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Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, GoI, attends the grand opening ceremony held in Lyon at the LDLC Centre.

Shri Jayant Chaudhary visits France to cheer for Team India at WorldSkills2024 Opening Ceremony; 60 competitors to compete in 52 Skills

60-member Team India walked with confidence at the Parade of the Nations during the opening ceremony of the WorldSkills 2024.

The 47th WorldSkills Competition was officially inaugurated today by French President Emmanuel Macron at a grand opening ceremony held at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France. Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship also graced the ceremony, meeting the young participants comprising Team India, to boost their confidence.

With over 13,000 attendees from across the globe, Team India made a remarkable impression at the WorldSkills 2024 competition, standing out with their distinct ceremonial attire that showcased the nation’s rich cultural heritage, exquisite craftsmanship, and sartorial elegance. The competitors will be competing in skills like- 3D Digital Game Art, Additive Manufacturing, Autobody Repair, Chemical Lab Technology, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Digital Construction, Fashion Technology, Graphic Design, Industry 4.0, Health and social care, Mechanical Engineering CAD, Robot System, Water Technology, Welding, Bricklaying, Plastering, Patisserie, Bakery, Hospitality Services, and many more.

WorldSkills is a platform not just for competition but for sharing knowledge, learning from one another, and fostering unity. The year 2024 is a momentous one for France, as it plays host to the Olympics, Paralympics, and now, the prestigious WorldSkills competition. None of which would have been possible without skills.

At this global skills platform and meeting the team, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, MoS (I/C), MSDE said, “Our 60 young champions from Team India, competing in 52 skills, are not merely participants but will serve as change makers, leading the way to a future shaped by skill, innovation and determination. Watching them live, marching with pride on this global stage, gave me a glimpse of how special these moments are for the young boys and girls competing and representing India.”

Led by flagbearer Shreyansh Sharma from Jaipur, Rajasthan, who will compete in the Chemical Laboratory Technology skill category, the 60-member Indian contingent made a striking entrance during the Parade of Nations.

The competitors were elated to meet the Minister in France, drawing immense motivation from the interaction, which strengthened their resolve to represent India with pride and excellence at the global stage and win medals for the country

Shweta Ratanpura, Bronze Medalist in Graphic Design Technology at WorldSkills Kazan 2019, has been nominated as the new WorldSkills Champions Trust Representative from Asia for 2024. She had the privilege of a one-on-one meeting with the Minister and also addressed the audience on the global stage, representing India with pride and passion.

The Indian team’s participation aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a global hub for skilled talent. Furthermore, the presence of the Honourable Minister underscores the government’s commitment to promoting skill development and supporting nation’s young talent at the global stage.

Interestingly, this year in the Indian contingent, women will be seen competing in traditionally male-dominated fields such as Welding, Plumbing and Heating, Logistics & Freight Forwarding, underscoring the changing face of India’s workforce, amongst the youngest in the world and a pointer to the gender demographic upside, that the country can reap if it invests gainfully in skilling its young population.

The WorldSkills 2024 competition, often referred to as the “Olympics of Skills,” will run from September 10-15 at Euroexpo Lyon, France. Over 1,400 competitors from more than 70 countries will compete with 1,300 experts and an expected attendance of over 2,50,000 participants.

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September 12, 2024 by CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Daily News

Cabinet approves Modification of the scheme of Budgetary Support for the cost of Enabling Infrastructure for Hydro Electric Projects

An outlay of Rs.12461 crore to be implemented from FY 2024-25 to FY 2031-32

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Power for modification of the scheme of budgetary support for the cost of Enabling Infrastructure for Hydro Electric Projects (HEP) with a total outlay of Rs.12461 crore. The scheme would be implemented from FY 2024-25 to FY 2031-32.

The Government of India has been taking several policy initiatives to address the issues impeding Hydro Power development, viz., remote locations, hilly areas, lack of infrastructure etc. To promote the hydro power sector and to make it more viable, the Cabinet in  March, 2019, approved measures, namely declaring large hydro power projects as Renewable Energy sources, Hydro Power Purchase Obligations (HPOs), tariff rationalization measures through escalating tariff, budgetary support for flood moderation in storage HEP and budgetary support for the cost of enabling infrastructure, i.e., construction of roads and bridges.

