Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the initial phase of the India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC), Yashobhoomi, in Delhi’s Dwarka region, on his 73rd birthday. As he unveiled Yashobhoomi, echoing chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ filled the convention centre. 

He inaugurated the extension of the Delhi Airport Metro Express line from Dwarka Sector 21 to a newly established metro station ‘Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25’ and on his way to the Convention Centre, the Prime Minister took the metro ride, engaging in conversations with fellow commuters. 

With the inauguration of this new metro station ‘Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25, Yashobhoomi will be connected to the Delhi Airport Metro Express line. Reaching the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, PM Modi interacted with the artisans and craftspeople.

PM Modi inaugurated the PM Vishwakarma scheme

After Yashobhoomi and the extension of the Delhi metro airport line, PM Modi unveiled his government’s ambitious initiative, “PM Vishwakarma”. This scheme aims to support artisans, craftsmen, and individuals engaged in traditional skills, particularly those from the Other Backward Classes.

With a considerable budget of Rs 13,000 crore, the scheme is also being seen as the ruling BJP’s outreach to this politically significant segment.

During his address at the event, Prime Minister Modi announced that the government would offer loans of up to Rs 3 lakh without requiring any bank guarantees under the PM Vishwakarma scheme.

All you need to know about Yashobhoomi

Yashobhoomi is going to be one of the world’s largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) facilities, spanning a project area exceeding 8.9 lakh square meters and possessing a total built-up area of more than 1.8 lakh square metres.

This expansive convention centre, covering over 73,000 square metres, comprises 15 convention rooms. Among these, you’ll find the main auditorium, a grand ballroom, and 13 meeting rooms, with a collective capacity to accommodate up to 11,000 delegates.

Here are the key details of this newly introduced convention centre-

• As per the Press Information Bureau, the Convention and Expo Centre amounts to approximately Rs. 5400 crore.

• The total project area of Yashobhoomi is over 8.9 lakh square metres, solidifying its position as one of the world’s largest MICE destinations.

• Boasting a spectacular Convention Centre, multiple Exhibition halls, and various other facilities, Yashobhoomi’s Convention Centre has a seating capacity for more than 11,000 delegates. 

• After the inauguration of the new metro station at Dwarka Sector 25 on the same day, Yashobhoomi will be connected to the Delhi Airport Metro Express line, the extension of which is also inaugurated by the PM.

• Delhi Metro will also elevate the operational speed of Metro trains on the Airport Express Line from 90 to 120 Km/hr, reducing the travel time. The complete journey from ‘New Delhi’ to ‘Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25’ will now approximately take 21 minutes.

• As per the official statements, the convention centre in Yashobhoomi possesses the largest LED media facade in the country.

• The convention centre has been carefully crafted with materials and elements inspired by the Indian culture, such as terrazzo floors featuring brass inlay that represent rangoli patterns, suspended sound-absorbent metal cylinders and lit-up pattern walls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the initial phase of the India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC), Yashobhoomi, in Delhi’s Dwarka region, on his 73rd birthday. As he unveiled Yashobhoomi, echoing chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ filled the convention centre. 

He inaugurated the extension of the Delhi Airport Metro Express line from Dwarka Sector 21 to a newly established metro station ‘Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25’ and on his way to the Convention Centre, the Prime Minister took the metro ride, engaging in conversations with fellow commuters. 

With the inauguration of this new metro station ‘Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25, Yashobhoomi will be connected to the Delhi Airport Metro Express line. Reaching the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, PM Modi interacted with the artisans and craftspeople.

PM Modi inaugurated the PM Vishwakarma scheme

After Yashobhoomi and the extension of the Delhi metro airport line, PM Modi unveiled his government’s ambitious initiative, “PM Vishwakarma”. This scheme aims to support artisans, craftsmen, and individuals engaged in traditional skills, particularly those from the Other Backward Classes.

With a considerable budget of Rs 13,000 crore, the scheme is also being seen as the ruling BJP’s outreach to this politically significant segment.

During his address at the event, Prime Minister Modi announced that the government would offer loans of up to Rs 3 lakh without requiring any bank guarantees under the PM Vishwakarma scheme.

All you need to know about Yashobhoomi

Yashobhoomi is going to be one of the world’s largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) facilities, spanning a project area exceeding 8.9 lakh square meters and possessing a total built-up area of more than 1.8 lakh square metres.

