Month: April 2025

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 7:02PM by PIB Delhi

The claims that the Government is considering levying Goods and Services Tax (GST) on UPI transactions over ₹2,000 are completely false, misleading, and without any basis. Currently, there is no such proposal before the Government.

GST is levied on charges, such as the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), relating to payments made using certain instruments.

Effective January 2020, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has removed the MDR on Person-to-Merchant (P2M) UPI transactions through the Gazette Notification dated 30^th December 2019.

Since currently no MDR is charged on UPI transactions, there is consequently no GST applicable to these transactions.

The Government remains committed to promoting digital payments via UPI.

To support and sustain the growth of UPI, an Incentive Scheme has been operational from FY 2021-22. This scheme specifically targets low-value UPI (P2M) transactions, benefiting small merchants by alleviating transaction costs and promoting wider participation and innovation in digital payments.

The total incentive payouts under this scheme over the years reflect the Government’s sustained commitment to promoting UPI-based digital payments. Allocation under the scheme over the years has been:

            •           FY2021-22: ₹1,389 crore

            •           FY2022-23: ₹2,210 crore

            •           FY2023-24: ₹3,631 crore

 

These measures have significantly contributed to India’s robust digital payments ecosystem.

According to the ACI Worldwide Report 2024, India accounted for 49% of global real-time transactions in 2023, reaffirming its position as a global leader in digital payments innovation.

UPI transaction values have seen an exponential increase, growing from ₹21.3 lakh crore in FY 2019-20 to ₹260.56 lakh crore by March 2025. Specifically, P2M transactions have reached ₹59.3 lakh crore, reflecting growing merchant adoption and consumer confidence in digital payment methods.

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NB/KMN

(Release ID: 2122747) Visitor Counter : 262

Source: Government of India

Awareness Programmes on Bleeding Disorders organized across the Country on World Haemophilia Day

Theme – ‘Access for All: Women and Girls Bleed Too’

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 6:59PM by PIB Delhi

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, organised various awareness programmes on the World Haemophilia Day, through its National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres (CRCs) across the country.

The day is observed annually on April 17 as a global healthcare initiative to create awareness on bleeding disorders. It aims to promote better control and prevention of haemophilia, through collaboration with local policymakers, as well as to ensure improved treatment and care for those affected.

The theme for World Haemophilia Day 2025 was, ‘Access for All: Women and Girls Bleed Too’. It highlights the need for better diagnosis and treatment for women and girls with bleeding disorders and aims to ensure equal access to care for the female population.

On 17th April 2025, the Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR), Cuttack, organized a special programme to raise awareness among healthcare professionals, students, and the general public on this crucial health issue. Experts discussed haemophilia-related information, prevention, and diagnosis.

 

 

The National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (NILD), Kolkata, organized an awareness programme and webinar. The institute’s Rehabilitation Nursing Department conducted a health talk on the symptoms and prevention of haemophilia. Professionals in the field highlighted the importance of this day. Approximately 130 Divyangjan/patients and their caregivers participated in the event.

 

 

The National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR), located in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, celebrated the day with a series of impactful educational, cultural, and community-based events aimed at increasing awareness about the disorder.

 

The Composite Regional Centre (CRC), Nellore, conducted awareness sessions for nursing college students about bleeding disorders and also organized a blood donation camp in collaboration with the Indian Red Cross Society. Around 150 participants, including CRC staff, D.Ed trainees, and parents of Divyangjan, took part in the event.

 

 

CRC Tripura conducted an awareness programme where institute officials and experts shared detailed information about haemophilia. CRC Rajnandgaon organized a blood donation camp, while the regional center of NIEPID, Navi Mumbai, hosted a webinar on the topic ‘Haemophilia: Care and Rehabilitation’.

 

 

CRC Davangere, CRC Jaipur, and several other National Institutes and CRCs under the DEPwD also conducted a series of awareness programmes to mark the occasion.

 

 

 

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VM

(Release ID: 2122744) Visitor Counter : 16

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 6:16PM by PIB Delhi

ANRF Supports 18 Hub Institutions and 106 Partnering Spokes Under PAIR Program Strengthening India’s Research Ecosystem Through Strategic Mentorship and Collaboration

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has announced the selection of PAIR Networks—comprising 18 Hub institutions and 106 partnering Spokes—under its flagship initiative, the Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) Program.

