Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY)

 The Central Government’s innovative employment incentive scheme, the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY), has exceeded its initial employment generation goals, showcasing its success in fostering job creation and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Launched effectively from October 1, 2020, the ABRY was designed to stimulate the creation of new job opportunities by extending financial support to employers of establishments registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). This scheme aimed to incentivize employment of unemployed individuals, including those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, by covering both the employee and employer contributions (24% of wages) for establishments with up to 1000 employees. For establishments with over 1000 employees, only the employee’s EPF contributions (12% of wages) were covered in respect of new employees.

The scheme, which remained open for registrations until March 31, 2022, had set a target to benefit approximately 7.18 million employees across India. As of July 31, 2023, the ABRY has already achieved an enrolment of over 7.58 million new employees, surpassing its initial employment generation target.

To date, a total of 1,52,380 establishments, employing 60,44,155 new employees and upon fulfilling all the eligibility conditions, have availed benefits amounting to a sum of Rs. 9,669.87 Crore under the ABRY scheme. The scheme’s ensures the disbursements of benefits  to specific eligibility criteria, met by beneficiary establishments and employees on a month-to-month basis. 

The scheme’s emphasize substantial contribution to the job market’s revival, underscoring its role in boosting economic recovery during these challenging times.

For more information about the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY), please visit <https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_en/abry.php>.

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Youth- Indian Ambassadors for Swachhata

 “India is the youngest country in the world. A nation whose 65% population is less than 35 years old, a nation whose youth is incredibly tough, whose fingers have the deftness to be connected with the world via computers, a nation whose youth is determined to create its own future, that nation now does not need to look back,” said PM Shri Narendra Modi.

 

Gen Z has been showing a remarkable and innovative stance in addressing waste management in the modern era. Their proactive initiatives and creative solutions reflect a dedication to environmental preservation. Swiftly progressing on the path of “swachhata”, Gen Z’s agile mindset and tech-savvy nature empower them to drive positive change and shape a more sustainable future. Whereas Gen Alpha exhibits a remarkable consciousness for swachhata and eagerly fuses innovation with technology. They seek toys crafted from recycled materials, ingeniously reimagined to align with their eco-conscious perspective.

 

 

In line with this vision, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has taken initiatives like the Indian Swachhata League, Swachhata ke Do Rang, aimed at engaging India’s youthful populace in the Jan Andolan for cleanliness. In addition to this, MoHUA launched the ‘Swachh Toycathon’ in 2022, which revolved around the ‘Rethinking of Indian toy industry’. The national competition for individuals from all ages as well as groups and start-ups, aimed to bring forth innovation and circularity in design and packaging of games and toys. The competition witnessed entries for eco-friendly toy prototypes, waste-material toys, and inventive concepts reimagining the industry. Organizations like ToyBank are re-purposing old and discarded toys to ensure the ‘Right to Play’ of children of marginalized communities. Household waste items are being turned into toys that teach children about basic principles of science & sustainability. To encourage these crusaders of swachhata, in July 2023, numerous ULBs in Karnataka engaged schools via eco-clubs and started diverse initiatives on plastic waste management as part of the State’s “Plastic Free Campaign.” One notable effort was the introduction of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (RRR) concept, coupled with training sessions to underscore the significance of proper waste segregation and the SUP Plastic Muktha Abhiyana at Hebbagodi CMC.

 

Uttarakhand-based NGO ‘Waste Warriors’ launched ‘Green Gurukul’ program to involve youth in city sanitation. Operating in 100+ schools, the initiative impacted 39,000+ students, engaging them in sustainable waste management. Integrated into education, it drives behavioral change among students and educators, ensuring compliance with 2016 SWM Rules, emphasizing source segregation and proper disposal. Interactive sessions, movies, games, quizzes, and creative workshops teach waste management to grades 6-12 in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
 

 

Since its launch in 2014, Youth For Parivarthan started “Clean Bengaluru,” program revitalizing over 400 black-spots, garnering recognition from PM Shri Narendra Modi in the 93rd episode of Mann Ki Baat. Their “Recyclothon” campaign collects used notebooks during summers, recycling unused sheets into new books for rural Karnataka’s government school students. Youth For Parivarthan’s multifaceted endeavors have brought positive changes to Bengaluru’s environment and education system, embodying a commitment to sustainable change.

Since 2014, Satya Foundation, a youth group in Byataranapura, Yelahanka Zone, have introduced a course named, “Trashonomics,” teaching waste management as a resource in schools via young ambassadors bridging generations. Kids learn composting, upcycling, and the 3Rs (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle) to convert waste into resources.
Since 2019, the Himachal-based ‘Dhauladhar Cleaners’ have been collecting trash from Dharamshala’s tourist spots every Sunday. Their goal is to educate and inspire youth towards a healthier, sustainable future. Through ‘cleanup picnics’, volunteers converge at scenic sites, combining cleanup drives with enjoyable outings. Their impact includes 40,000+ KG of waste collected from Himachal’s tourist destinations. items.

