NEW DELHI, June 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted several milestones achieved by the country to become self-reliant as he cited the maiden flight of the made-in-India C-295 aircraft and the successful test of the indigenous Long-Range Land-Attack Cruise Missile.

In his monthly radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat', Modi noted that in June itself, the country has achieved a major success in the aviation sector.

Noting that the C-295 aircraft has been made in India, he said, "As many as 40 such aircraft are being built right here in India and this is giving new strength to MSMEs and the aerospace sector".

It will also increase employment opportunities, he noted.

The first made-in-India C-295 military transport aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight on June 10.

The IAF is procuring 56 C-295 transport aircraft at a cost of around Rs 21,935 crore.

Forty of these aircraft will be assembled by Tata Advanced Systems Limited in cooperation with Airbus at a production facility in Vadodara.

Modi said in June too, the country achieved some other milestones that fill every citizen with pride.

"Recently, I got the opportunity to participate in a Navy-related programme in Kolkata. There, INS Dunagiri, INS Shanshak and INS Agrya were inducted into the Indian Navy's fleet. From the design to manufacturing of these ships, everything is indigenous," he said.

The prime minister said in June, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) also successfully tested an indigenous Long-Range Land-Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM).

"In other words, from the seas to the skies, our India is becoming increasingly secure and self-reliant," he said.

The DRDO on June 15 conducted successful flight-test of the LRLACM off the coast of Odisha.

The LRLACM is an indigenously built missile with all sub-systems developed by various DRDO laboratories and industry partners.

During the broadcast, Modi thanked citizens for heeding to his appeal to avoid buying gold for some time, holidaying abroad and opting for car pool in view of the West Asia situation.

"I am grateful to every citizen of the country; not only have they supported my appeal, they are also actively cooperating in every way," he said.

The Prime Minister said he had also requested farmers to adopt chemical-free farming, protect their farmlands, and maximise the use of natural fertilisers.

Referring to an initiative to prepare the youth for new technology while keeping them rooted in their heritage, he said the Central Sanskrit University in Delhi is launching a B.Tech program in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.

"This marks a crucial step towards integrating modern technology with India's traditional knowledge," he said.

Modi said Indian culture is reaching various corners of the globe, noting that in the Dominican Republic, where the Indian population is just around 100, a team has been formed by some Spanish-speaking locals who have named it as 'Brahmakamal Dominicana.'

"The members study Vedic literature together and are learning to chant Vedic mantras. They have received no formal training on this; but they have learnt the correct pronunciation by listening to audio recordings," he said.

Referring to the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in September, he said many people have written to him suggesting that he should speak on a topic related to Ganesh Utsav, even through the festival is still quite some time away.

He said the work of crafting Ganesh idols begins well in advance and idol makers and those involved in the idol trade become active right now.

"Therefore, I urge all of you... please make an effort to ensure that the idol of Ganpati Bappa installed in your home, society, or neighbourhood is made from the soil of our own country and crafted by the hands of our own potters and local artisans.

"I also urge those who make Ganesh idols to prioritise clay idols, and I ask buyers to check what the idol is made of and which country it was produced in," he said. (PTI)