkar with the Padma Award for his invaluable contribution to the sport. The Prime MInister said that the infrastructure developed for the National Games in the state will help the athletes to realize their dreams.

Highlighting the government’s focus on education, the Prime Minister mentioned the establishment of several institutions in Goa, transforming it into a major educational hub. He also informed about the Budget announcement of a 1 lakh crore rupees fund for  research and innovation to foster technological advancements and benefit the youth and industries.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister emphasized the collective efforts required for the rapid development of Goa, urging everyone to contribute to the state’s progress.

Governor of Goa, Shri P S Sreedharan Pillai, Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Pramod Sawant, and Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik were present on the occasion among others.

Background

The Prime Minister inaugurated the permanent campus of the National Institute of Technology, Goa to the nation. The newly built-up campus has various facilities such as tutorial complex, departmental complex, seminar complex, administrative complex, hostels, health center, staff quarters, amenity center, sports ground and other utilities to cater to the needs of students, faculty and staff of the Institute.

The Prime Minister dedicated the new campus of the National Institute of Watersports. The institute will introduce 28 tailor-made courses aimed at fostering the development of watersports and water rescue activities catering to both the public and the Armed Forces. The Prime Minister also inaugurated a 100 TPD Integrated Waste Management Facility in South Goa. It has been designed for the scientific treatment of 60 TPD wet waste and 40 TPD dry waste, while also featuring a 500 KW solar power plant that generates surplus electricity.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for Passenger Ropeway, along with associated tourism activities, connecting Panaji and Reis Magos. Foundation stone for the construction of a 100 MLD Water Treatment Plant in South Goa will be laid by him.

Further, he distributed appointment orders to 1930 new Government recruits across various departments under Rozgar Mela and also handed over sanction letters to beneficiaries of various welfare schemes.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the integrated Sea Survival Training Centre, ONGC Institute in Goa today. Shri Modi also witnessed a briefing on underwater escape exercises and a demonstration of the training center.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“Delighted to dedicate to the nation the Sea Survival Centre of ONGC in Goa. This state-of-the-art Centre is a watershed moment for India in making a mark in the sea survival training ecosystem. Offering rigorous and intense emergency response training, it will ensure many lives are saved in a timely manner.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated India Energy Week 2024 in Goa today. India Energy Week 2024 is India’s largest and only all-encompassing energy exhibition and conference, bringing together the entire energy value chain to catalyze India’s energy transition goals. The Prime Minister also held a roundtable with Global oil & gas CEOs and experts.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister welcomed everyone to the second edition of India Energy Week. Expressing delight that the event is taking place in the energetic state of Goa, the Prime Minister said that it is known for its spirit of hospitality and the natural beauty and culture of the place leaves a profound impact on tourists from around the world. “Goa is touching new heights of development”, the Prime Minister said, underlining that it is the perfect destination for a discussion on a sustainable future and sensitivity towards the environment. He expressed confidence that the foreign guests who have gathered in Goa for India Energy Week 2024 will take along a lifetime memory of the state.

Noting that India Energy Week 2024 is taking place at a significant time period when India’s GDP rate crossed 7.5 percent in the first six months of the financial year, the Prime Minister said that the growth rate is higher than the global growth estimate making India the fastest growing economy in the world. He also mentioned the International Monetary Fund’s prediction of similar growth trends in the future. “Economic experts around the world believe that India will soon become the 3rd largest economy in the world”, Shri Modi said and emphasized the expanding scope of the energy sector in India’s growth story.

The Prime Minister noted that India is the world’s third largest energy, oil and LPG consumer. Furthermore, he said India is the fourth largest LNG importer and refiner along with the fourth largest automobile market. He also underlined rising demand of EV in the country. He also talked about the estimates of doubling of the nation’s energy demand by 2045. The Prime Minister elaborated India’s plan to meet this growing demand. Highlighting the efforts to ensure affordable fuel, the Prime Minister said that despite adverse global factors, India is among the few nations where petrol prices have come down and 100 per cent electricity coverage was achieved by electrifying crores of houses. “India is not just meeting its needs but is also determining the global direction”, the Prime Minister added.

