Month: November 2023

Children receive all missed/due doses of Measles Containing Vaccine

 There have been some media reports alleging that an estimated 11 lakhs children in India missed their 1st measles vaccine dose in 2022, according to a report published by the World Health Organization and US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

These reports are not based on facts and do not reflect the true picture. These reports are based on the estimated number reported under WHO UNICEF Estimates National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) 2022 report which covers the time-period from 1st of January 2022 to 31st of December 2022. 

However, as per the HMIS of Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, a total of 2,63,63,270 children out of the eligible 2,63,84,580 children received their 1st dose of Measles Containing Vaccine (MCV) in the FY 2022-23 (April 2022 to March 2023) and only 21,310 children missed their 1st dose of Measles Containing Vaccine (MCV) in 2022-23. 

Besides this, several initiatives have been undertaken by the Government of India in coordination with the States to ensure that all children, either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated receive all missed/due doses of Measles Containing Vaccine (MCV):

  • The catch-up vaccination age for the administration of Measles Containing Vaccine (MCV) has been increased from 2 years to 5 years in the periodic immunization intensification activities. 
  • Intensified Mission Indradhanush, (IMI) 3.0 and 4.0 were carried out in 2021 and 2022 to vaccinate all unvaccinated/partially vaccinated children with missed/due doses of vaccines. Besides this, IMI 5.0 was carried out in 2023 with a special focus to increase the coverage of MR vaccine in children up to the age of 5 years. 
  • MR campaign was carried out in Delhi and West Bengal wherein all children in the age group of 9 months to 15 years (9months to 5 years in Delhi) were vaccinated with campaign dose of MR vaccine. The coverage of both the States reached >95%.
  • Several States have carried out Supplementary Immunization activities and outbreak response immunization wherein a total of 30 million children have been vaccinated with an additional dose of MR vaccine.
  • A Special Advisory on Outbreak Response Immunization was shared in November 2022 which clearly stated that One dose of MRCV has to be administered to all children aged 6 months to < 9 months in areas where the measles cases in < 9 months are above 10% of the total measles cases to not miss any child.
  • The Non measles Non rubella (NMNR) discard rate is >5.8%, the highest achieved so far for the country for the current financial year, indicating a robust surveillance mechanism in place. 

India’s unstinted commitment to ensure that every single child of the country is vaccinated with vaccines under Universal Immunization Programme has been recognized globally. India’s exemplary leadership and inspiration in the Regional Measles and Rubella Programme has been highly appreciated and recognized by the Measles and Rubella Partnership comprising of multiagency planning committee including the American Red Cross, BMGF, GAVI, US CDC, UNICEF and WHO. The Measles and Rubella Partnership Champion Award is scheduled to be conferred on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in March 2024, at Washington DC.

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Global Fisheries Conference India 2023

 Union Fisheries Minister Shri. ParshottamRupala will inaugurate the Global Fisheries Conference India 2023 in Ahmedabadon Tuesday. Many dignitaries including Chief Minister of Gujarat  Shri. Bhupendrabhai Patel, Ministers of State Dr L Murugan and Dr Sanjeev K Balyan, State Fisheries Ministers, Union Fisheries Secretary will also be present there.

Ahmedabad is set to host the Global Fisheries Conference India 2023, a two-day mega event bringing together a diverse array of dignitaries and stakeholders including state fisheries ministers, ambassadors of different nations, global fisheries scientists, policy makers, fisheries communities and investment bankers on November 21 and 22 on the occasion of World Fisheries Day.  The conference is organised by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India. It will serve as a platform to forge partnerships with national and international stakeholders and chalk out a roadmap for sustainable growth of India’s fisheries sector. Under the theme ‘Celebrating Fisheries and Aquaculture Wealth’, the conference aims to bring together key stakeholders on one platform for fruitful discussions, market insights and networking.

International Collaboration

The Central Government intends to capitalise on this global event as a strategic platform to harness international collaboration aiming to boost export, enhance the socio-economic well-being of fishers and aquafarmers, and promote start-up and entrepreneurial initiatives across the value chain in the sector.  

International Round Table led by Union Minister

Major highlights of the conferenceincludeInternational Round Table Meet led by Union Fisheries Minister Shri. ParshottamRupala. This high-level dialogue, attended by ambassadors of different nations and representatives of various international agencies, will focus on international collaborative efforts to sustain the sector amid a range of critical challenges, including climate crisis. 

High-level delegations from more than10 countries have confirmed their participation and will attend the Conferencephysically. France will be represented by Ms. Monique Tran representing Counsellor for Agricultural Affairs, Cristian Rodrigo Valdes Carter and Ms. Arti Bhatia Kumar will represent Norway; Dr Richard Niall, First Secretary (Agriculture) from Australian High Commission; Muratov Sergey,  AdiatulinIlias and Shagushina Anna from Russia; Wagner Antunes, Head of the Trade Promotion Department of the Embassy of Brazil; Mr.DimitriosIoannou, Minister and Ambassador, Greece; Borja Velasco Tuduri, Counsellor, Spain; Melanie Phillips, Counsellor (Agriculture), New Zealand; and Peter Hobwani, Deputy Ambassador, Zimbabwe have already confirmed their participation. In addition, more than 50 other foreign diplomats are anticipated to join the meet virtually.

Similarly, around 10 renowned international organizations will also attend the global meet. Mr. Changnam Jung, Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist of Asian Development Bank (ADB); Takayuki Hagiwara, India Head of Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO); Pratap Sinha, Sandeep Nayak, Rajadyuti Mahapatra and Dharmendra Bhoi from GiZ; Dr P Krishnan, Director of the Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Programme (BOBP-IGO) and Ranjit Suseelan, India Consultant of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) will attend the conference.

The Conference will also be attended byMr. Changnam Jung, Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist of Asian Development Bank (ADB); Takayuki Hagiwara, India Head of Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO); Pratap Sinha, Sandeep Nayak, Rajadyuti Mahapatra and Dharmendra Bhoi from GiZ; Dr P Krishnan, Director, Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Programme (BOBP-IGO) and Ranjit Suseelan, India Consultant of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) will attend the conference.

Unique Opportunity for Stakeholders

The conference covers over 210 national and international exhibitors, including start-ups, exporters, fisheries associations, and processing industries. It will showcase their products, success stories, and innovative solutions. This will offer a unique opportunity to the enterprises, startups, associations, co-operatives, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and small-medium fisheries enterprises to come together on one platform and showcase their range of products and services in the fisheries. 

The event will encompass a range of engaging sessions, including Matsya Manthan, featuring technical discussions with national and international experts; industry connect for interactions between industry stakeholders and policy makers; Government to Government (G2G), Business to Government (B2G) and Business to Business (B2B) Bilateral meets; exhibition showcasing cutting-edge fisheries and aquaculture technologies. A special pavilion will be set up to exclusively demonstrate 10 transformative initiatives in the fisheries sector.

Industry Connect & Business pitches

During the Global Fisheries Conference India 2023, Industry connect will be organised to engage the industry stakeholders with others including policy makers for deliberations upon issues such as start-up ecosystem, co-operation & collaboration in the fisheries sector, technology and knowledge transfer, R&D, capacity building, extension, best practices, involvement of women in fisheries value chain, safety standards, market linkages, and business opportunities etc. This session will feature prominent representatives from organizations like the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and other prominent fisheries industry associations.

