Text of Vice-President’s address on the occasion of World Tourism Day 2024

The transformation that has taken place in the last decade by doubling the number of airports, having world-class infrastructure for connectivity railroads, various facets of it, highways, expressways highways that match the best in the world. 

Diplomats, grateful for your gracious presence, all stakeholders in tourism, and distinguished audience. On the occasion of World Tourism Day, it is very significant for the entire planet because it connects those bonds of humanity which are much needed at the moment, my greetings. 

This is an event to celebrate the profound impact of tourism on global economic development, social progress, and cultural exchange. Friends, these are just not words, you realise them on the ground. They are reflected tangibly, economic development is intertwined with the tourist industry, with tourism. 

The theme this year is very thoughtful and bears huge contemporary relevance, tourism and peace. The theme underlines something very deep. It connects amongst human resources, connects amongst people, and people-to-people contact. That is conducive to harmony and generates an ecosystem of exchange of ideas. Therefore, rightly so, tourism contributes massively to peace, the theme is not a day too soon, the entire world is yearning for peace.

We are traumatised by conflagrations, any conflagration in any part of the globe is torture to every part of the land. It disrupts supply chains, disrupts planning, a pain and therefore, tourism and peace have great relevance. 

The theme is particularly befitting for Bharat, the largest, vibrant, and functional democracy, home to one-sixth of humanity, tourism globally is a thriving industry. It is so thriving that some countries thrive only on tourism, their economy is sustained by tourism, it is the spine of their economy when it comes to Bharat. A statement was made, taking note of the phenomenal, exponential progress this nation has witnessed in a decade. 

I go back to more than three decades when I was a Member of Parliament in 1989 and a Minister in the Union Government then, the size of our economy was smaller than that of the city of Paris and London. When I went to Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, as part of the Council of Ministers, I could not see more than dozens of people on the streets, We were staying at a hotel by Dal lake and now imagine where we have come. Two crore people visited Kashmir as tourists last year. 

The economy today of Bharat has traversed in a decade from a fragile five to the five largest global economies. In the next two years, by all indications, we will be ahead of Japan and Germany to be the third. That is where Bharat is at the moment. So much has changed in the ecosystem by affirmative governance, technological advancement, transparent, accountable mechanisms in place for every governmental dealing that the International Monetary Fund reflected. India is a favourite global destination for investment and opportunity.

India, that is Bharat, is favourite global destination for tourism, go to any part of India, and the diplomats present here who have been to various parts, I am sure, will bear me out. We have tourism for all seasons, come to this land of spirituality, land of sublimity, land of knowledge, land of Vedas, and the civilisational ethos of 5000 years. Any time of the year, you will have the occasion to feast on tourist destinations.

The economic growth engine of this nation, destined to reach 2047 as a developed nation, will be fuelled majorly by tourism and I have no doubt you will leave no effort to tap the potential waiting to be exploited. And why not? All that is needed for the exploitation of our tourist resources and tourism destinations is, one, you need an image of the nation. 

An image of Bharat in the world is very different from what it was a decade ago, the leadership of Bharat is recognised globally. Which other economy in the world of this size can claim to be rising around 8% GDP annually? and so, predicted for many years to come. Look at 1.4 billion people being serviced with last-mile delivery with respect to toilets, electricity, internet, education, and tap water. ‘हर घर नल, हर नल में जल, जल निश्चित रूप से, जल क्वालिटी का होI, tested him stringently when he called upon me to inaugurate one of his pilot projects.

I said Mr. Minister, go to Jhunjhunu, my home district, click off the button, go to my Tehsil Chirawa click off the button, I said, go to my village, Kithana click off the button and tell me how many houses have नल with जल. My house had, the name was there. Some houses did not have, and faithfully, they were also reflected with one indicator, the work is in progress.

Moved by this great achievement, accomplishment, and credentials, he has now been given the daunting task where he will have to deal with everyone. He is very tactful, go to the Civil Aviation Minister here. He will get the Railway Minister, you will have to get all the Ministers. Because, if I say in Hindi, ‘टूरिज्म तो बहुत बड़ा हवन है, इस हवन कुंड में हर किसी को आहुति देनी है और यह आहुति प्राप्त करने का काम आपका है। ‘

But have it from me, if I go by global standards, if we manage to tap and exploit our tourist resource, then we will be solving three problems that will exemplify a model to the entire world, like our digitisation model. 

One, there will be massive contributions to the economy, there will be massive upskilling and, as rightly indicated, if we have expert people who handle tourism, because every tourist comes with a dream, he comes not to face hiccups. He needs hand-holding when needed, he wants a seamless working, developmental journey of Bharat. Various elements have provided it. But human resource matters and therefore, I will urge the Honourable Minister to get in touch with educational institutions so that your high-quality, skilled human resources to deal with this particular sector. 

