There have been commitments to the tune of lakhs of crores to invest in Uttar Pradesh and this has been made possible due to the honest government and safe environment in the state, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal said today, while addressing the UP Global Investors Summit in Lucknow.

The fast pace of progress that we can see and feel in the Global Investors Summit in Uttar Pradesh is due to the capable leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said, adding that Uttar Pradesh is now on the move and no one can now stop its progress.

Shri Goyal recounted the story that started way back in 2017 when UP Assembly elections were in progress. ‘At the time we were given the task of making a manifesto for the party. We met people across the state and people from all sections of life wanted change and able administration. We wondered where we will get the required funds to do what was to be done. Prime Minister was clear that whatever we promised in the manifesto will have to be implemented’, he said.

The Minister said that at the time Home Minister Shri Amit Shahji said that we will have to do three things: to put an end to land-mafia, sand-mafia and liquor mafia. Shri Shah said that if we are able to do this, there will never be a shortage of resources in the state, Shri Goyal added. The way UP has progressed in recent years shows that an honest government, a government working for the welfare of the people, a government that does not tolerate any wrongdoing, can ensure necessary revenues and take the state to new levels of achievement, Shri Goyal said.

Union Commerce Minister pointed out that there have been commitments of several lakhs of crores rupees by investors at this Summit. It is the proof that the people now believe that it is now easy to invest in the state, that the state has an honest system, that law and order is in place and the investors have invested their faith in the people of the state, he said. They believe that the people of UP will, even in the future, vote for such honest government, he added.

Speaking of Ease of Doing Business Ranking, Shri Goyal said that it is done across the country to assess where it is easy to do business and that India has jumped in the global ranking in the recent years. He pointed out that the Prime Minister believed in competitive and collaborative federalism and therefore there is a ranking of states also. UP now ranks at number 2 in the country among the states, he said.

The progress of Start Up India in Uttar Pradesh is a matter of satisfaction, Shri Goyal said. UP was an emerging ecosystem state in 2020 but in 2021 ranking, UP is the leader in Start Up ecosystem, he pointed out. There are 8,277 Start Ups in the state and the state is on 4th number, he said. Shri Goyal wondered “Who could have thought this possible a few years ago?” He said that he had the opportunity to speak to some young men and women who are running some of these Start Ups and could see their enthusiasm and their wonderful ideas.

Shri Goyal said that India signed three important Free Trade Agreements last year and this year also we were hoping to sigh two or three FTAs. They will open the doors for the breweries and wineries of UP as they will get market access, investments and technologies. “I saw in the presentation today that there are 28 fruits and 4 flowers excluding grapes that are found in UP which can produce various kinds of wine in the state. These products will have ready markets worldwide,” he added.

Shri Goyal pointed out that the increase of UP’s excise has gone up three times despite reduction in rates. This is because of the honest system enforced in the state and due to breaking the back of liquor mafia. This is an example for the entire country, he concluded.The speeding up of approval of licencing in the state has helped the state attract investment and it is smooth and investor friendly, Shri Goyal said.

Shri Goyal said that Prime Minister has asked all states to take export as a special responsibility and in this,UP has taken a lead. One District One Product was taken seriously and now in the last 5 years the exports from UP has doubled. Telecom equipment export from UP has increased 63 times, fruits and vegetables have increased 26 times in this period, he noted. There are immense possibilities for the state to grow.

This is truly a land of opportunities because we are doing reforms not because of any pressure but because of our conviction that it will take the state and country ahead in Amrit Kaal. This summit has been done at the right time to attract large amounts of investment in the state, Shri Goyal concluded.

With an effort to further strengthen the sports infrastructure available at Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Lucknow,

the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur on Sunday inaugurated a 300-bedded hostel, an upgraded hall for wrestling with state-of-the-art facilities in line with international standards and a sports medicine centre.

SAI NCOE Lucknow has been the centre of women’s wrestling National camps with India’s elite women wrestlers training there.

The addition of the 300-bedded hostel increases the capacity of NCOE Lucknow to house 460 athletes at any given time, including national campers. The new hostel will be dedicated to women athletes while the existing two hostels of 80 beds each will be reserved for boys training in the centre.

The sports medicine centre, which has been upgraded from the existing medical centre, will have sports science experts as well as a sports psychologist. Advanced biomechanic machines are being installed to make it a fully-equipped sports science centre.

Speaking at the launch, Shri. Thakur said, “The SAI Lucknow centre was a small centre earlier which has now been revamped to match international training standards. Our efforts are always to ensure that our athletes have the facilities that can help them perform better and these changes are a step in that direction.”

Shri Thakur stressed particularly on the good performance being displayed by women athletes at the centre and spoke about the performance of M Martina Devi, the Manipuri weightlifter who trains in NCOE Lucknow and has broken 7 records at the recently-concluded Khelo India Youth Games in Madhya Pradesh. “The facilities of a centre are put to test when athletes from the centre compete. Martina’s recent feat proves that NCOE athletes in Lucknow are indeed getting the kind of training, diet, lodging facilities that they need.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Vijay Sankalp Rallies at Ambassa and Radhakishorepur in Tripura today, kickstarting his campaigning for Tripura’s State Assembly Elections. PM Modi started his address by highlighting the contribution of the tribals in developing Tripura and the nation. He also paid tribute to N. C. Debbarma whom the Prime Minister regarded as a visionary.

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PM Modi talked about how Tripura has been brought out of the clutches of ‘Chanda Culture’ and Left parties who restricted the benefits of central government schemes to themselves. PM Modi said, “Earlier in Tripura, only the Left cadres used to get the benefits of government schemes. Now every citizen of Tripura is getting the benefits of government schemes under the BJP government”. PM Modi further added how rule of law has now been established in Tripura under the BJP government.

