Month: March 2025

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 5:01PM by PIB Delhi

As a marketing initiative under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) SARAS Aajeevika Mela is organised at national and state levels. An export pavilion was in place at SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2025 at Noida, Uttar Pradesh organised by the Ministry of Rural Development to showcase products of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) having export potential, with the primary goal of encouraging and promoting SHGs towards export of their products. Training sessions cum Workshops were conducted in this Mela for capacity building and generating export potential in SHGs, and to creating awareness.

National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) has conducted a national-level workshop in Delhi on 14th and 15th May 2024 to deliberate the scope of ‘Export Marketing of Handicraft and Handloom Products of SHGs’.

Ministry of Textiles under Marketing component of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), organized the following events to provide a marketing platform to artisans and promote export of handicrafts:

        (I) Domestic Marketing events including Gandhi Shilp Bazar/Fashion Show/Hiring of Stalls in events organized by other organizations/CDAP.

(II) International Marketing Events in India & Abroad include:

1. International Marketing Events.
2. International Craft Exposure Programme.
3. Buyer Seller Meet & Reverse Buyer Seller Meet.
4. Fairs/Exhibitions/Events on Virtual Platforms.

The Ministry has undertaken tie-ups with eCommerce Players for promotion of SHG products. In collaboration with Government e-Marketplace (GeM) a “SARAS Collection” has been created as a Store Front in GeM for marketing of SHG products. Also, Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been entered between Ministry and Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd., Amazon, Fashnear Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Meesho) and Jiomart respectively to allow the Self Help Groups (SHGs) producers including the artisans, weavers and craftsmen to access national markets through the Flipkart Samarth programme, Amazon Saheli initiative, Meesho and Jiomart for marketing of SHGs products. An e-Commerce platform (www.esaras.in) has also been launched by the Ministry for online marketing of SHG products. eSARAS is also live as a Seller Network Participant on ONDC. Curated products of women SHGs are available on 11 Apps of ONDC network i.e. Paytm, Mystore, Craftsvilla, Jagran, Snapdeal, Novopay, Easypay, Gonuclei, Rubaru, Mappls, Himira.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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MG/RN/KSR/4087

(Release ID: 2114885) Visitor Counter : 28

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 5:00PM by PIB Delhi

Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched in April 2022 with the ambitious goal of constructing or rejuvenating 75 Amrit Sarovars (ponds) in each district, totaling 50,000 across the country. Each Amrit Sarovar was to have pondage area of about 1 acre (except in case of States/UTs with hilly terrain) with water holding capacity of about 10,000 cubic meters (except in case of hilly terrain states.)

As on 20-03-2025, over 68,000 Amrit Sarovars have been completed, State-wise details of which are at Annexure. This initiative has made significant contribution in addressing the critical issue of water scarcity and enhancing surface and groundwater availability across various regions. These Sarovars have not only addressed immediate water needs but also established sustainable water sources, symbolizing Government commitment to long-term environmental sustainability and community well-being.

Mission Amrit Sarovar works are being taken up by the States and Districts in convergence with various ongoing schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS), 15th Finance Commission Grants, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojna sub-schemes such as the Watershed Development Component, Har Khet ko Pani, besides States’ own schemes. Public contributions like crowdfunding and Corporate Social Responsibility are also allowed for the work.

Phase II of Mission Amrit Sarovar is envisaged to continue with a renewed focus on ensuring water availability, with community participation (Jan Bhagidaari) at its core, and aims to strengthen climate resilience, foster ecological balance, and deliver lasting benefits for future generations.

Peoples’ participation has been the key to the entire Mission. To encourage mobilization of citizens and non- Government resources for supplementing the Government’s efforts to achieve the target, explicit provisions have been made in the guidelines of the Mission Amrit Sarovar as follows:

1. Laying the foundation stone for the Amrit Sarovar to be led by freedom fighter or her/his family member or by the family of martyr (post-independence) or a local Padma awardee, and in case no such citizen is available, by the eldest member of the local Gram Panchayat.
2. Provision for people to participate by donating construction material, benches and by Shram Daan.
3. If village community so desires, beautification works on the Sarovar site may mobilize necessary donations through crowd sourcing and CSR contributions.
4. Provision has been made that on the occasion of Independence Day/ Republic Day, Tricolour to be hoisted at each Amrit Sarovar site, by the freedom fighter or his/her family member or by the family member of martyr or a local Padma Awardee. On Amrit Sarovar sites, National events are also being celebrated.
5. Possible users of such water structure, including for irrigation, fishery or water chestnut cultivation, should be identified and creation of their group are encouraged.