The event is anticipated to attract a total of 5,000 visitors, including fishers, fish farmers, fish vendors, representatives of fisheries cooperatives, local communities, foreign delegates and investors, and fisheries start-ups. International leaders, technology investors, research and development institutions, equipment manufacturers, export councils, fisheries’ associations, financial institutions, international fishing industry organizations, and aquaculture pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals will also participate in the two-day mega event.

 

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India’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) Ranking

 A meeting on Measures Taken and Action Plan for improving India’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) ranking was held under the chairpersonship of Special Secretary (Logistics), DPIIT, MoCI on Friday with the nodal officers of the LPI dedicated cell formed in eleven Stakeholder Ministries/Departments. 


The dedicated cell meets every fortnight to assess the measures taken and outcomes achieved in improving performance across six parameters of LPI including (i) Customs., (ii) Infrastructure (iii) Ease of arranging shipments (iv) Quality of logistics services (v) Tracking and Tracing and (vi) Timeliness. 

SmtSumitaDawra, Special Secretary (Logistics) DPIIT, during her opening remarks, highlighted that the targeted action plan is important to improve the logistics efficiency of the country and thereby India’s ranking in the World Bank LPI. She added that the measures taken by the stakeholder Ministries/ Departments will be showcased to the World Bank LPI team. 

During the meeting, Ministries/ Departments presented the action plan, and best practices were showcased. 

Mr. VivekVerma, Secretary, of the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), highlighted thatLPAI has implemented a Land Port Management System (LPMS) to digitiseoperations and facilitate a secure electronic flow of information between all stakeholders at the Integrated check posts (ICPs). The system is reducing the dwell time of cross-border movements (trade and passenger), enhancing the efficiency of customs and border management clearance, and improving the timely delivery of shipments.  He added that LPAI has been successful in reducing the dwell time from 57 days to less than 24 hours. 

Mr. Manoj Gangeya, ED (Planning), Ministry of Railways, stated about various initiatives that MoR is planning across six parameters of LPI. This includes 100% electrification of railway tracks, increasing CAPEX to INR 2.6 lakh crore in FY24 to improve the speed and volume of freight transport in the country, and the implementation of Eastern and Western dedicated freight corridors is likely to increase the average speed of freight trains, thereby by reducing transit time and inventory cost to customers. Additionally, the development of rail containerisationat ports and freight terminals is expected to increase the rail container loading from 80 million MT recorded last year to 3 times by FY31.  MoR is also checking the feasibility of railway siding at Land Ports to promote multi-modal connectivity. 

Mr. Ajay Kumar, CEO, AAICLAS highlighted the airport capacity building which is being undertaken at Kolkata with a target to construct an upgraded/new facility by December 2025. An air cargo village in an area of 37 acres approx. in Delhi (Jewar airport) is also being planned with an investment of 1200Cr which is likely to be commissioned by Dec 2024.

Mr. Rituraj Mishra, Deputy Secretary (Ports) presented the various initiatives that have been planned to improve logistics efficiency. Some of them include the automation of weighbridges, improving scanning facilities at the ports, increasing DPD/ DPE share to 80% by rail, and streamlining and simplifying processes by creating Standard Operating Procedures (SoPS) across all the ports. 

Mr. R. Ananth, Director, CBIC highlighted that a Custom Revenue Control Laboratories (CRCL) will be launched in Guwahati by December 23 which will assist in field formations in chemical analysis of samples of various trade commodities.

In her closing remarks, the Special Secretary added that these initiatives with a targeted intervention will improve logistics efficiency in the country. Further, the good practices by Ministries will help in impressing the idea of objective-based assessment in LPI calculation to the World Bank. In this regards, she suggested: 

  • Ministries/Departments including CBIC, MoCA, MoRTH, MoR, and MoPSW to share the initiatives, best practices, and interventions planned to address the gap/ issues pertaining to Ministries in the form of an action plan with a timeline in coordination with User Ministries (Coal, Steel, DGFT) and NICDC

  • A systematic approach needs to be followed to communicate the initiatives and good practices of Ministries/ Departments to the stakeholders which will improve the perception of the logistics sector in India 

The eleven Stakeholder Ministries/Departmentsincludes Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), M/o Civil Aviation, M/o Railways, M/o Port Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), M/o Coal, M/o Civil Aviation (MOCA), CBIC, M/o Steel, and, D/o Commerce, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and, National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (NICDC). 

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WHO and the Ministry of Ayush signed the Traditional and Complementary Medicine 'Project Collaboration Agreement'

 The Ministry of Ayush and World Health Organization (WHO) have signed Traditional and Complementary Medicine ‘Project Collaboration Agreement’ late last night in Geneva. The main objective of this agreement is to standardize Traditional and Complementary Medical Systems, integrate their quality and safety aspects into the National Health System, and disseminate them at the international level. Through this cooperation agreement, efforts will be made to connect Traditional and Complementary Medical Systems with the mainstream of the National Health System. To fulfil this objective, Traditional Medicine Global Strategy 2025-34 will be prepared by WHO with the support of the Ministry of Ayush.

Other major objectives of the agreement include efforts to strengthen the system of training and practice in the field of Complementary Medicine System ‘Siddha’, formulation of guidelines for the listing of Traditional and Complementary Medicines, safety and related efforts, etc. An International Herbal Pharmacopoeia of herbs found in South-East Asia will be developed by the Ministry in collaboration with WHO. Efforts will be made under this agreement to integrate evidence-based Traditional and Complementary Medicines with the National Health System, conservation and management of biodiversity and medicinal plants, etc.

Congratulating everyone on this occasion, Union Ayush Minister Shri Sarbananda Sononwal said that India has been the center of culture of many traditional and alternative medical systems since ancient times. Such global efforts by the Ministry to strengthen the National Health System will definitely give India a global identity in the field of healthcare services and promote medical tourism in India. This effort of the Ministry is one more step taken towards the global success of India.

Ayush Secretary, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, said, in his virtual message during the signing in event that the first phase of this agreement, 2023-28, will prove to be a milestone in the global development of Traditional and Complementary Medical System. According to Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director General, Universal Health Coverage and Life Course Division, WHO, this collaboration agreement will bring Traditional and Complementary Medicine Systems into the mainstream of India’s National Health System and serve the objective of global healthcare and well-being. India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Indra Mani Pandey, who signed the agreement on the behalf of Indian government, said, “India is committed to working with WHO to strengthen Traditional Medicine Systems globally and especially in supporting fellow developing countries in promoting their own traditional medicine systems.”

A total of two ‘Project Collaboration Agreements’ have already been signed by the Ministry of Ayush with WHO. The first contract was signed in 2016 to take Traditional Medical systems like Yoga, Ayurveda, Unani, and Panchakarma to the global level and the second contract was signed in 2017 to strengthen the system of Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha medical systems.

This agreement was signed at an event organized in Geneva city, Switzerland. Shri Indra Mani Pandey, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, on behalf of the Ministry of Ayush, and Dr. Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director General, Universal Health Coverage and Life Course Division, on behalf of WHO. 

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Eduindex News

 Eduindex News covers diverse subjects such as:


  1. Academic Research: Updates on recent research findings, scholarly publications, and academic conferences across different disciplines.

  2. Educational Policy: Discussions and analysis of educational policies, reforms, and developments at local, national, and international levels.

  3. Higher Education: Information on universities, colleges, courses, admissions, and trends in higher education globally.

