The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has underlined the importance of Amrit Sarovars and said that in addition to water conservation and community participation, Amrit Sarovars are also ensuring harmony with those we share our planet with.

Responding to the tweet by Assam Chief Minister, Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma about elephants taking summer dip in one of serene Sarovars at Singra in Kamrup district in Assam, the Prime Minister said;

“Delightful sight. In addition to water conservation and community participation, Amrit Sarovars are also ensuring harmony with those we share our planet with.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi today. He also unveiled the G-20 coin and G-20 stamp. The Prime Minister also witnessed the naming ceremony of the Convention Centre as  ‘Bharat Mandapam’ carried out via drone and a cultural program that was showcased on the occasion. Visioned by the Prime Minister and developed as a national project at a cost of about Rs 2700 crores, the new IECC complex at Pragati Maidan will help in promoting India as a global business destination.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister initiated his speech with a poem to indicate the new enthusiasm and mood of the nation. He said, “Bharat Mandapam is a call for India’s capabilities and new energy of the nation, it is a philosophy of India’s grandeur and willpower.”

The Prime Minister recalled felicitating the Shramiks this morning and said that the entire nation is impressed after witnessing their hard work and dedication. He congratulated the people of Delhi as well as every Indian for Bharat Mandapam. Noting the historic occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the Prime Minister paid tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives for India during the Kargil war on behalf of the entire nation.

The Prime Minister elaborated that behind the name ‘Bharat Mandapam’ there is the inspiration of ‘Anubhav Mandapam’ of Bhagwan Basaveshwara. He said that Anubhav Mandapam represented the tradition of debate and expression. He reminded that India is acknowledged as the mother of democracy.  He cited many historical and archaeological instances in this regard. “This Bharat Mandapam is a beautiful gift by us Indians to our democracy as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Independence”, he added. He said the entire world will witness India’s strides and growing stature from here when the G20 Summit takes place in a few weeks from now at the venue.

Elaborating on the need for a world-class convention center in Delhi, the Prime Minister said that “In the 21st century we will have to have construction suitable for the 21st century.” The Prime Minister underlined that Bharat Mandapam will be hugely beneficial for exhibitors from all across the globe and will become a medium for conference tourism in India. He further added that Bharat Mandapam will act as a platform for showcasing the capabilities of the country’s startups, become a witness to the performance of artists and actors and provide a platform to showcase the efforts of handicraft artisans. “Bharat Mandapam will become a reflection of the Atmanirbhar  Bharat and Vocal For Local campaign”, the Prime Minister remarked as he highlighted that the convention center will emerge as a stage for every sector ranging from economy to ecology and trade to technology.

The Prime Minister pointed out that an infrastructure like Bharat Mandapam should have been developed decades ago. He emphasized the need to carry on creating infrastructure despite opposition from vested interests. He stressed that no society can progress by working in a fragmented manner. He said that Bharat Mandapam is an example of the far-sighted holistic working style. He explained this by informing about the steps like e-conference visa facility for more than 160 countries. The capacity of Delhi Airport has gone up to 7.5 crore yearly today from 5 crore in 2014. This will be further strengthened once Jewar Airport is operational. The Hospitality Industry in Delhi NCR also expanded considerably. This indicated a planned approach of creating an entire ecosystem for conference tourism, he said.

Underlining the infrastructure developments in the capital city of New Delhi in the last few years, the Prime Minister highlighted the newly inaugurated Parliament building and said that it instills pride in every Indian. He also gave examples of monuments like the National War Memorial, Police Memorial and Baba Saheb Ambedkar Memorial. The Prime Minister reiterated that development work of office buildings surrounding Kartavya Path is underway in full swing as the Government is giving impetus to changing the work culture as well as the work environment. He also touched upon the Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalay which provides a glimpse into the lives of every Prime Minister that India has ever witnessed. He informed that the development of ‘Yuge Yugeen Bharat’ , the world’s largest museum, is coming up fast in New Delhi..

The Prime Minister stressed that we have to think big and achieve big targets in order to be developed.  That is why, he said, “India is moving ahead with the principle of ‘Think Big, Dream Big, Act Big’”. He continued “We are creating bigger, better and faster”. He talked about the World’s biggest Solar-wind park, the highest rail bridge, the longest tunnel, the highest motorable road, the biggest cricket stadium, the world’s tallest statue, and Asia’s second-largest railroad bridge in India. He mentioned the strides in green hydrogen,

“The entire nation is witness to the pillars of development of the present government’s this term and the previous term”, the Prime Minister remarked as he affirmed that the development journey of India is now unstoppable. Shri Modi underlined that India was the 10th largest economy in the world when the present government came to power in 2014, but as of today, India is the 5th largest economy in the world. As per track record, the Prime Minister assured that India’s name will be among the top 3 economies of the world in the third term. “This is Modi’s guarantee”, he asserted. The Prime Minister also assured the citizens that in the third term, the pace of the development journey of India will increase manifold and the citizens would see their dreams come true.

The Prime Minister said that today India is witnessing a revolution of rebuilding as in the last 9 years, 34 lakh crore rupees were spent on the creation of infrastructure. This year too, capital expenditure is kept at 10 lakh crore, he informed. India is working at an unprecedented speed and scale. He said that in the last 9 years, electrification of 40 thousand km of railway lines took place as compared to just 20 thousand in the seven decades before that. Before 2014, 600 meter per month metro line was laid, today 6 Km long Metro line is being laid every month. Today, the country has 7.25 km long rural roads compared to just 4 lakh km in 2014. The number of airports increased from about 70 to about 150. City Gas distribution too reached 600 cities compared to just 60 in 2014.

