Bharat Ganarajya/Republic of India/Hindustan - Republic Day 26th January 2018

Hindustani78

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, in Hyderabad House, New Delhi on January 24, 2018.
 

Hindustani78

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Prime Minister's Office
PM presents National Bravery Awards

Posted On: 24 JAN 2018 5:47PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today presented the National Bravery Awards to 18 children. Three of these awards were presented posthumously.
Interacting with the awardees, the Prime Minister said their deeds of bravery are discussed extensively, and also highlighted by the media. Therefore, he added, they inspire other children, and often engender a sense of self-confidence among other children.

The Prime Minister remarked that most of the awardees are from rural and humble backgrounds. He said that perhaps their daily struggles had helped instil resilience in them, to deal courageously in adverse situations.

The Prime Minister congratulated all the award winners, their parents and schoolteachers. He also appreciated those, who recorded their instances of bravery, and helped draw attention to them.

Shri Narendra Modi said that after such recognition, future expectations from the awardees become higher than usual. He wished them well in their future endeavours.

The Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Gandhi, was present on the occasion.


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Ministry of Finance
Grant of Presidential Award of Appreciation Certificate to 44 Officials of the Customs & Central Excise on the Eve of Republic Day, 2018
Posted On: 24 JAN 2018 12:16PM by PIB Delhi

Every year, the officers and staff of the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) Department are considered for grant of Presidential Award of Appreciation Certificate for ‘exceptionally meritorious service rendered at the risk of life’ and for Presidential Award of Appreciation Certificate for ‘specially distinguished record of service’ on their achieving and maintaining excellence in the discharge of their duties. These awards are announced on the eve of Republic Day.

This year, 44 officials have been selected for grant of Presidential Award of Appreciation Certificate for ‘Specially distinguished record of service’.

These Awardees have been selected on the basis of their exemplary and flawless performance in their respective field of services over the years. The awardees selected this year include the officers and staff working as Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners, Directors/Additional Directors/Additional Commissioners, Deputy/Assistant Commissioners, Superintendents/SIOs, Sr. Private Secretary/ Private Secretary, Inspectors/IOs, Drivers who have been consistently and fully committed to the Department in various fields.

The Awardees’ performance in various fields includes the prevention of smuggling of contrabands and Narcotics Drugs, detection of tax evasion and trade based money laundering, detection of foreign exchange violations by booking / arresting the offenders and seizing the smuggled goods upgradation of anti-smuggling equipment and streamlining enforcement procedures etc. in the department. Besides, many awardees have shown their brilliance and given laudable performance in other fields as varied as tax policy, revenue mobilization, development of software for automation of Customs, Central Excise/Tax & CGST formations, reducing litigations and dispute resolution, effective defence of cases in the Tribunals and High Courts, capacity building and training, as well as skillful handling of administrative work.

The list of Awardees, along with their designation and their present place of posting, who have been selected for grant of the Presidential Award of Appreciation Certificate for ‘Specially distinguished record of service’, on the occasion of Republic Day, 2018 is given below:

PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONERS/COMMISSIONERS

1. Shri Shashank Priya, Joint Secretary, Goods and Service Tax (GST) Council, New Delhi.

2. Ms. Neeta Lall Butalia, Additional Director General, Directorate General of Vigilance

(DGoV), New Delhi.

3. Shri Bijoy Kumar Kar, Commissioner, Belagavi, Bangalore Central Excise/Tax & GST Zone.

  1. Ms. Seema Jere Bisht, Additional Director General, Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management (DGARM), Mumbai.
  2. Shri Yogendra Garg, Additional Director General, National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics (NACIN), Centre of Excellence, New Delhi.
  3. Shri Vivek Chaturvedi, Additional Director General, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI) (Hqrs.), New Delhi.
  4. Ms. Bandhana Deori, Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Shillong Zone, Shillong.
DIRECTORS/ADDITIONALDIRECTORS/ADDITIONALCOMMISSIONERS/JOINTCOMMISSIONERS

8. Shri K. Ramakrishnan, Additional Director, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI), Zonal Unit, Chennai.

9. Shri Avinash Pushkarna, Additional Commissioner, Customs Zone, New Delhi.

  1. Dr. T.Tiju, Additional Commissioner, Central Tax/Excise/GST & Customs, Thiruvananthapuram Zone.
  2. Shri Satyajit Mohanty, Director, International Customs Division, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), New Delhi.
  3. Shri Prashant Kumar, Additional Director, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI), Zonal Unit, Mumbai.
  4. Shri Kunduru S.V.V. Prasad, Joint Director, Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Chennai.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS/ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS

  1. Shri Rohit Anand, Under Secretary (Anti-Smuggling), Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC), New Delhi.
  2. Shri Vikas Joshi, Deputy Commissioner, Customs, Central Excise/Tax & GST Zone, Jaipur.
  3. Shri A.L Srinath, Assistant Director, Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence (DGGSTI), Zonal Unit, Bangalore.
  4. Shri P. Prasad, Assistant Director, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI), Cochin Regional Unit, Zonal Unit, Bangalore.
  5. Shri Arvind Malhotra, Assistant Commissioner, Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS), New Delhi.
  6. Shri Swapan Kumar Nath, Assistant Director, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI) (Hqrs.), New Delhi.
  7. Ms. Veenapani Evarani Bansingh, Assistant Director (OL), Chief Commissioner Office, Rajbhasha Cell, Delhi Zone, New Delhi.
SUPERINTENDENTS / SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS

  1. Shri Manindra Sarania, Superintendent, Guwahati Customs Division, Shillong Zone, Shillong.
  2. Shri N. Siva Kumar, Senior Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence (DGGSTI), Zonal Unit, Hyderabad.
  3. Shri Neeraj Garg, Additional Assistant Director, Directorate General of Human Resource Development (DGHRD), New Delhi.
  4. Shri Gopal Charan Bahubalendra, Senior Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence (DGGSTI), Rourkela Regional Unit, Zonal Unit, Bhubaneswar.
25. Shri Bharat Laxmanrao Gade, Superintendent, Mumbai Customs Zone-I, Mumbai.