  4. Student Resources: Tips, guides, and resources for students, including study techniques, career advice, and opportunities for internships or scholarships.

  5. Teaching and Learning: Insights into innovative teaching methods, classroom strategies, and educational technologies that enhance the learning experience.

  6. Educational Events: Coverage of seminars, workshops, webinars, and educational events happening around the world.

Eduindex News aims to cater to educators, researchers, students, and anyone interested in the field of education. It serves as a platform for sharing knowledge, fostering discussions, and keeping the audience informed about the latest developments and trends in education and academia.

two-day International Conference-cum-Exhibition on ‘Aerospace & Aviation in 2047’ in New Delhi

 The Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) is organising an International Conference-cum-Exhibition on ‘Aerospace & Aviation in 2047’ at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi on November 18 & 19, 2023. President Smt Droupadi Murmu, the Chief Guest of the event, will inaugurate the Conference-cum-Exhibition. The Guests of Honour will include Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and MoS, Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh; Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Road Transport & Highways General (Dr) VK Singh (Retd) and Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt.

This conference-cum-exhibition is being organised to commemorate 75 years of excellence of the AeSI. The inaugural session of the event will include the release of Compendium on 75 years of aerospace & aviation journey in India as well as Vision Document 2047. The event will focus on India’s journey in the field over the last 75 years, showcasing the achievements, technological advancements and the role of great visionaries.

The event will be attended by 1,500 delegates including dignitaries, international experts, scientists, industrialists, academia, start-ups and students. About 200 industries and MSMEs, including more than 75 start-ups, will showcase indigenous capabilities at the exhibition. Many heads of organisations/departments will deliver visionary talks during the conference.

The conference will consist of technical sessions with speakers from Safran, Rolls Royes, Lockheed Martin, MIT USA, Cranefield UK along with prominent Scientist/Technologist/Service officers from the Indian side. The event will also feature a start-up challenge that spans the length and breadth of the country. The finalists will present their innovative ideas and products, along with their vision for India’s aerospace growth by 2047. Many other events are also planned to engage with the youth.

The AeSI was established in 1948 with the Prime Minister as Patron-in-chief to promote aerospace and aviation in the country. The objective of the society is to promote the advancement and nationwide diffusion of the knowledge of aeronautical sciences and aircraft engineering among various streams including industry, academia and research laboratories.

The AeSI has provided significant leadership in the domain of aerospace and aviation with outstanding luminaries as its members and Presidents that include Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Dr Satish Dhawan, Dr VS Arunachalam, Dr VK Saraswat etc. It has been a catalyst for the growth of India’s aerospace industry and fostered collaborations between the government, private sector and academia to nurture a robust aerospace ecosystem.

The society is represented by distinguished aerospace professionals from research organisations, aerospace industries and academia. Former Secretary, Department of Defence R&D & Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy is its present President and Chairman, ISRO Shri S Somanath is the President-Elect.

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Making Human Resources Future Ready

 Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, chaired the Education Ministers’ Session at 2nd Voice of Global South Summit held today in New Delhi. The summit, operating under the theme ‘Together for everyone’s growth, with everyone’s trust,’ addressed critical issues, particularly in the field of education. The Education Ministers deliberated on the theme of ‘Making human resources future-ready’.

Ministers/ Dignitaries of 14 countries from the Global South – Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Georgia, Tunisia, Iran, Lao PDR, Malawi, Myanmar, Republic of Palau, Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Albania, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon – participated virtually in the session and shared their insights.

 Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, in his opening remarks, welcomed the participating Ministers and reaffirmed India’s commitment to champion the voice of the Global South under leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Highlighted India’s pivotal role in leading discussions on these issues at the G20 Education Minister’s Meeting, Shri Pradhan emphasised on the significance of collaborative efforts in developing a resilient, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable education and skilling ecosystem. The G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration acknowledged the importance of investing in human capital development.

Shri Pradhan informed the participating Ministers on how India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, being implemented under the leadership of the PM Shri Narendra Modi, is bringing holistic transformation to India’s learning and skilling landscape. He also remarked that NEP as a philosophical document can act as a template for emerging economies towards developing comprehensive strategies and agile policies. Stressing on the importance of shared aspirations, Shri Pradhan, called for common strategies, leveraging the twin pillars of education and skill development.

Other Ministers in their address, shared success stories, challenges faced and strategies to address them. They unequivocally commended India’s effort to strengthen cooperation in the fields of education and skilling among the countries of the Global South.

The Education Ministers from the participating countries agreed on the need to work together for an accessible, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable future through quality education. Underlining the importance of investing in human capital development and to address the global skill divide, the Ministers agreed on the need to provide skilling, reskilling and upskilling opportunities to create a future-ready workforce aligned to the demands of the industry.

The Education Ministers also reiterated shared commitment to overcome the digital divide for all learners by addressing the barriers to technological infrastructure and work collectively to develop technology ecosystems and learning resources, including in local languages that are affordable and easily accessible. They underlined the central role of all teachers and education staff all over the world in promoting education and the need to foster an environment including through capacity building and exchange programmes that will enable teachers and staff to thrive in their profession.

The Ministers agreed to encourage collaborative solutions, innovations, sharing of best practices to promote quality teaching, learning and skilling as well as foster academic collaborations among educational institutions as well as encouraging student and faculty exchange programs.

Appreciating the fellow Ministers for their valuable ideas, Shri Pradhan expressed his confidence that with collective efforts, the South-South cooperation will grow from strength to strength. India will work ‘Together for Everyone’s Growth, With Everyone’s Trust’ for global well-being, an equitable world order and for a brighter global future, he added.

The summit builds upon the foundation laid during the Inaugural Voice of Global South Summit in January 2023, which focused on uniting voices and purposes from 125 countries of the Global South, reflecting India’s commitment to addressing key priorities of the developing world, particularly in education and skill development.

The 2nd Voice of Global South Summit aims to serve as a platform to share the outcomes of various G20 meetings, sustain momentum generated from the previous summit, and discuss ways to achieve shared aspirations for inclusive and equitable international development. Deliberations will also focus on harnessing digital technologies to bridge the digital divide and strengthening cooperation in developing life, technical, and vocational skills. The outcomes of the summit are expected to inform the deliberations at the upcoming G20 Virtual Summit hosted by India on 22nd November 2023.

There are 8 Ministerial sessions during the Summit. The Summit, with the theme ‘Together, for Everyone’s Growth, with Everyone’s Trust’ would focus on sharing with countries of the Global South the key outcomes achieved in various G20 meetings over the course of India’s Presidency. Key ideas and suggestions emerging from the members of the Global South at the 2nd VOGSS will also be informed during the next G-20 Virtual Summit, to be hosted by India on 22 November 2023.

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India Art, Architecture & Design Biennale” at Red Fort

 The Ministry of Culture is organizing India Art, Architecture and Design Biennale 2023 at Red Fort, to be inaugurated on 8th December 2023. Following the Inaugural & VIP preview, the exhibitions along with panel discussions, workshops and the art bazaar will be held from 9th to 15th December and will be open to public. The keynote addresses by international artists, architects, and designers, public art installations, art bazaar and cultural programs are the major attractions of the Biennale. The pavilions set up as part of the Biennale will be on display till the 31st of March 2024.

