PARLIAMENT QUESTION: IMPACT OF LA NIÑA ON CLIMATE PATTERNS

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:59PM by PIB Delhi

The Copernicus Climate Change Service report states that the global average surface air temperature during January 2025 was the hottest on record (0.79°C warmer than the 1991-2020) despite the development of La Niña conditions. However, the average temperature in the Indian region was the second highest since 1901 (0.98°C warmer than 1991-2020). The main reason for higher temperatures is global warming, which is closely linked to climate change. Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to human activities, primarily burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. This process releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which trap heat and cause the planet to warm up.

In general, during the La Niña years, the Indian summer monsoon experiences above-average rainfall, which is beneficial for better crop production. However, currently, neutral El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is prevailing over the equatorial Pacific Ocean with above-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the eastern and far western Pacific Ocean and below-average SSTs in the central Pacific Ocean. The latest Monsoon Mission Climate Forecasting System (MMCFS) and other global model forecasts indicate that neutral ENSO conditions are likely to continue during the southwest monsoon season of 2025. Thus, no La Niña impact is expected on the Indian monsoon during 2025. IMD will issue the first stage of the seasonal forecast for the 2025 Southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall by mid-April.

Various organisations under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) have been conducting regular studies on monsoons and associated rainfall and temperature patterns in the country, including those during the El Niño and La Niña periods. The India Meteorological Department continuously monitors the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) changes globally, especially in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, which have a significant impact on the Indian climate. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also prepares forecasts based on the Monsoon Mission Climate Forecasting System (MMCFS) and issues the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)/ Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) bulletin every month (https://www.imdpune.gov.in/cmpg/Product/Enso.php). IMD also issues monthly and seasonal outlooks for rainfall and temperature with monthly updates, which helps to prepare for the impact of El Niño/La Niña-related weather variations. These forecasts are complimented by the extended range forecasts updated every week for the next four weeks. Additionally, the IMD issues agriculture-specific advisories to help farmers prepare for extreme weather events associated with El Niño and La Niña, such as heavy rains or droughts. These advisories are helpful for decision-making in various agriculture operations, such as crop selection, irrigation practices, pest and disease warnings, disaster management, preparedness, etc.

This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2117835) Visitor Counter : 42

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: FUND ALLOCATED FOR INSAT-3DS

Source: Government of India

Ministry of Earth Sciences

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: FUND ALLOCATED FOR INSAT-3DS

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:58PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Earth Sciences has allocated Rs. 480/- crore and billed for the launch of the Indian National Satellite (INSAT-3DS).

Currently, INSTAT-3DS,along with INSAT-3DR, are in use for the operational weather services, and some of the important applications of satellite products are:      

