To implement National Mission for Mentoring, NCTE organises 2 day capacity building workshop

 The National Mission for Mentoring (NMM), as envisaged in NEP 2020, is about the creation of a large pool of outstanding professionals willing to provide mentoring to school teachers and ensure their continuous professional development. These potential mentors, regardless of the age or position of the mentor and mentee, will contribute towards realizing 21st century development goals of our nation. National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) launched NMM in Pilot mode on 29th July 2022 in selected 30 Central Schools (15 KVs, 10 JNVs, 5 CBSE) across the country.

For effective implementation of NMM, NCTE is conducted a 2 day capacity building workshop for the 60 mentors on 31st May and 1st June 2023 in order to provide quality professional support to teachers along with the essential mentoring skills and techniques.  Prof.  Yogesh Singh, Chairperson, NCTE graced the 2 day workshop as Chief Guest and addressed the dignitaries and mentors present there. He also launched the NMM Web Portal in the presence of Ms. Kesang Y. Sherpa, Member Secretary, NCTE to facilitate the mentoring sessions using synchronous and asynchronous methods. This portal will serve as an interface for conducting successful and effective mentoring sessions for teachers that are facilitated by trust, discovery, and constructive feedbacks.

NCTE has onboarded 60 outstanding professionals from various fields as mentors for NMM in areas such as Instructional Leadership Skills, Digital Education, Socio-emotional Learning, Inclusive Education, Professionalism and Ethics, Classroom Management, Building 21st Century Skills, Interpersonal Skills/Community Engagement, Action Research, Holistic Assessment, Art Integrated Pedagogy, Teachers’ Mental Health Management etc.

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Two-day festivities to celebrate Telangana Formation Day in spirit of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat at Golconda Fort

 The Ministry of Culture, under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, is celebrating Telangana Formation Day at Golconda Fort in Telangana. The  Minister of Culture, Tourism and DoNER, Shri G. Kishan Reddy will inaugurate the two-day festivities with a flag hoisting ceremony in the morning tomorrow (2nd June), followed by cultural performances in the evening. The celebrations will be in the spirit of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat.

The activities of 2nd June  include various events such as a march past, photo and painting exhibitions, classical dance performances by Ms. Anandaji and her group, performances by Manjula Ramaswamy and her group, and more. The public will also have the opportunity to witness performances by renowned Telugu singers Ms. Mangli and Ms. Madhupriya. The day will conclude with a spectacular performance by singer Shankar Mahadevan, featuring patriotic songs.

On 3rd June, there will be captivating folk-dance performances including Dimsa, Dappu, Bonalu, and Gussadi. Additionally, a theatrical production on Raja Ram Mohan Roy will be staged, and the day will culminate with a multilingual mushaira.

This event is part of the special campaign called Qila Aur Kahaniya, which aims to highlight the forts and their illustrious history throughout India, promoting the theme of Cultural Pride.The theme of Cultural Pride is a tribute to India’s vibrant culture and history. It pays homage to the unsung heroes who selflessly sacrificed their present for the freedom and future of the nation. This theme celebrates both the tangible and intangible aspects of our cultural identity. Under this theme, the Qila Aur Kahaniya campaign strives to showcase the unique characteristics and historical significance of various forts in India, providing an opportunity to connect with our past and honour our cultural legacy.

Under the Qila Aur Kahaniya campaign, several events have already taken place at forts like Chittorgarh and Kangra, while others are planned for sites such as Bithoor Fort, Mandu Fort, Jhansi Fort, and Kangla Fort, among others.

These events are made possible through the collaborative efforts of key institutions under the Ministry of Culture, including the Archaeological Survey of India, various Zonal Cultural Centers, Lalit Kala Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akademi, CCRT, Sahitya Akademi, and others.

As part of the Qila Aur Kahaniya campaign, the spirit of Telangana is being celebrated at Golconda Fort. The state of Telangana was officially formed on 2 June 2014, hence this day is commemorated as Telangana Day.

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, initiated by the Government of India, is a commemorative campaign that celebrates the incredible 75-year journey of the nation since independence. This grand campaign, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, is being celebrated throughout the country and beyond with great enthusiasm. More than 1.78 lakh events have been organized as part of this initiative.

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Application Deadline for the National Startup Awards 2023 extended till15th June 2023

 The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry introduced the National Startup Awards (NSA) in 2020. The applications for National Startup Awards 2023 have been made live from 1st April 2023 and the deadline for submissions is now extended to 15th June 2023.

The extension of the National Startup Awards 2023 application deadline allows aspiring entrepreneurs and enablers additional time to showcase their innovative solutions and profound societal impact.

The National Startup Awards 2023 will commemorate innovations from all corners of the country, aligning with the vision of ‘Vision India @2047’, which charts the path for India’s transformation into a developed economy, driven by the spirit of Amrit Kaal across key themes.

DPIIT will award a cash prize of INR 10 lakhs to one winning startup in each category. Furthermore, the winners and finalists of the National Startup Awards 2023 will receive exclusive handholding support, including access to investors and government networks, mentorship programs, international market exposure, connections with corporates and unicorns, and various other valuable resources.

