Day: June 26, 2024

On the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment organizing a programme at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi today

 Each year, 26th June is observed as the “International Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking. To commemorate the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment is organizing a programme today (on 26th June 2024) at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, 15 Janpath, New Delhi in the presence of Dr. Virendra Kumar, HMSJE, MoSs (SJE), and Senior officers of the Department.

Earlier, the Ministry has organized weeklong online activities from 20.06.2024 to 26.06.2024 to commemorate International Day against Drug abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Some such activities organized are Essay Writing Competition, promoting Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness for a drug free lifestyle, showcasing best practices under NMBA, engaging university students to lead the Drug-free campaign, Leading from margins: Role of women in making Drug-free India etc. With these programmes, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment will ensure to reach out the Abhiyaan in whole Country as Jan Andolan.

All the States/UTs and DCs/DMs across the country have also been requested to take necessary steps for conducting/ organizing various programmes/ events such as rallies, cultural events, seminars, workshops, pledge along with wide publicity through media including social media platform against drug abuse under NMBA at the State as well as district level.

Besides, above, National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), an Autonomous Body under the aegis of this Ministry, is also undertaking various activities from 24th to 28th June 2024 like live quiz, awareness programmes, discussion with experts, individuals and families of affected persons, sharing of experience, etc. to commemorate the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

To ensure that the occasion is aptly utilized, all NGOs/VOs supported under NAPDDR by this  Ministry, also conducted/ organized shapath, painting competition, essay competition, tree  plantation, nukkad nattak competition, indoor games competition, marathon/ walkathon/ cycle/bike rally with wide publicity against drug abuse under NMBA from 20-26th June, 2024.

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan  (NMBA)

This Ministry has initiated ambitious Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan  (NMBA) and currently operational in all districts of the country with an aim to create awareness about ill effects of substance abuse among the youth, with special focus on higher education institutes, university campuses, schools and reaching out into the community and garnering community involvement and ownership of the Abhiyaan.

 

Achievements of NMBA:

  • Till now, through the various activities undertaken on-ground, 11+ crore people have been sensitized on substance use including 3.50+ Crore Youth and 2.32+ Crore Women.

  • Participation of 3.35+ Lakh educational institutions has ensured that the message of the Abhiyaan reaches children and youth of the country.

  • A strong force of 8,000+ Master Volunteers (MVs) have been identified and trained.

  • Awareness through official Social Media accounts of the Abhiyaan on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.

  • NMBA Mobile Application developed to gather and collect the data of NMBA activities and represent on the NMBA Dashboard at district, state and national level.

  • NMBA Website (http://nmba.dosje.gov.in) provides detailed information and insights to the user/viewer about the Abhiyaan, an online discussion forum, NMBA dashboard, e-pledge.

  • A National Online Pledge to be Drug Free had 1.67+ Crore students from 99,595 educational institutions pledging to be drug free.

  • Events like ‘Nashe se Azaadi- A National Youth and Students Interaction Programme’, ‘Naya Bharat, Nasha Mukt Bharat’, ‘NMBA Interaction with NCC’ are regularly organized to engage and connect with youth and other stakeholders.

  • MoUs have been signed with Spiritual/Social Service organizations like The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, Ram Chandra Mission (Daaji), ISKCON and All World Gayatri Parivaar to support to NMBA and conduct mass awareness activities.

  • Technology     and      Social  media  have been effectively   utilized to spread the message of the Abhiyaan online by creating handles on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram and sharing daily updates on them.

  • An Android based mobile Application has been developed to capture the data of activities happening on ground on a real-time basis by the districts and master volunteers. This App has been placed on the Google Play Store.

  • All the de-addiction facilities have been geo-tagged for ease of access by the public. 

 

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal Ministry for drug demand reduction in the country, which coordinates and monitors all aspects of drug abuse prevention, assessment of the extent of the problem, preventive action, treatment and rehabilitation of users, dissemination of information.