“The New India is moving forward and overcoming all the obstacles that come in the way”, the Prime Minister said as he underlined that the government is focusing on finding permanent solutions to problems. Giving the example of PM Gatishakti Masterplan which is becoming a game-changer for social infrastructure, the Prime Minister said that it comprises more than 1600 layers of data and aims to save the country’s time and money.

The Prime Minister drew attention to the era of the 1930s and said that the third decade of the last century has been critical to India’s freedom struggle where the goal was Swaraj. Similarly, the Prime Minister said, the third decade of this century is extremely crucial for India as our goal is a prosperous India, a ‘Viksit Bharat’. The Prime Minister reiterated that it was the result of the Swaraj movement that India gained independence. “Now in this third decade, we have a target of ‘Viksit Bharat’ for the next 25 years”, the Prime Minister said as he invigorated the citizens to realise the dreams of every freedom fighter. Speaking by experience, the Prime Minister said that he has witnessed many achievements unfolding before him and is aware of the nation’s strengths. “India can become a developed country! India can eliminate poverty”, the Prime Minister said. Citing a report by Niti Aayog, the Prime Minister informed that 13.5 crore people have come out of poverty in India in just 5 years. He also reiterated that extreme poverty is going away in India as mentioned by international agencies and credited the policies made and the decisions taken by the government in the last 9 years.

Emphasizing the need for clean intentions and correct policies the Prime Minister cited G-20 as an example. He said, “We did not confine G-20 to just one city or one place. We took the G-20 meetings to more than 50 cities in the country. We showcased India’s diversity through this. We showed the world what is India’s cultural power, what is India’s heritage.” Further elaborating on the manner of the G20 Presidency, the Prime Minister concluded, “New facilities were built in many cities for G-20 meetings and old facilities were modernised. This benefited the country and the people of the country. This is good governance. We are going to make India developed by following the spirit of Nation First, Citizen First.”

Union Minister for Trade and Commerce, Shri Piyush Goyal, numerous other Union Ministers and Ministers from the government and leading industry experts were present on the occasion.

Background

The Prime Minister’s vision of having a world-class infrastructure for hosting meetings, conferences and exhibitions in the country has led to the conceptualization of the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) at Pragati Maidan. The project revamps the old and outdated facilities at Pragati Maidan and developed as a National project at a cost of about Rs 2700 crores. With a campus area of approximately 123 acres, the IECC complex has been developed as India’s largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination. In terms of the covered space available for events, the IECC Complex finds its place among the top exhibition and convention complexes in the world. The newly developed IECC complex at Pragati Maidan comprises multiple state-of-the-art facilities including Convention Centre, Exhibition halls and amphitheatre etc.

The Convention Centre is developed as the centrepiece of the Pragati Maidan complex. It is a grand architectural marvel, designed to host large-scale international exhibitions, trade fairs, conventions, conferences, and other prestigious events. It is equipped with multiple meeting rooms, lounges, auditoriums, an amphitheatre and a business centre making it capable of hosting a wide range of events.  Its majestic multi-purpose hall and plenary hall have a combined capacity of seven thousand people, which is larger than the seating capacity of the famous Sydney Opera House in Australia. Its magnificent Amphitheater is equipped with a seating capacity of 3,000 individuals.

The architectural design of the Convention Centre building is inspired by Indian traditions and showcases India’s confidence and conviction in its past while also embracing modern facilities and way of life. The shape of the building is derived from the Shankha (conch shell), and different walls and facades of the Convention Centre depict several elements of India’s traditional art and culture including ‘Surya Shakti’ highlighting India’s efforts in harnessing solar energy,  ‘Zero to ISRO’, celebrating our achievements in space,  Pancha Mahabhuta signifying the building blocks of universal foundation – Aakash (Sky), Vayu (Air), Agni (Fire), Jal (Water), Prithvi (Earth), among others. Also, various paintings and Tribal art forms from different regions of the country adorn the Convention Centre.

Other facilities available in the Convention Centre include 5G-enabled fully Wi-Fi-covered campus, 10G Intranet connectivity, interpreter room equipped with cutting-edge technology to support 16 different languages, advanced AV systems with huge-sized video walls, building management system ensuring optimal functionality and energy efficiency, light management system with dimming and occupancy sensors, state-of-the-art DCN (Data Communication Network) system, integrated surveillance system and energy-efficient centralized air conditioning system.

Further, the IECC complex features seven exhibition halls and each one serves as a versatile space for hosting exhibitions, trade fairs, and business events. The exhibition halls are designed to accommodate a diverse range of industries and showcase products and services from around the world. These state-of-the-art structures are a testament to modern engineering and architectural prowess.

The development of the area outside the IECC is also thoughtfully designed that complements the beauty of the main complex and is a testimony of the careful planning and development that has gone into this project. The sculptures, installations, and murals showcase the rich cultural heritage of India; Musical Fountains add an element of enchantment and spectacle; Water Bodies such as ponds, lakes, and artificial streams, enhance the tranquillity and aesthetics of the area.