  • Round-the-clock monitoring of severe weather conditions with rapid scan capability. Satellite images are generated every 5 minutes for the area of interest (where the severe weather is prevailing).
  • A satellite visualization tool known as Real-time Analysis of Products and Information Dissemination (RAPID) to visualize and analyze satellite images and derived products as per the user’s choice (https://rapid.imd.gov.in/r2v/).
  • Numerous satellite-derived products and imageries are generated at each 30-minute gap, which is very useful in real-time monitoring the cyclone activity and determination of cyclone track and intensity.
  • During pre-monsoon season thunderstorms and lightning season of March to May, various products like Outgoing Longwave Radiation, Quantitative Precipitation Estimate, Sea Surface Temperature, Insolation, winds, winds derived products, etc. and Temperature, Humidity profiles/Thermodynamic indices etc. are used for monitoring the movement of convective weather systems.
  • Satellite-derived products are also helpful in monitoring the onset, active, and withdrawal phases of southwest and northeast monsoons. It is also used to monitor and analyse the origin, movement, and possible impact of Western disturbance moving across North India.
  • Data Collection and Dissemination: The satellite’s data relay transponder facilitates efficient collection and distribution of meteorological, hydrological, and oceanographic data from various ground stations, supporting The India Meteorological Department (IMD).
  • Search and Rescue Operations: The satellite has a dedicated search and rescue payload that assists in locating and saving lives during maritime and aviation emergencies. These advancements in INSAT-3DS have strengthened India’s capacity to monitor and predict weather patterns, enabling better preparedness for extreme weather events and contributing to improving agricultural and water management decisions.
  • Meteorological data and products from both the INSATs are also useful in various sectors in real-time:
  • Aviation Meteorological services (root forecast, convection cloud development, movement, etc.)
  • Marine weather forecast (convection movements, high /low-pressure zones, winds convergence, divergence, etc.)
  • Power Sector ( clouds, convection, etc.)
  • Tourism sector (root, temperature, clouds, dry or moist areas, winds, circulation, etc.)
  • Monitoring severe weather phenomena like intense rainfall episodes, heatwave conditions, cold wave day and night fog, etc. are easily monitored over the Indian region/neighbouring countries by day and night (24-hour) coverage of satellite data.
  • Special sector images are generated for pilgrimage (Like Amarnathji yatra, Kumbh Mela, Kedarnath Jee yatra, etc.)
  • The accumulated snow-bound area images during winter time are generated for specially monitoring the fresh and old snow and its coverage.
  • Agriculture sector services. Satellite provides better guidance for agro meteorology with the help of many satellite-derived products (like Insolation, Land Surface Temperature, Evapotranspiration, etc.).
  • Renewable energy sector: Satellite-based Winds, clouds, Outgoing longwave radiation, etc., provide an important input to this sector for managing the resources efficiently.
  • Research and development activities. New algorithms and approaches (like AI/ML, deep learning, etc.) are also under development to further streamline the process.
  • Therefore, with the support of INSAT-3DS (which provides advanced imaging and sounding capabilities), weather monitoring service capabilities are enhanced. It offered detailed observations of land and ocean surfaces, real-time data on cloud cover, moisture content, temperature profiles, and other atmospheric parameter which are crucial for weather monitoring.

The INSAT-3D has reached its end of life and has been replaced by the INSAT-3DS, whereas INSAT-3DR is operational in sensing and transmitting meteorological data.

This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2117833)

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: INSTALLATION OF NEW RADAR SYSTEM

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:57PM by PIB Delhi

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has planned new radars across the country. Tentative sites where the radars are planned to be installed are given below:

  • 12 no. of C-Band Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) tentatively at Raipur, Mangalore, Ranchi, Lakshadweep, Malda, Aurangabad, Balasore, Sambalpur, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Rupsi, & Port Blair.
  • 12 no. of X-Band DWRs tentatively at Pune, Kolkata, Purnea, Varanasi, Wayanad, Bhubaneswar, Dharwad, Lahaul &Spiti, Aligarh (GoUP), Azamgarh (GoUP), Jhansi (GoUP), Lucknow (GoUP).
  • 10 no. of X-Band DWRs for North East tentatively at Jorhat, Tezpur, Aizawl, Namsai, Silchar, Imphal, Dimapur, Mandala Top, Central Arunachal Pradesh, & Guwahati.
  • In addition, 53 radars (8 S-Band, 20 C-Band, and 25 X-Band) are also planned to be installed across the country under the Mission Mausam so that the entire country is brought under radar coverage.  

The locations of the DWRs have been arrived upon considering the gap areas in the coverage of the existing DWR network.

In addition to the proposed improvement in the radar coverage mentioned above, other observation systems like wind profilers, radio sonde/radio wind, microwave radiometers, etc., are also planned under the Mission Mausam. Along with the improvement in the observational network, deployment of high-performance computing infrastructure, advanced Earth system models, integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies, etc, under the Mission Masuam will help improve in forecasts on various timescales, especially in location-specific nowcast (forecast up to a few hours) to short-range forecast up to 3 days. The implementation of the Mausam Mission is likely to help (i) in capturing and monitoring all the weather events happening in the country so that no weather system will go undetected (ii) improve the frequency of nowcasting extreme weather such as thunderstorms, lightening, strong winds, etc. from 3 hrs. to 1 hr. (iii) improve the short and medium range weather forecast accuracy by about 5-10% and (iv) improve air quality forecasts by about 5-10% in the major metro cities.

The entire country will be under radar coverage within the next 2-3 years.

