President of India to inaugurate Inclusive Museum Conference tomorrow

President of India to inaugurate Inclusive Museum Conference tomorrow 

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate an Inclusive Museum Conference on ‘Museums as Civic Spaces’ tomorrow (August 6, 2015) at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. 


The Inclusive Museum Conference is being organized by National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture in collaboration with Inclusive Museum Knowledge Community. 

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President of India condoles the loss of lives on account of derailment of trains in Madhya Pradesh 

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the loss of lives on account of derailment of Kamayani Express and Janata Express trains in Madhya Pradesh yesterday night (August 4, 2015). 

In a message to Shri Ram Naresh Yadav, the Governor of Madhya Pradesh, the President has said “I am sad to learn about the derailment of the Kamayani Express and Janata Express trains in Madhya Pradesh last night as a result of which a number of persons have lost their lives and many are injured. I understand rescue as well as relief operations are currently underway. 

I call upon the State Government and Railway authorities to provide all possible assistance to the bereaved families as well as the best of medical attention to the injured. I urge the concerned authorities to urgently investigate the cause of the incident and put in place necessary remedial measures. 

Please convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. I wish speedy recovery to all the injured persons”. 


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President of India’s message on the eve of National Day of Bolivia 

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings and felicitations to the Government and people of the Plurinational Republic of Bolivia on the eve of their National Day (August 6, 2015). 

In his message to His Excellency Mr. Juan Evo Morales Ayma, the President of the Plurinational Republic of Bolivia, the President has said, “On behalf of the Government, the people of India and on my own behalf, I have the pleasure to extend warm greetings and felicitations to the Government and to the people of Bolivia on the occasion of your National Day. 

India and Bolivia enjoy warm and friendly relations which are strengthened by the convergence of our views on many international issues of common concern. I look forward to working with you to further intensify our relations. 

I take this opportunity to convey to you my best wishes for your personal well-being and for the progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Bolivia.” 

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Officer Trainees of Indian Forest Service Call on Vice President 

The 64 Officer Trainees undergoing the professional training of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) and 2 Officer Trainees of the Royal Bhutan Forest Service call on the Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari here today. Shri Vinod Kumar, Director, Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun and senior faculty IGNFA were also present on the occasion. 

Interacting with them, the Vice President said that these Officer Trainees should not be unduly choosey about their assignments as the implementation of all government policies and programmes lies with them. He wished them good success in their career ahead. 

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Vice President Condoles the Loss of Lives in Train Accident in Madhya Pradesh 

The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has deeply condoled the loss of lives in train accident in Madhya Pradesh. In his condolence message, he has said that the relief and rescue operations are presently underway, and every effort should be made to render all possible aid to the bereaved families, who have lost their near and dear ones as well as medical assistance to the injured. 

Following is the text of Vice President’s condolence message : 

“I am deeply saddened to learn about the twin train derailments in Madhya Pradesh that have resulted in the loss of a number of lives and injuries. I understand that relief and rescue operations are presently underway, and every effort should be made to render all possible aid to the bereaved families, who have lost their near and dear ones as well as medical assistance to the injured. 

I join the people of the country in conveying my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. I wish speedy recovery to the injured persons.” 

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PM announces additional ex-gratia relief from PM’s Relief Fund, for those affected by the train derailments in Madhya Pradesh


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs. 2 lakhs each from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the two train derailments in Madhya Pradesh. This is in addition to the relief assistance already announced by the Railways. 

An ex-gratia relief of Rs. 50,000 has also been sanctioned from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for those who were seriously injured in the derailments. 

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Text of PM's Statement at the media briefing with President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique

Excellency President Filipe Nyusi, 

Members of the Media, 

I am delighted to welcome President Nyusi and his delegation to India. 

President Nyusi assumed office earlier this year. We are happy that India is his first destination in Asia. 

The visit is special because this is the 40th anniversary year of independence of Mozambique and the 40th anniversary year of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. 

