“Over the next few days, I will be in France and USA to take part in various programmes. In France, I will be taking part in the AI Action Summit, where India is the co-chair. I will be holding talks with President @EmmanuelMacron towards strengthening India-France relations. We will also be going to Marseille to inaugurate a Consulate there,” the prime minister posted on X ahead of his departure. 

ALSO READ: Ahead of talks with PM Modi, Macron says India, France share ‘common interest’

The prime minister will attend a dinner hosted by Macron at the Élysée Palace, which is likely to be attended by a large number of CEOs from the tech domain along with other distinguished invitees to the summit.

On February 11, the prime minister will co-chair the AI Action Summit, along with Macron.

He will also hold discussions in both restricted and delegation formats and address the India-France CEO’s Forum.

The prime minister is also scheduled to inaugurate the new Consulate General of India in Marseille with Macron.

The two leaders are also scheduled to visit the Mazargues War Cemetery maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Marseille on Wednesday, and pay tributes to the sacrifices made by the Indian soldiers in World War I. 

PM Modi to visit US on Feb 12-13

After concluding his France visit, Prime Minister Modi will head to United States for a two-day visit beginning February 12. 

He will meet US President Donald Trump and also interact with the officials of the new US administration.

ALSO READ: ‘Warmly recall working with President Trump in his first term’: PM Modi ahead of US visit

This will be the first meeting between the two leaders after President Trump assumed office for his second term.

Previously, PM Modi visited the USA in June 2017 and hosted President Trump for a state visit to India in February 2020.

Skill development has transcended its scope from the lexicon of good-to-have to a necessity to thrive in the current volatile and tightening job market. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has championed the essentiality of skill development time and again making it clear that skills are the kingpins of the nation’s development. Speaking at the Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) 2025, the PM reiterated his firm conviction in the transformative power of skills, unveiling that if not for politics, he would have chosen a career in the Skill Development Ministry. Modi said at the PPC 2025 event that, “Skill development is not just about employment; it is about empowering individuals to contribute meaningfully to society.” He further added, “If our youth are equipped with the right skills, they will not only secure better careers but also drive India’s progress on the global stage.”
His words reverberate and echo a crucial shift – once considered a supplementary asset, skill development had become the cornerstone of employability and progress. Here’s how cultivating the right skill set will provide you with an edge.
PM Modi’s advocacy for skill development stems from the vision for a self-reliant and progressive country. His emphasis on equipping the youth with practical abilities reflects his belief that education should go beyond textbooks and prepare students for the dynamic needs of the workforce. Here’s how developing the right skills will help you thrive:

Increased chances of employability and economic growth

The economic growth of a nation hinges on the skills possessed by its citizens. No wonder, Modi strongly backs skill development. It hugely influences the impact of employment opportunities. With industries evolving rapidly, there is a growing demand for a workforce armed with practical skills. In a fiercely competitive academic environment, students have shifted their focus from practical skill development and knowledge to rote learning. However, years down the line, when students enter the workforce they encounter challenges in pursuing tasks that demands practical knowledge. With industries seeping into various domains, there is an increasing demand for a workforce armed with practical skills. By promoting skill development, PM envisions a future where young students are better prepared for job markets, thereby mitigating unemployment rates and boosting economic growth.

Encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation

Alongside skill development, Modi has also emphasised skills development that fosters entrepreneurship by initiating programs such as “Make in India”. It will not only help India take steps toward attaining self-reliance but also will help better the economic picture of the country.

Preparing for a technologically advanced future

With artificial intelligence pervading every industry from cubicles to classrooms, exceptions are rare to find. Automation and artificial intelligence reshape industries, and skill development becomes important for staying relevant in the digital age. Well, whether AI will be equipped enough to take human jobs is withheld in the future, but one who fails to co-exist with advancing technology will be on the brink of losing their jobs. PM emphasises the need for technical training, coding, and digital literacy to ensure that India’s youth can outperform on the international stage and lead in emerging technologies.

