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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42nd India International Trade Fair

“The trade fair offers an opportunity to present the initiatives undertaken for health with a focus on growing momentum of the range of healthcare services available and accessible to the public.” This was stated by Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog as he inaugurated the Ayushman Bhav Health Pavilion at the 42nd India International Trade Fair (IITF) in the presence of Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today. The theme of this year’s pavilion of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, United by Trade”, while the theme of the Health Pavilion is “Ayushman Bhava”.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Dr Paul lauded the different Health kiosks focused on preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care, informing the public on comprehensive health schemes being offered by the Government especially under Ayushman Bhav. Lauding the stalls at the pavilion, he emphasized on importance of creating awareness for diseases and hence availing required treatment, and mitigating any adverse impact as far as possible. Dr Paul highlighted that contribution of Jan Andolan movement, stating that awareness amongst the public would lead to behavioral change, by way of endorsing good health practices.

Citing the recent initiative of Sickle Cell Anaemia, Dr. V.K Paul highlighted the importance of generating awareness via counselling to ensure correct treatment and mitigate adverse effects of the disease. Reflecting on the issue of adolescent health, he stated “it is imperative to strengthen health systems to ensure a healthy future for the coming generation” and emphasized the role of Jan Andolan in achieving this objective. He further lauded the establishment of 1,60,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres stating that they are critical to ensuring delivery of affordable and accessible healthcare services in the rural areas. He further added that “ABHA records will play an instrumental role in ensuring delivery of healthcare services across the nation.”

Shri Sudhansh Pant emphasized on the Digital Health initiatives underscoring their universal impact and applicability. He stated “Ayushman cards are ensuring last-mile delivery of free healthcare benefits to the underprivileged through the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.” He further urged stakeholders to engage with the array of stalls accessible in the event and participate in generating awareness for health initiatives.

The Health Pavilion showcases various initiatives, schemes and achievements of the Union Health Ministry including the recently launched PM TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, National Universal Immunization Programme, FSSAI, NACO, AB PMJAY, NVBDCP, NHA. It also has various stalls for informative activities, life-saving skills, checking and screening for diabetes, anaemia, blood pressure, BMI etc.

The event was attended by Dr. Rajiv Bhal, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, Ms. Roli Singh, Addl Secy, Ministry of Health, Ms. L. S Changsen, AS&MD, Ministry of Health, Ms. Hekali Zhimomi, Additional Secretary, senior officials and other dignitaries.

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National Health Authority (NHA) organises Accelerator Workshops on ABDM Integration and NHCX Adoption

The National Health Authority (NHA) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) have joined hands to operationalize the National Health Claim Exchange (NHCX), a digital health claims platform developed by National Health Authority. This initiative is being undertaken in the context of a circular issued by IRDAI in June 2023, whereby the insurance regulator had advised all insurers and providers to onboard the NHCX.

The NHCX will serve as a gateway for exchanging claims-related information among various stakeholders in the healthcare and health insurance ecosystem. The integration with NHCX would enable seamless interoperability of health claims processing, enhancing efficiency and transparency in the insurance industry and benefiting the policyholders and patients.

In this regard, a three-day workshop was organized from 7th to 9th November in New Delhi, aimed mainly at hospital providers to onboard on the NHCX and insurance companies to fully integrate with the NHCX. This workshop was the third in a series of workshops that have been organized by NHA and IRDAI. The first two workshops were organized in August and October of this year and had participation from insurance companies and TPAs.

Over 150 professionals representing 45 organisations – insurance companies, TPAs, and hospitals have participated in these workshops. Considering the encouraging progress made by the insurance companies in these workshops, the organisations were advised to select their most popular retail product along with one network hospital to pilot the operationalization of NHCX.

This workshop saw participation from 10 hospitals, each assigned to an insurance company. The technical and business teams of these hospitals were guided by teams from NHA, IRDAI and NRCeS (National Resource Centre for EHR Standards) to onboard on the NHCX. At the end of the workshop, 10 hospitals namely Jupiter Hospital,Thane ; Kauvery Hospitals, Chennai; A J Hospital Research and Research Centre, Bengaluru ; Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad; Fortis Hospital, Gurugram; Fortis Hospital, Noida; Shri Balaji Action Hospital, Delhi; Sanar International Hospital, Gurugram; Centre for Sight, Dwarka, Delhi; and Narayana Hrudayalaya, Delhi were onboarded on the NHCX provider Registry.