26. Ms. Bharati Singh, Superintendent, Kolkata Customs Zone, Kolkata.

  1. Shri Ravi Prakash Srivastava, Superintendent, Service Tax Policy Wing, Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC), New Delhi.
  2. Shri Anil Manchanda, Senior Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence (DGGSTI), Rohtak Regional Unit, Zonal Unit, Delhi.
  3. Shri Mubeen Ahmed Juvale, Senior Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI), Zonal Unit, Mumbai.
  4. Shri Rashid Ashraf Wani, Senior Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI), Srinagar Regional Unit, Zonal Unit, Ludhiana.
  5. Shri Saumyes Gobinda Sen, Senior Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI), Zonal Unit, Kolkata.
  6. Shri Akif Hussain Raja, Superintendent, Mumbai Central Excise/Tax & GST Zone, Mumbai.
  7. Shri Allen Rajesh Vas, Senior Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence (DGGSTI), Mangalore Regional Unit, Zonal Unit, Belagavi.
  8. Shri M.I. Ramachandran, Senior Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI), Zonal Unit, Mumbai.
  9. Shri Ranjeet Singh, Senior Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI), Jammu Regional Unit, Zonal Unit, Ludhiana.
  10. Shri Ripu Sudan Kumar, Senior Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence (DGGSTI), Zonal Unit, Pune.
  11. Shri Ningombam Meiraba, Superintendent, Customs (Preventive) Division Imphal, Shillong Zone, Shillong.
  12. Shri X. Sadeesh Kumar, Senior Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI), Tuticorin Regional Unit, Zonal Unit, Chennai.
MINISTERIAL OFFICERS

  1. Shri Hari Charan Sahoo, Senior Private Secretary, Office of Chief Commissioner of GST, Central Excise & Customs, Bhubaneswar Zone, Bhubaneswar.
  2. Ms. Sudha Saini, Private Secretary, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI), Zonal Unit, Lucknow.
INSPECTORS/INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS

  1. Shri Sushant Harsh Sabat, Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI), Zonal Unit, Ahmedabad.
DRIVER

  1. Shri Nand Kishore Meena, Driver Special Grade, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI) (Hqrs.), New Delhi.
43. Shri Chinta Mani Bansal, Driver Grade-I, Delhi Customs Zone, New Delhi.

HEAD HAVALDAR

  1. Shri Shyam Sahana, Head Havaldar, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DGRI), Zonal Unit, Kolkata.
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Ministry of Home Affairs
795 Police Officers get Republic Day Police Medals
Posted On: 24 JAN 2018 3:16PM by PIB Delhi

A total of 795 Police personnel have been awarded Medals on the occasion of the Republic Day this year. Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG) have been awarded to 107 personnel, President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service to 75 personnel and Police Medal for Meritorious Service to 613 personnel.

Among the 107 Gallantry Awards, 66 are from J&K theatre, 35 from the areas affected by Left Wing Extremism and three from the North-East Region. Among the personnel receiving Gallantry Awards, 38 are from J&K Police, 35 from CRPF and 10 from Chhattisgarh. This year five Officers from the Indian Police Service will receive the Police Medal for Gallantry.

Tighter norms have been used to select awardees for the President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service and Police Medal for Meritorious Service this year.

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Ministry of Home Affairs
44 persons get Jeevan Raksha Padak Awards – 2017

Posted On: 24 JAN 2018 3:03PM by PIB Delhi

The President of India has approved the conferment of Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards – 2017 on 44 persons which includes Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak to 07, Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak to 13 and Jeevan Raksha Padak to 24 persons. 07 awards are posthumous. The details are as under:-








Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak





  1. Shri F. Lalchhandama (Posthumous), Mizoram
  2. Shri Bablu Martin (Posthumous), Madhya Pradesh
  3. Shri K. Pugazendy (Posthumous), Puducherry
  4. Master Supreet Rathi (Posthumous), Delhi
  5. Shri Deepak Sahu (Posthumous), Madhya Pradesh
  6. Shri Satyavir (Posthumous), Delhi
  7. Shri Basant Verma (Posthumous), Madhya Pradesh







Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak





  1. Shri Sheikh Salim Gafur, Gujarat
  2. Shri Ravi Gorle, Andhra Pradesh
  3. Shri Rajendra Tukaram Gurav, Maharashtra
  4. Dr. Suneem Ahmad Khan, Jammu & Kashmir
  5. Shri B. Laltlanthanga, Mizoram
  6. Shri Lianhmingthanga, Mizoram
  7. Master Pankaj Mahanta, Odisha
  8. Shri Ameen Muhammed, Kerala
  9. Shri Bhanu Chandra Pandey, Maharashtra
  10. Smt. Reena Patel, Madhya Pradesh
  11. Shri Sujan Singh, Himachal Pradesh
  12. Shri Satyen Singh, Karnataka
  13. Master Zonuntluanga, Mizoram




Jeevan Raksha Padak





  1. Shri Hariom Singh Bais, Madhya Pradesh
  2. Shri Abin Chacko, Kerala
  3. Kum. Mamata Dalai, Odisha
  4. Master Abhay Das, Kerala
  5. Master Chirayu Gupta, Uttar Pradesh
  6. Shri Gaius James, Andaman and Nicobar
  7. Master Stephen Joseph, Kerala
  8. Master Hareesh K.H., Kerala
  9. Master Nishanth K.U., Karnataka
  10. Shri Pradeep Kumar, Delhi
  11. Shri Sachin Kumar, Uttar Pradesh
  12. Master John Lalditsak, Manipur
  13. Shri Pravin Kumar Mishra, Madhya Pradesh
  14. Shri Madan Mohan, Punjab
  15. Smt. Rajasree R. Nair, Kerala
  16. Shri Narender, Madhya Pradesh
  17. Master Tambe Pranay Rahul, Maharashtra
  18. Shri Sourabh Singh Rajput, Madhya Pradesh
  19. Shri Nimma Veera Venkata Ramana, Andhra Pradesh
  20. Kum. Yamini Sahu, Chhattisgarh
  21. Shri Prabhakar Gangadhar Sathe, Maharashtra
  22. Shri Surendra Sharma, Madhya Pradesh
  23. Shri Puran Mal Verma, West Bengal
  24. Master Zairemtluanga, Mizoram




2. Jeevan Raksha Padak series of awards are given to a person for meritorious act of humane nature in saving the life of a person. The award is given in three categories, namely, Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak and Jeevan Raksha Padak. Persons of either sex in all walks of life are eligible for these awards. The award can also be conferred posthumously.





