Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Government of India

National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes, and Narcotics (NACIN) and Indian Maritime University (IMU) sign MoU for strategic knowledge partnership

The MoU establishes a collaborative framework for training of CBIC officers in marine enforcement and operational capabilities, leveraging IMU’s academic and technical expertise and NACIN’s enforcement experience

Posted On: 27 MAR 2025 9:11PM by PIB Delhi

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes, and Narcotics (NACIN) and the Indian Maritime University (IMU) in Chennai, today. This collaboration aims to strengthen the Marine Customs Training Centre by enhancing the maritime enforcement and operational capabilities of CBIC officers, while also creating a platform for mutual learning and institutional synergy between NACIN and IMU.

The MoU was signed by Shri Gaigongdin Panmei, Principal Director General for NACIN, and Dr. Rajoo Balaji, Pro Vice-Chancellor for IMU (representing the Vice Chancellor), in the presence of Smt. Aruna Narayan Gupta, Member, Central Board of Indirect Tax and Customs, and, Additional Director Generals, Dr. M.G. Thamizh Valavan and Dr. Ezhilmathi K, along with Shri K. Saravanan, Registrar, IMU, and Dr. P.J. Rangachari, Director, IMU Chennai Campus, among other senior officials from both institutions.

Addressing the esteemed dignitaries and officials present, Smt. Gupta stated that the collaboration marks a significant step towards enhancing the capabilities of CBIC officers engaged in marine preventive work, thereby strengthening collective efforts in safeguarding national security.

This MoU between NACIN and IMU establishes a collaborative framework for the training of CBIC officers involved in marine operations. It outlines the development of a comprehensive training programme aimed at bridging existing knowledge gaps in maritime enforcement and operational practices. The curriculum will be enriched by incorporating both domestic and international perspectives. The collaboration seeks to mutually benefit both institutions—leveraging IMU’s academic and technical expertise and NACIN’s enforcement experience.

For CBIC, the collaboration significantly strengthens its marine enforcement capabilities by providing officers with specialized, hands-on training in advanced maritime technologies, aligned with global best practices. For IMU, this partnership offers a valuable opportunity to extend its academic reach into the domain of maritime enforcement, enhance the practical application of its training modules, and engage in collaborative research on emerging technologies such as drone surveillance and recent advancements in the maritime sector.

Furthermore, the MoU paves the way for the inclusion of personnel from other departments and international participants, underscoring the global relevance and strategic scope of this initiative.

The collaboration with IMU will further elevate NACIN’s capabilities by integrating academic excellence, cutting-edge technology, and global best practices into its training framework. This partnership not only ensures the development of a robust and future-ready maritime enforcement training ecosystem but also reinforces India’s commitment to fostering institutional synergies to safeguard its maritime interests. The Marine Customs Training Centre, empowered by this collaboration, is poised to emerge as a centre of excellence for marine enforcement training in the region and beyond.

ABOUT THE MARINE CUSTOMS TRAINING CENTRE

The National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics (NACIN) is the apex institution of the Government of India for capacity building in the field of indirect taxation. Functioning under the administrative control of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), NACIN plays a pivotal role in training and developing the human resource capabilities of India’s indirect tax administration. The new NACIN campus at Palasamudram, Andhra Pradesh, inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 16th January 2024, stands as a symbol of the government’s commitment to excellence in training. Among its many state-of-the-art facilities, the campus houses the Marine Customs Training Centre, developed as part of NACIN’s mission to enhance the skill sets and operational readiness of Customs officers engaged in marine enforcement.

This cutting-edge centre is equipped with Full Mission Ship Maneuvering Simulators and Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) simulators, offering immersive, hands-on training in ship navigation, collision avoidance, and emergency response. It also provides practical facilities for firefighting drills, seamanship training, and operation of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). Additionally, officers are trained in marine search and rescue operations, firearm proficiency, and life-saving techniques—preparing them for a wide range of real-world maritime scenarios. Designed to simulate realistic operational conditions, the training environment at the centre ensures that officers are well-prepared to tackle challenges such as maritime security threats, smuggling interdiction, and emergency response. The facility is also envisioned as a shared resource for training personnel from other government marine enforcement agencies, fostering inter-agency collaboration and enhancing national maritime enforcement capabilities.

