Page 10 - Mea

Want visa system to be simple, swift: MEA on 1,000-day US visa wait

Amid reports that people in India seeking a tourist or business visa for the US may have to wait for three years to get one, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said it has not raised the matter with the country, but expects the visa system of a country to be predictable and less time taking. According to media reports, those planning to visit the United States on visitor visas - B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) - will have to wait for nearly three years and the waiting time for applicants in India is close to 1,000 days. Asked if the matter had been taken up with the US, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "We want that when people want to go somewhere, the visa system should be simple. This is our expectation." He said it had not been taken up formally because "we would not want someone commenting on our system." "But we would want the system to be predictable, simple and does not take much time. We have seen the (US) embassy here has said that they are taking steps to .

Delhi Police arrests MEA driver on charges of espionage: Report

Delhi Police's Crime Branch team has arrested a driver working in the Ministry of External Affairs on charges of espionage for allegedly leaking confidential details to a Pakistan-based person, sources said on Friday. According to a source, the arrest was made on Friday from the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan here. The suspect allegedly used to pass confidential and sensitive information related to national security to a person based in Pakistan. The source said the driver was honey trapped by an ISI person who pretended to be a woman when he spoke with him. Police, however, refused to share any details of the case citing concerns over national security.

India raises strong objection to US envoy's visit to Pak-occupied Kashmir

India also objected to the ambassador holding some meetings there

Want to change your passport photo online? Check instructions, details

To change the photo in the passport, you have to apply for a re-issue of the passport

India-France defence partnership strong, in line with Atmanirbharta: MEA

The context of defence partnership is defined in case of our two countries by not just trade in different platforms, but it also extends to co-development, co-designing, co-manufacturing," MEA said

Economic ties established with Russia, focusing on stabilising it: MEA

India on Thursday asserted that it has established economic relations with Russia and political colouring should not be attributed to the engagement

India always exploring all possibilities in global energy markets: MEA

Asked about India's position on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Bagchi said India has been in touch with all sides, including at the highest level

Commendable job by MEA in evacuating citizens from Ukraine: Congress MP

He also said that he wanted to know what was India's stand at the UN Security Council and also asked the Minister about the efforts being made for effective interventions in ongoing Ukraine war

India sends third consignment of wheat to Afghanistan via Pakistan

India had despatched 2,500 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan through Pakistani on February 22 and it reached the Afghan city of Jalalabad on February 26

After MEA advisory, Indians in Sumy say 'confused' as supplies running out

Around 700 Indian students are still stuck in the war-hit region, their evacuation hampered by the continuous fighting in the area.

Primary focus on evacuating Indians from conflict zones in Ukraine: MEA

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that around 300 Indians are stuck in Kharkiv and 700 are in Sumy

No report of hostage situation regarding Indian students in Kharkiv: MEA

India said it has not received any report of a hostage situation regarding Indian students in Kharkiv and has requested the support of Ukrainian authorities in arranging special trains for students

6 flights departed for India in last 24 hours under Op Ganga: S Jaishankar

Six flights under India's evacuation mission 'Operation Ganga' have departed for India in the last 24 hours, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday.

MEA activates Twitter handle to aid evacuation of Indians from Ukraine

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday activated a dedicated Twitter handle, "OpGanga Helpline" (@opganga), to assist in the evacuation of Indian nationals from war-torn Ukraine.

4th evacuation flight carrying 198 Indians leaves for Delhi from Bucharest

A fourth evacuation flight carrying 198 Indians from Romanian capital Bucharest left for India on Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said.

Ukraine crisis: Flight with 240 Indians takes off from Hungary for Delhi

The third flight to Delhi with 240 Indian nationals has taken off from Hungary's Budapest under Operation Ganga, informed External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Sunday morning.

Blinken dials Jaishankar, stresses collective response to Ukrainian crisis

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on a phone call with S Jaishankar stressed the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an official spokesperson said.

CM Pramod Sawant seeks help from MEA for safe return of Goans from Ukraine

Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Thursday sought the help of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for the safe return of Goans who are currently in the crisis-hit Ukraine.

Russia welcomes India's position on Ukraine crisis

Russia on Friday welcomed India's position on the Ukraine crisis, amid spike in tensions between the NATO countries and Moscow over the situation in the eastern European nation.

'No decision on evacuation from Ukraine, focus remains on Indian citizens'

India has not taken any decision on evacuation operations from Ukraine and its focus remains on Indian citizens, including students and other nationals, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.Speaking at a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said developments are being monitored by Embassy in Kiev amid the Russia and Ukraine tensions."We've set up control rooms. We also have a 24/7 helpline. I don't think any decision on evacuation has been taken, our Embassy continues to function normally & provide services to Indian nationals in Ukraine," Bagchi said.On the seriousness of the ongoing developments, the spokesperson said, "We take on board developments that are happening as well as our assessment of how we can assist our citizens there. Our focus is and remains on Indian citizens, Indian students, Indian nationals rather than anything larger than that."Bagchi further said that India has no immediate evacuation plans and there are no special ...