IIM, Raipur successfully organized the two day Y20 consultation event at its campus with much enthusiasm and fanfare. The first day deliberations yesterday on 25^th February, 2023 S were marked by the important ‘Youth Dialogue’ with Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India which  began with a lot of excitement among the students. Earlier, in the morning yesterday, the event was inaugurated  by Smt. Renuka Singh,  MoS, Tribal Affairs, GoI, in the presence of Dr. Ram Kumar Kakani, the Director of IIM Raipur, along with other esteemed guests.

During his address, Shri Anurag Thakur highlighted the importance of technology in bridging gaps, providing opportunities to showcase talent, and solve global problems. The Minister expressed pride that India is now the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world with 107 unicorns. He praised the youth of Chattisgarh for leveraging disruptive technologies and possessing unmatched vigor, vitality, and vibrancy. He further quoted, “Your network is your net worth.” Shri Anurag Thakur  motivated young individuals to expand their network and establish more connections with people to expand the horizons of their life and work. Moreover, he suggested that the youth should travel as much as possible to gain extensive exposure and experiences. He concluded by quoting “You are the present, you are the hope of the world.”

During the dialogue with the Minister, the youth raised several questions regarding the involvement of young people in politics, enhancing GDP, self empowerment, the contribution of international students to their home country etc. The main lesson learned from this session is that continuous learning and acquiring new skills can empower young people to participate in their nation’s progress and promote peace. Shri Anurag Singh Thakur  was impressed by the use of traditional art in the logo of IIM Raipur.

Smt. Renuka Singh Saruta, emphasized the importance of the Y20 Consultation event as an opportune moment to pay tribute to all the freedom fighters who secured India’s independence and contributed to its progress. She stated that the Prime Minister also shared this vision and recognized the importance of Indian youth on the global stage. To tackle issues effectively, it is necessary to engage in multilateral dialogues and forums, she said. Despite the difficulties that India has faced, the country has played a crucial role in promoting world peace since gaining independence. She cited examples of how conflict had been curbed in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeastern states, where the youth are now thriving. She expressed optimism that the discussions during this Y20 consultation would aid in peacebuilding and enable us to achieve the goal of “Vasudev Kutumbakam.”

Dr. Ram Kumar Kakani, the Director of IIM Raipur, delivered the welcome address, expressing his belief that the Y20 Consultation event is a powerful driver of global transformation. He highlighted the importance of coming together to address the challenges posed by terrorism, socialist groups, and societal feudalism. Governments have a critical role to play in striking a balance between upholding human rights and maintaining law and order. Inter-community dialogue is crucial to ensuring that peace and harmony prevail. He encouraged the participants to engage in active discussions and brainstorming sessions throughout the event, so that they could generate innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.

Prior to the start of the event, the guests were given a tour of the IIM, Raipur campus. They were treated with millet-based breakfast, as a contribution to India’s observance of the International Year of Millets 2023.

A panel discussion on the subject of “Channelizing youth in conflict resolution,” was conducted. According to Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Ex-CS, Assam, Bodoland peace negotiator, the young generation should follow the establishment of peace, uphold and preserve that. Dr Mohit Garg, IPS, SP, Balrampur, frontline LWE experience, said that gradual erosion of faith in the system and in the government can be observed in naxal conflicted areas. The trust can be earned through getting in touch with the younger generation belonging to these areas, having conversations with them, and planning activities for them to participate in, including educational, cultural, and athletic pursuits. Shri Mohd. Aijaz Asad, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar emphasized that acts of terrorism and violence stifle the aspirations of the youth. Shri Reinhard Baumgarten, Reputed journalist, international conflict zones, German, brought up the conflict in Sudan and suggested that love could serve as a foundation for lasting peace. Sushree Priyanka Bissa, Youth icon, Nehru Yuva Kendra, said that the discussion of wars also brings up the issues related to food, water, and resources, national security.

The second panel discussion on Experience Sharing Peace-making, Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping was moderated by Shri Rajat Bansal, IAS (DC, Balodabazar). The panelists of this session were Brig. Basant K Ponwar (Retd.), AVSM, VSM (Ex-Director, Counter-Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College), Shri Ratan Lal Dangi, IPS (Director, CG State Police Academy), Shri Rob York (Director, Regional Affairs, Pacific Forum, USA) and Dr Aditi Narayani (Track chair Y20). The key takeaway from this session was that resolving problems through the use of weapons is not effective, and that the way of thinking is more important than the tools available.

The third panel talk, overseen by Dr. Sarveshwar Narendra Bhure, IAS (DC Raipur), was focused on Building consensus among communities. The panel included Shri Nitesh Kumar Sahu, a young leader from Mungeli, Chhattisgarh; Dr. Philippe Eyebe Awono, an assistant professor at Jean Moulin University; and Sushree Shwetha Karambelkar, a 2nd year PGP student from IIM Raipur. One of the significant speakers in this session was Shri B Markam, an ex-naxalite, who later surrendered and brought peace and transformation in the communities. The session highlights the significance of the United Nations and Indian leaders such as Gandhi and Buddha in advocating for peace. India’s demographic dividend is its youth population, the largest in the world. However, when it comes to building communities and promoting peace, citizens are not fully involved as peacemakers tend to focus on suppressing conflicts rather than resolving them. Another session moderated by the first year PGP students of IIM Raipur was focused on Multiple perspectives on reconciliation. The speaker Dr Prem Singh Bogzi (Visiting Distinguished Professor, IIM Raipur) commented that reconciliation involves recognizing that past actions may not have been ideal or efficient, but it requires bringing about social, economic, and political transformations and establishing a shared vision for moving forward.

The most significant segment of the event, which was the ‘Youth Dialogue’ with Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Hon’ble Union Minister, GOI began with a lot of excitement among the students. It was moderated by Prof. Sanjeev Prashar, Professor, Marketing, IIM Raipur. The minister began by commending the state of Chattisgarh for its progress and expressing pride in being among eager and imaginative individuals. He was impressed by the use of traditional art in the logo of IIM Raipur and feeling at home in Chattisgarh with its waterfalls, temples, and 44% forest cover.

