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News18
2 days ago
- Business
- News18
How PM Modi Overcame Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity & Ambiguity
Last Updated: One of the most significant achievements of Modi's third term is the robust economic growth India has sustained despite global geopolitical headwinds VUCA, an acronym for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity, is a framework used to describe the challenging and rapidly changing environment in which organisations and individuals operate. It originated in the military sphere but is now widely adopted in business, economics and politics. Clearly, the world today is in the grip of VUCA more than ever before. Few global leaders have showcased the will or ability to overcome VUCA. However, Narendra Modi not only overcame VUCA, but did so with elan. On June 9, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have completed one year of his historic third term as India's duly elected Prime Minister, a feat unparalleled in India's history. One of the most significant achievements of Modi's third term is the robust economic growth India has sustained despite global geopolitical headwinds. In the first 100 days of Modi 3.0 alone, investments worth Rs 15 lakh crore were committed, signalling strong investor confidence in India. In the last 11 years, over 17.9 crore jobs have been added as per RBI-KLEMS data, with an average job growth of 36%. Between FY12 and FY23, extreme poverty in India fell from 27.1% to just 5.3%. Kashmir to Kanyakumari is now a reality for the railway network. Generations in J&K spent their lives waiting for rail connectivity, but today, be it the Chenab bridge or the Anji bridge, they are gateways to the prosperity of Jammu & Kashmir. Atal Tinkering Labs have incubated over 3,500 start-ups, supported over 1,000 women-led start-ups and created over 32,000 jobs, fuelling the spirit of youth entrepreneurship. India registers four start-ups every hour, with funding increasing 15 times, incubators growing seven times and investors increasing nine times, showcasing an ecosystem that nurtures youth-led ventures. One in every 10 unicorns globally was born in India last year, with 118 unicorns created, highlighting India's rising prominence in the global start-up ecosystem. Nearly 50% of recognised start-ups are based in Tier 2 and 3 cities, generating 68 lakh jobs in the last six years. India is rewriting the rules of innovation by opening up critical sectors like space and defence to private players; in the defence sector, 92% of contracts worth Rs 1.68 lakh crore now go to Indian companies. Needless to add, PM Modi's focus on empowering the youth and their scientific temper has paid rich dividends. Urban India has transformed with over 4,576 cities having achieved ODF status. Dignity and hygiene are no longer a privilege – they are a right. Solid and liquid waste management now covers over five lakh villages. Over 10 lakh homes now receive up to 300 units of free electricity per month and the government is saving Rs 75,000 crore annually. With over 36.87 crore LED bulbs distributed under UJALA, families are saving Rs 19,153 crore each year. Emissions are down by 3.87 crore tonnes of CO₂ per year. Clean energy isn't just green – it's pro-poor. Jal Jeevan Mission brought water to the doorstep of millions. There has been a 380% increase in households with tap water connections, from 3.23 crore to 15.64 crore households, in the last few years. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has eliminated middlemen and leakages. Over 1,200 schemes now use DBT, with Rs 44 lakh crore transferred directly to bank accounts of the needy. With the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, over 81 crore people have received 5kg of free food grains every month since the pandemic. No one went hungry, not even during the darkest days of the pandemic. PM Ujjwala Yojana has transformed kitchens and lives, with over 10 crore LPG connections. PM Mudra Yojana gave wings to dreams. Over 52.5 crore loans worth Rs 33 lakh crore were given to small businesses, with 68% of them to women. The Jan Suraksha schemes have brought social security to every doorstep. Over 51 crore people are enrolled under PM Suraksha Bima and 23 crore under PM Jeevan Jyoti. Insurance is now for everyone, not just the privileged. The Saubhagya scheme electrified nearly three crore households. For millions, darkness turned to light. Power wasn't just infrastructure – it was hope. Under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, 19,000 remote villages were electrified. The mission of 100% village electrification was completed within four years. Under Modi's farmer-first vision, Rs 3.7 lakh crore reached beneficiaries via PM-KISAN, 25 crore soil health cards have been issued, Rs 1.75 lakh crore insurance claims settled, 1,473 mandis linked via eNAM and MSP has been raised by at least 50% over and above the cost of production. Over 7.9 lakh tonnes of produce moved through over 2,300 Kisan rail