Dust Control at National Highway Construction Sites in NCR

 To monitor the effective implementation of dust control measures in National Highway projects being implemented by NHAI in Delhi-NCR, NHAI has set up a ‘Dust and Control Management Center’, pursuant to the directions issued by Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) to improve air quality index in the National Capital Region.

NHAI is implementing prestigious projects around NCR such as Dwarka Expressway, UER II Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and Delhi – Dehradun Expressway. To keep the air quality and dust levels in control, NHAI has directed its contractors/ concessioners to review the existing dust control measures at the National Highway construction sites and strictly comply with the directions issued by the CAQM / Central and/ or State Pollution Control Board.

Dust control measures to be taken at the construction sites includes deployment of mechanical sweeping machines on completed projects, water sprinkling along the day on all construction sites, Deployment of Anti-Smog Guns on all constructions sites and batching plants, Covering of Construction & Demolition material with green net or cloth.     

With a dip in air quality parameters in Delhi-NCR, CAQM has invoked actions as envisaged under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). In line with these guidelines, NHAI is ensuring that all possible measures are taken to maximize dust control at the National Highway construction sites in the region.

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Nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign

 To enhance ‘Ease of Living’ of Central Government pensioners, Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has been promoting Digital Life Certificate (DLC) i.e. Jeevan Pramaan 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 issued.  A Nation-wide Campaign is being held from 1st to 30th November, 2023 in 500 locations in 100 cities across the country, targeting 50 lakh pensioners in collaboration of 17 Pension disbursing banks, Ministries/ Departments, Pensioners’ Welfare Association, UIDAI, MeitY. 

With a view to ensure that the benefit of digital modes of Life Certificate submission reaches pensioners in the remotest corners of the country and also benefits super senior/ sick / incapacitated pensioners, a comprehensive Circular with detailed guidelines has been issued defining roles and responsibilities of all the stakeholders which includes Ministries/ Departments of Government of India, Pension Disbursing Banks and Pensioners’ Associations. These guidelines include nomination of nodal officers by the stakeholders, for the Campaign,  spreading awareness / providing due publicity to DLC-Face Authentication technique through banners/posters placed strategically in offices and bank branches/ ATMs, use DLC/Face Authentication technique as far as possible where Doorstep banking services are availed, equipping dedicated staff at bank branches with an Android phone to use this technology when pensioners visit the branch for submission of Life Certificate, holding of Camps to enable pensioners to submit their DLCs without delay and home visit in case of bed ridden pensioners

The Pensioners’ Welfare Associations have also been sensitized to hold camps for pensioners for DLC submission. The officials from Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare will be visiting major locations through-out the Country to assist pensioners in use of various digital modes to submit their Life Certificates.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare will be putting all efforts to make this Campaign a grand success throughout the country. 

 

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Para-athletes for their Stellar Performance at 4th Asian Para Games

 The achievements of para-athletes at Asian Para Games in China have not only marked a historic moment for Indian sports but have also set a benchmark for aspiring athletes across the nation, said Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs here today.

The Minister was speaking at an event organised by IndianOil to honour the monumental achievements of Indian para-athletes, at the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.

Shri Rameswar Teli, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Labour & Employment;  Shri Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil, Ms Deepa Malik, President, Paralympic Committee of India (PCI); Shri Gursharan Singh, Secretary General, PCI and Shri Avinash Rai Khanna, Patron-in-Chief, PCI also attended the event.

Noting the performance of Indian para-athletes in the recent Asian Para Games, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri lauded their indomitable spirit, resilience, and unparalleled determination. He also mentioned about some extraordinary athletes who, he said, with their prowess, have become the luminaries of Indian para-sports.

He talked about Sheetal Devi, who is the world’s first female armless archer. Shooting with her feet, this prodigious 16-year-old clinched gold in the compound individual open event, paired up with Rakesh Kumar for another gold in the compound mixed team event and secured a silver in the women’s compound doubles with Sarita.

Alluding to the performance of Ankur Verma at Asian Para Games, the Minister said that his mastery was evident as he clinched gold in both the men’s T11 1500m and 5000m races. He became the first Indian to win two gold medals in a single edition of the Asian Para Games, Shri Puri added.

The Minister also lauded the performance of Sundar Singh Gurjar and Sumit Antil at the recent Asian Para Games.

Complimenting the IndianOil for standing up with para-athletes in India, the Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas said that the Oil Sector PSU has played an invaluable role in their journeys to success. In line with Prime Minister’s vision to create a nurturing environment for sports in our country, he said, that the Government of India will keep extending full support to the sports and athletes/sportspersons in the country.

Indian performance at 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China:

The India contingent marked an unparalleled success at the 4th Asian Para Games  rounding off the event with a stellar medal haul of 111 – 29 golds, 31 silvers, and 51 bronzes. This magnificent tally eclipses the previous record of 72 medals clinched in 2018. With this, India firmly established itself at the fifth position on the overall leaderboard of the 4th Asian Para Games.

The phenomenal trajectory from securing a modest three gold medals in the 2014 edition of the games to a commendable 29 golds this year narrates the saga of dedication, hard work, and the relentless spirit of our para-athletes. India showcased its formidable representation this year by dispatching a contingent of 303 athletes, which included 191 men and 112 women. This marked the country’s most substantial ever delegation to this continental event, seeing a notable rise from the 190 athletes in 2018.

