Month: May 2025

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 1:50PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 4 May 2025

 

Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L Murugan released five significant Reports that collectively present a comprehensive overview of India’s dynamic and rapidly evolving media and entertainment ecosystem, at the ongoing WAVE Summit in Mumbai, yesterday.

Prepared by reputed national and international Agencies, these Reports provide valuable insights into the creator economy, content production, legal frameworks, live events industry, and data-backed policy support.

Statistical Handbook on Media & Entertainment 2024-25

The Statistical Handbook prepared by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting serves as an essential resource for data-driven policy and decision-making. It captures sectoral trends, audience behaviour, revenue growth patterns, and regional and national trajectories. The handbook is designed to inform and guide future policymaking and industry strategies, ensuring that they remain grounded in empirical evidence and practical realities. Highlights of the Handbook include:

• Publications registered with PRGI: increased from 5,932 in 1957 to 154,523 in 2024–25, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.99%.
• Books brought out by Publications Division: 130 books published in 2024–25 on themes such as children’s literature, history, freedom struggle, science, environment, and biographies.
• Doordarshan Free Dish: Expanded from 33 channels in 2004 to 381 in 2025.
• DTH Service: Achieved 100% geographical coverage by March 2025.
• All India Radio (AIR):
• • Now reaches 98% of India’s population (as of March 2025).
  • Number of AIR stations grew from 198 in 2000 to 591 in 2025.
• Private Satellite TV Channels: Increased from 130 in 2004–05 to 908 in 2024–25.
• Private FM stations rose from 4 in 2001 to 388 by 2024; the report provides a state-wise breakup as of March 31, 2025.
• Community Radio Stations (CRS): Expanded from 15 in 2005 to 531 in 2025, with state/district/location-wise details included.
• Film Certification: The number of Indian feature films certified grew from 741 in 1983 to 3,455 in 2024–25, with a cumulative total of 69,113 films certified by 2024–25.
• Film Sector Developments: Includes data on awards, international film festivals, and documentaries produced by NFDC.
• Digital Media and Creator Economy: Covers achievements under WAVES OTT, establishment of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), and the Create in India Challenge (CIC).
• Landmark Chronology: Features significant milestones in the Information and Broadcasting sector including the establishment of PRGI, Akashvani, Doordarshan, INSAT-based TV services, and private FM radio.
• Skilling Initiatives: Information on training and capacity-building programmes under the Ministry.
• Ease of Doing Business: Measures implemented to facilitate simplified and transparent processes for media and content creators.

‘From Content to Commerce: Mapping India’s Creator Economy’ – Report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

The Report  highlights the unprecedented scale and impact of India’s creator economy in the digital era. With 2 to 2.5 million active digital creators, India is home to one of the world’s fastest-growing creator ecosystems. These creators already influence more than $350 billion in annual consumer spending—a figure projected to triple and exceed $1 trillion by 2030.

The report urges stakeholders to look beyond numerical metrics and acknowledge the evolving role of creators as storytellers, culture-shapers, and economic drivers. For businesses, this shift implies moving away from transactional influencer engagements and building long-term partnerships rooted in authenticity, trust, and creative agility.

‘A Studio Called India’ by Ernst & Young – Envisions India as a Global Content Hub

The Report presents India not just as a content-consuming nation but as a studio to the world. It underlines India’s strengths — linguistic diversity, cultural richness, and a technologically adept talent pool — which position the country to create narratives that transcend borders.

India offers a 40% to 60% cost advantage in animation and VFX services, supported by a large, skilled workforce. The report also notes the increasing international appeal of Indian storytelling, with up to 25% of views on Indian OTT content now originating from overseas audiences. This phenomenon is not merely commercial—it represents a moment of cultural diplomacy, wherein India’s stories are forging emotional and cultural connections across continents.

‘Legal Currents: A Regulatory Handbook on India’s Media & Entertainment Sector 2025’ by Khaitan & Co

Recognizing that creativity must be complemented by regulatory clarity, Khaitan & Co. has prepared a detailed legal and regulatory handbook for the media and entertainment sector. Designed as a practical guide for producers, studios, influencers, and platforms, the handbook covers a range of key legal issues such as:

• Compliance norms for both domestic and foreign entities
• Incentive schemes for international productions
• Legal frameworks around influencer marketing and digital content
• Definitions and taxation implications in the gaming sector, including GST
• Protection of celebrity rights
• Ethical considerations and regulatory treatment of AI-generated content

This handbook is intended to equip stakeholders with tools for confident, compliant, and responsible engagement in the creative economy.

