College of Nursing, AH(R&R) celebrated World Health Day-2025 on April 17, 2025. The theme of the event was ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’ which emphasises on Maternal and Child Health.
As the Chief Guest, First Lady AH(R&R) Mrs Navneet Nath graced the event and inaugurated the work stations. Several therapeutic diets, including diabetic, cardiac, renal, and antenatal & postnatal diets, as well as complementary feeding for children aged six months to one year, were on display in the workshop.
In honour of World Health Day 2025, the students demonstrated the significance of the various aspects of health. The event encouraged awareness, education, and good habits among students and the community, highlighting the significance of healthy beginnings for hopeful futures.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is happy to announce that on the occasion of ‘International Day for Monuments and Sites’, celebrated globally on 18thApril, no fee shall be charged on visiting ASI monuments across India.
This initiative aims to encourage visitors to explore India’s rich cultural heritage. With 3,698 monuments and sites under its protection, ASI is offering this opportunity to reconnect with the country’s historical legacy and architectural marvels.
This year’s theme for ‘International Day for Monuments and Sites; is ‘Heritage under threat from disaster and conflicts.’ where awareness is being spread on safeguarding the heritage sites from natural or manmade disasters, threats or conflicts.
By waiving off entry fee, ASI hope to promote greater public engagement around the importance of conservation and management of our built heritage and how can citizens play active role in keeping our heritage preserved.
After all, as per the Fundamental Duties laid down in our Constitution, it is our collective responsibility to protect these invaluable heritage sites and do our bit to protect them.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH gives full support to blood donation activity and calls on public to donate blood to save lives during upcoming long holidays “With an ageing population in Hong Kong and increasing demand for medical services, the demand for blood is also rising. Blood collection efforts are often affected by unforeseen factors, such as inclement weather, influenza season and the public’s travel habits during long holidays, which may lead to a drop in the public’s willingness to donate blood and in the number of blood donations. In view of this, the DH has decided to support the BTS before the Easter holidays, hoping that the public will take advantage of the holidays to participate in blood donation activities and demonstrate selfless love, thus providing local hospitals with a stable and safe blood supply for clinical transfusion and treatment purposes,” Dr Lam said.
During the visit of the BTS mobile blood donation team to the DH headquarters today, a total of 24 DH staff members participated in the blood donation drive and donated 24 units of blood.
“Whole blood collected can be processed into components to help three to four patients. At the same time, blood donation is good for both physical and mental health. Apart from aiding metabolism, overseas studies have shown that people who donate blood regularly tend to feel happier and healthier. As the saying goes, it is a blessing to donate. Don’t hesitate to donate blood and save more lives together,” Dr Lam added.
The BTS has set up a number of blood donor centres throughout Hong Kong, and mobile blood donation teams and mobile blood donation vehicles visit different districts regularly to facilitate blood donation by the public. During the Easter holidays, most blood donor centres will be open as usual. To minimise waiting time, members of the public are advised to call the blood donor centres or make an appointment for blood donation through the mobile application “HK Blood”. For more information about the addresses and opening hours of the blood donor centres, the public may visit the BTS’s websiteIssued at HKT 18:45
India’s Journey of Heritage Preservation World Heritage Day 2025
Posted On: 17 APR 2025 4:23PM by PIB Delhi
“Heritage is not only history. Rather a shared consciousness of humanity. Whenever we look at historical sites, it lifts our mind from the current geo-political factors.”
~ Prime Minster Narendra Modi
World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18th April to honor and protect cultural and natural heritage.
This year theme is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions.”
The World Heritage Convention is an international agreement created by UNESCO in 1972.
World Heritage Convention was adopted by countries around the world to protect important cultural and natural sites.
As of October 2024, there are 1,223 World Heritage Sites across 196 countries(952 cultural, 231 natural, 40 mixed).
India has 43 World Heritage Sites, with Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Ajanta, and Ellora Caves among the first listed in 1983.
Introduction
Our heritage is not just built of stones, scripts or ruins. It lives in every whisper of a temple wall, every carving on ancient forts and every folk song passed down through generations. It tells stories of who we were, what we stood for and how we endured. World Heritage Day is a heartfelt reminder that these timeless treasures are not only to be admired, but protected. This year’s theme:“Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions” reminds us that preserving our past is key to protecting our future.
