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April 17, 2025

Conference on Simplification of Procedures and Best Practices for E-commerce concludes (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Conference on Simplification of Procedures and Best Practices for E-commerce concludes
This marks the first time for Hong Kong Customs to organise a large-scale A/P regional conference focusing on e-commerce, bringing together more than 200 representatives from the WCO, A/P Customs administrations, ASEAN members, and international and local industries. This Conference was also supported by the Economic and Technical Co-operation Work Programme under the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement.

The event commenced with a ceremony officiated by the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat; and the Head of Trade Facilitation Division of ASEAN Secretariat, Mr Cuong Ba Tran.

Speaking at the commencement ceremony, Dr Chan highlighted that e-commerce is rapidly expanding across the globe, and Hong Kong is at the forefront to connect with global markets, in particular with ASEAN and other close partners in the A/P region. Noting that it is imperative for policymakers to closely collaborate with stakeholders to create a conducive environment for the healthy growth of e-commerce, he said that the Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into a cross-boundary e-commerce logistics and distribution centre, focusing on enhancing the efficiency of cross-boundary goods distribution and improving infrastructure connectivity, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s competitiveness to position Hong Kong as a leading hub for e-commerce.Issued at HKT 18:52

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April 17, 2025

MOSPI continues its endeavor to reduce timelines in release of its statistical products; Index of Industrial Production will now be released on 28th of every month reducing its release timeline from 42 days to 28 days.

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 APR 2025 4:30PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is making continuous efforts to bring significant improvement in dissemination of its statistical products in sync with international best practices and timelines. MOSPI releases consumer price indices within 12 days after the end of the reference month, which is among the best globally. Similarly, survey reports of NSS are now released within 90 days of completion of fieldwork. The Calendar of release of National Accounts Statistics has been rationalized by obviating the need for the 3^rd Revised Estimates of GDP. On the same lines, MOSPI now plans to release the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) within 28 days instead of 42 days.

“From April 2025 onwards, All India Index of Industrial Production (IIP) will be released on 28^th of every month at 4:00 PM within 28 days from the reference month. For a particular month IIP will be released as Quick Estimates followed by a Final Estimate.”

The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is a crucial short-term indicator of industrial growth in the country. The compilation and release of IIP in India commenced with base year 1937, which was successively revised to 1946, 1951, 1956, 1960, 1970, 1980-81, 1993-94, 2004-05 and 2011-12. MoSPI presently releases the monthly all India Index of Industrial Production (IIP) on the 12^th of every month (previous working day if 12th is a holiday) within 42 days from the reference month.

Currently, the Quick Estimates of a month undergo revision in subsequent releases as per the revision policy of IIP. Along with the Quick Estimates of IIP for the specific month, the indices of the previous month undergo the first revision and those for the third previous month undergo the second or final revision in the light of the updated data received from the source agencies.

The United Nations’ International Recommendations for Index of Industrial production (IRIIP)-2010 provide that the monthly IIP be released within forty-five days after the end of the reference month. Similarly, the Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS) of the IMF requires that the index for any reference month should be released within six weeks from the end of that month. In accordance with these international standards in data dissemination, MOSPI has been releasing IIP indices within 42 days after the end of the reference month.

In recent times, considering the advancement in data collection and processing technologies, there is a growing demand from stakeholders for reducing the timeline of release of IIP. Recognizing this need, MoSPI constituted a committee, in June, 2024, to examine the feasibility of reducing the timeline of release of IIP, its revision schedule, while maintaining the response rates and without compromising the quality. The committee included representatives from all the data source agencies, including the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Indian Bureau of Mines, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals and others. The Committee reviewed the entire system of data collection and processing of IIP data to arrive at its recommendations.

After due consultations with the source agencies and in keeping with stakeholders’ aspirations, it has been decided to reduce the timeline of release of IIP from 42 days to 28 days from reference month and also to do-away with second revision of IIP. Accordingly, MoSPI will henceforth release the monthly “All India Index of Industrial Production (IIP)”on 28^th of every month at 4:00 PM (next working day if 28^th is a holiday). The Quick estimate for a specific month will undergo revision only once, in the next month as the final estimate, as per the revised revision policy. Thus, MOSPI will now release only two estimates (Quick estimate and Final estimate) of a particular month instead of the earlier practice of releasing three estimates (Quick estimates followed by a 1^st Revised estimate and a 2^nd Revised (final) estimate).

In view of the above, it is informed that MoSPI will release the next IIP estimates on 28 April 2025, at 4:00 PM on the website of Press Information Bureau and Ministry’s official website (https://www.mospi.gov.in). This release will include – Quick estimates for March 2025, and the Final estimates for December 2024, January 2025 and February 2025.

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Samrat

(Release ID: 2122427) Visitor Counter : 45

April 17, 2025

India’s Journey of Heritage Preservation

Source: Government of India

India’s Journey of Heritage Preservation

World Heritage Day 2025

Posted On: 17 APR 2025 4:23PM by PIB Delhi

“Heritage is not only history. Rather a shared consciousness of humanity. Whenever we look at historical sites, it lifts our mind from the current geo-political factors.”

~ Prime Minster Narendra Modi

World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18th April to honor and protect cultural and natural heritage.
This year theme is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions.”
The World Heritage Convention is an international agreement created by UNESCO in 1972.
World Heritage Convention was adopted by countries around the world to protect important cultural and natural sites.
As of October 2024, there are 1,223 World Heritage Sites across 196 countries (952 cultural, 231 natural, 40 mixed).
India has 43 World Heritage Sites, with Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Ajanta, and Ellora Caves among the first listed in 1983.

Introduction

Our heritage is not just built of stones, scripts or ruins. It lives in every whisper of a temple wall, every carving on ancient forts and every folk song passed down through generations. It tells stories of who we were, what we stood for and how we endured. World Heritage Day is a heartfelt reminder that these timeless treasures are not only to be admired, but protected. This year’s theme: “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions” reminds us that preserving our past is key to protecting our future.

The Story Behind World Heritage Day

World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18th April. It is also called the International Day for Monuments and Sites. The day is meant to honor and protect human heritage. It also appreciates the people and groups who work to preserve it. The day was started in 1982 by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites). Later, in 1983, UNESCO officially adopted it. Every year, ICOMOS gives a special theme for the day. Based on this theme, people and groups hold events and activities around the world to celebrate and protect heritage.

Understanding the World Heritage Convention

UNESCO, which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, works to protect and preserve important cultural and natural heritage around the world. To help with this, UNESCO’s member countries adopted the World Heritage Convention in 1972. This agreement explains what countries need to do to find and take care of special sites that can be added to the World Heritage List. India became part of this Convention in November 1977. Today, the World Heritage List includes 1,223 sites that are considered valuable to all of humanity. These include 952 cultural sites, 231 natural sites, and 40 sites that have both cultural and natural importance. As of October 2024, 196 countries have joined the World Heritage Convention.

World Heritage Sites: Protecting Future

World Heritage Sites are special places on Earth that have great value for all of humanity. These can be cultural, natural, or a mix of both. They are protected under an international agreement led by UNESCO. UNESCO gives the World Heritage title to places that are culturally, historically or scientifically important.

Over the years, India has steadily expanded its presence on the World Heritage List. In July 2024, a proud addition was made with the inscription of “Moidams: The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty” from Assam as a cultural property. With this, India now has 43 sites on the World Heritage List and 62 more on UNESCO’s Tentative List. The country’s journey began in 1983 with the listing of Agra Fort, followed by the Taj Mahal, Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves. These sites are preserved not only as symbols of history but also as learning spaces for generations to come.

Government’s Initiatives to Promote India’s Rich Cultural Heritage

India has taken several meaningful steps to protect, restore, and promote its vast cultural and natural heritage. These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s timeless traditions and historical treasures.