Through three successful editions, these prestigious awards have highlighted the invaluable contributions made by visionaries who have revolutionized the Indian startup ecosystem. NSA was started with the aim of bestowing recognition and rewards upon exceptional startups and enablers within the startup ecosystem. These entities have been instrumental in fostering innovation, creating groundbreaking products, and exhibiting tangible social impact.

Interested participants are encouraged to visit the official National Startup Awards website and submit their applications before the revised deadline of 15th June 2023.

For more details, visit https://www.startupindia.gov.in/

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Startup20 Engagement Group

 Startup20 Engagement Group, operating under the esteemed India’s G20 presidency, is all set to host its much anticipated third meeting here in Goa.

International delegates from G20 nations and Indian delegates will be arriving on 2nd June onward to Goa.

The Startup20 Engagement Group extends a warm welcome to all delegates attending this significant gathering. Under India’s G20 presidency, Startup20 serves as a prime opportunity to foster collaboration, exchange ideas, and shape the future of startups and entrepreneurship on a global scale.

Embracing the spirit of “Sankalpana,” a Sanskrit term for collective resolve, brings together international delegates and experienced members of the Indian Startup Ecosystem, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.

The focal point of the meeting will be to build consensus on the Draft Policy Communique, which the Startup20 recently published asking public for feedback. The meeting will feature a startup showcase, exciting talks as part of the Startup20x series, cultural experiences, and discussions on the implementation and benefits of the ideas outlined in the document. Dignitaries from state, central, and international levels are expected to be present at the meeting, adding to the significance of the event.

In addition, the Goa Sankalpana event will offer various stimulating sessions, including presentations by taskforces on the final policy communiqué, closed group country huddles, closed-door HoD meetings etc. These sessions will provide a platform for engaging discussions, fostering collaboration, and advancing initiatives that will shape the future of startups and entrepreneurship across G20 nations.

Furthermore, a gala dinner with a mesmerizing cultural program will add a touch of grandeur to the event, offering delegates an opportunity to network and unwind amidst the enchanting charm of Goa.

Moreover, Startup20 recognizes the vital role that startups play in driving economic growth and development. It aims to foster global economic growth, enhance international cooperation, and address pressing global challenges. Through various engagement initiatives, Startup20 promotes dialogue and collaboration on crucial issues, including startups and entrepreneurship.

Negotiations for the Supply Chains (Pillar-II) Agreement

 Negotiations for the Supply Chains (Pillar-II) Agreement were substantially concluded during the second in-person Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Ministerial Meeting held in Detroit on 27 May 2023, hosted by the US.

Once implemented, the Supply Chain Agreement is expected to bring in a number of benefits to India and the other IPEF partner countries. Some of the key benefits expected are: potential shift of production centres in key goods/critical sectors to India; bolstering of domestic manufacturing capacities; giving a boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Production Linked Initiatives schemes; mobilization of investments especially in production of key goods, logistics services and infrastructure; deeper integration of India in the Global Supply and Value Chains particularly of Indian MSMEs; enhanced exports from India; upward mobility in the value chains; mitigation of risks of economic disruptions to India from supply chain shocks/adverse events; creation of a seamless regional trade ecosystem facilitating flow of Indian products; enhanced trade facilitation including through digital exchange of trade documentation, quicker port clearances; joint Research and Development; and workforce development. 

India and other partner countries will continue to engage to ensure effective implementation of the Agreement so as to achieve the overall objectives of the Agreement which is to make IPEF supply chains more resilient, robust, and well-integrated, and contribute towards economic development and progress of the region as a whole.

The IPEF Supply Chains (Pillar-II) Agreement is one of the fastest ever concluded plurilateral economic cooperation Agreements. Under this Agreement, IPEF partner countries are seeking to: make supply chains more resilient, robust, and well-integrated through crisis response measures; cooperation for mitigation of the effect of disruptions to better ensure business continuity, and improve logistics and connectivity; promoting investments particularly in critical sectors and production of key goods; and worker role enhancement through requisite upskilling and reskilling, and increasing comparability of skills credentials frameworks across IPEF. It entails cooperative and collaborative efforts among the IPEF partners.

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Coal Production Goes up to 76.26 Million Tonne in May 2023

 The Ministry of Coal has achieved a remarkable feat with a substantial surge in overall  coal production during the month of May’23, reaching 76.26 Million Tons(MT), surpassing the figures of the month May’22 of 71.21 MT, representing an increase of 7.10%. The production of Coal India Limited (CIL) has increased 59.94 MT in the month of May’23 as compared to 54.72 MT in May’22 with the growth of 9.54%. The cumulative coal production has seen quantum jump of 149.41 MT in FY’ 23 as compared to 138.41 MT in FY’22 with a growth of 7.94%.

