Tag: India

  • Indian Men’s Hockey Team Receives Heroic Welcome After Winning Medal At Paris Olympics 2024- WATCH | Other

    Paris Olympics 2024: The Indian men’s hockey team received a warm and enthusiastic reception upon their return from the Paris Olympics 2024 on August 10, Saturday. The team, under the leadership of captain Harmanpreet Singh, clinched the bronze medal after a decisive victory over Spain in the play-off match. This achievement marks the team’s second consecutive Olympic medal, a historic accomplishment not seen since 1972.

    Upon their arrival in Delhi on Saturday morning, the hockey team was met with a grand welcome. Harmanpreet Singh, leading the team, was greeted with garlands and tri-colour stoles, and the atmosphere was vibrant with the sounds of dhol playing in the background. Fans and media turned out in large numbers to celebrate the team’s success. Prominent players such as Sukhjeet and Mandeep Singh were seen dancing to the rhythmic beats of the dhol, adding to the festive spirit as they exited the airport.



    Notably, some members of the squad were absent from the arrival ceremony. PR Sreejesh, one of the key players, was still in Paris. He was selected as a joint-flagbearer for the closing ceremony of the Olympics and will return to India after the event concludes.

    In addition to the warm reception at the airport, Hockey India shared a special moment from the team’s journey back. Air India honored the bronze medal winners with a unique tribute. During the flight from Paris, the pilot made an announcement about the hockey team being on board, which was met with a hearty round of applause from passengers and a celebratory acknowledgment from the cabin crew.

    A special gesture from @airindia for the boys as they headed back to India from Paris. #ReturningHome #HockeyIndia pic.twitter.com/StTlB7fc9B — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 10, 2024

    The players will continue their celebratory journey with a meet-and-greet session at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium on Saturday, where they will interact with fans and media personnel. The successful campaign in Paris has added a record-extending 13th Olympic medal to India’s tally, further cementing the country’s reputation in the sport.

  • Thousands Of Bangladeshis Gather Along West Bengal Border, BSF Averts Infiltration Bid |

    COOCH BEHAR: The BSF averted an infiltration bid when thousands of residents from Bangladesh gathered along the Indo-Bangladesh border at Cooch Behar raising slogans and tried to enter the Indian side on Friday morning. Ikramul Haque, a local from Pathantuli in Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar, West Bengal said, “Around 9-9.30 am, a few people from Bangladesh gathered at the border and tried to infiltrate into India. Many of them are still there. The crowd has thinned out a little now, though. Their arrival in India all of a sudden is not possible. There is a protocol for it. There is a large presence of the BSF.”

    The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a committee that is to be headed by the ADG, Border Security Force, Eastern Command to monitor the current Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) situation. In a letter dated August 9, Under Secretary to the Govt of India Smitha Viju said, “It has been decided to constitute a Committee consisting of the following members for the above-mentioned subject a. ADG, BSF, Eastern Command as the Chairman, b. IG, BSF Frontier HQ South Bengal, c. IG, BSF Frontier HQ Tripura, d. Member (Planning and Development), LPAI and e. Secretary, LPAI.”

    The office memorandum further stated that the the above committee will maintain communication channels with their counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Indian citizens and people belonging to minority communities in Bangladesh. The Additional Director General of BSF, Eastern Command, is the chairman of the five-member Committee.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah also made the announcement through a post on X and informed that the committee has been constituted to monitor the current situation on the India-Bangladesh border. “In the wake of the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, the Modi government has constituted a committee to monitor the current situation on the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB). The committee will maintain communication channels with their counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals, Hindus, and other minority communities living there. The committee will be headed by the ADG, Border Security Force, Eastern Command,” Shah posted on X.

  • United Nations Praises Modi Government Over Poverty Alleviation Steps Using ‘Smartphones’; Watch |

    NEW YORK: Stressing the use of digitisation for rapid development, the President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, lavished praise on India for its work in this direction, which has lifted 800 million out of poverty in the last 5-6 years. He highlighted how people in rural areas of India, are able to make payments and pay bills just on the touch of a smartphone.

    “Providing the basis to rapid development, such as through digitalisation. Take, for example, the case of India…India has been able to lift 800 million people out of poverty over the last 5-6 years simply by the use of smartphones,” Francis said during his lecture at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN on the topic of ‘Accelerating progress towards Zero Hunger for the current and future generations.’

    UNGA President Dennis Francis praises India’s digital transformation under PM Modi with the success of the Jan Dhan, Aadhar, and Mobile (JAM) initiative, which has enabled rural farmers to conduct transactions on smartphones. pic.twitter.com/X7Es3o91mr
    — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 1, 2024

    Francis emphasised the high internet penetration in India as a major factor why India has been able to benefit but not many other countries of the Global South. “Rural farmers in India who never had a relationship with the banking system, are now able to transact all their businesses on their smartphone. They pay their bills, they receive payments for orders. 800 million people lifted out of poverty. Because there is a high level of internet penetration in India, almost everyone has a cellphone,” he said.

    “That is not the case in many parts of the Global South. So, there has to be equity demands, there has to be some effort, initiative to address this inequality as an initial step in negotiating the global framework for digitalisation,” the UNGA President added. Notably, digitisation has been one of the main focuses of the Narendra Modi government in the last 10 years. A rapid rise has been witnessed in digital payment transactions in the country in the last decade and UPI has emerged as a major contributor to it.

    PM Modi has promoted the use of digitisation through the JAM initiative — Jan Dhan, Aadhar, and Mobile. Under this, people have been encouraged to open their bank accounts and every account has been linked with Aadhar. This has helped in connecting people across the country, even in the rural areas with various government schemes and the social benefit payments reaching directly into the ban account of people.

  • Well Done, Buddy Says Hardik Pandya On Suryakumar Yadav’s Captaincy As Head Coach Gambhir Delivers Amazing Speech | cricket news

    Newly appointed India head coach Gautam Gambhir has kicked off his tenure with a commanding 3-0 T20I series victory over Sri Lanka. In his post-series address, Gambhir praised the team’s performance and particularly praised Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership. The comments were highlighted in a video released by the BCCI on social media.

    Gambhir began his speech by extending congratulations to the team and captain Suryakumar Yadav. He emphasized the significance of their triumph, noting that their relentless effort and determination were key to their success. “Congratulations on a great series win. Special congratulations to Surya for his outstanding captaincy and his impressive performances with the bat,” Gambhir said. He acknowledged the team’s ability to fight hard for every delivery and run, which he believed was crucial to their series victory.

    The new head coach reflected on the game’s challenges and urged his players to continue improving their skills, especially in adapting to varied pitch conditions. He stressed the importance of assessing match situations quickly and understanding what constitutes a competitive score. “There’s a lot of learning from this series. We need to keep getting better, especially in handling different types of wickets,” Gambhir advised. He also set a clear expectation for the players to maintain high fitness levels in preparation for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.

    Gambhir concluded his speech with a call to action regarding fitness. He informed the players who would not participate in the 50-over format to use their break wisely and ensure they return in top condition. “Make sure that when you come back for the Bangladesh series, your fitness levels are at their peak. You don’t want to return thinking you can just turn up and perform without proper preparation,” Gambhir cautioned.

    Following Gambhir’s remarks, all-rounder Hardik Pandya took the floor to share his thoughts. Pandya echoed Gambhir’s praise for Suryakumar Yadav, highlighting his crucial role in both batting and captaincy. “First of all, well done! I think in batting first, we were challenged, and conditions were difficult, but I think after losing those early wickets Shubman (Gill) and Riyan (Parag) the way they batted and created the partnership was brilliant. When you speak about situational awareness, I think that point of time, what you both did was very, very important. And that gave us a platform to at least reach a decent total which our bowlers made sure bowl at the right areas. Especially, I always emphasize on the fact that the lower order has to come and chip in and I think Washi (Washington Sundar) and those 8 runs by Bishi (Ravi Bishnoi) were very important.”

    Head Coach Gautam Gambhir Hardik Pandya addresses the dressing room as the action now shifts to the ODIs in Colombo #TeamIndia | #SLvIND | @GautamGambhir | @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/PFrTEVzdvd — BCCI (@BCCI) July 31, 2024

    “As Gauti bhai mentioned, Surya, well done on making sure that the way you rotated the bowlers, making sure, showing faith in the bowlers, which you gave in the last couple of overs. That was brilliant. And as a bowling group, obviously it was fantastic everyone chipped in, eventually it kind of takes us forward. done to all the guys who are playing ODIs, kill it!,” he said.