We must make it extremely affordable, there can be no greater ambassador for tourism than our Honourable Prime Minister. He spent just a few moments in Lakshadweep, and the entire world came to know about it. You will have to explore every part of this country, you have at your disposal institutions like the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, the Indian Council of World Affairs, our foreign missions, and general cultural centres.

As Governor of the State of West Bengal, I was Chairman of the Eastern Zone Cultural Centre, having ten states. If you go to a place like Meghalaya, you will be wonderstruck with the purity of water, you will be amazed to see a village that is so eco-friendly. Even during these ten years, we have created marvels for tourism. 

The Statue of Unity is mix of culture and history of this nation, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. We have had such long tunnels, we have had such bridges, and the diplomats must have seen in silently,  there was emergence  suddenly of Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhumi, these things are happening. That being the situation, we have to take our due place on the tourism map of the world because we are the oldest civilisation. 

UNESCO says we have 45 heritage sites, I don’t limit that number at all. they have calibrated from their science, It is manifold, use reflected, Durga Puja, you will be going. Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam, Holi, Diwali and let me tell you, festivals are magnetic attractions for tourism.

History was created when Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Mongolia, they postponed their celebration of the main festival, for example, our Deepawali will be in a particular month, It was held a month ago because they wanted to showcase the culture of their country. 

You had the privilege of listening to the Honourable Prime Minister here. He has not missed words. He has given all indications of what we have done and therefore, let us commit on this day that we will put Bharat at its due place as we are putting Bharat in various other areas. 

आज के दिन यदि अगर मैं कहूं तो जल, थल, आकाश और अंतरिक्ष, भारत की धूम मच रही है। If we examine happenings on the sea, on the land, in the sky, or in space, our accomplishments are globally resonating. We are making economic progress through our space technology by launching satellites of other nations, including developed nations, much has to be done to secure that status but for the Tourism Minister, the work has been done for the last 5000 years to make Bharat a gold mine for tourists and in the last 10 years, development has taken to that level that now his imagination has to take flight. Your flight has to be in space. You have to make an effort that every area of tourism comes to be known and comes to be known impactfully and I’m sure you will put our foreign missions also in mission mode on discount. That will propel our economy to make us a developed nation and according to me, I may not be around. We are destined to achieve it much before India celebrates the centenary of its independence.

One way to frog leap, to take a big jump, is to set task forces in various verticals that evaluate the ground situations, generate a synergetic stance, and yield results. This is going to happen, I have no doubt about it.

People look for employment, for a long time, we thought the only employment that was available was government service. I wonder to myself if the World Bank reflected that India is a favourite destination of investment and opportunity. Surely it was not for government jobs, which means opportunity lies elsewhere. 

Tourism offers a basket of opportunities where you can have value additions, there is enough market for our products. I went to an expo two days ago in Uttar Pradesh, I found the ground reality of the Prime Minister’s vision of one district, one product, I saw seventy-five products from seventy-five districts, and मन नहीं किया कि अलग हट जाए, grass का काम brass का काम। I went to an institute yesterday, बंबू से क्या लकड़ी बनी है! सागौन से ज्यादा मजबूत है। I had the occasion to go to Surajkund to see the Northeast State Exhibition क्या करिश्माई काम है, टूरिस्ट देखते रह जाते हैं।

we have to tap it for global peace and harmony because हमारे ethos क्या कहते हैं? हमारी संस्कृति क्या कहती है, वह कहती है – अतिथि देवो भव. That is why what happened during G20 was gratifying for me as Vice-President because leaders spoke about it. Over two hundred foreign delegations visited every state and union territory, they were exposed to our cuisine, our cultural wealth, and our tourist destinations and they had only one thing, accolades for us. Unhesitatingly it was indicated that the benchmark set up by us was very high and difficult to achieve. 

Therefore, your level of satisfaction has to be shifting every day, when you reach one level, it should go to the next level. Your ministry, Gajendraji, will become, according to me, a generator of employment, entrepreneurship will blossom. It will be a crucible of innovation when it comes to value additions, and that will be an added advantage for the entire nation. 

Foundation, Atithi Devo Bhava, आपका कार्यक्रम कितना अच्छा है, देखो अपना देश, स्वदेश दर्शन, spiritual tourism, medical tourism, religious tourism very high standards, there is all-around upliftment in the upkeep of our religious places. The domestic tourism has got geometrical dimensions as a result of these steps.

I, therefore, while commending you and congratulating everyone present on World Tourism Day, appeal to everyone to be a tourist. There is no greater education than through travel. There is no greater seamless connect than through tourism, you get a soothing impact you are destressed. You are tension-free when you spend time in Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Kerala. I can name all these states, including my home state Rajasthan.