Whitepaper on India’s Live Events Industry

The White Paper on India’s Live Events Industry underscores the sector’s robust growth and shifting consumer dynamics. With a 15% year-on-year growth rate, the industry added ₹13 billion in revenue in 2024 alone.

The report notes that nearly half a million fans are now travelling between cities to attend events, reinforcing the emergence of event-based tourism in India. There is a rising demand for premium and curated experiences, and Tier-2 cities such as Shillong, Vadodara, and Jamshedpur are emerging as cultural centres.

To support and scale this momentum, the whitepaper highlights the need for:

• Upgraded event infrastructure
• Streamlined and simplified licensing processes
• Stronger and more transparent music rights frameworks
• Formal recognition of the live events sector under MSME and creative economy policies.

The Report calls for a strategic reimagining of India as not just a spectator in the global cultural arena, but a key stage in the international spotlight.

The launch event was attended by Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Shri R.K. Jena, Senior Economic Advisor, MIB; Smt. Meenu Batra, Joint Secretary, MIB; and Shri Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary, MIB and MD, NFDC. Representing the Knowledge Partners, Shri Vipin Gupta, Managing Director & Partner, Boston Consulting Group, Ms. Payal Mehta, Partner, Boston Consulting Group; Shri Ashish Pherwani, Partner, Ernst & Young; Shri Amiya Swarup, Partner, Ernst & Young; Ms.Tanu Banerjee, Partner, Technology and Media, Khaitan & Co; Shri Ishan Johri Partner Khaitan & Co; Shri Vinod Janardhan, Director, EVENTSFAQ Live; Shri Deepak Chaudhury MD, EVENTS FAQ also attended the event in Mumbai

Union Minister of State, Dr.L.Murugan (@Murugan_MoS) and Sanjay Jaju (@sjaju1), Secretary @MIB_India launch Reports at #Waves2025 on:-

▪️ Statistical Handbook on Media & Entertainment Sector 2024-25

▪️ From Content to Commerce: Mapping India’s Creator Economy

▪️A Studio Called… pic.twitter.com/iI4vKeyj5X

— PIB India (@PIB_India) May 3, 2025

 

For official updates on realtime, please follow us: 

On X : 

https://x.com/WAVESummitIndia

https://x.com/MIB_India

https://x.com/PIB_India

https://x.com/PIBmumbai

On Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/wavesummitindia

https://www.instagram.com/mib_india

https://www.instagram.com/pibindia

* * *

PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/ Lekshmipriya /Darshana | 173

(Release ID: 2126724) Visitor Counter : 80

Source: Government of India

Safeguard your credibility, define your boundaries, communicate honestly – WAVES Panel Advises the Influencers in Social Media

WAVES 2025 Outlines Best Practices for Social Media Advertising for Influencers

Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 1:39PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 4 May 2025

 

A dedicated breakout session on Best Practices for Social Media Advertising for Influencers was held on Day 4 of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai today.

The panel comprised Ms. Saheli Sinha, Director, ASCII; Ms. Shibani Akhtar, Film Actor and Influencer; Shri Mayank Shekhar, Entertainment Journalist; and Shri Vinay Pillai, Chief Business Officer, Pocket Aces. The session was moderated by Smt. Tanu Banerjee, Partner, Khaitan & Co.

Deliberations focused on the growing role of influencers in the digital economy, and the ethical, creative, and legal frameworks required to strengthen the credibility of influencer advertising. The panel emphasised that authenticity, transparency, and content responsibility are key pillars for sustainable influencer marketing.

Ms. Shibani Akhtar highlighted the importance of staying true to one’s voice while creating branded content. She stated that effective influencer marketing requires creators to be involved in the content and branding process and to ensure that campaigns reflect personal belief and purpose. She urged influencers to build their brand organically and maintain authenticity as the foundation of all partnerships.

Advising creators to adopt platform-specific strategies and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach, Shri Vinay Pillai explained that each digital platform offers a different kind of audience engagement and demands tailored storytelling techniques. He stressed the importance of building a brand consciously, staying credible, and making data-informed content decisions that resonate with target audiences.

