Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, climate change can be fought through policies, laws, rules and orders as well as behavioural change. Delivering the keynote address at CERAWeek 2021, Mr Modi stressed that behavioural change is the most powerful way to fight these challenges. He added that this spirit of behavioural change is a key part of Indian traditional habits which teach consumption with compassion. He expressed pride in farmers who are constantly using modern ways of irrigation. There is growing awareness on improving soil health and reducing use of pesticides. He pointed out that there is a growing demand of healthy and organic food and India can drive this change through spices, ayurveda products and more.
 
The Prime Minister added that India is working to increase its share of natural gas from 6 percent to 15 percent by 2030. LNG is being promoted as a fuel and a National Hydrogen Mission for use of hydrogen as a fuel has been launched. Mr Modi said as of 1st March this year, around 37 million LED bulbs are being used in India and this has saved cost and energy. Over 38 million tonnes carbon dioxide has been reduced per year. Over the last seven years, India’s forest cover has grown significantly. The population of lions, tigers, leopards and water fowls has grown. Mr Modi said these are great indicators of positive behavioural changes.
 
CERAWeek Founder Dr Daniel Yergin gave the CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award to Mr Modi. The Prime Minister dedicated the award to the people of India and the glorious tradition of the country that shows the way to care for environment. He said, the award recognises environmental leadership. He said, there is no doubt that when it comes to caring for the environment, the people of India are the leaders, and it has been the case for centuries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) will create a necessary ecosystem for various industries to boost their production and manufacturing of quality products. The Prime Minister was speaking today at a webinar of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and Niti Aayog on PLI Scheme. This scheme has been launched to make the country self reliant in various sectors by providing incentives to the industries to boost the production.

Mr Modi has stressed on the need to improve the quality of indigenously manufactured products to make them more competitive and acceptable across the world.
The Prime Minister added that the scheme will also enhance the export capabilities of the industries, generate employment and improve income.

Mr Modi said provisions of more than two lakh crore rupees have been made in the budget for the PLI scheme and it is expected that it will lead to production of products worth of 520 billion dollars in the coming five years.

Referring to declaration of year 2023 as the International Year of Millets, the Prime Minister appealed to the agriculture and food processing sectors to use this golden opportunity to enhance the production and processing of millets.

The only environmental issue to have caused as much debate and discussion as climate change was probably human population growth. But that is, in some ways, clearer to deal with. We can count how many we are, more or less, and can see a direct effect of more people wanting to use more resources from a fixed stock. Climate change and global warming have become very emotive issues where national and international politics, global economics and the fate of national economies are all bound up with scientific debate about the evidence and cause and effect. Added to this are the questions of whether millions or billions will suffer, whether there wit be losers and winners if climate shifts to a new equilibrium and whether the power bases of different nations will be affected; you can begin to see what a complex issue this is. There are facts that are not in debate: 

• There is a greenhouse effect 

• GHG emissions are increasing due to human activities and are probably increasing the greenhouse effect

 • There has been a recent pattern of increased average global temperature. 

There is not total agreement about the cause of the rise in temperature our over what we should be doing about it. The vast majority of scientists working in this field accept the correlation between increased GHG emissions and increased temperature, causing climate change and different weather patterns. But there is a minority who question the cause and effect. some citing the earth’s rotational wobble, sunspot activity or that increased temperature is causing increased GHG, not the other way round. And there are climate change deniers. But all agree that the feedback mechanisms are very complex in such complex system as the Earth and that our models, though much improved, may not exactly model the climate. 

Adding the question of what should be done — prevention or cure or no action and the inertia that individuals and nation states have in managing change, you can begin to see why there is so much to discuss and how actions lag behind what we think we know. Here, according to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) in their fifth assessment report in 2014:

 • Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, any of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. 

• Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased to levels unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years.

 • Continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further [global] warming and changes in all components of the climate system. Limiting climate change will require substantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. 