The convenience of visitors is a priority at the IECC, reflected in the provision of over 5,500 vehicle parking spaces. The ease of access through signal-free roads ensures visitors can reach the venue without any hassle. Also, the overall design prioritizes the comfort and convenience of attendees, facilitating seamless movement within the IECC complex.

The development of the new IECC complex at Pragati Maidan will help in the promotion of India as a global business destination. It will also play a vital role in boosting trade and commerce, leading to economic growth and job creation. It will support the growth of small and medium enterprises by providing them with a platform to showcase their products and services on a national and international stage. It will also facilitate knowledge exchange and encourage the dissemination of best practices, technological advancements, and industry trends. IECC at Pragati Maidan epitomizes India’s pursuit of economic and technological excellence in the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and is a step towards building a New India.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today performed Puja at the new   ITPO International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre and felicitated shramiks involved in the construction of the Centre.

The Prime Minister tweeted :
“Delhi gets a modern and futuristic International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre, which will boost conference tourism in India, thus bringing people from all over the world. The economic and tourism related benefits of the centre will also be multifold.”

“Honouring the Shramiks who have toiled to build the impressive  International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre in Delhi.”

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar inaugurated a national conference on “Moving Mental Health Beyond Institutions, here today. Justice Arun Mishra, Hon’ble Chairperson, NHRC was also present on the occasion. The objective of the conference is to discuss the challenges in the implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and deliberate on the way forward on resolution of mental health issues.

Dr. Pawar stated that “mental health is an integral part of our health as it affects all aspects of our lives.” Underlining the importance of mental health, she stated that “It is critically important to remove the stigma that prevents individuals from seeking the help that they need.” She added that under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, mental health has been given a lot of importance which is demonstrated by the passing of the landmark Mental Healthcare Act 2017.

Highlighting the importance of addressing the challenges of mental health and the Mental Healthcare Act 2017, Dr Pawar stated that “the Union govt is promoting the availability of and access to cost-effective treatment of common mental disorders”. She informed that mental health has been included in the flagship Ayushman Bharat scheme of the Union Govt. She also stated that “since the launch of the National Tele-Mental Health service, 42 Tele-Manas cells have been established that has already recorded over 2 lakh calls”.

The Union Minister underlined the need for a new mental healthcare paradigm that transcends the limitations of institutions and focuses on community-based support. She urged the dignitaries to deliberate on the pressing issues of mental health challenges in India and work towards a future where mental healthcare is accessible, affordable, inclusive and compassionate.

Justice Arun Mishra said that one out of 10 persons suffers from one or different kinds of mental disorders. He added that, “addressing mental health requires a comprehensive approach encompassing healthcare, education, public policy and social support systems.”

Stressing on the need for empathy, not sympathy towards mental illness, he made a strong case for mental health to be given the same importance as physical health. “We need integration of mental health, substance abuse, general medical care and hospital and community care, which are poorly coordinated”, he stated.

Justice Mishra stated that “without mental health, there is no health”. He underscored the need to mobilize efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues. He stated, “We must integrate mental health education into our schools, colleges and workplaces. Setting up healthy boundaries with social media is also necessitated.”

Highlighting the challenges to addressing mental health issues in India, Justice Mishra noted the need for allocating more funds and resources to update mental health services and research. He also flagged the need for proper infrastructure like recreational facilities in mental health institutions and stressed on increasing the number of educational institutions and seats for professional mental health courses.

During the event, a book titled, “Mental Health: Concern for All – In Context of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017’ and a report on “Status of Implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017” was also released by the dignitaries.

The National Conference will have thematic sessions on challenges in implementation of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017; Infrastructural aspects and human resource of mental health establishments; Rights of persons with mental illness, including reintegration, rehabilitation and empowerment; and Latest trends in critical care of mental health, international perspective and way forward.

Shri Bharat Lal, Secretary General, NHRC; Shri Rajiv Jain, Member, NHRC; Dr D M Mulay, Member, NHRC; Justice M M Kumar, Former Member, NHRC; Shri D K Nim, Joint Secretary, NHRC; representatives from NGOs and senior officials from MoHFW and NHRC were present on the occasion.

The Nation paid rich tributes to the brave soldiers of the 1999 Kargil war on the 24^th anniversary of India’s historic victory, which is celebrated as ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ on 26^th July every year. To mark the day, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh today visited the Kargil War Memorial at Dras in Ladakh, laid a wreath and paid homage to the valiant soldiers who displayed unparalleled bravery during ‘Operation Vijay’.

The ceremony at Dras also witnessed a gathering of war heroes, Veer Naris and the families of the fallen heroes. Shri Rajnath Singh interacted with them and extended heartfelt gratitude while recalling all those who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. He assured them that the sacrifices of these bravehearts will never be forgotten.

Addressing the gathering, the Raksha Mantri commended the valour and commitment of the Armed Forces, which have, time and again, helped the country stand tall in times of crisis. India of today rests on the foundation of the sacrifices made by the soldiers, he said. Shri Rajnath Singh described ‘Operation Vijay’ as an episode that displayed India’s grit and determination as it stood its ground in the face of adverse circumstances. He also termed the victory as a launch pad that propelled the nation to achieve heights of success.