For the faster development of Hydro Electric Projects and improvement of infrastructure in the remote project locations, the following modifications have been made in the earlier scheme:

a)   To widen the ambit of the Budgetary Support for cost of Enabling Infrastructure by including four more items apart from construction of roads and bridges i.e., the cost incurred for the construction of: (i) transmission line from power house to the nearest pooling point including upgradation of pooling substation of State /Central Transmission Utility (ii) ropeways (iii) railway siding, and (iv) communication infrastructure. The strengthening of existing roads/bridges leading to the project will also be eligible for central assistance under this scheme.

b)   The scheme has a total outlay of Rs.12,461 crore for cumulative generation capacity of about 31350 MW to be implemented from FY 2024-25 to FY 2031-32.

c)    The scheme will be applicable to all Hydro Power Projects of more than 25 MW capacity including the private sector projects which have been allotted on a transparent basis. This scheme will also be applicable to all Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) including Captive/Merchant PSPs, provided that the project has been allotted on a transparent basis. A cumulative PSP capacity of about 15,000 MW would be supported under the scheme.

d)    The projects whose Letter of Award of first major package is issued upto 30.06.2028 would be considered under this scheme.

e)   The limit of Budgetary Support for the cost of Enabling Infrastructure has been rationalized to Rs.1.0 crore/MW for projects up to 200 MW and Rs.200 crore plus Rs.0.75 crore per MW exceeding 200 MW, for projects above 200 MW. For exceptional cases the limit of budgetary support may go upto Rs.1.5 Crore/MW provided sufficient justification exists.

f)     The Budgetary Support for cost of Enabling Infrastructure will be provided after appraisal of the cost of Enabling Infrastructure by the DIB/PIB and approval of the Competent Authority as per extant guidelines.

Benefits:

This revised scheme would help in faster development of hydro electric projects, improve infrastructure in the remote and hilly project locations and would provide large number of direct employment to the local people along with indirect employment / entrepreneurial opportunities through transportation, tourism, small-scale business. It would encourage fresh investments into hydro power sector and incentivize timely completion of new projects.

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September 12, 2024 by CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Daily News

 Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) 

15-day National Social Mobilization Campaign for Clean Nation

As the curtains rise for a mega campaign for the cause of Swachh Bharat, preparations have begun for a fortnight of activities to nudge behaviour change and to promote public participation for a clean nation. Observed annually since 2017, Swachhata Hi Seva campaign has been a precursor to Swachh Bharat Diwas, which commemorates the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on 2nd Oct.

Like previous years, the campaign is being jointly spearheaded by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in collaboration with the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti. Set around the theme of ‘Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S)’, the campaign is set to rollout from 17th Sept and will culminate on 2nd Oct., 2024.

From the ramparts of Red Fort, on 15th August, 2014, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivered a resounding call to action for the nation. The Mission was launched on October 2, 2014, embracing a ‘Whole of Society’ approach, making sanitation ‘everyone’s business’. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission, making it even more significant.

This year on Independence Day, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi emphasized how Swachhata has become a fundamental aspect of daily life, driving significant changes in behaviour across the nation. This year’s theme, Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) 2024, represents a shift towards fostering behavioural change. It emphasizes integrating cleanliness into daily habits and cultural practices, encouraging a modified attitude towards Swachhata as a core part of everyday life.

Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) campaign has been built around three key pillars (i) Swachhata Ki Bhaagidari – Public Participation, Awareness & Advocacy Activities for Swachh Bharat, (ii) Sampoorna Swachhata – Mega Cleanliness Drives & timebound transformation of Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) viz. difficult and dirty spots and (iii) SafaiMitra Suraksha Shivir – Single-window Seva, Suraksha and Samman camps for health checkups and welfare of sanitation workers.

Embracing a ‘Whole of Society’ approach, the campaign is expected to engage citizens, industries, NGOs, development organizations, Corporators, Members of Panchayat Samiti, Gram Panchayats, urban local bodies, districts etc. Under the ‘Whole of Government’ approach, the campaign will also see participation from all States, UTs, Chief Ministers, Central Ministries, local bodies, and State Field Units/CPSUs, Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies, and Mayors/Chairpersons.

As part of the preparatory activities, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C R Patil, presided over a high-level meeting with senior officials from the MoHUA & DDWS to assess and review the ongoing preparations for Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) campaign. For streamlining on ground execution of the mass public campaign, MoHUA & DDWS co-chaired meeting with urban and rural areas of State/UTs, Central Ministries, Industry, development partners. Meetings with States are being held to assess the level of preparedness and ensure effective implementation.

