India

Bhavnagar (Gujarat), April 11 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the ‘World Navkar Mahamantra Day’ event organised by the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO) on April 9 in New Delhi. During his address, he spoke about nine resolutions (Nav Sankalp) for nation-building. Many associated with the event believe that the Prime Minister’s presence made the occasion truly historic.

Darshak Shah, a member of JITO and a resident of Bhavnagar, Gujarat, told IANS on Friday, “First of all, I want to thank PM Modi for attending the 'World Navkar Mahamantra Day' event. He is deeply connected to the Jain community. The simplicity with which he arrived at the event -- it didn’t even feel like a Prime Minister had come. He sat among the people. Only PM Modi can display such humility. Before stepping onto the stage, he even removed his footwear. I believe that his presence took the event to a whole new level.”

“PM Modi’s presence elevated Navkar Mahamantra Day to a historic occasion,” he said. He added that the Prime Minister gave nine resolutions to all attendees for the sake of nation-building.

“The way PM Modi communicated with the people during the event, it didn’t feel like a formal speech from a Prime Minister. It felt like an ordinary person was speaking. Just as we listen to a guru's wisdom at a spiritual retreat, this event -- because of the presence of PM Modi -- felt like that kind of spiritual camp. I am truly grateful to him for attending.”

It is noteworthy that during his speech, PM Modi said the ‘Navkar Mahamantra’ is a symbol of humility, peace, and universal harmony.

He said, “The Navkar Mantra is not just a chant -- it is the centre of our faith. Its significance is not limited to the spiritual realm. It is the guiding force of our lives. From the self to society, this mantra shows the way.”

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Friday held "productive discussions" with visiting Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani and Italy's Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, in New Delhi, jointly reviewing bilateral cooperation and its advancement in trade, investment, IMEC, maritime, security, research, technology, education and culture domains.

"Also exchanged views on contemporary global developments including in Europe, Mediterranean and West Asia. Our partnership continues to develop and evolve guided by the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 agreed by our leadership," EAM Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting.

The high-level engagement marked a significant step to advance the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in November 2024 at Rio.

The Action Plan captures both leaders' vision for deepening the bilateral strategic partnership, through concrete outcomes that will benefit both countries.

"They have directed us to work with the respective industries, and also with scientific establishments and higher education institutions to facilitate business collaborations, coproduction, innovation, and flow of knowledge and talent between our two countries," EAM Jaishankar said earlier in the day while addressing the India-Italy Business, Science and Technology Forum.

In his remarks, EAM Jaishankar highlighted that over the past few years, India has been working closely with like-minded partners to build resilient and trusted partnerships that address not only economic interests but also strategic priorities.

"For us, Italy ranks high in that list. In many sectors, there is a natural complementarity that we need to exploit. Whether it is energy or transport, food processing or light engineering, you have the technologies and best practices that make such collaboration fruitful," he said.

India, he said, for its part, plays an equally vital role in the Indo-Pacific extending its reach westwards.

"Given both the location and centrality, and the levels of activity, it makes eminent sense to connect the two, what Italy is doing in the Mediterranean and what India is doing in the Arabian Sea, for mutual benefit. The landmark initiative of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, which our Italian friends call the Cotton Road, was launched during India's G20 Presidency, in which both our countries are members, will create a truly new global axis for economies, energy resources and communications," remarked EAM Jaishankar.

--IANS

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Itanagar, April 11 (IANS) SJVN Limited, a Navratna CPSE under Union Ministry of Power, is commissioning five power projects in Arunachal Pradesh with a total generation capacity of 5,097 MW and entailing a combined investment of around Rs 60,000 crore, officials said on Friday.

An official of the SJVN Limited said that the 3,097 MW Etalin Hydro-Electric Project was taken over by the company along with four other hydro projects in Arunachal Pradesh, totalling 5097 MW, after signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Arunachal Pradesh government on August 12, 2023.

All five hydro power plants are located in the Dibang Valley district.

SVJN Limited Chairman and Managing Director, Raj Kumar Chaudhary, said that the company is a leading public sector undertaking involved in the development of hydro, solar, wind, and thermal power projects across India and abroad.

With a growing portfolio and a strong focus on sustainability, SJVN continues to play a pivotal role in India’s energy transition, he said.