This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2117832) Visitor Counter : 43

PARLIAMENT QUESTION; THE HEAT MITIGATION STRATEGY

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:54PM by PIB Delhi

Several parts of the country, including States like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, are likely to be severely impacted by heat, and as per the recent report by the World Bank, the rising temperatures are expected to cause India to lose up to 5% of its Gross Domestic Product by 2030. Heat is recognized as a severe threat, and the State Disaster Management Agencies of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have prepared State heat action plans in 2016 and 2019, respectively, to manage the heat stress. Also, the State Planning Commission has set up the heat action network to advance efforts for inter-departmental and intersectoral engagement toward heat mitigation.

As per the State-wise statement of Climate Report-2023 published by,   (https://imdpune.gov.in/Reports/Statewise%20annual%20climate/statewise_annualclimate.html)   the India Meteorological Department (IMD)  a significant increasing trend of +0.68°C/100 years is observed in the Tamil Nadu State averaged annual mean temperature series for the period 1901-2023. The increasing trend is relatively higher in the case of maximum temperature (+0.84°C/100 years) compared to that in the case of minimum temperature (+0.51°C/100 years). The five warmest years on record for the state of  Tamil Nadu are 2019 (temperature anomaly of +0.848°C), 2016(+0.837°C), 2017(+0.624°C), 2020(+0.493°C) and 2023(+0.432°C). Under the changing climate, various parts of the country, including Tamil Nadu, are projected to experience increased heatwaves.

Due to climate change, annual temperatures are increasing globally and the impact of the same is reflected in the rising frequency and intensity of heatwaves in various parts of the globe, including India. The Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also reflects the same observations (https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_SYR_SPM.pdf). Addressing the root causes of global climate change is essential to mitigate the impact of heat waves. This involves international cooperation to reduce green house gas emissions, transition to renewable energy sources, and implement sustainable practices across all sectors. Various initiatives have been undertaken by the Government of India with the help of States to reduce the impact of heatwaves in the coming years. The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) are one of the major initiatives in this direction. Additionally, India has taken a proactive role in fostering international collaborations through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure. India is committed to pursuing low-carbon strategies for development and is actively pursuing them, as per national circumstances.

The India Meteorological Department, in coordination with various research centers across the country, has taken multiple steps to improve monitoring and early warning systems, which has helped minimize loss of life and property during extreme weather events, including heat waves. These include:  

  • Issuing seasonal and monthly outlooks, followed by extended-range forecasts of temperature and heatwave conditions. The early warning and forecast information are disseminated through the website,  various social media,etc., for timely public outreach.
  • District-wise heatwave vulnerability Atlas over India to help State Government authorities and disaster management agencies for timely planning.
  • The hot weather hazard analysis map over India includes daily temperature, winds, and humidity conditions.
  • Heat Action Plans (HAPs) in 23 States that are prone to heatwave conditions were jointly implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the State Governments.
  • A series of National and State-level heatwave preparedness meetings are conducted much before the start of the summer season, with regular review meetings from time to time during the season.

IMD has launched seven of its services (Current Weather, Nowcast, City Forecast, Rainfall Information, Tourism Forecast, Warnings, and Cyclone) with the ‘UMANG’ Mobile App for use by the Public. Moreover, IMD has developed a mobile App, ‘MAUSAM’ for weather forecasting, ‘Meghdoot’ for Agromet advisory dissemination, and ‘Damini’ for lightning alerts. The common Alert Protocol (CAP) developed by the NDMA is also being implemented to disseminate extreme weather warnings by the IMD.

This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2117827) Visitor Counter : 44

Ministry of Education reaffirms its commitment to inclusive education by strengthening support systems for children with autism spectrum disorder in schools

Source: Government of India

Ministry of Education reaffirms its commitment to inclusive education by strengthening support systems for children with autism spectrum disorder in schools

Strengthening Inclusive Education: Block Resource Centres under Samagra Shiksha provides Essential Therapy Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:45PM by PIB Delhi

On the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day (April 2, 2025), the Ministry of Education, Government of India reaffirms its commitment to inclusive education by strengthening support systems for children with autism spectrum disorder in schools.

Through Block Resource Centres (BRCs), the government is ensuring that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) receive essential therapy services, specialized interventions, and learning support to help them reach their full potential.