To review the preparedness for Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) campaign and the commemoration of Swachh Bharat Diwas, Union Minister Shri M.L. Khattar convened a high-level meeting with MoS Shri Tokhan Sahu and the Secretaries of Central Ministries.

September 12, 2024 by CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Daily News

मलनिस्सारण, स्वच्छता व पाणीपुरवठा आराखड्यात वाढत्या गरजा लक्षात घेऊन बदल आवश्यक – उपमुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस

नागपूर महानगरातील विकास कामांना गती देण्यासाठी केंद्रीय मंत्री नितीन गडकरी यांच्या अध्यक्षतेखाली व्यापक बैठक 

नागपूर,दि.06: वाढत्या नागपूर महानगरातील पायाभूत सुविधांसमवेत पाणीपुरवठा, मलनिस्सारण व कचरा व्यवस्थापन आदी बाबत भविष्याचा विचार करुन आवश्यक तेथे आराखड्यात बदल करणे क्रमप्राप्त आहे. याबाबत विविध भागात नागरिकांना भेडसावणाऱ्या अडचणींचा विचार करुन जो मास्टरप्लॅन तयार केला आहे त्यात आवश्यक तो बदल करुन कामाला गती देण्याचे निर्देश उपमुख्यमंत्री तथा नागपूर जिल्ह्याचे पालकमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांनी दिले. 

नागपूर महानगरातील मलनिस्सारण, स्वच्छता, नवीन रस्ते, नवीन वस्त्यांना पाणीपुरवठा याबाबत आज केंद्रीय मंत्री नितीन गडकरी यांच्या अध्यक्षतेखाली महानगरपालिका येथील सभागृहात बैठकीचे आयोजन करण्यात आले होते. या बैठकीस विधान परिषद सदस्य चंद्रशेखर बावनकुळे, आमदार डॉ.नितीन राऊत, विधान परिषद सदस्य प्रवीण दटके, आमदार कृष्णा खोपडे, आमदार मोहन मते, आमदार विकास कुंभारे, आमदार विकास ठाकरे, नागपूर मनपा आयुक्त डॉ.अभिजित चौधरी, महामेट्रोचे व्यवस्थापकीय संचालक श्रावण हर्डीकर, नागपूर सुधार प्रन्यासचे सभापती संजय मीना, अतिरिक्त आयुक्त आंचल गोयल, स्मार्ट सिटीच्या मुख्य कार्यकारी अधिकारी सौम्या शर्मा, अतिरिक्त आयुक्त अजय चारठाणकर आदी उपस्थित होते. 

नागपूर महानगर पालिकेच्या हद्दीत अनेक नवीन भागाचा समावेश झाला आहे. नवनवीन अपार्टमेंट्स याची भर पडली आहे. त्यानुसार उपलब्ध असलेला पाणीपुरवठा, मलनिस्सारणच्या पाईपलाईन, वाढत्या बाजारपेठा याचा अप्रत्यक्ष ताण हा सद्यास्थितीत असलेल्या सुविधांवर पडणे स्वाभाविक आहे. तथापि भविष्यातील सर्व गरजांचा विचार करुन यापूर्वी जो आराखडा तयार करण्यात आला आहे त्यात आवश्यक तो बदल तात्काळ करुन नवीन विकासकामांना कोणताही अडथळा येणार नाही याची संबंधित विभागप्रमुखांनी खबरदारी घेण्याचे स्पष्ट निर्देश उपमुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांनी वरीष्ठ अधिकाऱ्यांना बैठकीत दिले. 

महानगरातील विकास कामांसमवेत ‘जायका’कडून नागनदीच्या विकासासाठी 2 हजार 400 कोटी रुपयांचा निधी उपलब्ध झाला आहे. या निधीतून सिवरेज पाइपलाईन नेटवर्क अधिक मजबूत व परिपूर्ण करता येईल असा विश्वास त्यांनी व्यक्त केला. यादृष्टीने सर्व विभागाच्या संबंधित विभागानी समन्वय साधून त्याचे नियोजन करणे तेवढेच महत्वाचे आहे. 