The state is rich in minerals, forests, metals, and also produces the famous Kosa silk. He highlighted the importance of technology in bridging gaps, providing opportunities to showcase talent, and solve global problems. He praised the youth of Chattisgarh for leveraging disruptive technologies and possessing unmatched vigor, vitality, and vibrancy. He beamed with pride while stating that India is the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world with 107 unicorns. The audience raised many inquiries regarding the involvement of young people in politics, enhancing GDP, self empowerment, the contribution of international students to their home country etc. The main lesson learned from this session is that continuous learning and acquiring new skills can empower young people to participate in their nation’s progress and promote peace. He further quoted, “Your network is your net worth.” He motivated young individuals to expand their network and establish more connections with people as it could be beneficial for their future. Moreover, he suggested that the youth should travel as much as possible to gain extensive exposure and experiences. He concluded by quoting “You are the present, you are the hope of the world.”

In conclusion, the Y20 Consultation event organized by IIM Raipur was a resounding success, bringing together young leaders, experts, and policymakers to exchange ideas and develop innovative solutions for building peaceful and sustainable communities. The panel discussions, keynote addresses, and youth dialogue sessions explored various perspectives on community building, consensus-building, and reconciliation, underscoring the need for collaborative and inclusive approaches to address complex societal challenges. The event’s success underscores IIM Raipur’s commitment to fostering leadership and promoting sustainable development, and building momentum on this in the future.

Your Excellency, Chancellor Scholz

Delegates from both the nations,

Partners from Media,

Gutan Tag!

Greetings!

I welcome my friend Chancellor Scholz and his delegation to India. Chancellor Scholz is visiting India after many years. His visit in 2012 was the first ever visit by any mayor of Hamburg to India. It is evident that he understood the potential of Indian-German relations long ago.

Last year we had three meetings. And each time, his foresight and vision gave a new momentum and energy to our bilateral relations. In today’s meeting also we discussed all the important bilateral, regional and international issues in detail.

Friends,

The strong ties which India and Germany share are based on shared democratic values, and a deep understanding of each other’s interests. The two countries also share a long history of cultural and economic exchanges between them. The increasing cooperation between the two largest democratic economies of the world is not only beneficial for people of both the countries, but also sends a positive message in today’s tension-ridden world.

Along with being our largest trading partner in Europe, Germany is also an important source of investment in India. Today, due to “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” campaign, new opportunities are opening up in all sectors in India. The interest shown by Germany in these opportunities is very encouraging for us.

The business delegation that came today with Chancellor Scholz and Indian business leaders had a successful meeting, and some good and important agreements were also signed. We also got to hear useful thoughts and suggestions from industry leaders of both countries, on topics such as Digital Transformation, FinTech, IT, Telecom, and Diversification of Supply Chains.

Friends,

India and Germany are increasing mutual cooperation under the Triangular Development Cooperation for the development of third countries. In the last few years, the People-to-people relations between us have also strengthened. And this relationship will be further deepened with the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement signed in December last year.

According to the requirements of the changing times, we are also adding new and modern aspects to our relations. Last year during my visit to Germany, we had announced Green and Sustainable Development Partnership. Through this, we are expanding cooperation in the areas of Climate Action and Sustainable Development Goals. We have also decided to work together in areas like Renewable Energy, Green Hydrogen and bio-fuels.

Friends,

Security and defense cooperation can become an important pillar of our strategic partnership. Together we will continue to make efforts to fully realize our untapped potential in this area. In the fight against terrorism and separatism, there is an active cooperation between India and Germany. Both the countries also agree that concerted action is necessary to end cross-border terrorism.

Friends,

The effects of the Covid pandemic and the Ukraine conflict have been felt across the whole world. These have had a particularly negative impact on developing countries. We expressed our shared concern about this. We agree that these problems can only be solved through joint efforts. Even during India’s presidency of the G20, we are stressing on this.

Since the beginning of the developments in Ukraine, India has insisted on resolving this dispute through dialogue and diplomacy. India is ready to contribute to any peace process. We have also agreed that reform of multi-lateral institutions is necessary to reflect global realities in a better way. This is evident from our active participation within the G4 to reform the UN Security Council.

Excellency,

On behalf of all the countrymen, I once again welcome you and your delegation to India. We will again have the opportunity to welcome you for the G20 Summit to be held in India in September this year. Thank you very much for your visit to India and for our useful discussion today.

DISCLAIMER – This is the approximate translation of Prime Minister’s remarks. Original remarks were delivered in Hindi.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’ cultural festival at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi today. He also took a walkthrough of the exhibition. The festival is held under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and celebrates Karnataka’s culture, traditions and history.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that the Delhi-Karnataka Sangh is taking forward the glorious heritage. He remarked that the 75th-anniversary celebrations of the Delhi Karnataka Sangh are taking place at a time when the country is celebrating the Amrit Mahotsav of 75 years of independence. The Prime Minister said that one can witness the immortal soul of India when we analyse the circumstances from 75 years ago. “Establishment of Karnataka Sangh is proof of people’s determination to strengthen the nation during its first few years and today, at the start of Amrit Kaal that dedication and energy are visible in the same measure”, he said. He complimented everyone who was part of this 75-year journey of Karnataka Sangh.

“The identity, traditions and inspirations of India cannot be defined without the contributions of Karnataka”, the Prime Minister said. Drawing the analogy to the role of Hanuman in the ‘Pauranik Kaal’, the Prime Minister underlined that Karnataka has played a similar role for India and said that even though the epoch-changing mission started in Ayodhya and ended in Rameswarm, it got its strength from Karnataka.

The Prime Minister also referred to the medieval period when invaders were ravaging the country and destroying Shivalingas like Somnath, it was saints like Devara Dasimayya, Madara Chennaiah, Dohara Kakkaiah, and Bhagwan Basaveshwara who associated people with their faith. Similarly, warriors like Rani Abbakka, Onake Obavva, Rani Chennamma, Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna faced the foreign powers. Post Independence, the Prime Minister said, dignitaries from Karnataka continued to inspire India.

The Prime Minister lauded the people of Karnataka for living the mantra of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. He talked about ‘Naada Geethe’ by the Poet Kuvempu and praised the national feelings beautifully expressed in the revered song. “In this song, the civilization of India is depicted and the roles and importance of Karnataka are described. When we understand the spirit of this song, we also get the crux of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”, he said.

The Prime Minister remarked that India is guided by the ideals of the Mother of Democracy when it is presiding over a global organisation like G-20. He said that the vows and democratic sermons of Lord Basveshwara through ‘Anubhava Mantapa’ are like a ray of light for India. The Prime Minister expressed delight at getting the opportunity to inaugurate the idol of Lord Basveshwara along with a compilation of his vows in several languages in London. “This is proof of the immortality of Karnataka’s ideology and its effects”, the Prime Minister remarked.

