Newsletter
India Bulletin
(Issue -3 : September 2022)
PM inaugurates 'Kartavya Path' and unveils the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi unveiled Netaji Subhash chandra Bose’s statue and inaugurated 'Kartavya Path' on September 8th, 2022. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that in the time of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav the nation felt a new inspiration and energy , today, we are filling the picture of tomorrow with new colours, leaving behind the past. Today this new aura is visible everywhere, it is the aura of confidence of New India”.
On the occasion, recalling the greatness of Netaji, he said “Subhas Chandra Bose was such a great man who was beyond the challenge of position and resources. His acceptance was such that the whole world considered him a leader. He had courage and self-respect. He had ideas, he had visions. He had leadership abilities and had policies.” He was the first head of Akhand Bharat, who freed Andaman before 1947 and hoisted the Tricolor. A special 10-minute drone show on Netaji’s life was also projected at India Gate .
The unveiling of the statue of Netaji was accompanied to the tune of Kadam Kadam Badhaye jaa, the traditional INA song. The 28 feet tall towering statue of Netaji is one of the tallest, realistic, monolithic, handmade sculptures in India. A 100 feet long truck with 140 wheels was specially designed for this monolithic granite stone to travel the 1665 kms from Khammam in Telangana to New Delhi.
(https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PMO=3&PRID=1857900)
A Tribute to Bapu with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
From the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken about starting the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan across the country from October 2, 2014. which became a mass movement. On October 2, 2014, the Swachh Bharat Mission was launched as a national movement widely across the country.
By October 2, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, more than six lakh villages were declared open defecation free (ODF). The mission is now moving towards the next Phase i.e. ODF Plus. The number of ODF-plus villages as on 24 August 2022 was 1,03,398. 100% ODF coverage was achieved by constructing over 62 lakh individual toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban. The second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban was launched on 1 October 2021 by the Prime Minister.
Over the last four years, 130 crore Indians have paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi in the form of Swath Bharat Mission. Completing four years on October 2, 2022, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has emerged as a vibrant mass movement with commendable outcomes.
(New India Samachar – Issue Oct 1-15, 2022)
India and the world
India to host G-20 Summit in 2023
India will host the G-20 leaders’ summit in New Delhi on September 9 and 10 in 2023. India will assume the Presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023, and is expected to host over 200 meetings across the country.
India's G20 priorities are in the process of being firmed up, ongoing conversations revolve around inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth; LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment); women’s empowerment; digital public infrastructure and tech-enabled development in areas ranging from health, agriculture and education to commerce, skill-mapping, culture and tourism; climate financing; circular economy; global food security; energy security; green hydrogen; disaster risk reduction and resilience; developmental cooperation; fight against economic crime; and multilateral reforms.
PM Modi attended the 22nd SCO Summit in Smarkand
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi attended the 22nd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022. Addressing the Summit, he highlighted India's success with startups and innovation and offered to share this experience with SCO member countries. He said that there are more than 70,000 Start-ups in India, of which more than 100 are unicorns, and India is ready to share its experience with SCO members countries by establishing a new Special Working Group on Start-ups and Innovation. He also highlighted the need for "better connectivity" among SCO member states.
On food security issue, he stressed to promote the cultivation and consumption of millets, which is a low cost alternative to deal with food crisis in the world. As the year 2023 will be celebrated as UN International year of Millets, the PM also suggested for organising a Millet Food Festival under the SCO.
Referring to the WHO’s first and only Global Center for Traditional Medicine in Gujarat, the Prime Minister underlined that India being one of the most affordable destinations for medical and wellness tourism in the world today. He emphasised on the need to increase cooperation on traditional medicine among SCO countries for which India will take initiative on a new SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicine.
(https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/pms-remarks-at-the-sco-summit/)
PM Modi attended the funeral of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Tokyo to participate in the State funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on 27th September, 2022. During the visit, he held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Japan H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida. While conveying his deepest condolences for the demise of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the PM noted the contributions of late Prime Minister Abe in strengthening India-Japan partnership as well in conceptualizing the vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
The two leaders had a productive exchange of views on further deepening bilateral relations. They also discussed a number of regional and global issues. The leaders renewed their commitment towards further strengthening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, and in working together in the region and in various international groupings and institutions.
Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India participated in the High - Level General Debate of 77th UNGA.
Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India, delivered India’s statement at the high level general debate of the United Nations General Assembly on 24 September 2022. In his statement he said that the ‘New India’, under the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a confident and resurgent society, and the country will be guided by the ‘Panchpran’ announced by the Prime Minister for achieving its centenary agenda.
(Full text of the statement can be accessed at:
https://mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/35757/Indias+Statement+delivered+by+the+
External+Affairs+Minister+Dr+S+Jaishankar+at+the+General+Debate+of+the+77th+session+of+the+UN+General+Assembly)
Indian External Affairs Minister delivers statement at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine
Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India delivered India’s statement on Ukraine during the UNSC meeting on the issue. In his address, the EAM referred to the Ukraine conflict as a matter of profound concern for the entire international community and the global south, particularly was feeling the pain very acutely in terms of surging costs and shortages of foodgrains, fertilizers and fuel. Therefore, he urged not to initiate measures that will further complicate the struggling global economy. He reiterated the need for an immediate cessation of all hostilities in the return to dialogue and diplomacy.
EAM also urged the Security Council to send an unambiguous d unequivocal message on “fight against impunity” . Referring to sanctioning of some of the world’s most dreaded terrorists, he said that politics should never ever provide cover to evade accountability, nor facilitate impunity. He urged the Security Council to reflect on the message the Council is sending on impunity, if terrorists attacks committed in broad daylight are left unpunished.
Indian External Affairs Minister chaired “INDIA@75: Showcasing India-UN Partnership in Action” meeting at UNGA
On the margins of the High-Level Week of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar chaired “India@75: Showcasing India-UN Partnership in Action” organised by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, in partnership with the UN, on 24th September, 2022.
During the event, he highlighted India’s development journey, its leadership in addressing global challenges and its partnership with the UN and other friendly countries from the Global South. He said that in the 75th year of independence, India emerged as the fifth largest economy of the world and is still rising as the strongest. India’s development rests on an expansive Digital Public Infrastructure designed to promote that "No one is left behind”. India’s digital technology has successfully advanced its food-safety net to 800 million Indians, more than US$300 billion of benefits have been distributed digitally, 400 million people get food regularly and India has administered over 2 billion COVID-19 vaccinations. The India UN Development Partnership Fund is particularly symbolic of this relationship, because it is the first-ever single country South-South initiative at the UN. It currently extends to 66 development projects in 51 countries.
India has also enabled two major initiatives for global climate action. The first is the International Solar Alliance which India pioneered with France in 2015, on sidelines of COP21. The second is the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in which India is the founder member. At the COP26 last year, India helped to launch further initiatives under these two platforms like the "One sun, One world, One grid" – Green Grids Initiative and the "Infrastructure for Resilient Island States” initiative. He reierated that India stands committed, it stands ready to strengthen its partnerships with the UN to ensure a brighter future for the planet.
Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, participated in the meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations on 22 September 2022. The meeting was chaired by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa Dr. Naledi Pandor as the incoming BRICS Presidency in 2023. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil Amb. Carlos Alberto Franco França, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Mr. Sergey Lavrov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Mr. Wang Yi, led their respective delegations.
The Ministers exchanged views on major global and regional issues on the United Nations agenda in the political, security, economic, financial and sustainable development spheres, as well as on intra-BRICS activities.
They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening and reforming the multilateral system, especially of the UN and its principal organs. They rejected double standards in countering terrorism and extremism. They called for an expeditious finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. They committed to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States, stressed their commitment to the peaceful resolution of differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, and supported all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of situation in Ukraine.
They acknowledged the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference Decision on the TRIPS Agreement to provide flexibilities to cover the production and supply of COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics. They called for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in a balanced and integrated manner. They stressed the importance of the fulfilment, delivery and urgency of developed countries' commitments to provide credible, adequate, predictable, timely, new and additional financing and technology transfer to developing countries to combat climate change.
The Ministers extended their full support to South Africa for its BRICS Chairship in 2023 and the holding of the XV BRICS summit.