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With increased First Mile Connectivity infrastructure,  coal dispatch in the month of May ’23 registered at 82.22 MT as compared to 77.79 MT in May ’22,  growth of 5.70%.  Coal dispatch from Captive and Commercial coal block has reported at 12.23 MT in May’23 in comparison to 10.47 MT in May ‘22 with the growth of 16.84 %. The cumulative Coal dispatch has registered remarkable increment of 162.44 MT in the FY 2023-24, up from 149.76 MT in the FY 2022-23, with an increase of 8.47%.

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This Impressive upturn in offtake has resulted in a comfortable coal stock position, guaranteeing  reliable and abundant supply of coal lying at pithead coal stock at CIL, SCCL, stock at TPP(DCB) etc. The total coal stock as of 31st May 2023 is 112.41 MT, compared to 82.97 MT on 31st May 2022 with the growth of 35.48%.  The positive coal stock position has strengthened the capability to tackle unforeseen fluctuations in energy demand and ensures meeting the energy demands of the nation.

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Furthermore, the availability of coal rakes, which play a crucial role in coal transportation, has remained consistently good throughout this period due to the initiative taken by the Ministry to augment rail connectivity infrastructure under PM Gati Shakti to ensure seamless evacuation of coal. This positive trend in rake availability has facilitated the smooth transportation of coal, minimized transportation bottlenecks, and ensured uninterrupted supply.

The Ministry is making constant efforts to augmenting coal production. The Ministry has already moved forward with a comprehensive plan for responsible development, placing strong emphasis on fostering conscientious coal mining practices that   prioritize the well-being of the environment and communities.

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Bureau of Indian Standards notifies 31 Indian standards related to Ayush herbs and products

 The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the national standard body of India, mandated for the development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification has taken an important step in a new push for standardization in the field of Ayush. BIS has notified 31 Indian standards related to Ayush, which includes 30 herbs and 1 product (stainless steel neti pot). These standards were recently published through gazette notification. BIS has also created an additional department for enabling dedicated focus on Ayush at BIS.

Ministry of Ayush appreciates this step and believes that this endeavor by BIS for development of standards and accreditation/certification of Ayush will augment international trade by ensuring quality of products & services, provide confidence to the manufactures and bring benefits to consumers in terms of reducing costs, enhancing performance and improving safety.

Recently, BIS has added another pillar to its robust structure of standardisation in India by establishing an additional department with a dedicated focus on Ayush at BIS. It is believed that the move will not only provide an impetus to the process of standardization but also will aid Ministry of Ayush objectives to ensure quality of Ayush products and services at all levels.

BIS has also taken the initiative to formulate International Standards in collaboration with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). On the advice of BIS, a Working Group (WG–10) on ‘Traditional Medicine’ has been created in the ISO/TC-215 ‘Health Informatics’.

The globalisation and increasing usage of traditional systems of medicine, the need for national and international standards for Ayush systems has become imperative. Ministry of Ayush has been consistently working to create a vibrant quality ecosystem to facilitate trade and ensure the availability of quality products and services to consumers both at the national and global levels.

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Government Jobs Notification

  Food Corporation of India (FCI), one of the largest Public Sector Undertakings under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution for ensuring the food security of the nation has been one of the leading recruiters in recent years, recruiting a large number of youth every year.

The recruitment process of FCI is conducted only through online mode of examination and is widely advertised in the Employment News as well as leading National/Local Newspapers. The selection is done through open competition and is on a purely merit basis. FCI ensures utmost transparency and genuineness by strictly adhering to the Rules and Regulations of the Corporation / Government of India.

Posts under various categories (Category I, II, III and IV) are being regularly advertised. FCI has successfully recruited 3687 Category III officials during the year 2020, 307 Category II and 87 Category I officers during the year 2021.

Currently, FCI has advertised 5159 posts of Category II & III in the year 2022. 11.70 lakhs candidates have participated in the recruitment process. The online exams in two phases have already been completed. Further, the recruitment process is in its final stage and is likely to be concluded shortly.

Instead of downsizing, FCI is filling up the existing vacancies in the Corporation for efficient operations and to meet the human resource shortage.

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10 Mouth-Watering, Must-Try Indian Dishes You Won't Want to Miss!

 10 Mouth-Watering, Must-Try Indian Dishes You Won’t Want to Miss!

Story of a Old Man

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled amidst rolling hills, there lived an old man named Ramdas. Ramdas had spent his entire life as a shepherd, tending to his flock of sheep on the lush green pastures. But with age catching up to him, he found it increasingly challenging to continue his demanding work.

One day, as Ramdas sat under the shade of a towering oak tree, feeling a sense of melancholy, he noticed a peculiar little goat grazing nearby. The goat had a mischievous glint in its eyes and a playful bounce in its steps. Intrigued by the lively creature, Ramdas approached it cautiously.

To his surprise, the goat seemed to understand him as it responded with gentle bleats. Ramdas felt an instant connection and decided to bring the goat home. He named her Lila, which means “playful” in the local language.

