India aware of China's aim to become ‘maritime power': Government
In a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh also said, "Our relations with countries in the Indian Ocean Region are comprehensive and long-standing, based on their own merit and are independent of their relations with any third countries."
The Ministry of External Affairs was asked whether China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean Region is a "strategic challenge" for India.
"The government is aware of China's stated objective of becoming a 'maritime power'. As part of this strategy, China is developing ports and other infrastructure facilities in the littoral countries in the Indian Ocean Region," he said.
China also has a naval and maritime presence in the Indian Ocean Region, including through anti-piracy escort missions, port calls and deployment of research and survey vessels, the MoS said.
"Government closely monitors all developments in the Indian Ocean Region impinging on India's security and economic interests and takes appropriate measures to safeguard India's interests," he added.
Countries such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Mauritius occupy a central place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' Policy and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, the MoS said.
"Our political relations with countries of the region are strong, trade and investment ties are being augmented, development projects and infrastructural cooperation are progressing, and there is broad-based engagement across all sectors," he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
21 minutes ago
- India.com
PM Modi, HM Shah Meet President Murmu At Rashtrapati Bhavan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday separately called on President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. The meetings came just a day before the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Parliament resumes on Monday. Taking to X, the Rashtrapati Bhavan posted: "Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan." It shared pictures of PM Modi and President Murmu. Another post read: "Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan." Details related to either of the meetings were not immediately available. The meetings came against the backdrop of heated exchanges witnessed in the Parliament over the Special Intensive Revision process in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections in the eastern state. PM Modi met President Murmu just a day after he said that the welfare of farmers, small industries, and youth remains the government's 'top priority' as the country stays on track to become the world's third-largest economy, even as US President Donald Trump announced that 25 per cent tariffs would be imposed on India from August 7. PM Modi reaffirmed the resilience of the Indian economy amid turbulence triggered by US tariff hikes, saying that the country must remain vigilant about its economic interests and adopt 'swadeshi' products. 'There is an atmosphere of global instability. All countries are focusing on their individual interests. India is going to become the third biggest economy in the world, and this is why India will have to stay alert as far as its economic interests are concerned,' the Prime Minister said during a rally in Varanasi on Saturday. Earlier this week, Trump announced 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods. He said India would also face an additional tariff penalty for buying Russian oil. The Parliament has seen little business since the Monsoon Session commenced on July 21.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
After PM Modi, Amit Shah meets President Murmu amid Parliament logjam over Bihar voter list row
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Sunday. The meeting came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the President. The reasons behind the subsequent meetings of the prime minister and the home minister with the President were not known. "Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan," the Rashtrapati Bhavan wrote on 'X'. The back-to-back meetings come in the backdrop of the logjam in Parliament over the opposition demand for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. Since the Monsoon session began on July 21, Parliament has seen little business except discussions in both Houses on Operation Sindoor. The prime minister's meeting with the President also came days after US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on exports from India and an unspecified penalty because of New Delhi's purchases of Russian military equipment and oil. The prime minister's meeting with the President also came days after US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on exports from India and an unspecified penalty because of New Delhi's purchases of Russian military equipment and oil. On Saturday, PM Modi visited Varanasi and released the 20th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, transferring more than ₹ 20,500 crore into the bank accounts of 9.7 crore farmers.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Over 22 Crore Farmers Receive Rs 1.83 Lakh Crore Compensation Under PMFBY Since 2016
New Delhi: Since its launch in 2016, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has insured 78.41 crore farmer applications up to June 30, 2025. During this period, around 22.67 crore farmers have received compensation amounting to Rs 1.83 lakh crore, highlighting the scheme's wide reach and impact in supporting farmers against crop loss, informed Ramnath Thakur, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in a written reply to Rajya Sabha on August 1. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana on February 18, 2025 , completed nine years of its launch. Launched in 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the scheme provides a comprehensive shield against crop losses caused by unforeseen natural hazards. This protection not only stabilises farmers' income but also encourages them to adopt new practices. Crop insurance is an important risk mitigation measure to protect farmers from natural calamities. Its purpose is to provide financial assistance to farmers suffering from crop loss/damage due to natural calamities such as hailstorm , drought , flood , cyclone , heavy and unseasonal rains , disease and pest attacks etc. MoS further apprised the house about the steps undertaken by the government to strengthen implementation of this scheme, according to Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Among the various steps, development of National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) as a single source of data ensuring subsidy payment, co-ordination, transparency, dissemination of information and delivery of services including direct online enrolment of farmers, uploading/obtaining individual insured famer's details for better monitoring and to ensure transfer of claim amount electronically to the individual farmer's Bank Account. In order to rigorously monitor claim disbursal process, a dedicated module namely 'Digiclaim Module' has been operationalized for payment of claims from Kharif 2022 onwards. It involves integration of National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) with Public Finance Management System (PFMS) and accounting system of Insurance Companies. Delinking of Central Government share of premium subsidy from that of State Governments has been implemented so that farmers can get proportionate claims relating to the Central Government share. Opening of ESCROW Account by the State Government concerned for deposit of their premium share in advance as per provisions of the scheme has been made mandatory w.e.f. Kharif 2025 season. Also, towards leveraging technology in implementation of the scheme, various steps like capturing of yield data/Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) data through CCE-Agri App & uploading it on the NCIP, allowing insurance companies to witness the conduct of CCEs, integration of State land records with NCIP etc. have already been taken to improve timely settlement of the claims to farmers. Provision of 12 per cent penalty on delay in payment of claims by insurance company is auto calculated on National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP). MoS said that both Public Sector and Private Insurance Companies have been involved to increase the coverage of farmers especially non-loanee farmers and to bring more competition in crop insurance sector so as to provide the best services to farmers at competitive rates. Due to increased competition, actuarial/bidded premium rates have also decreased. As compared to erstwhile crop insurance schemes, coverage of farmer applications has increased from 371 lakhs in 2014-15 to 1510 lakhs in 2024-25. He added that the number of non-loanee farmer applications has also increased from 20 lakhs in 2014-15 to 522 lakhs in 2024-25.
