Shri Bhupender Yadav takes charge as the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

 Shri Bhupender Yadav today assumed charge as the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on 11th June 2024. He was greeted at the office at Paryavaran Bhawan by Secretary Ms. Leena Nandan, Secretary(EF&CC) and other senior officials of the ministry. Shri Kirtivardhan Singh also assumed charge as Minister of State.

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Briefing the media after assuming the charge, the Union Minister thanked Hon’ble Prime Minister for giving him this opportunity and said he is ready to discharge his duties and responsibilities in the Ministry. He also welcomed his colleague Shri Kirtivardhan Singh, Minister of State. He said many steps have been taken by this Ministry in the last 10 years under the leadership of PM Modi and that the Government was moving ahead taking environment and development together. He also said that the focus will remain on initiatives such as Mission LiFE- Lifestyle for Environment. He said that globally there is an environment crisis and Hon’ble PM announced Mission LiFE- Lifestyle for Environment at the Glasgow, Climate Conference 2021. He also said that Mission LiFE seeks to mobilize individuals for climate-positive behavior and to create an ecosystem to reinforce and enable environmental-friendly self-sustainable behaviours. It upholds mindful consumption rather than mindless consumption. 

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Hon’ble Minister for MoEF&CC also said that the government believes environmental conservation and development can go hand in hand. He said that Hon’ble PM has also started a plantation initiative “एक पेड़ माँ के नाम” to counter escalating global warming and urged all citizens to take part in this initiative, launched by Hon’ble PM on World Environment Day, 2024 to promote mass plantation. This will help combat rising temperature, desertification and challenges facing biological diversity.

After assuming the charge, the Minister also held a meeting with the senior officers of the Ministry where he was briefed on the key initiatives and policy issues of the Ministry.

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Shri Jayant Chaudhary assumes charge as Minister of State for Ministry of Education

 Shri Jayant Chaudhary assumed charge as Minister of State for Education at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, today. On his arrival at the Ministry of Education, Shri Chaudhary was welcomed by the senior officials of the Ministry.

 

 

 

He expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the trust placed in him and pledged his commitment to working diligently towards enhancing the education sector. Shri Chaudhary said that the government is committed to empower future generations. He also said that he was honored to have a role in the Ministry, which is driving the development and reforms of the key education sector.

Shri Jayant Chaudhary is an advocate for implementing programs and launches that integrate the deprived into the mainstream of development to ensure continued growth and development across sectors and the country at large.

He also brings with him a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the welfare of the people. He was a member of the Standing Committee on Commerce, the Consultative Committee on Finance, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and the Committee on Government Assurances. He has served previously on the Standing Committees on Agriculture and Finance as well as the Committee on Ethics.

Shri Jayant Chaudhary did his undergraduate studies at Shri Venkateswara College, Delhi University, and an M.Sc in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2002.

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Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat takes charge as Union Minister of Culture

 Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat assumed charge as Union Minister of Culture, here today. Speaking with the media on the occasion, Shri Shekhawat expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for reposing his faith in him and giving this opportunity to preserve, protect and promote the vibrance of Bharateeyata both across our country and the world.

He further stated that in transitioning from India to Bharat, under the leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi we have been taking giant steps in shedding our colonial cloak and reinstating our glorious cultural heritage. Shri Shekhawat stated that our nation’s growing soft power is in its rich cultural fabric and its myriad manifestations in the form of art, music, dance, textiles among others.  ‘Let’s work together to strengthen it in this Amrit kaal and make culture a strong thread to weave Viksit Bharat’, the minister added.

Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was welcomed by Secretary Shri Govind Mohan and other senior officials of the Culture Ministry.

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Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah assumes charge as the Union Minister of Cooperation

 Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah today assumed charge as the Minister of Cooperation at Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan in New Delhi.

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After assuming charge, Shri Amit Shah posted on X, “The Ministry of Cooperation will continue to work towards strengthening the country’s economy along with the rural economy by empowering the farmers as per Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of ‘Sahkaar Se Samriddhi’. Our government is committed to bring positive change in the lives of crores of people associated with this sector by giving new opportunities to them while empowering the idea of ​​cooperation. Today I got the privilege of taking over the charge of Minister of Cooperation again, in Modi 3.0.”