 

 

Since 2020, a young man from Gujarat, Dr. Binish Desai has initiated recycling of COVID-related bio-medical waste, by transforming them into advanced P-block bricks. His latest innovation, P-block 2.0, is lighter, stronger, and more versatile. During his tenure as Gujarat’s CM, PM Narendra Modi invited Binish to an event, commending his initiative’s efforts. His initiative, Eco Eclectic Tech, has repurposed 45 tons of PPE waste, diverting over 6700 metric tons from landfills and producing 150+ products from various wastes. It’s also facilitated the construction of 10,000+ toilets and 500+ structures. The eco-conscious Gen Z of India is shaping a future where responsible waste management is central to the society.

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Regional Rural Banks of Northern Region

 Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a review meeting of Regional Rural Banks of Northern Region in New Delhi, today.

During the review meeting, the Union Finance Minister emphasised on digital capability upgradation of RRBs and instructed Managing Director & CEO, Punjab National Bank (PNB) to ensure that all RRBs with PNB acquire digital onboarding capability by 1st November 2023.

Finance Minister Smt. Sitharaman urged the RRBs to undertake removal of duplication of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts and facilitate storage facility for apple growers particularly in J&K and Himachal Pradesh.

The Union  Finance Minister also said that banks should map RRBs with MSME clusters and put greater thrust on increasing network of rural branches in cluster areas identified by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Finance Minister Smt. Sitharaman further emphasised on increasing penetration under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) and Financial Inclusion and stated that a roadmap has to be prepared for completing the designated activities in a timebound manner. 

Also present during the meeting were Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Additional Secretary, other senior DFS officials, representatives of RBI, respective State Governments, NABARD, sponsor Banks and RRBs.

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Global IndiaAI 2023

 Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will be organizing the Global IndiaAI 2023, scheduled for October this year. There will be participation from leading AI players, researchers, startups, and investors in India and worldwide.

The conference is poised to cover a wide spectrum of topics, including Next Generation Learning and Foundational AI models, AI’s applications in healthcare, governance, and next-gen electric vehicles, future AI research trends, AI computing systems, investment opportunities, and nurturing AI talent.

Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar chairs the conference’s steering committee which is entrusted with the task of shaping the contours of the Global IndiaAI 2023. It draws members from MeitY’s Digital Economy Advisory group and other prominent leaders in the field of AI.

Speaking about the conference, MoS Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasized that the Government’s vision is to gather the world’s best and brightest minds under one roof to deliberate the future of AI and its impact in several sectors.

“The Global IndiaAI 2023 conference is tentatively planned for October 14/15 and it will bring together the best and brightest in AI from India and around the world. This summit is expected to evolve and become a must attend event on the annual calendar of the Global AI industry, startups, practitioners, researchers and students. The huge success of the past two editions of the SemiconIndia conference by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji firmly put India on the global semicon map. This enabled India to become a catalyst for investments and growth within the sector. The Global IndiaAI summit will also catalyze India’s AI landscape and innovation ecosystem,” the Minister said.

The conference will also serve as a showcase for the vibrant IndiaAI ecosystem that comprises key initiatives such as DI Bhashini, India Datasets Program, IndiaAI Futuredesign program for startups, and IndiaAI FutureSkills program dedicated to nurturing world-class AI talent.

Highlighting the comprehensive groundwork behind IndiaAI, MoS Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar pointed out the pivotal role of the working groups that collaborated closely with industry, Startups & academia partners. These groups have presented a holistic framework for the IndiaAI initiative, which revolves around  pillars: AI in Governance, AI Computing & Systems, Data for AI, AI IP & Innovation and Skilling in AI. These pillars will form an integral part of the upcoming conference’s agenda.

“What makes India so attractive for AI is the diversity of it. Our diversity will be an addition to the quality of data sets for any large language model or any AI learning model. What we want is that AI should be responsible so that user harm is curbed and innovation is encouraged. Our primary aim is to ensure a collaborative and participatory approach, steering AI to enhance governance and transforming lives while building global partnerships and actively shaping the world’s technology landscape,” the Minister added.

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DK/DK

Tractor testing guidelines as a step towards ease of doing business

 In a major step towards encouraging ease of doing business and promote trust-based governance, the Government has simplified the process of testing of tractors for performance evaluation on 28th August 2023. Tractor manufacturers shall now be allowed to participate in the subsidy scheme on the basis of CMVR/Conformity of Production (COP) certificates and a self-declaration to be given by the company that the tractor proposed for inclusion under subsidy conforms to the benchmark specifications given by Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.  Simultaneously, the manufacturer shall also confirm that the tractor model has been submitted for tests and the  test report on the same shall be submitted to DA&FW within 6 months. The manufacturers shall give a minimum of three years warranty on the tractor to be supplied under subsidy.

