MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 07 APR 2025 9:12AM by PIB Delhi

The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) organizes National Seminars at regular intervals following the release of survey reports based on data collected in the National Sample Surveys. The seminar serves as an academic platform where experts, researchers, academia, and government officials from various institutions present and discuss research papers based on the survey findings. So far, seventeen (17) National Seminars have been organized in reputed institutes and universities across the country.

Continuing this tradition, the 18^th National Seminar on survey results of  NSS 78^th  Round: Multiple indicator Survey, 79^th Round: Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS) and Survey on Ayush, Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES), and Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) is being organized by the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India at Goa University, Panaji, Goa, on the 8^th and 9^th  of April 2025.

The seminar will be inaugurated by Director General (NSS) and the Vice-Chancellor of Goa University will grace the occasion. Distinguished members of various expert Committees under whose guidance the survey instruments were finalised will also honour the event with their presence and participation in the discussions.

The event will host 225 participants, including researchers, academicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The event will also be attended by the experts from international organizations, experts from private survey agencies and professors/scholars from renowned institutions.

For the 18^th National Seminar around 40 research papers were received from Assistant Professors, Research scholars & students of various universities/colleges of across India, in-service and retired officers of Indian Statistical Service, other Government officers of different State /Central Govt. departments, researchers, data users etc.. Following a thorough evaluation by the Paper Selection Committee, 14 papers have been shortlisted for presentation. The seminar will comprise five technical sessions, during which these selected papers will be presented. The presentations will be based on survey findings related to the aforementioned key thematic areas of the seminar.

The seminar will present research papers which broadly cover emerging topics of current importance, including ICT skills inequality, financial inclusion, the impact of health insurance, digital competency among youth, and insights into the platform economy, particularly app-based cab services and delivery services, all based on NSS survey data. Topics related to consumption patterns across household types, and AYUSH utilization, productivity in informal economies related to the unincorporated sector and industries will also be covered.

The papers titled “Predicting an NSS Indicator Value: A Machine Learning Approach” , “A neural network approach to identify features associated with multidimensional poverty in rural India”, utilise advanced computational techniques to analyze large datasets, uncover patterns, and make predictions or classifications across various fields.

Apart from the research papers, a session on presentations by the Stakeholder Ministries/Private survey agencies on utility of National Sample Survey data is also included in the proceedings of the seminar. The seminar aims to facilitate informed discussions, policy recommendations, and data-driven insights on these critical topics, contributing to evidence-based policymaking and governance.

Participants are encouraged to join this significant event through open registration. The registration link is provided below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSea7ooVF5HGOs0__FRZ6KmPE1wcMCIgWAu2EDtcIbALXPomvQ/viewform?usp=header

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be streamed live on YouTube. Watch it on the official MoSPI YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@GoIStats.

For more information about National Sample Surveys and Reports, please visit the MoSPI website at www.mospi.gov.in.

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Samrat/ Allen

(Release ID: 2119640) Visitor Counter : 50

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 07 APR 2025 9:07AM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has reaffirmed commitment to build a healthier world on World Health Day. Shri Modi said that government will keep focusing on healthcare and invest in different aspects of people’s well-being. Good health is the foundation of every thriving society.

The Prime Minister wrote on X;

“On World Health Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to building a healthier world. Our Government will keep focusing on healthcare and invest in different aspects of people’s well-being. Good health is the foundation of every thriving society!”

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MJPS/ST

(Release ID: 2119639) Visitor Counter : 89

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Board of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) endorsed on March 31, 2025, the appointment of Mrs Vivian Cheung Kar-fay as the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the AA for three years with effect from today (April 7). The appointment has been approved by the Chief Executive.

The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, extends a warm welcome to Mrs Cheung as she takes up the position of CEO of the AA. She said, “I trust that under Mrs Cheung’s leadership, the AA will continue to strengthen the leading position of Hong Kong International Airport as an international aviation hub and promote the long-term development of the airport, including leveraging the immerse opportunities brought by the Three-Runway System, transforming the airport into a world-leading Airport City, integrating with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area through enhanced intermodal connectivity, and promoting continuous innovation for excellence in aviation. The Government will continue to work closely with the AA to take our aviation industry to new heights.”

​Under the Airport Authority Ordinance, the appointment of the CEO of the AA requires the Chief Executive’s approval.