India’s women athletes, making up 37% of our representation in Hangzhou, stood out by securing 40 medals, accounting for 36% of the total medal count. Additionally, our athletes created history by establishing three world records, 13 Asian records, and 15 Para Asian Games records.

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Ministry of Panchayati Raj during 2nd – 31st October 2023

 Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Shri Giriraj Singh and Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil inspected Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) office premises at Jeevan Bharati Building, New Delhi on the last day of Special Campaign 3.0 on 31st October 2023, as part of monitoring the progress of Special Campaign 3.0 conducted by MoPR for institutionalizing Swachhata and minimizing pendency.  

   

Union Minister Shri Giriraj Singh and MoS Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil advised the staff-members to contribute to thorough cleanliness drives and zero pendency initiatives as part of the Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM) to create a healthy work culture that ensures enhanced level of cleanliness and work efficiency. Shri Giriraj Singh and Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil called upon all the staff-members to practice cleanliness at the office – Clean Office and Clean Desk (no pendency of work) at all times so that sustaining the momentum of Special Campaign 3.0 can be ensured.

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Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil and then Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj Shri Sunil Kumar along with Additional Secretary, MoPR, Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Economic Adviser, MoPR, Dr. Bijaya Kumar Behera and other senior officers took a round of office premises in Jeevan Bharati Building on 6th October 2023 and inspected overall cleanliness and reviewed the progress made under implementation of Special Campaign 3.0 in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

   

Special Campaign 3.0 was regularly monitored under the guidance of Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj and also through DARPG’s dedicated portal of Swachhata Campaign and SCDPM–2023 where the requisite data and relevant photographs were uploaded on a regular basis.

  

The progress made in the implementation of Special Campaign 3.0 was reviewed by Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar with Nodal Officers of Divisions/ Sections in the Ministry on 4th, 17th and 25th October 2023. Disposal of Public Grievances, Public Grievance Appeals, PMO References, other References and pending matters gained momentum during the Special Campaign 3.0, and considerable numbers of Public Grievance Appeals were disposed of and e-files were reviewed.

  

The month-long Special Campaign 3.0, kick-started on 2nd October 2023, provided an opportunity to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to reiterate the commitment to improve current cleanliness levels in the office premises, disposal of scrap/ waste materials, ensure timely disposal of Public Grievances and reduce the pendency of work in the offices. Special Campaign 3.0 commenced with Swachhata Pledge taking event organized at two office premises of Ministry of Panchayati Raj at Jeevan Bharati Building, Sansad Marg and Jeevan Prakash Building, New Delhi where the Swachhata Pledge was administered to all officers and staff-members (regular contractual and outsourced) of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Special Campaign 3.0 that aims to mobilize and involve all officers and employees for institutionalizing Swachhata and minimizing pendency in government offices witnessed active and enthusiastic participation of all staff-members (regular, contractual and outsourced) of Ministry of Panchayati Raj during the Preparatory Phase (15th – 30th September 2023) and Implementation Phase (2nd – 31st October 2023) of Special Campaign 3.0.

Prior to the launch of Special Campaign 3.0, Action Plan for Special Campaign 3.0 for institutionalizing Swachhata and minimizing pendency in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj was issued vide office circular dated 19th September 2023 among all officers and staff-members of the Ministry. All the officers and staff-members (regular, contractual and outsourced) posted in the Ministry at three locations namely, Krishi Bhawan, Jeevan Bharti Building and Jeevan Prakash Building were sensitized regarding maintenance of cleanliness in the Offices on daily basis during the Special Campaign 3.0 and beyond. Banners on Special Campaign 3.0 were displayed at prominent places in the office premises located in three buildings for greater awareness, widespread participation for creating a movement and environment for Special Campaign 3.0.

A workshop on Capacity Building of Record Officers was organized on 27th September 2023 under Chairmanship of Dr. Bijaya Kumar Behera as part of Preparatory Phase of Special Campaign 3.0 where participants were enlightened about robust due diligence, record keeping and record retention. Dr. Bijaya Kumar Behera underscored that preparatory phase of Special Campaign 3.0 includes cleanliness as well as disposal of pending references etc., adding that there are no pending grievances in the Ministry as of now, and we should maintain momentum.

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Division–wise Nodal Officers were designated and concerted efforts were made in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to identify redundant scrap materials and obsolete/ unserviceable items, and to sensitize the staff-members for maintaining a clean and hygienic workplace at all times. Senior officers of the Ministry performed Shramdaan and personally visited different Sections from time to time during the Special Campaign 3.0 and advised the staff-members to make Swachhata everyone’s business.

As many as 45 staff-members of the Ministry were provided with new computers during the Special Campaign 3.0, which will help them improving their work efficiency and productivity. For successful implementation of Special Campaign 3.0, the General Administration Section has procured indoor plants, flower pots and decorative items for the Ministry.

Under the Special Campaign 3.0, all the employees of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj enthusiastically participated in the disposal of pending cases. All-out efforts made during the Special Campaign 3.0 have yielded encouraging results with disposal of 995 Public Grievances, 283 Public Grievance Appeals and 1 VIP Reference. Besides, 750 e-files were also reviewed for weeding out. Apart from regular cleanliness drives in office premises, 15 intensive cleanliness drives were organized in office premises with special focus on decongesting, decluttering and beautifying the workspace and improving the infrastructure and ambience of offices.

