New Delhi, April 9 India has been able to navigate the current global situation due to a mature democracy, diplomacy, diversification, and decisive action, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday.
Speaking at an AIMA event, Scindia said that Indian vessels have been moving through the Strait of Hormuz to reach Indian shores.
"…the current instability has sent shockwaves through the global system. These shockwaves have disrupted supply chains and created geopolitical tensions. At the same time, energy markets have been fundamentally affected. It is in this environment that energy is our backbone that India has been able to navigate these very choppy waters," Scindia said.
He said that the Prime Minister has put in place a structured system over the last four weeks to be able to navigate the insurmountable problems and to convert those into opportunities.
"India today has been able to put in place engagement with multiple nations. Our Indian vessels are today moving through the Strait of Hormuz, reaching the shores of India, and at the same time, ensuring that all constituencies within India are protected from this volatility. This speaks of the maturity of our democracy, a maturity across diplomacy, diversification, and decisive execution," the minister said.
Talking about the telecom sector, Scindia said that the government is spending over Rs 1.39 lakh crore to connect every village with broadband service, and more than half of this is to maintain the optical fibre network for the next 10 years.
"A 10 per cent increase in broadband growth capability across the country; the Government of India is spending Rs 1.39 lakh crore to connect every single village across the length and breadth of our country with an optical fibre network. 45 per cent of the money is for capital expenditure, and 55 per cent is to maintain that fibre for the next 10 years," Scindia said.
He said that in the next 5 years or the next decade, another USD 1.5-2 trillion will be added to the GDP in terms of opportunities.
The communications minister said that India Post has 1.6 lakh branches, and his ministry is on the road to transforming this vast network into a logistics powerhouse.
"A logistics powerhouse, not only for India, but it is our ambition and commitment – a logistics powerhouse for the world. On March 17, we launched three new products: 24-hour Speed Post and 48-hour Speed Post. These speak of commitment," Scindia said.
He said that in the past fiscal, FY25-26, the Department of Post is expected to have registered a double-digit growth rate.
"I have a passion and a relationship from the heart with this department. 4.6 lakh Grameen Daak Sevaks have resolved that we will move from being a cost centre to a profit centre for the government by 2029-2030," Scindia said.