So, friends, I am delighted on this occasion that we are moving fast in this country to make the life of everyone easy. We are facilitating business, ease of business, ease of living for that category of people who never imagined a cooking gas being given to those who never imagined they could have it, affordable housing. 

The amenities which are normally aligned with urban life are available in villages, I have no doubt even the villages will tremendously benefit from your great efforts. congratulations to all of you, and more so for your patience. 

Thank you.

बृहन्मुंबई महानगरपालिकाजनसंपर्क विभाग

वायू प्रदूषण नियंत्रण उपाययोजनांची प्रभावीपणे अंमलबजावणी करावी
प्रशासकीय विभागनिहाय समन्वय अधिकाऱयांची नेमणूक करुन सक्त देखरेख करावी
महानगरपालिका आयुक्‍त तथा प्रशासक श्री. भूषण गगराणी यांचे निर्देश

वातावरणीय बदलांमुळे हवेच्या दर्जात होणारे बदल, त्यातून जनजीवनावर होणारे विपरीत परिणाम लक्षात
घेता, बृहन्मुंबई महानगरपालिकेने प्रमाणित कार्यपद्धतीसह उपाययोजनांच्या अंमलबजावणीवर भर दिला आहे. त्याहीपुढे
जावून व सखोल अभ्यास करून वायू प्रदूषण नियंत्रणासाठी आवश्यक उपाययोजना वेळीच कराव्यात. वातावरणीय
जोखमींचे अधिक प्रभावीपणे व्यवस्थापन करून हरित दृष्टिकोन विकसित करावा, असे निर्देश महानगरपालिका आयुक्‍त
तथा प्रशासक श्री. भूषण गगराणी यांनी दिले आहेत. महानगरपालिकेच्या प्रत्येक प्रशासकीय विभाग कार्यालयाने (वॉर्ड)
आपल्या कार्यक्षेत्रात वायू प्रदूषण कमी करण्यासाठी स्थानिक गरजानुरुप उपाययोजना आखाव्‍यात, उपाययोजनांची
प्रभावीपणे अंमलबजावणी करावी व देखरेखीसाठी समन्वय अधिकाऱयांची नेमणूक करावी, असे निर्देश देखील श्री.
गगराणी यांनी दिले आहेत.
‘वातावरणीय बदल: हरित दृष्टिकोन विकसित करण्याची गरज’ या विषयावर महानगरपालिका आयुक्‍त तथा
प्रशासक श्री. भूषण गगराणी यांच्या अध्‍यक्षतेखाली बृहन्मुंबई महानगरपालिका मुख्‍यालयात काल (दिनांक २४ सप्टेंबर
२०२४) बैठक पार पडली. त्यावेळी श्री. गगराणी यांना विविध निर्देश दिले.
अतिरिक्त महानगरपालिका आयुक्त (शहर) डॉ. (श्रीमती) अश्विनी जोशी, उप आयुक्‍त (घनकचरा व्यवस्थापन)
श्री. संजोग कबरे, उपआयुक्‍त (उद्याने) श्री. किशोर गांधी, उपआयुक्‍त (पर्यावरण आणि वातावरणीय बदल विभाग) श्री.
मिनेश पिंपळे, उपआयुक्‍त (विशेष अभियांत्रिकी) श्री. यतिन दळवी, उप आयुक्त (पायाभूत सुविधा) श्री. उल्‍हास महाले,
संचालक (नियोजन) श्रीमती प्राची जांभेकर यांच्‍यासह सर्व परिमंडळांचे उपआयुक्‍त, २४ प्रशासकीय विभागांचे
सहायक आयुक्त, संबंधित अधिकारी, तसेच पर्यावरण व वातावरण बदल क्षेत्रातील संस्थांचे प्रतिनिधी या बैठकीस
उपस्थित होते.
महानगरपालिकेच्‍या सर्व विभागांनी एकत्रित येऊन वायू प्रदूषण आणि वातावरणीय बदलाचे परिणाम ओळखून
त्यावर एकसंघपणे काम करणे, जेणेकरून मुंबईला अधिक पर्यावरण स्नेही आणि वातावरण अनुकूल शहर बनविणे हा या
बैठकीचा मुख्य उद्देश होता. त्याचप्रमाणे गत काही कालावधीपासून मुंबईतील वायू प्रदूषण नियंत्रणासाठी होत असलेल्या
उपाययोजनांचा आढावा घेवून, या उपाययोजना तसेच प्रमाणित कार्यपद्धती व नियमांचे पालन होत असल्याची
सुनिश्चिती करणे, समन्वय अधिकाऱयांची प्रशासकीय विभाग (वॉर्ड) निहाय नियुक्ती करणे, बांधकामाच्या ठिकाणांची
तपासणी करून तेथे सर्व नियमांचे पालन होत असल्याची सुनिश्चित करणे, या विषयावरदेखील बैठकीत चर्चा करण्यात
आली.

