Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi praises made-in-India C-295 aircraft

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's progress towards self-reliance in his Mann Ki Baat address, citing the made-in-India C-295 aircraft, indigenous naval assets, International Yoga Day celebrations and the revival of the ancient Shastrarth tradition at Nalanda University

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted several milestones achieved by the country towards becoming self-reliant as he cited the maiden flight of the made-in-India C-295 aircraft, which will boost aerospace manufacturing capabilities.

In his monthly radio broadcast ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Modi noted that the country achieved a major success in the aviation sector in June.

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Noting that the C-295 aircraft has been made in India, he said, “As many as 40 such aircraft are being built right here in India and this is giving new strength to MSMEs and the aerospace sector.”

It will also increase employment opportunities, he said.

The first made-in-India C-295 military transport aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight on June 10.

The IAF is procuring 56 C-295 transport aircraft at a cost of around Rs 21,935 crore.

Forty of these aircraft will be assembled by Tata Advanced Systems Limited in cooperation with Airbus at a production facility in Vadodara.

Modi said the country also achieved some milestones in June that fill every citizen with pride.

“Recently, I got the opportunity to participate in a Navy-related programme in Kolkata. There, INS Dunagiri, INS Shanshak and INS Agrya were inducted into the Indian Navy’s fleet. From the design to the manufacturing of these ships, everything is indigenous,” he said.

The prime minister also referred to the International Yoga Day celebrated on June 21 and said diverse yoga programmes were held at more than 2,500 places around the world, with crores of people participating.

He said there was also significant buzz about the ‘World Yoga Asana Championship’ organised in Ahmedabad, where India won a total of 114 medals, including 102 gold medals. India topped the medal tally in the championship, he said.

Modi also spoke about the revival of an ancient tradition by Nalanda University, the tradition of ‘Shastrarth’.

He said ‘Shastrarth’ is not merely a means to express one’s own views, but a disciplined process of debate, dialogue and deliberation.

“In it, presenting one’s point with logic and facts is extremely important, and one must have mastery over it. The practice of patiently listening to and understanding the ideas of others also comes from this Shastrarth process. I am glad that Nalanda University has made it a part of its convocation ceremony,” he said.