The network connects universities and colleges with leading research institutions through structured mentorship and collaboration. The PAIR program aims to strengthen India’s higher education and research ecosystem by nurturing innovation, building research capacity and promoting excellence across regions.

The academic community responded enthusiastically to the call, with 30 proposals received from top academic institutions for Hub selection and 166 institutions as potential Spokes. After rigorous evaluation, 18 institutions have been selected as Hubs to lead collaborative research and capacity-building efforts in partnership with 106 Spokes across the country.

The selected institutions have been categorized into two strategic modes to foster deeper research engagement and inclusive growth:

• Category A: 7 Hub institutions with 45 Spokes
• Category B: 11 Hub institutions with 61 Spokes

Rooted in the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the PAIR Program is a pivotal step in ANRF’s mission to unlock the untapped research potential of India’s academic landscape. By fostering strategic partnerships and mentorship, the initiative is set to transform institutions into centres of innovation, leadership and global relevance.

The complete list of selected institutions is given in Annexure-I (Attached).

Click here to see the list:-

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NKR/ PSM

(Release ID: 2122728) Visitor Counter : 27

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 6:05PM by PIB Delhi

INS Sunayna, currently on deployment to Africa as Indian Ocean Ship IOS SAGAR arrived at Nacala Port, Mozambique on 17 Apr 25. The ship had earlier participated in the inaugural session of the India-Africa maritime partnership exercise AIKEYME 25, at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

IOS SAGAR is a unique mission based on the Government of India’s regional initiative of maritime collaboration titled SAGAR, which stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region. The mission is aimed at fostering international cooperation between India and several African countries.

The ship was flagged off on her mission from Karwar on 05 Apr 25 by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri. She had embarked 44 naval personnel from nine friendly foreign nations, including Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa, on her departure from India.

On her arrival at Nacala, the ship was welcomed by Commander Nelson H. Mabjaia, Chief of Commission, with the Mozambique Naval Band in attendance.

A range of collaborative activities and outreach programs are planned to be held during the port stay, aimed at promoting capacity building, operational synergy, and community engagements with the Mozambique Navy. These include joint training on Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills as well as firefighting and damage control procedures. The ship will also host a deck reception on board for local officials and dignitaries in a celebration of maritime friendship.

Community interactions by the ship’s crew will feature a yoga session to promote wellness and health, ship visits for Indian diaspora and local school children, an interschool quiz competition focused on maritime awareness and regional history as well as a guided tour for military cadets of the Nampula Military Academy, to offer firsthand insights into naval operations.

On completion of her port visit, the ship will embark personnel of Mozambique Navy as Sea Riders for a joint surveillance mission in the Mozambique Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), reaffirming the shared commitment to maritime security and countering non-traditional threats.

The port call marks a significant milestone enhancing maritime cooperation and interoperability between the Indian and Mozambique Navies. It also underscores India’s enduring commitment to strengthening maritime partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region, enhancing mutual trust, and fostering collective regional security in consonance with the vision of the SAGAR initiative.

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VM/SKS                                                                                                        90/25

(Release ID: 2122722) Visitor Counter : 78

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 6:03PM by PIB Delhi

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, along with BIRAC conducted the 12^th Webinar in its Biofoundry and Biomanufacturing Initiative series on 17^th April, 2025. The session focused on “Cell and Gene Therapy”, a critical domain under the Precision Biotherapeutics thematic area of BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) Policy for fostering high-performance biomanufacturing. Approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024, the BioE3 Policy aims to position India as a global leader in bio-based innovations. The rapidly evolving field of “Cell and Gene Therapy” with transformative potential for treatment of a range of complex and previously untreatable diseases is a priority segment under the Precision Biotherapeutics vertical of the BioE3 Policy. The Webinar provided a platform for academia, industry leaders, start-ups, and researchers to discuss advancements, as well as, opportunities in Cell and Gene Therapy.

Dr. Alka Sharma, Senior Adviser/Sc ‘H’, DBT, highlighted the BioE3 Policy’s vision to foster high-performance biomanufacturing by supporting sustainable green growth. She summarized that BioE3 Policy has been approved by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for fostering high-performance biomanufacturing. She said today’s Webinar will deliberate upon current landscape, emerging opportunities, challenges, and the strategic interventions which are essential for strengthening this sector in the country.

