Month: March 2025

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 27 MAR 2025 6:20PM by PIB Delhi

The Union Cabinet approved the National Quantum Mission at an outlay of Rs. 6003.65 Crore for a period of eight years. The details of estimated expenditure year-wise from 2023-2031 is given below:

The cabinet approved physical targets set under NQM, year-wise till 2031 is given below:

NQM, DST in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education, has developed a curriculum on Quantum Technologies. Existing institutes offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses may use this curriculum for starting new programs or increasing seats for research and education in quantum technologies.

The Technology Innovation Hub established at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune in the area of Quantum Technologies, under National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems, has supported eight startups namely QuNu Labs Private Limited, QpiAI India Pvt. Ltd, Dimira Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Prenishq Pvt. Ltd., QuPrayog Pvt. Ltd., Pristine Diamonds Pvt. Ltd., Quanastra Pvt. Ltd. and Quan2D Technologies Pvt. Ltd. at an outlay of Rs. 68.00 Crores.

Under National Quantum Mission, expenditure of Rs. 43.07 Crore has been incurred till date.

This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2115865) Visitor Counter : 251

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 27 MAR 2025 6:18PM by PIB Delhi

 The following developments have been made under National Quantum Mission(NQM) since its launch:

1. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has established four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs), in key technology verticals namely Quantum Computing at Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru; Quantum Communication at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in association with Centre for Development of Telematics, New Delhi; Quantum Sensing & Metrology at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and Quantum Materials & Devices at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

2. Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), in collaboration with Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai has demonstrated 6-qubit quantum processor based on superconducting circuit technology.

3. Department of Space (DOS) has demonstrated free-space Quantum Key Distribution over a distance of 300m with real-time processing and live exchanges of quantum-secured text, images and video calls.

The funds allocated and utilized for quantum research and development projects in 2024 is given below:

The four T-Hubs have been established under NQM in consortia that foster collaborative synergy among academic institutions, with a provision for the involvement of private industry to accelerate quantum technology development.These hubs bring together a total of 152 researchers from 43 institutions across India.

This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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(Release ID: 2115862) Visitor Counter : 269

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the Opening Plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 in Hainan today (March 27) and met with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Dr Qu Dongyu.

In the morning, Mr Lee attended the Opening Plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. The theme of this year’s conference is “Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future”.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) announced today (March 27) the rating results of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cylinder Distributor Safety Performance Recognition Scheme for 2024.
 
All the 143 distributors under the five registered gas supply companies supplying LPG cylinders in Hong Kong joined the Scheme. Among the participants, 63 attained the highest level of safety performance, the gold rating, while 14 and 66 received silver and bronze ratings respectively.
 
Under the Scheme, independent auditing companies commissioned by the registered gas supply companies rated the distributors based on their performance in LPG cylinder delivery arrangements, safety inspection of gas appliances, record keeping of customer receipts, employee training and maintaining gas safety operation records. The rating results were verified by the EMSD.
 
Distributors will display the Scheme’s logo and the rating certificate outside and inside their shops respectively for easy identification.
 
Organised by the EMSD and registered gas supply companies, the Scheme aims to enhance the safety performance of the LPG cylinder trade. The public may visit the EMSD website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/media/lpgcdsprs) or download the EMSD mobile application “E&M Connect” for details of the Scheme and the ratings of the distributors.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Labour Department will hold webinars on the abolition of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) offsetting arrangement on April 30 (Wednesday) and May 13 (Tuesday) at 3.30pm. Employers, employees and human resources practitioners are welcome to attend.

The abolition of MPF offsetting arrangement will be implemented on May 1 to improve the retirement protection of employees. The Government will at the same time launch the 25-year Subsidy Scheme for Abolition of MPF Offsetting Arrangement (SSA) to share out the severance payment/long service payment expenses of employers after the abolition. The key features of the abolition of MPF offsetting arrangement, the calculation of severance payment/long service payment after the abolition and the main points of the SSA will be introduced in the webinars. The content of the above two webinars is the same.

The online briefings will be conducted in Cantonese via Zoom, and admission is free of charge. Interested participants should enrol in either of the webinars.
 