As days turned into weeks, Ramdas and Lila formed an unbreakable bond. Lila would accompany him everywhere, her hooves echoing beside his weary footsteps. The villagers marveled at the sight of the old man and the goat, for they had never witnessed such a unique companionship.

Lila, though small, possessed an extraordinary talent. She had a knack for finding the juiciest patches of grass, the sweetest leaves, and the most fragrant herbs. Ramdas would sit back and watch as Lila grazed, her delicate munching filling the air with a sense of tranquility.

One fateful day, a great drought struck the village, leaving the pastures barren and dry. Ramdas, with a heavy heart, knew that his sheep would suffer. He worried about their survival as they depended on the pastures for their sustenance. But Lila, being the resourceful creature she was, had a different idea.

One evening, Lila led Ramdas up a steep mountain path, her nimble steps guiding him with unwavering confidence. At the mountaintop, they discovered a hidden oasis, a secret haven untouched by the drought. The lush greenery and gushing waterfall were a sight to behold.

With Lila’s guidance, Ramdas brought his flock of sheep to this newfound sanctuary. The sheep feasted on the abundance of fresh grass, regaining their strength and vitality. The villagers were astounded by Ramdas and Lila’s discovery, and word of their miracle spread far and wide.

As the years passed, Ramdas grew frail, his once-strong body weakened by time. But Lila remained by his side, her unwavering loyalty comforting him in his twilight years. They had become legendary figures in the village, symbols of resilience, companionship, and the indomitable spirit.

When Ramdas eventually passed away, Lila mourned his loss, her bleats echoing through the hills. The villagers erected a statue in their honor, a testament to the extraordinary bond between a humble old man and his remarkable goat.

And so, the story of Ramdas and Lila continued to be shared by generations, a tale of love, courage, and the extraordinary things that can be achieved when two souls find solace in each other’s company.