Dr. Kamakshi Chaithri, Scientist ‘D’, DBT, provided an overview of the thematic sector. She highlighted the need for prioritizing this sector at a critical time, emphasizing the importance of these therapies in offering a potential curative outcome for several life threatening diseases including cancers and rare diseases. She touched upon how the sector is positioned globally and nationally, and stressed on the need for a focused and holistic approach for addressing the challenges in the cell and gene therapy product development chain. She further highlighted the steps taken by DBT under the BioE3 Policy, to foster innovation and facilitate a conducive ecosystem for development of indigenous cell and gene therapies.

 Dr. Debojyoti Chakraborty, Principal Scientist at CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi discussed the gene editing technologies under development for various diseases such as sickle cell disease, ocular diseases etc. He highlighted the need to address the manufacturing and regulatory hurdles in the pathway from discovery to commercialization of these therapies and the issues to be considered in bringing about development of affordable and accessible therapies. 

Dr. Anil Kamat, Head, Clinical Development, Immuneel Therapeutics, touched upon the local and global landscape of cell and gene therapies and elaborated on the commercial approval of the BIRAC supported CAR-T Cell therapy by Immuneel Therapeutics. He discussed various challenges in scale up and manufacturing of cell & gene therapies. He further suggested way forward for improved access, availability and affordability of these therapies.

The session concluded with a vibrant Q&A segment moderated by DBT and BIRAC officials. Participants actively engaged with the experts, discussing challenges and opportunities in biomanufacturing for cell and gene therapy and addressing the regulatory requirements.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2122720) Visitor Counter : 68

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 5:10PM by PIB Delhi

The Government has introduced key policy measures aimed at strengthening the allocation framework for domestic natural gas, in alignment with its vision of promoting cleaner energy access, enhancing urban air quality, and bolstering domestic energy security.

With a focus on ensuring the sustained availability and affordability of natural gas for key public-facing segments—Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) used in transport and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) used in domestic households for cooking—the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has introduced the following important enhancements to the Domestic Gas Allocation Policy:

1. Advance Quarterly Allocation:

• From Q1 FY 2025-26, domestic natural gas allocations for CNG (T) and PNG (D) segments will be done on a two-quarter advance basis.
• Allocation will also now include New Well Gas (NWG) from nomination fields of ONGC and OIL.
• Estimations by GAIL and ONGC will help ensure supply visibility to CGD entities in advance, enhancing planning and delivery efficiency.

2. NWG Allocation on Pro-Rata Basis:

• Auction-based allocation for NWG has been replaced with a quarterly pro-rata allocation to ensure timely and reliable supply.
• GAIL will allocate NWG to CGD entities in proportion to their requirements, in accordance with prevailing MoPNG guidelines.

3. Allocation Ratios maintained:

• Despite increasing demand in the CGD sector, allocation ratios of domestic gas have broadly been maintained:
  • Q3 2024–25: 54.68% of projected demand allocated
  • Q1 2025–26: 55.68% allocation
  • Q2 2025–26 (Projected): 54.74% allocation
• Broad trajectory in domestic gas allocation reflects the Government’s commitment to prioritize public-facing segments like transport and domestic cooking.

4. Pricing Linked to Indian Crude Basket:

• As both APM gas and New Well Gas prices are linked to Indian Crude Basket prices, calculated monthly, with the recent decline in crude prices, this allocation of domestic gas would make natural gas more affordable for CNG (T) and PNG (D) consumers.

These strategic measures by the Government will lead to enhanced ability of CGD entities to forecast demand and manage supply efficiently, improved supply predictability and better affordability for CGD companies due to crude-linked pricing. These measures will ensure a stable, affordable, and transparent domestic gas supply system for the critical transport and domestic segments under the CGD network, benefitting millions of urban and semi-urban consumers across India.

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MONIKA

(Release ID: 2122694) Visitor Counter : 64

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today expressed its strong opposition to and grave dissatisfaction towards US authorities’ imposition of port fees on vessels owned, operated, or built by Chinese companies, and other associated measures. 

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government outlined that under the unique institutional strengths of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong – as a globally renowned international maritime centre – has long provided an open, level, efficient, and well-regulated business environment for shipping enterprises around the world to operate in.

