Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 15 APR 2025 1:55PM by PIB Delhi

The Governor of Maharashtra, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan met the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in New Delhi today.

The Prime Minister’s Office handle posted on X:

“Governor of Maharashtra, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan met PM @narendramodi.

@CPRGuv”

 

 

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MJPS/SR

(Release ID: 2121798) Visitor Counter : 55

Source: Government of India

IAS OFFICERS OF THE 2023 BATCH CALL ON THE PRESIDENT

THE DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC WELFARE WORK DONE BY YOU AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL WOULD HELP IN ACHIEVING THE NATIONAL GOALS: PRESIDENT MURMU TO IAS OFFICERS

Posted On: 15 APR 2025 1:49PM by PIB Delhi

A group of IAS officers from the 2023 batch, currently serving as Assistant Secretaries in various Union Ministries and Departments, called on the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre today (April 15, 2025). 

Addressing the IAS officers, the President said that they had become IAS officers through extraordinary determination and hard work. This has brought about a transformative change in their personal lives. Now with even more determination and dedication, they have the opportunity to bring about transformative changes in the lives of countless people. Their area of service and authority are so vast that they can make the lives of many fellow citizens better in their first posting itself. She advised them to make special efforts for the upliftment of the underprivileged. She also advised them to visit the places of posting during their career journey after some time and see the far-reaching results of their work.

 The President said that officers should keep in mind the rights and duties of civil servants. The duties of a public servant are their responsibilities and their rights are the means to fulfill those duties. 

The President told officers that their real career story would be created by their work, not by increasing the number of followers on social media. Their real social net worth would be determined by their good work. 

The President said that every public servant should work with honesty of purpose. We all face the challenges of environmental pollution and climate change. Pollution of immorality and erosion in values are also very serious challenges. There should be no need to say anything else about being devoted and honest. The people who move ahead following life values of honesty, truth, and simplicity are happier. Honesty is the most desirable policy in public service. It is expected from the public servant that they would present examples of integrity and sensitivity in every sphere of life. 

The President said that in the digital era, people’s aspirations are rising. They are becoming aware of the accountability of administrators. She advised officers to develop closeness with their fellow citizens and increase their participation in local efforts. She also advised them to resolve public interest issues raised by people’s representatives. She said that the development and public welfare work done by them at the local and state level would help in achieving national goals.

Please click here to see the President’s Speech – 

 

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MJPS/SR

(Release ID: 2121796) Visitor Counter : 92

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 15 APR 2025 12:00PM by PIB Delhi

The annual rate of inflation based on all India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) number is 2.05% (provisional) for the month of March, 2025 (over March, 2024). Positive rate of inflation in March, 2025 is primarily due to increase in prices of manufacture of food products, other manufacturing, food articles, electricity and manufacture of textiles etc. The index numbers and inflation rate for the last three months of all commodities and WPI components are given below:

Note: F: Final, P: Provisional, *Annual rate of WPI inflation calculated over the corresponding month of previous year

The month over month change in WPI for the month of March, 2025 stood at (-) 0.19% as compared to February, 2025. The monthly change in WPI for last six-month is summarized below:

Note: F: Final, P: Provisional, #Monthly rate of change, based on month over month (M-o-M) WPI calculated over the preceding month

 

Month-over-Month Change in Major Groups of WPI:

1. Primary Articles (Weight 22.62%): – The index for this major group decreased by 1.07% to 184.6 (provisional) in March, 2025 from 186.6 (provisional) for the month of February, 2025. Price of crude petroleum & natural gas (-2.42%), non-food articles (-2.40%) and food articles (-0.72%) decreased in March, 2025 as compared to February, 2025. The price of minerals (0.31%) increased in March, 2025 as compared to February, 2025.
2. Fuel & Power (Weight 13.15%): – The index for this major group decreased by 0.91% to 152.4 (provisional) in March, 2025 from 153.8 (provisional) for the month of February, 2025. Price of electricity (-2.31%) and mineral oils (-0.70%) decreased in March, 2025 as compared to February, 2025. The price of coal remained same as in the previous month.
3. Manufactured Products (Weight 64.23%): – The index for this major group increased by 0.42% to 144.4 (Provisional) in March, 2025 from 143.8 (Provisional) for the month of February, 2025. Out of the 22 NIC two-digit groups for manufactured products, 16 groups witnessed an increase in prices, 5 groups witnessed a decrease in prices and 1 group witnessed no change in prices. Some of the important groups that showed month-over-month increase in prices were manufacture of basic metals; food products; other transport equipment; other manufacturing and machinery and equipment etc. Some of the groups that witnessed a decrease in prices were manufacture of textiles; chemicals and chemical products; computer, electronic and optical products; printing and reproduction of recorded media and furniture etc in March, 2025 as compared to February, 2025.

WPI Food Index (Weight 24.38%): The Food Index consisting of ‘food articles’ from primary articles group and ‘food product’ from manufactured products group decreased from 189.0 in February, 2025 to 188.8 in March, 2025. The annual rate of inflation based on WPI Food Index decreased from 5.94% in February, 2025 to 4.66% in March, 2025.

Final Index for the month of January, 2025 (Base Year: 2011-12=100): For the month of January, 2025, the final Wholesale Price Index and inflation rate for ‘All Commodities’ (Base: 2011-12=100) stood at 155.0 and 2.51% respectively. The details of all India Wholesale Price Indices and Rates of Inflation for different commodity groups based on updated figures are at Annex I. The Annual rate of Inflation (Y-o-Y) based on WPI for different commodity groups in the last six months is at Annex II. WPI for different commodity groups in the last six months is at Annex III.

Response Rate: The WPI for March, 2025 has been compiled at a weighted response rate of 82.7 per cent, while the final figure for January, 2025 is based on the weighted response rate of 95.4 per cent. The provisional figures of WPI will undergo revision as per the revision policy of WPI. This press release, item indices, and inflation numbers are available at our home page http://eaindustry.nic.in.

Next date of Press Release: WPI for the month of April, 2025 would be released on 14/05/2025.

Note: DPIIT releases index number of wholesale price in India on monthly basis on 14th of every month (or next working day, if 14^th falls on holiday) with a time lag of two weeks of the reference month, and the index number is compiled with data received from institutional sources and selected manufacturing units across the country. This press release contains WPI (Base Year 2011-12=100) for the month of March, 2025 (Provisional), January, 2025 (Final) and other months/years. Provisional figures of WPI are finalised after 10 weeks (from the month of reference), and frozen thereafter.

Annex-I

All India Wholesale Price Indices and Rates of Inflation (Base Year: 2011-12=100) for March, 2025

Note: * = Provisional. Mf/o = Manufacture of

Annex-II

WPI Inflation (Base Year: 2011-12=100) for last 6 months

Note: * = Provisional. Mf/o = Manufacture of

 

Annex-III

Wholesale Price Indices (Base Year: 2011-12=100) for last 6 months

Note: * = Provisional. Mf/o = Manufacture of

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Abhishek Dayal

(Release ID: 2121751) Visitor Counter : 188

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to attend 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers Meeting at Brasilia, Brazil

Shir Chouhan to hold bilateral meetings with Brazil Minister of Agriculture & Livestock Mr Carlos Henrique Baqueta Fávaro, Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming Mr Luiz Paulo Teixeira,

Theme of 15th BRICS Agricultural Ministerial Meeting is “Promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Agriculture through Cooperation, Innovation, and Equitable Trade among BRICS Countries”

Posted On: 15 APR 2025 10:54AM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is leading the Indian delegation to the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), scheduled to be held on 17th April, 2025 in Brasilia, Brazil. The theme of 15^th BRICS AMM is “Promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Agriculture through Cooperation, Innovation, and Equitable Trade among BRICS Countries”. Agriculture Ministers and senior officials from BRICS member countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran are expected to attend the Meeting.

During the visit, Shri Chouhan will hold bilateral meetings with key Brazilian counterparts, including Mr. Carlos Henrique Baqueta Fávaro, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, and Mr. Luiz Paulo Teixeira, Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming (MDA). These meetings will focus on enhancing collaboration between India and Brazil in various areas of agriculture, agri-technology, rural development, and food security.

The Minister will interact with leaders of major Brazilian agribusiness companies and representatives of the Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries in São Paulo, exploring avenues for partnership and investment in the agriculture value chain. As part of his visit, the Minister will also participate in a tree plantation drive at the Embassy of India in Brasilia, under the noble initiative “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”, aimed at raising environmental consciousness and honouring motherhood. In addition, the Minister will interact with the vibrant Indian diaspora in São Paulo, acknowledging their role as cultural ambassadors and contributors to bilateral ties. This visit reaffirms India’s commitment to deepen cooperation with BRICS nations and to advance South-South cooperation in agricultural innovation, resilience, and sustainability.

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PSF/KSR/AR

(Release ID: 2121725) Visitor Counter : 83

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Digital Policy Office (DPO) today released the Hong Kong Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technical & Application Guideline, covering the scope and limitations of applications, potential risks and governance principles of generative AI technology, including technical risks such as data leakage, model bias and errors that need to be addressed.

The guideline provides practical operational guidance for technology developers, service providers and users in the application of generative AI technology.

The Generative AI Research & Development (R&D) Center was commissioned earlier to study and suggest appropriate codes and guidelines on the accuracy, responsibility and information security in generative AI technologies and practices, based on practical applications and feedback collected from the industry.

The DPO promulgated the guideline, having considered the research findings and recommendations, with the primary objective to balance AI innovation, application and responsibility, thereby constructing a governance framework with local characteristics suitable in the Hong Kong context for all stakeholders in the AI ecosystem.

The DPO will monitor the latest technological and application developments in generative AI, while maintaining close collaboration with the R&D centre, academic institutions and industry groups. The guideline will be updated regularly for reference by all sectors.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

According to the statistics, 473 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with a total amount of US$2,255,756,000 were approved from January to March 2024. This indicates a decrease of 7.44% in the number of cases, but an increase of 100.20% in FDI amount compared to the same period of 2024.

With regard to inward investment from Mainland China, 6 cases were approved with an amount of US$96,469,000 from January to March 2025. This indicates a decrease of 14.29% in the number of cases, but an increase of 818.52% in the FDI amount compared to the same period of 2024. From July 2009 to March 2025, 1,628 cases were approved with a total investment amount added up to US$2,989,637,000.

In terms of Taiwan’s outbound investment (excluding Mainland China), 186 projects were registered from January to March 2025 with a total amount of US$12,232,898,000, indicating an increase of 3.91% in the number of cases, and an increase of 6.88% in the amount, as compared to the same period of 2024.

As for Taiwan’s outward investment to Mainland China, 46 applications have been approved from January to March 2025, indicating a decrease of 40.26% compared to the same period of 2024. The approved investment amount is US$342,548,000, 62.98% less than he same period in 2024.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Hong Kong’s Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (CDTA) with Armenia signed in June 2024 has come into force, and will be applicable to Hong Kong tax for any year of assessment beginning April 1, 2026.

 

Under the agreement, companies and residents of both places will not have to pay tax twice on a single source of income.

 

The agreement will also allow them to have certainty on tax liabilities and save tax when they engage in cross-border business activities, thereby helping to promote bilateral trade and investment.

 

Hong Kong has signed CDTAs with 51 tax jurisdictions so far.