The following process will henceforth be followed for the 4 (four) mandatory tests:  

  • Drawbar Performance Test : The drawbar performance test through the use of load car may be done at Central Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute Budni or at Mahindra Research Valley (MRV), Chennai. The manufacturers shall also have an option to get it done from any other Government authorized institute or at their own facilities provided that adequate infrastructure is available to conduct this test. In case of the test done at the manufacturers facilities, the test data as may be provided by the manufacturers shall be included in the test reports released by the CFMTTI Budni or the chosen government authorized institution, with the remarks that the tests have not been carried out by the institute and performance results are self-certified by the manufacturer.

 

  • PTO Performance and Hydraulic Performance Test : Manufacturers shall have the option to conduct this test at their facilities and the test data  may be provided to the CFMTTI, Budni  or the chosen Government authorized institution for generation of the test report with a self-certification that this test has been carried out as per applicable BIS Codes.  The test data as may be provided by the manufacturers shall be included in the test reports released by the CFMTTI Budni or the chosen government authorized institution, with the remarks that the tests have not been carried out by the institute and performance results are self-certified by the manufacturers. The manufacturers shall also have the option of getting it done either at CFMTTI, Budni or at any other Government authorized institutes/facilities having adequate infrastructure to conduct this test.

           

  • Brake Performance: This test shall be done as per the requirements under CMVR. The test already done under CMVR at the authorized institutions shall not be repeated at CFMTTI Budni or any other Government authorized institutes and the same data shall be incorporated in the test reports.

The detailed guideline also provides for the process to be followed by for testing of tractors at CFMTTI, Budni.

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India’s quantum leap in India’s Space research

 Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has said, the world today acknowledges India’s quantum leap in the Space sector, following the massive push by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi when he took the courageous decision to “unlock” this sector from the shackles of the past.

“Prime Minister Modi has broken the taboos of the past and sometimes I wonder why this couldn’t have happened earlier. At the same time, even at the physical level, it has increased funding, it has enthused the private sector and the industry. Within just 3-4 years we have more than 150 Startups,” he said in an interview to a news channel.

Dr Jitendra Singh said ISRO has launched more than 380 foreign satellites, earning more than 250 Million Euros and more than 170 Million US Dollars by launching American satellites.

“Overall, India’s Space economy today stands at about $ 8 billion, viz 2% of the global (market share) but the entire world is recognizing increased pace and that’s why the conservative projections are $40 billion by 2040, but the other day, about 2-3 days back, we had the ADL (Arthur D Little) Report, which mentions that we could have the potential of $100 Billion by 2040, which is going to be a gigantic jump. And that’s what the world is now expecting, because we’ve started moving very fast, our launchings are also very frequent,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said the ambitious Gaganyaan will have its first trial flight by the first or second week of October following the launch of first Sun Mission “Aditya-L1” on 2nd of September. In the second trial, possibly beginning of next year, a female robot named “Vyommitra” will be onboard the Gaganyaan before the first human mission which may include up to three astronauts, he said.

Denying that India is in competition with any other nation in Space exploration, Dr Jitendra Singh reiterated that India’s Space Research and Atomic Energy programmes are, as envisaged by the founding fathers, entirely peaceful and that the ISRO is collaborating with leading Space agencies and has put into orbit several satellites of private foreign entities and educational institutions.

Referring to applications of Space Technology to different sectors like Railways, Highways, Agriculture, Water Mapping, Smart Cities, Telemedicine and Robotic Surgery, which brought ‘Ease of Living’ for the common man, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Space tech has touched virtually every household in India.

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India’s G20 Presidency

 Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr P. K. Mishra chaired the 9th meeting of the G20 Coordination Committee on 30 August 2023. Principal Secretary took stock of arrangements for the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Summit, including logistical, protocol, security and media-related arrangements. The meeting was attended by senior officers from G20 Secretariat and Ministries of External Affairs, Home, Culture, Information and Broadcasting and the Department of Telecom.

 It was noted that work on the ground and on site at Bharat Mandapam was proceeding satisfactorily. For a uniquely Indian experience, exhibitions on culture and ‘Mother of Democracy’ are being set up in Bharat Mandapam. Principal Secretary also reviewed progress in installation of the Nataraj statue at the venue and programme for Spouses of visiting leaders which has been especially curated for the guests.   

For the first time, a mobile App has been made for G20, called ‘G20 India’ which is now available for download, both on Android and iOS. G20 delegates and members of the media will also witness digital India first hand through the ‘Innovation Hub’ and ‘Digital India Experiential Hub’ which are being set up at Bharat Mandapam.

On logistics side, drills are being held and dress rehearsals are planned in the coming days. Principal Secretary was also briefed on security aspects by officers concerned. Traffic advisory has been issued for the public. Principal Secretary emphasised that though for security and protocol reasons, restrictions are being placed, efforts should be made so that least inconvenience is caused to public. He directed that essential services in the city should not be affected. Further, communications regarding traffic restrictions be made more user-friendly. 

Media arrangements for the Summit were also reviewed. So far, more than 3600 requests have been received including from foreign media and accreditation letters are being issued. Media Centre at Bharat Mandapam will be fully ready by the end of this week. 

