Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will distribute about 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits on 16th May, 2023 at 10:30 AM via video conferencing. Prime Minister will also address these appointees on the occasion.

The Rozgar Mela will be held at 45 locations across the country. The recruitments are taking place across Central Government Departments as well as State Governments/UTs supporting this initiative. The new recruits, selected from across the country, will join various positions/posts like Gramin Dak Sevaks, Inspector of Posts, Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerk, Junior clerk-cum-Typist, Junior Accounts Clerk, Track Maintainer, Assistant Section Officer, Lower Division Clerk, Sub Divisional Officer, Tax Assistants, Assistant Enforcement Officer, Inspectors, Nursing Officers, Assistant Security Officers, Fireman, Assistant Accounts officer, Assistant Audit officer, Divisional Accountant, Auditor, Constable, Head Constable, Assistant Commandant, Principal, Trained Graduate Teacher, Assistant Registrar, Assistant Professor, among others.

The Rozgar Mela is a step towards fulfilment of the commitment of the Prime Minister to accord highest priority to employment generation. The Rozgar Mela is expected to act as a catalyst in further employment generation and provide meaningful opportunities to the youth for their empowerment and participation in national development.

The newly inducted appointees will also get an opportunity to train themselves through Karmayogi Prarambh, which is an online orientation course for all new appointees in various Government departments.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated a training program on Legislative Drafting organized by PRIDE and ICPS for officers of Parliament, State Legislatures, various ministries, statutory bodies and other government departments in New Delhi, today. Several dignitaries including Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla, Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Union Home Secretary were present on the occasion.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that legislative drafting is a crucial component of our democracy and lack of knowledge about it not only weakens the laws, but the entire democratic system and it also affects the functioning of the judiciary. He said that it is very important for any democratic country that its legislative drafting skills keep upgrading and becoming more efficient with time.

Union Home Minister paid tributes to freedom fighter Sukhdev on his birth anniversary and former Vice President Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on his death anniversary.

Shri Amit Shah said that Indian democracy is acknowledged as the world’s largest democracy, and in a way, democracy was born in India as its idea emerged in India only. He said that we have incorporated the traditions of the democracy across India. Shri Shah said that the Constitution of India is considered to be most perfect Constitution in the world and the people who framed our Constitution not only incorporated the country’s traditional democratic values in it but also tried to modernize it according to the needs of contemporary times.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that there are three main pillars of democracy – Legislature, Executive and Judiciary and our Constitution framers built our entire democratic governance system on these three pillars. He said that the functions of these three systems have been efficiently divided. Shri Shah said that the function of the Legislature is to consider public welfare and problems of the people and find the solutions, following legal procedures. He said that the Parliament discusses the changes being noticed across different fields globally, and accordingly formulate new laws and amend old laws to make our system more relevant. Consequently, following the spirit of the newly framed law, the executive performs its function of implementing it. Shri Shah said that the judiciary works independently in our country to interpret the law in case of a dispute. He said that our Constitution framers divided roles of these three pillars in our entire democratic system.

Shri Amit Shah said that the function of the Legislative Department is to formulate the political will of the Parliament and the Union Cabinet into law. He said that the function of the Legislative Department is to provide legal format to the political will and ways to solve the problems of the people and different needs of the country and for this reason, drafting attains great importance. Shri Shah said that if the drafting is better, it will be easier to educate about the law with minimal chances of errors by the executive. He said that if grey areas are left in the drafting, it would lead to encroachment in interpretation, while, if the drafting is complete and lucid, its interpretation would also be clear.

The Union Home Minister said that the Parliament is the most powerful organ of the government and its strength is the law. He said that legislative drafting is the most important method of governing any country in a good way. Shri Shah said that while translating Parliament’s and people’s will into law, many things have to be taken into account, such as, the Constitution, customs, culture, historical heritage, structure of governance, society, Socio-Economic Development of the country and International Treaties. Shri Shah said that Legislative Drafting is not a science or an art, but it is a skill which has to be used with spirit. He said that the focus should always be on minimizing the gray areas and the law should be clear.

Shri Amit Shah said that during the process of converting government policies into laws, it is necessary to study the old and least controversial laws. He said that writing is a skill and punctuation marks should be used with great care and skill in legislative drafting. Apart from this, the draftsman should also have good command over language because it is very important to reflect the spirit of our language. He said that every language has a limit and mere translation of the words will not work, but translation of the spirit should be done.

The Union Home Minister said that capacity building is a continuous process and it is very important to upgrade the skills of the law-drafting team in every department of the Parliament, state legislature of the states. He said that the world is changing very fast and we have to keep pace with the changing world and also mould our laws according to the needs of today. He said that if we are not so open, we will become obsolete and irrelevant.