It iterated that the US measures are blatantly discriminatory, deliberately divide the international maritime community, and undermine the spirit of solidarity and co-operation built over many years, adding that such actions fall short of the basic standards of international conduct.

Describing the actions by the US as bullying, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that Hong Kong will continue to uphold the spirit of openness and co-operation, work with global maritime partners to safeguard free trade principles and promote the healthy development of the international shipping industry.

Only by adhering to the principles of fairness, justice, mutual benefits and win-win co-operation can the common interests of the global maritime community be truly protected, it added.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Customs & Excise Department today held an open day at the Customs College to promote national security education, with more than 1,000 students taking part.

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing attended the event and officiated at an eye-dotting ceremony for a dragon and lion dance performance.

Besides an exhibition on the department’s work to safeguard national security, the open day featured performances by its detection dog team, and a dragon and lion dance team. There was also a display of firearms and weapons, while game booths and an inflatable jumping castle were set up for children to enjoy.

Games, including virtual reality simulations of customs operations, showcased the department’s gatekeeping role in an interactive manner. 

Meanwhile, a recruitment booth featuring fitness tests – including an isometric strength test and a standing long jump test – gave attendees an understanding of the department’s fitness requirements.

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 4:32PM by PIB Delhi

The Create in India Challenge (CIC) Season 1, launched as a flagship initiative under the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), is gearing up for a spectacular finale at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai, from 1st to 4th May 2025. With registrations now officially closed for all 32 challenges, CIC has achieved a significant milestone, receiving nearly 1 lakh registrations, including over 1,100 international participants. The challenges have attracted entries from over 60 countries, reflecting the global appeal and reach of this pioneering initiative. From this exceptional pool of talent, 750 finalists will be given the opportunity to showcase their creative skills and outcomes at Creatosphere, a specially curated platform featuring innovation across animation, comics, AI, XR, gaming, music, and more, as part of WAVES 2025. The winners of these challenges will be conferred the prestigious ‘WAVES Creator Awards’ in a grand red carpet ceremony on Day 2 of the event.

The Creatosphere at WAVES will witness remarkable global participation, with 43 international finalists showcasing their talents, adding a truly international dimension to this celebration of creativity. These finalists represent over 20 countries, including Argentina, Nepal, Germany, Bermuda (BOT), the United States, Greece, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Laos, Thailand, Tajikistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Russia, Maldives, Malaysia, and Japan. Notably, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Tajikistan each contributes 6 finalists, followed by 5 each from Indonesia and Maldives, and 4 from Mauritius. The United States is represented by 2 finalists, while Russia, Canada, Argentina, Laos, Malaysia, Bermuda, Egypt, Thailand, and the United Kingdom each have 1 finalist. This diverse international presence underscores the global appeal and growing reach of the Create in India Challenge.

In India, the challenges saw enthusiastic participation from across all 28 states and 8 Union Territories, underscoring the truly national footprint of the initiative. The list of finalists across the challenges reflects remarkable regional representation, with participants hailing from across the country from Assam and Meghalaya in the East to Gujarat in the West and from Himachal Pradesh in the North to Kerala in the South.

Celebrating the energy of youth, the Create in India Challenges are overwhelmingly driven by young creators predominantly in their 20s, reflecting a vibrant ecosystem of college students, early-career professionals, and teen innovators. With the youngest finalist just 12 years old and the oldest at 66, the initiative showcases a truly inclusive creative platform that transcends age.

The Create in India initiative champions grassroots innovation while celebrating diversity in purpose and participation. From making education accessible through the Innovate 2 Educate Challenge to reviving India’s textile legacy with “Make the World Wear Khadi,” the challenges span tradition and technology. “India: A Bird’s Eye View” captures the nation’s spirit through breathtaking aerial visuals by filmmakers and Drone Didis, using drone technology for storytelling and community empowerment.

As excitement for WAVES 2025 reaches its crescendo, the Create in India Challenge has emerged as a powerful expression of India’s creative ambition, unlocking new opportunities for talent and reaffirming the nation’s rising leadership in the global media and entertainment landscape. With its vibrant mix of Indian and international participation, the Create in India Challenge has grown into a dynamic global platform, empowering voices across regions and generations, and truly embodying the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision that “WAVES should reach every home and every heart.”

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PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith | 98

(Release ID: 2122688) Visitor Counter : 91