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Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia takes charge of Ministry of Communications

 Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia assumed charge of the Minister of Communications here today

Addressing the media, he emphasized the importance of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), as well as of India Post, in today’s day and age in connecting the length and breadth of India. “I am honoured that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi I have been given the charge of the Ministry of Communications. In the past ten years, our government has transformed the sector and today I want to reaffirm my steadfast commitment to make India a sustainable, customer centric and competitive telecommunications and postal market,” he said.

 

 

Minister of Communications credited the revolution in telecommunications to the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and vowed to persevere and put in his best to ensure the delivery as per the aspirations of 140 crore citizens.

The Officer of the Ministry extended a warm welcome to Shri Scindia and assured him of their full cooperation in achieving the Ministry’s goals. His extensive experience and dynamic leadership are expected to bring a fresh perspective and renewed vigour to the Ministry of Communications.

Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia’s tweet link: https://twitter.com/JM_Scindia/status/1800433070413152579?t=lSd2E36lAoARrmhijo1zkA&s=19

Link to more photos and videos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nP-n5_cv21jSF7TjJnFvoHOCBJZ3JC_o

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Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal holds review meeting with officials of Ministry of Commerce and Industry

 Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal officially took charge of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for a second consecutive term in New Delhi today. Upon assuming office, Shri Goyal immediately convened a review meeting with senior officers from both departments within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Minister of State, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada also attended the meeting. During the meeting, the Commerce Secretary and DPIIT Secretary presented a brief on the ongoing proposals and action items of the ministry.

Shri Goyal emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and directed that a series of meetings must be scheduled in the coming days to delve into the details of various policies and action items that have to be finalized.

Expressing his gratitude and enthusiasm, Shri Piyush Goyal stated, “I am delighted to be part of PM Modi’s third term and am grateful to the people of Mumbai North for electing me. As I take charge, I come to you with a lot of fresh perspectives about India and about ground zero.”

Shri Piyush Goyal said that there is a need to introspect and coordinate better between departments. Shri Piyush Goyal emphasized upon the importance of Research & Development (R&D) and strengthening Public Private Partnership (PPP) model of governance.

He urged the officers to focus upon integrity, speed, skill and scale. He said that Steering Committee on Advancing Local value-add & Exports (SCALE) Committee and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes must be utilized to their full potential to boost exports and domestic production.

Highlighting the achievements of his previous term, Shri Goyal cited the boost in overall exports from India, signing of various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), significant inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country, etc. With a renewed commitment to driving economic growth and fostering international trade, the Minister expressed hope to lead the Ministry of Commerce and Industry towards new heights, ensuring that India’s progress remains steadfast and inclusive.

Shri Goyal encouraged the officers of the Ministry to make Quality the mantra to ensure India’s progress. Shri Goyal noted that the timely sharing of data and transparency in exports and imports will encourage investors to invest more confidently. He said that India is positioned in a sweet spot and it is the right time to convert our challenges into opportunities.

 

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Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal assumes charge of Ministry of Commerce and Industry

 Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal officially assumed charge of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi today. Minister of State, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada; Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Sunil Barthwal and Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, along with senior officers of the Ministry were present on the occasion.

On the occasion of assuming charge, Shri Piyush Goyal expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for giving him the opportunity to serve the nation once again. He said that over the past decade, PM Modi’s strong development-oriented governance has inspired a wave of progress across the country, and it is imperative to continue building on this foundation.

Shri Goyal emphasized the importance of working diligently during the Amrit Kaal to ensure rapid advancements in the field of commerce and industry. He said that the government is committed to creating new opportunities for the youth and working relentlessly for the welfare of all citizens. Under the visionary leadership of PM Modi, the nation is poised to achieve new heights. He also noted that embracing the philosophy of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Prayas,” the collective efforts and trust of the people will drive India towards a brighter future.

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DPIIT to conduct knowledge sharing workshop with Flipkart and Indian Toy Industry on June 12

 The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his “Mann ki Baat” address in August 2020, expressed his desire to establish India as a global toy manufacturing hub. In order to fulfill the vision, the Government has undertaken a series of initiatives including formulation of a comprehensive National Action Plan for Toys (NAPT) to promote designing of toys, using toys as a learning resource, monitoring quality of toys, promoting indigenous toy clusters etc.

This has resulted in remarkable growth of Indian toy industry in FY 2022-23 in comparison to FY 2014-15, with the decline in imports by 52%, rise in exports by 239% and development of overall quality of the toys available in the domestic market.