अतिरिक्त महानगरपालिका आयुक्त (शहर) डॉ. (श्रीमती) अश्विनी जोशी म्‍हणाल्‍या की, वातावरणातील
बदलांमुळे मुंबई महानगरासह संपूर्ण मुंबई प्रदेशातील हवेच्या गुणवत्तेवर विपरित परिणाम होत असल्याचे यापूर्वी
आढळून आले आहे. प्रामुख्याने हिवाळ्यात हवेची गुणवत्ता खालावते, असा अनुभव आहे. या पार्श्वभूमीवर यंदाचा
हिवाळा सुरु होण्यापूर्वी वेळीच सजग राहून उपाययोजनांना वेग देणे आवश्यक आहे. वायू प्रदूषणात वाढ होत असल्याचे
आढळून आल्यास त्यास प्रतिबंध करण्याच्यादृष्‍टीने प्रभावीपणे उपाययोजना अंमलबजावणी करण्याची गरज आहे. मुंबई
महानगरात वातावरणीय बदलामुळे उद्भवणाऱया जोखमींचा सातत्याने आढावा घ्‍यावा, असे निर्देश त्‍यांनी पर्यावरण
आणि वातावरणीय बदल विभागास दिले. महानगरपालिकेच्या अधिकारी आणि कर्मचाऱयांमध्ये पर्यावरणीय
जबाबदारीची जाणीव निर्माण केली पाहिजे, असेदेखील डॉ. (श्रीमती) जोशी यांनी नमूद केले.

उप आयुक्त श्री. पिंपळे यांनी, वायूप्रदूषण नियंत्रित करण्यासाठी बांधकामाच्या ठिकाणांवर सक्त निरीक्षण,
उघड्यावर कचरा जाळण्याचे प्रकार रोखणे आणि इंधन म्हणून लाकडाचा वापर यासारख्या स्रोतांवर तातडीने कारवाई
करण्याचे महत्त्व पटवून दिले. मुंबईत वायू गुणवत्ता खालावलेल्या दिवसांची संख्या वाढत चालली असल्याने तत्काळ कृती
करणे आवश्यक आहे, असे त्यांनी नमूद केले. वायू प्रदूषणामुळे जन्माच्या वेळी कमी वजन, अकाली जन्म आणि
दीर्घकालीन आरोग्याच्या समस्या यांसारख्या गंभीर आरोग्य समस्या निर्माण होतात. तसेच हृदयविकार, न्यूरोलॉजिकल
समस्या, अस्थमा आणि इतर आजार उद्भवू शकतात. त्यामुळे वायू प्रदूषणाचा परिणाम तात्कालिक नसून दीर्घकालीन
असल्याने नागरिकांनी देखील आपापल्या स्तरावर उपाययोजना करुन महानगरपालिका प्रशासनाच्या प्रयत्नांना हातभार
लावणे गरजेचे आहे, असेही त्यांनी नमूद केले.


PM to visit Maharashtra on 26 September


PM to lay foundation stone and dedicate to nation various projects worth over Rs. 22,600 crore

PM to dedicate to nation three PARAM Rudra Supercomputers

PM to launch and dedicate to nation various initiatives of petroleum and natural gas sector worth Rs. 10,400 crore

PM to inaugurate Solapur Airport

PM to dedicate to nation Bidkin Industrial Area


Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Pune, Maharashtra on 26th September. At around 6 PM, from District Court Metro Station, he will flag off the Metro train scheduled to run from District court to Swargate, Pune. Thereafter at around 6:30 PM, he will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation various projects worth over Rs. 22,600 crore.

The inauguration of Pune Metro section of District Court to Swargate will mark the completion of Pune Metro Rail Project (Phase-1). The cost of the underground section between District Court to Swargate is around Rs 1,810 crore.

Further, Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for Swargate-Katraj Extension of Pune Metro Phase-1 to be developed at the cost of around Rs 2,950 crore. This southern extension of around 5.46 km is completely underground with three stations namely Market Yard, Padmavati and Katraj.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the Memorial for Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule’s First Girls’ School at Bhidewada.

In line with his commitment to make India self-reliant in the field of Supercomputing technology, Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation three PARAM Rudra Supercomputers worth around Rs. 130 crore, developed indigenously under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). These supercomputers have been deployed in Pune, Delhi and Kolkata to facilitate pioneering scientific research. Giant Metre Radio Telescope (GMRT) in Pune will leverage the supercomputer to explore Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and other astronomical phenomena. Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in Delhi will enhance research in fields like material science and atomic physics. S.N. Bose Centre in Kolkata will drive advanced research in areas such as physics, cosmology, and earth sciences.