Supported under the centrally sponsored scheme- Samagra Shiksha, the BRCs serve as dedicated resource centers, offering essential therapy-based interventions to support the physical, cognitive, and communicative needs of CwSN.

These include:

  • Occupational Therapy: Helps children develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and independence in daily activities.
  • Physiotherapy: Supports children with mobility challenges, improving posture, muscle strength, and physical coordination.
  • Speech and Communication Therapy: Supports children with delayed speech, difficulty in communication, or social interaction challenges, especially beneficial for children with autism.
  • Psychological & Behavioural Support: Provides emotional and behavioural counselling to enhance confidence, social interaction, and well-being.

BRCs are staffed with trained resource persons, special educators, and therapists who work closely with parents, teachers, and caregivers to create personalized intervention plans for children.

These centres also organize regular screening camps, parent counselling sessions, orientation/teacher training programs, assistive devices, appropriate Teaching-Learning Material (TLM), and aids & appliances etc. to ensure a holistic approach to inclusive education.

As envisioned in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the government is continuously strengthening these inclusive learning environments by integrating therapy services with classroom learning and ensuring accessible infrastructure, assistive devices, and digital learning solutions for CwSN across the country.

State and district education authorities are encouraged to maximize the utilization of Resource Centres and also collaborate with local health and social welfare departments to further expand support for children with diverse needs.

On this World Autism Awareness Day, the Ministry appeals to schools, educators, and parents to optimally utilise the services of BRCs for CwSN and also work together to promote awareness, acceptance, and meaningful inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorder.

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MV/AK

MOE/DoHE-DoSEL/2 April 2025/7

(Release ID: 2117857) Visitor Counter : 29

Strengthening of Coal Supply Chain

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 6:10PM by PIB Delhi

Following measures have been adopted to establish a resilient and cost-effective coal evacuation logistics system:

  1. Coal Logistic Plan and Policy was launched by Ministry of Coal in February, 2024 to enhance supply chain efficiency, reduce costs & promote sustainability.
  2. Development of First Mile Connectivity (FMC) Projects to enhance the efficiency of coal evacuation from mines to dispatch points. These projects focus on developing mechanized coal loading infrastructure, such as conveyor belts, and crushers with minimal manual intervention to make the system more cost-effective.
  • iii. Improvement in Rail Infrastructure to expand rail network to ensure smoother and faster evacuation of coal.
    • iv. Use of Rail Sea Rail Mode as an alternate route to rail or road for coal evacuation especially for power plants and industries located near coastal regions to ease the coal transportation movement in the country.

39 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects with a total capacity of 386 million tons have been completed by coal companies.

During last two years, coal movement via Rail-sea-Rail route has increased from about  28 million tons in financial year 2021-22 to about 54 million tons in financial year 2023-24.

This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

(Release ID: 2117927) Visitor Counter : 59

Government of India Spurs Chip Manufacturing with Fiscal Support, Global MoUs and Talent Development Initiatives

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 6:08PM by PIB Delhi

Government has approved Semicon India programme with a total outlay of Rs 76,000 crore for the development of semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in India. which provides:

  1. Fiscal support of 50% of the project cost on pari-passu basis for setting up of Silicon Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) based Semiconductor Fabs in India.
  2. Fiscal support of 50% of Project Cost on pari-passu basis for setting up of Display Fabs in India.
  3. Fiscal support of 50% of the Capital Expenditure on pari-passu basis for setting up of Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics (SiPh) / Sensors (including Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) Fab/ Discrete Semiconductor Fab and Semiconductor Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) / Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facilities in India.
  4. Product Design Linked Incentive of up to 50% of the eligible expenditure subject to a ceiling of ₹15 Crore per application and also “Deployment Linked Incentive” of 6% to 4% of net sales turnover over 5 years subject to a ceiling of ₹30 Crore per application for incentivising chip design.

Government has also approved modernisation of Semi-Conductor Laboratory, Mohali to enhance efficiency and cycle time.

Government has approved five semiconductor manufacturing projects that includes One Semiconductor Fabrication facility and four Semiconductor ATMP/OSAT facilities under Semicon India Program with cumulative investment of around Rs. 1,52,000 crore.  The approved projects are under various phases of implementation and are expected to be completed in 4–6-year timeframe.