3. The decoration of the award (medal, certificate signed by the Home Minister and lump sum monetary allowance) is presented to the awardee in due course by the respective State Government to which the awardee belongs.





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Hindustani78

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Ministry of Tourism
‘BHARAT PARV’ being organized from 26th to 31st January, 2018 at Red Fort, Delhi

Posted On: 24 JAN 2018 11:39AM by PIB Delhi

The ‘Bharat Parv’ event is being organized by the Government of India at the Red Fort, Delhi from 26th to 31st January, 2018 as part of the Republic Day 2018 celebrations. The prime objective of organizing the event is to generate a patriotic mood, promote the rich cultural diversity of the country and to ensure wider participation of the general public.


The Ministry of Tourism has been designated as the nodal Ministry for the event, the highlights of which include Display of Republic Day Parade Tableaux, Performances by the Armed Forces Bands (Static as well as dynamic), a Multi-Cuisine Food Court, Craft Mela, Cultural Performances from different regions of the country and Photo Exhibition by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP).


The Cultural Performances include choreographed Fork/ Tribal Dances and Music arranged through the North Zonal Cultural Centre as well as performances by cultural troupes from the different States / UTs of the country. The Food Court will have stalls set up by the States/ UTs, National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) showcasing street food from different regions as well as by the Institutes of Hotel Managements and ITDC.


The Craft Mela with 50 stalls will showcase the diverse handicrafts of the country, arranged by the State Governments and Ministry of Textiles through the office of the Development Commissioner of Handicrafts. There will be Theme State Pavilions where each State would showcase their strengths along with tourism products. DAVP is also setting up an exhibition on the theme “Naya Bharat Hum Karke Rahenge”. A live ‘Cookery Demonstration Area’ is being set up in the food court to promote cuisines of different States of India.


The Bharat Parv event will be inaugurated at 5.00 pm on 26th January, 2018 and would be open for public till 10.00 pm. From 27th to 31st January, 2018, the event will be open from 12 Noon to 10.00 pm. The event is open for public and entry is free. However, identity proof is to be carried for entry to the event.





*****
 

Hindustani78

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  1. 1 / 14
    Amidst mild drizzle and fog in various parts of the capital, a full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade was held on Tuesday. The ceremonial parade on January 26 is slated to begin at 9:50 am from Vijay Chowk and proceed towards the Red Fort Grounds through Rajpath, India Gate, Tilak Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Netaji Subhash Marg. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

  1. 2 / 14
    Taking note of the rehearsal, entry and exit to many metro stations in Lutyens' Delhi were restricted. On the Republic Day, entry and exit will be closed at Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan metro stations from midnight till 12.30 pm on January 26. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

  1. 3 / 14
    Vehicular movement on these roads were also restricted as the parade passed through Rajpath. Light showers along with traffic disruptions added to the woes of commuters in the region. A commuter was quoted by PTI as saying, "I have my office near Patel Chowk, but since the metro exit was closed, I had to go to Rajiv Chowk metro station. From there I had to walk to my office, but rain compounded the problem." (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

  1. 4 / 14
    The rehearsal began at 9.50 am from Vijay Chowk and proceeded towards the Red Fort Grounds through the Rajpath, India Gate, Tilak Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Netaji Subhash Marg. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

  1. 5 / 14
    As per the Delhi Traffic Police, the full dress rehearsal led to a major traffic blockage in areas such as Connaught Place, Dhaula Kuan, ITO, Tilak Marg. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

  1. 6 / 14
    The parade began with winners of gallantry awards saluting the President in open military jeeps, which is then followed by the display of various weapons such as tanks, missiles added to the arsenal of the military. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

  1. 7 / 14
    As per rituals, the ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the wreath at the Amar Jyoti Jawan at India Gate in memory of all the martyrs who laid their lives for the nation. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

8 / 14
Considered as the grandest event of the year, Republic Day parade in New Delhi have always portrayed the multi-hued image of the country's rich cultural heritage and military capabilities. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)
 

Hindustani78

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  1. 9 / 14
    The motive behind the parade is to pay tribute to our martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for the nation and also confer gallantry awards to various individuals including children for their contribution at the time of adversity. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

  1. 10 / 14
    Based on the individual's contribution, they receive awards such as the Paramvir Chakra, Ashok Chakra and Vir Chakra at the ceremony. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

  1. 11 / 14
    The parade includes march-past of different regiments of the armed forces, police, Home Guards and National Cadet Corps. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

  1. 12 / 14
    As the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, President Ramnath Kovind will be the one taking salutes from various regiments. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

  1. 13 / 14
    Our Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and it came into effect on January 26, 1950. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

14 / 14
This year, the Republic Day celebrations will see leaders of ASEAN countries as chief guests. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)
 

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The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind addressing the Nation on the eve of the 69th Republic Day, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


President's Secretariat
25-January, 2018 19:38 IST
Address by the President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind on the eve of the Republic Day of India 2018
My Dear Fellow Citizens




  1. Greetings to all of you on the eve of our 69th Republic Day. This is a day for all of us to celebrate and honour our nation and our sovereignty. This is a day to remember with gratitude the enormous efforts and sacrifices of millions of freedom fighters whose blood and sweat gave us Independence and created our Republic. Above all, this is a day to cherish our republican values.


