The three ‘S’, – Skill, Speed and Scale are the key to Capacity Building for StartUps as also for those engaged in any other vocation, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said while inaugurating the Training Program conducted by IIM Raipur faculty for the Kendriya Bhandar (KB) staff.

The Minister said, “Quality with Cost-Effectiveness of the end-product is what determines the sustainability amid competition”, he said.

Kendriya Bhandar is the first organization in India to seek institutionalised training for its employees.

Training and constant upgrading of skills are the two main aspects constantly reiterated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the Minister.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, success stories like Chandrayaan-3 and G20 have established PM Modi as the world’s tallest leader. He said, these successes have been possible because ever since PM Modi took over in May 2014, he has heralded a new work culture, where excellence is pursued and promoted.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, the KB Society was performing dismally after the withdrawal of Stationery OM in March 2015, and the sales turnover started falling down by Rs.100-150 crores annually and the profit also declined sharply till March 2018 and thus the Society was almost on the verge of losses.

The Minister said, it was the cost-cutting measures and the efforts of the Managing Director Dr. Mukesh Kumar and the Board of Directors and all employees of the Kendriya Bhandar for ushering in a lot of reforms, especially in the wake of Covid pandemic, and thus making a turn around.  As a result, profits soared over 30%.

In his address, Dr. Mukesh Kumar said, the Society has taken a lot of measures to heighten the morale and confidence of the employees by granting them fair wages which are comparable to the industry, while record number of promotions at faster pace to the performing employees were granted. He said, apart from these, measures like re-designation of posts guaranteeing respect, improving the quality of life at work place and periodical training through cooperative institutes, FSSAI and other activities for personality development of the employees.

Kendriya Bhandar created an all-time record by achieving five-fold growth of Rs.4,043 crores in 2021-22 from Rs.750 crores in 2017-18, which is unprecedented in any public or private sector.

It is also worth mentioning here that the society had accumulated fixed deposits of Rs.98.59 crores in 55 years since its coming into existence and Rs.41.28 crores (29.51% of total Rs.139.87 crores) have been added in the last five years.

The Society serves the common man by providing essential commodities at the lowest rates in the country.  In recent times, the Society sold Onions @ Rs.15/- per kg against market price of Rs.70/- per kg; Bharat Atta @ Rs.27.50 per kg against market price of Rs.40/- to Rs.45/- per kg in February-March 2023; Sold Tomatoes @ Rs.70/- per kg against market price of Rs.200/- per kg in the month of August, 2023; Selling Bharat Dal (Chana Dal) @ Rs.58/- per kg against market price of Rs.110/- per kg.   Further, the role of Kendriya Bhandar during the Corona / crisis has been commendable as it provided fastest services and quality items at the lowest rate in the country.

Kendriya Bhandar was set up in 1963 as a Welfare Project.  It has been registered as a Multi-State Co-operative Society under MSCS Act 2002 with shareholding of the Govt. and Govt. employees.  It has over 93,000 members out of which more than 10,000 members are still serving in Govt. The Society is managed by a Board of Directors (14 Directors).  The Board has 09 elected Directors, 03 Nominated, 01 MD and 01 Co-opted Director. The Society has 149 shops and establishments/offices, besides 05 Chemist Shops/Jan Aushadhi outlets all over the country.

Women Members of Parliament met Prime Minister to express their happiness over the passage of the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam last night.

The Prime Minister posted on X :

“Had the honor of meeting our dynamic women MPs who are absolutely thrilled at the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

It is gladdening to see the torchbearers of change come together to celebrate the very legislation they have championed.

With the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, India stands at the cusp of a brighter, more inclusive future with our Nari Shakti being at the core of this transformation.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi thanked all the Rajya Sabha MPs who voted for the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. He remarked that it is a defining moment in our nation’s democratic journey and congratulated the 140 crore citizens of the country.

He underlined that is not merely a legislation but a tribute to the countless women who have made our nation, and it is a historic step in a commitment to ensuring their voices are heard even more effectively.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“A defining moment in our nation’s democratic journey! Congratulations to 140 crore Indians.

I thank all the Rajya Sabha MPs who voted for the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Such unanimous support is indeed gladdening.

With the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament, we usher in an era of stronger representation and empowerment for the women of India. This is not merely a legislation; it is a tribute to the countless women who have made our nation. India has been enriched by their resilience and contributions.

