Paris:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that this is the right time for businesses to come to India as the country works towards the goal of becoming ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 while providing a robust business-friendly environment and policy continuity.

Addressing the 14th India-France CEO Forum here, PM Modi said this meeting is a confluence of the best business minds from India and France.

“I see that all of you are working with the mantra of innovate, collaborate and integrate. You are not just building connections, you are also strengthening the India-France strategic partnership,” said PM Modi.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron greeted PM Modi at the India-France CEO Forum.

“It is a matter of great pleasure for me to join this Summit with President Macron. This is our sixth meeting in the last two years. Last year, President Macron was the Chief Guest on our Republic Day. This morning, we co-chaired the AI Action Summit together. I heartily congratulate President Macron on this successful Summit,” said the Prime Minister.

PM Modi also highlighted India’s achievements in AI, space technology and the ‘Make in India’ programme at the event.

“We are working with the target of 100 GW nuclear power by 2047. This sector has also been opened for the private sector,” according to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister further stated that today, India is rapidly becoming a preferred global investment destination.

“You are aware of the transformative changes that have taken place in India in the last decade. We have established an ecosystem of stable and predictable policy. Following the path of reform, perform and transform, India is the fifth-largest economy in the world. The world’s fastest-growing major economy is soon going to become the third-largest economy in the world,” said PM Modi.

“Our identity on the global stage is that today, India is rapidly becoming a preferred global investment destination. We have launched the Semiconductor and Quantum Missions and are encouraging ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for the World’ in the defence sector too,” PM Modi told the gathering.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a powerful example on India’s 76th Republic Day on Sunday by picking up waste on the Kartavya Path, promoting the concept of plogging and the goal of ‘Swacch Bharat’ (Clean India).

This gesture, witnessed by thousands, highlighted the importance of cleanliness and community involvement in maintaining public spaces.

PM Modi noticed waste on Kartavya Path and picked it up while receiving Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar. PM Modi has emphasised from time to time to be involved in cleanliness acts to ensure a ‘Swacch Bharat’

During the Republic Day event at Kartavya Path, PM Modi demonstrated the importance of cleanliness by picking up waste while receiving the Vice President. #RepublicDay2025… pic.twitter.com/LyTKvfamPM

– @narendramodi!

During the Republic Day event at Kartavya Path, PM Modi demonstrated the importance of cleanliness by picking up waste while receiving the Vice President. #RepublicDay2025… pic.twitter.com/LyTKvfamPM

— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) January 26, 2025

This act was particularly significant, given PM Modi’s previous emphasis on plogging and community-led initiatives to achieve a cleaner India. In November of last year, he hailed a plogging group in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ who has been working to clean Ganga ghats in Kanpur.

In December of last year, the Ministry of Defence organised a massive plogging programme at more than 400 locations throughout the country as part of the activities of Swachhta Pakhwada.

Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday unfurled the national flag at Kartavya Path, followed by the national anthem with a thunderous 21-gun salute using 105-mm Light Field Guns, an indigenous weapon system.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto joined the celebration as the chief guest of this year.

This year, Republic Day highlights the 75 years since the enactment of the Constitution and emphasizes “Jan Bhagidari” (people’s participation).

PM Modi Modi laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, situated at India Gate, and paid tribute to the brave hearts who laid down their lives for the country, following which President Murmu unfurled the national flag, assisted by Indian Navy officers Lieutenant Shubham Kumar and Lieutenant Yogita Saini.

Around 10,000 Special Guests were invited to witness the parade, in line with the government’s objective to increase ‘Jan Bhagidari’ in events of national importance. These Special Guests from different walks of life were the architects of ‘Swarnim Bharat’. They include the best performers in various fields and those who have made the best use of the schemes of the government.

Tableaux from 16 state government and Union Territories and 10 ministries and departments of the Central Government highlighting ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’, participated in the parade this year.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to target AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal for his allegedly extravagant expenditure on the official residence of the Chief Minister of Delhi. 

Mr Shah, addressing a public gathering, shared an anecdote: “Some children came to meet me at my home. I asked them, what has Arvind Kejriwal done for Delhi? One of the children said that he built a big ‘Sheeshmahal’ (glass palace) for himself. When he came into politics, he used to say he would not take a government car or bungalow. Today, he has built a ‘Sheeshmahal’ using Delhiites’ money. Kejriwal ji, you will have to give an account to the people of Delhi.”

This salvo follows PM Modi’s criticism of AAP during the inauguration of several development projects in Delhi. PM Modi labelled AAP as an “aapda” (disaster) that has plagued the national capital for the past decade. In a swipe at Mr Kejriwal, PM Modi claimed that he could have constructed a ‘Sheeshmahal’ for himself but chose instead to prioritise building homes for the people.

The BJP has consistently attacked Mr Kejriwal over allegations of exorbitant spending on his official residence when he was the Chief Minister. An inventory released by the Public Works Department (PWD) in October last year showed luxurious appliances and renovations at the bungalow.

Responding to these accusations, Mr Kejriwal dismissed PM Modi’s remarks yesterday as personal attacks and alleged that the BJP has failed Delhi over the past decade. Mr Kejriwal accused the BJP of lacking a chief ministerial face and substantive issues ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

“In 10 years, the BJP has not done a single significant thing in Delhi. They promised permanent housing by 2022 but have built only 4,700 houses in five years. Compare that to AAP’s work: 22,000 classrooms, three new universities, and countless developmental initiatives,” Mr Kejriwal said. 

The BJP today released its first list for the Delhi Assembly elections. Parvesh Verma has been fielded from the New Delhi constituency to take on Mr Kejriwal while Ramesh Bidhuri will contest Delhi Chief Minister Atishi for the Kalkaji constituency.