Further, to strengthen semiconductor manufacturing and creating a semiconductor ecosystem in the country, Government has entered in Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with USA, European Union, Japan and Singapore.

Semiconductor manufacturing is very complex and Technology intensive sector which requires specialized skilled manpower. To address this, the following measures have been taken by the Government:

  1. All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched the new curriculum for B. Tech in Electronics Engineering (Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) Design and Technology), Diploma in Integrated Circuit (IC) manufacturing and Minor Degree in Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design and Technology), as a step towards creation of Talent pool in Semiconductor domain.
  2. Government has launched the Chips to Startup (‘C2S’) programme which plans to train 85,000 industry ready workforce at about 113 participating institutions in VLSI and Embedded System Design. More than 43,000 engineering students have been onboarded for training at 113 organizations under C2S Programme till date.
  3. A Skilled Manpower Advanced Research and Training (SMART) Lab has been setup in NIELIT Calicut in 2022 with an aim to train one lakh engineers nation-wide within 5 years in VLSI and Embedded System design. More than 42,000 engineers have been trained nationwide using the SMART Lab.
  4. Further, the following collaborations/ partnerships have been entered into by India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to encourage skill development:

 

  1. MoU between ISM with IISc and Lam Research: To train about 60,000 Indian engineers in the upcoming 10 years through Lam Research’s Semiverse platform.
  2. MoU between ISM and IBM:  To facilitate Indian students/professionals to build a broad skill base by gaining access to laboratories and research focal centers and establishing internship and fellowship programs.
  3. MoU between ISM with Purdue University: To promote the cutting-edge research and development and commercialization thereof, curating skilled talent pool and investment opportunities in India enabling the Indian professionals to explore their potential in the semiconductor and display space.

Government is focused on its objective of building the overall semiconductor design and manufacturing ecosystem with an emphasis on fostering R&D in semiconductor area in the country. MeitY supports R&D projects in the area of semiconductors at academic institutions, research organizations, and startup companies through a dedicated R&D Scheme. Some of them includes but not limited to the following- nanotechnology, semiconductor materials, semiconductor processes, chip design, semiconductor IP Cores etc

This information was given by the Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada in Lok Sabha today.

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Dharmendra TewariNavin Sreejith

(Release ID: 2117925) Visitor Counter : 70

Government of India Takes Measures for Digital Infrastructure Upgradation in Villages

Source: Government of India

Ministry of Electronics & IT

Government of India Takes Measures for Digital Infrastructure Upgradation in Villages

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 6:06PM by PIB Delhi

The BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages beyond GPs on demand basis across the country.

For providing a reliable network to ensure quality internet for the users, amended BharatNet program approved by the Union Cabinet on 04.08.2023 has inter-alia provisions to upgrade existing BharatNet network in ring architecture, focus on utilization of the network through BharatNet Udyamis, BSNL is appointed as the single Project Management Agency (PMA) under Amended BharatNet program for Operation & Maintenance of the entire network based on Service Level Agreement (SLA), Dedicated Network Operation Centre, etc.

State-UT/wise details of FTTH connections provided under BharatNet is attached as Annexure-I.

Government of India launched National Broadband Mission 2.0 on January 17, 2025, with the vision of fast-tracking the rapid expansion of digital communications infrastructure, bridging the digital divide and fostering digital empowerment and inclusion, ensuring High-Speed Broadband and Meaningful Connectivity for all.

MeitY initiated Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) to ensure/provide digital literacy in 6 crore rural households (one person per household) nationwide. The Scheme was implemented by CSC e-Governance Services India Limited through Common Service Centres (CSCs) present at Gram Panchayats level across the country. As against 6 crore, 6.39 crore individuals were trained. The training & certification under the scheme was officially concluded on March 31 , 2024. The States/UTs wise achievement is given as Annexure-II.

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducted the ‘Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey’ (CAMS) in its 79th round (July, 2022 to June, 2023). As per the survey, among the persons aged 15-24 years, around 78.4 percent reported execution of skill of ‘sending messages (e.g., e-mail, messaging service, SMS) with attached files (e.g., documents, pictures, video)’. Further, about 94.2 percent of rural households and about 97.1 percent of urban households possess telephone and/or mobile phone. From the said report, given the significant rise in smart-phone usage, internet penetration, and digital engagement in rural areas, the objectives of the scheme were successfully achieved.

