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In a first, PM to interact with heads of Indian missions abroad

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi (PIB)

PM to launch a national effort to achieve the target of $400 billion worth merchandise exports in the current fiscal, reports Asian Lite News

In a first of its kind initiative to boost India’s export potential, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will interact with heads of Indian missions abroad along with stakeholders of the country’s trade and commerce sector on Friday (6 August).

PM Modi will hold the interaction with the stakeholders today at 6 pm via video conferencing.

The event will mark a clarion call by the Prime Minister for ‘Local Goes Global – Make in India for the World’, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.

Exports have a huge employment generation potential, especially for MSMEs and high labour-intensive sectors, with a cascading effect on the manufacturing sector and the overall economy, the PMO added.

The purpose of the interaction is to provide a focused thrust to leverage and expand India’s export and its share in global trade.

The interaction aims to energise all stakeholders towards expanding our export potential and utilising the local capabilities to fulfil the global demand, the PMO said.

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also be present during the interaction.

The interaction will also witness participation of secretaries of more than twenty departments, state government officials, members of Export Promotion Councils and Chambers of Commerce.

According to sources, the meeting will see Modi launch a national effort to achieve the target of $400 billion worth merchandise exports in the current fiscal. India has met nearly a third of its annual target in the first four months of 2021-22.

Over the last nine years, merchandise exports from India have hovered around $260-330 billion, with the highest ever being $330 billion in 2018-19. Robust exports can boost economic growth at a time when other factors such as private consumption as well as investment have been tepid due to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

July saw the highest ever merchandise exports at $35.17 billion, with the cumulative exports in the first 4 months at $130 billion. The government has set up a target of $1 trillion in 2027-28 for merchandise exports and $500 billion exports in the next two years.

The department of commerce has worked out a detailed strategy to reach the $400 billion target this fiscal. This will include focus on existing and new markets, existing and new products and also on lost market shares in the past few years, both in countries and in products.

The targets have been disaggregated via regions and countries, commodity groups, and export promotion councils. Ambassadors and high commissioners have also been given the targets for their territory, breaking it up into various commodity groups. The government is also working out detailed strategies for trade deals, promoting districts as export hubs, import monitoring and using market intelligence for exporters.

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Modi most followed politician in world

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has a following of 26.3 million on the platform, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has 19.4 million followers…reports Asian Lite News.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi now has more than 70 million followers on Twitter that made him one of the most followed active politicians across the globe on the social media platform. After Modi, Pope Francis has the highest number of followers on the microblogging site at 53 million.

As part of his social media outreach, Modi joined Twitter in 2009 during his stint as the Gujarat chief minister. Within a year, he had a lakh followers. In July 2020, the PM’s Twitter follower count touched 60 million.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has a following of 26.3 million on the platform, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has 19.4 million followers.

A very active user, Modi regularly posts developments and events on his Twitter page. On Thursday, he wrote about India’s tiger conservation strategy on International Tiger Day. “India’s strategy of tiger conservation attaches topmost importance to involving local communities. We are also inspired by our centuries old ethos of living in harmony with all flora and fauna with whom we share our great planet,” the PM wrote.

Meanwhile, the Modi government and Twitter have been engaged in a spat after new rules for social media platforms and digital news outlets were introduced by the Centre. A number of government departments and ministers have been moving on to indigenously developed app Koo as the US company fights it out over non-compliance issues.

Other world leaders

Among other world leaders, former United States President Barack Obama has a following of 129.8 millio followers, while his current counterpart Joe Biden is followed by 30.9 million accounts.

Donald Trump, who had the highest of followers at 88.7 million, was permanently removed from Twitter following the riots at the US Capitol.

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India, US should stand together as threats to democracy rise: Blinken

US Secretary of State holds talks with NSA Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, is slated to meet PM Modi, reports Asian Lite News

India and the US should continue to stand together as leading democracies at a time when global threats to democracy and international freedoms are increasing, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.

Addressing a civil society roundtable on the theme “Advancing equitable, inclusive and sustainable growth and development”, Blinken said both countries also need a vibrant civil society in order to make their democracies more open, inclusive, resilient and equitable.

Ahead of Blinken’s visit, the US side had said it intended to raise human rights and democracy during the secretary of state’s engagements in New Delhi. The US has in the recent past spoken out on issues such as the situation in Kashmir and movements such as the farmers’ protest on the outskirts of Delhi.

