Mr. Bill Gates calls on PM

Mr. Bill Gates calls on PM

Co-chair and Trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates, called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. The discussion centered around clean energy initiatives, financial inclusion, sanitation, health and nutrition. Mr. Bill Gates was appreciative of the work done in India in the field of renewable energy and emphasized to the need to lower the cost of clean energy to the level of hydrocarbons. 

Mr. Gates said that there has been enormous progress on financial inclusion and offered support to strengthen the efforts in this direction. The issue of leveraging existing postal infrastructure to create Hybrid Payment Banks across the country was also discussed.

On the issue of health, Mr. Gates appreciated the work done, particularly the introduction of new vaccines. The Swachh Bharat campaign and the Government's efforts to improve sanitation were discussed at length. 

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PM presents innovation trophies to 4 awardees on Navy Day

On the occasion of Navy Day today, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, presented four innovation trophies to recognize innovations by personnel of the Navy. 

The Prime Minister was also given a demonstration of salient innovations and indigenisation initiatives by young personnel of the Indian Navy, during the Navy Day reception. 

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Important milestone in the declassification of Netaji files

The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Shri Nripendra Misra, today officially handed over the first set of files related to Netaji to the Director General, National Archives of India, setting the stage for their declassification beginning on 23rd January, 2016.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, had on 14th October, 2015 welcomed with great warmth and pride to his home in 7-RCR, the extended family of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Conveying the honour he felt in being the first Prime Minister to do so, he had assured the family members that the emotions and aspirations they had expressed were fully shared by him and his government.

Emphasizing that history cannot be created by those who forget their own history, the Prime Minister had categorically stated that his government did not believe in constraining or strangulating history in any way, and was committed to opening up information on Netaji to the people of India. He had assured Netaji’s family that all possible effort towards the same would be made, from the declassification of Netaji files to taking up the matter with other nations. He had further promised that the declassification and public release of the files would begin on 23rd January, 2016, the Birth Anniversary of Netaji.

Working towards this commitment, the government has been undertaking the process of due diligence stipulated under declassification procedures and guidelines.

As a part of the same, the first batch of 33 PMO files have been cleared, and were handed over to the National Archives of India today for further processing, preservation and digitization, in preparation for the final release to the nation of all 58 files in the PMO. The Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs are separately taking action for release of files under their custody.

This marks an important milestone in fulfilling the long pending demand of the people of India, for the declassification of files related to Netaji. 

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PM addresses HT Leadership Summit

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi today.

Describing India’s journey towards a brighter future, the Prime Minister said India’s current position should be looked out in the global context, as well as the context of where India stood a few years ago.

The Prime Minister explained his vision for economic reforms, and mentioned some of the major economic successes of the recent past, including GDP Growth Rate of 7.4%, and improvement in the ease of doing business. He said the ease of doing business could improve only because both the Centre and States worked together. The Prime Minister said States had now been given additional finances based on the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission.

The Prime Minister explained how direct transfer of LPG subsidy, and the LED lighting schemes were saving thousands of crores of rupees. He said neem-coating of urea was preventing diversion of urea meant for agriculture. The Prime Minister mentioned the recent FDI in the railway sector, for two locomotive manufacturing units to be built in Bihar.

The Prime Minister also talked about the process of electrification of India’s 18000 unelectrified villages, and said the progress towards this end can be seen by everyone using the Grameen Vidyutikaran App. 

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PM pays tributes to Former President of India, Shri R Venkataraman and Former Prime Minister of India, Shri IK Gujral, on their birth anniversary

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Former President of India, Shri R Venkataraman and Former Prime Minister of India, Shri IK Gujral, on their birth anniversary.

"Shri R Venkataraman and Shri IK Gujral were influential in shaping India's history. Tributes on their birth anniversary", the Prime Minister said.

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PM greets the Navy personnel, on Navy Day

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the Navy personnel, on Navy Day.

"India is proud of a strong and valiant Navy, that has always risen to the occasion to protect our Nation. Navy Day greetings to Navy personnel", the Prime Minister said.