services. Agricultural exports crossed Rs 4 lakh crore in 2023-24, doubling in 10 years. Farmers are going global. The Rs 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund led to modern warehouses, cold chains, and better rural logistics – farmer earnings now last beyond harvest. Over 10,000 FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) were formed to boost collective bargaining and market strength. PMMSY and Sagarmala projects created better harbours, cold chains, and market linkages. The Blue economy also got a bold push. Rashtriya Gokul Mission conserved indigenous breeds, supported desi dairy development and gave livestock rearers new hope. India is now the world's largest milk producer thanks to mission-mode support, better fodder, and strong veterinary infrastructure. Twenty-four Mega Food Parks came up across India, linking farmers with industry. From 17.6 lakh direct jobs by over 1.6 lakh recognised start-ups to 1.6 crore youth trained under PMKVY and a massive rise in medical seats, this last decade under Modi wasn't about promises, but about possibilities turned real. Since 2014, new IITs and IIMs have opened nearly every year. India witnesses a new university coming up every week and a new college every day, expanding quality higher education. India has opened the gates of global research through the 'One Nation One Subscription' initiative. Now, over 1.8 crore students, researchers, and faculty members across the country have access to more than 13,000 prestigious journals from 30 leading international publishers. This is a massive step in democratising knowledge and fuelling innovation across every classroom and lab. The number of IITs grew from 16 to 23, IIMs from 13 to 21 and AIIMS from eight to 23, marking significant growth in premier institutions for tomorrow's leaders. The number of medical colleges and MBBS seats has more than doubled since 2014, increasing from 51,348 seats to over 1.18 lakh, ensuring a stronger future healthcare workforce. India's higher education is booming with 574 new universities established and 13,461 new colleges established, expanding learning opportunities for youth nationwide. Several first-ever educational milestones have been achieved: forensic university, rail and transport university, AIIMS in the North-East, medical college in Silvassa and Central university in Ladakh. With over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs and over 12 lakh innovation projects, more than 1.1 crore students are actively engaged in innovation and creative problem-solving. The Make in India initiative, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024, has been another cornerstone of PM Modi's economic success. The Modi government's emphasis on infrastructure, including the construction of a mega port at Wadhawan in Maharashtra and initiatives to connect 25,000 unconnected villages to road networks, is noteworthy. Modi's third term has continued to prioritise social welfare. Ayushman Bharat, the world's largest healthcare programme, now covers over 50 crore Indians, providing affordable and quality healthcare to the poor and neo-middle class. The Lancet has lauded the scheme. With 73% of houses being owned or co-owned by women, the PM Awas Yojana has been a game-changer. Between 2014 and 2024, over 4.2 crore houses were sanctioned and in June 2024, the Cabinet approved assistance for an additional three crore rural and urban households. Modi's third term has also placed a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability. India is on track to achieve its ambitious target of 500 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030. Key initiatives like PM KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar have empowered farmers and households by promoting solar energy adoption. The National Green Hydrogen Mission is another forward-looking step, focusing on alternative energy sources to reduce fossil fuel dependency. The BioE3 policy, approved in 2024, supports high-performance biomanufacturing to achieve net zero goals. Mission Mausam, with a Rs 2,000 crore budget, seeks to enhance weather and climate forecasting by 2026. At the COP26 conference, Modi announced India's target of carbon neutrality by 2070, earning praise from environmentalists for bold climate action. India's achievement of 10% ethanol blending well ahead of schedule further underscores PM Modi's commitment to sustainable energy practices. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), backed by a Rs 50,000 crore allocation from 2023 to 2028, is a landmark initiative to bolster scientific research. By providing resources to scientists and reducing barriers, ANRF aims to promote localised solutions to global challenges. No PM before him paid as much attention to promoting scientific temper and innovation as Modi has. The introduction of the Samanvay platform to combat cybercrime, along with the Cyberdost mobile app and plans to train 5,000 cyber commandos over the next five years, reflects the Modi government's commitment to leveraging technology for national security. These initiatives are critical in addressing the growing threat of cyberattacks in an increasingly digital world. With almost 19 billion transactions worth over Rs 25 lakh crore every month via UPI, digital India under Modi has redefined the very concept of e-commerce, ease of business and ease of living for commoners. The successful hosting of the G20 Summit in 2023, carried forward into 2024, showcases PM Modi's ability to shape global agendas. India has already become the world's fourth-largest economy, overtaking Japan, with India's average GDP growth of the last four years at a healthy 8.25%. Modi's call for the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations, which received overwhelming global support, has promoted India's cultural heritage and wellness practices worldwide. Last but not least, the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' initiative is transforming India. For the first time ever, there are more women than men in the sex ratio of India's total population, with 1,029 women for every 1,000 men. In 11 years, PM Modi's vision has turned the tide for our daughters – because they deserve nothing but the best. Sanitation today stands as a symbol of safety, dignity and empowerment for Nari Shakti. In 11 years, India became open defecation free, built over 12 crore individual household toilets and 2.49 lakh community sanitary complexes. India's future in science belongs to women. With initiatives like Vigyan Jyoti, the WISER Scheme, STEM, and CURIE, the last 11 years have nurtured aspirations of women in science and technology. Over 55.7% of the 55.44 crore PM Jan Dhan Yojana bank accounts belong to women. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana has benefited over 4.2 crore young girls. Speaking of women's safety, it is commendable that 747 FTSCs are now operational. Four hundred and six dedicated POCSO Courts are working to conclude pending cases of rape, while the POSCO Act has been strengthened. Maternity leave has been extended from 12 to 26 weeks, Sainik Schools are now open to girls, 17 women cadets have graduated from the National Defence Academy and Permanent Commission has been granted to women officers. top videos View all Rural women are now scripting a new chapter with help from schemes like Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didi. From drones to SHGs, women are no longer waiting – they're taking charge of India's growth and turning dreams into unstoppable realities. PM Modi's mantra of 'Beta Beti, Ek Samaan' (son and daughter are equal) has resonated across the nation, encouraging societal shifts toward gender equity. Sanju Verma is an Economist, National Spokesperson for BJP and Bestselling Author of 'The Modi Gambit". Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : narednra modi Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 09, 2025, 16:48 IST News opinion Opinion | How PM Modi Overcame Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity & Ambiguity
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Hotter and drier' June may worsen wildfire outlook, Oregon Department of Forestry says
MOSIER, Ore. () — As the wildfire season continues to grow, Oregon state and federal officials provided an update Friday morning on what residents can expect heading into summer. Those talks come after the state saw a handful of brush fires this week, with some even sparking evacuations. In Mosier, following the Cherry Hill fire on Wednesday. Oregon Department of Forestry said crews will continue to monitor until there is no more heat or smoke. This comes as state and federal officials told lawmakers to brace for another hot and dry season. PNW falls back into drought, wildfire threat increases One crew member on the ground said the wildfire season is off to an early start. 'I want people just to be aware of the situation we're facing in the pre-season, and it's only going to get worse,' said ODF Wildland Fire Supervisor for The Dalles Phillip Raffely. U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon received an update on the upcoming fire season. Fire officials said staff levels look strong but warn weather outlooks are potentially dangerous. 'We have hotter, drier summers, so this is not an issue that is going to go away,' Merkley said. At least three brushfires sparked this week in Oregon, sparking more than 2,000 acres combined. On Sunday, broke out in Wheeler County, north of Clarno. Central Oregon Fire said the 1,700-acre fire was about 20% contained on Wednesday. When the Cherry Hill fire broke out in Mosier on Wednesday, crews on the ground say it was caused by a burn that got out of control. 'I got on scene and it was already well underway, spreading into the wildland,' said ODF Forest Officer for the Dalles Kyle Albright. 'Plan ahead' for OR 217 SB lane closures this weekend Albright, one of the first people on the scene, said it was his fifth fire this year. 'The winds played a role in the evacuations due to fire history in the area,' Albright said. William Belser was previously under the evacuation order in Mosier. 