As per the guidelines of Mission Amrit Sarovar, effective maintenance and sustainability of Amrit Sarovars requires a formation and clear mapping of users’ groups associated with each sarovar largely drawn from members of SHGs. Proper identification and coordination of these user groups are essential for the optimal use and upkeep of the sarovars. The user group will also be responsible for the ongoing use and maintenance of the Amrit Sarovar including the plantation activities. The removal of silt from the catchment area should be done by the users’ groups voluntarily after every monsoon season.

Annexure

This information was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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MG/RN/KSR/4001

(Release ID: 2114884) Visitor Counter : 29

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 4:59PM by PIB Delhi

For the financial year 2024-25, budget allocation of ₹86,000 crore has been made for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS), which is the highest ever allocation for scheme at the Budget Estimate (BE) stage since inception. In the financial year 2025-26, the Government has retained this allocation at ₹86,000 crore, ensuring continued support for rural employment.

As Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is a demand-driven scheme, the Central Government is committed to making funds available to States and Union Territories based on the demand for work on the ground. The Ministry of Rural Development closely monitors this demand and seeks additional funds from the Ministry of Finance as and when required to meet the demand for work on the ground.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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MG/RN/KSR/3926

(Release ID: 2114882) Visitor Counter : 28

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 4:50PM by PIB Delhi

Incubated at IIT Madras Research Park in 2016, QNu Labs is revolutionizing cybersecurity with quantum-safe solutions, positioning India as a global leader in quantum cryptography. In 2018, QNu launched QKD (Quantum Key Distribution), placing India on the global quantum map.

The journey of the deeptech startup has been an eventful one. In 2022, it won the iDEX Open Challenge 2.0, successfully developing a 150-km QKD system with trusted nodes, completing trials with the Army. Under the NSCS grant, it built a Hub-and-Spoke QKD network and received first large order from Indian Armed Forces for building quantum secure wireline networks using already laid optical fibres. In 2023, QNu solved the problem of security over wi-fi links by bringing in Quantum secure VPN solution using its QRNG product and NIST shortlisted PQC algorithm. This paved way for securing wireless networks using QVPN solution at MCEME and MCTE in 2023-24. In 2024, QNu delivered 25 QKD systems to the Indian Navy, marking a significant milestone in quantum secure communication in India.

The startup offers cutting-edge quantum-safe products —Tropos (QRNG), a Quantum Random Number Generator positioned as the new ‘Root of Trust’ for all the solutions and has been commercialized with delivery to DRDO and WESEE for critical applications and to Indian Army for quantum safe wireless solutions; Armos, a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solution, delivered to a Middle Eastern client, Defence PSU BEL, the Indian Navy, and recently secured a significant order from the Indian Army; QShield, the quantum-secure SaaS platform, with fours services which are already being used by several clients.

Selected as one of the startups under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), QNu Labs aims to build and deploy a Quantum Communication Network that is Made in India, Made for the World with the world’s first end-to-end quantum- safe heterogeneous network. This network will integrate free-space QKD, indigenous components like SPD and encryptors, QHSM, and a software-defined QKD controller, showcasing India’s leadership in cutting-edge quantum communication technologies.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2114874) Visitor Counter : 69

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 4:50PM by PIB Delhi

A groundbreaking advancement in thermionic emission, the process in which electrons escape from a material’s surface due to thermal energy, could revolutionize next-generation electronic and energy conversion technologies.

Thermionic emission, the process where electrons are emitted from a heated metal surface, called a cathode, when the metal’s thermal energy overcomes the attractive forces holding electrons to the surface, is a fundamental principle behind vacuum electronics, thermoelectric devices, and energy harvesting systems. However, practical applications of thermionic emission in several energy conversion devices have been hindered by the unavailability of materials, high operational temperatures, and inefficient charge transport.

To address these challenges, Prof. Bivas Saha and his team at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India have engineered artificially structured defect-free single-crystalline elemental metal/compound semiconductor superlattices that harness interfacial engineering and leads to thermionic emission. Such engineered metamaterials lead to efficient electron transport and also utilize quantum properties of electrons.   

Their pioneering research, published recently in the journal Advanced Materials, introduces a novel approach to enhancing electron emission using artificially structured single-crystalline elemental metal/ compound semiconductor superlattices.

This first-of-its-kind demonstration of controlled thermionic emission using engineered superlattices holds immense promise for thermoelectric energy converters, high-power vacuum electronics, and next-generation semiconductor applications.

“Our research redefines thermionic emission physics by leveraging quantum-engineered materials. These superlattices offer unprecedented control over electron transport, unlocking new possibilities for high-efficiency energy and electronic technologies,” emphasised Prof. Saha.

Supported by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, this research aligns with the national mission to advance high-tech materials, semiconductor research, and self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in cutting-edge technology. The research places India at the forefront of next-generation nanotechnology and material science innovations.

Building on these findings, the research team is focused on refining superlattice architectures for industrial-scale applications, particularly in solid-state energy harvesting and high-temperature electronics. With global demand for energy-efficient and high-performance electronic systems rising, this innovation could serve as a cornerstone for future technological advancements.

Electron microscope image of newly developed Hf/AlN superlattice and electrical measurement data are presented

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2114875) Visitor Counter : 66

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 2:17PM by PIB Delhi

Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd., popularly known as ‘Cottage Emporium’ or ‘Cottage’ is organising its first ever Quiz about ” Crafts of India” in association with MyGov ( Ministry of Electronics and Communication, Government of India) (https://quiz.mygov.in/quiz/quiz-on-know-about-crafts-of-india-through-the-cottage/) with a view to encourage the youth keeping them abreast with the latest happenings of the Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd and the contribution by the Artisans and Weavers Community in preserving India’s National Heritage.

The quiz is open to all Indian citizens across ( except the employees and families of” the Cottage ” ) the country. The quiz is open till 30th April 2025 and the top 03 winners will be awarded prize by” the cottage”. Simultaneously the Citizens are being invited to administer pledge (https://pledge.mygov.in/support-women-artisans/) on the MyGov platform and first 100 women will receive a souvenir made by a Artisan.

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Dhanya Sanal K

(Release ID: 2114778) Visitor Counter : 233

Source: Government of India

Ministry of Labour & Employment Kick-Starts India’s Social Protection Data Pooling Exercise

Ministry collaborates with States and International Labour Organization (ILO) for accurate portrayal of social protection coverage in India

Phase I of the Data Pooling Exercise to include 10 States: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Gujarat

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 4:34PM by PIB Delhi

India has made significant strides in enhancing its social protection coverage through a comprehensive data-pooling exercise led by the Ministry in collaboration with ILO. By utilizing encrypted Aadhaar as a unique identifier across 34 major Central schemes such as MGNREGA, EPFO, ESIC, APY, and PM-POSHAN, over 200 crore records were processed to identify unique beneficiaries.

This exercise revealed that 65% of India’s population (92 crore people) is covered by at least one social protection benefit (cash and in-kind both), with 48.8% receiving cash benefits. India’s social protection coverage, thus, doubled from 24.4% in 2021 to 48.8% in 2024 as per ILO’s World Social Protection Report (WSPR) 2024-26, by acknowledging existing Central social protection schemes which hadn’t been considered earlier.

India’s present social protection coverage assessment by ILO i.e., 48.8% is still an underestimation, as it does not account for (a) in-kind benefits provided to the citizens of the country, such as food security and housing benefits; and (b) social protection schemes administered by the States. The actual social protection coverage of India is expected to be much higher after this data is taken into account.

In this context, the Ministry has been consistently following up with ILO Headquarters on this matter through a focussed high-level dialogue. In a bilateral discussion held between the Secretary (L&E) and DG, ILO during the 353^rd ILO Governing Body meeting in Geneva last week with India, ILO shared that housing and food security are part of a set of extended indicators (based on United Nations-Sustainable Development Goals) adopted by them. Therefore, such schemes and related data will also be considered by ILO.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment is actively collaborating with State Governments and ILO for a national social protection data pooling exercise to obtain a holistic picture of social protection coverage in India. Labour Departments of State Governments are playing the nodal role in compilation of respective State specific data and sharing the same with the Central Government for further consolidation, verification and de-duplication.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment kick-started Phase 01 of India’s Social Protection Data Pooling Exercise on 19.03.2025 in a hybrid meeting organised by Ministry of Labour and Employment. For Phase 01, Ministry has identified selected states i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Gujarat for data consolidation at the Central level.

This data pooling exercise will not only strengthen India’s global reputation as a social protection pioneer but also facilitate the Central Government, States and UTs to optimize welfare spending and move closer towards sustainable financing of social protection. It will help the States in identifying unique beneficiaries under state-specific social protection schemes.

The exercise will also reinforce India’s position in negotiating trade and social security agreements with other countries, and reflect India’s commitment to promoting decent work in global value chains.