Vigorous cleanliness campaigns were conducted at the three office locations of the Ministry with adequate cleaning of office chambers of all senior officers, rooms of other officers and staff-members, sections, corridors, conference hall, work stations, furniture, wash-rooms, toilets, storage places, passages, reception areas and inside premises of the MoPR office-buildings. Dr. Bijaya Kumar Behera in-Charge of General Administration in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj used to interact with housekeeping / cleaning staff on regular basis during the Special Campaign 3.0 and discussed about their concerns / issues including health, safety and dignity in order to fulfil our collective responsibility to ensure their welfare. All the housekeeping staff have been given monetary incentive in recognition of their sincere efforts and dedication for proper cleaning and upkeep of the office premises.

    

Few innovative and best practices undertaken by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj during the ongoing Special Campaign 3.0 are as follows:

  • During the Special Campaign 3.0, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has started productive use of the freed up space in the office premises at Jeevan Bharati Building with setting-up quiet, tidy and distraction-free Work Stations for staff-members to optimize the workspace and boost productivity.
  • The reception area and corridors in the MoPR office premises on the ninth floor of Jeevan Bharati Tower–2 Building, New Delhi have been transformed into bright, beautiful and welcoming spaces with placing the green plants, flower pots and plant containers during the Special Campaign 3.0.
  • The renovation work in the MoPR office premises on the eleventh floor of Jeevan Prakash Building has been started during the Special Campaign 3.0.
  • Contributing to Environmentally Responsible Workplace through: (a) Indoor Plants in corridors that help purify the air and create a calm atmosphere, (b) Using an energy-efficient LED lighting system, (c) Sustainable and recycled décor items, (d) Cleanliness is maintained through regular cleaning.
  • Promoting energy-efficient/energy-saving practices – switching off electronic appliances / devices / equipments when not in use.
  • Prioritizing women’s hygiene and sustainable menstrual waste management, MoPR ensures responsible Menstrual Waste management and clean women’s restrooms/ washrooms for all women staff-members.
  • Providing new computers to 45 staff-members to enhance their efficiency and productivity.
  • Monetary incentive to all the housekeeping staff in recognition of their sincere efforts and dedication for proper cleaning and upkeep of the office premises.

During the month-long Special Campaign 3.0, all officers and staff-members actively participated with full enthusiasm and renewed vigour for successful implementation of the Special Campaign 3.0 in the Offices of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. A short video film based on the theme of Special Campaign 3.0 was produced and official social media platforms of the Ministry were utilized to conduct outreach with public and highlight MoPR’s efforts and achievements under Special Campaign 3.0.

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National-level innovation challenge aimed at motivating young individuals to create functional prototypes of innovative solutions

 Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Shri Sanjay Kumar today inaugurated a national-level innovation challenge aimed at motivating young individuals to create functional prototypes of innovative solutions. The Ministry of Education collaborated with the ATL Marathon program, spearheaded by the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, in partnership with UNICEF and YuWaah.

Dr. Chintan Vaishnav (Mission Director, AIM), Shri Vipin Kumar (Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education), Kevin Frey (CEO, Generation Unlimited), Dhuwarakha Sriram (Chief of YuWaah, Youth Development and Partnerships, UNICEF) and Abhishek Gupta (COO YuWaah, UNICEF) attended the event.

Department of School Education & Literacy has been committed to strengthening education in India through the National Education Policy (NEP) framework, with a focus on practical learning. Initiatives like the School Education Council and various programs have been instrumental in promoting this approach. The collaboration with the ATL Marathon has been a significant step in this direction, with over 32,000 innovations submitted by school students from across India over the last six years.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sanjay Kumar expressed that through this program, we aim to support students in working collectively, introducing them to best practices that nurture their innovation skills, and connecting them with role models. We are also committed to supporting the best innovators from the program under School Innovation Councils, by providing a seed fund of 1-lakh rupees for 200 innovators, with ATL Marathon finalists being considered, he added.

This year’s ATL Marathon is themed “India’s 75th Republic Day” and features problem statements in areas such as Space, Agriculture, Inclusivity, Disaster Management, Mobility, Health, Education, and Skill Development. Student teams are encouraged to build projects addressing these challenges.

The top-performing teams will have the opportunity to participate in the Student Innovator Program, which includes internships with leading corporates and incubation centers in India. They will also receive certificates from AIM, NITI Aayog, and various exciting opportunities.

The Ministry of Education is excited about the prospects of this collaboration and looks forward to witnessing the remarkable innovations that young students will contribute to the development of India and the world through the ATL Marathon program.

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DRDO holds XVIII International Workshop on High Energy and Special Materials

 he Defence Research and Development Organisation’s  (DRDO)  High Energy Material Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune  is organizing the XVIII International Workshop on High Energy and Special Materials (HEMs-2023) in association with Tomsk State University & Federal Research & Production Centre, Russia on 2nd & 3rd November 2023 at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam DRDO Golden Jubilee Auditorium, Pashan, Pune. The workshop was inaugurated by Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO.

 HEMRL is organizing  this international workshop for  the first time in India, which provides a platform to the scientists, technocrats and researchers to share knowledge, experience and technological advancements made in recent past. About 250 delegates from countries like Russia, Germany, France, India etc., are attending the workshop. Various DRDO and ISRO laboratories, academic institutes and industries are participating in the workshop.