Building on the success of past events like the International Museum Expo & Festival of Libraries, the Biennale seeks to create a prominent global cultural event, comparable to those in Venice, Sao Paulo, and Dubai. Inspired by the Prime Minister’s directive to establish five cultural spaces in India, including one at the Red Fort, IAADB’23 is an innovative initiative to highlights India’s diverse art, architecture and design.

Addressing a curtain raiser press conference at National Museum, here today, Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi said that the biennale showcases a diverse range, including traditional artisans, contemporary designers, curators, and thought leaders. The Biennale is an innovative initiative to celebrate the rich tapestry of our country’s artistic heritage, spanning ancient, modern, contemporary and tech-driven art, architecture and design, said the Minister.

The week-long event is organised around daily themes, each aimed at showcasing different aspects of India’s rich cultural heritage. Seven esteemed curators are involved in IAADB’23, ensuring a captivating experience that combines physical and digital exhibitions, interactive installations, sessions and panel discussions. Expertly curated catalogues will accompany each exhibition along with a comprehensive coffee table book for the entire event.

The curated pavilions at the event offer a fascinating journey through diverse aspects of India’s cultural heritage. Mr. Aditya Arya guides visitors through “Pravesh“ exploring the symbolism of doors and gateways. Ms. Anjchita B Nair curates “Bagh-e-Bahar,” a pavilion delving into the concept of gardens as universes. Mr. Amit Pasricha takes on “Sthaypatya” exploring the timeless design and architectural resilience of temples. “Sampravah” is curated by Mr. Ratish Nanda and Mr. Vikramjit Rooprai, focusing on Baolis in India. Ms. Shikha Jain and Ms. Adriana A. Garreta present “Vismaya” a pavilion celebrating India’s post-independence architectural splendour. Mr. Anubhav Nath brings forth “Deshaj”: exploring folk art and design traditions. Finally, Ms. Swati Janu curates “Samatva” an exploration of women’s contribution to architecture.

In addition to the above, the Ministry also invited artists and curators to submit their work for IAADB’23 through an open call on social media. The Ministry received 560 queries and 260 submissions of which 150 entries were selected and will be on display at the venue. In conjunction with the IAADB’s mandate for inclusivity, a Student Biennale is also being organised from the 9th of December at the Lalit Kala Akademi and will serve as a platform for emerging talent to showcase creativity and imagination.

The India Art, Architecture & Design Biennale is set to be a unique event that aims to mobilise the community of artists and designers by providing a platform for both established and emerging artists. Its goal is to energize cultural and creative industries by fostering dialogue among practitioners in art, architecture, and design.

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Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)

 The third Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Ministerial Meeting was held in San Francisco, California on 14 November 2023 hosted by the US. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal participated in the Ministerial meeting.

IPEF was launched jointly by the USA and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region on May 23, 2022 at Tokyo. IPEF has 14 partner countries including Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam & USA. It seeks to strengthen economic engagement among partner countries with the goal of advancing growth, peace and prosperity in the region.

The framework is structured around four pillars relating to Trade (Pillar I); Supply Chains (Pillar II); Clean Economy (Pillar III); and Fair Economy (Pillar IV). India had joined Pillars II to IV of IPEF while it has an observer status in Pillar-I.

At this Ministerial Meeting, negotiations under the IPEF Pillar-III (Clean Economy), Pillar IV (Fair Economy) and the Agreement on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (which seeks to establish a ministerial-level council and a commission) were substantially concluded. Moreover, following the substantial conclusion of the negotiations on the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement in May 2023, the IPEF Ministers signed the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement during the Ministerial Meeting. Pillar-wise Press Statement was issued at the end of the San Francisco Ministerial meeting highlighting the contours and the efforts planned under each of the substantially concluded Pillars (link below).

Under the Clean Economy (Pillar-III), IPEF partners are aiming to advance cooperation on research, development, commercialization, availability, accessibility, and deployment of clean energy and climate friendly technologies, and facilitate investment towards climate-related projects in the region. During his intervention under this Pillar, Shri Goyal emphasized the need for increased collaboration among partners on research and development of innovative and affordable climate friendly technologies. Further, Shri Goyal stressed the need to prioritize implementation of Cooperative work programmes envisaged under this pillar, including hydrogen supply chain initiative and other proposals in the pipeline such as India’s proposal for biofuels and e-waste recycling.

Under the Fair Economy (Pillar-IV), IPEF partners aim to strengthen implementation of effective anti-corruption and tax measures to boost commerce, trade, and investment among IPEF economies. During his intervention under this Pillar, Shri Goyal highlighted enhancing information sharing among partners, facilitating asset recovery and strengthening cross-border investigations and prosecutions as the key benefits to emerge from the Agreement. Further, he highlighted that this will strengthen the joint resolve to fight against corruption, money laundering and terror financing.

* Link to Pillar II-IV San Francisco IPEF Statement

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Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) &amp; Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Investors Forum

 Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal, participated in the Investor Forum of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) & Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). The Forum, a moderated discussion, was co-hosted by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ms. Gina Raimondo and Senior Advisor to the President Mr. Amos Hochstein with the discussion centred on collaborative actions and shared priorities to increase private investment in the Indo-Pacific.

The Forum was also attended by Ministers and senior officials from IPEF partner countries including the Prime Minister of Fiji, His Excellency Mr. Sitiveni Rabuka, and Minister of Trade of Korea His Excellency Mr. Dukgeun Ahn; and corporate leaders including Co-CEO of KKR Joseph Bae; Chairman and CEO of BlackRock Larry Fink; CEO of Citi Jane Fraser; Founder and Chairman of Fortescue Andrew Forrest; Founding Partner of Global Infrastructure Partners Matthew Harris; Founding Partner, Chairman and CEO of Global Infrastructure Partners Adebayo Ogunlesi; President, CIO and CFO of Alphabet and Google Ruth Porat; Founder and CEO of RockCreek Afsaneh Beschloss; and Founding Partner and Executive Chair of TPG Jim Coulter.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in her address to the forum highlighted the continuing partnership between India and USA through the Green Transition Fund co-created by U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) aimed at providing climate impact benefits and accelerating the development of clean-energy transition projects in India through investments in solar, energy storage, and e-mobility.

The Minister in his address extended his appreciation to IPEF partners on the conclusion of negotiations on Pillar-III (Clean Economy) and Pillar-IV (Fair Economy) and emphasised on India’s commitment to enhancing ease of doing business, ushering in transparency in business regulatory ecosystem, delivering sustainable growth and development.

Thereafter, the Minister participated at the APEC Informal Leader’s Dialogue where he highlighted India’s environmental leadership in successfully meeting the renewable energy target of 175 gigawatt nine years ahead of its target. Additionally, he also called upon the world leaders to join hands as a global community to construct a future where sustainability is not a distant aspiration but a way of life and where climate action is not a burden but an opportunity for innovation and growth.

As part of day’s engagements, the Minister joined the world leaders at IPEF Leader’s Meeting. The engagement was attended by several world leaders including His Excellency Mr. Joe Biden, President of the United States of America. Several IPEF initiatives such as Critical Minerals dialogue, Investment Accelerator, Catalytic Fund, Investor Forum, IPEF Networks etc were announced during the meeting.