Retrieval of Antiquities: Archaeological Survey of India is committed to the protection of cultural property. Government has retrieved 655 antiquities from foreign countries from the year 1976 to 2024, of which 642 antiquities have been retrieved since 2014.

Adopt a Heritage’ Scheme: The “Adopt A Heritage” programme was launched in 2017 and revamped as “Adopt A Heritage 2.0” in 2023. It allows private and public groups to help develop facilities at protected monuments using their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. So far, 21 MoUs have been signed between the Archaeological Survey of India and various partner organisations across different states under this programme.

46th Session of the World Heritage Committee: Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture, successfully hosted the 46^th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Delhi from 21^st to 31^st July 2024. The meeting was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, and attended by nearly 2900 international and national delegates from more than 140 countries. Delegates gathered to discuss and collaborate on preserving cultural, natural and mixed heritage marking a significant step in India’s global role in heritage protection.

Building Monuments of National Importance: India has 3,697 ancient monuments and archaeological sites declared of national importance. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for their conservation and maintenance. It also ensures basic amenities at these sites, such as pathways, signages, benches, facilities for differently-abled visitors, sound and light shows, and souvenir shops.

Revival and Redevelopment of Heritage Sites: India has revived key heritage sites through conservation and development projects. The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, Mahakaal Lok in Ujjain, and Ma Kamakhya Corridor in Guwahati enhance pilgrim experiences and boost tourism. The Chardham Road Project improves connectivity to sacred sites. Additionally, projects in Somnath and the Kartarpur Corridor promote cultural heritage and easier access for devotees.

Must See Portal: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has created a portal to showcase “Must-See Monuments and Archaeological Sites of India.” It highlights nearly a hundred prominent sites, including World Heritage properties and UNESCO Tentative List sites. The portal provides essential information such as history, access details, facilities and panoramic views. It aims to promote these sites for global visitors. Visit: asimustsee.nic.in

Digitization of Cultural Heritage in India: The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), set up in 2007, works to digitize and document India’s heritage and antiquities. So far, over 12.3 lakh antiquities and 11,406 heritage sites have been recorded. For 2024–25, ₹20 lakh was allocated to the mission. The Indian Heritage in Digital Space (IHDS) initiative further aims to use digital technology to preserve and present India’s cultural legacy through immersive tools and research support.

Status of Classical Languages: On October 3, 2024, the Government granted classical language status to Assamese, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, and Bengali, raising the total to 11 classical Indian languages. This move reflects India’s strong commitment to preserving its diverse and ancient linguistic heritage.

India’s first Archaeological Experiential Museum: Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Archaeological Experiential Museum in Vadnagar on 16th January 2025. Built at a cost of ₹298 crore, the museum covers 12,500 square meters. It showcases Vadnagar’s 2,500-year-old history with over 5,000 artifacts, including ceramics, coins, tools and skeletal remains. It features nine galleries and a 4,000-square-meter excavation site offering an immersive experience of ongoing archaeological discoveries.

Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum: On 29th July 2024, a state-of-the-art museum spanning 100,000 square feet was inaugurated at Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in New Delhi. The museum showcases the site’s rich history, architecture, and conservation journey, offering visitors an immersive cultural experience.

India’s Literary Milestone on the MOWCAP Register: In a historic achievement, three of India’s literary treasures: Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahrdayāloka-Locana, were inscribed into the 2024 Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) Regional Register. This recognition, announced on 8th May 2024 in Mongolia, underscores the global significance of India’s rich literary and cultural heritage.

Conclusion

World Heritage Day reminds us that protecting our heritage is a shared responsibility. From ancient monuments to timeless literature, India continues to preserve its cultural and natural legacy through strong national efforts and global collaboration. These efforts ensure that our rich heritage inspires, educates, and unites generations to come.

References

Click here to see PDF.

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Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Kamna Lakaria

(Release ID: 2122423) Visitor Counter : 74

April 17, 2025

DH gives full support to blood donation activity and calls on public to donate blood to save lives during upcoming long holidays (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

DH gives full support to blood donation activity and calls on public to donate blood to save lives during upcoming long holidays
“With an ageing population in Hong Kong and increasing demand for medical services, the demand for blood is also rising. Blood collection efforts are often affected by unforeseen factors, such as inclement weather, influenza season and the public’s travel habits during long holidays, which may lead to a drop in the public’s willingness to donate blood and in the number of blood donations. In view of this, the DH has decided to support the BTS before the Easter holidays, hoping that the public will take advantage of the holidays to participate in blood donation activities and demonstrate selfless love, thus providing local hospitals with a stable and safe blood supply for clinical transfusion and treatment purposes,” Dr Lam said.

During the visit of the BTS mobile blood donation team to the DH headquarters today, a total of 24 DH staff members participated in the blood donation drive and donated 24 units of blood.

“Whole blood collected can be processed into components to help three to four patients. At the same time, blood donation is good for both physical and mental health. Apart from aiding metabolism, overseas studies have shown that people who donate blood regularly tend to feel happier and healthier. As the saying goes, it is a blessing to donate. Don’t hesitate to donate blood and save more lives together,” Dr Lam added.

The BTS has set up a number of blood donor centres throughout Hong Kong, and mobile blood donation teams and mobile blood donation vehicles visit different districts regularly to facilitate blood donation by the public. During the Easter holidays, most blood donor centres will be open as usual. To minimise waiting time, members of the public are advised to call the blood donor centres or make an appointment for blood donation through the mobile application “HK Blood”. For more information about the addresses and opening hours of the blood donor centres, the public may visit the BTS’s websiteIssued at HKT 18:45

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April 17, 2025

Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda chairs “Manthan Shivir” organised by the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals in New Delhi today

Source: Government of India

Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda chairs “Manthan Shivir” organised by the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals in New Delhi today

Government committed to achieving long-term, sustainable growth in the chemical sector: Shri JP Nadda

Union Minister encourages the participants to devote time regularly on thinking innovative, out of the box ideas and solutions

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

The Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals organised a one day “Manthan Shivir” in New Delhi today, chaired by Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India, with discussions focussing on fostering long-term development of the Indian chemical and petrochemical sector.

The recommendations emerging from discussions on all the thematic areas were presented before the Union Minister, under whose strategic insight this initiative was implemented. The Union Minister of Chemicals &Fertilizers acknowledged that the Manthan conference is a constructive platform for engaging in thoughtful and comprehensive discussions about the sector’s future.

Shri JP Nadda congratulated the Department for organizing the Manthan Shivir and choosing topics which are of contemporary relevance to the sector. He encouraged the participants to think beyond routine administrative tasks and motivated them to devote time regularly on thinking innovative, out of the box ideas and solutions.

Thanking the representatives of the other Ministries/ Departments for their enthusiastic participation in the deliberations, he suggested that such deliberative processes following a holistic and whole-of-Government approach should be held at regular intervals to avoid policymaking in silos and to help realise the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. He also added that this thought process and dialogue should be institutionalised to make it a continuous process.

While acknowledging the challenges that remain, Shri J.P. Nadda emphasized the collective commitment to achieving long-term, sustainable growth in the chemical sector and expressed confidence in the fact that with the right approach, India can build a more resilient and self-reliant industrial ecosystem.

Addressing the meeting Ms. Nivedita Shukla Verma, Secretary, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemical, alluded to the critical importance of India’s chemical sector, pointing out that the industry contributes about 1.4% to GDP and accounts for almost 9% of gross value addition in manufacturing. She noted that while considerable progress has been made in terms of infrastructure development, there is need for more concerted efforts to support the development of the sector in view of ever changing geopolitical realities as well as the vision of the Government for an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

During the day discussions were held which were centred on 6 thematic areas, viz. “Infrastructure Development; Sustainability, Recycling & Circular Economy; Trade Remedial Measures; Boosting Manufacturing Towards Viksit Bharat; Skilled Workforce & Training; and Road Map for Future Ready Plastic Industry”. Each of these topics were deliberated upon in a comprehensive manner by dedicated groups including representatives from other Ministries and Departments such as Revenue, Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade, Pharmaceuticals, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Science & Technology, Textiles, MSME, MoEFCC, NITI Aayog as well as organisations such as the Bureau of Indian Standards, Central Pollution Control Board, Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology etc.