Source: Government of India

SPIRIT OF INDIAN CONSTITUTION IS TO TREAT ALL CITIZENS EQUALLY, PROVIDE THEM WITH EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND INTEGRATE MARGINALIZED AND BACKWARD SECTIONS OF SOCIETY INTO ‘MAINSTREAM OF PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT’: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

IN RECENT YEARS, PARLIAMENT OF INDIA HAS PASSED SEVERAL LEGISLATIONS THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SECURITY AND ENCOURAGE INCLUSION OF ALL SECTIONS OF SOCIETY: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

INDIA HAS ESTABLISHED PRIMACY OF JUSTICE BY REPLACING ‘INDIAN PENAL CODE’ WITH THE ‘BHARATIYA NYAY SANHITA’: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

LOK SABHA SPEAKER DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT 150th ASSEMBLY OF INTER PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU) IN TASHKENT

LOK SABHA SPEAKER WISHES THE GATHERING AT 150TH IPU ON THE OCCASION OF RAM NAVAMI

Posted On: 06 APR 2025 8:20PM by PIB Delhi

Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla today highlighted the inclusive and welfarist nature of Constitution of India, mentioning that “the spirit of the Indian Constitution is to treat all citizens equally, provide them with equal opportunities, and integrate the marginalized and backward sections of society into the ‘mainstream of progress.”

Delivering the Keynote Address on the theme “Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Justice” at the historic 150th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at Tashkent, Uzbekistan,Shri Birla observed that “In recent years, the Indian Parliament has passed several legislations that promote social justice and security and encourage the inclusion of all sections of society.”On the occasion, he also extended Ram Navami greetings to the gathering at the 150^thassembly of IPU.

Referring to the Parliament’s perennial concern for safeguarding the interests of the vulnerable segments of society, he added that “Bills like the ‘Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act-2016’, the ‘Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019’, and the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam-2023’ safeguard the interests of all sections of society.”  in this context, he also referred to new Labor laws and codes passed by Parliament for the welfare and social security of workers in the unorganized sector.

Stressing that Indian Parliament has taken several measures prioritising justice and rule of law, Shri Birla mentioned that “By replacing the ‘Indian Penal Code’ with the ‘BharatiyaNyay Sanhita’, India has established the primacy of justice”. Referring to functioning of Parliamentary Committees in achieving the goals of development and social justice, Shri Birla noted that the various Parliamentary Committees, often referred to as Mini Parliaments, perform a complimentary function to the efforts of Parliament and the government. He highlighted that the Committees on Social Justice and Empowerment; Committee on Women Empowerment; Committee on Labour and Skill Development, and other diverse committees monitor welfare programmes leading to implementation of schemes with effectiveness and accountability. 

Shri Birla stressed that Government of India works with a mission to achieve targets set for key human development indicators. In this regard, he specifically mentioned that “Under the world’s largest health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), free health insurance is being provided to the bottom 40% of India’s population”.

Praising the strong and visionary leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Birla said “Under Prime Minister Shri Modi’s leadership, India has achieved the distinction of being the world’s fastest-growing major economy with a 105% GDP growth over the past decade and is rapidly progressing towards its goal of Viksit Bharat in 2047.” Noting that India is the fifth-largest economy in the world and is on its way toward becoming the third-largest economy, Shri Birla said that India is playing a leading role in the world in fields like Innovation, AI, Startups, Space and Defense Technology, IT, Fintech, Pharma, and others.

He hoped that the discussions at the IPU Assembly would provide all delegations with new perspectives and will allow Parliaments around the world to be able to take concrete steps toward building a just, inclusive, and prosperous society.

Speaking on the role of IPU in the present world order, Shri Birla mentioned that the IPU continues to add new dimensions to global parliamentary cooperation. He underlined that the theme chosen for the 150th IPU Assembly reflects the expansion of the spirit of ‘VasudhaivaKutumbakam,’ which is deeply rooted in Indian culture, tradition, and philosophy.