The Indian side has usually been sensitive to such criticism and said before Blinken flew into New Delhi on Tuesday that is open to engaging on human rights and democracy with those who recognise the value of diversity. Defending its achievements in human rights and democracy, the Indian side also said both issues extend beyond a “particular national or cultural perspective”.

In his opening remarks at the roundtable, Blinken described India and the US as democracies that are “works in progress”. Both sides talk about such issues as friends “because doing the hard work of strengthening democracy and making our ideals real is often challenging”, he said.

“At a time of rising global threats to democracy and international freedoms – we talk about a democratic recession – it’s vital that we two world leading democracies continue to stand together in support of these ideals,” Blinken said.

Referring to efforts in the US to become a “more perfect union”, he said: “That’s an acknowledgement from day one of our country that in a sense we will always fall short of the mark, but that the way to make progress is by constantly trying to achieve those ideals.”

He added, “As I said before, sometimes that process is painful, sometimes it’s ugly, but the strength of democracy is to embrace it.”

Blinken, on his first visit to India since becoming secretary of state, said India’s achievements include a “free media, independent courts, a vibrant and free and fair electoral system – the largest expression of free political will by citizens anywhere in the world”.

All successful democracies include thriving civil societies, and this ensures citizens become more fully engaged in the life of their communities, Blinken said.

“It’s how we organise and provide the resources to respond to emergencies. And we’ve seen people and organisations come together throughout Covid-19 in creative and incredibly generous ways, and civil society is also where we’re able to build meaningful connections across our social, religious, and cultural differences,” he said.

“In short, if we want to make our democracies more open, more inclusive, more resilient, more equitable, we need vibrant civil society,” Blinken said, adding that he wants to support more connections between civil society organisations in India and the US to make the partnership between the two democracies even stronger.

Blinken met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and is slated to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During these meetings, he said he would talk about many critical issues the two sides are working on together, including Covid-19, climate change, defence, mutual security, trade and investment, education, energy, and science and technology.

“When you put it all together, the relationship between our countries is one of the most important in the world. And I think that’s because not only is it a relationship between governments…but critically it’s through relationships between the Indian and the American people,” he said.

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Mamata meets Modi, demands more vaccines, medicines

Banerjee also discussed several different projects of the state and tax issues…reports Asian Lite News.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what she called a courtesy meeting. This is the first official meeting between Prime Minister and Banerjee in the national capital after she became chief minister of West Bengal for the third time after stunning victory in assembly polls. The meeting, held at Prime Minister’s residence, lasted for around 45 minutes.

It is learnt that during the meeting, Banerjee discussed Covid situation in the state and demanded more vaccines and medicines for the state.

After meeting with the Prime Minister, Banerjee said, “It was a courtesy meeting. I told the Prime Minister about need of more vaccines and medicines in the West Bengal. I also raised the pending issue of change of the name of the state on which the Prime Minister said he will see.”

In July, 2018, West Bengal assembly passed a resolution to change the name of the state to Bangla.

Banerjee also discussed several different projects of the state and tax issues.

On issue of her meeting with the opposition leaders, Banerjee said, “Many parties and their leaders are old friends. I am meeting them.”

Banerjee also said that she will be meeting Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday.

“On Wednesday, I am meeting Sonia Gandhi. She has invited me for tea,” she said.

On her plan to bringing all opposition parties on one platform, She said, “Though the Lok Sabha polls are far away, we must have to start planning in advance. Assembly elections will be held in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Tripura. Our people were arrested in Tripura.”

Earlier she met Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath.

Banerjee’s meeting with opposition leaders is being seen as an attempt to bring all the opposition parties together before 2024 Lok Sabha polls. She is also likely to meet NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday.

Mamata Banerjee is in Delhi on a five-day visit.

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Portal launched for applications under ‘PM CARES for Children’ scheme

Portal pmcaresforchildren.in for the purpose, and the module on child registration and identification of beneficiaries has been made functional and will be regularly updated with necessary information…reports Asian Lite News.

The Centre has launched a web portal to facilitate submission of applications and identification of children eligible to receive support under the ‘PM CARES for Children’ scheme.

The scheme was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting children who have lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian or adoptive parents due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The scheme aims to ensure comprehensive care and protection of such children in a sustained manner, enabling their wellbeing through health insurance, empowering them through education, and equipping them for self-sufficient existence with financial support of Rs 10 lakh, on reaching 23 years of age.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the web-based portal pmcaresforchildren.in for the purpose, and the module on child registration and identification of beneficiaries has been made functional and will be regularly updated with necessary information.