Principal Secretary directed all concerned officers and heads of organisations to make every effort to host an impeccable Summit. For smooth coordination between various agencies, it was decided that a Multi-Agency Control Room will be set up at Bharat Mandapam. Principal Secretary will undertake field and site visits over next few days to check the state of readiness on the ground.  

 

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Startup India initiative – Startup Seed Funding

The Startup India initiative was launched on 16th January 2016, by the Hon’ble Prime Minister. The Prime Minister also unveiled an Action Plan consisting of 19 Action Points that act as a guiding document for the startup initiative. Since the inception of the initiative:
There are over 99000+ startups recognized by the government of India as of May 2023

49% of them having a base in Tier 2 – Tier 3 cities
These startups are spread over 669 districts from 36 States and Union Territories of India
As of 31st March 2023, India is home to 108 unicorns with a total valuation of $ 340.80 Bn. Out of the total number of unicorns, 44 unicorns with a total valuation of $ 93.00 Bn were born in 2021 and 21 unicorns with a total valuation of $ 26.99 Bn were born in 2022

VISIT STARTUP INDIA PORTAL

Startup India
Seed Fund Scheme

Financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization

APPLY NOW

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme Launch

An Initiative To Spur Entrepreneurship Across India

The Need For Startup India Seed Fund Scheme

Easy availability of capital is essential for entrepreneurs at the early stages of growth of an enterprise.

Funding from angel investors and venture capital firms becomes available to startups only after the proof of concept has been provided. Similarly, banks provide loans only to asset-backed applicants.

It is essential to provide seed funding to startups with an innovative idea to conduct proof of concept trials.

Objective Of The Scheme

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) aims to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization.

This would enable these startups to graduate to a level where they will be able to raise investments from angel investors or venture capitalists or seek loans from commercial banks or financial institutions.
KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SCHEME

How Startup India Seed Fund Will Operate

The Seed Fund will be disbursed to eligible startups through eligible incubators across India
DPIIT

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

Nodal Department
EAC

Experts Advisory Committee

Government Representatives & Industry Experts
Incubators

Govt assisted/Not-Govt assisted Incubators

Operational for atleast 2-3 years
Startups

DPIIT-recognised Startups

Incorporated less than 2 years ago

Features Of Startup India Seed Fund Scheme


Year-round ‘Call for Applications’ for Incubators and Startups
Sector-agnostic
No mandatory physical incubation
PAN-India startup programme
Startups can apply to 3 incubators simultaneously

Eligibility Criteria

For Startups
A startup, recognized by DPIIT, incorporated not more than 2 years ago at the time of application.
The startup must have a business idea to develop a product or a service with a market fit, viable commercialization, and scope of scaling.
The startup must have a business idea
MORE DETAILS

For Incubators
Incubator should be operational for at least two years on the date of application to the scheme.
Incubator must have facilities to seat at least 25 individuals.
Incubator must have at least 5 startups undergoing incubation physically on the date of application
MORE DETAILS

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme Launch

The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme was launched by
Honourable Shri Piyush Goyal on 19th April 2021

Scale Up Your Startup With
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme

Your journey of seed fund starts here.
Complete the application to initiate the journey
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NITI Aayog and UNDP sign Memorandum of Understanding on fast tracking SDGs

 Reiterating a mutual commitment towards fast-tracking progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, NITI Aayog and UNDP India have signed today, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise a framework of cooperation on a range of areas, including SDG localisation, data-driven monitoring, Aspirational Districts and Blocks, among others.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri B. V. R. Subrahmanyam CEO, NITI Aayog by Dr Yogesh Suri, Senior Adviser (SDGs), NITI Aayog, and Ms Shoko Noda, Resident Representative, UNDP India.

Welcoming the partnership, Shri B. V. R. Subrahmanyam said, “Over the years, NITI Aayog and UNDP’s collaboration has grown from strength to strength. With monitoring going beyond districts down to the block level, we see this partnership fostering data-driven policy interventions and programmatic action. Standing at the midpoint of the 2030 agenda, we look forward to working together with the States in the true spirit of cooperative federalism. We also look forward to partnering with UNDP to showcase and share India’s successes in realizing its development priorities to its peers”

Reaffirming UNDP’s commitment Ms Shoko Noda, Resident Representative, UNDP India said, “Midway to 2030, India’s leadership is critical for making the SDGs a reality. India nearly halved multidimensional poverty between 2015-2016 and 2019-2021, demonstrating that despite complex challenges, accelerating progress towards the Goals is possible. Through this MoU with NITI Aayog, UNDP stands ready to enhance its support for localization of the SDGs, data-driven decision-making through various indices, the Aspirational Districts and Blocks programme, and SDG financing. UNDP will also provide support for NITI Aayog’s work on women’s livelihoods, innovation, and Mission LiFE.”

The MoU was signed for a period of five years. NITI Aayog is the nodal Institution for coordinating the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national levels. UNDP plays the integrator role in coordinating efforts to fast-track progress on the SDGs within the UN system.

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National Sports Federations portal on the National Sports Day

 On the occasion of National Sports Day 2023, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur launched the third edition of the Fit India Quiz, among other initiatives, at an event at the JLN Stadium today.