National Conclave on 9 Years of Union Government Witnesses

On completion of 9 Years of the Union Government, a National Conclave was organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with the theme “9 Years of Seva, Sushasan, Garib Kalyan” at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. As part of the Conclave, three thematic sessions were held with esteemed panellists to discuss various achievements of the Union Government under the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the persistent efforts being undertaken by the Government for rapid advancement of the nation and betterment of masses. The first session was on the theme ‘India: Surging Ahead’. The session elucidated how India has undergone a remarkable transformation into a prominent global leader under the able leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The session was moderated by eminent journalist, Shri Nitin Gokhale and featured distinguished speakers from different walks of life, including Shri Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, Smt. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospital, Smt. Debjani Ghosh, President NASSCOM, Shri Surjit Bhalla, former Executive Director for IMF India, Shri Soumya Kanti Ghosh Group Chief Economic Advisor, State Bank of India and Smt. Deepa Sayal, Founder and President of Indian Women Institutional League (IWIL) India.
Shri Gokhale, setting the backdrop for the session said, “India has embarked on a path of transformation which has not been seen for decades together and India stock has risen globally”. He said “Morgan Stanley said in November 2022 that this is going to be India’s Decade. IMF in April, 2023 predicted India will emerge as the fastest growing economy in the world. India is surging and taking a lead in balancing the world order and therefore this conclave could not have come at a better time.”
Shri Sunil Bharti Mittal, talking about the decade of good governance under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, said that we have all experienced and seen the difference in the past few years. He said businesses require decisive leadership and after a long period of time we have a leader who is recognised as a global leader and one determined to make India a developed nation. Talking about telecom sector, he said India has the fastest 5G rollout and by March, 2024, India will have 5G across every nook and cranny of the country. He added that “Government has used the power of technology to its utmost advantage for ushering in the reforms and benefits to the masses of the country”. He said we have seen fantastic 9 years and the audacious target of 5 trillion-dollar economy which looked like a difficult task a few years back is now in sight and we should be able to achieve it by 2027.
Smt. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospital, spoke about how India made extensive and effective plan to fight the COVID Pandemic. She said our country stood out in tackling a crisis which wiped out many countries and it was due to the masterful management of the situation by our Prime Minister and the Government. She praised the People’s curfew which provided the time and space for the necessary infrastructure to be put in place and helped in tackling the pandemic effectively. Talking about the COVID Vaccines, she said “its commendable and reflective of India and our Prime Minister’s Global thought process that 50% of world’s vaccines were manufactured in India and it created a vaccine diplomacy on an unprecedented scale”. She said Government’s approach was “well-coordinated, fantastically masterminded strategy which was powerfully executed”. She further added that “the foundation is well set in India and not only can India take care of its own people well but has become the medical tourism destination of the world, currently we are number 4 but I believe that soon we will be number 2”. She urged the youngsters to use Yoga, Ayush and take care of their health as India has a great future ahead and it lies with the younger Generation.
Shri Surjit Bhalla, former Executive Director for IMF India, at the very onset said India has emerged as the best performing economy in the world during the shocking COVID period and today. Talking about the poverty reduction he said, “the entire process of government was geared towards ensuring that the bottom half of the population at least did not suffer any hardship as a consequence of COVID”. He spoke about the infrastructure transformation and said he is working on a study to see whether there is any economy in the world that has shown such a transformation in the last 9 years. He added that this government has shown to first, imagine the impossible and second, deliver it effectively and this is the real performance index of this government. He said Indian innovation is truly unique, Indian and better than any country in the world and books will be written about the speed of the transformation of India.
Smt. Debjani Ghosh, President NASSCOM said in 2008 only 17% Indians had bank accounts and a study said it would take India 46 years to achieve 80% penetration but India took just 7 years to do it. Why India could do it and disrupt status quo is due to technology, Aadhar, India stack, Digital Payment and the most genius financial inclusion program Jan Dhan Yojana. She said “the JAM trinity programme has enabled us to take banking to the grassroot level. Technology is available to all but what made the difference in India was the talent, the people which enabled us to challenge the status quo. 245 billion dollar revenue is what our tech industry generates and pace of growth and innovation is unprecedented and is being driven by talent which has made India an innovation hub and a startup hub”. She asserted that the ‘I’ in innovation stands for India., it has brought all big companies to do their innovation in India. She further added that “technology had been a luxury of the rich and urban but India turned this on its head and started from the grassroots and scaled it up. Ability to think bottoms up has made it possible”. She said 36% of the 5.3 million people working in tech sector are women and they are driving the change and innovation.
Smt. Deepa Sayal, Founder and President of Indian Women Institutional League (IWIL) India said she is very proud that my nation is changing at such pace and the pace and scale at which the government is bringing change praise worthy and immaculate. She stated that “Morgan Stanley has said our GDP will double to 7.5 trillion dollars by the end of the decade which is huge”. She said I have been lucky to be able to go to various states and connect with Startups, and women and children all are so charged up to begin and be self-employed. She talked about the phenomenal journey of startup that have increased from 450 in 2016 to 90000 startups in 2023 and said she must congratulate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for this.
Shri Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Advisor, State Bank of India talking about the key numbers said “COVID was the largest disruption for mankind but last year our nominal GDP expanded by 37 trillion. FY 2014 – 20 our average was 14.5 trillion so we did 2.5 times more than last 6 years that’s why recovery was fastest. Talking about 5 Trillion Dollar Economy goal, he said India took 57 years to get to 1 trillion and then every 7 years we added 1 trillion and now norm is every three years we add one trillion and in the last two years our economy added 750 billion and that is why in 2014 we were 10th largest economy, in 2015 we are 7th, in 2019 we were 6th and 2022 we were 5th and supposed to be 4th in 2026 and 3rd in 2028 and this is the transition in terms of rebound”. He talked about various schemes of the Union government and informed that women involvement has been very high in all of them and it has led to women empowerment and financial freedom. He said our service exports has doubled in past 7 years. Summing up he said that all numbers point out towards an India which is inclusive and expanding at an exponential rate.
In conclusion, all spoke about what is next for India in the coming 5-10 years. Smt. Deepa Sayal said employability is an opportunity and a challenge and we need to inculcate the right skill set to tap this opportunity. Smt. Debjani Ghosh said the power of youth, talent, innovation will ensure that when the world thinks digital, technology and innovation the world will think of India. Shri Sunil Mittal said “the foundation for a very bright future for our country has been laid in the last 9 years and we need to build on what we need to do. This is a rare opportunity for India with a confluence of a decision leadership and strong tailwinds and it is a delightful position for India, and we need to ensure good education, training and skilled for our large young population which will together ensure a bright future for India”. Smt. Sangeeta Reddy said last 9 years is 468 weeks and over 500 schemes launched so 1 scheme every week and we have the time to guide these schemes over next 10 years. She praised Prime Minister Shri Modi for promoting women led development and said the respect for women is going to be transformational for India and set an example for the world. In terms of thought and spiritual and humane leadership India is and will always be number one. Shri Surjit Bhalla said a lot has been achieved and a major reform that India needs is in Direct Taxation and concluded by saying the India is one of the most overtaxed economies in the world and hoped that a reform will come to lower the effective tax rate which will help in achieving a higher GDP Growth Rate.
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National Conclave: 9 Saal – Seva, Sushasan, Gareeb Kalyan

 Union Minister of Railways Shri Ashwini Vaishnav today inaugurated the National Conclave: 9 Saal – Seva, Sushasan, Gareeb Kalyan at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The event witnessed the presence of Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Anurag Thakur, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L. Murugan. Secretary, Min of I&B Shri Apurva Chandra and CEO, Prasar Bharati, Shri Gaurav Dwivedi were also present on the occasion.

Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnav made a comparative presentation juxtaposing the performance of the governments before 2014 with the government since and said while the previous governance efforts had become synonymous with scams, the current Government works with the ethos of ‘Pai Pai Se Gareeb Ki Bhalai’ (every penny for the benefit of the poor). This has been reflected in the way schemes and programmes have been implemented keeping the poor and the destitute as its central pillar, he added.

