Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav speaks in the Lok Sabha on February 11, 2025. Photo: Sansad TV via PTI

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday (February 11, 2025) said that the Union Budget was “only for the rich people of the country”, and had failed to provide any roadmap for ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India).

Participating in the discussion on the Budget in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Yadav also said that the Uttar Pradesh government had not provided the final number on how many people had died in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.

He questioned the absence of drones promised for surveillance at the Maha Kumbh. “Where is ‘Digital India’? They are not yet able to provide the number of the people who died or were lost,” Mr. Yadav alleged.

For the first time, the Opposition leader said, there was “a 300 km traffic jam on way to the Kumbh Mela” and “they used two Chief Ministers [of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh] to stop the jam”.

“What is the benefit of reaching the moon when you cannot solve problems on the ground?” the MP from Kannauj said .

The Maha Kumbh is being held at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh from from January 13-February 26. The stampede took place on January 29, ‘Mauni Amavasya’, one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar. The U.P. government has said at least 30 persons lost their lives and 60 persons were injured in the incident.

Claiming that a few people held the entire wealth of the nation, Mr. Yadav said “the extent of the matter is such that free ration is being distributed to 80 crore people in the country”.

He said that in U.P., the “double engine” government was making “double blunders”.

Mr. Yadav said there had been no increase in farmers’ incomes, and the government should consider waiving off farmers’ loans.

‘The Budget’s policy announcements and fiscal plans need closer scrutiny’
| Photo Credit: ANI

The Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman’s presentation of the Union Budget on Saturday, February 1, was against the backdrop of pressing macroeconomic challenges — persistently high taxes and unemployment squeezing the middle-income class, subdued private investment, mounting external vulnerabilities that threaten to derail the growth story, and a looming fiscal overhang. While the Finance Minister laid out an ambitious road map for Viksit Bharat, spanning agriculture, manufacturing, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), social welfare, and infrastructure, the Budget’s policy announcements and fiscal plans need closer scrutiny.

Targets that raise questions

First, the fiscal consolidation target of 4.4% of GDP in FY26 is a key highlight of the Budget. However, achieving this target hinges on ambitious revenue projections, including a 11.2% growth in total tax revenues and a 14.4% increase in income tax revenues compared to FY25 estimates. These assumptions appear overly optimistic given the significant tax cuts announced in the Budget and the prevailing economic headwinds such as softening domestic consumption and weakening external demand. Much will also depend on the success of the second asset monetisation plan (2025-30), announced in the Budget. The underperformance of the previous asset monetisation programme raises valid concerns. Furthermore, the estimated ₹11.54 lakh crore in net market borrowings risks crowding out private capital at a critical juncture when credit demand remains tepid. Achieving the ambitious revenue targets will require improved tax buoyancy, more efficient tax administration, and realistic asset monetisation strategies to ensure that the fiscal consolidation plan remains on track.

Second, the revisions in personal income-tax rates and slabs under the new tax regime, exempting incomes up to ₹12 lakh from tax (after factoring in the rebate benefit), and significantly reducing tax liabilities across various income brackets, offer welcome relief to middle-income taxpayers.

However, while these changes are likely to boost disposable income, they shall come at a cost — of ₹1 lakh crore in foregone direct tax revenue, which, in turn, could constrain the government’s ability to fund critical developmental initiatives. The tax-base erosion also comes when household savings have shown a structural decline over the past decade, dropping to 18.4% of GDP in FY23 (Economic Survey 2024-25). This raises pressing questions about the long-term sustainability of these tax cuts, particularly when public investments in infrastructure and social welfare remain critical to drive inclusive economic growth.