The Ministers adopted a Media Statement at the end of the meeting.(https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/35743/Meeting_of_BRICS_Ministers_of_Foreign_Affairs_and_International_Relations_September_22_2022)
Economy
India overtakes the UK as the fifth largest economy
India has become the world’s fifth-largest economy after overtaking the United Kingdom in end-March 2022, as per the latest calculations by Bloomberg using the IMF database and historic exchange rates. Currently, the Indian economy ranks behind the United States, China, Japan, and Germany in terms of size in dollars.
As per industry analysts, it is anticipated that India’s economic size will be higher than UK’s in terms of performance by 2027. Economists have also stated that India is growing by 7% despite the global economy undergoing a slowdown. Meanwhile, Ananthan Nageshwaran, Indian Chief Economic Advisor has said that India will be able to sustain 7 percent growth each year until 2030
https://indbiz.gov.in/india-overtakes-the-uk-as-worlds-fifth-largest-economy/
India to become US$ 30 trillion economy
India is aspiring to take international trade to US$ 2 trillion by 2030, and become US$ 30 trillion economy at the 100th anniversary of its independence. Earlier, India’s export of goods and service crossed US$ 675 billion in fiscal year 2021-22.
(https://www.indianewsnetwork.com/20220907/india-aspiring-to-take-international-trade-to-usd-2-trillion-by-2030-piyush-goyal;
https://www.indianewsnetwork.com/20220910/india-usa-keen-to-strengthen-economic-and-strategic-partnership-piyush-goyal)
India’s FDI receipts to cross US$ 100 billion in FY23
Buoyed by economic reforms and favourable Ease of Doing Business ratings in recent years, India has received Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth US$ 83 billion over the past 8 months and this amount stands to reach US$100 billion under the Make in India initiative this year, according to a report from the Commerce Ministry.
The report said that the initiative has made substantial achievements across 27 sectors which include strategic sectors of manufacturing and services. In FY15, India’s FDI inflows stood at US$ 45.15 billion. India recorded the most FDI in FY22 at US$ 83.6 billion from 101 countries that have invested in 57 sectors across 31 Union Territories and States.
The report from the Commerce Ministry also said that the Make In India initiative has achieved a push with the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme across 14 key manufacturing sectors. PLI schemes were developed to incentivise domestic production across the country’s growing sectors to boost exports, by strengthening domestic manufacturing, forming resilient supply chains, and making the industries more competitive.
Additionally, to build a semiconductor, display and design ecosystem in India, the government launched a US $10 billion incentive scheme for the sector in April, this year.
Also, Under the Make In India initiative, the country’s toy industry has also witnessed steady growth in the last two years despite the pandemic.
(https://indbiz.gov.in/indias-fdi-reciepts-to-cross-us-100-bn-in-fy23-govt/)
Gujarat government signs MoU worth 1.54 lakh crore for the production of semiconductor and display fab
On 13th September, 2022, the Gujarat government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth 1.54 lakh crore (US $ ) with Vedanta and Foxconn Group for the establishment of semiconductor and display fab production facilities in the state.The investment will have a substantial influence on the economy and job creation, in addition to fostering the development of a vast ecosystem for ancillary industries and assisting MSMEs.
India’s defence exports grow by 334%
According to a report from the Press Information Bureau (PIB), India’s defence exports have grown by 334% in the last five years, with over 75 nations receiving the country’s defence products .
The report said that India also commissioned its first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, in Kochi during the period. Other than maritime projects, the country has also witnessed achievements in its air force. A few of these include the commissioning of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk-III squadron for the Indian Coastguard, and the successful testing of Agni P, the new generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile.
The thirteen-helicopter squadron has flown for more than 1200 hours since its induction and also completed many operations such as the night SAR mission conducted off the Diu coast. Four of ALH MK III are placed at Porbandar.
Experts said that regardless of India primarily being an importer of defence products for the last 75 years, the government is making efforts to make the country India one of the top five defence producers and exporters in the world.
