Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 03 APR 2025 1:59PM by PIB Delhi

The Army Commanders’ Conference, an apex level biannual event, is being held in New Delhi from 01^st Apr to 04^th April 2025.  During the event, Indian Army’s apex leadership comprehensively deliberated upon all aspects of existing security scenarios, situation along the borders, in the hinterland and challenges for the present security apparatus. In addition, the conference also focused on issues pertaining to organisational restructuring, logistics, administration, human resource management, modernisation through indigenisation, induction of Niche technologies and assessment of impact of the various existing global situations. The main highlight of the third day of the conference was the address by the Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh, to the senior leadership of the Indian Army, which was preceded by a brief on the “Year of Reforms”.

The Raksha Mantri reaffirmed the faith of the billion-plus citizens in the Indian Army as one of the most trusted and inspiring organisations in the country. He highlighted the commendable role played by the Army in guarding our borders and fighting terrorism apart from providing assistance to the civil administration in every need of hour.  The Raksha Mantri also remarked “The Army is present in every domain from Security, HADR, Medical Assistance, to maintaining the stable internal situation in the country. The role of Indian Army is incomparable in Nation building as also in the overall national development”.  He reiterated his happiness to be present in the Army Commander’s conference and complimented the Army leadership for successfully taking ahead the ‘Defence and Security’ vision of the Nation to new heights.  He also complimented the Indian Army’s approach on the infusion and absorption of cutting edge technology. 

The Hon’ble Raksha Mantri stressed upon the present Geo Strategic uncertainties and the complex world situation which effects everyone  globally.  He stressed upon that the present world is an inter connected world and such incidents whether happening in our neighbourhood or far off countries will effect everyone. He stated that “Unconventional and asymmetric warfare, including hybrid war will be part of the future conventional wars. Cyber, information, communication, trade and finance have all become an inseparable part of future conflicts. This necessitates that Armed Forces will have to keep all these facets in consideration while planning and formulating strategies”.  Raksha Mantri stated that keeping in mind the present dynamic geo-strategic changes and the ongoing  global security scenarios with the uncertainities the armed forces should prepare a dynamic perspective planning addressing both the long term and short term challenges.  In the present global context the importance of Military Intelligence incoporating the modern technology cannot be stressed upon more.

On the current situation along the Northern borders, the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri expressed full confidence in the troops and complemented the Armed Forces for standing firm and vigil and the same should continue. The Raksha Mantri complimented the efforts of BRO, which has led to the quantum improvement of road communication in the borders both Western and Northern, while working under difficult conditions.

Referring to the situation along the Western borders, he complimented the Indian Army’s response to cross border terrorism, however the proxy war by the adversary continues. The Hon’ble Raksha Mantri said “I compliment the excellent synergy between the CAPF/ Police forces and the Army in tackling the menace of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The synergised operations in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are contributing to increased stability in the region and the same should remain”.

The Raksha Mantri complimented the forces for the high standard of operational preparedness and capabilities which he has always been experiencing first hand during his visits to forward areas. He also paid tributes to all the brave hearts for making the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of the motherland. He complimented the significant contributions made by the Army in military diplomacy to further our national security interests by creating sustainable cooperative relationships with foreign Armies and also emphasised upon the important role of Defence Attaches in achieving the same.  We must delibrate on the re-orintentation of role of the Defence Attaches in line with the organisational aim.

The Hon’ble Raksha Mantri stressed upon the technological advancement taking place in every sphere of our life and applauded the Armed Forces for aptly incorporating them.  He appreciated the Army’s efforts to develop niche technologies in collaboration with civil industries, including premier educational institutions and thereby progressing towards the aim of ‘ Modernisation through Indigenisation’ or ‘Atamnirbharta’.  He emphasised that a regular interface of Armed Forces with the emerging technologies is a must. Raksha Mantri commended on the initiative of discussions being done with Niti Ayog on achieving the aim of ‘Viksit Bharat’ during this Army Commander Conference.  He also remarked that the government is committed in every manner towards the welfare of the Veterans and the Next of Kin of all categories of Battle Casualties and the nation remains indebted to the sacrifices made by vallant soldiers and their family.

