Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has embarked on a transformative journey, redefining its global image and enhancing its brand value. From diplomatic masterstrokes to economic reforms, the Modi government has left no stone unturned in promoting ‘Brand India.’ This comprehensive article delves into the various facets of these efforts, painting a vivid picture of a nation on the rise.

The Pre-Modi Landscape: A Time Of Untapped Potential

Prior to Modi’s administration, bureaucratic inefficiency, corruption, and a lack of assertiveness in international affairs damaged India’s reputation abroad. The country’s potential was recognised but not fully realised. The world saw India as a land of opportunity, but the barriers to entry were high, and the nation’s voice on the global stage was often subdued.

Diplomacy Reimagined: Modi’s Personal Touch

Modi’s personal diplomacy has been a hallmark of his foreign policy. His unique style of building personal relationships with world leaders has brought India closer to key global players. From promoting Indian languages and culture to taking a hard stance against Pakistan’s support for terrorism, Modi has redefined India’s approach to diplomacy. His personal rapport with leaders of the UAE and Saudi Arabia has strengthened India’s position in the Middle East, while his firm handling of situations with China has asserted India’s position in the region.

The G20 Presidency: A Momentous Achievement In Global Leadership

In a historic move, India has embarked on its maiden G20 presidency, marking a significant milestone in its quest for global leadership. With its diverse economy, technological prowess, and unwavering dedication to sustainability, the country is strategically utilising these strengths to shape discussions among the global economic powerhouses. The presidency has outlined several key focus areas, which encompass inclusive growth, digital innovation, climate resilience, and equitable access to healthcare. India, with its unwavering commitment to the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘the world is one family,’ is determined to cultivate solutions that not only cater to its own citizens but also have a positive impact on the global community.

Economic Reforms: A Magnet For Global Brands

Under Modi’s leadership, India has become an attractive destination for global brands. Structural reforms and a business-friendly environment have led to the entry of companies like H&M, Netflix, Jeep, Ikea, and MG Motor. These brands have not only brought investment but also jobs and technological advancements, contributing to India’s economic growth.

Make In India: A Vision For Manufacturing

One of the flagship initiatives of the Modi government, “Make in India,” aims to transform India into a global manufacturing hub. From easing business regulations to enhancing the investment ecosystem and focusing on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the initiative has been a game-changer. The “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan,” or self-reliant India, campaign further promotes local products and reduces dependence on imports. Together, these efforts are reshaping India’s industrial landscape.

Tourism: A Flourishing Industry

India’s tourism sector has seen a remarkable transformation under the Modi government. With its rich heritage, multicultural experiences, and diverse landscapes, India has always been a preferred tourist destination. However, the government’s efforts to promote tourism have brought the country to the forefront of global tourism.

The “Incredible India” campaign has been revitalised, showcasing the country’s picturesque landscapes, spectacular waterfalls, and warm hospitality. From the snow-covered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south, India’s tourism offerings are vast and varied.

Iconic destinations like the Statue of Unity have become symbols of national pride, attracting tourists from around the world. The government’s focus on promoting heritage, adventure, art, food, and luxury tourism has created immersive experiences for travellers.

The development of tourist circuits, promotion of adventure tourism, and emphasis on sustainable practises have further enhanced India’s appeal. Festivals and cultural events are being celebrated on a grand scale, inviting tourists to be part of India’s rich cultural heritage.

Education: A Hub Of Knowledge

Under the Modi government, India’s education sector has also seen significant growth. The introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge hub. Emphasising quality education, research, innovation, and skill development, the NEP aligns India’s education system with global standards.

International collaborations, research initiatives, and the promotion of Indian languages and culture are part of this comprehensive approach. The focus on digital education, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has ensured the continuity and accessibility of education for all.

Healthcare: A Commitment To Well-Being

In the realm of healthcare, the Modi government has launched ambitious programmes like Ayushman Bharat, providing health coverage to millions of underprivileged citizens. The emphasis on traditional Indian medicine, promotion of wellness tourism, and investment in healthcare infrastructure have strengthened India’s healthcare system.

The government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the vaccination drive, has been lauded globally. India’s role as the “pharmacy of the world” has been reinforced, with the country supplying essential medicines and vaccines to various nations.