The event was attended by almost 500 school children from various schools in New Delhi as well as several elite athletes and officials from the MYAS, SAI and the National Sports Federations.

The Minister also launched an Information booklet on Sports Infrastructure Projects sanctioned under the Khelo India Scheme as well as launched a National Sports Federations portal, while also felicitating the 4x400m men’s relay team, fresh after creating an Asian record at the World Athletics Championships held at Budapest.

Addressing the event, Shri Thakur mentioned, “The Wizard of hockey Major Dhyan Chand gave us three consecutive Olympic gold medals in hockey in 1928, 1932, and 1936. This is a fitting day for tribute to this great maestro and I’m happy to observe that over the years, coaches and athletes have also played a big role to take this sporting revolution forward. Coaches and athletes play a big role.

“There are 3526 events happening today across India and that’s a testament of the road to which we have come today. This is an unbelievable phase for Indian sports. In 60 years, there were only 18 medals at the World University Games. This year itself, we won 26 medals in the tournament. Not only that, across all sports, be it Praggnanandha in Chess to Antim Panghal in wrestling and Aditi Gopichand Swami in archery, we are getting phenomenal results. In the World Athletics Championships Budapest too, our 4x400m relay team gave a great display, along with Parul Chaudhary as well as our evergreen Neeraj Chopra, who has not got gold in every possible high scale international competition in the sport,” the Minister added.

Following two successful editions of the Fit India Quiz, the 3rd edition was also announced. It is India’s biggest sports and fitness quiz competition for school students featuring total prize money of Rs 3.25 crores. Commenting on the Fit India Quiz, Shri Thakur said, “I was amazed to see that students from the Tenga valley of Arunachal participated in the Fit India Quiz, along with remote locations in Andaman, Sikkim and so on. They were the top teams in the quiz.”

“From the field of sports to right up there on the moon with Chandrayaan, we have made our mark. This is new India. Our athletes have done it all to make us reach on top. I congratulate not just the NSFs and IOA but also the several parents and coaches who have disciplined their children and made them enter the field of sports,” Shri Anurag Singh Thakur added.

The National Sports Federations portal launched on Tuesday is in line with the Government of India’s vision for Digital India, for ensuring ease of business and good governance. It is a unified online portal for the NSFs, which shall be a single window system for processing of annual renewal of recognition of NSFs, elections of National Sports Federations etc.

This will do away with the existing system of physical mode of submission of documents by NSFs and examination of the same by the Union Sports Ministry. The online portal will also be ensuring better coordination among the Department of Sports and the National Sports Federations.

Similarly, an online application submission and processing portal was launched which will be utilized for handling all the application for creation and upgradation of sports infrastructures and demand for sports equipment under the Khelo India Scheme. This portal will be available for grantees, States, UTs for submission of their proposals of financial support through this portal from first September 2023.

The Information booklet on Sports Infrastructure Projects sanctioned under the Khelo India Scheme, meanwhile, showcases how the Khelo India Scheme has transformed the nation for sporting excellence since 2016. The booklet throws light on the entire sports infrastructure that has been developed and is in pipeline in various States and UTs of the country. The Khelo India Scheme, since its inception, has remained pivotal in sports development in the country with focus at the grassroots level.

To also commemorate the grand occasion and pay a fitting tribute to Hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand on the National Sports Day, sports and fitness activities were held across several Government of India offices, Union Ministry offices, Sports Authority of India centres, Khelo India centres, National sports federations as well as schools and colleges. Age-appropriate Competitive and fun games were conducted for the age groups of 18-40 years, 40-60 years and 60+ years.

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NITI Aayog’s Growth Hub Program a testimony of Strong Cooperative Federalism

 NITI Aayog delegation led by CEO, NITI Aayog held a meeting with the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra State along with senior officials of different State departments to discuss the potential of urbanization in the economic development of the country.

Urban areas hold immense potential to drive economic advancement to achieve the target of Viksit Bharat during the Amrit Kaal. It has been observed that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of several major city regions worldwide appears to match the GDP of entire countries. This intriguing trend reflects urban centers’ growing economic prominence and vitality, highlighting their pivotal role in shaping the country’s economic development. Indian cities also hold the potential to propel unparalleled economic growth which needs to be realised. While the government is exploring multiple pathways at all levels to achieve this target, strategizing \for transforming city regions into mega economic growth hubs is crucial.

Recognizing the importance of leveraging urbanization for economic growth and in line with NITI Aayog’s mandate of fostering Cooperative Federalism, an initiative focused on developing City-regions as Growth Hubs has been conceived. This initiative is a close collaboration of NITI Aayog with the State Governments and renowned subject experts. It endeavors to forge a robust economic growth strategy for city-regions across India and prepare a roadmap for achieving the same. NITI Aayog would also constitute a National Advisory Committee of renowned experts under this initiative.