Shri Mayank Shekhar spoke on the evolution of digital influence and the blurring lines between celebrity and creator culture. He pointed out that in the current era, influence is not restricted to film and television but is now platform-led and niche-driven. He cautioned creators to safeguard their credibility and refrain from spreading misinformation or duplicating others’ work. He underscored the importance of integrity and fact-checking in sponsored content.

Ms. Saheli Sinha stated that influencers must be transparent about their partnerships and disclose whether a post is paid or promotional. She advocated for influencers to develop content that is ethical, informative, and reflective of their audience’s trust. She also shared that ASCII runs educational programmes to guide emerging creators on legal obligations, advertising standards, and content responsibility.

The panel collectively recommended that content creators should define their boundaries, communicate honestly with their followers, and stay aligned with advertising guidelines and platform regulations. Building a long-term relationship with audiences, they said, relies heavily on trust and clarity in advertising intent.

The session concluded with a strong endorsement of formalised best practices for influencer advertising and a call for continued industry efforts to promote transparency and professionalism in the digital advertising ecosystem.

 

For official updates on realtime, please follow us: 

On X : 

https://x.com/WAVESummitIndia

https://x.com/MIB_India

https://x.com/PIB_India

https://x.com/PIBmumbai

On Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/wavesummitindia

https://www.instagram.com/mib_india

https://www.instagram.com/pibindia

 

* * *

PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/ Lekshmipriya/ Navin/ Darshana | 172

(Release ID: 2126715) Visitor Counter : 76

Source: Government of India

Content Piracy is no longer a localised issue but a global economic threat – Global Experts discuss measures to curb piracy, at WAVES 2025

Stakeholders Call for Centralized Anti-Piracy Task Force and Advanced Technology

Posted On: 03 MAY 2025 10:40PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 3 May 2025

 

At the ongoing WAVES 2025 conclave, a critical session titled “International Rights Holders’ Perspectives on Content Protection Strategies and Synergies” brought together global stakeholders to address the escalating threat of digital piracy and explore collaborative approaches to content protection.

Mr. Rajkumar Akella, noted filmmaker and anti-piracy advocate from the Telugu film industry, opened the discussion by emphasizing the vulnerability of regional cinema to piracy due to its expanding popularity. He highlighted the proactive efforts by the Telugu film industry, including the establishment of a dedicated Anti-Piracy Cell and Digital Piracy Team.

Ms. Dawn Barriteau and Ms. Jihi Lee, international rights experts, underscored that piracy has evolved into a sophisticated, cross-border cybercrime. They noted the alarming shift from physical piracy to digital forms—facilitated by torrent sites, direct downloads, and social media platforms like Telegram. Ms. Lee added that in today’s ecosystem, piracy is no longer a localised issue but a global economic threat.

Highlighting emerging digital trends, speakers pointed out that while Korean content (K-dramas and K-pop) is widely consumed in India, their monetization models are driven by legitimate viewer engagement and brand collaborations, not piracy metrics. Conversely, Indian cinema is enjoying growing popularity in countries like Japan, opening both opportunities and risks on the international piracy front.

The session also examined how piracy funds broader criminal activities, including financial fraud and cybercrime. The discussion focused on addressing piracy through a comprehensive, global strategy. Key recommendations included the formation of a centralized anti-piracy task force with international representation to coordinate efforts across borders. There was also a call for increased investment in advanced digital monitoring and enforcement technologies to more effectively detect and prevent piracy. The speakers unanimously agreed that piracy is not just an economic loss but also poses a long-term threat to innovation, investment, and global cultural exchange.

 

For official updates on realtime, please follow us: 

On X : 

https://x.com/WAVESummitIndia

https://x.com/MIB_India

https://x.com/PIB_India

https://x.com/PIBmumbai

On Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/wavesummitindia

https://www.instagram.com/mib_india

https://www.instagram.com/pibindia

 

* * *

PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/ Lekshmipriya/ Edgar/ Darshana | 171

(Release ID: 2126700) Visitor Counter : 42

Source: Government of India

OTT’s Next Leap: AI, Interactivity, and Personalization Shape the Future of Streaming

WAVES 2025 panel discusses how technology is redefining content journeys across India’s digital entertainment space

Posted On: 03 MAY 2025 10:30PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 3 May 2025

 

In a conversation charged with vision and verve, the panel discussion “OTT Revolution: How AI, Personalization & Interactive Content Are Changing the Streaming Landscape” at WAVES 2025 brought together some of the most influential minds in the streaming industry. Moderated by Rohit Jain, President of Lionsgate Play Asia, the discussion explored how India’s deep storytelling legacy is undergoing a powerful transformation, as artificial intelligence and interactivity reshape how stories are told, delivered, and experienced.