 The Way Forward: A Promising Future

India’s path under Prime Minister Modi is not merely promising; it’s a beacon of global leadership. The G20 presidency adds another feather to India’s cap, emphasizing its role in crafting solutions for complex global challenges. The presidency’s focus on inclusive growth, digital innovation, and climate resilience aligns perfectly with India’s domestic priorities, making its role in global governance even more significant. As India continues to forge personal relationships with world leaders and promote ‘Brand India,’ its G20 presidency stands as a testament to its growing influence and responsibility in global matters. The nation’s brand value has been significantly elevated, reflecting a country that is not just on the path of progress but also a key player in shaping the world’s future.

The Modi government has significantly enhanced India’s brand value on the global stage. Through proactive diplomacy, promotion of Indian culture, economic reforms, and initiatives like “Make in India,” India has gained a rightful place in the international order. The feeling of being a proud Indian has been reignited, and India’s voice is now heard and respected worldwide. The Modi government’s efforts in promoting tourism, education, and healthcare have significantly boosted Brand India. The country’s global image has been uplifted, reflecting a nation committed to growth, innovation, well-being, and cultural richness. The transformation is evident, and the future looks promising as India continues to stride forward on the path of progress.

S Sundar Raman is a Chartered Accountant and the Vice President of BJP Tamil Nadu’s Thinker’s Cell

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The National Statistical Office (NSO) data, released on Thursday, reveals that India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded by 7.8 percent in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24. This growth rate exceeds the 6.1 percent growth of the previous quarter but is notably lower than the 13.1 percent growth recorded in the same quarter of the fiscal year 2022-23.

India maintains its status as the fastest-growing major economy, outpacing China’s GDP growth of 6.3 percent for the April-June period. The government explained that the Quarterly Estimates of GDP are based on indicators and use a benchmark-indicator method, projecting quarterly estimates from the previous year using relevant performance indicators.

According to NSO data, the agricultural sector saw a growth of 3.5 percent, an improvement from the 2.4 percent recorded in the corresponding period of the fiscal year 2022-23. However, growth in the manufacturing sector slowed to 4.7 percent in the initial quarter of the current fiscal year, down from 6.1 percent in the same period last year.

After the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in August, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projected a 6.5 percent growth rate for the entire fiscal year, with 8 percent growth anticipated for Q1. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) adjusted its GDP growth outlook for India in 2023 to 6.1 percent. Similarly, Fitch Ratings revised its forecast for India’s economic growth in fiscal year 2023-24 to 6.3 percent from the earlier prediction of 6 percent, as of June.

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On 20 May 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his first-ever extempore at the Central Hall of Parliament after BJP’s landslide victory in the 2014 general elections.

In his speech, he said, “I am by nature an optimist. It is written in my DNA. Disappointment does not just gel with me. On this occasion, I wish to repeat what I said in my speech at a college here. Just see this glass of water; some say that it is half filled with water, and some say it is half empty. My thinking is of the third type. I say this glass is half filled with water and half with air.”

It has been 9 years since Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of India, and in these 9 years, this unswerving optimism going by the mantra of sab ka saath, sab ka vikas, has put India on a new path of progress, development and rising stature.

At this juncture, it is imperative to look at the 9 milestones of the Narendra Modi Government that have changed the destiny of India.

1. Financial Inclusion

One of the initial actions taken by the Modi government in 2014 was to ensure that every Indian had access to a bank account, and up to now, approximately 49 crore individuals have become beneficiaries of this initiative.

By implementing Direct Benefit Transfer to 310 scheme of 53 Departments/Ministries, the Modi government has successfully transferred funds worth ₹29.39 lakh crore directly to bank accounts, without the involvement of intermediaries, thereby eradicating corruption in government schemes.

There was a time when former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had famously stated that only 15 paise out of every rupee sanctioned by Delhi reached the intended recipient.

However, this situation has changed significantly due to the implementation of Direct Benefit Transfers, as corruption has been greatly reduced, with several thousands of crores reaching the beneficiaries at the click of a button from Delhi.

As a result, the Narendra Modi government has saved the Indian treasury a staggering ₹2.73 lakh crore by plugging leaks in central schemes through Direct Benefit Transfers.

2. Digital Economy

India, being heavily reliant on cash transactions in the past, has experienced a remarkable transformation after demonetization and the introduction of UPI (Unified Payments Interface).

Today, digital payments have become widespread across the country.

UPI has completely revolutionised the process of conducting financial transactions, whether it’s shopping at malls, dining at restaurants, purchasing groceries at supermarkets, visiting local convenience stores or pharmacies, or even dealing with street vendors.

