Sansad TV: News & Current Affairs

(Sansad TV: News & Current Affairs)

Dec 25: PM Modi pays tributes to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary on 25 Dec,2021

– https://youtu.be/k6VK8OqYyD4 

TOPIC:

• GS-1: Modern Indian History and important personalities

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the first Prime Minister in the non-Congress era to complete his full term, is a visionary, one of India’s most celebrated statesman, an outstanding orator and a staunch Nationalist.

The tenure of this three-time Prime Minister of India took India towards the road for multi-dimensional development. From giving a major boost to the Infrastructure of India, to making India nuclear capable, improving India’s foreign relations, strengthening internal security of India to a serious attempt to solve the Kashmir problem- India has achieved a lot during his era.

• Prime Minister thrice: 1996, 1998-1999 and 1999-2004
• Awarded India’s highest civilian honor Bharat Ratna in 2015
• His birthday, December 25, is observed as the Good Governance Day 
• Awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1992

Poitical Reforms

• His reign lead to advent of Multi-party rule in India.
• A Coalition Government completing the complete tenure was new experiment in India’s democratic history.
• Schedule 10 related to Anti Defection law was strengthened.

Economic Reforms

• GDP growth remained high of about 6-7%.
• The speed of FDIs took off to great extent.
• The Fiscal Responsibility Act was introduced during his tenure, which aimed to reduce fiscal deficit.
• The public sector savings were boosted to a great extent.
• The involvement of Governments involvement in starting a private business was reduced in India.
• Separate entities were established for disinvestment.

Infrastructural Development

• He initiated Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
• Laid the foundation of “The Golden Quadrilateral” project.
• Sanction of “Delhi Metro Rail Corporation”.
• Introduced the New Telecom Policy, which later lead to Telecom Revolution in India.

Defense

• He effectively lead India through the Kargil War.
• Carried out Nuclear Tests in Pokhran, which lead to India being a responsible Nuclear power.
• India’s deterrence increased to a great extent.

Kashmir Issue

• He looked positively at the Kashmir issue.
• The Sensitivities with respect to Kashmir were increased.
• He gave the slogan of “Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamuriyat”.
• He was considered to be a Peace Maker, he even started Bus Service to Lahore.

Foreign Policy 

• He was known for his Pragmatism.
• He took India out from the Hesitations of History.
• He shifted India’s focus from Russia to United States of America.
• He strengthened India’s relations with Israel, by calling it India’s natural ally.

Cooperative Federalism

• He strengthened good relations with all the states.
• Being a Statesman, he had good relations with all the state governments.
• He taught Indians the way of looking above politics of the day and have a common Nationalistic agenda.
• He said that government were just part of the process of evolution and development of India.

Note: World’s longest Highway tunnel – Atal Tunnel

• Location: Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh
• Constructed by: Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
• The 9.02 Km long tunnel connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year.
• Earlier the valley was cut off for about 6 months each year owing to heavy snowfall.
• The tunnel reduces the road distance by 46 Kms between Manali and Leh and the time by about 4 to 5 hours.
• It will provide all weather connectivity to remote border areas of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
• It would also reduce the distance between Manali and Keylong by 3-4 hours.
• Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation of the approach road for this tunnel in 2002.