Explaining the unprecedented infrastructure push, the Prime Minister mentioned 11 lakh crore rupees that the recent Budget pledged for infrastructure, a big part of which will go to the energy sector. This amount will create assets in railways, roadways, waterways, airways or housing which will need energy leading to India’s efforts to expand its energy capacity. He noted rising production of domestic gas due to the government’s reforms and the country is making efforts to take the percentage of gas in the primary energy mix from 6 to 15 percent. This will see an investment of about 67 billion dollars in the next 5-6 years, he informed.

Throwing light on the circular economy and concept of reuse being a part of India’s ancient traditions, the Prime Minister noted that the same is applicable for the energy sector. He said that this belief is symbolized by the Global BioFuel Alliance which brings together governments, organizations and industries from across the world on a single platform. Initiated during the G20 Summit held in India, the Prime Minister highlighted the holistic support received by the Alliance and informed about 22 nations and 12 international organizations coming onboard to encourage the use of biofuels in the world, while also creating economic opportunities worth $500 billion.

Highlighting India’s progress in the biofuel sector, Shri Modi informed about India’s rising adoption rate. He said that ethanol blending witnessed a significant rise from 1.5 percent in 2014 to 12 percent in 2023 leading to a reduction in carbon emissions by about 42 million metric tons. “Government has set a target of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol by 2025”, he said. Recalling the initiation of 20 percent ethanol blending in more than 80 retail outlets during India Energy Week last year, PM Modi informed that the number of outlets has now increased to 9,000.

Outlining the government’s commitment to transforming rural economies through the Waste to Wealth Management model, the Prime Minister highlighted the government’s efforts towards sustainable development, Prime Minister Modi announced “we are working towards the installation of 5000 Compressed Biogas Plants in India.” Addressing global environmental concerns, Prime Minister Modi remarked, “despite being home to 17% of the world’s population, India’s Carbon Emission Share is only 4%.” He added, “We are committed to further improving our Energy Mix by focusing on the development of environmentally sensitive energy sources.” The Prime Minister reiterated  India’s goal to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2070.

Prime Minister Modi noted, “Today, India ranks fourth in the world in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity.” 40 percent of India’s installed capacity comes from non-fossil fuels. Highlighting the nation’s progress in solar energy, Prime Minister Modi stated, “In the past decade, India’s Solar Energy Installed Capacity has grown by more than 20 times.” He added, “The campaign to connect with Solar Energy is gaining momentum in India.”

Prime Minister Modi noted that the launch of a major mission aimed at installing Solar Rooftop Panels in one crore homes across India, will not only make one crore families self-reliant in the energy sector but also establish mechanisms to deliver excess electricity generated directly to the grid. Prime Minister Modi emphasized the transformative impact of these initiatives. “There is a great potential for investment in the entire Solar Value Chain”, he added.

Touching upon India’s stride in the green hydrogen sector, the Prime Minister highlighted the National Green Hydrogen Mission which will pave the way for India becoming a center of hydrogen production and export. He expressed confidence that India’s green energy sector can make both investors and industries a sure shot winner.

The India Energy Week event reflects India’s commitment to global cooperation in the energy sector. Prime Minister Modi remarked, “The India Energy Week event is not just India’s event but a reflection of ‘India with the world and India for the world’ sentiment.”

He encouraged collaboration and knowledge sharing in sustainable energy development, stating, “Let us learn from each other, collaborate on cutting-edge technologies, and explore avenues for sustainable energy development.”

In conclusion, Prime Minister Modi expressed optimism about building a prosperous future that prioritizes environmental conservation. He stated, “Together, we can build a future that is prosperous and environmentally sustainable.”

Governor of Goa, Shri P S Sreedharan Pillai, Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Pramod Sawant, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri and Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Oil and Natural Gas, Shri Rameswar Teli were present on the occasion among others.