Substance use disorder is an issue, which is adversely affecting the social fabric of the country. Dependence to any substance not only affects the individual’s health but also disrupts their families and the whole society. Regular consumption of various psychoactive substances leads to dependence of the individual. Some substance compounds may lead to neuro-psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular   diseases, as well as accidents, suicides and violence. Therefore, substance use and dependence needs to be viewed as a psycho-social-medical problem.

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'Mini RATNA' status (Category-1) for Central Electronics Limited (CEL)

 

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today announced the grant of “Mini RATNA” status (Category-1) for Central Electronics Limited (CEL) at its Golden Jubilee celebration at the Ghaziabad campus.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions congratulated CEL on completion of 50 glorious years in the service of the nation and now celebrating their Golden Jubilee on 26th June this year.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh said “We feel proud that the Golden Jubilee Celebrations are being graced by the Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri. Jagdeep Dhankhar and his guidance and motivation will persuade us to contribute more for the betterment of the country. Adding further the Science and technology Minister said, “50 years of dedication, perseverance, and success is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and vision which propelled this journey of excellence.”

Dr. Jitendra Singh, while highlighting CEL’s performance, mentioned that over last few years, especially in the last 5 years, CEL’s financial stability, profitability, and operational excellence have touched new heights. CEL’s performance in terms of the numbers in turnover, net worth, reserves, net profit, etc. are also remarkable.

At centre Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri. Jagdeep Dhankhar; left 1. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh 2. Chetan Jain CMD, CEL; right 1. Shri Sunil Sharma Cabinet Minister, Uttar Pradesh 2. Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, DG CSIR

 

The Minister shared that CEL has transformed from a loss-making PSU to a dividend paying PSU and this is the 3rd consecutive year that CEL has paid dividends, that too at increasing rate, to the Government of India. He also highlighted that Celebrating 50 years with attaining Net profit of approx. Rs 58 crore is commendable.

Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of Amrit kaal he said, our aim is to increase indigenization of technology and boost manufacturing by capacity building, skill development. Dr. Jitendra Singh lauded CEL’s contributions in the fields of Defence, Railway, Security, Surveillance and Solar energy shows its vital role in promoting indigenous technologies and manufacturing capabilities. Going further he said “Rolling out production of Smart Boards which shall not only diversify CEL’s product portfolio but also significantly impact implementation of smart education in schools in the country.”

 

 

Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed his satisfaction over the new initiatives taken by the CEL Management to strengthen Employee Engagement which led to outstanding performance over the last few years and an all-time high achievement in the last financial year. The minister affirmed that Central Electronics Limited has ticked the right boxes of performance parameters for grant of higher status of Mini RATNA (Category-1).

Shri Sunil Kumar Sharma, Cabinet Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, DG, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Shri. Chetan Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, CEL; along with senior officials of Government of India were also present for the programme.

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Researchers at IISER Tirupati developed an efficient method of hydrogen generation from methanol and formaldehyde combination developed for moving towards ‘Hydrogen economy’

 Researchers have developed an innovative synthetic method to produce hydrogen gas from a mixture of methanol and paraformaldehyde under mild conditions. This method has proven particularly effective for the transfer hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes and the combination could be a promising hydrogen carrier, paving the way for advancements in chemical synthesis and sustainable energy solutions.

The rapid depletion of fossil fuels has spurred the search for alternative energy sources, highlighting the need for sustainable and renewable resources. Hydrogen gas generation is particularly important due to its potential to replace fossil fuels in energy storage, transportation, and various chemical processes. Methanol and paraformaldehyde, both produced on a large scale, have emerged as viable candidates for hydrogen carriers. Their abundance and widespread manufacture make them valuable for the storage and transportation of hydrogen, offering significant advantages over free hydrogen itself.

