New Delhi Mar 26 PTI The defence ministry on Saturday said it has approved setting up of 21 new Sainik schools in partnership with NGOs private schools and state governments The new schools will be set up in sync with the governments announcement of rolling out 100 new Sainik schools across the country in partnership mode The Ministry of Defence MoD has approved setting up of 21 new Sainik Schools in partnership with NGOsprivate schoolsState governments the ministry said The objectives behind Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of setting up of 100 new Sainik schools is to provide quality education to the students in tune with National Education Policy and give them better career opportunities including joining the armed forces it said in a statement It said 17 of these schools are Brownfield running schools and four are Greenfield schools to be operational shortly While NGOstrustssocieties have a share of 12 approved new schools six private schools and three state government-owned schools find a place in the list of such approved new Sainik Schools the ministry said Unlike existing Sainik Schools which are purely residential in nature seven new Sainik Schools are day school and 14 such newly approved schools have residential arrangements it said The new Sainik schools besides their affiliation to respective education boards will function under the aegis of the Sainik Schools Society Admission into to the new Sainik Schools will be from class 6 The ministry said at least 40 per cent of the intake in class 6 will comprise students who have qualified for the All-India Sainik School Entrance Examination Up to 60 per cent intake will be from students enrolled in the same school and desirous of taking admission under this vertical of new Sainik Schools through a qualifying test notification for which will be issued separately it said The academic session for the new Sainik Schools is likely to commence in the first week of May the ministry said PTI MPB ZMN ZMN

New Delhi [India], February 27 (ANI): Ahead of the International Women's Day next month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday credited the success of the social campaigns in a short span of time to women, and said that the success of the campaigns was possible because of their progressive efforts.

New Delhi Jan 28 PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded the strength of Indias young population in fields ranging from start-ups to sports and said no one can stop a nation whose youth works with the spirit of nation firstSpeaking at the National Cadet Corps PM Rally at Cariappa ground here Modi said efforts are being made to strengthen the organisation with a high level review committee formed in this regard Over one lakh new NCC cadets have been added in border areas in the last two years he said while pitching for induction of more girls in the organisation He noted that women are getting more and more responsibilities in the armed forces The prime minister also highlighted the menace of drug abuse and asked NCC members to work to keep themselves and their campuses free from this and also help those who are not in the NCC in getting rid of this Noting that in an era of possibilities relating to digital technology and information sector there are also dangers of misinformation he said NCC members can run awareness campaign for this The young population can also play a big role in vocal for local to help India become self-reliant the prime minister said adding that more demand for local products will boost production and subsequently employment I am proud that I was also a NCC cadet like you once upon a timeWhile fulfilling my current responsibilities to the country I get immense strength from the training that I got in NCC and the things I learned there Modi mentioned Modi said he has just got his NCC Alumni card and he has come at the rally not just as a prime minister but also as a former cadetThe government is taking many steps to join the countrys education system with NCC he saidUnder the new National Education Policy the countrys 90 universities have started offering NCC as an elective subject to their students he noted I am seeing so many girl cadets here This is a sign of how our country is changing he said Country needs your contribution and there are ample opportunities for that he told the girl cadets He said now the daughters of the country are taking admission in Sainik Schools and women are getting major responsibilities in the army The daughters of the country are flying fighter planes in the Air Force In such a situation it should be our endeavour that more and more daughters should be included in NCC he added When a countrys youth starts working with the motto of nation first no power in the world can stop him he mentioned He said cadets should apply the principles -- which they learn at NCC -- when they go back home PTI KRDSP ZMN

New Delhi [India], January 26 (ANI): President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday paid tributes to tributes to India's first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, who died in a helicopter crash last month and said he was "one of bravest commanders of the country".

New Delhi [India], January 26 (ANI): Noting that the past year has been "a watershed year" for women empowerment in the armed forces, President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said the country's daughters have broken a glass ceiling and permanent commission has now been allowed for women officers in new areas.