In April 2023, UPI witnessed an extraordinary milestone, with a staggering 8.8 billion transactions valued at ₹14 lakh crore.

3. Making India The Fastest Growing Indian Economy

During his inaugural Independence Day speech in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the concept of Make-In-India, which has transformed various sectors of the Indian economy.

By implementing proactive measures tailored to specific industries to enhance the ease of doing business, the Narendra Modi government has unleashed the animal spirit of the Indian economy and is propelling India towards becoming an economic powerhouse.

Through his ‘Atmanirbhar Mission’ (Self-Reliant Mission), Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that India will not lag behind any developed nation and is committed to achieving self-sufficiency in all sectors.

Currently, India boasts over 99,380 recognized startups and 138 unicorns.

Furthermore, on July 1, 2017, India created history by implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), one of the most significant and ambitious reforms in the nation’s economic history, leading the way for a unified taxation system known as ‘One Nation, One Tax.’ Through the GST, India has successfully integrated a previously fragmented economy into a cohesive single market.

4. The Decisions That Took Guts And The Gumption

The Narendra Modi government took decisive actions to address critical issues in the country.

The abhorrent practice of Triple Talaq was abolished, ensuring the protection of Muslim women’s rights.

The government abolished Article 370, leading to the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. This move transformed the region from a hub of terrorism to a centre of development and progress.

Furthermore, the Constitutional Amendment Act of 2019 was introduced to expedite the process of granting citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

5. Roti Paani Makaan

Through the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, approximately 80 crore people receive 5 kilograms of food grains per person per month at no cost.

The implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card has significantly simplified the process for migrant workers in different states to access their ration supplies.

Moreover, more than 9.59 crore poor women have been provided with free LPG gas connections.

Since its inception in 2019, the Jal Jeevan Scheme has facilitated the provision of over 12 crore tap water connections.

Under The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana over 3.4 crore houses have been successfully constructed. Every village in the country has been electrified, achieving 100% electrification.

These initiatives have played a crucial role in improving the lives and well-being of the citizens.

6. The Vaccine Story

India achieved an unprecedented milestone by introducing a preventive solution within a remarkably short span of 11 months since the first case of a coronavirus disease was reported.

Not only did India successfully develop and administer two vaccines manufactured within the country, but they also provided vaccination to millions of Indians and people worldwide. A total of 220.57 crore vaccine doses were administered.

The efficient utilization of technology in the rollout of these vaccines has garnered admiration from other nations, creating a sense of awe towards India’s approach.

7. Transformation Of Transport

Those who have travelled on Indian trains a decade ago can vouch for the following conditions: coaches covered in rust, foul-smelling toilets, piles of human waste on tracks, and red spit stains on station walls.

Cleanliness was certainly not a guarantee, and safety was a concern due to unmanned level crossings, the need for track renewal, and passenger safety issues. However, significant changes have been observed in the Indian Railways in recent years.

A notable improvement has been the focus on cleanliness, which has enhanced the travel experience for rail passengers by implementing clean and odour-free bio-toilets. This positive transformation can be attributed to the Swachh Bharat initiative, which has instilled a sense of responsibility in people to keep public places clean.

Major railway stations in high-traffic cities have been modernized and renovated, and even stations in tier-2 cities have received impressive makeovers. The fact that capital outlay for railways alone for 2023-24 is ₹2.5 lakh crore which is 9 times more than that of 2013-14, is a testament to the vision held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in transforming India.

Eventually, all unmanned level crossings were eliminated within a span of five years, leading to a drastic reduction in accidents from 131 in 2015 to zero in the past 3 years.

Additionally, from Dedicated Freight Corridors to Kisan Rails and Vande Bharat Express, the Indian Railways has undergone a complete transformation in the last 9 years.

Nevertheless, there has been a tremendous effort towards strengthening India’s road infrastructure. In 2014-15, the pace at which National Highways construction happened was 12 km/day. It touched a record high of 42.03 km per day in February 2023.

FASTag has been a game changer in highway commute reducing time, fuel consumption and thereby carbon emissions.

In the last 9 years, the number of operational airports in the country has doubled from 74 in 2014 to 148 in 2023.

8. Defense & Diplomacy

In the past decades, India has experienced traumatic incidents of serial bombings, hijackings, and terror attacks. However, over the last 9 years, the country has not witnessed any such acts of terrorism.

