Month: April 2025

Source: Government of India

SUFALAM 2025 Kicks Off at NIFTEM-K, Igniting Innovation in Food Processing

Union Minister Chirag Paswan Inaugurates SUFALAM 2025, Calls for Innovation-Driven Food Ecosystem

SUFALAM 2025 :Day 1 Highlights India’s Vision to Emerge as a Global Food Basket

Posted On: 25 APR 2025 4:43PM by PIB Delhi

Sonipat, April 25, 2025 – The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), in collaboration with NIFTEM-Kundli, inaugurated the second edition of SUFALAM 2025 (Start-Up Forum for Aspiring Leaders and Mentors) today at the NIFTEM-K campus. The two-day conclave is a pivotal initiative aimed at strengthening India’s food processing sector through innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration, and aligns with the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The event was formally inaugurated by Shri Chirag Paswan, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, who underscored the vital need to empower India’s youth and position the country as a global leader in food innovation.

“There is no dearth of talent in India—what we need is to harness it better by equipping our youth with the right skill sets. The food processing sector holds endless opportunities, and with focused innovation, we can not only meet our own needs but also establish India as a global food basket. This journey of innovation and capacity-building will not only strengthen our economy but also create vast employment opportunities across the country. The Ministry is committed to enhancing India’s food processing capacity, empowering farmers, and supporting the industry at every step,” he stated.

Dr. Subrata Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, attended the event as Guest of Honour and echoed similar sentiments. He emphasized the importance of improving food productivity while minimizing wastage.

“With rising food demands and limited land, the challenge before us is not just to feed a growing population—but to do so sustainably and efficiently. The Ministry is actively supporting the industry through a slew of measures, focusing on increasing production, reducing wastage, and building robust infrastructure. To move the food industry forward, we must empower our youth with the right skills and develop cutting-edge technologies. The Ministry remains fully committed to enabling this transformation and ensuring a resilient, future-ready food ecosystem,” he said.

Welcoming the delegates, Dr. Harinder Singh Oberoi, Director, NIFTEM-K, highlighted the institute’s growing role in bridging academia and industry.

“True success in any industry lies in the seamless collaboration between academia and industry. At NIFTEM, with the unwavering support of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, we are not just preparing students for jobs — we are empowering them to create jobs. By bridging the talent gap in the food sector and fostering entrepreneurship through collective action, we are shaping the future of India’s food ecosystem,” he remarked.

The inaugural day of SUFALAM 2025 witnessed a dynamic convergence of industry leaders, academicians, investors, and budding entrepreneurs for meaningful knowledge exchange and inspiration. Experience-sharing sessions offered valuable insights into the journeys of emerging startups, while expert-led discussions focused on themes such as sustainable growth, branding, digital outreach, and policy incentives.

A keynote address by Prof. Harpal Singh of IIT Delhi inspired the audience with key learnings from his entrepreneurial journey. Additionally, Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), shared expert insights on global trade dynamics and food entrepreneurship.

More than 250 startups from 23 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, participated in the event. Innovations showcased ranged from cell-cultured meat and plant-based food products to functional foods and rapid detection kits, each contributing to a safer and more robust food ecosystem.

A total of 35 startups registered to pitch their ideas before industry evaluators from esteemed organizations such as Nestlé, Bühler Group, Eureka Analytical Systems Pvt. Ltd., and the Indian Angel Network.

In addition to formal sessions, SUFALAM 2025 featured a dedicated Mentor Lounge, extensive networking opportunities, and an exhibition area showcasing innovations by MSMEs and startups.

With over 300 participants and 65 exhibitors from 20 states, Day 1 of SUFALAM 2025 reaffirmed the Ministry’s strong commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship, driving innovation, and accelerating the growth of India’s food processing industry.

The conclave will continue tomorrow with a series of engaging sessions featuring emerging entrepreneurs, expert panel discussions, and live startup pitches—collectively aimed at shaping the future of India’s food ecosystem.