“Karnataka is the land of traditions and technology. It has historical culture as well as modern artificial intelligence”, the Prime Minister remarked. The Prime Minister recalled meeting the German Chancellor, Mr Olaf Scholz earlier in the day and expressed delight that his next programme is taking place in Bengaluru tomorrow. He informed that an important G20 meeting is also taking place in Bengaluru. The Prime Minister said that he strives to showcase both the ancient and modern sides of India to any international delegate that he meets. He reiterated that tradition and technology are the temperaments of New India.  He said that the country is moving forward together with development and heritage, and progress and traditions. He emphasized that on the one hand, India is reviving its ancient temples and cultural centers, while on the other, it is also the world leader in digital payments. He underlined that the India of today is bringing back its stolen idols and artefacts from abroad that are centuries old while it is also bringing in record FDI. “This is the development path of new India which will lead us to the goal of a developed nation”, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that “Today the development of Karnataka is a top priority for the country, and for the Government of Karnataka.” He informed that between 2009-2014, 11 thousand crore rupees were given by the Center to Karnataka, whereas, from 2019-2023 till now 30 thousand crore rupees have been sent.  Between 2009-2014 Karnataka received 4 thousand crores in railway projects whereas only this year’s Budget has allocated 7 thousand crores for Karnataka Rail infra. National highways in Karnataka received 6 thousand crores during those 5 years whereas, in the past 9 years, Karnataka received 5 thousand crores investment every year for its highways. The Prime Minister said that the current government is fulfilling the long pending demand for the Bhadra Project and all this development is fast changing the face of Karnataka.

The Prime Minister said that the 75 years of the Delhi Karnataka Sangh have brought forward many important moments of growth, achievement and knowledge. Emphasizing the importance of the next 25 years, the Prime Minister highlighted the significant steps that can be taken in the Amrit Kaal and the next 25 years of the Delhi Karnataka Sangh. He underlined that the central focus should be kept on knowledge and art and highlighted the beauty of the Kannada language and its rich literature. He also informed that the number of readers of the Kannada language is very high and the publishers have to reprint a good book within a few weeks of its publishing.

The Prime Minister dwelled on Karnataka’s extraordinary achievements in the field of art and noted that Karnataka is rich in both the classical and popular arts from Kamsale to Carnatic style of music, and from Bharatnatyam to Yakshagaan. Praising the efforts of the Karnataka Sangh to popularise these art forms, the Prime Minister stressed the need to take these efforts to the next level and asked the Delhi Kannadiga families to try and bring non-Kannadiga families to such events. The Prime Minister said that some films that depicted Kannada culture got very popular among non-Kannadiga audiences and created a desire to know more about Karnataka. “This desire needs to be leveraged”, he said. The Prime Minister requested the visiting artists and scholars to visit the National War Memorial, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya and Karavya Path.

The Prime Minister also touched upon ‘The International Year of Millets’ being celebrated all over the world and said that Karnataka has been the main center of Indian Millets i.e. ‘Shri Dhanya’. “Shri Anna Ragi is a part of the culture and social identity of Karnataka”, the Prime Minister said as he highlighted the programmes initiated for the promotion of ‘Shri Dhanya’ in Karnataka since Yeddyurappa ji’s time. He underlined that the whole country is following the path of Kannadigas and has started calling coarse cereals ‘Shri Anna’. Noting that the entire world is recognizing the benefits of Shri Anna, he pointed out that its demand is going to get a boost in the times to come, thereby greatly benefitting farmers of Karnataka.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister said that when India completes 100 years of its independence as a developed nation in 2047, the contributions of Delhi Karnataka Sangh in the glorious Amrit Kaal of India will also be discussed as it will also enter its hundredth year.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Basvaraj Bommai, Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Mutt, Shri Nirmalananandanatha, President of the Celebration Committee, Shri CT Ravi and President of Delhi Karnataka Sangha, Shri C. M. Nagaraja were present on the occasion among others.

Background

In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’, the ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’ cultural festival is being organized to celebrate Karnataka’s culture, traditions and history. The festival is held under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and will provide an opportunity for hundreds of artists to showcase Karnataka cultural heritage through dance, music, drama, poetry etc.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the post-budget webinar on ‘Harnessing Youth Power – Skilling and Education’ today. It is the third of a series of 12 post-budget webinars organized by the government to seek ideas and suggestions for the effective implementation of the initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2023.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister underlined that Skill and Education are the two principal tools during India’s Amrit Kaal and it is the youth who are leading the nation’s Amrit Yatra with the vision of a developed India. Highlighting the special emphasis given towards the youth and their future in the first budget of Amrit Kaal, the Prime Minister said that this year’s budget strengthens the foundations of the education system by making it more practical and industry oriented. The Prime Minister lamented the lack of flexibility in the education system over the years and mentioned the efforts of the government to bring about change. “Education and skilling have been reoriented according to the aptitude of the youth and the demands of the future”, the Prime Minister said. He further added that equal emphasis is being given to both education and skilling as part of the New Educational Policy and expressed delight that this step has garnered the support of teachers. The Prime Minister stated that the move encourages the government to undertake further reforms in the education and skilling sectors while unburdening our students from the regulations of the past.

Noting the experiences during the Covid pandemic, the Prime Minister underlined that new technology is helping create new types of classrooms. He noted that the government is focussing on tools that ensure ‘anywhere access to knowledge’ and gave the example of SWAYAM, an e-learning platform with 3 crore members. He pointed out the possibility of Virtual Labs and National Digital Library becoming a huge medium of knowledge. He also mentioned the opportunity to study in local languages through DTH channels and said that many such digital and technology-based initiatives are going on in the country which will get more strength from the National Digital University. “Such futuristic steps are going to change the entire space of our education, skills and knowledge-science”, the Prime Minister said, “Now the role of our teachers will not be limited only to the classroom.” He mentioned that more variety of teaching material will be available for our educational institutions from all over the country which will open new doors of opportunities for the teachers while filling the gap between village and city schools.