As we celebrate today, we are reminded of the strength, courage, and indomitable spirit of all the women of our nation. This historic step is a commitment to ensuring their voices are heard even more effectively.”

Respected Mr Chairman Sir,

There has been extensive discussion on this extremely important bill for the past two days. Approximately 132 Hon’ble members from both Houses came together and engaged in a very meaningful discussion. Each and every word of this discussion will be beneficial to all of us on our journey ahead, and that is why every aspect of this matter holds its own significance and value. In the beginning of their remarks, members had already stated that they support this bill, and for that, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to all Hon’ble members. The spirit that has emerged will instil a new sense of confidence among the people of our country, and all Hon’ble members and all political parties have played a very significant role in this regard. Women empowerment is not only achieved by the passing of this bill; it goes beyond that. The positive approach of all the political parties of the country towards this bill is going to give a new energy to the women power of our country. It will come forward with leadership and contribute to nation-building with a new belief. It, in itself, will be a guarantee for our bright future.

Respected Mr Chairman Sir,

I do not want to take a lot of time of the house. I only express my gratitude for the sentiments you have expressed. And when it comes to voting, I earnestly request that this is an Upper House, and hence, efforts have been made for a good discussion, and, therefore, we give the country a new confidence by voting on this bill unanimously. With this expectation, I once again thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi on 23rd September, 2023. At around 1:30 PM, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the International Cricket Stadium in Varanasi. At around 3:15 PM, Prime Minister will reach Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre and will participate in the closing ceremony of Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav 2023. He will also  inaugurate 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalaya built across Uttar Pradesh, during the programme.

International cricket stadium in Varanasi will be a step towards realising Prime Minister’s vision to develop modern world class sports infrastructure. The modern international cricket stadium, to be built in Ganjari, Rajatalab, Varanasi will be developed in more than 30 acre area, at a cost of about Rs 450 crores. The thematic architecture of this stadium draws inspiration from Lord Shiva, with designs developed for crescent shaped roof covers, trident shaped flood-lights, ghat steps based seating, Bilvipatra shaped metallic sheets on the facade. The stadium will have a capacity of 30,000 spectators.

With an aim to further enhance access to quality education, Sixteen Atal Awasiya Vidyalaya across Uttar Pradesh, built at a cost of about Rs 1115 crores, have been started exclusively for children of labourers, construction workers and orphans due to COVID-19 pandemic, with an aim to provide quality education and help in holistic development of Children. Each school is constructed in an area of 10-15 acres with classrooms,  sports ground, recreational areas, a mini auditorium, hostel complex, mess and residential flats for staff. These residential schools intend to eventually accommodate 1000 students each.

Prime Minister’s vision to strengthen the cultural vibrancy of Kashi has led to the conceptualization of Kashi Sansad Sanskritik Mahotsav. The Mahotsav witnessed the participation of more than 37,000 persons across 17 disciplines, who displayed their skills in singing, instrumental playing, nukkad natak, dancing etc. The meritorious participants will get a chance to showcase their cultural skills during the programme at Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has welcomed the passage of The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha today.

The Prime Minister posted on X :

“Delighted at the passage of The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha with such phenomenal support. I thank MPs across Party lines who voted in support of this Bill.

The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is a historic legislation which will further boost women empowerment and will enable even greater participation of women in our political process.”

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah participated in the discussion on Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in the Lok Sabha today. Participating in the discussion, Shri Amit Shah said that 19 September, 2023 will be written in golden letters in the history of the Indian Parliament because on this day the new Parliament started functioning on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi and the long-pending bill providing the right to reservation for women was introduced in the House. He said that he would like to thank Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi from core of his heart that he has truly honoured the women power, which constitutes 50 percent of 140 crores population. Shri Shah said that with the passing of this constitutional amendment bill, one-third seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will be reserved for women of the country. With the passing of this bill, the long continuing fight of women for their rights will end. He said that Prime MinisterShri  Modi presented the concept of “Women-led Development” in front of the world in the recently held G-20 conference and with the passing of this bill, a new era will begin, because now the women of this country will not only become participants in policies but will also contribute in determining the policies.

