The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to a fire mishap in Mumbai’s Goregaon. The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia from PMNRF of Rs. 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs. 50,000 for those injured.

The Prime Minister’s Office tweeted;

“Pained by the loss of lives due to a fire mishap in Mumbai’s Goregaon. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation development projects in sectors like road, rail, gas pipeline, housing and clean drinking water worth more than Rs 12,600 crore in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh today. Shri Modi performed ‘bhoomi poojan’ of ‘Veerangana Rani Durgavati Smarak aur Udyaan’ in Jabalpur in line with the 500th birth centenary celebrations of Rani Durgavati. The projects include the inauguration of more than 1000 houses constructed under the Light House Project in Indore, laying the foundation stone of multiple Jal Jeevan Mission projects in Mandla, Jabalpur and Dindori districts and dedication of Jal Jeevan Mission project in Seoni district, laying the foundation stone and dedication of multiple projects worth more than Rs 4800 crore for improving road infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh, dedication of rail projects worth more than Rs 1850 crore, Vijaipur – Auraiyan- Phulpur Pipeline Project and a new bottling plant in Jabalpur, and laying the foundation stone of Nagpur Jabalpur section (317 km) of Mumbai Nagpur Jharsuguda Pipeline Project.

The Prime Minister took a walkthrough of the exhibition showcased on the occasion and paid floral tributes to the statue of Veerangana Rani Durgavati

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister bowed before the virtuous land of Maa Narmada and said that he is witnessing Jabalpur in a totally new form as the city is brimming with passion, enthusiasm and excitement which reflects the spirit of the city. The Prime Minister remarked that the entire nation is celebrating the 500th birth anniversary of Veerangana Rani Durgavati with fervour and enthusiasm. During the conclusion of the Rani Durgavati Gaurav Yatra, the Prime Minister informed that he had called to celebrate her Jayanti on the national level and today’s gathering signifies the same spirit. “We have gathered here to pay back our debts to the ancestors of India”, the Prime Minister said. Speaking about the project plan for Veerangana Rani Durgavati Smarak aur Udyaan, the Prime Minister said that every mother as well as youth in the country would want to visit the place and expressed confidence that it would turn into a pilgrimage. He underlined the life of Rani Durgavati teaches us to live for the benefit of others and inspires us to do something for the motherland. The Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes to the entire tribal society, the people of Madhya Pradesh and the 140 crore citizens of the country on the occasion of the 500th birth anniversary of Rani Durgavagti. The Prime Minister lamented the lack of space given to the ancestors of the land after India’s independence and said that the heroes of the land were forgotten.

Speaking about the project of today worth about 12,000 crores, the Prime Minister said that it will transform the lives of lakhs of people including farmers and the youth. “With the advent of new industries in the region, the youth will now find jobs here”, he added.

The Prime Minister underlined that providing a smoke-free environment in the kitchen for the mothers and sisters has been the top priority of the present government. Citing a research study, the Prime Minister informed that a smoke-emitting stove produces the equivalent of smoking 400 cigarettes in 24 hours. He also lamented the lack of effort from the previous government to provide a safe environment for women.

Speaking about the Ujjwala scheme, the Prime Minister recalled the difficulties in getting a gas connection earlier. He also highlighted the reduction in gas prices during the festive period of Raksha Bandhan by the present government which made gas cylinders cheaper by Rs 400 for Ujjwala beneficiaries. He also informed about the government’s decision to further reduce gas cylinder prices by Rs 100 with the onset of the upcoming festive season. “In the past few weeks, the prices of gas cylinders for Ujjwala beneficiaries have been reduced by Rs 500”, the Prime Minister said. Referring to the laying of gas pipelines in the state, the Prime Minister emphasized that the central government is making huge strides in the supply of cheaper cooking gas through pipelines.

Throwing light on the scams during the previous governments, the Prime Minister emphasized that the funds meant for the poor were filling the coffers of the corrupt. He also suggested going online to check for the headlines from ten years ago which were filled with news about various scams that took place.

Post-2014, the Prime Minister underlined that the present government carried out a ‘Swacchta’ campaign to weed out the corrupt practices. “11 crore fake beneficiaries who never existed were removed from the government lists with the use of technology”, the Prime Minister emphasized, “After 2014, Modi ensured that the funds meant for the poor are not looted by anyone.” He credited the creation of the trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile for the obliteration of the corrupt system that was in place. “Today, because of this Trishakti, more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore has been saved from falling into the wrong hands”, the Prime Minister reiterated. He also mentioned the Central Government is spending crores of rupees to provide Ujjwala cylinders for just Rs 500, Rs 3 lakh crore is being spent on providing free ration to crores of families, Rs 70,000 crores being spent for free treatment of about 5 crore families of the country under the Ayushman scheme, Rs 8 lakh crores to ensure that farmers get cheap urea, deposits of more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore in the bank accounts of small farmers under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and the expenditure of Rs 4 lakh crore to provide permanent houses to poor families. He also mentioned that poor families in Indore have received 1,000 permanent houses built with modern technology.

Underlining that it is a critical time for Madhya Pradesh, the Prime Minister pointed out that any hindrance in development will ruin the hard work of the last two decades. Directing his address to those under 25 years of age, the Prime Minister said that it is their responsibility to ensure that their children grow up to see a developed Madhya Pradesh in the coming 25 years. He informed that the present government has taken MP to the top in agricultural exports in the past years and also stressed the importance of the state being a leader in industrial development. Noting India’s manifold increase in defence production exports over the years, the Prime Minister said that Jabalpur has a big contribution to this as he acknowledged the 4 factories manufacturing defence-related goods. He said that the central government is providing ‘Made in India’ weapons to its army and the demand for India’s defence goods is also increasing in the world. “Madhya Pradesh is also going to benefit a lot from this, thousands of new employment opportunities are going to be created here,” he said.