Africa and the Indian Ocean are among the highest priorities for our foreign policy. Mozambique is crucial for both. 

Mozambique and India have centuries-old trade ties. 20,000 people of Indian origin in Mozambique are an important link between us. Our colonial experiences and development aspirations have shaped a shared vision and a strong partnership. 

Mozambique can be a large and a proximate source of natural gas, coal and other minerals that are so important to drive our growth. It also offers huge opportunities in agriculture sector. 

I am pleased that Indian investments in these sectors have grown significantly in recent years. Mozambique hosts nearly 25% of Indian investments in Africa. Our trade has multiplied five times in the last five years. 

We are delighted to be a development partner for Mozambique in several areas, including agriculture, healthcare, energy, infrastructure and human resource development. 

So, as we seek to deepen our relations with Mozambique and enhance our engagement in the Indian Ocean Region and Africa, we are pleased that President Nyusi is visiting us now. 

In my discussions today, I have conveyed the importance that we attach to Mozambique as our regional partner. I have also stressed our commitment to our development partnership, in accordance with Mozambique’s priorities. 

We spoke of our economic synergies and cooperation. I expressed hope that Mozambique would continue to provide an encouraging environment for investments from India, including in the areas of hydrocarbons, minerals and infrastructure. We have agreed to explore ways to speed up the implementation of power supply project in Maputo, being funded by Indian line of credit. 

I have assured him of India’s full assistance and collaboration in agriculture and food security. In turn, India could also benefit from the development of Mozambique’s agriculture sector. 

We have today finalised an MoU on Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy. This is an important area in our respective efforts towards sustainable development. It assumes special importance this year as the international community moves to finalise a Climate Change agreement in Paris later this year. India has already partnered Mozambique in setting up a solar panel assembly plant. 

India and Mozambique have large coastlines and are linked by Indian Ocean. I have discussed ways in which we can intensify cooperation in maritime security and ocean economy. 

In recent years, our cooperation has included ship visits and hydrography surveys for Mozambique. 

Today, we have discussed other areas of cooperation in defence, building on his last visit to India as Defence Minister in 2011. We agreed that the next meeting of our Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation will be scheduled soon. 

We also discussed a range of regional and global issues of mutual interest. We greatly appreciate Mozambique’s support for India’s candidature for Permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council. 

In this 70th year of the United Nations, I sought his support to press for urgently needed reforms of the United Nations, especially the Security Council. 

We also welcome the finalisation of the Sustainable Development Goals with focus on elimination of poverty by 2030, and look forward to the adoption of the post-2015 Development Agenda in September. 

We underlined the need for an effective climate change accord in Paris later this year, which also provides the means and technology to developing countries to transition to clean energy sources. 

I briefed President Nyusi about the Third India-Africa Forum Summit to be held in October in New Delhi. There are remarkable similarities in the development goals and priorities of India and Africa. 

For the first time, we have invited leaders of 54 African countries to participate in the India-Africa Forum Summit. We look forward to President Nyusi’s participation in the Summit. 

Finally, let me extend our sincere appreciation for your government’s strong support that made the International Day of Yoga a big success in Mozambique. 

Excellency, your visit has renewed the focus on this very important relationship, not just for our two countries, but also as a bridge across the Indian Ocean between Africa and India. I am confident that your experience and wisdom will be a source of strength in taking our relationship to a new level. 

Thank you very much, President. 

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PM expresses pain over the loss of lives due to derailment of Kamayani Express and Janta Express, near Harda in Madhya Pradesh


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed pain over the loss of lives due to derailment of Kamayani Express and Janta Express, near Harda in Madhya Pradesh. 

"The two train accidents in Madhya Pradesh are deeply distressing. Deeply pained over the loss of lives. Condolences to families of deceased. 

My prayers with the injured. Authorities are doing everything possible on the ground. The situation is being monitored very closely", the Prime Minister said.

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