Opening the session, Rohit Jain paid homage to India’s storytelling heritage and spoke of the fascinating shift underway and how technology is transforming not just what we watch but how we connect through stories.

Gaurav Gandhi, Vice-President for Asia-Pacific & MENA spoke of personalization as a layered process. “We begin by understanding what viewers want—their moods, their taste patterns. And in a multilingual country like ours, it’s also about enabling linguistic exploration,” he said.

Monika Shergill described today’s content landscape as a first in human history—a convergence of creativity and machine learning. “You may come for crime thrillers, but you also see what’s trending. The goal is to serve the viewer while building a shared cultural pulse,” she said.

For Bharath Ram, viewer behavior leaves a trail. “Most people, like Sherlock Holmes’ suspects, leave clues when they visit a platform. We follow those clues to recommend content -regional, niche, popular, everything that keeps them engaged,” he noted.

The discussion then turned to storytelling itself. Gaurav Banerjee, MD & CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India, invoked the enduring strength of a good story. “When something resonates with the moment, audiences will find it. The belief in blockbusters is about identifying stories and storytellers that meet the cultural moment head-on,” he noted, referencing homegrown cinematic successes that defied larger industry downturns.

Reflecting on the dramatic evolution from linear formats to creator-led ecosystems, Neeraj Roy highlighted the aggregation brought by digital platforms. “From music videos to massive creator universes, platforms like YouTube transformed everything. Now, with generative technologies, we stand at the edge of something even bigger,” he said.

The conversation then turned to interactivity. Gaurav Gandhi explained that Prime Video uses interactive features that enhance, rather than disrupt, the story. “You give just enough, never too much, to feed the fan journey,” he shared.

Monika Shergill elaborated on how Netflix has embraced interactivity, especially through its foray into gaming. “Immersion is the new engagement. And personalization helps every great story travel further,” she said.

Rohit Jain also raised the question of how great stories are discovered. Gaurav Banerjee responded that storytellers often find their voice organically. “The world is shifting. Take Bhuvan Bam, he found his moment, his voice. We just need to recognize those moments and play to them,” he said.

Monika Shergill closed by pointing to the untapped potential of India’s creative landscape. “We haven’t explored India enough. The human capital here is extraordinary.  Purpose-driven AI, paired with rich storytelling, can create value that lasts,” she said.

The panel closed on a note of optimism, about technology, but more importantly about imagination, immersion, and India’s boundless creative spirit.

 

For official updates on realtime, please follow us: 

On X : 

https://x.com/WAVESummitIndia

https://x.com/MIB_India

https://x.com/PIB_India

https://x.com/PIBmumbai

On Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/wavesummitindia

https://www.instagram.com/mib_india

https://www.instagram.com/pibindia

 

* * *

PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/ Lekshmipriya/ Nikhitha/ Darshana | 170

(Release ID: 2126694) Visitor Counter : 43

Source: Government of India

APEDA mulls Export Growth Strategy for Agri and Processed Foods, calls stakeholders for a Chintan Shivir

Govt committed to reducing logistical barriers and enhancing market access for Indian agri and processed food products: Shri Sunil Barthwal, Secretary Department of Commerce

Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 1:20PM by PIB Delhi

Government is committed to reducing logistical barriers and enhancing market access for Indian agri and processed food products. This was stated by Shri Sunil Barthwal, Secretary Department of Commerce, in his address at a high-level Chintan Shivir organized by Agricultural & Processed Food Products Authority(APEDA) in New Delhi.

Shri Barthwal pointed out that “Academia and Research institutions must be a part of multisectoral consultations so that Research and Development can be a major focus for innovation and sustainability in agri exports.” He emphasised that, agricultural production and productivity both are the need of the hour. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to further deliberate on the ideas and strategies discussed during the sessions.

The consultative dialogue brought together senior officials from the Union Government, Central Ministries, representatives from State Governments, policy experts, industry leaders from Agri trade and Processed Foods sector to deliberate on strategies for enhancing the export of Agricultural And Processed Food Products from India.

