2.53 Lakh Community Sanitary Complexes (CSC) and 11.83 Crore Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) constructed under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) till date.
5,64,157 villages have declared themselves Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus (Aspiring-1,11,657, Rising-7,337, Model-4,45,163) upto 20-03-2025.
5,03,973 villages have been covered with Solid Waste Management (SWM) and 5,22,599 villages have been covered with Grey Water Management (GWM) upto 20-03-2025.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd., popularly known as ‘Cottage Emporium’ or ‘Cottage’ is organising its first ever Quiz about ” Crafts of India” in association with MyGov ( Ministry of Electronics and Communication, Government of India) (https://quiz.mygov.in/quiz/quiz-on-know-about-crafts-of-india-through-the-cottage/) with a view to encourage the youth keeping them abreast with the latest happenings of the Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd and the contribution by the Artisans and Weavers Community in preserving India’s National Heritage.
The quiz is open to all Indian citizens across ( except the employees and families of” the Cottage ” ) the country. The quiz is open till 30th April 2025 and the top 03 winners will be awarded prize by” the cottage”. Simultaneously the Citizens are being invited to administer pledge (https://pledge.mygov.in/support-women-artisans/) on the MyGov platform and first 100 women will receive a souvenir made by a Artisan.
A groundbreaking advancement in thermionic emission, the process in which electrons escape from a material’s surface due to thermal energy, could revolutionize next-generation electronic and energy conversion technologies.
Thermionic emission, the process where electrons are emitted from a heated metal surface, called a cathode, when the metal’s thermal energy overcomes the attractive forces holding electrons to the surface, is a fundamental principle behind vacuum electronics, thermoelectric devices, and energy harvesting systems. However, practical applications of thermionic emission in several energy conversion devices have been hindered by the unavailability of materials, high operational temperatures, and inefficient charge transport.
To address these challenges, Prof. Bivas Saha and his team at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India have engineered artificially structured defect-free single-crystalline elemental metal/compound semiconductor superlattices that harness interfacial engineering and leads to thermionic emission. Such engineered metamaterials lead to efficient electron transport and also utilize quantum properties of electrons.
Their pioneering research, published recently in the journal Advanced Materials, introduces a novel approach to enhancing electron emission using artificially structured single-crystalline elemental metal/ compound semiconductor superlattices.
This first-of-its-kind demonstration of controlled thermionic emission using engineered superlattices holds immense promise for thermoelectric energy converters, high-power vacuum electronics, and next-generation semiconductor applications.
“Our research redefines thermionic emission physics by leveraging quantum-engineered materials. These superlattices offer unprecedented control over electron transport, unlocking new possibilities for high-efficiency energy and electronic technologies,” emphasised Prof. Saha.
Supported by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, this research aligns with the national mission to advance high-tech materials, semiconductor research, and self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in cutting-edge technology. The research places India at the forefront of next-generation nanotechnology and material science innovations.
Building on these findings, the research team is focused on refining superlattice architectures for industrial-scale applications, particularly in solid-state energy harvesting and high-temperature electronics. With global demand for energy-efficient and high-performance electronic systems rising, this innovation could serve as a cornerstone for future technological advancements.
Electron microscope image of newly developed Hf/AlN superlattice and electrical measurement data are presented
Incubated at IIT Madras Research Park in 2016, QNu Labs is revolutionizing cybersecurity with quantum-safe solutions, positioning India as a global leader in quantum cryptography. In 2018, QNu launched QKD (Quantum Key Distribution), placing India on the global quantum map.
The journey of the deeptech startup has been an eventful one. In 2022, it won the iDEX Open Challenge 2.0, successfully developing a 150-km QKD system with trusted nodes, completing trials with the Army. Under the NSCS grant, it built a Hub-and-Spoke QKD network and received first large order from Indian Armed Forces for building quantum secure wireline networks using already laid optical fibres. In 2023, QNu solved the problem of security over wi-fi links by bringing in Quantum secure VPN solution using its QRNG product and NIST shortlisted PQC algorithm. This paved way for securing wireless networks using QVPN solution at MCEME and MCTE in 2023-24. In 2024, QNu delivered 25 QKD systems to the Indian Navy, marking a significant milestone in quantum secure communication in India.
The startup offers cutting-edge quantum-safe products —Tropos (QRNG), a Quantum Random Number Generator positioned as the new ‘Root of Trust’ for all the solutions and has been commercialized with delivery to DRDO and WESEE for critical applications and to Indian Army for quantum safe wireless solutions; Armos, a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solution, delivered to a Middle Eastern client, Defence PSU BEL, the Indian Navy, and recently secured a significant order from the Indian Army; QShield, the quantum-secure SaaS platform, with fours services which are already being used by several clients.
Selected as one of the startups under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), QNu Labs aims to build and deploy a Quantum Communication Network that is Made in India, Made for the World with the world’s first end-to-end quantum- safe heterogeneous network. This network will integrate free-space QKD, indigenous components like SPD and encryptors, QHSM, and a software-defined QKD controller, showcasing India’s leadership in cutting-edge quantum communication technologies.
For the financial year 2024-25, budget allocation of ₹86,000 crore has been made for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS), which is the highest ever allocation for scheme at the Budget Estimate (BE) stage since inception. In the financial year 2025-26, the Government has retained this allocation at ₹86,000 crore, ensuring continued support for rural employment.
As Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is a demand-driven scheme, the Central Government is committed to making funds available to States and Union Territories based on the demand for work on the ground. The Ministry of Rural Development closely monitors this demand and seeks additional funds from the Ministry of Finance as and when required to meet the demand for work on the ground.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched in April 2022 with the ambitious goal of constructing or rejuvenating 75 Amrit Sarovars (ponds) in each district, totaling 50,000 across the country. Each Amrit Sarovar was to have pondage area of about 1 acre (except in case of States/UTs with hilly terrain) with water holding capacity of about 10,000 cubic meters (except in case of hilly terrain states.)
As on 20-03-2025, over 68,000 Amrit Sarovars have been completed, State-wise details of which are at Annexure. This initiative has made significant contribution in addressing the critical issue of water scarcity and enhancing surface and groundwater availability across various regions. These Sarovars have not only addressed immediate water needs but also established sustainable water sources, symbolizing Government commitment to long-term environmental sustainability and community well-being.
Mission Amrit Sarovar works are being taken up by the States and Districts in convergence with various ongoing schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS), 15th Finance Commission Grants, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojna sub-schemes such as the Watershed Development Component, Har Khet ko Pani, besides States’ own schemes. Public contributions like crowdfunding and Corporate Social Responsibility are also allowed for the work.
Phase II of Mission Amrit Sarovar is envisaged to continue with a renewed focus on ensuring water availability, with community participation (Jan Bhagidaari) at its core, and aims to strengthen climate resilience, foster ecological balance, and deliver lasting benefits for future generations.
Peoples’ participation has been the key to the entire Mission. To encourage mobilization of citizens and non- Government resources for supplementing the Government’s efforts to achieve the target, explicit provisions have been made in the guidelines of the Mission Amrit Sarovar as follows:
Laying the foundation stone for the Amrit Sarovar to be led by freedom fighter or her/his family member or by the family of martyr (post-independence) or a local Padma awardee, and in case no such citizen is available, by the eldest member of the local Gram Panchayat.
Provision for people to participate by donating construction material, benches and by Shram Daan.
If village community so desires, beautification works on the Sarovar site may mobilize necessary donations through crowd sourcing and CSR contributions.
Provision has been made that on the occasion of Independence Day/ Republic Day, Tricolour to be hoisted at each Amrit Sarovar site, by the freedom fighter or his/her family member or by the family member of martyr or a local Padma Awardee. On Amrit Sarovar sites, National events are also being celebrated.
Possible users of such water structure, including for irrigation, fishery or water chestnut cultivation, should be identified and creation of their group are encouraged.
As per the guidelines of Mission Amrit Sarovar, effective maintenance and sustainability of Amrit Sarovars requires a formation and clear mapping of users’ groups associated with each sarovar largely drawn from members of SHGs. Proper identification and coordination of these user groups are essential for the optimal use and upkeep of the sarovars. The user group will also be responsible for the ongoing use and maintenance of the Amrit Sarovar including the plantation activities. The removal of silt from the catchment area should be done by the users’ groups voluntarily after every monsoon season.
Annexure
State/Union Territory (UT)-wise details of Amrit Sarovar completed as on 20.03.2025
SI. No.