Furthermore, those who dare to provoke us have faced severe retaliation, as demonstrated through actions like surgical strikes against Pakistan and the clash in the Galwan Valley against Chinese troops.

India’s approach has shifted from being a net importer of defence equipment to focusing on indigenous production, resulting in a significant boost in defence exports. Thanks to the Athmanirbar initiative of our Prime Minister.

The country has achieved remarkable progress in terms of firepower, with the successful deployment of domestically built aircraft carriers, submarines, and missiles. These developments have contributed to a significant increase in India’s defence capabilities.

Instances such as Operation Rahat for rescuing Indians in Yemen, Operation Maitri during the Nepal earthquake, the Vande Bharat mission amid the pandemic, Operation Devishakti to aid stranded Indians in Afghanistan, Operation Ganga for bringing back Indian students from Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Operation Kaveri for rescuing Indians affected by the civil war in Sudan, all serve as evidence of the Narendra Modi Government going out of the way to rescue Indians living abroad systematically.

9. Civilizational Revival

The Ram Janmabhoomi movement has reached its rightful culmination with the near completion of the Ram Mandir. Likewise, several revered spiritual hubs, such as Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath, Kedarnath, and Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, which were previously neglected, have undergone a remarkable and positive transformation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought about a civilizational resurgence by unabashedly embracing his identity without any pretence of pseudo-secularism.

Through initiatives such as Kashi Tamil Sangamam, Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam, and Kashi Telugu Sangamam, Prime Minister Modi is actively promoting the vision of “Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat” by revitalizing the cultural bonds and heritage that connects all Indians. These endeavours aim to strengthen the deep-rooted civilizational consciousness of the nation, fostering a sense of unity and shared identity among its diverse population.

In this time of Amrit Kal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his quest to revive Bharat’s civilizational heritage, has decided to rehabilitate the sacred ‘Sengol‘ by placing it in the chamber of the new Parliament. This is intended to remind us that rulers must adhere to the statute of Dharma and righteousness.

Whether it is acknowledging the unsung heroes of our history through Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav or recognizing the exemplary achievements of contemporary individuals through the People’s Padma Awards, the Narendra Modi Government has fundamentally transformed the narrative of India.

These are just a glimpse of the significant achievements in the journey towards shaping a New India. The country has seen a phenomenal transformation in every sector that has impacted the last-standing Indian. Indians today feel the rise of a new, bold and confident India that is taking its rightful place on the world stage.

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India emerging as a world leader is the key irritant for many of the developed countries. To defeat Modi in Gujarat also in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, an international conspiracy is being attempted by many foreign countries.

Intel reports from security agencies of the Union Government speaks of five to six major theories on how many countries are ganging up to ensure that BJP and Narendra Modi are defeated in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and subsequently the Lok Sabha general elections in 2024.

The Disappointed Arms Lobby

First is the conspiracy is being hatched by defence and arms dealers, pharmaceutical lobby and international telecom companies. Now to elaborate the conspiracy further to Indian angle, it is speculated that five regional political parties are getting funds from certain international outfits, Khalistani organizations and also from other banned religious fundamentalists organisations. The reason defence and arms lobby is determined to defeat Narendra Modi and BJP in 2024, is that huge mafia working at various levels and many countries have become paralyzed because of India’s push to become self-reliant in defence.

How India Producing Its Own Vaccines Has Left The Pharma Lobby Disgruntled

PM Modi introduced the concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Now turning to medical and pharma lobby at world wide, had taken a determination to ensure Modi is stopped in 2024 Lok Sabha. Again reason being, that Narendra Modi during Covid pandemic got two vaccines made in India, with one of them being invented in India. This has dealth a severe blow to the greed of the likes of American pharma giants who were waiting to use the crisis to mint money by selling vaccines to the Indina market at exorbitant costs. PM Modi ensured that world pharma lobbys are kept at bay.

India’s 5G A Major Irritant For World Telecom Companies

When India introduced 5G, many Chinese companies like Huawei wanted to sell their equipments. But PM Modi ensured that Indian private companies manufacture the 5G equipment.This has irked the Chinese who were waiting to capture the Indian market. Hence Defeat Modi slogan is gaining momentum at world capitals.