• Human influence on the climate system is dear. It is extremely likely (95-100% probability) that human influence was the dominant cause of global warming between 1951-2010.

This is why we must take immediate steps to address the dilemma and counter unscientific claims that try to make climate change appear as a distant problem. Our future generations will thank us for it.

Gender discrimination persists in every layer of our society. Whether it is workplace or home, gender bias has posed several challenges in women’s life. Moreover, it has become a barrier to career development for women in India.

The survey conducted by LinkedIn has released The Opportunity Index 2021 report. The survey focused on how women perceived opportunities and challenges in their career.

More than 10,000 women from all walks of life surveyed across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, and 2,285 respondents were covered in India. The report said, “85% of working women in India believe they missed out on a raise and promotion because of their gender.” When compared, this is higher than the Asia Pacific (APAC) region’s average of 60%.As per the findings, 1 in 5 women believes that favourable bias towards men exists in the workplace. But 66% of professionals think that gender equality has improved in India. 70% of working women and working mother think that familial responsibilities become a hurdle in their career development, and as many as 37% of women feel that they are given fewer opportunities and are paid less than men due to gender difference.

Meanwhile, 9 in 10 women stated that they were negatively impacted by COVID-19. “Women have been disproportionately impacted amid COVID-19, and the expectations to juggle home and work life have wreaked havoc in their lives,” the report added. The report further revealed the top three job opportunities sought by both genders are job security, a job that they love and a good work-life balance. Despite having similar goals, 63% of women feel that a person’s gender is important to get ahead in life.

Lack of professional guidance through networks is other barrier in the career development of working women. Robust maternity leaves, flexibility, reduced or part-time schedule and other new opportunities can help women to move further in their professional life.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will arrive in Tirupati on a two-day visit to Andhra Pradesh today. Mr Naidu will participate in an interactive session with the students and faculty of IIT Tirupathi and will inaugurate a Hospital.

The Vice President will offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara Swamy at Tirumala tomorrow.

In cricket, England were 45 for 3 against India on the opening day in the fourth and final Test match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, when reports last came in. From the very beginning, the game of dust bowl started as left-arm spinner Axar Patel scalped two wickets and put the visitors on back foot.  

Earlier, England won the toss and opted to bat first. India made one change, Siraj replaced Jasprit Bumrah. Skipper Virat Kohli’s team need a win or a draw to book a slot with New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship final.

An England win would put Australia into the decider at Lord’s in June. In that case, Australia will face its trans-Tasmanian neighbour New Zealand.

In Myanmar, it was the most violent day yesterday in the ongoing protest against the military government. United Nations Special Envoy Christine Schraner Burgener said in New York that since the coup happened in Myanmar on 1st of February, it was the bloodiest day as 38 people died in a single day.

She said, in conversation with the Myanmar Deputy Military Chief Soe Win, she warned him that the military was likely to face strong measures from some countries for the coup. In response, he told that they were used to sanctions and have survived.

In Yangon, at least eight people were killed. Seven of them were killed in the northern part of the city when security forces opened fire last evening.

In Mayowa in Central Myanmar, the local media reported that six people were killed in the firing. Other deaths happened in Mandalay, Northern town of Hpakant and the central town of Myingyan among others. While the ASEAN countries could not issue a unanimous statement calling for the restoration of democracy and return of the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, it called for restraint in Myanmar.

The US State Department spokesperson said that the US is appalled by the increase in violence. The European Union (EU) said that shooting unarmed civilians and medical workers was a breach of international law.

There are reports of continuing protests from several towns across Myanmar including Naypyitaw and Mandalay.

More than one crore 66 lakh 16 thousand doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to the beneficiaries in the country so far.

The Health and Family Welfare Ministry today informed that a total of nine lakh 94 thousand 452 doses of vaccines were administered in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the country’s COVID-19 recovery rate presently stands at 97.03 per cent with a total recovery of more than 14 thousand patients within 24 hours.