In addition, the hospital/claim management systems (HMIS) of these hospitals, namely M/s Jupiter Hospitals, Kauvery Hospitals, Akhil systems, Kare Expert, Fortis Hospitals, Narayana Hrudayalya and Vitraya Technologies Private Limited were able to complete the requisite M1 integration of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), which is an essential step to complete NHCX integration. The M1 integration enables a software to create and verify Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA).

The workshop also saw completion of full integration with NHCX by eight insurance companies/TPAs, taking the total count to 12 insurance companies having successfully completed the NHCX integration. Four insurance companies, namely Aditya Birla Health Insurance, Star Health and Allied Insurance, Bajaj Allianz Insurance Company and HDFC Ergo Insurance had already completed the full integration in the second workshop in October. During this workshop, seven insurance companies and one TPA, namely ICICI Lombard General Insurance, The New India Assurance Company, Care Health Insurance, Go Digit General Insurance, Acko General Insurance, Tata AIG General Insurance company, Paramount TPA, United India Insurance Company successfully completed NHCX integration.

To encourage adoption of digital health transactions and digitization of patient health records in the country, NHA has also announced financial incentives under the Digital Health Incentive Scheme (DHIS) from Jan 2023. Under the DHIS, to encourage efficiency in insurance claim processing, there is a provision that for every insurance claim transaction through NHCX, financial incentives of Rs 500 per claim or 10% of the claim amount, whichever is lower would be provided for the hospitals. More information on the DHIS is available here: https://abdm.gov.in/DHIS

Considering the enthusiastic participation by the insurance companies and providers, a full scale launch of this transformational initiative is expected soon. For more information on the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX), see https://sbxhcx.abdm.gov.in/

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International Conference of the Indian Navy – the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD

The annual apex-level international conference of the Indian Navy – the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) – will be held in New Delhi from 15 to 17 November 2023. The event will include a Keynote Address by Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, the Hon’ble Vice President of India on 15 Nov 23, and a series of Special Addresses by Union Ministers and senior officers of the Government of India, designed to provide overarching guidance to the deliberations of this mega conference (https://maritimeindia.org/indo-pacific-regional-dialogue-2023/)

The IPRD follows hard on the heels of the Goa Maritime Conclave 2023, which had been conducted by the Indian Navy from 29 to 31 Oct 2023 in Goa (https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1973395). In terms of conceptual positioning, the Goa Maritime Conclave seeks to project the Indian Navy’s cooperative engagement at the strategic-operational level, by providing a forum for the Chiefs-of-Navy and Heads of Maritime Agencies in the Indian Ocean Region. The IPRD, on the other hand, is the principal manifestation of the Navy’s international engagement at the strategic-level, addressing ‘holistic’ maritime security issues across the Indo-Pacific.

The first two editions of IPRD were held in 2018 and 2019 respectively at New Delhi. IPRD 2020 was cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The third edition of IPRD was held in 2021 in online mode and the fourth edition was conducted, reverting to a physical format, at New Delhi in 2022.

The National Maritime Foundation (NMF) is the Indian Navy’s knowledge partner and chief organiser of each edition of the IPRD, which aims to review various maritime trends within the Indo-Pacific region, the regional opportunities and challenges that arise therefrom, and foster the exchange of solution-oriented dialogue amongst key stakeholders.

Theme of IPRD-2023

The overarching theme of IPRD-2023 is “Geopolitical Impacts upon Indo-Pacific Maritime Trade and Connectivity”. This year’s edition of the IPRD builds upon the previous one, which focussed upon ‘Operationalising the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)’, by specifically addressing the ‘Trade, Connectivity and Maritime Transport’ pillar of the IPOI. Both ‘Trade’ and ‘Maritime Transport’ are, of course, segments of maritime connectivity.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, had espoused the principle of “responsible maritime connectivity” in his remarks at the UNSC high-level open debate on “Enhancing Maritime Security: A Case for International Cooperation” on 09 August 2021, in which he specifically emphasised three key aspects in marine infrastructure creation, namely, the physical sustainability of such projects, the absorption capacity of the countries where such infrastructure is proposed to be developed, and appropriate global norms and standards for the creation of marine infrastructure. However, geopolitical disturbances, wherever they might occur, pose significant maritime challenges, including adverse impacts upon trade and maritime connectivity. These challenges have been evident in the events that have occurred in recent years — from the COVID-19 pandemic to the maritime manifestations of the rash of escalating tensions, as also armed conflicts, that are breaking-out across a world increasingly embroiled in geopolitical contestations.

Therefore, IPRD-2023 will, through the agency of a series of globally renowned subject-matter experts and eminent speakers, explore geopolitical impacts upon Indo-Pacific maritime trade and connectivity through six professional sessions spread over a three-day period. The sessions are:

(1) Nodes of Maritime Connectivity;

(2) China’s Impact vis-à-vis Maritime Connectivity across the Indo-Pacific;

(3) Maritime Connectivity through Shipping and Trade;

(4) Maritime Connectivity through Shipping and Trade (Part 2);

(5) Private Industry in the Safety and Security of Indo-Pacific Maritime Trade and Shipping; and

(6) Maintaining a Rules-based, Safe, and Secure Indo-Pacific.

Practitioners and domain-experts from within the Government of India, Indian defence industry, and Indian academia will also enrich the conference by their presence and contributions.

International participation in IPRD 2023 will be through eminent speakers from 16 countries, who are expected to offer diverse regional perspectives on the subject, as also through the presence of representatives of the various embassies and high commissions in New Delhi.

As with previous editions of the IPRD, participation of the vibrant student community and scholars, eminent citizens, military practitioners, members of the diplomatic corps, and think-tanks from India and abroad will add effervescence to this event.

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VM/PS 211/23

Leveraging Kashmir's untapped potential through skill development and Innovation driven Entrepreneurship

National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India, an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India in association with University of Kashmir and NIF Incubation and Entrepreneurship Council – NIFientreC, organised a workshop in Srinagar on 8th November 2023 at Kashmir University with an objective to on-board all stakeholders, primarily the enablers for Innovation and Entrepreneurship ecosystem in the valley.

Stakeholders from multiple organisations deliberated on a roadmap to improve the prospects for growth and development, through innovation and entrepreneurship by harnessing Jammu and Kashmir’s untapped potential as well as the major challenges and lessons from key milestones achieved, at a day long roundtable titled “Inclusive Development through Entrepreneurial Advancement (IDEA)”.

“The time has come when entrepreneurs with the support of eco-system builders can push their boundaries to grow exponentially and, in this process, could harness their own potential in superior ways,” said Dr. Vipin Kumar, Chief Scientist, NIF.

Dr Praveen Roy, Head – NEB Division, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India stressed that modern day start-ups believe in pivoting their businesses as opposed to labelling them as failures.

Chetan Krishnaswamy, Vice President, Public Policy, Amazon India, pointed out that vibrant J&K is home to entrepreneurs who have the talent to create leading global brands by being part of our flagship programs like Karigar, Saheli, and Global Selling.

Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir, Registrar, University of Kashmir familiarized participants on the significant recent initiatives that the University has undertaken so as to strengthen innovation in the valley.

Grassroots innovators spoke about some of their accomplishments and also about the challenges related to achieving scale in their respective businesses. GR8 SPORTS India, an entrepreneur representing the formal sector and also other entrepreneurs shared the growing expectations that enterprises particularly those driven by the first generation entrepreneurs have from the Government specially from the perspective of ease of doing business and also what steps are to be taken so as to create a bridge so as to address the gaps and build resilience.

The roundtable which facilitated a listening mind kind of environment wherein the beneficiaries could share their experiences with respect to access and leveraging of various schemes, facilities, incentives and so on was attended by representatives of multiple organizations, both within and outside the valley, representing a wide array of work areas like Ministries and Government organizations (Central/State/Local), Financial Institutions, Marketplaces, Investor services organizations, Technology Business Incubators, Media, Entrepreneurs, and Innovators (particularly those at the grassroots).

