Danish Parliament Speaker Soren Gade Jensen, currently on a visit to India, extolled the democratic values shared between Denmark and India. In an interview with our diplomatic correspondent Siddhant Sibbal, Jensen emphasized the significance of India's democratic stature, stating, "Denmark and India, Europe and India because we share the same values, we are democracies." He further underscored India's democratic prowess, highlighting, "I think it's amazing that nearly a billion people they can have a vote in India...I think India sets an example for many developing countries to show that it is possible to have a democracy."

Danish Parliament speaker Soren hails India's Democracy; Hopes for early conclusion of India EU FTA

The Indian Navy is set to commission a new naval base, INS Jatayu, on Minicoy Island, marking a significant step in enhancing security infrastructure in the strategically important Lakshadweep Islands.

Indian Navy to commission a second base in Lakshadweep

The 'Delhi Chalo' march will resume on March 6 with a nationwide 'Rail Roko' on March 10. Watch to know more.

India Farmers' Protest: Nationwide protests and 'Rail Roko' on March 10

Indian Navy to commission a new base in Lakshadweep

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is launching developmental projects in five states over the next two days. He is also attending various programs in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and West Bengal.

PM Modi to visit Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha & West Bengal in the next 3 days

Indian Prime Minister has an ambition for India. PM Modi chaired the Council of Ministers meeting on March 3. In the meeting PM Modi chalked out a plan for the next five years to work on the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision.

All about PM Modi's 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision

India's Supreme Court announced a landmark verdict today. It overturned a 1998 verdict that allowed MPs & MLAs to claim immunity in bribery cases. Watch this video for all details.

India's Supreme Court announces landmark verdict on MPs & MLAs claiming immunity in bribery cases

The Indian Navy said Saturday it plans to build a base called INS Jatayu on Minicoy, the southernmost island in the Lakshadweep archipelago. India's Lakshadweep islands lie about 130 kilometres (80 miles) north of the Maldives. It said a more detailed plan will be published Wednesday.

Indian Navy to open strategic base near Maldives

Rain lashed parts of India's national capital on Saturday, bringing down the pollution levels in the city.

India: Rain lashes Delhi, pollution levels improve

India has successfully eradicated extreme poverty, indicates&nbsp;a commentary penned by economists Surjit Bhalla and Karan Bhasin in The Brookings Institution, a prominent American think-tank.

The assertion is based on the recently disclosed consumption expenditure data for the year 2022-23, revealing a notable annual growth of 2.9 per cent in real per capita consumption since 2011-12.

Notably, rural areas experienced a significantly higher growth rate of 3.1 per cent compared to urban areas at 2.6 per cent.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/latest-nsso-consumer-survey-indicates-poverty-down-to-5-in-india-niti-aayog-ceo-693922" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/latest-nsso-consumer-survey-indicates-poverty-down-to-5-in-india-niti-aayog-ceo-693922&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjK7oTqltaEAxXzmFYBHS3sChgQFnoECAYQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1_ivMtzEj7o8Mo7Ybp08qs" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/latest-nsso-consumer-survey-indicates-poverty-down-to-5-in-india-niti-aayog-ceo-693922" target="_blank">Latest NSSO consumer survey indicates&nbsp;poverty&nbsp;down to 5% in&nbsp;India</a>

The commentary highlights an unprecedented decline in both urban and rural inequality, with the Gini coefficient reflecting substantial reductions – from 36.7 to 31.9 in urban areas and from 28.7 to 27.0 in rural areas. The Gini coefficient measures income distribution inequality, with a higher value indicating greater disparity.

The economists assert that the combination of robust economic growth and substantial reduction in inequality has effectively eliminated poverty in India.

This conclusion is supported by the decline in the Headcount Poverty Ratio (HCR), which dropped from 12.2 per cent in 2011-12 to 2 per cent in 2022-23, equivalent to an annual decrease of 0.93 percentage points.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-budget-2024-250-million-people-came-out-of-poverty-in-the-last-10-years-fm-sitharaman-685845" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-budget-2024-250-million-people-came-out-of-poverty-in-the-last-10-years-fm-sitharaman-685845&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjK7oTqltaEAxXzmFYBHS3sChgQFnoECAkQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1K-x1L6ljknRIKja0qJ4T_" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-budget-2024-250-million-people-came-out-of-poverty-in-the-last-10-years-fm-sitharaman-685845" target="_blank">India&nbsp;Budget 2024 | 250 million people came out of&nbsp;poverty</a>

Rural poverty now stands at 2.5 per cent, while urban poverty has diminished to 1 per cent.

The commentary acknowledges that these estimates do not consider government-supplied free food (wheat and rice) to approximately two-thirds of the population, along with the utilisation of public health and education services.&nbsp;

The authors underline the remarkable pace of poverty reduction, noting that a similar decline in the past took 30 years, whereas the current achievement occurred over just 11 years.

With extreme poverty nearly eradicated, the economists propose that India should now reassess its poverty line, providing an opportunity to redefine social protection programmes.&nbsp;

They argue for a higher poverty line to better identify intended beneficiaries and offer increased support to those genuinely in need.&nbsp;

The commentary concludes by affirming that official data confirms India's elimination of extreme poverty, a significant milestone with positive implications for global poverty rates.

(With inputs from agencies)

India has successfully eradicated extreme poverty, indicates a commentary penned by economists Surjit Bhalla and Karan Bhasin in The Brookings Institution, a prominent American think-tank.

India has successfully eradicated extreme poverty, indicates a commentary penned by economists Surjit Bhalla and Karan Bhasin in The Brookings Institution, a prominent American think-tank. The assertion is based on the recently disclosed consumption expenditure data for the year 2022-23, revealing a notable annual growth of 2.9 per cent in real per capita consumption since 2011-12. Notably, rural areas experienced a significantly higher growth rate of 3.1 per cent compared to urban areas at 2.6 per cent. Also read: Latest NSSO consumer survey indicates poverty down to 5% in India The commentary highlights an unprecedented decline in both urban and rural inequality, with the Gini coefficient reflecting substantial reductions – from 36.7 to 31.9 in urban areas and from 28.7 to 27.0 in rural areas. The Gini coefficient measures income distribution inequality, with a higher value indicating greater disparity. The economists assert that the combination of robust economic growth and substantial reduction in inequality has effectively eliminated poverty in India. This conclusion is supported by the decline in the Headcount Poverty Ratio (HCR), which dropped from 12.2 per cent in 2011-12 to 2 per cent in 2022-23, equivalent to an annual decrease of 0.93 percentage points. Also read: India Budget 2024 | 250 million people came out of poverty Rural poverty now stands at 2.5 per cent, while urban poverty has diminished to 1 per cent. The commentary acknowledges that these estimates do not consider government-supplied free food (wheat and rice) to approximately two-thirds of the population, along with the utilisation of public health and education services. The authors underline the remarkable pace of poverty reduction, noting that a similar decline in the past took 30 years, whereas the current achievement occurred over just 11 years. With extreme poverty nearly eradicated, the economists propose that India should now reassess its poverty line, providing an opportunity to redefine social protection programmes. They argue for a higher poverty line to better identify intended beneficiaries and offer increased support to those genuinely in need. The commentary concludes by affirming that official data confirms India's elimination of extreme poverty, a significant milestone with positive implications for global poverty rates. (With inputs from agencies)

Extreme poverty has been eradicated in India, says report

A day after removing several Indian apps from its Play Store, tech giant Google has agreed to restore them. Reports suggest that the decision was taken after Google officials met India's information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Google restores Indian apps: Reports

The rise of Indian Defence manufacturers has helped India increase its Defence exports by a whopping 24% from 2021 to 2023. But have these companies done enough to make the Indian government's grand 'Make in India' plan a success?

Profits of Indian Defence sector soar to new heights

"Official data now confirms that India has eliminated extreme poverty, as commonly defined in international comparisons. This is an encouraging development with positive implications for global poverty headcount rates," the Brookings report stated.

India officially eliminates 'extreme poverty': Reports

Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar ruled out any immediate possibility of revival on the SAARC regional grouping. He said that SAARC is in trouble because of one of the members continuous undertake of violent actions against the other. Watch to know more!

India: EAM Jaishankar slams Pakistan, says 'SAARC' in trouble due to Pakistan's terrorism

Indian security agencies intercepted a Pakistan bound ship from China at Mumbai's Nhava Sheva Port. The ship was suspected of carrying a dual use consignment that could be used by Islamabad in its nuclear and ballistics missiles program. Watch to know more!

India seizes Pak bound suspicious cargo, vessel carried dual-use military goods from China

Ahead of the formation of a new government in neighbouring Pakistan, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday ruled out any immediate possibility of revival of regional grouping SAARC given Islamabad's "toolkit" of using terrorism in different ways, including against other members of the bloc.