The quota will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and the enrolment deadline is April 15 (Tuesday). The enrolment form can be downloaded from the thematic website of the abolition of MPF offsetting arrangement (www.op.labour.gov.hk/en/pdf/Enrolment Form_webinar_Eng.pdf). For enquiries, please call 2852 3921.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (March 27) attended the 2025 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF) in Macao and officiated alongside officials of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government and other guests at the opening ceremony.
 
The 2025 MIECF was held with the theme of “Innovation and Green Development – Solutions to Build Beautiful Cities”. The exhibition booth of the Environment and Ecology Bureau is presenting a number of innovative initiatives adopted by the Hong Kong SAR Government departments and local industries. There are information boards on carbon reduction strategies such as carbon neutrality, energy saving and environmentally friendly buildings, green transportation, community waste reduction and smart technology. Videos on related topics demonstrate the application of innovative technologies in environmental protection continuously promoted by the Hong Kong SAR Government.  
 
Mr Tse also paid a courtesy call on the Secretary for Transport and Public Works of the Macao SAR Government, Mr Tam Vai-man, to exchange views on various environmental subjects and collaboration opportunities.  
 
Mr Tse said that to further seize the opportunities brought by the country’s dual carbon strategies, the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department are strengthening co-operation and exploring growth opportunities with neighbouring regions while supporting local innovation and technology development. These efforts include strengthening exchanges and collaboration with cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in building low-carbon communities, developing decarbonisation technologies, promoting low-carbon products and nurturing talent. The goal is  to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050 and reduce carbon emissions by half before 2035 as compared to the 2005 level.
 
After touring the exhibition and exchanging views with Hong Kong exhibitors, Mr Tse returned to Hong Kong in the early afternoon.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD), the Fire and Rescue Corps of Guangdong Province, and the Macao Fire Services Bureau held a 48-hour Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) joint emergency response and rescue exercise, “Liancheng-2025”, in Hong Kong from March 25 to today (March 27). The exercise aimed to gauge the effectiveness of the emergency mobilisation and co-ordination mechanism under the GBA Emergency Response and Rescue Operational Plan.

The exercise simulated Hong Kong experiencing extreme weather conditions, including a super typhoon and torrential rain, leading to severe incidents such as building collapses, large-scale landslides, extensive flooding and paralysed transport systems in various districts. Due to the strain on local rescue resources, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government requested assistance from the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, according to the mechanism under the Operational Plan.

The Fire and Rescue Corps of Guangdong Province promptly deployed 60 members, 13 fire appliances and over 900 items of rescue equipment, while the Macao Fire Services Bureau deployed 15 members, five fire appliances, and over 300 items of rescue equipment to render assistance to Hong Kong. The two teams respectively entered Hong Kong through the Shenzhen Bay Port and the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge via the cross-boundary Green Channel to participate in the exercise.

The exercise, mainly taking place at the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy, was conducted under the joint emergency command mechanism led by the FSD to co-ordinate personnel and resources allocation. The three rescue teams jointly participated in operations such as a rescue in a flooded basement, a search and rescue operation in a collapsed structure, as well as handling mass casualty and hazardous chemical leakage situations. They also took part in a rescue operation in Lei Yue Mun, where a severe flooding scenario in the low-lying coastal area of Sam Ka Tsuen was simulated. The rescue teams worked together to build a floating bridge and assist the trapped villagers in an emergency evacuation.

The Deputy Director of Fire Services (Operations), Mr Angus Wong, who acted as the commander of the Hong Kong cross-border rescue team, stated that by simulating real disasters, the three rescue teams enhanced synergy in rescue strategy and equipment deployment, laying a solid foundation for establishing a GBA rescue network.

“Liancheng-2025”, hosted by the FSD, had participation from the fire and rescue departments of the three places, as well as the Hospital Authority and the Civil Aid Service. The exercise was funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. It effectively put cross-departmental and cross-disciplinary disaster response capabilities to test, with substantial progress demonstrated in strengthening consolidated rescue efforts of the GBA in response to major disasters.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     â€‹Hongkong Post announced today (March 27) that, with the provision of transit assistance by other postal administrations, postal services to the following destinations will resume from March 28. Details are given below:

 
     Additional conveyance time may be required for mail items destined for these destinations, as mail items to these destinations have to be transited via other postal administrations.
 
Members of the public may visit the webpage of Hongkong Post at  www.hongkongpost.hk/en/about_us/whats_new/notices/index_id_1443.html on the service availability for various destinations.