Key takeaways from the roundtable included an enhanced focus on awareness which is often the starting point of leveraging and making the most out of any incubation activity, financial literacy and capacity building, leveraging data driven insights, organizing B-Plan and other youth sensitization activities, arriving at newer equity based financing models, strengthening case study based models for dissemination of information, mapping expertise of stakeholders, facilitating mentoring on important areas like pivoting a stat-up etc.

The participants included representatives from Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India; Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI); Amazon India; University of Kashmir; SKUAST, Kashmir; Press Information Bureau – PIB, Government of India; Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI); J&K Trade Promotion Organisation (JKTPO), Entrepreneurs in niche areas like sports namely GR8 Sports Pvt Ltd amongst others who shared their experiences and subsequently their recommendations on ways to grow the profile of innovation and entrepreneurship in the valley.

AAINA Dashboard for Cities’ portal launched

The ‘AAINA Dashboard for Cities’ portal www.aaina.gov.in has been made live by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) on 13th November, 2023 where Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the country can participate in this pioneering initiative to voluntarily submit their key data on a regular basis, through a simple, easy-to-fill, data entry form on the portal.

The primary objectives of the AAINA Dashboard are to help cities to (i) see how they are faring vis-à-vis other cities, (ii) inspire them by pointing to possibilities and areas of improvement and (iii) providing opportunity to learn and engage with frontrunners. While not ranking the ULBs, the AAINA dashboard would serve as a tool for comparing similarly placed cities and promoting peer learning among cities.

The Dashboard will present the data submitted by the ULBs on the basis of indicators across five broad pillars namely, (i) Political & Administrative Structure, (ii) Finance, (iii) Planning, (iv) Citizen Centric Governance and (v) Delivery of Basic Services. The ULBs will submit their data, including audited accounts, and self-reported performance metrics by logging in to the dashboard’s portal. ULBs would be free to update the information initially provided by them, anytime on the portal as per need. The Dashboard has been envisaged as a permanent platform for ULB related data, that would be updated on a regular basis. With active cooperation of all ULBs, the ‘AAINA Dashboard for Cities’ aims to create a robust database of the key performance metrics of Urban Local Bodies, which could be accessed by all stakeholders, and subsequently would open for public view once it gets populated. The Ministry through Digital India Corporation will provide handholding support to ULBs / States in the data submission process on a need basis.

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33rd Conference of the WOAH Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific at New Delhi today

Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan chaired the inaugural session of the 33rd Conference of the WOAH (World Organization for Animal Health) Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific at New Delhi today. Many dignitories including MoS(FAHD),Dr. L. Murugan were present at the occasion. This 4-day event is scheduled from November 13 to 16, 2023.

Secretary, Dept of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Smt. Alka Upadhyaya and the Indian delegate in WOAH, was appointed as the chairperson. In her address, she highlighted the significance of One Health under the National Digital Livestock Mission, transforming the livestock health landscape in India and globally.

Delegates and experts from 24 member countries are participating physically, with others joining virtually. The event was graced by dignitaries including Dr. Monique Eloit, WOAH Director General; Dr. Baoxu Huang, President, WOAH Regional Commission of Asia and the Pacific; Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, GoI and Dr. Hirofumi Kugita, WOAH Regional Representative for Asia and Pacific, Japan.

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INDIAN NAVY QUIZ – SAIL BEYOND HORIZON

The Indian Navy and NWWA (Navy Wellness and Welfare Association) have, over the years, been conducting a quiz competition for school children as part of Navy Week activities. Christened “The Indian Navy Quiz – THINQ”, the 2023 edition of the quiz has acquired global reach, riding on the partnership and support it has received from the G20 Secretariat in a year that marks India’s presidency of the prestigious G20. Very appropriately, therefore, the event is also being called the G20 THINQ.

The event is being conducted at two levels, national and international, and in two locations – in Mumbai and New Delhi.