In an interactive session at a think-tank, Jaishankar, without directly naming Pakistan, said the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is in trouble as one of its member nations has been relentlessly backing terrorism.

"If you ask me whether I see a future for SAARC, in some ways, actually you are asking me if I see a future for that country. Because if that country does not really let go of those kinds of options in its armoury or its toolkit, then it is not just SAARC which is in danger. I mean, very frankly, you are looking at the state of that country as well," he said.

To a question on whether India is perceived by its neighbours as a bully, Jaishankar countered, saying, "A big bully does not provide USD 4.5 billion when the neighbours are in trouble. Big bullies do not supply vaccines to other countries when Covid (pandemic) was on and make exceptions to their own rules to respond to food demands, fuel demands, fertiliser demands because some war in some other part of the world has complicated their lives." Jaishankar was speaking at the Ananta Aspen Centre.

The external affairs minister said the SAARC is in trouble as one of its members has been supporting terrorism.

"The SAARC is in trouble basically because -- how do you have a regional organisation when one member does not hide the fact, in fact, sometimes proclaims the fact that they undertake, I am using the most neutral word possible, violent actions against other members?," he asked.

"If we are to sit as a group, but you reserve the right to attack me in the night, how long are we going to sit as a group? We have kind of obfuscated this issue for too long," Jaishankar said.

The SAARC is a regional bloc comprising India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

"We found excuses that there is a constituency out there, there is a reason for why they are doing it. The bottom line is that we have to be clear in our own minds. Is it the view that we should proceed with SAARC even if one member of SAARC actually has training camps, trains terrorists, pushes them across (the border), supports them in different ways?," he further asked.

"It was heading for a crisis. It was just a certain succession of events, finally precipitating what happened," Jaishankar said.

The external affairs minister added: "Our problem in the neighbourhood, very honestly, is with one country." At the same time, he said "in diplomacy, you always hold out hopes", adding "who knows one day what the future holds".

The SAARC has not been very effective since 2016 as its biennial summits have not taken place since the last one in Kathmandu in 2014.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-india-act-as-mediator-to-end-russia-ukraine-war-jaishankar-responds-692012">Will India act as mediator to end Russia-Ukraine war? Jaishankar responds</a>

The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after a terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances".

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet.

The external affairs minister said unlike the SAARC, cooperation under the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is moving ahead.

"I think there is today an appetite to grow under BIMSTEC," he said.

Also watch |&nbsp;Munich Security Conference 2024: India is non-west but not anti-west, says EAM S Jaishankar | WION

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"It is not like there are no problems there. The situation in Myanmar is very challenging. But I would say, we do not have the kind of issues in BIMSTEC which we do have in SAARC. There is a will to cooperate, there is a desire to take it forward," he said.

Ahead of the formation of a new government in neighbouring Pakistan, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday ruled out any immediate possibility of revival of regional grouping SAARC given Islamabad's "toolkit" of using terrorism in different ways, including against other members of the bloc.

Ahead of the formation of a new government in neighbouring Pakistan, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday ruled out any immediate possibility of revival of regional grouping SAARC given Islamabad's "toolkit" of using terrorism in different ways, including against other members of the bloc. In an interactive session at a think-tank, Jaishankar, without directly naming Pakistan, said the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is in trouble as one of its member nations has been relentlessly backing terrorism. "If you ask me whether I see a future for SAARC, in some ways, actually you are asking me if I see a future for that country. Because if that country does not really let go of those kinds of options in its armoury or its toolkit, then it is not just SAARC which is in danger. I mean, very frankly, you are looking at the state of that country as well," he said. To a question on whether India is perceived by its neighbours as a bully, Jaishankar countered, saying, "A big bully does not provide USD 4.5 billion when the neighbours are in trouble. Big bullies do not supply vaccines to other countries when Covid (pandemic) was on and make exceptions to their own rules to respond to food demands, fuel demands, fertiliser demands because some war in some other part of the world has complicated their lives." Jaishankar was speaking at the Ananta Aspen Centre. The external affairs minister said the SAARC is in trouble as one of its members has been supporting terrorism. "The SAARC is in trouble basically because -- how do you have a regional organisation when one member does not hide the fact, in fact, sometimes proclaims the fact that they undertake, I am using the most neutral word possible, violent actions against other members?," he asked. "If we are to sit as a group, but you reserve the right to attack me in the night, how long are we going to sit as a group? We have kind of obfuscated this issue for too long," Jaishankar said. The SAARC is a regional bloc comprising India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. "We found excuses that there is a constituency out there, there is a reason for why they are doing it. The bottom line is that we have to be clear in our own minds. Is it the view that we should proceed with SAARC even if one member of SAARC actually has training camps, trains terrorists, pushes them across (the border), supports them in different ways?," he further asked. "It was heading for a crisis. It was just a certain succession of events, finally precipitating what happened," Jaishankar said. The external affairs minister added: "Our problem in the neighbourhood, very honestly, is with one country." At the same time, he said "in diplomacy, you always hold out hopes", adding "who knows one day what the future holds". The SAARC has not been very effective since 2016 as its biennial summits have not taken place since the last one in Kathmandu in 2014. Also read | Will India act as mediator to end Russia-Ukraine war? Jaishankar responds The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after a terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances". The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet. The external affairs minister said unlike the SAARC, cooperation under the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is moving ahead. "I think there is today an appetite to grow under BIMSTEC," he said. Also watch | Munich Security Conference 2024: India is non-west but not anti-west, says EAM S Jaishankar | WION × "It is not like there are no problems there. The situation in Myanmar is very challenging. But I would say, we do not have the kind of issues in BIMSTEC which we do have in SAARC. There is a will to cooperate, there is a desire to take it forward," he said.