This expansive convention centre, covering over 73,000 square metres, comprises 15 convention rooms. Among these, you’ll find the main auditorium, a grand ballroom, and 13 meeting rooms, with a collective capacity to accommodate up to 11,000 delegates.

Here are the key details of this newly introduced convention centre-

• As per the Press Information Bureau, the Convention and Expo Centre amounts to approximately Rs. 5400 crore.

• The total project area of Yashobhoomi is over 8.9 lakh square metres, solidifying its position as one of the world’s largest MICE destinations.

• Boasting a spectacular Convention Centre, multiple Exhibition halls, and various other facilities, Yashobhoomi’s Convention Centre has a seating capacity for more than 11,000 delegates. 

• After the inauguration of the new metro station at Dwarka Sector 25 on the same day, Yashobhoomi will be connected to the Delhi Airport Metro Express line, the extension of which is also inaugurated by the PM.

• Delhi Metro will also elevate the operational speed of Metro trains on the Airport Express Line from 90 to 120 Km/hr, reducing the travel time. The complete journey from ‘New Delhi’ to ‘Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25’ will now approximately take 21 minutes.

• As per the official statements, the convention centre in Yashobhoomi possesses the largest LED media facade in the country.

• The convention centre has been carefully crafted with materials and elements inspired by the Indian culture, such as terrazzo floors featuring brass inlay that represent rangoli patterns, suspended sound-absorbent metal cylinders and lit-up pattern walls.

Due to what’s been called ‘operational reasons’, India has temporarily halted its visa services in Canada. This move comes in the middle of escalating tensions between the two nations, particularly concerning the recent killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

A private agency, BLS, responsible for the initial review of visa applications from Canadians, posted a notice on its website, stating that as will effect from September 21, 2023, Indian visa services will be suspended until further notice. They have also advised applicants to stay updated through the BLS website for any further updates.

The Argument over Khalistani Terrorism

The dispute surrounding Khalistani terrorism intensified following a discussion between the Indian and Canadian prime ministers during the recent G20 meeting in Delhi, earlier this month. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that his government is investigating “credible allegations” that the Indian government agents were linked to Nijjar’s fatal shooting on June 18 in Surrey, British Columbia outside a Sikh Cultural Center.

While Trudeau emphasized that Canada is not seeking to provoke India, he stressed the need for strong measures. As per Reuters, he emphasized, "The Indian government must approach this issue with the highest level of gravity. We are committed to addressing it without any intention of provocation or escalation."

The Tit-for-Tat Dynamic

India, however, has categorically denied any involvement in the incident, dismissing the allegations as baseless. The diplomatic rift continues to escalate further as both countries are taking measures reflecting a tit-for-tat dynamic in their diplomatic relations.

Additionally, India has cautioned its citizens to avoid traveling to specific areas in Canada following a diplomatic row sparked by the allegation that New Delhi was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist near Vancouver.

Will it affect the immigration process?

In the middle of this diplomatic discord, potential Canadian immigrants are worried that strained international relations may affect their immigration process. In response to such queries, immigration experts suggest that, ultimately, Canada may have no alternative but to welcome immigrants to help strengthen its economy. However, they anticipate some temporary restrictions may be implemented.

India firmly demolished the accusation and reciprocated by expelling a Canadian diplomat, contending that Canada shelters terrorists and supporters of Khalistan. India emphasized its longstanding apprehensions about Canada's lack of action against extremists.

In response, the Canadian government dismissed India's advisory on Wednesday, asserting that Canada remains a secure nation.

T.M. Roh, president and head of Samsung's mobile experience (MX) business, stated that the company will commence laptop manufacturing at its Noida facility this year. This decision highlights India's increasing importance as a manufacturing hub for the Korean giant, positioning the country as its second-largest manufacturing base.

Roh attributed Samsung's expansion in the country to the supportive policies of the Indian government. However, he acknowledged that the global demand slowdown in 2023 required some adjustments at its facilities. "Noida stands as Samsung's second-largest base," Roh remarked, suggesting that there might be modifications at the plant to align with global demand. Nonetheless, he emphasized that Noida remains a crucial base for the company.

In August last year, India implemented restrictions on the import of laptops, tablets, servers, and other related items. The objective was to decrease India's dependence on imported IT hardware, aligning with the production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes targeting consumer electronics such as personal computers, laptops, and tablets.