“Our greatness is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we fall. Despite the adversary having tactical military advantage during the war, our forces displayed unmatched bravery and skill to push them back and reclaim our land. With the victory, India sent a message to Pakistan and the world that our military will not back down at any cost if the nation’s interests are harmed,” said Shri Rajnath Singh.

The Raksha Mantri assured all that the Government is fully committed to safeguarding national interests, no matter the challenge. “No compromise will be made in protecting the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country. We have given a free hand to the Armed Forces to eliminate the nation’s enemies. India is a peace-loving nation which believes in its centuries-old values and is committed towards international laws, but to safeguard our interests, we will not hesitate in crossing the LoC. Earlier, the nation and the Armed Forces lacked political will, which has now been provided by our Government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. We stand firm with our forces. The people and Parliament have full faith in our soldiers,” he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh recalled the heroic deeds of a number of bravehearts of the Kargil war, including Param Vir Chakra (PVC) Awardees Captain Vikram Batra & Captain Manoj Pandey and Vir Chakra (VrC) Awardees Lieutenant Colonel R Vishwanathan, Captain Jintu Gogoi, Captain Vijayant Thapar & Naib Subedar Mangej Singh, who are a source of inspiration for the future generations and will be remembered forever.

The Raksha Mantri made special mention of Flight Lieutenants Gunjan Saxena & Srividya Rajan who showcased exceptional courage during the war and spread the message that Indian women are no less than their male counterparts when it comes to securing the country’s borders. He highlighted that all these soldiers belonged to different regions of India, but fought as one to protect the interests of the nation and its people.

Shri Rajnath Singh said that wars are fought & won with not just weapons and bombs; bravery and indomitable spirit will play an equally important role. He said, this will power and sense of national pride is what separates Indian soldiers from the rest, adding that “our forces are imbued with the values of patriotism for the protection of the country, its civilisation and culture.”

Citing the example of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Raksha Mantri stated that the war, which has been continuing for last more than one year, reflects the unpredictable nature of conflicts in today’s times. He added that the war has been prolonged as the people are training and joining their military in fighting for their cause.

Shri Rajnath Singh called upon the people to be ready to participate in wars not only indirectly but directly as well, if ever the need arises. “People should be mentally prepared, so that whenever the nation needs them, they should be ready to help the Armed Forces. Just as every soldier is an Indian; in the same way, every Indian should be ready to play the role of a soldier,” he said.

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd), Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, former Army Chief General VP Malik (Retd), General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, General  Officer Commanding, 14 Corps Lieutenant General Rashim Bali, Lieutenant General YK Joshi (Retd) and Lieutenant General Amarnath Aul (Retd) attended the ceremony.

The presence of Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar, a true example of courage & determination and recipient of PVC and Havildar Digendra Kumar, Maha Vir Chakra inspired the gathering. Shri Manmohan Pandey, brother of Captain Manoj Pandey, PVC and Shri Vishal Batra, brother of Captain Vikram Batra, PVC also graced the occasion. The event at Dras marked a moment of unity, gratitude, and pride, as the nation came together to acknowledge the heroism that defines the ‘Spirit of India’.

In the national capital, Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt, Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Lt Gen JP Mathew and the Vice Chiefs of the three Services laid wreaths at the National War Memorial and paid homage to the fallen heroes.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to martyrs of Kargil War on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. Shri Modi said that Kargil Vijay Diwas brings to the fore the heroic saga of those wonderful bravehearts of India, who will always remain an inspiration for the countrymen.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;

“कारगिल विजय दिवस भारत के उन अद्भुत पराक्रमियों की शौर्यगाथा को सामने लाता है, जो देशवासियों के लिए सदैव प्रेरणाशक्ति बने रहेंगे। इस विशेष दिवस पर मैं उनका हृदय से नमन और वंदन करता हूं। जय हिंद!”

The Officer Trainees of the 2022 Batch of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg earlier today.

Prime Minister engaged in a wide-ranging interaction with the Officer Trainees and asked them about their experience so far, after joining the government service. The Officer Trainees shared their learnings during the course of their training including in village visit, Bharat darshan and Armed Forces attachment. They also informed the Prime Minister about the transformational impact of many welfare schemes of the government like the Jal Jeevan Mission and PM Awas Yojna, which they witnessed first-hand.

Prime Minister spoke about the focus of the government towards attaining saturation of welfare schemes and how it has resulted in reaching out to every needy person without any discrimination. He exhorted the Officer Trainees to study the implementation and success of the Aspirational District Programme as this understanding can be of help in assisting the countries of the Global South in their developmental trajectory.

Prime Minister also discussed India’s G20 presidency and asked the Officer Trainees about their experience of attending G20 meetings. Speaking about environmental issues, Prime Minister elaborated about the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for environment) and said that the issue of climate change can be tackled effectively by lifestyle change by everyone.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Rajasthan and Gujarat on 27th and 28th July 2023.

On 27th July, at around 11:15 AM, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation various development projects in a public programme in Sikar, Rajasthan. He will then reach Rajkot, Gujarat where at around 3:15 PM, Prime Minister will undertake a walkthrough of Rajkot International Airport. Thereafter, at around 4:15 PM, Prime Minister will inaugurate various development projects at Race Course Ground in Rajkot. On 28th July, at around 10:30 AM, Prime Minister will inaugurate SemiconIndia 2023 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.