In order to enable further growth, increased market access and development of new-age marketing skills, DPIIT is conducting a workshop with Flipkart and Indian Toy Industry on 12th June 2024.  In the workshop, participation from Flipkart, Walmart and Toy Association of India is expected with around 100 participants.

The workshop aims to enhance India’s position and capabilities in the global toy supply chain. It will help the toy manufacturers understand the nuances of online selling which shall in turn help in the growth of sales and market access.

The Government has already undertaken a series of initiatives for development of Indian toy industry including:

  1. Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on toys (HS code 9503) was increased from 20% to 60% in February 2020, and subsequently to 70% in March 2023.
  2. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has mandated sample testing of each import consignment to curb the import of sub-standards toys
  3. A Quality Control Order (QCO) for Toys was issued in 2020, with effect from 01.01.2021.
  4. Special provisions were notified by BIS on 17.12.2020 to grant licences to micro sale units manufacturing toys without testing facility for one year and without establishing in-house testing facility, which was further extended by three years.
  5. BIS has granted more than 1400 licences to domestic manufacturers and more than 30 licences to foreign manufacturers for manufacture of toys with BIS standard Marks
  6. Cluster-based approach adopted to support domestic toy industry. The Ministry of MSME is supporting 19 toy clusters under the Scheme of Funds for the Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), and the Ministry of Textiles is providing designing and tooling support to 26 toy clusters.
  7. Several promotional initiatives have also been undertaken to promote indigenous toys and encourage innovation, including The Indian Toy Fair 2021, Toycathon, etc.

With the workshop, DPIIT aims to synergize the industry with online marketplaces, thereby enabling opportunities for growth.

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Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan officially takes charge of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare

 Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today took charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Speaking with media on the occasion, Shri Chauhan said he is happy to say that the first decision taken by the Prime Minister yesterday was in the interest of the farmers. He said the Prime Minister has resolved to double the income of farmers and the government will take every possible step for the welfare of farmers. The Minister also added that the NDA government has been committed for farmers’ welfare for past ten years and his Ministry will continue to work for achieving the goals.

After taking over charge, the Minister visited various offices in the Ministry and interacted with staff at various levels including cleanliness workers. He exhorted them to work as a team for achieving the government vision for welfare of farmers and work in cooperation with each other. He also visited Krishi integrated command and control center in the Ministry and saw facilities to review the agriculture scenario within the country including crop production and drought preparedness.

Later, he held a meeting of senior officials of the Ministry and underscored the need for transparency in Ministry functioning. He also handed government manifesto for welfare of farmers and rural development and called upon everyone to work towards its fulfilment. Shri Chauhan asserted that PM Narendra Modi is a visionary leader and called upon the officials to work on a roadmap for achieving goals set up in the manifesto. He said improving upon the lives of Annadata should be the mission of Ministry.

Shri Ramnath Thakur and Shri Bhagirath Choudhary also took charge as Ministers of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The hon’ble Ministers were welcomed by Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ welfare Shri Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, DARE Shri Himanshu Pathak and other senior officials of the Ministry.

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How to Get Book Indexed in Book

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Getting a book indexed in Google Scholar can significantly increase its visibility and accessibility to researchers and academics. While Google Scholar primarily indexes scholarly articles, it also includes books, conference papers, theses, and other scholarly documents. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to get your book indexed in Google Scholar:

Photo by Zeynep Sena Au00e7ar on Pexels.com

Steps to Get Your Book Indexed in Google Scholar

  1. Ensure the Book is Scholarly
    • Google Scholar indexes content that is scholarly in nature, including research monographs, textbooks, and edited volumes. Your book should have citations, references, and contribute to academic knowledge.
  2. Publish with an Academic Publisher
    • Books published by recognized academic publishers are more likely to be indexed. These publishers often have partnerships with Google Scholar, facilitating automatic indexing of their books.
  3. Make Your Book Available Online
    • Google Scholar indexes content that is accessible online. Ensure your book is available on a website that Google Scholar can crawl, such as a university repository, an academic publisher’s website, or your personal website.
  4. Ensure the Book is in an Indexable Format
    • Use common formats like PDF or HTML. Google Scholar prefers PDFs, which are easier for the search engine to crawl and index.
  5. Include Metadata
    • Make sure your book includes clear metadata (title, author(s), publication date, abstract, etc.). This metadata should be embedded in the document and also available on the webpage hosting the book.
  6. Upload to Institutional Repository
    • Many universities and research institutions have digital repositories that are indexed by Google Scholar. Upload your book to such a repository to increase its chances of being indexed.
  7. Submit to Academic Databases
    • Submitting your book to academic databases like JSTOR, SSRN, or arXiv can also help, as Google Scholar often indexes content from these sources.
  8. Link Citations
    • Ensure that your book cites other scholarly works and is itself cited by other scholars. This interlinking helps Google Scholar identify your book as part of the academic ecosystem.
  9. Check for Publisher Inclusion
    • If you published your book through an academic publisher, check if the publisher’s site is indexed by Google Scholar. You can do this by searching for other works from the same publisher on Google Scholar.
  10. Add to Google Books
    • Submit your book to Google Books, which is indexed by Google Scholar. Google Books allows for free submission and can increase the visibility of your book.