He concluded by saying that issues related to “Defence diplomacy, indigenisation, information warfare, defence infrastructure and force modernisation should always be deliberated upon in such a forum. Doctrinal changes whenever required should be made to make the Armed Forces future ready.  The recommendation and suggestions made by the senior leadership in such like forum as Commanders Conference should be deliberated upon and be taken to a logical conclusion with midcourse review and modification if required.  The Nation is proud of its Army and the Government is committed to facilitate the Army in their forward movement, on the road to reforms and capability modernisation”.

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SC   

(Release ID: 2118177) Visitor Counter : 29

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Government gazetted today (April 3) the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2025 to regulate the safe use of hydrogen used or intended to be used as fuel.
 
The Bill aims to amend the Gas Safety Ordinance (Cap. 51) to establish a regulatory framework governing the importation, manufacture, storage, transport, supply and use of hydrogen that is used or intended to be used as fuel.
 
A Government spokesperson said, “The Government has been actively promoting the development of hydrogen energy in Hong Kong. Establishing a comprehensive and holistic regulatory framework to regulate the use of hydrogen as fuel can enhance public confidence in hydrogen safety and create an environment conducive to the local development of hydrogen energy in Hong Kong. The framework covers a range of safety aspects, including gas quality, safety of installations and facilities, personnel and emergency handling, etc.
 
“The Government promulgated the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong in June 2024, setting out the four major strategies of improving legislation, establishing standards, aligning with the market, and advancing with prudence to create an environment conducive to the development of hydrogen energy in Hong Kong, so that Hong Kong would be able to capitalise on the environmental and economic opportunities brought about by the recent development of hydrogen energy in different parts of the world, and in our country in particular. The Bill will provide a clear legal framework and stable regulatory environment for the local hydrogen energy industry, enabling both local and international investors to develop hydrogen-related businesses in Hong Kong with greater confidence,” the spokesperson supplemented.
 
The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading on April 16.  

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 03 APR 2025 2:13PM by PIB Delhi

The US President issued an Executive Order on Reciprocal Tariffs imposing additional ad-valorem duties ranging from 10% to 50% on imports from all trading partners. The baseline duty of 10% will be effective from April 05, 2025 and the remaining country specific additional ad-valorem duty will be effective from April 09, 2025. The additional duty on India as per the Annex I of the Executive Order is 27%.  

The Department of Commerce is carefully examining the implications of the various measures / announcements made by the President of the USA. Keeping in view the vision of Viksit Bharat, the Department is engaged with all stakeholders, including Indian industry and exporters, taking feedback of their assessment of the tariffs and assessing the situation. The Department is also studying the opportunities that may arise due to this new development in the US trade policy.

The Hon Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, and the Hon President of USA, Mr. Donald Trump have announced on 13 February 2025 ‘Mission 500’ – aiming to more than double the bilateral trade to US $500 Billion by 2030. Accordingly, discussions are ongoing between Indian and US trade teams for the expeditious conclusion of a mutually beneficial, multi-sectoral Bilateral Trade Agreement. These cover a wide range of issues of mutual interest including deepening supply chain integration. The ongoing talks are focused on enabling both nations to grow trade, investments and technology transfers. We remain in touch with the Trump Administration on these issues and expect to take them forward in the coming days.

India values its Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the United States and is committed to working closely with the US to implement the India-US ‘Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology’ (COMPACT) for the 21^st century to ensure that our trade ties remain a pillar of mutual prosperity and drive transformative change for the benefit of the people of India and the US.

 

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Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan

(Release ID: 2118182) Visitor Counter : 128

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 03 APR 2025 2:55PM by PIB Delhi

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has undertaken following steps to prevent misuse of telecom resources for cybercrimes and financial frauds:

1. Development of citizen centric Sanchar Saathi portal and mobile App with various facilities including reporting of suspected fraud communications.
2. Development of online secure Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) for sharing of information related to misuse of telecom resources among the stakeholders.
3. Development of a system in collaboration with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers that appear to be originating within India.