 HEMs-2023 is being held to discuss, deliberate and share new developments in recent past in High Energy Materials and allied technologies. The theme of this workshop is ‘Emerging Trends in High Energy and Special Materials’. The workshop is aimed at strengthening the collaboration of scientists and researchers across the globe on the development of new articles based on High energy and special materials. Focused areas for deliberations and discussions at the workshop are synthesis, characterization & evaluation of new energetic materials for various applications, insensitive & green HEMs, advanced high explosive formulations and devices, advanced pyrotechnics, nano materials for HEMs application, demilitarization, waste management, environmental studies and disposal technologies for HEMs, advances in special materials and allied technologies.

The International Workshop on HEMs was started in the year 2004 and thereafter regularly organized by Russia with International Collaborators like Politecnico di Milano, Italy; Airbus Safran Launchers (Ariane Group) and Universite Lyon 1, France; JAXA, Japan.

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India Manufacturing Show’ in Bengaluru

 Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the three-day ‘India Manufacturing Show’ in Bengaluru, Karnataka on November 02, 2023. The show has been jointly organised by Laghu Udhyog Bharti & IMS Foundation and supported by Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence. The central theme of the event is ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.

Addressing the industry captains & young entrepreneurs present at the inaugural function, the Raksha Mantri described the small-scale industries as the backbone of India’s economy that contribute immensely to the development of the nation. “Small industries are the motor of the Indian economy. The faster the motor runs, the quicker the vehicle of the economy moves,” he said, also crediting the small industries for maintaining stability in the economy.

Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted the important contribution of these industries to the socio-economic development of the country. “Compared to investment made, small industries create more employment opportunities than large industries. They also ensure a more even dispersion of wealth in society. Many MSMEs are doing well in exports and are becoming a part of the global supply chain of the world’s biggest companies. Heavy industries, too, play a big role in the nation’s development, but the country cannot fully progress by ignoring small industries,” he said.

The Raksha Mantri remembered the time when India was called ‘golden bird’ and a big reason was that there were many small industries in villages and towns, which provided employment to the people. “In ancient times, there were no large-scale industries in India; they were only small industries. Textile, iron and shipbuilding were the three industries for which India was known all over the world. They showcased our industrial capability,” he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh also underlined the ability of small industries to adapt to the changes more easily than large industries. “It is the adaptability of small industries which increases the possibilities of innovation. Many times, small industries bring more innovation than large industries in terms of new products, services and business models,” he said.

The Raksha Mantri recalled Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy on economy, wherein he encouraged to focus on small industries rather than heavy industries. This is due to stronger connections of small industries with local communities. Even though their production scale is small, they are better tuned to local needs, he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh added that big industries, which have a turnover of thousands of crores, were once small industries, which reflects their importance. He termed the small-scale industries as the youth of industrial development; which possesses more energy, innovation and the ability to create something new. He emphasised that drawing focus towards small industries does not mean undermining the importance of heavy industries. He termed the relationship between the two as symbiotic, with both depending on each other for their profitability.

Referring to the opinion of a section of people who believe that private industries operate on selfish motives, the Raksha Mantri said, “There is a need to understand the concept of economy; the fine line between selfish motive and profit motive. The profits of private industries reach crores of families in India, due to which the economy of this country is running. If private industries do not work on a profit motive, they will not be able to contribute to the economy. ‘Profit is not selfish, Profit is legitimate benefit’”.

Shri Rajnath Singh voiced the importance the Government attaches to the small-scale industries and listed out a number of decisions taken to ensure their welfare. These include MUDRA scheme, launched in 2015, under which a provision was made to provide collateral-free loans to MSMEs. The government also provided additional credit worth crores of rupees for MSMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Raksha Mantri also enumerated the unprecedented steps taken for MSMEs in the defence sector. “We are the first government which imposed restrictions on itself for the import of weapons. We released five positive indigenisation lists, under which 509 equipment have been identified, the manufacturing of which will now take place in India. In addition, four positive indigenisation lists for Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) were also promulgated, under which 4,666 items were identified, that will be manufactured within the country. To ensure adequate demand assurance for our domestic industries, we reserved 75% of the defence capital acquisition budget, which amounts to approximately Rs one lakh crore, for purchases from local companies. These steps will strengthen our MSMEs and make them ‘Aatmanirbhar’,” he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh also referred to the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, which was launched to invite new ideas in defence manufacturing through start-ups and innovators. He added that iDEX Prime was launched to support projects, requiring support beyond Rs 1.5 crore up to Rs 10 crore, to help the start-ups in the defence sector.

The Raksha Mantri termed Laghu Udyog Bharti as a bridge between the government and the industry. “As an institution, Laghu Udyog Bharti should make the government aware of the problems of small industries. We will find solutions as soon as possible. It has another important role. The government and society have some expectations from industries. As an industry association, it should work in line with those expectations. As much responsibility as the industry has towards its balance sheet and profit & loss statements, it also has the same responsibility towards the nation. You should ensure that you provide top-quality and cost-effective products. You should take care of the interests of all the stakeholders. Keeping the environment in mind, the use of clean technologies must be promoted,” he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh appreciated the fact that small industries of the country are progressing well through Laghu Udyog Bharti. He exuded confidence that India will become self-reliant and a global manufacturing hub in the times to come, if the industries continue to move forward with hard work and dedication.

Members of Parliament Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi & Shri Tejasvi Surya, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Forge Limited Shri Baba Kalyani and Executive Vice President & Head, L&T Defence Shri Arun Ramchandani were among those present on the occasion.

