Delhi, 03 JAN 2024 

Union Minister  for Environment ,Forest and Climate Change and Labour and Employment Shri Bhupender Yadav in a post said he was thrilled to share that Kuno National Park has welcomed three new members. He said the cubs have been born to Namibian Cheetah Aasha.

Shri Yadav said this is a roaring success for Project Cheetah, envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji to restore ecological balance.

Shri Yadav congratulated all experts involved in the project, the Kuno wildlife officials, and wildlife enthusiasts across India.

North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd procures more than 140 MT of produces under its umbrella brand ‘NE Fresh’

Around 30 local entrepreneurs/MSMEs associated with NERAMAC in 2023 for branding and marketing of their processed products

NERAMAC launched Brand ‘NERAMAC Premium’ for marketing of G.I. tagged products

North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council completed plantation of 900 hq in three districts of Assam, benefiting 750 farmers

NECBDC conducted 21 training /skilled development training programme in cane and bamboo, trained more than 463 persons

North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd. (NERAMAC) is a PSU under Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. It supports farmers/ producers of the region to obtain remunerative prices for their produce, as well as to enhance the agricultural, procurement, processing & marketing infrastructure of the Region.

NERAMAC procured more than 140 MT of produces like Pineapple, Avocado, Black Rice, Cashew nut, Large Cardamom, Cinnamon, and Black Pepper etc. in 2023 under its umbrella brand ‘NE Fresh’. It also provided market linkages for fresh pineapple and other vegetables. NERAMAC has product basket of 130+ products in the retail segment. Around 30 local entrepreneurs/MSMEs associated with NERAMAC for branding and marketing of their processed products.   Retails products are marketed through 12 stalls/retails outlets of NERAMAC covering seven cities/towns. Including two, One Station One Product (OSOP) stalls at Kamakhaya and Dimapur Railway stations.

NERAMAC also launched Brand ‘NERAMAC Premium’ for marketing of G.I. tagged products. NERAMAC has facilitated the User Authorization registration of 1308 farmers of NER for all 13 G.I. registered Agri-Horti products during the year.  This is a significant milestone for development of the agri-horti sector of the North East Region.

Under the scheme “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs)” of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, 205 FPOs has been formed across NER covering 15,500 farmers.

NERAMAC participated/organized 17 events and covered around 2000 farmers/entrepreneurs. During the year, Cashew Processing Plant (CPP) of NERAMAC at Agartala revived and started functioning with the fund support from NEC and Integrated Ginger Processing Plant (IGPP) at Byrnihat, Meghalaya revived under PPP mode.

North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) completed plantation of 900 hectare in the three districts of Assam, which covered 3.30 lakh saplings and 750 farmers’ beneficiaries.

Capacity building, skill up gradation and trainings are the main activity of NECBDC. During the period, NECBDC conducted 21 training /skilled development training programme and   has been trained more than 463 persons in cane and bamboo.

The Bamboo Based Craft Concentration Centre at Sovima Village, Dimapur, Nagaland funded by North Eastern Council (NEC), Ministry of DoNER, Government of India (Project Cost ₹448.46 Lakh) was completed and inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri Neiphiu Rio on 22^nd November 2023 in the presence of many dignitaries. The Centre will focus on traditional and modern Handloom and Handicrafts of Nagaland for domestic and international market.

Around 115 occupational Health Safety Kit was also distributed to artisans of NECBDC Clusters of Assam and Manipur.

Delhi, 03 JAN 2024 

A band, comprising 45 girls from the North East, is participating in the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Republic Day Camp 2024 for the first time. The girls are in the age group of 13-15, representing the rich cultural heritage of the North East and showcase the reach of the NCC to every nook and corner of the country.

Addressing a press conference at Delhi Cantt. on January 03, 2024, DG NCC Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh informed that a total of 2,274 cadets, including the highest participation of 907 girls, from across the country are taking part in the month-long camp. The cadets also include 122 from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh as well as 177 from the North East. In addition, cadets and officers from 25 friendly countries under the Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) will participate.