Shri Amit Shah said that women empowerment may be a political agenda for some parties, but for the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, women empowerment is an issue of recognition. He said that in 2014, after 30 years the people of the country decided to form a government with full majority under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Under the leadership of Prime Modi, women’s safety, respect and participation have been the breath and soul of the government. Shri Shah said that when Shri Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country in 2014, there were 70 crore people in the country who did not have bank accounts in their homes. Shri Narendra Modi started Jan-DhanYojana and launched a campaign to open bank accounts, as a result of which 52 crore bank accounts were opened, out of which 70 percent bank accounts were opened in the name of women. He said that those people whose roots are connected to India will not make the mistake of calling women weak

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that today women empowerment has taken place in the country and the money from all the schemes is going directly into the bank accounts of women. He said that the opposition party ruled this country for more than 5 decades, there were 11 crore families in the country who did not have toilets. Slogans were raised to eliminate poverty, but no arrangements were made for the poor. He said that when there is no toilet in the house, the young daughter, sister and mother suffer the most. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi provided 11.72 Crores toilets within the first 5 years, due to which mothers, sisters and daughters were empowered. He said that 10 crore families of the country were forced to live in smoke, but Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has empowered women by providing free LPG connections to 10 crore houses. The government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi provided houses to more than 3 crore women in their names. Shri Shah said that there were 12 crore houses in the country where there was no drinking water, Shri Narendra Modi provided tap water to them. He added that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi provided 5 kg free food grains per person per month to 80 crore people of the country. Prime Minister Modi opened 3 crore 18 lakh SukanyaSamriddhi accounts, provided benefits to 3 crore women under MatruVandanYojana and provided approximately 26 weeks of maternity leave. Shri Shah said that today the number of women pilots worldwide is 5 percent whereas in India it is 15 percent, this is called empowerment.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Minister said that women are more empowered than men and this bill will now ensure women’s participation in decision and policy making. He said that the government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has brought this bill to correct the errors in the social system, to increase the participation of women and to respect them. He said that today, we have an opportunity when this House can give a message to the world that the entire House is unanimous and united in fulfilling Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of “Women-led Development”.

Shri Amit Shah said that four attempts have been made by previous governments to bring Women’s Reservation Bill. He said that the Women’s Reservation Bill was first brought by the government led by Shri H.D. Deve Gowda in 1996, after which it was given to a committee headed by Seema Mukherjee. The committee also gave its report but that bill never reached this House. He said that after this, the Government led by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee brought this bill in 1998, but the opposition did not allow it to be introduced in the House. Shri Shah said that the government led by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee once again brought the bill but again discussion could not take place. He said the government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh again brought the amendment bill in the Rajya Sabha, where after being passed, this bill could not come in the Lok Sabha.

Union Home Minister requested all the members to come together to unanimously work to amend the Constitution and provide reservation to the women power through this new beginning. He said as per the current provision, the Modi government has given 33 percent reservation to women in all three categories of members going to be elected to Parliament – General (which includes OBC), Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe. He said that provision for women’s reservation has been made through Article 330 (A) and Article 332 (A) under this constitutional amendment. Along with this, one-third seats have been reserved for women by giving vertical reservation in all three categories. Shri Shah said that the Delimitation Commission is a legal provision of an important body that determines the election process of our country and it is done by appointment but there are quasi judicial proceedings. He said that it is headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court and it also has a representative of the Election Commission. Shri Shah said that the one-third seats to be reserved will be selected by the Delimitation Commission. The commission goes to every state and gives open hearings and decides the policy in a transparent manner. He said that the only objective behind bringing Delimitation Commission is to bring transparency. He added that there will be no delay in the formation of this commission, after the elections both census and delimitation will be done and soon the day will come when one-third of the women MPs will sit in this House and decide the future of the country.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Prime Minister of the country, Shri Narendra Modi has done the work of welfare of the backward class wholeheartedly. He said that in his first speech in 2014, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had said that his government is the government of Dalits, Backward Classes, Tribals and women. Today, after providing houses, toilets, electricity, water, medicines, gas cylinders and food grains to 80 crore poor people of the country, Narendra Modi government has brought 33 percent reservation for women. He said that the opposition parties never made an OBC Prime Minister. Union Home Minister requested everyone to rise above party politics and support this bill.

‘Swachhata’, viz Cleanliness, does not add to costs but, in fact, boosts productivity and conserves resources, said Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, during his visit to the Finance Ministry offices in North Block to oversee preparations for the Swachhata Special Campaign 3.0. He directed senior officers to aim for reducing pendency in Government Offices with a saturation approach.