The sixth edition of ‘India Manufacturing Show’ will provide a platform to the exhibitors to showcase their technologies, equipment and R&D in different sectors, such as aerospace & defence engineering, automation, robotics & drones to the participants. The aim is to bring together best minds, best technologies and best practices while providing business and knowledge sharing opportunities for its participants.

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ABB/Savvy

One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) Awareness Drive in Jammu and Kashmir

 Jammu, November 2, 2023 – Shri Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, addressed beneficiaries and emphasised the importance of raising awareness for the One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC) initiative during an awareness drive workshop in Jammu & Kashmir.

The awareness drive workshop took place at Udyog Bhawan, Rail Head Complex, Jammu, on November 2, 2023, , and was aimed at enlightening beneficiaries about the benefits of ONORC, a transformative scheme designed to ensure seamless access to ration entitlements across the nation.
Other dignitaries who attended the workshop included Shri Zubair Ahmed (Secretary, Dept of FCS(CA, J&K), Sh. Ramesh Kumar (Divisional Commissioner, J&K), Sh. Abdul Rashid War (Labour Commissioner, J&K), Ms. Rifat Kohli (Director, Dept of FCS&CA, Jammu) and other senior officials. About 120 beneficiaries and FPS dealers attended the workshop. The event was broadcast live over DFPD’s official YouTube page.

Shri Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, DFPD GoI, addressing beneficiaries in the ONORC workshop conducted in Udyog Bhawan, Jammu

During his address, the Secretary, DFPD, emphasised the motto, “Aap jahan, aapka ration waha”, highlighting the key principle of ONORC. This initiative allows beneficiaries to avail their entitled ration from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice, no matter where they are in the country.

He also highlighted the remarkable success of the ONORC program, revealing that over 2.5 crore transactions are recorded nationwide every month. In Jammu & Kashmir alone, since the inception of ONORC, 18 lakh transactions have been recorded to date, underscoring a strong start for the initiative.

Addressing concerns among FPS dealers that they may face a shortage of ration while serving beneficiaries from other regions, he clarified that FPS dealers can easily request additional quotas of ration using their Electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) devices. This ensures a smooth and uninterrupted supply of ration to beneficiaries.

In addition to these efforts, he highlighted other significant initiatives and schemes of the Department, including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and rice fortification initiative. These initiatives collectively aim to achieve the food and nutritional security of over 80 crore beneficiaries across the nation.

Furthermore, he reiterated that the State Governments can now utilise funds from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) funds to create Model FPSs. These model shops will serve as examples of efficiency and modernization, setting a benchmark for other FPSs in the region.

At the conclusion of the event, Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, DFPD, also handed over bags of fortified rice to beneficiaries attending the event.

(Left) Shri Sanjeev Chopra handing over bags of fortified rice to a beneficiary; (Right) A bag of fortified rice.

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III International Convention on Sustainable Trade and Standards’

 Quality Council of India (QCI), an autonomous organization of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry hosted the International Convention on Sustainable Trade and Standards (ICSTS) in New Delhi today. ICSTS, a two-day event, has been organized by the India National Platform on Private Sustainability Standards and hosted by QCI in collaboration with the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS).

The event witnessed a bilateral Agreement between QCI and African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) to strengthen trade relations and harmonize standards, enhancing the global trade landscape. Benchmarking of IndG.AP. by the GLOBAL G.A.P. through the National Technical Working Group (NTWG) mechanism and creation of National Interpretation Guidelines (NIG) also took place at the ICSTS, which is expected to benefit around 12,000 farmers. Continuing with the engagement, India has inked agreements with Brazil, Mexico and now the African Regional Standards Organisation for cooperation on Voluntary Sustainability Standards.

The digitalization initiative of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative would align with its commitment to foster the e-commerce revolution, making trade more accessible and efficient in the digital age, support the IEC / ISO standards about material, product properties, calculation methods, formats of declarations, ensure Confidentiality and trustworthiness, facilitate Peer-to-peer communication decentralized architecture for full data sovereignty of all partners. ONDC identified QCI to assess Digital Readiness of entities to understand their readiness to seamlessly onboard on the Seller App in the ONDC Network.

The event witnessed presence of the esteemed dignitaries including Shri Jaxay Shah, Chairperson, QCI; Dr Harsha Vardhana Singh, Chair, India PSS Platform & Former DDG, World Trade Organization (WTO); Shri Rajesh Maheshwari, Secretary General, QCI; Dr Virpi Stucki, Chief, Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade, UNIDO; Mr Charles Gachahi, Eco Mark Africa, CACO and COCO Coordinator (ARSO); and Mr Santiago Fernandez De Cordoba, Chief, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) VSS Program among others.

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Coal Sector Achieves Impressive 16.1 % Growth in September among Eight Core Industries

 As per the index of eight Core Industries for the month of September 2023 released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industries, the index of coal sector has showcased impressive growth of 16.1% reaching 148.1 points compared to 127.5 points during the same period last year. This is the highest growth in last 14 months except for August 2023.

The latest data indicates that the Combined Index of eight Core Industries has shown noteworthy increase of 8.1% (Provisional) in September 2023, compared to the same period in the previous year.

The Index measures the combined and individual production performance of eight core industries, viz. cement, coal, crude oil, electricity, fertilizers, natural gas, refinery products, and steel.