अलिकडच्या काळात पावसाळ्यात मोठ्या प्रमाणात मलनिस्सारणचे गर्डर चोक झाल्यामुळे पाणी तुंबल्याने काही भागात नागरिकांना त्रास सहन करावा लागला. हे लक्षात घेता पाइपलाईन व गर्डर यांच्या योग्य निगासाठी असलेल्या वाहन व्यवस्थेत आणखी भर टाकून ही वाहने वाढविण्याचे उपमुख्यमंत्री फडणवीस यांनी सांगितले. 

पावसाळा पाठोपाठ येणारे साथीचे आजार हे अस्वच्छतेमुळे होतात. यासाठी महानगरपालिकेच्या स्वच्छता विभागाने अत्यंत जबाबदारीने सार्वजनिक आरोग्याचे भान ठेवून काम करणे आवश्यक आहे. स्वच्छतेच्या कामात होणारा गलथानपणा खपवून घेतला जाणार नाही. याचबरोबर यापूर्वी सार्वजनिक आरोग्य अभियांत्रिकी विभागाकडे जी जबाबदारी सोपविली होती ती जबाबदारी त्यांना व्यवस्थित पार पाडता आली नाही याबद्दल अनेक तक्रारी आहेत. हे लक्षात घेता हे काम पुन्हा आरोग्य विभागाकडे देण्याचे निर्देश या बैठकीत देण्यात आले.

September 9, 2024 by CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Daily News

स्वतःच्या पलीकडे जाऊन इतरांसाठी जगल्यास प्रगत समाज निर्मिती शक्य – राज्यपाल सी. पी. राधाकृष्णन

श्रीमद राजचंद्र मिशन धरमपूर संस्थेच्या वतीने मुंबई येथे ‘पर्युषण महोत्सव २०२४’चे आयोजन

मुंबई, दि. 7 : पर्युषण हा केवळ जैन धर्माचा उत्सव नसून तो संपूर्ण मानवतेच्या आंतरिक शुद्धीचा उत्सव आहे. केवळ स्वतःसाठी जगणे चुकीचे आहे. स्वतःसोबत निरपेक्ष सेवाभावाने इतरांसाठी जगल्यास प्रगत समाज निर्मिती होईल, असे प्रतिपादन राज्यपाल सी. पी. राधाकृष्णन यांनी आज येथे केले.

राज्यपाल राधाकृष्णन यांच्या प्रमुख उपस्थितीत श्रीमद राजचंद्र मिशन धरमपूर संस्थेच्या वतीने मुंबई येथे आयोजित ‘पर्युषण महोत्सव 2024’ शनिवारी संपन्न झाला, त्यावेळी उपस्थित जनसमुदायाला संबोधित करताना राज्यपाल बोलत होते.

इतरांसाठी जगणे हा भारतीय तत्त्वज्ञानाने दिलेला शाश्वत विचार असून कोविड प्रतिबंधक लस निर्माण केल्यानंतर भारताने याच विचारामुळे लसीच्या माध्यमातून इतर देशांकडून नफा न कमावता अनेक राष्ट्रांना मोफत लस वितरित केली असे राज्यपालांनी सांगितले.

अध्यात्म हा केवळ बोलण्याचा विषय नसून अध्यात्म म्हणजे ज्ञानाचे व्यावहारिक कृतीत रूपांतर करणे आहे असे सांगून मनुष्य मात्रांसह प्राणिमात्र व अजीव वस्तूंबाबत सहानुभूती बाळगणे म्हणजे अध्यात्म होय असे राज्यपालांनी सांगितले. या संदर्भात श्रीमद राजचंद्र मिशन ही संस्था धरमपूर गुजरात व मुंबईत अद्ययावत प्राणी सेवा रुग्णालय सुरु करीत असल्याबद्दल राज्यपालांनी संस्थेचे अभिनंदन केले.

महात्मा गांधी यांच्या विचारांवर श्रीमद राजचंद्र यांच्या विचारांचा मोठा पगडा होता असे सांगून, सत्य व अहिंसा यांची कास धरून गांधीजींनी देशाला स्वातंत्र्य मिळवून दिले असे राज्यपालांनी सांगितले. श्रीमद राजचंद्र यांच्या विचारांचा वारसा श्रीमद राजचंद्र मिशनच्या माध्यमातून पुढे नेत असल्याबद्दल राज्यपालांनी गुरुदेव राकेशजी यांचे अभिनंदन केले.