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Shahid

(Release ID: 2124313) Visitor Counter : 94

Source: Government of India

NMCG Approves Action Plan 2025 to Strengthen Urban River Rejuvenation under River Cities Alliance

The plan focuses on integrating river-sensitive urban planning within India’s growing cities

In alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision, the NMCG is steering the development of a URMP for the national capital

River Cities Alliance is a pioneering initiative led by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

With a current membership of 145 cities, the Alliance promotes a comprehensive approach to urban river management

Posted On: 25 APR 2025 4:25PM by PIB Delhi

In a significant step towards sustainable urban river rejuvenation, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved an annual master plan for the River Cities Alliance (RCA), charting out a vibrant and action-oriented roadmap of initiatives to be undertaken across the year. The plan encompasses a series of capacity-building programs, knowledge exchange platforms, development of technical tools, expert guidance, and thematic case studies, all focused on integrating river-sensitive urban planning within India’s growing cities.

Launched in 2021, the RCA is a pioneering initiative led by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. With a current membership of 145 cities, the Alliance promotes a comprehensive approach to urban river management—one that strengthens institutional capacity, fosters inter-city collaboration within river basins, and supports the creation of Urban River Management Plans (URMPs). This year’s approved plan is tailored to further operationalize these goals by rolling out a range of strategic interventions.

A major focus this year will be the promotion of river considerations within city master plans through the organisation of River-Sensitive Master Planning (RSMP) training programs across states. Simultaneously, to support the formulation of Urban River Management Plans (URMPs), the NMCG will conduct training sessions including onboarding programs specifically for RCA cities in Tamil Nadu, with further sessions planned for additional states.

The URMP framework, launched in 2020 by National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and NMCG, represents a first-of-its-kind approach to ensure that environmental, economic, and social dimensions are considered in the urban management of rivers. Five cities—Kanpur, Ayodhya, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Moradabad, and Bareilly—have already developed their URMPs, setting the benchmark for other urban centres. Notably, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar’s Kham River Restoration Mission was globally recognised by the World Resources Institute’s Ross Center Prize for Cities, underlining the transformative potential of this initiative.

The year ahead will also see the development of 25 more URMPs as part of the first phase of a larger mission to create 60 such plans across India over the next two to three years. Supported by the World Bank, this initiative marks a bold step in deepening river-sensitive urban governance. Steering Committees have already been constituted in states like Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal to facilitate plan formulation and guide implementation.

In alignment with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision, the NMCG is also steering the development of a URMP for the national capital. This initiative seeks to redefine Delhi’s rivers as vital ecosystems and not just water channels, paving the way for sustainable and inclusive urban river management in alignment with national environmental priorities. The URMP in Delhi will serve as a model for other metropolitan cities, anchoring the vision of resilient and river-sensitive urban development.

In an effort to foster basin-linked urban thinking, NMCG will issue an advisory on “Effective vertical coordination among basin, district and city-level river management plans.” Complementing this, a variety of tailored knowledge products will be developed, alongside a feedback mechanism to identify knowledge gaps faced by member cities. Technical support will be strengthened through the formation of Thematic Expert Groups, which will also guide eco-friendly riverfront development initiatives.

To facilitate knowledge exchange and promote best practices, key events such as DHARA, a basin-level RCA meet, and exposure visits to Udaipur and Hyderabad are scheduled. Enhancing governance capacity in river-sensitive urban planning is another priority, with formal training programs to be rolled out in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of member cities.

Additionally, RCA will focus on documenting successful on-ground practices through weekly case studies every Monday, showcasing urban river rejuvenation efforts. Public awareness campaigns and sensitisation programs will be launched to promote river-conscious behaviour among citizens. Financial advisory services will be provided to support cities in mobilising resources for river-related projects. Furthermore, NMCG will benchmark member cities on urban river management using the URMP framework to track performance and guide improvements.

Among the initiatives already completed, the development of a new, comprehensive RCA website stands out and the participation in the prestigious World Economic Forum held in Davos in February 2025—demonstrating the growing national and international engagement

The NMCG’s approval of the 2025 plan under RCA marks a pivotal advancement in institutionalising river-sensitive urban planning across India. With a robust calendar of capacity-building programs, technical interventions, collaborative platforms, and city-level support systems, the year ahead promises to be transformative. These efforts not only reflect NMCG’s enduring commitment to revitalizing India’s urban rivers but also strengthen the foundation for resilient, inclusive, and water-secure urban ecosystems nationwide.