The significant growth in the coal sector is attributed to a substantial upswing in coal production during September 2023, which reached an impressive 67.27 MT, surpassing the figure of 58.04 MT during the corresponding period of the previous year, representing a remarkable increase of 15.91%. The Coal Industry registered a growth of 9.1% in Apr’2023 which rose to 16.1% in Sept’2023, showcasing consistent and sustained growth.

The Ministry of Coal has played a pivotal role in driving this growth through various strategic initiatives. These initiatives include the amendment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2021, allowing captive mines to sell coal or lignite, augmenting domestic production through the auction-based regime for commercial coal mining, engaging Mine Developer cum Operators (MDOs) to ramp up domestic coal output and the reopening of discontinued mines on a revenue-sharing model to boost coal production.

The remarkable growth of the coal sector and its contribution to the overall growth of the eight core industries are a testament to the continuous efforts and initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Coal. These efforts align with the vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and contribute to the nation’s progress towards self-sufficiency and energy security.

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5th Edition of ICC Sustainability Conclave 2023

 The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Indian Chemical Council (ICC) organizing the two days Conclave with the theme of “Integrating Sustainability & Business Strategy for the Chemical Industry- Addressing Challenges and Opportunities”.

Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers and New and Renewable Energy, Shri Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister for Industries, Energy, and MSME, Government of Odisha Shri Pratap Keshari Deb, Secretary Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ms Nivedita Shukla Verma and senior officials of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Officials from ICC and champions of the Industries were present on the occasion.

Addressing the event, Shri Bhagwanth Khuba said that Chemical and Petrochemical Industry holds a pivotal position in our economy serving as a backbone for numerous sectors offering a diverse range of over 80000 commercial products. While the government has commendably taken steps to reduce our reliance on imports, enhance infrastructure, and improve the business environment, it is imperative that we infuse a strong focus on chemical sustainability into this narrative of growth. With our Industry posed to grow from its current value of approximately USD 215 bn to an estimated USD 300 bn by 2025, it is crucial that this growth is accompanied by an unwavering commitment to sustainable development.

Shri Khuba further stated that he envisions the chemical sector growing sustainably, reducing carbon emissions, and making a positive contribution to the environment. He also expresses hope that the industry maintains its growth and continues to be a significant contributor to the Indian economy.

On this occasion, Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ms Nivedita Shukla Verma said that with the objective of Make in India and Make for the World, Govt of India with its ‘whole of government’ approach is making all-out efforts to promote manufacturing in all the sectors. She further stated that our department is actively engaged in the promotion of the chemicals industry and enhancing the ease of doing business whenever required.  As we aim to provide a secure and reliable industrial ecosystem in the world, the chemical sector in India holds immense potential for expansion. With its natural advantages, India is an attractive place for investment and this is borne out by the fact that about 90% of the growth has been recorded in FDI in the chemical sector in 2021-22.

This is a major initiative of the Indian Chemical Industry for encouraging sustainability in the management of the entire life cycle of chemicals. Environment Resource Management (ERM), a globally renowned entity in the sector, is the Knowledge Partner for the Conclave.

ICC Sustainability Conclave holds immense significance in light of India’s international commitments to address climate change, decrease carbon footprints, increase renewable energy utilization, and encourage sustainable corporate practices. The two-day event will bring together senior representatives from Indian and Global companies, government officers, multilateral organizations, chemical industry bodies, and academic experts to discuss trending issues and opportunities, including ESG strategies, de-carbonization, net-zero transition, digital transformation, green growth, cleaner energy, safety promotion, and product stewardship beyond regulations.

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Workshop on Customised Debt-Financing for Commercial Coal Mining & MDOs

 REC Limited, has organised a workshop on ‘Customised Debt-Financing for Commercial Mining & MDOs’ recently in New Delhi. The workshop witnessed participation by Shri Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Shri M Nagaraju, Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal, Shri Vivek Kumar Dewangan, Chairman and Managing Director, REC Ltd. along with other senior functionaries from the coal industry and government.

The workshop commenced with a warm welcome by Shri Vivek Kumar Dewangan. In his opening remarks, Shri Dewangan expressed that REC is willing to be a partner in the growth journey of mining industry in the country.

 

During the keynote address, Shri Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary Coal, has urged banks and non-banking financial companies to find appropriate solutions while working on the proposals placed before them regarding credit availability for commercial coal mines. He reiterated that coal mining is a good and profitable long-term business with assured returns starting from 3-4 years of the allocation of the coal mines. Shri Meena appreciated the initiative of REC and its commitment to strike a balance between sustainable development and financial viability of the mining sector in compliance with the ESG norms and willingness to be a partner in the growth journey of the mining industry. He also highlighted the necessity of efficiently closing coal mines once they reach the end of their operational life and rejuvenate such exhausted mines for sustainable endeavours like Pumped Storage facilities, Solar Parks etc. The Secretary reassured the commitment to sustainable methods of mining and informed that Coal Ministry is taking various steps to increase production from the Under Ground mines. He emphasised that the coal sector is in the growth phase and  collective efforts should be made to reduce coal import by increasing production to meet growing domestic demand.

 

Shri M. Nagaraju, Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority (Coal) stated that the Ministry is taking various measures to meet the coal demand and have auctioned 91 coal mines for commercial use in the last four years. He informed that the financing of one coal mine has already been completed and funding for two coal mine funding projects are at advanced stages of evaluation. Provisions have also been made in the Agreements to protect the interests of the lenders. The sector is becoming robust and responsible and urged REC to consider investing in the coal mining sector and provide financing to the coal mines which will help in faster operationalisation of the same.