Impact analysis of the PMGDISHA scheme was carried out by three agencies namely IIT Delhi, Council for Social Development (CSD) and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA). The gist of the evaluation report is that the PMGDISHA is a unique scheme due to its large scale and the use of remotely proctored examinations. The training provided under PMGDISHA has had a significant impact on the adoption of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and other forms of digital media. It has benefited its participants by enabling their access to a wide range of information and services for various purposes, helping to reduce the overall digital divide in the country.

The National Broadband Mission (NBM) was launched by the government on 17th December 2019 with a vision to enable fast-track growth of digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital divide for digital empowerment and inclusion; and provide affordable and universal access to broadband for all. The NBM addresses the major bottleneck of Right of Way (RoW) issues, enabling faster telecom infrastructure deployment across the country. Key initiative under NBM are:

(i) Centralized Right of Way (RoW) Portal GatiShakti Sanchar.

(ii) Telecommunication Right of Way Rules, 2024

(iii) ‘Call Before u Dig’ (CBuD) mobile app

(iv) The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP) Platform

 

Progress under the National Broadband Mission (NBM) 1.0 since the launch

  • No. of broadband subscribers increased from 66 crores to 94.49 crores.
  • Per capita average monthly wireless data consumption increased from 10 GB to 21.10 GB.
  • The median mobile broadband download speed witnessed a substantial increase, rising from 10.71 Mbps in 2019 to an impressive 144.33 Mbps in February 2025. Similarly, the median fixed broadband download speed increased from 29.25 Mbps in 2019 to 61.66 Mbps in February 2025, according to Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index.
  • Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) length increased from 19.35 lakh route km to 42.13 lakh route km.
  • Mobile towers increased from 5.37 lakh to 8.23 lakh.
  • Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) increased from 21.80 lakh to 29.97 lakhs including 4.69 lakh 5G BTSs.
  • As of March 25, 2025, 206 State Broadband Committee (SBC) meetings were held for the effective implementation of the mission and proliferation of broadband across the country.
  • Capacity-building conferences for 5G use cases were held in the majority of States/UTs focussing on various sectors viz. health, education, Industry 4.0 and public safety domains.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada in Lok Sabha today.

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Annexure-I

State-UT/wise details of FTTH connections provided under BharatNet

S.No.

State

Total FTTH connection

1

A & N

7741

2

Andhra Pradesh

50142

3

Arunachal Pradesh

16

4

Assam

5877

5

Bihar

42121

6

Chandigarh

300

7

Chhattisgarh

12202

8

Dadra Nagar Haveli

173

9

Daman & Diu

0

10

Gujarat

125864

11

Haryana

150256

12

Himachal Pradesh

3650

13

Jammu & Kashmir

9789

14

Jharkhand

25899

15

Karnataka

53530

16

Kerala

199753

17

Lakshadweep

0

18

Leh (UT)

0

19

Madhya Pradesh

57914

20

Maharashtra

27328

21

Manipur

3957

22

Meghalaya

102

23

Mizoram

48

24

Nagaland

136

25

Odisha

11832

26

Puducherry

4105

27

Punjab

230243

28

Rajasthan

52041

29

Sikkim

46

30

Telangana

22409

31

Tamilnadu

102

32

Tripura

1408

33

Uttar Pradesh-E

77698

34

Uttar Pradesh-W

35

Uttarakhand

21481

36

West Bengal

55834

 

Total

12,53,997

Source: Department of Telecommunications

Annexure- II

State/UT-wise achievement made under PMGDISHA Scheme

Sl. No.

