All eyes on much-awaited Cabinet reshuffle today

With an eye on the politically crucial assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh scheduled next year, the much-awaited expansion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet will take place on Tuesday. Major changes in portfolios are also expected in the reshuffle.
In what can be seen as an attempt to woo the alliance partners, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre is likely to induct several new faces from smaller and local parties.

According to reports, there is a likelihood of smaller parties getting a berth during the cabinet expansion.

The Prime Minister has been holding consultations on the cabinet reshuffle with senior party colleagues including BJP chief Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

BJP govt trying to create political instability: HP Cong

Amid talks of a Cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reviewed the performance of various ministries in spending budgetary allocations and implementing schemes in the past two years and asked his colleagues to ensure schemes be tailored to benefit masses.

At an over four-hour-long meeting of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister reviewed the performance of all Union ministries to ascertain whether budgetary allocations have been spent wisely.

He also sought to know the number of schemes implemented by each ministry.

Modi, according to those present in the meeting, asked the ministers to ensure that schemes are tailored in such a fashion that the benefit reaches the common man.

Several ministers made suggestions on how best budget can be utilised. They also pointed out that at times, one sector gets more attention at the cost of the other.

Modi calls for 10 crore people to be drawn into tax net

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for 10 crore people to be brought into the tax net, up from the current 5.3 crore, in a bid to expand the revenue base.

"There are a total of 25 crore households in the country, out of which 10 crore have non-agricultural income. The prime minister, in his address, called for the expansion of the tax net to 10 crore," said Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia.

PM Modi meets Swiss President

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann here today to deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the key European nation.

Modi arrived in Geneva late last night from the Qatari capital Doha on the third leg of his five-nation tour.

"A late night arrival is followed by an early morning engagement.PM @narendramodi meets Swiss Prez Schneider-Ammann," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

The two leaders thereafter led delegation-level talks.

"A closer engagement with the heart of Europe. President and PM lead delegation level talks #IndiaSwitzerland," Swarup said in another tweet.

'Modi's visit gives a chance to assess Indo-US strategic ties'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here this week will focus on enhancing Indo-US security and diplomatic cooperation and offers a chance to reflect on how much the strategic partnership has grown during eight years of Obama administration, the State Department has said.

"We look forward to Prime Minister Modi's visit next week, which will include both a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office with President (Barack) Obama and a lunch at the White House," a State Department spokesman told PTI.

Since 2014, there have been six meetings and countless phone calls between Obama and Modi, and this visit "reflects the significance that the two leaders place on the natural alliance between the two largest democratic countries of the world", the spokesperson said.

India, Qatar ink 7 agreements to boost cooperation

India and Qatar today signed seven agreements, including one on finance intelligence to check money laundering and terrorism financing and another to woo foreign investment in the infrastructure sector from the gas-rich Gulf state.

Cooperation and investment in areas of skill development and education, health, tourism and sports between the two countries were the other agreements signed by Indian and Qatar officials in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

Modi meets the Father Emir of Qatar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on the Father Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani here.

"Final bilateral engagement is an important meeting with the Father Emir of Qatar. PM Narendra Modi calls on him at Old Emiri Diwan," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Sheikh Hamad was the Emir of Qatar from 1995 till 2013.

Earlier on Sunday, India and Qatar signed seven agreements, including on investment and tourism following delegation level talks headed by Modi and Qatar Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani here.

Modi also attended a meeting of Qatari business leaders and invited them to invest in India.

Modi takes swipe at 'gareebi hatao' slogan

Attacking Congress' "gareebi hatao" slogan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said though intention of those who gave the slogan may have been good, the path they chose for delivering the promise was wrong.

Addressing a rally in this coastal Odisha town on completion of two years of his government, he called for a 'balanced' development in the country and wondered why the eastern belt had remained backward despite being generously bestowed with natural resources.

Pitching for development of Odisha, eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Assam, Modi said his government was committed to the welfare of the poor people who would be at the centre of all schemes.

Modi wishes Telangana on second statehood day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday wished Telangana on its second statehood day and hoped the state progressed to new heights in the coming years.

"On the Statehood Day of Telangana, my greetings to the people of Telangana. I hope the state progresses to new heights in the years to come," the Prime Minister tweeted.

"I convey my greetings to my sisters & brothers of Andhra Pradesh. My best wishes as the state continues to develop at a rapid pace," he added.

Meanwhile, elaborate arrangements have been made by the state government to celebrate the state's second formation day.

PM Modi releases nation's first 'Disaster Management' plan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday released India's first ever National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), which aims to make the country disaster resilient and reduce loss of lives.

The plan is based on the four priority themes of the "Sendai Framework," namely: understanding disaster risk, improving disaster risk governance, investing in disaster risk reduction (through structural and non-structural measures) and disaster preparedness, early warning and building back better in the aftermath of a disaster.

The plan covers all phases of disaster management: prevention, mitigation, response and recovery and provides for horizontal and vertical integration among all the agencies and departments of the Government.