DoT has undertaken following measures to act against the issue of misuse of mobile connections:

1. Development of AI based tool to identify the suspected mobile connections taken on fake documents. 78 lakh such mobile connections have been disconnected after reverification.
2. Policy instructions for re-verification of existing mobile connections identified by DoT/ TSPs/ Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs).
3. Mandated telecom licensees to register their Point of Sale (PoS) {Franchisee, Distributors & Agents}, who enroll customers and issue SIMs on their behalf.
4. Biometric verification, physical verification of address of place of business & local residence of PoS. Further, police verification of PoS in J&K, Assam & North East License Service Areas (LSAs).
5. Blacklisting of PoS across all the TSPs if documents/ information given by PoS is false/ forged & on the directions of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs)/ Licensed Service Areas (LSAs).
6. Robust Know Your Customer (KYC) process for SIM Swap/ replacement.
7. Discontinuation of paper based KYC process.
8. Monthly audit on sample basis for the SIM cards issued by TSPs for compliance of guidelines.

This information was given by Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications & Rural Development, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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Samrat/Allen:

(Release ID: 2118197) Visitor Counter : 43

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 03 APR 2025 2:57PM by PIB Delhi

Government has released Bharat 6G Vision Document in March 2023 with the objectives to design, develop and deploy 6G network technologies that provide ubiquitous intelligent and secure connectivity for high quality living experience for the world to position India as a global leader in 6G technology by 2030. The Government has taken following initiative to facilitate the development of 6G technology in the country:

1. Funding two testbeds namely 6G THz Testbed & Advance Optical Communication Test Bed to promote R&D and innovation in the country.
2. Sanctioned 100 5G labs at academic institutions in FY 2023- 24, across India for capacity building & for building a 6G ready academic and start-up ecosystem in the country.
3. To accelerate Research for 6G ecosystem, 111 research proposals have been approved on 6G network ecosystems to promote research and innovation in line with global roadmap for 6G technology.
4. Government has facilitated setting up of ‘Bharat 6G Alliance’ which is an alliance of domestic industry, academia, national research institutions and standards organisations to develop action plan according to the Bharat 6G Vision. It has signed MoU with leading global 6G alliances to enhance global collaborations for the development of 6G wireless technologies. It has also hosted the inaugural International 6G Symposium coinciding with WTSA 2024 and the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024. The symposium aimed to explore local and global advancements in 6G technology, bringing together industry leaders, academics, and government officials.

 India has contributed in International Telecommunications Union International Mobile Technology (IMT) 2030 framework, also called 6G by industry for inclusion of ‘Ubiquitous Connectivity’ as one of the six usage scenarios of 6G and coverage, interoperability and sustainability as capabilities of 6G technology.

This information was given by Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications & Rural Development, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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Samrat/Allen:

(Release ID: 2118200) Visitor Counter : 54

Source: Government of India

From Margins to Mainstream

Empowering Lives, Enabling Growth

Posted On: 03 APR 2025 4:15PM by PIB Delhi

Waqf has always been meant to help the community by providing education, healthcare, housing, and support for the poor. However, problems like mismanagement, corruption, and inefficiency have often prevented Waqf properties from benefiting those who need them most. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aims to fix this by making the system more transparent, efficient, and focused on reducing poverty.

One big problem in Waqf management has been a lack of transparency, leading to corruption and misuse of funds. The new bill introduces a digital portal to record all Waqf properties, making it easier to track and audit them. This ensures that funds are not misused and are spent on helping the poor. With mandatory financial audits and digital records, this change will reduce corruption and make Waqf management more accountable to the people.

The bill ensures that Waqf properties and funds are used to improve healthcare services for the poor. This includes:

• Setting up clinics and hospitals on Waqf lands to provide free or low-cost healthcare.
• Partnering with charities to fund medical aid programs.
• Making medicines and essential treatments more available in poor areas.

