Tourism, Trust, And A New Bridge: Will Modi's Maldives Visit Reset India-Maldives Ties?
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India.com
23 minutes ago
- India.com
India Negotiating Trade Pacts With Several Nations, Including US: Piyush Goyal
India is negotiating trade pacts with several countries, including the US, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday, adding that today, the world recognises the strengths of the country. Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Goyal said several countries are keen to engage with India on the trade front. "We are in dialogue with many countries -- the US, Oman, the European Union, Chile, Peru and New Zealand. Many others want to start engaging with India,' he told the gathering at the BT India @100 event. "The whole world recognises us as the fastest growing large economy. We are contributing 16 per cent in the global growth, our macro economic fundamentals are the best," the minister added. Addressing the Parliament recently, Goyal said the country will take all necessary steps to protect national interest while negotiating trade deals with countries, as US President Donald Trump imposted fresh tariffs. According to the Commerce Minister, international agencies look at India as the bright spot in the world economy. "India has signed mutually beneficial FTAs with the UAE, the UK, Australia and the EFTA nations. We want to achieve such FTAs with more countries," said Goyal, adding that India, through its reforms and MSMEs and industry's efforts, is currently the 4th largest economy and will soon become the third-largest economy. "We are constantly working towards protecting and promoting our farmers. The government is confident of achieving Viksit Bharat goals. India is progressing towards 'Make in India' with self-confidence," the minister said. According to the minister, India and the US decided to talk over a mutually-beneficial trade deal aimed to be completed by the fall of this year. India has signed 13 FTAs with its trading partners. The country is currently negotiating the following FTAs with its trading partners: India-EU FTA, India Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), India-Peru Trade Agreement, covering goods, services and investment, India-Sri Lanka Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) and India-Oman FTA.
India Today
33 minutes ago
- India Today
PM's Mann ki Baat radio programme earned over Rs 34 crore: Government
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' programme has earned a revenue of Rs 34.13 crore since its inception, the government told the Rajya Sabha on a written reply, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan said the Mann ki Baat programme reaches the audience through multiple traditional and digital platforms."Mann Ki Baat programme is produced by Akashvani leveraging existing in-house resources without additional expenditure and has earned a revenue of Rs 34.13 crore since its inception," he Mann ki Baat was first broadcast on October 3, said a large segment of the audience engages by listening to the programme on Akashvani (All India Radio), which broadcasts it live across its national and regional networks. Regional language versions are also broadcast to reach vernacular the programme is telecast on various Doordarshan National and regional language channels, he said, adding that in addition to Doordarshan channels, DD Free Dish offers 48 Akashvani radio channels and 92 private television channels, making the programme accessible to viewers across the country, including those in rural and remote minister said the visual format of Mann Ki Baat enhances audience engagement by enabling shared viewing experiences, fostering collective reflection and said the programme is live-streamed and archived on YouTube channels such as PMO India, AIR, and on Prasar Bharati's OTT platform WAVES, as well as through the 'NewsOnAIR' mobile app which offers over 260 Akashvani channels."It is also made available on the news feed service of Prasar Bharati, PB SHABD, to facilitate wider dissemination across affiliated platforms and channels," Murugan programme is also widely accessed by audiences in India and globally, through social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and Instagram.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Narendra Modi
News18
33 minutes ago
- News18
In Historic First, BSF Set For Cadre Boost After Operation Sindoor Heroics
Last Updated: The proposal, cleared by the Department of Expenditure, Finance Ministry, will lead to a net addition of nearly 4,000 posts In a major development for India's border security framework, the Centre has approved the first-ever cadre review of Group 'B' and 'C' General Duty (GD) personnel in the Border Security Force (BSF). The long-awaited move is seen as a recognition of the force's expanding role in national security, especially following its critical performance during Operation Sindoor. Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that the proposal, cleared by the Department of Expenditure, Finance Ministry, will lead to a net addition of nearly 4,000 posts, with a strong focus on increasing supervisory strength and opening up promotion avenues for existing personnel. The MHA had asked for around 15,000 posts, which was not accepted by the Finance Ministry. The decision comes just months after BSF personnel played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor—an operation widely praised for its precision and impact. Their performance earned high praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and top commanders from the armed forces, bringing renewed attention to the BSF's operational importance. While the number of constables will see a marginal reduction, mid-level ranks like Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, and Assistant Sub-Inspectors will benefit from substantial increases in sanctioned strength. Officials say this will help streamline command structures and reduce supervisory gaps in the field. 'This is a transformative moment for the BSF. It not only strengthens the force numerically but also ensures our personnel see a clear path for career growth," said a senior MHA official familiar with the file movement. The Ministry of Home Affairs has been directed to revise relevant recruitment and service rules to align with the approved structure. With over 2.18 lakh personnel under the new framework, the BSF is now better positioned to meet the demands of modern border management. How BSF Came Into Existence? Before 1965, India's border security was managed by the State Armed Police Battalion. However, this arrangement proved inadequate when Pakistan launched an attack on Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet in Kutch on 9th April 1965. The attack exposed the limitations of the state police in handling armed aggression, highlighting the need for a centrally controlled, well-equipped and trained force to guard India's international borders. In response to this, the Government of India, based on the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries, decided to establish a dedicated Border Security Force (BSF). On 1st December 1965, BSF was officially formed. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