The research led by Prof. Ekambaram Balaraman at IISER Tirupati has utilized commercially available nickel catalysts to produce hydrogen from methanol and paraformaldehyde without the need for bases or activators. This efficient catalytic system has demonstrated remarkable efficiency under mild conditions, and the generated hydrogen was successfully employed in chemo- and stereo-selective partial transfer hydrogenation of alkynes. This process enabled access to bioactive molecules with enhanced synthetic value. This research was supported by ANRF (erstwhile SERB, a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

This research, accepted for publication in the journal Catalysis Science & Technology, opens a new avenue for COx-free hydrogen generation, contributing to the advancement of a ‘Hydrogen economy.’ The ability to harness methanol and paraformaldehyde as hydrogen carriers offers significant potential to address the challenges posed by the increasing global energy demands. This development marks a significant step forward in the quest for sustainable energy solutions.

Publication link: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/cy/d3cy01699d

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Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) -National Physical Laboratory celebrates One Week One Theme Program on Energy & Energy Devices

 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is organizing weeklong activities on One Week One Theme (OWOT) in eight different themes across its 37 laboratories to showcase translatable research leads to marketable/value-added technologies/products, enhancing interactions and connecting to stakeholders to enable ease of technology licensing. The targeted theme “Energy and Energy Devices (EED)” is focused on conventional, non-conventional, sustainable, and innovative approaches for energy generation and storage solutions during 24-28 June, 2024 in New Delhi.

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) -National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) is also organizing two days event on 26th and 27th June, 2024, under the OWOT:EED program by displaying technical strengths and achievements in the areas of Photovoltaic Metrology, Flexible solar cells (Silicon & Perovskite), Energy gas (Hydrogen & Alternative Fuels) Metrology and Agricultural waste to Biocoal, through a series of events including expert presentations, industry meet, laboratory visits, demonstration of working facilities etc. 

Dr. Sushil Kumar, Convener of the event gave an overview of CSIR-NPL energy based technology driven research. He also spoke  about OWOT:EED program of  CSIR-NPL on Energy & Energy Devices. Dr. S.R. Dhakate, officiating director CSIR-NPL, emphasized on the importance of renewable energy and technology on solar, bio mass, hydrogen, and its potential to prevent global warming. Throwing some light on the contribution of CSIR-NPL on solar energy and converting bio-mass into bio-coal technology., he added  that CSIR-NPL is going to provide primary reference solar cells calibration service in next 2-3 months and asked solar industry to get benefit of it.   About 40 participants from PV industry and 80 students from various institute participated in the event. A session on green  energy, gas and biomass to biocoal on 27 June 2024.

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Bumper sale of Khadi yoga clothes and mats on International Yoga Day

 This International Yoga Day brought special happiness to lakhs of Khadi artisans in rural areas of India. On International Yoga Day celebrated on 21st June, Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (KVIC) sold 1,09,022 yoga mats and 63,700 yoga dress worth Rs 8,67,87,380 to various government departments through 55 Khadi institutions across the country. Releasing the figures, KVIC Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar said that the ‘brand power’ of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has made the Indian heritage of yoga as well as Khadi popular. It is a matter of joy for the Khadi family that this time there has been a record-breaking sale of special yoga clothes and mats made by our Khadi artisans. He further said that this time on Yoga Day, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi performed yoga in Srinagar and Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah practiced yoga in Ahmedabad wearing Khadi yoga clothes. This is a matter of pride for Khadi artisans.

KVIC Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar further said that yoga dress and mats made of Khadi are very advantageous for health as well as environment protection, as they are made without chemicals and with the use of minimum water. He further said that the sale of Khadi yoga clothes and mats on the special occasion of International Yoga Day is a symbol of the fact that the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is determined to conserve its heritage Khadi as well as determined to protect environmental. This also gives new strength to the Vocal for Local and Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.   

According to the released data, this time KVIC prepared special Khadi yoga kurtas (in T-shirt style) on demand of the Ministry of AYUSH. These were specially designed keeping the youth in mind. On the occasion of Yoga Day, KVIC’s Khadi Bhawan located at Connaught Place, Delhi supplied 50,000 yoga mats and 50,000 yoga dress to the Ministry of AYUSH alone. This also included 300 premium quality yoga mats. Along with this, as per the demand of the Ministry, 25,000 Khadi yoga mats and clothes were supplied in Srinagar and 10,000 mats and yoga clothes were supplied in Srinagar. In Srinagar, thousands of people participated in yoga practice wearing Khadi clothes under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

In addition to Ministry of AYUSH, KVIC also supplied yoga clothes and yoga mats made of Khadi for yoga practice mainly to Morarji Desai National Yoga Institute, National Ayurveda Institute Jaipur and Panchkula, Defence Research and Development Organization, ONGC and NALCO. In the total supply of Rs 8,67,87,380, the sale of Khadi yoga clothes was Rs 3,86,65,900 and the sale of mats was Rs 4,81,21,480. As per the demand, KVIC had already informed Khadi institutions across the country, which included 55 institutions in Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Delhi, for supply. Through this, spinners, weavers and Khadi workers working in Khadi institutions got additional wages as well as additional employment opportunities.

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PM addresses Lok Sabha after election of the Speaker

 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha after the House elected Shri Om Birla as the Speaker of the House. 

The Prime Minister welcomed Shri Birla taking over as Speaker for a second consecutive term. He conveyed the best wishes of the House to the Speaker. Noting the significance of Shri Birla taking over second time during the Amrit Kaal, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that his experience of five years and the members’ experience with him will enable the re-elected Speaker to guide the house in these important times. The Prime Minister noted the polite and humble personality of the Speaker and his winning smile that helps him in conducting the House.  

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the re-elected speaker will continue to achieve new success. He noted that it was Shri Balram Jhakar who was the first Speaker to hold the post again after five successive years, and today it is Shri Om Birla who after the successful completion of the 17th Lok Sabha has got the responsibility to lead the 18th Lok Sabha to great successes. He also pointed out the trend of a 20-year period in the middle when those who were elected Speaker either did not contest elections or did not win an election after their appointment, but it is Shri Om Birla who has scripted history by returning as Speaker after emerging victorious again.    

The Prime Minister touched upon the working of the Speaker as a Parliamentarian. PM Modi mentioned the remarkable campaign of Healthy Mother and Healthy Child in the constituency of Shri Om Birla. He also remarked on the good work done by Shri Birla in taking health services to the rural areas of Kota, his constituency. He also praised Shri Birla’s promotion of sports in his constituency. 

Recalling Shri Birla’s leadership for the last Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister called that period to be a golden period in our Parliamentary history. Remembering the transformative decisions taken during the 17th Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister praised the Speaker’s leadership. The Prime Minister mentioned Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, Jammu Kashmir Reorganization, Bhartiya Nyay Samhita, Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Samhita, Samajik Suraksha Samhita, Personal Data Protection Bill, Muslim Mahila Vivah Adhikar Sanrakshan Vidheyak, Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Bill, Consumer Protection Bill, Direct Tax – Vivad se Vishwas Vidheyak; all landmark Acts that were passed under the Speakership of Shri Om Birla. 

The Prime Minister said the long journey of democracy witnesses various stopovers that provide the opportunity to create new records. He expressed confidence that the people of India will continue to cherish the 17th Lok Sabha in the future for its achievements as he lauded the work accomplished in the 17th Lok Sabha towards making India a modern nation. He assured the House that the new Parliament building will pave the way for Amrit Kaal’s future under the Hon’ble Speaker’s guidance. Shri Modi recalled the inauguration of the new Parliament building under the chairmanship of the present Speaker and also praised the steps taken towards strengthening the foundations of democratic methodologies. He also lauded the paperless workflow and the systematic briefing process initiated by the Speaker to boost discussions in the House. 

The Prime Minister also praised the Speaker for a very successful P-20 Conference of Presiding Officers of legislative bodies of G-20 nations which was attended by a record number of countries. 