शाकाहारातून विचार परिवर्तन

शाकाहारी अन्न मनुष्यांसाठी उत्तम असून शाकाहारामुळे मनुष्याच्या विचारात मोठे परिवर्तन होते असा आपला वैयक्तिक अनुभव आहे असे राज्यपालांनी सांगितले. सन 2000 पासून आपण संपूर्ण शाकाहारी झालो व त्यामुळे आपले विचार तसेच समाजाप्रति दृष्टिकोन यात आमूलाग्र बदल झाला, असे राज्यपालांनी सांगितले.

आदिवासी विकासासाठी कार्य करणार

आदिवासी विकास कार्यावर विशेष लक्ष देण्यासाठी राजभवन येथील ‘आदिवासी कक्ष’ पुनरूज्जीवित करण्यात आला असून राज्यातील साडे नऊ टक्के लोकसंख्या असलेल्या आदिवासी समाजाच्या उत्थानासाठी आपण कार्य करणार असल्याचे राज्यपालांनी सांगितले. श्रीमद राजचंद्र मिशन देखील आदिवासी विकास क्षेत्रात कार्य करीत असल्याने त्यांना देखील आदिवासी विकास कार्याशी जोडणार असल्याचे राज्यपालांनी  सांगितले.

मिशनचे अध्यात्मिक प्रमुख पूज्य गुरुदेवश्री  राकेशजी यांचेसह राज्यपालांच्या हस्ते यावेळी दान केलेल्या वस्तूंचा वितरण महोत्सव ‘द पॉवर ऑफ वन’ व  ऑपेरा हाऊस येथील श्रीमद राजचंद्रजी मार्ग येथे  आयोजित ‘जॉय ऍव्हेन्यू’ या उपक्रमांचा शुभारंभ करण्यात आला.

कार्यक्रमाला राज्याचे कौशल्य विकासमंत्री मंगलप्रभात लोढा, ज्येष्ठ उद्योजक मोतीलाल ओसवाल, सुभाष रुणवाल व श्रीमद राजचंद्र मिशनचे अध्यक्ष अभय जेसानी उपस्थित होते.

September 9, 2024 by CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Daily News

Compromising on nationalism is the ultimate betrayal to the nation, asserts the Vice-President

Education is the epicentre of transformative change, stresses VP Dhankhar

Today’s India is not the same as it was ten years ago- VP

PM leading the country on a path that the entire world recognizes, says Vice-President Dhankhar

My biological birth was at Kithana village, but my real birth took place at Sainik School Chittorgarh- Shri Dhankhar

Sainik School Gorakhpur will pave the way for development of future generations, set a benchmark for country to emulate, says the VP

Failure is the foundation of success, the Vice-President tells Sainik School cadets

Vice-President inaugurates Sainik School Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh today

Hon’ble Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today cautioned citizens against compromising on nationalism, terming it “the ultimate betrayal to the nation”. “Wherever anyone threatens the integrity of the nation, we must not tolerate it,” he asserted.

Highlighting that duty towards the nation must always we kept above self-interest and political interest, the Vice-President warned that a failure to do so would amount to an attack on India’s civilisational ethos spanning several millennia.

Delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of Sainik School Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh today, the Vice-President reminisced his own days as a student of Sainik School Chittorgarh, and underlined the impact of his Alma Mater in shaping his personal and professional journey. “While my biological birth was at Kithana village, my real birth took place at Sainik School Chittorgarh,” he said.

Emphasising on the importance of education as an epicentre of transformative change, Shri Dhankhar highlighted the power of education in giving individuals greater control over their lives, and in decimating inequities and cutting across malpractices in society at large.

Drawing attention to India’s distinct identity on the global stage today, the Vice-President recognised the contribution of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in “leading the country on a path that the entire world recognizes.” “Today’s India is not the same as it was ten years ago,” Shri Dhankhar said. “Article 370, which the framers of the Constitution called temporary, was considered permanent by some. In this decade, it has been abolished. This is today’s India.”

Conveying his appreciation at the establishment of the new Sainik School at Gorakhpur, the Vice-President expressed his conviction that the school would pave the way for the development of future generations. “It will set a benchmark for other states, and for the entire country to emulate,” Shri Dhankhar elaborated.

Underscoring the significant strides made by the state of Uttar Pradesh in governance and in upholding the rule of law, the Vice-President noted, “The participation of Uttar Pradesh in the development wave sweeping the country is a major contribution to nation-building.”

