The Jammu and Kashmir Resident Commission, New Delhi, today celebrated the 80th Independence Day with high patriotic fervour and enthusiasm at its premises at 5, Prithviraj Road, New Delhi.

The celebrations commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag by Additional Resident Commissioner, Anil Sharma in presence of officers and officials of the Resident Commission and its subordinate offices.

The Additional Resident Commissioner paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters and national heroes whose courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment laid the foundation of an independent India. He called upon the officers and staff to uphold the highest standards of integrity, dedication and professionalism in discharge of their responsibilities and remain steadfast in their commitment to public service and nation-building.

Highlighting the developmental initiatives undertaken by the Resident Commission, Anil Sharma said that the upgradation and improvement of the J&K House at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, was undertaken during the last year, while similar work was also carried out at the J&K House, Amritsar. He informed that work on the J&K House at Dwarka, New Delhi, is also expected to commence shortly, further strengthening and improving the facilities available for the visitors and officials of the Union Territory.

The Additional Resident Commissioner also complimented the officers and staff of the Resident Commission and its subordinate offices for their untiring efforts, dedication and commitment, acknowledging their contribution towards the smooth functioning of the offices and delivery of services.

The occasion was further enriched by a vibrant cultural programme presented by the staff and children, featuring patriotic songs and performances that reflected the spirit of national unity, pride and cultural diversity.

As part of the celebrations, mementoes and certificates of appreciation were presented to the staff members of the Resident Commission and personnel of the Jammu & Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) in recognition of their dedicated services. Likewise, the certificates of appreciation were also presented to the children who participated in the cultural programme, acknowledging their enthusiastic contribution to the celebrations.

Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and stressed the need for a comprehensive audit and effective monitoring of budgetary allocations, central support and centrally funded projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

This would ensure transparency, timely execution and also that public money reached the intended beneficiaries, MP Khatana said, while holding an extensive discussion with the PM on the present situation, development priorities and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The BJP MP, as per a press statement, appreciated the major transformation witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir under the Modi government—from bloodshed to classrooms and sports fields, from hartals to business and productive activity, and from people fleeing the region to people participating confidently in every walk of life.

He said that peace restored hope, security and dignity and must now be firmly converted into sustained prosperity. The MP highlighted the need to further strengthen opportunities for youth, employment, entrepreneurship, skill development, sports and self-employment, so that the younger generation could become a principal force behind the development of Jammu and Kashmir and the mission of Viksit Bharat.

He appreciated the expansion of rail connectivity, including the Srinagar connection and stressed that connectivity must be matched by modern tourism infrastructure, including facilities for religious, spiritual, cultural and adventure tourism.

Khatana urged renewal and strengthening of the industrial package for Jammu and Kashmir to attract investment, expand manufacturing and generate employment. He also raised issues concerning farmers, horticulture, traders and the business community, emphasising the need to move decisively from disruption to productive fields, markets and enterprise.

He advocated greater promotion of GI-tagged products of J&K, enabling farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs to secure better markets, stronger branding and improved incomes.

BJP MP stressed the importance of preventing leakages, misuse and embezzlement of development funds.

Khatana also discussed the issue of alienation and resentment among sections of the population, stressing that democratic institutions and elected representatives must remain connected with the masses, listen to people’s concerns and restore complete confidence in the political and administrative system.

With regard to minorities, Khatana conveyed the enthusiasm and appreciation expressed by minority communities towards the development and welfare initiatives of the Modi government. He emphasised that minorities must be empowered through education, employment, enterprise and equal opportunities, rather than being reduced to a vote-bank constituency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of minorities contributing their capabilities and services to the larger national mission of Viksit Bharat. The discussion also covered greater engagement of the minority diaspora in projecting India’s development, culture and achievements abroad and in building stronger economic, educational, cultural and people-to-people linkages between India and their respective countries.

Khatana emphasised that the next phase of Jammu and Kashmir’s transformation must combine peace with prosperity, security with dignity, development with accountability and opportunity with participation.

He appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continued personal focus on Jammu and Kashmir and expressed confidence that sustained efforts would enable the people, particularly the youth, to become equal partners in building a peaceful, prosperous and developed Jammu and Kashmir and a Viksit Bharat.

“J&K has moved from violence to hope; now it must move from hope to prosperity—where every young person chooses a classroom, a sports field or an enterprise over a street of conflict,” he asserted.

New Delhi, Aug 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a series of initiatives and targets spanning artificial intelligence, education, sports, civil defence, semiconductor manufacturing, nuclear energy and women-led development as he laid out priorities for India’s drive towards becoming a developed nation.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on India’s 80th Independence Day, PM Modi said 1 crore young people would be trained in artificial intelligence skills over the next year.

He also announced plans to create a large voluntary civil defence force equipped to deal with modern security challenges.