In the initial stage, 4 city-regions will be taken up on a pilot basis to develop a template for devising an economic strategy. Later, it would be scaled up to 16 more cities. In addition to these, the economic strategy template will act as the model strategy for other city-regions across the country for achieving desired economic targets. Across each city region, the Project aims to deliver a roadmap for developing economic growth strategy. To achieve this, a series of activities will be undertaken including, a comprehensive baseline assessment of city region’s economy, SWOT analysis for understanding the strength and challenges of the region, identification of growth drivers, setting economic goals, designing policy enablers and proposing governance structure for projectization of the proposed strategies. The initiative is expected to support the country to achieve $35-$45 trillion Economy Target by 2047.

So far, Mumbai, Surat and Vishakhapatnam have been identified for the pilot phase. Under the priority of achieving trillion dollar aspirations of Maharashtra state economy, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) needs to strengthen the economic footprint in a sustainable manner. NITI Aayog will assist the Maharashtra State Government in developing a high-level roadmap to achieve 300 billion GDP from the current 140 billion for the MMR region. A State level committee comprising senior officials of relevant departments would also be formed to support the execution of the initiative. During the discussion, NITI Aayog team presented a set of 10-15 marquee investible projects with investment aspirations of $150 billion by 2030. These economic growth drivers will be selected based on the city’s endowments. Examples of the projects include an integrated Aerocity near the New Mumbai airport, US Silicon Valley type Artificial Intelligence hub, a global medi-city, developing Mumbai’s eastern seaboard for culture, tourism, reinvigoration of SEZ land for select manufacturing and services, master planning bullet train stations such as Virar and Boisar.

 

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Awareness Campaign and Training of Trainers for the Elimination of Sickle Cell Anaemia

 Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda  launched the ‘Awareness Campaign and Training of Trainers’ as a part of the ‘Mission for Elimination of Sickle Cell Anaemia’ in New Delhi today. The programme envisages training of grassroot level functionaries so as to create awareness in this direction among the masses, especially in tribal regions.

In a recent announcement, the Government declared a Mission to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047 in the budget of 2023-24. This Mission will entail awareness creation, universal screening of 7 crore people in the age group of 0-40 years in affected tribal areas, and counselling through collaborative efforts of central ministries and state governments. The Mission was formally launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on 1st July, 2023 in Shahdol District of Madhya Pradesh. 

Speaking to the media after the launch, the Minister said that the initiative would take forward Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a sickle cell disease free India by ensuring community participation. Under his inspirational leadership, the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare and Tribal Affairs are collaborating to launch awareness generation initiatives for the Mission for the Elimination of SCD, Shri Munda added.

 

The Minister further identified the challenges and opportunities in making this initiative a success. The fundamental challenge, he said, would be to make the mission a grassroot level movement by ensuring Jan Bhagidari. It would require countering misconceptions among masses and bring them on board to develop a truly participative ecosystem for eliminating the disease. The Minister cited the importance of creating a healthcare database of the affected population, which in turn would help in research and finding a lasting solution. Only then it would be possible to stop the transmission of this disease and save the coming generations, he added.

Shri Munda expressed happiness to note the response of the State Governments in nominating a large number of tertiary care medical practitioners as the master trainers at the State level. Medical professionals are working with tribal communities to promote understanding of the disease, its symptoms, and its agony while preventing misinformation about the illness and eradicating its stigma. As a result, he said, in order to guarantee that the correct information is sent to the public, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs constituted a Committee of experts, including medical professionals, patient support organisations, and other stakeholders, to publish a module on awareness generation and on counselling of the stakeholders. He added that these modules were released at the launch event of the Mission.

The Minister explained that the mammoth initiative of awareness generation is being undertaken and training module at various levels is being planned to reach the last mile. The Minister informed that it is planned to engage the leaders at community level who would further ensure wide participation of the masses in the mission. He further added that in an unprecedented step, the awareness campaigns are being translated into tribal languages so as to ensure deep penetration of the message at the grassroots level.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary (Tribal Affairs), Shri Anil Kumar Jha informed that to ensure that the people are motivated enough to approach us for diagnostic testing, we are implementing a three-layer training programme at the State, District, and Village levels.Additionally, state governments have designated tertiary care physicians as master trainers at the state level, with district-level trainers training local influencers and opinion makers.

Ms. R Jaya, Additional Secretary, stated that the event marked the commencement of the awareness campaign. Further, she stated that the Ministry was engaging with all the stakeholders in the sector, so as to ensure that the Mission becomes a people’s movement. She requested the master trainers to ensure that they take the training forward and train district- level master trainers who would in turn take the message to the local- village level. There is a necessity to involve all stakeholders at all levels so as to reach the last mile. Further, the Ministry also intends to conduct regional workshops and promotional campaigns to raise awareness, and utilize online resources like Swasthya and Sickle Cell Corner.

Three technical sessions were held on (i) ‘Awareness modules and its importance as a preventive measure’ by Dr Deepti Jain, Rtd. Professor, Nagpur Medical College, Maharashtra and Chairperson of the Committee; (ii) ‘Diagnosis in Sickle Cell is critical’ by Dr Anupam Sachdeva, Head of Department, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi and the (iii) ‘Role of health workers in the prevention and management of the Sickle Cell Disease by Dr Nita Radhakrishnan, Associate Professor, SSPGI, Noida.