    India will now shift focus to the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, though Suryakumar Yadav will not be part of this next leg of fixtures. The team’s preparation and performance in the ODI series will be crucial as they aim to build on their T20I success.

  • Big Blow For Sri Lanka Ahead Of T20 Series Against India As Their Highest Wicket-Taker Vs India Ruled Out Due To Injury- Details Here | cricket news

    In a major setback for Sri Lanka ahead of their three-match T20I series against India, star pacer Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out due to an injury. Although the news has been circulating in Sri Lankan media, an official statement from the Sri Lanka Cricket Board is still awaited.

    Sri Lanka recently announced their squad for the T20I series, naming Charith Asalanka as captain following Wanindu Hasaranga’s resignation from the role due to a disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup. The squad also includes senior batsman Dinesh Chandimal, who was dropped for the T20 World Cup, while Dasun Shanaka has retained his spot. Notably, veteran Angelo Mathews has been excluded from the squad.

    India’s tour will feature three T20Is and as many ODIs. The Indian squad, announced with several surprises, will be led by Suryakumar Yadav instead of Hardik Pandya, who was vice-captain during the T20 World Cup. Pandya’s fitness issues were reportedly a key factor in his exclusion from the leadership role. The T20I squad sees the return of Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Axar Patel, alongside Pandya and Suryakumar. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma, who impressed in Zimbabwe, have been left out.

    The T20I series kicks off on July 27, with additional matches scheduled for July 28 and 30. The ODI series is set to begin on August 2.

    India’s T20 And ODI Squad For Srilanka Tour

    ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.

    T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi. , Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.

  • Love-Stricken By Pakistan, Turkey Imposes Secret Ban On Defense Export To India: Reports | world news

    India and Turkey’s relations have never been in sync for the last decade and it appears that Ankara’s close ties with Pakistan are set to prove the final nail in the coffin of its relations with New Delhi. Turkey has imposed this discreet ban in favor of Pakistan, according to reports. A Turkish government official disclosed this information during a closed-door session in the Turkish Parliament.

    According to the minutes of the Foreign Affairs Committee debate on July 10, 2024, Mustafa Murat Seker, deputy chairman of the Presidency of the Defense Industry (SSB), Turkey’s leading arms procurement agency, inadvertently revealed the government’s secret policy regarding India. Virtually, India has been blacklisted by Turkey when it comes to defense export.

    Turkish–Indian relations have deteriorated significantly over the past decade under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration, primarily due to policy decisions, particularly Ankara’s unwavering support for Pakistan in its conflicts with India.

    According to NordicMonitor, President Erdogan’s clandestine paramilitary group SADAT, led by his former chief military aide Adnan Tanriverdi, has been implicated in anti-India activities. The group recruited Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, a Kashmiri-born individual who served time in a US federal prison, to gather resources against India.

    Fai’s US-based organization, the Kashmiri American Council (KAC), which received funding from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), collaborated with SADAT’s front organization, the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (Islam Dünyasi Sivil Toplum Kuruluslari Birligi, IDSB ).

    However, Turkey’s ban is not going to affect India. India has already revoked a $2-billion naval deal with a Turkish defense company and canceled defense exports to Ankara. With New Delhi focusing on Make In India in defence, the manufacturing of indigenous arms and ammunition has touched a record high in recent years. The value of defense production in FY 2022-23 was Rs 1,08,684 crore. In the last five years (since 2019-20), the value of defense production has been increasing steadily, and grown by over 60%.

    India’s defense exports have also surged recently. It may be recalled that defense exports touched a record-high of Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, reflecting a growth of 32.5% over the last fiscal when the figure was Rs 15,920 crore.

  • Bangladesh Quota Protest: PM Hasina Imposes Nationwide Curfew; 245 Indians cross over border to Meghalaya. Top Developments | India News

    Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a nationwide curfew on Friday following the deadly clashes over the allocation of government jobs. The troops have been stationed in large numbers to restore law and order across the country. As per reports, at least 105 people have been killed so far and over 1,500 have been injured in the protests that took a bloody turn this week. By 8 pm on Friday, a total of 245 Indians, among them 125 students, had returned to India.