Background

Achieving Aatmanirbharta in energy requirements has been a key focus area of the Prime Minister. In yet another step in this direction, India Energy Week 2024 is being held from 6 – 9 February in Goa and is India’s largest and only all-encompassing energy exhibition and conference, bringing together the entire energy value chain, and will serve as a catalyst for India’s energy transition goals. The Prime Minister also held a roundtable with Global oil & gas CEOs and experts.

Encouraging and fostering startups and integrating them into the energy value chain will be an important focus for India Energy Week 2024. It is expected to witness the participation of around 17 Energy ministers from different countries, 35,000+ attendees and more than 900 exhibitors. It will have six dedicated country pavilions – Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, the UK and the USA. A special Make in India Pavilion is also being organized to showcase innovative solutions which Indian MSMEs are spearheading in the energy sector.

Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, launched the EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme on 6th February 2024 in New Delhi. Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Shri K. Sanjay Murthy; Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Shri Sanjay Kumar; Executive Director, EdCIL, Dr. Chandrashekhar; and other dignitaries were also present at the event.

While speaking at the event Shri Pradhan said that, as envisioned in the NEP 2020, the Vidyanjali Scholarship Program symbolises a whole-of-society approach to empowerment through access and opportunities of education, particularly to students belonging to economically disadvantaged sections. He commended the efforts of students of NVS and mentioned that nearly 14,000 students have succeeded in getting admission to reputed institutes including IITs, NITs, etc. without joining any coaching centres. Many students come from marginalised families. He also added that 70 students are being bestowed upon the scholarship amounting to Rs. 5 crore.

He mentioned that nation-building is a collective effort of all citizens and it was heartwarming to see the corporates enthusiastically coming forward to support and sponsor academically gifted and meritorious students lacking the financial means to pursue education. The philanthropic gesture of our donor organisations will inspire many more of our corporates to empower needy students as well as ignite the flame of education, Shri Pradhan said.

While speaking at the event Shri K. Sanjay Murthy informed how the initiative has started with the implementation of NEP2020 recommending policies to channel philanthropy towards the education sector. He commended the efforts of the JNV students who have succeeded in entering premier institutes like IITs and NITs and also acknowledged the contribution of the sponsors who have helped in realise their dreams. He also hoped that more such sponsors would come forward to support students in their endeavours.

Shri Sanjay Kumar in his address emphasized that students of Navodaya Vidyalaya consistently perform well in Board exams, every year. Nearly 85% of the students studying in these schools come from economically weaker families from the rural areas, he added. Acknowledging the able leadership of the Union Education Minister, he emphasized that these schools are testimony to the fact that academic achievements are agnostic of the background one may come from. Good pedagogy and opportunities can help the students outshine anyone, he highlighted. He also informed that following the suggestions of the Minister, this year Summer Camps will be organized for the students to inspire them in skilling activities and invited sponsors to come forward to extend their support.

The Minister interacted with six JNV students and five corporate CSR sponsors. A short film on the Vidyanjali scholarship scheme was shown during the event. Five significant MoUs were exchanged between CSR sponsors/impact founders including Fiat India, HDFC Bank Limited, ClearMedi Healthcare, Bharat Forge, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation showcasing the joining of forces between the Government and private sector towards a shared vision of nation-building and empowering the future workforce of this country. The innovative Vidyanjali Fintech Platform/portal was launched during the event. The Minister also presented scholarship letters to six meritorious NVS students.

The EdCIL Vidyanjali Scholarship Programme, in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, is a powerful force aimed at revolutionizing opportunities for quality education and access to higher education institutions. Going beyond mere enrolment, this initiative guarantees access to high-quality learning systems by facilitating a seamless transition from secondary to higher education and extending financial support for the meritorious Navodaya Vidyalaya students who lack means. In addition to extending financial assistance to economically marginalised and meritorious students of Navodaya Vidyalayas, this endeavour by the Government of India also encourages involvement from the private sector through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, thereby making way of joining forces between the Government and corporates towards an educated India, ensuring no child is left behind. The Minister presented scholarship letters to six NVS students.