The Story Behind World Heritage Day
World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18th April. It is also called the International Day for Monuments and Sites. The day is meant to honor and protect human heritage. It also appreciates the people and groups who work to preserve it. The day was started in 1982 by ICOMOS(International Council on Monuments and Sites). Later, in 1983, UNESCO officially adopted it. Every year, ICOMOS gives a special theme for the day. Based on this theme, people and groups hold events and activities around the world to celebrate and protect heritage.
Understanding the World Heritage Convention
UNESCO, which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, works to protect and preserve important cultural and natural heritage around the world. To help with this, UNESCO’s member countries adopted the World Heritage Convention in 1972. This agreement explains what countries need to do to find and take care of special sites that can be added to the World Heritage List. India became part of this Convention in November 1977. Today, the World Heritage List includes 1,223 sites that are considered valuable to all of humanity. These include 952 cultural sites, 231 natural sites, and 40 sites that have both cultural and natural importance. As of October 2024, 196 countries have joined the World Heritage Convention.
World Heritage Sites: Protecting Future
World Heritage Sites are special places on Earth that have great value for all of humanity. These can be cultural, natural, or a mix of both. They are protected under an international agreement led by UNESCO. UNESCO gives the World Heritage title to places that are culturally, historically or scientifically important.
Over the years, India has steadily expanded its presence on the World Heritage List. In July 2024, a proud addition was made with the inscription of “Moidams: The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty” from Assam as a cultural property. With this, India now has 43 sites on the World Heritage List and 62 more on UNESCO’s Tentative List. The country’s journey began in 1983 with the listing of Agra Fort, followed by the Taj Mahal, Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves. These sites are preserved not only as symbols of history but also as learning spaces for generations to come.
Government’s Initiatives to Promote India’s Rich Cultural Heritage
India has taken several meaningful steps to protect, restore, and promote its vast cultural and natural heritage. These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s timeless traditions and historical treasures.
Retrieval of Antiquities: Archaeological Survey of India is committed to the protection of cultural property. Government has retrieved 655 antiquities from foreign countries from the year 1976 to 2024, of which 642 antiquities have been retrieved since 2014.
Adopt a Heritage’ Scheme: The “Adopt A Heritage” programme was launched in 2017 and revamped as “Adopt A Heritage 2.0” in 2023. It allows private and public groups to help develop facilities at protected monuments using their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. So far, 21 MoUs have been signed between the Archaeological Survey of India and various partner organisations across different states under this programme.
46th Session of the World Heritage Committee: Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture, successfully hosted the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Delhi from 21st to 31st July 2024. The meeting was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, and attended by nearly 2900 international and national delegates from more than 140 countries. Delegates gathered to discuss and collaborate on preserving cultural, natural and mixed heritage marking a significant step in India’s global role in heritage protection.
Building Monuments of National Importance: India has 3,697 ancient monuments and archaeological sites declared of national importance. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for their conservation and maintenance. It also ensures basic amenities at these sites, such as pathways, signages, benches, facilities for differently-abled visitors, sound and light shows, and souvenir shops.
Revival and Redevelopment of Heritage Sites: India has revived key heritage sites through conservation and development projects. The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, Mahakaal Lok in Ujjain, and Ma Kamakhya Corridor in Guwahati enhance pilgrim experiences and boost tourism. The Chardham Road Project improves connectivity to sacred sites. Additionally, projects in Somnath and the Kartarpur Corridor promote cultural heritage and easier access for devotees.
Must See Portal: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has created a portal to showcase “Must-See Monuments and Archaeological Sites of India.” It highlights nearly a hundred prominent sites, including World Heritage properties and UNESCO Tentative List sites. The portal provides essential information such as history, access details, facilities and panoramic views. It aims to promote these sites for global visitors. Visit:asimustsee.nic.in
Digitization of Cultural Heritage in India: The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), set up in 2007, works to digitize and document India’s heritage and antiquities. So far, over 12.3 lakh antiquities and 11,406 heritage sites have been recorded. For 2024–25, ₹20 lakh was allocated to the mission. The Indian Heritage in Digital Space (IHDS) initiative further aims to use digital technology to preserve and present India’s cultural legacy through immersive tools and research support.