The Etalin Hydro-Electric Project in Dibang Valley district envisages the construction of two dams – one on the Dri River and another on the Talo (Tangon) River, with an underground powerhouse complex located just before the confluence of the two rivers near Etalin village. The project is scheduled to be commissioned in December 2033.

"SJVN is committed to the responsible and inclusive development of Arunachal Pradesh. The release of this compensation amount is a major step in honouring the rights of the local communities while ensuring progress of vital infrastructure projects for the nation," the CMD said.

Officials said that in a significant step towards accelerating hydro-power development in Arunachal Pradesh, SJVN Limited has released the land compensation amount of Rs 269.98 crore for the Etalin project.

During the review meeting chaired by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, on Thursday at the Tawang circuit house, Chaudhary said that the land compensation amount has been deposited in the joint account of the district officials concerned of Dibang Valley on March 26.

In the review meeting, the Chief Minister has suggested power developers, who are already working in the state, explore smaller projects in their respective river basins and work on them, if feasible, to add to the hydropower capacity of the state. Besides the SJVN Ltd, three other CPSUs -- the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO), and the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDCIL) are also commissioning several mega hydro-electric power projects in Arunachal Pradesh.

--IANS

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Kolkata, April 11 (IANS) West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, on Friday, assured the teaching and non-teaching staff, who have lost jobs in the state-run schools following a Supreme Court order last week, to publish a segregated list of the "genuine" and "tainted" candidates but only as per proper legal advice.

After a marathon meeting for nearly four hours between the State Education Minister and a delegation of those who lost their school jobs, the latter told the media persons that Minister Basu informed them that lawyers were being consulted and the segregated list might be published as per the legal advice.

"In the presence of the State Education Minister, the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar informed us that the segregation process has started and is expected to be completed by April 13. Thereafter, attempts will be made to publish the two segregated lists by April 21 but only as per legal advice. We were also informed that the mirror images of the optical marks recognition sheets are not available. The Chairman claimed that had the original mirror images existed the officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation could have surely tracked that. What are available are the soft copies of the mirror images, which might also be published as per legal advice," a delegation member claimed after concluding the meeting.

However, he added, that those who lost their jobs are not fully relieved even after the assurance, and their protest over the issue will continue until they get their jobs back.

Later speaking to the media persons, the State Education Minister said that the state government is in agreement with the demand of the job about publication of the segregated list.

"WBSSC has the details in the matter based on the information provided by CBI. Even the court has been informed about that. Now there is a demand for making them public. We are not against it. But everything will be done according to legal advice," he added.

Last week, Supreme Court's division bench of the Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar upheld an earlier order by Calcutta High Court's division bench of Justice Debangshu Basak and Justice Rashidi last year to cancel the entire panel of 25,753 appointments made by the WBSSC on grounds of failure on part of the state government and the commission to segregate "genuine" candidates from "tainted" ones getting jobs paying money.

It has been alleged that the segregation was not possible since the original OMR sheets were destroyed and the mirror images were not preserved allegedly to protect the "tainted" candidates who got jobs paying money.

--IANS

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Kolkata, April 11 (IANS) Some outsiders joined the protests by the teaching and non-teaching staff -- who lost their jobs -- in front of the office of the district inspector of schools at Kasba in South Kolkata on Wednesday (April 9) following which the protests turned violent, claimed Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma while speaking to the media on Friday.

His claims on this count came just hours after the city police authorities, amid all-round criticism, had to replace the cop accused of kicking a protesting teacher at Kasba on Wednesday from the probe into the agitation by the job losers.

Verma explained that it was beyond the imagination of the police that a protest demonstration by the teachers would turn so violent. He also claimed that the preparations for security arrangements at the office of the district inspector of schools at Kasba were made keeping in mind that the protest demonstration would involve only teachers.

However, he added, that only after the demonstration started did the police personnel realise that outsiders too had joined the protest demonstrations.

“It was beyond our imagination that the teachers would attack the police personnel. The protestors were supposed to lock the gate of the office of the district inspector of schools as a mark of protest. But in reality, the existing lock at the main gate was broken by the protestors. Locking the gate and breaking the lock are not the same,” the Commissioner said.

However, he admitted that the event of kicking a protester by a cop was not desirable. “I have said it before and I am saying it again, that the event was undesirable. There can be mistakes on the part of the police. We give repeated reminders that the mistakes are not repeated,” the Commissioner said.

