THE HEADLINES:
- President Droupadi Murmu calls for more female participation in workforce on International Women’s Day as India heads towards becoming third biggest economy of the world.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says his government is dedicated to empowerment of women; Distributes 450 crore rupees to over 2.5 lakh women during ‘Lakhpati Didi Sammelan’ at Navsari in Gujarat.
- Seventy-five thousand new seats to be added in medical education in the country over the next five years.
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar inaugurates Indian Consulate at Belfast in Northern Ireland.
- US President Donald Trump threatens Canada with new tariffs on its lumber and dairy products.
- And in Women’s Premier League Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru to take on UP Warriorz in Lucknow this evening.
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President Droupadi Murmu today stressed that there should be more women in the workforce as India is heading towards becoming the third biggest economy in the world. Addressing a day long conference on the theme ‘Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat’ in New Delhi today to mark the International Women’s Day, the President emphasized that the daughters of the nation are playing a crucial role in realizing the vision of a developed India. She highlighted the importance of society creating a supportive environment to help them progress and fulfill their potential.
President Murmu stated that the Central government is continuously working to ensure that women in the country are politically, economically, and socially empowered, and are able to lead the nation towards the vision of a developed India. She described the provision of reservations for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies through the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as a historic step towards political empowerment.
Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Annpurna Devi also addressed the gathering.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today emphasized that his government is dedicated to the empowerment of women, highlighting the significant steps taken to improve their lives. Speaking at the ‘Lakhpati Didi Sammelan’ at Navsari in Gujarat on the occasion of International Women’s Day today, Mr Modi emphasized that India is advancing towards women-led development, with the government placing utmost importance on dignity and well-being of women at every step.
Prime Minister Modi stated that the banner of women’s empowerment is soaring across all sectors of society, with the power of Indian women now acknowledged globally. He praised the role of Self Help Groups in the nation’s development and announced that the government is aiming to create three crore Lakhpati Didis over the next five years as part of its ongoing efforts to empower women.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the government’s achievements in enhancing women’s security over the past decade, citing the implementation of new criminal laws designed to protect women’s rights.
During the ‘Lakhpati Didi Sammelan’, the Prime Minister also disbursed 450 crore rupees in financial assistance to over 2.5 lakh women from over 25,000 Self-Help Groups. Mr Modi also felicitated five Lakhpati Didis with Lakhpati Didi Certificates. He also launched the two initiatives G-SAFAL (Gujarat Scheme for Antyodaya Families for Augmenting Livelihoods) and G-MAITRI (Gujarat Mentorship and Acceleration of Individuals for Transforming Rural Income) programme of the Gujarat Government.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi interacted with ten beneficiaries of ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme at Navsari district who shared their experiences.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has handed over his social media accounts for a day to inspiring women to mark the International Women’s Day. In a social media post, Mr Modi said, since morning, there have been inspiring posts by extraordinary women sharing their own journeys and inspiring other women. He said these women belong to different parts of India and have excelled in different areas, with the underlying theme of India’s Nari Shakti. He added that their determination and success reminds everyone of the boundless potential women hold. He further stated that the nation is celebrating their contributions in shaping a Viksit Bharat.
Through the Prime Minister’s social media account on X, Dr. Anjlee Agarwal who is the founder of Samarthyam- Centre for Universal Accessibility, said, she wants to ignite a spark of transformation, and seek a call to action.
Elina Mishra, a nuclear scientist and Shilpi Soni, a space scientist said they were thrilled to be helming the Prime Minister’s social media on Womens Day.
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The Central Railway commemorated International Women’s Day in an innovative way by operating an all-women train today. The Vande Bharat Express, train no. 22223, departed from the renowned Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus bound for Shirdi, with an all-women crew onboard, including the loco pilot, assistant loco pilot, train manager, ticket examiners, and on-board catering staff. The iconic Vande Bharat Express reached Shirdi as scheduled, showcasing a significant milestone in women’s empowerment.
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Union Health Minister JP Nadda today announced that the government plans to add 75,000 new seats in medical education over the next five years. Mr Nadda was addressing the inaugural session of the International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment (ISHTA) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Mr. Nadda also highlighted that the number of medical colleges in the country has increased by 101 per cent since 2014. To strengthen secondary and tertiary healthcare, 22 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have been inaugurated. He further emphasized the government’s focus on expanding the healthcare sector by providing training to paramedics, nurses, and frontline workers.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day state visit to Mauritius on the 11th and 12th of this month to take part in the National Day celebrations of the Island country as the Chief Guest. A contingent of Indian Defence Forces will participate in the celebrations along with a ship from the Indian Navy.