Shri Amit Shah said that drafting should be done in as simple and clear words as possible because a law drafted in clichéd words always creates controversy. He said that the more simple and clear the law is in words, the more it remains undisputed. Shri Shah said that making such a law that the court does not need to intervene is a medal for drafting a good law. He said that our aim should be to draft the law in simple and clear language.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that since Shri Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister, the government has worked a lot in the field of laws and since 2015 till now the Government has done the work of repealing thousands of irrelevant laws. He said that by doing this, the government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has done the work of liberating the lawyers, society and courts from the jungle of laws. Shri Shah said that the government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also enacted many laws in accordance with the time in the interest of the country. He said that while writing the law, one should not hesitate to express the intention of the Legislature clearly, without ambiguity, in simple and clear words.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya interacted with representatives of Japanese Pharma Companies and members of the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA), at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo today. Mr Junichi Shiraishi, Director General, JPMA and Dr Sachiko Nakagawa, Managing Director, JPMA were present in the discussions.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Mandaviya stated that “India is recognized as a global pharmaceutical hub, with its industry playing a pivotal role in improving health outcomes worldwide by serving as a dependable supplier of affordable and high-quality drugs”. He highlighted that “India has played a significant role in enhancing global accessibility by providing approximately 60% of the global vaccine supply and 20-22% of generic exports. In the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, India has supplied essential drugs to around 185 countries”.

The Union Health Minister said that the Indian pharmaceutical industry has primarily focused on manufacturing generic medicines, exporting bulk drugs, and supplying active pharmaceutical ingredients. “The Indian pharmaceutical industry includes a network of 3,000 drug companies and 10,500 manufacturing units. It is projected to reach a value of US$ 130 billion by 2030”, he said. He further informed that “3 Bulk Drug Parks are coming up to create a robust ecosystem for pharmaceutical manufacturing. To promote research and development in the pharmaceutical sector, the Indian government has established six National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research and designated them as ‘Institute of National Importance. In 2019, the launch of the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules further contributed to the growth of the clinical trial sector, with many choosing India as a site for global clinical trials”.

Encouraging Japanese companies to take advantage of growing opportunities in the Indian market, Dr. Mandaviya stated that “the pharmaceutical industry in India has been attracting a lot of investment from foreign companies and seeing partnerships and collaborations. This has opened up exciting opportunities for global pharmaceutical companies to enter the Indian market. The new Production Link Incentive (PLI) schemes have also encouraged manufacturers to produce drugs in India, with the aim of supplying them to the global market.” He informed that globally, research and innovation in the field of bio-pharmaceuticals have become key drivers for growth in the life sciences sector, particularly with the rising prevalence of biologics and biosimilars and highlighted that “In India, the bio-pharmaceutical sector has achieved an impressive 5-year Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 50% and is projected to continue thriving”.

Informing about the growing demand for Indian traditional medicines, Dr. Mandaviya noted that “the government has initiated efforts to integrate traditional medicines and phyto-pharmaceuticals into mainstream public practices. With India’s rich biodiversity and abundance of flora and fauna, there is immense potential to incorporate phytopharmaceutical products into the global value chain”. “Strengthening R&D and innovation is vital to gain global recognition for these medicines”, he stressed.

Dr Mandaviya also invited Japanese collaboration on research and innovation in emerging innovative therapies and technologies like precision medicine, cell and gene therapy, biological products, and on the utilization of digital tools. He said that “such collaboration on research and innovation would help enhance the domestic availability and affordability of these innovative therapeutic options”.

Shri Vishal Chauhan, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry; Mr Sunao Manabe, Representative Director, Executive Chairperson & CEO, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd; Dr. Osamu Okuda, Representative Director, President & CEO, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd;  Mr Daikichiro Kobayashi, President, Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd; Mr Hiroyoshi Tosa, President & Representative Director, Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd; and other officials of the Union government were present in the meeting.

The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Government of India, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Integrated Biological Control Laboratory at National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) Hyderabad today, Telangana.

After inaugurating the lab, he emphasized that the use of biocontrol for pests is necessary to overcome the adverse effects of excessive pesticide use in different crops as well as to reduce the cost of cultivation and to increase farmer’s income. He underlined the need that the technologies developed in the laboratory should be taken to the farmers who have least access to information so that they can be convinced about the benefits of these technologies. He emphasized that there should not be any pesticide residue in organically produced agricultural commodities which are being exported to foreign market to keep up with the brand image of the Country. He congratulated all the staff and officials of NIPHM on the new Integrated Biocontrol Laboratory building and expressed hope that they will rededicate themselves for the cause of taking the technology to the farmers.