    Protesters are calling for the abolition of a quota system that allocates up to 30% of government jobs to relatives of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.



    A senior official from the home department reported that 363 individuals entered Meghalaya via the Dawki Integrated Check Post, including 204 Indians, 158 Nepalese, and one person from Bhutan. The total number of people taking refuge in the state increased to over 670.


    Police and security officials used live ammunition and tear gas on protesters in Dhaka on Friday, while also imposing a ban on all gatherings in the capital.


    The demonstrators believe the system is unfair and mostly helps supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party, which led the independence movement. They want it changed to a system based on merit.



    The protests, which started weeks ago, escalated significantly this week, presenting the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since she secured her fourth consecutive term in January’s elections. These polls were boycotted by major opposition groups.


    According to an Associated Press’ reporter, border guard officials were firing at a crowd of over 1000 protesters as they gathered outside the national television broadcaster’s office and set the building on fire.


    The Indian High Commission in Dhaka is working with local Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety of students wishing to travel to India. The mission, along with the BSF and the Bureau of Immigration, is also assisting Indian students returning from Bangladesh. “The High Commission of India in Dhaka is coordinating with local authorities in Bangladesh to provide adequate security to students who are keen on traveling to India,” sources told ANI.


    To assist the return of Indian citizens and students from Bangladesh, the Indian government has designated three border crossings: Benapole-Petrapole, Gede-Darshana, and Akhaura-Agartala – to remain open for travel.


    “We have approximately 8,500 students and about 15,000 Indian nationals residing in the country,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, while assuring Indian citizens’ safety.

  • Dhruv Jurel’s Instagram post goes viral with ‘Rohit’s Garden’ reference after India’s series win against Zimbabwe | Cricket News

    India wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel’s latest Instagram post featuring another hilarious ‘garden’ reference has gone viral on social media. The Indian team is celebrating a brilliant 4-1 series victory against Zimbabwe, a strong comeback after surprisingly losing the series opener. The youngsters have shown they are ready to uphold the team’s legacy in the absence of senior cricketers Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, who announced their T20I retirements after the World Cup win. The new talents stepped up, displaying resilience and skill throughout the series.



    After the decisive win against Zimbabwe, Jurel posted a fun picture from the airport on social media. The photo also featured Abhishek Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, and Avesh Khan. The post quickly garnered a lot of likes and comments, including a fun comment from senior player Suryakumar Yadav.

    The ‘garden’ reference in Jurel’s post traces back to one of Rohit Sharma’s stump mic reactions during the Test series against England earlier this year. The incident occurred during the second Test in Visakhapatnam and went viral, sparking a meme fest online.

    Sanju Samson played a pivotal role in India’s final match against Zimbabwe with a well-crafted half-century, while Mukesh Kumar delivered a disciplined bowling performance. Samson’s 58 runs helped India set a competitive total of 167/6, alongside Shivam Dube’s flashy 26 runs. The Indian bowlers then took charge, with Mukesh (4/22), Dube (2/25), and Washington Sundar (1/7) bundling out Zimbabwe for just 125 runs in the penultimate over of their innings. Samson and Riyan Parag added 65 runs for the fourth wicket, helping India recover from a middling Power Play where they scored 44/3.

    India’s victory over Zimbabwe secured the series 4-1. As the team looks ahead, they are set to play Sri Lanka in a white-ball series beginning July 27. It will be interesting to see how many youngsters from the Zimbabwe series make it to the senior team for the upcoming matches.

    The young players’ performance in the absence of seasoned veterans highlights the depth and potential within the Indian cricket team. Their ability to bounce back and dominate the series showcases the promising future of Indian cricket. Fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming series against Sri Lanka and the continued emergence of new cricketing talents.