India Tightening The Tap On Foreign Funds Used For Religious Conversions

Conversations in many parts of India is secret strategy to counter Narendra Modi and BJP.
Religious and communal NGOs, alleged environmentalists have seen less money in their accounts because of the stringent Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. Past several years these agencies and organisations had a direct funding to India, thereby making their own choices of possible corrupt government installed in India. That chain of activities have been totally disconnected by Narendra Modi.

A Global Anti-India Narrative Through Media And Academia

Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen many global organizations coming out with reports downgrading India. From Global Hunger Index to Press Freedom Index, attempts are being made to belittle India. India being ranked lower than Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the recently released Global Hunger Index is a case in point to spin a narrative that Indians are starving under PM Modi. While the press in India has been questioning the Centre and state governments day in and day out, the country is being downgraded in press freedom index. These indices are being used by the leftist global and Indian media to portray India in bad light. All these are attempts to put down India.

Will Foreign Powers Interfere In 2024?

India emerging strong out of the pandemic and making strides in economic development has certainly ruffled the feathers of the West. For this, the modus operandi of foreign powers are to ensure indirect funding to several private Indian humanity science universities annd Indian regional parties. How BJP and Narendra Modi are to handle this international onslaught on India, 2024 poll results alone can give a befitting answer.

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Merchandise exports from India have reached USD 417.8 billion in the current financial year. This figure excludes the figures from non-EDI Ports and adding that, it is likely to exceed $418 billion, an all-time high in India’s export history.

India has achieved highest monthly value of merchandise export in March 2022 amounting USD 40.38 billion, an increase of 14.53% over USD 35.26 billion in March 2021 and an increase of 87.89% over USD 21.49 billion in March 2020.

The exports have witnessed a significant growth in non-petroleum goods also in April 2021-March 2022 which was USD 352.76 billion, an increase of 32.62% over USD 266.00 billion in April 2020-March 2021 and an increase of 29.66% over USD 272.07 billion in April 2019-March 2020.

Addressing a press conference here today, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal said that India had truly gone from ‘local to global’ in response to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call.

The Minister said that every Indian should be proud of the pace at which India is achieving ‘atmanirbharta’ while ensuring that every Indian benefits from this progress. He added that India has been able to achieve this spectacular target under the leadership of the Prime Minister.

Expressing confidence that India’s economy is poised to break a number of records, Minister Goyal said that PM Modi had set lofty goals for India and that our nation is extremely capable of achieving such immense goals. To make Possible the Impossible, tirelessly strive for it and collectively work towards it, he added.

Minister Goyal said the ‘never say die’ spirit of our exporters, the relentless effort by EPCs and Industry Association, the coordination among different GOI Departments and state governments reflecting the ‘whole of government approach’ has resulted in this stupendous achievement.

Every sector of the economy, every farmer, every entrepreneur, every MSME and state governments worked together to achieve this lucrative goal, he said.

India’s diversified export portfolio in 2021-22 show India’s manufacturing abilities as well as growth in hi-tech goods, electronics and agricultural products.

Exports of major commodity that recorded a positive growth during April 2021-March 2022 over April-March 2020-21 are Petroleum Products (152.1%), Cotton Yarn/Fabrics/Madeups, Handloom Products Etc. (55.1%), Other Cereals (52.2%), Gems and Jewellery (49.6%), Man-Made Yarn/Fabs/Madeups Etc.( 46.9%), Engineering Goods (45.5%), Coffee (49%), Electronic Goods (40.5%), Jute Mfg. Including Floor Covering (36.2%), Leather and Leather Manufactures (32.2%), Organic & Inorganic Chemical (32.0%), Plastic and Linoleum (31.1%), Marine Products (30.0%), Rmg Of All Textiles (29.9%), Handicrafts Excl. Hand Made Carpet (22.0%) and Cereal Preparations and Miscellaneous Processed Item (21.9%)  recorded a positive growth of, and 21.9% respectively over April 2020-March 2021.

Apart from diversified range of merchandise goods exported during 2021-22, India’s merchandise exports have also seen a significant increase to different countries, especially, developed countries. Exports to USA, UAE, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Singapore, Hong Kong, UK, Belgium and Germany grew by 46.4%, 66.9%, 64.5%, 90.5%, 26.8%, 7.8%, 28%, 90.4% and 21.1% respectively over April 2020- March 2021.

Minister Goyal said, notwithstanding the challenges posed by successive waves of Covid (2nd and 3rd wave), India’s merchandise trade performance has shown impressive growth and exports remained above USD 30 billion for twelve consecutive months during April 2021 to March 2022.