Throwing light on ‘on-the-job learning’ the Prime Minister noted the special emphasis by several countries and highlighted the efforts of the central government in providing focused internships and apprenticeships to give ‘outside the classroom exposure’ to its youth. “Today there are about 75 thousand employers on the National Internship Portal where requirements for 25 lakh internships have been posted so far”, the Prime Minister informed. He urged the industry and educational institutions to make maximum use of this portal and further expand the culture of internship in the country.

The Prime Minister expressed the belief that apprenticeships will make our youth future-ready and highlighted the efforts of the government in promoting apprenticeships in India. He mentioned that it will help the industries in the identification of the workforce with the right skills. Throwing light on this year’s budget, the Prime Minister highlighted the provision of a stipend that has been made available for about 50 lakh youth under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. He said that it is creating an environment for apprenticeships and also helping the industry in payments.

Underlining the need for a skilled workforce, the Prime Minister underlined that the world is looking at India as a manufacturing hub and noted the enthusiasm of the world about investing in the country. He underlined the focus on skilling in this year’s budget and mentioned the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 that will skill, reskill and upskill lakhs of youth in the coming years. He informed that tailor-made programs are being made according to the needs of tribals, differently-abled and women through this scheme. He also highlighted the focus on creating a skilled workforce for Industry 4.0 sectors like AI, Robotics, IoT, and Drones, thereby making it easier for international investors to scout talent without having to spend much energy and resources on re-skilling. The Prime Minister also gave the example of PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana where emphasis is laid on skill development of traditional artisans, handicraftsmen, and artists to prepare them for a new market and also help in availing better prices for their products.

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of the role and partnership of academia and industry in bringing rapid changes in the education sector in India. He underlined that research will be made possible according to the needs of the market while also creating room for adequate funding from the research industry. Highlighting this year’s budget, the Prime Minister mentioned the 3 centers of excellence for AI and said that it will strengthen the industry-academia partnership. He also stated that ICMR Labs will now be made available to medical colleges and private sector R&D teams. The Prime Minister urged the private sector to take maximum advantage of every such step to strengthen the R&D ecosystem in the country.

Laying emphasis on the ‘whole of government’ approach of the government, the Prime Minister said that education and skilling are not limited to the concerned ministry or department but their possibilities remain in every sector The Prime Minister urged the stakeholders related to skilling and education to study these opportunities coming up in different sectors and help in creating the required workforce. Giving the example of India’s fast-expanding civil aviation sector, the Prime Minister said that it showcases the growing travel and tourism industry of India while opening doors to huge sources of employment. The Prime Minister expressed the desire to prepare an updated database of the youth who have been trained under the ‘Skill India Mission’. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister stressed that the trained workforce of India should not be left behind after the advent of digital technology and AI and urged industry experts to work in this direction.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah addressed the ‘Kisan-Mazdoor Samagam’ organized on the occasion of the Janm Jayanti of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati at Patna, Bihar today.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that Swami Sahajanand ji fought against the British Empire by making Bihar his Karm Bhoomi. He opposed the Zamindari system and led the laborer class. Rising above caste, religion, creed and sect Swami ji worked to unite the farmers across the country. Shri Shah said that Swami Sahajanand ji and Subhash Chandra Bose were associated with the same ideology. He said that despite being an ascetic, when landlords were forcibly collecting taxes from the farmers, Swami ji actively participated in the freedom movement and gave the slogan “Kaise loge malguzari, lath hamara zindabad”. Swamiji had said at that time “the one who produces food and clothes, will now make laws, this India belongs to him, now he will rule”. He said that Swamiji did the work of bringing farmers and laborers to the center of all the systems of India.  Shri Shah said that today Swami ji’s Bihar is in very bad condition and we have to make collective efforts to save it.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi believes that there is a lot of potential in the dairy sector in Bihar, because it has water, land and hardworking farmers. He said if all the systems would be functioning well then Bihar can become the state with highest milk production. Shri Shah said that when wheat and paddy are procured at the minimum support price in the whole country, then why not in Bihar. He said that the Bihar Government is not concerned about the farmers, today there is chaotic situation in Bihar and we have to fight together against it.

Shri Amit Shah said that in 2024 the people of the country will once again make Shri Narendra Modi the Prime Minister of the country. He said that the Prime Minister Modi has brought farmers to the center of the budget. He said that in 2013-14 the budget for agriculture was kept at Rs 25 thousand crore by the previous government, but Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has increased it to Rs 1 lakh 25 thousand crore in this year’s budget. This shows that the Prime Minister of the country has kept Agriculture and farmers at the center of the budget. He said that under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, Rs. 60000 reaches into the bank account of every farmer of the country annually via DBT and through this scheme Prime Minister Modi has made such arrangements that the farmer does not have to take loan. Shri Shah said that start-ups have also been started in the field of agriculture and Prime Minister Modi has also implemented the scheme of Shree Anna (millets) for farmers dependent on rain-fed farming. He said that this will help in selling our Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Finger Millet and Maize to the world markets and will increase farmers’s income.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Ministry of Cooperation has decided to establish cooperative dairies in 2 lakh panchayats. He said that Bihar is the most suitable place in the country for dairy as all necessary resources are available for the development of dairy sector. He said that under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has provided Rs 2.25 lakh crore in the bank accounts of farmers in 12 instalments. Shri Shah said that from 2009 to 2014, food grains worth Rs 3.74 lakh crore were purchased from farmers, whereas between 2014 and 2019, Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi purchased wheat and paddy worth Rs 8 lakh crore from farmers. He said that Shri Modi brought neem-coated urea, which stopped Urea’s black marketing across the country. However, its black marketing is continuing in Bihar and due to this, farmers in Bihar are not getting Urea. He said that if a double engine Government is formed in Bihar as well, then Bihar will become the most prosperous state in the country.

Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is implementing ideas of Swami Sahajanand ji towards the farmers and labourers at the grassroot level.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the post-budget webinar on ‘Agriculture and Cooperatives’ today. It is the second of a series of 12 post-budget webinars organized by the government to seek ideas and suggestions for the effective implementation of the initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2023.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance given to the agricultural sector in this year’s budget as well as budgets of the past 8-9 years. He informed that the agricultural budget which was less than 25 thousand crores in 2014 has been increased to more than 1 lakh 25 thousand crores today. “Every Budget in recent years has been called a budget for Gaon, Gareeb and Kisan”, Shri Modi said.