Dr. Naveen Thacker, President at The International Pediatric Association (IPA), Dr Saurabh Varshney, Director AIIMS Deoghar, other medical experts, various other stakeholders and all Committee Members shared their views on the occasion. 

Shri Asit Gopal, Commissioner- NESTS, Dr. Naval Jit Kapoor, Joint Secretary, Shri Biswajeet Das, DDG, Smt. Vineeta Srivastava, Health Advisor and other officials of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs were also present in the event.

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Centre approves Startup Guidelines dedicated to Technical Textiles

 The Ministry of Textiles has approved the Startup Guidelines for Technical Textiles – Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT) providing grant-in-aid upto INR 50 Lakhs for upto a period of 18 months, informed Shri Rajeev Saxena, Joint Secretary Textiles during a press conference held here today on the important developments in the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).

With a strong emphasis on developing the Startup Ecosystem in Technical Textiles, the guidelines focus on supporting individuals and companies to translate prototype to technologies & products including commercialization. The GREAT Guidelines provides thrust in Technical Textiles’ application areas including Agro-textiles, Building-textiles, Geo-textiles, Home-textiles, Medical-textiles, Mobile-textiles, Packaging- textiles, Protective-textiles, Sports-textiles; Development of High-performance fibres and composites; Sustainable and Recyclable Textile materials; Smart Textiles using Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, 3D/4D Printing, and Rapid Prototyping; and Development of indigenous Machinery/Equipment/Instruments, among others.

To incentivize the incubators, Ministry to additionally provide 10% of total grant-in-aid to incubators. To strengthen authenticity and commitment towards the project, a minimum investment of 10% of the funding from the incubatee in two equal installments is mandated. The Startup Guidelines (GREAT) to provide much needed impetus for the development of technical textiles startup ecosystem in India, especially in niche sub-segments such as Bio-degradable and Sustainable textiles, High-performance & Specialty fibres, Smart textiles, among others.

Ministry also gave the nod to 26 institutes for upgrading their laboratory infrastructure and training of trainers in the application areas of technical textiles. Ministry has approved the applications of 26 institutions for development and introduction of technical textile courses/ papers in the key departments/specializationsas well as introducing new degree programme in technical textiles.

Total value of INR 151.02 Crores was approved wherein 15 applications valuing INR 105.55 Crores are from Public Institutes and 11 applications valuing INR 45.47 Crores are from Private Institutes.

Some of the premier institutes to be funded under the scheme include IIT Delhi, NIT Jalandhar, NIT Durgapur, NIT Karnataka, NIFT Mumbai, ICT Mumbai, Anna University, PSG College of Technology, Amity University,among others.

Notably, majority of the funding to be provided for upgradation of existing courses including Departments related to Textile Technology & Fibre Sciences to upgrade courses in all application areas of technical textiles including specialty fibres; Departments related to Design/Civil Engineering to upgrade courses in Geotextiles & Building textiles; Departments related to Fashion Technology/Design to upgrade courses in Smart Textiles, Protective Textiles, Sports Textiles, Home Textiles, Cloth Textiles; Department of Mechanical Engineering to upgrade courses in Mobile Textile, Industrial Textiles; and a New Degree Programme in Technical Textiles with predominant emphasis on all application areas of Technical Textiles.

In addition, Ministry to re-open the Guidelines for Enabling of Academic Institutes in Technical Textiles’ Education in India (Round II) under NTTM with relatively eased parameters and wider coverage including NBA score of 750 and above, NAAC rating of A+/3.26 or above or top 200 NIRF ranked institutes as eligible private institutes under the Education Guidelines 2.0. The guidelines have been in-principally approved and target the inclusion of new courses/papers in the curriculum of academic year 2025-26.

On the quality and regulation aspect of technical textiles, Ministry already notified 02 QCOs for 31 Technical Textiles products including 19 Geotextiles and 12 Protective Textiles, which will come in-effect from 7th October 2023 onwards. Besides, QCOs for 28 products including 22 Agrotextiles and 06 Medical Textiles are also in the final stages of issuance and likely to be issued in September 2023.

Furthermore, additional 28 items are also considered for QCOs including Building textiles, Industrial textiles, Ropes & Cordages, among other. To cover the comprehensive impact of the QCOs on the economy, industry and society at large, Ministry is proactively conducting multiple stakeholder consultations with Industries.

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PM Ujjwala Yojana consumers

 In a move that will bring respite to households across the nation, the Government led by Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, has announced a substantial reduction in the price of cooking gas. Effective 30.08.2023, the price of a 14.2 Kg LPG cylinder will be reduced by Rs 200 in all markets across the country. In Delhi for instance, the decision will bring down the cost of a 14.2 Kg cylinder from the existing Rs 1103 per cylinder to a more affordable Rs 903 per cylinder. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “This is a gift to crores of my sisters of the country on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Our Government will always do everything possible that improves people’s quality of life and benefits the poor and middle class.”