“Today India’s confidence is at a new height. From the playground to the fields and barns, the flag of India is flying” the Prime Minister said. He highlighted India’s brilliant performance in the ongoing Asian Games and said that every youth of India feels that this time belongs to India. He underlined that when the youth get such opportunities, their passion for building a developed India also gets a boost. He gave examples of organizing a grand world event like the G-20, and the success of India’s Chandrayaan and said that the mantra of being vocal for the local starts resonating far and wide with such successes. The Prime Minister informed that Khadi products worth more than Rs 1.5 crore were sold at a store in Delhi on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. “The feeling of Swadeshi, the feeling of taking the country forward is rising everywhere today”, Shri Modi emphasized. He also touched upon the role of India’s youth in achieving success in the world of startups. In the cleanliness campaign launched by the country on October 1, the Prime Minister informed that cleanliness programs were conducted at more than 9 lakh places with the participation of nearly 9 crore citizens. He credited the people of Madhya Pradesh for taking the state to the top in terms of cleanliness.

The Prime Minister warned against the India-bashing approach of some political parties at a time when the country’s achievements are being discussed all over the world. He gave instances of the questions raised by such parties pertaining to the Digital India campaign and India’s Covid Vaccine. He also mentioned that such political parties believe the words of the country’s enemies and go to the extent of questioning the Indian Army. He also touched upon the criticism of Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and the creation of Amrit Sarovars by these elements.

Shri Modi highlighted the role of India’s tribal society from independence to richness of cultural heritage and raised the question of neglecting them since independence by those who ruled for decades. He underlined that it was Atal ji’s government that formed a separate ministry and allocated the budget for the welfare of tribal society. Shri Modi informed that the budget has been increased manifold in the last 9 years. He also touched upon India getting its first female tribal President, and the birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda being celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. Shri Modi also highlighted the renaming of one of the most modern railway stations in the country after Rani Kamlapati, Patalpani station being renamed as Jannayak Tantyabhil, and today’s project of the grand monument being constructed in the name of Rani Durgavati ji which has been the inspiration of the Gond community. He informed that the museum will showcase Gond culture, history and art with an aim to create awareness about the rich Gond tradition. Prime Minister Modi also mentioned gifting Gond paintings to world leaders.

The Prime Minister reiterated that it is the present government, which has made the places associated with Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar across the world including Mhow, a Panchteerth. He also recalled performing the Bhoomi Pujan of the memorial site of Sant Ravidas ji in Sagar a few weeks ago. “This shows the commitment of the government towards social harmony and heritage” he added.

He underlined that the parties which nurture nepotism and corruption have looted the resources of the tribal society. Before 2014, the Prime Minister informed that MSP was given only for 8-10 forest produce while the remaining ones were sold at throwaway prices, while today about 90 forest produce have been brought under the ambit of MSP.

In the past, the Prime Minister said, coarse grains such as Kodo-Kutki which are produced by tribal and small farmers were not given much importance. He highlighted the food preparations for G20 guests were made from your Kodo-Kutki. “The present government wants to deliver Kodo-Kutki to the markets of the country and abroad in the form of Shri Anna”, he added.

“The double-engine government gives priority to the underprivileged”, the Prime Minister said. Highlighting the importance of clean drinking water supply for the health of the poor, the Prime Minister mentioned today’s projects where arrangements have been made to supply water to about 1600 villages. He also touched upon giving women their rights in Lok Sabha and Assembly through the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. The Prime Minister also touched upon PM Vishwakarma scheme worth Rs 13 thousand crores.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister assured the citizens of Modi’s guarantee to take Madhya Pradesh to the top spot in terms of development. “I am confident that Mahakaushal of Madhya Pradesh will strengthen this resolve of Modi and the government”, he concluded.

Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Mangubhai C. Patel, and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan were present on the occasion among others.

Background

The 500th birth anniversary of Rani Durgavati is being celebrated with great fervour by the Government of India. The announcement regarding the celebration was made by the Prime Minister, during his visit to Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh in July 2023. He reiterated this pronouncement during this year’s historic Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort.  In line with these celebrations, the Prime Minister performed bhoomi poojan of ‘Veerangana Rani Durgavati Smarak aur Udyaan‘.

To be built at a cost of about Rs 100 crore in Jabalpur, the ‘Veerangana Rani Durgavati Smarak aur Udyaan’ will be spread over an area of about 21 acres. It will showcase an impressive 52-foot-high bronze statue of Rani Durgavati.  It will have a magnificent museum highlighting the history of the Gondwana region including the valour and courage of Rani Durgavati. It will also highlight the cuisine, art, culture, way of living etc. of Gond people and other tribal communities. The premises of ‘Veerangana Rani Durgavati Smarak aur Udyaan will also have multiple parks and gardens including a garden for medicinal plants, a Cactus garden and Rock garden among others. Rani Durgavati was the ruling queen of Gondwana in the mid-16th century. She is remembered as a brave, fearless and courageous warrior who fought for freedom against the Mughals.

The Prime Minister’s vision to provide ‘housing for all’ was strengthened with the inauguration of the Light House Project at Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Built at a cost of about Rs 128 crore under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban, the project will benefit more than 1000 beneficiary families. It employs innovative technology ‘Prefabricated Sandwich Panel System with Pre-engineered Steel Structural System’ to build quality homes with all basic facilities but in considerably reduced construction time.

In a step towards realising the Prime Minister’s vision of providing safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections, the foundation stone of multiple Jal Jeevan Mission projects in Mandla, Jabalpur and Dindori districts worth over Rs 2350 crores were laid. The Prime Minister dedicated the Jal Jeevan Mission project in Seoni district worth over Rs 100 crore to the nation. These projects in four districts of the state will benefit about 1575 villages of Madhya Pradesh.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple projects worth more than Rs 4800 crore for improving the road infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of projects including the upgradation of road connecting Jharkheda- Berasia – Dholkhedi of NH 346; four laning of Balaghat – Gondia Section of NH 543; four Laning of Khandwa Bypass connecting Rudhi and Deshgaon; four Laning of Temagaon to Chicholi section of NH 47; four laning of road connecting Boregaon to Shahpur; and four laning of road connecting Shahpur to Muktainagar. The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation, the upgradation of the road connecting Khalghat to Sarwardewla of NH 347C.