Status of Classical Languages: On October 3, 2024, the Government granted classical language status to Assamese, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, and Bengali, raising the total to 11 classical Indian languages. This move reflects India’s strong commitment to preserving its diverse and ancient linguistic heritage.
India’s first Archaeological Experiential Museum: Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Archaeological Experiential Museum in Vadnagar on 16th January 2025. Built at a cost of ₹298 crore, the museum covers 12,500 square meters. It showcases Vadnagar’s 2,500-year-old history with over 5,000 artifacts, including ceramics, coins, tools and skeletal remains. It features nine galleries and a 4,000-square-meter excavation site offering an immersive experience of ongoing archaeological discoveries.
Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum: On 29th July 2024, a state-of-the-art museum spanning 100,000 square feet was inaugurated at Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in New Delhi. The museum showcases the site’s rich history, architecture, and conservation journey, offering visitors an immersive cultural experience.
India’s Literary Milestone on the MOWCAP Register: In a historic achievement, three of India’s literary treasures: Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahrdayāloka-Locana, were inscribed into the 2024 Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) Regional Register. This recognition, announced on 8th May 2024 in Mongolia, underscores the global significance of India’s rich literary and cultural heritage.
Conclusion
World Heritage Day reminds us that protecting our heritage is a shared responsibility. From ancient monuments to timeless literature, India continues to preserve its cultural and natural legacy through strong national efforts and global collaboration. These efforts ensure that our rich heritage inspires, educates, and unites generations to come.
The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is making continuous efforts to bring significant improvement in dissemination of its statistical products in sync with international best practices and timelines. MOSPI releases consumer price indices within 12 days after the end of the reference month, which is among the best globally. Similarly, survey reports of NSS are now released within 90 days of completion of fieldwork. The Calendar of release of National Accounts Statistics has been rationalized by obviating the need for the 3rdRevised Estimates of GDP. On the same lines, MOSPI now plans to release the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) within 28 days instead of 42 days.
“From April 2025 onwards, All India Index of Industrial Production (IIP) will be released on 28th of every month at 4:00 PM within 28 days from the reference month. For a particular month IIP will be released as Quick Estimates followed by a Final Estimate.”
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is a crucial short-term indicator of industrial growth in the country. The compilation and release of IIP in India commenced with base year 1937, which was successively revised to 1946, 1951, 1956, 1960, 1970, 1980-81, 1993-94, 2004-05 and 2011-12. MoSPI presently releases the monthly all India Index of Industrial Production (IIP) on the 12th of every month (previous working day if 12th is a holiday) within 42 days from the reference month.
Currently, the Quick Estimates of a month undergo revision in subsequent releases as per the revision policy of IIP. Along with the Quick Estimates of IIP for the specific month, the indices of the previous month undergo the first revision and those for the third previous month undergo the second or final revision in the light of the updated data received from the source agencies.
The United Nations’ International Recommendations for Index of Industrial production (IRIIP)-2010 provide that the monthly IIP be released within forty-five days after the end of the reference month. Similarly, the Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS) of the IMF requires that the index for any reference month should be released within six weeks from the end of that month. In accordance with these international standards in data dissemination, MOSPI has been releasing IIP indices within 42 days after the end of the reference month.
In recent times, considering the advancement in data collection and processing technologies, there is a growing demand from stakeholders for reducing the timeline of release of IIP. Recognizing this need, MoSPI constituted a committee, in June, 2024, to examine the feasibility of reducing the timeline of release of IIP, its revision schedule, while maintaining the response rates and without compromising the quality. The committee included representatives from all the data source agencies, including the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Indian Bureau of Mines, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals and others. The Committee reviewed the entire system of data collection and processing of IIP data to arrive at its recommendations.
After due consultations with the source agencies and in keeping with stakeholders’ aspirations, it has been decided to reduce the timeline of release of IIP from 42 days to 28 days from reference month and also to do-away with second revision of IIP. Accordingly, MoSPI will henceforth release the monthly “All India Index of Industrial Production (IIP)”on 28th of every month at 4:00 PM (next working day if 28th is a holiday). The Quick estimate for a specific month will undergo revision only once, in the next month as the final estimate, as per the revised revision policy. Thus, MOSPI will now release only two estimates (Quick estimate and Final estimate) of a particular month instead of the earlier practice of releasing three estimates (Quick estimates followed by a 1st Revised estimate and a 2nd Revised (final) estimate).
