India News
Modi, the first Indian PM to visit Israel

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Netanyahu will be with Modi almost throughout the visit, says Israeli envoy
Next week Prime Minister Narendra Modi will create history by visiting Israel, first by any Indian Prime Minister since its creation in 1948. He will have detailed discussion with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on all matters of mutual interest and call on President Reuven Revlin.
He will also be the first Indian dignitary skipping a visit to Palestine while visiting Israel. Traditionally most foreign dignitaries visit both sides of the rival territories.
PM’s visit, coinciding with the completion of 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, will provide an impetus to bilateral engagement, sources in Ministry of External Affairs said. India and Israel established diplomatic ties in 1992.
Daniel Carmon, Israeli Ambassador to India, while speaking to an Indian journalist on Wednesday, said that PM’s visit is being accorded considerable importance by the Israeli government. Netanyahu will be at Modi’s side for almost the whole of two and a half day visit. Some 40 to 50 Israeli dignitaries will receive him at the airport, an honor accorded only to Pope and the US President, he added.
The Israeli cabinet on Sunday passed a resolution outlining a strategic partnership with India in a host of non-security areas, such as water, agriculture, space, health, investment and even bringing Bollywood to Israel. The Israeli government has sanctioned 70 million dollars to facilitate the partnership.
Before the beginning of cabinet meeting Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted as saying, “In the 70 years of the country’s existence no Indian Prime Minister has ever visited and this is further expression of Israel’s strength.”
One of his official tweets said: “This is a very significant step in strengthening relations between the two countries. Ties between Israel & India are on a constant upswing.”
Among the most important deals expected to be signed during PM’s visit include 1.5 billion dollars agreement for buying Spike anti-tank missiles for the Indian army and Barak-8 air defense missiles for the Navy. Recently Israel Aerospace Industries had announced a two billion mega missile pact that will give Indian forces an advanced defense system of medium range surface to air missiles. It was considered to be Israel’s biggest defense contract.
India is the largest buyer of Israeli military equipment, while Israel is India’s largest customer after Russia.
The Israeli enthusiasm of welcoming Modi was indicated by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu through a series of his tweets on June 25, three days before formal announcement by New Delhi.
Next week, the Indian Prime Minister, my friend, @NarendraModi will arrive in Israel, This is an historic visit to Israel.
– PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 25, 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Tel Aviv in the afternoon of July 4. On the first day of his trip, PM is slated to tour Yad Vashem, a Holocaust memorial and an agricultural innovation center.
On July 5 PM will meet Prime Minsiter Bejnamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin. He will also meet Indian Diaspora. About 80,000 Indian Jews live in Israel. On July 6, Modi will pay homage to Indian soldiers killed in 1918 Haifa battle and will host a forum of thirty leading CEOs of Israeli companies.
According to analysis published in Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, “Modi, a Hindu nationalist, conservative and believer in free markets, enjoys unprecedented popularity at home, and may say he is all but destined to be reelected in 2019.”
It further introduces India to its readers saying, “India had traditionally been part of the non-aligned bloc of nations and closer to the Soviet Union than US and a firm supporter of the Palestinians.”
The Israeli daily further says, “Indians are fond of pointing out that between Bangladesh and Marrakesh (Morocco), India and Israel are only two non-Muslim states and two democracies. Notably, Modi’s two day visit next week does not include a trip to the Palestinian Authority headquarters in Ramallah.”
The daily also said, “Israel is undertaking a campaign to lure Bollywood producers to film in Israel, and to bring more Indian tourists to Israel. Some 20 million Indians travel abroad every year, but only 45,000 visit our shores.”
PM Modi travelled to Israel in 2006 while he was Gujarat Chief Minister. President Pranab Mukherjee travelled to Israel in 2015 and addressed Israeli Parliament.
However, President was “advised” not to visit Al-Aqsa mosque, the third most sacred site for Muslims. Indian computers, supposed to be gifted by the President to the Palestinian University, were also denied customs clearance by Israeli authorities.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Israel in 2016.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
India News
Gorakhnath temple attack convict sentenced to death by NIA court
Gorakhnath temple attack convict Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi was sentenced to death, Monday, by a special anti-terror court.

Gorakhnath temple attack convict Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi was sentenced to death, Monday, by a special anti-terror court.
A report quoting Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Prashan Kumar, said that Abbasi was awarded the death penalty under Section 121 of the Indian Penal Code by a special NIA court for attacking security personnel stationed at Gorakhnath temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur in April last year.
Abbasi, a chemical engineer, was arrested following an attack with a sharp-edged weapon on Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel posted at the Gorakhnath temple.
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Police said that after interrogation, Abbasi revealed he was in cahoots with the Islamic State and had taken an oath to fight for the global terrorist group. They said that Abbasi was also providing financial aid to the terror group’s sympathizers and supporters.
Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, a resident of Civil Lines area in UP’s Gorakhpur, is an IIT-ian with a degree in chemical engineering from IIT-Mumbai.
According to the police, Abbasi suffered from mental health issues for which he underwent treatment from several doctors and ultimately led to him separating from his wife in 2017.
On April 3 last year, Abbasi tried to force his way inside the Gorakhnath temple, when stopped, he proceeded to attack the security men deployed there with a sickle in which two constables were injured. However, he was overpowered and arrested.
The ATS investigation revealed that the Abbasi’s attack was part of a “deep conspiracy.” The UP Home Department had said the attack could be termed as a terror incident.
Mughal Garden: Opening date, timing, entry price and how to book Amrit Udyan tickets online
India News
Mughal Garden: Opening date, timing, entry price and how to book Amrit Udyan tickets online
Mughal Garden, now renamed Amrit Udyan, at Rashtrapati Bhavan is all set to open for the public from January 31. President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday graced the opening of the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Udyan Utsav 2023.

