PMIndiaData/PMIndiaSum huggingface dataset:
PM praises young artist for his paintings and concern for public health

It is such a pleasure to see the interest and devotion of the young people in the creative fields: PM Your thoughts are as beautiful as your paintings: PM Vaccine campaign, discipline, along with collective efforts of 130 crore Indians are providing strength to our fight against the pandemic: PM Hopes that people will be inspired by the Steven’s effort to spread positivity Steven Harris had written to Prime Minister and sent him two paintings The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has written to Steven Harris, a student from Bengaluru, praising him for his paintings. This rising 20 years old young artists had sent two beautiful paintings of the Prime Minister along with a letter to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister replied with encouragement and praise. The Prime Minister wrote that it is such a pleasure to see the interest and devotion of the young people in the creative fields. The Prime Minister wrote ‘your paintings indicate your talent for experiencing things deeply. The minute expressions executed with subtlety are heartwarming.’ The Prime Minister lauded the young artist for his views about public health and welfare during current difficult period. The Prime Minister wrote “Vaccine campaign, discipline, along with collective efforts of 130 crore Indians are providing strength to our fight against the pandemic.” The Prime Minister expressed the hope that people will be inspired by the Steven’s effort to spread positivity. Steven had told the Prime Minister in his letter that he is painting for last 15 years and has won more than 100 awards at various levels. He described the Prime Minister as his inspiration and praised India’s vaccination program in the fight against Corona. Paintings sent by Steven Harris can be seen below.
Cabinet apprised of the MoU between India and Switzerland on Technical Cooperation in Rail Sector

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of Railways, Government of India and the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications of Swiss Confederation on Technical Cooperation in Rail Sector. The MoU was signed on on 31st August, 2017. The MoU will enable technical cooperation in the following areas:- Traction Rolling stock EMU and train sets Traction Propulsion Equipments Freight and Passenger Cars Tilting Trains Railway Electrification Equipments Train scheduling and operation improvement Railway Station modernization Multimodal transport Tunneling technology Background: Ministry of Railways have signed MoUs for technical cooperation in the Rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways. The identified areas of cooperation include high-speed corridors, speed raising of existing routes, development of world-class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, etc. The cooperation is achieved through exchange of information on developments in areas of railways technology & operations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest. The MoUs provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. The MoUs facilitate exchange of technical experts, reports and technical documents, training and seminars/workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing.
Arrival of PM to Lumbini, Nepal on an official visit

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrived in Lumbini, Nepal this morning on an official visit, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Buddha Jayanti. 2. On arrival at Lumbini, Prime Minister was warmly received by the Prime Minister of Nepal, Rt. Hon’ble Sher Bahadur Deuba, his spouse Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, and several Ministers from the Government of Nepal. 3. As Prime Minister, this is his fifth visit to Nepal and first to Lumbini.
PM condoles passing away of Shri Kalyan Singh

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the passing away of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Governor and senior leader Shri Kalyan Singh Ji. In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said; “I am saddened beyond words. Kalyan Singh Ji…statesman, veteran administrator, grassroots level leader and great human. He leaves behind an indelible contribution towards the development of Uttar Pradesh. Spoke to his son Shri Rajveer Singh and expressed condolences. Om Shanti. Generations to come will remain forever grateful to Kalyan Singh Ji for his contributions towards India’s cultural regeneration. He was firmly rooted in Indian values and took pride in our centuries old traditions. Kalyan Singh Ji gave voice to crores of people belonging to the marginalised sections of society. He made numerous efforts towards the empowerment of farmers, youngsters and women.”
Cabinet approves promulgation of the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Ordinance, 2017

The approval would allow to increase the maximum rate at which the Compensation Cess can be levied from 15% to 25% on: a) motor vehicles for transport of not more than thirteen persons, including the driver [falling under sub-headings 870210, 8702 20, 8702 30 or 8702 90]; and b) motor vehicles falling under headings 8703. The GST Council, in its meeting held in August 2017, taking into consideration the fact that post introduction of GST, the total incidence on motor vehicles [GST+ Compensation Cess] has come down vis-a-vis pre-GST total tax, incidence, and had recommended increase in the maximum rate at which Compensation Cess can be levied on motor vehicles falling under headings 8702 and 8703 from 15% to 25%. The issue regarding the increase in effective rate of Compensation Cess on motor vehicles will be examined by the GST Council in due course.
PM congratulates wrestler, Vinesh Phogat on winning Gold Medal in  Women’s 53 Kg Wrestling