With better management, more people will get access to healthcare, reducing medical costs and improving public health.

Education is a key way to fight poverty. The bill ensures that Waqf funds are used for:

• Building and maintaining schools and madrassas.
• Providing scholarships and financial aid to poor students.
• Supporting vocational training centers to teach job skills.

By focusing on education, the bill helps people from poor backgrounds get better jobs and improve their lives.

Many poor people struggle with housing. The bill allows Waqf Boards to use properties for affordable housing. Section 32(4) permits:

• Building low-cost housing for the poor.
• Providing shelters for homeless people.
• Creating subsidized rental programs for low-income families.

This ensures that Waqf properties are used to help people instead of being left unused or taken over illegally.

Helping people become financially independent is important for reducing poverty. The bill supports:

• Setting up training centers for skills like carpentry, tailoring, and digital literacy.
• Providing small loans to help people start businesses.
• Connecting trained workers with jobs.

This approach helps people earn a living rather than relying only on charity.

A major issue with Waqf properties is illegal occupation. According to the WAMSI portal, nearly 58,898 Waqf properties have been taken over unlawfully. The bill introduces stronger legal measures to:

• Reclaim illegally occupied Waqf lands for social welfare projects.
• Give district collectors more power to protect Waqf properties.
• Prevent unauthorized claims that take away resources meant for the poor.

These steps will ensure that Waqf properties are used properly to help those in need.

The bill also ensures fairness and inclusivity, making sure aid reaches all communities in need. It prioritizes poor people and uses data to make better decisions about Waqf resources. Additionally, the bill includes measures to prevent disputes over land belonging to non-Muslims, so that welfare efforts are not disrupted.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is not just about managing properties—it is about making Waqf a strong tool for helping the poor. By increasing transparency, stopping corruption, improving healthcare and education, providing affordable housing, and supporting employment, the bill ensures that Waqf serves its true purpose. These reforms will help Waqf fulfill its original mission—supporting the underprivileged and creating a fairer and more just society.

Download in PDF

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Santosh Kumar/ Ritu Kataria/ Rishita Aggarwal

(Release ID: 2118262) Visitor Counter : 19

Source: Government of India

Modernization and impact of Post Office Rules, 2024

Post Office Rules, 2024 are framed to be an enabler for enhancing quality of service delivery

Posted On: 03 APR 2025 2:57PM by PIB Delhi

The Post Office Rules, 2024 are framed to be an enabler for enhancing quality of service delivery including in rural areas through rationalization of postal products and services, creating scope for introducing new mail and parcel products and citizen centric services like financial and insurance services etc.

The Dak Sewa Jan Sewa principle plays a key role in improving the accessibility and efficiency of postal services, especially in rural and underserved areas through technology enabled and digitized postal services. The Department provides products and services under “Universal Postal Services”, which are affordable and available to all citizens. Facilities such as track and trace facility, electronic intimation through short messaging service for status of delivery of item, m-banking, e-banking, etc. are available to enhance last- mile connectivity for delivery of various citizen centric services and furthering the national agenda of financial and digital inclusion.

The Department of Posts has undertaken various measures for facilitating ease of doing business such as rationalization of mail and parcels products, introduction of “Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras” which provide rural entrepreneurs with access to export markets. Under the PM- Vishwakarma Scheme, the Department has also delivered 1.38 lakh tool kits to rural artisans.

This information was given by Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications & Rural Development, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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Samrat/Allen:

(Release ID: 2118198) Visitor Counter : 50

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 03 APR 2025 4:16PM by PIB Delhi

Introduction

What is Waqf

The concept of ‘Waqf’ is rooted in Islamic laws and traditions. It refers to an endowment made by a Muslim for charitable or religious purposes, such as building mosques, schools, hospitals, or other public institutions. Another defining feature of a Waqf is that it’s inalienable- which means it cannot be sold, gifted, inherited or encumbered. Therefore, once a property is divested from the waqif, i.e., the creator of a waqf, it vests in God and as per Islamic belief since God is ever lasting, so is the ‘waqf property’.