On this occasion Shri Manoj Ahuja IAS, Secretary Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Shri Raghunandan Rao IAS, Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Telangana, Dr Pramod Kumar Meharda IAS, Additional Secretary DA&FW, Dr Sagar Hanuman Singh, Director General of NIPHM, Senior Officers from Central and State Government, ICAR institutes, trainee officers and students were also present.

The new Integrated Bio Control Laboratory (BC Lab) is a state of art laboratory in NIPHM, have facilities for giving hands on experience on production methodologies for Biopesticides, Biocontrol agents like predators and parasitoids, Entomopathogenic fungi, Bio fertilizers, NPV,Pheromone and Botanicals. The use of bio-control agents, bio-pesticides, and bio-fertilizers will help in reducing the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, consequently reduce the adverse effects on the environment and human health and contribute to improved Soil and Plant Health. The BC Lab will also have an Insect Museum, weed museum, exhibition hall, Natural Farming Cell etc. to showcase the specimens of agriculturally important insects and weeds in the best preserved or live forms.

The new Integrated Biocontrol Laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, and the labs are staffed with highly qualified faculty members.NIPHM promotes sustainable agricultural practices such as Agro Ecosystem Analysis (AESA) and Ecological Engineering (EE) for pest management with enhanced use of different biological agents, bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers. NIPHM is conducting regular training programs on various aspects of insect pests and diseases management in different crops. The training programmes are attended by officers working in different states, scientists / academicians from Agricultural Universities, KVKs, ICAR institutes, students, farmers, DPPQ&S and private organizations.

Earlier, Sh. Narendra Singh Tomar along with Agriculture Minister of Telangana, Shri Singireddy Niranjan Reddy, Secretary, A&FW, Sh. Manoj Ahuja, APC Telangana, ShRaghunandan Rao IAS, Cyberabad Police Commissioner, Sh Stephen Raveendra and other senior officials of both GoI and Govt. of Telangana reviewed the preparations for upcoming G20 Agri Ministers Meeting at Novotel Hyderabad on 15th May 2023.

Amongst several capacity building programs offered by the NIPHM, important ones pertaining to Plant Health Management are: Post Graduate Diploma in Plant Health Management (PGDPHM), Certificate Course on Plant Health Management in Organic Farming, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for various crops, Field Diagnosis & Management of Plant Parasitic Nematodes, On-Farm production of Bio-inputs, Production protocol for Biofertilizers & Biopesticides, Production protocol for Predators &Parasitoids (natural enemies of insect pests), Production protocol of Entomopathogenic Nematodes, Locust Pest Management, Advances in Weed Management, Quality control of microbial biopesticides., etc.

The inauguration of this facility is a significant milestone in the development of chemical free sustainable agriculture in India. The facility will help the extension functionaries to promote non-chemical options of pest management in agricultural and horticultural crops. The trained officers shall further train farmers in respective areas to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and promote the use of eco-friendly practices for pest management. This facility will also help in enhancing the knowledge and skills of agriculture officers, extension officers and farmers in the field of soil health management, organic farming and natural farming in the country.

To catalyze youth action for climate change as a build up to June 5, World Environment Day, Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav launched a mobile application, called “Meri LiFE” (My life). This app is inspired by the concept of LiFE, envisioned by the Prime Minister at COP 26, which emphasizes mindful and deliberate utilization instead of mindless and wasteful consumption.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Yadav said that this app will showcase the power of citizens, especially young people in saving the environment. He also mentioned that through this app, simple actions in daily lives can have a larger climate impact. The Minister expressed his hope that the portal and app together drive a national movement for LiFE.

Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) was launched by The Prime Minister on 20 October 2022 at Kevadia, Gujarat and focuses on bringing about behaviour changes in individuals through simple easy to do actions. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the nodal ministry for national-level coordination and implementation of Mission LiFE. As part of their implementation efforts, the Ministry has mobilized Central Ministries, State Governments, Institutions, and private organizations to align their activities with LiFE and spread awareness about the sustainable actions that individuals can undertake. In order to further catalyze pan-India advocacy and awareness about LiFE, a month-long mass mobilisation drive is currently underway and will culminate on 5 June 2023 in a mega celebration of World Environment Day.

The Ministry has developed two dedicated portals for LiFE, in order to create a structured reporting format that can track the progress being made on LiFE. The Mission LiFE Portal (missionlife-moefcc.nic.in) is open access and can be used to download the 100+ creatives, videos, and knowledge materials that have been developed by the ministry for LiFE. The Meri LiFE Portal (merilife.org) has been developed for ministries and institutions to upload event reports and capture the progress of the mass mobilisation drive.

In 10 days, more than 1,00,000 LiFE-related events have taken place across India mobilizing over 1.7 million individuals to take pro-planet actions. These include cleanliness drives, bicycle rallies, plantation drives, LiFE marathons, plastic collection drives, composting workshops, and taking a LiFE pledge. Many schools and colleges are also undertaking cultural competitions such as street plays, essays, paintings, and youth parliaments.