The Prime Minister dedicated rail projects worth more than Rs 1850 crore to the nation. These include doubling the rail line connecting Katni – Vijaysota (102 km) and Marwasgram – Singrauli (78.50 km). Both these projects are part of the project for doubling the rail line connecting Katni – Singrauli Section. These projects will improve rail infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh benefiting the trade and tourism in the state.

The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation Vijaipur – Auraiyan- Phulpur Pipeline Project. The 352 km long pipeline has been built at a cost of more than Rs 1750 crore. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of Nagpur Jabalpur section (317 KMs) of Mumbai Nagpur Jharsuguda Pipeline Project. The project will be built at a cost of more than Rs 1100 crore. The gas pipeline projects will provide clean and affordable Natural Gas to industries and homes and will be a step towards reducing emissions in the environment. The Prime Minister also dedicated a new bottling plant at Jabalpur which has been built at a cost of about Rs 147 crore.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation, multiple projects in sectors like road, rail, aviation, health and higher education worth about Rs 5000 crores in Jodhpur, Rajasthan today. The projects include laying the foundation stone for a 350-bed Trauma Centre and Critical Care Hospital Block at AIIMS, Jodhpur, 7 Critical Care Blocks under PM-ABHIM, and the development of New Terminal Building at Jodhpur Airport. He dedicated IIT Jodhpur campus, and infrastructure upgrades to the Central University of Rajasthan. He also laid the foundation stone of multiple road development projects and dedicated two other rail projects including the doubling of the 145 km long Degana-Rai Ka Bagh, and the 58 km long Degana-Kuchaman City rail lines. Shri Modi flagged off two new train services in Rajasthan namely Runicha Express – connecting Jaisalmer to Delhi and a new heritage train connecting Marwar Jn. – Khambli Ghat.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister bowed and paid homage to the land of Veer Durgadas. He underlined that the results of the constant efforts by the government can be witnessed and experienced with the projects of today and congratulated the people of Rajasthan for the same.

The Prime Minister said that Rajasthan is a state where the glory of ancient India is visible in the country’s valour, prosperity and culture. He also recalled a highly acclaimed G20 meeting in Jodhpur recently. He underlined the attraction of Suncity Jodhpur for both local and international tourists. “It is important that Rajasthan, which represents India’s past glory should represent India’s future as well. This will happen only when, from Mewar to Marwar, the entire Rajasthan scale new heights of development and modern infrastructure is built here”, the Prime Minister said.

He said that Jamnagar Expressway passing through Bikaner and Barmer, and Delhi Mumbai Expressway are examples of hitech infrastructure in Rajasthan.

He informed that this year about Rs 9500 crore budget has been allocated for railways in Rajasthan which is a 14-fold increase over the average budget of previous governments.  The Prime Minister pointed out that approximately only 600 km of rail lines were electrified in Rajasthan since independence till 2014 but the present government has already electrified more than 3700 km in the last 9 years. “Now, electric trains will run on these tracks instead of diesel engine trains”, the Prime Minister said as he noted that it will help in reducing pollution and keeping the air clean in the state. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, the Prime Minister said, more than 80 railway stations in Rajasthan are being redeveloped. He reiterated the government’s commitment to redeveloping railway stations which are frequented by the poor just like the development of airports in the country. He mentioned laying the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Jodhpur Railway Station.

The Prime Minister underlined that the rail and road projects of today will give momentum to the pace of development in the state. He mentioned the reduction in the traveling time of trains due to the doubling of rail lines and noted flagging off of Runicha Express – connecting Jaisalmer to Delhi, and a new heritage train connecting Marwar Jn. – Khambli Ghat today, and the Vande Bharat Express a few days ago. He also touched upon laying the foundation stone for 3 road projects today as well as the development of New Terminal Building at Jodhpur Airport. Shri Modi underlined that the projects of today will give impetus to strengthen the regional economy as well as create new employment opportunities, while also giving new energy to the tourism sector in the state.

Remembering the special place of Rajasthan in medical and engineering education, the Prime Minister mentioned the contribution of Kota and said that the effort is that along with education, Rajasthan becomes a hub of medical and engineering. For this ‘Trauma, Emergency and Critical Care’ facilities are being developed at AIIMS Jodhpur and seven Critical Care Blocks under Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) are being developed across Rajasthan. “I take great pleasure in seeing AIIMS Jodhpur and IIT Jodhpur among the premier institutes of the country, not just of Rajasthan”, he said. “AIIMS and IIT Jodhpur have together started work on new possibilities in the field of medical technology. Hi-tech medical technology like robotic surgery will give India new heights in the field of research and industry. This will also promote medical tourism”, he added.

“Rajasthan is the land of those who love nature and the environment”, the Prime Minister said as he highlighted the communities of Guru Jambeshwar and Bishnoi who have lived this lifestyle for centuries and are followed by the world. “Based on this heritage, India is guiding the whole world today”, the Prime Minister said. He concluded by expressing confidence towards the government’s efforts to make India a developed nation and said that India will develop only with the development of Rajasthan. “Together we have to develop Rajasthan and make it prosperous”, Shri Modi concluded.

Governor of Rajasthan, Shri Kalraj Mishra, and Union Ministers, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Kailash Choudhary were present on the occasion among others.

