Page 117 - India

India's priorities for G20 presidency to benefit global south: Ex-diplomat

India has set priorities for its G20 Presidency which will benefit the global south, former diplomat J S Mukul said here on Monday. India assumed the Presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022, to 30 November 2023. "We don't forget our friends in the global south. That's why the prime minister held a virtual summit of 125 countries to set the agenda for India's presidency. India, as the host, has invited organisations and countries from the global south. It shows the priorities," he said in his keynote address at a G20 University Connect event organised by the Central University of Kashmir. He said events had been scheduled in 50 cities of the country to showcase "Incredible India as the mother of democracy". According to the former ambassador to the Netherlands, the themes outlined by India for its presidency have green development and climate change mitigation at the top of the list. "The global south needs technical support and finances to meet the challenges of .

Inflation may ease in March on softening food prices, says poll

Food inflation, which accounts for nearly half of the overall consumer price basket, is expected to have moderated due to falling vegetable prices, offset in part by surging cereal prices

India logs 5,880 Covid-19 infections, active cases rise to 35,199

India logged 5,880 new coronavirus cases, while the active cases have increased to 35,199, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The death toll has increased to 5,30,979 with 14 deaths. While four deaths each were reported from Delhi and Himachal Pradesh, one each was reported from Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Rajasthan and two reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 6.91 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was pegged at 3.67 per cent. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.47 crore (4,47,62,496) The active cases now comprise 0.08 per cent of the total infections and the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.73 per cent, the ministry said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,96,318 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been .

India stands firm at WTO: Our food subsidies ensure global food security

Under the trade norms, a WTO member's food subsidy bill should not breach the limit of 10 per cent of the value of production

Want to make India an engineering and manufacturing hub: Legrand Group CEO

He said Legrand is planning to expand in the country, doubling down on investments and hiring about 500 people this year as well as make acquisitions

Technology transformation

India should aim to gain from the change

India, US special forces carry out wargames to support fighter aircraft ops

The US Air Force is scheduled to bring in F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jets but there may be some change in the schedule of the drill which was planned to begin on April 10

Khalsa is a uniting and not a dividing force, says Ambassador Sandhu

India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has said that Khalsa is a uniting and not a dividing force, days after instances of violence at the Indian missions by a small group of pro-Khalistan supporters. Sandhu, who comes from an illustrious Sikh family, made the remarks on Saturday at an event where he was presented with the prestigious Sikh Hero Award from Sikhs of America along with several other eminent Sikh Americans. Khalsa, which was created on the Baisakhi day, by Guru Gobind Singh is a uniting and not a dividing force, Sandhu said in his keynote address at the event, which was attended by eminent Sikh Americans from across the country. The Khalsa tradition was initiated in 1699 by the tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh. The important concepts and fundamentals in the Sikh religion and history include universality, unity, equality, honest living, seva, meditation, peace of mind, and harmony between people, he said. The Khalsa flag -- which flies at the Akal T

Challenges galore in tiger conservation in India: Status Tiger-2022 report

Though the tiger population has increased to more than double from 1,411 in 2006 to 3,167 in 2022, there were still several challenges that need to be addressed despite efforts to conserve tigers, the Status Tiger-2022 report has pointed out. The latest tiger census data released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mark 50 years of 'Project Tiger' here on Sunday showed that the tiger population was 1,411 in 2006, 1,706 in 2010, 2,226 in 2014, 2,967 in 2018 and 3,167 in 2022. One of the major challenges is aligning the aspirations of large-scale economic development while safeguarding forests and their wildlife and mitigating human-tiger conflict, the report said. It added that climate change-related impacts on habitats and the loss of the quality of forests over time were other mounting threats. Out of the approximately four lakh square kilometres of forests in states that have tiger habitats, only one-third are in relatively healthy condition, the report said. It also underlined t

SC to hear pleas on identification of minorities at state level on Monday

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a batch of pleas seeking the identification of minorities at the state level. A bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Ahsanuddin Amanullah will take up for hearing the petitions raising various issues related to the identification of minorities, including challenging the constitutional validity of the National Minority Commission Act, 1992 and the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutes Act, 2004. The pleas include the one filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay who has sought directions for framing guidelines for the identification of minorities at the state level, contending that Hindus are in minority in 10 states. On January 17, the top court had expressed displeasure over six states and Union Territories (UTs), including Jammu and Kashmir, not submitting their comments to the Centre on the issue of identification of minorities at the state level. "We fail to appreciate why these states should not respond. We give t