The inaugural session of the Chintan Shivir was co- chaired by Shri Sunil Barthwal, Secretary of Department of Commerce, and Shri Subrata Gupta, Secretary of Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI). The session was also graced by the Special Secretary, Department of Commerce Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Smt. Varsha Joshi, and other senior officers of the Union and State governments, policymakers and industry leaders.

In his opening remarks, Secretary of Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Shri Subrata Gupta highlighted the importance of infrastructure development and value addition to ensure sustainable export growth. He emphasised that there is a need to develop infrastructure, Sanitary and Phytosanitary standards at par with international norms, tariff plans and more synergy between Union Government, State Government, various departments and Industry stakeholders. He identified key potential products and sectors for processed foods exports like Alcoholic Beverages, Nutraceuticals and Value-Added Products.

The Special Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Shri Rajesh Agrawal, emphasized the critical role of synergistic efforts among Union government, State Government, industry stakeholders and farming communities in realizing India’s agri-export potential. He emphasised on the need to have a more synergetic approach amongst various stakeholders to take new agriculture, processed food and Value Added Products to new geographies.

This Chintan Shivir is a first, one of its kind collaborative dialogue facilitated by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and APEDA with over 70 stakeholders from the Union Government, State Governments, Industry Leaders and Line Ministries at Vanijya Bhawan. 14 States from across the country namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal participated in the inaugural session. Industry Leaders of Agri and Processed Food sectors were represented by LT Foods, KRBL, Amul, Organic India, ITC, Meatzza, Suguna Foods, Kaybee, TPCI, Organic India, Allanasons, Fair exports, HMA exports, amongst others participated in the dialogue.  

The Shivir was divided into five parallel technical breakout sessions focusing on specific Agri-Trade Commodities and Processed Food sector, as under:

• Basmati and Non-Basmati Rice: engaged states such as Punjab, Haryana and Telangana as well as industry giants like LT Foods and KRBL. The discussion addressed export barriers, financial and policy support and branding strategies for Indian rice.
• Animal Products: brought together key exporters and state representatives to identify value chain improvements and international compliance strategies.
• Horticulture with participation from states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as well as companies such as Kaybee, explored ways to enhance quality, improve logistics, and strengthen industry-academia linkages.
• Processed Foods: involved stakeholders like Britannia and Haldiram’s focusing on value addition, regulatory streamlining and branding of Indian products globally.
• Organic Products: discussed opportunities in expanding India’s footprint in global organic markets with contributions from Organic India, AMUL, ITC, and regulatory bodies like FSSAI.

****

Abhishek Dayal/Abhijit Narayanan

(Release ID: 2126702) Visitor Counter : 95

Source: Government of India

India Set to Lead Global Land Reform Talks during 5th to 8th May, 2025 at World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC

SVAMITVA and Gram Manchitra to be showcased at the World Bank Land Conference themed ‘Securing Land Tenure and Access for Climate Action’

Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 12:35PM by PIB Delhi

A high level Indian delegation is set to present its transformative SVAMITVA Scheme and Gram Manchitra platform at the World Bank Land Conference 2025, taking place from 5th to 8th May at the World Bank Headquarters,  Washington, D.C. in the United States of America. Led by Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), and comprising of Joint Secretary, MoPR Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Additional Surveyor General, Survey of India Shri Shailesh Kumar Sinha, along with senior officials from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, the delegation will present its flagship SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme at two key sessions during the upcoming international forum on land governance.

This year’s World Bank Land Conference, themed “Securing Land Tenure and Access for Climate Action: Moving from Awareness to Action”, will bring together global leaders, policymakers, experts and development partners to explore strategies for securing land tenure, modernizing land administration for sustainable development and climate-responsive governance. Under India’s flagship SVAMITVA Scheme that provides legal ownership of rural properties using drones and geospatial technology, property cards to over 24.4 million households across 1.6 lakh villages have been issued, mapping over 100 million property parcels and unlocking an estimated $1.162 trillion (Approx. 100 crores) in land value. India will play a key role at the World Bank Land Conference 2025, wherein SVAMITVA Scheme will be spotlighted as a transformative model of rural empowerment through drone mapping, high-accuracy geospatial data, and platforms like Gram Manchitra for climate-aligned planning. With applications in tax administration, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness, SVAMITVA exemplifies inclusive, tech-driven governance. India’s leadership in digital land reforms and its commitment to South-South collaboration will be central to the global dialogue on scalable and people-centric land solutions. The conference agenda includes high-level plenary sessions, regional workshops, thematic exchanges, and an innovation expo, all focused on accelerating secure land access, modernizing land administration systems, and driving climate-responsive governance. Sessions will highlight best practices, operational strategies, and cutting-edge research to scale up reforms in land tenure, promote the use of geospatial technologies, and build resilience in the face of climate challenges.

Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, will represent India as a Country Champion in the Plenary Session on “Good Practices and Challenges in Land Tenure and Governance Reform” wherein SVAMITVA Scheme’s impact on rural property rights, women’s empowerment, and dispute resolution, contributing to global discussions on SDG Target 1.4.2 (Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land, (a) with legally recognized documentation, and (b) who perceive their rights to land as secure, by sex and type of tenure) will be discussed. Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, will lead a Technical Session on “Establishing the Land Foundation for Climate Action and Disaster Risk Management” wherein India’s Gram Manchitra platform, which utilizes SVAMITVA’s high-resolution spatial data to support village-level planning, solar energy site selection, disaster mitigation and rural development will be showcased.

India’s participation in the 2025 World Bank Land Conference marks a significant milestone in global rural land governance. Earlier, in March 2025, India hosted a six-day International Workshop on Land Governance with delegates from 22 countries, where SVAMITVA drew strong interest for its digital mapping and geospatial approach, with several nations expressing intent to collaborate.

For more information, click below for speech excerpts of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on SVAMITVA Scheme:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2094008

***

Aditi Agrawal

(Release ID: 2126696) Visitor Counter : 152

Source: Government of India

ECI to soon launch a single-point App for stakeholders; to subsume over existing 40 IT Apps with enhanced UI/UX

New ECINET to facilitate electoral services for citizens; seamless and convenient data handling for electoral officials

Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 11:30AM by PIB Delhi

In a major initiative, the Election Commission of India is developing a new user-friendly digital interface for the electors and its other stakeholders such as the election officials, political parties and the civil society. The new one-stop platform, ECINET, will integrate and reorient over 40 of ECI’s existing mobile and web applications.

ECINET will have an aesthetic User Interface (UI) and a simplified User Experience (UX) by providing a singular platform for all electoral-related activities. This move is also designed to alleviate the burden of the users for downloading and navigating multiple Apps and remembering different logins.

The platform was envisaged by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Shri Gyanesh Kumar during the Conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) held in March 2025, in the presence of Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.

ECINET will also enable users to access relevant electoral data on their desktops or smartphones. To ensure that data is as accurate as possible, the data on ECINET will be entered solely by the authorized ECI official. Entry by the concerned official would ensure that the data made available to the stakeholders is as accurate as possible. However, in case of any conflict, the primary data as duly filled in statutory forms will prevail.

ECINET will subsume existing Apps like the Voter Helpline App, Voter Turnout App, cVIGIL, Suvidha 2.0, ESMS, Saksham and KYC App which together have clocked over 5.5 crore downloads (complete list of Apps enclosed). ECINET is expected to benefit nearly 100 crore electors and the entire electoral machinery comprising over 10.5 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs), around 15 Lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by Political Parties, nearly 45 Lakh Polling Officials, 15,597 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), 4,123 EROs and 767 District Election Officers (DEOs) across the country.

ECINET has already reached an advanced stage of development and rigorous trials are being conducted to ensure smooth functionality, ease of use, and robust cybersecurity measures. It is being developed after an elaborate consultative exercise involving 36 CEOs of all the States/UTs, 767 DEOs and 4,123 EROs of their States/UTs and after reviewing 76 publications comprising 9,000 pages of the electoral framework, instructions and handbooks issued by ECI from time to time.

The data provided through ECINET will be strictly aligned within the legal framework established by the Representation of People Act 1950, 1951, Registration of Electoral Rules, 1960 Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 and instructions issued by ECI from time to time.

******

PK/GDH/RP

List of 40 existing ECI Applications

Sl. No. Application Type   Affidavit Portal Web   India A Web Web   Results Website Web   Election24 (Archive) Web   ECI SVEEP Web   ECI Website Web   Fembosa Web   Voicenet Web   Myth Vs Reality Web   Election Trends TV Web   cVigil Portal Web   EMS Web   RTI Portal Web   ENCORE Web   Media Voucher Web   Suvidha Portal Web   Observer Portal Web   Election Planning Web   IEMS Web   PPRTMS Web

Sl. No. Application Type   ERONET2.0 Web   Voters Service Portal Web   Service Voters Portal Web   ETPBMS Web   NGSP Web   Electoral Search Web   ERONET App Mobile   BLO App Mobile   cVigil App Mobile   Decider App Mobile   ENCORE Nodal App Mobile App   ESMS App Mobile   Investigator App Mobile   KYC App Mobile   Monitor App Mobile   Observer App Mobile   Saksham App Mobile   Suvidha App Mobile   Voter Helpline App Mobile   Voter Turnout App Mobile

***

(Release ID: 2126682) Visitor Counter : 50

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 9:51AM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Mr. Lawrence Wong on his victory in the elections. He emphasized the strong and multifaceted partnership, underpinned by close people-to-people ties between India and Singapore.

In a post on X, he wrote:

“Heartiest congratulations @LawrenceWongST on your resounding victory in the general elections. India and Singapore share a strong and multifaceted partnership, underpinned by close people-to-people ties. I look forward to continue working closely with you to further advance our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

Heartiest congratulations @LawrenceWongST on your resounding victory in the general elections. India and Singapore share a strong and multifaceted partnership, underpinned by close people-to-people ties. I look forward to continue working closely with you to further advance our…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 4, 2025

***

MJPS/SR/SKS

 

(Release ID: 2126661) Visitor Counter : 97

Source: Government of India

Pune Railway Station to Undergo Major Transformation; World-class facilities including four new platforms are planned

Inauguration of Hadapsar-Jodhpur Express; major relief for Rajasthani citizens in Pune

Moves underway for Pune-Nagpur Vande Bharat, new Pune-Nashik routes – Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Posted On: 03 MAY 2025 9:16PM by PIB Mumbai

Pune, 3 May 2025

 

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today said, that considering the historic and industrial significance of Pune city, the government has decided to completely transform Pune railway station. He added that under this major initiative world class facilities will be provided on the railway station including four new platforms.

He was speaking  after inaugurating two new express trains – Hadapsar–Jodhpur Express and MGR Chennai Central–Bhagat Ki Kothi Express – by flagging them off from Hadapsar near Pune in Maharashtra. Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, Minister for Higher and Technical Education and Parliamentary Affairs Chandrakant Patil, and Members of Parliament Shrirang Barne and Medha Kulkarni were present on the occasion. Union Ministers of State L. Murugan (from Chennai) and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (from Jodhpur) joined the event virtually.

   

Vaishnaw said that  development plan for six railway stations – Pune, Hadapsar, Khadki, Shivajinagar, Uruli Kanchan, and Alandi – is in the final stage. He also stated that discussions have been held with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the introduction of a Pune–Nagpur Vande Bharat train. He added that trial runs are underway on new alignments for the Pune–Nashik railway corridor, which holds strategic importance due to the presence of a world-class testing laboratory at Khodad. Additionally, work on the third and fourth railway lines on the Pune–Lonavala route will be completed shortly.

   

Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol expressed confidence  that the Hadapsar–Jodhpur Express will greatly benefit the Rajasthani community residing in Pune. Railway development projects worth ₹1 crore are underway in the state. Under the Amrit Bharat Scheme, development works are progressing at Pune, Hadapsar, Uruli, and Shivajinagar stations. 

MP Medha Kulkarni demanded the launch of a new train between Pune and Nashik, especially in view of the upcoming Kumbh Mela.

Schedule for Hadapsar–Jodhpur Express:

The train will run regularly from May 5, 2025.

• Departure from Hadapsar: 7:15 PM | Arrival at Jodhpur: 3:00 PM the next day
• Departure from Jodhpur: 10:00 PM | Arrival at Hadapsar: 5:00 PM the next day

Halts: Chinchwad, Lonavala, Kalyan, Vasai Road, Vapi, Surat, Vadodara Junction, Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Pindwara, Jawai Bandh, Falna, Rani, Marwar Junction, Pali Marwar, and Luni.

 

* * *

PIB Pune | A.Chavan/S.Patil/D.Rane

(Release ID: 2126625) Visitor Counter : 66