Akashvani , National news, All India Radio News

THE HEADLINES:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches Sankalp Saptaah in 500 Aspirational Blocks across the country; Says, with focus on basics of good governance, even challenging goals can be achieved.
  
  

• Prime Minister addresses Mahasankalp Rally in Bilaspur; Says, Bharatiya Janata Party government has always been committed to the development of Chhattisgarh.
  
  

• RBI extends last date to exchange 2,000 rupee currency notes till 7th October.
  
  

• Two infiltrating terrorists killed by security forces in Machil sector in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.
  
  

• IMD announces departure of Monsoon from the country; Says, it was near- normal defying El Nino effect.
  
  

• Indian men's football team wins SAFF Under-19 Championship.
  
  

• And in Hangzhou Asian Games, India win 2 Gold, 2 silver and a bronze on day seven; Women Boxers assure three medals for the country.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a week-long programme 'Sankalp Saptaah' in New Delhi today. The Programme aims to enhance the governance and improve the quality of life in 500 Aspirational Blocks spanning 329 districts across India. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said, the Aspirational Blocks Programme strives to enhance citizens' quality of life at the block level. He said, Aspirational District Programme ADP has completed five years and is an example of good governance. Mr Modi said, in any list of the top 10 programmes of Independent India, the ADP will figure in golden letters.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the Programme showed that if there is focus on basics of good governance, even challenging goals can be achieved. Mr Modi stressed that the success of Aspirational Districts Programme will form basis of Aspirational Blocks Programme.

‘Sankalp Saptaah’ is linked to the effective implementation of Aspirational Blocks Programme. The nationwide programme was launched by the Prime Minister on 7th January this year.

The Prime Minister urged the Secretaries of Departments present on the occasion to work for rapid development of every state and handholding of backward districts.

Mr Modi said Jan Bhagidari or people’s participation has tremendous potential in finding solutions to problems.

The Prime Minister also interacted with three Block Level Officers from Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Meghalaya.

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The Prime Minister addressed the Mahasankalp Rally of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bilaspur Chhattisgarh today. He alleged that only scams are occurring in the name of employment in the State. He emphasized that the P.S.C. scam is a significant fraud against the youth. The Prime Minister said, Bharatiya Janata Party government, whether at the centre or in the state, has always been committed to the development of the state. He highlighted that over the last five years, the BJP-led central government has allocated substantial funds to Chhattisgarh for electricity, roads, and other development projects. He said, however these benefits have not reached the common people due to misgovernance in the state.

छत्तीसगढ के मेरे भाई बहन आप लिख लिजिए ये मोदी की गारंटी है। आप का सपना अब मोदी का संकल्‍प है। पिछले पांच वार्षों में छत्तीसगढ को केन्‍द्र सरकार से हजारों करोड रुपया मिला है। या सडक हो, रेल हो, बिजली हो दूसरे ऐसे अनेक विकास के काम हो हमने छत्तीसगढ के लिए पैसे की कोई कमी नहीं रखी।

On the issue of paddy procurement, Mr. Modi said, the Central Government purchases every grain of paddy from the farmers of Chhattisgarh and provides the necessary funds for the purchase.

यहां के धान किसानों का दाना-दाना केन्‍द्र की भाजपा सरकार खरीदती है। छत्तीसगढ के किसानों का धान खरीद कर केन्‍द्र सरकार ने एक लाख करोड रुपये से ज्‍यादा दिये हैं। पैसे केन्‍द्र की भाजपा सरकार देती है। और दावे यहां कांग्रेस सरकार करती है।

The Mahasankalp rally was organized by the BJP in Bilaspur to mark the conclusion of two Parivartan Yatras conducted by the party in the state.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said India will not only be self-reliant in drug manufacturing but will be in a position to export Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and Key Starting Material (KSM) to the world in the next ten years.

The Home Minister was speaking at the inauguration of a permanent campus of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Ahmedabad at Palaj in Gandhinagar.

Mr Shah said institutes like NIPER will play an important role in achieving self-sufficiency for India research and development in the pharmaceutical sector in the country.

Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various development works of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority at Tragad in Gandhinagar.

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Assam and Meghalaya have decided to wind up the Judicial Commission to inquire into the Mukroh firing and replace it with an independent commission by CBI. The CBI will register the case at a place other than Guwahati and Shillong to maintain neutrality of investigation.

This was decided in the Chief Minister level border meeting held in Guwahati today.

Both Assam and Meghalaya have decided to pull back their police forces from Khanduli area which is located on the Assam Meghalaya border. Now onwards the area will be manned by CRPF personnel.

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In the Kashmir Valley, Kupwara Police and Army in a joint operation, successfully foiled an infiltration bid in Kumkadi area of Machil Sector in Kupwara district today. In a swift and coordinated operation, two terrorists were neutralized by security forces.

Based on an intelligence input, a joint alert party of police and Army launched a search operation in Kumkadi area along the Line of Control in Machil Sector. The joint team observed movement of terrorists and by employing meticulous tactics, intercepted the terrorists who fired indiscriminately upon the joint team. The fire was retaliated, leading to elimination of two heavily armed unidentified terrorists.

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In Kerala, the NIA has filed a chargesheet in the Special Court at Ernakulam, against Shahrukh Saifi, a Delhi Shaheenbagh youth, in connection with the train arson incident that took place near Elathur in Kozhikode district in April.

The NIA said, Saifi, the sole accused in the case, was self-radicalised through various online material available on social media.

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More than 7 Lakh events are expected to take place tomorrow for Mega Cleanliness Drive. Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri told Akashvani News in an exclusive interview today. The Minister said, the Prime Minister’s call for Mega Cleanliness Drive is receiving an overwhelming response from people across various walks of life. Speaking about the Milestones of Swachh Bharat Mission, the Minister said, more than 4,800 Urban Local Bodies are 100 per cent Open Defecation Free. The waste processing has increased from 15 to 16 per cent in 2014 to 76 per cent according to 2022-23. 

Tune into FM Gold channel of Akashvani at 9.15 tonight to listen to this exclusive broadcast.

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The Reserve Bank of India has extended the last date to exchange 2,000 rupee currency notes to October 7.

The RBI said, the period specified for the withdrawal process has come to an end, and based on a review, it has been decided to extend the current arrangement .

According to the data received from banks, 96 percent of the 2000 rupee banknotes in circulation as on 19th May 2023 have since been returned.

The Bank had, on May 19th announced the withdrawal of its highest value currency note, 2,000 rupee from circulation, adding that the notes will continue to be legal tender.

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The monsoon season in the country has ended with near normal rainfall received from June to September this year. India Meteorological Department, IMD today said, positive factors countered the effect of El Nino conditions. IMD said, during the monsoon season the country received 94.4 percent rainfall.

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The IMD has issued an orange alert in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Ernakulam of Kerala. It has indicated the possibility of isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall. The Department has issued yellow alert for the remaining nine districts.

The state has been receiving widespread rain over the last three days.

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In Football, India have won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-19 Championship defeating Pakistan 3-0 in the final in Kathmandu this evening. Manglenthang Kipgen and Gwgwmsar Goyary scored for India.

Pakistan posed no threat to the well-composed Indian side, who dominated the game from the start.

With today's victory, India successfully defended their title, which they won last year.

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On Day 7 of the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, India added 2 Gold 2 Silver and a bronze to take its overall medals tally to 38, with 10 Gold, 14 Silver and 14 Bronze. India currently stands at the 4th position on the medals table.

In Badminton, India won the men’s team semifinal against Korea by 3-2 . They will face China in the finals tomorrow.

In hockey, India defeated Pakistan by 10-2 in the Pool A match.

In men’s 10000m, India’s Kartik Kumar and Gulveer Singh won silver and bronze, respectively.

In table tennis, India’s Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee defeated China by 3-1 to enter the women’s doubles semifinal.

In the mixed doubles tennis final, Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale won gold defeating Chinese Taipei's En-shuo, Tsung-hao Huang.

In the men's team squash event, the Indian trio of Saurav Ghosal, Abhay Singh, and Mahesh Mangaonkar won gold, defeating Pakistan 2-1 in the final.

The Indian shooting contingent including Sarabjot Singh and Divya Thadigol  took a silver medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team final.

Meanwhile, Preeti and Lovlina Borgohain assured India of medals by entering the semifinals of their respective boxing categories. Nikhat Zareen already qualified for the semis yesterday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian players for their outstanding performance.

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.

· Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches Sankalp Saptaah in 500 Aspirational Blocks across the country; Says, with focus on basics of good governance, even challenging goals can be achieved.

· Prime Minister addresses Mahasankalp Rally in Bilaspur; Says, Bharatiya Janata Party government has always been committed to the development of Chhattisgarh.

· RBI extends last date to exchange 2,000 rupee currency notes till 7th October.

· Two infiltrating terrorists killed by security forces in Machil sector in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.

· IMD announces departure of Monsoon from the country; Says, it was near-normal defying El Nino effect.

· Indian men's football team wins SAFF Under-19 Championship.

· And in Hangzhou Asian Games, India win 2 Gold, 2 silver and a bronze on day seven; Women Boxers assure three medals for the country.

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