Page 16 - Narendra Modi

Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026 crosses 3 crore registrations, apply till Jan 11

Modi's Pariksha Pe Charcha will be open for registrations till January 11, and among the 3 crore applications so far, 2.85 crore are students, 17 lakh are teachers, and 3.49 lakh are parents

Policy and politics on the index: Markets rise on reforms, stable rule

Market returns are better under governments with clear and stable majorities and rise when major reforms are announced

PM Modi to flag off Vande Bharat sleeper train between Guwahati and Kolkata

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-

From herstoric win to space glory, all that shaped the India story

Rediffusion's 'Hits & Misses' survey on what dominated the country's landscape

LDF-UDF match fixed, says Modi, hails BJP's maiden civic poll win in Kerala

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

PM Modi extends greetings to nation on New Year, calls for harmony in 2026

The Prime Minister also prayed for peace and happiness in society, extending his best wishes for harmony and well-being as the country enters the new year

Khaleda Zia's vision to guide India-Bangladesh ties: Jaishankar to Rahman

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 ..

Cabinet clears ₹19,142-cr Nashik-Akkalkot highway corridor in Maharashtra

The Cabinet has approved a Rs 19,142-crore, six-lane greenfield Nashik-Akkalkot highway in Maharashtra under BOT mode, aimed at cutting travel time by 17 hours and distance by 201 km

PM Modi to inaugurate exposition of sacred Piprahwa Relics on Jan 3

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

China's war mediation claim concerning, PM Modi must respond: Congress

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

Pre-Budget meeting: Reforms to stay on top of agenda, signals PM Modi

Ahead of the Budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told economists that policymaking must stay aligned with India's 2047 vision, calling for mission-mode reforms and long-term growth focus

Modi scripts India's technology renaissance with 2025 as the anchor year

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India's technology journey has moved from adoption to assertion

Jaishankar to visit Bangladesh to take part in Khaleda Zia's funeral

During his visit, Jaishankar is expected to meet the late Bangladeshi leader's family, especially Rahman, who many observers believe could be his country's next prime minister

2025 a year of 'pathbreaking reforms' across sectors, says PM Modi

Modi said that the primary engine of this Reform Express is India's demography, our young generation and the indomitable spirit of our peopl

'Avoid actions that undermine peace': PM Modi on reported Putin home attack

PM Modi expressed deep concern over reports of an attack on Vladimir Putin's residence, for which Russia has accused Ukraine

India-China work to rebuild ties in 2025 after 4 yrs of strained relations

India and China signed off 2025 on a positive note, trying to rebuild ties after over four years of fractious relations over the eastern Ladakh boundary conflict. The two countries set on a long road of normalisation after agreeing to end the border face-off in October 2024, bringing to an end years of tension since the 2020 Galwan clash. As peace prevailed at the borders, a key prerequisite for India to establish good relations with China, the two sides stepped up the dialogue process. NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Special Representatives of India and China on the boundary question, initiated steps towards gradually improving the relations. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his visit to China in July, asserted that India and China should build on "good progress" in normalising the bilateral ties to address border-related issues, including de-escalation. In August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met at Tianjin under th

PM Modi condoles Khaleda Zia's death, recalls role in India-Bangladesh ties

PM Modi highlighted Khaleda Zia's contributions as Bangladesh's first woman prime minister and said her vision and legacy will continue to guide India-Bangladesh ties

Khaleda Zia, former Bangladesh PM and BNP supremo, passes away at 80

Khaleda Zia, the first female prime minister, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23, following the advice of her medical board after being diagnosed with infections in her heart and lungs

PM's internship scheme shows ambition, but demand tells a different story

For many candidates, particularly from smaller towns, moving to other places, even if the distance involved is short, for modestly paid internships carries real opportunity costs

PM Modi to inaugurate AI summit in Feb; Bill Gates, Hassabis to attend

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, with global tech leaders such as Bill Gates and Demis Hassabis confirming participation