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Dhanya Sanal K

(Release ID: 2124307) Visitor Counter : 84

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 APR 2025 4:10PM by PIB Mumbai

India occupies a dominant position in Media & Entertainment sector with talents spread across different geographies of the country, creating compelling contents through its rich cultural heritage. The World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), to be held from 1st to 4th May in Mumbai, is poised to become one of the landmarks in the Media and Entertainment sector. The summit will promote India as one stop destination for content creation, Investment destination and leverage ‘Create in India’ opportunities as well as for global outreach.

WAVES Bazaar is the premier global marketplace for the media and entertainment industry, a dynamic platform designed to foster connection, collaboration, and growth. It offers filmmakers and industry professionals the opportunity to engage with buyers, sellers, and a wide range of projects and profiles, while also showcasing their skills and expanding their professional network.

The Viewing Room is a dedicated physical platform set up at Waves Bazaar, taking place from May 1st to 4th, 2025. It serves as a space for showcasing recently completed films and projects in Post Production from around the world. These films are actively seeking opportunities for film festivals, global sales, distribution partnerships, and finishing funds.

Designed for film programmers, distributors, world sales agents, investors and other industry professionals, the Viewing Room offers a secure environment where delegates attending Waves Bazaar can watch these films, access detailed project information, and connect directly with filmmakers through our specialized Viewing Room Software.

For the first ever WAVES Bazaar, a total 100 films from 8 countries namely India, Sri Lanka, USA, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Germany, Mauritius and UAE will be available to watch in the Viewing Room Library. The overall lineup includes 18 titles of NFDC produced and co-produced films and adds 8 restored classics from the National Film Archive of India (NFAI). It also includes 19 student projects from Film & Television Institute of India (FTII, Pune) and Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI, Kolkata)

These 15 Projects selected for the WAVES Bazaar Top Selects Section from the Viewing Room includes 9 Feature projects, 2 documentaries, 2 Short films and 2 Web-Series which will pitch their films to producers, sales agents, distributors, festival programmers and potential investors in an open pitching session during WAVES Bazaar at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai on 2nd May, 2025.

WAVES Bazaar Top Selects 2025

1. The Wage Collector | Tamil | India | Fiction Feature

Director – Infant Soosai | Producer – Bagavathi Perumal

2. Putul | Hindi | India | Fiction Feature

Director – Radheshyam Pipalwa | Producer – Sharad Mittal

3. Doosra Byaah ( Levir) | Haryanvi,Hindi | India | Fiction Feature

Director – Bhagat Singh Saini | Producer – Parveen Saini

4. Pankhudiyaan (Petals in the Wind) | Hindi | India | Fiction Feature

Director – Abdul Aziz | Producer – Abdul Aziz, Jyotsana Rajpurohit

5. Khidki Gaav (If on a Winter’s Night) | Malayalam | India | Fiction Feature

Director – Sanju Surendran | Producer – Dr. Surendran M N

6. Suchana – The Beginning | Bangla | India | Fiction Feature

Director – Pausali Sengupta | Producer – Avinanda Sengupta

7. Swaha In the Name of Fire | Magahi | India | Fiction Feature

Director – Abhilash Sharma | Producer – Vikash Sharma

8. Gotipua – Beyond Borders | English ,Hindi,Odia  | India | Documentary Feature

Director & Producer – Chintan Parekh

9. From India | English | USA | Documentary Short

Director & Producer – Mandar Apte

10. Third Floor | Hindi | India | Short Film

Director – Amandeep Singh | Producer – Amandeep Singh

11. Jahaan | Hindi | India | Fiction Short

Director & Producer – Rahul Shetty

12. Planet India | English,Hindi | India | TV Show

Director – Colin Butfield | Producer – Tamseel Hussain

13. Bharti Aur Bibo | Hindi | India | Animation Web-Series/TV

Director – Sneha Ravishankar | Producer – National Film Development Corporation &

Puppetica Media Pvt. Ltd

14. Achappa’s Album (Grampa’s Album) | Malayalam | India | Fiction Feature

Director – Deepti Pillay Sivan | Producer – National Film Development Corporation

15. Duniya Na Mane (The Unexpected) | Hindi | India | Fiction Feature

Director & Producer – V. Shantaram

 

About WAVES

The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a milestone event for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, will be hosted by the Government of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from May 1 to 4, 2025.

Whether you’re an industry professional, investor, creator, or innovator, the Summit offers the ultimate global platform to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute to the M&E landscape.