Prime Minister will also inaugurate a High-Performance Computing (HPC) system tailored for weather and climate research. This project represents an investment of Rs. 850 crore, marking a significant leap in India’s computational capabilities for meteorological applications.  Located at two key sites, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune and the National Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast (NCMRWF) in Noida, this HPC system has extraordinary computing power. The new HPC systems are named ‘Arka’ and ‘Arunika,’ reflecting their connection to the Sun. These high-resolution models will significantly enhance the accuracy and lead time of predictions related to tropical cyclones, heavy precipitation, thunderstorms, hailstorms, heat waves, droughts, and other critical weather phenomena.

Prime Minister will launch and dedicate to the nation various initiatives of petroleum and natural gas sector worth Rs. 10,400 crore. These initiatives will focus on energy, infrastructure, safety and convenience of truck and cab drivers, cleaner mobility and a sustainable future.

To enable ease of driving, Prime Minister will launch the Way Side Amenities for truck drivers at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra; Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab; Songadh, Gujarat; Belagavi and Bangalore Rural, Karnataka. With the objective of developing modern facilities for the comfortable journey break at one place designed to cater to the needs of truckers and cab drivers during their long journeys, way side amenities such as affordable boarding and lodging facilities, clean toilets, safe parking space, cooking area, WiFi, Gym, etc. are being developed at a cost of around Rs. 2,170 crore at 1,000 retail outlets.

To develop multiple energy choices like petrol, diesel, CNG, EV, CBG, Ethanol blended petrol (EBP), etc. at one retail outlet, Prime Minister will launch Energy Stations. Nearly 4,000 energy stations would be developed over Golden Quadrilateral, East-West and North-South Corridors and other major highways over next  5 years at a cost of around Rs. 6000 crore. Energy stations will help in providing seamless mobility through provision of alternate fuels under one roof to the energy seeking customers.

To facilitate smooth transition to Green Energy, De-carbonization and Net Zero Emission and reducing the range anxiety of Electric Vehicle drivers, Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation 500 EV charging facilities. Further, 10,000 EV Charging stations (EVCS) are being targeted to be developed by FY 2025 at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,500 crore.

Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation 20 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) stations across the country including 3 in Maharashtra. To promote the adoption of clean fuel such as LNG for long distance transportation, 50 LNG Fuel Stations will be developed in various states of the country by Oil and Gas companies at a cost of around Rs. 500 crore.

Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation 1500 E20 (20% ethanol blended) petrol retail outlets worth around Rs 225 crore.

Prime Minister will inaugurate the Solapur Airport which would significantly improve connectivity, making Solapur more accessible to tourists, business travellers and investors. The existing terminal Building of Solapur has been revamped to serve around 4.1 lakh passengers annually.

Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation Bidkin Industrial Area, a transformative project covering an expansive 7,855 acres under the National Industrial Corridor Development Program of Govt. of India, situated 20 kms south of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra. The project developed under Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor holds immense potential as a vibrant economic hub in the Marathwada region. Central Government has approved this project with an overall project cost of over Rs. 6,400 crore for development in 3 phases.

***

VP highlights the timeless relevance of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s philosophy and thoughts

VP stresses on the significance of India’s hard earned independence

Vice President of India unveils the statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on his 108th Birth Anniversary at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Shekhawati University, Sikar


The Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today, unveiled a statue of “Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya” at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Shekhawati University, Sikar, commemorating the 108th birth anniversary of the esteemed leader. The event also marked the inauguration of the “Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Samiti Udyan,” reflecting a commitment to the legacy of one of India’s visionary leaders.

In his address, Vice President Dhankhar highlighted the contemporary relevance of Pandit Deendayal’s philosophy, stating, “I am immensely pleased to be here. When I received the invitation, I naturally did not envision the significance of what I am witnessing today. I had only the name of a great man in mind.

Today, I realize the essence of his teachings.”
Reflecting on the honor of unveiling Pandit Deendayal’s statue, the Vice President noted, “I never imagined I would unveil a statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. This is a moment of great privilege, especially on his birth anniversary.” He recalled his connection with the leader’s philosophy, expressing gratitude for having been influenced by his teachings, stating, “His ideals and thoughts are profoundly impactful. We must learn extensively about Pandit Ji and strive to embody his philosophy in our lives”, he noted.

Emphasizing on the transformative impact of Deendayal Upadhyaya’s teachings, he stated, “His focus was on individual development, empowering individuals to become integral parts of society.” He further stressed the importance of addressing the needs of the last person in society, encapsulated in the concept of Antyodaya, which aims to uplift the most marginalized individuals.

