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Tag: Rajnath Singh

  • Centre had various other options apart from lotus for G20 logo: Mamata Banerjee

    Centre had various other options apart from lotus for G20 logo: Mamata Banerjee

    West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said Centre could have used any national symbol other than lotus for G20 logo.

    The CM contended that the flower also represents a political party.

    The Congress has alleged that the Centre used lotus in the G20 logo in a bid to promote the Bharatiya Janata Party. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh responded to the allegation, saying that the flower was part of the country’s cultural identity.

    Banerjee, before leaving for New Delhi, told reporters at the city airport, ”I have also seen it (the Lotus logo). As it’s a matter related to our country, we are not saying anything. It does not augur well for the country if the issue gets discussed outside.” At the national capital, the CM will be attending the meeting called by PM Narendra Modi to discuss the preparatory process for the G20 summit in 2023.

    ”It cannot be denied that the national flower is also the logo of a political party. There are so many other national symbols which could have been used in the logo. Even if I don’t raise this matter (in Delhi), others may,” she said.

    ”I have seen it but did not say much. It’s not a non-issue. It’s an important issue and they (Centre) must think over the matter,” the TMC supremo added.

    Mamata also took a swipe at PM Modi administration over roadshow during polls. 

    “Roadshow is not permitted on the day of voting but Prime Minister Modi and his party are VVIPs, they can do anything and they will be excused,” Mamata said about the ongoing Gujarat polls 2022.

    India has assumed the Presidency of G-20 grouping for one year.

    A press release from the prime minister’s office had stated that the logo, which was unveiled last month, draws inspiration from the vibrant colours of national flag – saffron, white and green, and blue.

    ”It juxtaposes planet Earth with the lotus, India’s national flower that reflects growth amid challenges,” the statement noted.

    ”The Earth reflects India’s pro-planet approach to life, one in perfect harmony with nature,” it added.

    The summit will held in Delhi on September 9 and 10 next year.

    ALSO READ: India’s G20 agenda will be inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive, says PM Modi

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  • Defence Ministry extends pro rata pension benefits to JCOs, ORs with 10 years of service & who join PSUs

    Defence Ministry extends pro rata pension benefits to JCOs, ORs with 10 years of service & who join PSUs

    The Ministry of Defence on Friday said that it has extended the benefit of provision of pro rata pension to JCOs/ORs (junior commissioned officers/Other Ranks) of the defence services, having not less than 10 years of qualifying service in it. Earlier this benefit was limited to the commissioned officers only.

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal of the department of ex-servicemen in this regard, and the ministry issued necessary order dated November 4, the ministry said in a statement.

    “Ministry of Defence (MoD) has extended the benefit of provision of pro-rata pension to JCOs/ORs of the defence Services, having not less than 10 years of qualifying service in defence service, who join/joined central public enterprises/central autonomous bodies/central public sector undertaking on permanent absorption/ employment,’ it said.

    It is notable that the provisions will be applicable to those JCOs/ORs who are absorbed/appointed in central public sector enterprises/central public sector undertaking (on or after 06.03.1985) or central autonomous bodies (on or after 31.03.1987).

    However, the financial benefit in past cases will be allowed prospectively from the date of issue of this order, the ministry said.
     

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  • India aims to achieve defence exports worth Rs 35,000 cr by 2025: Rajnath Singh at Defence Expo

    India aims to achieve defence exports worth Rs 35,000 cr by 2025: Rajnath Singh at Defence Expo

    India registered defence exports worth Rs 8,000 crore in six months of the current financial year and aims to achieve the target of outbound shipments of Rs 35,000 crore by 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday.

    He was speaking at the curtain raiser event of Defence Expo (DefExpo), scheduled to be held from October 18 to 22 in Gandhinagar.

    Singh said India’s defence sector has registered exports worth Rs 30,000 crore after 2014 when the Narendra Modi government assumed office at the Centre.

    He said India is progressing speedily on the path to achieve global standards of design, development and manufacturing of defence equipment.

    “Before 2014, we used to achieve (defence) exports of Rs 900 crore-Rs 1,300 crore. But we have achieved exports worth more than Rs 30,000 crore to date (since 2014). We can add another Rs 8,000 crore-Rs 9,000 crore of the export target (this year),” Singh said.

    “We target to achieve (annual defence) exports worth Rs 35,000 crore by the end of FY 2025. We have achieved exports worth Rs 8,000 crore in six months (of FY 2022-23),” Singh said at the curtain raiser event attended by media persons.

    Officials said so far 451 agreements related to the defence sector with proposed investment of Rs 1.50 lakh crore have been signed in run up to the DefExpo. Of these, Gujarat-based companies have signed MoUs with an investment pledge of Rs 5,000 crore, they said.

    Singh said India has in the last few years covered a transformational journey from being a (defence) importer to an exporter.

    The defence minister said the 12th edition of the DefExpo will give further impetus to this journey.

    “India, which was until a few years back, considered the world’s biggest (defence) importer is now standing in the queue of 25 top exporting countries,” Singh said in his address on the occasion.

    He said more than 1,3000 companies are participating in the DefExpo, which is the largest number for the event so far.

    Singh said as far as import dependence in the defence sector is considered, he has created a ‘positive indigenisation list’ of 410 items and more than 3,000 components of public sector undertakings (PSUs) which India wants to stop importing from abroad over the next few years.

    The Union minister said the theme of the DefExpo – ‘Path to Pride’ – is a vision of a new India. “If we want the world to trust our products, then first we will have to trust ourselves. ‘Path to Pride’ is a continuous process of that same trust,” he said.

    Singh said the expo will showcase the strength of India’s defence industry with the idea of ‘Make in India and make for the world’.

    India achieved exports of defence items and technology worth a record Rs 13,000 crore in 2021-22 and this figure is likely to rise to Rs 17,000 crore in 2022-23, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said.

    Kumar said the second India-Africa Defence Dialogue is being organised during the five-day event.

    “We are helping African countries by building their capacity using our defence industry. We are trying to find solutions to drug trafficking, piracy and other such issues in partnership. Overall, our cooperation in the Indian Ocean is being carried out with the Prime Minister’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR),” he said.

    The senior bureaucrat said “Invest for Defence’ is being organised for the first time at the DefExpo.

    “The aim is for our investors, financial institutions, venture capitals and private equity funds to know about investment opportunities in defence,” he said.

    Kumar said the ‘Bandhan’ event at the expo is about signing business agreements.

    In the last DefExpo held in Lucknow, 201 agreements were signed. This time, so far 451 agreements have been inked committing Rs 1.50 lakh crore investment, he added. 

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