Participants of the workshop were informed that the per capita power consumption in the country is 1/3rd of the world average and is going to substantially increase. Most of this will be contributed by coal-based thermal power plants.

Representatives of allocated coal blocks and the MDO’s of the coal mines participated in the workshop lauded the initiatives taken by Ministry of Coal and REC in supporting the coal sector towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

 

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Gender equality is quintessence to any equality

 The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today emphasized that gender equality is quintessence to any equality and there can be no equality in society if there is no gender equality. He also said that this gender equality has to be in substance, not in form; and its manifestation has to be a ground reality.

The Vice President made these remarks while delivering the Platinum Jubilee Address of Miranda House on the topic – “Role of Women in Indian Parliament”. In his speech, Shri Dhankhar highlighted that “the role of women in parliament is enormous, and that their presence by itself will surcharge the atmosphere in legislatures.”

Recognizing that women will be able to bring on the table their experiences worth the life they live through and the challenges they face, Shri Dhankhar asserted that “this would certainly help the governance in evolution of policies that would lead to the resolution of larger issues.”

Describing the passing of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as an epochal development in history, VP said that “this is a great development which will ensure that Bharat@2047, when the nation celebrates the centenary of its independence, we’ll be on peak.” Mentioning that he selected 17 women parliamentarians to lead the Upper House when Rajya Sabha discussed the women reservation bill, VP called upon the girl students to never allow themselves to be on the back bench or the back foot. “The world belongs to you; the world has to be shaped by you. Today, Indian women are occupying the position of power in global institutions, making all of us very proud,” he added.

Referring to the election of the highest number of women parliamentarians in Lok Sabha in 2019 General Elections, Shri Dhankhar credited this success to various women empowerment initiatives by the Prime Minister over last years. Noting that the phenomenon of ‘Sarpanch Pati’ is largely gone, he said that now no one dares to occupy a seat meant for women representatives.

The Vice President noted that it is the women, who sacrifice a lot for their families, society, children & elders, and asserted that “giving justice to your gender is automatic justice to my gender.” He further added that, “This is because your gender exemplifies virtuosity, sublimity, & service. God has gifted you faculties that give you an opportunity to help others.”

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, who said “As long as women in India do not take part in public life, there can be no salvation for the country,” the Vice President said that today the dream of our Bapu is coming true.

Mentioning various initiatives by the government for women empowerment in recent years, Shri Dhankhar noted that “Girls are in combat positions in defense forces. Girls are getting admission to Sainik Schools now. You are the change, you are catalyzing the change.”

Talking about the Swachh Bharat Mission, he said that when the Prime Minister calls for toilets in every home, the focus is women, her dignity & her respect. Similarly, if gas connections are given to needy households, it’s again the women who benefit most as she is the one who manages the kitchen & suffers tears in her eyes due to smoke. He also cited the example of Har Ghar Jal & Mudra schemes which are helping the cause of women empowerment in a big way. “Our Amrit Kaal, on account of the vision, passion, and mission of our Prime Minister has become our Gaurav Kaal,” he added.

Expressing happiness over India becoming the world’s fifth largest economy, VP said that the Indian economy’s rise is principally driven by women. He said that Bharat is on rise and this rise is unstoppable.

The Vice President said that some people are not able to digest India’s growth story, and called upon the students to reply to such elements. Your silence will not be in national interest, he asserted and asked them to be “proud citizens of Bharat and take pride in our Bharatiyata.” Repeating the PM’s call for ‘vocal for local’, VP emphasized the importance of economic nationalism in the country’s development and underscored that items like Diya, candle, kites, toys and curtains should not be imported.

Prof. Yogesh Singh, Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi, Prof. Balram Pani, Dean of Colleges, University of Delhi, Prof. Rajni Abbi, Chairperson, Governing Body, Miranda House & Proctor, University of Delhi, Prof. Bijayalaxmi Nanda, Principal, Miranda House, faculty members, students and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

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Government e-Marketplace (GeM) witnesses remarkable growth in Service Procurement

 Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has achieved significant milestones in the procurement of services over the past few years. GeM, India’s leading online platform for government procurement, witnessed an extraordinary increase in the transaction value, reinforcing its commitment to streamlining the procurement process and fostering efficiency and transparency in government purchases.

GeM’s robust growth in service procurement has been nothing short of remarkable. Over the last two to three years, the transaction value has surged from approximately INR 8,505 crore in FY 20-21 to an impressive INR 65, 957 crore in FY 22-23. The services sector has exhibited a staggering increase in the overall contribution to GeM Gross Merchandise Value or the total order value transacted through the platform, having jumped from 23% in FY 21-22 to nearly 47% in the current financial year. GeM has set a forward-looking target of surpassing INR 1.50 lakh crore in the current fiscal year.

This unprecedented success can be attributed to the active involvement of top Government buyers from various sectors. Leading Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) such as Coal India Limited, NTPC Limited, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited have actively leveraged GeM for their service procurement needs. Furthermore, a multitude of states and union territories, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, have embraced GeM as their go-to platform for services procurement. 

GeM offers a diverse range of services across multiple categories such as:

Manpower Outsourcing Services: With approximately 40,000 contracts placed for hiring manpower services in FY 22-23, the total contract value exceeded INR 14,000 crore.