Shri Dhankhar called for collective action, encouraging students, teachers, and all attendees to participate in the Prime Minister’s initiative to plant trees in their mother’s name. He remarked, “Planting trees in one’s mother’s name evokes a profound sense of connection. I urge everyone here to plant trees within this sixty-acre premise and care for them with guidance from agricultural institutions.”

“Today, I’m reminded of two visionary leaders who share their birthdays. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and Chaudhary Devi Lal were both selfless thinkers who dedicated their lives to giving back to society,” he said. He recounted how visiting Chaudhary Devi Lal’s statue at the Inspiration Hub of the New Parliament building evoked a deep connection, reminding him how the former Deputy Prime Minister guided him into politics.

The Vice-President underscored the importance of India’s hard-won independence, urging the youth to reflect on the lessons from the Emergency period. He stated, “We must recognize the significance of India’s independence, achieved with immense struggle. The ‘Samvidhan hatya diwas’ reminds us of how our rights were undermined by one individual and emergency was imposed to safeguard her position, leading to widespread denial of freedoms.”

Finally, the Vice-President encouraged young people to embrace opportunities beyond traditional pathways, stating, “Never fear failure; it is a natural part of any endeavor. Your opportunity basket is expanding.

Today, India is seen as the favorite destination for investment and opportunity, not solely due to government jobs but a broader horizon of possibilities”, he noted.

Shri Haribhau Bagde, Governor of Rajasthan, Dr. Prem Chand Bairwa, Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar Rai, Vice-Chancellor, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Shekhawati University, Sikar, Rajasthan and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

****

Indian Council of Agricultural Research -Department of Agricultural Research and Education actively participates in the Swachhta Hi Seva Campaign 2024

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) is actively participating in the Swachhta Hi Seva-2024 driven by Government of India. In a remarkable display of community spirit and commitment to cleanliness, various activities were successfully conducted under the Swachhta Hi Seva Campaign 2024 from September 21 to September 23, 2024 at various ICAR institutes situated in different parts of the country.

The campaign featured Human Chain activity under the event theme “Swachhata Ki Bhaagidari (स्वच्छता की भागीदारी)”, where participants joined hands to raise awareness about sanitation and hygiene. This symbolic event highlighted the collective commitment of the community to uphold cleanliness in their surroundings. Alongside this, initiatives focused on “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” were organized in line with the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), promoting sustainable practices and encouraging participants to adopt eco-friendly habits.

A human chain and rally to raise awareness about cleanliness and sanitation were organized by ICAR staff, local residents, and school children

The following day, Mega Cleanliness Drives were conducted under the event theme “Sampoorna Swachhata (सम्पूर्ण स्वच्छता) through Shramdaan including Swachhata Lakshit Ekayi (स्वच्छता लक्षित इकाई)” with the active participation of citizens and various partner organizations. These drives aimed to address cleanliness challenges across local bodies, encouraging community involvement in cleaning efforts across multiple sectors. This collaborative approach not only galvanized citizen participation but also strengthened partnerships among diverse stakeholders committed to enhancing community cleanliness.

Further, the campaign continued with efforts to clean tourist spots and religious places, ensuring that these vital locations are maintained in a pristine condition. Coordination with government departments, tourism bodies, and educational institutions was instrumental in achieving comprehensive participation, demonstrating a united front for cleanliness and sustainability.

PM Modi lauds Indian contingent on winning Gold in both open and women’s category at 45th Chess Olympiad

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today lauded the Indian contingent for winning Gold in both open and women’s category at 45th Chess Olympiad. He congratulated the incredible Men’s and Women’s Chess teams for their remarkable achievement.

The PM in a message on X stated:

“Historic win for India as our chess contingent wins the 45th #FIDE Chess Olympiad! India has won the Gold in both open and women’s category at Chess Olympiad! Congratulations to our incredible Men’s and Women’s Chess Teams. This remarkable achievement marks a new chapter in India’s sports trajectory. May this success inspire generations of chess enthusiasts to excel in the game.”

Vice-President to visit Uttar Pradesh on September 25, 2024


VP to be Chief Guest at 2nd Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show at Gautam Buddha Nagar

The Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar will visit Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh on September 25, 2024.

During his visit, the Vice-President will preside over the inaugural session of Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS) 2024, where he will deliver the keynote address.

This is the 2nd edition of UPITS, which is set to take place from September 25-29, 2024. The event will showcase the trade and culture of Uttar Pradesh, and will also highlight Vietnam as the Partner Country. The first edition of UPITS was inaugurated by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu.

