National - The Purbottar

10 Feb

Defence Secretary calls on Seychelles’ Minister for Foreign Affairs & Diaspora and Chief of Defence Forces in New Delhi

Paromita EditorNational

Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh called on Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora of the Republic of Seychelles Mr Barry Faure and Chief of Defence Forces, Seychelles Defence Forces Major General Michael Anselme Marc Rosette in New Delhi on February 10, 2026. During the meeting, both sides reiterated their commitment to strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations. They reviewed the growing defence and security collaboration between India & Seychelles, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhancing bilateral engagement and contributing towards peace, stability, and security in the Indian Ocean Region. Both sides also welcomed the upcoming joint…

31 Jan

Jobs, MSMEs and Growth in Spotlight as Sitharaman Prepares Record Union Budget 2026

editorNational

As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman readies to present a record ninth consecutive Union Budget on February 1, economists and industry leaders are calling for a sharp focus on jobs, MSMEs, skills and inclusive growth. Expectations include tax relief for the middle class, stronger support for small businesses, and targeted welfare spending.Ahead of the Budget, NIIT Vice Chairman Vijay K Thadani urged the government to remove the 18% GST on AI skilling courses and expand research funding for private institutions, arguing that affordable AI education is key to building India’s global talent pool.The Economic Survey projects India’s potential growth at around…

27 Jan

India and the European Union are about to announce a historic trade agreement

Banasree SarkarNational

In an effort to strengthen their relationship amid concerns with the US, the European Union and India are about to announce a historic trade agreement following nearly 20 years of intermittent negotiations. The deal has been finalized, according to Rajesh Agarwal, India's Commerce Secretary. The statement is anticipated in Delhi, where European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are present. In response to economic and geopolitical pressure from the US, both the EU and India are looking to deepen their strategic and commercial connections with the rest of the globe. India…

24 Jan

Republic Day 2026 Celebrations to Mark 150 Years of Vande Mataram

editorNational

India is set to celebrate its 77th Republic Day on January 26, 2026, at Kartavya Path with a grand ceremony centred on the theme “150 Years of Vande Mataram.” The theme commemorates the legacy of the national song composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and reflects its enduring role in India’s freedom struggle and nation-building.The Republic Day parade will creatively weave this theme through tableaux, music, narration and visual elements. Rare paintings illustrating the verses of Vande Mataram will line the parade route, while the 30 tableaux will focus on two sub -themes- Swatantrata ka Mantr – Vande Mataram and Samriddhi…

10 Jan

India Hosts International Hindi Conference; Digital Archives of Literature Launched

Mohini BarmanNational

Today, January 10, marks World Hindi Day (Vishwa Hindi Diwas), celebrated globally to promote the language on the international stage. The Ministry of External Affairs organized a flagship event in New Delhi where it unveiled a new "Global Hindi Digital Archive," aimed at preserving and providing access to classical and contemporary Hindi literature for non-resident Indians and foreign students. Missions across the globe, from Fiji to Mauritius, also hosted cultural symposiums focusing on the growing influence of Hindi in the global digital economy.

09 Jan

PM Modi Invites Global Diaspora to Become Brand Ambassadors; New NRI Investment Window Opened

Mohini BarmanNational

On the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day), the Ministry of External Affairs today launched the "Chalo India" global digital portal. The initiative encourages members of the Indian diaspora to nominate and sponsor at least one non-Indian friend or colleague to visit India in 2026. Additionally, the Finance Ministry announced a new "Fast-Track Investment Window" for NRIs looking to invest in India's emerging green-tech sectors, aiming to leverage the intellectual and financial capital of the 32-million-strong global community.

08 Jan

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Launches “Youth Dialogue” Initiative

Mohini BarmanNational

In a major outreach program, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta today hosted the first session of the "Youth Dialogue" at the Tyagaraj Stadium. The CM interacted with over 5,000 university students, outlining a new policy that creates a direct pipeline for graduates into urban planning and municipal management internships. Gupta announced that the city would fund 1,00,000 paid internships by December 2026, aimed at utilizing fresh talent to modernize the capital’s civic services and waste management infrastructure.

07 Jan

Cabinet Approves ₹45,000 Crore for Urban Digital Infrastructure and High-Speed Connectivity

Mohini BarmanNational

In a high-level meeting today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a session on expanding the "Viksit Bharat" mission specifically toward Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. The Prime Minister emphasized that the next phase of India's growth will be driven by these "emerging metros." Following the meeting, the Cabinet approved a massive funding package aimed at upgrading digital infrastructure, integrated waste management systems, and high-speed transit corridors for 50 selected cities across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.

06 Jan

PM Modi Transfers ₹24,000 Crore Directly to Bank Accounts; SBI Simplifies KCC Loans

Mohini BarmanNational

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today officially released the 21st installment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme via a digital event. A total of ₹24,000 crore was transferred to the bank accounts of approximately 12 crore eligible farmers across India. Accompanying this, the State Bank of India (SBI) announced a new streamlined process for Kisan Credit Card (KCC) renewals, allowing farmers to apply for credit limit increases through a simple SMS or a visit to the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC).

05 Jan

Special Court Sentences Key Conspirators; Arnab Goswami Decodes Landmark Judgment

Mohini BarmanNational

A Special Court in Delhi has finally delivered its verdict on the long-standing conspiracy cases related to the 2020 Delhi Riots. The judgment, delivered this morning, has led to the sentencing of several key individuals accused of orchestrating the violence. Legal experts are calling this a defining moment for the Indian judicial system's handling of complex communal violence cases. Security has been tightened in sensitive areas of the national capital following the announcement to prevent any retaliatory unrest.