Independence

Activists criticise high cost of Pope Francis' visit to 'poor' East Timor

East Timor pulled out all stops for Pope Francis' historic visit to one of the world's youngest and poorest countries to the tune of USD 12 million, drawing rebuke from activists and human rights organisations in a nation where almost half the population lives in poverty. The cost for the two-day visit starting Monday was approved by the government through the Council of Ministers in February, including USD 1 million to build an altar for a papal Mass. Walls were still being dabbed with fresh paint and banners and billboards filled the streets of the seaside capital, Dili, to welcome the pontiff, who earlier visited Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. About 42 per cent of East Timor's population of 1.3 million live below the poverty line, according to the UN Development Programme. Unemployment is high, job opportunities in the formal sector are generally limited and most people are subsistence farmers with no steady income. The country's budget for 2023 was USD 3.16 billion. The ...

BS@50: How India thrived in adversarial environment in the past 50 years

India at 77 stands as a country that has held its own, showing a remarkable capacity to manage an essentially adversarial external environment

Reforms a blueprint for growth, says PM Modi in his 11th I-Day speech

PM Modi says skilled youth to make a mark in world job market

Independence Day 2024: Top 50 wishes, messages and quotes to share

India will mark its 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024. Here are the top wishes, messages and quotes to share with your loved ones on this day

Stage set for next gen reforms: President Murmu in her I-Day eve address

President spoke of the programmes and schemes that the government has undertaken for the welfare of the poor, women, farmers, and the youth

PM Modi to lead 78th I-Day celebrations, about 6,000 special guests invited

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the Nation in celebrating the 78th Independence Day from the historic Red Fort in Delhi on August 15. He will unfurl the National Flag and deliver the customary address to the nation from the ramparts of the iconic monument.The theme of this year's Independence Day is 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047'. The celebrations will serve as a platform to provide a renewed push to the Government's efforts towards transforming the country into a developed nation by 2047, an official statement released on Wednesday said.With the aim to increase Jan Bhagidari in this festival of national fervour, around 6,000 Special Guests have been invited to witness the celebrations at Red Fort this year. These people from different walks of life categorised as youth, tribal communities, farmers, women and other special guests, have excelled in various fields with the help of various government schemes/initiatives.Students benefiting from the Atal Innovation Mission & PM SHRI .

1,037 police medals for central and state forces announced on I-Day eve

The government on Wednesday announced service medals for 1,037 police personnel of various central and state forces on the eve of Independence Day. According to a Union Home Ministry statement, 214 personnel will be decorated with bravery medals, including a President's Medal for Gallantry (PMG) and 231 Medal for Gallantry (GM). The GM includes four decorations for fire fighters and one for a civil defence personnel. A maximum of 52 bravery medals has been given to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 31 to the Jammu and Kashmir Police, 17 police personnel each from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, 15 from Chhattisgarh and a dozen from Madhya Pradesh. The lone PMG medal, the highest police decoration for bravery, has been announced for Telangana Police Head Constable Chaduvu Yadaiah for showing "rare gallantry" in apprehending two notorious chain snatchers and arms traffickers on July 25, 2022. The two criminals had "viciously" attacked the cop and repeatedly stabbed him all over

Independence Day 2024: Top 6 creative patriotic DIY home decor ideas

Independence Day is an occasion to celebrate India's freedom from the British regime, and on this day, people decorate their houses to create a festive atmosphere. Here are the 6 DIY home decor ideas

Travel surge expected during I-Day long weekend: Industry experts

A significant increase in travel is expected during the Independence Day long weekend beginning Thursday, according to industry experts. According to hotel booking platform Booking.com, the top 10 most searched domestic getaways during the long weekends in August are Udaipur, Lonavala, Jaipur, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Munnar, Goa, Mahabaleshwar, Varanasi and Puri. Moreover, the top five most searched metros in India during the long weekends in August are Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad. The booking platform looked at search sessions between 28 July-31-July, with check-in dates between 15 August-19 August and 24 August-26 August. "The surge in searches for both domestic and short-haul destinations during August's long weekends reflects this trend. While popular tourist hotspots remain attractive, we are also seeing rising interest in some destinations such as Hampi, Madikeri, Ujjain and Gokarna," Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at

Independence Day 2024: Here are top 10 patriotic songs for the occasion

Patriotic songs are the best way to express your feelings, love and devotion for the country. Here are the top 10 patriotic songs to play this Independence Day 2024

All you need to know about Har Ghar Tiranga 2024 in Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav

The caller tune "Har Ghar Tiranga" is back as India gets ready to celebrate its 78th Independence Day on August 15. It was launched under the banner of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in 2021

Independence Day 2024: Here's how to celebrate with friends and family

India is celebrating its 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024, to honour the patriotic spirit of our freedom fighters. Here are the ways to celebrate this special occasion

Happy US Independence Day 2024: Top 50 wishes to share on this day

Happy US Independence Day 2024: The United States celebrates Independence Day every year on July 4. This day has a rich history and holds special significance across the country

Goa liberated in 1961 only after freedom fighters pressured govt: CM Sawant

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said it was after immense pressure from freedom fighters that the then central government took up 'Operation Vijay' and Goa got liberated from the Portuguese rule in 1961. Had the state got liberated when the country attained independence, its pace of development would have been much faster, Sawant said on the occasion of the Goa Revolution Day. Goa Revolution Day is celebrated on June 18 to commemorate a public meeting held at Margao in 1946, during which freedom fighter Ram Manohar Lohia gave a clarion call for liberation. Sawant was addressing a gathering after laying wreath at the Martyrs' memorial at Azad Maidan here in the presence of Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, Union Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik, freedom fighters and other people. The coastal state was liberated 14 years after India's independence, the CM noted. "India got freedom from the British rule but Goa continued to reel under the Portuguese rule for next 14 yea

Veer Savarkar Jayanti 2024: Facts about his life, death, and top quotes

Veer Savarkar Jayanti 2024: Every year on this day, India celebrates the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar "Veer" Savarkar. Here's all you need to know about his life

Sarojini Naidu Birth Anniversary: 10 quotes by 'Nightingale of India'

Sarojini Naidu's 145th birth anniversary isn't simply a day to recognize her life and accomplishments, yet it is also a day to celebrate all the strong, versatile, and inspiring women around us

Those in power after Independence were ashamed of their own culture: PM

'Due to political benefits, they started a trend of becoming ashamed of their own culture and past. No country can develop by forgetting and wiping out its past, and cutting its roots,' he stressed

China accuses Taiwan of using economic, trade issues to seek independence

The Chinese government on Wednesday accused Taiwan's ruling party of seeking independence, a day after the self-governing island's president lobbied for Australia's support in joining a regional trade pact. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, also said the recent Chinese military drills around Taiwan were held to combat the arrogance of Taiwan independence separatist forces. China claims Taiwan, an island about 160 kilometres (100 miles) off its east coast, as its territory. The two split during the civil war that brought the Communists to power in China in 1949, with the losing Nationalists setting up their own government in Taiwan. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, meeting with six visiting Australian lawmakers on Tuesday, sought their country's support for Taiwan's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, an 11-nation free trade agreement. The Australian parliamentary delegation discussed strengthening economic

Will present report card from Red Fort in 2024: PM Modi in I-Day speech

'Three evils', 'mere parivarjan', and 'Modi' highlight his 10th I-Day speech

Independence Day 2023: 20 Best quotes, wishes and messages

Independence Day 2023: India marks its 77th Independence Day this year, enjoy this national festival and share best wishes, quotes and messages with your close ones