Besides participating at the PGII Investor Forum, APEC engagements, including the dinner reception for APEC Leaders, and IPEF Leaders’ meetings, the Minister during the day held several bilateral and one-to-one meetings with world leaders and corporate giants. He met H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos Mathews, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, and discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade and investment linkages, reviewed progress of bilateral FTA negotiations and suggested expedited conclusion. The Minister also met Mr. Alex Rogers, President, Qualcomm Technology Licensing & Global Affairs and discussed the vast opportunities for collaboration that India’s rapidly evolving semiconductor ecosystem & robust innovation landscape offers to companies like Qualcomm.

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Sectoral Plan for Efficient Logistics (SPEL)

 The 60thNetwork Planning Group (NPG) meeting was held on 16th November 2023, under the chairpersonship of Special Secretary (Logistics), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Smt. Sumita Dawra in New Delhi.

The meeting focused ondiscussions on Sectoral Plan for Efficient Logistics (SPEL)by individual line Ministries/Departments. This initiative, among the various initiatives proposed under the Comprehensive Logistics Action Plan (CLAP) of National Logistics Policy (NLP), was proposed to ensure that a focused approach is taken in addressing logistics-related requirements at the individual sector level.

Today, the Ministry of Steel and the Ministry of Coal presented their plans to address logistics issues pertaining to infrastructure, processes, digital improvements, policies and regulatory reforms, and capacity building for a better workforce.

Ministry of Steel outlined their SPEL approach, encompassing in-depth Supply & Demand Analysis for Iron Ore and steel, Forecasted Requirements up to 2030-31 and beyond, Strategic Planning for Future Readiness in Logistics, etc. The preliminary SPEL draft is expected to be finalized shortly by the Ministry of Steel.

Ministry of Coal presented itskey findings on the Integrated Coal Evacuation Plan prepared under the aegis of Coal Logistics Policy 2023. Infrastructural gaps project requirements were presented that shall improve logistics and cost efficiency, and achieve optimum multimodal mix. Ministry envisages a 14% reduction in Rail logistics cost through railway network optimization for coal logistics. Further, there is potential to lower Co2 emissions by 100,000 Tonnes Co2 per Annum by FY30 due to a reduction in railway leads and the replacement of Road Transportation by Rail.

The chair acknowledged that the Coal Logistics Policy is a significant step toward the development of sector-specific plans to foster the efficient growth of the logistics industry within specified timelines. The Special Secretary emphasized prioritizing cross-sectoral cooperation and focus on the optimization of modal mix for holistic planning.

So far, the following actions have been taken by other Ministries addressing logistics-related requirements:

  • Comprehensive Port Connectivity Plan by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways was developed and notified.
  • Development of Cement Sectoral Plan underway
  • Department of Food and Public Distribution undertaking a study to identify optimized routes for movement of foodgrains, with aim to reducing logistic cost & transit time.
  • Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has developed an Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to developing logistics-related infrastructure as a part of post-harvest management infrastructure.

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Fully Funded PhD Programs at University of Cambridge, England

Are you holding Master’s degree and looking for fully funded PhD positions? University of Cambridge, England invites online application for multiple funded PhD Programs / fully funded PhD positions in various research areas. 

Candidates interested in fully funded PhD positions can check the details and may apply as soon as possible. Interested and eligible applicants may submit their online application for PhD programs via the University’s Online Application Portal. 

1. Fully Funded PhD Position

Summary of PhD Program:

The Oliver Gatty PhD Studentship for full-time study and research training in the fields of Biophysical and Colloid Science is open to graduates in the broad area of biophysics. The Studentship is tenable for up to four years, commencing on the 1st October 2024. Candidates should identify a supervisor and agree on a proposed course of research before making an application.

Application Deadline: 7 January 2024

Apply now

2. Fully Funded PhD Position in Cancer Biology

Summary of PhD Program:

The CRUK Cambridge Centre is a dynamic collaboration of academic researchers, clinicians, and the pharmaceutical and biotech industries based in the Cambridge area. By being part of the Centre, students will have the opportunity to attend a number of lecture series, workshops and meetings aimed at facilitating and strengthening collaborations between complimentary disciplines and across different departments and institutes.

Application Deadline: 15 November 2023

Apply now

3. Fully Funded PhD Position in Veterinary Anaesthesia

Summary of PhD Program:

Applications are invited from recently qualified veterinarians for this twelve month post-graduate training programme offering high-quality, post-graduate training in Veterinary Anaesthesia. The emphasis will be on gaining practical clinical experience in Veterinary Anaesthesia under the supervision of board-certified diplomates, and will further prepare the candidate to embark on a 3-year Residency Training Programme in veterinary anaesthesia.

Application Deadline: 19 November 2023

Apply now

 

4. Fully Funded PhD Position in Genetics

Summary of PhD Program:

The Drosophila adult midgut is a homeostatic tissue, in which cells constantly turn over and are replaced by the progeny of intestinal stem cells divisions. These progeny, called enteroblasts, are initially quiescent, lack an apical domain and lie on the basal side of the epithelium. In response to dying cells or signals that expand the gut, the enteroblasts integrate into the epithelium, polarise and form a new apical domain with a typical brush border. Two features of this process are very different from other epithelia in Drosophila. Firstly, enteroblast polarisation does not require any of the canonical epithelial polarity factors that have been identified in other tissues, and it depends instead on adhesion to the basement membrane, as is the case in mammalian epithelia (1).

Application Deadline: 26 November 2023

Apply now

 

5. Fully Funded PhD Position

Summary of PhD Program:

Applications are invited for an Ernest Oppenheimer Studentship to be held at Cambridge University in Colloid Science, as broadly interpreted within the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering. The Studentship is to support research projects directly leading to a PhD. The application should be made by the designated research supervisor, on behalf of the named candidate. Normally, only one application per supervisor will be considered.

Application Deadline: 9 January 2024

Apply now

 

6. Fully Funded PhD Position in Cancer 

Summary of PhD Program:

The Early Cancer Institute at the University of Cambridge is the UK’s only Institute dedicated to the early detection of cancer. This world-leading centre is based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and houses a highly multidisciplinary, collaborative range of experts working to take early detection innovations from bench to bedside and move the world beyond the fear of cancer.

Application Deadline: 22 November 2023

Apply now

 

7. Fully Funded PhD Position in Trophoblast

Summary of PhD Program:

Our PIs are recognized international experts in their fields based across Cambridge in the Departments of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pathology, Genetics, and allied institutes, including the Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, the LMB, Babraham, and Wellcome Sanger Institute. A CTR Studentship is held within the relevant Department or Institute, where an internal Departmental Postgraduate Educational Committee is responsible for administering your degree.

Application Deadline: 16 November 2023

Apply now

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8. Fully Funded PhD Position in Cancer 

Summary of PhD Program:

The CRUK Cambridge Centre is a dynamic collaboration of academic researchers, clinicians, and the pharmaceutical and biotech industries based in the Cambridge area. By being part of the Centre, students will have the opportunity to attend a number of lecture series, workshops and meetings aimed at facilitating and strengthening collaborations between complimentary disciplines and across different departments and institutes.

Application Deadline: 15 November 2023

Apply now

 

9. Fully Funded PhD Position in cancer

Summary of PhD Program:

Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) are cells embedded in the tumour microenvironment (TME) along with immune and cancer cells. Recently, some CAF subsets have been associated with poor response to immunotherapy. This has led to the emergence of CAF as potential therapeutic targets, although limited understanding of CAF heterogeneity and lack of CAF-rich mouse models mimicking the human immune-suppressive TME has hampered the efforts to effectively target these cells. The aim of this project is to develop novel models that mimic the immunosuppressed microenvironment of solid tumours and to explore the impact of CAF heterogeneity in immunotherapy resistance.