Addressing the cadets, the Vice-President urged them to eliminate the fear of fear from their minds. Narrating how the success of Chandrayaan-3 was built on the lessons gleaned from Chandrayaan-2, Shri Dhankhar said, “Failure is the foundation of success.”

During his visit, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar and Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar planted saplings in the memory of their late mothers, Smt. Kesari Devi and Smt. Bhagwati Devi, at the premises of the newly inaugurated Sainik School Gorakhpur. They also inaugurated the shooting range on the premises.

Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; Shri Kamlesh Paswan, Minister of State, Ministry of RuralDevelopment, Government of India; Shri Ravi Kishan Shukla, Member of Lok Sabha; Smt. Gulab Devi, Minister of State of Secondary Education,Government of Uttar Pradesh and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

September 7, 2024 by CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Daily News

Last date of submission of nomination for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is 15th September, 2024

The Ministry of Women & Child Development organises Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Purashkar (PMRBP) every year to celebrate the energy, determination, ability, zeal and enthusiasm of our children.

The child should be an Indian citizen and residing in India .The age should not exceed 18 years (as on the last date of receipt of application/nomination).

The last date of submission of the nomination of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025 on National Awards Portal i.e on https://awards.gov.in is 15.09.2024.

September 7, 2024 by CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Daily News

Over 17 Lakh Saplings Planted  during Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive 2024 Benefiting 10,000 Farmers under National Mission on Edible Oil-OilPalm

National Mission for Edible Oils – Oil Palm aims to expand oil palm cultivation and boost Crude Palm Oil production by setting up a value chain ecosystem for development of Oil Palm sector

Over 17 lakh oil palm saplings, covering more than 12,000 hectares across 15 states in India benefitting over 10,000 farmers were undertaken as part of Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive conducted under National Mission on Edible Oil-OilPalm. The Drive, launched on July 15, 2024, has achieved a significant milestone by planting demonstrating the collective efforts of Government of India, state governments and oil palm processing companies towards expanding oil palm cultivation in the country.

The drive, which will continue until September 15, 2024, has witnessed enthusiastic participation from states including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.

Organized by state governments in collaboration with leading oil palm processing companies such as Patanjali Food Pvt. Ltd., Godrej Agrovet and 3F Oil Palm Ltd., the initiative has featured numerous awareness workshops, plantation campaigns, and promotional events. These activities have successfully raised awareness and engaged the farming community, further supported by the presence of key dignitaries and political leaders who have underscored the importance of this mission.

Launched by the Government of India in August 2021, the National Mission for Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) aims to expand oil palm cultivation and boost Crude Palm Oil (CPO) production by setting up a value chain ecosystem for development of Oil Palm sector including viability price support. The Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive is a key component of this broader strategy to achieve self-reliance in edible oils, reduce import dependence, and increase the incomes of Indian farmers.

September 7, 2024 by CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Daily News

Cabinet approves seven major schemes for improving farmers’ lives and livelihoods with total outlay of Rs 14,235.30 Crore


The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today approved seven schemes to improve farmers’ lives and increase their incomes at a total outlay of Rs 14,235.30 Crore.

1. Digital Agriculture Mission: based on the structure of Digital Public Infrastructure, Digital Agriculture Mission will use technology for improving farmers’ lives. The Mission has a total outlay of Rs 2,817 crores. It comprises two foundational pillars

1. Agri Stack

  1. Farmers registry
  2. Village land maps registry
  3. Crop Sown Registry

2. Krishi Decision Support System

  1. Geospatial data
  2. Drought/flood monitoring
  3. Weather/satellite data
  4. Groundwater/water availability data
  5. Modelling for crop yield and insurance

 The Mission has provision for 

  • Soil profile
  • Digital crop estimation
  • Digital yield modelling
  • Connect for crop loan
  • Modern technologies like AI and Big Data
  • Connect with buyers
  • Bring new knowledge on mobile phones

2. Crop science for food and nutritional security: with a total outlay of Rs 3,979 crore. The initiative will prepare farmers for climate resilience and provide for food security by 2047. It has following pillars:

  1. Research and education
  2. Plant genetic resource management
  3. Genetic improvement for food and fodder crop
  4. Pulse and oilseed crop improvement
  5. Improvement of commercial crops
  6. Research on insects, microbes, pollinators etc.