'That's like the third or fourth one (fire). It's just now drying out so it doesn't take much for this stuff to take off,' Belser said. Due to the fast action of firefighters, the fire was contained and evacuations lifted just hours after it started. Days later, crews were still out Friday, mopping up hotspots. On Thursday, ODF was back out to help extinguish the Rowena Fire off of I-84, knocking down the blaze into a mop-up phase in less than 30 minutes. 'It's not unprecedented to have some pre-season fires, things like this. I'm just hoping that, moving forward, we don't have as many starts. You know, being May, kind of trying to forecast what June is going to look like, we just know it's going to be hotter and drier,' Raffely said. This weekend is expected to be particularly dry and windy. ODF said it may be best to avoid burning anything, especially as bans go into effect next week. If people do burn anything, ODF said they should make sure the fire is fully out before walking away. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Tiruchi Corporation plans to involve SHGs and NGOs in renovation and upkeep of public toilets
The Tiruchi Corporation has taken steps to redevelop the public and community toilets in the city, with plans to engage self-help groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to maintain the facilities to improve sanitation and hygiene. The Corporation has more than 320 public and community toilets in the city. The maintenance of about 20 toilets has been outsourced to NGOs. Despite being certified as an ODF++ (open defecation-free) city in the national-level cleanliness survey, Swachh Survekshan 2023, Tiruchi Corporation faced criticism for the poor upkeep of toilets. As a solution, it has planned to rope in self-help groups and appoint Corporation workers to maintain the facilities. More NGOs are to be roped in to operate and maintain the public toilets in key areas, a senior official said. Work on improving the infrastructure and maintenance of public toilets in the city has been taken up. Reconstruction of the toilets at Pattedar Street in Ariyamangalam at ₹8.80 lakh and maintenance and repair work at Kulathumedu at ₹2.65 lakh had been initiated by the civic body. Setting up borewells with water tanks to ensure round-the-clock water supply, and replacing the damaged urinals and washbasins in the sanitation complexes are being carried out. Renovation work had been initiated at prime locations such as Gandhi Market, Central and Chathiram bus stands. Workers are appointed to monitor to prevent damage to the toilets, especially at night and officials were asked to oversee the maintenance of public toilets at bus stands, by cleaning and disinfecting them regularly. High-pressure washer Meanwhile, a high-pressure washer is being used to clean public and community toilets in Zone IV. The portable unit with a handgun will spray water and cleaning liquid at high pressure to remove stains and dirt, which is effective compared to manual cleaning. It is said that these portable machines were used to clean more than 10 toilets a day. Similar machines were to be procured to clean public toilets in other zones.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kochi corp steps up efforts to declare city garbage-free
Kochi:Kochi corporation authorities are expediting efforts to collect and dispose of garbage as part of their plan to declare the city waste-free by the end of the month. A special council meeting will soon be convened to address the challenges and finalize strategies for the Waste-Free Kochi ensure broad participation, the corporation has sought the support of religious organizations, NGOs, residents' associations and political parties. Kochi remains the only municipal corporation yet to be declared waste-free under the state's Malinya Muktha Keralam project ."We've already held discussions with councillors who raised several concerns," said mayor M Anilkumar. "Even though we transport and treat waste efficiently, garbage still ends up on roads and streets because of continued littering. We can only declare Kochi waste-free after resolving these persistent issues," he added. The mayor also stressed the need for collective action and has sought state govt support for certain aspects of the councillors have expressed willingness to cooperate, but only if the corporation presents a transparent and sincere plan. Operation Sindoor 'Our job is to hit target, not to count body bags': Air Marshal Bharti on Op Sindoor Precautionary blackout imposed across parts of Rajasthan, Punjab 'Indian Navy was in position to strike Karachi': Vice Admiral on Operation Sindoor "The mayor consulted us on the problems involved in declaring Kochi waste-free. We've pledged our support for the effort," said MG Aristotle, secretary of the UDF parliamentary party in Kochi he also issued a caution: "When Kochi was declared open defecation free (ODF) a few years ago, councillors were pressured to certify their wards despite several families still lacking toilet facilities. We cannot allow a similar situation to occur with the waste-free declaration."Kureethra echoed the need for accountability. "Any measures taken must be genuine and sustainable. There needs to be a proper waste management system that continues beyond the declaration. Otherwise, the waste will simply accu,ulate on our streets." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Oregon wildfire season expected to be ‘even more aggressive' than last year, Gov. Kotek warns