In May 2023, the government unveiled a revamped ₹17,000 crore PLI scheme for IT hardware to invite manufacturers of laptops, tablets, and other hardware to establish operations in India. This initiative followed an initial version with a lower allocation that did not gain traction. India currently imports laptops and tablets amounting to approximately $8 billion annually.

Referring to forecasts from global market research firms, Roh remarked that indicators were pointing towards a projected market growth of approximately 5% in 2024, which is anticipated to bring the market back to its 2022 levels. However, he emphasized the importance of introducing new features such as Galaxy AI, which involves AI integration in mobile phones, which is expected to generate new use cases among smartphone users and stimulate demand in 2024.

He further mentioned that worldwide, replacement cycles were extending, yet an increasing number of consumers were investing in high-end premium products. Samsung aims to capitalize on this market trend by prioritizing AI development for mobile phones.

Samsung has a track record of manufacturing feature phones, smartphones, wearables, and tablets in India. Roh affirmed that the company will persist in collaborating with the government to bolster manufacturing operations in the country.

The senior executive emphasized that the country will continue to play an important role in advancing Galaxy AI technology, serving as the primary hub for cutting-edge smartphone innovations. He highlighted the significant contributions of the R&D centers in Noida and Bangalore, particularly in software development to enhance AI for mobile devices, in validating AI interpretation, and in providing translation services.

"We aim to integrate Galaxy AI into approximately 100 million units within the year, enhancing user experiences and accessibility while promoting the adoption of AI technology. Similar to our approach with LTE, 5G technology, and foldable phones, we remain committed to swiftly popularizing new technologies," stated Roh.

The company unveiled its flagship Galaxy S24 series smartphone, featuring notable artificial intelligence functionalities. Although the utilization of Galaxy AI remains complimentary until the end of 2025, Roh indicated that the company has yet to decide whether to extend this offer beyond 2025 or initiate charges for it.

The flagship model represents one of the newest products manufactured locally and will be accessible for purchase in stores by the month's end. Roh mentioned that pre-orders for the flagship device in India were showing promising signs of interest.

Google has made several announcements, which included renaming Bard to Gemini and introducing a new standalone Gemini app for Android. Also, Gemini access was extended to iOS users in the Google app, alongside the launch of Gemini Advanced. For those unfamiliar with Gemini Advanced, it can be compared to ChatGPT Plus. Similar to the premium model of ChatGPT, Gemini Advanced will be offered on a subscription basis and is built on Google’s most sophisticated multimodal model, Gemini Ultra.

Before delving into the details of Gemini Advance, here’s a quick recap of recent developments. Google recently introduced Gemini, its AI multimodal, which is available in three sizes. Firstly, there’s Gemini Nano, designed primarily for on-device tasks. Then there’s Gemini Pro, which offers scalability across various tasks and is slightly more efficient than Nano and finally, there's Gemini Ultra, Google's largest and most capable version of Gemini, as per the company as capable of handling "highly complex tasks." So far, users have had access to Gemini Nano and Gemini Pro through Bard. 

However, the company aimed to simplify the process. Therefore, to "mirror the advanced technology at its core," the company revealed on February 8th that Bard will now be referred to as Gemini. This tool is available online in 40 languages and will soon be accessible through a new Gemini app for Android devices and the Google app on iOS.

What about Gemini Ultra?

Gemini Ultra has been rebranded as Gemini Advanced. According to Google, the Advanced version is proficient in reasoning, following instructions, coding, and creative collaboration.

What is the price of Gemini Advance in India?

Gemini Advanced is available through a subscription to Google One AI Premium, priced starting at Rs 1,950 per month for users in India. This subscription not only provides access to Gemini Advanced but also includes 2TB of storage and access to Gemini across various platforms such as Gmail, Docs, Slides, Sheets, and other platforms previously known as Duet AI.

How to use Gemini Advance

Gemini Advanced is accessible to users through a subscription to the Google One AI Premium plan. This new plan enhances the existing Google One service, which provides increased storage and exclusive product features. In India, the AI Premium plan starts at Rs 130 per month.

Gemini Advance offers users access to features such as "Help me write," powered by Duet AI, now renamed Gemini for Workspace. This implies that subscribers of Gemini Advance can utilize the capabilities of Gemini Ultra within workspace applications like Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet.