MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 30 APR 2025 4:00PM by PIB Delhi

The pilot study was carried out in two phases using a GSTN frame primarily with an objective to test the suitability of the GSTN database as sampling frame, verify and update selected frame information (in Phase-I) and to test the operational modalities such as, response of the enterprises, adequacy of the instruction, structure of the questionnaire, collectability of information, etc. (in Phase-II).

The pilot study covered those service sector enterprises from the GSTN database which are registered under Companies Act, 1956 or, Companies Act, 2013 or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Act, 2008.

The pilot provides valuable operational insights and a foundation for launching a robust, full-scale annual survey of incorporated service sector enterprises from January 2026.

Objective of the Pilot Survey on ASSSE

1. The service sector is a key driver of India’s economy, contributing more than 50% to the country’s GDP and providing millions of jobs. Accurate and comprehensive data on this sector is crucial for informed policymaking, strategic planning, and investment decisions. While the unincorporated part of the service sector is covered in Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) conducted by National Statistics Office, there is a lack of granular data on the economic and operational characteristics, employment, and other related aspects of the incorporated service sector. This gap in data is primarily due to the absence of a regular national-level survey covering the various sub-sectors of the incorporated non-agricultural non-manufacturing sectors.
2. The main objective was to test operational processes – enterprise response, clarity of survey instructions, efficacy of the questionnaire and the availability of key data from official records such as books of accounts, profit and loss statements, and labour registers.

Requirement of Pilot Study before launching full-fledged ASSSE

To firm up the methodology, survey instruments and other operational aspects of conducting a full-fledged pan-India survey (ASSSE), there was a felt need to undertake a pilot. Accordingly, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has conducted the Pilot Study on ASSSE and releases its findings as a Technical Report in this press note.

This pilot marks a pioneering effort in the Indian official survey ecosystem, utilizing a GSTN-based enterprise frame for the first time comprising of incorporated enterprises across the Construction, Trade, and Other Services categories including transport, accommodation and food services, information and communication, health, education, real estate, etc. Technical Report available in the website of the MoSPI viz. https://www.mospi.gov.in.

Modalities of conducting the Pilot Study

The Pilot Study on ASSSE has been conducted using an ‘enterprise approach’ where the term ‘enterprise’ is referred to as a GSTN unit conducting operations in a particular state. As per GSTN nomenclature, the term enterprise is analogous to ‘principal place of business’ which may have one or more ‘additional place of business’ (establishments) in the state. Combined data of all the additional places of businesses have been collected from the principal place of business in this pilot study.

The two-phase pilot study, conducted through CAPI (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing) on tablets, aimed to test the suitability of GSTN database as sampling frame, validate and update selected frame information, test operational processes, and assess data availability from business records including balance sheets, books of accounts and labour registers maintained by the enterprises for the financial year 2022–2023.

Phase I of the pilot was conducted during May 2024–August 2024 covering 10,005 enterprises primarily to verify and update address and activity information along with collecting some quantitative information such as gross sale value, employment, etc.

Phase-II of the Pilot Study on 5020 enterprises selected from the list of eligible enterprises of Phase-I took place during November 2024 to January 2025. Data for this phase were collected under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 (as amended in 2017), with notices issued in October 2024.

Major takeaway from the pilot study

• Majority of the enterprises were found to be existent and operational.
• Units with headquarters in other states required significant effort to collect the relevant data. Also, challenges were faced in bifurcating the GSTIN level information pertaining to the selected enterprises from Pan-India centralized records (often CIN based) maintained at headquarter level.
• Majority of the responding units were found to be cooperative in furnishing information/data.
• Barring a few blocks, the questionnaire was found to be reasonably easy to fill in.
• The instructions were found to be mostly clear and unambiguous and easy to understand.

 

Key finding of the pilot study (based on unweighted i.e without applying any multiplier on sample observations):

1. Distribution of Enterprises by type of organization

In Figure 1, distribution of enterprises by type of organization is presented. It can be seen that majority of the corporate entities in the pilot study on ASSSE are Private Limited Companies (82.40% at overall level) during FY 2022-23 followed by Public Limited Company and Limited Liability Partnership (each having nearly 8% share). The same trend is noticeable for all the Broad Activity Categories (BAC) i.e., Construction, Trade and Other Services.