****

GeM celebrates 100 days of governance; announces drastic reduction in its transaction charges

Orders above ₹10 Crore to pay flat fee of ₹3 Lakh, a massive reduction from previous transaction charges capped at ₹72.5 Lakh

Aligning with the Government’s ongoing commitment to foster ease of doing business and build a more inclusive economy, Government e Marketplace (GeM) has recently announced a significant reduction in the transaction charges levied on Sellers / Service Providers transacting on its platform. This bold move was part of Govt’s 100 days initiative.  Accordingly, GeM has announced a New Revenue Policy of the portal which was given effect to from 9th August 2024.

As per this Policy:

All orders valued up to ₹10 Lakh will now attract zero transaction charges, as opposed to the earlier order value ceiling of ₹5 Lakh.

Orders above ₹10 Lakh up to ₹10 Crore will be levied transaction charges worth 0.30% of total order value, as compared to earlier transaction charges of 0.45%.

Orders above ₹10 Crore will now pay a flat fee of ₹3 Lakh, a massive reduction from the transaction charges previously capped at ₹72.5 Lakh.

Nearly 97% of the transactions on GeM will be attracting zero transaction charges, while the remaining will incur a nominal fee @0.30% of order value above ₹10 Lakh subject to a maximum of ₹3 Lakh only, irrespective of the size of the order. This step is a watershed moment in terms of Ease of Doing Business on GeM and is also in line with Government’s commitment of reduction in cost of transactions. In a single stroke, GeM has reduced its transaction fee by almost 33% to 96% which is expected to greatly benefit GeM Sellers/ service providers to become more competitive.

The latest transaction fee structure is aimed at democratizing access to public procurement ecosystem. It aims to particularly benefit MSEs, which often face challenges navigating cumbersome financial and operational barriers. By considerably lowering transaction charges, GeM aims to level the playing field, thereby creating opportunities for small-scale businesses to deliver value and innovation in public procurement.

FY 2024-25 is also a watershed moment for Services sector wherein services sector leapfrogged at a very rapid pace surpassing Product GMV by a good margin. Service GMV of Rs. 1.39 Lakh crore as on 31st August 2024 is accounting for approximately 65% of the total Merchandise Value of ₹2.15 Lakh Crore for the same period. Several high value service bids have been awarded on the platform.

This surge in services procurement is supported by a large inventory of 325+ service categories on the platform. Coupled with its user-friendly interface, GeM has made it easier for government buyers to evaluate, select and engage service providers on the basis of their tailored needs. The platform’s transparent e-bidding processes ensure fair competition, while ensuring that government buyers find the right partner for their specific requirements.

About GeM:

Government e Marketplace is a unified digital platform that facilitates end-to-end procurement of goods and services by various Central Ministries, State Departments, Public Sector Enterprises, Autonomous Bodies, Panchayats, Multi & Single State Cooperatives etc. Our Prime Minister’s concerted efforts to harness the power of digital platforms to achieve ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ led to the genesis of GeM in 2016. The online portal was established with a clear objective to eliminate age-old manual public procurement processes that were riddled with inefficiencies and corruption.

GeM provides a paperless, cashless and contactless ecosystem for government buyers to directly purchase products and services from pan-India sellers and service providers through an online platform. GeM covers the entire gamut of procurement process, right from vendor registration and item selection by buyers to receipt of goods and facilitation of timely payments. GeM was envisioned to utilise the agility and speed that come along with a digital platform created with a strategic intent to reinvigorate public procurement systems and bring about a lasting change for the underserved as well as the nation.

***

Text of the Vice-President’s Remarks during Interaction with students at NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute, Silvassa (Excerpts)


Mark my words: the Prime Minister’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ is actually Bharat ki Baat! It touches every segment of the society. It makes people dream, it tells people how to aspire. It doesn’t end there. It also tells people how to have their dreams fructified.

आप तो बहुत भाग्यशाली हैं। हमने बचपन में क्या-क्या चुनौतियां नहीं देखी। तेज धूप में आते थे, कहीं छाया नहीं मिलती थी, कहीं गाय का भैंस का गोबर दिखता था उसमें पांव दे देते थे। And look at now इतने सारे गांवों में इंटरनेट है। हर व्यक्ति का बैंक अकाउंट है। सरकारी सहायता बिना बिचौलिए के पहुंच रही है। आप जो यह डेवलपमेंट देख रहे हो | यह एक बहुत बड़े विशाल डेवलपमेंट का हिस्सा है।

You can contribute in every aspect. Your scope is in global bodies like the United Nations, UNDP, World Bank, IMF, Asian Development Bank, your role is at the forefront. You have a role in big consultancy firms. That’s a good job you are doing. मैं एडमिनिस्ट्रेटर साहब को कहूंगा कि constitute a group of 30 students from each of the faculties, from medical, law, engineering and nursing also and the first batch must visit the Vice President Enclave and office of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha at New Delhi.

