S jaishanker | Business Upturn

MEA Dr. S. Jaishankar unveils new, improved e-passports as part of India’s Passport Seva 2.0

Avinash Ram — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 13:23:06 +0000

The Passport Seva Programme (PSP-Version 2.0) will soon begin in India, according to an announcement made by the minister of external affairs, S. Jaishankar, during the Passport Seva Divas. New and improved electronic passports are a part of the Passport Seva Programme 2.0. Jaishankar further requested that the relevant agencies reaffirm their commitment to provide passports and related services to citizens in a “timely, reliable, accessible, transparent, and efficient manner.”

We will shortly begin the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Version 2.0, which will include new and improved e-passports, according to Jaishankar. These efforts will provide a new paradigm of “EASE” in keeping with the Prime Minister’s goal of improving the “Ease of Living” for citizens: E: Better citizen services for passports via a digital eco-system A: Service provision enabled by artificial intelligence S: More convenient international travel thanks to e-passports with chips Improved data security, or E.”

The minister added, “I would want to call on all our passport issuing authorities in India and overseas to reconfirm our commitment to deliver passport and associated services to citizens in a timely, dependable, accessible, transparent and efficient way.

Here is a statement from EAM @DrSJaishankar as we mark today’s Passport Seva Divas, as posted on Twitter by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The #TeamMEA reiterates its dedication to provide quick, dependable, accessible, transparent, and effective passport and associated services to people.

He mentioned that in 2022, the ministry processed a record 13.32 million passports and other services, up 63 percent from 2021. He also said that the plan has greatly aided in the creation of a “Digital India,” which is the ultimate aim.

The mPassport Seva Mobile App, the mPassport Police App, the integration of PSP with DigiLocker, and the “apply from anywhere” programme are just a few examples of how PSP has considerably aided the government’s efforts to create a “Digital India,” according to Jaishankar.

“There were 77 Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) in the nation in 2014; currently, there are 523 PSKs, a 7-fold growth. I would like to recognise the Department of Posts and state police agencies as valued partners in the POPSKS initiative.

EAM S Jaishankar calls on Mauritius PM

United News of India (UNI) — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 11:28:45 +0000

New Delhi, April 23: Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday called on Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and discussed bilateral partnership including economic cooperation. “Pleased to call on PM of Mauritius. Discussed advancing our development partnership and economic cooperation. India remains solidly committed to this truly special relationship, ” Jaishankar said in a tweet. The Mauritius PM is on an eight-day visit to India. He arrived in Rajkot, Gujarat, on Monday, and attended the inauguration ceremony of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar on Tuesday. He also participated in the Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit in Gandhinagar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The Mauritius PM also held bilateral meeting Modi and discussed the ongoing development partnership and cooperation in defence. Jugnauth also visited Varanasi’s, went to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

(Except for the headline. This story has not been edited by Business Upturn staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

EAM S. Jaishankar to visit Maldives and Sri Lanka to enhance ties

United News of India (UNI) — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 06:01:54 +0000

New Delhi, March 26 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to close Indian Ocean neighbours the Maldives and Sri Lanka from March 26-30, in a visit that will see the inking of several agreements with Male. Jaishankar is visiting Maldives from March 26-27 at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid. The EAM would be visiting Addu city during which he will call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and hold discussions with the Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid. The EAM’s visit will see the signing of several agreements related to the bilateral development cooperation, inauguration/handing-over and launch of a number of key India-supported projects that will contribute to the socio-economic development of the Maldives and enhance its security, an official statement said.

He will be visiting Sri Lanka from March 28-30 at the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart Prof. G.L. Peiris. The EAM’s visit follows the visits to India by Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa in December 2021 and earlier this month and that of Minister G.L. Peiris in February 2022. The bilateral meetings and interactions which EAM will have in Sri Lanka highlight the priority that the Sri Lanka occupies for India. While in Sri Lanka, EAM will also participate in the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on March 29 in Colombo. Both Maldives and Sri Lanka are India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and occupy special place in Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ and Neighbourhood First. EAM’s visit is testimony to the importance that India attaches to its close and friendly relations with the Maldives and Sri Lanka, it said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Business Upturn staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to join 4th Quad foreign ministers meeting today

Himanshu Mishra — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 05:10:50 +0000

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head a bilateral conference with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar in Melbourne, Australia today. Secretary Blinken is on a trip to Australia, Fiji and Hawaii, while EAM Jaishankar is in Melbourne for the Quad Foreign Ministers conference.

EAM Jaishankar is taking part in the fourth Quad foreign ministers’ conference in Australia’s Melbourne along with his peers from Japan, Australia and the United States.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) in its announcement on Wednesday announced this will be Jaishankar’s first trip to Australia as the EAM. It is likewise the first-high level visit to Australia from India after the boundaries were unlocked amid an improvement in the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

The MEA statement noted that it will be a chance for the ministers to converse upon their virtual meeting held in February 2021 and trade views on regional strategic cases given their shared vision of a free, open and comprehensive Indo-Pacific region.

The statement further disclosed that the foreign ministers of the four countries will also evaluate the ongoing Quad cooperation and create on the positive and constructive agenda notified by the Leaders at the two Summits last year, to communicate contemporary challenges such as climate change, COVID-19, supply chains among others.

The Quad ministers’ meet has come jointly as a union of Indo-Pacific democracies, launched to counter China’s increased military and financial aggression.

India and Singapore in talks to restore commercial flights: Report

News Desk — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 05:19:33 +0000

Following the inauguration of a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) for quarantine-free travel, Singapore is in talks with Indian officials over a temporary bilateral arrangement that would allow commercial flights between the two countries to resume in part. Only commercial scheduled passenger flights can be designated as VTL flights, according to sources familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity on Tuesday. Travellers between India and Singapore will benefit from even a partial restart of commercial flights.

Singapore stated on Monday that it will establish a VTL with India as part of the country’s attempts to reopen its borders in a safe and controlled manner while also supporting people-to-people and economic linkages. Vaccinated Indian travelers with valid visas and entry clearances will be able to go to Singapore without having to go through quarantine.

Only Air India is responsible for repatriation at the moment, as part of the Vande Bharat programme. Singapore has announced that it would open its Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) for India on November 29. Once the scheme is in place, vaccinated travellers will no longer require quarantine.

From both sides, there is a great unmet demand for travellers. Technically, under Singapore’s VTL agreement, which only allows for scheduled commercial flights, repatriation flights are not permissible. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is now in Singapore, where he is meeting with top leaders, and the resumption of communication was discussed.

Jaishankar met with Singapore’s transport minister yesterday to examine ways to improve travel between the two countries.

Began my Singapore visit by meeting S. Iswaran, Minister of Transport.

Discussed enhancing travel arrangements between the two countries. pic.twitter.com/KCbLSB0TU2

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 17, 2021

UNGA President-elect urges the international community to unite in fight against terrorism

Diya S. — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 15:05:47 +0000

On July 22, Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) 76th session President-elect and the current Foreign Minister of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid, has urged the international community to unite and condemn all forms of terrorism. He said picking and choosing sides is not an option for the issue of terrorism.

Abdulla Shahid arrived in India on Wednesday for a three-day visit. As per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India is the first country to have been visited by Shahid in his official capacity as UNGA President-elect after he secured the position on 7th June.

Moreover, Shahid has supported the country’s bid to be granted with a permanent seat in the UNSC. He stated, “As President of the General Assembly, it would be my role to bring the countries together, and try to form a broad consensus on Security Council to reform process.”

Furthermore, he emphasized on his key areas, which would be recovering from COVID-19 pandemic as well as the revival of world economy.

The President-elect continued saying that the UN will be dealing with the matter of terrorism in the Sixth Committee and the convention that had been mandated to come out of the Sixth Committee will continue to be negotiated. “I’m hoping that the 76th session will see some progress”, he added.

S. Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs of India, is set to host an official dinner in Shahid’s honour.

Jaishankar appreciates conversation with Naledi Pandor on South African riots

Aayushi Singh — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 07:29:37 +0000

S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister, on Wednesday spoke to Naledi Pandor, his South African counterpart, who had assured him that the government was doing the most for the enforcement of law and order and for an early restoration of normalcy was their priority.

Jaishankar, who was on a visit to Tajikistan to attend key meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, tweeted saying that he appreciated the conversation with Naledi Pandor, the South African Foreign Minister today. He added that Naledi Pandor ensured him that their government had been doing its best to enforce law and order and that the restoration of normalcy and peace was the overriding priority.

It had been said that Jaishankar had spoken to his South African counterpart and had an open conversation on the ongoing unrest in few parts of South Africa.

Sanjay Bhattacharya, Secretary of MEA, had a meeting with Joel Sibusiso Ndebele, the High Commissioner of South Africa to India.

It was assured by the South African side that their government was doing the most for the enforcement of law and order and also that early restoration of normalcy and peace was their overriding priority. They also expected the situation to improve soon.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on July 12, in his address to the Nation, said that with regard to the reports of arson and looting against Indians and Indian-origin South Africans, and the South Africa side mentioned those opportunistic elements which took advantage of the situation to engage in looting and violence. They also emphasized that the ongoing events were criminal in nature and not politically or racially motivated.

In South Africa, violence began the previous Wednesday, after the former president Jacob Zuma began his 15-month sentence service in the contempt of court case. Due to the riots, there have been 72 deaths in the country and over 1,200 arrests.

India-Russia meeting to take place tomorrow to figure out Afghanistan situation

Govindraj Muttepawar — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 13:24:59 +0000

Indian minister of external affairs S Jaishankar is currently on a three-day visit to Russia. He will be attending a meeting that has discussions with his interlocutors and is expected to cover an entire range of bilateral issues which include the fight against the covid-19 pandemic and various international and regional development.

The Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow will be joining him on 9th July. The Russian foreign ministry on Thursday said that the two sides will compare each other notes on, “major global and regional issues including the political process in Afghanistan, settlements in Syria, the situation around the Iranian nuclear program”

India Russia meeting will also be discussing cooperation at the Brazil-India-China-South Africa (BRICS), And the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Russian foreign ministry said referring to the Russia India China grouping.

Considering the indications of the differences between Russia and India on the Indo Pacific concept the foreign ministry of Russia also said that discussions will be made and they are also expected to touch upon the approaches to the formation of reliable and invisible security architecture in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Lavrov has been openly critical of the Indo-pacific concept and thinks that it is the key part of India’s foreign policy and cooperation under the quadrilateral security dialogue format. Last year in December he said that the western powers have been adopting an aggressive and vs policy to engage India in an anti-China game by promoting Indo-pacific strategies.

Two countries share a same reason of a model of an emergency no sales and equitable polycentric recorder and demonstrate the similarity or proximity of physicians on really important issues about the world security and peace