The launch of Meri LiFE App was done in the presence of Ms. Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change; Shri C.P. Goyal, Director General of Forest and Special Secretary and Dhuwarakha Sriram, Chief of GenU, Youth Development, and Partnerships, UNICEF India.

The Meri LiFE app will help in creating a structured way to track the progress being made on Mission LiFE. Upon successful sign-up, users will be guided to participate in a series of LiFE related tasks under the following 5 themes, namely, Save Energy, Save Water, Reduce Single Use Plastic, Adopt Sustainable Food Systems and Adopt Healthy Lifestyle. Through a gamified experience, the app nudges people to take the 5 for 5 challenge- take Five LiFE Actions towards June 5^th. The app is available on Google Play Store.

The mass mobilization campaign will culminate on the occasion of World Environment Day 2023 on 5^th June. The theme for this year is Solutions to Plastic Pollution, a topic which aligns with one of the 7 themes of Mission LiFE: “Reducing the use of single-use plastic items”.

Sensitization about Mission LiFE to students of the Karbi Tribes, Assam

Plastic collection campaign in Kondaveedu, Andhra Pradesh

Cleanliness drive organised in Nagrimalpora village, Jammu & Kashmir

Mission LiFE Cycle Rally in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh

Awareness & Action Drive Under Mission LiFE at Leh Main Market, Ladakh

Beach Cleaning Campaign Organized in Kozhikode district, Kerala

LiFE Pledge Zone setup in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Mission LiFE awareness campaign organised in Gangtok, Sikkim

On-the-spot Painting Competition on LiFE in New Delhi

LiFE Workshop organised in Sikar, Rajasthan

Poster making competition in Ludhiana, Punjab

Visitors to the Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhubaneswar taking a LiFE pledge.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had a meeting with Mr. Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart today.

Replying to a tweet by Walmart, the Prime Minister said;

“The meeting with Mr. Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart, was a fruitful one. We had insightful discussions on different subjects. Happy to see India emerge as an attractive destination for investment.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visited Jana Shakti Art Exhibition at National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi today. The exhibition showcases wonderful works of art based on some of the themes in the Mann Ki Baat episodes.

The Prime Minister tweeted:

“Visited Jana Shakti at National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi. This is an exhibition of wonderful works of art based on some of the themes in the Mann Ki Baat episodes. I compliment all the artists who have enriched the exhibition with their creativity.”

“Here are some more glimpses from Jana Shakti exhibition at National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi.”

Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoS (I/C) Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, D/o Space, Atomic Energy and DoPT has proposed the setting up of a mechanism to follow up the nurturing and progress of Startups as their numbers have risen to more than a lakh.

“Such a mechanism is sought to be developed that will closely follow up the growth of these Startups, see how to sustain them so that they do not lose out, especially Startups that have received technical and financial support from the Government,” he said, addressing the Valedictory function and Awards Ceremony of the National Technology Week Exposition at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi today.”

The Science & Technology Minister said, as the Third Generation since Independence takes over, times have witnessed a shift from IT to Biotech and Earth Sciences as new opportunities have opened in Oceanography.

“This 3rd Generation is the most fortunate as they are no longer ‘Prisoners of their Aspirations,” said Dr Jitendra Singh, adding, “These are one of the best times with India in the forefront, witnessing innovation under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.”

Dr Jitendra Singh said we should step aside of myths around the Startups. “One is Age factor, I have seen a scientist setting up a Startup after retirement; second is higher Qualification, you just need to be an Innovator, having an inherent quest for creativity,” he said.

The Minister also proposed Cluster projects which are theme based projects, and said this exercise will be initiated next week. Dr Jitendra Singh said the National Technology Week Exposition is an example of “Whole of Government” approach as laid out by PM Modi, with more than 12 Central Ministries & Departments converging to mount a grand show.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Govt. of India, Dr Ajay Kumar Sood suggested that there should be a Startup Day & Week on the patterns of the National Technology Day & Week.

In his address, Secretary, Dept. of Science & Technology, Dr. Srivari Chandrasekhar said one thing standing out during the Exposition was every Startup is very conscious of Sustainable Development. “By Amritkaal, we hope to cease all greenhouse emissions and minimize damage to the environment.”

Secretary, DBT Dr Rajesh Gokhale said the future of technology will be spearheaded by Biotechnology and Artificial Intelligence.

Chairman, DRDO, Dr Samir V. Kamat; Secretary (Earth Sciences), Dr M Ramachandran; Secretary, Technology Development Board, Dr Rajesh Kumar Pathak; & CEO, Atal Innovation Mission, Dr Chintan Vaishnav also addressed the gathering.