India would also target 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, seek to start five new nuclear reactors within the current decade, establish more semiconductor plants and raise its target for “Lakhpati Didis” – rural women earning at least 1 lakh rupees a year – to 6 crore, or 60 million.

The PM said 1 crore youth would receive training in AI skills over the next one year. Referring to the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence, he said the initiative would equip India’s youth with capabilities to lead in the global AI landscape.

PM Modi said India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, available talent, and teachers would be brought together to create a complete network for providing free coaching to young people across the country.

He also announced plans to create a vibrant Civil Defence network to meet changing security challenges, saying the nature of warfare had changed and was no longer necessarily confined to national borders.

Modern conflicts, the PM said, could affect refineries, the banking sector, data centres, factories and other critical infrastructure. He said Civil Defence arrangements developed according to the wars of the previous century had become outdated. Citizens would therefore be familiarised with modern systems and a large voluntary Civil Defence force capable of responding to contemporary challenges would be developed, PM Modi said. He highlighted the strategic importance of semiconductor chips to the digital and technological economy and said India was moving towards self-reliance in the sector.

The PM said three semiconductor plants had already started operations and production from these facilities had begun to be exported.

India would establish another five to eight semiconductor plants over the next seven to eight years, PM Modi said.

He described self-reliance in semiconductor manufacturing as an important pathway towards achieving “Viksit Bharat”, or developed India.

The PM also set a target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, highlighting the growing energy requirements associated with semiconductors, artificial intelligence and data centres.

He said India aimed to start five new nuclear reactors within the current decade as it seeks to strengthen energy security and expand nuclear power.

PM Modi also said India had achieved an important milestone this year in fast breeder nuclear technology, calling it a significant step towards self-reliance in nuclear fuel.

He also raised India’s target for “Lakhpati Didis” from three crore to six crore, highlighting the role of women in nation-building and the rural economy.

The PM said the earlier target of creating three crore Lakhpati Didis had already been surpassed.

India would now move ahead with a target of six crore Lakhpati Didis, he said.

The creation of another three crore Lakhpati Didis would bring about a major transformation in the rural economy through the strength of women, PM Modi said.

New Delhi, Aug 15: Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a series of initiatives and targets covering Artificial Intelligence, education, sports, Civil Defence, semiconductor manufacturing, nuclear energy and women-led development.

Key announcements from the Prime Minister’s address include:

1. AI Skilling for One Crore Youth: The Prime Minister announced that one crore youth would be trained in AI skills over the next one year. Referring to the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence, he said the initiative would help equip India’s youth with the capability to lead in the world of AI.

2. Free Online Coaching for Various Examinations: The Prime Minister announced free online coaching for youth preparing for various examinations. Referring to the financial burden of coaching classes on poor and middle-class families, he said Digital Public Infrastructure, available talent and teachers would be brought together to create a complete network for providing free coaching to the country’s youth.

3. Nationwide Sports Talent Hunt for Children Aged 5-15 Years: The Prime Minister announced a talent hunt campaign across villages, cities and schools to identify sporting talent among children between five and 15 years of age. The identified children would be provided specialised training to develop them into players capable of representing the country. Referring to Olympic disciplines in which India currently does not participate or qualify, the Prime Minister said greater emphasis would be placed on building capabilities in such sports.

4. Vibrant Civil Defence Network for Modern Challenges: Highlighting the changing nature of warfare, the Prime Minister announced that a vibrant Civil Defence network would be created in the country. He said that warfare was no longer necessarily confined to borders and could also affect refineries, the banking sector, data centres, factories and other infrastructure. The Prime Minister said that Civil Defence arrangements developed in accordance with the wars of the previous century had become outdated. Citizens would therefore be familiarised with modern systems, and a large voluntary Civil Defence force capable of dealing with modern challenges would be developed.

5. More Semiconductor Plants to Strengthen Self-Reliance: The Prime Minister highlighted the critical role of semiconductor chips in the digital and technological world and said India was moving towards self-reliance in this sector. He said three semiconductor plants had already started and production from these facilities had begun to be exported. The Prime Minister further said that another five-seven or eight semiconductor plants would come up in the coming seven-eight years, and described self-reliance in semiconductors as a pathway towards Viksit Bharat.

6. 100 GW Nuclear Power Capacity by 2047: Highlighting the growing energy requirements of chips, AI and data centres, the Prime Minister underlined the importance of energy security and nuclear power. He said India was moving ahead with a target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 and aimed to start five new nuclear reactors within this decade. The Prime Minister also said that India had achieved an important milestone this year in fast breeder nuclear technology, marking a significant step towards self-reliance in nuclear fuel.

7. Target of Six Crore Lakhpati Didis: Highlighting the contribution of women to nation-building, the Prime Minister said that the earlier target of creating three crore Lakhpati Didis had been surpassed. He said India would now move ahead with the target of six crore Lakhpati Didis. The creation of another three crore Lakhpati Didis, he said, would bring about a major transformation in the rural economy through the strength of women.