INDIA AND VIETNAM ARE PROGRESSING TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, DRIVEN BY THEIR RESPECTIVE VISIONS AND SHARED GOALS OF DEVELOPMENT

On the sidelines of the 150th IPU Summit, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla met HE. Mr. Tran Thanh Man, President, the National Assembly of Vietnam. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Birla fondly recalled his visit to Vietnam in April 2022, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Vietnam. He also emphasized the close cultural and historical ties between the two countries, which have strengthened through high-level discussions in recent years. Shri Birla expressed satisfaction that both countries are progressing toward sustainable development, driven by their respective visions for 2047 (India) and 2045 (Vietnam).

Shri Birla emphasized that cooperation in various sectors such as defense, technology, infrastructure, and nuclear energy has helped shape their future frameworks. Shri Birla noted that both countries’ parliamentary institutions play a key role in meeting people’s expectations and promoting public welfare, with India utilizing emerging technologies to enhance parliamentary processes and citizen participation. He also informed that the “Digital Parliament” initiative in India has improved efficiency, transparency, and productivity in parliamentary operations. He also highlighted the significant number of Vietnamese students benefiting from educational and training scholarships in India.

President of the National Assembly of Vietnam emphasized the cultural ties between the two countries. The President also underlined the need for strengthening the close defence and technology ties between India and Vietnam. He extended an invitation to Shri Birla to visit Vietnam. Formation of friendship group between India and Vietnam were also discussed.

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AM

(Release ID: 2119611) Visitor Counter : 61

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 07 APR 2025 2:33PM by PIB Hyderabad

The UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Ikigai Law as the implementing partner, will be organizing a stakeholder consultation on the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) in India. This event will take place on April 8, 2025, at 1:30 PM, at T-Works in Hyderabad.

A key segment of the event is a fireside chat on the IndiaAI Mission, featuring Mr. Abhishek Singh, CEO, IndiaAI Mission, and Additional Secretary, MeitY. The event will also include a panel discussion on “Shaping Ethics in AI Governance: Government and Multilateral Perspectives”, with participation from senior officials representing the MeitY, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Amrita University, UNESCO, and the Government of Telangana. Participants will also engage in four thematic breakout groups on governance, workforce readiness, infrastructure, and use cases, facilitating deeper dialogue and input on key dimensions of India’s AI readiness.

About AI RAM initiative

This is the third of five multi-stakeholder consultations under the AI RAM initiative by UNESCO and MeitY, following earlier sessions in New Delhi and Bangalore. Aimed at shaping an India-specific AI policy report, the initiative focuses on mapping strengths and opportunities in the ethical AI ecosystem. Open to policymakers, technologists, academia, and practitioners, this consultation is an opportunity to help shape a responsible, future-ready AI roadmap for the country. Interested participants may register on this link: https://forms.gle/3emuaGpgZuvMghYq9

This initiative comes at a pivotal time as India rolls out its ambitious INDIAai Mission, backed by over ₹10,000 crore in funding. At its core is the Safe and Trusted AI pillar, reinforcing the Government of India’s commitment to ethical, accountable, and secure AI development. By advancing indigenous frameworks, governance tools, and self-assessment guidelines, the mission seeks to empower innovators and make the benefits of AI accessible across sectors.

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Dharmendra Tewari Navin Sreejith

(Release ID: 2119746) Visitor Counter : 87

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Financial  Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, will meet the media at around 6.15pm today (April 7) at the lobby of the West Wing, Central Government Offices (CGO), 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar. Media coverage is invited.

     Media representatives are advised to proceed to the venue through the Press Entrance on the ground floor of the East Wing of the CGO.  

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council Subcommittee on Issues Relating to the Development of Web3 and Virtual Assets visited the Hong Kong Web3 Festival being held at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today (April 7) to gain insight into the latest developments in Web3 technology and cryptocurrency.
 
     The Hong Kong Web3 Festival is one of the largest global Web3 events, connecting industry leaders to engage in keynote speeches and discussions, with a view to driving innovation and co-operation. Members received a briefing from representatives of the Hong Kong Web3 Festival on the key features of various stages, which had themes including blockchain infrastructure, crypto finance, as well as Web3 security and compliance, facilitating exchanges among members of the industries.
 
     During the visit, Members also exchanged views with industry representatives on how to further promote the development of Web3 in Hong Kong.
 
     Members who participated in the visit were the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Dr Johnny Ng, Subcommittee members Ms Elizabeth Quat, Mr Lam San-keung, Mr Duncan Chiu, and Mr Edmund Wong.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region