India slams ‘one country’s terrorism toolkit’ to rule out SAARC’s revival

Indian startups are making waves on the global stage by pushing boundaries, and Qargos is no exception, with modularity being a crucial aspect of its vehicle designs. Dive into this report for further insights into Qargos and its innovative approach. Watch to know more!

Qargos' electronic-scooter for cargo transportation | Tech It Out

In a recent development highlighting the ongoing concerns surrounding proliferation trading between Pakistan and China, Indian customs officials intercepted a Malta-flagged merchant ship, CMA CGM Attila, at the Nhava Sheva port on January 23. The vessel, en-route to Karachi, was carrying a suspicious cargo that raised red flags among port authorities, leading to a thorough inspection by Indian authorities and subsequent seizure of the consignment. This interception is part of a broader effort by Indian authorities to prevent the illegal transfer of dual-use military-grade items to Pakistan.

India seizes dual-use items bound for Pakistan from China

After reaching the moon, India is now naming for the stars. ISRO revealed the names of 4 astronauts who have been selected to be a part of India’s first manned mission to space. Scheduled for 2025, if the mission succeeds India will become the fourth country to send humans to space after USSR, US and China. This week on India Story, Vikram Chandra speaks to former ISRO Chief Madhavan Nair.

Gaganyaan: ISRO names 4 astronauts who will be part of India’s first manned space mission

Gaganyaan: ISRO names 4 astronauts chosen to fly on India's first manned space voyage

Finland's Ambassador Kimmo Lähdevirta has emphasised on his country's DESI- or digitalization, education, sustainability, and innovation- cooperation with India as both sides mark the beginning of 75 years of ties. In a symbolic celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Finland, a unique logo has been unveiled to commemorate the milestone year. The logo was officially unveiled by EAM Dr S Jaishankar and Elina Valtonen, Finland's Foreign Minister during their meeting in February in Delhi.

Ambassador Lähdevirta Highlights Finland's DESI Cooperation with India

Google initiated the removal of apps of 10 Indian companies, including well-known matrimony and job search platforms like Bharat Matrimony and Naukri, amidst a disagreement regarding service fee payments in one of its rapidly expanding markets.

Indian startups have long been vocal about their discontent with various practices employed by the American tech giant, particularly its imposition of in-app fees. Google asserts that these fees contribute to the growth and promotion of the Android and Play Store app ecosystem.

<h2>Matrimony apps among those affected</h2>

Matrimony.com, the parent company of popular matchmaking apps like Bharat Matrimony and Jodii, expressed dismay over the removal of its apps from Google's Play Store. Founder Murugavel Janakiraman lamented the impact on India's internet landscape, highlighting the significance of these services in modern matchmaking.

"Our apps are getting deleted one by one. It literally means all the top matrimony services will be deleted," he told Reuters.

In India, matrimonial apps and websites have gained traction, particularly among younger demographics veering away from traditional parental matchmaking methods. Bharat Matrimony, one of Matrimony.com's flagship apps, boasted over 50 million downloads, showcasing its widespread appeal.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/paytm-payments-bank-of-india-hit-with-662000-fine-amid-allegations-of-money-laundering-695629">Also read |&nbsp;Paytm Payments Bank of India hit with $662,000 fine amid allegations of money laundering</a>

Google issued Play Store violation notices to Matrimony.com and Info Edge, the parent company of Naukri and 99acres. While initially causing a slight dip in stock prices for Matrimony.com and Info Edge, market reactions later stabilised.