Keep on learning every day. Never have fear. Fear is the greatest killer of innovation and intellect.

Never fear failure. If you start fearing failure, you are generating failure for yourself. Some people have the ability to be negative about this bottle, Ohh!, 20% empty. Ignore them because it is 80% full, am I right? And 80% in this glass is optimal. You will feel it 100%.  India is rising like this. There are some people with negative mentality. Make them feel positive, ask them to open their eyes and see what is happening.

Never fear failure. Tell me, Chandrayaan-2 was largely successful, more than 90%successful. Some people thought Chandrayaan-2 was a failure.Chandrayaan-2 was a stepping stone to success for Chandrayaan-3.

पूरी दुनिया कह रही है कि what a scope for Bharat। दुनिया यहां पर आना चाहती है, और आप अपने साथियों को भी कहिए कि सरकारी नौकरी के अलावा जो opportunities of basket है, वह जो basket बढ़ रहा है लगातार, उसकी तरफ भी ध्यान दें। वह ज्यादा कारगर है। Therefore, have a positive attitude, believe in your nation, and keep the nation always first.

Vice-President cautions against playing politics in matters of development

Whenever we go outside the country, we are its ambassadors, says Dhankhar

Anti-national tourism undermines our collective identity, says VP

Destroying the health of India is no less than stabbing a knife in the chest of Mother India, stresses VP

Atalji’s actions were guided by a single goal—‘My India is great, my India, my nationalism’, says VP

VP addresses Public Function at Dokmardi Auditorium, Silvassa


The Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today appealed to not fall prey to politics 24 hours a day. “Politics cannot be above the nation. There should be no politics in matters of development. We cannot be the victim of excessive politics at the cost of nationalism, progress of the nation and development”, he remarked.

Addressing the gathering at the Public Function at Dokmardi Auditorium, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Shri Dhankhhar underscored the importance of upholding the dignity and pride of the nation when representing India abroad. He remarked “No one has the right to go outside India and speak ill of India, sit with the enemies of India. Whenever we go outside the country, we are the ambassadors of the country, we cannot think of anything other than nationalism”. 

Voicing concern over the increasing trend of individuals tarnishing India’s image while abroad, he remarked, “Today, we see medical tourism and safari tourism flourishing, but why is anti-national tourism happening? If we go abroad and speak ill of our country, this is unacceptable. Such behaviour not only harms the nation but also undermines our collective identity”.

Citing the exemplary conduct of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Vice President pointed to a time when Vajpayee, though leader of the opposition, led India’s delegation abroad while the Congress government was in power. “Atalji’s actions were guided by a single goal—‘My India is great, my India, my nationalism,’” the Vice President added.

Emphasizing the need for continuous improvement across all sectors, Shri Dhankhar stated that “There is scope for growth in everything. Every day, we see that whatever we do today, we can do better tomorrow.” He acknowledged the vital role technology plays in advancing the nation’s progress but cautioned against actions that compromise the health of the country and its people. “Destroying the health of India is no less than stabbing a knife in the chest of Mother India, and this will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” he declared.

Questioning the growing trend of importing items that can be produced locally, he stated, “Why do we use foreign goods for monetary gains? Will furniture come from abroad in our country? Will bottles come from abroad? Even kites, diyas, candles, and cotton are now coming from abroad.”

He highlighted three major disadvantages of this practice: the depletion of foreign exchange, the loss of domestic tax revenues, and the missed opportunities for Indian entrepreneurs who are being deprived of the chance to grow and thrive, and lamented the fact that such reliance on imported goods, driven by short-term economic gains, ultimately harms the nation’s long-term prosperity.

Reflecting on India’s incredible journey toward equality and social mobility, Shi Dhankhar celebrated the country’s success in empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds to rise to the highest positions of leadership.

“How did a tea seller become the Prime Minister of India despite poverty? How did a farmer’s son become the Vice President? How did a woman from a tribal background become the President of the country?”, he remarked.

Recalling his visit to Jammu and Kashmir as a minister in 1990, he noted the stark difference between then and now. “At that time, I did not see 30 people during my visit, and this year, 2 crore tourists have visited Jammu and Kashmir,” he remarked, underscoring the region’s significant resurgence as a major tourist destination.

Shri Dhankar also praised the growth and development of India’s agricultural sector, citing the government’s initiatives aimed at empowering farmers. “Today, 10 crore farmers receive payments directly, thrice a year”.

Shri Praful Patel, Hon’ble Administrator, UT of DNH&DD and Lakshadeep, Smt. DelkarKalabenMohanbhai, Hon’ble MP, DNH and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

****