Narendra Modi News

President Droupadi Murmu gave her approval on Saturday. This happened just days after both Houses of Parliament passed the Bill following long and heated debates. The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill early Friday morning with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, after almost 12 hours of discussion. The Lok Sabha had already passed it earlier in the week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the new law, calling it a “watershed moment”. He said the waqf system had been lacking in transparency and accountability for a long time. “This legislation will boost transparency and safeguard people’s rights,” he posted on X. The new law aims to improve how waqf properties are managed. It also promises to bring more openness in dealings and ensure that various Muslim groups are represented on waqf boards. Other goals include protecting heritage sites, supporting welfare programmes, and helping marginalised communities, such as Muslim widows and divorcees. Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who introduced the Bill, said it would help millions of poor Muslims. He added that it would not interfere with waqf properties. “This legislation is based on extensive stakeholder consultation and incorporates recommendations from the Joint Parliamentary Committee,” he said. He also mentioned that the Central Waqf Council would have 22 members, with no more than four non-Muslims, to keep the council secular but still representative.

Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary on Saturday said a committee had been formed at the state level to oversee the programmes. The party's state general secretary Sanjay Rai has been made convenor of the committee. The BJP was founded on April 6, 1980. Chaudhary said party workers would decorate offices across the state and hoist the party flag at their homes. An exhibition on the BJP's successful journey will also be held at the district level. On Monday, the party workers will offer floral tributes to Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and Bharat Mata at each booth. Conferences of active members will be held in each assembly constituency on Tuesday-Wednesday.

Bangladesh Chief Advisor about the meeting of the Bangladesh leader Muhammad Yunus with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources have dismissed the account as mischievous and politically motivated. Sources said on Saturday that the characterisation of PM Modi's remarks regarding the relationship between Yunus and the previous government was also inaccurate. The sources said underlined that PM Modi spoke of the progress in our bilateral relationship since 2014 and characterized it as a deep friendship between our societies and peoples. They said PM Modi also mentioned the importance of elections as the basis of legitimacy in any democracy. «A continued procrastination in this regard would damage the Chief Advisor's reputation. The Bangladeshi contention that attacks on minorities were a social media concoction was dismissed as being in contradiction of facts on the ground,» a source said.

Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu’s Rameshwaram, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 6 April, has been declared safe to run trains at 80 kmph for the next 100 years. This assurance comes from MP Singh, director (operations) at Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the public sector company behind the project. Singh, who is also part of a five-member Expert Committee formed last November to look into safety concerns, said that the panel carefully examined every part of this iconic structure.

KP Sharma Oli has said the meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand's Bangkok was «fruitful and progressive.» Addressing a press conference after landing back in Kathmandu on Saturday afternoon, the Nepali Prime Minister said that a commitment has been established between the two counterparts to take the relationship to newer heights. «We (both the Prime Ministers) have made the commitment that the Nepal-India relation will be taken to new heights, further deepening it, covering wider aspects and solve the problems that arise over the time. It is common that neighbours will encounter problems and it is resolved through dialogue, we both are convinced about it. The meeting went very well and I am very happy and consider it as fruitful for both the countries. While talking about him (Indian Prime Minister), I also understand that he is happy with the meeting, which I decode from the talks with him,» Oli said in the press briefing at the VVIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport.

Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, affected by flood, flash flood, cloudburst, landslides and cyclonic storm in 2024. Out of the total amount of Rs 1280.35 crore, Rs 588.73 crore has been approved for Bihar, Rs 136.22 crore for Himachal Pradesh, Rs 522.34 crore for Tamil Nadu and Rs 33.06 crore for Puducherry, an official statement said. This assistance is over and above the funds released by the Centre to the states in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the Union Territorial Disaster Response Fund (UTDRF), already placed at the disposal of the states and the UT. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India is standing shoulder to shoulder with the states of Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory (UT) of Puducherry, who faced natural disasters last year, the statement said. The committee approved assistance of Rs 1247.29 crore to the three states — Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu — from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), subject to an adjustment of 50 per cent of the opening balance for the year available in the SDRF and Rs 33.06 crore to Puducherry. During FY2024-25, the central government released Rs 20,264.40 crore to 28 states under the SDRF and Rs 5,160.76 crore under the NDRF to 19 states.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake honoured Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the highest award to a foreign head of state, Mitra Vibhushana. Dissanayake said that PM Modi highly deserves this honour. In a joint press statement alongside PM Modi, Dissanayake said, «I am pleased to announce that the Government of Sri Lanka has decided to confer upon him (PM Narendra Modi) the highest Sri Lankan honour to a foreign head of state/head of government- Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana. This prestigious honour, which was introduced in 2008, is conferred upon heads of states and government for their friendship, and honourable Prime Minister Modi highly deserves this honour; that is what we firmly believe.» The «Dharma Chakra» demonstrates the shared Buddhist heritage that has shaped the cultural traditions of both nations. The «Pun Kalasa» (a ceremonial pot) adorned with sheaves of rice symbolizes prosperity and renewal. The «Navarathna» (nine precious gems) represents the priceless and enduring friendship between the two countries, depicted within a globe encircled by pure lotus petals. The «Sun and Moon» signify the timeless bond, stretching from the ancient past into the infinite future. Together, these elements beautifully capture the deep cultural and spiritual connection between the two nations.