Chief Secretaries of all states and Administrators of all Union Territories have been asked to direct the District Magistrates to identify the children eligible for receiving support under the scheme and provide the portal with the details to enable prompt assistance to these children. States and UTs have also been advised to take steps for registration of children which needs to be completed within the next 15 days. The Ministry has also requested the Chief Secretaries and Administrators to personally monitor the progress of data entry in the portal

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READ MORE-Mamata likely to meet Modi in Delhi on July 28

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Mamata likely to meet Modi in Delhi on July 28

This will be the first meeting between Modi and Banerjee after she had skipped a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister to review the damages caused by Cyclone Yaas in May this year…reports Asian Lite News

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July in the national capital during her coming trip to Delhi, sources said.

“I will go to Delhi for two-three days. I will meet the PM. I have got the time. I will also meet the President,” Banerjee said during a press conference on Thursday.

Though she didn’t confirm the date and left everyone guessing, sources in the CMO said that the Chief Minister is likely to meet the Prime Minister on July 28. She will stay in Delhi for three days, from July 27 to July 29.

This will be the first meeting between Modi and Banerjee after she had skipped a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister to review the damages caused by Cyclone Yaas in May this year.

Banerjee had met Modi separately for a moment and handed over the state government’s report on the cyclone before excusing herself from the official meeting, leading to a major controversy.

Expressing her wish to meet President Ram Nath Kovind if given an appointment, the Chief Minister said, “I shall try to go to the Parliament if I am allowed. If I go, I shall have the opportunity to meet several leaders. I cannot assure now whom I shall meet, but there are many who want to speak to me. Let me see the timing and the situation, then only I shall take a final call”.

At the presser, Banerjee also came down heavily on the BJP government at the Centre on the Pegasus issue, alleging that the raids conducted at Dainik Bhaskar’s office on Thursday was a result of the vindictive attitude of the (Narendra) Modi government.

“This is an effort to bulldoze the reporters and throttle the voice of the people. Dainik Bhaskar was boldly reporting on the Pegasus issue and on the bodies that were thrown into the Ganges by the Uttar Pradesh government. That is why it has been victimised. I strongly condemn this,” she said.

She also reiterated her appeal to all the political parties to come forward and unite to defeat the “autocratic government” at the Centre and save the “largest democracy of the world”.

ALSO READ: Mamata calls for national front to defeat BJP

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China must avoid overreacting to Modi’s birthday greetings to Dalai Lama

This seems to be an over reaction. China should know that the Tibetan spiritual leader shares very good equation with all political parties and leaders in India…reports Shankar Kumar.

It has never been easy to understand China. There is a huge gap between Chinese leaders’ statements and their actions. But clearly, they have huge capacity to hide the truth from coming out.

For an entity, individual or a nation, it is hard to keep secrets under carpet for long; the Chinese have, over the years, mastered the art of fudging things, sidestepping facts and launching hackneyed misinformation campaigns against those who don’t subscribe to their viewpoints.

Global Times editor Hu Xijin in an editorial on July 7 bashed India and the Prime Minister for conveying greetings to the Dalai Lama on his 86th birthday on July 6, 2021. Since it came close on the heels of India refusing to extend greetings to the Communist Party of China on its 100th foundation day on July 1, the Global Times, the English-language tabloid belonging to the People’s Daily, which is the CPC’s official organ, termed it as a display of “attitude.”

As US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also greeted the Dalai Lama on his birthday, the English-language tabloid saw it as “provocations.” The tabloid, which is known for its aggressive, biased and prejudicial views against democratic countries, described the personal salutation to the Tibetan spiritual leader as “external forces” attempt to “play the card of the Dalai Lama.”

This seems to be an over reaction. China should know that the Tibetan spiritual leader shares very good equation with all political parties and leaders in India. His personal bonding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is well known. When Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, the Dalai Lama had frequently visited India’s western state.

In 2011, he had visited the state to teach leadership at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad. In January 2013, he landed at Vadodara to inaugurate the international seminar on Buddhist Heritage at the Maharaja Sayajirao University. Modi as the Gujarat Chief Minister had participated the four day event which was also attended by Buddhist monks from the US, the UK, Japan, Sri Lanka and other foreign countries.

