India Observers

  Qasim Ibrahim, leader of the  Jumhooree Party  in the Maldives, has urged President Mohammed Muizzu to apologize to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India for his controversial remarks after visiting China. The issue began after President Muizzu made controversial remarks about the “India Out” campaign, led by Abdulla Yameen, which claimed Indian soldiers in the Maldives were against their country’s independence. Ibrahim questioned why President Muizzu did not stop the ban, arguing that ending it would harm their country. He is asking President Muizzu to apologize to India and Prime Minister Modi for his comments after visiting China. The situation has led to  India and the Maldives  working together to remove Indian military personnel from the Maldives, as part of President Muizzu’s party’s promise. Negative comments about Prime Minister Modi’s policies, particularly regarding the development of Lakshadweep, have created more tension, even though the Maldivian governme

  The Indian Navy’s INS Sumitra has successfully carried out two operations against pirates in the Arabian Sea, rescuing 19 Pakistani crew members and two fishing vessels from Somali pirates. The first operation involved the rescue of the  Iranian fishing vessel , Iman, which had 17 crew members, and the boat. The Navy then stopped another Iranian fishing vessel that Somali pirates had boarded, freeing the crew and vessel. These rescues are crucial as they prevent pirates from using these vessels for attacks on merchant ships. The Indian Navy’s INS Visakhapatnam has also assisted in rescuing a commercial oil tanker with 22 Indian crew members, which was hit by a missile in the  Gulf of Aden . The Navy has also rescued an American cargo ship. In January, the Indian Navy stopped pirates from hijacking a Liberian-flagged vessel, MV Lila Norfolk, in the North Arabian Sea and saved all its crew members. Another incident involved the Liberian-flagged vessel MV Chem Pluto, with 21 Indian crew

  The  Indian Navy’s  warship INS Sumitra has successfully rescued an Iranian fishing vessel hijacked by pirates in the Arabian Sea near Somalia. The vessel, Iman, was taken hostage by the pirates. The Indian Navy responded quickly, locating the hijacked vessel and ensuring the crew and boat were released safely. The vessel was then checked thoroughly before continuing its journey. In the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy’s  INS Visakhapatnam  responded to a distress call from the Marlin Luanda, a British oil tanker carrying Russian oil. Despite China’s naval base nearby, the Indian Navy responded promptly, extinguishing the fire on the merchant ship. INS Sumitra  and INS Visakhapatnam are crucial warships of the Indian Navy, serving as offshore patrol officers and guided-missile destroyers. They play crucial roles in protecting India’s maritime interests and ensuring safety on the high seas. This successful operation demonstrates the Indian Navy’s ability to maintain safety at sea for all

  On January 26, 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) showcased its  Chandrayaan-3 mission’ s success in landing near the Moon’s south pole during the Republic Day parade. The tableau featured a model of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3, the landing site named Shiv Shakti Point by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and significant parts of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, Vikram Lander’s touchdown at the South Pole, and the Pragyan Rover. The tableau also highlighted women scientists’ contributions to ISRO’s missions and a nod to future missions like Gaganyaan and the planned Bhartiya Antariksh Station. The parade featured 25 different tableaux, inspired by themes  “Viksit Bharat”  and “Bharat: The Mother of Democracy,” showcasing India’s development and democratic values. Uttar Pradesh also displayed a tableau featuring Ram Lalla and a grand temple in Ayodhya, symbolizing the consecration ceremony. The Ministry of External Affairs also displayed India’s achievements during its presidency

  National Voters’ Day , celebrated annually on January 25 in India, is a platform for young people to register as voters. The Election Commission aims to enroll new voters by January 1, providing them voter ID cards. The theme for 2024 is ‘Nothing Like Voting, I Vote For Sure’, with President Droupadi Murmu as the Chief Guest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged new voters to use their voting power to oppose family-run parties and contribute to India’s development by 2047. He emphasized the importance of making informed decisions in elections and addressing long-standing issues. The power of the vote is immense in shaping the nation’s future, as each vote contributes to forming a stable government. The country’s international reputation has improved, and the Indian passport is now seen with pride worldwide. ‘Parivarvaad’, or nepotism in politics, often leads to corruption and nepotism, limiting opportunities for others. However, new voters can actively participate in shaping India’s fu