The National Round of the G20 THINQ saw a record number of 11,741 schools registering for it. The first elimination round (ER1) was completed on 14 Sep 23 with 3902 schools qualifying for the next level, ER2. ER2 was conducted on 03 Oct 23 with a total of 1674 qualifying for the quarter finals conducted on 10 Oct 23. The quarter finals saw schools engaging each other neck-and-neck in a tough competition, which led to the top 10 teams from each zone being selected to compete with each other over a tie-breaker round on 18 Oct 23. This round finalised the selection of the following 16 schools that will match wits against each other over the semifinals:

– Bhavan’s Vidya Mandir, Girinagar

– DAV Public School, Gurgaon

– Delhi Public School, Bhopal

– Delhi Public School, Patna

– Dewan Public School, Meerut

– Dr K. B. Hedgewar Vidyamandir, Carapur

– G. D. Goenka Public School, Siliguri

– GMHSS Calicut University Campus, Calicut

– Krishna Public School, Raipur

– Narendra Convent High School and Junior College, Kalyan

– Navy Children School, Mumbai

– Sainik School, Satara

– Sanjay Ghodawat International, Kolhapur

– SNMHSS, Purakkad.

– St Anthony’s Sr Sec School, Udaipur.

– Swami Sant Dass Public School, Jalandhar.

These 16 teams will converge at Mumbai for the national semi finals and finals that are slated to be held at NCPA and Gateway of India on 17 and 18 Nov 23 respectively. Participating students will also get the opportunity to meet and interact with naval personnel in uniform and catch a glimpse of the exciting world of naval operations onboard warships, submarines and naval aircraft in Western Naval Command, Mumbai.

On completion of the national round, a jury will identity two best quizzers from amongst all finalists to form “Team India” for participation in the international round at India Gate, New Delhi.

For the international round, invitations were extended to all G20+09 nations and an impressive 23 international teams have indicated their interest to take part in it at New Delhi on 19 Nov 23. The grand finale is set to take place at the iconic India Gate, New Delhi on 23 Nov 23, offering these bright school students a global stage for intellectual exchange and competition.

As India hands over the G20 baton to Brazil on 01 Dec 23, the G20 THINQ will likely be the concluding episode of a series of significant events held in the nation since Dec 22. It also aims to serve as a remarkable finale to India’s Presidency that witnessed many unique achievements of the G20 at the global level.

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Government e-Marketplace achieves landmark Gross Merchandise Value of ₹2 Lakh Crore

In a remarkable achievement, Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has reached a significant milestone by surpassing ₹2 Lakh Crore in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) within less than eight months of the current fiscal year, surpassing the total GMV inscribed at the end of last fiscal year (2022-23). The average GMV per day has also witnessed significant growth and reached more than ₹850 crore per day in the current Financial Year.

Within the constellation of noteworthy contributors to this momentous GMV achievement in the current financial year, the substantial role played by Central entities, including Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), has been truly outstanding, constituting an overwhelming 83% of the total.

Also, the enthusiastic participation of State Governments, comprising the remaining 17%, further underscores the nationwide embrace of GeM’s transformative impact on public procurement. States like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Bihar, Assam, Uttarakhand have placed significant amounts of procurement orders in the current financial year.

This unparalleled collaboration between the Central and State entities exemplifies a harmonious synergy, propelling GeM to unprecedented heights of success.

GeM’s expansion into the services sector has played a pivotal role in driving its accelerated adoption. The increase in order value in the services segment has been the brightest chapter in GeM’s success story with exponential growth over the last 3 years. Services sector has exhibited a staggering increase in the overall contribution to the total order value transacted through the platform, having jumped from 23% in FY 21-22 to nearly 46% in the current financial year.

This outstanding accomplishment not only reflects the platform’s rapid growth but also its pivotal role in transforming public procurement across India. GeM’s unprecedented growth can be attributed to its commitment to fostering efficiency and transparency in public procurement processes, enabling government agencies to access a wide range of products and services in a streamlined and cost-effective manner.

The portal displays a diverse catalogue of nearly 312 service categories and more than 11,800 product categories, well-equipping it to adequately match the dynamic requirements of government buyers at all levels. Cumulatively, GeM has surpassed the ₹5.93 lakh crore GMV since inception, with the overwhelming support of its stakeholders. The total number of transactions on GeM has also crossed 1.8 crore.