3. Strengthening Agricultural Education, Management and Social Sciences: with a total outlay of Rs 2,291 Crore the measure will prepare agriculture students and researchers for current challenges and comprises the following

  1. Under Indian Council of Agri Research
  2. Modernising agri research and education
  3. In line with New Education Policy 2020
  4. Use latest technology … Digital DPI, AI, big data, remote, etc
  5. Include natural farming and climate resilience

4. Sustainable livestock health and production: with a total outlay of Rs 1,702 crore, the decision aims to Increase farmers income from livestock and dairy. It comprises the following

  1. Animal health management and veterinary education
  2. Dairy production and technology development
  3. Animal genetic resource management, production and improvement
  4. Animal nutrition and small ruminant production and development

5. Sustainable development of Horticulture: with a total outlay of Rs 1129.30 crore the measure is aimed at increasing farmers’ income from horticulture plants. It comprises the following

  1. Tropical, sub-tropical and temperate horticulture crops
  2. Root, tuber, bulbous and arid crops
  3. Vegetable, floriculture, and mushroom crops
  4.  Plantation, spices, medicinal, and aromatic plants

6. Strengthening of Krishi Vigyan Kendra with an outlay of Rs 1,202 crore

7. Natural Resource Management with an outlay of Rs 1,115 crore

September 5, 2024 by Other

Prime Minister’s interaction with Singaporean Business Leaders.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted today with a group of leading Singaporean CEOs from diverse sectors including investment funds, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, sustainability and logistics. Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Gan Kim Yong and Minister for Home Affairs and law H.E. Mr. K Shanmugam of Singapore participated in the event.

Appreciating their investment footprint in India, Prime Minister acknowledged the role played by the Singaporean industry leaders in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting economic cooperation between India and Singapore. To further facilitate their collaboration with India, Prime Minister announced the setting up of an INVEST INDIA office in Singapore. He further added that the elevation of India-Singapore ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership would give a major thrust to bilateral economic relations.

Prime Minister noted that India had made transformative progress in the last ten years and would continue on the same path given its strengths of political stability, policy predictability, Ease of Doing Business, and its reform oriented economic agenda. It is set to become the third largest economy in the world over the next few years. Talking of India’s impressive growth story, its skilled talent pool, and expansive market opportunities, he highlighted that India is contributing 17% to global economic growth. Prime Minister spoke about various initiatives to enhance India’s participation in global value chains through programs such as Production Linked Incentive scheme, India Semiconductor Mission and establishment of 12 new Industrial Smart Cities. He called upon the business leaders to look at opportunities in India in the field of skill development. For businesses looking for resilient supply chains, Prime Minister noted that India is the best alternative given its strengths. PM assured that India will increase the pace and scale of infrastructure development in his third term and apprised the CEOs of new opportunities in the fields of Railways, Roads, Ports, Civil Aviation, Industrial Parks and Digital connectivity.

Prime Minister invited Singaporean business leaders to look at investment opportunities in India and to increase their presence in the country.

Following business leaders participated in the Business Round Table:

No.NameDesignation
1Lim Ming YanChairman, Singapore Business Federation
2Kok Ping SoonCEO, Singapore Business Federation
3Gautam BanerjeeChairman, India & South Asia Business Group,
Singapore Business Federation
Senior MD and Chairman,
Blackstone Singapore
4Lim Boon HengChairman, Temasek Holdings
5Lim Chow KiatCEO, GIC Private Limited
6Piyush GuptaCEO and Director, DBS Group
7Goh Choon PhongCEO, Singapore Airlines
8Wong Kim YinGroup President & CEO, Sembcorp Industries Limited
9Lee Chee KoonGroup CEO, CapitaLand Investment
10Ong Kim PongGroup CEO, PSA International
11Kerry MokCEO, SATS Limited
12Bruno LopezPresident & Group CEO, ST Telemedia Global Data Centers
13Sean ChiaoGroup CEO, Surbana Jurong
14Yam Kum WengCEO, Changi Airport Group
15Yuen Kuan MoonCEO, SingTel
16Loh Boon ChyeCEO, SGX Group
17Marcus LimCo-founder and CEO, Ecosoftt
18Quek Kwang MengRegional CEO, India, Mapletree Investments Private Limited
19Loh Chin HuaCEO & ED, Keppel Limited
20Phua Yong TatGroup Managing Director, HTL International

***

MJPS/SR

September 5, 2024 by Daily News

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