  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the  ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’,  a plan to install rooftop solar systems in 10 million homes across the country. The scheme aims to reduce electricity costs for poor and middle-class families and move India towards energy self-reliance. Solar panels are installed on the roofs of houses, capturing sunlight and converting it into electricity. The setup is connected to the main power supply, reducing reliance on regular electricity and cutting costs. A typical one-kilowatt solar system requires about 10 square meters of space without any shade. PM Modi’s announcement follows his active support for solar energy, promoting the use of solar power to help the environment and reduce electricity expenses. The National Portal for  Rooftop Solar,  launched in 2022, is another example of his commitment to this cause. India has made significant progress in solar energy, with around 73.31 GW of solar power capacity installed by December 202

India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, unveiled the 51-inch Ram Lalla idol in a grand ceremony at the Ram Mandir in  Ayodhya . The idol, made from a single block of stone, depicts Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus. The Ram Mandir, built in Nagara architecture, is a large compound that spans 380 feet from east to west and 250 feet wide. The ceremony was attended by many famous people from various fields, including temples, religious organizations, industrialists, and actors. The ceremony was also celebrated globally, with the Indian diaspora lighting up  New York Times Square  with images of the Ram Mandir and Lord Ram. In Mexico, the first temple dedicated to Lord Ram was built in Queretaro. Prime Minister Modi followed a strict spiritual practice for 11 days before the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, sleeping on the floor and drinking coconut water. He visited various temples across the country and took a holy dip at a beach called Rameswaram ‘Angi theerth’. At the inaug

  India is undergoing a transformational phase, reclaiming its ancient heritage under the leadership of the BJP government.  The inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya  on January 22, 2024, is a pivotal event in this civilizational revival. Critics often view this as an attempt to impose Hindu dominance over the nation, overlooking the inherent secularism in Hinduism. However, the BJP government has prioritized the revival of Indian heritage, including the religious aspect, since 2014. The Ram Mandir inauguration is planned as a mega event across the nation, symbolizing the resurgence of a vital part of India’s civilization. Political parties, despite minor dissent, stand united on this historic occasion. Muslims believe that everyone owns a Ram and that Ram belongs to everyone, and the majority were happy with this construction. As a result, it is imperative to respond appropriately to those disruptive forces attempting to destroy the nation’s atmosphere in the name of Ram. Future

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a comprehensive tour covering Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu on January 19. The tour aimed to inaugurate significant projects, promote STEM education, and inaugurate the Khelo India Youth Games 2023. In Solapur,  Modi laid the foundation stone for eight projects  under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), valued at approximately Rs. 2,000 crores. He also dedicated over 90,000 completed houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana — Urban (PMAY-Urban) in Maharashtra, including the Raynagar Housing Society in Solapur. Modi initiated the distribution of the first and second installments of the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM-SVANIDHI) scheme to 10,000 beneficiaries in Maharashtra. In Bengaluru, Modi inaugurated the Boeing India Engineering & Technology Centre (BIETC), an investment of Rs. 1,600 crores, symbolizing Boeing’s commitment to technological advancement outside the USA. The Boeing Sukanya

  Iran and Pakistan have been in a tense relationship since Iran accused Pakistan of supporting a terrorist group called  Jaish al-Adl , which has attacked Iran multiple times. In 2019, Iran’s military leader, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, warned Pakistan that Iran might take action against them due to this support. He blamed Pakistan’s army and intelligence agency, the ISI, for sheltering these terrorists. Iran’s then-president, Hassan Rouhani, also asked Pakistan’s prime minister for strict action against these anti-Iran groups. Five years later, under Ebrahim Raisi, Iran used missiles to destroy Jaish al-Adl’s bases in Pakistan, claiming they were used for attacks against them. Pakistan, upset, claimed the strikes killed two children and violated their sovereignty. In response, Pakistan countered airstrikes in Iran, targeting Baloch separatist camps, claiming these groups were against Pakistan. The  US  and China are watching the situation, condemning Iran’s actions and urging

  Apple has opened a new office in Bengaluru, India, designed to house around 1200 employees and run on 100% renewable energy. The 15-floor office, located in Minsk Square, is designed to support local industries and add a unique Indian touch to its interior. The office features areas dedicated to technical work, collaboration spaces, and a cozy Caffe Macs spot for employees to take coffee breaks. The office is designed to inspire creativity and innovation among employees, with greenery and open spaces providing a vibrant and pleasant environment. The use of wooden furniture and trees adds an environmental touch, aligning with Apple’s eco-friendly philosophy. This new Bengaluru office marks an important milestone in  Apple India ’s 25-year journey, and the Bengaluru teams are involved in various tasks, from software development to customer support. Beyond the office walls, Apple’s presence in India extends to collaborations with Indian suppliers and environmental protection initiatives