Background

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of important projects for strengthening the Health infrastructure in Rajasthan. The projects include 350 bedded ‘Trauma Centre and Critical Care Hospital Block at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur’, and seven Critical Care Blocks under Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) to be developed across Rajasthan. The integrated center for ‘Trauma, Emergency and Critical Care’ at AIIMS Jodhpur will be developed at a cost of more than Rs 350 crore. It will encompass various facilities such as triage, diagnostics, daycare, wards, private rooms, modular operating theaters, ICUs and dialysis areas. It will bring a holistic approach to the management of trauma and emergency cases by providing multidisciplinary and comprehensive care to patients. The seven Critical Care Blocks across Rajasthan will augment district-level critical care infrastructure benefiting people of the state.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the development of the state-of-the-art New Terminal Building at Jodhpur Airport. To be built at a total cost of Rs 480 crore, the New Terminal Building will be developed in an area of about 24,000 sqm and will be equipped to provide services to 2,500 passengers during peak hours. It will cater to 35 lakh passengers annually, improving connectivity and boosting tourism in the region.

The Prime Minister dedicated IIT Jodhpur campus to the nation. The state-of-the-art campus has been built at a cost of more than Rs 1135 crore. It is a step towards providing high-quality holistic education and building infrastructure for supporting cutting-edge research and innovation initiatives.

For upgrading the infrastructure at the Central University of Rajasthan, the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation ‘central instrumentation laboratory’, staff quarters and ‘yoga & sports sciences building’.  He will lay the foundation stone of the Central Library, 600 capacity Hostel and a dining facility for students at the Central University of Rajasthan.

In a step that will improve road infrastructure in Rajasthan, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of multiple road development projects including four laning of Karwar to Dangiyawas Section of Jodhpur Ring Road on NH-125A; construction of seven Bypasses/Re-alignments of major town portions of Balotra to Sanderao section via Jalore (NH-325); project for four laning of Pachpadra-Bagundi section of NH-25. These road projects will be built at a cumulative cost of about Rs 1475 crore. Jodhpur Ring Road will help ease traffic pressure and reduce vehicular pollution in the city. The projects will help improve connectivity, boosting trade, employment generation and economic growth in the region.

The Prime Minister flagged off two new train services in Rajasthan. These include a new train – Runicha Express – connecting Jaisalmer to Delhi and a new heritage train connecting Marwar Jn. – Khambli Ghat.  Runicha Express will pass through Jodhpur, Degana, Kuchaman City, Phulera, Ringas, Shrimadhopur, Neem Ka Thana, Narnaul, Ateli, Rewari, improving the connectivity of all towns with the national capital. The new heritage train connecting Marwar Jn.-Khambli Ghat will provide an impetus to tourism and generate employment in the region. Further, two other rail projects will be dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister. These include projects for doubling the 145 km long ‘Degana-Rai Ka Bagh’ rail line and the 58 km long ‘Degana-Kuchaman City’ rail line.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed on the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of Shri Ramalinga Swamy also known as Vallalar.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed happiness that this programme is being held in Vadalur, a place closely associated with Vallalar. He said that Vallalar is one of India’s most respected Saints who walked the earth in the 19th century and his spiritual insights continue to inspire millions even today. “Vallalar’s impact is global”, Shri Modi said as he highlighted that several organisations are working on his thoughts and ideals.

“When we remember Vallalar, we recall his spirit of care and compassion”, the Prime Minister said. He underlined that Vallalar believed in a way of life where compassion towards fellow human beings was primary. The Prime Minister highlighted his most important contribution and commitment to removing hunger and said, “Nothing pained him more than a human being going to bed on an empty stomach. He believed that sharing food with the hungry is one of the most noble of all acts of kindness.” Quoting Vallalar, the Prime Minister said, “Every time I saw crops withering, I withered too” as he highlighted that the government is committed to his ideal. He gave the example of providing major relief in testing times to 80 crore fellow Indians by providing free ration during the covid pandemic.

Throwing light on Vallalar’s belief in the power of learning and education, the Prime Minister underlined that his door was always open as a mentor and he guided countless people. Shri Modi highlighted Vallalar’s efforts to make the Kural more popular and the importance he gave to modern curriculums. The Prime Minister reiterated that Vallalar wanted the youth to be fluent in Tamil, Sanskrit and English as he highlighted the government’s efforts to transform the infrastructure of Indian education in the last 9 years. Speaking about the National Education Policy that India got after 3 long decades, the Prime Minister said that the policy is transforming the entire educational landscape while focusing on innovation, research and development. He highlighted the record number of Universities, engineering and medical colleges set up in the last 9 years and said that youngsters can now become doctors and engineers by studying in their local languages opening several opportunities for the youth.

“Vallalar was ahead of his time when it came to social reforms”, the Prime Minister underlined as he noted that Vallalar’s vision of God went beyond barriers of religion, caste, and creed. He said that Vallalar saw divinity in every atom of the universe and urged humanity to recognize and cherish this divine connection. The Prime Minister underlined that his belief in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwaas and Sabka Prayas gets even stronger when he is paying homage to Vallalar as his teachings are aimed at working for an equal society. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Vallalar would have blessed the passing of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam which reserves seats for women in legislative bodies. Highlighting the simplicity of Vallalar’s works, the Prime Minister noted that they are easy to read and understand, and also convey complex spiritual wisdom in simple words. The Prime Minister reiterated that the diversity in India’s cultural wisdom across time and space is connected by the common thread of teachings by the great saints which add strength to the collective idea of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

On this pious occasion, the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to fulfilling Vallalar’s ideals and urged everyone to spread his message of love, kindness and justice. “May we also keep working hard in areas close to his heart. Let us ensure that no one around us goes hungry. Let us ensure every child gets a quality education”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated a two-day anti-terror conference organized by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi, today. On this occasion, several dignitaries including Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nishith Pramanik, Home Secretary, Director Intelligence Bureau, Director General NIA, as well as Director Generals of Central Armed Police Forces, State Police Chiefs, and senior officials from the Union and State governments were also present.

Home Minister awarded medals to NIA officials for excellence in service.

