News Analysis India

Tag: Aatmanirbhar Bharat

  • India has never considered war first option but last resort; we believe in peace: PM Modi

    By PTI

    KARGIL: India has always viewed war as the last resort, but the armed forces have the strength and strategies to give a befitting reply to anyone who casts an evil eye on the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday.

    Addressing the armed forces here on Diwali, the prime minister also recalled his visit to this frontier region in the aftermath of the Kargil conflict in 1999 when the Indian military had “crushed the hood of terror”.

    “There has not been a single war with Pakistan when Kargil has not flown the victory flag,” he said adding that Diwali symbolised the “celebration of the end of terror”.

    “I have witnessed the Kargil war closely. It was my duty that had brought me to Kargil back then. There are many memories of that time when the sounds of victory were reverberating all around,” Modi said, continuing with the tradition set by him to celebrate Diwali at the country’s frontiers.

    “In Kargil, our armed forces had crushed the hood of terror and people still remember the Diwali that was celebrated back then,” he said.

    He said over the last eight years, the government has worked on implementing reforms in the armed forces by deploying new technologies, developing infrastructure in border areas and opening up positions for women in the forces.

    “The induction of women in the armed forces will boost our strength,” Modi said and added that reforms in the armed forces that were required for decades are now being implemented.

    The prime minister said a nation is safe when its borders are secure, economy strong and society full of confidence.

    India has been dealing with its enemies, both external and internal, with force, Modi said and recounted the steps taken to “uproot” the “terror, naxalism and extremism” from within the country.

    He said India has never viewed war as the first option. “We have always seen war as the final resort. We are in favour of global peace. But peace cannot be achieved without strength,” Modi said.

    “Our armed forces have the strategies as well as the strength. If anyone dares cast an evil eye on us, our three armed forces know very well how to give a befitting reply,” the prime minister said.

    Prime Minister Modi also said that ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ most important to the nation’s security and the country’s dependence should be minimal on foreign weapons and systems.

    Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has been visiting different military facilities to celebrate Diwali.

    KARGIL: India has always viewed war as the last resort, but the armed forces have the strength and strategies to give a befitting reply to anyone who casts an evil eye on the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday.

    Addressing the armed forces here on Diwali, the prime minister also recalled his visit to this frontier region in the aftermath of the Kargil conflict in 1999 when the Indian military had “crushed the hood of terror”.

    “There has not been a single war with Pakistan when Kargil has not flown the victory flag,” he said adding that Diwali symbolised the “celebration of the end of terror”.

    “I have witnessed the Kargil war closely. It was my duty that had brought me to Kargil back then. There are many memories of that time when the sounds of victory were reverberating all around,” Modi said, continuing with the tradition set by him to celebrate Diwali at the country’s frontiers.

    “In Kargil, our armed forces had crushed the hood of terror and people still remember the Diwali that was celebrated back then,” he said.

    He said over the last eight years, the government has worked on implementing reforms in the armed forces by deploying new technologies, developing infrastructure in border areas and opening up positions for women in the forces.

    “The induction of women in the armed forces will boost our strength,” Modi said and added that reforms in the armed forces that were required for decades are now being implemented.

    The prime minister said a nation is safe when its borders are secure, economy strong and society full of confidence.

    India has been dealing with its enemies, both external and internal, with force, Modi said and recounted the steps taken to “uproot” the “terror, naxalism and extremism” from within the country.

    He said India has never viewed war as the first option. “We have always seen war as the final resort. We are in favour of global peace. But peace cannot be achieved without strength,” Modi said.

    “Our armed forces have the strategies as well as the strength. If anyone dares cast an evil eye on us, our three armed forces know very well how to give a befitting reply,” the prime minister said.

    Prime Minister Modi also said that ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ most important to the nation’s security and the country’s dependence should be minimal on foreign weapons and systems.

    Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has been visiting different military facilities to celebrate Diwali.

  • India set to become Atmanirbhar Bharat, says Droupadi Murmu

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Indian President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday expressed hope that the country will be able to fully realise all the dreams of freedom fighters by 2047. In her address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, Murmu said, “We have given a concrete shape to the vision of those who, led by Babasaheb Ambedkar, drafted the Constitution. We are already on course to build an Aatmanirbhar Bharat — India that would realise its true potential.”

    She added: “While celebrating the Independence Day, the country is celebrating Bharatiyata. The works done with the spirit of ‘Nation First’ are reflected in every decision and every sector.” Hailing the country’s performance, she said every citizen should be aware of their fundamental duties and follow it in letter and spirit to take the nation to a new height of power and prosperity.

