Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:20PM by PIB Delhi

Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing six projects under Umbrella Scheme for “Safety of Women” in collaboration with States and Union Territories for ensuring timely intervention and investigation in cases of crime against women and enhanced efficiency in investigation and crime prevention in such matters. Details of the project are as under-

• • 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS)
• • Upgradation of Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories, including setting up of a National Forensic Data Centre
  • Strengthening of DNA Analysis, Cyber Forensic capacities in State Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs)
  • Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children
• • Capacity building and training of investigators and prosecutors in handling sexual assault cases against women and children
  • Women Help Desk & Anti-human Trafficking Units

The Ministry of Home Affairs is funding for the setup of Women Help Desks (WHDs) in police stations, to improve women’s access to police services. So far, 14,658 WHDs are operational across all States and UTs, out of which 13,743 WHDs are led by women officers. Additionally, 827 Anti- Human   Trafficking   Units   (AHTUs)   have   been   established   across   all States/UTs. The Cyber Crime Prevention against Women & Children project is implemented in all States and UTs. So far, Cyber Forensic Training Laboratories have been setup in 33 States/UTs and over 24,624 officials including police officers, judges and prosecutors have been trained. A portal for reporting cyber-crime against women and children is also active. Under the Nirbhaya fund, projects worth ₹245.29 crore have been approved for enhancing DNA and Cyber Forensic capabilities in State Forensic Labs across 30 States/UTs.    DNA   Analysis facility   has   been  established in Chandigarh. Six National Cyber Forensic Labs, along with a National Forensic   Data   Centre   has   been   approved.   34,626   officials   including Investigation Officers, Prosecution Officers and Medical Officers have been trained on DNA evidence management     and the use of Sexual Assault

Evidence Collection Kits. Also, 18,020 Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits has been distributed to States/UTs.

The Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) is operational across all 36 States/UTs. The upgraded ERSS (2.0) enhances emergency services with improved data centers, wider district coverage, higher call capacity, vehicle tracking, and disaster recovery. Disaster Recovery facilities are functional at C-DAC centers in Noida and Thiruvananthapuram. ERSS is now integrated with other emergency helplines such as Railway Helpline, Women Helpline, Child Helpline, and Disaster Response services.

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

***

RK/VV/ASH/RR/PR/PS

(Release ID: 2117800) Visitor Counter : 72

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:19PM by PIB Delhi

Shri. M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS) chaired a meeting today at Manthan, DFS to discuss the revamp of the Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCR) and key issues related to Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance with the objective of making life of citizen comfortable while availing Financial Services. The meeting included senior officials from concerned Ministries/Departments, financial sector regulators, financial institutions, and other stakeholders.

In the meeting, Shri. Nagaraju emphasized the need for the modernization of the Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCR) and streamlining of KYC process. Key issues & challenges concerning individuals and regulated entities, measures so far taken by the Government and Financial Sector Regulators and proposed measures for further enhancing efficiency, reducing redundancy and improving security relating to KYC process across financial sectors were discussed at length.

During the discussion, many suggestions were received from stakeholders which will be considered for further easing of the KYC process.

**********

NB/AD

(Release ID: 2117797) Visitor Counter : 105

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:18PM by PIB Delhi

Section 479 (1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), which has come into force with effect from 1.7.2024, provides that if a person, during investigation, enquiry or trial of an offence under any law (not being an offence for which the punishment of death or life imprisonment has been specified as one of the punishments under that law), has undergone detention for a period extending up to one-half of the maximum period of imprisonment specified for that offence, he shall be released by the Court on bail. In case of a first-time offender, such a prisoner shall be released on bond by the Court, if he has undergone detention for a period extending up to one-third of the maximum period of imprisonment specified for such offence.

On the occasion of Constitution Day i.e., 26th November, last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs had launched a “Special Campaign”, under which the States and Union Territories (UTs) were requested to identify eligible undertrial prisoners under the provisions of Section 479 of BNSS and move their applications to the concerned Courts for their release on bail/bond. In terms of the data reported by the States and UTs in this regard, State/UT- wise number of eligible prisoners identified and who were granted bail by the Court under the provisions of Section 479 of BNSS upto 26.11.2024 are given in Annexure.

‘Prisons’/‘persons detained therein’ is a “State List” subject under Entry 4 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Therefore, the administration and management of prisoners is primarily the responsibility of respective State Governments/Union Territories, who have the responsibility to take appropriate action in this regard.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an advisory to the States and Union Territories on 1.1.2025 informing them that release of eligible undertrial prisoners on the occasion of Constitution Day was not a one-time exercise and the States/UTs need to take full advantage of the provisions of Section 479 of BNSS and provide the benefit of the same to all eligible undertrial prisoners on a continuous basis, as this can go a long way in mitigating the situation of long detention faced by undertrial prisoners and will also address the issue of overcrowding in prisons.