On the occasion Dr Jitendra Singh presented the National Technology Awards. Technology Development Board (TDB) had sought applications for National Technology Awards under five categories, – Main, MSME, Startup, Translational Research and Technology Business Incubator from various industries for successful commercialization of innovative indigenous technology, scientists involved in research and Technology Business Incubators. This year a total of 11 winners were selected after a stringent two-tier evaluation process with panellists comprising eminent scientists and technologists.

The National Technology Week celebration was inaugurated by the Prime Minister at Pragati Maidan on 11th May 2023. Participants/ exhibitors from 12 Ministries of Government of India showcased wide range of scientific innovations.

The theme of this year’s event was ‘School to Start – Up – Igniting Young Minds to Innovate’, wherein students from schools across India engaged with Atal Tinkering Labs (under Atal Innovation Mission of Govt. of India), participated and showcased technological innovation.

The event created awareness about the various schemes and initiatives of the government to support technology startups and SMEs, it tried to reach out to the aspiring entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts across the country. This fostered ever growing collaboration and partnerships amongst various stakeholders in the technology ecosystem. The event brought them together to exchange ideas, and explore possibilities.

The National Technology Week has precisely set the goals for next 25 years towards technological excellence. As India entered Amrit Kaal, the key focus is on building a robust innovation ecosystem that nurtures and supports the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. We need to invest in research and development, strengthen our intellectual property regime and create an enabling policy environment that fosters innovation and growth. With the right kind of support and encouragement, India thrives for becoming truly world-class technology ecosystem that can compete with the best in the world.

The celebration of National Technology Day was started by former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999 to honour Indian scientists, engineers and technologists, who worked for India’s scientific and technological advancement and ensured the successful conduct of Pokhran tests in May 1998. Since then, National Technology Day is observed every year on May 11.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the programme marking National Technology Day 2023, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi today. The programme also marked the commencement of the celebration of the 25th year of National Technology Day being held from the 11th to the 14th of May. On this momentous occasion, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple projects related to scientific and technological advancement in the country worth more than Rs 5800 crores. This is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat through strengthening scientific institutions in the country.

The projects whose foundation stone would be laid include Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory – India (LIGO-India), Hingoli; Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Jatni, Odisha; and Platinum Jubilee Block of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

The projects that will be dedicated to Nation include Fission Molybdenum-99 Production Facility, Mumbai; Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Plant, Visakhapatnam; National Hadron Beam Therapy Facility, Navi Mumbai; Radiological Research Unit, Navi Mumbai; Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam; and Women & Children Cancer Hospital Building, Navi Mumbai;

During the programme, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the Expo showcasing scientific & technological advancements made in India in the recent past and also took a walk-through. He also released a commemorative stamp and coin on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that the 11th of May is one of the most prestigious days in the history of India. He underlined that today marks the day when India’s scientists achieved the stupendous feat in Pokhran which made the entire nation proud. “I  can never forget the day when Atal Ji made the announcement of India’s successful Nuclear Testing”, the Prime Minister remarked. He stated that the Pokhran Nuclear Testing not only helped India prove its scientific capabilities but also gave a boost to the global stature of the nation. “In Atal Ji’s words”, the Prime Minister said, “We have never stopped on our journey and never surrendered to any challenge that has come our way.” The Prime Minister conveyed his greetings to every citizen on the occasion of National Technology Day.

Mentioning the futuristic projects that have been inaugurated today, the Prime Minister mentioned the National Hadron Beam Therapy Facility, and Radiological Research Unit in Mumbai, the Fission Molybdenum-99 Production Facility, Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Plant in Visakhapatnam or the various Cancer Research Hospitals and said that it will give a push to the progress of the country with the help of nuclear technology. Talking about LIGO-India, the Prime Minister called LIGO to be one of the foremost science and technology initiatives of the 21st century. The observatory will bring new opportunities for research for the students and scientists, he said.

The Prime Minister reiterated that today, at the initial period of Amrit Kaal, the goals of 2047 are clear before us. “We have to make the nation Viksit and Aatmnirbhar”, said the Prime Minister emphasizing the need for creating an inclusive ecosystem for growth, innovation and Sustainable Development Goals. He underlined the importance of technology at every step and said, India is moving forward with a holistic and 360-degree approach in this regard. “India considers technology as a tool of the nation’s progress, not a means to assert its dominance”, the Prime Minister said.

Praising the theme of today’s event ‘School to Startups- igniting young minds to innovate’, the Prime Minister said that India’s future will be decided by the youth and children of today. He said that the passion, energy, and capabilities of the children and youth today are India’s big strengths. Quoting Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of knowledge along with knowledge and said as India is developing as a Knowledge society, it is taking action with equal force. He elaborated on the strong foundation that has been created in the country during the last 9 years to ignite young minds.