ABOUT IMU

The Indian Maritime University (IMU), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, is a premier institution for maritime education, training, and research. It offers world-class training and education in maritime-related fields and is renowned for its significant contribution to the development of India’s maritime sector. With campuses across the country, IMU provides a broad spectrum of programs and actively collaborates with industry and government bodies to advance maritime capabilities through academic excellence and specialized training.

****

NB/KMN

(Release ID: 2115969) Visitor Counter : 263

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 27 MAR 2025 8:59PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke with HM King Philippe of Belgium today. Shri Modi appreciated the recent Belgian Economic Mission to India led by HRH Princess Astrid. Both leaders discussed deepening the strong bilateral ties, boosting trade & investment, and advancing collaboration in innovation & sustainability.

In a post on X, he said:

“It was a pleasure to speak with HM King Philippe of Belgium. Appreciated the recent Belgian Economic Mission to India led by HRH Princess Astrid. We discussed deepening our strong bilateral ties, boosting trade & investment, and advancing collaboration in innovation & sustainability.

@MonarchieBe”

 

 

***

MJPS/SR

(Release ID: 2115966) Visitor Counter : 318

Source: Government of India

MeitY  secretary inaugurates India’s first Nano Electronics Roadshow in IISC Bengaluru; 7 colleges showcase 0ver 100 intellectual properties (IPs) and more than 50 technologies

MeitY leading India’s semiconductor surge with innovation, 85,000 Skilled workforce amnd $100 Billion market by 2030: Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY

Semiconductor roadshow unveils Next-Gen Chip design, Nanoelectronics breakthroughs and celebrates India’s revolutionary startups

Posted On: 27 MAR 2025 8:55PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in partnership with IISc Bengaluru, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT Guwahati, successfully hosted India’s first Nano Electronics Roadshow on March 27, 2025, at the National Science Seminar Complex, IISc Bengaluru. The Roadshow was inaugurated by Shri S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, along with Shri Abhishek Singh, Addl. Secretary, MeitY

 

 

India’s vision of a self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem

This marked a significant milestone in India’s vision of a self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem. The roadshow showcased over 100 intellectual properties (IPs), more than 50 groundbreaking technologies, and the innovation of over 35 promising startups—all backed by six state-of-the-art nanoelectronics centers across the country.

Taking forward Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s clarion call for Atmanirbhar Bharat, the conference highlighted India’s technological leadership in the electronics and semiconductor domain, driven by cutting-edge research and innovation at Nano Centers established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology within the IISc and IIT ecosystem. The roadshow served as a platform for over 700 industry leaders, policymakers, and academics to explore areas of collaboration around strategies for strengthening India’s nanoelectronics ecosystem.
 

India’s Semiconductor Future

Addressing the gathering, Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY underscored the critical role of MeitY’s Nano Centers in fostering innovation and talent development to build a semiconductor-ready workforce of 85,000 professionals. He emphasized that the event represents a significant initiative by the ministry and the Government of India, symbolizing convergence and fostering industry-academia collaboration, with the government playing a catalytic role in shaping India’s technological and industrial future. “A key focus of the ministry is aligning various efforts to advance the India Semiconductor Mission, one of the world’s most extensive subsidy and grant programs. With nearly 70-75% of investments in major semiconductor facilities coming from taxpayer money, every Indian is a stakeholder in this mission. Infact, 20% of the workforce in semiconductor design is in India. Ensuring its success is a collective responsibility shared by the government, industry, and academia.” He further added, “India’s semiconductor demand, currently at $45-50 billion, is expected to reach $100-110 billion by 2030.”

 

Diving into the vision and significance of the Roadshow, Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY, highlighted the revolution technology has been bringing in all our lives and how the whole world of technology is shrinking. Commenting on the industry-academia collaboration, he added, “Under the India AI mission, through the INUP program and other initiatives, startups, entrepreneurs, and researchers are solving real-world problems, driving India to the forefront of cutting-edge technology. Together, with the pioneering efforts of institutions like IISc, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and others, we are building an ecosystem that ensures India remains a leader in this revolution.”