The DG NCC underlined that the aim of the Republic Day Camp is to provide exposure to the rich traditions of the nation and strengthen the value system of the cadets. The camp will promote national integration and strengthen unity in diversity through cultural exchange programmes. The camp will be visited by a number of dignitaries including Vice President, Raksha Mantri, Raksha Rajya Mantri, Chief of Defence Staff and the three Service Chiefs.

Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh enumerated the major activities carried out by the NCC in 2023. He stated that 39 Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat camps were organised, including two Vibrant Village area camps, three DRDO camps and one Aerospace camp. Megacyclothon, Nari Vandhan Run, exceptional performance in sporting events, mountaineering expeditions and the presence in G20 events were other such achievements.

The DG NCC stressed that the training philosophy of the cadets has been refined to accommodate the changing aspirations of the youth. “The focus is on personality development, inculcating leadership traits and improving the soft skills of cadets to equip them for their future requirements. The idea is to transform them into better citizens and inculcate the spirit of Nation first,” he said.

Delhi, 03 JAN 2024 

Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, AVSM, NM took over as the Flag Officer Commanding–in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Western Naval Command (WNC) on 03 January 2024 from Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, AVSM, NM at an impressive Ceremonial Parade held at INS Shikra. He also paid homage to all personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice in service to the Nation by placing a floral wreath at the Gaurav Stambh – Victory at Sea Memorial, at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. Prior to taking over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the WNC, Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh served as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi.

Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh is a graduate of the National Defence Academy, Pune, and was commissioned in 1986 in the Executive Branch of the India Navy. In his career spanning 37 years, he has served on most class of ships of the Indian Navy and has held a range of command, training, and staff appointments, including Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Communications, Space and Network-Centric Operations (CSNCO)), Flag Officer Sea Training, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Commandant Naval War College, and Controller Personnel Services and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations).

He was the lead drafter for the Indian Navy’s Maritime Doctrine, 2009, Strategic Guidance to Transformation, 2015, and the Indian Maritime Security Strategy, 2015.

He specialised in Navigation and Direction in 1992 and attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course in the UK in 2000. He has undergone the Naval Higher Command Course in 2009 at Naval War College, Mumbai, and the National Security Strategy Course in 2012 at the National Defence College, Delhi.

He holds MSc and MPhil in Defence and Strategic Studies from Madras University, MA in Defence Studies from Kings College, London, and MA (History), MPhil (Pol) and PhD (Arts) from Mumbai University. In recognition of his distinguished service, the Flag Officer was awarded the Nau Sena Medal in 2009, and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020.

Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi will take over as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi.

Delhi, 03 JAN 2024 

Indian Navy continues to monitor maritime security situation in North/ Central Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden. Indian Naval ships and aircraft remain mission deployed for maintaining enhanced surveillance and undertaking maritime security operations.

In the last one week, Indian Naval Task Groups deployed in the area have investigated large number of fishing vessel and boarded vessels of interest.

Indian Naval maritime Patrol Aircraft and RPAs are undertaking persistence surveillance over the area.

IMAC and IFC IOR have been closely monitoring white shipping, especially the Indian Flagged Merchant Vessels plying in the area. Indian Navy is also coordinating with Coast Guard for maintaining enhanced surveillance within the EEZ.

Indian Navy is closely monitoring overall situation in coordination with national maritime agencies and remains committed towards ensuring safety of merchant shipping and seafarers in the region.

This farmer-centric initiative aims to empower tur dal producers with better prices through procurement by NAFED and NCCF, streamlined processes and direct bank transfers, thereby boosting domestic pulses production and reducing import dependence

Procurement will be done for buffer stock of pulses from farmers registered on the portal and MSP or market price, whichever is higher, will be paid to the farmers

The launch of the Tur Dal Procurement Portal will symbolize the government’s comprehensive vision of a new green revolution that will include pulses and oilseeds along with traditional crops like wheat and rice

Taking another important step towards Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will launch the portal for registration, purchase and payment of tur producing farmers of India in New Delhi tomorrow. He will also address the national symposium organized on self-reliance in pulses.