The Union Minister said, close to 90 lakh square feet of prime office space has been cleared during the last two Swachhata campaigns and put into productive usage.   Besides, the Government generated a revenue of Rs. 370.83 crores from disposal of scrap, 64.92 lakh files were reviewed, 4.56 lakh Public Grievances Redressed and 8,998 MPs’ references replied. Swachhata campaign also spurred eOffice work culture in the Government and now over 90% file work has been made online.

The Government of India has announced Special campaign 3.0 from 2^nd October, 2023, coinciding with the Birth Anniversary of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, till 31^st October, 2023. The Campaign is a sequel of the Special campaigns conducted in the last two years.

Special Campaign 3.0 will focus on field/outstation offices responsible for service delivery or having public interface, in addition to the Ministries/Departments and their attached/subordinate offices. Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances is the Nodal Department for implementation of Special Campaign 3.0.

Dr Jitendra Singh said the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi transformed the Swachhata campaign into a Jan Andolan within a few months. He said, the DARPG has launched a compendium of 300 Best Practices which will be implemented by all Government Ministries and Departments and published widely through media, highlighting ‘Whole of Government’ and ‘Whole of Science’ approach”.

During the visit, Dr Jitendra Singh was presented a collage of the activities undertaken during the Special Campaign 2.0 by Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), Shri Sanjay Agarwal. He apprised the Minister that the CBIC has redesigned office spaces for optimum utilisation and a rooftop garden & cafetaria has been created by CGST, Bhopal Zone at its offices. Revenue Secretary Shri Sanjay Malhotra and Secretary, DARPG, Shri V. Srinivas were also present on the occasion.

Special Campaign 3.0 will focus on field/outstation offices responsible for service delivery or having public interface, in addition to the Ministries/Departments and their attached/subordinate offices. Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) is the Nodal Department for implementation of Special Campaign 3.0.

The Cabinet Secretary has addressed all Secretaries of Government of India on 25^th August, 2023 and DARPG guidelines for the same were issued on 1^st September, 2023.

EPFO’s provisional payroll data released today highlights that EPFO has added 18.75 lakh net members in the month of July, 2023. The addition during the month is the highest since first publishing of EPFO payroll data from April, 2018 covering the period of September, 2017 onwards. A growing trend is continued since last three months with an increase of around 85,932 net members over the previous month of June, 2023.

The data indicates that around 10.27 lakh new members have enrolled during July, 2023 which is highest since July, 2022. Majority of new members joining EPFO are in the age-group of 18-25 years constituting roughly 58.45% of total new members addition during the month. This shows an increasing trend in youth enrollment, who are mostly first-time job seekers joining the organized sector workforce of the country.

Payroll data demonstrates that approximately 12.72 lakh members exited but rejoined EPFO, which is the highest in last 12 months. These members switched their jobs and re-joined the establishments covered under EPFO and opted to transfer their accumulations instead of applying for final settlement thus, extending their social security protection.

Gender-wise analysis of payroll data shows that during July, 2023 around 3.86 lakh net female members have been added in the payroll. Around 2.75 lakh female members have come under the ambit of social security coverage for the first time.

State-wise analysis of payroll data denotes that net member addition is highest in the 5 states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Haryana. These states constitute around 58.78% of net member addition, adding a total of 11.02 lakh members during the month. Of all the states, Maharashtra is leading by adding 20.45% of net members during the month.

Month-on-month comparison of industry-wise data displays significant growth in the members working in establishments engaged in Trading-Commercial Establishments, Building & Construction Industry, Electrical, Mechanical and General Engineering Products. This was followed by Textiles, Financing Establishment, Hospitals etc. Of the total net membership, around 38.40% addition is from expert services (consisting of manpower suppliers, normal contractors, security services, miscellaneous activities etc.).

The above payroll data is provisional since the data generation is a continuous exercise, as updating employee record is a continuous process. The previous data hence gets updated every month. From the month of April-2018, EPFO has been releasing payroll data covering the period September, 2017 onwards. In monthly payroll data, the count of members joining EPFO for the first time through Aadhaar validated Universal Account Number (UAN), existing members exiting from coverage of EPFO and those who exited but re-joining as members, is taken to arrive at net monthly payroll.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Rajya Sabha in the New Parliament Building today.