Third, on the manufacturing front, the Budget reiterates India’s ambition to emerge as a global manufacturing powerhouse. The Economic Survey 2024-25 flagged India’s underperformance in manufacturing, which accounts for a mere 17% of GDP. While production-linked incentives (PLIs) have shown moderate success in sectors such as electronics, their scalability and long-term impact remain uncertain. In that light, the Budget announcements on enhanced credit facilities for MSMEs and the launch of a National Manufacturing Mission aimed at improving ease of doing business, to foster a future-ready workforce, and promote clean-tech manufacturing, are important steps. The revision of MSME classification criteria — increasing investment limits by 2.5x and doubling turnover thresholds— may improve scale economies. However, the measures fall short of addressing core competitiveness issues such as regulatory inefficiencies, infrastructure gaps, and low innovation capacity. The absence of concrete measures to boost industrial research and development — currently at a dismal 0.64% of GDP — undermines India’s ability to compete with innovation-driven economies such as China and Germany. While the Budget’s focus on manufacturing is a step in the right direction, achieving global competitiveness will require deeper structural reforms and sustained investment in innovation and infrastructure.

The gaps remain in agriculture

Fourth, agriculture, a key pillar of the economy, received significant attention through initiatives such as the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds. These measures are with the aim of enhancing productivity and climate resilience, which are critical for food security. The increase in the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan limit from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh, along with targeted interventions in 100 low-productivity districts, signals a strategic pivot from blanket subsidies to precision support, empowering farmers with greater financial flexibility. However, the measures fall short of addressing systemic inefficiencies in agricultural markets. The Budget lays an emphasis on credit enhancements, yet the focus on short-term loans perpetuates the dependency of farmers on debt without addressing the issues of price volatility or market access. Moreover, the absence of concrete measures to promote agricultural exports — particularly as India eyes leadership in millets and natural farming — represents a missed opportunity.

Fifth, while the Budget introduces some promising measures for the external sector, significant gaps remain unaddressed. Services exports, particularly in IT and business process outsourcing, continue to grow at a robust 10.5% CAGR, but budgetary efforts to diversify the export portfolio remain insufficient. Trade facilitation initiatives such as Bharat Trade Net (BTN) and export credit support for MSMEs, which were announced in the Budget, are positive steps but lack the scale required to tackle India’s persistent trade deficits. Moreover, the challenges posed by the depreciation of the rupee and declining forex reserves require a more ambitious export strategy. The fiscal push to value-added sectors such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, renewable energy, and high-value agricultural products could have strengthened India’s position in global supply chains and enhanced export competitiveness.

Not a transformative push

Finally, while the Budget signals intent on climate action and clean energy, its financial commitments reveal a cautious, incremental approach rather than a transformative push. The Budget’s focus on supply-chain resilience — through incentives for lithium-ion battery recycling, duty exemptions on critical minerals, and support for domestic solar photovoltaic and battery manufacturing — is a pragmatic move to reduce import dependence. However, without a parallel investment in grid modernisation, energy storage, and industrial decarbonisation, the transition to a low-carbon economy will remain fragmented.

The Budget’s fiscal outlays will eventually be judged by how effectively they address the fundamental trade-offs of Indian growth: how to unleash private enterprise while ensuring inclusive development; how to boost consumption without compromising savings, and how to accelerate growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability. Ultimately, the credibility of execution and the government’s willingness to course-correct where necessary will matter.

Amarendu Nandy is an Assistant Professor (Economics Area) at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ranchi. The views expressed are personal

This Budget is the first step to Viksit Bharat 2047. Economists have stated that unless the GDP grows by 7.5% continuously for the next 25 years, the dream of Viksit Bharat will remain unrealised, and India will remain in the middle-income trap. With the backdrop of slowing growth (FY 2025 growth expected at 6.4%), India remains the fastest-growing major economy but at $2500 per capita income, acceleration beyond 8% is paramount. This growth must be inclusive where the bottom 50% of citizens can get proportional benefits.

The four major pillars of the Budget – agriculture, MSMEs, investment and exports – set the tone for inclusive and accelerated growth. While the first two pillars are aimed at the lower 50% of the economic pyramid, the tone of investment and exports is also aimed at the same segment. Clearly, inclusive accelerated growth seems to be the mantra of the budget.

