Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed regional and global developments, including the post-pandemic global economic recovery, and the situation in Afghanistan at the India - Russia Annual Summit held in Delhi yesterday. In his opening remarks at the Summit, Prime Minister Modi said the pace of relations between India and Russia has not changed despite the challenges posed by Covid and the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership has been continuously strengthening. He added that the fight against Covid has also seen excellent cooperation between the two countries, whether it be vaccine trials and production, humanitarian assistance, or repatriation of citizens.

Mr Modi said there have been many fundamental changes at the global level in the last several decades and a lot of geo-political equations have emerged. He asserted that India-Russia friendship has been a constant among all these variables. He said both the countries have not only cooperated with each other without any hesitation but have also taken special care of each other's sensitivities. He called it a unique and reliable model of inter-state friendship.

The Prime Minister said the first 2 plus 2 dialogue between defence and foreign ministers which took place earlier yesterday starts a new mechanism to improve behavioural cooperation. India and Russia have been in regular touch on Afghanistan and other regional issues as well. Mr Modi said the regional partnership that began with the Eastern Economic Forum and the Vladivostok summit is today turning into a real cooperation between the Russian Far-East and the Indian states.

On Armed Forces Flag Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has acknowledged the exemplary contributions of the armed forces. Mr. Modi said their perseverance and courage are outstanding.

He urged everyone to contribute towards the forces’ welfare.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation three major development projects in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh today. The three major development projects worth around ten thousand crore rupees. These projects will generate employment. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Fertiliser Plant is being reopened after it was shut down 30 years ago. The opening of the plant will yield daily production of 3850 metric tonne neem coated urea and 2200 metric tonnes liquid ammonia. This will ensure uninterrupted supply of neem coated urea to farmers. It will also benefit farmers of nearby states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chattisgarh, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.

Prime Minister will also  inaugurate All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Gorakhpur to be spread over 112 acres  at a cost of 1011 crore rupees. A 300 bed hospital has excellent healthcare services to patients of Purvanchal along with Nepal. This will ensure decrease in dependency on big cities for treatment and healthcare. Mr. Modi will also  inaugurate new building of the Regional  Medical Research Centre. The Centre has played a key role in curing people from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome.  The Centre has the facility of resarch on Japanese Encephalitis and its high quality test to control the disease. It will greatly benefit the people of Purvanchal.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal today announced AYUSH Development packages for Manipur. Addressing a press conference in Imphal today, Mr Sonowal said that the Ministry of AYUSH has decided to construct fifteen AYUSH Dispensaries, seven 10 bedded hospitals and fifty Health and Wellness Centres in Manipur. He also said that Manipur is resourceful in medicinal plants and the AYUSH ministry has decided to develop sixteen nurseries in every district of the State and another hundred schools of herbal gardens.

The Union Minister said that these schemes will inspire the people of Manipur to develop herbal gardens and medicinal plants. He said, It will create employment and a source of income for the people of Manipur.

Mr Sonowal appealed to Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh and his cabinet colleagues to implement these AYUSH Schemes in a specific time frame and assured that his Ministry is ready to extend all possible support to the Manipur Government in the future. He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been giving special emphasis on the development of the North East Region including Manipur.

Upholding the maritime traditions, the ship was named “Sandhayak” and “Launched” by Smt Pushpa Bhatt, wife of Shri Ajay Bhatt, Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, Vice Admiral Adhir Arora, Chief Hydrographer to the Govt of India, Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (IN, Retd), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, Cmde Sanjeev Nayyar, IN(Retd), Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE, Cmde PR Hari, IN(Retd), Director (Personnel), GRSE, Shri RK Dash, Director (Finance), GRSE, other Senior Officials of GRSE, Indian Armed Forces and Industry were present at the occasion.
The ‘Launch’ symbolizes the “birth” of the ship as she makes her first contact with water and is floated out for from her building berth. The ceremony was conducted in true maritime traditions with the application of vermillion, breaking of coconut on the ship’s bow and chanting of vedic mantras.

The Nation is paying tributes to Bharat Ratna Dr B R Ambedkar on his 65th Mahaparinirvan Diwas or death anniversary today. A number of functions are being organised all over the country to highlight the contribution of Dr Ambedkar in nation-building.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Union Ministers, Members of Parliament paid floral tributes to the architect of the Constitution at his statue in the Parliament House complex in New Delhi.

Buddhist monks are reciting Dhamma Puja, and special songs dedicated to Dr Ambedkar are being performed in the Parliament by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's Song and Drama Division.

In his Maan Ki Baat programme on All India Radio last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that Baba Saheb had devoted his entire life in rendering his duties for the country and society.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in New Delhi today on an official visit to India for the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders will review the state and prospects of bilateral relations and discuss ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. The Summit will be an opportunity to exchange views on regional, multilateral and international issues of mutual interest. Both leaders will also hold one-on-one talks.

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov, who arrived in India last night, will hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar this morning ahead of the First India-Russia 22 Ministerial Dialogue. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also hold a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.  

Mr Rajnath Singh and Dr. Jaishankar will represent the Indian side in the 22 Dialogue and the Russian side will be represented by their Foreign Affairs Minister and Defence Minister.

President Ram Nath Kovind has paid floral tributes to former President R. Venkataraman on his Birth Anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. The President and officials of Rashtrapati Bhavan paid respects before his portrait.

On the occasion of Foundation Day of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) today, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated DRI and its officers on their performance and commendable service, especially during the COVID pandemic. She inaugurated DRI’s 64th Founding Day celebrations at New Delhi.

Ms. Sitharaman unveiled 'Smuggling in India Report 2020-21'. The report highlights the performance of DRI over the last year and captures issues related to national security, foreign trade policy, gold smuggling, environmental violations, narcotics, import and export frauds, violations of allied Acts, international cooperation, public health and safety.

On this occasion, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary also lauded the anti-smuggling and enforcement operations done by DRI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh on 7th of this month and dedicate to the nation development projects worth over nine thousand 600 crore rupees.

The Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation, the Gorakhpur Fertilizer Plant, whose foundation stone was laid by him on 22nd July 2016. Lying shut for more than 30 years, it has been revived and built at a cost of around eight thousand 600 crore rupees. The driving force behind the revival of the Fertilizer Plant is the vision of the Prime Minister to achieve self-sufficiency in production of urea.

The Gorakhpur Plant will make available 12.7 Lakh Metric Tonnes per annum indigenous neem coated Urea production. It will help prove to be of immense benefit for the farmers of Purvanchal region and adjoining areas by meeting their demand for Urea fertilizer. It will also boost the overall economic growth of the region.

The project has been set up under the aegis of Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited, HURL, which is a Joint Venture Company of National Thermal Power Corporation, Coal India Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Fertilizer Corporation of India and Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Limited and is working towards reviving Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni Fertilizer Plants.