  1. A Republic is its people. Citizens do not just make up and preserve a Republic; they are its ultimate stakeholders and in fact pillars. Each one of us is a pillar – the soldier who defends our Republic; the farmer who feeds our Republic; the forces that keep our Republic safe; the mother who nurtures our Republic; the doctor who heals our Republic; the nurse who tends to our Republic; the sanitation worker who makes our Republic cleaner and hygienic; the teacher who educates our Republic; the scientist who innovates for our Republic; the missile technologist who puts our Republic on a new trajectory; the wise tribal who conserves the ecology of our Republic; the engineer who re-imagines our Republic; the construction worker who builds our Republic; senior citizens who can look back with pride at how far they have brought our Republic; the youth in whom lie the energy, hopes and future of our Republic; and our dear children, who dream for our Republic.


  1. There are so many more who contribute to our Republic in diverse ways and whom I may have missed mentioning. Happy Republic Day to all of you.


  1. India became a Republic on January 26, 1950. This was the second major milestone in our nation building process. Independence had come a little over two years earlier. But it was with the framing and adoption of the Constitution – and the birth of the Republic of India – that we truly achieved the ethic of equality among all citizens, irrespective of religion, region or community. This ethic of equality complemented the liberty that had come at Independence. And a third principle also defined both the cooperative efforts at creating our Republic as well as the India that we wished to be. This was the principle of fraternity.


  1. Independence had come after a great struggle in which millions had participated. They gave their all; many gave their lives. Inspired and led by Mahatma Gandhi, the men and women who took us to freedom could have rested on the gaining of Independence. They could have let down their guard, and remained satisfied with political freedom. But they did not rest. Instead, they re-doubled their efforts. They immersed themselves in the process of writing a Constitution. They saw the Constitution not just as a basic law for a new nation, but as a scripture for social transformation.


  1. Our Constitution framers were men and women with great foresight. They understood the majesty of the rule of law, and of rule by laws. They represented an important phase in our national life. We are fortunate to have inherited its legacy in the form of the Constitution and the Republic.


FELLOW CITIZENS

  1. The lessons from that formative period, the period that gave shape to our Republic, serve us well to this day. They serve us well in whatever we do, wherever we work, whichever goal we aim for. These lessons continue to spur our nation building project. Nation building is a grand project. But it is also the compilation of a million – rather, a billion – smaller projects, each as sacred as the other. Nation building is also about building a family, building a neighbourhood, building a community, building an enterprise, building an institution. And building society.


  • A happy and equal-opportunity nation is built by happy and equal-opportunity families and communities. Families where girls have the same rights and the same access to education and healthcare as boys. Governments can bring in policies and laws to ensure justice to women – but these policies and laws can only be made effective by families and communities that must hear the voices of our daughters. We cannot shut our ears to their urgings for change.


  • A confident and forward-looking nation is built by confident and forward-looking young people. Over 60 per cent of our fellow citizens are below the age of 35. It is in them that our hopes lie. We have made strides in spreading literacy; now we must expand the frontiers of education and of knowledge. Our aspiration must be to reform, upgrade and enlarge our education system – and to make it relevant to 21st century realities of the digital economy, genomics, robotics and automation.


Many programmes and initiatives have been launched to equip our youth with the education and skills to compete in a globalised world. Sizeable resources have been set aside for these programmes. It is for our talented young people to make the most of these opportunities.



  • An innovative nation is built by innovative children. This must be our obsessive goal. Our schooling system has to encourage our children to think and to tinker, not just to memorise and reproduce. We have made strides in tackling hunger, but the challenge of malnutrition and of bringing the right micronutrients to the plate of every child is still there. This is important for both physical and cognitive development of our children – and for the future of our country. We simply have to invest in our human capital.


  • A civic-minded nation is built by civic-minded neighbourhoods, whether in our cities or our villages. Where we respect the next-door person’s space, privacy and rights. Where we do not inconvenience our neighbours – while celebrating a festival or while resorting to a protest or on any other occasion. Where one can disagree with another viewpoint – or even with a historical context - without mocking a fellow citizen’s dignity and personal space. This is fraternity in action.


  • A nation with a sense of selflessness is built by citizens and by a society that embraces selflessness. Where voluntary groups clean public places such as beaches and rivers. And care for orphaned children and homeless people, and even for homeless animals. Where we donate blood or a body organ to help a fellow citizen who may be a stranger to us. Where idealistic individuals travel to remote places to teach children, and change their lives with the magic of education. They do so not because anybody has asked them to, but because of a call from within.


Where a better-off family voluntarily gives up an entitlement – it could be subsidised LPG today and some other entitlement tomorrow – so that another family, which has a greater need, can avail it. Let us all collate our privileges and entitlements. And then look at less-privileged members of a similar background, those who are starting off from where we once started off. And let each of us introspect and ask: Is his need or her need greater than mine? The spirit of philanthropy and of giving is part of our age-old culture. Let us renew it.



  • A culturally vibrant nation is built by a collective will that cherishes and preserves cultural traditions, art forms and handicrafts. Whether these be folk theatre artistes, traditional musicians, weavers and handloom workers, or those whose families have been hand-making marvellous wooden toys for centuries. Or day-to-day articles made of bamboo.


  • A disciplined and morally upright nation is built by disciplined and morally upright institutions. Institutions that respect their fraternal relationship with other institutions. Institutions that maintain the integrity, discipline and limits of their functioning, without compromising on excellence. Institutions that are always more important than the individuals located there. And institutions where the holders and members make every attempt to live up to the office they occupy as trustees of the people.


  1. And of course the highest stage of India’s nation building project is to contribute to building a better world – a composite and cohesive world, a world at peace with itself and at peace with nature. This is the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – of the World being One Family. It is an ideal that may sound impractical in today’s times of tensions and of terrorism. But it is an ideal that has inspired India for thousands of years – and that ideal can be felt in the very texture of our constitutional values. The principles of compassion, of assisting those in need, of building capacities of our neighbours, or even of those further away, underpin our society. These are the very principles that we bring to the international community.


  1. Such principles are also meant for our global Indian family. When Indians living abroad face humanitarian or similar challenges, it is natural for us as a country to reach out to them. We have, and we will continue to do so.


FELLOW CITIZENS

  1. I referred earlier to that glorious period between Independence and our first Republic Day. This was a period of constant striving – of dedication, determination and commitment to improving our country. And setting right the aberrations of our society. Today, we are at a similar juncture. We have achieved a lot as a nation, but much remains to be done. We need to work on this in the spirit of the generation that gave us our Republic.