*****

 

State/UT-wise number of eligible prisoners identified and who were granted bail by the Court under the provisions of Section 479 of BNSS upto 26.11.2024

 

S. No.	State/UT	Number of prisoners identified	Number of prisoners granted bail
1	Andhra Pradesh	2	0
2	Arunachal Pradesh	9	8
3	Assam	1	1
4	Bihar	46	28
5	Chhattisgarh	2	0
6	Goa	2	0
7	Gujarat	7	2
8	Haryana	10	9
9	Himachal Pradesh	0	0
10	Jharkhand	26	14
11	Karnataka	21	9
12	Kerala	3	0
13	Madhya Pradesh	72	37
14	Maharashtra	153	22
15	Manipur	2	0
16	Meghalaya	4	4
17	Mizoram	1	1
18	Nagaland	2	1
19	Odisha	6	2
20	Punjab	15	5
21	Rajasthan	19	4
22	Sikkim	0	0
23	Tamil Nadu	2	0
24	Telangana	0	0
25	Tripura	0	0
26	Uttar Pradesh	110	51
27	Uttarakhand	4	4
28	West Bengal	297	98
29	A & N Islands	0	0
30	Chandigarh	1	1
31	DNH & Daman Diu	0	0
32	Delhi	129	28
33	Jammu & Kashmir	5	5
34	Ladakh	0	0
35	Lakshadweep	0	0
36	Puducherry	0	0
	Total	951	334

 

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

***

RK/VV/ASH/RR/PR/PS

(Release ID: 2117796) Visitor Counter : 65

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:04PM by PIB Delhi

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durga Das Uikey informed in Rajya Sabha today that as per Census 2011 the literacy rate among tribals states of Jharkhand is below:

Male	Female	All
68.2	46.2	57.1

The specific measures taken by the government to increase literacy and education among STs and thereby diminishing gaps are covered by the following schemes/abhiyans especially for the state of Jharkhand is given below. As per information given by Jharkhand State Government, the seats in 81 Scheduled Tribe Residential School have been increased from 12520 to 31420 to increase enrollment of Scheduled Tribe vide resolution no.2429 dated 04.09.2024.

Further the Students are being provided scholarship and cycle by the government. As per department resolution 697 date 14.03.2024 20 Ashram residential School are being operated/run by non-governmental organizations. The distribution of Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe is being done by E-Kalyan portal. For the academic year 2023-24 13976 beneficiaries were covered and Rs.23490.470 lakhs were given.

Other major steps taken by Ministry of Tribal Affairs is given below: –

EMRS: – The Central Sector Scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) was revamped in the year 2018-19 to provide quality education at par with Navodaya Vidyalaya to the tribal children in their own environment. Under the new scheme, Government decided to establish 440 EMRSs, one EMRS in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011). 90 EMRS has been sanctioned in Jharkhand of which 51 are functional.

The funds released for the state of Jharkhand in EMRS is given below in Rs. lakh: –

State	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
Jharkhand	11,309.20	23,562.27	23,915.13

 

Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) catering to students from Class VI to XII of Jharkhand is given below: –

State	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
Jharkhand	3051	3201	3202

 

The following scholarship schemes are also implemented by MoTA

 

a)   Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class IX and X)

b) Post Matric Scholarship for ST students (Class XI and above)

c) National Fellowship for Higher Education for ST students.

d) National Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students (Top Class)

e) National Overseas Scholarship for ST students

 

  Fund released for Scholarship for the year 2021-22 to 2023-24 is given below in Rs. Lakh: –

State	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24
Jharkhand	17048.94	527.11	11815.56

 

PM JANMAN: -Under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) launched on 15^th November 2023 targeted at the socio-economic development of 75 PVTG communities residing in 18 states and one UT. One of the interventions is construction of 500 hostels under Samagra Shiksha which is being implemented by the Ministry of Education. As of now schemes 10 hostels have been sanctioned in Jharkhand and funds allotted are Rs.27.5cr.

DAJGUA: – Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan was launched on 2nd October, 2024. The Abhiyan comprises of 25 interventions implemented by 17-line Ministries and aims to saturate infrastructural gaps in 63,843 villages, improve access to health, education, Anganwadi facilities and providing livelihood opportunities benefiting more than 5 crore tribals in 549 districts and 2,911 blocks in 30 States/UTs in 5 years. Each Ministry has been allocated budget and targets under Abhiyan and responsible for implementing the intervention assigned to it. The Abhiyan aims at Saturation through convergence and outreach.