 

Research meets real-world innovation

The Nano Centers established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology at IISc and IITs are driving India’s edge in the deep-tech race, fostering breakthrough technologies and strategic advancements. At the Nano Electronics Roadshow held at IISc Bengaluru, these academic hubs demonstrated their impact by bridging research with real-world applications, featuring 48 cutting-edge tech demos presented by students from the Nano Centers.

The event not only served as a platform for pivotal industry dialogues but also emerged as a hub for collaboration between the startup ecosystem and academia. This synergy aimed to accelerate the journey of cutting-edge technologies from labs to consumers’ reach. It also facilitated the signing of 4 MoUs between the academia and the industry, driving partnerships and technological advancements- IISc with KAS Technologies and Antigone Solutions Private Limited, Center for Nano Science and Engineering with India Electronics & Semiconductor Association (IESA), and Madnani Chemdist Novatech LLP with Primary Healthtech Private Limited.

The roadshow represents a significant step forward in India’s semiconductor journey, showcasing the latest breakthroughs in chip design, fabrication, and nanoelectronics.  Alongside, it also recognized and rewarded the innovative startups, celebrated for their exceptional contributions and transformative work in the sector. With this, we witnessed many startups coming forward and demonstrating technology that can revolutionize the Indian tech ecosystem. This event holds great significance in the semiconductor domain, as it paves the way for the development of more indigenous technologies aimed at addressing critical societal challenges.

Bringing together government officials, industry leaders, researchers, and startups, the event served as a catalyst to shape India’s next big leap in technology and innovation.

Utpal Shah, SVP, Tata Electronics; Anand Ramamoorthy, Micron; Govindan Rangarajan, Director, IISc; and Juzer Vasi, IIT Bombay. Other prominent dignitaries included Dr. V. Narayanan, Chair, ISRO; Rangesh Raghavan, India Head, Lam Research; V. Ramagopal Rao, VC, BITS Pilani; Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO, Anusandhan National Research Foundation, also present at the event

 

****

Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith

(Release ID: 2115965) Visitor Counter : 295

Source: Government of India

PM meets high-powered delegation from Keizai Doyukai to discuss about deepening economic cooperation between India and Japan

PM highlights the Japan Plus system developed in India, to facilitate and fast-track Japanese investments in India

India’s governance is policy-driven, and the government is committed to ensuring a transparent and predictable environment : PM

India’s youth, skilled workforce, and low-cost labor make it an attractive destination for manufacturing: PM

Given India’s vast diversity, the country will play a major role in the AI landscape: PM

The delegation expressed support and commitment to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047

Posted On: 27 MAR 2025 8:17PM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received a high-powered delegation from Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives) led by Mr. Takeshi Niinami, Chairperson of Keizai Doyukai, and 20 other Business delegates to hear their views and ideas to deepen economic cooperation between India and Japan at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, earlier today.

The discussion covered strengthening bilateral trade, enhancing investment opportunities, and fostering collaboration in key sectors such as Agriculture, Marine Products, Space, Defence, Insurance, Technology, Infrastructure, Civil aviation, Clean energy, Nuclear Energy and MSME partnership.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and reaffirmed India’s determination to provide a business-friendly environment. He highlighted the Japan Plus system developed in India, to facilitate and fast-track Japanese investments in India. He further emphasized that there should be no ambiguity or hesitation for investors. India’s governance is policy-driven, and the government is committed to ensuring a transparent and predictable environment.

Prime Minister spoke about the immense scale of growth of aviation sector in the country. He also mentioned that India is also working towards building significant infrastructure, including the construction of new airports and the expansion of logistics capabilities.

Prime Minister said that given India’s vast diversity, the country will play a major role in the AI landscape. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with those involved in AI, encouraging them to partner with India.

Prime Minister also highlighted that India is making significant strides in the field of green energy, having launched a mission focused on biofuels. He said that the agricultural sector, in particular, stands to benefit from biofuels as an important value addition.

Prime Minister talked about opening up of  insurance sector and about ever widening opportunities in cutting edge sectors in space and nuclear energy.