Additionally, GeM’s unwavering dedication to inclusivity and accessibility stands as a testament to its visionary approach. The platform’s seamless integration with e-Gram Swaraj, aimed at streamlining Panchayat-level procurement, not only underscores its commitment but also showcases its unparalleled prowess in connecting with last-mile sellers while meticulously optimizing costs at the grassroots level of administration. This remarkable endeavour elevates GeM’s impact, demonstrating its far-reaching influence on India’s procurement landscape.

GeM’s multifaceted approach to instilling inclusivity and diversity within the marketplace has also added to its triumphant success. The platform caters particularly to the unique contexts and limitations of marginalised seller segments like small and medium enterprises, women entrepreneurs, startups, and artisans. Its policies have been formulated with the intent to provide right business opportunities to all firms, irrespective of their size and popularity. Subsequently, nearly 49% of the total order value transacted through the platform has been awarded to MSEs. In just 7 months, more than 45000 MSEs have registered as sellers/service providers registered on GeM.

A hallmark of GeM’s success lies in its dedication to cost savings, having enabled the government to save over ₹45,000 crore since 2016. According to the Economic Survey 2021-22, GeM’s prices were 9.5% lower than other online platforms for 10 out of 22 commodities. GeM’s transformative journey is a testament to transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity driven by cutting-edge technology and innovation.

As GeM continues to evolve, it remains a cornerstone of the Indian government’s digital transformation and the “Make in India” initiative, promoting the use of domestically manufactured products and services.

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Vacancy for Landscape Architect job at Bangalore

About Sponge Collaborative

Sponge Collaborative is a multi disciplinary design and planning firm that works on sustainable buildings, inclusive cities, resilient landscapes by integrating multiple systems and bridging disciplines. We consider the needs of various stakeholders to realize holistic and strategic solutions that serve multi-sectoral needs and generate co-benefits for all.

Qualifications Required :

Strong concept design skills with understanding of construction details, ecology, planting, blue-green infrastructure, and integration with masterplan vision.

Strong skills in AutoCAD, Sketch up and Adobe Suite. ArcGIS proficiency and environmental analysis skill sets preferred.
Demonstrated experience in design development and construction drawings including planting plans, irrigation plans and waterfront open spaces.
Effective communication skills required and project management experience preferred.
Ability to work within interdisciplinary teams and coordinate with consultants and vendors.

If you are interested in joining a highly collaborative environment and learn from peers who are self-motivated, curious, and dedicated to the public good, send in your CV and portfolio to jobs@spongecollborative.com with the subject line “Application for Landscape Architect”.

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Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship

Inspired by the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship initiated Special Campaign 3.0 from October 2nd to October 31st, 2023. The primary objectives of this campaign were centered around expeditious disposal of pending matters, efficient space management, and the promotion of a clean and green environment.

The successful culmination of Special Campaign 3.0 on Swachhata is a testament to the Ministry’s commitment. This comprehensive initiative spanned across the Ministry itself, as well as its attached/subordinate offices and Autonomous Bodies dispersed across various regions of the country. The preparatory phase, commencing on September 15th, 2023, played a pivotal role in identifying specific targets for cleaning during the campaign period.

The campaign emphasized not only the disposal of pending matters but also gave special attention to optimizing space utilization and enhancing the overall workplace experience in offices. Throughout the preparatory phase and the campaign itself, 8354 cleanliness sites were meticulously identified across the nation. The anticipated outcome was the clearing of approximately 660 square feet of space, with over 4579 physical files earmarked for thorough review. Also, total revenue generated from disposal of scrap was Rs. 20,94,013/- . Daily progress was diligently monitored by a dedicated team and consistently updated on the SCPDM portal hosted by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.