The Prime Minister said that more than 10 thousand ATAL tinkering labs in 700 districts have become innovation nurseries. More importantly, 60 percent of these labs are in government and rural schools. The Prime Minister informed that 75 lakh plus students are working laboriously on more than 12 lakh innovation projects in Atal Tinkering Lab. This, the Prime Minister said, is a sign of young scientists coming right out of schools and reaching the far corners of the country and emphasizing that it is everyone’s duty to handhold them, nurture their talent and also assist them in implementing their ideas. He noted the hundreds of startups that have been incubated at Atal Innovation Centers (AIC) and said that it is emerging as the new laboratories of the ‘New India’. “The Tinker-preneurs of India will soon become leading entrepreneurs of the world”, the Prime Minister said.

Quoting Maharishi Patanjali on the importance of hard work, the Prime Minister said that measures taken after 2014 have resulted in big changes in the field of science and technology. “Startup India Campaign, Digital India, and National Education Policy help India in gaining new heights in the field”, Shri Modi said as he underlined that Science is coming out of the books and turning into patents through experiments. “The number of patents has increased from 4000 per year 10 years ago to more than 30,000 today. Registration of designs has grown from 10,000 to 15,000 in the same period. The number of trademarks has grown from less than 70,000 to more than 2,50,000”, the Prime Minister informed.

“The India of today is moving forward in every direction that is necessary to become a tech leader”, Shri Modi said. He noted that the number of tech incubation centers in the country has grown from roughly 150 in 2014 to more than 650 today. The Prime Minister also mentioned that India’s Global Innovation Index Rank has gone from 81 to the 40th position where the youth of the country are setting up their own digital ventures and startups. Drawing comparisons with 2014, the Prime Minister mentioned that the number of startups in the country has increased from roughly 100 to 1 lakh recognized startups today and it has turned India into the third largest startup ecosystem in the world. Noting India’s capability and talent, the Prime Minister pointed out that the growth took place at a time when the world is dealing with economic uncertainty. Underlining that the present moment is extremely precious for policymakers, the scientific community, research labs spread across the country and the private sector, the Prime Minister reiterated that even though the School to Startup journey will be made by the students, it is the stakeholders who must guide and encourage them at all times. The Prime Minister extended his entire support for the cause.

The Prime Minister said that when we move keeping in mind the social context of technology, technology becomes a powerful tool of empowerment. It becomes a tool for removing imbalance and promoting social justice. The Prime Minister recalled the time when technology was beyond the reach of common citizens and things like debit, credit cards were status symbols. But today, UPI has become a new normal due to its simplicity. Today India is among the countries with the highest data use. Rural intent users number has overtaken urban users. JAM trinity, GeM portal, CoWin portal, e-NAM are making technology an agent of inclusion.

The Prime Minister said that the right use of technology gives new strength to society, today the government is using technology for providing services for every stage of life. Online birth certificates, e-Pathshal and Diksha e-learning platforms, scholarship portal, Universal access number during the job period, e-Sanjivini for medical treatment, and Jeevan Praman for the elderly, such solutions are helping the citizen at every step, said the Prime Minister. He also talked about initiatives in easy passports, Digi Yatra, and DigiLocker as examples of ensuring social justice and enhancing ease of living.

Referring to the rapid changes taking place in the world of technology, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the youth of India will lead the country in matching this pace and also crossing it. He mentioned AI tools that have emerged as the new game changers, the limitless possibilities in the health sector, and new innovations taking place in drone technology, and the therapeutics sector and said that India must take a lead in such revolutionary technology. Referring to India’s goal of a self-reliant defence sector,  the Prime Minister mentioned  Innovation for Defense Excellence or iDEX and expressed delight that the Ministry of Defense has procured 14 innovations from iDEX worth more than Rs 350 crores. The Prime Minister mentioned initiatives like i-create and DRDO young scientists labs and said that these efforts are being given a new direction. Touching upon the new reforms in the space sector, the Prime Minister said that India is emerging as a global game changer and highlighted technologies like SSLV and PSLV orbital platforms. Shri Modi stressed the need to provide new opportunities for the youth and startups in the space sector and also touched upon taking the lead in areas of coding, gaming and programming. The Prime Minister also highlighted policy-level initiatives like the PLI scheme at a time when India is increasing its presence in new avenues like semiconductors.

Throwing light on the role of hackathons in innovation and security, the Prime Minister underlined that the government is continuously promoting the hackathon culture where students take up new challenges and emphasized the need for hand-holding and creating a framework for this. He suggested that an institutionalized system be kept in place to address the youth coming out of Atal Tinkering Labs. “Can we similarly identify 100 labs in the country in different areas, which should be made youth driven?”, the Prime Minister asked. Highlighting the special focus areas of clean energy and natural farming, the Prime Minister stressed promoting research and technology. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that National Technology Week can play an important role in realizing these possibilities.