Strengthening rural and semi-urban workforce

Skill development can not reside within urban boundaries, it is essential that it effectively penetrates the rural and semi-urban niches of the nation. Numerous initiatives at national level have pushed for training initiatives in agriculture, handcrafts, and local industries to empower rural communities. By equipping them with the right skills, the government aims to bolster local communities to lessen migration to cities in pursuit of work.

Promoting self-reliance and confidence

Beyond employment, skill development empowers individuals with self-confidence and financial independence. This aligns with PM Modi’s future vision of our nation where youth do not excessively rely on traditional jobs but have the ability to create opportunities for themselves. Attaining skills in areas such as craftsmanship, digital marketing, and trade increases personal growth and contributes to societal progress.

Nadda was speaking at the launch of the nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign for Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) elimination through a video conference with state health ministers and senior officers of 13 identified LF endemic states.

The campaign covers 111 endemic districts across 13 states with door-to-door administration of filaria prevention medications.

Noting that Lymphatic Filariasis incapacitates people and deteriorates their quality of life, Nadda called for the implementation of a five-pronged strategy to ensure the disease is eliminated much ahead of the Sustainable Development Goal of 2030.

“From February 10 onward, these medicines will be made available free of cost to a population of over 17.5 crore across endemic districts. It is imperative that residents in these areas consume the medicines, protecting themselves and their families from this debilitating disease,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of achieving high coverage, he underlined, “the endemic districts must ensure that over 90 per cent of the eligible population consume anti-filaria medicines. Our collective commitment and determination will help transform lives and ensure a future free from Lymphatic Filariasis.”

He urged the states and UTs to monitor the campaign at a state level to ensure early diagnosis of affected people and also sought personal involvement of the political and administrative leadership at the identified state/district levels for the same.

The Union minister emphasised the importance of adopting a whole-of-government approach by engaging various ministries and departments to support campaign activities.

He highlighted that this integrated approach, coupled with high-level advocacy across allied ministries, would foster intersectoral convergence.

Nadda also said that efforts are underway to integrate MMDP services fully in Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) facilities for access to better self-care and added that approximately 50 per cent lymphodema cases receive Morbidity Management and Disability Preventaion (MMDP) kits annually.

He stated that under NHM, there is provision for hydrocelectomy surgeries and PMJAY scheme also has option of hydrocelectomy for beneficiaries.

Close to 50 per cent hydrocele surgeries were conducted in endemic states in 2024, he added.

He highlighted that through these efforts, Arogya Mandirs would help in reducing the burden of LF, allowing affected individuals to lead healthier lives and promoting the vision of a disease-free India.

“India has and will continue to remain steadfast in its commitment to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis. Our resolve is to achieve that target by 2027”, he said while noting it is a last minute challenge..

LF, commonly known as “Hathi Paon,” is a parasitic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. It can lead to physical disabilities such as lymphoedema (swelling of the limbs) and hydrocele (scrotal swelling) and impose long-term burdens on affected individuals and families.

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Tirupati Laddu Prasadam row: CBI arrests four individuals

The CBI investigation team has arrested four individuals in connection with the case. The arrested persons include individuals from organizations supplying ghee, including AR Dairy (Tamil Nadu), Parag Dairy (Uttar Pradesh), Premier Agri Foods, and Alpha Milk Foods. The investigation revealed serious violations during ghee supply, with irregularities at every step. Representatives of Vaishnavi Dairy secured tenders in the name of AR Dairy for ghee supply. Vaishnavi Dairy fabricated false documents and seals, using the AR Dairy name to manipulate the tender process. Fake records were created by Vaishnavi Dairy, claiming to have sourced ghee from Bhole Baba Dairy in Roorkee, said TDP State Office, as per ANI.