PM in Sikar

In a significant move benefiting farmers, Prime Minister will also dedicate 1.25 lakh PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSKs) to the nation. PMKSKs are being developed to provide a one-stop solution for all farmers’ needs. From information on agri-inputs (fertilisers, seeds, implements) to testing facilities for soil, seeds, and fertilisers, to information regarding various government schemes, PMKSKs are envisaged to become a reliable support system for farmers in the country. They will also ensure regular capacity building of fertiliser retailers at block/district level outlets.

Prime Minister will launch Urea Gold – a new variety of Urea that is coated with Sulphur. The introduction of Sulphur Coated Urea will address sulphur deficiencies in the soil. This innovative fertiliser is more economical and efficient than neem-coated urea, improves nitrogen use efficiency in plants, reduces consumption of fertiliser, and enhances crop quality.

During the programme, Prime Minister will launch the onboarding of 1500 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) on Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). ONDC empowers FPOs with direct access to digital marketing, online payment, Business-to-business (B2B) and Business-to-consumer transactions, and encourages local value addition, catalysing growth of logistics in rural areas.

In a step that will showcase yet another example of commitment of the Prime Minister towards welfare of farmers, the 14th instalment amount of about Rs. 17,000 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), will be released through direct benefits transfer to more than 8.5 crore beneficiaries.

Rajasthan will witness a major expansion in health infrastructure as Prime Minister will inaugurate five new medical colleges at Chittorgarh, Dholpur, Sirohi, Sikar and Sri Ganganagar and lay the foundation stone for seven medical colleges at Baran, Bundi, Karauli, Jhunjhunu, Sawai Madhopur, Jaisalmer and Tonk.

The medical colleges are being established under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for “Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/ referral hospitals”. The five medical colleges inaugurated by the Prime Minister have been developed at a cumulative cost of more than Rs 1400 crore, while the seven medical colleges whose foundation stone will be laid will be built at a cumulative cost of Rs 2275 crore.

Until 2014, there were only 10 medical colleges in the State of Rajasthan. Through dedicated efforts of the Central Government, the number of medical colleges in the State has grown to 35, which is a 250% increase. Establishment of these 12 new medical colleges would increase the number of MBBS seats in the State to 6275 seats from 1750 seats in 2013-14, which would be a 258% increase.

Further, Prime Minister will inaugurate six Eklavya Model Residential Schools located in districts of Udaipur, Banswara, Partapgarh and Dungarpur which will benefit the tribal population residing in these districts. He will also inaugurate Kendriya Vidyalaya Tivri, Jodhpur during the programme.

PM in Rajkot

Prime Minister’s vision to improve air connectivity across the country will get a fillip with the development of a new International Airport in Rajkot. The Greenfield Airport has been developed in a total land area of more than 2500 acres and  at a cost of more than Rs 1400 crore. The new airport has an amalgamation of modern technology and sustainable features. The terminal building is GRIHA -4 compliant (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) and the New Terminal Building (NITB) is equipped with various sustainability features like Double Insulated Roofing System, skylights, LED Lighting, Low Heat Gain Glazing etc.

Rajkot’s cultural vibrancy has inspired the design of the terminal of the airport and it will depict art forms from Lippan art to Dandiya dance through its dynamic external façade and splendid interiors. The Airport will be an epitome of the local architectural heritage and will reflect the cultural glory of art and dance forms of Kathiawar region of Gujarat.  The new airport in Rajkot will contribute not only towards development of the local automobile industry of Rajkot but will also encourage trade, tourism, education and industrial sectors throughout Gujarat.

Prime Minister will also inaugurate development projects worth over Rs. 860 crore. Sauni Yojana Link 3 Package 8 and 9 will help further strengthen irrigation facilities and provide drinking water benefits for the Saurashtra region. Upgradation of Dwarka RWSS will help  provide adequate and potable water to villages by pipeline. Other projects being taken up include Conservation, Restoration & Development of Uparkot Fort Phase I & II; construction of water treatment plant; sewage treatment plant; flyover bridge, among others.

PM in Gandhinagar

Prime Minister will inaugurate SemiconIndia 2023 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on 28th July. He will also address the gathering on the occasion. The theme of the Conference is ‘Catalysing India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem’. It aims to bring together global leaders from industry, academia and research institutions. It showcases India’s semiconductor strategy and policy which envisions making India a global hub for semiconductor design, manufacturing and technology development. SemiconIndia 2023 will  witness the participation of representatives of major companies such as Micron Technology, Applied Materials, Foxconn, SEMI, Cadence, AMD, among others.

Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel inaugurated three Flight Training Organizations (FTO) today in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

With the opening of three FTOs in Khajuraho, the total number of FTOs in Madhya Pradesh will be six, three at Khajuraho, one at Indore, one at Sagar, and one at Guna. These six FTOs will enhance the potential of the state to be a major contributor to pilots in the aviation industry.

Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia announced to soon begin wide body aircraft between Khajuraho and Varanasi.

He said, “Khajuraho has a rich heritage of culture, it is our resolve to connect Khajuraho through air mode.”

“In last nine years, aviation sector has seen exponential growth. 148 Airports, including nine heliports & two water aerodromes, have been developed during the period which would go up to 200 in coming four years”, stated the minister.

He said, “The fleet size also registered a 75% growth from 400 aeroplanes in 2013 to 700. We are committed to increase this number between 1200-1500 in coming 4 to 5 years.”

