Know about India’s journey over the past one year

As India celebrates its Independence Day, here are the remarks of Indian ambassador in Cairo on this occasion:

India’s journey over the past one year:

• India’s economy crossed the US$4 trillion mark in May 2025 to become the world’s fourth largest economy and is poised to become the 3rd largest by next year.

• India houses the third largest startup ecosystem in the world with 200,000 startups and 120 unicorns.

• India’s Unified Payment Interface powers 18 billion digital transactions every month and has become the world’s largest and fastest real-time payment system.

• Infrastructure and connectivity rapidly expanded whether it is the world’s tallest Chenab Railway Bridge in Kashmir to India’s first vertical lift rail sea bridge in Tamil Nadu.

• India’s achievements in space sector continue with Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the first Indian astronaut to lead the Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station.

• IndiaAI Mission was launched with a budget ofUS$1.25 billion to set up Centres of Excellence of AI across sectors. Fittingly, India will be hosting the next Global AI Summit in February 2026.

• Indian sportspersons made the country proud across various fields. India won gold in the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024 in both Men and Women, World Chess Championship 2024 and has also won multiple Junior Chess Championships.

• India’s renewable energy capacity crossed 240GW with 100GW of solar PV module manufacturing capacity. India achieved its commitment of 50% target for installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, 5 years ahead of schedule.

Kashmir

• Kashmir is on a path of steady progress. Free and fair elections were held in Jammu & Kashmir in 2024 with a voter turn out of over 60%. State GDP of Kashmir is growing at 10% annually, higher than the rest of India.

• The budgetary allocation has been increasing. From $4.3 billion in 2023, went up to $5 billion in 2024 while this year the initial allocation is also close to US$5 billion.

• Kashmir is termed Switzerland of the East. Domestic tourist visits to Kashmir rose from 2.5 million in 2020 to 23.5 million in 2024. International arrivals also rose by multiple times.

• Infrastructure and connectivity have been been rapidly expanding in Kashmir. The Katra-Reasi tunnel ensures all-round rail access to the Kashmir valley which was otherwise not connected by rail during harsh winters. The Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express reduced the travel time by 50%. The Anantnag goods shed was opened in August 2025 enabling regular freight transport to the valley.

• The world’s highest single-arch bridge connecting Kashmir valley with rest of India by train was inaugurated in January 2025. Built over the Chenab river, it is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel tower.

• The dastardly terror attack on innocent tourists in Kashmir on 22nd April 2025 brought back painful reality of cross-border terrorism and a direct attack on peace, progress and prosperity of Kashmir. Egypt stood shoulder to shoulder with India in this difficult time.

• Egypt’s strong support to India after the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor targeting the terrorist infrastructure was evident in Egypt’s strong condemnation of the attack, President Sisi’s phone call to Prime Minister conveying Egypt’s solidarity with India.

India-Egypt engagement

• High-level political engagement continued with President Sisi and Prime Minister Modi interacting twice in 2024 at the sidelines of BRICS and G20 Summits.

• Numerous Ministerial interactions including 3 Ministerial visits from Egypt to India in 2025 with a high-level Parliamentary delegation from India to Egypt in June 2025.

• The multi-party high-level Parliamentary delegation from India was exceptionally well-received in Egypt with very high-level engagements in the Government of Egypt, the Parliament, media and civil society.

• Indian business interests in Egypt are rapidly expanding with investments crossing US$4 billion generating 40,000 local jobs.

• Egypt’s commitment to closer and stronger ties with India is evident and is echoed in all high-level engagements with the Government of Egypt.

• With growing engagement in newer areas such as digital technologies, innovation, startups, renewable energy, India-Egypt ties are poised to become a forward and future-looking partnership.

Cooperation on global and regional front

• As two key countries of Global South, India and Egypt collaborate closely on global and regional issues. India welcomed Egypt’s membership of BRICS and greatly values Egypt’s role in BRICS.

• India also deeply appreciates Egypt’s leadership role in the regional issues especially the Gaza conflict and Palestine issue.

• India believes that the end to this conflict is only through dialogue and diplomacy. India has been steadfast in its support for the people of Palestine. India recognized the State of Palestine, as early as 1988. India has always advocated for a two-state solution towards establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine, living side by side, in peace with Israel.

• India has also actively supported the humanitarian efforts to assist Palestine for decades. India’s development assistance to Palestine through various initiatives and projects now crosses US$160 million. India has sent 70 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza and has so far contributed US$ 50 million to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency).