Latest news with #CIISummit


The Print
3 days ago
- Business
- The Print
IICT landmark step for institutionalising India's cultural, creative strengths: I&B secretary
Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, was speaking at the CII Summit here at a session — 'India's Soft Power: Catalysing Global Ascendancy'. The IICT has been envisioned as the 'creative counterpart' to the IITs and IIMs. New Delhi, May 30 (PTI) The recent establishment of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai is a landmark initiative for institutionalising the country's cultural and creative strengths, a top official of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said here on Friday. Jaju underscored India's unique civilisational journey and diverse cultural expressions as the foundation of the country's growing global soft power, according to a statement issued by the organisers. Drawing on classical references like 'drishti', 'shruti' and 'kriti' — representing India's visual, oral and written traditions — the Union secretary emphasised how ancient legacies like the Natya Shastra and the Vedas, along with storytelling epics, music and mudras, continue to shape the country's vibrant creative economy. He highlighted the establishment of the IICT as a landmark initiative for institutionalising India's cultural and creative strengths, the statement said. Jaju emphasised that India is a 'storytelling superpower', with many untapped narratives waiting to be transformed into immersive global experiences. He reaffirmed the country's 'potential to become a creative superpower', urging the industry to harness this opportunity through unity, innovation and a shared cultural vision. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in his address, highlighted that India's rising stature on the global stage is a result of a renewed national pride and a transformed self-image. He noted a paradigm shift in tourism post-COVID-19, with travellers increasingly seeking immersive and experiential journeys. India's tourism sector, supported by robust infrastructure development, airports, roads and railways, is witnessing significant growth, particularly in spiritual and domestic tourism, the minister said. Destinations like Ujjain's Mahakal Lok corridor have attracted more than 10 lakh visitors in a month, illustrating the sector's resurgence, he added. With domestic tourism showing greater potential than international travel, India is aiming to align its tourism GDP contribution to global benchmarks, targeting 10 per cent of the national GDP by 2030, Shekhawat was quoted as saying in the statement. Puneet Chhatwal, Chairman, CII National Committee on Tourism and Hospitality, emphasised that India's soft power is deeply rooted in its rich culture, heritage and hospitality, which serve as powerful tools for global engagement and trust-building. He noted that every USD 1 million invested in tourism can generate nearly 100 direct and 250 indirect jobs and significantly increase foreign-tourist arrivals and foreign-exchange earnings. PTI KND RC This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.


News18
4 days ago
- Business
- News18
'We'll Bury You In Orders': Defence Secretary Pushes For Private Sector R&D Surge
Last Updated: Speaking at CII Summit, Defence Secretary Rajesh Singh highlighted the full potential of defence sector would only be realised through stronger private sector participation. In a strong pitch for deeper industry involvement, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh urged India's private sector to ramp up investment in research and development (R&D), assuring them of robust order books in return. His comments came during the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) Annual Business Summit 2025, held just days after the successful Operation Sindoor, which showcased India's indigenous military strength on the global stage. Addressing industry leaders, Singh stated emphatically, 'We'll bury you, the private sector, in orders — but there is a need for greater investment in R&D from your side." The defence secretary highlighted that while public sector undertakings and government-backed initiatives had led to consistent growth in recent years, the full potential of India's defence sector would only be realised through stronger private sector participation. Operation Sindoor, conducted earlier this month, demonstrated the combat-readiness of Indian-made systems like the Pinaka rocket launchers and Akash missile defence systems, which outperformed Chinese counterparts in field simulations as India struck terror sites and airbases in Pakistan and intercepted drones and missiles launched from Pakistan. The success has elevated global interest in Indian defence exports, creating a ripe opportunity for private firms to scale up their capabilities. Despite India's defence expenditure decreasing to around 1.9 per cent of GDP, Singh stressed that the funds available are sufficient for modernisation goals if efficiently utilised. 'Last year, for the first time in many years, the capital budget was fully spent. Procurement decisions are happening faster now," he noted. Singh also addressed systemic hurdles, acknowledging that remnants of the 'licence raj" still obstruct industry entry. He emphasised ongoing government efforts to streamline licencing and procurement, reduce bureaucratic red tape, and facilitate a more dynamic defence ecosystem. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who also spoke at the summit, echoed the call for self-reliance. 'India cannot remain dependent on others for its security needs. Our goal is not just import substitution but also becoming a global hub for defence manufacturing," he said. He praised the success of Operation Sindoor as evidence of India's evolving military competence and technological edge. Rajnath Singh also reiterated the government's long-term goal of positioning India among the top defence exporters, stating, 'Our indigenous solutions are now proven on the battlefield. We are no longer just a buyer — we are a builder." The summit concluded with a unified call for synergy between policy, innovation, and industry — laying the groundwork for India's defence ambitions in the coming decades. First Published:


Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
'Military equipment got war-tested': DRDO chief says defence exports to go up after Operation Sindoor
DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat on Thursday said he was hopeful that defence exports will increase after Operation Sindoor as indigenous military equipment has got "war-tested". Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of the CII Summit here, he also spoke about the recent clearance given by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to the "execution model" to design and produce India's ambitious fifth-generation stealth fighter jet -- the advanced medium combat aircraft ( AMCA ). "By 2034, the development work should be completed, and after that production should start from 2035. The first prototype flight will be ready by end of 2029," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elegant New Scooters For Seniors In 2024: The Prices May Surprise You Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Learn More Undo The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief said that in this execution model of AMCA which has been approved, "HAL can bid, private sector can bid, they can also bid as a joint venture". "So, this will open up participation of the private sector for fighter aircraft development," he added. Live Events The execution model approach provides equal opportunities to both private and public sectors on a competitive basis, the Defence Ministry had recently said. When asked if Indian defence exports will see an impact in the wake of Operation Sindoor, the DRDO chairman said, "After Operation Sindoor, I am very hopeful that defence exports will increase because these equipment has got war-tested. So, countries will show interest in acquiring them." Indigenously developed Akash missile system and Akashteer air defence system were some of the key military assets deployed by India during the recent four-day military confrontation with Pakistan. Kamat also acknowledged the role of the Indian industry and academia, and said, "we have to achieve complete 'Atmanirbharta' in future". India has been working on the ambitious AMCA project to develop the medium weight deep penetration fighter jet with advanced stealth features to bolster its air power capability. AMCA along with the Tejas light combat aircraft are planned to be the mainstays of the Indian Air Force. The defence ministry on Tuesday said Singh has approved the execution model for AMCA that will be developed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in cooperation with industry partners.


Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Character of warfare changed rapidly, lines between war and peace increasingly blurred: Navy Chief
Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Thursday said while the nature of warfare has remained the same over centuries, its character has "changed rapidly" and continues to do so, as he also suggested that the lines between war and peace are "increasingly blurred". "We also know that non-traditional threats such as acts of terror can quickly spiral into a wider conflagration and conflict," he said in his address at the CII Summit here. His remarks come in the backdrop of the recent four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan after the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like O carro de Paolla Oliveira choca o mundo inteiro, a prova em fotos! 33 Bridges Undo "While the nature of warfare has remained the same over centuries, character of warfare has changed rapidly and continues to do so. The lines between war and peace are increasingly blurred," Admiral Tripathi said in his address. "The commercial technologies are democratising warfare, making it available to non-state actors, and we are moving into an era of mass precision, where highly accurate capabilities, and in large numbers, both remain important for us," he added. Live Events The Navy chief said the use of non-contact warfare along with "space and cyber domains to wage a conflict with no ceasefires is a reality". "In this new paradigm, the industry has to see itself at the frontlines of national defence," he added. The Navy chief further said, "Our ability to absorb technologies at a rapid pace, translate them into combat capabilities, build at scale when called upon... and constantly innovate and adapt will define our collective security." "So, one may not be wrong in saying that national security no longer begins only at borders, but it also begins in R&D labs, factories and "in our firewalls," he added. The Navy chief also underlined that the maritime domain shall remain critical and central to India's journey towards becoming a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. Earlier in his address, he said as India aspires to become the third largest economy in the world, the seas will remain "our engines for growth". India's economy will remain dependent upon the seas and by corollary, "our future prosperity will be driven by at and from the seas", he added. Emphasising India's maritime legacy, Admiral Tripathi emphatically stated that "India was, India is and India will always be a maritime nation", not just by design in terms of geography, which all of you are aware, but also by destiny, in terms of our future growth. "Today India is again realising its rich maritime potential and the apex level vision and policymakers are aware and their statements are reflective of this broader maritime renaissance," he said.


The Print
4 days ago
- Business
- The Print
Character of warfare changed rapidly, lines between war and peace increasingly blurred: Navy Chief
His remarks come in the backdrop of the recent four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan after the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack. 'We also know that non-traditional threats such as acts of terror can quickly spiral into a wider conflagration and conflict,' he said in his address at the CII Summit here. New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Thursday said while the nature of warfare has remained the same over centuries, its character has 'changed rapidly' and continues to do so, as he also suggested that the lines between war and peace are 'increasingly blurred'. 'While the nature of warfare has remained the same over centuries, character of warfare has changed rapidly and continues to do so. The lines between war and peace are increasingly blurred,' Admiral Tripathi said in his address. 'The commercial technologies are democratising warfare, making it available to non-state actors, and we are moving into an era of mass precision, where highly accurate capabilities, and in large numbers, both remain important for us,' he added. The Navy chief said the use of non-contact warfare along with 'space and cyber domains to wage a conflict with no ceasefires is a reality'. 'In this new paradigm, the industry has to see itself at the frontlines of national defence,' he added. The Navy chief further said, 'Our ability to absorb technologies at a rapid pace, translate them into combat capabilities, build at scale when called upon… and constantly innovate and adapt will define our collective security.' 'So, one may not be wrong in saying that national security no longer begins only at borders, but it also begins in R&D labs, factories and 'in our firewalls,' he added. The Navy chief also underlined that the maritime domain shall remain critical and central to India's journey towards becoming a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. Earlier in his address, he said as India aspires to become the third largest economy in the world, the seas will remain 'our engines for growth'. India's economy will remain dependent upon the seas and by corollary, 'our future prosperity will be driven by at and from the seas', he added. Emphasising India's maritime legacy, Admiral Tripathi emphatically stated that 'India was, India is and India will always be a maritime nation', not just by design in terms of geography, which all of you are aware, but also by destiny, in terms of our future growth. 'Today India is again realising its rich maritime potential and the apex level vision and policymakers are aware and their statements are reflective of this broader maritime renaissance,' he said. PTI KND AS AS This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.