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Talking about the development the BJP government has undertaken in Tripura, PM Modi said, “When I came to Tripura 5 years ago, I had promised you HIRA i.e. Highway, Internet, Railway and Airway. The BJP’s double-engine government has worked day and night to empower Tripura’s development with highways, internet, railways and airways”. He further delved into many projects that have been built in Tripura.

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PM Modi also elucidated the people on the ‘Trishakti’ BJP government has provided to Tripura. He talked about this trinity of Housing, Health and Income and said’ “My poor brothers and sisters, my mothers-sisters-daughters, my fellow farmers, all have got the benefit of this trinity of BJP government in the last 5 years”.

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Hitting out at the opposition, PM Modi said, “The Congress and the Left want to stop all such schemes that make life easier for the people of Tripura. That’s why the people of Tripura have to be careful from the double-edged sword of the Left and the Congress”. PM Modi further talked about how the opposition left Tribals out of development and said, “During the Congress and Left governments, bamboo cutting and its trade was banned. The BJP government is now promoting products made of bamboo in the country and the world. Tribal society is benefiting the most from this. I am happy that today the country’s first bamboo park has come up in Tripura”.

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Also, the Prime Minister talked about how his government solving every problem of Bru-Reang community. He said, “The Bru-Reang issue continued here for decades.
But the opposition did not make efforts for its permanent solution. Our Double engine government solved it and today we are trying to solve every problem of Bru-Reang community.”

Targeting the Congress and the Left in poll-bound Tripura, Prime Minister Modi said the parties had pushed the state backward in the terms of development when they were power, and that every vote for the allies would pull Tripura down. In Radhakishorepur, PM Modi said the BJP had brought the state back on the track of rapid development in just five years, and that the state had decided that the ‘double-engine of development’ would not stop.

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Listing the initiatives taken by his government for the development of the state, PM Modi said, “In the last 5 years, the farmers of Tripura have received Rs 500 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. Here, more than Rs 80 crore has been sent to the bank accounts of 40,000 farmers of Gomti district. New possibilities are continuously being created for the rubber farmers of Tripura.” He also talked about that how the farmers of Tripura who were producing Millets would be benefitted from the ongoing initiatives of the centre.

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PM Modi finally addressed the people on how the NEP is enabling inclusivity for the people of Tripura. He said, “It is our BJP government which has included Kokborok language as a subject in government schools. Today it is being taught in hundreds of schools in Tripura”. PM Modi further asked people to be wary of parties that want to stop the progress of Tripura and asked people to vote for the double-engine government.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today addressed the 60^th National Conference of the Indian Association of Physiotherapists (IAP) in Ahmedabad via a video message.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister acknowledged the importance of physiotherapists as providers of solace, symbol of hope, resilience and recovery. A physiotherapist, he said, not only treats physical injury but gives the patient courage to deal with the psychological challenge.

The Prime Minister lauded the professionalism of the physiotherapist profession and explained how the same spirit of providing support in the times of need pervades governance also. He said with support in provision of basic needs like bank accounts, toilets, tap water, free medical treatment and creation of a social security net, poor and middle classes of the country are garnering courage to dream. “We have shown the world that with their potential they are capable of reaching new heights”, the Prime Minister added.

Similarly, he touched upon the characteristics of the profession that ensure self-reliance in the patient and said that India is also moving towards Aatmnirbharta. The profession also symbolizes the ‘Sabka Prayas’ as patient and doctor both need to work on the problem and this is reflected in many schemes and Jan Andolans like Swacch Bharat and Beti Bachao, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister underlined the spirit of physiotherapy that carries many key messages like consistency, continuity and conviction which are critical for the policies of the governance also, he said.

The Prime Minister said that in the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava, Physiotherapists received a much awaited recognition as  a profession as the government brought the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professionals Bill which recognizes the contribution of physiotherapists in the nation’s healthcare system. “This has made it easier for all of you to work in India as well as abroad. The government has also added physiotherapists to the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission network. This has made it easier for you to reach the patients”, Shri Modi said. The Prime Minister also touched upon growing opportunities for physiotherapists in the environment of Fit India Movement and Khelo India.

The Prime Minister requested physiotherapists to take up the task of educating people about Right Posture,  Right Habits, Right Exercises. “It is important that people adopt the right approach regarding fitness. You can do this through Articles and Lectures. And my young friends can even do it through Reels”, he said.

Drawing on his personal experience of physiotherapy, the Prime Minister said “It is my experience that when the expertise of yoga is combined with that of a physiotherapist, its power increases manifold. The common problems of the body, which often require physiotherapy, are sometimes solved in yoga as well. That’s why You must also know yoga along with physiotherapy. This will enhance  your professional power.”

As a big part of the physiotherapy profession is connected with senior citizens, the Prime Minister stressed the need for experience and soft-skills and asked the profession to document and present them via academic papers and presentations before the world.