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HP

(Release ID: 2114866) Visitor Counter : 16

Source: Government of India

Government Strengthens Startup Ecosystem with Robust Initiatives and Funding Support

217 Incubators Selected Under Startup India Scheme with ₹916.91 Crore Approved Funding

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 4:33PM by PIB Delhi

This information was given by the Minister of State for the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

(Release ID: 2114865) Visitor Counter : 17

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 4:32PM by PIB Delhi

The Government has taken various proactive measures aimed at enhancing domestic capacities, boosting exports, diversifying supply chains, exploring alternate sources of imports and fostering economic resilience. Several key initiatives and policy measures undertaken by the Government to boost exports, attract investments and to promote ease of doing business from time to time are as follows-

1. The Foreign Trade Policy effective from April 01, 2023 is designed to integrate India more effectively into the global market, improve trade competitiveness, and establish the country as a reliable and trusted trade partner.
2. Establishment of 65 Export Facilitation Centres (EFCs) across the country with an aim to provide requisite mentoring and handholding support to exporters especially MSMEs in exporting their products and services to foreign markets.
3. Assistance being provided through several schemes to promote exports, namely, Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) and Market Access Initiatives (MAI) Scheme.
4. The Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Scheme to promote labour- oriented certain items of textiles sector export has been implemented since March 07, 2019.
5. Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme has been implemented since January 01, 2021. The benefit of RoDTEP scheme had also been extended to sectors like steel, pharma and chemicals with effect from December 15, 2022 to enhance export competitiveness of these sectors. Currently, 10,642 tariff lines (8-digit ITC(HS) Codes) are covered under this Scheme. The budget allocation for RoDTEP Scheme for the current financial year 2024-25 is Rs. 16,575 crores. The benefits of the RoDTEP scheme have also been extended to exports from Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) units till September 30, 2025.
6. A Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin has been launched to facilitate trade and increase Free Trade Agreement (FTA) utilization by exporters.
7. Districts as Export Hubs initiative had been launched by identifying products with export potential in each district, addressing bottlenecks for exporting these products and supporting local exporters/manufacturers to generate employment in the district.
8. The Government has launched the Trade Connect e-Platform as an information and intermediation platform for international trade bringing together Indian Missions Abroad and officials from Department of Commerce and other organisations to provide comprehensive services for both new and existing exporters.
9. Active role of Indian missions abroad towards promoting India’s trade, tourism, technology and investment goals has been enhanced. Regular monitoring of export performance with Commercial Missions abroad, Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards/Authorities and Industry Associations is being done and corrective measures are being taken from time to time.
10. With the changing trade scenario, India is moving towards having Preferential/Free Trade Agreements (PTA/FTA) wherein customs tariffs and non-tariff barriers are reduced or eliminated on substantial trade items between the PTA/FTA members. At present, India is a member of 13 FTAs and 9 PTAs apart from the negotiations with the EU, the UK, and Oman.

This information was given by the Minister of State for the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

(Release ID: 2114863) Visitor Counter : 18

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 4:29PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya today announced that the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has expanded its coverage in Uttar Pradesh by notifying 15 additional districts under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme. This marks a significant step towards strengthening social security for workers in the state.

He mentioned that with this notification, a total of 74 out of 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh are now fully covered under the ESI Scheme, benefiting 30.08 lakh Insured Persons (IPs) and 1.16 crore beneficiaries. The newly notified districts namely, Ambedkar Nagar, Auraiya, Bahraich, Gonda, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Kannauj, Maharajganj, Mahoba, Pilibhit, Siddharthnagar, Shamli, Pratapgarh, Kasganj, and Shravasti, add 53,987 new Insured Persons to the ESIC network.

Revised Implementation Status Nationwide

Following this expansion, the national implementation status of the ESI Scheme stands as follows:

• Total Districts Covered (Fully + Partially): 689
• Fully Notified Districts: 586
• Partially Notified Districts: 103
• Non-Notified Districts: 89
• Total Districts in India: 778

Measures for Further Expansion

To ensure comprehensive coverage across all remaining uncovered areas, ESIC has been actively working on the following initiatives:

• Coordination with the State Government to arrange medical care facilities in non-implemented areas.
• Utilizing Community Health Centers (CHCs) and Primary Health Centers (PHCs) to extend medical care in uncovered districts.
• Integration with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to provide cashless medical care for ESIC beneficiaries without any expenditure cap.

Benefits under the ESIC Scheme

The ESIC provides a comprehensive social security net for workers, including:

• Medical Benefits: Primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare.
• Cash Benefits: Sickness, temporary/permanent disablement, maternity benefits (26 weeks), dependent benefits, and funeral expenses.
• Unemployment Allowance: Under the Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana (RGSKY) and Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) for workers facing job loss.

The notification of these 15 districts reaffirms the Government’s commitment to extending social security coverage to every eligible worker in the country. Efforts are underway to bring the remaining non-notified districts under ESIC, ensuring that no worker is left out of this vital safety net.

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HP

(Release ID: 2114861) Visitor Counter : 61