On July 6, 2013, while extending his birthday greetings to the Dalai Lama, Modi attached a link of his photographs with the Tibetan spiritual leader and wrote: “Wishing his Holiness @DalaiLama on his birthday. Sharing some memories of our meeting at Buddhist Seminar in Vadodara.” This was the first public tweet of Modi wishing the Tibetan spiritual leader on his birthday. In 2015, Modi as the Prime Minister tweeted his thanks to the Dalai Lama for his greetings on his birthday.

Clearly, the two share bonhomie between them and this is what tweet by Prime Minister Modi of his greetings to the Dalai Lama on his birthday indicates. China thinks the Indian Prime Minister has hurt China’s sensitivity by publicly displaying his affection towards the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Beijing should avoid entering into the choppy waters of politics and shun interpreting everything in strategic terms. If it is so touchy about its national sensitivity, it is expected that it should also have the same understanding about the sensitivity of others.

More than 17 months have passed, yet China continues to occupy friction points – Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang – in Eastern Ladakh. Several rounds of talks have taken place between senior commanders of the two countries, but a stalemate continues on the issue of vacating these friction points by China.

However, this is not the lone case of Beijing overlooking India’s sensitivity.

Despite constant reminders, China is engaged in developing infrastructure in occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir. In the name of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is an extension of Beijing’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, China has built bridges, roads, dam, power stations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. All this, it does by trampling on India’s sensitivity for its sovereignty, unity and integrity.

But when it comes to the Prime Minister tweeting birthday greetings to the Dalai Lama, China gets offended and describes Prime Minister Modi’s act of salutation to the highly revered Tibetan spiritual leader as “despicable.” This is a double standard. China needs to first correct its behaviour towards its neighbours.

Instead of sermonizing them on issues of national sensitivities, China should first do what it expects from others. It has forcefully laid claim on the entire South China Sea. It uses its military muscle to threaten Japan on the issue of Senkaku Islands, a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jimming threatens Dhaka that if it joins India, US, Japan and Australia-led quad, it will “substantially damage” bilateral relations with China.

In April 2021, Chinese ambassador to France Lu Shaye warns French lawmakers from meeting officials in Taiwan during their visit to Taipei. Earlier in October, 2020, China tells Indian media not to call Taiwan a country.

The overall impression China has created for itself is that the world should honour its sensitivities, no matter how it treats others geographical, economic and sovereign interests. (India News Network)

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UK, India launch first financial markets dialogue

Bilateral trade between the UK and India stood at over £18bn in 2020, with India accounting for the UK’s second-largest source of investment in terms of the number of projects…reports Asian Lite News.

The inaugural meeting of the UK-India Financial Markets Dialogue (FMD) took place virtually on Thursday to deepen bilateral ties in the financial sector, the British High Commission (BHC) said on Thursday.

The Dialogue saw government-to-government discussions to strengthen cooperation on four key themes: Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City; banking and payments; insurance, and; capital markets. It was led by senior officials from the UK Treasury and the Indian Ministry of Finance, with participation from independent British and Indian regulatory agencies, BHC said.

The creation of the Financial Markets Dialogue to strengthen financial services cooperation and address regulatory barriers for UK and Indian firms was agreed at the tenth Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) between the UK and India by Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last year.

Bilateral trade between the UK and India stood at over £18bn in 2020, with India accounting for the UK’s second-largest source of investment in terms of the number of projects. British and Indian investments support nearly half a million jobs in each other’s economies.

“In May this year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced their ambition to double the value of UK-India trade over the next decade as well as a shared intent to begin work towards negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA),” BHC said.

Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said: “The 2030 Roadmap agreed by Prime Ministers Modi and Johnson aims for a transformation of the UK-India relationship, especially as we look to build back better from Covid-19. The first Financial Markets Dialogue held today will strengthen links on financial services and create new opportunities for UK and Indian businesses. I’m pleased to see the strong progress we have already made ahead of the upcoming Economic and Financial Dialogue between our finance ministers.” (ANI)

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Modi cabinet reshuffle to take place on Wednesday evening

“By making Puskhar Singh Dhami youngest Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, party leadership has signalled that young leaders will be groomed by giving key responsibility to them,” he said…reports Asian Lite News.

Putting end to a month long speculation, the reshuffle of the Narendra Modi cabinet is all set to take place on Wednesday evening.