Detailed Steps

  1. Prepare the Book
    • Ensure that your book is in a digital format such as PDF and contains all necessary academic content, such as citations and references.
  2. Upload to an Institutional Repository
    • If you have an affiliation with a university, upload your book to its institutional repository. These repositories are regularly crawled by Google Scholar.
  3. Publish through Recognized Channels
    • Submit your book to academic databases or publishers that are recognized by Google Scholar. This can include platforms like SSRN for working papers or arXiv for preprints.
  4. Check and Enhance Metadata
    • Ensure that your book’s metadata is complete and accurate. This includes the title, authors, abstract, keywords, and bibliographic references. Use schema.org markup if possible to enhance metadata for Google.
  5. Create a Personal Website or Profile
    • Create a personal website or profile that lists your book and other scholarly works. Use platforms like Google Scholar Profiles to link to your book.
  6. Monitor and Update
    • Regularly check if your book has been indexed. You can do this by searching for your book on Google Scholar. If it isn’t indexed, review and update your submission or metadata.
  7. Engage with the Scholarly Community
    • Engage in academic networks, conferences, and workshops to increase the visibility of your book. Citations from other scholars can improve the indexing and ranking of your book in Google Scholar.

Additional Tips

  • Link Your Work: Ensure that your book is linked from multiple academic and research-related websites to increase its visibility to search engines.
  • Use DOI: If possible, obtain a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for your book. DOIs are favored by academic search engines like Google Scholar.
  • Promote Citations: Encourage colleagues to cite your book. Higher citation counts can improve the book’s discoverability and indexing status.

By following these steps, you can enhance the likelihood of your book being indexed in Google Scholar, making it accessible to a broader academic audience.

18th Mumbai International Film Festival to be held from 15th to 21st June, 2024

 Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Shri Sanjay Jaju today announced that the 18th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival will be held from 15th June to 21st June, 2024 in Mumbai. He said that while venue for the festival will be the FD-NFDC Complex, Mumbai, MIFF screenings will also be held in Delhi (Sirifort Auditorium), Chennai (Tagore Film Centre), Pune (NFAI auditorium) and Kolkata (SRFTI Auditorium).

Also present on the occasion were Additional Secretary, Ms. Neerja Sekhar, PDG, PIB, Ms.  Sheyphali B. Sharan and MD, NFDC, Sh. Prithul Kumar.

MIFF Film Programming

  1. Record Film Submission of 1018 films this year for the competition sections from 38 Countries across 65 Languages
  2. 118 films selected by the 3 Selection Committees of eminent film experts for the International (25) and National (77) competition sections. The Selection Committee also unanimously remarked that very high quality of film submissions has been received this year which made the selections tough.
  3. Total 314 films in the MIFF Programming this year
  4. There will be 8 world premieres, 6 international premieres, 17 Asia premieres and 15 India Premieres.
  5. Special packages have been curated in this edition, including:
    1. Award winning films package of Oscars and Berlinale (12 short films each)
    2. ‘Special Country Focus Packages’ from collaborating with 7 countries – Russia, Japan, Belarus, Italy, Iran, Vietnam and Mali
    3. Animation package curated from 4 countries – France, Slovenia, Argentina & Greece
    4. Student films from reputed institutes from across the country (45 films)
    5. Restored classics package from the NFDC-National Film Archives of India
    6. Competition films on the special theme of India at Amrit kaal showcasing the country’s growth, development, and prosperity
    7. Films for Divyangjan package for the visually challenged with audio description and sign language descriptions and for the hearing impaired with closed captions.
    8. Selected packages of films also on –
      1. Wildlife
      2. Mission Life
      3. Films by Asian Women Filmmakers

Opening & Closing Film of MIFF

  1. Opening Film of 18th MIFF will be “Billy & Molly, an Otter Love Story”, will initiate the festival with screenings in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, and Chennai on 15th Jun, 2024.
  2. The Closing Film of festival is the film that wins the Golden Conch and will be showcased on 21st Jun, 2024.

Jury & Awards

  1. International jury includes eminent film personalities from across the world – Keiko Bang, Barthélemy Fougea, Audrius Stonys, Bharat Bala, and Manas Choudhary, who will award the Golden Conch for the best documentary film, the Silver Conch for the best international short fiction film and best animation film, and the Pramod Pati Award for the most innovative/experimental film.
  2. National jury for 18th MIFF comprises of notable names such as Adele Seelmann-Eggebert, Dr Bobby Sarma Baruah, Apoorva Bakshi, Munjal Shroff and Anna Henckel-Don nersmarck who will confer the Best Indian Documentary, Short Film, Animation, Best Debut Film Award (sponsored by Govt. of Maharashtra) and Best Student Film Award (sponsored by IDPA), in addition to a host of technical awards and a special Award for Best Short Film on “India in Amrit Kaal”.
  3. Further, 3 Technical Awards for 1) Cinematography, 2) Editing and 3) Sound Design, will be given common from National & International Competition.
  4. A FIPRESCI Jury 3 eminent film critics will also confer the award for a national competition documentary
  5. Total Awards of Rs 42 lacs.

Accessible Festival

  1. Films for the visually challenged with audio description and sign language descriptions and for the hearing impaired with closed captions.
  2. Besides the special films for the specially abled, NFDC has partnered with Svayam, a not-for-profit organisation to make the MIFF festival venue at NFDC-FD premises fully accessible for people who are differently-abled and also those who have special needs. The accessibility partnership will also ensure that volunteers at the event are sensitized to facilitate delegates with accessibility issues so as to make the experience of visiting delegates seamless.

Gala Opening /Closing Ceremony & Red Carpets

  1. Grand Opening & Closing ceremonies will be held at NCPA, Nariman Point, Mumbai. The events will see an artistic melange of cultural acts which will include an act depicting the journey of Indian animation, a cultural performance from Sri-Lanka in opening and from Argentina in closing ceremony and showcasing the FTII student short Film “Sunflowers were the first ones to know”, which won the La Cinef Award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival this year.
  2. Gala Red carpet screening will be held in NFDC-FD complex in Mumbai every day starting from the opening film on 15th June. The other red carpets being planned with the eminent film celebrities are Poacher, Inside Out-2, The Commandments Shadow, My Mercury, Srikant, Brand Bollywood, etc.
  3. Exclusive Red carpets will also be held at Delhi (17th Jun), Chennai (18th Jun), Kolkata (19th Jun) & Pune (20th Jun) with participation from eminent personalities from the film industry.

Masterclass & Panel Discussions:

  1. The 18th MIFF will host engaging 20 masterclasses, in-conversations and panel discussions with industry luminaries such as filmmakers Santosh Sivan, Audrius Stonys, Ketan Mehta, Richie Mehta, T.S Nagabharana, Georges Schwizgebel & many more.
  2. Open Forum discussions will be held in collaboration with Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA) every day at the vibrant Amphitheatre venue with eminent personalities of the film industry.
  3. A crash course on Animation and VFX pipeline has been organized for registered participants.

Doc Film Bazaar:

  1. DOC Film Bazaar is being organized for the first time, to help boost the film production by providing a platform to filmmakers to find buyers, sponsors and collaborators for their projects.
  2. Close to 200 projects have been received from 10 countries in 27 languages.
  3. 3 curated verticals will be organized in the Doc Film Bazaar – ‘Co-production Market’ (16 projects), ‘Work-in-progress (WIP) Lab’ (6 projects) and ‘Viewing Room’ (106 projects).
  4. Besides these opportunities for selected projects, there will also be an ‘Open Buyer-Seller Meet’ which will help filmmakers collaborate with buyers and corporates in the realm of production, syndication, acquisition, distribution and sales.
  5. A dedicated session to explore the symbiotic relationship between documentary filmmaking and corporate branding. With industry leaders from various industry verticals, like FICCI, will explore the CSR funding of documentaries as powerful tools for brand enhancement and as a catalyst for positive societal impact.