Consumption must be a big driver of growth for an economy that is 75% driven by domestic consumption. The Finance Minister has swung the needle by raising the threshold of income tax to ₹12 lakh from ₹7 lakh thereby increasing the disposable income of the citizen by over ₹1 lakh crore. Revenue expenditure is also up by 6.5% to ₹39.4 lakh crore. Capital expenditure, which took a dip in FY 24-25 to ₹13.2 lakh crore from PY’s ₹15 lakh crore, will see a 17% increase to ₹15.5 lakh crore. The combination of these two factors will provide tremendous impetus to middle-class consumption and employment. This is being planned in a disciplined way to keep borrowing in check such that the fiscal deficit will reduce to 4.4% in FY26 from 4.8% and hopefully keep inflation under control.

Agriculture enjoys the prime place in the Budget with a host of schemes to uplift 100 low-productivity districts, facilitate local skill development to prevent migration and create local employment. Specific focus has been on the development of production and consumption of pulses, millets, fruits and vegetables etc. with high-yielding seeds.

MSME was the next focus area, with 5.7 crore existing MSMEs and one crore registered MSMEs employing 7.5 crore people. Greater allocation to credit guarantee schemes, term loans, commercial cards and an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) for start-ups should significantly stimulate growth in this segment.

Focus on inclusive growth

Investment, the third pillar rightly focused on the grassroots – Anganwadi schemes that provide national support, 50,000 new labs, broadband connectivity, and digital regional language books for all governmental schools. Additionally, the expansion of IITs, medical seats, and Svanidhi for street vendor finance is directed at inclusive capacity creation. Investments in power sector transmission, nuclear energy, shipbuilding, maritime sector, regional airport, mining sector, affordable housing and tourism are all aimed at inclusive growth.

Exports, the fourth pillar, focus on a few sectors that include MSMEs. Bharat Trade Net for supporting export trade documentation, digital public infrastructure, supply chain integration, and National Framework for GCC [Global Capability Centres] in Tier 2 cities are all aimed at inclusive growth.

The decision to allow 100% FDI in the insurance sector gives a much-needed stimulus for this under-penetrated sector of our economy. Grameen Credit Score and revamped CKYC are steps in the right direction for inclusive growth.

In closing, this Budget demonstrates the first step of the keen intent of the Modi government that Viksit Bharat is not just a slogan, and the government is changing gears towards an accelerated growth phase that aims to include every Indian.

(The writer is Chairman, Hinduja Group of Companies)

‘The budget for the Ministry of External Affair deserves closer scrutiny’
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

When the Union Budget is presented every year, most of the public attention often centres on taxation, infrastructure, and defence. In this, however, the budget for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) deserves closer scrutiny. Last year, the MEA budget saw a rare 23% spike, up from the modest 4% annual increase between 2017 and 2023. Despite efficient Budget utilisation, exceeding 96% of the revised estimates, the MEA remains one of the least-funded Ministries. The MEA’s allocation not only reflects the government’s foreign policy priorities but also its capacity to deliver on its global ambitions and commitments.

The vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 hinges on sustained global partnerships. Here, India is positioning itself as a global leader: from leading the Global South; strengthening ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; enhancing regional connectivity, engaging with the Quad (India, Australia, Japan and the U.S.) and creating institutions such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

Impact on plans

Partner countries also expect more from India, requiring a stronger MEA. Countries anticipate timely project delivery, financial support, and diplomatic follow-through. Yet, the MEA’s current budget — just 0.4% of India’s overall expenditure — falls short to deliver on these plans. In 2022, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs suggested raising this to 1% of the total budget. While such an increase (approximately 63%) seems unlikely, even a gradual increase to 0.6% or 0.8% would signal intent.

Two areas demand greater budgetary resources to beef up India’s diplomatic clout: economic tools for regional integration and cooperation, and the MEA’s institutional capacity by expanding human resources and research expertise. India’s regional connectivity faced new challenges in 2024, including Bangladesh’s regime change, Myanmar’s instability, strained ties with Nepal, and the Maldives’ “India Out” stance. But visits by Sri Lanka’s President and Bhutan’s Prime Minister bolstered commitments in cross-border projects. Sustaining momentum under the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy requires economic support, amid China’s growing influence. Enhanced financial backing is crucial for advancing connectivity initiatives in South Asia.

Foreign aid and shifts

Budgetary trends reveal nuanced shifts. India’s aid to foreign countries declined by 10% in 2024-25, while loans to foreign governments, increased by 29%. Approximately 50% of India’s grants is directed to its neighbourhood. Bhutan remained the largest recipient of Indian aid, reflecting historical ties and a new impetus on energy interdependence, including hydropower development and sub-regional grid connectivity. Aid to Bangladesh declined from ₹200 crore in 2023-24 to ₹120 crore in 2024-25, while Sri Lanka saw a 63% increase in budgetary allocation.

A notable shift is the move from outright grants to lines of credit (LoCs), with 45% of the LoCs directed to the neighbourhood, Bangladesh being the largest recipient at $7.86 billion. While LoCs enable sustainable infrastructure financing, they also demand robust disbursement and oversight mechanisms, stretching India’s diplomatic machinery.

Another critical indicator is MEA resources to build institutional capacity. These are less visible but critical catalysts to enable long-term growth, including through a stronger Indian Foreign Service (IFS), supported by an expert research ecosystem.

While the MEA’s training budget saw a 30% increase in 2024-25, overall capacity-building allocations remain insufficient. The IFS remains a chronically understaffed diplomatic corps. Coordination challenges, delayed expansion plans, and limited lateral entry efforts hinder progress.

Last year’s MEA budget allocation for its foreign missions, training programmes, and cultural diplomacy grew by only 7% but key academic institutions such as Nalanda University and South Asian University experienced cuts of 20% and 22%, respectively. While the MEA has invested massively in convening international conferences and dialogues to foster India’s image as a bridging and argumentative power, it must also find more budgetary resources to support policy-relevant and evidence-based research at Indian universities and think tanks.

Need for declassification, digitisation

According to the External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, “Track 1 has been consistently ahead of Track 2 when it comes to diplomacy, foreign policy, and keeping up with the world.” If this is the reality, and “needs change” as the Minister beckoned, the MEA could lead by example by allocating specific resources in the next Budget to accelerate the declassification and the digitisation of hundreds of thousands of its records. Public e-access will help scholars map India’s rich diplomatic history, contest deeply-held myths and get a better grasp of the underappreciated context and constraints that regulate Track 1 decision-making. And in turn, such Track 2 research may also help current MEA decision-makers to learn from past successes and failures, avoid reinventing the wheel, and articulate India’s uniqueness based on the power of historical record, rather than mere political proclamation.

Riya Sinha is Associate Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), New Delhi. Constantino Xavier is Senior Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), New Delhi. The views expressed are personal

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi “inherited a very fragile economy” – from the preceding Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government – and, while progress has been made to a ‘viksit (developed) Bharat’, more must be done, Dr Arvind Panagariya, 16th Finance Commission Chairperson, told NDTV.

But assuming these challenges are overcome, that goal – a ‘developed’ nation, one for which a sustained growth of around 7.6 per cent, till 2047, is seen as a minimum – is “very much doable”, he said, pointing to reports that India’s GDP is likely to grow at nearly eight per cent for 2024/25.

“We forget, actually, the PM inherited a very fragile economy. In the last two or three years of UPA rule, things had really gone south. This was when some of the worst laws were enacted…” he said, highlighting legislation dealing with the right to education and acquisition of land.

“We had the Right To Education Act, which ended up being more of a barrier to quality education than promoting it, (and) we had the Land Acquisition Act, which clearly made the task of the PM who succeeded the UPA incredibly hard in terms of land being priced very highly,” Dr Panagariya said.

He pointed to the cost of acquisition of land, “even in a linear project, such as roads”, explaining purchase of land becomes three-fourths of the project’s cost. “What that means is… for the same resources, (instead of being able to) construct 2 km of road… you are able to construct only 1 km.”

Dr Panagariya also flagged other “fragilities” in the economic and administrative system inherited by Mr Modi, such as environmental clearances for infra projects “in a way hardly any projects were progressing”. “So, those bottlenecks had to be cleared up (and) then the PM proceeded to deal with more difficult reforms,” he said, pointing to abolition of red tape, GST, and the bankruptcy code.

Looking forward, he identified execution of the four labour codes as a key step, saying, “… we had enacted these in 2019/20… but implementation is still to be done. Once that is done… there is a whole host of reforms to do with income tax, privatisation, and higher education reform.”