The Minister underlined that owning a house is a factor that brings a transformative change in a poor person’s life. To that end, today 3.5 crore houses have been constructed in the country under PM Awas Yojana bringing qualitative change in the lives of the poor.

The Minister said that the idea of connecting every house with piped water connection was always considered a behemoth, never to be attempted or achieved. But, he added, the Prime Minister took it up as a challenge and today 12 crore people have water connections. At the same time, he said the Government has strived to end the travesty that was traditional chulhas and provided 9.6 crore families with gas cylinders.

He further spoke about the efforts of the government to come through for the people in need and said that when the world was struggling to fight the travails of the COVID19 pandemic, the government overcame massive logistical challenges to bring free ration to 80 crore people. No government has spoken of fundamental human needs, like toilets, that are the indicators of inclusive growth, during Independence Day speeches. But PM Modi spoke about the construction of toilets in every house in his speech from Red Fort. This has caused a revolution in the field of women safety and sanitation with the construction of 11.72 crore toilets today. 

Shri Vaishnav said that India today runs the world’s largest healthcare insurance programme under Ayushman Bharat that has created provisions for free medicare up to Rs five lakh for the needy, the total coverage which is more than the population of the USA and Russia combined.

Shri Vaishnav credited the Prime Minister with creating a new definition of social justice taking it away from appeasement and towards empowerment.

The Minister said that domestic infrastructure has seen an unprecedented makeover since 2014, which was largely missing earlier due to a lack of proper mindset and thought process in the past. He cited the creation of 74 airports in 9 years, a figure matching the number created till 2014. He added that where 91 thousand kilometers of road were created since independence, almost 54 thousand kilometers have been constructed since 2014. India has gone from having no waterways till 2014 to having 111 waterways today and India’s railway stations have world-class facilities like airports.

The Minister said that India had lagged in world economic rankings for a long time, but today India stands tall as the 5th largest economy. He further said that India is well on its way to becoming the 4th largest economy in another two years and the third largest in another six years.

The Minister spoke about the government’s strong commitment to national security and said that when in past India has been at the receiving end of major terror activities, today the country has the means and willingness to respond to attacks in kind.       

Shri Anurag Thakur, while addressing the audience gathered at the conclave, said that the past nine years have seen a dramatic change in the life of the common people of India and the achievements of the Government have surpassed expectations of the people. He exemplified this by adding further that where India was a weak and ramshackle economy riddled with corruption in the past, today it has covered the distance from Fragile Five to Top Five economies of the world.

He further stated that while the benefits of government schemes used to reach only a few in the past, the government today works with the motto of Antyodaya, where the Government is committed to the upliftment of the last person standing at the end of the queue. Herein lies the secret of our efforts that have lifted 27% of people out of poverty, he added. A combination of a sense of service, big ideas, good governance, infusion of technology, and building transparency and accountability into the delivery mechanism, are the things that have gone into ensuring last-mile delivery of public services.

The Minister said that the government has been steadfast in shedding legacies of the colonial past and adopting modern and domestic symbols. This is evident in the creation of the Kartavya Path and will be evident in the new parliament.

The Minister highlighted that the Prime Minister had said that the youth had a critical role to play in shaping the future of this country. To that end, the Minister credited the youth for achieving a milestone where India can today boast of almost one lakh startups and over hundred Unicorns.

The Minister said that while on the one hand the country answered the Prime Minister’s call for Har Ghar Tiranga, the same tricolor was used by students of other countries to get out of a conflict zone during Operation Ganga. While surveys have called him the most popular leader, Shri Thakur said that he has in fact made the tricolour the strongest flag in the world.

Secretary Shri Apurva Chandra welcomed all the guests for the various thematic sessions during the day. He also welcomed the audience from various sections of society.

The National Conclave on 9 years of the Government is comprised of three thematic sessions after the inaugural session and a valedictory session.

Session 1 “India: Surging Ahead” moderated by Shri Nitin Gokhale, Senior Journalist will see participation from

  • Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises
  • Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals
  • Debjani Ghosh, President of NASSCOM
  • Surjit Bhalla, Former Executive Director for International Monetary Fund, India
  • Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Advisor, State Bank of India
  • Deepa Sayal, President and Patron in Chief, IWIL India

 

Session 2: Jan Jan Ka Vishwas moderated by Richa Anirudh, Journalist will see participation from

  • Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Actor
  • Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF Representative to India
  • Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairperson, Biocon Limited (Video message)
  • Padma Shri Shanti Teresa Lakra, Nurse
  • Nikhat Zareen, Boxer
  • Anil Prakash Joshi, Environmentalist Divya Jain, Co-founder, Seekho

 

Session 3: Yuva Shakti: Galvanizing India moderated by Raunac, Radio Jockey, Red FM with the following panelists

  • Ritesh Agarwal, CEO, OYO Rooms Rishab Shetty, Actor
  • Amaan Ali Bangash, Musician
  • Viren Rasquinha, Former Indian Hockey Captain
  • Yashodhara Bajoria, Director, Espresso Technologies
  • Akhil Kumar, Boxer

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9 years of Modi government

 Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that StartUp avenues unfolded in 9 years call for change of mindset.

The Union Minister said, the nine years of Narendra Modi- led government have been, without any doubt, youth centric but what is required is the change of mind set for optimum utilization of avenues and various initiatives provided for the youth of this country.

Dr. Jitendra Singh was addressing Y20 (Yuva Utsav) with the theme India@2047 organized by Nehru Yuva Kendra at Kathua in Jammu.

While addressing a large gathering of the youth, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, with plethora of opportunities knocking at the doorsteps of the youth of this country, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government is steadfast and dedicated for providing a level playing field for the youth at different levels. The best example being the abolition of interviews for the non-gazetted posts, more than 2000 rules scrapped many of which were hurdles for the youth of this country to grow, Dr. Jitendra Singh added.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said, under PM Narendra Modi, the start-up ecosystem in India is now ranked third in the world with more than 100 unicorns has been possible only because of the youth of this nation who has aspirations but earlier did not have the right kind of milieu and aspirational environment as provided under PM Narendra Modi.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the Aroma Mission is attracting Start-ups whose birthplace is J&K as thousands of persons have been trained and several and huge amount of farmers’ revenue generated so far throughout the country. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir must see Aroma Mission as one of the best opportunities in terms of start-ups knocking at their doors as the purple revolution in J&K offers attractive start-up avenues for the youth of J&K, Dr. Singh added.

Dr. Jitendra Singh today said, youth are catalysts of change and India’s future will be driven by the youth power as India is a youthful nation whose strength lies in its Yuva Shakti.

The Minister said, the image of India has changed due to the bold leadership of the prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding the Prime Minister has emerged as the tallest leader of the world, capable of handling any challenge through stable governance and administration.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said, before 2014, there were 145 Medical Colleges in the country and 265 more were added in the last nine years. Similarly, there were 725 universities in the country and 300 new universities were added. Road length of seven lakh kilometres was added in the country under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna in the last nine years and Mudra loan of Rs. 23 lakh crore has been provided to the beneficiaries in the last nine years under Mudra Loan Scheme.

Dr. Singh further said, Jammu and Kashmir is on the path of renewed growth and development and successful culmination of G20 Meeting in Srinagar is a testament to this change as the Government is committed to transforming Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Cooperation under EU – India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership

 The Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R. K. Singh held a meeting with Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President, European Green Deal, European Union in New Delhi yesterday, May 26, 2023. The meeting was held to discuss cooperation under the EU – India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership. The discussion touched upon energy efficiency; renewable energy, including solar and offshore wind, green hydrogen; energy storage, diversification of global supply chain for energy sector, the International Solar Alliance, India’s presidency of the G20 and how India and EU can partner each other on the clean energy transition.

“Looking for Partners who believe in going Green as fast as possible”

The Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister informed the visiting EU delegation that as India is growing, the power demand is accelerating. While the established capacity in India is 416 GW, it is going to double by 2030. India is accordingly adding rapidly to its power generation capacity. onHHonTheThe Minister pointed out that despite India’s per capita and cumulative emissions being one of the lowest in the world, it has emerged as a leader in Energy Transition and Climate Action.   

“Need to Add Manufacturing Facilities for Energy Storage, to Bring Down Storage Cost”

The Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister informed the European Union delegation of the various steps being taken by India to ramp up renewable energy capacity. He said that manufacturing capacity for the most advanced solar cells and panels is coming up; and by 2030, total manufacturing capacity of 80 GW will come up. This will meet India’s requirements and provide surplus for exports. This will address the supply chain issues of the world. The Minister stated that storage is needed in order to provide round-the-clock renewable energy and the transition to Net Zero. He informed that recognizing the need to add storage capacity, the government is coming up with bids for more storage.  Government of India has already come up with a bid for Production Linked Incentive for energy storage; and it is planning to have one more bid. He sought the cooperation of the EU in encouraging other countries too to add manufacturing facilities for energy storage so that the price of storage comes down.

Speaking of the need for alternative chemistries such as sodium ion, the Minister suggested that India and the EU do joint pilots, in areas such as green steel and other frontier technologies. The Minister informed that India is doing a pilot for round-the-clock renewables, using hydrogen and ammonia as storage. A construct across the world in this respect will help, he added.

“Journey to Green Hydrogen needs to be on the basis of free and open trade”

The Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister observed that the industry is switching to green hydrogen and that if the journey is to continue, it will have to be on the basis of free and open trade, without barriers. He told the EU delegation that we should guard against protectionism. He also said that we need to increase electrolyser manufacturing capacity if we need to increase use of green hydrogen. India is going to come up with a PLI bid on that, he informed.

The Executive Vice President of European Green Deal appreciated India for its leadership in Renewable energy and energy efficiency and suggested that the two sides find ways to bring the agenda of energy efficiency to the global stage, and help set global energy efficiency targets.