Application Deadline: 19 November 2023

Apply now


10. Fully Funded PhD Position in Multimodal AI-guided tools for early prediction of disease progression in neurodegenerative disorders

Summary of PhD Program:

Applications are invited for 4-year PhD studentship based in the Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge and the new AstraZeneca Discovery Centre at Cambridge. The student will be working on a collaborative project jointly supervised by Professor Zoe Kourtzi at Department of Psychology Cambridge in collaboration with AstraZeneca’s Neuroscience (Dr Keith Tan, Dr Andrew Lowe) and Data Science & AI (Dr Philip Teare, Dr Gayathri Mohankumar) teams and will have the opportunity to work across the two sites. The project, entitled ‘Multimodal AI-guided tools for early prediction of disease progression in neurodegenerative disorders’ is in the field of AI for Neuroscience that has generated much excitement in both academia and industry.

Application Deadline: 20 November 2023

Apply now

11. Fully Funded PhD Position in Reading and Writing in Medieval Womens Religious Communities

Summary of PhD Program:

This PhD studentship offers an opportunity to investigate the culture of female religious communities in the Middle Ages, through a study of their surviving manuscripts. We are inviting applicants to propose a project that explores any aspect of women’s conventual life, with the specific aim of bringing together kinds of sources that have rarely been discussed in combination. The themes and structure of the project are entirely open, provided the proposal is interdisciplinary and combines different types of manuscripts in novel, creative, and productive ways.

Application Deadline: 4 January 2024

Apply now

12. Fully Funded PhD Position in Philosophy of Wellbeing Policy

Summary of PhD Program:

The PhD studentship aims at making explicit the knowledge that exists among practitioners and in the less visible space of implementation of well-being policies and exploring its relevance for evidence-based policy. Using review of a variety of literatures as well as interviews with the staff of What Works Centre Wellbeing and cognate practitioners, this project seeks to reconstruct the methodology behind generation and deployment of wellbeing evidence as it travels between the academy and the practitioners. In addition to being a contribution to wellbeing practice, such a project trials an innovative approach to philosophy of science and applied epistemology more generally. How is localized knowledge relevant to specific practical contexts generated, preserved, and passed on? Does it have a philosophy of its own? Can recovering this knowledge help address deficits in evidence-based practices? In this way this project encourages and supports practice-based research at doctoral level.

Application Deadline: 5 December 2023

Apply now

 

13. Fully Funded PhD Position in Non-Normative Identities in 20th-21st Century Catalan Cultures

Summary of PhD Program:

The PhD student will carry out original research that addresses the presence of minoritarian/non-normative identities within Catalan cultures. The project will need to address the complexities of subaltern expressions of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability, migration, and/or class situated in the framework of Catalan cultures, perhaps exploring the nuanced intertwining of identities and nationhood. Applicants will be asked to propose their own PhD research project, based on their qualifications and interests that fits within the general parameters specified.

Application Deadline: 5 December 2023

Apply now

 

14. Fully Funded PhD Position in Multilingual teaching, learning and assessment of English in India’s primary schools

Summary of PhD Program:

The PhD student will carry out original research addressing an important gap in recognizing and destigmatizing the use of multiple languages in the classrooms of linguistically diverse societies of the Global South. While multilingualism is the norm in these contexts, there is a need to develop and test the effectiveness of multilingual educational materials for language learning, use and assessment.

Application Deadline: 5 December 2023

Apply now

 

15. Fully Funded PhD Position in Physiology, Development & Neuroscience

Summary of PhD Program:

Applicants are invited for two 4-year PhD studentships in the Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience (PDN) from October 2024. These students will join the Cambridge Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme, participate in training and cohort-building events, and undertake a Professional Internship for PhD Students (PIPS) of 3 months.

Application Deadline: 4 January 2024

Apply now

 

16. Fully Funded PhD Position in Molecular technologies in human health

Summary of PhD Program:

Applications are invited for three studentships to be held at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry in the group of Professor Tuomas Knowles. The studentships are part of an active collaboration with the leading pharma company Novo Nordisk with the aim of developing and applying cutting-edge molecular technologies to key problems in human health. The research areas cover both biological chemistry and physical chemistry. The projects are highly interdisciplinary and an interest in working on major biomedical problems through approaches that bring together biological and physical chemistry is required. The projects are suitable both for biological chemists or students with a biology background wishing to apply their expertise to biophysical technologies, and for students with a background in physical chemistry or physics, wishing to apply physical approaches to important problems in the biomedical sciences.

Application Deadline: 30 November 2023

Apply now

 

17. Fully Funded PhD Position in The Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe 

Summary of PhD Program:

The Leverhulme Centre for Life in the Universe and the University of Cambridge are committed to Widening Participation in postgraduate students at the University of Cambridge. Research within the Centre aims to develop a deeper understanding of life, its emergence, and its distribution in the Universe by addressing four questions:
What are the chemical pathways which led to the origins of life that are compatible with benign conditions for life in different planetary environments
How do we characterise the environments on Earth and other planets that could act as the cradle of prebiotic chemistry and life

Application Deadline: 14 November 2023

Apply now

 

18. Fully Funded PhD Position in History of Colombo

Summary of PhD Program:

Applications are invited for a three year fully funded, full-time international studentship, commencing 1st October 2024. The student will be based at the Faculty of History as part of a UKRI-funded project titled ‘Colombo: Layered Histories in the Global South City’, which was selected for funding by the European Research Council under its ‘HORIZON’ programme. The prospective doctoral student will focus their attention within the broad field of the Political and/or social history of Colombo, ideally in the era after 1800. Given the project’s aim to generate dialogue between Sri Lanka and Europe, candidates applying from Sri Lanka are especially encouraged.

Application Deadline: 18 December 2023

Apply now

 

19. Fully Funded PhD Position in Catalysis, Energy, Sustainability

Summary of PhD Program:

Three 4-year PhD studentships are available at the University of Cambridge, starting in October 2024 under the supervision of Professor Erwin Reisner in the Department of Chemistry within the broad theme of catalysis, energy and sustainability. The projects will develop new fundamental approaches and application strategies focused on the capture and utilisation of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide or valorisation of biomass and plastic waste streams, using solar-powered technologies to convert carbon dioxide or biomass/plastic waste into renewable fuels and commodity chemicals. More specifically, photon-to-chemical conversion systems and devices will be assembled by integrating bespoke catalysts into state-of-the-art semiconductor or integrated photovoltaic photoabsorbers.

Application Deadline: 24 November 2023

Apply now

20. Fully Funded PhD Position

Summary of PhD Program:

Modern compute platforms involve a high degree of centralisation, both in how computational resources are provided and how they are used. For example, a small number of large platform providers enable content delivery to the vast majority of readers, and state of the art scientific modelling uses large centralised high-performance computing facilities. These PhDs will study how to place intelligence in the network as one means to help support greater accountability by, e.g., enabling information accuracy to be validated and dissemination understood, and to improve the sustainability of such platforms by, e.g., moving compute nearer to data sources.

Application Deadline: 4 December 2023

Apply now

 

21. Fully Funded PhD Position

Summary of PhD Program:

The programme is structured as 0.5 + 3.5, and in the first 6 months students will undertake two 3 month rotations projects in different laboratories. These projects will be in different disciplinary areas related to your field of research, and will allow refinement of your PhD project in line with your emerging research interests as the programme progresses. Potential projects will be advertised on the DTP-MR website, and applicants can choose up to 3 projects of interest.