Vehicle Hiring Services: A staggering 30,000 contracts were placed for hiring vehicle services in FY 22-23, with a total contract value exceeding INR 2,900 crore.

Handling, Transport & Other Mining Services: Major subsidiaries of Coal India Ltd. and NTPC Ltd. have placed numerous orders, with substantial order values. Approx. 175 Orders were placed by subsidiaries of Coal India Ltd. With total order value of INR 24, 558 Cr. for handling, transport & other Mining activities.

Insurance Services: GeM has also expanded its large portfolio of services offerings to include Insurance services. This service offering is particularly beneficial as GeM mandates all IRDA-approved Insurance Companies to directly sell insurance cover sans intermediaries like brokers and agents. Recently, Government of Gujarat placed an order for Group Mediclaim Insurance worth ₹ 2302 Crore under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to provide health insurance cover to nearly 62 lakh families.

IT Services: Several key organisations and ministries have harnessed GeM for IT services for procuring complex IT services including core banking solutions and digital healthcare solutions.

Local Chemist Empanelment: Orders worth approximately INR 1038 crore have been placed by Central Government Health Schemes (CGHS) after empanelling Chemists at various medical centres across the country.

Medical Services: Contracts for hiring healthcare manpower placed for more than INR 1100 Cr. till date. Other medical services including Healthcare Sanitation Services, Ambulace services, Heathcare Kitchen and dietary services etc, are available on GeM.

GeM actively supports the implementation of various government schemes, including the Jal Jeevan Mission, Mission Karmayogi, Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, and Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 Scheme by creating suitable services to facilitate implementation of these schemes.

GeM has facilitated unique service orders such as:

Hiring of Chartered Aircrafts: The Ministry of Defence hired 830 Chartered Aircrafts for multiple routes, including Leh, Shrinagar, Andaman & Nicobar to & from flights, with an order value of approximately INR 142 crore.

Air International Logistics Service: Munitions India Ltd., under the Ministry of Defence, hired an agency for the international logistics of approximately 24,000 kg of IMO Class-I Dangerous Goods from Sweden Airport to India, with an order value of approximately INR 3 crore.

Drone as a Service: Survey of India and Coal India Ltd. have harnessed Drone as a Service (DaaS) for various applications, such as surveying and aerial mapping.

Many other unique service offerings have also been facilitated by GeM under the service categories like leasing of High Value Medical Equipment, Market research/Survey, Examination Service, Cyber security services, Hiring of AV/VR Services for events etc.

GeM continues to drive high-value service bids in areas such as:

Hiring, Operation And Management Of ATM: Bids have been published for the supply, installation, operation, and management of thousands of ATMs by State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, and Bank of Baroda, with estimated bid values reaching several crores. For instance, Bid published for supply, installation, operation & Management of 13,500 ATMs for 7 years by SBI worth INR ~7000 Cr.

Energy Audit Service: The Ministry of Railways has issued an Energy Efficiency Policy for sustainable buildings, energy efficiency in equipment and appliances, power quality restoration, capacity building, and awareness. Several bids have been published for the Investment Grade Energy Audit of buildings.

GIS Survey – Drone Mapping: Survey of India, under the Ministry of Science & Technology, has published a bid for hiring an agency for GIS mapping, covering an extensive area of approx. 30000 sqkm using drone images for Haryana State.

Also, there are multiple ongoing High value bids in the service categories like Warehousing Service, IT Services, Hiring of Vessels, Handling, Transport & other Mining Services.

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AI Safety Summit 2023’ in the UK

 On the first day of the ‘AI Safety Summit 2023’ at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire in United Kingdom (UK), Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, addressed the inaugural plenary session. He emphasized India’s perspective on Artificial Intelligence, emphasizing our nation’s commitment to AI with a strong focus on safety, trust, and accountability.

“We have maintained that international collaborations, such as these, are extremely important, as we move forward in shaping the future of technology in an era where it is presenting some of the most exciting opportunities ever for mankind. Our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has argued for several years that the future of technology, whether it involves innovation, partnerships, or the institutional framework for regulating technology and innovation for the benefit of all mankind, should be driven by a coalition of nations rather than just one or two countries. He believes that the institutional framework should be less episodic and much more sustained with strategic clarity,” the Minister said.

Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar apprised his international counterparts that India has effectively embraced technology under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, propelling the nation into a thriving digital economy, transforming the lives of its citizens. He emphasized that this transformation has ushered in tremendous opportunities, and will continue to do so through AI.

“Artificial Intelligence, as we see it, is a kinetic enabler of India’s already accelerating and expanding digital economy, growth and Governance. AI represents big opportunities for us, and we have our minds clear of what needs to be done to mitigate any potential downsides associated with AI or any emerging technology. We approach AI with a prism on openness, safety, trust, and accountability. As a government, we have learned that by allowing innovation to get ahead of regulation, we open ourselves to the toxicity and misinformation represented by social media on the internet today. It is clear that this is not the path we should chart for the coming years in terms of AI. AI should be utilized only for the good, only for the progress, and prosperity of all our citizens across all countries,” the Minister further added.

The ‘AI Safety Summit 2023’ has assembled representatives from around the world, including governments, prominent AI corporations, civil society organizations, and research experts. Its objectives are deliberating the risks associated with AI, particularly at the cutting edge of its development and exploring strategies for their mitigation through globally coordinated efforts.

This two-day summit has brought together Ministers and representatives from various countries, including the UK, US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, South Korea, among others.

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