“In 2016, there were only 28 flying academy organistions which is now increased to 57. Last year, 1135 commercial pilot licenses were issued by DGCA which is a record in itself. This year that number has increased to 731 in just five months”, he added.

Indian Flying Academy: Indian Flying Academy is a unit of Shaurya Flight Sim Pvt Ltd that has been established at Khajuraho Airport under the ‘Aatam Nirbhar Bharat’ initiative taken by the honorable Prime Minister. It has acquired 05 aircraft of which 04 have already arrived. Of these 04 aircraft, 03 aircraft are Single-Engine Aircraft consisting of two Diamond DA 40, one Evektor, and one Multi Engine aircraft-Diamond DA 42. Indian Flying Academy will have a capacity of 40 students for Flying Training per batch and the FTO will have 2 batches per year.

Flyola Aviation Academy (Jet Serve Aviation Pvt. Ltd.)- Helicopter FTO: Flyola Aviation Academy Helicopter FTO is Asia’s first Commercial Helicopter Pilot License (CHPL) Training Institute. FlyOla Aviation Academy currently has two Robinson R44 helicopters in its fleet and is having a capacity of 20 students for Flying Training at a time.

Flyola Aviation Academy (Jet Serve Aviation Pvt. Ltd.)-Fixed Wing FTO: The Fixed Wing FTO of Flyola Aviation Academy is giving training on multi-engine training aircraft which is considered a high-performance aircraft.  The Trainer fleet of Flyola Aviation Academy consists of: –

1. 1. Single Engine Aircraft: –
      1. 02 Cessna 172 Aircraft
   2. 04 Multi-Engine Aircraft: –
      1. 03 King Air C 90A Aircraft
      2. 01 Super King Air B200 Aircraft.

Flyola Aviation Academy can train 20 cadets in one batch. For this, FTO has 04 flying instructors.

Semicon conferences are organised in different geographies world-wide by SEMI and called Semicon Europa, West & East in USA, Taiwan, Korea, Japan etc. where semiconductor industry is established, with the aim to maximise outreach of the technological advancements in the semiconductor domain as well as the policies of various countries to strengthen their semiconductor ecosystem.

Government of India announced USD 10 billion Semicon India Programme with an aim to develop Semiconductors and Display manufacturing ecosystem in India. With an intent to create awareness and showcase India as a potential hub for Semiconductor Design, Manufacturing, R&D and Manpower Development, SemiconIndia Conference 2022 was organised in Bengaluru from April 29 to May 01, 2022 which was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.

Building on the success of SemiconIndia 2022, India Semiconductor Mission, an independent business division of the Digital India Corporation is all set to organise its flagship SemiconIndia 2023 at the Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar from July 28 – July 30, 2023. The event shall be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and is aimed at catalyzing India’s Semiconductor ecosystem.

As a part of its curtain raiser, an exhibition at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar demonstrating state-of-the-art technologies in semiconductor industry was inaugurated by Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel on July 25, 2023 in the presence of Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Addressing the attendees, Union Minister of State, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “Through the Semicon India exhibition, young Indians and people associated with technology can learn a lot. In India’s techade journey semiconductors and electronics sector will have a huge role to play. In the history of independent India this is the first time that such an effort has met with such success in just 15 months. Our country over the past 70 years either ignored this opportunity or were unsuccessful. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of this ecosystem comprises of design innovation, research, talent, packaging and fabs and we are trying to bring in their associated supply chain — further cataysing the semiconductor ecosystem in India.”

The said exhibition is open till July 30, 2023 which will showcase cutting edge technological advancement of more than 80 exhibitors from Semiconductor Design Start-ups and established Multinationals, Semiconductor Supply-chain, Equipment manufacturer, Electronics Manufacturers; Academia; Government/ State Labs. Some key participants include Micron, Applied Materials, LAM Research, Intel, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics, NXP Semiconductors, Infineon, AMD, NVIDIA, Analog Devices, Renesas, Samsung, Cadence Design Systems, Morphing Machines, InCore Semiconductors, SAANKHYA Labs, Wistron, Foxconn, LAVA, DELL, VVDN, IISc. Bangalore, IITs across the country.

SemiconIndia 2023 will showcase various capabilities of India as a vibrant and sustainable manufacturing destination for global corporations. Top leadership from Industry, Governments, Academia, and R&D institutions shall be leveraging this platform to reflect and usher on key aspects including Ease of Doing Business, building trusted value chains, growth drivers, innovation and startups, and talent pipeline. Spread over a period of three days, the event shall include following sessions covering various aspects of development of a robust, resilient, sustainable semiconductor ecosystem in India:

•       Day 1 (July 28, 2023): Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s inaugural address; Vision of Industry Leaders, Catalyzing India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem; Compound Semiconductor; Display Manufacturing and Attracting Semiconductor Investments to India.

•       Day 2 (July 29, 2023): Progress journey for Semicon India Programme, Next-Gen Computing; Semiconductor Packaging; Next-Generation Designs; futureDESIGN and Investment Opportunities in India; Future of Semiconductors, Packaging and Systems.

•       Day 3 (July 30, 2023): Global Partnerships Creating Opportunities; Next-Wave of Design Innovation; Catalysing New India’s Techade; Readiness Assessment for Semiconductor Ecosystem; Global Semiconductor Talent Capital; Creating a Globally Competitive Compliance and Regulatory Framework.