He also said that Riton Das, the cop accused of kicking, was himself injured in the scuffle. “He was slapped and hit on his chest. Even his spectacles were broken,” the commissioner claimed.

On Wednesday afternoon, the police resorted to cane-charge on the teaching and non-teaching staff of state-run schools whose jobs have recently been terminated following an order from a division bench of the Supreme Court.

They were protesting in front of the office of the District Inspector of schools at Kasba, demanding that the state government immediately segregate the "genuine" candidates from the "tainted" ones getting jobs paying money.

In the police action against the protesting teaching and non-teaching staff, several protesters received severe injuries from being hit by police batons. Amid the scuffle, Das was spotted by some media cameramen kicking a protester.

However, the administration described the police action as mild and also claimed that the police were forced to take action after they were attacked.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, April 11 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed officials to expedite works related to the Musi River Rejuvenation project on Friday.

At a review meeting with officials on the project, the Chief Minister examined the designs of the bridge to be built on the Mir Alam Tank and the Gandhi Sarovar at Bapughat to be built as part of the Musi project.

The officials have been asked to invite tenders for the construction of the Mir Alam Tank bridge in June and also complete the survey for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR), designs and proposals for the Musi rejuvenation project at the earliest.

The officials made a PowerPoint presentation on the model designs prepared by the consultancies for the construction of the Mir Alam Tank bridge.

“Build the bridge on a 2.5 km length in a magnificent manner and also finalise the designs by giving priority to the safety of visitors and passengers,” the Chief Minister suggested to officials.

Along with the bridge, the beautification of three Island-like areas in Mir Alam Tank will be taken up to attract more tourists.

CM Revanth Reddy suggested that the three islands be developed as a beautiful tourist spot on the lines of Singapore Gardens by the Bay, with a bird's paradise and waterfalls.

Convention centres suitable for wedding destinations, Adventure Parks, Theme Park, and Amphitheatre will also be included in the project design. Resorts and Hotels will be constructed for tourists to stay along the Musi with boating facilities.

The Chief Minister emphasised that the DPR should be prepared with all necessary proposals for the development of the islands, along with purifying water in the tank. He instructed the officials to prepare proposals for the development of the island zone in the PPP model.

The Chief Minister asked officials to estimate in advance the availability of water in the Mir Alam Tank and the intensity of water flow during floods, and designs should be made accordingly to avoid any future problems. A survey should be conducted with hydrology and environmental experts or renowned organisations in the same field for this project, and all necessary permissions should be obtained based on those reports, the CM suggested.

Along with the Mir Alam Bridge, the development of a network connecting the island zone and the adjacent Nehru Zoological Park was also discussed in the meeting. The CM ordered the officials to upgrade the Zoo Park in accordance with the new proposal.

The officials have been asked to examine all the possibilities for upgrading Zoo Park in consultation with the zoo authorities as per the rules.

Government advisor Vem Narender Reddy, Municipal Department Principal Secretary Dana Kishore, CM’s Special Secretary Ajit Reddy, Musi River Development Corporation Joint Managing Director Gauthami, and senior officials participated in the meeting.

--IANS

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Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, April 11 (IANS) A number of welfare schemes launched by the Narendra Modi-led Central government are significantly transforming lives in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Beneficiaries across the region are reaping the benefits of flagship initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

IANS spoke to beneficiaries of various schemes under the PM Modi government where they shared their struggles and how life has changed after the schemes.

Vaishali Deepak Kadve, a local entrepreneur engaged in tailoring work, is among the many who have benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. She took a loan of Rs 4.5 lakh under the scheme a few years ago, which allowed her to purchase sewing machines and rent a shop. Today, Vaishali not only manages her own thriving business but also provides employment to other women in the area.

"Before I came to know about the Mudra scheme, I used to work for others. But with support from local social workers and without paying any bribe, I received the loan and set up my own shop. Now I get orders from companies, and my monthly income is stable. My husband and I are running the household well," Kadve told IANS.

The 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana' has emerged as a lifeline for families like that of Bhagwat Tukaram Nikalje, a senior citizen from the area. Aged over 60 and unable to work, Nikalje relies on the free monthly ration of wheat and rice provided by the scheme.