The event will strengthen the Government’s efforts in fostering educational inclusivity and socio-economic upliftment in the country.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi replied to the motion of thanks on the President’s address to Parliament in the Lok Sabha today.

The Prime Minister began his address to the House by referring to the Sengol that led the procession with pride and respect as Rastrapati Ji arrived in the new House to deliver her address and the rest of the Parliamentarians followed her lead. PM Modi underlined that this legacy increases the dignity of the house manifold and said that the 75th Republic Day, the new Parliament House and the arrival of the Sengol was a very impactful event. He thanked the Members of the House for contributing their thoughts and ideas to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.

The Prime Minister underlined that the President’s address is a huge document based on facts that gave an indication of the speed and scale of India’s progress and also drew attention to the fact that the nation will become developed faster only if the four pillars of Nari Shakti, Yuva Shakti, the poor and the Ann Data are developed and strengthened. He said the address illuminates the path for the nation to become Viksit Bharat by strengthening these four pillars.

Stressing the need for a strong opposition, the Prime Minister said that dynastic politics is a cause for concern for the Democracy of India. Throwing light on the meaning of dynastic politics, PM Modi explained that a political party which runs a family, prioritizes its members, and where all decisions are taken by the family members is considered dynastic politics rather than several members of a family who are making their way forward in politics on its own strength with the support of the people. “I welcome all young people in politics who are here to serve the nation”, PM Modi exclaimed, drawing attention to the dangers of dynastic politics to democracy. He lamented the emergence of a culture in politics and said the developments taking place in the country do not belong to one person but to every citizen.

Commenting on India’s robust economy which is being appreciated by the world today, the Prime Minister said, “Modi’s guarantee that India will become the 3rd largest economy of the world in the present government’s third term”. He said that the world’s views and opinions towards India can be summed up by the success of the G20 Summit.

Underlining the role of the government in steering the nation towards prosperity, Prime Minister Modi drew attention to the Interim Budget tabled in the House in 2014 by the previous government and the statement of the then Finance Minister. He pointed out that during his address, the then Finance Minister had informed about India being the 11th largest economy in terms of the size of its GDP, while today the country has reached the 5th position. Further quoting the then FM, the Prime Minister said that the nation would grow to become the 3rd largest economy in the world after the USA and China in the next 3 decades. “Today”, the Prime Minister exclaimed, “I assure the nation that India will become the 3rd largest economy in the world in the present government’s third term.”

Prime Minister Modi underlined that the whole world is watching the speed of the work of the government as well as its big goals and courage. He informed the House that the present government built 4 crore houses for the rural poor and 80 lakh pucca houses for the urban poor. In the last 10 years, electrification of 40,000 kms of railway lines was achieved, 17 crore extra gas connections were provided, and sanitation coverage increased from 40 percent to 100 percent.

Lamenting the half-hearted approach of the previous governments towards welfare and its lack of confidence in the people of India, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the present government’s belief in the strengths and capabilities of Indian citizens. He remarked, “In the first term, we kept filling the potholes of the previous governments, in the second term we laid the foundation of a new India, in the third term we will accelerate the development of a Viksit Bharat.” The Prime Minister listed down the schemes of the first term and mentioned Swacch Bharat, Ujjwala, Ayushman Bharat, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Sugamya Bharat, Digital India and GST. Similarly, PM Modi said that the nation witnessed the abolition of Article 370, the passage of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, the adoption of Bhartiya Nyay Samhita, the repealing of more than 40,000 obsolete laws, and the launch of Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat trains in the second term. “From North to South, from East to West, people have seen the pending projects being completed in a timely manner”, he said. He stated that the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra has shown the government’s dedication and determination towards making basic facilities available to everyone. Speaking about the consecration of the Ram Temple, PM Modi said, “Ram temple in Ayodhya will continue to give energy to the great culture and tradition of India”

Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the present government’s third term will be focused on major decisions. “Government’s third term will lay the foundations of the country for the next 1000 years”, the Prime Minister remarked. Expressing confidence in the capabilities of the 140 crore citizens of the country, PM Modi said that 25 crore people have risen out of poverty in the last 10 years. He reiterated that the poor can defeat poverty if they are provided with the right resources and self-respect. Shri Modi mentioned 50 crore poor own bank accounts, 4 crore own houses, 11 crore receive tapped water connections, 55 crore possess Ayushman Cards and 80 crore people received free food grains. “Modi is concerned for those who were once nobody’s concern”, Shri Modi said, mentioning the street vendors who now avail interest-free loans under PM Svanidhi, Vishwakarma Yojna for artisans and handicraftsmen, PM Jan Man Yojna for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, Vibrant Villages Program for development of border areas, focus on millet production, Vocal for Local and strengthening the Khadi sector.

PM Modi also drew attention towards conferring Shri Karpoori Thakur with the Bharat Ratna and pointed out how the great personality was treated with disrespect by the previous governments. He recalled the attempts made to overthrow his government when Shri Thakur was the Chief Minister of Bihar in the 1970s.

The Prime Minister highlighted the contributions of the government to empower the Nari Shakti of India. “Now there is no such sector in India where the doors are closed for the daughters of the country. They are also flying fighter jets and keeping the borders safe”, a proud Prime Minister said. He expressed confidence in the capabilities of women’s self-help groups which have more than 10 crore members and give impetus to India’s rural economy. PM Modi informed that in the coming years, the nation will witness 3 crore Lakhpati Didis. He expressed delight with the change in thinking where the birth of a girl child is celebrated and elaborated on the measures taken by the government to make the lives of women easier.

Speaking about farmer welfare, the Prime Minister informed that the annual agricultural budget was increased from Rs 25,000 crores during previous governments to Rs 1.25 lakh crores now. He mentioned disbursing Rs 2,80,000 crores to farmers under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Rs 1,50,000 crores under PM Fasal Bima Yojna at a premium of Rs 30,000, formation of a dedicated Ministry for Fisheries and Animal Husbandry and PM Kisan Credit Cards for fishermen and cattlemen. He also mentioned 50 crore vaccinations for foot and mouth disease to save animal lives.

Throwing light on the opportunities created for the youth of India, the Prime Minister spoke about the advent of the startup age, unicorns, the emergence of digital creators and the Gift economy. PM Modi underlined that today, India is the leading digital economy of the world and it will create numerous new opportunities for India’s youth. He also touched upon mobile manufacturing in India and the availability of cheap data. He also acknowledged the growth in India’s tourism sector and aviation sector. PM Modi stressed the government’s approach to providing employment opportunities and social security to the youth of India.

Prime Minister Modi informed the House that the infrastructure budget of the country has increased from 12 lakh crore in the last 10 years before 2014 to Rs 44 lakh crores in the last 10 years. He also mentioned encouraging India’s youth towards making the country a research and innovation hub of the world by developing proper systems and economic policies. Highlighting the government’s efforts to make the nation Atmanirbhar in the energy sector, the Prime Minister touched upon India taking the lead in investments in the green hydrogen and semiconductors sectors.

The Prime Minister also touched upon price rise and recalled the rate of inflation at 30 percent in 1974. He praised the government of today for checking price rise in the country amid two wars and the coronavirus pandemic. PM Modi recalled the times when discussions in the House revolved around scams in the country. He mentioned a two-fold increase in cases under PMLA since previous governments and the seizure by the Enforcement Directorate increasing from Rs 5,000 crores to 1 lakh crores. “All seized funds were used for the welfare of the poor”, he added, informing about disbursing more than Rs 30 lakh crore via Direct Benefit Transfer.

The Prime Minister pledged to fight corruption to the very end and said, “Those who looted the nation will have to pay back.” Praising the efforts of the government to maintain peace and tranquility in the nation, the Prime Minister reiterated that the world is obligated to follow India’s policy of zero tolerance for terrorism. He expressed pride and faith in the capabilities of India’s defence forces while condemning the ideology of separatism. He also lauded the developments taking place in Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister Modi urged the Members of the House to come forward shoulder to shoulder for the development of the nation. “I ask for your support in the development of Maa Bharti and its 140 crore citizens”, he concluded.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has met a  delegation of religious leaders from Indian Minorities Foundation in Parliament today.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“Delighted to meet a delegation of religious leaders in Parliament today. I thank them for their kind words on the development trajectory of our nation.”

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Goa on 6th February, 2024. At around 10:30 AM, Prime Minister will inaugurate ONGC Sea Survival Centre. At around 10:45 AM, he will inaugurate India Energy Week 2024. Thereafter, at around 2:45 PM, he will participate in the Viksit Bharat, Viksit Goa 2047 programme.

India Energy Week 2024

Achieving Aatmanirbharta in energy requirements has been a key focus area of the Prime Minister. In yet another step in this direction, India Energy Week 2024 will be held from 6 – 9 February in Goa. It will be India’s largest and only all-encompassing energy exhibition and conference, bringing together the entire energy value chain, and will serve as a catalyst for India’s energy transition goals. Prime Minister will hold a roundtable with Global oil & gas CEOs and experts.

Encouraging and fostering startups and integrating them into the energy value chain will be an important focus for India Energy Week 2024. It is expected to witness participation of around 17 Energy ministers from different countries, 35,000+ attendees and more than 900 exhibitors. It will have six dedicated country pavilions – Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, UK and USA. A special Make in India Pavilion is also being organised to showcase innovative solutions which Indian MSMEs are spearheading in the energy sector.

Viksit Bharat, Viksit Goa 2047

Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs. 1330 crores in the public programme in Goa.

Prime Minister will inaugurate the permanent campus of National Institute of Technology Goa to the nation. The newly built-up campus has various facilities such as tutorial complex, departmental complex, seminar complex, administrative complex, hostels, health centre, staff quarters, amenity centre, sports ground and other utilities to cater to the needs of students, faculty and staff of the Institute.

Prime Minister will dedicate the new campus of the National Institute of Watersports. The institute will introduce 28 tailor-made courses aimed at fostering the development of watersports and water rescue activities catering to both the public and the Armed Forces. Prime Minister will also inaugurate a 100 TPD Integrated Waste Management Facility in South Goa. It has been designed for the scientific treatment of 60 TPD wet waste and 40 TPD dry waste, while also featuring a 500 KW solar power plant that generates surplus electricity.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for Passenger Ropeway, along with associated tourism activities, connecting Panaji and Reis Magos. Foundation stone for the construction of a 100 MLD Water Treatment Plant in South Goa will be laid by him.

Further, he will also distribute appointment orders to 1930 new Government recruits across various departments under Rozgar Mela and also hand over sanction letters to beneficiaries of various welfare schemes.

ONGC Sea Survival Centre

ONGC Sea Survival Centre has been developed as a one-of-a-kind Integrated Sea Survival Training Centre to advance the Indian sea survival training ecosystem to global standards. It is expected to train 10,000-15,000 personnel annually. Exercises in simulated and controlled harsh weather conditions shall enhance Sea Survival skills of trainees and thus potentially increase the chances of safe escape from real life disasters.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 11,000 crores in Guwahati, Assam. The key focus areas in Guwahati include projects to boost sports & medical infrastructure and connectivity.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for being present in Assam today with the blessings of Maa Kamakhya to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 11,000 crores. He said that the development projects of today will boost Assam’s connectivity to the North Eastern states as well as neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia while also boosting employment in the tourism sector and creating new opportunities for sporting talents in the state. He also mentioned an expansion to the medical education and healthcare sector in the state owing to today’s development projects. Prime Minister Modi congratulated the people of Assam and the North Eastern region for today’s development project and thanked the citizens of Guwahati for the warm reception when he arrived yesterday evening.