In his inaugural address, Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Central and State agencies have succeeded in firmly curbing all forms of terrorism in the country in the last 9 years. Union Home Minister said that we need to not only combat terrorism but also dismantle its entire ecosystem. He said that Model Anti-terrorism Structure should be established under the purview of NIA, the hierarchy, structure, and SoPs of Investigation of all anti-terrorism agencies in all states should be made uniform for better coordination between central and state agencies. All anti-terrorism agencies must adopt such a ruthless approach so that a new terrorist organization cannot be formed. Shri Shah said that the task of NIA, ATS, and STF should not be limited to investigation but they should also think out of the box and take innovative measures to counter the terrorism. He added that the fight against terrorism requires collaboration from the global level to the grassroots, involving various states within the country, as well as international cooperation. Shri Shah said that the task of NIA, ATS, and STF should not be limited to investigation but they should also think out of the box and take innovative measures to counter the terrorism. He added that the fight against terrorism requires collaboration from the global level to the grassroots, involving various states within the country, as also the international cooperation.

Shri Amit Shah said that the government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has taken a tough stand on all the challenges like crypto, hawala, terror-funding, organized crime syndicates, narco-terror links, which has yielded very good results, but still a lot more is to be done. He said that to deal with terrorism, the Center and the states, their agencies and inter-agency cooperation will have to think in vertical and horizontal ways.

Union Home Minister said that the government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has prepared many database verticals in the last 5 years. He stressed that all the agencies of the Center and the State should make multidimensional and Artificial Intelligence-based use of the database, only then will we be successful in the fight against terrorism. He said that the database should be used for investigation, prosecution, prevention and action. Home Minister stressed upon every police station as well as young police officers to make maximum use of the database.

Use of Data Base

Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) — CCTNS implemented in 99.93% i.e. 16,733 police stations, 22 thousand courts have been connected to e-Court and about 2 crore prisoner data available through e-Prison, 1 crore through e-Prosecution. More than 17 lakh prosecution data available and more than 17 lakh forensic data from e-forensics. Similarly, the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) has more than 90 lakh fingerprint records. Under Integrated Monitoring of Terrorism (i-MoT), data of 22 thousand terrorist cases is available for monitoring UAPA registered cases. Data of more than 5 lakh narco-offenders is available under NIDAN, i.e. National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-Offenders. Data of about 1 lakh human traffickers is available under the National Database of Human Trafficking Offenders (NDHTO). Data of more than 14 lakh alerts is available under Crime Multi Agency Center (Cri-MAC). Data of more than 28 lakh complaints is available on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Biometric database of prisoners and information about their visitors is available in the Prison Database. Apart from this, the national level terrorism database of the NIA is also available.

Shri Amit Shah said that there should be a common training module for all central and state-level counter-terrorism agencies, so that uniformity can be brought in the methodology of fighting against terrorism. He asked NIA and IB to take initiative in this direction. Shri Shah said that now the time has come to work from need to know to need to share and duty to share approach. He said that the number of terrorist incidents in the year 2001 was 6000, which the government at the center led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has reduced to 900 in the year 2022. He praised the NIA for achieving more than 94 percent conviction rate and said more work is needed in this direction. He also asked all the states to take steps to increase the conviction rate.

Fight against Drugs

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, with the cooperation of the Central and State Governments, major successes have been achieved in the fight against drugs. These achievements include Operation Samudragupta, conducted this year under the leadership of NCB, during which narcotics worth more than Rs 12,000 crore were seized simultaneously. Apart from this, 10 lakh kilograms of drugs have also been disposed of.

Shri Amit Shah said that terrorism has no boundaries and no state can face terrorism alone. He said that we all have to come together to root out this evil. Home Minister suggested making 5 actionable points in every session of the two-day conference and sending them to the Union Home Ministry.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the Industry will be expected to be a major resource contributor in all the future StartUp ventures and other new technology initiatives.

The Minister said, all will have to be equal stakeholders right from the beginning and for this the Industry will also have to change its earlier mindset of looking up to the government for everything.

Delivering keynote address at the 3rd India Quantum Technology Conclave 2023 organised by ASSOCHAM here today, the Minister said, “There is no option but to strike an equitable relationship with the Government, Academia and Industry to be on an equal page as the nation takes further strides in frontier R&D including emerging Quantum Technology. Global challenges need global outlook, global strategies and global parameters, he said, adding the Industry will have to come forward in risk management.

Dr Jitendra Singh said the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF), announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will have huge non-government resources. As much as Rs. 36,000 crore, viz 70% of the NRF budget of Rs.50,000 crore over five years, is envisaged to come from non-governmental sources.

“As a result, the demarcation between the Public and Private sector will be bridged and there will be integration. NRF will also act as a think tank, it has the mandate of even deciding the themes on which the projects have to be undertaken and funded, and decide on foreign tie ups,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said there will be Industry linkages right from the beginning, creating an optimum ecosystem for innovation. Active involvement from the industry and the capital to push the quantum start-up ecosystem in India is required to boost the industry.

“Today, we have 3,000 Startups under the Aroma Mission and 150 Space Startups. We will have to follow up in order to ensure that the over 1.25 lakh Startups that have taken off in the last nine years are sustainable,” he said.

The S&T Minister said, as compared to the policy paralysis previously, the Modi Government rolled out a clear cut policy planning, with Digital India and Make in India paving the framework for a robust indigenous manufacturing environment. As a result we witnessed a “quantum jump before Quantum Technology came our way.”

“We are the seventh nation to come out with Quantum Technology, but today we are at par with the developed nations and also taking the lead. The world looks up to us today and that increases our responsibilities,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said the National Quantum Mission (NQM), approved recently by Prime Minister Modi, will make India one of the Top Global leaders in areas like quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing, quantum materials, metrology and devices.

Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that the NQM approved by the Cabinet at a total cost of over Rs.6,000 crore aims to seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT).