The dispute revolves around Indian startups' resistance to Google's imposition of service fees ranging from 11 per cent&nbsp;to 26 per cent&nbsp;on in-app payments. Despite earlier orders from antitrust authorities to revise these fees, Google gained court approval to maintain or remove apps based on compliance.

Google justified its actions, citing the failure of some Indian companies to pay for the value derived from Google Play. The company stressed on the importance of maintaining a level playing field among developers and reiterated its right to levy fees.

Also watch |&nbsp;European media giants sue Google for $2.3 bn over alleged misconduct

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/european-media-giants-sue-google-for-23-bn-over-alleged-misconduct-695035/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

With Google's dominant position in India's mobile market, comprising 94 per cent&nbsp;Android-based phones, the ramifications of this dispute extend throughout the app ecosystem. Google noted that only a small fraction of Indian developers are subject to service fees.

This isn't the first time Google's actions have stirred controversy in India. In 2020, the temporary removal of Paytm from the Play Store sparked widespread backlash, prompting industry players to explore alternative app store solutions and pursue legal recourse against Google's policies.

(With inputs from agencies)

Google initiated the removal of apps of 10 Indian companies, including well-known matrimony and job search platforms like Bharat Matrimony and Naukri, amidst a disagreement regarding service fee payments in one of its rapidly expanding markets.

Google initiated the removal of apps of 10 Indian companies, including well-known matrimony and job search platforms like Bharat Matrimony and Naukri, amidst a disagreement regarding service fee payments in one of its rapidly expanding markets. Indian startups have long been vocal about their discontent with various practices employed by the American tech giant, particularly its imposition of in-app fees. Google asserts that these fees contribute to the growth and promotion of the Android and Play Store app ecosystem. Matrimony apps among those affected Matrimony.com, the parent company of popular matchmaking apps like Bharat Matrimony and Jodii, expressed dismay over the removal of its apps from Google's Play Store. Founder Murugavel Janakiraman lamented the impact on India's internet landscape, highlighting the significance of these services in modern matchmaking. "Our apps are getting deleted one by one. It literally means all the top matrimony services will be deleted," he told Reuters. In India, matrimonial apps and websites have gained traction, particularly among younger demographics veering away from traditional parental matchmaking methods. Bharat Matrimony, one of Matrimony.com's flagship apps, boasted over 50 million downloads, showcasing its widespread appeal. Also read | Paytm Payments Bank of India hit with $662,000 fine amid allegations of money laundering Google issued Play Store violation notices to Matrimony.com and Info Edge, the parent company of Naukri and 99acres. While initially causing a slight dip in stock prices for Matrimony.com and Info Edge, market reactions later stabilised. The dispute revolves around Indian startups' resistance to Google's imposition of service fees ranging from 11 per cent to 26 per cent on in-app payments. Despite earlier orders from antitrust authorities to revise these fees, Google gained court approval to maintain or remove apps based on compliance. Google justified its actions, citing the failure of some Indian companies to pay for the value derived from Google Play. The company stressed on the importance of maintaining a level playing field among developers and reiterated its right to levy fees. Also watch | European media giants sue Google for $2.3 bn over alleged misconduct With Google's dominant position in India's mobile market, comprising 94 per cent Android-based phones, the ramifications of this dispute extend throughout the app ecosystem. Google noted that only a small fraction of Indian developers are subject to service fees. This isn't the first time Google's actions have stirred controversy in India. In 2020, the temporary removal of Paytm from the Play Store sparked widespread backlash, prompting industry players to explore alternative app store solutions and pursue legal recourse against Google's policies. (With inputs from agencies)

Google removes Indian matrimonial, job search apps over fee dispute

In the world of tech, there's been a buzz around the growing number of multinational companies setting up offices in India. They see this as an opportunity to drive new revenue streams. Global companies opened over 118 new 'global capability centers' in India in the past two years, bringing the total to over 1,620. Some worry this might hurt Indian tech firms, but industry leaders have a different outlook.

118 new global capability centres boost insourcing in India

At least four people including a three-year-old child were killed and eight others wounded when a Russian drone crashed into an apartment block in Ukraine's southern port city of Odesa on Saturday (March 2), authorities said.

Russia-Ukraine war: At least four killed by Russian drone attack on Ukraine's Odesa

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