Application Deadline: 5 December 2023

Apply now

22. Fully Funded PhD Position in Synthetic Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Summary of PhD Program:

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual capable of thinking and working independently. Applicants should have or shortly expect to obtain a first or upper second-class degree from a UK university, or an equivalent standard from an overseas university, in a relevant subject such as chemistry. Ideally, the candidate will have a strong background in organic chemistry. Practical experience of synthetic organic chemistry and peptide chemistry in a research environment would be beneficial.

Application Deadline: 1 December 2023

Apply now

 

23. Fully Funded PhD Position in Interactions of non-covalent biologics at the single-molecule level

Summary of PhD Program:

Protein-protein interactions at high concentrations exhibit complex manifestations of molecular interactions, often forming heterogeneous and dynamic cross-reactions both at formulation and after injection. Identifying and quantifying these interactions with ensemble-based biophysical and bioanalytical methods is challenging due to poor sensitivity. These limitations lead to measurement challenges in assessing and predicting high-concentration formulation challenges such as aggregation, viscosity, and solubility in solution and dose delivery.

Application Deadline: 30 November 2023

Apply now

 

24. Fully Funded PhD Position in Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Summary of PhD Program:

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual capable of thinking and working independently. Applicants must have (or expect to obtain) at least the equivalent of a UK upper second-class Masters degree in a relevant subject such as chemistry. Ideally, the candidate will have a strong background in organic chemistry. Practical experience of synthetic organic chemistry in a research environment would be beneficial.

Application Deadline: 5 December 2023

Apply now

 

25. Fully Funded PhD Position in Role of Metabolic Disease in Alzheimers Disease

Summary of PhD Program:

The proposed project will clarify how metabolic disease mechanistically contributes to neurodegenerative disease by revealing: (a) how diet alters protein aggregation and the development of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), (b) which tissues are most susceptible, and, (c) which proteins show the most aggregation. The project fits into the theme of multimorbidity and organ-organ interactions. The associated technologies may help enable early diagnosis, giving at-risk individuals more time to make lifestyle changes to potentially reduce their risk and adjust to living with dementia.

Application Deadline: 30 November 2023

Apply now

 

26. Fully Funded PhD Position in Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Capture

Summary of PhD Program:

Research in the Forse group centres around the development of new materials for climate change mitigation. Electrochemical carbon dioxide capture is an emerging strategy for capturing carbon dioxide at source, and offers an energy-efficient means to prevent carbon dioxide emissions. The overarching aims of this PhD project are to understand the mechanisms of electrochemical carbon dioxide capture, and to design improved devices. Specifically, the project will involve electrode synthesis/fabrication, electrochemical gas adsorption experiments, data analysis and interpretation, with opportunities to carry out in situ NMR spectroscopy measurements.

Application Deadline: 5 December 2023

Apply now

27. Fully Funded PhD Position in Hearable Systems

Summary of PhD Program:

The project will focus on understanding the potential and applications of devices worn around the ear for the purpose of fitness and health tracking. The specific aim of the studentship can range from systems contribution to efficient devices (given the form factor) to the novel exploration of the sensing capabilities of devices as well as the algorithmic innovation related to improving healthcare and fitness tracking through such devices.

Application Deadline: 4 December 2023

Apply now

 

28. Fully Funded PhD Position

Summary of PhD Program:

Embark on a journey of cutting-edge research and innovation with our MRC Industry Partner (iCASE) PhD studentships! We are offering a number of fully funded opportunities to combine academic research and training with industrial experience.

Application Deadline: 5 December 2023

Apply now

 

29. Fully Funded PhD Position in Natural Language Processing

Summary of PhD Program:

Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship on the project EQUATE – a new project that investigates how Natural Language Processing (NLP) could be made globally more equitable. This UKRI Frontier project was selected for funding by the European Research Council (ERC) and is led by Prof. Anna Korhonen. The goal is to investigate the challenges in the development of globally equitable language technologies and to design transformative approaches to overcome them.

Application Deadline: 5 December 2023

Apply now

 

30. Fully Funded PhD Position in Haematological Malignancies

Summary of PhD Program:

Cambridge is one of the best places in the world to study haematological malignancies. We have the largest concentration of researchers working on haematological malignancies in Europe, with seventeen research groups based around the city making us a globally significant centre for research in leukaemia, lymphoma and pre-leukaemic conditions. World leading PIs based in Cambridge include Peter Campbell, Bertie Göttgens, Tony Green, Brian Huntly, Nicole Soranzo, George Vassiliou and Alan Warren. The Department of Haematology has an exceptional record in training young researchers. Over thirty students who studied for their PhDs in the Department have become PIs, either in Cambridge or elsewhere.

Application Deadline: 19 November 2023

Apply now

 

31. Fully Funded PhD Position

Summary of PhD Program:

Applications are invited for two 3-year PhD studentships in the National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Organ Donation and Transplantation (NIHR BTRU in ODT, https://odt.btru.nihr.ac.uk/). The posts will be based in the University of Cambridge Department of Surgery on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The proposed start date is 17th April 2024. The NIHR BTRU in ODT provides a centre of excellence dedicated to research into organ donation and transplantation. The overarching aims are to increase the number of organs available, improve long-term outcomes and improve quality of life after transplant.

Application Deadline: 15 January 2024

Apply now

32. Fully Funded PhD Position in Road Digital Twin Design Automation

Summary of PhD Program:

This aim of this studentship is to answer these questions for the case of roads. Understanding & digitally representing road DTs includes deriving (a) local and national stakeholders’ user and information requirements, and DT scoring metrics; and (b) creating a framework for automatically generating a pareto-optimal of trustworthy information models, libraries, and cloud architectures consistent with CDBB’s Information Management Framework (i) at micro, meso and macro scales (material-level; asset-level; network-level) and resolutions (mm-level; cm-level; m-level);

Application Deadline: 1 December 2023

Apply now

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Vacancy for Assistant Manager at National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC)

 National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is a government agency in India responsible for implementing the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in the National Capital Region (NCR). The NCR includes Delhi and its surrounding areas.

The primary objective of NCRTC is to develop a high-speed, high-capacity rail-based transport system to connect various satellite towns around Delhi and ease the commuting challenges in the NCR. The RRTS is envisioned to be a fast, reliable, and comfortable mode of transportation to reduce congestion on roads and enhance connectivity in the region.

Key features and goals of the NCRTC and the RRTS project include:

High-Speed Connectivity: The RRTS aims to provide high-speed rail connectivity between different cities in the NCR, making it possible for people to travel quickly between key locations.

Integration with Other Modes of Transport: NCRTC is working towards integrating the RRTS with other modes of public transportation, such as metro rail, buses, and suburban railways, to create a seamless and efficient transportation network.

Environmental Sustainability: The project focuses on environmentally sustainable practices, and the use of public transportation is expected to contribute to reducing air pollution and traffic congestion in the NCR.

Smart Infrastructure: The RRTS is designed to incorporate modern technologies for efficient operations, safety, and passenger convenience.

Economic Development: The improved connectivity is expected to spur economic development in the NCR by facilitating easier movement of people and goods.