The Ministry said, more than one crore eight lakh 26 thousand patients have already been recovered from this disease so far and there are one lakh 73 thousand 413 active cases in the country which comprises 1.55 per cent of the total positive cases. A total of 17 thousand 407 new cases were reported in the country in the past 24 hours taking the cumulative number of positive cases to over one crore 11 lakh 56 thousand.

The Health Ministry said, 89 deaths were reported within 24 hours taking the toll to over one lakh 57 thousand across the country.

Various laboratories conducted more than seven lakh 75 thousand tests of Coronavirus samples in the last 24 hours taking the total number of tests to more than 21 crore 91 lakh.

A three-day Combined Commanders’ Conference will begin today at Kevadia in Gujarat. Theaterisation of armed forces, self-reliance in defence sector and evolving threats in the region will be the focus areas during the three-day annual event.  

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the top commanders of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force tomorrow.

During the conference, the setting up a new air defence command and maritime command is likely to be discussed at length. Implementation of the air defence command timeline is also likely to come up for discussion.

The formation of theatre commands will synergise the capabilities and combat potential of the three forces during war and peace.

Air defence command and maritime command are part of the restricting plan of the Indian armed forces as was announced by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat last year.

The newly created Department of Military Affairs is working towards the creation of joint military commands along with theatre command for the last one year.

India will commemorate Chabahar Day today on the margins of the Maritime India Summit-2021. The event will be held virtually. Ministers from Afghanistan, Armenia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan will participate in the event.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will address the Ministerial Level opening session. Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mansukh Mandaviya will deliver the keynote address.

The Ministerial level opening session will be followed by two webinar sessions on the Development of Port Infrastructure: Unleashing Opportunities and Boosting Business through Trade Promotion and Regional Connectivity.

Indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin has demonstrated interim clinical efficacy of 81 per cent in its phase three trial. The trial involved 25 thousand 800 participants across 21 sites.

The first interim analysis is based on 43 cases of which 36 cases of Covid-19 were observed in the placebo group versus 7 cases observed in the Covaxin group resulting in vaccine efficacy of 81 per cent.

The vaccine is developed by Bharat Biotech in partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr. Balram Bhargava said that the journey of completely indigenous COVID-19 vaccine in less than eight months’ time showcases the immense strength of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He said, it is also a testament to India’s emergence as a global vaccine superpower.

Dr. Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech said that Covaxin demonstrated high clinical efficacy against Covid-19 and significant immunogenicity against the rapidly emerging variants. 

Government has allowed round-the-clock COVID-19 vaccination in order to expedite the immunisation drive. In a tweet, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the government has lifted the time restriction to increase the speed of vaccination.

He said people can now get vaccinated 24 by 7 according to their convenience. Dr Harsh Vardhan said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi understands the value of health as well as the time of citizens.

Easing restrictions, all private hospitals were on Tuesday allowed to give the vaccines if they adhere to the laid down norms, while the 9 am to 5 pm timing was also done away with.

Meanwhile, President Ram Nath Kovind was administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at an army hospital in Delhi yesterday.

On Monday, Prime Minister Modi was administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS, New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed the need for the education system to overcome linguistic barriers so that talent from rural areas gets the opportunity to flourish. He said, the new National Education Policy will be implemented on a mission mode towards this purpose.

Addressing a webinar on effective implementation of the provisions in the Union Budget for the education sector, Mr Modi said academics and experts of every language should make available the best content in the country and the world in Indian languages.

He said, it is necessary to produce content in Indian languages for every area of expertise, be it medical, engineering, technology or management.

Asserting that there is no dearth of talent in the country, Mr Modi said those living in villages and the poor, who do not know any language other than their local language, have no shortage of talent. We should not let the talent of our villages, our poor die due to language difficulties, he said.

Prime Minister said, the second biggest focus after health in this year’s budget is on education, skill, research and innovation. Mr Modi pointed out that to build a self-reliant India, confidence of the youth is equally important.