  • Vikram Misri Who Served In China, Assumes Charge As Foreign Secretary Of India |

    Vikram Misri assumed the charge of Foreign Secretary of India on Monday.
    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed warm regards and best wishes to Foreign Secretary Misri for a successful tenure ahead.
    “Shri Vikram Misri assumed charge as Foreign Secretary today. #TeamMEA extends a warm welcome to Foreign Secretary Misri and wishes him a successful tenure ahead,” said MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X.
    The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) approved the proposal made by the Ministry of External Affairs for appointing Vikram Misri as the next Foreign Secretary, succeeding Vinay Mohan Kwatra as Foreign Secretary.

    On July 14, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar bid farewell to outgoing Foreign Secretary Kwatra, acknowledging his profound contributions to India’s foreign policy and national security over the past decade. Jaishankar praised Kwatra for his strategic acumen in shaping and executing crucial policies during his tenure.

    “Thank outgoing Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra for his dedication and many contributions in the field of foreign policy and national security. Particularly in the last decade, he has helped strategise and execute so many of our key policies. Wish him well in his future endeavours,” EAM Jaishankar said in a post on X.

    Misri, 59, has the unique honour of having served as private secretary to three Prime Ministers – Inder Kumar Gujral in 1997, Manmohan Singh in 2012, and Narendra Modi in 2014.
    Misri was born in Srinagar in 1964 and received his early education in Gwalior. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in history from Delhi University’s Hindu College and an MBA from XLRI.


    Misri was India’s ambassador to China and played a significant role in discussions between India and China following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes that resulted from the actions of the Chinese military in Eastern Ladakh.
    In his early career, Misri worked at Indian embassies in Brussels and Tunis. He became India’s ambassador to Spain in 2014 and to Myanmar in 2016. He has also held positions in several Indian diplomatic missions across Africa and North America. 

  • Suryakumar Yadav misses top spot in ICC T20I batsman rankings; This Australian Batter Holds Number 1 Position | Cricket News

    Star batter Suryakumar Yadav stayed put on second position in the latest ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings, which also features Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made significant progress following his exploits in the ongoing away series against Zimbabwe. Suryakumar is placed second with 821 rating points behind Australia’s Travis Head, who has 844 rating points. Phil Salt of England is paced third with 797 points, ahead of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (755), Mohammad Rizwan (746) and Jos Buttler (716). Gaikwad has gained 13 places to climb to the seventh spot in the rankings on the back of a stellar 77 not out off 47 balls in a comprehensive 100-run win for India in the second T20I against Zimbabwe.

    With most of India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024-winning squad rested for the Zimbabwe tour, the five-game series has allowed India’s back-up players to showcase their talent, and with the retirement of stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, the upcoming players can make a good case for a regular place in the side.

    Apart from Gaikwad, Rinku Singh and Abhishek Sharma also made solid gains among the India batters. Rinku, who was among the reserves for the T20 World Cup, jumped four places to reach the 39th spot on the back of an attacking 48 not out from 22 balls in the second T20I.

    And after a duck in the first game, all-rounder Abhishek smashed a stunning 100 from just 47 balls in the second game. With this spectacular knock, he entered the rankings for the first time at 75th spot.

    Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett gained 25 places to finish at the 96th position courtesy of his two attacking cameos, making 22 off 15 and 26 off nine in the two matches. In the bowlers’ T20I chart, left-arm spinner Axar Patel dropped two places to be the lone Indian in top-10 at the ninth position with 644 rating points.

    Fellow left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav also dropped three places to the 11th spot, while T20 World Cup’s player-of-the-tournament Jasprit Bumrah also slid two rungs to 14th position.

    Besides, there were some movements in the top 10 positions of the bowling rankings, with Adam Zampa (7th), Fazalhaq Farooqi (8th), and Maheesh Theekshana (10th) gaining positions.

    India’s Ravi Bishnoi, with his six scalps in the first two games against Zimbabwe, jumped eight places to move to the 14th spot. Blessing Muzarabani also gained eight positions after the first two matches, up to 55th, with his spell of 1/17 instrumental in Zimbabwe winning the first T20I.

    India vice-captain Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, dropped a place to the second position in the T20I all-rounders’ rankings. Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka moved to pole position. India’s Washington Sundar entered the top 50 on the back of his quickfire 27 in the first game, as well as his three wickets in two outings. Axar is placed 12th in the all-rounders’ rankings.