"For the past seven years, I’ve received 10 kg of wheat and 15 kg of rice every month. I also get my old age pension directly into my bank account through the Jan Dhan scheme. This support has helped me survive without any financial dependence on others," he said.

The 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana' is also playing a transformative role, especially for working-class women. Many of these women used to rely on informal savings groups or unsafe home storage methods. Now, with zero-balance bank accounts, ATM access, and digital banking facilities, they feel empowered and financially secure.

"Earlier, we had to save in cash or with informal groups, which led to frequent disputes. Now, we have our own bank accounts, passbooks, and ATM cards. We can withdraw money any time, and we receive funds from government schemes directly into our accounts," said Nikita Rajendra, a domestic worker and beneficiary.

She added that state-run schemes like Ladki Behan Yojana also deposit benefits into her Jan Dhan account.

Ranjana Govinda, another beneficiary, echoed similar sentiments and thanked the government for making banking accessible to all, especially women from underprivileged backgrounds.

Another impactful scheme in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar is the 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).' Narayan Sudam Bhagwat, who works as a washerman, had lived in a tin-roofed stone house for years, struggling during the monsoon season.

“Water used to seep into our home every time it rained. But with financial aid from PMAY and some of my own savings, I built a proper house. I’ve also set up my washing shop in the same building. Importantly, I didn’t have to pay any bribe to get the scheme benefits,” he added.

For women like Usha Vilas, the 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana' has dramatically improved daily life. Living in New Hanuman Colony, Usha recalls the difficulties of cooking on kerosene stoves or wood fires.

"I had to stand in long queues for kerosene, and if it ran out, I had no option but to use firewood, which caused smoke and respiratory issues. I couldn’t even spare time to take my children to school," she said.

"Now, with a gas connection under Ujjwala, cooking is faster and cleaner."

Her daughter added that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the government provided free LPG cylinders, and now the subsidy system continues to support them.

"We can even book gas from our mobile phone, and the cylinder gets delivered home," she said.

These stories from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar reflect a broader trend of social empowerment, economic inclusion, and infrastructure development enabled by centrally-sponsored welfare programmes. From entrepreneurship and food security to clean cooking fuel, housing, and banking access, these schemes have significantly improved the quality of life for countless citizens.

Residents believe that the transparency and accessibility of these initiatives have helped restore faith in governance. Beneficiaries noted that they received the benefits without paying bribes or dealing with bureaucratic hurdles -something they say was not possible a decade ago.

For the people of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, these government programmes are not just policies on paper, but real, tangible changes that have uplifted their lives in meaningful ways.

--IANS

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Narkanda (Himachal Pradesh), April 11 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, on Friday, flagged off the Fifth Silk Route Ultra Trail Run from here in Shimla district to be organised along the Hindustan-Tibet Road, first laid by the British in the 19th century, to connect with Tibet for trade through Shipki-La border post along the India-China border.

The event organisers said that 102-km trail run covers the naturally scenic and culturally rich route from Narkanda to Sarahan and is categorised into four segments.

The event has been dedicated to the drug-free Himachal Campaign.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said "the youth are not only the future of the country but also present also and it is the collective responsibility of all to guide them in a positive direction".

The run, supported by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department, Indian Oil, Himachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society, and HimEra, will see 250 runners from across the country.

Among them are three international athletes from France and Germany.

Governor Shukla said the Silk Route Ultra Trail Run is not just a sports event but a unique medium to connect with the culture, nature, and traditions of Himachal Pradesh.

"It's a remarkable initiative to revive history and heritage while promoting adventure and eco-tourism in the region."

He appreciated the efforts of the organisers for creating new avenues of employment and economic empowerment for local youth through such events.

The Governor emphasised that drug eradication is not just the responsibility of the government but of every individual in society.

"The fight against drugs requires united efforts from all sections of society."

He expressed concern over the growing menace of drug addiction among the youth and urged everyone to come forward to eliminate this social evil and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the state, famously known as 'Dev Bhoomi' -- the Land of Gods.

Additional Director General of Police, Satwant Atwal Trivedi, praised the event by saying that the Silk Route Ultra Trail Run reflects the spirit of Himachal Pradesh.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Abhishek Trivedi, appreciated the role of sports in channelising the energy of the youth in a positive direction.

The treacherous Hindustan-Tibet highway, which connects the trans-Himalayan Buddhist area of Kinnaur and neighbouring Spiti to the rest of Himachal Pradesh, travels largely parallel to the mighty flood-prone Satluj river in Kinnaur district.