Furthermore, Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, took proactive measures by conducting visits to different divisions and hosting regular review meetings to assess the progress made during Special Campaign 3.0. With his insightful guidance, specialized teams were strategically organized to visit regional institutions as part of the campaign, ensuring its effective implementation and impact. “In the spirit of Prime Minister Modi’s vision for a cleaner and more efficient governance, Special Campaign 3.0 reflects our commitment to excellence. Through strategic planning, surprise visits, and dedicated teamwork, we have not only cleared space but also advanced the cause of cleanliness and efficiency. This initiative is a testament to our resolve for transformative change, fostering a workplace that aligns with the ideals of Swachhata and operational excellence,” said Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Highlighted among the commendable practices acknowledged by MSDE is the initiation of constructing artificial recharge pits in 25 varied locations across the campus of the Government Model Industrial Training Institute on Hosur Road in Bangalore. These pits exhibit an impressively combined capacity of around 12 million litres of rainwater, equivalent to approximately 10% of the annual rainfall. This endeavor will result in the establishment of 25 percolation wells within the ITI, capable of conserving approximately 3.2 million litres of rainwater, thus making a significant contribution to sustainable water management initiatives.

On October 1, Government ITI Behrampur, Odisha also marked the Swachhta Abhiyaan with an innovative and sustainable idea. The celebration took a creative and environmentally conscious turn with the unveiling of a 23-foot-tall scrap elephant structure. This unique installation was crafted using 30,000 used plastic water bottles, a collection effort spearheaded by 3000 Behrampur trainees who diligently gathered these bottles from various locations in the city. The initiative not only showcased a commitment to cleanliness but also demonstrated an innovative approach to recycling and repurposing materials for a visually impactful and eco-friendly celebration.

Some more initiatives listed here:

Tweet 1: Construction of artificial recharge pits

Tweet 2: Crafted a 12ft movable ladder from waste materials

Tweet 3: Innovative Model Electric Control Panel Demo Training Kit repurposing waste wood from doors

Tweet 4: Refurbished an old petrol engine motorcycle, transforming it into an electrically charged vehicle

National Campaign against Gender-based Violence – ‘Nayi Chetna – 2.0’

In an inter-ministerial meeting which saw participation of nine line ministries, DAY-NRLM(Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission), Ministry of Rural Development announced its plans for the second year of its National Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence – ‘Nayi Chetna – 2.0’. The meeting held yesterday, was chaired by the Additional Secretary, MoRD Charanjit Singh. The Joint Secretary, Rural Livelihoods, Smriti Sharan, introduced the campaign to the gathered delegates. It was organized to foster convergence to collectively strengthen redressal mechanisms for survivors of GBV.

The campaign is to be launched on 25 November which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It will be observed across 34 Indian states and UTs till 23 December. The annual campaign will be led by DAY-NRLM’s self-help groups network of over 9.8 crore rural women members with the spirit of a Jan Andolan or people’s movement.

Data from NFHS – 5 show that more than 77% women still do not report or talk about their experience of violence. Such findings, as well as experiences of violence of women SHG members across the country is what encouraged this initiative. The Nayi Chetna Campaign aims to advance the rights of women and gender-diverse individuals, for a life without fear, and gender-based discrimination and violence. Campaign activities will deepen awareness on gender-based violence (GBV) amongst self-help group members and encourage GBV reporting. It will also address social norms which sanction and help such forms of violence to prevail.

Through the deliberations, various ministries shared their interest and highlighted specific areas of support that could be provided. A key activity will be sensitization of service providers on their role in supporting survivors of gender-based violence. This will go a long way in creating a conducive environment for survivors to speak up and seek support and justice. Participating ministries included Ministries of Panchayati Raj, Women and child development, Home Affairs, Law and Justice, Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports, Education and Literacy, Social Justice and Empowerment, as well as Health and Family Welfare.

This campaign will compliment DAY-NRLM’s ongoing programmatic efforts to address GBV. In addition to multiple targeted activities which enhance women’s decision making, and agency, DAY-NRLM has been establishing Gender Resource Centres (GRC) at block level. These are to provide a community managed platform from where inequalities and discrimination on the basis of gender can be protested, and where survivors can seek redressal through the support of other departments and agencies working on those issues. More than 3000 GRCs have been established across the country till date, and measures are being taken to set up more.

This campaign is an attempt to bring together, and give impetus all initiatives aimed at fostering a societal level change with regards to gender-based violence.