«It has become a concerning issue for us, our fishermen and all the Indians. It is a matter related to security. The PM should raise this issue firmly. Even an inch of Indian land belongs to us. I support that it (Kachchatheevu Island) should be under the protection of India...It is ours,» Tiwari told ANI. This came after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday regarding the retrieval of Katchatheevu Island. The Tamil Nadu assembly passed a resolution on April 2 regarding the retrieval of Katchatheevu island to protect the traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen in the Palk Bay area. The letter dated April 3, reads, «I am writing this letter to bring to your immediate attention to the Resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on 02.04.2025 regarding the retrieval of Katchatheevu island, to protect the traditional fishing rights of the Indian fishermen in the Palk Bay area. I would like to point out that the origin of the problem is the Indo-Sri Lankan Treaty (Katchatheevu Agreement) made between the two Countries in the year 1974.»

death toll from Myanmar's devastating earthquake climbed to 3,354, with 4,850 injured and 220 missing, state media said on Saturday, as the visiting U.N. aid chief praised humanitarian and community groups for leading the aid response. The leader of the military government, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, was back in the capital Naypyitaw after a rare foreign trip to attend a summit in Bangkok of South and Southeast Asian nations, where he also met separately with the leaders of Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and India. Min Aung Hlaing reaffirmed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the junta's plans to hold «free and fair» elections in December, Myanmar state media said. Modi called for a post-quake ceasefire in Myanmar's civil war to be made permanent, and said the elections needed to be «inclusive and credible», an Indian foreign affairs spokesperson said on Friday. Critics have derided the planned election as a sham to keep the generals in power through proxies.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: In the immediate aftermath of the new US tariffs, India’s response has been twofold: to seek new opportunities in the changing world order, and re-evaluate its manufacturing strategy.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI : As the US recalibrates its reciprocal tariff policy following a data miscalculation, India will now face an additional 26% tariff across a range of commodities starting 9 April. This marks a slight downward revision from the 27% hike announced on 2 April after the US administration corrected its trade deficit computations.

Donald Trump on Wednesday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a «great friend» while announcing a 26% tariff on Indian imports. However, he said, «You're a friend of mine, but you're not treating us right.» Trump claimed that the move was a «discounted reciprocal tariff» aimed at countering India's high duties on American goods. Also Read: India to face 'discounted' 26% tariff from US; Trump slaps 34% on China «India, very, very tough. Very, very tough. The Prime Minister just left. He's a great friend of mine, but I said, 'You're a friend of mine, but you're not treating us right.' They charge us 52 per cent. You have to understand, we charge them almost nothing, for years and years and decades,» Trump said, holding a chart listing countries and their tariff rates. He argued that the US had long tolerated unfavourable trade terms and had only started imposing tariffs on China after he took office seven years ago. «It was only seven years ago, when I came in, we started with China and we took in hundreds of billions of dollars from China in tariffs,» he said. The announcement comes just weeks after Modi’s visit to Washington, D.C., in February, less than a month after Trump began his second term in the White House. Trade tensions between the two countries have been a longstanding issue, with Trump previously calling India the «tariff king» and a «big abuser» in global trade.

tariffs on India. When reached out to Lutnick regarding a query on the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, he avoided the question and walked away. Trump announced new import tariffs on Wednesday (local time), outlining the rates to be imposed on countries around the world. India will face a 26 percent tariff. Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a «great friend,» Trump said that India charges the US 52 per cent, and «we charge them almost nothing.» ALSO READ: Govt analysing impact of 26% Trump tariff on India; it's mixed bag, not setback: Official Trump's announcement came while he addressed the Make America Wealthy Again Event.

The Trump administration imposed a 26% tariff on imports from India, which is slightly higher than the 20% levy for the European Union, the 24% for Japan and the 25% for South Korea. China was hit with one the highest rates for a major US trading partner and now faces a tariff of at least 54% on many goods. The tariffs are a setback for the Indian government, which had sought to ward off the new levies by rolling out sweeping concessions on issues central to Trump’s agenda. During a visit to Washington by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February, the two nations agreed to work toward a trade pact this year. ALSO READ: India to face 'discounted' 26% tariff from US; Trump slaps 34% on China “India, very, very tough. Very, very tough,” Trump said at a news event at the White House on Wednesday to announce the tariffs. “The prime minister just left, and he’s a great friend of mine. But I said, you’re a friend of mine, but you’re not treating us right. They charge us 52%.”

Banaskantha Collector Mihir Pravinkumar Patel said that most of the deceased workers were residents from the Dewas and Harda districts in Madhya Pradesh. The Collector confirmed that the identification process of the victims has been completed, and their bodies are being sent back to their native places with the support of local administrations. Speaking to the media here, Patel said, «Majority of the deceased workers were from Dewas and Harda district of MP. The minister (Chouhan Nagar Singh), senior officers, and local administration officers from MP arrived here last night. The families of the deceased were also present at Deesa Civil Hospital yesterday.» «After completing the identification process of the 10 people from the Dewas district in the presence of their family members, the deceased were sent to their native land in ambulances. A local administration team from the Harda district has also reached Deesa Civil Hospital. After the identification process, the eight deceased from the Harda district will also be sent to their native place,» he said.