It remains disrupted between a 100-km stretch from Wangtoo and Khab at one point or another owing to flooding in the river.

It's now known as the National Highway-5.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has announced that all flights operating from Terminal 2 will shift to Terminal 1, starting from April 15 due to major maintenance and runway upgrade work being taken up there.

The move is part of efforts to enhance infrastructure and improve passenger experience at T2. Airlines have begun issuing travel advisories, with passengers advised to check updated schedules as the runway work may lead to delays or rescheduling.

Major Indian air carriers, including IndiGo Airlines, Air India and Akasa Air, have announced that all flights previously scheduled from Terminal 2 (T2) will now depart from Terminal 1 (T1), starting April 15, until further notice.

"Effective 15th April 2025 (0001 hrs), all flights currently operating from Terminal 2 will shift to Terminal 1 until further notice. This change is due to planned maintenance work at Terminal 2, which will remain non-operational during this period. Kindly check your flight status here: https://lnkd.in/g85RfUrx or contact the airline concerned," Delhi Airport said in a statement.

IndiGo has issued an advisory urging passengers to check their terminal and flight status on the airline’s official website before heading to the airport, as flight schedules may have been changed..

“In view of a planned maintenance activity, flights previously scheduled from Delhi Terminal 2 have now been reassigned to Terminal 1 starting April 15, 2025. We kindly request you to check the terminal details and your flight status on our website before heading to the airport, as there may be changes to flight schedules as well," IndiGo said in a post on X.

The move is part of an infrastructure revamp, with T2 set to undergo refurbishment for four to six months. The work is expected to be completed by the September quarter of the next financial year.

The shift is part of an effort to renovate Terminal 2 and accommodate the increasing number of passengers, as work on the expansion of Terminal 1 has now been completed.

"The expansion and modernisation of T1 have been completed as part of the Phase 3A expansion project. The expanded world-class integrated T1 of Delhi Airport," the DIAL said in an earlier statement.

--IANS

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Tirupati, April 11 (IANS) Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) on Friday termed as fake reports that over 100 cows died in the goshala run by it.

The TTD, which manages the affairs of Sri Venkateswara temple, urged devotees not to believe the fake news being spread on social media.

The temple body said in a statement that there is no truth in the reports that over 100 cows died in its goshala.

It also clarified that the photographs of dead cows being circulated on social media are not of the cows of its goshalas. The TTD said some people were spreading fake news to hurt the sentiments of devotees.

Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for Education and Information Technology Nara Lokesh has also condemned the reports being circulated on social media.

“I strongly condemn the baseless and malicious propaganda being spread on social media about cow deaths in TTD goshalas. There is no truth to these claims. TTD has clarified the facts,” he posted on ‘X’.

“Devotees are urged not to believe this false narrative, which YSRCP has pushed to mislead and provoke. Spreading lies about sacred institutions for political gain is shameful and unacceptable,” said Lokesh.

Earlier, YSRCP leader and former chairman of TTD Bhumana Karunakar Reddy claimed that cows in TTD Goshala are dying in large numbers due to the neglect by the coalition government. He demanded an to bring out the facts and upkeep the sanctity of Tirumala.

He told mediapersons that in the past three months, over 100 cows have died due to poor maintenance and caretaking.

“The number could go up as the number given is only what has come to our notice,” he said.

Karunakar Reddy alleged that the coalition government is busy in leveling false allegations on Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and attempting to erase his good efforts.

“We demand an inquiry into the death of cows in large numbers and the lack of maintenance of Goshala, which is been looked after by a DFO who is not qualified in veterinary matters, and this is sheer neglect of the coalition government and its appointed TTD governing body,” said Karunakar Reddy.

“Cow is considered a holy animal and legend has it that Lord Venkateswara has survived on cow milk and cow is worshiped with reverence and the coalition government has put the Goshala under total neglect though the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister talk tall about Sanatha Dharma and its upkeep,” he said.

He claimed that during Jagan Mohan Reddy’s governance, the Goshala flourished and it brought in over 550 cows of indigenous breed from Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Punjab. During our term, 1700 litres of milk were being sent to Tirumala from Goshala for daily rituals and now under the coalition government, not even 500 litres of milk is being supplied, he said.

--IANS

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