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MV/AKS

(Release ID: 2122551) Visitor Counter : 51

April 17, 2025

PM interacts with Delegation of Dawoodi Bohra Community

Source: Government of India

PM interacts with Delegation of Dawoodi Bohra Community

Delegation thanks PM for bringing about Waqf Amendment Act which was their long pending demand

Delegation shares stories of challenges faced by the Community earlier due to claims by Waqf; says PM has brought this Act not only for minorities but for minority within minorities

Praising PM’s leadership under which they feel spirit of inclusion, community members repose faith in PM’s vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas

One of the key drivers behind bringing the Act was that most of the sufferers of the prevalent system were women, especially widows: PM

PM discusses his connect with the Dawoodi Bohra community and praises the contribution of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin towards bringing forth the Waqf Act

Posted On: 17 APR 2025 8:05PM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with a Delegation of Dawoodi Bohra Community members at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg earlier today.

The Delegation included business leaders, professionals, doctors, educators and various prominent representatives of the Dawoodi Bohra community. They narrated their struggles and shared stories of how properties belonging to members of their community were wrongfully claimed by Waqf. They thanked the Prime Minister for bringing about the Waqf Amendment Act and said it was a long pending demand.

They spoke about the Prime Minister’s long-standing special connection with the Dawoodi Bohra community and the positive work done by him. Speaking about the benefit of the Act for their Community, they said that the Prime Minister has brought this Act not only for minorities but for minority within minorities. While saying that India has always allowed their identity to flourish, they added that under PM’s leadership, they feel the spirit of inclusion.

Discussing the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, they expressed commitment and all possible assistance in the journey towards making India developed. They also lauded his leadership which brings focus on the aspect that true development should be people-centric. They praised several key initiatives like Aatmanirbhar Bharat, support for MSMEs etc saying they have been very helpful especially for small businesses. They also appreciated steps like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and other measures towards empowering Nari Shakti.

Prime Minister spoke about the years of work behind bringing forth the Waqf Amendment Act. He spoke about difficulties faced by people due to Waqf and said that one of the key drivers behind bringing the Act was that most of the sufferers of the prevalent system were women, especially widows.

Prime Minister recalled his strong bonds with members of the Dawoodi Bohra community. He praised the tradition of the community of working towards social welfare, which he has seen over the years. He also brought out the special contribution of the community towards bringing about the Act. He said when work towards bringing about the Waqf Amendment Act started, one of the first people he discussed this with was Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, who was instrumental in giving detailed comments about various nitty-gritties of the Act.

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MJPS/SR

(Release ID: 2122549) Visitor Counter : 126

April 17, 2025

Government holds seminar on “United Response to US’s Unjustified Imposition of Tariffs” for HKSAR Deputies to NPC and HKSAR members of National Committee of CPPCC (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

â€‹The Government held a seminar today (April 17) at the Central Government Offices to exchange views with around 100 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC) and HKSAR members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on the United States (US)’s unjustified imposition of tariffs. The seminar aimed to address the risks posed by the US’s bullying and barbaric actions and to unite all sectors in analysing and seizing opportunities in the new international trade order.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, stated at the seminar that the US’s recent imposition of so-called “reciprocal tariffs” on multiple countries and regions seriously violates the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and recklessly undermines the international trade order. He pointed out that the US’s imposition of a so-called 145 per cent tariff on Hong Kong, which has zero tariffs, is full of fallacies and violates logic. The Government has repeatedly issued stern statements expressing strong disapproval and urged the US to cease disrupting free trade.

The opinions expressed at the seminar reflected that the US Government’s bullying and unjustified imposition of tariffs is a disruption to the global trade order, severely impacting the global supply chain that many countries have worked hard to establish over the past few decades. Hong Kong will not yield and will face challenges with a firm attitude of turning crises into opportunities. In the process of restructuring global trade relations and supply chains, Hong Kong must maintain confidence, stand shoulder to shoulder with our country, grasp the emerging new order, explore new trade frontiers, safeguard economic security, and promote economic upgrading and transformation.

The Government is fully committed to leading society in unity and co-operation, strengthening regional trade collaboration, deepening international exchanges and co-operation, exploring emerging markets, and driving the sustainable development of Hong Kong.

As members of the country’s major institutions, HKSAR deputies to the NPC and HKSAR members of the National Committee of the CPPCC are leaders from various sectors of Hong Kong. They will leverage their influence in their respective roles, consolidate strength, and play a driving role in the “long battle” of restructuring the trade order. They will also provide advice to the Government to jointly navigate through this “long battle”.

Also attending the seminar were the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san; and the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan.

Under the guidance of the Chief Executive, the current-term Government has established a regular exchange mechanism with HKSAR deputies to the NPC and HKSAR members of the National Committee of the CPPCC to enhance the Government’s communication and collaboration with them. This includes exchanges and meetings on a regular and non-regular basis, seminars and exchange sessions on various issues and policies. An exchange and liaison office and an exclusive contact point for the NPC deputies and CPPCC members have also been set up to better collect their views and recommendations. The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will continue to take forward the regular exchange mechanism for strengthening the organisation and unity of patriots with affection for the country and our city.

April 17, 2025

SANSKRIT IS NOT MERELY A CLASSICAL LANGUAGE, BUT ALSO A PROFOUND MEDIUM OF SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

Source: Government of India

SANSKRIT IS NOT MERELY A CLASSICAL LANGUAGE, BUT ALSO A PROFOUND MEDIUM OF SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

STUDENTS MUST DON THE MANTLE OF SANSKRIT’S AMBASSADORS TO ILLUMINATE THE WORLD WITH RADIANCE OF INDIA’S TIMELESS KNOWLEDGE TRADITION.: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

LOK SABHA SPEAKER GIVES AWAY DEGREES AND GOLD MEDALS TO MERITORIOUS SCHOLARS

LOK SABHA SPEAKER ADDRESSES INVITEES AT SEVENTH CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF JAGADGURU RAMANANDACHARYA RAJASTHAN SANSKRIT UNIVERSITY

Posted On: 17 APR 2025 7:48PM by PIB Delhi

Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla extolled the eternal essence of Sanskrit today, calling it not merely a classical language, but also a profound medium of scientific inquiry and philosophical clarity. as the world rediscovers India’s wisdom through Yoga, Ayurveda and Vedantic philosophy, it becomes our sacred duty to awaken the younger generation to the treasures enshrined in Sanskrit, he remarked. Shri Birla made these remarks while speaking at the seventh convocation of the Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit University, Jaipur today.

Shri Birla noted that at a time when the most prestigious universities across the globe are delving into Sanskrit research, we must weave this ancient language into the fabric of modern innovation and technological advancement. He lauded the university’s pioneering initiatives, such as the scientific teaching of yoga, digitization of ancient manuscripts, and the introduction of online learning modules, calling them visionary steps toward cultural resurgence. He said that students must become torchbearers of Sanskrit’s timeless glory.

Tracing the university’s genesis, Shri Birla fondly recalled that the noble vision for this institution was born in the heart of the venerable Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the then Chief Minister of Rajasthan, under the divine guidance of Param Pujya Narayandas Ji Maharaj. He urged the graduating students to don the mantle of Sanskrit’s ambassadors, and to illuminate the world with the radiance of India’s timeless knowledge tradition.

On this occasion, Shri Birla gave away degrees and Gold Medals to meritorious scholars of the University. Swami Avdheshanand Giri was conferred with the Revered Title of ‘Vidya Vachaspati’. The seventh convocation of the esteemed Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit University unfolded with grandeur at the Rajasthan International Center in Jaipur. Among others, gracing the august occasion were Rajasthan Governor Shri Haribhau Bagade, and Rajasthan’s Minister for Education and Panchayati Raj Shri Madan Dilawar.

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(Release ID: 2122538) Visitor Counter : 97

Read this release in: Hindi

April 17, 2025

TRAI releases report on Independent Drive Tests (IDT) conducted in six LSAs covering City/ Highways/ Railway routes/ coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh LSA, Himachal Pradesh LSA, Kerala LSA, UP-West LSA, Gujarat LSA and Odisha LSA during Feb 2025.

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 APR 2025 7:07PM by PIB Delhi

TRAI, through its appointed agency, conducted Independent Drive Tests (IDT) in cities/highways/Railway/Coastal area of Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh LSA), City & Railway route of Shimla (Himachal Pradesh LSA), Alappuzha & Alappuzha Backwaters (Kerala LSA), Dehradun (UP-West LSA), Rajkot (Gujarat LSA), Highway route of Visakhapatnam to Brahmapur, Railway route from Brahmapur to Bhubaneswar and Coastal area of Paradeep (Odisha LSA). Drive tests were conducted to assess the quality of service provided by Cellular Mobile Telephone Service providers for voice and data services in February 2025.

In IDT, the performance of M/s Bharti Airtel Ltd., M/s BSNL/MTNL, M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. and M/s Vodafone Idea Ltd., providing services in a Licensed Service Area (LSA) through various technologies (like 2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G) for voice and data, has been measured by conducting drive test. The observations presented in drive test reports represent the performance of the service providers on the area/ route under test on the day/ time of conducting the drive test.
The following Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Voice as well as Data service were assessed for the networks of all Telecom service providers operating in the region:

Voice services:

Call setup success rate
Drop call rate (DCR)
Speech Quality using MOS (mean opinion score)
Downlink & Uplink packet (voice) drop rate
Call Silence Rate
Coverage (%)- Signal strength

Data Service:

Data Throughput (Downlink and uplink both)
Packet drop rate (Downlink & Uplink)
Video streaming delay
Latency
Jitter

The details of drive tests conducted in the six areas are given below:

S. No.	City / Routes Covered	Licensed Service Area	Period of Drive Test	Distance Covered	Performance summary (attached at)
1	Alappuzha & Alappuzha Backwaters	Kerala	11-02-2025 to 14-02-2025	City: 309 Kms Walk Test: 3.7 Kms Coastal: 11.7 Kms	Annexure A
2	Dehradun	UP West	04-02-2025 to 07-02-2025	City: 227.5 Kms	Annexure B
3	Shimla	Himachal Pradesh	24-02-2025 to 27-02-2025	City: 158.1 Kms Railway: 95.7 Kms	Annexure C
4	Highway: Visakhapatnam to Brahmapur, Railway: Brahmapur to Bhubaneswar and Coastal: Paradeep	Odisha	19-02-2025 to 20-02-2025	Highway:268.5 Kms Railway: 165.8 Kms Coastal: 2.8 Kms	Annexure D
5	Hyderabad	Andhra Pradesh	03-02-2025 to 06-02-2025	City: 391 Kms Walk Test: 5 Kms	Annexure E
6	Rajkot	Gujarat	17-02-2025 to 20-02-2025	City: 367.8 Kms Walk Test: 1 Kms	Annexure F

The detailed reports are available at TRAI website www.trai.gov.in. For any clarification/information, Shri Tejpal Singh, Advisor (QoS-I) TRAI may be contacted on email: adv-qos1@trai.gov.in or at Tel. No. +91-11-20907759.

(Atul Kumar Chaudhary)

Secretary

Annexure-A

Drive test route Map: (Alappuzha City & Alappuzha Backwaters- Kerala LSA)

This route map indicates the routes covered in independent drive test in Alappuzha & Alappuzha Backwaters under Kerala LSA.

Legends for the Drive Tests route & area are as below

Performance against key QoS parameters: