Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that people misunderstand the meaning of, “minimum government, maximum governance”. He said that the efforts must be to increase the speed of work done by government departments and thus, he had made different ministries for skill, cooperatives, and fisheries.

Speaking in a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, which was released on Friday, PM Modi said that the government took away 40,000 compliances to increase the speed of work in different departments.

“We often misunderstand the concept of minimum government, maximum governance. Some believe that minimum government means fewer ministers and fewer employees. However, this is not my understanding. I made different ministries for skill, cooperatives, and fisheries. When I say minimum government…my point is that we took away 40,000 compliances to increase the speed of work. Otherwise, the different departments will demand the same things. If one department has it, use it for all,” PM Modi said.

An enjoyable conversation with @nikhilkamathcio, covering various subjects. Do watch… https://t.co/5Q2RltbnRW

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 10, 2025

“I have abolished 1,500 old laws. I have changed laws that criminalised certain things. This is my vision of minimum government and maximum governance. I am witnessing it all happen,” he added.

Speaking on India’s technological standing across the world, PM Modi said that India has managed to democratise technology and taught the world how it is done.

“In just thirty seconds, I can transfer money into the accounts of 100 million farmers. I can do the same for cylinder subsidy for 13 crore people in 30 seconds…India has taught the world how to democratise technology. All you need is a mobile. This is a tech-driven century. We have made an innovation commission and innovation fund,” PM Modi said.

Speaking on how India’s perception has changed around the world, PM Modi recalled saying that the day would come when the world would stand in line for an Indian Visa.

“As the head of the state, America had refused me a visa. I held a press conference that day where I had said, “One day the world would stand in line for an Indian visa”. I gave this statement in 2005. Now, it is 2025. I can see that this is now is the time for India… I used to say publicly that you (NRIs) will regret if you don’t come back to India, the world is changing,” PM Modi said.

“I recently visited Kuwait. I went to a labour colony…one labourer asked me when will there be an international airport in my district (in India) …it is this aspiration that will make India Vikist in 2047,” he added.

Emphasising his stand on the issue of war and the recent conflicts around the world, PM Modi said that his stand is not being “neutral” but he was in favour of peace. He said that the advice he has given to countries that are in conflict currently has enhanced the country’s credibility.

“During the Ukraine crisis, we were not neutral. We are in favour of peace. I said that to Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Palestine and Israel. They trust us. This is the reason that India’s credibility has increased…the world has faith in what we say. During corona, our young people were at the centre of the pandemic. I request the Air Force to help with the evacuation. All of them agreed and brought our youth and even our neighbours. If my fellow countryman is in trouble–who will take care of him…if you help out your countrymen anywhere in the world, it also inspires them to do something good,” PM Modi said.

A video of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s brother Tirupati Reddy arriving for a school function in a convoy led by a police car and being welcomed with a marching band and a parade has gone viral, igniting controversy and attracting barbs from opposition parties BRS and BJP. Tirupati Reddy holds no official position in the state.

The video, from the state’s Vikarabad district, shows the convoy pulling up near the school and Mr Reddy being handed a bouquet of flowers as he exits a black SUV. Students are lined up on either side of the road and a band marches towards the chief minister’s brother. Mr Reddy is then welcomed by one of the students leading a mini parade.

Taking to X on Friday, BRS working president KT Rama Rao took a veiled dig at Revanth Reddy and his brothers and said Telangana has got half a dozen chief ministers after the Congress came to power, even though it elected only one.

Continuing in a sarcastic vein, Mr Rao said, “My wishes to Vikarabad chief minister Tirupati Reddy.”

Tamil Nadu BJP Spokesperson NV Subhash said Tirupati Reddy enjoys privileges like a police convoy even though he is not an MP, MLA or even a corporator. The Vikarabad District Collector, Mr Subhash alleged was acting like Mr Reddy’s “personal bodyguard” during the school event.

Congress Spokesperson Sama Rammohan Reddy told news agency PTI that it is for a school’s management to decide who it wants to invite for its events and how it wants to welcome the person.

He also alleged that family members of the then Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao violated rules and protocols several times during the party’s nearly decade-long rule in the state.

A tenant’s high electricity bills led to the discovery of a woman’s decomposed body in Madhya Pradesh. The body, found in a refrigerator, belonged to Patidar’s live-in partner, who was murdered six months ago. The tenant had unlocked an unused room, revealing the running refrigerator. Patidar confessed to the crime, committed over a marriage dispute.