Noting that India’s agricultural sector remained distressed for a long time since independence, the Prime Minister pointed out the country’s dependence on the outside world for our food security. He highlighted how India’s farmers transformed the situation by not only making the nation ‘atmanirbhar’ (self-sufficient) but also capable of exporting food grains. “Today India is exporting many types of agricultural products”, the Prime Minister said as he shed light on the efforts of the government to make domestic and international markets accessible to the farmers. He also stated that India’s goal should not be limited to rice or wheat when it comes to self-sufficiency or export. Highlighting the imports in the agricultural sector, the Prime Minister gave examples of expenditures of Rs 17,000 crores in 2021-22 for the import of pulses, 25,000 crores for the import of Value Added Food Products, and Rs 1.5 lakh crore spent on the import of edible oils in 2021-22. He further added that the sum of all agricultural imports was about Rs 2 lakh crores. The Prime Minister emphasized that various decisions are being continuously taken in the budget to promote the agricultural sector so that the nation becomes ‘atmanirbhar’ and the money used for imports can reach our farmers. He gave examples of increase in MSP, promotion of pulse production, increase in the number of food processing parks, and work in mission mode to become completely self-sufficient in terms of edible oil.

The Prime Minister underlined that the goal of complete development cannot be achieved until the challenges related to the agriculture sector are eliminated. He observed that private innovation and investment are keeping a distance from this sector which leads to low participation of India’s youth in the agricultural sector compared to the other sectors which witness active participation and growth. The Prime Minister highlighted that various announcements have been made in this year’s budget to fill this lacuna. Drawing an analogy to the open platform of UPI, the Prime Minister mentioned the Digital Public Infrastructure platform in the agriculture sector and noted the immense possibilities of investment and innovation in Agri-Tech domains. The Prime Minister listed out the opportunities such as improving logistics, making large markets more accessible, promoting drip irrigation through technology, installation of soil testing labs along the lines of medical labs. He also urged the youth to work towards delivering the right advice at the right time while creating a bridge of information between the government and the farmer about their innovations and also assisting in policy making. The Prime Minister also touched upon using drones for crop approximation while providing real-time information about weather changes.

The Prime Minister informed about the introduction of accelerator funds for agri-tech startups and said that the government is not only creating digital infrastructure but also preparing funding avenues. He urged the youth and young entrepreneurs to move forward and achieve their goals. The Prime Minister pointed out that India is home to more than 3000 agri-startups today compared to next to nothing 9 years ago.

The Prime Minister touched upon the International Year of Millets and said that its international identity is opening a gateway to the global market for Indian farmers. “The country has now identified coarse grains as Shri Anna in this budget”, the Prime Minister remarked. He said that Shri Anna is being promoted for the benefit of our small farmers as well as to increase the possibility of growth of startups in this sector.

“A new revolution is taking place in the cooperative sector of India”, the Prime Minister remarked as he pointed out that it is not limited to some states and some regions of the country anymore. He informed that tax-related reliefs have been given to the cooperative sector in this year’s budget which will benefit new cooperative societies engaged in manufacturing. He further added that TDS will not be levied on cash withdrawals up to Rs 3 crore by cooperative societies. The Prime Minister also mentioned the important decision of tax exemption given to the payment made by the sugar cooperative before 2016-17 and said that it will benefit the sugar cooperative to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore.

The Prime Minister emphasized that sectors such as dairy and fisheries which did not have cooperatives earlier will greatly benefit the farmers today. Throwing light on the huge opportunities for our farmers in fisheries, the Prime Minister informed that fish production in the country has increased by about 70 lakh metric tonnes in the last 8-9 years. He also touched upon a new sub-component that has been announced under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana at a cost of 6000 crores which will give a boost to the fisheries value chain as well as the market.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister touched upon the PM Pranam Yojana and Gobardhan Yojana where the government is working towards promoting natural farming and reducing chemical-based farming.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated a Medical College at Satna, Madhya Pradesh today. Many dignitaries including Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan were present on the occasion.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that this college equipped with modern facilities would prove a milestone in the field of medical education in Madhya Pradesh. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, this medical college in Satna, and later in the third phase, new medical colleges in Rajgarh, Mandla, Neemuch, Mandsaur, Sheopur and Simraguli will be established under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Government of India in the ratio of 60 to 40. After the implementation of the plan, not a single child will need to go outside Madhya Pradesh for medical education. He said that the government is going to spend Rs 300 crore for the first phase and Rs 250 crore for the second phase, making a total expenditure of Rs 550 crore.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has adopted a holistic approach for the health sector to take care of the health of every citizen. He prepared the blueprint for Cleanliness Campaign, Ujjwala Yojana, Yoga, Fit India Movement, Khelo India Movement, Ayushman Bharat and Jan Aushadhi Kendra. He also initiated opening of Medical College and Wellness Centers in every district. After the Corona pandemic, Prime Minister Modi strengthened the entire health infrastructure through allocation of over Rs 60 thousand crore. Apart from this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also opened up wellness centers across the country. He said that the increase in the budget by Rs 2 lakh 30 thousand crore compared to Rs 94,452 crore in the previous year shows how much priority Shri Modi gives to health sector.

Shri Amit Shah said that currently there are 38 medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh alone, and this is a big achievement. He said that before 2013-14 there were 387 medical colleges in the entire country but under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the number has risen to 596 by 2021-22. Prior to 2013-14, the number of MBBS seats was 51,300, which by 2021-22 has increased up to around 90,000 seats in the past 8 years. Along with this, the number of PG seats was around 31 thousand, has increased to over 60,000 under the government led by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. 22 new AIIMS are being set up across the country. Shri Shah said that in Madhya Pradesh also many milestones have been achieved in health sector. There are 2,055 MBBS seats in Madhya Pradesh alone, which will increase to over 3,700 after the construction of new medical colleges. He said that Super-specialty hospitals have been started in Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Rewa.

The Union Home Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi India is moving forward in every field. He said that in the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set a target for the Indians that in the centenary year of our independence in 2047, our nation will be at the top in every field in the world. He said that India has made a lot of progress under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership in the last 9 years in every field.

India’s bioeconomy is poised to touch 300 billion USD (US Dollar) by 2030 and with its rising innovation and scientific temper, India is set to join the global wave of a new industrial revolution.

This was stated here today by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh while speaking as chief guest at the “National Consultation Meeting on Bio-manufacturing to build a Draft Policy Framework on Bio-manufacturing” .