A 'Shahenshah' takes away democracy...like Indira Gandhi during Emergency: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday castigated Congress president Sonia Gandhi's 'Shahenshah' jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said it was the grand old party which defined the true meaning of 'dynasty' rule, while taking a shot at former prime minister Indira Gandhi, saying that she resembled a 'shahenshah' as she had taken away democracy during the Emergency.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told ANI that, "Sonia Gandhi calls the Prime minister 'Shahenshah'. She has to be reminded of the history, what is a Shahenshah? A 'Shahenshah' or Badshah is the one who only sees that the dynasty continues, After Nehru it was Indira, after Indira it was Rajiv, after Rajiv it is Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka this is a classic definition of Shenshaaiyat or dynasty rule. What is a Shahenshah? It is who imposes emergency rule taking away democracy as we have seen during the day of Indira Gandhi."

Congress questions PM Modi's silence over African attacks

The Congress on Tuesday trained its guns at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and questioned his silence over accelerating attacks on African nationals across the nation.
Addressing a press conference here, Congress leader Anand Sharma said, "It is unacceptable, it is shameful. The government ought to have intervened when the first attacks took place but the situation has been allowed to deteriorate to an extent where mob lynching is taking place."

"President Pranab Mukherjee has spoken, Vice-President Hamid Ansari has spoken but the Prime Minister is silent. His silence is embarrassing now. He is the head of the leaders, the elected executive. He must speak and his government must ensure the safety of students from Africa," he added.

Central Govt. doctors' retirement age extended to 65-years

The proposal made by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will be effective from May 31, 2016.

This will enable the Government to retain experienced doctors for a longer period, and to provide better services in its public health facilities, particularly to the poorest, who are entirely dependent on public facilities.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J. P. Nadda stated that this step will empower the Government to strengthen the healthcare sector in the country.

"It will help in providing additional doctors in the health pool of the country," he said.

Nadda added that this will strengthen the efforts of the Ministry in conceptualising and rolling out various people-oriented schemes which l need the services of doctors in implementing them.
-Source ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday approved the proposal of extending the retirement age of all doctors of the Central Health Service to 65 years.

PM Modi thanks Swaraj for launching PMO India site in six languages

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for launching the PMO India website in six languages and also called for feedback from the nation regarding the new venture.
"Thanks to @SushmaSwaraj ji for launching @PMOIndia site in 6 languages. These sites will further strengthen my interaction with you all," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi also thanked all those who worked in creating the new versions of the PMO India site in various languages.

Mega event to mark two years of Modi govt; Big B to host small segment

A mega event will be organised at India Gate here on Saturday evening to mark the completion of two years of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and most of his ministerial colleagues are expected to attend the event. Besides this, the government has launched a series of events to highlight its achievements.

The highlight of the celebrations will be a mega show at India Gate titled 'Ek Nayi Subah' or 'A New Dawn' beginning 5 p.m. onwards.

PM Modi tries his hands at drums in Meghalaya

In a light-hearted gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried his hands at drums along with folk dancers at a cultural event organised in his honour at Mawphlang Village, 25 km from Shillong, in East Khasi hills district of Meghalaya on Saturday morning.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Modi, who is on his maiden visit to the state, also interacted with the locals and folk dancers.

PM flags off new passenger trains for northeast

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off new passenger trains for northeast and also laid the foundation stone for a football stadium 'Ampati' here on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said, "Today, we laid the foundation for a football stadium. We're aware about love the people of northeast, especially the people of Meghalaya, have for football."

Remove "self-imposed" obstacle of terrorism: PM tells Pak

Telling Pakistan that the path to peace is a "two-way street", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Islamabad needs to remove the "self-imposed" obstacle of terrorism which is coming in the way of Indo-Pak friendship.

Modi also asked Pakistan to play its part by putting a complete stop to any kind of support to terrorism - "whether state or non-state".

"In my view, our ties can truly scale great heights once Pakistan removes the self-imposed obstacle of terrorism in the path of our relationship.

"We are ready to take the first step, but the path to peace is a two-way street," Modi told The Wall Street Journal, in comments posted on its website today.

Narendra Modi the second most-liked world leader on Facebook

As Narendra Modi completes two years as Prime Minister, he remains the second most-liked world leader on Facebook, the social media giant said today.

The list of most-liked world leaders on Facebook released by the social network shows that Modi is second only to US President Barack Obama and is followed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Modi's Facebook post on May 15 with his mother at his official residence at Delhi's Race Course Road remains on top with 1.6 million likes, 1.2 lakh shares and 34,000 comments.

PM Modi tweets 'Transforming India' anthem's video

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday released a 'Transforming India' anthem's video which details various successes and achievements of the NDA Government.

"Mera desh badal raha hai, aage badh raha hai, #TransformingIndia," Prime Minister Modi said on Twitter.

The Prime Minister will start the two-year anniversary celebrations with a rally in Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh today.

Prime Minister Modi had earlier tweeted the theme song of the programme which highlights various initiatives undertaken by the government as well as the achievements in last two years.

'Transforming India' is the theme of the outreach programme of the NDA Government which completes two years in office today.