This farmer-centric initiative aims to empower tur dal producers with better prices through procurement, streamlined processes and direct bank transfers by NAFED and NCCF, thereby boosting domestic pulses production and reducing import dependence. Under this, the buffer stock of pulses will be purchased from the farmers registered on the portals of NAFED and NCCF as per the guidelines of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India and MSP or market price, whichever is higher, will be paid to the farmers.

The process of registration, purchase and payment on the portal will be available on a single medium. Portal registration of farmers can be done directly or through PACS and FPO. The payment to the farmers will be made by NAFED directly into their mapped bank account and no agency will be involved in between. The entire process is farmer centric in which farmers themselves can track the activities from registration to payment.

This initiative complements the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” campaign. The portal will streamline the entire process for tur dal growers in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka and Jharkhand, simplifying the registration, procurement and payment processes. It aims to reduce dependence on imports by purchasing 80% of the buffer stock directly from farmers. This will not only secure food production but will also ensure the future food security of the nation. The multilingual electronic portal https://esamridhi.in will connect farmers, NAFED and concerned government departments, streamlining processes for better accessibility.

The launch of the Tur Dal Procurement Portal will symbolize the government’s comprehensive vision of a new green revolution that will include pulses and oilseeds along with traditional crops like wheat and rice. This will be beneficial for Indian agriculture and the bright future of millions of farmers towards self-reliance in all food categories.

“project will ensure 100 times faster Internet for the people of Lakshadweep”: PM

The Connection will ensure a paradigm shift in communication infrastructure in the Lakshadweep islands

It will enable faster and more reliable internet services, telemedicine, e-governance, educational initiatives, digital banking, digital currency usage, digital literacy, etc.

The project is funded by Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF), Department of Telecommunications

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today, in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep, inaugurated Kochi-Lakshadweep islands submarine optical fiber connection (KLI-SOFC) project among various developmental projects worth more than Rs 1,150 crore covering a wide range of sectors including technology,  energy, water resources, healthcare and education.

The KLI-SOFC project will lead to an increase in internet speed unlocking new possibilities & opportunities. For the first time since independence, Lakshadweep will be connected through Submarine Optic Fibre Cable. The dedicated submarine OFC will ensure a paradigm shift in communication infrastructure in the Lakshadweep islands, enabling faster and more reliable internet services, telemedicine, e-governance, educational initiatives, digital banking, digital currency usage, digital literacy etc.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister recalled the guarantee given by him in 2020 about ensuring fast internet within 1,000 days. He said, “Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection (KLI – SOFC) project has been dedicated to people today and will ensure 100 times faster Internet for the people of Lakshadweep”. He added, “This will improve facilities like government services, medical treatment, education and digital banking. The potential of developing Lakshadweep as a logistics hub will get strength from this”.

The Prime Minister assured the people of Lakshadweep that the government will continue to take every possible step to ensure their ease of living, ease of travel and ease of doing business. The Prime Minister highlighted that  “Lakshadweep will play a strong role in the creation of a Viksit Bharat”.

Administrator of UT of Lakshadweep, Shri Praful Patel was present on the occasion among others.