Shri Modi also requested the profession to develop ways of video consulting and tele-medicine. He said this can be useful in situations like the earthquake in Turkiye where a large number of physiotherapists are needed and Indian physiotherapists can help via mobile phones and asked the Physiotherapist Association to think in this direction. “I have full faith that under the leadership of experts like you, India will be fit as well as a super hit”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah addressed the convocation ceremony of 74 RR IPS batch of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy at Hyderabad today. Shri Amit Shah paid tribute to 36,000 martyred police personnel who made the supreme sacrifices for the internal security of the nation at the Martyr’s Memorial. The passing out parade of 74 RR batch of IPS Probationers was also attended by the Governor of Telangana Smt. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Director of the Academy Shri AS Rajan and several other dignitaries.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that joining the great tradition of IPS, the 74 RR batch of trainee officers will be known as the batch of Amrit Kaal. After training this batch is capable, dedicated and equipped to face every challenge that may emerge before the country. With the culmination of our 75 years of independence, this batch is marching to protect the internal security of the country, which is a matter of great pride. He said that during the last seven decades, the country has seen many ups and downs in the field of security and faced many challenges, and while facing these challenges, more than 36,000 police personnel have made the supreme sacrifices. Shri Shah said that looking back at the 75 years after independence, today India’s situation has changed from Local to Global and from Violent to Vibrant. The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that after the independence of this great nation, while beginning the All India Services, Sardar Patel had said that it is the responsibility of the All India Services to keep India intact under a federal constitution, and officer trainees should make this sentence their motto. Shri Shah said at the time of establishment of this college, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had said that this college is first of its kind in India and  there was no precedent like this in the past but it will become an inspiring example for the future generations.

Shri Amit Shah said that the goals set by the country’s first Union Home Minister for the Academy have been well accomplished during the past 75 years. Currently, a total of 195 officer trainees are undergoing basic course training at the academy, including 41 women officers and 29 officer trainees from our neighboring countries Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Mauritius. He said that most of the trainees of this batch have completed their basic qualification in technical fields. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set up ‘Police Technology Mission’ to meet the challenges of the future, and empower all the police institutions of our country to be in tune with the global technical challenges from the point of view of technology. Shri Shah said that the mission will not only make the entire police system from constable to DGP capable to tackle the technical challenges but will also make them tech-savvy.  This Police Technology Mission will make all the police institutions of our country in sync with the global technical challenges from the point of view of technology.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set a goal for the people of the country that when we celebrate the centenary of independence in 2047, the country should emerge at the top of every field, globally. Fulfillment of this goal is both the responsibility and duty of every Indian citizen. The IPS trainee officers present here have a special responsibility because no nation can be great without good law and order and impenetrable internal security. Shri Shah added that the protection of the rights of the weakest citizen, the sensitivity of the system towards him/her and a police system that can withstand all the challenges, are essential elements to lay the foundation of a developed nation. He said that we aim to make India a five trillion dollar economy by 2025 and ensure that India becomes a fully developed nation by 2047. It is definitely possible to achieve this goal as in 2014, we were at the 11th position in the world’s economic ranking and in a span of just eight years, we have been able to reach at the fifth position. According to Morgan Stanley estimates, by 2027 India will emerge to be the third largest economy in the world.

Shri Amit Shah said that the officer trainees are passing out today after imbibing the Constitution of our country and its spirit. They must be able to appreciate that the three types of system are essential in our constitutional system. The first one is the citizenery, which votes once and elects the governance system for five years, second one is the government elected by the citizens for a period of five years and the third one is the selected bureaucracy which serves the country for 30 to 35 years. He said that the citizen has the right to vote once in five years, the people who get elected work for the development of the country for five years, and later have to go back to the public to seek mandate, but the selected officers in the All India Services have the right to serve the country selflessly for 30-35 years. Shri Shah said that the next 25 years are crucial for the country, as they can help us fulfill the dream of a great India envisioned by our freedom fighters. He added that during the next 25 years, this IPS batch is going to be responsible for the internal security of the country, and the cognizance of this responsibility should always reflect on the mind, duty and accountability of these officers. These 25 years are the years of ‘Sankalp se Siddhi’.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that when we assess the internal security scenario of the country eight years ago, the terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency inside the Northeast and increasing violence in the left wing extremism areas, were the three major challenges in front of us. Now, after 8 years, the government has succeeded in countering these three challenges to a large extent. He said that after the abrogation of Article 370, there has been a huge reduction in terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. He added that over 8,000 cadets have been brought back to the mainstream by signing a peace deal with many insurgent organizations in the North East and settling the border disputes between the states, a wave of development has begun today and with the establishment of peace a dawn of new era has been witnessed in North East. By filling the security vacuum and cracking down on their top leadership of LWE, the number of  96 districts under Left Wing Extremist zones in 2010 reduced just to 46 in 2021. Shri Shah said that India has showcased a successful example to the world by banning PFI.  Central agencies and the police of all the states of the country have succeeded in banning an organization like PFI by successful operation in a single day. It shows the maturity and power of our democracy

Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the main reasons for the reduction in the incidents of terrorism across the country, are the policy of ‘zero tolerance’ against terrorism, strong framework of counter-terror laws, empowerment of all agencies and strong political will. The global participation of our agencies is also expanding.  The holding of the Interpol General Assembly in India and India’s leadership in the field of terrorism and finance in No Money for Terror conference symbolises the acceptance of our security agencies globally. He said that by establishing Forensic Science University during the past 3 years, India has endeavored to fill the expert human resource and logistical gap in the field of forensic science. The Officer Trainees when they move from Academy to Field, they will be associated with ICJS and the main pillars of Criminal Justice namely e-Courts, e-Prison, e-Forensic, e-Prosecution and Crime and Criminal Tracking Network (CCTN) and facilitate linking the work of policing with ICJS. Shri Shah said that at present NIA is extending in all the states of the country and the expansion of NIA and NCB is a very important step to crack down on criminals linked to international narcotics and terrorism. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra  Modi, National database on crimes like terrorism, narcotics and economic offenses is being developed. NAFIS (National Automated Fingerprint Identification System) has also been launched for making a fingerprint database. Government of India has also established Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C) and launched schemes to ensure housing and health  for the soldiers and many other schemes to ensure that they spend more time with their families.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Minister said that at present the security scenario is changing from Geographical to Thematic, now multi-dimensional policing will have to be accepted instead of single dimensional policing. In place of Geographical Threats like insurgency in Northeast, Left Wing Extremism, Communal Hotspots, now thematic threats like Cyber Crime, Misuse of Data, Misinformation are emerging that need to be dealt  firmly. Earlier there were challenges of terrorism, extremism and day-to-day policing, but now we are faced with multidimensional challenges like Terror Finance, Narco Terror, Fourth Generation Information Warfare, etc. Our police forces have to be equipped to grapple with them. Shri Shah said that a new approach is to be devised by the authorities to counter the challenges and strengthen policing. Our focus should be on the security of the country’s economic centres, protection of human rights of the poor, evidence-based investigation, evidence-based forensic science, and cracking down on terror links of narcotics, cyber and financial fraud.