WAVES is set to magnify India’s creative strength, amplifying its position as a hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. Industries and sectors in focus include Broadcasting, Print Media, Television, Radio, Films, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Sound and Music, Advertising, Digital Media, Social Media Platforms, Generative AI, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR).

Have questions? Find answers here  

Stay updated with the latest announcements from PIB Team WAVES

Come, Sail with us! Register for WAVES now

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PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Nikita / Parshuram | 102

 

Follow us on social media:  @PIBMumbai    /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai   pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2124294) Visitor Counter : 95

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates 2-Day NSS National Convention, Calls for a Modern Era of ‘Seva’

Union Minister Dr. Mandaviya Highlights MY Bharat’s Role in Transforming Youth Volunteerism

Youth Must Lead Environmental Activism and Heritage Preservation: Dr. Mandaviya

Posted On: 25 APR 2025 8:40PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, inaugurated the National Service Scheme (NSS) – National Convention at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi today, marking the return of the prestigious gathering after a break of 15 years. The two-day convention will witness participation from more than 200 NSS officers from across the country.

Addressing the NSS Convention, Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the need to redefine ‘Seva’ in the context of current global challenges. Drawing on his experience as a former NSS volunteer, he emphasized the importance of engaging youth in environmental activism, cultural preservation, and experiential learning.

“In the digital era, the meaning of ‘Seva’ must transform. Our youth must be at the forefront of environmental activism, heritage preservation etc. Experiential learning should go hand in hand with Seva must be the new norm,” he said.

He emphasized the transformative role of Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), launched in 2023 under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, describing it as a unifying platform to channel the energy and potential of youth towards nation-building. Dr. Mandaviya urged all stakeholders to work collectively to inspire, empower, and equip young individuals to become informed and active contributors to the vision of a Viksit Bharat.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Mandaviya chaired the meeting of the National NSS Advisory Council, laying emphasis on modernizing youth volunteerism and aligning NSS with emerging national priorities. The Advisory Council comprises eminent personalities such as Dr. Himanshu Rai, Mr. Ronnie Screwvala, Mr. Malhar Kalambe, Ms. Usha Sharma and Smt. Geetanjali Kirloskar, along with senior officials from NCC, UGC, AICTE, CBSE, and academic bodies.

Key resolutions were passed during the meeting include the formation of expert sub-committees for revamping NSS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), introducing research-driven initiatives, updating award mechanisms, and enhancing training frameworks. The strategic convergence of NSS and NCC under the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform was also discussed to create a unified, holistic model for youth engagement.

The strategic integration of NSS and NCC within the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform was actively explored to foster greater synergy and establish a unified, comprehensive approach to youth engagement. In line with the objectives of the National Education Policy, discussions also focused on linking NSS volunteer activities with enhanced employability, the provision of academic credits, and recognition through nationally accredited skill certifications. Furthermore, the deliberations emphasized the promotion of public-private collaborations, innovation-driven initiatives, and research-oriented volunteerism—marking a pivotal step forward in transforming the NSS into a dynamic vehicle for youth empowerment and nation-building.

The convention was enriched through breakout sessions, zone-wise presentations of best practices, and interactive group discussions, all of which contributed to the development of key proposals that will inform the MY Bharat National Action Framework.

The Ministry reiterated its commitment to revitalizing the NSS as a dynamic platform that fosters patriotism, civic responsibility, and progressive values—empowering the youth of India to take the lead in building a brighter, more inclusive future for the nation.

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Himanshu Pathak

(Release ID: 2124420) Visitor Counter : 56

Source: Government of India

DRDO achieves significant milestone in Scramjet Engine Development

Conducts Active Cooled Scramjet Subscale Combustor ground testing for over 1,000 seconds

Posted On: 25 APR 2025 8:30PM by PIB Delhi

Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), a Hyderabad-based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has achieved a significant milestone in the field of Hypersonic Weapon Technology. DRDL conducted long-duration Active Cooled Scramjet Subscale Combustor ground testing for more than 1,000 seconds at the newly built state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Test Facility at Hyderabad on April 25, 2025. The ground-test is in continuation of the earlier test reported for 120 seconds in January 2025. With the successful test, the system will be soon ready for full scale flight worthy combustor testing.