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated wrestler, Vinesh Phogat on winning Gold Medal in Women’s 53 Kg Wrestling at Birmingham CWG 2022. The Prime Minister tweeted; “Today’s Gold medal won by @Phogat_Vinesh is very special. She is one of India’s most distinguished athletes and this is her third consecutive Gold in CWG. She personifies excellence and remarkable commitment to sports. Congratulations to her. #Cheer4India”
Yoga remains ray of hope in Covid-hit world, says PM Modi

Frontline Corona warriors made Yoga their shield: PM On the occasion of seventh International yoga day, The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi talked of Yoga’s role during the pandemic. He said Yoga has proved a source strength and poise for people during this difficult time. He pointed out that it was easy for countries to forget Yoga Day during the pandemic as it is not intrinsic to their culture but, instead, enthusiasm for Yoga has increased globally. One of key ingredient of yoga is fortitude in the face of adversity. When pandemic appeared, no one was ready from the point of view of capabilities, resources or mental toughness. Yoga helped people to muster confidence and strength to fight with the pandemic world over. The Prime Minister recalled how frontline Corona warriors made Yoga their shield and made themselves strong through yoga and how people, doctors nurses took to Yoga to deal with the effects of the virus. Instances of yoga sessions conducted by doctors and nurses in the hospitals appeared everywhere. The Prime Minister noted experts are stressing the importance of breathing exercises like pranayama and anulom-vilom for strengthening our respiratory system.
PM addresses tax administrators at Rajasva Gyan Sangam

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Rajasva Gyan Sangam at New Delhi, and addressed the tax administrators of both the Union and State Governments. The Prime Minister exhorted the officers to improve their work-culture, to incorporate both a “sense of urgency”, and “measurability”, in their performance. Mentioning the benefits of the GST, the Prime Minister said that besides economic integration of the country, and transparency in the system; more than 17 lakh new traders have been brought into the indirect tax system within two months. The Prime Minister said that in order to enable all traders to take maximum benefit of GST, we should work towards ensuring that all traders, including even relatively smaller traders with a turnover below Rs. 20 lakhs, should register with the GST system. He asked the officers to make efforts in this regard by designing a system for this category. The Prime Minister asked the officers to fix clear targets to improve the country’s tax administration by 2022, the 75th anniversary of independence. He said that the Union Government is working towards creation of an environment which shatters the confidence of the corrupt, and instills confidence and trust among the honest taxpayer. In this regard, he mentioned steps taken by the Union Government, such as demonetization, and implementation of stringent laws against black money and benami property. The Prime Minister said human interface must be kept to a minimum in the tax administration’s dealings. He asked for a push to be given to “e-assessment” and anonymity of proceedings using technology, so that vested interests do not impede the due course of law. Shri Narendra Modi expressed his dismay at the huge pendency of tax-related cases in adjudication and appeal. He said big sums of money that is locked up in these cases, could have been used for the welfare of the poor. He asked officers to come up with an action plan during the Rajasva Gyan Sangam, to eliminate pendency. The Prime Minister asked officers to use data analytical tools to proactively track and determine undeclared income and wealth. He said that though efforts to increase tax revenue are made by officers each year, the estimated amounts of tax that should accrue to the system, are often not realised. The Prime Minister asked officers to come up with a time-bound solution to ‘tax raised and not realised’, and asserted that the honest cannot continue to pay the price for the misdeeds of the dishonest. In this regard he also suggested complete reworking of human resource management in the tax departments to strengthen the data analytics and investigation wing. The Prime Minister hoped that the two-day Gyan Sangam would come up with concrete ideas to improve the tax administration.
Beneficiaries of Ujjwala Yojana interact with PM

Over 100 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, today interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at his residence. The female beneficiaries, who belong to various States across the country, are in New Delhi for the LPG Panchayat, which was hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan earlier today. During the informal interaction with Shri Narendra Modi, the beneficiaries explained how their lives had improved through the use of LPG cylinders. The Prime Minister encouraged them to talk on various aspects of their day-to-day life. In response to their observations, the Prime Minister mentioned the Saubhagya Yojana, which has been launched by the Union Government to provide electricity connections to every home. He also emphasized the need to end all forms of discrimination against the girl child. He exhorted the gathering to work towards ensuring cleanliness in their villages. He said this would improve the health of the entire village, much the same way as the Ujjwala Yojana had improved the health of their family members. Praising and thanking the Prime Minister for the Ujjwala Yojana, some of the beneficiaries also took the opportunity to discuss other specific development challenges in their respective areas. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan was present on the occasion.
PM expresses grief at loss of lives in road accident in Maharashtra

Announces ex-gratia from PMNRF for victims The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief at the loss of lives due to a road accident in Buldhana district of Maharashtra. A PMO tweet said; “Anguished by the loss of lives due to an accident in Buldhana district. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of the deceased. Rs. 50,000 would be given to injured: PM Modi”
Cabinet approves proposal for Amendment to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved change in the basis of classifying Micro, Small and Medium enterprises from ‘investment in plant & machinery/equipment’ to ‘annual turnover’. This will encourage ease of doing business, make the norms of classification growth oriented and align them to the new tax regime revolving around GST (Goods & Services Tax). Section 7 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006 will accordingly be amended to define units producing goods and rendering services in terms of annual turnover as follows: • A micro enterprise will be defined as a unit where the annual turnover does not exceed five crore rupees; • A small enterprise will be defined as a unit where the annual turnover is more than five crore rupees but does not exceed Rs 75 crore; • A medium enterprise will be defined as a unit where the annual turnover is more than seventy five crore rupees but does not exceed Rs 250 crore. • Additionally, the Central Government may, by notification, vary turnover limits, which shall not exceed thrice the limits specified in Section 7 of the MSMED Act. At present the MSMED Act (Section 7) classifies the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on the basis of investment in plant and machinery for manufacturing units, and investment in equipment for service enterprises. The criterion of investment in plant and machinery stipulates self declaration which in turn entails verification if deemed necessary and leads to transaction costs. Taking turnover as a criterion can be pegged with reliable figures available e.g. in GST Network and other methods of ascertaining which will help in having a non discretionary, transparent and objective criteria and will eliminate the need for inspections, make the classification system progressive and evolutionary, help in overcoming the uncertainties associated with the classification based on investment in plant & machinery/equipment and employment, and improve the ease of doing business. In addition the amendment will provide flexibility to the Government to fine-tune the classification of MSMEs in response to changing economic scenario without resorting to the amendment of MSMED (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Development) Act. The change in the norms of classification will enhance the ease of doing business. The consequent growth and will pave the way for increased direct and indirect employment in the MSME sector of the country.
PM expresses grief over accident at Raebareli NTPC plant

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. “Deeply pained by the accident at the NTPC plant in Raebareli. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. The situation is being closely monitored and officials are ensuring normalcy is restored”, the Prime Minister said.
Cabinet approves Amendment in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for Amendment in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 to make punishment more stringent for committing sexual crimes against children. Salient Features: The POCSO Act, 2012 was enacted to Protect the Children from Offences of Sexual Assault, Sexual harassment and pornography with due regard for safeguarding the interest and well-being of children. The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age, and regards the best interests and welfare of the child as matter of paramount importance at every stage, to ensure the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child. The act is gender neutral. The amendment in Section-4, Section-5, Section-6, Section-9, Section-14, Section-15 and Section-42 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, is made to address the aspects of child sexual abuse in appropriate manner. The modification is made to address the need for stringent measures required to deter the rising trend of child sex abuse in the country. To discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent Section-4, Section-5 and Section-6 are proposed to be amended to provide option of stringent punishment, including death penalty, for committing aggravated penetrative sexual assault crime on a child to protect the children from sexual abuse. The amendments are also proposed in section-9 to protect children from sexual offences in times of natural calamities and disasters and in cases where children are administered, in any way, any hormone or any chemical substance, to attains early sexual maturity for the purpose of penetrative sexual assault. Section-14 and Section-15 of the POCSO Act, 2012 are also proposed to be amended to address the menace of the child pornography. It is proposed to levy fine for not destroying/or deleting/ or reporting the pornographic material involving a child. The person can be further penalized with jail term or fine or both for transmitting/propagating/administrating such material in any manner except for the purpose of reporting as may be prescribed and for use as evidence in court. Penal provisions have been made more stringent for storing/possessing any pornographic material in any form involving a child for commercial purpose. Benefits: The amendment is expected to discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent due to strong penal provisions incorporated in the Act. It may protect the interest of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensures their safety and dignity. The amendment aims to establish clarity regarding the aspects of child abuse and punishment thereof.
PM hosts farewell dinner in honour of Gen. Bikram Singh