Background-Kochi-Lakshadweep Submarine OFC (KLI) Project

• The need for digitally connecting the Lakshadweep Islands through a high capacity submarine cable link with the main land has been felt for some time. Earlier, the only means of communication with the Islands was through Satellite medium, which had limited bandwidth capacity and was not able to meet the growing bandwidth demand.
• The Department of Telecommunications (DOT) took immediate action and conceptualized the Kochi-Lakshadweep Submarine OFC Project (KLI project). The KLI project has been completed well within the timelines.
• In the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Cable (KLI) project submarine cable connectivity from Mainland (Kochi) to eleven Lakshadweep Islands namely, Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Chetlet, Kalpeni, Minicoy, Androth, Kiltan, Bangaram and Bitra has been extended.
• The project is funded by Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF), Department of Telecommunication.
• Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was the Project Executing Agency and the work was awarded to M/s NEC Corporation India Pvt Ltd through Global Open Tendering process. Major activities related to the project includes Marine Route Survey, Submarine Cable laying, Civil Construction of CLS stations, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of End Terminals (SLTE).

Highlights of the KLI Project:

• Total link distance: 1,868 kilometres.

• Total cost of project : Rs 1072 crore plus taxes.

Benefit of the KLI Project:

• The project will play a significant role in achieving the objective of ‘Digital India’ and ‘National Broadband Mission’ and for rolling out of various e-governance projects of Government of India in Lakshadweep Islands.
• E-Governance, Tourism, Education, Health, Commerce and Industries will get a boost. It will also help in further improvement in standards of living of the people in Island and will accelerate overall social and economic development in these areas.
• Population of Lakshadweep Islands will be provided high speed wireline broadband connectivity.
• High speed broadband will be provided through FTTH and 5G/4G Mobile network.
• The bandwidth created under this project will be available to all Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to strengthen their telecom services in the Lakshadweep Islands..

Government under the leadership of PM Modi is working as one family for a better future for the 140 crore Indians: Sh. Goyal

Whole of the government approach has been the hallmark of the government over the last 10 years: Sh. Goyal

India will become the third largest GDP in the world by 2027 with 140 Crore Indians working as a team: Sh. Goyal

ODOP to drive the growth of the tourism sector in turn pushing employment generation: Dr. Jaishankar

ODOP and Geographical Indicators are acting as effective tools in promoting traditional Indian products: Dr. Jaishankar

ODOP showcased India to the world at the various G20 events organized under India’s G20 Presidency: Dr. Jaishankar

Delhi, 03 JAN 2024 

The ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Utsav 2024’ was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Union Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Guest of Honour, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today. During the event, the Ministers gave the National One District One Product (ODOP) Awards 2023 to the winners.

While addressing during the inauguration ceremony, Shri Goyal said that the Government under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi is working as one family for a better future for the 140 crore Indians. He lauded the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Utsav 2024’ as representative of whole of the government approach that the Prime Minister has brought to the fore and which has been the hallmark of the government over the last 10 years.

Shri Piyush Goyal said that when India talks about economy, Indian ambition and target is not for small changes, the economy will reach the US$ 5 trillion target in a few years and will become the third largest GDP in the world by 2027. He said that this target can be achieved by 140 Crore Indians working as a team as per the Panch Pran of Amrit Kaal enunciated by the Prime Minister.

Dr. S. Jaishankar said that the ODOP initiative has the potential to drive the growth of the tourism sector which in turn will push employment generation. He added that while making in India is “very” crucial, branding and promotion of products are important as it helps in increasing demand. He said that ODOP and Geographical Indicators (GI) are acting as effective tools in promoting traditional Indian products.

Dr. Jaishankar said that ODOP showcased India to the world at the various G20 events organized across the country during India’s G20 Presidency, where the ODOP artisans, sellers and weavers got a lot of visibility at the global stage during the events. He said that the government mainly gifts ODOP products to foreign delegates and this was widely done during the G20 events organized in India. He said that the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry are working together along with Indian missions to boost the country’s outbound shipments.

Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh; Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Smt. Rachna Shah and Chairman and Managing Director, Indian Trade Promotion Organisation, Shri Pradeep Singh Kharola attended the inauguration ceremony.

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Utsav 2024 is being hosted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The ODOP Awards recognise the substantial efforts and successes in promoting the ODOP Initiative, bringing together Districts, States, and Indian Missions abroad to celebrate their contributions towards this innovative national endeavour.

