New Delhi, Oct 01: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday warned that demographic manipulation is a bigger threat today to India’s social harmony than infiltration.

Addressing the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he said that India’s soul has always been rooted in “unity in diversity” and cautioned that if this principle is broken, the country’s strength will be diminished.

Modi also recalled his August 15 speech and the announcement of his ‘Demographic Mission’ to “protect Indian citizens against infiltrators snatching livelihood of youth targeting our sisters and daughters”.

“The social harmony today has a bigger threat from conspiracy for demographic change than infiltrators which directly impacts internal security and future peace. India today faces challenges that directly target its unity, culture and security,” he said.

The RSS has consistently prioritized social harmony, Modi said, defining social harmony as establishing social justice by giving precedence to the marginalized and strengthening national unity.

“The nation today faces challenges that directly target its unity, culture, and security – ranging from separatist ideologies and regionalism to disputes over caste and language and divisive tendencies incited by external forces,” he said.

Asserting that India’s soul has always been rooted in “unity in diversity”, Modi warned that if this principle is broken, India’s strength will be diminished. Therefore, he stressed the need to continuously reinforce this foundational ethos.

“Social harmony today faces a grave challenge from demographic manipulation and infiltration, which directly impacts internal security and future peace..this concern led me to announce the Demography Mission from the Red Fort,” he said.

Modi also called for vigilance and resolute action to confront this threat.

The centenary celebrations were organised by the Ministry of Culture and attended by RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Founded in 1925 in Nagpur by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the RSS was established as a volunteer-based organisation with an aim to foster cultural awareness, discipline, service and social responsibility among citizens.

Modi was himself an RSS ‘pracharak’ and made a mark as an able organiser before being shifted to the BJP, which draws its ideological inspiration from the Hindutva organisation.

New Delhi, Oct 01: Gold prices rallied by Rs 1,100 to breach the Rs 1.21 lakh per 10 grams mark in the national capital on Wednesday, tracking firm global cues amid the US government shutdown after Congress failed to approve fresh federal funding.

According to the All India Sarafa Association, the precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity jumped Rs 1,100 to hit a fresh peak of Rs 1,21,100 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). It had closed at Rs 1,20,000 per 10 grams on Tuesday.

In the local bullion market, gold of 99.5 per cent purity appreciated by Rs 1,100 to hit a lifetime high of Rs 1,20,500 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) on Wednesday. The yellow metal had settled at Rs 1,19,400 per 10 grams in the previous session.

However, silver prices remained flat at Rs 1,50,500 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes), also at its record levels, as per the association.

Traders said a weakening labour market has reinforced expectations of imminent interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, further lending support to the bullion prices.

In the overseas markets, spot gold rose more than 1 per cent to hit a record high of USD 3,895.33 per ounce, while spot silver increased by nearly 2 per cent to hit a high of USD 47.56 per ounce.

New Delhi, Oct 01: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved opening of 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) which would benefit over 86,000 students, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

Out of the 57 new KVs, seven will be sponsored by the Union Home Ministry, and the rest by state governments. Twenty of the newly approved KVs are proposed to be opened in districts where no KV presently exists despite a significant number of Central Government employees.

“The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved opening of 57 new Kendriya Vidyalayas under Civil sector across the country to facilitate the educational needs of the wards of increased number of central government employees,” Vaishnaw said at a press conference.

The total estimated requirement of funds for establishment of the 57 new KVs is Rs 5862.55 crore spread over a period of nine years from 2026-27. This includes capital expenditure component of Rs 2585.52 crore and operational expenditure of Rs 3277.03 crore.

It is worthwhile to note that as exemplar schools for National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, for the first time, these 57 KVs have been sanctioned with Balvatikas — three years of foundational stage (pre-primary).

The Centre had approved the Scheme of KVs in November 1962 to provide educational facilities of uniform standard throughout the country to cater to the educational needs of wards of transferable and non-transferable employees of Central Government including Defence and Paramilitary forces.

Consequently, “Central Schools Organization” was started as a unit of the Ministry of Education of the Government of India.

“Opening of new KVs is a continuous process. The Ministry and KVs regularly receive proposals from various Sponsoring Authorities, including Central Government Ministries, departments, states and UTs for opening of new KVs.

“These proposals are sponsored by the concerned sponsoring authority–state, UTs, Ministries, Departments of Central Government,” an official statement said.

There are 1,288 functional KVs at present including three abroad — Moscow, Kathmandu and Tehran. The total enrolment of students is around 13.62 lakh.

“Together with the earlier sanctioning of 85 KVs, the instant proposal responds to the high demand for KVs while balancing pan-India expansion. The CCEA has approved 7 KVs sponsored by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the remaining 50 by State and UT authorities,” it said.

“The 57 new proposals for Kendriya Vidyalayas reflect a strong commitment to reaching underserved and strategically important regions. The proposal demonstrates an approach, which anchors growth in the East while ensuring balanced representation across North, South, and West to strengthen inclusivity and national integration,” the statement said.

Continuing with the 85 KVs sanctioned in December 2024, in this proposal, 17 states and UTs are being covered.

Among these 57 KVs, 20 are proposed to be opened in districts where no KV presently exists despite a significant number of Central Government employees.

Furthermore, 14 KVs are proposed in aspirational districts, four KVs in LWE districts and five KVs in NER and hilly areas.

“In continuation of sanction of 85 KVs accorded in December 2024, further 57 new KVs have been approved by prioritising those states which had not been covered since March 2019.”

The administrative structure for implementing the project will require creation of posts at par with the norms fixed by the Sangathan for running of one full-fledged KV with a capacity of approximately 1,520 students. Hence, 86,640 students would benefit, it said.

As per norms in vogue, a full-fledged KV (from balvatika to class 12) provides employment to 81 persons and accordingly, with the approval of 57 new KVs, a total of 4,617 direct permanent employment opportunities will be created.

Construction and allied activities associated with augmentation of various facilities in all KVs are likely to generate employment opportunities for many skilled and unskilled workers.