•       The eminent speakers of the event shall include Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi; Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Communications and Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw; Minister of External Affairs, Shri S Jaishankar; Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar; Shri Sanjay Mehrotra, President & CEO, Micron Technology; Shri Ajit Manocha, President, SEMI; Shri Anirudh Devgan, President & CEO, Cadence; Shri Young Liu, Chairman, Foxconn; Shri Anil Agrawal, Chairman, Vedanta Group; Shri Prabu Raja, Applied Materials, Shri Mark Papermaster, AMD; Shri Siva Sivaram, Western Digital; Shri S Y Chiang, Foxconn, Shri Balaji Baktha, CEO, Ventana Micro Systems; Shri Raja Koduri, CEO, Mihira AI; Shri Laras Reger, GF; Ms Jaya Jagadish, AMD; Nivruti Rai, MD and CEO, Invest India.

•       More than 6,500 registrations have been received for the event including 1,100+ from industry, 250+ startups, 2500+ students and over 228 participants from 23 countries. The elaborate exhibitions are expected to have around 7,000+ footfall each day.

•       Being organised in hybrid mode, the registration for attending the event online is available on https://www.semiconindia.org/.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today called for Competency Based Capacity Building for Civil Servants.

Addressing a workshop by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) at Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in New Delhi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Capacity Building is a continuous exercise and the decision to have a CBC in the Government by itself is a step in the direction of Capacity Building process.

The Union Minister said, this is in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for building a Viksit Bharat. The National Standards for Civil Service Training Institutions (NSCSTI) framework is aligned with Mission Karmayogi, ensuring that training institutions adopt a unified and standardized approach to enhance the skills and capabilities of civil servants, fostering a more effective and accountable administration. The NSCSTI platform and its 8 pillars of excellence were launched and published on 18 July 2022.

On the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh released the six Sub-Committee Reports related to Mission Karmayogi for nurturing a smart, citizen-friendly and future-ready public workforce. The reports came out after months of collaborative effort involving the CBC, sub-committee members, experts, and members of several CSTIs, Panel discussions held during the National Training Conclave organized under the presence of Prime Minister on 19 June 2023, which amongst many things stressed upon registering more CSTI on the NSCSTI (National Standards for Civil Service Training Institutions) portal and scaling up the accreditation process.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that post-conclave, we have received a huge response for accreditations and currently, there are over 200 institutions registered on the portal, and more institutes are undergoing registration. Out of this, 58 institutions are in progress towards the final stage of accreditation, he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that during the First Roundtable of Central Training Institutions (CTIs) held on 12 October 2021, six sub-committees were established consisting of CTI heads. These sub-committees have been actively engaged with CBC through focused workshops to assess various aspects of the framework and to brainstorm and provide recommendations on the following focus areas like Identification of training needs, Promoting knowledge sharing and creating a common knowledge repository, Transformation to a phygital world of capacity building, Enhancing capacities of faculty, Embedding effective assessment of trainings conducted, Overcoming challenges in governance.

The workshop will help institutes understand the accreditation process and facilitate efficient accreditation. These workshops also provide opportunities for CSTIs to collaborate and network among civil servants from different services and areas, enabling them to come together, exchange ideas, and build networks.

Mission Karmayogi is a government initiative designed to modernize the civil service in India by emphasizing competency-based learning and capacity building. It aims to transform the bureaucratic system into a more agile and result-driven entity.

Driving the Mission’s core objectives, Karmayogi Bharat, a government-owned, not-for-profit SPV, has been established by DoPT, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, and is entrusted with the responsibility for owning, managing, maintaining and improving the iGOT (Integrated Government Online Training) Karmayogi Platform.

Mission Karmayogi aims at creating an opportunity of world class capacity building to all Government officials based on the key principle of “role-based” rather than “rule-based” and “Competency based” learning to enable government servants play their role efficiently, smartly and effectively.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the National Rozgar Mela via video conferencing today and distributed more than 70,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits in various Government departments and organizations. The new recruits, selected from across the country will be joining the Government in various Ministries and Departments including the Department of Revenue, Financial Services, Posts, School Education, Higher Education, Defence, Health and Family Welfare, Central Public Sector Undertakings, Water Resources, Personnel & Training and Ministry of Home Affairs among others. 44 places across the country were connected with the Mela during the Prime Minister’s address.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that it is not only a memorable day for the young recruits but also a historic day for the nation as today marks the day when the Tiranga was accepted in its current form by the Constituent Assembly for the first time in 1947. The Prime Minister remarked that it is a matter of great inspiration that the new recruits are receiving their appointment letter for government services on this significant day as he encouraged them to take the country’s name forward. He underlined that it is a result of the hard work and determination of the new recruits that they are getting the opportunity to contribute towards the goal of Viksit Bhart at a time when India is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The Prime Minister congratulated the recruits and their families on this momentous occasion.

