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Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that India is preparing with full strength to host the 2036 Olympic Games. Addressing the inaugural function of the 72nd National Volleyball Championship, being held here, through video conference, Modi said, "In the past decade, more than 20 major international events have been held in various cities, including the U-17 FIFA World Cup, the Hockey World Cup, and major chess tournaments." "The 2030 Commonwealth Game will be held in India. India is preparing with full strength to host the 2036 Olympics," said Modi. The tournament, being held from January 4 to 11, will witness the participation of more than 1,000 players, representing 58 teams, from across the country. "The tournament is expected to showcase high standards of competition, sportsmanship, and talent in Indian volleyball," a release said. "Hosting the National Volleyball Tournament in Varanasi underscores the growing emphasis on strengthening sports infrastructure and ...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the conference of presiding officers of Commonwealth nations here on January 15, an official said on Sunday. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will host the four-day Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of Commonwealth Countries (CSPOC) at the Central Hall of the Samvidhan Sadan from January 14-17. At the CSPOC held in Guernsey last year, the Lok Sabha Speaker had said that the focus of the conference in India would be the application of artificial intelligence and social media in the working of Parliaments. The conference will have sessions on the topic 'AI in Parliament: Balancing Innovation, Oversight and Adaptation'; 'Social Media and its Impact on Parliamentarians'; 'Security, Health and Wellbeing of Members of Parliament and Parliamentary Staff'. A special plenary on 'The Role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in maintaining strong democratic institutions' will be a highlight of the conference. The presid
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the return of Piprahwa relics associated with Lord Buddha is a "moment of pride, reverence and cultural connect."Sharing the highlights of today's programme, the Prime Minister, in a post on X, wrote, "The return of the sacred Piprahwa relics associated with Bhagwan Buddha after over a century is a moment of pride, reverence and cultural connect. Here are the highlights from today's programme."Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics, titled "The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One," at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi.The exhibition marks a historic moment with the reunification of the Piprahwa gem relics of Lord Buddha, repatriated after 127 years. The display also features relics, gem relics, and reliquaries unearthed during the 1898 excavation and the subsequent 1971-1975 excavations at the Piprahwa site.Prime Minister Modi said that ...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday will inaugurate a grand exposition of the sacred Piprahwa relics, which include bone fragments believed to be of the Buddha, a sandstone coffer, and offerings such as ornaments and gemstones, which were excavated in northern India in the late 19th century. Titled "The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One," it is being hosted for a couple of months at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex here. Following the discovery of the relics at Piprahwa (in today's Uttar Pradesh) by William Claxton Peppe in 1898, portions were distributed globally, with a part gifted to the King of Siam (now Thailand), another one taken to England, and a part preserved at the Indian Museum in Calcutta (now Kolkata), the Ministry of Culture said. A selection of the relics retained by the descendants of Peppe who was of British descent was listed for auction on May 7 last year by Sotheby's Hong Kong. However, the auction was halted, and the relics returned to Ind
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the much-awaited Vande Bharat sleeper train between Guwahati and Kolkata later this month, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday. "The services will become operational in the next 15-20 days, possibly around January 18 or 19. We have requested the prime minister and everything is clear. I will announce the exact date in the next two to three days," Vaishnaw said. He added that the 16-coach train, with a passenger capacity of 823, has a design speed of 180 kilometres per hour. However, it will operate at a speed of 120-130 kmph between the two cities, covering prominent districts of Assam and West Bengal. Both states are scheduled to go to polls this year. Calling the development a major milestone for the country, Vaishnaw said the ticket fares of the Vande Bharat sleeper train will be substantially lower compared to air travel. "In Vande Bharat sleeper, the 3rd-AC fare will be around Rs 2,300, 2nd-AC around Rs 3,000, and 1st-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lashed out at rival Kerala blocs--the LDF and the UDF for playing a "fixed match" in the state and said it was going to come to an end post the BJP's maiden win in the city civic body. Th saffron party emerging victorious in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation was an "epoch-making" victory, he said in a letter to city Mayor V V Rajesh. He lauded Rajesh and the BJP leaders for the party coming to power in the state capital in the recently held local body elections. In the letter dated December 30, the PM said history was made in Thiruvananthapuram after the mayor and Deputy Mayor G S Asha Nath took oath. He said the party's success in Thiruvananthapuram was an indication that the people of Kerala, especially youngsters and women, were ready for a new dawn. According to him, the BJP-led NDA is emerging as the people's option, rooted in nationalism without exclusion, development without corruption and governance without appeasement. "The fixed match o
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday represented India at the funeral of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and handed over to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman a letter of condolences from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his meeting with Rahman, a front-runner for prime ministership in the February 12 parliamentary polls, Jaishankar expressed confidence that Zia's "vision and values" will guide the development of partnership between the two nations. Rahman, currently serving as the acting chairman of BNP, is the eldest son of Zia. The three-time Bangladesh prime minister and BNP matriarch died on Tuesday following a prolonged illness. In his letter, Modi warmly recalled his meeting and discussions with Zia during his visit to Dhaka in June 2015, adding she was a leader of "rare resolve and conviction". She made many important contributions to the development of Bangladesh, as well as to the strengthening of India-Bangladesh relations, Modi ..
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 3 will inaugurate an exposition of the sacred Piprahwa Relics, which will be hosted at a heritage site in Delhi, officials said. The relics, discovered in the late 19th century, are widely believed to be associated with the mortal remains of the Buddha, enshrined by the Shakya clan, they said. The Ministry of Culture, in a statement, said it is organising "a landmark cultural exposition titled 'Lotus Light: Relics of the Awakened One', showcasing the revered sacred Piprahwa Relics along with significant associated antiquities". The exposition underscores India's enduring civilisational connection with the teachings of the Buddha and its commitment to preserving and presenting its rich spiritual heritage, officials said. The prestigious exposition will be inaugurated by Modi on January 3 at the Rai Pithora cultural complex here, the ministry said. The recent repatriation of the relics and the public display reflect India's continued efforts t
The Congress on Wednesday termed Chinese claims of mediation between India and Pakistan concerning and said the people of India need clarity on the issue. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence on the claim, which he said seemed to make a joke of the country's national security. "President Trump has long claimed that he personally intervened to halt Operation Sindoor on May 10, 2025. He has done so on 65 different occasions in various forums in at least seven different countries. The Prime Minister has never broken his silence on these claims made by his so-called good friend," Ramesh said in a post on X. "Now the Chinese Foreign Minister makes a similar claim and says China also mediated. On July 4, 2025, the Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Rahul Singh had publicly stated that during Operation Sindoor, India was actually confronting and combating China. "Given that China was decisively aligned with Pakistan, Chinese clai