The Prime Minister called for ‘local to global’ and today India’s products are in great demand all over the world. This is a testament to the strength of leadership. PM now focuses extensively on ‘whole of nation approach’, he said.

One of the impressive growth has been seen in Agriculture sector and especially during the pandemic India emerged as a major global supplier of food / essential agriculture products. Agriculture exports buoyancy is driven by commodities such as rice (both basmati and non-basmati), marine products, wheat, spices and sugar, among others, recording the highest ever agricultural products export in 2021-22.

Higher agricultural exports signify the ability of Indian farmers to meet the requirement of 1.35 billion population and yet produce a surplus to export to rest of the world. Integration into global market will allow our farmers to be more competitive, quality conscious and at the same time realize better prices for their produce.

When we set a target of $50 billion exports of Agriculture produce, then few imagined this would be possible. But today I want to congratulate our farmers who have grown more produce despite the Covid-19. The exports growth has helped farmers and labour intensive sectors and MSMEs. The government places special emphasis on these sectors, Shri Goyal said.

The Minister also assured that India will step up wheat supplies to countries hit by the Ukraine War.

“We will continue to export wheat in a big way to meet needs in countries who are not getting supplies from conflict areas. We are likely to exceed our wheat exports over 10 million tonnes in 2022-23. Our farmers are focused on increasing production,” he said.

The government has been working around the clock to provide a conducive environment and infrastructure for our industry and exporters to enhance their export performance. Policies and schemes aligned with the goal are being introduced and implemented for their benefit. The smooth roll out of RoDTEP and ROSCTL even in the midst of the pandemic reflects the strong resolve of the government to walk the talk. The Interest Equalisation Scheme has been extended to exporters and is likely to benefit a large number of MSME exporters.

Minister Goyal said the Government is now working on rolling out the District Export Hub Initiative to strengthen the export infrastructure, logistics at district level to facilitate exports.

“We have succeeded in creating awareness about exports in every district through ODOP and PLIs,” he said.

Rigorous efforts for domestic capacity enhancement for deepening integration in the Global Value Chains are being made by working in close partnership with the industry to identify areas where India’s competitive advantages lay. The Government is working on strengthening our capabilities and create for the world on the lines of Make in India. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for 13 key sectors of manufacturing starting from FY 2021-22 have been announced.

(Published from PIB)

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India is all set to purchase 12 Russian-designed Sukhoi-30 MKI  to bolster the Air Force which is short of fighter aircraft. As per reports from TimesNow, a Rs 10,000 crore package, is expected to be cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and including the three chiefs.

The Russian designed fighters will include indigenous and also, Israeli systems built in India by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), and the additional Sukhois are needed because the IAF is short of fighters and the strength is down to perhaps 32, instead of the 40 that is required to maintain balance with Pakistan and China.

As of now, the IAF has just two squadrons of the 4.5 generation Rafale and it is still operating its older aircraft, including the upgraded MiG-21 Bison.

The DAC is also looking into buying 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft for the IAF and these have been indigenously developed by HAL as the IAF faces shortages in basic trainers. 

The DAC in the last few years has been very active in its decision process and it could clear about 50 suites of electronic warfare equipment made by Bharat Electronics, valued at about Rs 2,000 crore as India aims towards indigenisation of weapons platforms for Atmanirbhar Bharat.

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Addressing the inaugural General Bipin Rawat Memorial Lecture here on the occasion of his birth anniversary former IAF chief RKS Bhadauria on Wednesday (March 16) said, the time has come for the private sector industry to be given a level playing field along with public sector units to help the country produce indigenous weapon systems.

“General Rawat was a big advocate of self-reliance. He would say that in case of war, we will be able to win only through indigenous weapons. He also stressed that private sector industry should be given a level playing field along with the public sector units to help the country produce indigenous weapon systems for the country,” he said in his address.

The former Chief of Air Staff called for the need to set defined goals for the country to become self reliant in the defence sector.

“To my mind, the most critical area is to understand what do we really want and what should we aim at and then ultimately be able to define what is required to achieve Atmanirbharta (self reliant). “I don’t think so there will be any one today who will not agree with need and importance of Atmanirbharta but what do we want from Atmanirbharta as far as defence is concerned, is what we need to define. I believe it is the ability to do entire design and development which should be our next phase towards self reliance,” he said.