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today hosted a farewell dinner at his residence in honour of the Outgoing Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Bikram Singh and Smt. Bubble Singh. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjeet Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and senior Government officers were present on the occasion.
PM condoles the passing away of legal scholar Shri KJ Shethna

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the passing away of leading lawyer and legal scholar, Shri KJ Shethna Ji. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Saddened by the passing away of Shri KJ Shethna Ji, a leading lawyer and legal scholar. In addition to his contribution to the legal field, he was also at the forefront of many community service initiatives. My thoughts are with his family and well-wishers in this sad hour.”
Despite recession at the global level, BRICS countries accelerated economic growth, drove millions out of poverty: PM

Intra-BRICS trade and investment targets should be more ambitious: PM India is the world’s most open and investment friendly economy due to political stability, predictable policy and business friendly reforms: PM Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses BRICS Business Forum Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the BRICS Business Forum, on the sidelines of BRICS Summit in Brazil today. Heads of states of other BRICS countries, also addressed the Business Forum. Speaking on the occasion, PM Shri Narendra Modi said that BRICS countries account for 50% of the world’s economic growth. Despite recession at the global level, BRICS countries accelerated economic growth, drove millions out of poverty and achieved new breakthroughs in technology and innovation, he added. Prime Minister wished that Intra-BRICS trade and investment targets should be more ambitious and invited their suggestions to further reduce the cost of trade between the BRICS countries. PM also suggested that by the next BRICS Summit, at least five areas should be identified in which joint ventures can be formed between the BRICS countries on the basis of complementarities. Prime Minister said that Important initiatives such as innovation BRICS Network, and BRICS Institution for Future Network will be considered for discussions during the summit tomorrow. He requested the private sector to join these efforts focused on human resources. He also suggested that the five countries should also consider a Mutual Social Security Agreement. Prime Minister said that India is the world’s most open and investment friendly economy due to political stability, predictable policy and business friendly reforms.
PM Congratulates Deepa Malik on her medal at Paralympics 2016

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Deepa Malik who scripted history by winning silver medal in Shotput at Paralympics 2016 . “Well done Deepa ! Your silver at the Paralympics makes the nation very proud. Congratulations” , the Prime Minister said.
PM interacts with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana beneficiaries across the country through video bridge

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today interacted with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana beneficiaries from across the country, through video bridge. This is the third in the series of video bridge interactions by the Prime Minister with various beneficiaries of Government schemes. Expressing delight at interacting with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana beneficiaries, Prime Minister said that such interactions help in understanding various aspects of the scheme, including areas that needs to be improved. Prime Minister further added that Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is not just about brick and mortar but about providing better quality of life and dreams coming true. Addressing the beneficiaries, Prime Minister said that the last 4 years, Government has taken a mission mode approach towards providing housing for all. Government is working towards ensuring that every Indian has a home by 2022, when India will celebrate its 75 years of independence, Prime Minister added. Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Government plans to build around three crore houses in rural areas and one crore houses in urban areas. The Government has so far given sanctions to build more than 47 lakh houses in urban areas, which is 4 times more than the sanctions given by the previous government in 10 years. Similarly, sanctions have been given to build more than one crore houses in the rural areas compared to 25 lakh sanctions by the previous government in its last 4 years. Government has also been able to reduce the time needed to build a house from 18 months to 12 months, thereby saving about 6 months. Emphasizing on the changes brought by the present government in PMAY, Prime Minister said that the size of houses built have been increased to 25 square metre from 20 square metres. Also the financial assistance for the scheme has also been enhanced upto Rs. 1,25,000 from the earlier allocation of Rs. 70,000 – 75,000. During the interaction, Prime Minister said that Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is linked with the dignity of the citizens and the focus of the Yojana is to ensure more women, Divyang sisters and brothers, SC, ST, OBC, and Minority communities get access to housing. Engaging with beneficiaries, Prime Minister said that PMAY has created employment opportunities for all. In order to strengthen the scheme, Government is working towards skill development to ensure faster, and quality construction of houses. As part of it, government has started training about one lakh masons. In addition, Government has also started training female masons in many states, thereby resulting in women empowerment. Interacting with the Prime Minister, all the beneficiaries expressed happiness in owning a house, which has always been a dream. They also explained how it has changed their life and improved the quality of life.