Addressing Longstanding Issues

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to address issues such as –

 

 

Modernizing the Waqf Bill

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties, with provisions to safeguard heritage sites and promote social welfare.

1. Non-Muslim properties declared as Waqf– The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 aims to streamline Waqf property management while safeguarding heritage sites and individual property rights. Various states have seen disputes over Waqf property claims, leading to legal battles and community concerns. As of data from September 2024, across 25 States/ UTs Waqf Boards, a total of 5973 government properties have been declared as Waqf properties. Some examples of the same:

 

Further, the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill (JCWAB) had also received some communications regarding unlawful claim of properties by Waqf Boards, some of which are as under:

• Karnataka (1975 & 2020): 40 Waqf properties were notified, including farmlands, public spaces, government lands, graveyards, lakes, and temples.
• The Punjab Waqf Board has claimed land belonging to the Education Department in Patiala.

Additionally, MoHUA (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs) informed the JPC during their presentation in September 2024, that 108 properties under control of Land and Development Office, 130 properties under control of Delhi Development Authority and 123 properties in the public domain were declared as Waqf properties and brought into litigation.

2. Rights of Muslim Women and Legal Heirs– The Bill also seeks to improve the economic and social status of Muslim women, particularly widows and divorced women, by promoting self-help groups (SHGs) and financial independence programs.

Additionally, the Bill aims at achieving the following for the benefit for Muslim women-

• Transparency in Waqf Management – Digitizing waqf records to curb corruption.
• Legal Aid & Social Welfare – Establishing legal support centers for family disputes and inheritance rights.
• Cultural & Religious Identity – Strengthening cultural preservation and interfaith dialogue.

Women’s involvement ensures transparency and directs Waqf resources towards:

 

3. Upliftment of the Poor

Waqf plays a crucial role in serving religious, charitable, and social welfare needs, especially for the underprivileged. However, its impact has often been reduced due to mismanagement, encroachment, and lack of transparency. Some key benefits of Waqf for the Poor:

 

1. Digitization for Transparency and Accountability

• A centralized digital portal will track Waqf properties, ensuring better identification, monitoring, and management.
• Auditing and accounting measures will prevent financial mismanagement and ensure funds are used only for welfare purposes.

2. Increased Revenue for Welfare and Development

• Preventing misuse and illegal occupation of Waqf lands will boost revenue for Waqf Boards, allowing them to expand welfare programs.
• Funds will be allocated to healthcare, education, housing, and livelihood support, directly benefiting the economically weaker sections.
• Regular audits and inspections will promote financial discipline and strengthen public confidence in Waqf management.

 

4. Addressing Administrative Challenges–

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 aims to improve governance by:

• Enhancing transparency in property management.
• Streamlining coordination between Waqf Boards and local authorities.
• Ensuring stakeholder rights are protected.

 

5. Empowerment of Backward classes & other sects of Muslim communities: The Bill aims at making the Waqf Board more inclusive having representation from different Muslim sects for better Waqf governance and decision-making-

• The Bill mandates inclusion of one member each from Bohra and Aghakhani communities in State/UT Waqf Boards, if they have functional Auqaf.
• Also, the Board will have representation from Muslims belonging to backward classes apart from Shia and Sunni members.
• Includes two or more elected members from municipalities or Panchayats, strengthening local governance in waqf affairs.
• The Board/CWC will have two non-Muslim members excluding the ex-officio members.

Conclusion:

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 establishes a secular, transparent, and accountable system for Waqf administration. While Waqf properties serve religious and charitable purposes, their management involves legal, financial, and administrative responsibilities that require structured governance. The role of Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council (CWC) is not religious but regulatory, ensuring legal compliance and safeguarding public interest. By introducing checks and balances, empowering stakeholders, and improving governance, the Bill sets a progressive and fair framework for Waqf administration in India.

Kindly find the pdf file 

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Santosh Kumar/ Ritu Kataria/ Kritika Rane

 

(Release ID: 2118261) Visitor Counter : 22