“India is the seventh country to have a dedicated quantum mission after the US, Austria, Finland, France, Canada and China.The Mission will greatly benefit sectors like health, finance, energy apart from applications in drug design, space, banking, security etc. It will also provide a huge boost to National priorities like Digital India, Make in India, Skill India and Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-reliant India,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said India has the potential to become an attractive destination for quantum R&D, software development, and components and equipment manufacturing, thus leading to a huge number of job opportunities.

“This resonates very strongly with Prime Minister Modi’s larger scheme of creating an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in terms of science, technology, and innovation in India,” he said.

India currently has nearly a hundred quantum projects of which about 92 per cent are sponsored by the Centre. The NQM targets developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in 8 years in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has hailed the landmark of 50 lakh beneficiaries of PMSVANidhi Scheme. The Prime Minister underlined that PMSVANidhi has not only made the lives of street vendors easier but has also given them an opportunity to live with dignity.

Sharing a post on X by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Prime Minister said;

“इस बड़ी उपलब्धि के लिए बहुत-बहुत बधाई! मुझे संतोष है कि PMSVANidhi योजना से ना सिर्फ देशभर के हमारे रेहड़ी-पटरी वालों का जीवन आसान हुआ है, बल्कि उन्हें सम्मान के साथ जीने का अवसर भी मिला है।”

To promote ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence and innovation, a number of big-ticket announcements were made by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh during the plenary session of ‘Swavlamban 2.0’, the two-day seminar of Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO), which commenced in New Delhi on October 04, 2023. The main highlight was the release of the fifth Positive Indigenisation List of Department of Military Affairs (DMA) comprising 98 items. Highly complex systems, sensors, weapons and ammunition have been included in the list. All these items will be procured from indigenous sources as per provisions given in Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 in staggered timeline.

Shri Rajnath Singh also launched 76 challenges for the industry under 10^th Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC 10) & DISC 10 PRIME of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and five problem statements under iDEX for Fauji. In addition, two INDUS X challenges under ‘INDUS-X Mutual Promotion of Advanced Collaborative Technologies’ (IMPACT) challenges jointly finalised by iDEX and United States Department of Defense (US DoD) were launched by the Raksha Mantri. He also released the Indian Navy’s updated Indigenisation Roadmap ‘Swavlamban 2.0’. A special interactive session for the industry to explain the nuances of the roadmap is planned on Day 2 of the seminar.

In his address, Shri Rajnath Singh appreciated the fact that the SPRINT innovative challenge, which was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the maiden Swavlamban seminar in 2022 to promote the use of indigenous technology and products in the Navy, has helped in taking the country forward in becoming self-reliant in the defence sector. He credited the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership for driving the country ahead in mission mode free from doubt and full of confidence. India’s defence sector is currently riding on the boat of innovation, he said, lauding iDEX for providing the youth with a platform to innovate and develop new products, which not only ensures the progress of the start-ups, but also strengthens the country’s defence ecosystem.

The Raksha Mantri was of the view that India has always been self-reliant in the field of knowledge & innovation and when the present Government came to power in 2014, it re-kindled the feeling of being ‘Aatmanirbhar’ in every sector. “Due to foreign invasions, we had forgotten our innovative approach. The word ‘local’ became synonymous with low quality. We’re now freeing ourselves from that mentality. Our Prime Minister launched the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign and restored respect for local goods. Our youth are now recognising their inner strength and eliminating inner doubts. In the coming times, they will play a big role in the development of the country with their innovative approach and knowledge,” he said.

While Shri Rajnath Singh commended Department of Defence Production for playing a crucial role in building a self-reliant India through initiatives such as iDEX, NIIO and Technology Development Acceleration Cell (T-DAC), he stated that increased efforts are needed to connect the youth with the defence sector, especially R&D and manufacturing. He also gave a number of suggestions to further improve the efficiency of iDEX.

The Raksha Mantri called for a careful assessment of the technology challenges – whether they are state-of-the-art as per today’s time and whether any better technology is expected in the near future. He stressed the need to ascertain whether a technology is already available somewhere in the market or “we’re just re-inventing the wheel”. He also pointed out that it is essential to assess the viability of a technology from the point of view of the economy. This will provide a better value for money on your R&D expenditure, he said. He pitched for devising a robust mechanism which conducts this analysis before the introduction of any technology or challenge. For this, he said, DDP, DRDO and the Armed Forces can together form an independent body of experts, which can further improve the analysis mechanism.

Shri Rajnath Singh also recommended the assessment of products and technologies, developed during the previous challenges, as to where they are placed in the market. He stated that in case there are any shortcomings, improvements should be made in that direction. “If there are 50 challenges and all of them are being achieved, it means that we need to increase the level of challenge. This will provide a push to innovation,” he added.

The Raksha Mantri stressed on constant evaluation of work to move forward. He stated that the challenge may be named SPRINT, but there is a need to move ahead like a marathon race. “We don’t just have to cover a few metres; we have to travel miles. It is both SPRINT and MARATHON,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar stated that, last year, the Navy sought solutions to 75 challenges, received more than 1,000 responses, declared 118 winners under DISC 7 SPRINT and SPRINT-PRIME and concluded over 100 technological developmental agreements between iDEX and the industry. He termed these as global firsts, game changers and force multipliers. The Chief of the Naval Staff emphasised that the Navy’s aim is to go beyond linear growth and adopt compounding i.e., one technology leading to multiple offshoots, each in turn, producing numerous products. He expressed satisfaction that the vision has got off to a dream start. He congratulated the defence industry, MSMEs, start-ups and academia for showing the world “what we are capable of”.

Fifth Positive Indigenisation List

The Fifth Positive Indigenisation List has been prepared by DMA after several rounds of consultations with all stakeholders. It lays special focus on import substitution of components of major systems besides important platforms, weapon system & sensors and munitions which are being developed and likely to translate into firm orders in the next five to ten years.