Shri Amit Shah said that the police force has to be Accessible, Accountable and Approachable. Being accessible means bringing a balance between knowledge, skills and approach. We will have to set an example of accountable policing by imbibing fresh energy and confidence within us and becoming approachable. He added that the police force will have to address the law and order only after understanding the local language, geography and culture. He said that the soul of the constitution is the citizens and their rights and the police force has to interpret all the clauses of the constitution and law keeping this goal in front. Officer Trainees will have to move forward by balancing their professional and personal life. Officers will need to win the trust of the citizens and retain their humanity. Shri Shah said that it is the responsibility of these officers to ensure welfare of the personnel working on the ground in stress situations, improve welfare measures, being sensitive to them, augment police capacity building and ensure that their approach matches the global standards.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that he would like to again emphasise on the Police Technology Mission and on the basis of the three mantras of Awareness, Preparedness and Enforcement, the technology mission is going to progress ahead. He appealed to all the trainee officers to be a part of this mission and strengthen it further. He added that as the head of a police force, it is very important that the officers do not succumb to pressure, should take precautions, stay away from fame and at the same time understand the rights and sensibilities of the person sitting at the lowest level. Shri Shah said that all the officers are not only going out as IPS Officers, but are also taking the responsibility of laying the foundation for the centenary year of independence of our country in the coming 25 years. He said that it is also the responsibility of the officer trainees to lead the journey from 75 years to 100 years  on the ‘Kartavya Path’ of ‘Sankalp se Siddhi’ from the perspective of the internal security. Together, we will ensure our maximum contribution in the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the creation of a great India and will always remain devoted to the unity and integrity of the country.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ayush reiterated how India has taken the lead in the field of Traditional Medicine in the world and emphasized on the need for bolstering evidence based scientific research in Ayush sector. Minister was participating as Chief Guest in the event organized on the occasion of Unani Day 2023 and formal inauguration of International Conference held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi today.

The event was also attended by Shri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Law and Justice, Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Union Minister of State for Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Shri Pramod Kumar Pathak, Special Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Dr. M. A. Qasmi, Joint Advisor (Unani), Ministry of Ayush, Prof. Asim Ali Khan, Director General, CCRUM and other officials from Ministry of Ayush.

On this occasion Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ayush, said, “Under the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi India has taken the initiative of establishing WHO GCTM. This is the indication that we are taking leadership role in Traditional Medicine in the world. We need to strengthen our research capabilities and academic facilities and work towards bolstering evidence-based research.”

He added that the vision of Prime Minister to build a robust healthcare system for the holistic patient care system remains solid as the Union Budget has considerably hiked the budget for the Ministry of Ayush by 20%. He also mentioned that Unani system of medicine has got enormous support and it has grown since year 2014. Recently, the largest institute in Unani medicine, National Institute of Unani Medicine in Ghaziabad was inaugurated by our PM.

Addressing the gathering Union Minister of Law & Justice, Shri Kiren Rijiju said, “Unani system of medicine is India’s rich traditional system of medicine. We witnessed how Ayush based remedies provided relieve during COVID-19 pandemic. Our rich traditional medicinal practices can offer us sustainable healthcare solutions which will contribute towards the enrichment of human lives in the country.”

Minister of state for Ayush Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai paid tributes to revered freedom fighter Hakim Ajmal Khan. He said that Unani Medicine provides detailed guidelines for healthy food habits to maintain health and prevent diseases.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush talked about how important role NABH QCI quality certification could play in gaining more acceptances for Ayush systems. He mentioned that Ministry of Ayush endeavor is to get entry level NABH certification for 12,500 Ayush Wellness Centers by end of this 2023.

On this occasion various publications of Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), international conference souvenir, online journal was released. Also, NABH certificate was given to two CCRUM institutes. A mobile app on common remedies in Unani Medicine developed by CCRUM was also launched today.

The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine is also organising two days International Conference on Unani Medicine in hybrid mode. About 1300 delegates, resource persons, academicians, researchers and industry representatives are participating in the conference.

“Government of India is improving the healthcare and medical education sectors through a holistic approach that not only envisages creating more quality healthcare infrastructure but also trained manpower to efficiently run institutions. Health is today being linked with development because only a health society can become a developed society”. This was stated by Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare during his address to the plenary session of the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit in the presence of Shri Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh and Shri Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh, Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education, Govt of Uttar Pradesh, here today.

The purpose of the session was to discuss the progress and way forward on priorities in the healthcare and medical education sector. In this interactive session, the Uttar Pradesh govt also provided information on new medical facilities to the investors and highlighted opportunities available in medical colleges, para medical colleges and diagnostic facilities in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya stated that “Uttar Pradesh is the land of Sushrut and Charaka. Under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi at the centre and Shri Yogi Adityanath in the state, UP is a land of opportunities”.

Encouraging investors and businesses to encash on the opportunities available in the healthcare and medical education sectors in the state, Dr Mandaviya stated that “the govt has created a conducive ecosystem for businesses to grow and has brought in long-term policies to encourage investors in the healthcare sector”. He emphasized that because of the policies of the government, there are over 100 unicorns in the country today.