This reduction is in addition to the existing targeted subsidy of Rs 200 per cylinder to PMUY households, which will continue. For PMUY households therefore, the effective price in Delhi after this reduction will be Rs 703 per cylinder.

It may be noted that there are more than 31 Cr domestic LPG consumers in the country including 9.6 Cr PMUY beneficiary families and this reduction will help all LPG consumers in the country. To clear pending PMUY applications and to provide deposit free LPG connection to all eligible households, Government will shortly start distribution of PMUY connections to 75 lacs women from poor households who do not have an LPG connection. This will increase the total number of beneficiaries under PMUY from 9.6 cr to 10.35 cr.

These decisions come as part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to ease the financial burden on citizens and promote the welfare of households. The reduction in cooking gas prices reflects the Government’s commitment to prioritize the well-being of its citizens and ensure access to essential commodities at reasonable rates.

Sh. Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, expressed his happiness with the decision, stating, “We understand the challenges faced by households in managing their budgets. The reduction in cooking gas prices is aimed at providing direct relief to families and individuals, while also supporting Government’s larger goal of ensuring affordable access to essential items.”

The reduction in cooking gas prices is expected to have a positive impact on the cost of living for a wide spectrum of society. Government’s proactive step is projected to save significant expenses for households, making an appreciable contribution to the disposable income of citizens.

The Government has been taking various steps to ease the burden of the people and this reduction in cooking gas prices is a testament to the Government’s responsiveness to the needs of the people and its unwavering dedication to their welfare.

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‘Electrified Flex fuel vehicle’ launched today

 Highlighting the potential of Flex Fuel Vehicle Technologies in energy and automobile industry Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, said that these vehicle technologies provide opportunity of greater substitution of petrol by Ethanol as it is capable of using any of the higher blends of ethanol mix beyond 20%.

The Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas was speaking at the unveiling of the Prototype of World’s 1st BS-6 Stage-II, Electrified Flex fuel vehicle, developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor. Elaborating on this, he said that this initiative by Toyota is particularly important as it introduces the world’s first BS 6 (Stage II) Electrified Flex Fuel vehicle prototype, which has both the flex fuel engine as well as an electric powertrain, thereby offering higher use of ethanol combined with better fuel efficiencies. “With Industry and Government collaboration, we see India becoming a global hub for cleaner technologies and achieving self-reliance in energy soon”, he added further.

Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India who was the chief guest at the event , expressing his views on the launch of world’s first prototype of the BS 6 Stage II ‘Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle’,  stated that this innovative vehicle is based on the Innova Hycross and is engineered to adhere to India’s stricter emission standards, marking it as the first-ever BS 6 ( Stage II) Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle prototype globally. He mentioned that the forthcoming stages for this prototype encompasses meticulous refinement, homologation, and certification processes.

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri during his address said that India has huge Ethanol potential, much beyond E20 mix.  This excess potential can be utilised by the country by promoting Flex Fuel vehicle (FFVs) and Flex Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FFV-SHEV) / Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle.

An Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle has both a Flexi Fuel engine and an electric powertrain. This gives it ability to provide dual benefit of higher ethanol use and much higher fuel efficiency as is in case of a Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (SHEV), which can provide 30-50% higher Fuel Efficiency as it can run 40-60% in EV mode with engine shut off.

The Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister contended that various high-level bodies like National Green Tribunal (NGT), Energy Transition Advisory Committee (ETAC) have strongly recommended promotion of all green technologies including SHEVs & Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle etc for hastening the shift away from fossil fuel and faster decarbonization. He noted that as technologies including SHEVs & Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle etc. As Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle uses minimal advanced chemistry batteries, it also guards against possible Geo-political risks of battery raw material supplies.

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri also mentioned the steps taken by the Government to fulfil Prime Minister’s vision to achieve ‘Atmanirbharta’ in energy by 2047 and lead the global fight against climate change. He apprised that with the huge efforts made by the Government and the industry, in a short span of 8 years, the Ethanol blending in India has increased by over 8 times. It has increased from 1.53 % in 2014 to around 11.5 % (Mar ’23) leading to savings in the import bills and also lowering of carbon emissions.

Noting the efforts made by all the stakeholders, Shri Puri said that we have advanced the target for E20 blending to 2025 (5 years ahead of earlier planned schedule), from the original plan of 2030. He noted that with the strong efforts made by all the stakeholders, we will achieve this target. He said that E20 fuel is being dispensed at more than 3300 fuel stations across the country and shall be available pan India by April 2025. With E20 implementation by April 2025, expected import bill savings may be around Rs 35000 cr annually, oil import displacement will be 63 million barrels of gasoline (in EY 2024-25).

Minister of Heavy Industries Shri Mahendra Nath Pandey, MD & CEO, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Shri Masakazu Yoshimura and Chairperson and Managing Director, Kirloskar System Pvt Ltd, Smt Geetanjali Kirloskar also attended the event.

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