While the Modi Government’s concerted efforts to engage with Indian diaspora, persuading them to contribute to India’s growth story, gets manifested in the hosting of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, its pursuit of larger inclusion in the democratic process is reflected in the Election Commission’s latest initiative. We offer an extensive coverage of both these important developments in the current issue of Blitz India.
The top story on the cover page explains the special significance of the 17th PBD convention, which marks a new chapter in Indian diaspora’s partnership with their home country’s progress during the Amrit Kaal. According to our story, the expats abroad have something special to celebrate as India today is not only heading G20 but has also emerged as the world’s fastest-growing economy. We focus on the other aspects of the mega event with a bouquet of reports on the Centrespread.
The main story on these pages focuses on PM Modi’s proactive approach to Indian diaspora, while explaining how the Congress governments in the past have been overly circumspect on the issue. The qualitative shift in the foreign policy came when the BJP first came to power at the Centre and started promoting serious engagement with the Indian diaspora and PM Modi catapulted these efforts to a new level, says our story. Besides, we carry reports on the relevance of various PBD sessions and interesting trivia.
The development of a Remote Electronic Voting Machine (REVM) by the Election Commission represents a giant leap in India’s pursuit of inclusion and accessibility in its 70-year-old history of democratic elections, according to our Lead report on the front page. Haling it as yet another first in PM Modi’s New India, it dwells upon the massive turnaround that the EVRM will bring about in the democratic process by enabling Indian citizens to cast their vote while working away from home. The other report in this package explains how technology has paved the way for EC’s efforts to enfranchise migrant workers, whose plight was also highlighted by the present CJI in a recent lecture. We also carry excerpts from a report that gives the global historical context to remote voting.
The main report on G20 Podium is about India’s launch of ‘Digital Innovation Alliance’ and ‘Stay Safe Online’ campaigns with the objective of digitally transforming global economy in a secure cyber environment. The Podium also covers PM Modi’s telephonic conversation with King Charles III wherein he discussed India’s G20 presidency priorities, Mission LiFE and other issues with the British sovereign. Our exclusive report on the page is about how the G20 presidency presents a rare opportunity for India to vocalise needs and demand of the Global South, especially when it comes to discussion and debates on data. The importance of gathering data and analysing results was also stressed by the Prime Minister in his inaugural address to the 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) in Nagpur and that we highlight on the Rising India Page. Apart from that, we give adequate coverage to all the major news developments of the week in this issue.
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