  1. In 2020, our Republic will turn 70. In 2022, we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of our Independence. These are special occasions and we must strive, in the manner of the leaders of our national movement and the framers of our Constitution, to build the edifice of a better India – an India where each and every citizen will be able to realise his or her full potential. An India that will reach its deserved pedestal in the 21st century.


  1. We need to further improve the lives of our hardworking farmers. Like mothers, they toil to feed us – more than a billion of us. We need to continue to modernise and strengthen our strategic manufacturing sector so as to provide the valiant personnel of our Armed Forces, and our police and paramilitary forces, the equipment that they need. We need to move ahead rapidly on the Sustainable Development Goals – Goals that commit us to eliminating poverty and hunger, to universal access to quality education and healthcare, and to giving our daughters equal opportunity in every field. We need to make clean, green, efficient and affordable energy reach our people. We need to ensure that housing for all becomes a living reality for the millions of families who await their own home. We need to craft a modern India that is both a land of talent – and a land of unlimited opportunities for that talent.


  1. Above all, our Republic cannot rest and cannot be satisfied without meeting the basic needs and essential dignity of our less well-off brothers and sisters. I refer to those from a less privileged socio-economic background, from the weaker communities and from families that still live at the edge of poverty. It is our sacred obligation to eliminate the curse of poverty in the shortest possible time. This is non-negotiable for the Republic.


FELLOW CITIZENS

  1. The promise of a developed India beckons us. This is the new stage of our nation building project on which we have embarked. This is the Republic that our young people need to take forward and enhance – in keeping with their vision, their ambition and their ideals. And their vision, ambition and ideals, I am confident, will always draw inspiration from both our republican values – as well as from our ancient Indian ethos.


  1. With those words, I once again wish all of you a very happy Republic Day. And wish all of you a very bright and fulfilling future.


Thank you
JAI HIND!

***

Vice President's Secretariat
25-January, 2018 17:51 IST
Vice President greets people on the eve of Republic Day

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has greeted the people on the joyous occasion of Republic Day. In a message, he said that the celebrations reaffirm our commitment towards our Constitution and revalidate our faith in the cherished ideals of liberty, equality, fraternity and justice for all.


Following is the text of Vice President’s message:


“I convey my warm greetings and best wishes to all our citizens on the joyous occasion of Republic Day.


Republic Day Celebrations reaffirm our commitment towards our Constitution and revalidate our faith in the cherished ideals of liberty, equality, fraternity and justice for all, as enshrined in our Constitution.


On this joyous occasion, let us celebrate the achievements of our country and solemnly resolve to dedicate ourselves towards building a peaceful, harmonious and progressive India.”



 
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Hindustani78

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The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore lighting the lamp at the N.S.S. Republic Day Parade Camp - 2018, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.



The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore lighting the lamp at the N.S.S. Republic Day Parade Camp - 2018, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018. The Secretary, Youth Affairs, Dr. A.K. Dubey and other dignitaries are also seen.



The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore at the N.S.S. Republic Day Parade Camp - 2018, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018. The Secretary, Youth Affairs, Dr. A.K. Dubey is also seen.



The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore addressing at the N.S.S. Republic Day Parade Camp - 2018, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018. The Secretary, Youth Affairs, Dr. A.K. Dubey and other dignitaries are also seen.




The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore at the N.S.S. Republic Day Parade Camp - 2018, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.




The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore at the N.S.S. Republic Day Parade Camp - 2018, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.

 

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr. Prayut Chan-o-cha, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr. Prayut Chan-o-cha, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.









The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


 

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The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu meeting the Children who have been conferred the ‘National Bravery Awards 2017’, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

 

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc witnessing the exchange of agreements, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.


The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc signing the visitors’ book, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi is also seen.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc witnessing the exchange of agreements, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other dignitaries, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other dignitaries, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.
 

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the President of Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the President of Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the President of Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the President of Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the President of Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte witnessing the exchange of agreements, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the President of Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018.



The President of Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte signing the visitors’ book, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on January 24, 2018. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi is also seen.

 

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The President of Indonesia, Mr. Joko Widodo being received by the Minister of State for Women & Child Development and Minority Affairs, Dr. Virendra Kumar, on his arrival in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.



The Director General, AIR, Shri F. Sheheryar addressing a Press Conference regarding Tableau of All India Radio for the Republic Day pageant 2018, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

The Director General, AIR, Shri F. Sheheryar addressing a Press Conference regarding Tableau of All India Radio for the Republic Day pageant 2018, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

 

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The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the Prime Minister of Laos, Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr. Hun Sen, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the Sultan of Brunei, Mr. Hassanal Bolkiah, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the President of Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the ASEAN Heads of State/Governments, their spouses and Secretary General to mark the 25th year of the ASEAN-India partnership, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

 

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President's Secretariat
25-January, 2018 15:03 IST
President of India Receives Asean Heads of State and Government at Rashtrapati Bhavan today; Says India Greatly Values Asean’s Role as a Proponent of Peace, Stability and Prosperity in the Region


The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, received the ASEAN Heads of State and Government at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (January 25, 2018) and hosted a lunch in their honour.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that India-ASEAN relations have come a long way since we established our Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN on January 28, 1992. Today, ASEAN is a Strategic Partner for India. We have 30 dialogue mechanisms between India and ASEAN, including Annual Summits and 7 Ministerial Meetings in a wide range of sectors.

The President said that India’s “Act East policy” reinforces our ancient links with Southeast Asia through enhanced political, security, economic and cultural ties. In this context, India greatly values ASEAN’s role as a proponent of peace, stability and prosperity in the region. We iterate our support to ASEAN’s unity and centrality. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with ASEAN in pursuit of a rules-based regional architecture that is open, inclusive, balanced and equitable.

The President said that India and ASEAN are bound by history and by geography. Culture, commerce and connectivity – and ideas and thought - have woven us together in one common fabric. Our partnership is based on our shared heritage and is built on the foundation of strong people-to-people contacts, nurtured through the millennia. The theme of the Commemorative Summit, “Shared Values, Common Destiny”, is reflective of our desire to work for a shared future.