Prominent items include Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle, Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles, Remotely Piloted Air Borne Vehicles upto 25 Km with 2Kg Payload for Army, Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System, Medium Upgrade Low Endurance Class Tactical Drone, Electric Light Vehicle for Army, Medium Range Precision Kill System for Artillery, Next Generation Low Level Light Radar for Army, Automatic Chemical Agent Detection & Alarm System, Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) Protection and Counter Measures System, Integrated Mobile Camouflage System, AI Based Satellite Image Analysis, Test Equipment for Guided Weapon System for Tank T- 90 S/SK, Quantum Key Distribution System for Optic Fiber based Networks (Upto 200 Km range), Very High Frequency Radar, Electro Optic Fire Control System for Naval Platforms, Armour Plates for Cabin Nose Section for Mi-17 Helicopter, Automated Mobile Test System for OSA-AK-M Missile System; Multifunction Aviation Ground Equipment for Air Force, Gravity Rollers for Mi-17 V5 Helicopter and flares of P-8I and MiG 29-K Aircraft.

The items in the list will provide ample visibility and opportunity to the domestic industry to understand the trend and futuristic needs of the Armed Forces and create requisite R&D and manufacturing capacity within the country.

The MoD has taken numerous steps for self-reliance in the defence sector and Positive Indigenisation Lists is one of the most important transformative reforms in pursuit of indigenisation. It is one of the key constituents of the Government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ to transform the defence sector to achieve self-reliance and boost exports with the active participation of public and private sector. The DMA had earlier promulgated four Positive Indigenisation Lists comprising 411 military items. Separately, the DDP has notified four Positive Indigenisation Lists consisting of a total of 4,666 items, including Line Replacement Units/Sub-systems/Spares & Components for Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).

It is encouraging to note that with the various reforms put in by the Government, the industry, especially the private sector, is gaining confidence and building capability to manufacture/integrate highly complex systems, sensors, simulator, weapons and ammunitions etc. It is likely to stimulate the potential of domestic R&D by attracting fresh investment into technology and manufacturing capabilities. Besides recognising the growing capability of domestic industry in defence manufacturing, the Positive Indigenisation Lists have signalled a strong resolve to promote a robust and self-reliant defence industry and cut down imports. It also recognises the fact that the defence sector will be one of the key contributors to the nation’s economy and growth in the next five to 10 years.

iDEX DISC 10 & DISC 10 PRIME Challenges

76 challenges were launched for the industry by the Raksha Mantri under DISC 10 & DISC 10 PRIME to celebrate the 76^th year of India’s independence. These challenges include problem statements from the three Services, Indian Coast Guard, DPSUs, Border Roads Organisation and Mission DefSpace. In addition, five problems under the iDEX for Fauji (i4F) scheme were also launched.

INDUS X Challenges

iDEX in partnership with the US DoD had recently conducted the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X) event in Washington DC to expand the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the start-up ecosystems, businesses and academic institutes of India and US. In a short span of three months, iDEX and US DoD have finalised two joint INDUS X challenges under the IMPACT which were launched by the Raksha Mantri during the seminar. US Ambassador to India Mr Eric Garcetti was also present at the launch.

iDEX winners, and especially those who have already been awarded procurement contracts, were felicitated during the event.

INVenT

The NIIO and the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) entered into an agreement for jointly working on facilitating the infusion of Venture Capital into the defence ecosystem through the iDEX Innovators Hub (iIH). The seminar witnessed ‘INVenT’ (iDEX-Navy Venture for Technology) being launched. In addition, a number of other MoUs were exchanged. These include NIIO MoUs with the academia and the industry.

SBI NAVeCash Card

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh also launched SBI NAVeCash Card – a one-of-its-kind dual-chip debit card developed by the State Bank of India (SBI) and the Indian Navy. The card can be used in online mode (as a regular debit card) as well as in offline mode while at sea with no direct connectivity with the bank. The card has been developed and tested onboard various Indian Naval ships and is now ready for launch pan-Navy. The card is a positive step towards the Prime Minister’s dream of Digital India with cashless financial transactions as it obviates the usage of cash onboard ships even in high seas.

 Exhibition

Products developed under the SPRINT (Supporting Pole-vaulting in R&D through iDEX, NIIO and TDAC) initiative were showcased in an exhibition during the seminar. Under the SPRINT, launched during the first Swavlamban, the Indian Navy aimed to develop at least 75 technologies/products to celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence as a part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. The stated aim has been met and surpassed.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan; Vice Chiefs of Indian Army & Indian Air Force; President, Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) Shri SP Shukla and industry representatives were among those who attended the session.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari visited the Pilot Certification and Experience Center of uSky Technology and took a test ride of the Sky Bus to experience the safety and evacuation demo in Sharjah, UAE, during his en route to India from Prague.

uSky Technology has developed Sky Bus solutions, and iSky Mobility has tied up with uSky to bring these mobility services to India.

Sky Bus offers a sustainable, congestion-free urban mobility solution, reducing pollution and traffic congestion while providing efficient mobility for urban residents. Moreover, its elevated rail cable system minimizes land use, making it a valuable addition to nation’s mobility infrastructure.

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda inaugurated the 4^th EMRS National Cultural & Literary Fest and Kala Utsav- 2023, in the presence of Chief Minister, Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, at Dehradun on 3^rd October, 2023. The event has been organized by the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) under Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and hosted by Eklavya Vidyalaya Sangathan Samiti (EVSS), Uttarakhand at Maharana Pratap Sports College, Dehradun.

The Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) Cultural Fest provides tribal students a national platform to showcase their hidden talents in different spheres. The four-day event (3^rd – 6^th October) this year would witness performances from over 2000 tribal students from 22 States. More than 20 events will be organized in this fest, from dance and song performances to quiz and visual arts etc. Stalls from different States have been arranged to showcase tribal cultural displays.