Pushkar Singh Dhami appointed Saira Bano, a resident of Kashipur in Udham Singh Nagar, as the Vice President of the Uttarakhand Women's Commission. Bano, a resident of Kashipur, came into limelight when she filed a writ in the Supreme Court against triple talaq in 2017. The verdict by the Supreme Court was given in her favor in 2017 after which in 2018 the Modi government made a law on triple talaq and made a provision to send the accused to jail. Earlier on April 1, CM Dhami expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of three years of good governance of the state government. Taking to social media X, the CM in post wrote that it was due to PM Modi's leadership, guidance and special attachment towards Uttarakhand that the state could create new dimensions of development.

Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman Shadab Shams on Tuesday said that the poor Muslims have hopes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that it is «70 saal Vs Modi Karyakal» (PM Modi term). Speaking to ANI, the Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman said that the PM Modi-led central government has decided to bring the poor Muslims into the mainstream. «Poor Muslims have hopes from PM Modi, and that is why we have named this amendment bill as 'Ummeed'. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju is the ray of hope… PM Modi's government has decided that they will bring the poor Muslims into the mainstream. It is '70 saal Vs Modi Karyakal',» Shams said. He further attacked the opposition and said that the Opposition had 70 years, and they did whatever they could and «looted» Waqf. «They looted Waqf. They looted the rights of the poor… They are scaring the Muslims by saying that mosques would be taken away. Those who are opposing are not Muslims. They are political Muslims of Congress, Samajwadi Party, AAP and Janata Dal. There are NGOs and committees behind them, such as Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and the Muslim Personal Law Board, who want to go to the Rajya Sabha through a backdoor… All of them are Waqf beneficiaries. They are worried that it would be taken away from them… They are worried because it is going to be taken away from the rich. We are sure that PM Modi will pass the Waqf Amendment Bill and give the poor Muslims their rights,» he added.

Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong expressed his optimism about the future of China-India relations as the two nations celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties and believes the two nations will advance bilateral relations. In the event titled, 'Riding the East Wind, Setting Sail Anew and Opening a New Chapter in China-India Relations' the Chinese envoy expressed great pleasure for the presence of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to join on the 'commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the establishement of China-India diplomatice relations.' «Today, the leaders of China and India exchanged congratulatory messages to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that both sides should view and handle China-India relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and seek ways for neighboring major countries to get along in peaceful coexistence, mutual trust and mutual benefit as well as common development,» he said. «Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that the meeting between the two leaders in Kazan was instrumental in laying out a roadmap for our bilateral relations returning to a stable, predictable and amicable path. Progress in our bilateral relations will contribute not only to global stability and prosperity but also to the emergence of a multi-polar world,» he added. Highlighting both nations' ability to navigate challenges and continue growing, he affirmed, «Over the past 75 years, despite weathering ups and downs, China-India relations have always surged forward like the Yangtze and the Ganges. One learns from the past in order to understand the future, and follows the right path to go far.»

“We are willing to work with the Indian side to strengthen practical cooperation in trade and other areas, and to import more Indian products that are well-suited to the Chinese market,” the ambassador to India was quoted as saying by China’s state-run Global Times, in a story posted Monday. Bilateral trade between the neighbors stood at $101.7 billion in 2023-24, according to India’s trade ministry, with India running a significant deficit. India’s main exports include petroleum oil, iron ore, marine products and vegetable oil, amounting to $16.6 billion, according to the government figures. The envoy’s remarks were to mark the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic ties. US President Donald Trump, who is set to roll out reciprocal tariffs Wednesday on countries around the world, has called out China and India for trade practices that he sees as unfair.

India and Chile on Tuesday decided to start negotiations on a mutually beneficial comprehensive economic partnership agreement as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font for wide-ranging talks focusing on boosting bilateral ties in diverse areas. Boric is on a five-day state visit to India to explore ways to shore up bilateral cooperation in a number of areas, including trade and defence. «Today, we have directed our teams to begin discussions on a mutually beneficial comprehensive economic partnership agreement,» Modi said in his media statement after the talks. Partnership in the field of critical minerals will be explored, he said. The prime minister said work will also be done to establish resilient supply and value chains.

Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project will significantly reduce travel time between Katra and Srinagar. The new Vande Bharat Express will cut down the travel time from the current 6-7 hours by road to just 3 hours. «The Vande Bharat Express train will cut the Katra-Srinagar journey to just 3 hours, compared to the current 6-7 hours by road. At present, train services run between Srinagar and Sangaldan in the valley. Once the railway line from Sangaldan to Katra becomes operational, these trains can be extended to Katra,» he said. Upadhyay said that the USBRL project Qazigund-Baramulla section was started in the year 2009.