(https://indbiz.gov.in/indias-defence-exports-grow-by-334-govt/)
Policy digest
- India’s National Logistics Policy is expected to accelerate growth and increase the country’s participation in global trade, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- PM Modi said that India’s MSME sector and farmers will largely benefit from this policy. The Policy, which recently gained approval from the government, aims to decrease the transportation cost and also improve the global performance of the logistics sector. It was unveiled last week by the Prime Minister.
- On another note, the government has recently launched a second Product Linked Scheme (PLI) for High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules. In relation to this, the Prime Minister said that the scheme will enhance manufacturing in the sector and boost investment.
- The government has also revised the PLI scheme for semiconductors recently, by providing a uniform reimbursement of 50% to all project costs for the companies in the sector. This is with the aim to make India a global semiconductor manufacturing hub.
World's highest railway bridge over Chenab River
Indian Railways completed the arch construction of the world's highest railway bridge over the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir on April 5, 2021. 359 metre high Chenab Arch is the highest railway bridge in the world. It is 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The bridge completed with a cost of Rs. 27949 Crore, has a length of 1315 meter and a width of 13 meters . It is made of 28,660 metric tonnes of steel and has a' serviceable period of around 120 years’. For the first time in the world, with the help of DRDO, this bridge has been made blast-proof. With the construction of this bridge, distance of hours can now be covered in minutes.
The Chenab bridge is an excellent example of engineering prowess, which makes every countryman feel proud. This construction work not only showcases India's growing strength in the field of cutting-edge engineering and technology, but also exemplifies the country's changed work culture of Sankalp se Siddhi.
(Source – New India Samachar – Issue 1-15 Sept, 2022)
41 Indian Institutes in QS World University ranking list
The Quaquarelli Symonds (QS) World Ranking of Higher Educational Institutions and Universities of the World in 2023 includes 41 Indian higher education institutions among the top 1422 worldwide. Seven of these institutions are appearing on the list for the first time. Only 12 Indian Institutes were on this list in 2014.
In the last eight years Government of India has made rapid strides in making high quality education more accessible by adding 7 new IIMs, 7 new IITs, nearly double the number of seats in medical colleges and tripled the number of All India Institute of Medical sciences (AIIMS). Further, 320 new universities have also been added in the last 8 years.
(source – New India Samachar – Issue Sept 1-15, 2022)
India ranks 40th on Global Innovation Index
According to a report from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), India has achieved a place in the Global Innovation Index’s (GII) top 40 countries, ranking 40th, on the back of improvement in information and communication technologies, services exports, venture capital recipients’ value, and finance for startups.
Last year, India stood at 46th in the Index among 132 countries and has climbed 6-places this year. It has currently become the top innovative lower middle-income economy in the world in GII and has entered the top-40 list for the first time.
As per the report, besides holding top ranks in other indicators—6th in venture capital recipients’ value, 8th in finance for startups and scaleups, 11th in graduates in science and engineering, 12th in labour productivity growth and 14th in domestic industry diversification—India continues to lead the world in the ICT services exports,
According to media reports, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that the continuous rise in GII rankings is due to the progressive initiatives by the government and industry working together. The country’s rank seven years ago stood at 81 and has jumped by more than half the number in FY23.
The WIPO report also said that India’s innovation performance is above average for the upper-middle-income group in almost every innovation pillar. The country the ranked highest among the “most innovation economies” in Central and Southern Asia.
https://indbiz.gov.in/india-ranks-40th-on-global-innovation-index/
Cheetah's return to India
With the arrival of eight Cheetahs from Namibia in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022, India has become the only country where all five members of the big cat ‘species’ are now present. These Cheetahs were brought to India from Namibia by special aircraft.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed his commitment on many global platforms promoting environmental and wildlife conservation. After achieving the target of doubling the number of tigers ahead of time, PM Modi has now given a target of conservation and protection of big cat species including 50 Cheetahs, in the country.
The Cheetah is one of the big cat species that has been recorded in India even before Christian Era (BC). Pictures of Cheetahs have been found in the rock paintings of Chaturbhuj Nala of Gandhisagar Sanctuary and Kharbai in the Raisen district.