Recalling his recent visits to multiple pilgrimage sites, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for arriving before Maa Kamakhya today and laying the foundation stone of Maa Kamakhya Divya Lok Pariyojana. Throwing light on the concept and scope of the project, PM Modi informed that upon completion, it will further increase ease of access and comfort for the devotees while also giving a boost to the footfall. “Assam will become the gateway to tourism in the North East with an increase in the footfall of devotees for Maa Kamakhya’s darshan”, the Prime Minister said as he lauded the efforts of the state government and Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma

Highlighting the significance of Indian pilgrimage sites and temples, the Prime Minister emphasized that these places symbolize an indelible mark of our civilization over thousands of years, showcasing how Bharat has held on to every crisis it has faced. We have witnessed how the civilizations which were considered to be prosperous in the past, now stand in ruins. PM Modi lamented the post-independence governments for starting a trend of being ashamed of one’s own culture and identity for political gains and failing to understand the importance of Bharat’s holy places. He said that it has been rectified in the past 10 years with the help of policies focussing on both ‘Vikas’ (development) and ‘Virasat’ (heritage). Explaining the benefits of these policies for the people of Assam, PM Modi stressed the importance of connecting historical and spiritual places in the state with modern facilities, a move aimed at preserving these sites and accelerating development. Noting the expansion of  prominent educational institutes like IIT and IIM, he said earlier they used to be set up in big cities only. However, now a network of IITs, IIMs and AIIMs has spread across the country with the total number of medical colleges in Assam, which earlier stood at 6, increasing to 12. He also asserted that the state will gradually become a hub for cancer treatment in the North East.

“Ease of living is the priority of the present government”, PM Modi remarked as he mentioned building 4 crore pucca houses for the poor, supplying tapped water connections, electricity, cooking gas connections under Ujjwala Yojna and construction of toilets under Swachh Bharat.

PM Modi underlined that the government’s focus on development along with heritage has massively benefitted the youth of India. Noting the growing enthusiasm for tourism and pilgrimages in the country, the Prime Minister informed about the record influx of devotees in Varanasi after the completion of the Kashi Corridor. “In the past year, 8.50 crore people have visited Kashi, more than 5 crore visited Mahakal Lok in Ujjain, and more than 19 lakh devotees visited Kedardham”, he informed. PM Modi also mentioned that Ayodhya has witnessed more than 24 lakh people in the past 12 days after the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Temple. He reiterated that a similar sight will unfold here after the completion of Maa Kamkhya Divya Lok Pariyojana.

Be it a rickshaw puller, taxi driver, hotel owner or street vendor, the Prime Minister noted that the livelihood of even the poorest gets a boost with the influx of pilgrims and devotees and informed about the government’s focus on tourism in this year’s budget. “Central government is about to initiate new schemes for the development of places of historical relevance”, PM Modi said, highlighting the numerous opportunities present before the North Eastern states in this regard. Therefore, the Prime Minister said, the government is giving special emphasis to the development of North Eastern states.

Pointing out the record number of tourist footfall in the North East in the last 10 years, the Prime Minister said that even though the beauty of the region existed before this, the number of tourists remained extremely low owing to the violence and lack of resources due to the neglect shown by previous governments. Mentioning poor air, rail and road connectivity in the region where traveling from one district to another took hours. PM Modi credited the double-engine government at the center and state level for all-around development in the state.

PM Modi informed that the government has increased the region’s development expenditure by 4 times. Drawing comparisons to before and after 2014, the Prime Minister stated that the length of railway tracks laid was increased by more than 1900 kilometers, the Railway budget was boosted by almost 400 percent and 6,000 kilometers of new national highways were constructed in the last 10 years compared to 10,000 kilometers till 2014. Referring to the projects of today, the Prime Minister said that it will strengthen connectivity to Itanagar.