New Delhi Jan 25 PTI Asking people to celebrate Indian-ness this Republic Day President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said the country has shown an unmatched resolve in the face of the extraordinary challenge to humankind posed by the coronavirus pandemic and that a strong and sensitive India is now emerging In his address to the nation on the eve of 73rd Republic Day President Kovind said this years celebrations may be muted due to the pandemic but the spirit is as strong as ever as he urged the people not to let their guard down and to continue following precautions He noted that democracy justice liberty equality and fraternity form the bedrock of India and stressed that the observance of Fundamental Duties mentioned in the Constitution creates the proper environment for the enjoyment of Fundamental Rights In the fight against the COVID pandemic it has now become a sacred national duty of every citizen to follow the precautions suggested by scientists and experts Kovind said adding that we have to discharge this duty till the crisis is behind us The President said the pandemic management was bound to be more difficult in India due to its high population and other factors But it is only in such difficult times that the resilience of a nation shines forth I am proud to say that we have shown an unmatched resolve against the coronavirus Kovind said In the first year itself we raised the healthcare infrastructure and also reached out to help others By the second year we had developed indigenous vaccines and launched the worlds biggest vaccination drive in history he said India reached out to several other countries with vaccines and other medical help This contribution by India has been appreciated by international organisations the President said Doctors nurses and paramedics have risen to the challenge working long hours in difficult conditions even at the risk of their lives to attend to patients Others have kept the nation moving managing supply chains and utilities he said Hailing the timely interventions by the leadership policy-makers administrators and others at the central and state levels during coronavirus pandemic Kovind said it is a testimony to Indias spirit in the face of adversity that the economy is on the move again and is projected to grow at an impressive rate in this fiscal after going through contraction last year The impressive economic performance is made possible due to improvement in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors I am happy to note that our farmers especially young farmers with small holdings are enthusiastically adopting natural farming the President said As the supreme commander of the Armed Forces Kovind said he was glad to note that it has been a watershed year for women empowerment in the armed forces Our daughters have broken a glass ceiling and the permanent commission has now been allowed for women officers in new areas he said adding that consequently our armed forces will benefit from better gender balance Also the talent pipeline for the forces will be strengthened with women coming through Sainik Schools and the prestigious National Defence Academy the President said He said the diversity and vibrancy of the countrys democracy is appreciated worldwide and it is this spirit of unity and of being one nation which is celebrated every year as Republic Day India is an ancient civilisation but a young republic For us nation-building is a constant endeavour the President said I am confident that India is better placed today to meet the challenges of the future Kovind said adding that new opportunities await the next generation Invoking Mahatma Gandhi President Kovind said he would have liked us to celebrate Republic Day by striving to become better human beings and contributing towards the making of a better India and a better world My heartiest greetings to all of you in India and abroad on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day It is an occasion to celebrate what is common to us all our Indian-ness he said Two days ago on 23rd January all of us observed the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who had adopted the energising salutation of Jai-Hind His quest for independence and his ambition to make India proud inspire all of us the President said Kovind said while the text of the Constitution dealing with the details of the workings of the State is quite long the preamble sums up its guiding principles democracy justice liberty equality and fraternity They form the bedrock on which our Republic stands These are the values that form our collective inheritance he said These values have been accorded primacy in our Constitution in the form of fundamental rights and fundamental duties of the citizens the President said By fulfilling the fundamental duty of rendering national service when called upon to do so crores of our people have transformed the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the COVID vaccination drive into mass movements he said A great deal of credit for the success of such campaigns goes to our dutiful citizens I am sure that our people will continue to strengthen the campaigns of national interest with their active participation and will demonstrate the same dedication Kovind said Referring to a visit to his village in Kanpur he also urged the people to remember their roots and work for the development of their native village city and country A new India is emerging a strong India and a sensitive India - Sashakt Bharat Samvedan-sheel Bharat he said Kovind thanked the constant vigil of the armed forces securing the borders and the police personnel maintaining internal security within the country that let their fellow citizens enjoy a peaceful life He said it is our soldiers and security personnel who carry on the legacy of national pride In the unbearable cold of the Himalayas and in the excruciating heat of the desert far away from their families they continue to guard the motherland It is thanks to the constant vigil of the armed forces securing our borders and the police personnel maintaining internal security within the country that their fellow citizens enjoy a peaceful life the President said He said when a brave soldier dies on duty the entire country feels sad Last month in an unfortunate accident we lost one of the bravest commanders of the country - General Bipin Rawat - his wife and many brave soldiers The entire country was deeply saddened by the tragic loss Kovind said The President said patriotism strengthens the sense of duty among citizens Whether you are a doctor or a lawyer a shopkeeper or office-worker a sanitation employee or a labourer doing ones duty well and efficiently is the first and foremost contribution you make to the nation he said Kovind said the world has never been in so much need of help as now It has been over two years now and humankind is still battling with the coronavirus Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost and the world economy has been reeling under the impact The world has suffered from unprecedented misery and surge after surge of new variants have been posing new crises It has been an extraordinary challenge to humankind the President said Citing difficulties in pandemic management he said we have high population density and as a developing economy we did not have the level of resources and infrastructure needed to battle this invisible enemy He said there have been setbacks unfortunately as the virus makes a comeback with new mutations Countless families have gone through a harrowing time There are no words to express our collective trauma The only saving grace is that many lives could be saved As the pandemic is still widespread we must remain alert and not let our guard down The precautions we have taken till now have to be continued Kovind suggested Wearing masks and maintaining social distancing have been essential parts of COVID appropriate behaviour he said The President said the 21st century is turning out to be the age of climate change and India has taken a leadership position on the world stage in showing the way especially with its bold and ambitious push for renewable energy I am sure that with this energy confidence and entrepreneurship our country will continue to march ahead on the path of progress and will definitely secure its rightful place befitting its potential in the global community the President added PTI AKV RT RT

New Delhi [India], January 8 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday announced that 100 new Sainik schools will be set up in the country to provide an opportunity for girls to join the armed forces and contribute to national security.

New Delhi [India], December 10 (ANI): At present, there are 33 Sainik Schools functioning in the country, out of which five were set up during the last three years and the total funds earmarked to Sainik Schools Society is Rs 300 crore, informed the Ministry of Defence on Friday.

Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 19 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said at a time when the strength of our forces is increasing, India is preparing a ground for the capable youth to protect the country in the future.

Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 19 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with 33 newly joined girl students from Sainik Schools, representing all the 33 Sainik Schools across the country during his visit to Jhansi on Friday.