    The President said the keyword for today’s India is ‘compassion’ — for the downtrodden, the needy and all those on the margins of society. “When the world has been battling the economic consequences of the great crisis, India got its act together and is now moving forward. India is among the fastest growing major economies in the world,” she said.

    She added that India will realise the dreams of freedom fighters by 2047. “We will have given by 2047 a concrete shape to the vision of those who, led by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedakar, drafted the Constitution,” the President said, hailing the government’s decision to observe Nov. 15 as Janajatiya Gaurav Divas as a welcome decision.

    The President said when India won independence, there were many international leaders and experts who were sceptical about the success of the democratic form of government in India due to poverty and illiteracy at that time.

    “But we Indians proved the sceptics wrong. Democracy not only grew roots in this soil, it was enriched too,” she said as she asked citizens to pledge to give everything for the sake of the safety, security, progress and prosperity of the country. She also lauded India for crossing the 200-crore mark in cumulative vaccine coverage, and said India’s confidence is reflected in the spirit of its youth, its farmers and above all, its women.

    Describing girls as the biggest hope for the nation, the President said that they are scaling great heights, becoming pilots and space scientists. She also called upon the countrymen for conserving water, soil and bio-diversity as part oftheir duty towards the nation and children.

    “Our country is full of diversity. But at the same time, all of us have something in common. It is this common thread that binds all of us together and inspires us to walk with the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat’,” she said. India has helped the world discover the true potential of democracy and the keyword for the country today is compassion for the downtrodden, needy and those on the margins, she added.

    NEW DELHI:  Indian President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday expressed hope that the country will be able to fully realise all the dreams of freedom fighters by 2047. In her address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, Murmu said, “We have given a concrete shape to the vision of those who, led by Babasaheb Ambedkar, drafted the Constitution. We are already on course to build an Aatmanirbhar Bharat — India that would realise its true potential.”

    She added: “While celebrating the Independence Day, the country is celebrating Bharatiyata. The works done with the spirit of ‘Nation First’ are reflected in every decision and every sector.” Hailing the country’s performance, she said every citizen should be aware of their fundamental duties and follow it in letter and spirit to take the nation to a new height of power and prosperity.

    The President said the keyword for today’s India is ‘compassion’ — for the downtrodden, the needy and all those on the margins of society. “When the world has been battling the economic consequences of the great crisis, India got its act together and is now moving forward. India is among the fastest growing major economies in the world,” she said.

    She added that India will realise the dreams of freedom fighters by 2047. “We will have given by 2047 a concrete shape to the vision of those who, led by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedakar, drafted the Constitution,” the President said, hailing the government’s decision to observe Nov. 15 as Janajatiya Gaurav Divas as a welcome decision.

    The President said when India won independence, there were many international leaders and experts who were sceptical about the success of the democratic form of government in India due to poverty and illiteracy at that time.

    “But we Indians proved the sceptics wrong. Democracy not only grew roots in this soil, it was enriched too,” she said as she asked citizens to pledge to give everything for the sake of the safety, security, progress and prosperity of the country. She also lauded India for crossing the 200-crore mark in cumulative vaccine coverage, and said India’s confidence is reflected in the spirit of its youth, its farmers and above all, its women.

    Describing girls as the biggest hope for the nation, the President said that they are scaling great heights, becoming pilots and space scientists. She also called upon the countrymen for conserving water, soil and bio-diversity as part oftheir duty towards the nation and children.

    “Our country is full of diversity. But at the same time, all of us have something in common. It is this common thread that binds all of us together and inspires us to walk with the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat’,” she said. India has helped the world discover the true potential of democracy and the keyword for the country today is compassion for the downtrodden, needy and those on the margins, she added.

  • IAF plans to build 96 new fighter jets domestically in bid to boost ‘Make in India’

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Amid a big push for the Aatmanirbhar Bharat scheme by the PM Narendra Modi-led government, the Indian Air Force is planning to acquire 114 Indian Air Force of which 96 would be built in India, and rest 18 would be imported from the foreign vendor chosen for the project.

    The Indian Air Force has plans of acquiring 114 Multirole Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) under ‘Buy Global and Make in India’ scheme under which Indian companies would be allowed to partner with a foreign vendor.

    “Recently, the Indian Air Force held meetings with the foreign vendors and asked them about the way they would carry out the Make in India project,” government sources told ANI.

    As per the plan, after the initial 18 aircraft are imported, the next 36 aircraft would be manufactured within the country and the payments would be made partially in foreign currency and Indian currency, the sources said.

    The last 60 aircraft would be the main responsibility of the Indian partner and the government would make payments only in Indian currency, the sources said.