The Prime Minister said that the Parliament House is not just walls but is the center of aspiration of 140 crore citizens. He emphasized that the functioning of the house, conduct and accountability deepen the foundation of democracy in our country. The Prime Minister mentioned the record productivity of the 17th Lok Sabha which stood at 97 per cent. Shri Modi also mentioned the personal touch and concern of the Speaker for the Members of the House during the Corona pandemic. He praised Shri Birla for not letting the pandemic stall the functioning of the House when productivity reached 170 percent. 

Prime Minister Modi lauded the balance shown by the Speaker in maintaining the decorum of the House which also involved taking several tough decisions. He expressed gratitude towards the Speaker for choosing to uphold the values of the House while maintaining the traditions. 

The Prime Minister expressed immense confidence in the 18th Lok Sabha becoming a success by serving the people and realizing their dreams and aspirations. Concluding his address, the Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes to Shri Om Birla for the pivotal responsibility enshrined upon him and to take the nation to new heights of success. 

 

 

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No First Use & Massive Retaliation

 Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has reiterated that the uniqueness of India’s nuclear trajectory is premised on the principle of ‘No First Use & Massive Retaliation’. Gen Anil Chauhan was delivering the keynote address on ‘Nuclear Strategy : Contemporary Developments and Future Possibilities’ in a seminar organised by Centre for Air Power Studies – IISS Seminar in New Delhi on June 26, 2024.

In his address, Gen Anil Chauhan highlighted the changing nature & characteristics of conventional warfare. He impressed that the threat from nuclear weapons has once again occupied centre-stage in the geopolitical landscape.

The CDS  stressed the need for a deeper thought, development of new doctrines, reimagning deterrence and safeguarding nuclear C4I2SR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Information, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) infrastructure.  

Gen Anil Chauhan also released the Asian Defence Review 2024 ‘Emerging Technologies and Changing Dimensions  of Threats to India’ at the CAPS – IISS Seminar.

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Imposition of emergency had plunged world’s largest democracy into darkness

 Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar today said that in 1975 due to imposition of emergency, world’s largest democracy had plunged into darkness. Recalling the dark days of emergency, Shri Dhankhar asserted that the days of emergency will never be seen again as the constitutional democracy is very strong in Bharat and now constitutionally guaranteed at village, State and Union level.

Addressing at the golden jubilee celebrations of Central electronics Limited (CEL), Shri Dhankhar acknowledged the role of scientists and technologists of the country and called them as architects of new India. Applauding the turnaround of CEL from a loss making PSU on the verge of disinvestment to the conferment of ‘Miniratna’ status, Vice-President noted that CEL is a role model for other to energize themselves, motivate themselves so that they also grow in similar fashion.

“This story is not just about technological advancements; it is about transforming lives, empowering communities, and securing our nation’s strategic interests with innovation, resilience, and excellence”, he further added.

Noting the remarkable strides made by CEL in the field of solar energy, Shri Dhankhar underlined that renewable energy is not just an alternative; it is the future.  “By focusing on sustainable energy solutions, CEL is contributing to a greener, cleaner India. CEL’s innovations have brought sustainable energy solutions closer to the common man”, he added. He further called for promoting research to develop battery technologies and charging infrastructure to promote green mobility in the country.

Underlining the changing security landscape marked by electronic warfare techniques, artificial intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance, Shri Dhankhar highlighted the strategic importance of CEL in safeguarding national interests. “At the heart of all these [disruptive technologies] is electronics. Electronics forms the core, the base of any future technological development and expansion”, he stressed.

Lauding the recent steps taken in the country to support electronics manufacturing ecosystem, Shri Dhankhar said that the Indigenous capacity building for electronics design and manufacturing is significantly crucial to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’.

Earlier Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar also unveiled the Golden Jubilee Logo of Central Electronics Limited and inaugurated the Multipurpose Hall ‘Swarn Mandapam’.

Dr Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR & Director General, CSIR, Shri Chetan Prakash Jain, CMD CEL, members of CEL family and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

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