The 10 ASEAN Heads of State and Government who visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan today are Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei; President Joko Widodo of Indonesia; President Rodrigo Roa Duterte of Philippines; Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia; Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore; Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Md. Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia; Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha of Thailand; State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar; Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam; and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Lao PDR. These leaders are in India to attend the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit. They will be Guests of Honour at India’s 69th Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

*****

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.



The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr. Prayut Chan-o-cha, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the President of Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.



The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.



The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of Laos, Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.
 

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Sultan of Brunei, Mr. Hassanal Bolkiah, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr. Hun Sen, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.



The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the President of Indonesia, Mr. Joko Widodo, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.
 

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Prime Minister's Office25-January, 2018 22:10 IST
Text of Opening remarks by the PM at the Plenary Session of the INDIA- ASEAN Commemorative Summit, 25 January 2018

Your Excellency Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Your Majesty,
Excellencies,


I am delighted to welcome you all to the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit.

Though we are celebrating 25 years of our partnership, our shared voyage goes back thousands of years.

It is a privilege for India to host all the ASEAN Leaders for the second time in five years. Tomorrow, you will be our honoured Guests at our Republic Day celebrations. The presence of my brothers and sisters from all our ASEAN partners at this joyous celebration is unprecedented.

Your collective presence here has also touched the hearts of my 1.25 billion fellow Indians.

It highlights the importance of our Strategic Partnership, placing ASEAN at the centre of India’s Act East Policy.

Our friendship has been nurtured by our shared cultural and civilizational linkages. The Ramayana, the ancient Indian epic, continues to be a valuable shared legacy in ASEAN and the Indian subcontinent.

We have organised a Ramayana Festival with troupes from ASEAN countries, to showcase our common cultural treasure through this great epic.

Other major religions, including Buddhism, also bind us closely. Islam, in many parts of South East Asia has distinctive Indian connections going back several centuries.

We have also jointly released a set of commemorative stamps, to celebrate our common heritage.



Your Majesty, Excellencies,

This Summit is the grand finale of our joint year-long commemorative activities, organized in India and in ASEAN countries, which provides us a valuable opportunity to review our journey so far and chart our future path.

This objective, in my view, is best served through free and friendly discussion among us.


Your Majesty, Excellencies,
Since 1992, our partnership has evolved from sectoral dialogue to strategic partnership. Today, we have thirty sectoral dialogue mechanisms and seven ministerial level interactions, in addition to annual Summit meetings.

We have made excellent progress in implementing the objectives of the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity, through five year plans of action.

The progress in implementing our third Action Plan for the period 2016-2020 is commendable.

Capacity building projects have been undertaken through the ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund, the ASEAN-India Green Fund, and ASEAN-India Science and Technology Fund.



Your Majesty, Excellencies,

India shares ASEAN’s vision of peace and prosperity through a rules-based order for the oceans and seas. Respect for international law, notably UNCLOS is critical for this.

We remain committed to work with ASEAN to enhance practical cooperation and collaboration in our shared maritime domain.

During the Retreat Session, we had an opportunity to discuss ASEAN-India cooperation in maritime domain, as one of the key focus areas for growth and development of the Indo-Pacific region.

Indeed, Maritime cooperation has been an integral part of our discourse throughout our commemorative activities, with the theme resonating in the ASEAN India Connectivity Summit, in the Workshop on Blue Economy, as well as in regular dialogue mechanisms.

Humanitarian and Disaster Relief efforts, Security cooperation, and Freedom of Navigation will be key focus areas for our Maritime cooperation.

The Connectivity Summit was also an affirmation of the linkages that India shares with ASEAN through land, air, maritime, cultural, civilizational and people-to-people relations that date back centuries.



Your Majesty, Excellencies,
Information and Communications Technology will forge new bonds of digital connectivity among us.


These could include new areas of cooperation in a regional high-capacity fiber optic network, and a national rural broadband networks to digitally connect remote areas.

India offers to undertake a pilot project on rural connectivity, which would create digital villages in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam. Success of this project could be replicated in other ASEAN countries.

We also offer a training programme on Telecom and Networking Technologies, to share best practices in Policy, Regulation and Technological Development for Information and Communication Technology professionals from ASEAN countries.

In order to deepen our understanding and cooperation in financial matters, I propose a dialogue on digital financial inclusion and investment promotion and infrastructure.


Combating terror financing jointly is yet another important area where we could work collectively.


Your Majesty, Excellencies,
Our 70 billion dollars trade has grown 25 times over 25 years. Investments from ASEAN and India are robust and growing.

We will continue to work with ASEAN to further enhance our trade ties, and facilitate interactions among our business community.

The success of recent events like the Business & Investment Meet and Expo, the ASEAN India Business Council Meeting, the Biznet Conference, the Start-up Festival and Hackathon and an ICT Expo have shown encouraging results.

We hope that our Project Development Fund and Quick Impact Projects will help our companies integrate into regional value chains, particularly in textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals agro-processing and electronics.


Your Majesty, Excellencies,
People to people connectivity have been the foundation of our close ties for hundreds of years.

The Indian Diaspora has settled far and wide in Southeast Asia. They are warmly accepted in the local community.

Earlier this month, the ASEAN-India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Singapore recognised their contribution in forging closer ties between us.

Held at the same time in New Delhi, in the first Conference of Members of Parliament and Mayors with Indian heritage, there was a large representation from ASEAN countries.

To build on our historical bonds, I propose that we declare 2019 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism. We could set up tangible and intangible cultural heritage circuits to further promote tourism.

The Buddhist Tourism circuit could be an important part of this to attract tourists and pilgrims from our region.



Your Majesty, Excellencies,
India has participated in restoration works to historical structures which attest our enduring civilizational bonds.

It was a privilege for India to play a role in conservation works of temples in Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao PDR and Vietnam.


A virtual knowledge portal of ASEAN India network of Museums could curate this shared heritage.

An important focus of our commemorative events celebrates the power of our youth, our future.