Dr Mandaviya also highlighted that govt schemes like the Ayushman Bharat initiative has empowered and enabled even the poorest of the poor to benefit from quality treatment, even in private medical institutions.

The Union Health Minister also stated that the country is today 65% dependent on import of medical devices and urged entrepreneurs to reduce this high dependency. Reminding the audience of India successfully reducing the dependency of APIs for critical medicines in recent years, he also encouraged them to innovate in producing medical devices indigenously.

Shri Brajesh Pathak highlighted that investment proposals to the tune of Rs. 54,000 cr has been received in the healthcare sector and proposals of Rs. 17,000 cr has been received in medical education sector.

Shri Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh noted that the country is moving towards ‘atmanirbharta’ in the healthcare sector. He urged investors to also invest in the rural areas which are witnessing rapid development.

Shri Partha Sarathi Sen Sharma, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Govt of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, Medical Education, Govt of Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Sangeeta Singh, CEO – State Health Agency, ABPMJAY and senior officials of the Union Govt and State Govt were present in the meeting.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat trains at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai today. The two trains are Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat and Mumbai-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat. He also dedicated two road projects to the nation – the Santacruz Chembur Link Road and Kurar underpass project to ease road traffic congestion and streamline the movement of vehicles in Mumbai.

Upon arriving at Platform no. 18 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Prime Minister inspected the Mumbai-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat. He also interacted with the train crew and the children inside the coach.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that it is a huge day for Railways in India, especially for advanced connectivity in Maharashtra as this is the first time that two Vande Bharat trains have been flagged off on the same day. He underlined that these Vande Bharat trains will connect economic centers such as Mumbai and Pune to centers of faith, thereby benefiting those traveling for college, office, business, pilgrimage and agricultural purposes. He said that traveling to sacred places like Shirdi, Nasik, Trimbakeshwar, and Panchvati will be made easier with the new Vande Bharat trains which will give a boost to tourism as well as pilgrimage. “The pilgrimages of Pandharpur, Solapur, Akkalkot and Tuljapur will also be made more accessible with the Solapur Vande Bharat Express”, he said.

The Prime Minister said that the Vande Bharat train is a grand picture of modern India. “It is a reflection of India’s speed and scale.” Commenting on the speed of the launch of Vande Bharat Trains, the Prime Minister informed that so far, 10 Vande Bharat trains have started operating connecting 108 districts of 17 states of the country. The Prime Minister expressed happiness that many projects were launched today that will enhance the ease of living.  He said that the elevated road will connect eastern and western suburban areas and the underpass, he said, is significant.

The Prime Minister reiterated the need for improving public transport for 21st-century India as it will lead to massive ease of living for the citizens. This thinking, he pointed out, is behind the launch of modern trains, the expansion of the Metro, and new airports and ports. The Budget also strengthens this thinking as for the first time, 10 lakh crore were allocated exclusively for infrastructure development. In this railway’s share is 2.5 lakh crore, he added. The Prime Minister said that the Rail Budget for Maharashtra also witnessed an unprecedented rise and expressed the hope that with the efforts of the double-engine government, connectivity in Maharashtra will move ahead rapidly.

“The middle class has been strengthened in this budget”, the Prime Minister said as he underlined that the needs of both the salaried class and those who own businesses have been addressed in this year’s budget. He noted that people with an income of more than 2 lakh rupees were taxed before 2014 but it was the present government that initially increased it to 5 lakh rupees and now to 7 lakh rupees in this year’s budget. “Those who paid 20% tax in the UPA government pay zero tax today”, the Prime Minister remarked. He also highlighted that those with new jobs now have an opportunity to save more.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that this budget that promotes the spirit of ‘Sabka Vikas Sabka Prayas’ will give strength to every family and encourage everyone to build a Viksit Bharat, the Prime Minister concluded.

Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Narayan Rane, Union  Ministers of State, Shri Ramdas Athawale and Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil, and Ministers from Government of Maharashtra were present on the occasion among others.

Background

Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat Train and Mumbai-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat Train are the two trains that were flagged off by the Prime Minister at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai. This will be an important step towards fulfilling the Prime Minister’s vision of building better, more efficient and passenger-friendly transport infrastructure for New India.

Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat Train will be the 9th Vande Bharat train in the country. The new world-class train will improve connectivity between Mumbai and Solapur and will also facilitate travel to important pilgrimage centers like Siddheshwar in Solapur, Akkalkot, Tuljapur, Pandharpur near Solapur and Alandi near Pune.

Mumbai-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat, the 10th Vande Bharat train in the country will improve connectivity to important pilgrimage centers in Maharashtra like Nashik, Trimbakeshwar, Sainagar Shirdi, and Shani Singanapur.

To ease road traffic congestion and streamline the movement of vehicles in Mumbai, the Prime Minister dedicated the Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR) and Kurar underpass. The newly constructed elevated corridor from Kurla to Vakola and from MTNL Junction, BKC to LBS Flyover at Kurla will enhance much-needed East-West connectivity in the city. These arms connect the Western Express Highway to the Eastern Express Highway thereby connecting eastern and western suburbs efficiently. The Kurar underpass is crucial to ease traffic on the Western Express Highway (WEH) which connects Malad and Kurar sides of WEH. It allows people to cross the road with ease and also vehicles to move without having to get into the heavy traffic on WEH.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 in Lucknow today. He also inaugurated the Global Trade Show and launched Invest UP 2.0 during the programme. Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 is the flagship investment summit of the Government of Uttar Pradesh which will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, academia, think tanks and leaders from across the world to collectively explore business opportunities and forge partnerships. The Prime Minister also took a walkthrough of the exhibition on display.