On the occasion, Shri Arjun Munda noted that such events provide an opportunity for children and teachers of EMRS to meet each other, understand and learn about the cultures of different provinces of the country fulfilling the vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He said, “I believe that such programmes will inspire you and give you a good opportunity to know about your own culture as well as the rich traditions of the tribal communities living in different corners of the country.”

Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami highlighted diverse traditions and culture of the tribals in Uttarakhand and various government schemes run for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes in the State. During inaugural ceremony, Dr. Naval Jit Kapoor, Joint Secretary M/o Tribal Affairs and Commissioner, NESTS briefed about the EMRS scheme. The inaugural ceremony was marked with spectacular cultural performances from tribal communities of Uttarakhand and students of EMRS.

The ‘EMRS National Cultural Fest’ is the most awaited event every year for tribal students pursuing education in the EMRSs.  NESTS has been running EMRSs for Scheduled Tribes across India. EMRS Scheme is one of the flagship interventions of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and was revamped in the year 2018-19 to ensure that tribal students get access to quality education in the remote tribal areas.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth more than Rs 8000 crores in important sectors like power, rail and health in  Nizamabad, Telangana today. The projects include the dedication of 800 MW Unit of phase 1 of Telangana Super Thermal Power Project of NTPC, rail projects including the new Railway Line connecting Manoharabad and Siddipet; and the electrification project between Dharmabad – Manoharabad and Mahabubnagar – Kurnool. He laid the foundation stone of 20 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) across the state under Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. Shri Modi also flagged off Siddipet – Secunderabad – Siddipet train service.

Addressing the gathering the Prime Minister congratulated the people of Telangana for the projects of today. He said that the development of any nation or state depends upon its self-reliant capacity for electricity production as it improves Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business simultaneously. “Smooth supply of electricity gives momentum to growth of industries in a state”, the Prime Minister remarked as he noted that the dedication of 800 MW Unit of phase 1 of Telangana Super Thermal Power Project of NTPC in Peddapalli district. He emphasized that the second unit will also be operational very soon, and upon its completion the installed capacity of the power plant would rise to 4,000 MW. He expressed delight that Telangana Super Thermal Power Plant is the most modern power plant out of all NTPC power plants in the country. “The major part of electricity produced in this power plant will go to the people of Telangana”, the Prime Minister said as he emphasized the central government’s propensity to complete the projects whose foundation stones are laid. He recalled laying the foundation stone of this project in 2016 and expressed gratitude for inaugurating it today. “This is the new work culture of our government”, he added.

The Prime Minister said that the government is working to fulfill the energy needs of Telangana. He recalled dedicating Hassan–Cherlapalli pipeline recently. “This pipeline will become the basis of LPG transformation, transportation and distribution in a cost-effective and eco-friendly manner”, he said.

Speaking on electrification projects between Dharmabad – Manoharabad and Mahbubnagar – Kurnool, the Prime Minister said that it will increase the connectivity in the state along with a boost to the average speed of the two trains. “India Railways is moving with a target of 100 percent electrification of all the railway lines”, he said. He said the new rail link between Manoharabad and Siddipet will give a push to business and industry. The Prime Minister recalled laying the foundation stone of the project in 2016.

The Prime Minister recalled how healthcare was a domain of a selected few earlier. Shri Modi informed about many steps taken to make health services available as well as affordable. He talked about the increasing numbers of medical colleges and AIIMS, including one in Bibinagar. Simultaneously, work is done on increasing the number of doctors, he added.

The Prime Minister informed about PM Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission, under which quality infrastructure is being ensured in every district. Today under this mission, the Prime Minister said that the foundation stone of 20 critical care blocks has been laid in Telangana. He informed that blocks will be built in such a way that they have complete arrangements for Dedicated Isolation wards, Oxygen Supply and Infection Prevention and Control. “More than 5000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers are already functional to increase health facilities in Telangana”, he said. During the covid pandemic, the Prime Minister informed that 50 large PSA Oxygen plants were established in Telangana which played a significant role in saving precious lives.  He concluded the address by congratulating the people for today’s projects in the important sectors of power, railway and health.

Governor of Telangana Tamilisai Soundararajan and Union Minister, Shri G Kishan Reddy were present on the occasion among others.

Background

In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of increasing power generation with improved energy efficiency in the country, the first 800 MW Unit of phase 1 of Telangana Super Thermal Power Project of NTPC was dedicated to the nation. It will provide low-cost power to Telangana and provide a boost to the economic development of the state. It will also be one of the most environmentally compliant power stations in the country.

Telangana’s rail infrastructure gets a boost as the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation, rail projects including the new Railway Line connecting Manoharabad and Siddipet; and the electrification project between Dharmabad – Manoharabad and Mahabubnagar – Kurnool. The 76 km long Manoharabad-Siddipet rail line will boost the socio-economic development of the region, especially in the districts of Medak and Siddipet. The electrification project between Dharmabad – Manoharabad and Mahabubnagar – Kurnool will help in improving the average speed of trains and will lead to environment-friendly rail transport in the region. The Prime Minister also flagged off Siddipet – Secunderabad – Siddipet train service, benefiting the local rail commuters in the region.

In an effort to augment health infrastructure in Telangana, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of 20 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) across the state under the Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. These CCBs will be built in the districts Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Jogulamba Gadwal, Hyderabad, Khammam, Kumuram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Mahabubnagar (Badepally), Mulugu, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Narayanpet, Nirmal, Rajanna Sircilla, RangaReddy (Maheshwaram), Suryapet, Peddapalli, Vikarabad and Warangal (Narsampet). These CCBs will augment district-level critical care infrastructure across Telangana benefiting the people of the state.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi performed darshan and pooja at Maa Danteshwari Temple in Bastar, Chhattisgarh today.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“बस्तर में मां दंतेश्वरी की पूजा-अर्चना कर उनका आशीर्वाद लिया। उनसे छत्तीसगढ़ के अपने सभी परिवारजनों की उन्नति और खुशहाली की कामना की।”