The Minister said, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to enable Circular-Bio-economy by advancing ‘High-Performance Bio-manufacturing’ in the country.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) envisages to bring together scientific and technological advancement towards achieving a major goal of the Department’s vision of BioE3 (i.e. Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) for green, clean and prosperous India.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, India envisions “Green Growth”in the ensuing ‘AmritKaal’ and this calls for a systematic framework plan for implementation of robust innovative bio-based eco-friendly solutions to further boost the ongoing economic growth of our nation. Additionally, “Mission LiFE”i.e.,‘Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE)’ launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 20th October, 2022 urges us to put forward green and friendly environmental solutions in every aspect of life to effectively achieve climate and energy goals, the Minister added.

 Dr Jitendra Singh also added that this program will strengthen ‘Make in India’ by supporting domestic manufacturing (Industry 4.0), as it will support building green infrastructure for bio-manufacturing across the country. Moreover, it will also lead to development of a skilled workforce in the domain of Bio-manufacturing, a surge in job creation and entrepreneurship especially in 2- and 3-tier cities and streamline policies and regulations for Biogenic products to expand market opportunities. It will provide new opportunities for revenue generation to chemical businesses by manufacturing high-quality, recyclable goods from renewable resources, the Minister informed.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, Bio-manufacturing offers a great potential by being amenable to innovation, energy efficient and causing reduced pollution, as it employs biological systems, including microbes, plant cells, and enzymes, to produce commercially relevant products. He pointed out that the backbone of this initiative comprises advanced tools of biotechnology including synthetic biology, genome editing, microbial bio-resources, metabolic engineering, etc.

In his address, Secretary, DBT, Dr Rajesh Gokhale said, India is the world’s 3rd largest importer of crude oil and the 4th largest importer of liquefied natural gas, a large part of which is used in the chemical industrial manufacturing. He also added that burning of hydrocarbons, the major constituent of fossil fuels, releases CO2 as a major by-product, contributing substantially to global warming. In context of Prime Minister Modi’s vision to make India a ‘Net Zero’ carbon economy’ by 2027, we expect a paradigm shift towards a bio-based circular carbon economy, by adopting an integrated and inclusive approach of Bio-manufacturing, Dr Gokhale opined.

DrGokhale informed that the pilot-scale based bio-manufacturing units will employ fermentation using enhanced microbial cell factories (and sugar/biomass/waste-based raw material) to manufacture bio-based products as an alternative to chemical products across various industrial sectors. Some of these sectors include, food additives,biopharmaceuticals, biogenic dyes, bulk chemicals, animal feed products,flavours/fragrances, biomaterials, Agri-bio products, etc.

Dr. Alka Sharma, Senior Advisor Department of Biotechnology (DBT) underlined that through this approach, an innovative ‘plug and play’ model of manufacturing for Industry 4.0 is being proposed. She said, the backbone of this initiative comprises advanced tools of biotechnology including synthetic biology, genome editing,metabolic engineering, etc.

Dr.Vaishali Panjabi, senior scientist in the DBT said, while presenting an “Overview of the Biomanufacturing Program” that it has the potential to provide an alternative to traditional petrochemical-based manufacturing through manufacture of biogenic products such as food additives, biopharmaceuticals, biogenic dyes, bulk chemicals, animal feed products, flavours/fragrances, biomaterials, Agri-bio product, etc. using sugar-based microbial fermentation and other sustainable biomass/waste resource-based manufacturing methods.

“The time has come for a paradigm shift in the international climate regime which has to move from a ‘country-centric’ approach to ‘people-centric’ approach to climate actions.”, said Shri Hardeep S Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs today. He was speaking at the Valedictory Session- ‘Mainstreaming Sustainable Development and Climate Resilience for Collective Action’ of World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2023.

Mr. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Mr. Ugo Astuto, Ambassador, Delegation of the European Union to India, Shri Nitin Desai, Chairman, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director-General, The International Solar Alliance were among other dignitaries to attend the WSDS 2023. The event was organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) from 22^nd to 24^th  February, 2023.

Talking about his association with the Summit and it’s evolution to its present form, Shri Hardeep S. Puri said, “My association with the Summit goes back to when it was known as the ‘Delhi Sustainable Development Summit’”.  Over 22 years, the Summit has built a distinguished legacy of promoting global sustainable development, especially in its advocacy for the Global South to strengthen commitments at all levels of governance, he said.

The Minister said that the world is recovering from a once-in-a-century pandemic; there are geopolitical conflicts in parts of the world; the three-F crisis (food, fuel, fertiliser) threatens energy security; and economic uncertainty will continue for the next couple of years. These issues are closely linked to the discussions that we are having today on sustainable development, he added.

Shri Hardeep S Puri also talked about India’s presidency of G20 and how it will play important role in shaping global response to the issues faced by world such as climate change. He said that it is imperative that we coordinate and calibrate policy response from the lowest local level to the highest global gathering. He expressed that a stronger commitment to the SDGs and the multilateral agenda are going to be fundamental to the global response. India will give resonance to the voice of the Global South and highlight the common concerns of energy security and climate justice, he said.

The Minister said that the transformational progress in water and sanitation, housing, food, energy access, digital connectivity, and financial inclusion have led to an unprecedented ‘saturation of service’. This approach to development resonates with the ‘leave no one behind’ philosophy of the SDGs, he said.

Calling India’s progress on climate action an inspiration, Shri Puri remarked that despite the pandemic, India has shown remarkable progress on numerous SDG targets without causing any negative spillovers while other countries have stagnated. The SDG Report 2022 highlights India’s particularly rapid improvement on SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

The Minister said that visionary proposals such as the Panchamrit Action Plan that Prime Minister Modi put forward at COP-26 provide the ambitious response needed to push the sustainable development agenda. India has pledged to become a net-zero country by 2070 and is on its way to cut down emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030. Shri Puri also highlighted the LiFE Mission through which Prime Minister has emphasised that environment is not just a global cause, but the personal responsibility of every individual.

Speaking about India’s path towards Green transition, the Minister said that the government is implementing many programmes for transition to a greener economy and efficient use of energy across various sectors. “We have increased ethanol blending in petrol from 1.53% in 2013-14 to 10.17% in July 2022, and have advanced our target to achieve 20% ethanol blending from 2030 to 2025-26. India is launching a Global Alliance on Biofuels, along with USA and Brazil, during India’s Presidency of G20”,  he mentioned. He also talked about the India’s Green Hydrogen policy which is a revolutionary shift which is set to make India a global hub for green hydrogen and green ammonia production. India aims to produce 5 MT Green Hydrogen annually by 2030.

Highlighting importance of multilateralism in Sustainable Development, the Minister remarked that India believes in the power of global cooperation. Multilateral processes can ensure equitable and just outcomes to all people and ecosystems.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the first meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under India’s G20 Presidency via video message today.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister underlined that this is the first Minister-level dialogue under India’s G20 Presidency and conveyed his best wishes for a productive meeting. Taking note of the challenges faced by the world in the present day, the Prime Minister said that the participants of today’s meeting are representing the leadership of global finance and economy at a time when the world is facing serious economic difficulties. The Prime Minister gave examples of covid pandemic and its after-effects on the global economy, rising geo-political tensions, disruptions in global supply chains, rising prices, food and energy security, unsustainable debt levels affecting the viability of many countries, and the erosion of trust in international financial institutions due to their inability to reform quickly. Shri Modi pointed out that it is now up to the custodians of the leading economies and monetary systems of the world to bring back stability, confidence and growth to the global economy.

Casting the spotlight on the vibrancy of the Indian economy, the Prime Minister highlighted the optimism of the Indian consumers and producers about the future of India’s economy and hoped that the member participants would draw inspiration while transmitting the same positive spirit to the global level. The Prime Minister urged the members to focus their discussions on the most vulnerable citizens of the world and stressed that global economic leadership can win back the confidence of the world only by creating an inclusive agenda. “The theme of our G20 Presidency promotes this inclusive vision – One Earth, One Family, One Future”, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister observed that progress on Sustainable Development Goals seems to be slowing down even though the world population has crossed 8 billion. He emphasized the need to strengthen Multilateral Development Banks for meeting global challenges like climate change and high debt levels

Highlighting the growing dominance of technology in the world of finance, the Prime Minister recalled how digital payments enabled contactless and seamless transactions during the pandemic. He urged the member participants to explore and harness the power of technology while developing standards to regulate its possible risk of destabilization and misuse in digital finance. The Prime Minister noted that India has created a highly secure, highly trusted, and highly efficient public digital infrastructure in its digital payments ecosystem over the past few years. “Our digital payments ecosystem has been developed as a free public good”, the Prime Minister remarked as he underlined that it has radically transformed governance, financial inclusion, and ease of living in the country. Noting that the meeting is taking place in Bengaluru, the technology capital of India, the Prime Minister said that participants can get first-hand experience of how Indian consumers have embraced digital payments. He also informed about the new system created during India’s G-20 Presidency that allows G20 guests to use India’s path-breaking digital payments platform, UPI. “Examples like UPI can be templates for many other countries too. We would be happy to share our experience with the world and the G20 can be a vehicle for this”, the Prime Minister concluded.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the post-budget webinar on ‘Green Growth’ today. It is the first of a series of 12 post-budget webinars organized by the government to seek ideas and suggestions for the effective implementation of the initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2023.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister remarked that all the budgets tabled in the country after 2014 have been forwarding new-age reforms apart from finding solutions to the challenges faced in the present day.

The Prime Minister outlined three pillars for green growth and energy transmission. First, increasing the production of renewable energy; second, reducing the use of fossil fuel in the economy; and finally, rapidly moving towards a gas-based economy in the country. This strategy has underlined the announcements of measures like ethanol blending, PM KUSUM Yojana, incentives for solar manufacturing, rooftop solar scheme, coal gasification, and battery storage in the Budgets of the past few years. Underlining the significant announcements in previous years’ budgets, the Prime Minister highlighted schemes such as green credit for industries, PM Pranam Yojna for farmers, Gobardhan Yojna for villages, vehicle scrapping policy for cities, Green Hydrogen and wetland conservation in this year’s budget. The Prime Minister underlined that these announcements lay the foundation stone and pave the way for future generations.

The Prime Minister said that India’s commanding position in the renewable energy space will ensure a commensurate change in the world. “This Budget will play a key role in establishing India as a lead player in the global green energy market. That is why, today, I invite every stakeholder of the energy world to invest in India”, the Prime Minister said. Referring to the global efforts for diversification of the energy supply chain, the Prime Minister said that this Budget has given a great opportunity to every green energy investor to invest in India. This will also be very useful for the startups in the sector, he added.

“India has been the fastest when it comes to renewable energy capacity addition among major economies since 2014”, the Prime Minister said. He further added that India’s track record shows its capability to achieve the objectives before time when it comes to renewable energy resources. The Prime Minister informed that India achieved the target of 40% contributions from non-fossil fuels in the installed electricity capacity 9 years before the target date. He also mentioned that India achieved the target of 10% ethanol blending in petrol 5 months before time and emphasised that the nation strives to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025-26 instead of 2030. He underlined that the capacity of 500 GW will be achieved by 2030. Recalling the launch of E20 fuel, the Prime Minister noted the government’s emphasis on biofuels and said that it has brought new opportunities for investors. He observed the abundance of agri-waste in the country and urged the investors to not miss the opportunity of setting up ethanol plants in every corner of the country. “The potential of solar, wind and biogas in India is no less than any gold mine or oil field for our private sector”, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said that under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, India is moving with a target of production of 5 MMT green hydrogen. An allocation of Rs 19 thousand crores has been made to incentivize the private sector in this field. He also touched upon other opportunities such as electrolyzer manufacturing, green steel manufacturing and long-haul fuel cells.

The Prime Minister also informed that India has the potential of producing 10 thousand million cubic metres of biogas from Gobar (cow dung) and 1.5 lakh cubic meter gas which can contribute up to 8% to the city gas distribution in the country. “Because of these possibilities, today the Gobardhan Yojana is an important component of India’s biofuel strategy. In this budget, the government has announced plans to set up 500 new plants under the Gobardhan Yojana. These are not like old-fashioned plants. The government will spend Rs 10,000 crore on these modern plants”, he added. The private sector is getting attractive incentives for producing CBG from agri-waste and municipal solid waste, the Prime Minister informed.

Throwing light on India’s vehicle scrapping policy the Prime Minister stressed that it is a crucial part of the green growth strategy. He informed that the government has made provisions of Rs 3000 crores in this year’s budget to scrap around 3 lakh vehicles owned by Central and State governments that are older than 15 years including police vehicles, ambulances and buses. “Vehicle Scrapping is going to become a huge market”, said the Prime Minister, following the principle of Reuse, Recycle and Recovery. He also emphasised that it gives new strength to our circular economy and urged the youth of India to join various means of the circular economy.

The Prime Minister said that India has to increase its battery storage capacity to 125-gigawatt hours in the next 6-7 years. The Prime Minister informed that the government has come out with a viability gap funding scheme in this budget to support the battery developers to achieve big goals in this capital-intensive sector.

The Prime Minister also touched upon water-based transport becoming a huge sector in India. He informed that India transports only 5% of its cargo through its coastal route today whereas only 2% of cargo is transported in India through inland waterways. He underlined that the development of waterways in India will give rise to many opportunities for all stakeholders in this field.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister said that India has huge potential to lead the world when it comes to technology for Green Energy. He emphasised that it will forward the cause of global good apart from generating Green Jobs. “This budget is not only an opportunity, but it also contains the guarantee of our future security”, the Prime Minister said as he urged all stakeholders to act quickly to implement every provision of the budget. “The government stands with you and your suggestions”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Background

The webinar led by the Union Ministry of Power will have six breakout sessions covering both energy and non-energy components of Green Growth. Besides Ministers and Secretaries of concerned Central Government Ministries, a host of stakeholders drawn from state governments, industry, academia & research institutions and the public sector would attend these webinars and contribute through suggestions for better implementation of budgetary announcements.

Green growth is one of the seven top priorities of the Union Budget 2023-24 for ushering green industrial and economic transition, environmentally friendly agriculture and sustainable energy in the country. It will also generate a large number of green jobs. The Union Budget has envisaged a number of projects and initiatives spread across various sectors and ministries viz. Green Hydrogen Mission, Energy Transition, Energy Storage Projects, Renewable Energy Evacuation, Green Credit Program, PM-PRANAM, GOBARdhan Scheme, Bhartiya Prakritik Kheti Bio-Input Resource Centres, MISHTI, Amrit Dharohar, Coastal Shipping and Vehicle Replacement.

Each post-budget webinar will have three sessions. It will start with a plenary opening session which would be addressed by the Prime Minister. This session will be followed by separate breakout sessions on various themes which would take place in parallel. Finally, the ideas from the breakout sessions would be presented during the plenary concluding session. Based on inputs received during the webinar, concerned ministries would prepare a time-bound action plan for the implementation of budget announcements.

The government has undertaken several budgetary reforms in the past few years. The date of the budget was advanced to 1st February so that Ministries and Departments get sufficient time for utilisation of the funds on the ground before the onset of monsoons. Another step towards bringing in reforms in budget implementation was the novel idea of Post Budget Webinars. This idea was conceptualised by the Prime Minister to bring together experts from the public and private sectors, academia, industry and practitioners on the field on a single platform and collaboratively work on implementation strategies across sectors. These webinars were started in 2021 in the spirit of Jan Bhagidari and encourage involvement and ownership of all concerned stakeholders in effective, quick and seamless implementation of the Budget announcements.

The webinars will be focussed on synergising efforts of various Ministers and Departments and all concerned stakeholders towards preparation of action plans with quarterly targets so that the implementation is front ended and smooth with the timely achievement of intended outcomes. They are being held virtually to ensure wide participation. They will be attended by concerned Union Ministers, key stakeholders from Government departments, Regulators,  Academia, Trade and Industry associations etc.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today chaired a high level joint review meeting for the preparations of Science-20 meetings of the ensuing G-20 Summit.

The meeting was attended by Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India, Dr Ajay Kumar Sood and Secretaries of all the six Science Ministries and Departments, including Science & Technology, Biotechnology, CSIR, Earth Sciences, Space and Atomic Energy.

It may be pointed out that under the leadership of Dr Jitendra Singh, Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) is fully geared up to host the “FIRST ANTI CORRUPTION WORKING GROUP MEETING (ACWG) to be held from 1st March to 3rd March 2023 at the Leela Hotel, Gurugram, Haryana. As part of India’s G20 Presidency, there will be a series of nearly 40 meetings and side events back-to-back during this duration.

Apart from preparations for the G-20 Science Meetings, the agenda of today’s meet were the review of Science Awards, Creation of a New Communication structure after the winding up of Vigyan Prasar and Sankalp Meetings.

Dr Jitendra Singh said after the meeting that all the six Science Ministries and Departments under him hive finalized agenda and all kinds of Bandobast for the upcoming G-20 Summit meetings. The Minister also welcomed the topics and subjects assigned to Science Ministries.

Dr Jitendra Singh informed that apart from S-20 Summit and Side meetings, another important event assigned to DST is Research Innovation Initiated Gathering (RIIG) with side events.

The Science-20 Summit meeting will be held in Coimbatore from 21^st to 22^nd July, 2023 with the theme of “Disruptive Science for Innovative and Sustainable Growth”. The Sub-themes (side event topics) are- Non-conventional energy for a greener future, Connecting Science to Society and Culture and Holistic Health: Cure and Prevention of Disease.

Meeting schedule and venues for S-20 are as follows- Inception meeting: Pondicherry (30-31 January 2023), Side-event1: Bangaram Island, Lakshwadeep (27-28 February 2023), Side-event2: Agartala (3-4 April 2023), Side-event3: Indore (16-17 June 2023).

The S-20 Secretariat will be chaired by Dr Vijay P Bhatkar of Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Prof Ajay K Sood and Prof Gautam Desiraju are also eminent members of the Secretariat.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, DST will also take care of the Research Innovation Initiated Gathering (RIIG) on the subject of “Research and Innovation for Equitable Society”. The Sub-theme/ topics for RIIG gathering will be Materials for Sustainable Energy (CSIR), Scientific Challenges and Opportunities towards Achieving a Sustainable Blue Economy (MoES), Bio-resource/ Biodiversity and Bio-economy (DBT) and Eco-Innovations for Energy Transition (SERB).

Meetings schedule and venues for RIIG are the following: Inception meeting: Kolkata (9-10 February 2023), Side-event1: Ranchi (21-22 March 2023), Side-event 2: Dibrugarh & Itanagar (24-25 March 2023), Side-event 3: Shimla (19-20 April 2023), Side-event 4: Diu (18-19 May 2023) and the RIIG Summit and Research Minister meeting, Mumbai (4-6 July 2023).