The Youth Summit, the Artist Residency, the Music Festival, and the Start Up Festival for digital commerce among our youth were intended for this. We have given a boost to their spirit by giving Youth Awards on 24th January.

To further empower our youth in our region, I have the pleasure to announce 1000 Fellowships to students and researchers from ASEAN countries for studying integrated PhD programmes in Indian Institutes of Technology, India’s premier institutions of imparting knowledge.

We would also like to offer dedicated training courses at the Indian Academy of Highway Engineers for ASEAN Highway Professionals.

I also propose that we set up a network of Universities to encourage greater inter-university exchanges.



Your Majesty, Excellencies,
In conclusion, let me again join my people in expressing our profound appreciation to each one of you for kindly accepting my invitation and for joining us at this Commemorative Summit.

*******************

Prime Minister's Office
25-January, 2018 11:31 IST
“ASEAN–India poised for new synergy of robust cooperation and promising future”: Lee Hseing Loong ;

PM hails article by ASEAN Chair Singapore’s PM, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has hailed the article by ASEAN Chair Singapore’s PM, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong.

PM Said, “A wonderful article by ASEAN Chair Singapore’s PM, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong. It beautifully covers the rich history, robust cooperation and promising future of India-ASEAN relations.”

The Visiting Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong in an op-ed titled, “Revive a millennial partnership: Singapore has played a major role in India’s closer integration with ASEAN” published in the Times of India today writes that the age old trade, commerce and cultural linkages between India and ASEAN have played a major role in giving a boost to the ties.

He writes that as we commemorate 25 years of ASEAN -India relations, India’s ties with southeast Asia date back more than 2,000 years. Ancient trade between India and countries such as Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand is well-documented. Southeast Asian cultures, traditions and languages have been profoundly influenced by these early linkages. We see Indic Hindu-Buddhist influences in historical sites such as the Angkor Temple Complex near Siem Reap in Cambodia, the Borobudor and Prambanan temples near Yogyakarta in Indonesia, and the ancient candis in Kedah in Malaysia. The Ramayana is embedded in many southeast Asian cultures, including in Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand. Singapore’s Malay name is Singapura, derived from Sanskrit and meaning ‘lion city’.

The visiting premier says that Singapore has always advocated India’s inclusion in the ASEAN community. India became an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner in 1992, a full ASEAN Dialogue Partner in 1995, and participated in the East Asia Summits (EAS) from 2005. The EAS is a key component of an open, inclusive and robust regional architecture, and the region’s main strategic leaders-led forum.

He adds that ASEAN-India relations were further elevated to a strategic partnership in 2012, the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations. Today, ASEAN and India enjoy multi-faceted cooperation across ASEAN’s political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Act East’ policy and 3-C (Commerce, Connectivity, Culture) formula for strengthening engagement with ASEAN speaks to our broad-based cooperation. We have around 30 platforms for cooperation, including an annual Leaders’ Summit and seven Ministerial Dialogues. India has participated actively in ASEAN-led platforms including the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, and the East Asia Summit.

Talking about the tare and commerce ties, he writes that with the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (AIFTA), ASEAN-India trade has risen steadily from $2.9 billion in 1993 to $58.4 billion in 2016. On the socio-cultural front, programs like the ASEAN-India Students Exchange Programs and the annual Delhi Dialogue foster closer people-to-people relations. Through these platforms, our youth, academics and businessmen get to meet, learn and deepen ties.

To mark this Silver Jubilee of ASEAN-India relations, both sides have held many commemorative activities. The recent Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Singapore recognized the contributions of the Indian diaspora. Today’s ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit marks the culmination of these celebrations. It is an honour for all the ASEAN leaders to be in New Delhi for this occasion. ASEAN leaders are also deeply honoured to be invited as chief guests at tomorrow’s 69th Republic Day Parade.

The Singapore PM writes that Major global trends are reshaping the strategic outlook, presenting both challenges and opportunities. The strategic balance is shifting. Demographic, cultural and political changes are underway in many parts of the world. The consensus on globalization and free trade is fraying, but the Asian story continues to be a positive one. We need to push on with economic integration. We must also be resolute in dealing with emerging transboundary challenges, including terrorism, cybercrime and climate change.

According to the visiting premier this geopolitical uncertainty gives new impetus to ASEAN’s cooperation with key partners like India. ASEAN and India share common interests in peace and security in the region, and an open, balanced and inclusive regional architecture. India is located strategically along major sea-lanes from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. These sea lanes are also vital trade routes for many ASEAN member states. Both sides share an interest in preserving these vital maritime conduits of trade.

Mr. Lee Hsien Loong underlines the importance and strength of ASEAN and India’s combined population of 1.8 billion which represents one quarter of the world’s population. The combined GDP exceeds $4.5 trillion. According to him, by 2025, India’s consumer market is expected to become the fifth largest in the world, while in southeast Asia middle-class households will double to 163 million. Both regions are also experiencing a demographic dividend – 60% of ASEAN’s population is below 35 years old, while India is projected to be the world’s youngest country with an average age of 29 by 2020. ASEAN and India also have fast-growing internet user bases, which will help us grow the digital economy. Against this backdrop, there is still much scope to grow India-AEAN ties – India accounted for only 2.6% of ASEAN’s external trade in 2016.

The visiting premier has suggested three promising areas of mutually beneficial collaboration.

First, ASEAN and India should redouble efforts to promote trade and investment. We need to keep existing pathways up to date and relevant, including the AIFTA. We should work together to conclude a high quality Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), surpassing the existing AIFTA. This would create an integrated Asian market comprising nearly half the world’s population and a third of the world’s GDP. Streamlining rules and regulations will stimulate investments in both directions, complement India’s ‘Act East’ policy and facilitate ‘Made in India’ exports to the region.

Second, our people will benefit greatly from greater land, air and maritime connectivity. He has appreciated India’s efforts to improve land connectivity, including the extension of the trilateral India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway, and India’s $1 billion line of credit to promote infrastructure connectivity with ASEAN. He adds that ASEAN looks forward to working closely with India to boost our physical connectivity, including by expeditiously concluding the ASEAN-India Air Transport Agreement. This will enhance people-to-people flows across the region and help both Indian and ASEAN carriers tap new and emerging markets, especially for business, investment and tourism.