Addressing the House, the Prime Minister remarked that today’s occasion is historic and memorable. He recalled his address in the Lok Sabha and expressed gratitude towards the Chair for the opportunity to address the Rajya Sabha on this special occasion.

Noting that the Rajya Sabha is considered the Upper House of the Parliament, the Prime Minister underlined the intentions of the makers of the Constitution that the House become a center for serious intellectual discussions rising above the ebb and flow of political discourse while giving a direction to the nation. “It is the natural expectation of the country”, the Prime Minister said as he noted that such contributions to the nation increase the value of the proceedings.

The Prime Minister quoted Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan that the Parliament is not just a legislative body but a deliberative body. Shri Modi said that it is always a pleasure to hear quality debates in Rajya Sabha. New Parliament, he said, is not just a new building but is also a symbol of a new beginning. At the dawn of Amrit Kaal, this new building will infuse a new energy in 140 crore Indians, he said.

The Prime Minister stressed the need to achieve goals in a set time frame as the nation is no longer ready to wait. He said that the time has come to move with new thinking and style to meet the aspirations of the people and that will require expanding the scope of work and thought process.

The Prime Minister said that the House can be a source of inspiration for the legislative bodies all over the country with regard to parliamentary probity.

Throwing light on the decisions taken in the last 9 years, the Prime Minister pointed out those issues that have been pending for decades and were considered monumental. “Touching upon such issues was considered a huge mistake from the political standpoint”, the Prime Minister said as he mentioned that the government took major strides in this direction even though they did not have the required numbers in the Rajya Sabha. He expressed satisfaction that the issues were taken up and resolved for the betterment of the nation and credited the maturity and intellect of the Members for the same. “The dignity of the Rajya Sabha was upheld not because of sheer numbers in the house but due to the dexterity and understanding”, he added. The Prime Minister thanked all the members of the House for this feat.

The Prime Minister said that despite the changes in dispensations in a democratic setup effort has been to keep the national interest supreme.

Underlining Rajya Sabha’s role as House of the States, the Prime Minister said that in the time of emphasis on cooperative federalism, the country has moved forward with great cooperation on many critical matters. He mentioned the Corona pandemic as an example of center-state cooperation.

The Prime Minister said that not only during distress but also in the times of festivities, India has impressed the world. He said that the diversity of this great nation was showcased during G20 events in more than 60 cities and the Summit in Delhi. This is the power of cooperative federalism, he said. He also mentioned that the new building also represents the spirit of federalism as artifacts from states have found a place of prominence in the scheme of the new building.

Highlighting the growing impact of technology in daily life, the Prime Minister mentioned that advancements which took more than 50 years to accomplish can be witnessed within a few weeks now. He stressed the need to mould oneself in a dynamic way to adapt to the growing technological advancements.

The Prime Minister said that in the Samvidhan Sadan, we celebrated 75 years of Independence, when the century of Independence will be celebrated in the New Building in 2047, it will be a celebration in Viksit Bharat. He further said that in the old building, we reached up to 5th spot in terms of the economy of the world. “I am confident that in the New Parliament, we will be part of the top three economies of the world”, he said. He continued, “While we undertook many measures for the welfare of the poor, in the new Parliament we will achieve saturation of coverage of those schemes.”

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to adopt new technologies along with the New Parliament Building as the House is equipped with cutting-edge technology. He also urged the Members to support each other in getting accustomed to the new technology available in the House.

In this Digital Age, the Prime Minister said, we must make technology a part of our lives. Referring to Make in India, the Prime Minister said that the nation is making the most out of this initiative with new energy and enthusiasm.

Mentioning Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam that was presented in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said that when we talk about the ease of life, the first claim of that ease belongs to women. He said that the participation of women is being ensured in many sectors. “Potential of women should get opportunities. Time of ‘ifs and buts’ in their lives is over”, the Prime Minister said.

He said the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme became a people’s programme. He also mentioned women participation in Jan Dhan and Mudra Yojana. He mentioned  Ujjwala and elimination of Triple Talaq and stronger laws for women’s safety. He said women-led development was the biggest topic of discussion in G20.