SBI Clerk Prelims Admit Card 2025 Live: State Bank of India will release the Junior Associate- Customer Support and Sales (SBI Clerk) prelims examination admit card today, February 10, at sbi.co.in. The prelims examination is tentatively scheduled for February 22, 27 and 28, 2025. The official website reads, “Tentative dates for conduct of Preliminary Exam are 22nd, 27th, 28th February 2025 and 1st March 2025. Link for download of Call letters for the Preliminary Exam will be published on Bank website by 10th February 2025. Candidates are advised to be in preparedness to attend the Preliminary Exam.”…Read More

Carpenters Workshop Gallery, an international gallery with outposts in Paris, New York, Los Angeles and London, which made its debut at the Art Fair last year, made sales worth $600,000 (nearly ₹5.3 crore), a fair representative said. The gallery showed 12 artists including the late German fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld— whose monochromatic functional sculptures made in marble were first exhibited a year before he died— as well as pieces by Sebastian Brajkovic and French textile artist Simone Prouve. David Zwirner, another international gallery with outposts in London, Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles, sold works by Kerala-based painter Sosa Joseph and Zimbabwean painter Portia Zvavahera as well as Pakistani-American sculptor Huma Bhabha and Colombian artist Oscar Murillo, the latter two of whom made their debut at the fair. Senior Director of the London gallery James Green said the sales ranged from $12,000 ( ₹10.5 lakh) to $450,000 (nearly ₹4 crore).

Among the Indian galleries, Delhi-based Vadehra Gallery sold 90% of their booth on the first day, with prices ranging from $3000 ( ₹2.6 lakh) to $300,000 ( ₹2.6 crore), gallery director Roshini Vadehra said. The gallery showed works of major contemporary Indian artists including Sudhir Patwardhan, Atul Dodiya, Shilpa Gupta, and Vivan Sundaram. Another Delhi-based gallery Nature Morte sold 70% of their booth by the second day, including a work by Indian contemporary artist Jitish Kallat for around $100,000 (nearly ₹87.8 lakh), a representative of the fair said.

“We’ve concluded healthy sales of several works with individual prices ranging between ₹40 lakh to ₹1.5 crore each, and there is interest in other works that we hope to seal by the end of the fair, while sales at the uppermost levels are likely to be finalised in the coming weeks — which is typical of how art sales occur,” Ashish Anand, CEO and MD, DAG (formerly Delhi Art Gallery) said. Among the works sold are Laxman Pai’s canvas of spring painted in Paris, and Madhvi Parekh’s 1975 work, an oil on canvas board composition, while the gallery expected to close sales on works by 18th century Company painter Thomas Daniell, as well as modernists M. F. Husain and F. N. Souza.

Sales were also strong for mid-level Indian galleries. Delhi-based Art Exposure sold six works by Buddhadev Mukherjee for $44,000 ( ₹38.6 lakh) in total. Three of these were acquired by collector Kiran Nadar (founder of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art). Ashvita’s, a Chennai gallery, sold five works by the late Devi Prasad Roychowdhury — whose Gyarah Murti sculpture is central to the Capital city’s landscape — to a Mumbai-based collector for $69,000 ( ₹60.57 lakh).

Shrine Empire, another Delhi gallery, sold two works by Nandita Kumar for over $30,000 ( ₹26.3 lakh) each — both sound-based installations featuring copper etchings on plexiglass — as well as multiple smaller works at the $10,000 ( ₹8.8 lakh) price point, a fair representative said. “All the 13 artists we showcased at our booth sold works in the Art Fair,” gallery director Anahita Taneja said. Bengaluru-based Gallery Ske, which has an outpost in New Delhi and represents artists like Sudarshan Shetty and Avinash Veeraraghavan, among others, made sales in the range of ₹1.2 lakh to over ₹3.5 crore, said founder Sunitha Kumar Emmart. The gallery showed the work of the late Iranian artist Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian for the first time at the fair. One of Shetty’s first works shown at his first exhibition, Paper Moon, in Mumbai’s Framji Cowasji Hall, and in New Delhi’s Ravindra Bhavan in 1995, was sold at the fair marking an emotional milestone for the artist.

While the Art Fair does not release total sales figures, there were several works of steeper costs for sale. For instance, some of Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei’s works displayed at Galleria Continua, as well as Argentinian artist Julio Le Parc’s Sphère Orange, were selling at 300,000 euros ( ₹2.7 crore) and above.

“The fair has been particularly vibrant this year with ambitious presentations and rare offerings by our galleries, design studios and institutions. Especially this year, the fair has marked a real coming together of the international world in Delhi with major institutional heads, curators and artists visiting the fair and forging connections with their colleagues in India,” Fair director Jaya Asokan, said.