In the Azadi ka Amrit Kaal, the Prime Minister said that every citizen has taken the resolve to make India a ‘Viksit Bharat’. He emphasized that the next 25 years are extremely crucial for the new recruits and the nation as he stressed making the most out of the trust, significance and attraction towards India from the world in recent years. He highlighted the rise of India in the leading economies as it jumped from the 10th to the 5th largest economy of the world. He also reiterated that India is going to become one of the top 3 economies in the world as stated by most economy experts. “Becoming a top 3 economy in the world will be a monumental achievement for India”, the Prime Minister said as he highlighted that it will give rise to employment opportunities in every sector and also boost the income of the common citizens. He remarked that there cannot be a better time than today to be recruited by the government as the new officers have got the golden opportunity to serve the country in its Amrit Kaal. He suggested that their priorities should lie with serving the people of the country and resolving their issues to increase ease of living, while also aligning themselves with the goals of Viksit Bharat. “A small effort from you can create a huge change in someone’s life”, the Prime Minister said as he reiterated that the populace is the form of God and serving them is like serving God itself. He emphasized that the new appointees should work with the belief of serving others to unlock the greatest feeling of satisfaction.

Talking about the banking sector which had a good number of recruits in today’s programme, the Prime Minister underlined the role of the banking sector in the expansion of the economy. “Today, India is among the countries whose banking sector is considered to be the strongest”, said Shri Modi recalling the journey of the last nine years. He dwelled on the ill impact of political selfishness on the sector in the past. He mentioned ‘phone banking’ of the past when loans were disbursed on the phone calls of the powerful. These loans were never repaid, he said.  These scams broke the back of the banking sector of the country, he said. He listed the measures taken after 2014 to retrieve the situation. He mentioned strengthening of management of the government banks, stress on professionalism and consolidation of small banks into large banks. Shri Modi said that by insuring deposits up to 5 lakhs,  more than 99 percent of deposits became safe leading to a renewed trust in the banking system. By acts like the Bankruptcy Code, banks were protected from losses. Furthermore, by tightening the grip over those who looted the government property by attaching their property, the banks known for losses and NPA are being discussed for their record profit.

The Prime Minister expressed pride in the hard work of the employees of the banking sector. “People of the banking sector never disappointed me or my vision”, he said. The Prime Minister hailed the efforts of the banking sector in making the Jan Dhan Account scheme a huge success by opening 50 crore Jan Dhan Accounts. This was a great help in transferring money into the accounts of crores of women during the pandemic.

Speaking on the efforts for the betterment of the MSME sector, the Prime Minister mentioned Mudra Yojana which provided collateral-free loans to the enterprising youth. He praised the banking sector for making the scheme a success. Similarly, the banking sector rose up to the occasion when the government doubled the loan amount for women Self Help Groups and helped the MSMe sector by providing loans which saved 1.5 crores jobs by protecting small enterprises. He also thanked the bank employees for making PM Kisan Samman Nidhi a grand success. More than 50 lakh Street Vendors were helped in the SVANidhi Scheme. “I am sure, you will take a ‘Sankalp Patra (resolution letter) for making banking a tool of empowerment of the poor along with your ‘Niyukti Patra’ (appointment letter).

The Prime Minister said the recent NITI report has found that 13 crore Indians were brought above the poverty line in the last 5 years.  He acknowledged the hard work of government servants in this and mentioned schemes for pucca houses, toilets and electricity connections. “When these schemes reached the poor, their morale also increased. This success is a symbol of the fact that if together we increase the efforts to remove poverty from India, then poverty can be completely eliminated from India. And certainly, every government employee of the country has a big role in this”, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister highlighted another dimension of decreasing poverty in the country, which is the expansion of the neo-middle class, which is creating new job opportunities. Growing demand and aspirations of the neo-middle class are driving manufacturing. He highlighted that it is the youth of the country who benefit the most from the boosting production in India’s factories and industries. He also mentioned how India is creating new records every day be it mobile phone exports, the number of cars sold in the first 6 months of 2023, and record sales for electric vehicles. “All such activities are boosting employment and employment opportunities in the country”, he added.

“The entire world is keeping an eye on India’s talent”, the Prime Minister said as he noted the issue of a declining working population due to higher average age in many developed economies in the world. Therefore, the Prime Minister said, this is the time for the youth of India to toil and enhance their skills and capabilities. Highlighting the great demand for India’s IT talent, doctors and nurses, the Prime Minister said that the respect for Indian talent is continuously growing in every country and every sector. The Prime Minister highlighted that in the last 9 years, the government has focused on skill development where about 1.5 crore youth have been trained under PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana. He also mentioned setting up 30 Skill India International Centers so the youth can be prepared for global opportunities. The Prime Minister also touched upon building new medical colleges, ITIs, IITs and technical institutes across the country and informed that till 2014, there were only about 380 medical colleges in our country whereas this number has increased to more than 700 in the last 9 years. He also mentioned the significant increase in the number of nursing colleges. “Skills that meet global demand are going to create lakhs of new opportunities for the youth of India”, Shri Modi added.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister underlined that all appointees are joining government service in a very positive environment and the responsibility of taking forward this positive thinking now rests on their shoulders. The Prime Minister also urged them to continue the process of learning and self-development and take maximum advantage of IGoT Karmayogi, an online learning platform prepared by the government.

Background

The Rozgar Mela is a step towards the fulfillment of the Prime Minister’s commitment to accord the highest priority to employment generation. The Rozgar Mela is expected to act as a catalyst in furthering employment generation and providing meaningful opportunities to the youth for their empowerment and participation in national development.

The newly inducted appointees are also getting an opportunity to train themselves through Karmayogi Prarambh, an online module on iGOT Karmayogi portal, where more than 400 e-learning courses have been made available for ‘anywhere any device’ learning format.