The Prime Minister mentioned that the issue of reservation for women in the Parliament has been pending for decades and everyone has contributed towards it in their capacity. Pointing out that the bill was first introduced in 1996 and numerous deliberations and discussions took place during Atal Ji’s tenure, but the bill could not see the light of day due to the lack of numbers, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the bill will finally become law and ensure ‘Nari Shakti’ towards nation building with the new energy of the New Building. He informed about the Government’s decision to introduce the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as a Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha today which will be up for debate tomorrow. The Prime Minister concluded the address by urging the members of the Rajya Sabha to support the bill unanimously so that its power and outreach are amplified to the fullest.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha in the new building of the Parliament today.

Addressing the House, the Prime Minister said that today is the historic first session in the New Parliament Building and conveyed his best wishes on the occasion. He expressed gratitude towards the Speaker for giving him the opportunity to address the House on the Special Session on the very first day of the New Parliament and extended a warm welcome to the Members of the House. Highlighting the importance of the occasion, the Prime Minister remarked that it is the dawn of the Amrit Kaal as India is moving forward with a resolve for the future by heading into the new Parliament edifice. Highlighting the recent achievements, the Prime Minister mentioned the successes of Chandrayaan 3 in the science sector, and the organization of G20 and its impact on the global level. He remarked that a unique opportunity presents itself to India, and in this light, the New Parliament building of the nation is becoming functional today. Referring to the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, the Prime Minister said that Lord Ganesh is the God of prosperity, auspiciousness, reason and knowledge. “It is the time to accomplish the resolutions and begin the new journey with renewed enthusiasm and energy”, the Prime Minister added. Remembering Lokmanya Tilak on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi and the new beginning, the Prime Minister said that during the Freedom Struggle, Lokmanya Tilak converted Ganesh Chaturthi into a medium of igniting the flame of Swaraj in the entire country. Today we are moving with the same inspiration, Shri Modi said.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that today is also Samvatsari Parva, a festival of forgiveness. The Prime Minister elaborated that this festival is about asking for forgiveness for any intentional and unintentional acts that might have hurt somebody. The Prime Minister also said Michchhāmi Dukkaḍaṃ to everyone in the spirit of the festival and asked to move forward, leaving behind all the bitterness of the past.

The Prime Minister mentioned the presence of sacred Sengol as a link between the old and new and as a witness to the first light of freedom. He said that this sacred Sengol was touched by the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. Therefore, Sengol links us with a very important part of our past, Shri Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that the grandeur of the New Building anoints the Amrit Kaal and remembered the hard work of the Shramiks and engineers who kept on working on the building even during the pandemic. The Prime Minister led the applause for these sharmiks and engineers by the entire House. He informed that more than 30 thousand Sharmiks contributed to the building and mentioned the presence of a digital book carrying the full details of the shramiks.

Talking about the impact of emotions and feelings on our actions, the Prime Minister said that our feelings today will guide us in our conduct. He said, “Bhawan (building) has changed, Bhav (feelings) should also change”.

“The Parliament is the supreme position to serve the country”, the Prime Minister remarked as he underlined that the House is not meant for the benefit of any political party, but only for the development of the nation. As Members, the Prime Minister said that we must uphold the spirit of the Constitution with our words, thoughts and actions. Shri Modi assured the Speaker that every Member will live up to the expectations and aspirations of the House and work under his guidance. The Prime Minister emphasized that the behavior of the Members in the House will be one of the factors that determine if they will be part of the ruling dispensation or the opposition as all proceedings are taking place in the eyes of the public.

Stressing the need for collective dialogue and action for the general welfare, the Prime Minister emphasized the unity of goals. “All of us should follow the Lakshaman Rekha of parliamentary traditions”, the Prime Minister said.

Underling the role of politics in the effective transformation of society, the Prime Minister focussed on the contribution of Indian women in sectors ranging from space to sports. He recalled how the world embraced the concept of women-led development during the G20. He said that the government’s steps in this direction have been meaningful in this direction. He said that among 50 crore beneficiaries of the Jan Dhan Scheme, most of the accounts belonged to women. He also mentioned benefits for women in schemes like Mudra Yojana, PM Avaas Yojana,

Noting that there comes a time in the developmental journey of any nation when history is created, the Prime Minister said that today’s occasion is India’s moment in its development journey when history is being written. Throwing light on the discussions and deliberations in the Parliament on the reservation of women, the Prime Minister informed that the first bill on this issue was first introduced in 1996. He said that it was introduced in the House several times during Atal Ji’s tenure but it could not garner the required support in numbers to turn the dreams of women into reality. “I believe God has chosen me to get this work done”, Shri Modi interjected, as he informed that the Union Cabinet had decided to give a go-ahead to the Reservation of Women in Parliament Bill. “This historic day of 19th September 2023 is going to be immortal in the history of India”, the Prime Minister underlined. Observing the growing contributions of women in every sector, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for the inclusion of more women in policy-making so that their contributions to the nation increase further. He urged the members to open the doors of opportunities for women on this historic day.

