India's Economic Transformation: From Pledged Gold to $680 Billion Reserves, says VP Dhankhar

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar highlighted India's economic progress, noting foreign exchange reserves of USD 680 billion, compared to a financial crisis decades ago. Speaking at the Uttar Pradesh Sainik School's inauguration, he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for their roles in India's turnaround.

With foreign exchange reserves worth USD 680 billion, India has come a long way since it had to pledge its gold to tide over a financial crisis, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Saturday.

Dhankhar highlighted India's remarkable progress during the inauguration of Uttar Pradesh Sainik School in Gorakhpur. ''Today's India presents a completely different picture than 10 years ago,'' he said. ''There was a time when the country, referred to as 'sone ki chidiya,' had to pledge its gold in foreign banks. Our reserves then were between USD 1 billion and USD 2 billion. Today, they stand at USD 680 billion. Look at our progress,'' he added.

The vice-president praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for their crucial roles in this transformation. He also touched on Kashmir's improved situation, with two crore tourists visiting the region recently, a stark contrast to 1990. Additionally, Dhankhar emphasized nationalism, urging the nation to safeguard its integrity and promising that betrayal would not be tolerated. He concluded by expressing optimism about India's future, culminating in 2047.

(With inputs from agencies.)