Dedicated Portal & Mobile App for MIFF

  1. An interactive website of MIFF has been developed providing engaging details about the films, events and activities planned at the festival www.miff.in
  2. A dedicated mobile app has been developed for facilitating participation of delegates in various activities such as prior booking of film screenings, attending masterclasses, open forums, etc. It will also help the festival obtain valuable feedback from the delegates.

Delegate Registrations

  1. The Delegate Registrations are simple but mandatory for attending the festival through the website or the QR code provided in promotional material of MIFF.
  2. The Delegate Registration are also being provided through Book My Show.
  3. There are no extra charges for attending any number of film screenings or masterclasses or Doc film Bazaar.
  4. Delegate registration Fees-
    1. Mumbai – Rs 500 for attending the entire festival
    2. Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata & Pune – Free
    3. Student & Press – Free
    4. All Delegate registrations are ‘FREE’ fort the next 3 days.

Partnerships

  1. This year for the very first time, MIFF has received corporate collaborations from more than 20 brands in the festival. The brands have collaborated with the festival at various levels – from sponsoring various aspects of the festival to bringing in expertise to strengthen the festival.

Background

MIFF is the oldest and largest film festival for non-feature films (Documentary, Short Fiction & Animation) in South Asia and a premier international event of the documentary film world, since it started in 1990. It is a biennial event organized once in 2 years.

MIFF provides a platform for documentary filmmakers from all over world to meet, exchange ideas, explore the possibilities of co-productions and marketing of documentary, short and animation films and also broaden the vision of filmmakers’ vis-a-vis world cinema. The festival will provide a platform for more conversations and discussions on the documentary, animation and short films front; aimed at fostering artistic expression and proving to be a creative catalyst to the filmmakers and attendees alike.

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CSC signs MoU to convert 10,000 FPOs into CSCs

 An MoU between CSC SPV and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare was signed here today to convert FPOs registered under ‘Formation & Promotion of 10,000 FPOs scheme’ into CSCs and help them to deliver citizen-centric services.

As per MoU, 10,000 FPOs will be converted into CSCs. CSC SPV will enable them to provide the services that are available on the Digital Seva Portal. Training and Capacity Building of FPOs will be done by CSCs.

The MoU was signed by Shri Sanjay Rakesh, MD & CEO, CSC SPV and Shri  Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture in the august presence of Shri Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 

The Government of India launched the Central Sector Scheme for “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)” in the year 2020 that is enabling farmers to enhance their bargaining power, leverage economies of scale, reduction in cost of production and enhancing farmers’ incomes through aggregation of their agricultural produce, thus playing a major role towards sustainable incomes. After today’s initiative, delivery of CSC services through FPOs will increase employment opportunities in rural areas.

The CSC has always strived to improve the lives of citizens in rural areas through various initiatives. Farmers and agriculture are an integral part of our initiative. Thanks to the vast network of CSCs present in remote areas of the country, they are already providing various services to the farmers through tele-consultation, crop insurance, e-veterinary, Kisan Credit Card and PM Kisan schemes.

During the programme, Shri Sanjay Rakesh, MD-CEO, CSC SPV, said, “It is a matter of immense pleasure that 10,000 FPOs will now function as Common Services Centres. With this initiative, more farmers who are associated with FPOs, will be able to avail the benefits of CSC services. This will enable FPOs to provide citizens with all the services that are available on CSC Scheme’s Digital Seva Portal.”

This initiative will give a new dimension to the movement of rural development and digital empowerment of the country. There will be an immense increase in agriculture related services of CSC. It will also help FPOs to become a nodal center for providing various services like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS), Crop Insurance Scheme (PMFBY) and fertilizer and seed inputs.

During the program, Shri Kapil Ashok Bendre, Director (Mktg.), Ministry of Agriculture, Shri Subodh Mishra, Vice President-CSC SPV and Shri Devinder Rustagi, Consultant-CSC SPV were also present.

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First Command and Control Compatibility Board meeting for 2024 between Indian & U.S. held in New Delhi

 The first Command and Control Compatibility Board (CCCB) meeting for 2024 between Indian and the U.S. was held at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi from 04-07 June 2024.  The meeting had participation of a 29 member United States delegation led by Mr Paul Nicholson,  Executive Director, US INDOPACOM and a 38 member Indian delegation led by Brigadier Rahul Anand of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff. 