Leaders of Industry spoke on the occasion. Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla, said that India is showing remarkable entrepreneurial dynamism and innovation and credited the Prime Minister with infusing new energy into the country’s economic landscape. Shri Mukesh Ambani said that this year’s budget has laid the foundation for India’s emergence as a developed nation. He said that greater allocation for Capex expenditure will lead to greater economic growth and social welfare. He said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the country has transformed a great deal and under the guidance of the Prime Minister’s vision and laser-sharp focus on execution a bold new India is taking shape. Shri  Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons said that the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister has created a situation where India is going to be the fastest-growing economy. “It is not only economic growth, what the Prime Minister has enabled is 360-degree development.” He said allocations in the budget will ensure growth led by infrastructure and consumption and also we will see rural growth. Daniel Bircher, CEO of Zurich Airport Asia said that the Zurich Airport is celebrating its 75th anniversary just as India is celebrating 75 years of independence. He mentioned the long-standing partnership with India where Zurich Airport supported the development of the Bengaluru Airport two decades ago and is presently developing the Noida International Airport. He underlined the direct connectivity of the Noida International Airport with the Yamuna Expressway. Chairman of Dixon Technologies, Shri Sunil Vachani said that almost 65% of the mobile phones sold in India are manufactured in Uttar Pradesh and credited the dynamic policies of the Uttar Pradesh Government in making it a manufacturing hub. He also noted that today Dixon Technologies is looking at exporting almost 100 billion dollars worth of mobile phones. All the industry leaders showed optimism towards the opportunities emerging in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister welcomed the investor community, industry leaders and policymakers both as a Prime Minister and as a Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the land of Uttar Pradesh is known for its cultural splendor, glorious history and rich heritage. Noting the capabilities of the state, the Prime Minister drew attention to the unwanted tags such as underdevelopment, BIMARU, and the poor law and order situation attached to Uttar Pradesh. He also touched upon the scams worth thousands of crores that were unearthed on a daily basis in earlier times. The Prime Minister said within 5-6 years, Uttar Pradesh has established a new identity. Now Uttar Pradesh is known for good governance, better law and order situation, peace and stability. “New opportunities for wealth creators are being made here”, the Prime Minister added.  The Prime Minister also stressed that initiatives for better infrastructure in UP are bearing fruit. He said very soon UP will be known as the only state with 5 International airports. Freight corridor will connect the state directly with the sea coast in Maharashtra.  The Prime Minister also noted a meaningful change in the government’s thinking in UP for ensuring ease of doing business. “Today UP has become a source of hope and inspiration”, the Prime Minister remarked. He underlined that UP has become a bright spot for the nation just like India has become a bright spot on the global stage.

The Prime Minister said that every credible voice in the world is optimistic about the ascending course of the Indian economy as it has not only shown resilience in the face of the pandemic and war but also showed rapid recovery.

The Prime Minister observed the huge change that is being seen in the thinking and aspirations of Indian society and the youth of India. He underlined that every citizen of the country wants to tread the path of development and wishes to witness a ‘Viksit Bharat’ in the times to come. He stated that the aspirations of the Indian society have become a driving force for the government which is providing impetus to the development works carried out in the country. Noting the size and population of Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister told the investors that like India, In UP also, an aspirational society is awaiting you.

The Prime Minister said that due to the digital revolution, Uttar Pradesh society has grown inclusive and connected. “As a market, India is getting seamless. Procedures are being simplified. “Today, India is carrying out reforms not out of compulsion, but out of conviction”, he said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that today’ India, in real terms, has started moving on the path of speed and scale. As basic needs of a very large segment have been met and they are thinking ahead. This is the biggest reason for the trust in India.

Speaking on the Budget, the Prime Minister underlined the growing allocation for infrastructure and talked about opportunities for investors in health, education and social infrastructure. Similarly, he invited the investor to the opportunities in the green growth path that India has embraced. He informed that 35,000 crore rupees have been allocated just for the energy transition in this year’s Budget.

The Prime Minister mentioned that Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a champion when it comes to developing a new value and supply chain. He noted the vibrant network of traditional and modern MSMEs that is present in the state and gave the example of silk from Bhadohi and Varanasi which has made UP the textile hub of India. He informed that 60 percent of India’s mobile phones along with the maximum mobile components are manufactured in UP. He also drew attention that one of the two defence corridors in the country is being developed in UP. The Prime Minister underlined the commitment of the government to provide Made in India defence systems and platforms to the Indian Army.

The Prime Minister highlighted the opportunities in Uttar Pradesh regarding dairy, agriculture, fisheries and food processing. He said this is one secretary where private sector participation is still limited. He told the investors about the PLI in the food processing industry. The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring a seamless modern system from input to post-harvest management for the farmers. He said small investors can use agri-infra funds.

Speaking on crop diversification, more resources to farmers and reducing the input cost, the Prime Minister elaborated on the focus on natural farming. He informed that natural farming has begun on both sides of the banks of the Ganga for 5 km in UP. He also mentioned the 10 thousand bio-input resource centers proposed in this budget. Noting the nutritional value of millets which is called Shri Anna in India, the Prime Minister underlined the efforts of the government that India’s Shri Anna should address the needs of global nutritional security. He said investors can find opportunities in ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook Shri Anna.

The Prime Minister also threw the spotlight on the development works that have taken place in the education and skill development in the state. He listed Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath Ayush University, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Health University, Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh University and Major Dhyan Chand Sports University as institutions that will impart different types of skills. He informed that more than 16 lakh youth have been trained under Skill Development Mission.

He also noted that the UP government has started courses related to artificial intelligence in PGI Lucknow and IIT Kanpur and highlighted the state’s increasing role in the country’s start-up revolution. He informed that the UP government has set a target of setting up 100 incubators and three state-of-the-art centers in the coming years which will create a huge pool of talented and skilled youth.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister highlighted the robust partnership between the resolve of the double-engine government and the possibilities in the state of Uttar Pradesh. He urged the investors and industry leaders to not waste any more time and become a part of the prosperity. “The prosperity of the world lies in the prosperity of India and your participation is very important in this journey of prosperity”, the  Prime Minister concluded.

Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Smt Anadiben Patel, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister for Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh, Ministers from the Government of Uttar Pradesh, foreign dignitaries and industry leaders were present on the occasion among others.

Background

Scheduled from 10-12 February 2023, Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 is the flagship investment summit of the Government of Uttar Pradesh which will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, academia, think tanks and leaders from across the world to collectively explore business opportunities and forge partnerships.

Investor UP 2.0 is a comprehensive, investor-centric and service-oriented investment ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh that endeavours to deliver relevant, well-defined, standardised services to investors.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called for more investment in Uttar Pradesh & Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) to achieve ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ as envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for shared global prosperity. The Raksha Mantri was addressing a parallel sectoral session ‘Advantage Uttar Pradesh: Defence Corridor’, organised as part of Uttar Pradesh Global Investors’ Summit inaugurated by the Prime Minister in Lucknow on February 10, 2023. He urged the defence sector companies to increase their investment and emphasis more on R&D to take the defence industry to newer heights and ensure overall growth of the country.

The Raksha Mantri described fool-proof security as the strongest pillar of a prosperous nation, asserting that the Government is leaving no stone unturned to build a self-reliant defence industry which provides state-of-the-art weapons & technologies to the Armed Forces, crucial to make the nation ‘Aatmanirbhar’. He pointed out that after centuries of foreign rule and imports dependency for decades post-independence, the country is witnessing the rise of a self-reliant defence sector due to the collaborative efforts of the Government and the industry, especially the private sector in the last few years.

“In the last 7-8 years, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India has risen once again to regain its old glory while creating a new identity for itself. After coming to power, we had two options with respect to the defence sector. First was to blame the previous governments for the circumstances and the second was to create a new path that leads to unprecedented growth. We chose the second option and moved ahead with dedication & enthusiasm. Now, with each passing day, we are getting closer and closer to our goal of ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence. Today, along with all other sectors, defence is moving ahead at a fast pace to achieve self-reliance while contributing to the economic progress of the country. Major steps, including setting up of two DICs are adding to that momentum,” he said.

The Raksha Mantri added that the DICs have been conceptualised to help in providing basic facilities to the defence industry, exuding confidence that they will soon become the backbone of the sector. On the UPDIC, he mentioned that the corridor nodes (Agra, Aligarh, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Kanpur and Lucknow) are historically-important industrial areas, connected not only with the state but the entire country. This corridor has the potential to provide to the defence industry an ecosystem which is crucial for any organisation involved in R&D and production.

“There are corridors of power in the country which are necessary for running the governance of the country. When these corridors start interfering in the work of the industries, red-tapism increases and the businesses are adversely affected. Keeping this in mind, two dedicated corridors (UP & Tamil Nadu) were created for industrialists, free from unnecessary interference of the government,” the Raksha Mantri said.

Shri Rajnath Singh was of the view that Uttar Pradesh today possesses all essentials- from law & order, environment for investors, infrastructure development to quality education, health and nutrition – required to set up an industry in the state. He made special mention of the industry-friendly ‘Aerospace & Defence Policy’ which was issued by the state government to promote defence production. He termed it as another important step that provides a favorable environment for the private sector to move forward.

The Raksha Mantri highlighted that following the establishment of the UPDIC, MoUs have been signed with more than 100 investors within a short span of time. So far, more than 550 hectares of land has been allotted to over 30 organisations and an investment of about Rs 2,500 crore has been made. These statistics will increase, he said, hoping that the UPDIC will prove to be a runway for the state’s defence industry to touch greater heights. Shri Rajnath Singh added that Uttar Pradesh will soon propel the country’s economy and become its growth engine.

Apart from elaborating on the opportunities in Uttar Pradesh, the Raksha Mantri listed out many other steps taken by the Central government to strengthen the defence industry. These include measures to encourage private sector participation; earmarking of a certain part of the capital expenditure of defence for domestic procurement; allocation of a huge part of the defence budget to purchase domestic items; notifications of positive indigenisation lists; enhancement of FDI limit and reforms in the banking sector.

Shri Rajnath Singh also threw light on the opening up of avenues for the private sector to help the country stay abreast with the latest technological advancements amid the constantly-evolving global security scenario. These include Transfer of Technology through DRDO at zero fee; access to government labs; dedicating a quarter of the defence R&D budget to industry-led R&D; introduction of the Strategic Partnership model, which provides an opportunity to Indian private entities to tie-up with global Original Equipment Manufacturers and launch of the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)initiative & Technology Development Fund to promote start-ups and innovators.

The Raksha Mantri added that the efforts taken by the Government are bearing fruit as India is manufacturing defence equipment to fulfill its own security needs, but is also catering to the requirements of friendly countries under ‘Make in India, Make for the World’. He added that defence exports have increased manifold to over Rs 13,000 crore last year, as compared to less than Rs 1,000 crore in 2014. The Indian defence sector has emerged as an area with immense possibilities, he said.

Earlier, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan also addressed the gathering. He stated that the Armed Forces are seeking to meet future challenges through transformation and modernisation. “Transformation is being attempted through jointness and integration which will lead to joint operational structures and creation of synergy between the three services. Modernisation is being attempted through innovation and indigenisation, which need a collaborative approach amongst all stakeholders,” he said.

