MEA Opens First Batch of New Post Office Passport Seva Kendras

MEA Opens First Batch of New Post Office Passport Seva Kendras

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Department of Posts (DOP), following the 24th January announcement, has opened the first batch of the Head Post Offices (HPO) in the various States as Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK) for delivering passport related services to the citizens. The move makes post offices escape the […]

Haj Committee Formed to Review India’s HAJ Policy

Haj Committee Formed to Review India’s HAJ Policy

Indian Ministry of Minority Affairs has constituted a Committee on January 31, 2017 under a retired IAS officer Afzal Amanullah to review the Haj Policy 2013-17 and to suggest framework for Haj Policy for five years from 2018 to 2022. This Committee comprises of Mr. Amanullah, former Secretary to Government of India and former Consul […]

Haj Subsidy Halved by India in 4 years: Minister

Haj Subsidy Halved by India in 4 years: Minister

After the Supreme Court directive in 2012 to progressively decrease Haj subsidy and completely eliminate it in 10 years, Haj subsidy has been gradually reduced from Rs.836.56 crore in 2012-13 to Rs. 405 crore in the year 2016-17, said Mr. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Minister of State (IC) for Minority Affairs, in written reply to […]

Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2017: MEA Begins Registration Process

Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2017: MEA Begins Registration Process

The registration for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra being organized by Ministry of External Affairs has started with the Yatra scheduled from 12th June to 8th September, 2017. The Yatra will be conducted in two routes, said a statement. Eligible applicants should be 18 years or above and not more than 70 years as on 1st January […]

Indian Embassy in US Holds Open House for Community

Indian Embassy in US Holds Open House for Community

The Indian Embassy in Washington DC held its 3rd “Consular Open House” on Feb. 01, 2017 to address the grievances of Indians in the US and assured them quick resolution on problems ranging from visas, passports to OCI cards issued to people of Indian origin. The Open House is a new initiative taken up by […]

India, Israel to Upgrade BARAK 8 Missile System

India, Israel to Upgrade BARAK 8 Missile System

To upgrade the Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) and Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM), India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Isreal Aerospace Industry (IAI) will collaborate to upgrade Barak-8 missile system, said Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Mr. Ram Charan Bohra in Lok Sabha on […]

Missing Obama? Majority Americans Prefer to Have Him Back as US President

Missing Obama? Majority Americans Prefer to Have Him Back as US President

Within two weeks after Barack Obama stepped down after completing his two terms as US President, the unpopular Muslim visa ban of new US President Donald Trump has shaken Americans to wish for Obama’s return. However, the Twenty Second Amendment to the US Constitution doesn’t allow it. In an opinion poll conducted by the Public […]

Festival of India to be Held in Senegal

Festival of India to be Held in Senegal

A Festival of India is being organized in Senegal from 26 January to 28 February, 2017 to showcase diverse Indian culture, including classical and folk dance, music and an exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi. The following events will be held in the Senegal capital City of Dakar: · Kathak Dance by Richa Jain and Group from […]

Post-Hafiz Saeed House Arrest, India Seeks Credible Crack Down by Pakistan

Post-Hafiz Saeed House Arrest, India Seeks Credible Crack Down by Pakistan

In an official response to the preventive detention of Hafiz Saeed and others by Pakistan on Tuesday, India’s spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr Vikas Swarup said credible steps by Pakistan required to show its commitment to end terrorism. Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior placed on Tuesday the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Falah–e-Insaniyet Foundation under […]

Beijing Mission Celebrates Republic Day, Ambassador Gokhale Unfurls Flag

Beijing Mission Celebrates Republic Day, Ambassador Gokhale Unfurls Flag

India’s 68th Republic Day was celebrated at the Embassy of India, Beijing on 26 January 2017 with Indian Ambassador Vijay Gokhale unfurling the Tricolor at Embassy premises. Later, he read out passages from the President of India’s Address to the Nation. The Culture Wing of the Embassy then screened a short movie on “A Day […]

Indian Embassy in US Observes Martyr’s Day

Indian Embassy in US Observes Martyr’s Day

Indian embassy in Washington DC on Monday observed the Martyr’s Day to mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Jan. 30, 1948. Indian Ambassador Navtej Sarna and other officers paid floral tributes to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi located in front of the Indian Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue in the US capital. All the staff […]

Sri Lankan Navy Commander Visits Delhi, to Proceed to Goa, Kochi Next

Sri Lankan Navy Commander Visits Delhi, to Proceed to Goa, Kochi Next

Vice Admiral RC Wijegunaratne, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, who is on an official visit to India from 29 January to 02 February 2017, held bilateral discussions with Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff and other senior officials of the Indian Navy on 30 January 2017. The Admiral is also scheduled to […]

Nepal SAARC Meeting on Feb 1 to Decide on Next Summit Schedule

Nepal SAARC Meeting on Feb 1 to Decide on Next Summit Schedule

The nations of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will meet in Kathmandu on February 1-2 to attend the Programming Committee meeting over the next SAARC summit schedule. This is the first meeting of the SAARC members after the controversial postponement of the 19th SAARC summit scheduled in Islamabad last year in November due […]

Indian Republic Day Celebrated in Venezuela

Indian Republic Day Celebrated in Venezuela

The 68th Republic Day of India was celebrated in Caracas at the Indian Embassy Residence on Thursday. India’s Ambassador Rahul Shrivastava unfurled the national flag and read out President of India’s address to the nation on the eve of the Republic Day. More than 60 members of the Indian community and friends of India in […]

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar Gets One More Year of Extension

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar Gets One More Year of Extension

Foreign Secretary S.Jaishankar has been given an extension of tenure by one more year by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Monday. He was scheduled to retire on January 28, after serving already on a two-year extension of service. In a statement, the government said Jaishankar’s term has been extended from 29th January 2017 […]

President Underlines Need for Closer Ties with UAE

President Underlines Need for Closer Ties with UAE

President of India Pranab Mukherjee on the eve of the 68th Republic Day received Chief Guest Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces at Rashtrapati Bhavan and hosted a banquet in his honour on Wednesday evening. Welcoming the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, […]

Modi Invites Trump to Visit India

Modi Invites Trump to Visit India

When the much-awaited telephone call came from the new US President, Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was upbeat because the call has accredited India with a prime status of being the fifth country made by Washington’s new leader. Trump, in his typical style called India a “true friend and partner,” and invited Prime […]