Under Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, one of the interventions is construction of 1000 hostels under Samagra Shiksha which is being implemented by Ministry of Education. Further, upgradation & improving infrastructure of Ashram Schools, Hostels, Govt./State Tribal Residential schools is also covered under the Abhiyan which is to be considered by Ministry of Tribal Affairs based on the proposals from State Governments.

Development Action Plan for the Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) Serves as a comprehensive financial framework to ensure the allocation and utilization of funds across various ministries for the development and welfare of Scheduled Tribes (STs). It encompasses a wide range of schemes and interventions targeting the overall socio-economic development of STs.

The Budgetary Allocation Significantly increased from ₹21525.36 crore (actual) in 2013-14 annually to ₹1,27,434.20 crore in the year 2025-26, involving 41 Ministries, including the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. 41 Ministries including Mota are mandated to set aside specific percentage schemes budget annually under DAPST for e g. MoRD is to side 17.5% of its budget of schemes for STs.

Department of School Education and Literacy have taken a range of initiatives to ensure that all children are enrolled in schools and complete their school education. Some of the key initiatives like Samagra Shiksha Scheme which reaches out to girls, and children belonging to SC, ST, Minority communities and transgender. It focuses as on special focus Districts on the basis of adverse performance.

Special residential school have also been run for girls from class vi to xii. This is for all states including Jharkhand and Tribals girls are also beneficiaries. Presently a total of 183440 ST girls are beneficiaries at all India level. National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS), Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) and ULLAS: Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society/NILP primally aimed at literacy is also being done which is benefiting tribals.

*******

RN/PIB

 

(Release ID: 2117791) Visitor Counter : 76

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:03PM by PIB Delhi

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durga Das Uikey informed in Rajya Sabha today that the Government of India on 15.6.1999 (further amended on 25.6.2002 and 14.9.2022) has laid down the modalities for deciding the claims for inclusion in, exclusion from and other modifications in Orders specifying Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes lists.

 As per the modalities, only those proposals which have been recommended and justified by the concerned State Government / UT Administration and concurred with by Registrar General of India (RGI) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) are to be considered and legislation amended. All action on the proposals is taken as per these approved modalities. The recommendation of the concerned State Government is pre-requisite to process the case further.

The proposals for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes of a State or Union Territory follow certain processes as per the modalities. This is a continuous process. Proposals received from the State Government should be accompanied by an ethnographic report. The proposals are examined by the Office of the RGI and then by the NCST. In case the proposal is not recommended by the RGI, the State Governments are communicated the points raised by the RGI, so that additional information, if any, may be furnished by the State Government. Many such proposals may therefore remain under examination at different levels.

***

RN/PIB

(Release ID: 2117789) Visitor Counter : 77

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Development Bureau (DEVB) today (April 2) invites the market to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) within three months for eco-tourism development proposals at ex-Lamma quarry site, South Lantau Eco-Recreation Corridor, and Pak Nai and Tsim Bei Tsui.
           
     The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address (PA) to promote island and coastal tourism in Hong Kong. Along with other initiatives to be spearheaded by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the DEVB has been working on the land use and project planning aspects of three projects under large-scale land disposal, which are to develop the ex-Lamma quarry site into an area for resort and outdoor recreational uses; to develop Cheung Sha, Pui O, Shui Hau and Shek Pik into the South Lantau Eco-recreation Corridor; and to develop Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai into eco-tourism nodes.  

     This is the first time in recent years that the Government has initiated large-scale land disposal for the building of new tourism and recreation areas. The Government is also striving to make full use of corporate participation and market forces in the implementation. All three projects are on islands or coastal destinations in rural settings with rich natural resources and water bodies. They all present opportunities for the Government to collaborate with the private sector in promoting tourism and recreational developments while capitalising on local and rural characteristics.       
Ex-Lamma Quarry Site     
     The proposal to develop two Eco-tourism Nodes at Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai was generally supported in the public engagement exercise on the Broad Land Use Concept Plan for the Lau Fau Shan area in 2024, with the former to be positioned as a “Thematic Activity Node” and the latter a “Tranquil Scenic Node”. This EOI exercise aims to collect market proposals based on the more detailed development parameters for these two Nodes the Government has formulated following the public engagement. On implementation, given the substantial sizes of the two Eco-tourism Nodes (87 hectares for Tsim Bei Tsui and 33 hectares for Pak Nai), the future developer(s) may develop and operate the whole or part(s) of the Tsim Bei Tsui Eco-tourism Node, the whole or part(s) of the Pak Nai Eco-tourism Node, or the whole or part(s) of both Eco-tourism Nodes.  In other words, there can be more than one developer.(b) Ex-Lamma Quarry site (www.devb.gov.hk/en/issues_in_focus/index.html(c) South Lantau Eco-recreation Corridor (www.lantau.gov.hk/en/our-projects/leisure-and-recreation/eco-recreation-corridor/index.html      
     Interested parties must submit their EOIs by noon on July 2 (Wednesday).
    
     The DEVB will hold three briefing sessions, one for each of the EOI invitations on April 14 (Monday). For details of the briefings, please refer to the respective Invitation Documents for the three EOIs.
           
     Taking account of the views and suggestions received through the EOI exercises, the DEVB will suitably refine the development parameters and requirements for the three projects. The land tender arrangements and timings will be firmed up thereafter, with reference to the market feedback received.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government will introduce the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which proposes miscellaneous amendments to various statutes, in the Legislative Council on April 16.

The bill amends outdated references including “Crown”, “Governor”, “Secretary of State”, “Her Majesty”, “overseas”, “country” and “country or territory”, as well as references to UK legislation, in various enactments.

It also updates or amends certain texts, references and terminology in specific ordinances and subsidiary legislation.

Moreover, the bill repeals a number of enactments, or provisions or references in others, which have become obsolete, and makes miscellaneous minor, or technical, amendments to some enactments.

The Department of Justice said the proposed amendments mainly arise from the Systematic Review of Statutory Laws of Hong Kong.

It added that the amendments included are largely minor, technical and non-controversial but are useful for the purpose of updating or improving legislation.

In respect of the proposed amendments, the department said no objections have been received from stakeholders consulted.

The department issued an information paper to the LegCo Panel on Administration of Justice & Legal Services in February, briefing members of the panel on the major proposals to be included in the bill.

The bill will be published in the Government Gazette tomorrow.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today met Governor of Jiangxi Province Ye Jianchun at Government House to discuss strengthening Hong Kong’s co-operation with Jiangxi.

 

After welcoming Mr Ye and his delegation to Hong Kong, Mr Lee noted that Hong Kong and Jiangxi have been maintaining close economic and trade relations, and the co-operation activities held by Jiangxi since 2002 have been a significant platform for exchange and collaboration between the two places.

 

Hong Kong is Jiangxi’s largest source of external investment and an important trading partner, with the total value of imports and exports between the two places exceeding US$9.4 billion last year, Mr Lee highlighted.

 

He also emphasised that Hong Kong serves as a main capital market for Jiangxi enterprises listed outside of the Mainland.

     

Mr Lee said that this year marks the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang’s water supply to Hong Kong. Jiangxi, as the source of Dongjiang River, has been providing a vital water supply to the city over the past six decades.

 

He thanked Jiangxi Province for its long-standing efforts in ensuring the safety and cleanliness of the Dongjiang water source, which has been crucial to Hong Kong’s prosperity and development.

     

The Chief Executive noted that apart from being a key link in the Belt & Road Initiative and a Greater Bay Area core city, Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying the motherland’s strong support and being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle.

 

He added that Hong Kong will give full play to its roles as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” to serve Jiangxi in expanding international markets.

 

Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip also attended the meeting.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to Belgian Foreign Ministry’s 2025 policy statement and Foreign Minister Prévot expressing concern over cross-strait developments

Date：2025-03-30
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

March 30, 2025  

The Belgian Foreign Ministry in March submitted a 2025 policy statement to the Chamber of Representatives. The statement reaffirmed its support for the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific policy report, issued by the European Union in 2021, and called for the maintenance of harmony and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Referring to China’s escalating threats toward Taiwan in recent years, it pointed out that China had expanded military drills around Taiwan and continued to deliberately undermine social stability in Taiwan. The statement also emphasized that an invasion of Taiwan by China would have significant political and economic consequences for Europe. It urged all related parties to uphold the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and avoid taking any provocative actions that could trigger a conflict.
 
Furthermore, in response to questions on the policy statement raised by the Chamber of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on March 26, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot expressed concern over China’s recent escalation of military activities around the Taiwan Strait. He emphasized that Belgium should remain highly vigilant to developments in the region and do its utmost to uphold the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
 
The 2025 policy statement issued by the Belgian Foreign Ministry marked another statement of significant concern regarding the cross-strait situation following the Belgian coalition government’s inclusion of Taiwan-friendly content in its coalition agreement in February. In addition, on March 20 the Belgian Chamber of Representatives adopted, by an overwhelming majority, a resolution expressing concern regarding the growing threat of China to Taiwan. This underscores the high level of consensus and support shared by the Belgian administration and parliament for ensuring the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highly welcomes their support and looks forward to deepening bilateral exchanges and cooperation with Belgium so as to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order and advance peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.