    The payment in Indian currency would help the vendors to achieve the over 60 per cent ‘Make-in-India’ content in the project, the sources said.

    Global aircraft manufacturers including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Saab, MiG, Irkut Corporation and Dassault Aviation are expected to participate in the tender.

    The Indian Air Force has to rely heavily on these 114 fighter jets for maintaining its superiority over the neighboring rivals Pakistan and China.

    The 36 Rafale aircraft procured under emergency orders helped immensely in maintaining an edge over the Chinese during the Ladakh crisis which started in 2020 but the numbers are not enough and more such capability would be required by it.

    The force has already placed orders for 83 of the LCA Mk 1A aircraft but it still requires a higher number of capable aircraft as a large number of MiG series planes have either been phased out or are on their last legs.

    The fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft project is moving ahead at a satisfactory pace but it will take a lot of time to be able to be inducted in an operational role.

    The IAF is also looking for a cost-effective solution for its fighter jet requirement as it wants a plane that is low on operational cost and gives more capability to the service, the sources said.

    The IAF is highly satisfied with the operational availability of the Rafale fighter jets and wants similar capability in its future aircraft.

  • Make in India is need of the hour: Prime Minister Modi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Make in India is the need of the hour and appealed to the industry to reduce dependence on imports and boost domestic manufacturing.

    He urged the industry to make efforts to cut imports of goods that can be manufactured in India.

    “Today, the world is looking at India as a manufacturing powerhouse,” Modi said while addressing DPIIT’s webinar on ‘Make in India for the World’.

    The Prime Minister said that announcements in the Budget for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India are important for the industry and Indian economy.

    The Make in India campaign is the need of 21st century India, and it gives an opportunity to show our potential, Modi said, adding that “we should work with full force to build a robust manufacturing base”.

    Make in India is the need of the hour in sectors such as electric vehicles, speciality steel, and medical equipment, the Prime Minister said, adding the opening up of coal, mining and defence sectors have opened up huge opportunities for industries.

    The industry should talk about ‘vocal for local’ and ‘Make in India’ in their product advertising.

    India has huge young talent and skilled manpower, and this can be used to promote Make in India, Modi said.

  • Defence Ministry approves acquisition of military hardware worth Rs 7,965 crore

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry on Tuesday approved the procurement of arms and military equipment worth Rs 7,965 crore, including 12 light utility helicopters from HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), according to an official statement.

    The procurement proposals were approved at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the ministry’s highest decision-making body on the matter. All of these proposals are under ‘Make in India’ with a focus on design, development and manufacturing in India.

    “As a further impetus to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India), a global procurement case of naval guns has been foreclosed with these guns’ quantity added to the upgraded super rapid gun mount (SRGM) being manufactured by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL),” it noted.

    Besides clearing the proposal to buy 12 helicopters, the DAC approved the procurement of Lynx U2 naval gunfire control system from Bharat Electronics Limited, the ministry’s statement said.

    The DAC also approved “mid-life upgradation of Dornier aircraft” by HAL to increase the naval capacity of maritime reconnaissance and coastal surveillance, it mentioned.

    Lynx U2 Fire Control System will enhance the detection, tracking and engagement capabilities of Naval warships and upgraded Dornier Aircraft will add to the Naval capacity of maritime reconnaissance and coastal surveillance.

    These SRGMs provide niche capabilities of engaging fast manoeuvring targets using guided munitions and range extensions, and are to be fitted on the warships of the Indian Navy, the statement said.

    “The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in its meeting of November 2, 2021, held under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity for capital acquisition proposals for modernisation and operational needs of the armed forces amounting to Rs 7,965 crore,” it noted.

    All these proposals are under ‘Make in India’ with a focus on design, development and manufacturing in the country, according to the statement.

    The military equipment are being procured at a time the Indian armed forces are locked in a bitter border row with China in eastern Ladakh.

  • Union budget instrument to attain Aatmanirbhar Bharat, says FM Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the Union Budget 2021-22 is the instrument through which Aatmanirbhar Bharat is to be attained and asserted that the government is also looking at “long term sustainable growth”.

    Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Budget 2021-22, Sitharman said, “It’s a Budget which clearly draws on the experience, the administrative capacities and also exposure that the Prime Minister had during his long elected tenure – both as CM and as PM of this country – known for his commitment towards development, growth, and reforms. So these three things are essentially infused in the budget which is now speaking for itself in the sense that it is the instrument through which Aatmanirbhar Bharat is to be attained.”

    Besides providing ‘quick short term solutions’, Sitharaman said that the government is also looking at “long term sustainable growth”.