State/UT
Total Number of Amrit Sarovar Completed
1
Andaman & Nicobar
227
2
Andhra Pradesh
2154
3
Arunachal Pradesh
772
4
Assam
2966
5
Bihar
2613
6
Chhattisgarh
2902
7
Goa
159
8
Gujarat
2650
9
Haryana
2088
10
Himachal Pradesh
1691
11
Jammu And Kashmir
1056
12
Jharkhand
2048
13
Karnataka
4056
14
Kerala
866
15
Ladakh
100
16
Madhya Pradesh
5839
17
Maharashtra
3055
18
Manipur
1226
19
Meghalaya
705
20
Mizoram
1031
21
Nagaland
256
22
Odisha
2367
23
Puducherry
152
24
Punjab
1450
25
Rajasthan
3138
26
Sikkim
199
27
Tamil Nadu
2487
28
Telangana
1872
29
The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
58
30
Tripura
682
31
Uttarakhand
1322
32
Uttar Pradesh
16630
33
West Bengal
25
Total
68,842
This information was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
As a marketing initiative under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) SARAS Aajeevika Mela is organised at national and state levels. An export pavilion was in place at SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2025 at Noida, Uttar Pradesh organised by the Ministry of Rural Development to showcase products of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) having export potential, with the primary goal of encouraging and promoting SHGs towards export of their products. Training sessions cum Workshops were conducted in this Mela for capacity building and generating export potential in SHGs, and to creating awareness.
National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) has conducted a national-level workshop in Delhi on 14th and 15th May 2024 to deliberate the scope of ‘Export Marketing of Handicraft and Handloom Products of SHGs’.
Ministry of Textiles under Marketing component of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), organized the following events to provide a marketing platform to artisans and promote export of handicrafts:
(I) Domestic Marketing events including Gandhi Shilp Bazar/Fashion Show/Hiring of Stalls in events organized by other organizations/CDAP.
(II) International Marketing Events in India & Abroad include:
International Marketing Events.
International Craft Exposure Programme.
Buyer Seller Meet & Reverse Buyer Seller Meet.
Fairs/Exhibitions/Events on Virtual Platforms.
The Ministry has undertaken tie-ups with eCommerce Players for promotion of SHG products. In collaboration with Government e-Marketplace (GeM) a “SARAS Collection” has been created as a Store Front in GeM for marketing of SHG products. Also, Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been entered between Ministry and Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd., Amazon, Fashnear Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Meesho) and Jiomart respectively to allow the Self Help Groups (SHGs) producers including the artisans, weavers and craftsmen to access national markets through the Flipkart Samarth programme, Amazon Saheli initiative, Meesho and Jiomart for marketing of SHGs products. An e-Commerce platform (www.esaras.in) has also been launched by the Ministry for online marketing of SHG products. eSARAS is also live as a Seller Network Participant on ONDC. Curated products of women SHGs are available on 11 Apps of ONDC network i.e. Paytm, Mystore, Craftsvilla, Jagran, Snapdeal, Novopay, Easypay, Gonuclei, Rubaru, Mappls, Himira.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, will chair the 84th Annual General Meeting of the Governing Body of the Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education and Development in New Delhi tomorrow. The meeting aims to ensure the effective implementation and review of the Workers Education Scheme for the nation’s workforce.
The event will be attended by Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, senior officials from various ministries, representatives of trade unions, and employer organizations.
Headquartered in New Delhi, the Board has been empowering workers across the country through its 50 Regional Directorates since 1958. It focuses on training and awareness programmes for organized sector workers on human resources and industrial development, while also educating unorganized and rural workers about social security and various other labour welfare schemes and programmes.
In response to the evolving landscape, the Board is conducting Shramik Chaupals and Awareness-cum-Registration Camps to train workers and enroll them in various flagship government schemes, ensuring direct benefits. Additionally, the Board is collaborating with various institutions to provide skilling, reskilling, and upskilling opportunities to workers.
The Board is also in the process of obtaining Awarding Body status from the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Dah Sing Bank, Limited relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens and phishing emails, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites, login screens or emails concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, will depart for a four-day visit to Beijing tomorrow morning (March 26).
Upon arrival, Mr Lam will call on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council to report on the developments of the Department of Justice’s major policy initiatives.
During his visit, Mr Lam will join an exchange session and a seminar to be held at the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate respectively. He will also meet with senior officials and representatives of the authorities to exchange views on Hong Kong’s common law system under the principle of “one country, two systems” and other relevant topics.
Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong on March 29. During his absence, the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, will be the Acting Secretary for Justice.