Figure 1: Distribution of enterprises by type of organization for each BAC

2. Percentage share of economic indicators by different size classes of output (FY 2022-23)

Size Class of Output (Rs.)	No. of enterprises surveyed	Indicator*
		Fixed Assets	Net Fixed Capital Formation	Gross Fixed Capital Formation	Gross Value Added	Net Value Added	Total persons engaged	Total compensation
all-India
Less than 10 cr.	2720	2.64	2.19	2.44	1.19	1.07	9.28	3.17
10 cr. or more, but less than  100 cr.	927	9.58	6.00	8.32	9.45	9.38	20.03	11.43
100 cr. or more, but less than 500 cr.	326	25.00	29.08	26.96	19.90	19.33	33.73	22.24
500 cr. or more	113	62.77	62.73	62.28	69.47	70.21	36.96	63.17
All	4086	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00

 

The following Table presents the percentage share of different important indicators over different size-classes of output.

* generated based on sample data without using weights

The data reveals that larger enterprises with output Rupees 500 crores and above dominate in terms of asset ownership (62.77%), net fixed capital formation (62.73%), gross value added (69.47%) and total compensation (63.17%). Further, data also reveals that enterprises (having output below Rupees 500 crores) make up almost  account for 63.03% of total employment and 36.84% of total compensation.

 

Fig. 2: Enterprises with additional places of businesses in the state for each Broad Activity Categories.

The above Figure (Figure 2) shows that overall, 28.5% of enterprises reported having additional places of business within the state. This percentage was observed to be the highest in the Trade sector with around 41.8% of enterprises belonging to this sector reported additional places of business in the state. As per GSTN nomenclature, the term enterprise is analogous to ‘principal place of business’ which may have one or more ‘additional place of business’ (establishments) in the state.

Way Forward

1. The pilot study on ASSSE represents a significant milestone in strengthening India’s statistical infrastructure for the service sector, a key contributor to both GDP and employment.
2. The findings from the pilot study provide a strong foundation for launching the full-scale annual survey starting in January 2026.
3. The pilot study confirmed the suitability of the GSTN database as a sampling frame for the survey.
4. It highlighted the importance of proper verification and validation of survey instruments, the collectability of data from records maintained by selected enterprises and the challenges encountered during data collection.
5. The pilot study offers valuable insights for planning and finalizing the sampling design, determining the sample size and refining the questionnaire for the full-fledged survey in consultation with major stakeholders.
6. The major indicators of the survey include percentage share of Fixed Assets, Net fixed Capital Formation, Gross Fixed Capital Formation, GVA, NVA, number of persons engaged and compensation etc. over different size-classes of output.

 

Important Caveat

The basic purpose of the pilot study was experience gathering on various aspects of the survey (as mentioned in previous paras) rather than generating estimates. Considering the small sample size of only 5020 units and the fact that a number of selected units were found to be non-existing and/or non-responding for various reasons, no design-based estimate (using sampling weights) has been attempted in this pilot study. Hence the estimates of any sector or Broad Activity Category (BAC) obtained by summing the estimates of all enterprises belonging to that sector/BAC tend to be skewed towards the estimates of large units present in that sector/BAC. Thus, the estimates are not indicative of or comparable to the overall actual aggregates of the sector/BAC.

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Samrat/ Allen

(Release ID: 2125454) Visitor Counter : 52

Source: Government of India

Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited to Set Up 75 Space Labs in EMR Schools under ISRO’s Technical Guidance

19 states in the country to be benefitted

Under CSR initiative around Rs 12 crores sanctioned

It could bridge educational gaps and open new avenues for tribal youth in the fields of space science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM)

Posted On: 30 APR 2025 4:00PM by PIB Delhi

In a historic step Ministry of tribal affairs and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) announced the setting up of “Space Labs” in 75 Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) across 19 states in the country.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India establishes EMRS to impart quality education to ST children thereby enabling them to avail of opportunities in high and professional educational courses and get gainful employment in various sectors. EMRS in addition to imparting high quality education also takes care of their nutrition and overall health and development. As on date there are 470 functional EMRS across the country.

BPCL has announced that it will support the tribal affairs Ministry under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to set up the Space Labs and has sanctioned around Rs 12 crores towards the same.

Through this initiative, the Ministry seeks to bridge educational gaps and open new avenues for tribal youth in the fields of space science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). By providing exposure to space sciences at a young age, the ministry aims to lay the foundation for nurturing future scientists, technologists, and innovators from tribal communities. This project marks a significant step towards mainstreaming tribal students into India’s scientific advancement. It reflects the Government’s broader efforts under the NEP 2020 framework to create equitable and inclusive educational opportunities for all sections of society.

The initiative will be technically supported by the Space tutor agencies recognized by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).Each such lab will have the advanced scientific equipment including the following components:

1. LVM3 Launch Vehicle and EO satellite demo model with all dub system details
2. Static model launch vehicles (PSLV, HRLV, IRNSS, GSAT)
3. Table Top demo models of solar System, lunar Eclipse, phases of the moon, day and nights, 4 seasons, globe and time indicator
4. Star tracker telescope 150/750mm and Cansat working model
5. Space, Science, and Maths Teaching Learning Material (TLM) kits
6. ISRO space bookand timelineexhibit

These labs are to be established in EMRS of 19 states in India and includesAndhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal. More than 50,000 tribal students shall benefit through this initiative.

 

 

 

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RN/PIB

(Release ID: 2125464) Visitor Counter : 34

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Social Welfare Department today announced that the New Home Association has been commissioned to provide Social & Care Support Service under the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong starting from tomorrow to offer support to elderly participants and their families.

 

The Social & Care Support Service is one of the measures announced in the 2024 Policy Address to help elderly participants of the scheme better adapt to life in residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) on the Mainland and receive timely assistance when needed.

 

The association will provide support services for the elderly participants under the scheme, especially during the initial six-month trial period upon admission into the RCHEs.

 

Such services will assist them in understanding the Mainland’s medical systems and care services, maintaining connections with their families in Hong Kong, and providing them with suitable advice and assistance in handling situations such as housing, medical care, and financial matters in Hong Kong.

 

Continuous support will also be rendered in accordance with their needs upon completion of the trial period.

 

The Social & Care Support Service will also conduct assessments under the Standardised Care Need Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services and follow up applications for Hong Kong seniors who have settled in Guangdong Province and are interested in joining the scheme at their places of residence.

 

Click here for details.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today welcomed the passage of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions) Bill 2025 by the Legislative Council.

The bill gives effect to the one-off tax concessions proposed in the 2025-26 Budget. These will reduce salaries tax, tax under personal assessment, and profits tax for the 2024-25 year of assessment by 100%, subject to a ceiling of $1,500 per case.

The Government said the concessions will benefit about 2.14 million taxpayers and about 165,400 taxpaying businesses, with about 16% of taxpayers and 12% of taxpaying businesses not needing to pay tax for 2024-25. Government revenue will be reduced by about $3.1 billion.

The bill as passed will be published in the Government Gazette on May 9.

The tax concessions will be reflected in taxpayers’ final tax payable for the 2024-25 year of assessment.

Source: Government of Singapore

Singapore, 30 April 2025 – Inter-monsoon conditions are expected to continue in the first fortnight of May 2025, with winds mainly light and variable in direction.

2          During the fortnight, thundery showers are expected over parts of the island on some afternoons. The showers may extend into the evening on a few of these days. In addition, Sumatra squalls may bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds in the morning on some days. The total rainfall for the first fortnight of May 2025 is forecast to be near average over most parts of the island.

3          The daily maximum temperatures are likely to be around 34 degrees Celsius on most days and reach 35 degrees Celsius on some days.

4          For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit the MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app.

 REVIEW OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (16 – 29 APRIL 2025)

5          Inter-monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region with the winds generally light and variable in direction.

6          In the second fortnight of April 2025, moderate to heavy thundery showers affected parts of the island on most days. On 20 April 2025, regional convergence of winds brought heavy thundery showers over many areas of Singapore in the afternoon. The daily total rainfall of 113.6mm recorded at Bukit Timah that day was the highest rainfall recorded for the second fortnight of April 2025.

 7          The second fortnight of April 2025 was warm, with daily maximum temperatures registering above 34 degrees Celsius on 11 days. The highest daily maximum temperature of 36.0 degree Celsius was recorded at Admiralty on 25 April 2025.

 8          Most parts of Singapore recorded above average rainfall in the second fortnight of April 2025. The rainfall around Bukit Timah was about 110 per cent above average and the rainfall around Tai Seng about 45 per cent below average.

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

Long-term Statistics for May  (Climatological reference period: 1991-2020)
Average daily maximum temperature:	32.3	°C
Average daily minimum temperature:	25.7	°C
Average monthly temperature:	28.6	°C
Average rainfall:	164.3	mm
Average number of rain days:	15
Historical Extremes for May  (Rainfall since 1869 and temperature since 1929)
Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature:	33.6	°C (1997)
Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature:	23.5	°C (1974)
Highest monthly rainfall ever recorded:	386.6	mm (1892)
Lowest monthly rainfall ever recorded:	41.6	mm (1997)

 
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE SINGAPORE
30 Apr 2025

~~ End ~~

For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 30 APR 2025 8:55AM by PIB Delhi

On the auspicious occasion of Basava Jayanti, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid homage to the profound wisdom and enduring legacy of Jagadguru Basaveshwara. Remembering the 12th-century philosopher and social reformer, the Prime Minister stated on X in different posts:

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MJPS/SR

(Release ID: 2125326) Visitor Counter : 78

Source: Government of India

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported abduction, rape, and murder of a minor girl and the death of the arrested accused in a police encounter in Hubballi, Karnataka

Issues notices to the Chief Secretary and the DGP calling for a detailed report within four weeks

The report is expected to include the post-mortem examination and the Magisterial Enquiry Reports of both the deceased

Posted On: 30 APR 2025 3:13PM by PIB Delhi

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report about the abduction, rape and murder of a minor girl and the death of the arrested accused in a police encounter in Hubballi, Karnataka. Reportedly, the incident happened on 14th April, 2025.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious violation of the human rights of the victim minor girl, and the arrested suspected perpetrator, killed in an alleged encounter. Therefore, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Government of Karnataka, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. The report is expected to include the post-mortem examination and the Magisterial Enquiry Reports of both the deceased.

According to the media report, carried on 14th April, 2025, soon after the girl’s body was recovered from the bathroom, the angry residents protested outside Ashok Nagar police station, demanding the arrest of the accused. Reportedly, he was nabbed by the police within hours of the incident and was being taken for questioning when he tried to attack them, resulting in gunshot injuries to him, leading to his death.

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NSK

(Release ID: 2125449) Visitor Counter : 69

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 30 APR 2025 8:53AM by PIB Delhi

Under the PM Gati Shakti initiative of Hon’ble Prime Minister with the aim to provide seamless and efficient connectivity for the movement of people, goods and services across various modes of transport, thereby enhancing last-mile connectivity and reducing travel time, and under the guidance of Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Multi Modal Logistics Park Limited, Nagpur (MMLP Nagpur) at Sindi, near Wardha commenced its commercial operations with a goal to establish a faster link.

The MMLP Nagpur established by National Highway Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a 100% owned company of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) received its first rake of 123 Maruti Cars from Ex-Farukhnagar on 28th April marking a major achievement for the facility.

NHLML has signed an agreement with a private developer for the Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in an area of 150 acres in three phases under Public-Private Partnership model with Concession Period of 45 years, at an estimated cost of Rs.673 crore.  Phase-I will be developed with an investment of Rs. 137 crore. 

An Authority SPV, Maharashtra MMLP Pvt. Ltd., is formed between National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). The Authority SPV has to provide land, external rail and road connectivity as well as water and power supply for development of MMLP.

The MMLP will provide facilities such as warehouses, cold storages, intermodal transfers, handling facilities for container terminals, bulk / break-bulk cargo terminals along with Value Added Services such as sorting / grading and aggregation / desegregation areas, bonded warehouse and customs facilities as well as support logistics facilities such as offices for freight forwarders and transporters and truck terminals.

Development of MMLP Nagpur will help improve country’s freight logistics sector by enabling efficient inter-modal freight movement to lower overall freight costs and time; providing efficient warehousing, improved tracking and traceability of consignments, thereby enhancing efficiency of the Indian logistics sector. It will further create employment opportunities and bring in economic development in the region.