In view of the above, it is informed that MoSPI will release the next IIP estimates on 28 April 2025, at 4:00 PM on the website of Press Information Bureau and Ministry’s official website (https://www.mospi.gov.in). This release will include – Quick estimates for March 2025, and the Final estimates for December 2024, January 2025 and February 2025.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Conference on Simplification of Procedures and Best Practices for E-commerce concludes This marks the first time for Hong Kong Customs to organise a large-scale A/P regional conference focusing on e-commerce, bringing together more than 200 representatives from the WCO, A/P Customs administrations, ASEAN members, and international and local industries. This Conference was also supported by the Economic and Technical Co-operation Work Programme under the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement.
The event commenced with a ceremony officiated by the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat; and the Head of Trade Facilitation Division of ASEAN Secretariat, Mr Cuong Ba Tran.
Speaking at the commencement ceremony, Dr Chan highlighted that e-commerce is rapidly expanding across the globe, and Hong Kong is at the forefront to connect with global markets, in particular with ASEAN and other close partners in the A/P region. Noting that it is imperative for policymakers to closely collaborate with stakeholders to create a conducive environment for the healthy growth of e-commerce, he said that the Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into a cross-boundary e-commerce logistics and distribution centre, focusing on enhancing the efficiency of cross-boundary goods distribution and improving infrastructure connectivity, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s competitiveness to position Hong Kong as a leading hub for e-commerce.Issued at HKT 18:52
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appeal for information on missing man in Mong Kok He is about 1.7 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a grey long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, blue shoes and carrying a dark-coloured crossbody bag.Issued at HKT 18:57
Tracing an intermedia black hole (IMBH) located in a faint galaxy about 4.3 million light-years away using India’s largest optical telescope, astronomers have found that gas clouds orbit the black hole at a distance of 125 light-minutes (around 2.25 billion kilometre) with a velocity dispersion of545 km per second.
The discovery refines our understanding about how black holes, specially those that weight between 100 and 100,000 Suns, grow and interact with their surroundings.
For decades, astronomers have searched for a missing link in the cosmic black hole family: the elusive Intermediate-Mass Black Holes (IMBHs). Bridging the gap between smallerstellar black holes(having a few dozen times the Sun’s mass) and massivesupermassive black holes(having millions to billions of solar masses), IMBHs have remained elusive.
IMBHs, are thought to be the seeds that grow into supermassive black holes. However, their faint nature and location in small galaxies make them extremely difficult to observe. Unlike their larger counterparts, they don’t generate bright emissions unless they’re actively pulling in matter, making advanced observational techniques essential.
Using the 3.6m Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT) a team led by scientists from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have successfully detected and measured the properties of an IMBH in a faint galaxy called NGC 4395.
The team of astrophysicists, led by Shivangi Pandey studied NGC 4395—a low-luminosity active galaxy hosting one of the faintest actively feeding black holes ever observed.
They used the largest optical telescope in India, the 3.6m DOT, and its indigenously developed spectrograph and camera ADFOSC, along with the smaller 1.3m Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope (DFOT) located at the Devasthal Observatory of ARIES.
Since the size of the region surrounding the black hole is very difficult to resolve even with a sophisticated telescope, the team monitored the object continuously for two nights using both the telescopes and applied a special technique called spectrophotometric reverberation mapping.
This technique measures the delay between light emitted by the black hole’s accretion disk and the surrounding gas clouds (broad-line region). This delay, ortime lag, revealed the region’s size and helped calculate the black hole’s mass.
Figure 1: Illustration of Reverberation mapping technique. The central region of an active galaxy sends out light in all directions. Some light reaches us directly, while some bounces off nearby gas clouds before reaching us, creating a slight delay. This delay helps us map the region around the centre. Credits:https://jhoormann.github.io/blog/blog-1/
Apart from racing the gas clouds, they also found that theIMBH weighs about 22,000 times the Sun’s mass, making it one of the most precisely measured intermediate-mass black holes. The black hole consumes matter at just 6% of its maximum theoretical rate.