(Source – New India Samachar – Issue Oct 1-15, 2022)
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - Freedom Stories
Vinoba Bhave and Bhoodan Movement
Vinayak Narahari Bhave, commonly known as Vinoba, was born at Gondia in Maharashtra, on 11 September 1895. Educated at Baroda in the Government High School, he was a brilliant student, but he soon lost interest in conventional studies. He passed the Matriculation examination in 1913 and was due to appear for the Intermediate examination in 1916 for which he had to go to Bombay. Instead of going to Bombay, he detrained at Surat and proceeded to Banaras, where he studied Sanskrit and became proficient in all Hindu scriptural books. He was a self-taught multi-linguist.
After Gandhiji‘s return from South Africa early in 1915, Vinoba recognised in him the kindred-most of spirits and requested him to adopt himself as his spiritual son in 1916. Speaking about Vinoba, Gandhiji said, “He is one of the Ashram’s rare pearls – one of those who have come not to be blessed but to bless, not to receive but to give”.
Vinoba lived in accordance with the eleven vows, included in Gandhian daily prayer, viz. non-violence, truthfulness, absolute honesty, chastity, poverty, manual work, temperance, fearlessness, respect for all religions, independence in the matter of money, and non-recognition of cast distinctions. At the Ashram, he took up scavenging work and had “no trace of untouchability left in his heart”.
He was one of the moving spirits of the Nagpur Flag Satyagraha, his companions being Jamanalal Bajaj, Bhagwan Deen, and Nilkanthrao Deshmukh. In 1924, Gandhiji sent Vinoba to Guruvayur (Kerala) to participate in the Harijan Temple Entry Satyagraha. He participated in the famous ‘Dandi March’ for Salt Satyagraha in 1930, for which he was again sent to prison.
In April 1951, he started the Bhoodan Movement, with a view to bringing about fundamental social and economical changes in society by peaceful means. The movement began by way of gifts of lands to be distributed among the landless, later developing into voluntary renunciation of ownership of land in favour of village communities – Gramdan. More than four million acres of land were collected in self-sufficiency in food and clothing. His creed was, “Now that political freedom has been attained, we have to work for the establishment of equality.
On the pattern of Gandhi‘s Ashram at Sabarmati, Acharya Vinoba Bhave started his own Ashram at Paunar, near Wardha, where he continued to stay till his death on 15 November 1962.
Culture & Sports
Varanasi nominated as the first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital at the 2022 SCO Summit
Varanasi also known as Kashi has become the first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital . The city was selected for the honour at the 22nd Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022.
The nomination of Varanasi underlines India’s ancient civilizational links with member states of SCO, especially the Central Asian Republics.
Under the framework of this major cultural outreach program, a number of events will be hosted in Varanasi during the year 2022-23, for which guests will be invited to participate from SCO Member States. These events are expected to attract Indologists, scholars, authors, musicians and artists, photo journalists, travel bloggers and other invited guests.
India’s wrestling momentum takes a hit at world championships
Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia won the Bronze medal at the 2022 World Wrestling Championships held between 10 and 18 September 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia. It was the 17th edition of the World Wrestling Championships of combined events. Vinesh becomes the 1st Indian woman to win 2 medals on this platform and Bajrang wins his 4th medal.
Neeraj Chopra wins Diamond League Trophy 2022
Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win a Diamond League title after winning the Men's Javelin event at the Zurich Diamond League Final 2022 with a best throw of 88.44m on September 09, 2022. Neeraj also won the gold medal in men's javelin throw in Tokyo Olympics 2020.
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1861917;
https://sportstar.thehindu.com/athletics/neeraj-chopra-wins-zurich-diamond-league-title-8844m-throw-first-indian-to-do-so-athletics-news/article65868209.ece
INDIA IN CHINA
Celebration of Hindi Diwas
Beijing
Shanghai
Guangzhou
Celebration of Gandhi Jayanti
Beijing
Shanghai
Guangzhou
CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA
10 Floor,1008, Shanghai International Trade Centre,
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CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA
10 Floor,1008, Shanghai International Trade Centre,
2201, Yan An (West) Road, Shanghai-200 336 (P.R. China)
Tel:(+86 21) 6275 8882, 8885, 8886,
Fax: (86 21) 62758881 & 62956892,