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GDH/HR

(Release ID: 2125325) Visitor Counter : 77

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 29 APR 2025 10:05PM by PIB Delhi

A grand felicitation ceremony was held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) on Tuesday to honour five distinguished personalities who have been conferred with the Padma Shri award for their outstanding contributions in the fields of art and temple architecture. The IGNCA specially invited these eminent figures to recognise and celebrate their exemplary work. The awardees honoured at the event included: renowned art historian Prof. Ratan Parimoo for his contributions to the field of art; eminent musicologist and educationist Prof. Bharat Gupt for his work in the field of classical arts; acclaimed sculptor Shri Adwaita Charan Gadanayak; distinguished temple architect Shri Radhakrishnan Sthapathy; and celebrated Maand and Bhajan singer Begum Batool for her contribution to the preservation and performance of traditional music. The event was envisioned by Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, whose initiative brought together this celebration of distinguished contributions. It was presided over by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh, renowned Nritya Guru, scholar, and former Rajya Sabha member, who chaired the session with grace and insight.

In her address, Dr. Sonal Mansingh began by warmly congratulating the Padma awardees and acknowledged their contributions as an integral part of India’s cultural heritage. She remarked that such individuals serve as an inspiration to society and play a vital role in preserving and sustaining our traditions. Reflecting on the unique spirit of the IGNCA, Dr. Mansingh observed that those who become associated with the institution often develop a bond that endures for a lifetime. She reaffirmed IGNCA’s standing as a centre of excellence, recognised for fulfilling its responsibilities with precision, consistency, and unwavering commitment. Even the most demanding tasks, she remarked, are carried out with exceptional efficiency and integrity at IGNCA. She added that this

‘National Centre for the Arts’ stands as a true emblem of Indian art.

On this occasion, Member Secretary of IGNCA, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, in his welcome address, remarked that each of the Padma Shri awardees being honoured shares, in one way or another, a deep connection with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. He expressed that it is a matter of pride and honour for IGNCA to be able to felicitate such distinguished scholars from its own platform. Referring to Adwaita Gadanayak, he said, “Adwaita is truly Advitiya (unique).” Dr. Joshi affectionately addressed Begum Batool as an elder sister and highlighted that Radhakrishnan Sthapathy, though a trained engineer by profession chose to leave engineering behind to carry forward his father’s tradition of temple architecture. He emphasised that the bond being celebrated today is not merely one of recognition, but of a deeply rooted familial and emotional connection with IGNCA.

Reflecting on the significance of this year’s Padma Awards, Dr. Joshi noted that while the annual announcements always bring pride, this year felt particularly personal. On the night the honours were declared, he personally called twenty-two individuals to extend his congratulations. Among those recognised were President of IGNCA, Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, conferred with the Padma Bhushan, and Trustee of IGNCA, Shri Vasudev Kamath, along with Prof. Bharat Gupt-both recipients of the Padma Shree. Their long-standing and meaningful association with IGNCA, like that of the other awardees being felicitated, made this celebration especially memorable.

Prof. Sudhir Lall, HoD, Kalakosh Division, IGNCA, offered an insightful introduction to the distinguished contr

ibutions of Prof. Bharat Gupt and Prof. Ratan Parimoo, highlighting their enduring impact in the realms of classical thought and art history. Prof. Achal Pandya, HoD, Conservation and Cultural Archives Division, IGNCA, elaborated on the life and work of Shri D. Radhakrishnan Sthapathy, drawing attention to his dedication to the sculptural traditions of South India and his commitment to preserving indigenous forms. Prof. Richa Kamboj, HoD, Kaladarsana Division, IGNCA, presented a comprehensive profile of Shri Adwaita Gadanayak, delving into his significant achievements as a sculptor and arts administrator. Shri Anurag Punetha, Controller, Media Centre, IGNCA, introduced Begum Batool with warmth and reverence, offering a detailed account of her contributions to the preservation and promotion of oral and folk traditions.

On this occasion, all five Padma Shri awardees also shared their thoughts and expressed their heartfelt gratitude to IGNCA for organising this felicitation ceremony. Begum Batool delighted the audience by singing the famous Rajasthani folk song “Kesariya Balam Padharo Mhare Des” in her resonant voice.

Held at the Samvet Auditorium, the event saw participation from scholars, students, and art connoisseurs from Delhi and across the country. The speakers lauded the contributions of the awardees, describing them as guardians of India’s cultural consciousness. Organised by IGNCA, the ceremony was not only a gesture of honour but also an inspiring initiative to carry forward the legacy of Indian artistic traditions to the younger generation.

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2125327) Visitor Counter : 37