The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today hailed the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth.
He wrote in a thread post on X:
“The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth. This will particularly help those who have long remained on the margins, thus being denied both voice and opportunity.”
“Gratitude to all Members of Parliament who participated in the Parliamentary and Committee discussions, voiced their perspectives and contributed to the strengthening of these legislations. A special thanks also to the countless people who sent their valuable inputs to the Parliamentary committee. Yet again, the importance of extensive debate and dialogue has been reaffirmed.”
“For decades, the Waqf system was synonymous with lack of transparency and accountability. This especially harmed the interests of Muslim women, poor Muslims, Pasmanda Muslims. The legislations passed by Parliament will boost transparency and also safeguard people’s rights.”
“We will now enter an era where the framework will be more modern and sensitive to social justice. On a larger note, we remain committed to prioritising the dignity of every citizen. This is also how we build a stronger, more inclusive and more compassionate India.”
The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth. This will particularly help those who have long remained on…
(GOVT. PRESS SECRETARIAT) Cabinet has approved the appointment of Malaeulu Aysha Perlina Rimoni as the new Chief Executive Officer for the Unit Trust of Samoa for the next three years.
She takes over the reins from former CEO Tevaga Viane Tagiilima who did not reapply for the position.
Malaeulu has served the trust in the position of Chief Investment Analyst (ACEO level position), a 3-year term contract with UTOS for two full-terms and was six months into her third term when she was appointed to CEO.
She was reappointed to her third year term as ACEO Chief Investment in September 2024.
She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (with Honours) in Information Science and a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Information Science both from Otago University.
There were four applicants for the position.
END.
TOFIA MALAEULU AYSHA PERLINA RIMONI MA OFISA SILI O PULEGA O FA’APUTUGĀTUPE TEU FA’AFAIGALUEGA O MAVAEGA TAUSI A SAMOA [U.T.O.S.]
[SO’O’UPU A LE MĀLŌ]: Ua fa’amaonia aloā’ia e le Kapeneta le tofia ai o le afioga iā Malaeulu Aysha Perlina Rimoni e avea ma Ofisa Sili o Pulega o Fa’aputugātupe Teu Fa’afaigaluega o Mavaega Tausi a Samoa [U.T.O.S.] mo le 3 tausaga.
O lea avanoa sa se’ei ai le tofā iā Tevaga Viane Tagiilima ma e le’i toe talosaga.
O Malaeulu, ua loa lana tautua i le U.T.O.S. ma ua lava fo’i lona silafia i le fa’atinoga ma le fa’afoeina o galuega fa’ata’ita’i mo lea auaunaga.
E lua ana nofoā’iga ta’itolu tausaga sa avea ai ma Ofisa Sili Lagolago [Chief Investment Analyst] mo le U.T.O.S. ma o Setema o le tausaga ua mavae, na toe tofia ai fo’i i lea lava tofiga mo le isi tolu tausaga.
O lo’o ia umia Fa’ailoga Tauāloa o le Bachelor of Commerce [with Honors] in Information Science i le 2014 fa’atasi ai ma le Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Information Science mai le Iunivesite o Otago, Dunedin i Niu Sila lava i le 2013 fa’atasi ai ma nisi o Tusipasi Tauāloa.
[PRESS RELEASE – 25th March 2025] – The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, through its Animal Production and Health Division, hereby issues this official notice to all livestock farmers and stakeholders regarding a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing livestock development in Samoa.
As part of its commitment to strengthening and modernizing government-owned farms, the Ministry has undertaken a comprehensive review and restructuring of its strategies to ensure long- term sustainability and productivity. Accordingly, the temporary suspension of livestock sales has been deemed necessary to facilitate these improvements.
Key Initiatives for Livestock Development:
Implementation of artificial insemination technology (AI) to enhance breeding programs; Importation of superior livestock breeds from international sources;
Introduction of high-quality foreign livestock breeds with robust genetics tailored for Samoa’s climate;
Development and enhancement of feed mills and animal nutrition programs; Research and cultivation of new pasture species to optimize livestock feeding.
Implementation Plan and Suspension Periods:
1. Cattle: Sales suspension for 3 years, effective from May 2025 to May 2028.
2. Sheep: Sales suspension for 1 year, effective from May 2025 to May 2026.
3. Pigs (Meaituãolo): Sales suspension for 1 year, effective from May 2025 to May 2026.
Additional Provisions:
The Ministry has partnered with designated livestock multipliers (private breeders) who will continue to supply livestock to farmers during the suspension period. Farmers are encouraged to liaise with these authorized breeders for their livestock needs.