Union Minister for Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Shri Jitendra Singh were present on the occasion among others.

Background

LIGO-India, to be developed in Hingoli, Maharashtra, will be one of the handful Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave observatories in the world.  It is an extremely sensitive interferometer of 4 km arm length capable of sensing gravitational waves generated during the merger of massive astrophysical objects such as black holes, and neutron stars. The LIGO-India will work in synchronization with two observatories operating in the United States; one in Hanford, Washington and the other in Livingston, Louisiana.

Rare Earth Permanent Magnets are produced primarily in developed countries. The facility for the production of the Rare Earth Permanent Magnet has been developed on the campus of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre at Visakhapatnam. The facility has been established based on indigenous technology and using indigenous Rare Earth material extracted from indigenous resources. With this facility, India will join a select group of nations with the capacity to produce Rare Earth Permanent Magnets.

The National Hadron Beam Therapy Facility of Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai is a state-of-the-art facility which works to undertake highly precise delivery of radiation to the tumor with minimal dose to the surrounding normal structures. The precise delivery of dose to target tissue reduces the early and delayed side effects of radiation therapy.

Fission Molybdenum-99 Production Facility is located on the Trombay Campus of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Molybdenum-99 is the parent of Technetium-99m, which is used in more than 85% of imaging procedures for the early detection of cancer, heart disease etc. The facility is expected to enable about 9 to 10 lakh patient scans per year.

The laying of the foundation stone and dedication of several Cancer Hospitals and facilities will decentralize and enhance the provisioning of world-class cancer care in different regions of the country.

Atal Innovation Mission and other components

The programme and celebrations marking National Technology Day 2023 have a special focus on Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). Highlighting the theme of this year’s National Technology Day, the AIM Pavilion will showcase multiple innovative projects and provide an opportunity for the visitors to witness live tinkering sessions, engage in tinkering activities, and witness outstanding innovations and products by Startups. With multiple engagement zones such as AR/VR, Defense Tech, DigiYatra, Textile, and Life Sciences etc.

During the programme, Prime Minister also inaugurated the Expo showcasing scientific & technological advancements made in India in the recent past. He will also release a commemorative stamp and coin on the occasion.

The celebration of National Technology Day was started by former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999 to honour Indian scientists, engineers and technologists, who worked for India’s scientific and technological advancement and ensured the successful conduct of Pokhran tests in May 1998. Since then, National Technology Day is observed every year on May 11. It is celebrated with a new and different theme every year. This year’s theme is ‘School to Startups- Igniting Young Minds to Innovate’.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addresses the 100th anniversary of Kadwa Patidar Samaj via video message today.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes on the occasion of Sanatani Shatabdi Mahotsav and mentioned that this is the first time when he got the opportunity to attend a program in the presence of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati ji.

The Prime Minister noted the pleasant coincidence of 100 years of Kadwa Patidar Samaj’s service to the society, the 50th year of the youth wing and the 25th year of the women’s wing, and remarked that success and prosperity are assured when the youth and women of society take responsibility on their shoulders. Noting the clear loyalty of the youth and women wing of Shri Akhil Bhartiya Kutch Kadwa Patidar Samaj, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude and thanked the Kadwa Patidar Samaj for including him as a part of the family of Sanatani Shatabdi Mahotsav. “Sanatan is not just a word, it is ever-new, ever-changing. It has an inherent desire to better itself from the past and is therefore eternal, immortal”, the Prime Minister said.

“The journey of any nation is reflected in the journey of its society”, the Prime Minister remarked as he underlined that the hundred-year-old history of Patidar Samaj and hundred years journey of Shri Akhil Bhartiya Kutch Kadwa Samaj with its futuristic vision is also a medium to understand India and Gujarat. Pointing out the atrocities committed by foreign invaders on India’s society for hundreds of years, the Prime Minister highlighted that the ancestors of the land did not allow their identity to be erased and their faith to be fragmented. “We are seeing the effect of sacrifices of centuries ago in the present generation of this successful society”, the Prime Minister said as he mentioned that the Kutch Kadwa Patidar community are moving forward with their labor and ability in sectors such as timber, plywood, hardware, marble, building material among others. He expressed happiness that the respect and honor for the traditions have only grown year after year and said that the society built its present, and laid the foundation of its future.

Reflecting on his political life and association with the society, the Prime Minister recalled working with Kadwa Patidar Samaj on numerous subjects as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He mentioned the Kutch earthquake and lauded the strength of the community for engaging in relief and reconstruction efforts and said that it always gave him a sense of confidence. Pointing out how Kutch was considered one of the most backward districts of the country where issues of water shortage, starvation, death of animals, migration, and misery had become its identity. “But over the years, together, we have rejuvenated Kutch”, the Prime Minister said as he mentioned the work done to solve the water crisis of Kutch and turning it into a huge tourist destination in the world and said that it is a great example of ‘Sabka Prayas’. The Prime Minister expressed delight that Kutch is one of the fastest-growing districts of the country today and gave examples of improved connectivity, big industries, and agricultural exports from the region.

Throwing light on the personal connections with people who are taking forward Shri Akhil Bhartiya Kutch Kadwa Patidar Samaj and inspiration from Narayan Ramji Limbani, the Prime Minister said that he keeps himself updated about the works and campaigns of the society and lauded the society for the commendable work done during the Corona period. Shri Modi expressed happiness that society has put forth the vision and resolutions for the next 25 years which will be realized when the country will celebrate 100 years of independence. The Prime Minister underlined that the resolutions taken, be it social harmony, environment and natural farming, are all linked to the Amrit resolve of the country. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the efforts of Shri Akhil Bhartiya Kutch Kadva Samaj will give strength to the country’s resolutions in this direction and will lead them to success.

Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar today said the Government’s focus has been to push India from being an outlier to become a serious, competitive participant in the global value chains.

“As part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s India Techade vision, we believe that the supply chains and global value chains have to and will continue to diversify and our policies are focused on ensuring that India is a competitive, efficient partner in the chains,” said Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar while addressing the 15^th AGM of Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI) in New Delhi.

In this context, the Minister spoke about how a number of global players like Apple, Samsung, Cisco who are a dominant part of the global value chain are shifting to India.

Sharing his thoughts on India’s Techade journey, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar said India Techade is changing the narrative of India being a IT/ITEs hub and now it has broadened to include the internet and consumer-tech and will also cover AI, semicon design and production, quantum computing etc. “Our digital economy pie has transitioned from a unipolar prism of IT/ITES to one that consists of almost every activity in the digital economy space that the world is pursuing,” he added.

Referring to semiconductor space, the Minister said, “In just 14 months, the Government has not only created opportunities in manufacturing and design but with a brand-new curriculum in place, we will soon deliver 85,000 talent pool not only for India but also for the world.”

Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar exuded confidence that India will soon be the third economy in the world. “India Techade is really about a determined nation on the move. The government’s vision is very clear. We want to be the top three economies by 2026-27 that certainly is within striking, distance of Japan and Germany.”

Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi inaugurated the “Buddham Saranam Gacchami” Exhibition in the presence of senior Buddhist monks,  Ambassadors, diplomats and Ministry officials on May 10, 2023 at the National Gallery of Modern Arts, New Delhi. H.E. the Kundeling Tatsak Rinpoche of the Drepung Gomang Monastery was the Guest of Honour at the event.

The Exhibition organized in the week succeeding Buddha Purnima was based on the life of Lord Buddha and showcased the voyage of Buddhist art and culture around the world, exhibiting works of art by iconic masters of modern Indian art, divided into sections, each documenting a distinct facet of Buddhism and Buddha’s life. These artistic works that have been put on display offer a glimpse into the history and philosophy of one of Buddhism.

The Exhibition started with the lighting of lamp and presentation of Angavastra amidst chanting by senior Buddhist monks. It was followed by a performance of “Shweta Mukti” which showcased feminine glory of Nirvana presented in Odissi Dance style by Kavita Dwibedi and her troupe.

Missions of numerous countries were represented at the event through their Head of Missions and deputies. The inauguration was attended by most of the countries which have significant Buddhist population such as Nepal, Myanmar, Mongolia, South Korea, Thailand, Bhutan, etc. The exhibition also saw participation of Ambassadors from countries like Denmark, Greece, Luxembourg, Jamaica, Portugal, Georgia, Iceland, Ecuador, Syria, Peru and senior diplomats from many others.

The Exhibition showcases paintings from countries like Sri Lanka and Myanmar and showcased how Buddhism traversed across different countries. The aim of the exhibition is to delve into an exploration about the spirituality of art and their elements related with Buddhism and its journey expressing the universal values of wisdom, compassion, and peace.

The iconic Indian artist Nandalal Bose has explored the life and teachings of Buddha and his path of spirituality through line drawings with an ethereal quality. The scenic Himalayas in its true beauty find their representation in the works of Nicholas Roerich and Bireswar Sen. The diplomatic corps appreciated the Exhibition and the cultural programme as they got to know more about the life of Lord Buddha and the values espoused by him.

The Exhibition is open for public till 10th June at the National Gallery of Modern Arts, India Gate.