State Name

Registered Candidates

Trained Candidates

1

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

5,564

2,931

2

Andhra Pradesh

23,01,731

19,17,452

3

Arunachal Pradesh

14,949

11,615

4

Assam

27,21,585

23,60,195

5

Bihar

82,40,606

74,12,740

6

Chhattisgarh

24,86,455

21,37,064

7

Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman  & Diu

20,522

18,029

8

Goa

58,569

53,784

9

Gujarat

30,31,310

26,83,286

10

Haryana

18,57,815

15,77,109

11

Himachal Pradesh

6,61,922

5,32,976

12

Jammu and Kashmir

8,70,451

7,06,991

13

Jharkhand

27,52,731

22,86,356

14

Karnataka

29,64,726

24,40,957

15

Kerala

1,77,165

1,18,132

16

Ladakh

24,785

22,122

17

Lakshadweep

142

35

18

Madhya Pradesh

56,92,467

50,69,449

19

Maharashtra

61,23,970

53,23,817

20

Manipur

28,397

18,286

21

Meghalaya

1,52,783

1,06,063

22

Mizoram

30,317

23,125

23

Nagaland

11,990

8,968

24

Odisha

36,16,441

30,86,143

25

Puducherry

22,079

15,801

26

Punjab

17,46,448

15,14,820

27

Rajasthan

45,06,184

39,70,690

28

Sikkim

27,035

23,122

29

Tamil Nadu

17,04,537

14,07,880

30

Telangana

14,56,226

12,10,448

31

Tripura

3,25,000

2,64,186

32

Uttar Pradesh

1,63,14,369

1,45,48,273

33

Uttarakhand

7,85,978

6,73,306

34

West Bengal

28,36,714

23,95,565

Total

7,35,71,963

6,39,41,716

*******

 

Dharmendra TewariNavin Sreejith

(Release ID: 2117923)

42 Organizations publish 1459 write-ups under National Anubhav Awards Scheme, 2025

Source: Government of India

42 Organizations publish 1459 write-ups under National Anubhav Awards Scheme, 2025

Impressive participation of the retiring employees in the National Anubhav Awards Scheme, 2025

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 6:04PM by PIB Delhi

At the behest of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, ‘Anubhav portal’ [https://pensionersportal.gov.in/Anubhav/] was launched in March 2015 for the retiring/retired central government officials to submit their experiences while in Government.

Thereafter, National Annual Awards Scheme was devised to incentivize and encourage the submission of the experiences. Till date, 104 Organizations have been registered on the portal and 59 Anubhav Awards and 19 Jury Certificates have been conferred to the outstanding write-ups.

National Anubhav Awards Scheme, 2025 was notified with major revamp. For the first time, apart from the employees of Central Government, employees of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and Public Sector Banks (PSBs) were also covered under the scheme to acknowledge their contribution in the nation building. Also, an objective marking system was put in place. As per the notified scheme, write-ups published from 01.04.2024 to 31.03.2025 were to be considered.

As on 22.01.2025, only 423 write-ups were published by 17 Ministries/Departments. To ensure maximum and widespread participation in the scheme, an outreach campaign was conducted by DOPPW from 23.01.2025 to 31.03.2025.

In this series, a workshop for the Anubhav Nodal Officers of Ministries/Departments including 12 PSBs and CPSEs was conducted on 23.01.2025 under the chairmanship of Secretary (Pension). A dedicated cell was established to answer the queries about the provisions of the scheme and process of submission of the write-ups. An informative video was also released and put up on the Youtube channel of DOPPW. Moreover, e-mails and SMSs were sent to eligible retired officers/officials. Role of the Anubhav Nodal Officers of Ministries and Departments was crucial during the outreach campaign; therefore, fortnightly meetings were conducted with them to review the progress.

These initiatives had a positive impact as the number of write-ups published on Anubhav portal increased steeply from 423 to 1,459 during the outreach campaign period.  It includes 124 write-ups from the senior officers from Level-13 and above. Further, due to outreach campaign, number of Ministries/Departments/Organizations whose employees have submitted their write-ups increased remarkably from 17 to 42, maximum in the history of Anubhav.

1,459 published write-ups will now be evaluated through a 2-tier process for finalizing the outstanding write-ups for 05 Anubhav Awards and 10 Jury Certificates, to be conferred in the upcoming Annual Anubhav Awards Ceremony.   