Figure 2: A V-band image of NGC 4395 taken on March 10, 2022, using the 1.3m DFOT, shows the active galactic nucleus (AGN) marked with a red circle, with three comparison stars highlighted in white. The field of view measures 18′ × 18′ arcmin.
The study published in the Astrophysical Journal validates the size-luminosity relationship for black holes in low-luminosity active galaxies, provides a more accurate black hole mass estimate than previous studies and offers a more precise benchmark for future research.
Dr Suvendu Rakshit, a scientist at ARIES involved in this study, notes: “The hunt for more IMBHs is far from over. Larger telescopes and advanced instruments will be key to uncovering these cosmic middleweights.”
As technology advances, future observations with larger telescopes and higher-resolution instruments will deepen our understanding of IMBHs and their role in shaping the universe.
Figure 3: The size of the Hα BLR, compared to the monochromatic continuum luminosity at 5100 Å, aligns with the relationship across previous studies. The current lag of 125 minutes contrasts with earlier estimates, underscoring the precision of this study.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
“HK SciFest 2025”, organised by the Science Promotion Unit of the Hong Kong Science Museum (HKScM), will be held from tomorrow (April 18) to April 27. The HKScM is collaborating with over 50 partners, including government departments, universities and science organisations, launching over 100 science programmes, including science workshops, lectures, seminars, film screenings, and site visits. Most activities are free, and members of the public are welcome to join.
“HK SciFest” is one of the largest popular science events in Hong Kong. Addressing the opening ceremony today (April 17), the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan, said although Hong Kong is geographically small, the city has generated numerous scientific research initiatives and innovations that benefit the global community. Notable examples include optical fibre networks which are capable of receiving and transmitting vast amount of information in a wink, and non-invasive prenatal diagnosis that provides safer and more accurate assessments to detect the risk of genetic disease in fetuses. With the theme of “Local Contributions in Science”, this year’s “HK SciFest” aims to showcase the vibrant ecosystem of scientific research in Hong Kong, and the collective efforts of local science institutions and organisations in popularising scientific knowledge and driving the development of science and technology through a wide range of programmes.
Other officiating guests today included the Chairperson of the Science Sub-committee of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong, and the Museum Director of the HKScM, Mr Lawrence Lee.
Part of the Ground Floor Exhibition Hall of the HKScM will be converted into a “Science Bazaar” with more than 10 activity booths, where members of the public can enjoy a fun and educational science experience. Activities include a virtual autonomous vehicle driving game, a drone display, a virtual reality game to tour Geoparks in Hong Kong, local animal specimens, and learning how to identify the authenticity of gems using scientific methods. There will also be hands-on science demonstrations, mini-exhibitions and mini-workshops.
Other highlighted activities of the festival include Croucher Science Week, which will invite science communicators from around the world to host onsite science performances and workshops to explore techniques for coral propagation and reef rehabilitation and to assemble a model electric tricycle. In addition, lectures about saving sea turtles in Hong Kong and the application of artificial intelligence in daily life, film screenings of sci-fi films “Interstellar” (2014) and “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” (2001), guided tours at the Volcano Discovery Centre, and much more. For details of the activities and registration, please visit www.hk.science.museum/scifest2025/?lang=en.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurates a national dialogue on ‘Self-Empowerment through Inner Awakening’ for security forces personnel at Abu Road, Rajasthan Brahma Kumari Sansthan has created a wonderful environment of simplicity, abstinence and cooperation in the world through sacrifice, penance and its brilliance
Brahma Kumari Sansthan is working as an ambassador of Indian culture by taking the message of peace and dialogue to the whole world
Prime Minister Modi Ji has done the work of giving our Vedic tradition to the whole world by celebrating International Yoga Day on 21st June
Today, crores of people in the world are walking the path of yoga, meditation and spirituality; this will become the path of world peace in the coming times
For the last 25 years, the efforts of Brahma Kumaris to reduce the stress of security personnel and lead them towards peace are commendable
Pujya Lekhraj Kripalani Ji established Brahma Kumari Sansthan and turned each one’s soul into a lamp to help them walk on the path of light
Posted On: 17 APR 2025 6:56PM by PIB Delhi
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah today inaugurated a national dialogue on ‘Self-Empowerment through Inner Awakening’ for security forces personnel in Rajasthan. Many dignitaries including Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma were present on the occasion.