Digital connectivity is another important area of cooperation, and can shape people-to-people connections for the future. India’s Aadhaar system creates many new opportunities, for instance, to harmonize India-ASEAN Fintech platforms or connect e-payment systems.

Mr. Mr. Lee Hsien Loong says that India and ASEAN continue to look for new synergies. One objective of Singapore’s chairmanship is to develop an ASEAN Smart Cities Network, and here Singapore and India are natural partners. India is rapidly urbanizing and has set itself a goal of establishing 100 smart cities. Singapore, an urbanized city-state, is ready to partner India on this journey and help develop urban solutions based on our own experience. Andhra Pradesh’s new capital city of Amaravati is one example.

The Singapore PM sums up his op-ed saying that as ASEAN chair, Singapore is committed to deepening ASEAN-India ties. If both sides use our historical and cultural links to tackle today’s challenges and build bridges for the future, our youth and next generation stand to gain the most.

*****
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in a retreat meeting with the ASEAN Heads of State/Governments, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in a retreat meeting with the ASEAN Heads of State/Governments, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.





The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in a group photograph with the ASEAN Heads of State/Governments, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in a group photograph with the ASEAN Heads of State/Governments, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.
 
Last edited:

Hindustani78

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Prime Minister's Office
25-January, 2018 09:15 IST

PM's bilateral meetings on the eve of ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit

On the eve of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit (AICS) to celebrate 25 years of India-ASEAN partnership, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had separate bilateral meetings with Her Excellency Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of Myanmar, His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam and His Excellency Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Philippines on Wednesday.

2. Prime Minister welcomed the three leaders to India for participation in the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and also for accepting the invitation to be Chief Guests at the Republic Day celebrations on 26th January this year.

3. During the meeting of Prime Minister Modi with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, discussions were held on various issues of mutual interest and ways of further strengthening our bilateral relations, including follow up on key decisions taken during the visit of the Prime Minister Modi to Myanmar in Septmber 2017.

4. In the meeting with Prime Minister Phuc, the two leaders expressed satisfaction at the growth of bilateral relations between the two countries within the framework of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including in the fields of maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, defence, oil and gas, trade and investment. The leaders agreed that The two agreements signed during this visit viz., on cooperation in the fields of Information & Broadcasting and on establishment of tracking and data reception station and data processing facility in Vietnam under the ASEAN-India Space Cooperation would give further boost to India-Vietnam relations. They expressed satisfaction at operationalisation of the Line of Credit of US $ 100 million under which L&T has been awarded contract for manufacture of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). They decided that the other Line of Credit of US $ 500 million be operationalised soon.

5. During the meeting with President Duterte, the two leaders reviewed the progress in bilateral relations and in global and regional situation since their meeting in Manila in November 2017. It was agreed to give further momentum to coperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of infrastructure development. They agreed that under India's Act East Policy and the Philippines' Build-Build-Build Programme, there are several areas for cooperation between private sectors of the two countries. The leaders also witnessed exchange of an MOU between Invest India and Board of Investments of the Philippines.

6. In all the three meetings, the visiting dignitaries underscored the importance of ASEAN-India relations for peace, security and socio-economic development in the Indo-Pacific region, and looked forward to the deliberations in the AICS.

***
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the President of Indonesia, Mr. Joko Widodo, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr. Prayut Chan-o-cha, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr. Prayut Chan-o-cha, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of Laos, Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Sultan of Brunei, Mr. Hassanal Bolkiah, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.
 

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the President of Philippines, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the ASEAN Heads of State/Governments and ASEAN Secretary General on the occasion of the release of postal stamps to commemorate silver jubilee of India and ASEAN partnership, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the ASEAN Heads of State/Governments and ASEAN Secretary General, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivering his opening remarks, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivering his opening remarks, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing the Plenary Session of ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivering his opening remarks, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.
 

Hindustani78

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing the Plenary Session of ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.



The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivering his opening remarks, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.



The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivering his opening remarks, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivering his opening remarks, at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.




The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the Plenary Session of ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the Plenary Session of ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.



The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi at the Plenary Session of ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi on January 25, 2018.

 

Hindustani78

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Ministry of Corporate Affairs
25-January, 2018 15:41 IST
On the occasion of the 69th Republic Day, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is launching the Government Process Re-engineering (GPR) initiatives for making the Incorporation Process Speedy, Smooth, Simple and reducing the number of procedures involved for starting a new Business.

Government of India is committed to achieve a position in the top 50 countries for “Doing Business” as per the rankings published annually by the World Bank. During the past 3 years. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has contributed significantly towards improvement of ranking in Ease of Doing Business in the country, but there is a lot more scope to further improve, especially with respect to starting a business.

The feedback provided by various stakeholders on the effectiveness of the implementation of initiatives taken by Government of India is considered as a major input during the survey conducted by the World Bank. During the last assessment year, this Ministry had undertaken major initiatives such as establishing the “Central Registration Centre (CRC)” for delivering speedy incorporation related services and near real time issuance of PAN & TAN through a single on-line process. This was achieved by the launch of the Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically (SPICe) which delivers five services by two different Ministries through a single form filed on the MCA21 Portal.

This year, on the occasion of 69th Republic Day, the Ministry is launching the following Government Process Re-engineering (GPR) initiatives for making the Incorporation Process Speedy, Smooth, Simple and reducing the number of procedures involved for starting a Business.

(i) Introduction of “RUN – Reserve Unique Name” Web service for name reservation, which will be launched on 26.01.2018.

(ii) Zero fee for incorporation of all companies with authorized capital upto Rs. 10 lakh.

(iii) Re-engineering the process of allotment of DIN by allotting it through the combined SPICe form only at the time of an individual’s appointment as Director (in case he/she doesn’t have a DIN).




It is expected that the above initiatives will significantly enhance the “Ease of Doing Business –Starting a Business” in the Country and benefit a large number of Stakeholders.
 
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