This strategic intervention seeks to address the current challenges of livestock shortages while laying the foundation for a more resilient and productive livestock sector.
The Ministry acknowledges any inconvenience this may cause and sincerely appreciates the cooperation and support of all stakeholders in ensuring the successful implementation of these reforms.
We humbly request the cooperation of all livestock farmers and stakeholders as we work towards a more sustainable and well-equipped livestock sector.
For further information, please contact: Animal Production and Health Division Office at Vaea – Phone: 21052 or Main Office at Sogi, TATTE Building – Phone: 22561
END.
TAOFIA LE TUMAU FA’ATAUINA ATU O LAFUMANU MAI FA’ATOAGA A LE MALO I VAEA, TOGITOGIGA, LEMAFA MA TANUMALALA MO LE MAMALU O LE AUFAIFAATOAGA LAFUMANU
[PEPA O FAAMATALAGA – 25 Mati 2025] – Fa’asilasilaga taua mai le Vaega o Atinae o Lafumanu a le Matagaluega o Fa’atoaga ma Faigafaiva e fa’apea:
I le ava ma le fa’aaloalo e tatau ai, e tu’uina atu ai lenei fa’asilasilaga aloa’ia mo le mamalu i pa’aga uma aufaifa’atoaga failafumanu a le matagaluega ina ia nofo silafia le fuafuaga o le a amata fa’atinoina ma fa’amamaluina, aua le si’itia o atinae tau lafumanu i totonu o le atunu’u.
O lea ua a’e ai se tofa i le Matagaluega mo le toe fetu’una’i ma toe fa’atulaga ni alafua fou mo le fa’aleleia o fa’atoaga a le malo, ma e ao ona ave iai le fa’amuamua i le taimi nei.
O polokalame mo le fa’aleleia o atinae ua fuafua iai le matagaluega e aofia ai :
Fa’aaogaina o metotia fa’atekonolosi mo le fa’afeusua’iga o manu (Artificial Insemination – Al), Fa’aulufaleina mai o ituaiga fou o manu mai atunu’u mamao (New Species /Breeds),
Nisi ituaiga manu papalagi silisili ona lelei ma mautinoa le ola maloloina i le tau i Samoa nei (genetics),
Polokalame fa’aleleia o meaai ma fale e gaosi meaai mo manu (Feedmill), Polokalame fa’aleleia ituaiga vao fou talafeagai mo manu.
O le Auiliiliina o lenei Fuafuaga o le a fa’amanino atu i lalo:
Fuafuaga :
1. Manu papalagi :
Taofia le fa’atauina atu mo le 3 tausaga – amata fa’amamaluina i le masina o Me 2025 seia aulia le masina Me 2028.
2. Mamoe:
Taofia le faʼatauina atu mo le 1 tausaga amata fa’amamaluina masina Me 2025 seia aulia Me 2026.
3. Pua’a (meaituāolo):
Taofia le fa’atauina atu mo le 1 tausaga – amata fa’amamaluina masina Me 2025 seia aulia le masina Me 2026.
Nisi o aiaiga ma teuteuga o lenei fuafuaga :
O lo’o iai pa’aga a le Matagaluega faifa’atoaga failafumanu papalagi (multipliers) ona fa’afesootai ane iai mo ni manu e fia fa’atauina.
O se tasi lenei o luitau ua feagai nei ma le Matagaluega, ma e ao ai ona faia ni suiga lelei ina ia mafai ona tali atu i faafitauli o feagai nei o le le lava o manu aua atinae a le mamalu o le aufaifaatoaga failafumanu. E tatalo atu ai ma le agaga maualalo ina ia lava papale lo outou paia ma lo outou mamalu ae sei toe tapena le matagaluega e faatino lana pitola’au pei ona fuafua ma faataoto i le taimi nei.
E avea ai lenei laolao matou te fa’amalulu atu ma asu atu vaimalu i puega i o outou finagalo Samoa aemaise o paʼaga totino a le Matagaluega i le aufaifa’atoaga failafumanu ona o lenei fuafuaga ua faia mo se taimi le tumau.
Mo nisi fa’amatalaga, fa’amolemole fa’afesootai mai le Ofisa Vaega o Atinae o Lafumanu a le Matagaluega i Vaea i le telefoni numera 21052 po’o le Ofisa Autu i Sogi, TATTE, numera: 22561
[PRESS RELEASE – 24th March 2025] – The Samoa Bureau of Statistics through its Census, Survey and Demography Division will be hosting an official opening of the Samoa DHS-MICS 2025 main training for enumerators on Monday 24th March, 2025 at the DBS Conference room level 6 at 9:00am.
The main aim of the training is to assist and equip the enumerators with the necessary skills and knowledge required for the DHS-MICS 2025 data collection activity.
The training will be officially opened by the Government Statistician (GS) followed by official remarks from the respected partners namely Australian High Commissioner in Samoa, UNICEF Chief Fieldwork Officer in Samoa and UNPFA Assistant Representative in Samoa. Other invited guests are Senior Government Officials and members of the DHS-MICS Steering Committee from the Nuanua O le Alofa (NOLA), Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development and Ministry of Finance.
The Samoa DHS-MICS 2025 will collect information in the areas of population, health and nutrition targeting women and men of 15-49 years of age and children. The overall objective of the DHS-MICS 2025 is to provide data and information that will enhance the monitoring of most of the indicators under the Social Sectors of the economy namely Health, Education, Community, Law and Justice, as well as Water and Sanitation and Environment Sectors. The updated data will guide in the prioritization of most of the social sector programs and activities to be implemented in the next 5 years
Throughout the duration of the training, resource persons from key sectors will be invited to clarify some of the concepts in the questionnaires to better inform the enumerators before they start the data collection activity.
The training has been made possible by the support of our development partners namely UNICEF, UNFPA and the Tautua program under the Government of Australia DFAT. The Main fieldwork is scheduled to be started from May 5th -July 5th 2025 and we kindly request the public and communities support when the survey fieldwork starts.
For more information, please contact Kaisarina Moananu at email kaisarina.moananu@sbs.gov.ws or Victoria Tuivaiti at email victoria.tuivaiti@sbs.gov.ws or phone number 23033.
Grand Opening of Dharti Aaba TribePreneurs 2025: A New Era for Tribal Startups Begins 45+ Tribal Startups Shine at Startup Mahakumbh 2025
IIT Delhi Boot Camp Empowers Tribal Youth with Design Thinking
META Hosts Tech Know-How Session for Emerging Tribal Entrepreneurs
Posted On: 03 APR 2025 11:20PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) today inauguratedDharti Aaba TribePreneurs 2025underJanjatiya Gaurav VarshatBharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as a key highlight ofStartup Mahakumbh 2025.
Hon’ble Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durga Das Uikey, inaugurated the program in the presence of Shri Vibhu Nayar, Secretary, MoTA, alongside industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and government officials. With over 5000 attendees, the event marked a significant milestone in fostering tribal entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-reliance.
Honoring the Legacy of Bhagwan Birsa Munda
The Government of India is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda under Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, reinforcing his ideals of self-sufficiency and economic independence. Dharti Aaba TribePreneurs 2025 embodies his vision by creating sustainable opportunities for Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs and startups.
A Major Push for Tribal Startups
In alignment with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is strengthening the tribal startup ecosystem as part of its 100-day action plan.
Key initiatives include: ✅ Collaboration with IIM Calcutta, IIT Delhi, IFCI Venture Capital Funds Limited, and industry associations to nurture tribal startups. ✅ Launch of a ₹50 crore Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes (STs) to provide financial support for tribal-led businesses. ✅ 45+ tribal startups , some incubated at IIM Calcutta, IIM Kashipur, and IIT Bhilai showcased at Startup Mahakumbh, with several already securing funding.
Key Highlights from Startup Mahakumbh 2025
💡 Tribal Startup Showcase: ST entrepreneurs exhibited innovative products and solutions. 💼 Investor Engagements: Startups connected with venture capitalists, angel investors, and industry experts. 📊 Technical Sessions: Organized by META, focusing on business scalability, digital transformation, and market expansion. 🤝 Exclusive Networking: Featuring unicorn founders, startup leaders, and investors to facilitate mentorship and funding.
Boot Camp at IIT Delhi: Cultivating the Next Generation of Tribal Innovators
To empower young tribal minds, MoTA has initiated a special boot camp at IIT Delhi, offering hands-on learning and mentorship for: 🎓 100 students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) to gain startup exposure. 🏆 150 tribal students under scholarship programs to experience India’s thriving startup ecosystem. 🔬 50 ST students from Unnat Bharat Abhiyan to engage in interactive sessions with investors and entrepreneurs.
Government’s Commitment to Tribal Entrepreneurship
Hon’ble Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durga Das Uikey, emphasized:“Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, ST-led entrepreneurs are excelling in various sectors. The day is not far when ST startups will achieve unicorn status.”
Shri Vibhu Nayar, Secretary, MoTA, reaffirmed the Ministry’s support:“We are committed to scaling tribal startups to the next level by facilitating access to venture capital, angel investors, and new markets. From deep tech to organic products and handlooms, ST entrepreneurs are shaping India’s future.”
A Historic Step Towards Inclusive Growth
Through Dharti Aaba TribePreneurs 2025, the Government of India is transforming tribal entrepreneurship, paving the way for self-reliant, sustainable, and innovative enterprises. With support from key stakeholders, the initiative is set to redefine the tribal startup landscape and contribute to a more inclusive and resilient economy.
Wagon Production Hits Record 41,929 Units in FY 2024-25, Marking a 11% YoY Growth and a Threefold Surge Over 2004-14 Average Total wagon production in the last three years reaches 1,02,369 units, boosting Railways’ freight capacity
Freight bottlenecks to reduce significantly, enhancing coal, cement, and steel transport efficiency
Increased rail freight capacity to cut fuel consumption, lower emissions, and curb logistics costs
Aligned with India’s economic vision, bolstering industrial growth and trade competitiveness
Posted On: 04 APR 2025 3:18PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Railways has achieved a historic milestone in wagon production, reaching an all-time high of 41,929 wagons in FY 2024-25, surpassing the 37,650 wagons produced in FY 2023-24. This marks a remarkable leap from the annual average of 13,262 wagons produced between 2004-2014, showcasing a significant boost in manufacturing capacity and efficiency.
This growth is expected to reduce freight bottlenecks and enhance Rail cargo movement. The numbers suggest a significant increase in the annual wagon production, highlighting the government’s vision of not only increasing domestic manufacturing but also improving its freight movement that will enhance convenience and also provide a major boost to the Indian economy, empowering India towards its goal of becoming an economic prowess.
Period
Production
2004-2014 (Average)
13,262
2014-2024 (Average)
15,875
2022-2023
22,790
2023-2024
37,650
2024-2025
41,929
Total production in last three years
1,02,369
Economic Boost
This surge in wagon production is expected to have a profound economic and environmental impact. With more wagons available, transport bottlenecks will be significantly reduced, ensuring faster cargo movement and improved efficiency for industries reliant on bulk transportation, such as coal, cement and steel. By reducing dependence on road freight, this shift will also lower fuel consumption and emissions, contributing to sustainability goals. Additionally, the improved efficiency in freight movement will help curb transportation costs, ultimately benefiting businesses and consumers by mitigating inflationary pressures.
Strengthening India’s Industrial Sector
As Indian Railways continues to expand its freight capacity, it is playing a crucial role in strengthening India’s industrial infrastructure and economic resilience. This growth aligns with India’s broader vision of boosting domestic manufacturing and trade competitiveness, reinforcing the country’s path toward becoming a global economic powerhouse.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met today with Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.
Prime Minister reiterated India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. Enunciating India’s people-centric approach to the relationship, Prime Minister highlighted that cooperation between the two countries has brought tangible benefits to the people of both countries. He underlined India’s desire to forge a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh based on pragmatism.
Prime Minister urged that rhetoric that vitiates the environment is best avoided. On the border, strict enforcement of the law and prevention of illegal border crossings, especially at night, are necessary for maintaining border security and stability. Bilateral mechanism could meet as appropriate to review and take forward our ties.
Prime Minister underlined India’s concerns related to the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, and expressed his expectation that the Government of Bangladesh would ensure their security, including by thoroughly investigating the cases of atrocities committed against them.
Prime Minister congratulated Bangladesh on assuming the Chair of BIMSTEC and looked forward to the forum further advancing regional cooperation under its leadership. The leaders agreed to enhance consultations and cooperation to advance regional integration, including under the BIMSTEC framework.
Prime Minister expressed his conviction that all issues of mutual interest between the two countries would continue to be addressed and resolved bilaterally through constructive discussions, in the interest of their long standing and mutually beneficial bilateral relationship.
Cabinet approves four multitracking projects across Indian Railways To enhance line capacity, Indian Railways plans to undertake four multitracking projects aimed to ensure seamless and faster transportation of both passengers and goods; These initiatives will improve travel convenience, reduce logistic cost, decrease oil imports and contribute to lower CO2 emissions, supporting sustainable and efficient rail operations
The projects aim to enhance logistical efficiency by increasing the line capacity along the key routes for coal, iron ore, and other minerals; These improvements will streamline the supply chains, thereby contributing to accelerated economic growth
The total estimated cost of the projects is Rs.18,658 crore and will be completed upto 2030-31
The projects will also generate direct employment for about 379 lakh human-days during construction
Posted On: 04 APR 2025 3:02PM by PIB Delhi
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved Four projects of Ministry of Railways with total cost of Rs. 18,658 crore (approx.). The Four projects covering 15 Districts in 3 States i.e., Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 1247 Kms.
These projects include:
Sambalpur – Jarapda 3rd and 4th Line
Jharsuguda – Sason 3rd and 4th Line
Kharsia – Naya Raipur – Parmalkasa 5th and 6th Line
Gondia – Balharshah doubling
The enhanced line capacity will improve mobility, providing enhanced efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. These multi-tracking proposals will ease operations and reduce congestion, providing the much-required infrastructural development on the busiest sections across Indian Railways. The projects are in line with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji’s Vision of a New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive development in the area which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.
The projects are result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which have been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services.
With these projects 19 New Stations will be constructed, enhancing connectivity to Two Aspirational Districts (Gadchiroli and Rajnandgaon). Multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to approx. 3350 villages and about 47.25 lakh population.
Kharsia – Naya Raipur – Parmalkasa will provide direct connectivity to new areas such as Baloda Bazar, this will create possibilities for setting up of new industrial units including cement plants in the region.
These are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as agriculture products, fertilizer, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, limestone etc. The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 88.77 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum). The Railways being environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and minimizing logistics cost of the country, reduce oil import (95 Crore Litres) and lower CO2 emissions (477 Crore Kg) which is equivalent to plantation of 19 Crore trees.
NITI Aayog convened a National Workshop on ‘Mainstreaming Climate Adaptation into Local Development Planning,’ bringing together policymakers, climate experts, civil society organizations, and development practitioners to explore effective strategies for integrating climate resilience into Panchayat Development Plans.
The workshop emphasized the need for equipping Gram Panchayats with tools, knowledge, and resources to effectively address climate challenges. It was emphasised that climate adaptation must be woven into all aspects of sectoral planning at the Panchayat level, rather than being treated as a standalone effort. It was underscored that climate modelling must be coupled with community-level knowledge to develop locally relevant adaptation strategies.
A major focus was on institutionalizing climate resilience within Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and embedding climate-responsive planning into local development frameworks. Discussions highlighted the growing frequency of extreme weather events and their impacts on rural livelihoods, agriculture, and water security, reinforcing the need for disaggregated Gram Panchayat-level data for precise planning and informed decision-making.
The workshop emphasized the need to encourage Panchayats to integrate climate-smart approaches into their development planning by strengthening their capacity. Various tools and frameworks were presented to build Panchayat capacity for long-term adaptive planning. Participants called for leveraging existing schemes and programmes to enhance climate resilience at the grassroots level.
Showcasing best practices from different states and Panchayats, the discussions highlighted the value of peer learning and knowledge-sharing in scaling up climate action. The shift from climate adaptation to proactive local climate action was a key takeaway, emphasizing the role of Panchayats in climate risk-informed development and disaster preparedness.
The workshop concluded with a call for multi-stakeholder collaboration, to foster climate-resilient rural livelihoods. Strengthening institutional capacity and encouraging innovation in Panchayat-led climate action were identified as key enablers. Integrating climate adaptation into local governance can help India foster a more sustainable and resilient rural development model.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok today. Expressing condolences over devastation in recent earthquake, Shri Modi reassured India’s assistance to sisters and brothers of Myanmar in this critical time. Both leaders discussed bilateral relations between India and Myanmar, particularly in sectors like connectivity, capacity building, infrastructure development and more.
In a post on X, he wrote:
“Met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. Once again expressed condolences on the loss of lives and damage of property in the wake of the recent earthquake. India is doing whatever is possible to assist our sisters and brothers of Myanmar in this critical time.
We also discussed bilateral relations between India and Myanmar, particularly in sectors like connectivity, capacity building, infrastructure development and more.”
Met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. Once again expressed condolences on the loss of lives and damage of property in the wake of the recent earthquake. India is doing whatever is possible to assist our sisters and… pic.twitter.com/Hwwv4VxSpi