The Keizai Doyukai delegation, comprising senior business leaders from Japan, shared their plans for India. They also expressed interest in exploiting complementarities between India and Japan in human resource and skill development. Both sides expressed optimism about future collaborations and looked forward to deepening business and investment ties in the years ahead.

Niinami Takeshi, Representative Director, President & CEO, Suntory Holdings Ltd appreciated the thriving relations between India and Japan under PM Modi. He said he sees huge opportunity for Japan to invest in India. He emphasized on the vision of PM Modi of Make in India, Make for the World.

Tanakaa Shigehiro, Corporate Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Government Affairs Officer, NEC Corporation remarked that PM Modi explained very clearly his vision and expectations for Japanese industry to invest in India.

The meeting underscored Japanese business’ support and commitment to the vision for Viksit Bharat @2047 in a meaningful and mutually beneficial manner.

 

***

MJPS/VJ

(Release ID: 2115945) Visitor Counter : 663

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 27 MAR 2025 8:02PM by PIB Delhi

The RoSCTL Committee, Department of Revenue has extended the last date for the submission of data for review of Rebate of States and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) on Export of Garments and Made-Ups rate from 31.03.2025 to 15.04.2025.

RoSCTL Committee, chaired by Shri G.K. Pillai, Secretary (retd.), Government of India has been constituted for updating the recommended ceiling rates schedules under Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (i.e., RoSCTL) Scheme. The Committee is entrusted with the responsibility to interact with the administrative Ministries, Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards, Trade Bodies and other stakeholders so as to elicit relevant data, to work out the modalities for calculation of duties/ taxes/ levies at the Central, State and Local level, borne on the exported product covered under the RoSCTL Scheme and collectively review the set of previously recommended ceiling rates schedules covering exports of goods under the RoSCTL Scheme.

The committee is scheduled to submit its report in May 2025. The Committee requested Export Promotion Councils (EPCs)/Trade & Industry Associations for submitting the data in prescribed format by 31.03.2025. On the request of EPCs and Exporters, the timeline for submission of data has been extended upto 15^th April, 2025. Extension of the date for the submission of data for review of rate under scheme will provide a chance to exporter/industry members for submitting the data.

Industry representatives, Exporters and EPCs may submit the relevant data before the Committee. 

***

Dhanya Sanal K

(Release ID: 2115924) Visitor Counter : 219

Source: Government of India

90th Meeting of Network Planning Group under PM GatiShakti evaluates key Infrastructure projects

NPG evaluates Road, Railway and Metro Projects

Posted On: 27 MAR 2025 7:55PM by PIB Delhi

The 90th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) convened today to evaluate infrastructure projects in the Road, Railway, and Metro sectors. The meeting focused on enhancing multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency in alignment with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS NMP).

The NPG evaluated five projects (two Road, two Railway, and one Metro) for their conformity to the PM GatiShakti principles of integrated multimodal infrastructure, last-mile connectivity to economic and social nodes, and intermodal coordination. These initiatives are expected to boost logistics efficiency, reduce travel times, and deliver significant socio-economic benefits across regions. The evaluation and anticipated impacts of these projects are detailed below:

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)

Upgradation to 2/4-lane with paved shoulder configuration of NH-165 from Aakiveedu to Digamarru

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) proposes the upgradation of NH-165 from Aakiveedu to Digamarru in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district. The project aims to enhance interconnectivity by upgrading the existing road to a 2/4-lane paved shoulder configuration, improving connectivity between NH-216 and NH-65.

The enhanced highway is expected to alleviate congestion on existing roads by providing an alternative corridor for commercial traffic, reducing urban congestion, and improving road safety.

Upgradation of NH-754K single lane/2-lane to 2-lane with paved shoulder from Lakhpat to Santalpur

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) is undertaking the upgradation of NH-754K from a single/2-lane road to a 2-lane configuration with paved shoulders in Gujarat’s Kachchh and Patan districts. The project includes both brownfield improvements and greenfield bypass/realignment sections to optimize connectivity. The improved corridor will play a crucial role in enhancing regional connectivity by linking NH-341 and facilitating better access to Bhuj Railway Station and New Bhuj Airport.

Ministry of Railways (MoR)

Construction of new BG railway lines between Jajpur–Keonjhar Road to Dhamara Port

The Ministry of Railways, through the East Coast Railway, proposes the construction of a 101.26 km-long Broad Gauge (BG) railway line from Jajpur-Keonjhar Road to Dhamara Port via Aradi under the Khurda Division. This greenfield project aims to enhance freight movement and passenger connectivity in Odisha’s Jajpur and Bhadrak districts. The railway line will provide a direct link between industrial clusters, coal fields, and Dhamara Port.

Furkating–New Tinsukia doubling in connection with Lumding–Tinsukia–Dibrugarh doubling project

The Ministry of Railways proposes the doubling of the Furkating–New Tinsukia railway section, covering 193.89 km in Assam as part of the larger Lumding–Tinsukia–Dibrugarh Doubling Project. This brownfield project aims to enhance railway capacity, improve freight and passenger movement, and support economic development in Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, and Tinsukia districts.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)

Metro Rail Corridor from Noida Sector 142 to Botanical Garden (Noida)

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) proposes the extension of the Noida Metro Rail Corridor from Sector 142 to Botanical Garden, covering 11.56 km. This brownfield project aims to enhance urban mobility in Noida and Greater Noida, reducing congestion on roads and improving public transport accessibility. The corridor will serve as a crucial link between Noida Metro Rail Corporation’s (NMRC) Aqua Line and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) Blue Line at Botanical Garden, offering seamless integration for commuters.

These infrastructure projects, aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, will significantly enhance connectivity, improve logistics, and contribute to regional and national economic growth. The meeting was chaired by Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Shri Pankaj Kumar.

***

Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

(Release ID: 2115919) Visitor Counter : 317

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 27 MAR 2025 7:45PM by PIB Delhi

Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has stressed upon the Five Pillars of Transformation encompassing technology absorption, structural changes, human resource development and increasing cohesion between the three services. Delivering the valedictory address of the Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC-20) at the College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad, Gen Dwivedi gave a holistic roadmap of the Indian Army to become a future ready combat force.

The COAS highlighted the Army’s commitment to becoming a technologically advanced, adaptive and self-reliant force capable of addressing complex future challenges. He stressed upon the need to move from process driven approach to outcome driven approach to transition from measure of performance to measure of effectiveness. The COAS underscored the alignment of the Army’s transformative goals and deliberated upon the three phases of Era of Transition, Era of Consolidation and Era of Control.

Gen Dwivedi emphasised that Armed forces must be mobile, agile and technoligically competent; capable for contributing in all spheres of national security towards achieving vision viksit bharat by 2047 through Atmanirbharta, and remain a key pillar of national power and a preferred security partner in the region.

The event marked the successful completion of the flagship Higher Defence Management Course by 167 officers from the Indian Armed Forces, including 14 officers from friendly foreign nations. HDMC is a premier program designed to equip senior military officers with strategic foresight, management expertise, and decision-making acumen crucial for higher defence management and policymaking roles.

The COAS addressed the Future Strategic Leaders on multitude of significant issues from transformation of the armed forces to role and responsibilities towards nation building. He exhorted the graduating officers to be imaginative and develop the attitude and adaptability to channelise their ability and imbibe the principles of Truth, Trust and Transparency to deal with future challenges. As a mark of recognition, the COAS felicitated meritorious officers for their outstanding performance, acknowledging their exemplary contributions and academic excellence.

The valedictory ceremony was graced by senior military officials, faculty members and distinguished guests, underscoring the significance of the occasion. The graduating officers are now poised to take on critical command and staff roles and carry forward the invaluable knowledge and strategic insights gained at CDM, reinforcing their commitment to national security and higher defence management.

*****

SR/Anand

(Release ID: 2115917) Visitor Counter : 323

Source: Government of India

UIDAI & IIIT-H launch biometric challenge to test age invariance in fingerprint algorithms

UIDAI’s benchmarking challenge aims to improve fingerprint authentication for children

Biometric challenge offers ₹7.7 lakh prize and tech collaboration opportunities

Posted On: 27 MAR 2025 7:21PM by PIB Delhi

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), in collaboration with IIIT-Hyderabad has launched a large-scale competition to test age invariance in biometric algorithms.

