Month: March 2023

Deakin University becomes first foreign university to set up its International Branch Campus in India at the GIFT City

Manish Kumar

The Deakin University, which is a premier University in Australia, has become the 1st foreign university to receive approval of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to set up an International Branch Campus (IBC) in GIFT-IFSC, GIFT City, Gujarat. Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2022-23 announced that “World Class Foreign Universities and Institutions will be allowed in the GIFT City to offer courses in Financial Management, FinTech, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, free from domestic regulations, except those by the IFSCA to…

PM addresses Post Budget Webinar on ‘Developing Tourism in Mission Mode’

Manish Kumar

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed a Post Budget Webinar on the subject of ‘Developing Tourism in Mission Mode’. It is the seventh of a series of 12 post-budget webinars organized by the government to seek ideas and suggestions for effectively implementing the initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2023. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister remarked that the new India of today is moving forward with a new work culture. He expressed delight at the appreciation shown towards this year’s Budget by the people of India. Reflecting on…

President of India inaugurates 7th International Dharma Dhamma conference in Bhopal

Manish Kumar

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 7th International Dharma Dhamma Conference, organised by the India Foundation in collaboration with the Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic Studies, in Bhopal today (March 3, 2023). Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the great banyan tree of Indian spirituality has its roots in India and its branches and vines are spread all over the world. The President said that for scholars, there are different schools of philosophy. But mystic of the world speak the same language. When realised souls decided to…

Biden administration to announce $400m of military aid for Ukraine.

Manish Kumar

The US is today expected to confirm an extensive new package of military aid for Ukraine. It may include, for the first time, armoured vehicles that can launch bridges to allow troops to cross rivers. It is anticipated the new round of support will cost around $400m, US officials said overnight. It is possible the system could help Ukrainian troops ahead of an anticipated renewed offensive, making it easier for defenders to reach Russian troops. In total, the United States has committed more than $19.7 billion in security assistance to…

Grand test for Indian diplomacy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks tough, highlighting the failures of global governance.

Manish Kumar

Under India’s Group of 20 (G20) presidency foreign minister met his American, Chinese and Russian counterparts, hoping to find enough common ground to deliver a joint statement. Analysts say that throughout the war New Delhi has deftly balanced its ties to Russia and the West, with Modi emerging as a leader who has been courted by all sides. India, analysts say, prides itself on its ability to balance relations. India has undermined Western sanctions by increasing its purchases of Russian oil, coal and fertilizer. At the same time, it has…

China loses more than 41million workers in three years as the population ages!

Manish Kumar

China’s number of working people has fallen by more than 41 million in the past three years, reflecting both the coronavirus pandemic’s toll on the economy and a decline in the working age population. Top factors are- higher youth unemployment due to the pandemic as well as a shrinking number of people in the “classic age group of the working-age population,” The number of people in China aged between 16 and 59 has been gradually declining since 2012. China’s economic growth is expected to accelerate this year due to the…

AAP govt under pressure, BJP lays out a Punjab plan, with message of ‘governance, leadership’

Manish Kumar

BJP has planned a series of programmes to press its advantage in Punjab.    After Amit Shah launches an anti-drugs yatra next month, J P Nadda will unveil other programmes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to visit soon. Despite the dismal performance over the years, the BJP focuses on the state – an ideological and strategic frontier for it. “People in Punjab were already uneasy over the drug menace, especially after they found that the AAP is a failure, ” the BJP feels. Apart from a statewide yatra…

PM, LoP, CJI’s panel to select Chief Election Commissioner, Commissioners: SC

Manish Kumar

The Supreme Court ruled that a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India must pick the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. Under Article 324(2) of the Constitution, the President is empowered to appoint the CEC and ECs. This provision stipulates that the President will make the appointments “subject to the provisions of any law made on that behalf by Parliament”.  At present CEC and ECs are appointed by the PM and the council of ministers…

Adani-Hindenburg row: SC orders setting up of 6-member probe panel; report to be submitted in 2 months.

Manish Kumar

The Supreme Court ordered the setting up of a committee to probe the recent Adani Group shares crash triggered by Hindenburg Research’s fraud allegations. A bench directed the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to investigate the allegations in the Hindenburg Research Report against the Adani Group. Sebi shall file a status report on its investigation before the Court within two months. It shall also investigate whether there has been a violation of Sebi rules or whether there was any manipulation of stock prices. A bench headed by CJI…

Union Health Ministry organises Orientation Seminar of the recently launched Pandemic Fund

Manish Kumar

Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare organised a seminar in collaboration with The Pandemic Fund at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi. The orientation seminar focussed on the functioning of the Pandemic Fund and its recently announced First Call for Proposals. Further, discussions were also held to explore potential role of Indian health organisations as Implementing Entities of the Pandemic Fund. The seminar was chaired by Union Health Secretary, Shri Rajesh Bhushan. Smt. Priya Basu, Executive Head of The Pandemic Fund Secretariat also participated in the seminar. Shri Rajesh Bhushan emphasized…