****

ANNUAL NAVY EDUCATION SOCIETY CONFERENCE – 2023

The Annual Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2023 was held at Headquarters Gujarat, Daman & Diu Naval Area, Porbandar on 09 – 10 November 2023, chaired by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of Personnel & Chairman NES. The conference was also attended by Commodore G Rambabu, Commodore (Naval Education) & Vice Chairman NES and academic as well as administrative leadership of Navy Children Schools across the country. The Executive Committee, Management Advisory Committee and Academic Advisory Committee meetings held as part of the conference deliberated policy framework for Naval Schools with specific impetus to implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. For the first time ever, representatives of Naval Kindergartens from various Naval Stations also took part in the conference.

On this occasion, Chairman NES presented Rolling Trophies to schools that excelled in academics during the last academic year. Addressing the delegates, Chairman NES appreciated the role played by NCSs in imparting quality education to children of naval personnel. He exhorted all stakeholders to continue investing in state-of-the-art infrastructure and faculty development, to facilitate a conducive learning environment that motivates children to imbibe life skills and excel in academics and co-curricular activities. A guided tour of Navy Children School Porbandar was also organised for the delegates.

_______________________________________________________________________

Institutionalization of Swachhata and minimizing pendency in the Offices

Ministry of Culture (MoC), along with its organizations, participated in the Special Campaign 3.0 while focusing mainly on institutionalization of Swachhata and minimizing pendency in Government Offices.

During implementation phase from 2nd to 31st October,2023, the Ministry achieved 100% targets in carrying out cleanliness drives in all designated 449 sites and in Record Management: all 15,969 Physical files and 2133 E-files have been reviewed, out of which 4975 Physical Files & 1620 E-Files have been weeded out and closed, respectively. In addition, 138 physical files have also been identified for transfer to National Archives of India (NAI). Revenue to the tune of Rs.42,15,715/- has been generated by disposing of scarps. A total of 22272 Sq.ft. area has been freed. Besides, other achievements include disposing off 83% Public Grievances; 81.8% PMO References; 67.8% State Govt. References; 64.2% MP References and 51% Parliament Assurances. Ministry has released 8 Press Statements. Further, 173 Tweets have also been made by the Ministry and its various organizations.

(Cleanliness drive conducted at sites of Chittorgarh Fort, a UNESCO, World Heritage Site)

As a part of restorative conservation of records, NAI repaired 21,425 number of sheets, 140 files and binding of 45 volumes of records in its collection. Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Coal and Directorate General CRPF, New Delhi have intimated NAI for appraisal of 452, 572 and 22 files, respectively. NAI has initiated action for joint appraisal of the above files as per provisions of Public Record Act & Rules.

[ Ongoing Conservation of Records at NAI ]

NAI also conducted the following Training Programmes in Record Management during Special Campaign 3.0 :-

An Orientation Course in Record Management for Group ‘B’ & above and equivalent level officers from various Ministries/Departments, Attached/Subordinate Offices and PSUs etc. from 18th to 20th October,2023;

A Special Training Session on Record Management for Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ and equivalent level Officers of the Ministry and Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) on 23.10.2023.

A Special Training Programme for the Record Officers newly nominated by various Ministries/Departments of Govt. of India at NAI Record Centre, Puducherry on 30th October, 2023 & 1st November, 2023.

Ministry of Culture also organized an Exhibition on the theme “Waste to Art” -“Scrap to Sculpture” from 28th to 31st October,2023 at the Office Premises of Lalit Kala Adademy, 35 Ferozeshah Road, Mandi House, New Delhi to showcase the best creative works done by its various organizations during Special Campaign 3.0. The exhibition was inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister of State for Culture, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal ji. Delhi Based Organizations and North East Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC) of the Ministry of Culture participated in the Exhibition while, other Organizations located outside Delhi also organized the Exhibition at their respective Offices. The Exhibition was aired on DD News on 1st November, 2023.

[“Waste to Art”-“Scrap to Sculpture” Exhibition organized by Ministry of Culture from 28th to 31st October, 2023]

[Sculpture of Goddess Maa Durga and a Deer crafted from discarded material as best creative art work by North Eastern Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC)]

Ministry of Culture is committed to continue with the good works done during Special Campaign in order to promote and institutionalize swachhata, and reduce pendency in all organizations.

***

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