Positions: Assistant Manager / TOD
No. of Vacancy: 01(UR)
Institution: National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC)
Qualification: ✔️ Essential Qualification – B.E./ B. Tech./ B. Arch. or its equivalent
✔️ Preferable Qualification – MBA/Master/ PG Diploma in Management/ Urban Planning/ Urban Design or its equivalent.
Experience: – Minimum 05 years post qualification experience
– Experience in handling infrastructure assignments related to extensive research.
– Benchmarking studies of Infrastructure assignments.
– Proficiency in presentation documents,
– Preparation of Financial Models is preferable.
– Prior experience in the areas of TOD/ Real Estate for Transit Projects is preferable.
Job Description: ✔️ Details Provided Below.
Type: Full Time / Contractual
Location: New Delhi
Salary: ✔️ Consolidated Remuneration – Rs. 16 LPA.
Apply at: ✔️ Apply Link
Last Date: 30 November 2023

Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS) for OBC & Others

 The scheme Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme- SHREYAS, has been proposed to implement during the 2021-22 to 2025-26 by placing two ongoing Central Sector schemes for OBC and others namely – (i) National Fellowship for OBC (ii) Dr.Ambedkar Central Sector Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Economically Backward Classes (EBCs). 

The main objective of the schemes is Educational Empowerment of OBC & EBC students by way of awarding fellowship (financial assistance) in obtaining quality higher education and interest subsidy on educational loan for overseas studies.

The Scheme comprises following 2 components: 1. National Fellowship for OBC students

The scheme aims at providing financial assistance to the OBC students in obtaining quality higher education leading to degrees such as M.Phil and Ph.D in universities, research institutions and scientific institutions.

The scheme is designed to provide a total number of 1000 Junior Research Fellowships per year to undertake advanced studies and research leading to M.Phil. /Ph.D. Degrees, who have qualified in the following tests: i)National Eligibility Test  – Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF) of UGC (for Humanities/Social Sciences) or ii) UGC-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (UGC-CSIR) NET-JRF Joint Test (for Sciences)

The scheme covers all universities/institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and are implemented by the UGC itself on the pattern of the scheme of UGC Fellowships being awarded to research students pursuing M.Phil. and Ph.D.

Salient features of the Scheme: The scheme is now implemented by the Ministry through the designated Central Nodal Agency; National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (A Govt. of India Undertaking, under the administrative control of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and All universities/institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Eligibility conditions are as per notification for UGC-NET and CSIR-UGC-NET examinations. The rate of fellowship for JRF level is Rs.31000 per month and for SRF level it is Rs.35000 per month, besides contingencies amount. Out of 1000 slots available under this scheme, 750 will be allocated for the subjects under National Eligibility Test – Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF) of UGC and remaining 250 UGC-Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (UGC-CSIR) NETJRF joint test (for Science streams). These 1000 slots will be over and above the OBC Students selected under the normal reservation policy of the Government. At least 5% of the total seats should be reserved for students with disabilities while making selection of candidates for award of fellowships by the UGC.

Achievements: Rs.40.11 crore has been released during 2023-24 (pto 3rd Quarter)

Component 2. Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) & Economically Backward Classes (EBCs)

 “Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Economically Backward Classes (EBCs)”

This is a Central Sector Scheme to provide interest subsidy to the student belonging to the OBCs and EBCs on the interest payable for the period of moratorium for the Education Loans for overseas studies to pursue approved courses of studies abroad at Masters, M.Phil. and Ph.D. level.

Salient features of the Scheme: The scheme is implemented through the Canara Bank (the Nodal bank for the scheme). The Scheme is applicable for higher studies abroad. The interest Subsidy shall be linked with the existing Educational Loan Scheme of Indian Banks Association (IBA) and restricted to students enrolled for course at Masters, M.Phil and Ph.D level. The students should have secured admission in the approved courses at Masters, M.Phil or Ph.D levels abroad for the courses listed in the guidelines.  For OBC candidates, total income from all sources of the employed candidate or his/her parents/guardians in case of unemployed candidate shall not exceed present Creamy Layer criteria.  For EBC candidates, total income from all sources of the employed candidate or his/her parents/guardians in case of unemployed candidate shall not exceed Rs.5.00 lakh per annum , 50% of the total financial assistance is reserved for women candidates. Under the scheme, 100% interest payable by the students availing the education loans of the IBA for the period of moratorium (i.e. course period, plus one year or six months after getting job, whichever is earlier) as prescribed under the Education Loan Scheme of the IBA, shall be borne by the Government of India.  After the period of moratorium is over, the interest on the outstanding loan amount shall be paid by the student, in accordance with the existing Educational Loan Scheme as may be amended from time to time. The candidate will bear the Principal installments and interest beyond moratorium period. Maximum limit of loan is Rs 20 Lakhs

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Nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign 2.0

 To enhance ‘Ease of Living’ of Central Government pensioners, Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has been promoting Digital Life Certificate (DLC) i.e. JeevanPramaan extensively.  In 2014, submission of DLCs using biometric devices was commenced. Subsequently, the Department engaged with MeitY and UIDAI to develop a Face Authentication technology system based on Aadhar database, whereby it is possible to submit LC from any Android based smart phone.  As per this facility, the identity of a person is established through face authentication technique and DLC gets generated. This breakthrough technology, launched in November 2021, reduced the dependence of pensioners on external bio-metric devices and made the process more accessible and affordable to masses by leveraging Smartphone-based technology.

With a view to spread awareness amongst all the Central Government pensioners as well as the Pension Disbursing Authorities for use of DLC/Face Authentication technology to submit Digital Life Certificate, DoPPW launched a Nation-wide Campaign in the month of November 2022 in 37 Cities through-out the country. The Campaign was a huge success with more than 35 lakh DLCs of Central Government Pensioner generated.  A Nation-wide Campaign 2.0is now being conducted from 1st to 30th November, 2023 at 500 locations in 100 Cities across the country, targeting 50 lakh pensioners, in collaboration with 17 Pension Disbursing Banks, Ministries/ Departments, Pensioners’ Welfare Associations, UIDAI, MeitY, etc.

The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare is putting all efforts to create awareness amongst all pensioners regarding DLC-Face Authentication technique by way of banners/posters placed strategically in offices and all Bank Branches / ATMs.  All Banks have created a team of dedicated staff at their branches having downloaded the desired apps in their Android phones that are using this technology extensively for submission of Life Certificates by the pensioners. In case, the pensioners are not able to visit the Branches due to old age/illness/weakness, the Bank officials are also visiting their homes/hospitals for the above purpose.

The Pensioners’ Welfare Associations are extending their full support to the Campaign.  Their representatives are motivating the pensioners to visit the nearby Camp locations and submit their DLCs. The officials from Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare are also visiting major locations through-out the Country to assist pensioners in use of various digital modes to submit their Life Certificates and monitoring the progress very closely.

A lot of excitement has been observed amongst all the stakeholders, particularly sick / very old pensioners at all the locations.  As a result, more than 25 lakh Digital Life Certificates have been generated by the end of 2nd week of launch of the Campaign in this FY, out of which about 14,500 pensioners above 90 years old and 1,93,601 pensioners between 80 – 90 years category could submit their DLCs from the comfort of their home/locations/offices/branches.  Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh States are leading the Campaign where aggregating to 6.25 lakh DLCs have been generated during the 2nd week itself of the month-long Campaign.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare will continue all its efforts for making this Campaign a grand success throughout the country. 

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