In his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Brahma Kumaris are working to light a lamp of peace and spiritual practice in every human being across the world through yoga and meditation. He said that efforts are made here to awaken the goodness within every person and they have been doing it for a long time now. He added that one can feel an amazingly peaceful atmosphere when they arrive here and it is because of the spiritual energy existing in this place.
Shri Amit Shah said that when one finds a Guru in personal life, he is able to lead the path of righteousness and there are many examples of it. He said that some people do such work that it turns every person’s soul into a lamp and help them walk on the path of light. He said that by establishing Brahma Kumari, Lekhraj Kripalani Ji made a big call to make every person’s soul a lamp and move forward on the path of light, which is having a huge impact on the society today.
Union Home Minister said that Brahma Kumaris have worked to create a wonderful environment of simplicity, abstinence and cooperation across the world through their sacrifice, penance and brilliance. He said that two programs have taken place here simultaneously today – first, the launch of the theme of the year 2025-26 of the Brahma Kumari Sansthan, ‘Meditation for World Unity and World Faith, and, second, the inauguration of the national dialogue on self-empowerment through inner awakening of security force personnel.
Shri Amit Shah said that after 75 years of independence, our country has come a long way and has become the fifth largest economy in the world and in a few years we will become the third largest economy. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are aiming to become the leader in every field in the world on the centenary of independence in 2047. He said that India’s goal should be to take forward our traditions, that have the ability to lead to world brotherhood, connect the soul of every human with the divine and lead every life on the path of virtue, and organizations like Brahma Kumari are doing well in this direction.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the nation’s safety today is the result of the immense sacrifice and dedication of our security forces. He acknowledged the tireless efforts of our personnel who guard the borders under the most challenging conditions. He emphasized that in matters of internal security, the Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and state police forces work diligently to uphold law and order and protect the vulnerable — a responsibility that often brings significant stress. Highlighting the importance of mental and emotional well-being, he said that helping security personnel find peace in their mind, body, and soul is a crucial mission. In this regard, he praised the Brahma Kumaris for their commendable efforts over the past 25 years in reaching out to security forces, alleviating their stress, and promoting inner peace, which in turn contributes to a stronger and more secure nation.
Shri Amit Shah highlighted India’s ancient tradition of harmonizing the mind, body, intellect, and soul through yoga and spirituality. He said that this legacy has long guided us on the path of knowledge, progress, and thoughtful policymaking to solve complex problems. He noted that today India continues to share this timeless wisdom with the world. He emphasized that the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the idea that the whole world is one family—originated from India’s Upanishads, which embraced a global sense of unity and belonging. Shri Shah added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India took a significant step in promoting its Vedic heritage globally by establishing International Yoga Day on 21st June. He added that today millions around the world are embracing yoga, meditation, and spirituality as a way of life. He expressed confidence that this path will increasingly become a foundation for global peace in the years to come.
Union Home Minister said that the profound knowledge of the soul, God, and the cycle of creation received by Pujya Lekhraj Kripalani Ji came to be known as “Brahma,” and the Brahma Kumaris organization was founded to share this spiritual wisdom with the world. He highlighted the vital role of women in this mission, noting that for generations, the divine feminine has been revered, and women have been at the heart of the Brahma Kumaris’ leadership and service. He emphasized that true change in the world begins with self-transformation—only when an individual transforms from within can they inspire change in others. Guided by this principle, the Brahma Kumaris have spread powerful and positive thoughts around the world. The Home Minister praised the organization for promoting values such as celibacy, vegetarianism, de-addiction, simplicity, and meditation. Through these practices, they help individuals connect the soul with God and realize their inner nature as pure, peaceful, and eternal beings—all in an accessible and relatable way. He said that through the strength of womanhood, the Brahma Kumaris have become ambassadors of Indian culture, spreading the message of peace, dialogue, and spiritual harmony across the globe.