The Chief of Defence Staff listed out various initiatives of the central government that will help build a defence ecosystem in the country and usher in a positive transformation. He invited foreign OEMs to become part of India’s growth story by partnering with Indian businesses. He asserted that the UP DIC will define the future of aerospace and defence manufacturing in India.

Industry leaders and other stakeholders actively participated in the seminar and presented their suggestions to promote private participation in Defence Industry and give a boost to Indian Defence Manufacturing. Chief Nodal Officer of UPDIC Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria (Retd), CEO UPEIDA Shri Arvind Kumar and other dignitaries and officials from industry, central and state governments were also present.

The Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit is the flagship investment summit of the state government which brings together policymakers, industry leaders, academia, think tanks and leaders from across the world to collectively explore business opportunities and forge partnerships.

The second day of the Environment Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting at Bengaluru commenced with an inaugural address by the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs & Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, who stated that it is time to come together to commit to an inclusive, ambitious and action-oriented agenda that promotes wellbeing and prosperity. He also stated that deliberations during the ECSWG will enable a shift in mindset from ownership to stewardship of natural resources.

Reiterating the remarks of Shri Puri, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and G20 Chair for India, Ms Leena Nandan said that ECSWG will be focusing on three key priorities through discussions, working in close collaboration with other G20 key Working Groups to holistically address issues relating to environment, sustainability and climate change. The representatives from the Troika (Indonesia and Brazil) expressed solidarity with the remarks of the Union Minister and Secretary.

The inaugural session was followed by a technical session on Biodiversity and Land Degradation. The discussions during the session spanned across restoration of mining affected areas, restoration of forest fire affected areas, eco-restoration of habitat through species-based conservation, and biodiversity conservation and enrichment, aligned with the Global Biodiversity framework 2022. Prominent experts from renowned global and Indian organizations – United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) shared their perspectives on the related topics.

The deliberations focused on accelerating action to achieve G20’s goal of reducing degraded land by 50% by 2040, through enhancing the G20 Global Initiative for Reducing Land Degradation (GIRLD) via a G20 Framework on Land Degradation. The Working Group also emphasized on the importance of collaboration among countries on sharing of best practices, technology, and innovation on eco-restoration of degraded landscapes. This was followed by a round of discussion by the subject expert representatives from the G20 countries, Invitee Countries and International Organizations. An engaging discussion ensued on eco-restoration of degraded landscapes.

The second half of the day began with a technical session on Encouraging Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy. The delegates deliberated on the formulation of a G20 Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition aimed at fostering global partnerships among key industries for enhancing technological cooperation, exchange of ideas and mobilizing de-risked finance. Draft technical documents on promoting circularity in steel sector were discussed wherein the need to increase share of steel scrap from 30% to 50% in steel making globally was emphasized with the objective of reducing reduce pressure on virgin resources.

Another key discussion was held on the implementation and replicability of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) at scale across the globe. India’s best practices for market based EPR mechanisms in plastic packaging, e-waste, waste tyres and waste batteries were discussed. The discussion around circular bioeconomy highlighted the urgent need to increase share of biomass in material consumption. India’s policies and programs to promote circular bioeconomy through Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT), GOBARdhan and 20% ethanol blended petrol program were also presented.

In the concluding session of the day a presentation on LiFE, Lifestyle for Environment and the Green Development Pact was made by Joint Secretary, G20 Secretariat, Ms Eenam Gambhir highlighting that the ECSWG would work in close tandem with the Development Working Group and other Working Groups having linkage with mandates of Environment and Climate Change, to ensure integration to provide holistic solutions to tackle climate change and environment degradation. She further shared that mechanisms were also instituted to facilitate smooth coordination among all working groups to ensure a holistic perspective on all climate and environment related issues.

The delegates would be attending a Gala Dinner in the evening where they will enjoy traditional cuisines of India and also witness performances reflecting rich cultural heritage of Karnataka. The day concluded on a positive note to harness the power of the G20 platform to deliver tangible outcomes that can be taken forward by future Presidencies to materialize the G20’s collective efforts over time. The ECSWG reaffirmed its commitment to the cause under India Presidency.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal had a meeting with H.E. Mr Jan Christian Vestre Minister of Trade and Industry of Norway in New Delhi on Thursday . The Ministers discussed issues of bilateral interest including Green Ports and Shipping, training of seafarers, use of alternative fuels like green ammonia and hydrogen for futuristic shipping and sustainable ship recycling. Implementation of Green Coastal Shipping Programme solutions in India was also deliberated upon. Both countries reiterated their commitment towards harnessing niche technologies to implement zero emission solutions in Ports and Shipping sector.

In recent years, both countries have been increasingly tapping their bilateral economic and technical complementarities. Indo-Norwegian bilateral ties are marked by regular exchanges of high level visits between the two countries. The last Joint Working Group Maritime meeting between the two countries was held in November 2022. MoPSW had also participated in the 5th edition of India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy in June 2022. India is also a part of the GreenVoyage2050 – a partnership project between the Government of Norway and IMO launched in May 2019 aiming to transform the shipping industry towards a lower carbon future.

During the meeting, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal expressed that the visit of the Minister of Norway to India will give a fillip to the growing maritime cooperation in shipping and Ports between the two countries. He stated that, “to fulfil the vision of Green ports and Green Shipping of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji, We are also looking forward to Norway sharing their expertise on Hydrogen fuel cell ferries, Autonomous Surface vessels, low-emission LNG-hybrid vessels, zero emission solar battery Ro-RO ferry vessels, inland and coastal LPG/LNG carriers”.

The delegation of Norway comprised of senior officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ambassador of Norway to India and various Norwegian companies. From the Indian side the Chairperson NSB, Additional Secretary (PSW) and other senior officials from MoPSW accompanied the Union Minister.