MARCH 11, 2025 9:00 PM

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi becomes first Indian to receive highest national award of Mauritius; Addresses Indian diaspora in Port Louis.

• India is best-positioned in Asia for economic growth, despite global trade tensions, says a Morgan Stanley report.

• Textbooks for all 22 scheduled languages and English to be digitised under Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Yojana, says Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Rajya Sabha.

• Pakistani train with over 450 passengers taken hostage by armed militants in Balochistan’s Mach area.

• World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025 begins in New Delhi.
  

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NEWS IN DETAILS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the first Indian to receive highest civilian award of Mauritius, Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean.

Mauritius Prime Minister Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam made the announcement during an Indian diaspora event in Port Louis this evening. The honour also adds to Mr Modi’s growing list of international accolades, making it the 21st such recognition. Addressing the Indian community, Prime Minister Modi thanked the people and the government of Mauritius for giving him the country’s highest civilian honour. He said, this is not just an honour for him, but an honour for the historic bond between India and Mauritius.

Mr Modi said, the deep-rooted cultural connection between the two countries is evident in the warmth of the diaspora.

In a special gesture, Prime Minister Modi also announced the issuance of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam and his spouse Veena Ramgoolam.

Mauritius Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Modi and Government of India for granting OCI cards to the seventh generation of Indian descent. The community event was attended by more than 3,500 people, including members of the Mauritius Cabinet, government officials, and National Assembly members.

Later tonight, Prime Minister Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

Prime Minister Modi met Mauritius President Dharam Gokhool in Port Louis today and the two leaders exchanged views on deepening the special and close bilateral ties. Mr Modi also extended several gifts that reflected India’s cultural and agricultural heritage. In a special gesture, Prime Minister Modi handed over OCI cards to President Gokhool and First Lady Vrinda Gokhool.  Among the gifts presented to President Gokhool include, holy water from the Maha Kumbh, a sacred offering from the recent religious gathering held at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

In addition to it, Prime Minister Modi gifted Makhana, a superfood from Bihar, highlighting India’s agricultural diversity. Mr Modi also presented a beautiful Banarasi saree to the First Lady of Mauritius.

After the talks, President Gokhool hosted a State lunch in honour of Prime Minister Modi. Mr Modi also visited the Ayurveda Garden in the State House, established in collaboration with the Government of India. The Prime Minister noted that Mauritius is an important partner for India in advancing the benefits of traditional medicine, including Ayurveda.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi paid homage to former President of Mauritius Sir Anerood Jugnauth and former Prime Minister of Mauritius Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden in Pamplemousses. Prime Minister Modi planted a sapling with his Mauritius counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam at the Botanical Garden, symbolizing the growing ties between the two nations. Prime Minister Modi reached Port Louis this morning on a two-day visit to the island nation. 

Upon his arrival this morning, Mr Modi received a warm and ceremonial welcome with a Bhojpuri Geet-Gawai performance from Mauritius leaders, including Prime Minister Ramgoolam, marking the strong relationship between India and Mauritius.

Prime Minister Modi will attend the Mauritius’ National Day celebrations as the chief guest tomorrow. 

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India is the best-positioned country in Asia for economic growth, despite ongoing global trade tensions. According to a report by Morgan Stanley, India’s strong services exports, low reliance on goods exports, and supportive government policies as key factors that will help it outperform other economies in the region.

While trade tensions are expected to impact Asia’s overall growth outlook, India remains less vulnerable due to its low goods exports as a share of GDP. This reduces its exposure to global trade disruptions. At the same time, India’s services exports continue to perform well and are expected to grow further, providing stability amid global uncertainties.

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President Droupadi Murmu has said that doctors and researchers have a big role to play in ensuring a healthy society. Addressing the 1st Convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Bathinda today, the President appealed to AIIMS doctors to conduct research in consultation with agricultural and environmental experts to raise awareness about adopting a healthy lifestyle and better farming methods. The President said that people should be made aware of the physical and mental harm caused by drug addiction. 

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Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan has said, this year’s Union Budget has provided for the implementation of the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Yojana, which will see textbooks digitised for all 22 scheduled languages, as well as English. Replying to a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Education in the Rajya Sabha today, the Minister stressed that Indianness is an important component of the policy of Narendra Modi Government.

“Mr. Pradhan  also informed that internet broadband will be installed in all secondary schools and this work has been given to BharatNet. Mr Pradhan added that 500 crore rupees has been allocated this time for AI in Education. Mr Pradhan said, in the National Education Policy, no language has been imposed. He said NEP is meant for mother tongue based education. The Minister said that multilingualism is the need of the moment. The Minister said that over one lakh 28 thousand  crore rupees have been allocated to education in the Union Budget this year which is 6.22 percent more than the previous year.”

Earlier, initiating the discussion, Digvijay Singh of Congress talked about skilling and training of teachers. Ghanshyam Tiwari of BJP said that the central government has taken several steps to transform the educational system of the country.  Ritabrata Banerjee of TMC said that Union expenditure on education in the budget has been 0.37 per cent of the GDP which should be increased.

After the reply of the Minister, the Upper House was adjourned for the day.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the Centre is providing all financial assistance to support the faster recovery of economy in Manipur. She was replying to the discussion on 2nd batch of Supplementary Demands for Grant for 2024-25, and  Manipur Budget in the Lok Sabha this evening. She said, with collective efforts of the Centre and State there has been improvement in the overall law and order situation in Manipur.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that Northeast students will not need to leave their region for work and they will get employment opportunities there. Mr. Shah said this while addressing the students from the Northeast at Youth Parliament organised by Students’ Experience in Inter-State Living (SEIL) in New Delhi today.     

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Government today banned two terror outfits Awami Action Committee (AAC) and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM). Both groups have been declared as unlawful association by the Ministry of Home Affairs under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Notifications issued by the Ministry said, AAC and JKIM are indulging in unlawful activities which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country.

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In Pakistan, at least six military personnel were killed and over 450 passengers of Peshawar-Quetta Jaffar Express have been taken hostage after the train came under attack from militants in Balochistan’s Mach area today. Media reports quoted a spokesperson for the Balochistan government, Shahid Rind saying that, the train, which was traveling from Quetta in Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, came under heavy fire during the assault leading to its derailment.

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India’s first-ever World Para-Athletics Grand Prix began at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi today. The three-day event will feature over 90 competitions, bringing together top para-athletes from across the globe.

 

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In the Women’s Premier League cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have set a target of 200 runs against Mumbai Indians in the ongoing final league match at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. 

 

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-

 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi becomes first Indian to receive highest national award of Mauritius; Addresses Indian diaspora in Port Louis.

• India is best-positioned in Asia for economic growth, despite global trade tensions, says a Morgan Stanley report.

• Textbooks for all 22 scheduled languages and English to be digitised under Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Yojana, says Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Rajya Sabha.

• Pakistani train with over 450 passengers taken hostage by armed militants in Balochistan’s Mach area.

• World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025 begins in New Delhi.

• In Women’s Premier League Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru set target of 200 runs against Mumbai Indians in ongoing final league match in Mumbai .