 

 

Hypersonic Cruise Missile is a class of weapons that can travel more than five times the speed of sound (> 6100 Kmph) for long duration and is powered by Air breathing engine. Air breathing propulsion systems, having supersonic combustion, plays a critical role for long-duration cruise conditions. This test validates the design of long duration scramjet combustor as well as test facility. It is an outcome of an integrated effort put by the DRDO labs along with industry & academia and paves a strong base for the nation’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Programme.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, Industry partners and academia for the remarkable achievement. He termed the success as a reflection of the Government’s strong commitment in realising critical Hypersonic Weapon Technologies for the nation.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated Director General (Missiles & Strategic Systems) Shri U Raja Babu, Director DRDL Dr GA Srinivasa Murthy and the complete team for demonstrating the supersonic combustion for more than 1,000 seconds involving cutting edge technologies.

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SR/Savvy

(Release ID: 2124415) Visitor Counter : 113

Source: Government of India

DoSJE and The World Bank Host Seminar to brainstorm on issues affecting Beggars, the Homeless, and the Destitute Population

Need to hear directly from  those who have transitioned out of begging, to understand the root causes and impact of support systems: Secretary DEPwD

Such events provide valuable grassroots insights and authentic data from the field, essential to identifying and supporting individuals in vulnerable conditions: Lead Economist, World Bank

Posted On: 25 APR 2025 8:22PM by PIB Delhi

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), Government of India, in collaboration with the World Bank, organized a powerful and thought-provoking seminar with the theme –  ‘Population Out of Reach – SMILE (Beggary)’ – on 25th April, 2025, in New Delhi.

The objective of the seminar was to deliberate on strategies and share knowledge regarding the rehabilitation of beggars, the homeless, and the destitute population, with participation from both national and international experts. This event formed part of an ongoing knowledge seminar series aimed at deepening dialogue and action to strengthen social protection systems for the most vulnerable sections of society in India.

Addressing the Seminar as the Chief Guest, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, shared his vision on inclusive development and disability-friendly outreach. He emphasized the need to hear directly from real stakeholders — those who have transitioned out of begging — to understand the root causes and impact of support systems. He also acknowledged the complexity of the issue, touching upon its social, religious, and economic dimensions.

On the other hand, the keynote address by Ms. Benedicte Leroy De La Briere, Lead Economist, World Bank, brought a global lens to the discussion on beggary rehabilitation. She highlighted the significance of the partnership between the World Bank and the Ministry of Social Justice, noting that such events provide valuable grassroots insights and authentic data from the field. They emphasized the importance of foundational documentation—such as having a registered address, a bank account, and access to healthcare—as essential to identifying and supporting individuals in vulnerable conditions. The representative concluded by stressing the need to focus today’s discussion on targeted interventions and actionable solutions.

Key Highlights of the Seminar:

Shri Ajay Srivastava, Economic Advisor (MoSJ&E), shared that approximately 18,000 individuals have been identified under the SMILE initiative, of which 1,612 have already been rehabilitated. He assured that efforts are underway to accelerate the rehabilitation of the remaining individuals. Ms. Debolina Thakur, Joint Secretary and Economic Advisor (DoSJ&E), also addressed the gathering, highlighting that many social challenges are shared globally. She noted that several international organizations are actively working to address these issues, and India too has many institutions making commendable efforts.

Global Best Practices:

Mr. Alemseged W Yohannes Bedane, Senior Social Protection Consultant, Ethiopia, shared the success story of the Urban Destitute Support Programme, which has led to the rehabilitation of thousands of homeless individuals. From Brazil, Ms. Beatriz Oliani and Ms. Camila Cabral presented São Paulo city’s progressive policies and urban social welfare strategies.

Initiatives from across India:

The seminar featured compelling presentations by nodal officers and grassroots organizations. Notable contributions came from Ms. Anuradha Chagti (Secretary, Social Welfare, Chandigarh Administration), Shri Snehil Kumar Singh (District Collector, Kozhikode). Partner organizations including Atchayam Trust (Tamil Nadu), PRAWES Rehabilitation Centre (Madhya Pradesh), UMMEED (Uttar Pradesh), and Udayam Homes (Kerala), also shared on-the-ground realities, challenges, and success stories in engaging with hard-to-reach populations. Further, Ms. Neena Pandey, Head of the Department of Social Work, and Dr. Tarique, Founder of Koshish Trust, delivered insightful presentations focusing on policy frameworks, ethical aspects, and the importance of community-based rehabilitation models.