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — As temperatures heat up, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared May 2025 'Wildfire Preparedness Month,' urging residents to brace for another potentially dangerous year. Kotek joined fire officials with the Oregon Department of Forestry(ODF) and the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to hold a briefing in Salem on Wednesday to discuss how the state is getting ready as wildfire season approaches. KOIN 6's Ariel Salk takes the plunge for water safety 'Record-setting wildfire seasons across the west are getting longer and more devastating. What we know to be an 'average fire season' has long passed,' Governor Kotek said. 'Last summer's devastating wildfires called for sacrifice, courage, and cooperation from everyone involved. Our state has spent the off-season preparing to take on what we know will be another dangerous summer.' According to Kotek, weather experts predict a hotter summer than last year, with increased risk due to dried vegetation. 'We are preparing for what is likely to be an even more aggressive and increasingly difficult to control wildfire season this year,' said the Governor. 'By July and August, we will experience above average severity that will culminate in September and October as we reach peak fire danger.' The warning follows one of the most destructive wildfire seasons in Oregon's history. In 2024, the state saw 1,956 fires, which burned a record-breaking 1.9 million acres. The fires forced the Governor to invoke 17 conflagration acts and racked up more than $350 million in firefighting bills. 'Here in Oregon, as always, we applied lessons from previous years to make sure we are better prepared every year to deal with our response and our recovery,' Kotek said. 'And that's what we're looking to do. We're prioritizing readiness, coordination, risk mitigation and a comprehensive statewide approach.' 9 arrested in Cornelius retail theft mission According to ODF, training has already begun for crews of adults in custody with the Oregon Department of Corrections to assist in wildland firefighting. Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said Oregon's mutual aid system has 11,000 firefighters ready to respond, with plans to bring on 1,500 seasonal workers in June. 'It takes every level of government and every person to help us keep fires small and away from communities,' Ruiz-Temple said. 'And it starts with preparedness. It starts with this month, if we can do actions now to mitigate that risk, that helps your firefighters in the community and at the state level this fire season.' The 2025 wildfire briefing was held at the ODF Fire Cache, a critical resource for the state's preparedness plan. The ODF Fire Cache houses, tests, and deploys equipment and supplies to firefighter camps and incident command management teams within 24 hours of an initial fire call. 'These fire caches provide our first responders with the critical resources they need beyond the first 24 hours of being deployed, including additional hoses, pumps and fire tools, along with the necessary supporting infrastructure, such as mobile kitchens, communication units, showers and generators to power the fire camps, when thousands of firefighters are deployed to large wildfires across the state,' Said Kotek. 'At our peak fire days in 2024, these fire caches supported over 10,000 firefighters going into Oregon.' Oregon chateau named among 'most endangered' sites The Governor called on all Oregonians to support first responders by doing their part to sign up for alerts, know the fire danger level and local restrictions where they live, and build defensible space at their homes. Below are tips from Governor Kotek's office that Oregonians can do to help mitigate the risk of wildfires this season: Space and prune trees to prevent fire from climbing into tree canopies and transferring fire to your homes. Remove leaves, pine needles, bark mulch, and other debris within 100 feet of structures or up to your property line. Clean roofs and gutters of flammable debris. Move combustible materials—like mulch and firewood—away from your home. Keep plants trimmed and clear of dead material, especially near the house. Avoid planting directly under eaves; leave at least a five-foot buffer. Know your evacuation routes, be two weeks ready and sign up for emergency alerts. Know your local air quality smoke conditions by keeping up with DEQ's AirNow program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