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2117920) Visitor Counter : 60

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025

Source: Government of India

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025

“Democracy Thrives on Constructive Conversations, Not Arguments” – Dr. Mandaviya

Adopt Nation First Mindset, Dr. Mandaviya Inspires Youth to Shape India’s Future

Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament is a Platform that Nurtures Future Young Leaders: Union Minister

Day 1 Witnesses 105 State-level Winners from across Country Showcase their Ideas and Perspectives

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 5:58PM by PIB Delhi

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the National Round of the 2-day Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament Festival 2025 in New Delhi today. Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Khadse was also present on the occasion. The journey to this grand event began when the District Youth Parliament was organized from 16th March 2025 to 27th March, 2025. The winners of the District Youth Parliament-2025 participated in the State Youth Parliament from 23rd – 31st March, 2025 which were organised in many State Legislative Assemblies. A total of 105 State-level winners from across the country earned their place at the national stage.

Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, in his inaugural speech, highlighted that this year’s Youth Parliament has been integrated with the vision of Viksit Bharat. He emphasized the enthusiasm of the youth, noting that over 75,000 young individuals submitted one-minute videos to be part of this initiative. After rigorous selection at the district and state levels, the participants are finally gathered in the prestigious Parliament, a place where leaders and policymakers have shaped India’s present, he added.

Dr. Mandaviya encouraged young participants to adopt a ‘Nation First’ mindset, regardless of their profession. He spoke about the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament as a platform that nurtures future leaders, allowing young individuals to engage in meaningful discussions. He emphasized that democracy thrives not on arguments but on winning the hearts of citizens through constructive conversations. 

Union Minister praised India’s diversity, stating that despite its differences, the Parliament stands as a symbol of unity. Expressing hope for the future, he wished that many of the youth present today would return to Parliament as Members of Parliament or Ministers. He also underscored the strength of democracy, which provides equal opportunities to all, noting that in India, even a person from humble background can become the Prime Minister. 

Dr. Mandaviya advised young people to focus on taking a pledge towards Viksit Bharat and moving forward without worrying about the results. Concluding his address, he encouraged the participants to remain open to learning, stating that these two days would be highly enriching for those willing to receive knowledge and experience.

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Khadse highlighted that the dialogues led by these young minds during Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025 will pave the way for India’s future. She emphasized the significance of this year’s Youth Parliament, aligning with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of making India a Viksit Bharat, where the youth will not only contribute but also lead the nation toward progress. 

In her welcome address, Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, Smt. Meeta Rajivlochan emphasized that Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025 represents our collective commitment to democracy and serves as a forum where young people from across the country can actively contribute to public policy.

The day began with a powerful Inaugural Ceremony, followed by opening remarks by the participants, which was judged by a jury comprising of Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Sushri Shambhavi Chaudhary, Member of Parliament.

The event proceeded with the two Question Hour sessions, which formed the heart of the Youth Parliament experience. Each Question Hour session featured 18 teams participating: 9 teams representing MPs and 9 teams representing Ministers. The youth MPs raised insightful, policy-based questions, and the ministers responded with structured and detailed answers.

During Question Hour 1, teams discussed One Nation, One Election (ONOE), examining governance, administrative feasibility, political stability, and legal challenges, with insights from a distinguished jury, including Smt. Raksha Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, and Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, MP. Question Hour 2 focused on Viksit Bharat, where youth MPs debated youth empowerment, education, skill development, and sustainability, assessed by a jury comprising MPs Shri Satnam Singh Sandhu, Shri Dhaval Laxmanbhai Patel, and Shri Nitesh Kumar Mishra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

This was followed by an insightful master class on oratory skills by Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi, Member of Parliament. This master class provided participants with valuable insights into the art of effective public speaking, a crucial skill for leadership and parliamentary debates.

The Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament on Day 1 was a resounding success, which concluded on an inspiring note, setting the stage for an engaging and impactful second day of discussions, debates, and policymaking exercises.

The Day 2 will be followed with a visit to the new Parliament building, where they will witness live proceedings and experience the legislative process firsthand. This will be followed by a focused discussion on the One Nation, One Election, examining its potential implementation models, electoral dynamics, and implications for Centre-State relations. The agenda also includes a deliberation session led by a team representing the Ministry of Law and Justice, who will be initiating a motion in the house for voting. Later in the day, the National Youth Awards for the years 2021-22 and 2022-23 will be presented, celebrating exceptional contributions to youth leadership along with the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament Awards, 2025.

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Himanshu Pathak

 

(Release ID: 2117909) Visitor Counter : 98