The first phase of the Biometric SDK Benchmarking challenge focuses on fingerprint authentication, testing 1:1 matching algorithms for children aged 5-10 years, with updates after 5-10 years.  UIDAI ensures that participant submissions are evaluated securely, with anonymized datasets and no sharing of data with participants.

Global Participation Encouraged:

Researchers and developers globally are invited to enhance their biometric models using UIDAI’s unique, field-collected dataset for improving accuracy in real-world conditions.

The challenge runs from March 25, 2025, to May 25, 2025, with registration details available on the UIDAI website and https://biochallenge.uidai.gov.in/

The challenge offers prizes worth ₹ 7.7 lakhs (USD 9,000) and the opportunity to collaborate with UIDAI in advancing biometric technologies.

Following the fingerprint challenge, UIDAI will also launch SDK benchmarking competitions for iris and face authentication.

Aadhaar is serving as a key pillar of good governance and digital inclusion in India and Aadhaar number holders are carrying out nearly 90 million authentication transactions daily for availing various services and benefits.

****

Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith

(Release ID: 2115896) Visitor Counter : 652

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 27 MAR 2025 6:59PM by PIB Delhi

Towards the development of India’s reusable launch vehicle technology, ISRO is developing a winged body Orbital Re-entry Vehicle (ORV), which will be launched into orbit using an ascent vehicle and subsequently re-enter into the earth’s atmosphere for an autonomous approach & landing on a runway. Three Autonomous runway landing experiments on a Reusable Launch Vehicle- Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) have been successfully completed thereby validating the robustness of onboard autonomous navigation, guidance and control system.

ISRO is also designing and developing the critical technologies required for demonstrating booster stage recovery in Vertical Take-off and Vertical Landing (VTVL) mode, which will enable in recovery and reusing of the spent booster stages multiple times.

 

Government of India (GoI) has approved the development of a partially reusable Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV). NGLV vehicle has been configured as a three-stage launch vehicle with a recoverable & reusable first stage.

 

The Government of India has announced reforms, in June, 2020, in the space sector towards enabling the private players to provide end to end services and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation centre (IN-SPACe), will enable and regulate space activities for private sector. Further, the Department is finalizing the missions towards achieving the Indian landing on moon by 2040. It is envisaged that sufficient opportunities would be present for private sector and academic participation in various activities including lunar mining exploration.

AI is increasingly becoming an important tool that can be used in satellites and mission operations. It may be noted that thrust is given to AI based initiatives within the department. A recent example is the Autonomous sensor-based actuator system for capture, rigidization and retraction enabling sequence-based docking. For this purpose, approach profiles and relative position estimation using pattern matching is adopted. Further applications are in advanced stages of implementation in the Centre towards achieving Autonomous Mission Management, high volume on-board/Ground data processing & analysis and advanced space exploration.

The foundational principles for the responsible uses of outer space are enshrined in the Outer Space treaties. Several guidelines for space debris mitigation have been recommended by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IDAC) and the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS). The Department of Space contributes substantially to shaping the pertinent guidelines and recommendations for sustainable use of space as an active member of various international agencies dealing with safety and sustainability of outer space activities. The Indian Space Policy also mandates adhering to internationally accepted space debris mitigation requirements and emphasizes Space Situational Awareness capacity building.

This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

 

***

NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2115885) Visitor Counter : 429

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Legendary pianist Mikhail Pletnev will perform in Hong Kong on June 17 in the opening concert of the Leisure & Cultural Services Department’s “Great Music 2025” series.

The “Great Music” series returns this year with star-studded performances running from June to November.

Universally recognised as one of the finest pianists of our time, Mr Pletnev will present a solo recital, delighting fans with a curated selection of piano sonatas by Beethoven, and shorter compositions from Grieg’s Lyric Pieces Book.

On July 9, the 12 cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker will make their Hong Kong debut with a diverse repertoire ranging from the classical canon to tango, jazz and spiritual music, as well as French chansons and film scores.

Tickets for both shows, which will be held at the Cultural Centre, will be available at URBTIX from April 3.

Call 3166 1288 for telephone bookings, and 2268 7321 for enquiries.

Details of “Great Music 2025” concerts from September to November will be announced at a later date.