Sources said that the new cabinet will be young, and have proper representation of all the communities, while some non-performing ministers will be dropped as the Prime Minister has personally reviewed performance of the present ministers.

A party functionary said that the new union cabinet will be one of the youngest in terms of average age and tone has been set by appointing Union Minister Thawarchand Gehlot the Governor of Karnataka.

“By making Puskhar Singh Dhami youngest Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, party leadership has signalled that young leaders will be groomed by giving key responsibility to them,” he said.

Another party insider said that everyone will get proper representation in the cabinet to send a message that the Modi government is the government of all and especially for the poor and deprived section of society. Sources said that about two dozen ministers will be inducted taking care of poll-bound states and social equations.

“Representation will be given to states based on its size and all the regions of bigger states will get representation in the new Modi cabinet. Social equations of all the poll-bound states will be also addressed in the reshuffle,” a source said.

It is learnt that young and new faces will also get majority of ministerial berths in the cabinet reshuffle.

Alliance partners will also be given ministerial berths in reshuffle, especially the Janta Dal-United (JD-U) and Apna Dal, who currently have no representation.

“JD-U and Apna Dal were not part of the Union government from 2019. Both the alliance partners will join the Union government in the reshuffle,” a source said.

On Tuesday evening, ahead of reshuffle, BJP chief J.P. Nadda and General Secretary, Organisation, B.L. Santhosh discussed the cabinet expansion.

Leaders likely to be inducted into the cabinet have started arriving in the national capital. Sources said that Santhosh has made a call to MPs to be inducted in the cabinet to reach Delhi at earliest.

Govt creates new Ministry of Co-operation

The Modi government on Tuesday created a new ‘Ministry of Co-operation’, a day before the impending Cabinet reshuffle.

This ministry will provide a separate administrative, legal and policy framework for strengthening the cooperative movement in the country.

In a statement, the Cabinet Secretariat said, “In a historic move, a separate ‘Ministry of Co-operation’ has been created by the Modi government for realising the vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’.”

It will help deepen co-operatives as a true people-based movement reaching up to the grassroots.

“In our country, a co-operative-based economic development model is very relevant where each member works with a spirit of responsibility,” the statement said. The ministry will work to streamline processes for ‘Ease of doing business’ for co-operatives and enable development of Multi-State Co-operatives (MSCS).

“The central government has signalled its deep commitment to community-based developmental partnership. Creation of a separate Ministry for Co-operation also fulfils the Budget announcement made by the Finance Minister,” the statement said.

Reports suggest that the first reshuffle of the second term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government will be announced on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The new Cabinet will be the youngest ever in India’s history, reports say.

As a result, the average age will be the lowest ever after the revamp, there will be more women ministers and representation will be given to those who have administrative experience and good educational qualifications.

It is being speculated that around two dozen OBCs will be ministers in the central government. Underlining the stress on education and competence, the average education level will also be higher, with “PhDs, MBAs, post-graduates and professionals”, as per reports.

The changes are likely to factor in polls in five states next year and the 2024 national election.

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READ MORE-Modi holds high-level meet on security issues

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Modi holds high-level meet on security issues

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PIB)

Both blasts took place within six minutes of each other, injuring two IAF personnel…reports Asian Lite News.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other top bureaucrats to discuss the prevailing security issues the country is facing.

Sources said the Prime Minister also held discussions on the “futuristic challenges in the defence sector and equipping the armed forces with modern equipment”.

The meeting took place two days after a drone was used in a bid to attack an Indian Air Force base in Jammu, which left two personnel injured. Such kind of threat is the beginning of a new security threat for the country.

Both blasts took place within six minutes of each other, injuring two IAF personnel.

Earlier in the day, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took up the investigation into the drone attack on the Jammu Air Force station.

On Monday, India had told the UN General Assembly that the possibility of the use of weaponised drones for terrorist activities against strategic and commercial assets calls for serious attention by the global community.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, V.S.K. Kaumudi, Special Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, said, “Another add-on to existing worries is the use of drones”, explaining that they are a “low-cost option and easily available”.

The utilisation of these aerial/sub-surface platforms for sinister purposes by terrorist groups, such as intelligence collection, weapon/explosives delivery and targeted attacks has become an imminent danger and challenge for security agencies worldwide, Kaumudi said.

Modi also discussed ways to promote startsup and engage the youth in more research and development works.

He took a stock of the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative with the involvement of industry, academia and startups.

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