ACM Bhadauria also said a lot of things needs to be done in all areas that are critical in terms of technology and added, “This is critical as we go forward, the ability to do everything on your own. You have designed an equipment but imported certain products. There should be no chip working without your knowledge. If we have achieved this, we have achieved a huge step of self reliance in equipment and design. Be it testing and certification, we need to target what we have to achieve and in testing and certification is important to steer any conflict of interest….we must treat our testing ad certification agencies as national assets,” he said.

Gen Bipin Rawat was India’s first Chief of Defence Staff who tragically died with his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel in December when his military helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

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On Monday (March 7), B V R Mohan Reddy, Chairman, Board of Governors at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, installed the made in India Petascale Supercomputer “PARAM Ganga”.

The PARAM Ganga has been built under the approach of the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) and the installation of 1.66 PFLOPS (Peta Floating-Point Operations Per Second) supercomputing at IIT Roorkee will now provide computational power to the user community of IIT Roorkee and neighbouring academic institutions.

The development of this supercomputer is a joint initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

IIT Roorkee had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CDAC to establish a state-of-the-art Supercomputing facility involving critical components such as motherboards for servers, direct contact liquid cooling data centers are manufactured in India progressing towards the Government of India initiative of “Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

While addressing the event, Reddy said, “IIT Roorkee will carry out advanced research and capacity building using this supercomputing infrastructure developed under NSM. I am happy to see that the critical components of PARAM Ganga, such as motherboards for compute nodes and direct contact liquid cooling data centres, are manufactured in India as per the Government of India initiative of Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

Dr Darbari highlighted, “The basic idea behind building a Petascale Supercomputer with manufactured in India components is to lead the path towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat and accelerate the problem-solving capacity in multidisciplinary domains simultaneously. To this effect, “PARAM Ganga”, the new high-performance computational (HPC) facility would aid researchers to solve complex problems of national importance and global significance. The new HPC infrastructure will serve as an essential compute environment for the modern-day research along with their theoretical and experimental work.”

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After the Philippines government approved the purchase of BrahMos cruise missiles, India’s weaponry exports are seeing a surge under the Narendra Modi government.

From Rs 1,521 crore in 2016-17 to 8,434.84 crore, India’s defence export increased in 2020-21 to Rs. 38,500.25 as the government has set an ambitious goal of exporting aerospace and defence items and services worth over 35,000 crores ($5 billion).

India at present is second only to Saudi Arabia in terms of imports which in one way is a powerful foreign policy bargaining chip when it comes to acquiring state of the art weapons platform from multiple countries.

In the recent past, India and Armenia signed a $40 million agreement wherein the state-of-the-art weapon locating radar systems, designed and developed in India will be supplied to them.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) research has named three Indian firms in the top 100 defence corporations in the world in 2020 and they are Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Ordnance Factory Board, and Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL).

According to the study conducted by SIPRI, “Their combined arms sales of $6.5 billion in 2020 were 1.7 per cent higher than in 2019 and contributed for 1.2 per cent of the top 100 total,”.

The ink on the dotted line on the sale of Brahmos cruise missiles is expected to be signed on January 28 at the Philippines’ National Defence Department headquarters in Quezon City.

The $375 Million dollar deal is the biggest sale as of yet and defence exports are an important component of the Modi government to not only increase India’s influence in the world and also achieve self-sufficiency in the defence industry and a boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat.

That is why the Modi government has taken various steps to increase defence exports, including changing a section of the Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies (SCOMET).

By amending the SCOMET list India can now lawfully export parts and components of small arms and body armour for civil use after due consultation with the foreign ministry.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Indian Space Association (ISpA)  on 11th October, 2021 at 11 AM via video conferencing. He will also interact with representatives of the Space Industry on this landmark occasion.

ISpA is the Premier Industry Association of Space and Satellite companies, which aspires to be the collective voice of the Indian Space industry. It will undertake policy advocacy and engage with all stakeholders in the Indian Space domain, including the Government and its agencies. Echoing the Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, ISpA will help in making India self-reliant, technologically advanced and a leading player in the space arena.

ISpA is represented by leading home grown and global corporations with advanced capabilities in space and satellite technologies. Its founding members include Larson & Toubro, Nelco (Tata Group), OneWeb, Bharti Airtel, Mapmyindia, Walchandnagar Industries and Ananth Technology Limited. Other core members include Godrej, Hughes India, Azista-BST Aerospace Private Limited, BEL, Centum Electronics, Maxar India.

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