“Taking forward the resolution of women-led development, our government is today presenting a major Constitutional Amendment Bill. The purpose of this Bill is to expand the participation of women in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas. Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam will further strengthen our democracy. I congratulate the mothers, sisters and daughters of the nation for Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam. I assure all the mothers, sisters and daughters of the nation that we are committed to making this bill into law. I request as well as urge all the colleagues in this House as a pious auspicious beginning is being made, if this Bill becomes Law with consensus then its power will magnify manifold. Therefore, I request both the Houses to pass the bill with full consensus ”, the Prime Minister concluded.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Members of Parliament in the Central Hall during the Special Session today.

The Prime Minister began the address to the house by conveying the best wishes on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. He noted today’s occasion when the proceedings of the House will be taking place in the new building of the Parliament. “We are heading to the new Parliament building with the resolve and determination to transform India into a developed nation”, the Prime Minister said.

Speaking about the Parliament Building and the Central Hall, the Prime Minister dwelled on its inspiring history. He recalled that in the initial years this part of the building was used as a kind of library. He remembered that this was the place where the Constitution took shape and transfer of power took place at the time of Independence. He remembered that in this Central Hall India’s National Flag and National Anthem were adopted. He informed that after 1952 about 41 Heads of States and Governments from all over the world have addressed the Parliament of India in the Central hall.  Various Presidents of India addressed the Central hall 86 times, he informed. He said that Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have passed about four thousand Acts in the last seven decades. He also talked about the Laws passed through the mechanism of the Joint Session and mentioned  The Dowry Prohibition Act, Banking Service Commission Bill and Laws to fight terrorism in this regard. He also mentioned the law prohibiting Triple Talaq. Shri Modi highlighted Laws for the Transgenders and Divyangs.

Highlighting the contributions of the public representatives in repealing Article 370, the Prime Minister underlined with immense pride that the Constitution provided to us by our ancestors is now being implemented in Jammu & Kashmir. “Today, Jammu & Kashmir is progressing on the path of peace and development and its people do not wish to let opportunities slip out of their hands anymore”, Shri Modi remarked.

Recalling his address from Red Fort during the Independence Day 2023, the Prime Minister emphasized that the correct time is now and it highlights the reemergence of India with a renewed consciousness. “Bharat is brimming with energy”, Shri Modi emphasized as he noted that this renewed consciousness will enable every citizen to realize their dreams with dedication and hardwork. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that India is sure to reap the rewards on the chosen path. “Faster results can be achieved with a faster progress rate”, he added. Referring to India’s ascent into the top five economies, the Prime Minister said that the world and India is confident to break into the top three economies. He touched upon the robustness of India’s banking sector. He noted the world’s enthusiasm for India’s digital infrastructure, UPI and Digital Stacks. He said that this success is a matter of amazement, attraction and acceptance for the world.

The Prime Minister underlined the importance of the current times when Indian aspirations are at their all time high in thousand years. He said India whose aspirations were chained for thousand years is not ready to wait now it wants to move with aspirations and create new goals. He said that amidst new aspirations, framing new laws and getting rid of outdated laws is the highest responsibility of the Parliamentarians.

The Prime Minister underlined that it is the expectation of every citizen and the belief of every Parliamentarian that all passed laws, discussions and messages relayed from the Parliament should encourage Indian aspirations. “Highest priority should be accorded to the roots of Indian aspirations for every reform that is introduced in the Parliament”, the Prime Minister emphasized.

The Prime Minister asked whether a big painting can be painted on a small canvas. He said without expanding the canvas of our thinking, we cannot create the grand India of our dreams. Referring to the grand heritage of India, the Prime Minister said that if our thinking gets linked with this grand heritage we can paint the painting of that grand India. “India will have to work on a big canvas. Time has gone to get entangled in small stuff”, Shri Modi said.