Attention must also be paid to other infrastructure needs, such as railways and civil aviation and, most importantly, that related to digital payments, Dr Panagariya told NDTV.

Despite these challenges, he said he is confident ‘viksit Bharat’ is an achievable dream.

“For the last 20 years… if I take 2003/4 to 2022/23, India’s GDP growth rate in terms of (current) dollars (is) 10.2 per cent. People do not realise… in dollar terms we have grown very rapidly. Indeed, even if I take out the GDP deflator for that – which is the US GDP deflator, because we are talking in terms of dollars – India’s GDP growth rate in real dollars ends up being 7.9 per cent for this period.”

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spent around six hours with young leaders, ten of whom gave presentations on various topics ranging from sustainable development to integrating technology with agriculture.

The Young India Leaders Dialogue was held from 10 am till 4 pm as part of PM Modi’s Viksit Bharat (Developed India) vision, aiming at the country’s development by 2047. “A developed India will be the one that is empowered economically, strategically, socially and culturally,” he added.

Around 3,000 young minds from across the country participated in these discussions, where Mr Modi also presented some ideas of his own. He also urged the youth to step out of their comfort zones to achieve these objectives. Achieving ambitious goals requires the active participation and collective effort of every citizen of the nation, he added.

PM Modi emphasised the need for setting big goals, citing the examples of US’s rise following the 1930s economic crisis and Singapore’s rise. He also cited examples of India succeeding in becoming an open defecation-free country, and the management of the coronavirus pandemic.

PM Modi urged the youth to become catalysts for change, drawing from the innovative ideas shared throughout the day.

The enthusiasm and optimism I saw also highlight the immense potential of our youth as changemakers driving the nation forward.

I also told my young friends that the ownership of this Viksit Bharat movement is with them and the success of today’s programme further cements it! pic.twitter.com/ZavG1UihYj

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 12, 2025

Discussion of ideas was also held during a lunch the Prime Minister held with the youth leaders, among them young girls from the North East region.

The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue aimed to break the 25-year-old tradition of holding the National Youth Festival in a conventional manner. The meticulously crafted, merit-based multi-level selection process was designed to identify and showcase the most motivated and dynamic young voices from across the nation. It included three stages with participants ranging from 15-29 years. 

The first stage, the Viksit Bharat Quiz, was conducted in 12 languages for youth from all states to take part. It saw the participation of around 30 lakh young minds. Qualified quiz participants progressed to the 2nd stage, the essay round, where they articulated their ideas on ten pivotal themes critical to realizing the vision of a “Viksit Bharat”, which saw over two lakh essays being submitted. In the third stage, 25 candidates per theme advanced to participate in rigorous in-person competitions.

Manohar Lal Khattar. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday (December 10, 2024) said there has been a substantial increase in investments in the urban sector since 2014 and emphasised the Centre’s dedication to realising the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

Addressing a press conference on achievements of his Ministry, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister said investments have increased 16-fold, rising from approximately ₹1,78,053 crore between 2004 and 2014 to ₹28,52,527 crore since 2014.

“Urban development schemes have been expanded and implemented with greater speed and efficiency in the past six months, asserting that the rapid pace of urbanisation has made urban development a key pillar of India’s growth strategy,” he said.

The Minister said that under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) between 2004 and 2014, projects worth ₹66,837 crore were sanctioned, but the Modi government has sanctioned projects worth ₹2.73 lakh crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) since 2014.

Talking about urban housing and PMAY 2.0, Mr. Khattar said a new rental housing vertical has been introduced under the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), benefiting the migrant population.

Under this scheme, new initiatives such as provisional sanctions for around 7% of the planned one crore urban houses based on the population of States signing MoUs, have been made and it will ensure timely allocation and expediting the process.

“To streamline operations, sanctions to States will be finalised based on the demand received by March 31, 2025, providing clarity on yearly house allocations,” he said, adding that 88.32 lakh houses have competed under the PMAY 2.0.

Mr. Khattar said a revamped National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) will soon be launched, informed by the results of a pilot project currently under way in 25 cities.