The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Utsav and National ODOP Awards ceremony are a celebration of India’s journey towards self-reliance, showcasing the nation’s rich cultural heritage, diverse talents, and innovative spirit. The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Utsav 2024, taking place from 3rd to 10th January at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, is a dynamic event crafted to display India’s economic strength and cultural richness. It is organized into various zones, each distinctively showcasing the nation’s technological advancements and economic developments, alongside a colourful assortment of local products from different States and Union Territories. These zones collectively highlight the richness of India’s heritage and its burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit.

The ODOP Awards edition for this year, garnered considerable interest, facilitated through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal from 25th June to 31st July 2023. The overwhelming response, characterized by 580 applications from 535 districts, 26 States/UTs, and 19 Indian Missions Abroad, illustrated a nationwide dedication to promoting competitive spirit, encouraging innovative practices, and enhancing the quality of public service delivery. This enthusiastic participation signifies a collective commitment to the goals and ideals of the ODOP initiative.

The Ministers and dignitaries launched the ODOP compendium which is a testament to the work and efforts of States/UTs, Districts, and Indian Missions abroad, whose contributions are recognized and celebrated through the ODOP Awards, 2023. The profiles documented there in are the blueprints of resilience, adaptability, and visionary governance. They highlight the commitment of our local governments to embrace good governance and to replicate successful models across varied contexts. A digital launch of the next edition of the ODOP Awards 2024 was also released by the Ministers.

There are a total of 24 Awards across 3 categories – for Districts, States and Union Territories and Indian Missions Abroad which were received by their representatives at the ceremony. Indian Missions Abroad joined the ceremony virtually.

1. List of Awardees for ODOP Awards 2023

• • Districts Awards (Agriculture)

• • Districts Awards (Non-Agriculture)

• • States (Category A)

• • States (Category B)

• • Mission Aboard

The ceremony represents a notable step in our nation’s progress towards the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative. It provides a platform for exchanging best practices and discussing strategies for the ODOP initiative’s future. The event brought together senior government representatives from State and UT, District Administrations, and Indian Missions abroad, recognizing their important roles in this national effort.

Delhi, 03 JAN 2024 

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) along with National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has launched ‘SMART 2.0’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research among Teaching professionals) program to promote robust clinical studies in priority areas of Ayurveda with Ayurveda academic institutions/hospitals across the country through mutual collaboration.

According to Prof (Vd) Rabinarayan Acharya, DG, CCRAS, the study aims at safety, tolerability and adherence to Ayurveda formulations in the priority research areas of Bal Kasa, Malnutrition, Insufficient lactation, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) II.

CCRAS is an apex organization for the formulation, co-ordination, development and promotion of research on scientific lines in Ayurveda, functioning under the Ministry of Ayush. The objective of ‘SMART 2.0’ is to generate a tangible evidence to demonstrate efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions using interdisciplinary research methods and translating it into public health care. Under the ‘SMART 1.0’, around 10 diseases were covered with the active participation of teaching professionals from 38 colleges.

Ayurveda academic institutions interested to take-up collaborative research activities may submit ‘Expression of Interest’ in the prescribed format available on the CCRAS website http://ccras.nic.in/sites/default/files/Notices/02012024_SMART.pdf . The information or a query may be sent across to the email of ccrassmart2.0[at]gmail[dot]com with a copy to president.boa@ncismindia.org on or before 10th January.

Delhi, 03 JAN 2024 

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has shared devotional bhajan sung by Swati Mishra welcoming Shri Ram Lala. Shri Modi said that this bhajan is mesmerising.

In a X post, the Prime Minister said;

“श्री राम लला के स्वागत में स्वाति मिश्रा जी का भक्ति से भरा यह भजन मंत्रमुग्ध करने वाला है…

#ShriRamBhajan”