    ALSO READ: Opposition parties slam govt over Union Budget in Rajya Sabha, say nothing in it for common man

    “So post-pandemic and post-global contraction, economies have suffered across the world. And as I said in my budget speech the attempt made in this budget is to provide strong stimulus, to provide such a stimulus which can bring in a multiplier effect and therefore instead of finding quick short term solutions, even as we provide short term quick relief for those people who so desperately need it,” the minister said.

    “We are looking at medium term, long term sustainable growth, which will keep India in that kind of growth trajectory which will maintain us as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world,” she added.

    The Finance Minister said 800 million people were provided free foodgrains, free cooking gas was provided to 80 million people, and cash directly was given to 400 million people including farmers, women, divyangs, and the poor.

    “Over 1.67 crore houses completed under PM Awas Yojana. Is it for the rich? Over 2.67 crore households electrified under PM Saubhagya Yojana since ’17 October. The total value of orders placed on Govt e-market is Rs 8,22,077 crores. Are they being given to big companies? They are being given to MSMEs,” she said.

    Slamming the Opposition, Sitharaman said: “It has now become a sort of habit for some in the Opposition to constantly allege, in spite of what we are doing for the poor and the steps taken for helping the poor and needy of this country, a false narrative is created to accuse – saying that this government works only for cronies.”

    On February 4, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed the Union Budget 2021-22 as “crony centric”, which “betrays” the employers of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).”Modi’s crony centric budget means- Struggling MSMEs given no low-interest loans, no GST relief. The employers of India’s largest workforce betrayed,” Gandhi tweeted. 

  • Can’t remain dependent on other countries for India’s defence: Rajnath Singh

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday India cannot remain dependent on other countries for its defence.

    Under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan India is looking forward to increase its defence manufacturing capabilities, said Singh, who inaugurated Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s second LCA-Tejas production line here.

    “India cannot remain dependent on other countries for its defence”, he said.

    Singh said Tejas is not only indigenous, but is also better than its foreign equivalents on several parameters and also comparatively cheaper.

    “Many countries have shown interest in Tejas. India will achieve the target of Rs 1.75 lakh crore in the field of defence manufacturing in (a) few years”, the Minister said.

    The delivery of the Tejas LCA to the Indian Air Force under a Rs 48,000-crore deal will begin from March 2024 and around 16 aircraft will be rolled out annually till the completion of the total supply of 83 jets, Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, R Madhavan said recently.

    Madhavan had also said that a number of countries have shown keen interest in procurement of Tejas and that the first export order is likely to come by in the next couple of years.

    The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13 approved the Rs 48,000- crore deal to procure 73 Tejas Mk-1A variants and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 trainer aircraft from the HAL to boost the Indian Air Force’s combat prowess.

  • UP playing key role in building ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’: PM Modi

    A sacred land of sacrifice, tenacity, tradition and culture, this state is playing an important role today in building an #39;Aatmanirbhar Bharat #39;, Modi said in a tweet.

  • World is our market: PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ pitch

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The world is in pursuit of affordable, durable and usable products, and a huge market, both domestically and globally, is waiting to be tapped, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, asserting that India wants to make products that are of good quality and are admired globally.

    In a post on LinkedIn, Modi shared his thoughts on his government’s project of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) and said it is as much about scale as standards.

    “Today, the world is our market. The people of India have the ability. As a nation the world trusts India as a nation with credibility,” he said.

    With our people’s ability and the nation’s credibility, Indian products of top quality will travel far and wide, he said, stating that this will also be a true tribute to the ethos of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, a “force multiplier for global prosperity”.

    The prime minister shared the highlights of his Monday address at the National Metrology Conclave where he had stressed the need for Indian products to have standards as well as scale, and quality as well as quantity.

    “India is a powerhouse of skill and talent. The success of our start-up industry shows the innovative zeal of our youth. New products and services are being created rapidly,” Modi said in his LinkedIn post.

    ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ rests on the twin principles of scale and standards, he said, adding that India wants to make more and at the same time it wants to make products that are of good quality.

    “India does not want to merely fill global markets with its products. We want Indian products to win the hearts of people around the world,” he said.

    “When we ‘Make in India’, we not only aim to fulfil global demand but also get global acceptance. I would urge you all to think about ‘Zero Effect, Zero Defect’ in any product or service you create,” he said, addressing manufacturers and entrepreneurs.

    LinkedIn is a social media platform, especially catering to career and business professionals.

    The prime minister said he could see that there is already a great degree of consciousness about this during his interactions with industry leaders, business representatives, youths of the start-up sector and professionals.