Giving details about the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), the Union Minister said loan amounts of 13,422 crore have been disbursed under the scheme so far. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, since June 9, 2024, the government has released more than ₹1,123 crore.

Over the past six months since June 9, two major dumpsites in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad have been completely remediated, successfully addressing approximately 2.5 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste, Mr. Khattar added.

Kurukshetra:

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday said that “Viksit Bharat” is no longer a dream, but a target that has to be achieved with the collective efforts of the citizens, keeping the message of the Bhagavad Gita in mind.

He also warned people about forces that want to hurt India.

“We have chosen the path of Viksit Bharat in 2047. Viksit Bharat is no longer a dream, but a target before us. To achieve it, we will have to keep the message of the Gita in mind…. Like Arjuna was focused on his target, we will have to have the same vision, the same determination, the same concentration,” Mr Dhankhar said.

Addressing an event here during the ongoing International Gita festival, the vice president said he has no doubt in his mind that the target of a developed India will be achieved with the collective efforts of the people of the country by 2047 or even before that.

“The role of ‘sathi’ and ‘sarathi’ is critical. India has witnessed this over the last 10 years — unprecedented economic progress, the creation of incredible institutional frameworks and an unparalleled status and respect at the global level, which was once unimaginable,” Mr Dhankhar said He added that India’s voice resonates strongly today.

The vice president emphasised the need for a “Panchamrit” model of governance inspired by the teachings of the Gita.

“I deeply reflected on what message I could deliver from this sacred place that every citizen can adopt without relying on others. I propose five fundamental principles from the Gita, which I call the Panchamrit of governance, that every citizen can implement with a strong resolve,” he said.

Elaborating on one of the five principles — constructive dialogue — Mr Dhankhar said, “The dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna teaches us that differences of opinion should not become disputes.” “Differences are natural because people think differently. Even our Constituent Assembly faced differences, but it resolved those through debate and discussion. This is a significant message and I expect our members of Parliament, members of legislative assemblies, local representatives of panchayats and municipalities, and all institutions to focus on constructive dialogue.

“The outcome of dialogue should serve social and national interests, not personal interests. No interest is bigger than national interest,” he added.

Mr Dhankhar said the second principle is personal integrity.

“Those in positions of responsibility, whether in administration, politics or economics, must lead by example. Their conduct should inspire the public as it has a profound impact on the society,” he said.

“The third principle is selfless dedication. Lord Krishna teaches ‘Yagyarthat Karmano’ — work should not be for personal gain but for the greater good. With this spirit, I appeal to everyone that building a developed India by 2047 is a grand yagna. Everyone must contribute to this collective effort to the best of their ability for the nation’s welfare,” he added.

The vice president said the fourth principle is compassion, which is the “essence of our 5,000-year-old culture”.

“The fifth principle is mutual respect…. Think about the immense diversity we have, yet it all converges into unity. This idea can be integrated into governance under the Panchamrit framework,” he said.

Mr Dhankhar talked about the rapid progress India has made in the last few years and expressed hope that the country, which is currently the world’s fifth-largest economy, would soon leave Germany and Japan behind.

He cautioned people, saying there are some forces in the country and abroad, which on the basis of money power and by using mechanisms, want to hurt India, its economy and make its institutions dysfunctional.

“Their sinister design, pernicious object is to taint, tarnish and diminish our constitutional institutions, to run down our growth trajectory. Such forces cannot be ignored now.

“Our culture says that there are occasions when such forces have to be crushed, they have to be crushed…. And we understand all this from the Gita,” he said.

“I want to give a message from this land that the nation is supreme for us. There is nothing to be measured in this love for the nation, it will be pure, it will be 100 per cent. We will always keep the nation first,” he said.

“We have to remember, we are Indians, Indianness is our identity and we are citizens of such a great country that there is no other country like this in the world, so will we allow our Mother India to be hurt?” Mr Dhankhar asked the gathering.

Referring to the Centre’s free ration scheme, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) that covers 80 crore poor people, the vice president, without naming anyone, said it is “perverse” thinking that this means the government has accepted that 80 crore people in the country are poor.

“Some people are a recipe for chaos, they can only be critics, they cannot think in a positive way. My message to them is that they should understand the essence of the Gita, the message of the Gita,” he said.