The Executive Vice President spoke of the need for global targets in introduction of renewables and said that we need to look at developing industrial ecosystems which promote renewables. He said that the EU is developing new generations of solar panels and that green hydrogen is also taking off and Europe will become a truly global market. Given the high costs of transporting green hydrogen, he opined that the places producing green hydrogen will attract industrial investment.

Grid-Scale Battery-based Energy Storage Systems

The Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister spoke of the opportunity for collaboration in batteries for grid-scale storage. He informed that India has come out with a separate Production Linked Incentive for batteries for green mobility. He said that India is going to be one of the biggest markets for green mobility, with 80% of India’s 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers and about 50% of 4-wheelers expected to be green by 2030.

The Executive Vice President said that heat pumps is an area where lot of innovation is expected to happen, given the rising needs for cooling and heating. He also said that there is a strong consensus in the EU on need to adopt renewable energy and on making the green transition.

Need to Detoxify Agriculture

The Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister expressed the government’s goal of detoxifying agriculture, by making a transition away from chemical fertilizers in the times to come.

“Need to Support Energy-Populations in Getting Energy Access”

The problem of lack of access to energy by 800 million people around the world was discussed. The Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister recalled that even as India and the EU make progress through this collaboration, a large part of the world population, especially in the African continent, suffers from poor energy access.

The two sides discussed the role of International Solar Alliance in bringing solar energy to the millions of people in Africa without access to energy. We need to support them to help them get clean energy and we need to get countries to work with the International Solar Alliance to contribute to clean energy, said the Minister.

This suggestion has been welcomed heartily by the Executive Vice President of the European Green Deal. It was agreed that EU, ISA, Africa and India will need to set up a partnership to address this issue.

The Executive Vice President of European Green Deal was accompanied by Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to India; Edwin Koekkoek, First Counsellor, Energy & Climate Action, EU Delegation; Sara Zennaro Atre, First Secretary, Trade Section, EU Delegation; Estela Pineiro Kruik, Member of Cabinet; Damyana Stoynova, Member of Cabinet; and Diana Acconcia, Director, International Affairs and Climate Finance, Directorate-General for Climate Action, EU.

The Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister was joined by Alok Kumar, Power Secretary; Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, New & Renewable Energy Secretary; and other officers of the two Ministries.

About European Green Deal

As per the European Union, the European Green Deal seeks to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, ensuring:

  • no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050
  • economic growth decoupled from resource use
  • no person and no place left behind

One third of the €1.8 trillion investments from the Next Generation EU Recovery Plan, and the EU’s seven-year budget will finance the European Green Deal. More about the Deal here.

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REWARD Program with World Bank Team

 The Secretary, Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Government of India (GoI) Shri Ajay Tirkey reviewed the Implementation Support Mission of World Bank Assisted Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development (REWARD) program.

REWARD is a World Bank assisted Watershed development program which is being implemented from 2021 to 2026. The Development Objectives of REWARD program is to “Strengthen capacities of National and State institutions to adopt improved watershed management for increasing farmers resilience and support value chains in selected watersheds of participating States”. The program is being implemented to introduce modern watershed practices in the Department of Land Resources in the Ministry of Rural Development and in the States of Karnataka and Odisha. The total budget outlay of REWARD program is USD 167.71 million over a program period of 4.5 years. This includes USD 115 million from World Bank [Karnataka (USD 60 million), Odisha (USD 49 million) and DoLR (USD 6 million)], USD 46.71 million from two participating States [Karnataka (USD 25.71) and Odisha (USD 21.0 million)] and USD 6 million from DoLR. The funding pattern is 70:30, between World Bank and States whereas it is 50:50 between World Bank and DoLR.

At the central level, the scope of the REWARD program covers management, monitoring, communication and knowledge sharing functions by DoLR. At the State level, the REWARD program will be contiguous in scope to the WDC-PMKSY 2.0, and support implementation of key science-based activities and demonstrations which eventually aims at synergising broader perspective of WDC-PMKSY 2.0 in other States in India.

As a part of third Implementation Support Mission (ISM), the team of World Bank headed by Smt. Preeti Kumar visited DoLR & REWARD States for 3rd ISM to review the progress and to discuss about the plan of action for the next 6 months. After completing the mission, yesterday the team visited Department of Land Resources, Government of India to debrief the outcomes of ISM to the Secretary, DoLR. During the debriefing, the team felt that the progress of REWARD is on track and complemented the efforts of DoLR for the present progress and requested Secretary, DoLR for his continuous support to achieve the progress as per the Disbursement Linked Indicators of the program.

The other points discussed during the debriefing meeting includes strengthening of Centre for Excellence on watershed component which was established in Bengaluru under REWARD program, organizing National level workshop on science based watershed management, development of protocols for expansion of Land Resource Inventory (LRI) across the country on a pilot basis, providing LRI based digital advisory services to farmers and Exposure visits of REWARD officials etc.

Shri Nitin Khade, Joint Secretary (WM), Dr. C.P. Reddy, Senior Additional Commissioner, ISM members from World Bank, Experts of NPMU of REWARD program and other officials of DoLR attended the meeting.                                         

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