During the visit, Mr Modi will call on the President of Mauritius, meet the Prime Minister, and hold meetings with senior dignitaries and leaders of political parties in Mauritius. The Prime Minister will also interact with the members of the Indian-origin community, and inaugurate the Civil Service College and the Area Health Centre, both built with India’s grant assistance.
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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar inaugurated the Indian Consulate at Belfast in Northern Ireland last night. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jaishankar said, the Consulate will serve the needs of the Indian community. He added that the Consulate in Belfast will explore further bilateral cooperation in trade, technology, business and education.
The External Affairs Minister also met Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Emma Little Pengelly and Junior Minister Aisling Reilly in Belfast. He thanked them for the support in setting up the Consulate. They discussed possibilities for deepening India’s engagement with Northern Ireland, especially in skills, Cyber, Tech, creative industries and manufacturing.
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US President Donald Trump has threatened Canada with new tariffs on its lumber and dairy products. Speaking at a press conference at the Oval Office in the White House last night, the President called out the neighbouring country for ripping America off with tremendously high tariffs. He highlighted that Canadian tariffs on US dairy products have reached as high as 250 per cent, which is unfair. He said, America will match those tariffs dollar-for-dollar.
Responding to President Trump’s claims, Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng termed the proposed tariffs as completely unjustified.
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Dubai is abuzz with excitement as India and New Zealand prepare to face off in the Summit Clash of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy tomorrow. We have a report;
“Recent One Day International encounters between these cricketing powerhouses have set the stage for a compelling showdown tomorrow . India enters the final with a strong record, having secured a decisive 44-run victory over New Zealand in the tournament’s group stage just a week prior. That win, fueled by a dominant all-round performance, solidified India’s position at the top of the group. While India has demonstrated dominance in recent matches, New Zealand’s ability to perform under pressure remains a significant factor. The 2019 victory serves as a reminder of their capacity to upset the odds. The upcoming final promises a high-stakes contest, with India’s powerful batting facing off against New Zealand’s experienced bowling attack. Both teams will draw on their past experiences as they vie for the Champions Trophy title at Dubai. This is Vinod Kumar for Akashvani News from Dubai.”
Meanwhile, two esteemed umpires from the Emirates ICC Elite Panel – Paul Reiffel and Richard Illingworth will be officiating the title clash tomorrow. Both umpires played key roles in the semi-finals, with Illingworth standing in India’s win over Australia and Reiffel officiating New Zealand’s victory against South Africa.
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In Women’s Premier League (WPL) Cricket, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face off against UP Warriorz at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow this evening. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM.
In Badminton, India’s Ayush Shetty will take on Lin Chun-Yi of Taiwan in the Men’s Singles Semifinal of Orléans Masters in the French city of Orléans, this evening.
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Akashwani News is celebrating International Women’s Day today in a unique way, with all English and Hindi News bulletins being presented by female News Readers. This initiative began at midnight and will continue throughout the day. As part of the celebrations, all main and hourly bulletins, as well as News Magazine Programmes in English and Hindi, are being presented by Women News Readers. Additionally, the entire functioning of the English and Hindi newsrooms during the daytime today is being managed by the female staff of the News Services Division of Akashvani.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- President Droupadi Murmu calls for more female participation in workforce on International Women’s Day as India heads towards becoming third biggest economy of the world.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says his government is dedicated to empowerment of women; Distributes 450 crore rupees to over 2.5 lakh women during ‘Lakhpati Didi Sammelan’ at Navsari in Gujarat.
- Seventy-five thousand new seats to be added in medical education in the country over the next five years.
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar inaugurates Indian Consulate at Belfast in Northern Ireland.
- US President Donald Trump threatens Canada with new tariffs on its lumber and dairy products.
- And in Women’s Premier League Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru to take on UP Warriorz in Lucknow this evening.
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This bulletin was produced and compiled by an all – women team from the News Services Division of Akashvani to celebrate the International Women’s day.
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