The PMGKAY was launched in April 2020 to help the poor amid the COVID-19 pandemic for three months but extended later. Under the scheme, poor families get five kg of foodgrains each month for free.

Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand were present on the occasion, among others.

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

New Delhi:

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has praised what he called the “Bharatiya” idea of development which works in synergy with nature, while the Western model of development is all about conquering nature.

He said Bharat should develop its own models of development which the world can follow.

“Development is not possible without education, but this education should be Bharat-centric. We should take good ideas from around the world but never be blind followers. It is the responsibility of teachers to guide researchers for research which is based on the Bharatiya knowledge system,” the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s ideological mentor, said at the inaugural session of ‘VIVIBHA 2024: Vision for Viksit Bharat’, a three-day national researchers conference hosted by the Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal – Yuva Aayam in Gurugram’s SGT University on Friday.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr S Somanath, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi and other dignitaries addressed young researchers from different universities across India on realising the vision of Viksit Bharat.

“Research is quite important to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat as it enhances the capacity and capability of industries, startups, academia, agriculture and health sector besides many more areas,” Dr Somanath said, adding the next 25 years are important for India to become “Viksit Bharat.”

The ISRO chief said there is a need to connect the dots of research and innovation in science and technology with different sectors. Delineating the plans of ISRO, Dr Somanath said. “We have touched the Moon and further we want to have missions on Mars, Venus, and other planets in the future.”

Mr Satyarthi, after praising and thanking the organisers for hosting the huge event, said “this conference was the initiation of a yajna that will enlighten the whole world.”

Sachchidanand Joshi, Akhil Bhartiya Adhyaksh, Bhartiya Shikshan Mandal requested young researchers to contribute their best for making Bharat a “vishwa guru” through research and innovations.

Ram Bahadur Rai, a Padma Shri winner and chief of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and Chancellor of SGT University; Bharat Sharan Singh, chairman of Madhya Pradesh Private University Regulatory Commission, and Vice Chancellors of several universities, heads of institutions, professors and researchers were present.

The three-day National Researchers Conference centred on the theme “Research to Realisation”. Six plenary and 11 parallel sessions will be organised for the benefit of researchers. At the end of the three-day conference, selected researchers will receive opportunities for scholarly publications and prestigious internships at “Institutes of National Importance”.

New Delhi:

Blessings from ‘Nari Shakti’ inspired him to keep working to build a ‘Viksit Bharat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said responding to a heartfelt gesture of a tribal woman in Odisha who handed over Rs 100 to BJP leader to “convey thanks” to PM Modi.

PM Modi’s reaction came after the BJP vice president Baijayant Jay Panda’s post on X in which he shared that during the party’s membership drive in Odisha’s Sundargarh district on Friday, he met the tribal woman who insisted on giving the money to Panda to “convey thanks” to PM for his efforts.

Yesterday, on the sidelines of a @BJP4India membership drive in Odisha’s Sundargarh district, this Adivasi lady insisted on giving me ₹100 to “convey thanks” to PM @narendramodi

She brushed aside my demurrals & explanations that it wasn’t necessary, & simply would not take… pic.twitter.com/JoBBnKabUT

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) October 19, 2024

“This Adivasi lady insisted on giving me Rs 100 to ‘convey thanks’ to PM Narendra Modi. She brushed aside my demurrals & explanations that it wasn’t necessary, & simply would not take no for an answer until I finally relented,” the five-time MP said in his post, sharing pictures.
“This is a reflection of the transformation that Odisha & Bharat is experiencing,” he added.

PM Modi responded in a post on X, “Very touched by this affection. I bow to our Nari Shakti for always blessing me. Their blessings inspire me to keep working to build a Viksit Bharat.”

Notably, the BJP ended the 24-year-old rule of Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha after securing 78 seats in the 147-seat assembly in the 2024 state elections held simultaneously with Lok Sabha polls.

The BJD secured 51 seats way behind the majority mark of 74 while the Congress secured just 14 seats.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls also BJP performed well by securing 20 out of the 21 parliamentary seats of the state while the Congress got just one and BJD drew blank.

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