India does not believe in conflict between ecology and economy: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India did not believe in conflict between ecology and economy but gave importance to coexistence between the two. Protection of wildlife was a universal issue, Modi said, launching the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), which endeavours to protect and conserve big cats. The Prime Minister was speaking after inaugurating the programme Commemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger' organised at Karnataka State Open University. Citing data about the tiger population in India, which stood at 3,167 in 2022, Modi said, "The tiger numbers that we have reached shows that this family of ours is growing. This is a moment of pride." Calling for a standing ovation to celebrate the rise in tiger population, he added, "I'm confident and I assure the world that in the days to come we will achieve more." According to the data, the tiger population was 1,411 in 2006, 1,706 in 2010, 2,226 in 2014, 2,967 in 2018 and 3,167 in 2022. Union Minister for ...

LIVE: Delhi reports 535 fresh Covid cases & 0 death in the last 24 hours

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Country is witnessing a revolution in infrastructure projects: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the government's work culture, vision, speed and scale has resulted in a revolution in the infrastructure projects in the country

People always have stood for the idea of one united India: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said people across the country always had a clear concept of the nation and as a country, for thousands of years, it reflected the spirit of "Ek Bharat Shrest Bharat," one India, great India. His remark is seen as a veiled attack on the ruling DMK which had a war of words with Governor RN Ravi on similar themes. In his address at celebrations commemorating the 125th Anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna Math here, Modi said he has deep respect for the Ramakrishna Math and that it played an important role in his life. Modi said he felt inspired and energetic after meditating at the Vivekananda House here, where the legendary monk had stayed in 1897. "Today I got the opportunity to visit the Vivekananda House where Swami Vivekananda had stayed here after he returned from his famous trip of the West. Meditating here was a special experience, I feel inspired and energetic. I am happy to see that ancient ideas are reaching the younger generation through

Ukraine's 1st Dy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova to visit India tomorrow

Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova will pay a four-day visit to India from Sunday, the first official visit from the East European country since the Russian invasion began last year. Dzhaparova will hold talks with Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). It is expected that the Ukrainian deputy foreign minister may extend an invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Ukraine. The MEA announced Dzhaparova's visit to India in a statement on Saturday. The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova will be on an official visit to India from April 9 to 12," it said. It said Dzhaparova will hold talks with Verma, during which both sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations, exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine and global issues of mutual interest. Dzhaparova will also call on Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi and meet Deputy National Security

6,155 fresh Covid infections in India, active cases climb to 31,194

India on Saturday recorded 6,155 fresh COVID-19 infections, while the number of active cases increased to 31,194, according to Union health ministry data. India's COVID-19 tally now stands at 4.47 crore (4,47,51,259). The death toll climbed to 5,30,954 with 11 deaths, including two reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. At 31,194, the active cases comprise 0.07 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 98.74 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,89,111, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

IKEA Foundation to sustainably upgrade 25,000 health facilities in India

IKEA Foundation along with SELCO Foundation will sustainably upgrade 25,000 primary health facilities in 12 states of the country by 2026. The programme will add 100MW of solar energy capacity, has received initial funding of 48 million Euro from the IKEA Foundation, said a joint statement. "The initiative will create systems and processes in collaboration with the government health departments for ownership, management, and regular maintenance of the energy systems and appliances. It will also result in knowledge products and resources to enable other states to replicate the initiative," it said. This is in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India, the National Health Mission and State Health Departments, it added. "This initiative will improve healthcare outcomes and reduce emissions across India, by providing reliable and renewable energy to thousands of clinics throughout the country. We hope its success can serve as a model for ..

Tarnishing India's image on foreign land should be forbidden: VP Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday took a veiled jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his comments in London, saying tarnishing India's image on foreign land should be forbidden. Addressing an event here after the release of a postage stamp marking the birth anniversary of noted social reformer Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Dhankhar said some Indians in some foreign institutions are scheming to stall the country's growth. The vice president invoked Swami Dayanand's quote about independence and his resistance to foreign rule and expressed displeasure over the alleged remarks made overseas to tarnish the image of India and its democratic institutions. "It hurts when some amongst us go to foreign land and tarnish the image of an emerging India. This should be forbidden," he said. The vice president said a person having faith in India and Indianness will focus on enhancing the country's image and contribute towards it. "There may be shortcomings, he will think of addressing th

India received 6.19 mn foreign tourists in 2022 compared to 1.52 mn in 2021

India received 6.19 million foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) during 2022 as compared to 1.52 million during the same period of 2021

UN in touch with India for food supplies to Afghanistan: Official

India and the World Food Programme signed an agreement last month to provide Afghanistan with 20,000 tonnes of wheat that would be sent through the Chabahar Port