“Modi’s guarantee means the guarantee of fulfillment”, the Prime Minister said as he mentioned guaranteeing basic facilities to the poor, women, youth and farmers. He touched upon the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra and ‘Modi’s guarantee vehicle’ which is tasked with taking the benefits to those deprived of government schemes. “Around 20 crore people nationwide have directly participated in the Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra. A large number of people of Assam have also got its benefits”, he added.

Sharing the Centre’s vision, the Prime Minister affirmed to simplifying the lives of every citizen, a commitment which he claimed is also reflected in this year’s budget announcements. This year the government has pledged to spend Rs 11 lakh crore on infrastructure, adding that an expenditure of this kind on infrastructure creates more employment and gives momentum to development. He also pointed out that the total infrastructure budget for Assam in the last 10 years before 2014 stood at Rs 12 lakh crore.

The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s emphasis in the last 10 years on electricity supply to each home. He informed about the decision taken in this year’s budget to reduce the electricity bills to zero with the initiation of the Rooftop Solar Scheme where the government will assist one crore families to install solar rooftops. “With this, their electricity bill will also be zero and ordinary families will be able to earn by generating electricity at their home”, he added.

Drawing attention to the guarantee of creating 2 crore Lakhpati Didi’s in the country, PM Modi informed that the number reached 1 crore last year and the target is now set at 3 crore Lakhpati Didi’s in this year’s budget. He said that lakhs of women from Assam will also benefit from this. He also touched upon new opportunities for all women associated with the self-help groups and the inclusion of Anganwadi and Asha workers in the Ayushman Scheme.

“Modi has the resolve to work day and night and fulfill the guarantees he provides”, the Prime Minister exclaimed, adding that the North East has faith in Modi’s guarantee. He mentioned permanent peace being established in areas of Assam which were once disturbed and hit with violence, and the resolution of border disputes among states. “More than 10 major peace agreements have been signed here”, he informed, adding that thousands of youth in the North East have shunned the path of violence and opted for development in the last few years. He further stated that out of these, more than 7,000 youth of Assam have also given up arms and have pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder in the development of the country. Highlighting the removal of AFSPA in many districts, he said that the areas which have been affected by violence are being developed today as per the aspirations of the people with the government’s support.

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of establishing targets and asserted that previous governments lacked objectives and failed to work hard. He envisions the North East developing similarly to East Asia, facilitating expanded connectivity in North and East Asia. Numerous roads in the state are set to be upgraded under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation, transforming the North East into a trade hub. The Prime Minister acknowledged the aspirations of the youth in the North East to witness their region’s development akin to East Asia, expressing his determination to turn this dream into reality.

The Prime Minister underlined that the goal of a happy and prosperous life for India and its citizens is the main reason behind all the development works being carried out today. “The goal is to make India the third largest economy in the world. The goal is Viksit Bharat 2047”, the Prime Minister concluded reaffirming the huge role to be played by Assam and the North East.

Governor of Assam, Shri Gulab Chand Katarai, Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal were present on the occasion among others.

Background

Providing world-class amenities to people visiting pilgrimage sites has been a key focus area of the Prime Minister. In yet another step in this endeavour, one of the key projects for which the foundation stone was laid by the Prime Minister includes Maa Kamakhya Divya Pariyojana (Maa Kamakhya Access Corridor), which has been sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme. It will provide world-class amenities to pilgrims visiting the Kamakhya temple.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of multiple road upgradation projects worth over Rs. 3400 crore, under which 43 roads including 38 bridges will be upgraded as part of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Corridor Connectivity. The Prime Minister inaugurated two 4-laning projects, namely Dolabari to Jamuguri and Biswanath Chariali to Gohpur. These projects will help improve the connectivity to Itanagar and boost the overall economic development of the region.

To harness the tremendous sports potential of the region, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of projects to boost the sports infrastructure in the state. The projects include an international standards sports stadium in Chandrapur and the upgradation of Nehru stadium as a FIFA standard football stadium.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the development of infrastructure of the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. Further, the foundation stone for the development of a medical college at Karimganj was also laid by him.