The event was held in a hybrid format, ensuring inclusive participation from a broad spectrum of practitioners, policy-makers, international delegates, officials from the World Bank and students of social development across the country. Lively discussions, experience sharing, and actionable insights made this seminar a meaningful step towards building a more inclusive and responsive social protection system in India. Detailed discussions were held on creating structured frameworks to address social issues systematically.

The Department of Social Justice reaffirmed its commitment to continuing such knowledge-sharing platforms in the future, to promote innovation, foster collaborations, and work toward building a just and inclusive society.

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VM

(Release ID: 2124413) Visitor Counter : 95

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 APR 2025 7:38PM by PIB Delhi

The National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) organized a review meeting for the officers of the Indian Statistical Service (ISS) 2023 batch to share insights from their six-month On-the-Job Training conducted at various Sub-Regional and Regional Offices under the Field Operations Division of MoSPI.

The event commenced with a warm welcome extended to Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI; Shri PR Meshram, Director General (Data Governance); Ms. Puja Singh Mondal, Additional Secretary, MoSPI; Shri K.B. Surwade, Additional Director General (Capacity Development Division); Smt. Sunitha Bhaskar, Additional Director General (Field Operations Division); Dr. JS Tomar, Deputy Director General (NSSTA) and other senior dignitaries from the ISS fraternity.

The officers of the ISS 2023 batch had the valuable opportunity to interact with Dr. Saurabh Garg and other senior dignitaries, where they shared their field experiences, key learnings, challenges encountered, and provided constructive suggestions for further improvement.

Simultaneously, the ISS 2025 batch officer trainees, who joined the service on 21st April 2025 at NSSTA, were also present. This event served as their first occasion to engage with senior officers before the commencement of their training journey.

During the interaction, the Secretary, MoSPI acknowledged the rich field insights and thoughtful suggestions shared by the ISS 2023 officers based on their postings across the country. He emphasized the critical role of data and statistics in today’s world, and referenced the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s address on Civil Services Day, underscoring the vital importance of evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation in governance. He notably remarked, “As part of the country’s statistical system, it is essential that we measure what we treasure, and treasure what we measure.”

This event at NSSTA successfully created a collaborative platform for both the 2023 and 2025 ISS batches to interact with one another and engage in meaningful discussions with senior officials from the Ministry and the Field Operations Division, fostering a spirit of learning and mentorship.

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Samrat/Allen

(Release ID: 2124392) Visitor Counter : 135

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 APR 2025 7:18PM by PIB Delhi

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu met Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today.

The Prime Minister’s Office posted on X :
 
“Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri @ncbn, met Prime Minister @narendramodi.”

@AndhraPradeshCM

 

 

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MJPS/VJ

(Release ID: 2124386) Visitor Counter : 33

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 APR 2025 7:06PM by PIB Delhi

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today issued its response to the back-reference received from Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in respect of the TRAI’s recommendations dated 12.04.2024 on “Encouraging Innovative Technologies, Services, Use Cases, and Business Models through Regulatory Sandbox in Digital Communication Sector”.

 Earlier, DoT, through a reference dated 10.03.2023, inter-alia requested TRAI, under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997, to provide recommendations on framework for Regulatory Sandbox for emerging technologies, services and business model in telecom sector.  After a detailed consultation with stakeholders, TRAI provided its recommendations on “Encouraging Innovative Technologies, Services, Use Cases, and Business Models through Regulatory Sandbox in Digital Communication Sector” dated 12.04.2024 to DoT.

Subsequently, DoT, through a back-reference dated 19.03.2025, asked TRAI to reconsider its recommendations dated 12.04.2024 on “Encouraging Innovative Technologies, Services, Use Cases and Business Models through Regulatory Sandbox in Digital Communication Sector”.

After examining the issue, TRAI has finalized its response to the back-reference. TRAI’s response to the back-reference has been placed on the TRAI’s website (www.trai.gov.in).

 For any clarification or information, Shri Abdul Kayum, Advisor (Broadband and Policy Analysis), TRAI may be contacted at Telephone Number +91-11-20907757.

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Samrat/Allen

(Release ID: 2124383) Visitor Counter : 14