Mughal Garden, now renamed Amrit Udyan, at Rashtrapati Bhavan is all set to open for the public from January 31. President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday graced the opening of the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Udyan Utsav 2023.
Mughal Garden has been renamed to commemorate the 75 years of independence. In keeping with the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration’s theme, the garden has also been given a new name, Amrit Udyan.
Amrit Udyan’s opening and closing date
Amrit Udyan opens once a year to the public. This year, it will remain open for the general public from January 31 to March 26. However, it will be closed on all Mondays and on March 1 and 2 due to G20 meetings and March 8 on the occasion of Holi.
The garden will be accessible to special groups from March 28 to March 31. Amrit Udyan will open for farmers on March 28, people with disabilities on March 29, members of the armed forces, paramilitary groups, and police on March 30, and self-organized groups of tribal women on March 31.
Entry and exit for all visitors will be from gate number 35 of the President’s Estate, close to where North Avenue meets Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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Amrit Udyan timings
People can visit Amrit Udyan during the time period between 10 am and 4 pm.
How to book Amrit Udyan tickets online?
- Go to the official website of Rashtrapati Bhavan at https://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in or https://rb.nic.in/rbvisit/visit_plan.aspx.
- On the homepage, select the option that reads Mughal Garden Visit.
- Enter the required details such as name, date of visit, etc.
- After that, you are required to submit your photo ID.
- Click on the register button.
People can also buy Amrit Udyan tickets offline. Walk-in visitors have to register themselves at the facilitation counters as well as at the self-service kiosk near Gate 12 of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The visitors will have 6 slots to choose from, so it is advised to make prior bookings to avoid rushing at the gate.
The number of guests that can be reserved at once is 30. However, schools and colleges reserve a maximum of 50 at a time.
Amrit Udyan entry/ticket price
There is no fee for the booking of slots or entry to the Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan during Udyan Utsav. Visitors must, however, pay Rs 50 to enter Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Rashtrapati Bhavan will be open five days a week from Wednesday to Sunday and the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday. People can also witness the change of guard ceremony every Saturday, except on gazetted holidays.
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India News
Bank holidays February 2023: Banks to remain shut for 10 days, check dates here
Apart from festivals, banks will also remain shut on the second and fourth Saturdays.

Every month banks across the country remain shut due to festivals and other public and private holidays. In February 2023, both private and public banks will not function for 10 days. However, the holidays differ from state to state.
Festivals like Guru Ravidas Jayanti, Hazrat Ali Jayanti, Maha Shivaratri, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and others will be celebrated in February which might affect the functioning of banks in several states.
Full list of bank holidays in February 2023
DATE | DAY | HOLIDAY | STATES |
5 February 2023 | Sunday | Hazrat Ali Jayanti | Uttar Pradesh |
5 February 2023 | Sunday | Guru Ravidas Jayanti | Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana & Punjab |
15 February 2023 | Wednesday | Lui-Ngai-Ni | Manipur |
18 February 2023 | Saturday | Maha Shivaratri | Several states of India |
19 February 2023 | Sunday | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti | Maharashtra |
20 February 2023 | Monday | State Day | Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram |
21 February 2023 | Tuesday | Losar | Sikkim |
Apart from this, banks will also remain shut on the second and fourth Saturdays.
DATE | DAY | HOLIDAY | STATES |
12 February 2023 | Saturday | Second Saturday | All States |
15 February 2023 | Tuesday | Lui-Ngai-Ni | Manipur |
19 February 2023 | Sunday | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti | Maharashtra |
25 February 2023 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday | All States |
For those unversed, the Reserve Bank of India categorises holidays into three categories-Holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act and Real-Time Gross Settlement Holidays, Holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, and Banks’ Closing of Accounts.
In January 2023, banks across the country will remain shut for 14 days.
Date | Day | Holiday | State |
---|---|---|---|
January 1, 2023 | Sunday | New Year Bank Holiday & Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 2, 2023 | Monday | New Year Bank Celebration | Mizoram |
January 5, 2023 | Thursday | Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti | Haryana and Rajasthan |
January 8, 2023 | Sunday | Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 11, 2023 | Wednesday | Missionary Day | Mizoram |
January 14, 2023 | Saturday | Second Saturday Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 15, 2023 | Sunday | Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 22, 2023 | Sunday | Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 23, 2023 | Monday | Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Jayanti | Tripura and West Bangal |
January 25, 2023 | Wednesday | State Day | Himachal Pradesh |
January 26, 2023 | Thursday | Republic Day | All over India |
January 28, 2023 | Sunday | Fourth Saturday Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 29, 2023 | Sunday | Weekend Bank Holiday | All over India |
January 31, 2023 | Monday | Me-Dam-Me-Phi | Assam |
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