  Vivek Ramaswamy,  a popular candidate in the Republican presidential race, has decided to stop his campaign after not performing well in the Iowa caucuses, an important early step in the race.  Donald Trump , who won the Iowa caucuses in 2016, is still popular among Republicans and has shown more support, including born-again Christians, a significant group in American politics. Ramaswamy’s decision to support Trump instead of continuing his own campaign is surprising, as many expected him to continue longer. Other candidates like Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley are also in the race, but their focus is on winning Iowa to gain more support in other states. The race moves to New Hampshire, where candidates like DeSantis and Haley aim to show they are strong alternatives to Trump. The Iowa caucuses are crucial in determining a candidate’s support and determining their chances of winning in other states.

  The 76th Army Day in India is celebrated with a grand parade in Lucknow, marking the second year in a row the event has moved out of Delhi. Army Chief General Manoj Pande will review the parade and present bravery awards. The parade will feature impressive displays, such as a motorcycle show by the Army Service Corps, skydiving by the Paratroopers, and a helicopter flypast. A unique addition this year is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to pick the ‘Best Marching Contingent’. Cameras will record each movement, and AI software will analyze them for precision under human supervision. The  Indian Army  and the Indian Government are also focused on modern technology. The parade, led by Major General Salil Seth, includes six marching units from different regiments and a military band with brass and pipe bands. Units like the 50th Parachute Brigade and the Sikh Light Infantry will march. The day honors soldiers for their sacrifices and is now celebrated in different parts of the cou

  Flickstree, a startup in India, is revolutionizing the online sales of products by using AI for affiliate marketing. The company, founded in 2016 by Saurabh Singh and Rahul Jain, aims to combine digital technologies with marketing to help brands grow  online . Flickstree’s AI technology creates content to attract customers, working with over 500 partners and a platform with data on 85 million users. In 2023, the company made $7.5 million, working with over 200 brands in travel, e-commerce, and fashion. Flickstree was awarded the ‘Best Affiliate Marketing Platform’ in 2023 by IAMAI. Flickstree’s  SMART AI technology creates SEO-friendly videos and web pages quickly and cheaply, choosing the right words, voiceovers, and designs to attract customers. The platform is easy for partners to use, allowing them to see their links’ performance and revenue in real-time. Flickstree has attracted the attention of big investors like Venture Catalysts++, Samsung Ventures, and Saurabh Ganguly, raisi

  India’s Atal Setu, the 22-kilometer long sea bridge, is set to open on January 12. Named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the bridge connects Mumbai’s Sewri to Nhava Sheva. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has referred to it as the  ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee  Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu’ or the ‘Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL).’ Vajpayee was the first Prime Minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and led the country three times. His birthday, December 25, is celebrated as  ‘Good Governance Day’.  The Atal Setu is built with a lot of materials, using more steel than the 17 Eiffel Tower and more concrete than the 6 Statues of Liberty. It has six lanes and reduces travel time between Navi Mumbai and Mumbai from two hours to just 20 minutes. The bridge is an example of smart and eco-friendly construction, featuring special decks, marine life protection systems, and an earthquake-resistant feature. The Atal Setu is expected to improve connect

  The  Swachh Suvekshan 2023  survey has ranked India’s cleanest cities, with Indore and Surat securing the top positions for the seventh consecutive year. Navi Mumbai maintained its third position, while Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh were recognized as the best-performing states. The award ceremony was attended by President Droupadi Murmu, Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri, and dignitaries. Saswad, a Maharashtra urban center with a population of less than 1 lakh, received the  cleanest city  award. Patan and Lonavla in Chhattisgarh secured the second and third positions, while Varanasi and Prayagraj were recognized as the cleanest Ganga towns. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs conducts the Swachh Survekshan since 2016, which has expanded to cover 4,477 cities across the nation. The theme for this year’s survey was ‘Waste to Wealth,’ emphasizing the importance of effective waste management. Indore’s success is attributed to its sustaina