He underlined the primacy of creating Aatmnirbhar Bharat. He said that defying the initial apprehension, the world is talking about India’s Aatmnirbhar Model. He said who will not want to be self-reliant in defence, manufacturing, energy and edible oil and in this quest party politics should not be an obstacle.

Emphaszing the need for India to scale new heights in the manufacturing sector, the Prime Minister highlighted the model of ‘Zero Defect, Zero Effect’, where Indian products should be free from any defects and the manufacturing process must have zero effect on the environment. He stressed moving forward with the objective of creating new global benchmarks in the manufacturing sector of India for products such as agricultural, designer, softwares, handicrafts etc. “One must possess the belief that our product will not only be the best in our villages, towns, districts and states but also the best in the world.”

The Prime Minister touched upon the openness of the New Educational Policy and said that it has been universally accepted. Referring to the photograph of the ancient Nalanda University which was put up on display during the G20 Summit, the Prime Minister informed that it was a matter of incredulity for the foreign dignitaries to realize that the institution functioned in India 1500 years ago. “We must derive inspiration from this and focus on achieving our targets in the present”, Shri Modi added.

Touching upon the growing sporting success scripted by the youth of the nation, the Prime Minister noted the rise of sports culture in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. “It should be the pledge of the nation that on every sports podium there should be our Tricolour”, Shri Modi said. He also asked for a greater focus on quality in order to address the quality of life aspirations of common citizens.

The Prime Minister also noted the importance of being a country with a young demography. We want to create a scenario where India’s youth is always at the forefront. He said India is doing skill development among the youth after mapping skill requirements at a global level. He mentioned the recent initiative of opening 150 nursing colleges which will prepare India’s youth for fulfilling the global requirement of health professionals.

Underling the need to take correct decisions at the correct time, the Prime Minister said, “Decision making cannot be delayed” and also underlined that public representatives cannot be bound by political benefits or losses. Speaking about the Solar Power sector of the country, Shri Modi said that it is now providing a guarantee from the energy crises of the country. He also touched upon Mission Hydrogen, Semiconductor Mission and the Jal Jeevan Mission and said that it is paving the way for a better future. Stressing the need for Indian products to reach the global market and remain competitive, the Prime Minister touched upon developing the logistic sector of the country to decrease costs and making it accessible to every citizen. Emphasizing the need for Knowledge and innovation, the Prime Minister mentioned the Law regarding Research and Innovation that was passed recently. He said momentum and attraction generated by the success of Chandrayaan should not be wasted.

The Prime Minister said “Social Justice is our primary condition” and said that discussion on Social Justice has become very restricted and there is a need for a comprehensive look. He said Social justice involves empowering the deprived sections with connectivity, clean water, electricity, medical treatment and other basic amenities. He stressed that imbalance in development is also against social justice and mentioned the backwardness of the eastern part of the country. “By strengthening our eastern part we have to impart the power of social justice there”, Shri Modi said.  He mentioned the Aspirational Districts Scheme that has given a push to balanced development. The scheme has been extended to 500 blocks.

“The entire world is looking towards India”, the Prime Minister remarked as he noted that India was considered neutral country during the Cold War era but today, today India is known as ‘Vishwa Mitra’ where India is reaching out to other nations for friendly relations while they are looking forward to a friend in India. He mentioned that India is reaping the benefits of such a foreign policy as the nation has emerged as a stable supply chain for the world. Shri Modi stated that the G20 Summit was a medium to fulfil the needs of the global south and expressed confidence that future generations will feel immense pride for this momentous achievement. “The seeds planted by the G20 Summit will turn into a huge Banyan Tree of trust for the world”, Shri Modi added. The Prime Minister mentioned the Biofuel Alliance that was formalized in the G20 Summit. He said that a huge Biofuel movement is taking place at a global level under the leadership of India.

The Prime Minister requested the Vice President and the Speaker that the glory and dignity of the current building should be protected at all cost and it should not be relegated to the status of Old Parliament building. He said that the building would be called ‘Samvidhan Sadan’. “As Samvidhan Sadan, the old building will continue to guide us and will keep reminding us about the great personalities who were part of the Constituent Assembly” , the Prime Minister concluded.