The CCCB is the Technical Expert Group formed under Article XI of the Communication Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) between India and USA, and is held twice a year.  After signing of the historic agreement in September 2018, this is the seventh such  meeting between both nations to calibrate, reinforce and achieve steady progress in the bilateral Defence partnership.

During this four day interaction, the Subject Matter Experts from both sides had several rounds of extensive discussions to understand interoperability scenarios and operational communications needs. Focused discussions with the US delegation were helpful in working out mutually agreed solutions for the current communications interoperability needs of the Indian Tri-Services.  The successful outcome of this meeting is a true reflection of the strengthening relationship between the militaries of India and US.  

ABB/Anand


The India Opportunity Showcased at the IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum

 On the sidelines of the inaugural Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Clean Economy Investor Forum, the Department of Commerce and Invest India organised a meeting to showcase various investment opportunities in India.

 

 

In his inaugural address Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Sunil Barthwal, stressed on how India’s growth rate is nearly double that of other emerging market economies. He remarked on how this strong growth is also leading to a trend of ‘reverse flipping’, where Indian start-ups that once moved abroad for capital access and tax benefits are now returning home. He emphasised how the digital economy along with emerging technologies like AI and rise of data centres were key to future Indian growth.

The meeting held at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, attracted over 60 participants, including global investors from the US, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Korea, and other countries, as well as India’s private sector and government officials. The event brought together investors and financial institutions from IPEF Member countries like that of Temasek, Global Infrastructure Partners, GuarantCo, Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), Goldman Sachs, I Squared Capital, Mizuho Bank Ltd, Advantage Partners, Nomura, DBS Bank and Citi Bank. The   Indian infrastructure and climate tech companies showcased their solutions and engaged with international investors to tap into global markets.

Indian High Commissioner to Singapore, H.E. Dr. Shilpak Ambule, focused on the fundamentals that are driving Indian growth. He said that the investment in physical and digital infrastructure will have multiplier effects on the Indian economy, and that the legislative and regulatory changes have created a pro-market field, providing conducive and predictable policy environment. He stressed on how shifting global supply chains and Indian efforts modernization of infrastructure will enable India to participate in them.

This was followed by an India opportunity presentation in which Invest India showcased the India’s through various government flagship initiatives like a flourishing startup ecosystem, a sizable pool of skilled and talented professionals across diverse industries, a push for investments in infrastructure projects, policy reforms aimed at streamlining regulations, enhancing transparency, and improving Ease of Doing Business.

MD and CEO of Invest India, Ms Nivruti Rai highlighted that India is keen on collaborating with investors, clean economy firms, and innovative startups to drive sustainable infrastructure, climate technology, and renewable energy projects to meet Net Zero targets.

Speaking during the fireside chat titled the Charting India Opportunity, Ms Radhika Rao, Senior Economist and Executive Director, mentioned that India strength is in 4C’s – Consistency & Continuity in Policy and reforms; Increasing Capex through government, household spending and private sector; Composition of trade shifting towards manufacturing sectors; Increasing consumption over the next 5 years.

Ms Sonal Varma, Managing Director, Nomura spoke in detail about the Nomura India report. The report shows that highest number of companies are looking at India than any other geography during their “Bottom’s up” study, a survey of around 130 companies mapping their investments in sectors and country.  India is attracting investments in broad based sectors ranging from semiconductor assembly to testing, automobiles to capital goods.

Mr Kunal Agarwal, Managing Director, I Squared highlighted that India is going through Infrastructure Supercycle, which is an enabler for digital revolution and India is viewed as a secular investment opportunity.

During the event, members of the industry expressed highlighted that the inaugural forum was a significant step forward in promoting economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. They emphasized the importance of industries working together to address the challenges they faced and create new opportunities for growth. The forum also underscored the crucial nature of a clean economy and supply chain resilience.

About IPEF and Clean Economy Investor Forum

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) was launched in May 2022 and currently includes 14 partners – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States and Vietnam. The IPEF, comprising four pillars of cooperation, namely Trade, Supply Chain, Clean Economy and Fair Economy, provides a platform for countries in the region to collaborate on advancing resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth and aims to contribute to cooperation, stability and prosperity in the region.

The IPEF Clean Economy Investor Forum, one of the initiatives under the IPEF, brought together the region’s top investors, philanthropies, financial institutions, innovative companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs to mobilise investments into sustainable infrastructure, climate technology and renewable energy projects.

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