MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 6:05PM by PIB Delhi

INS Sunayna, currently on deployment to Africa as Indian Ocean Ship IOS SAGAR arrived at Nacala Port, Mozambique on 17 Apr 25. The ship had earlier participated in the inaugural session of the India-Africa maritime partnership exercise AIKEYME 25, at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

IOS SAGAR is a unique mission based on the Government of India’s regional initiative of maritime collaboration titled SAGAR, which stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region. The mission is aimed at fostering international cooperation between India and several African countries.

The ship was flagged off on her mission from Karwar on 05 Apr 25 by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri. She had embarked 44 naval personnel from nine friendly foreign nations, including Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa, on her departure from India.

On her arrival at Nacala, the ship was welcomed by Commander Nelson H. Mabjaia, Chief of Commission, with the Mozambique Naval Band in attendance.

A range of collaborative activities and outreach programs are planned to be held during the port stay, aimed at promoting capacity building, operational synergy, and community engagements with the Mozambique Navy. These include joint training on Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills as well as firefighting and damage control procedures. The ship will also host a deck reception on board for local officials and dignitaries in a celebration of maritime friendship.

Community interactions by the ship’s crew will feature a yoga session to promote wellness and health, ship visits for Indian diaspora and local school children, an interschool quiz competition focused on maritime awareness and regional history as well as a guided tour for military cadets of the Nampula Military Academy, to offer firsthand insights into naval operations.

On completion of her port visit, the ship will embark personnel of Mozambique Navy as Sea Riders for a joint surveillance mission in the Mozambique Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), reaffirming the shared commitment to maritime security and countering non-traditional threats.

The port call marks a significant milestone enhancing maritime cooperation and interoperability between the Indian and Mozambique Navies. It also underscores India’s enduring commitment to strengthening maritime partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region, enhancing mutual trust, and fostering collective regional security in consonance with the vision of the SAGAR initiative.

_____________________________________________________________

VM/SKS                                                                                                        90/25

(Release ID: 2122722) Visitor Counter : 78

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 6:03PM by PIB Delhi

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, along with BIRAC conducted the 12^th Webinar in its Biofoundry and Biomanufacturing Initiative series on 17^th April, 2025. The session focused on “Cell and Gene Therapy”, a critical domain under the Precision Biotherapeutics thematic area of BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) Policy for fostering high-performance biomanufacturing. Approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024, the BioE3 Policy aims to position India as a global leader in bio-based innovations. The rapidly evolving field of “Cell and Gene Therapy” with transformative potential for treatment of a range of complex and previously untreatable diseases is a priority segment under the Precision Biotherapeutics vertical of the BioE3 Policy. The Webinar provided a platform for academia, industry leaders, start-ups, and researchers to discuss advancements, as well as, opportunities in Cell and Gene Therapy.

Dr. Alka Sharma, Senior Adviser/Sc ‘H’, DBT, highlighted the BioE3 Policy’s vision to foster high-performance biomanufacturing by supporting sustainable green growth. She summarized that BioE3 Policy has been approved by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for fostering high-performance biomanufacturing. She said today’s Webinar will deliberate upon current landscape, emerging opportunities, challenges, and the strategic interventions which are essential for strengthening this sector in the country.

Dr. Kamakshi Chaithri, Scientist ‘D’, DBT, provided an overview of the thematic sector. She highlighted the need for prioritizing this sector at a critical time, emphasizing the importance of these therapies in offering a potential curative outcome for several life threatening diseases including cancers and rare diseases. She touched upon how the sector is positioned globally and nationally, and stressed on the need for a focused and holistic approach for addressing the challenges in the cell and gene therapy product development chain. She further highlighted the steps taken by DBT under the BioE3 Policy, to foster innovation and facilitate a conducive ecosystem for development of indigenous cell and gene therapies.

 Dr. Debojyoti Chakraborty, Principal Scientist at CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi discussed the gene editing technologies under development for various diseases such as sickle cell disease, ocular diseases etc. He highlighted the need to address the manufacturing and regulatory hurdles in the pathway from discovery to commercialization of these therapies and the issues to be considered in bringing about development of affordable and accessible therapies. 

Dr. Anil Kamat, Head, Clinical Development, Immuneel Therapeutics, touched upon the local and global landscape of cell and gene therapies and elaborated on the commercial approval of the BIRAC supported CAR-T Cell therapy by Immuneel Therapeutics. He discussed various challenges in scale up and manufacturing of cell & gene therapies. He further suggested way forward for improved access, availability and affordability of these therapies.

The session concluded with a vibrant Q&A segment moderated by DBT and BIRAC officials. Participants actively engaged with the experts, discussing challenges and opportunities in biomanufacturing for cell and gene therapy and addressing the regulatory requirements.

****

NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2122720) Visitor Counter : 68

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 5:10PM by PIB Delhi

The Government has introduced key policy measures aimed at strengthening the allocation framework for domestic natural gas, in alignment with its vision of promoting cleaner energy access, enhancing urban air quality, and bolstering domestic energy security.

With a focus on ensuring the sustained availability and affordability of natural gas for key public-facing segments—Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) used in transport and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) used in domestic households for cooking—the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has introduced the following important enhancements to the Domestic Gas Allocation Policy:

1. Advance Quarterly Allocation:

• From Q1 FY 2025-26, domestic natural gas allocations for CNG (T) and PNG (D) segments will be done on a two-quarter advance basis.
• Allocation will also now include New Well Gas (NWG) from nomination fields of ONGC and OIL.
• Estimations by GAIL and ONGC will help ensure supply visibility to CGD entities in advance, enhancing planning and delivery efficiency.

2. NWG Allocation on Pro-Rata Basis:

• Auction-based allocation for NWG has been replaced with a quarterly pro-rata allocation to ensure timely and reliable supply.
• GAIL will allocate NWG to CGD entities in proportion to their requirements, in accordance with prevailing MoPNG guidelines.

3. Allocation Ratios maintained:

• Despite increasing demand in the CGD sector, allocation ratios of domestic gas have broadly been maintained:
  • Q3 2024–25: 54.68% of projected demand allocated
  • Q1 2025–26: 55.68% allocation
  • Q2 2025–26 (Projected): 54.74% allocation
• Broad trajectory in domestic gas allocation reflects the Government’s commitment to prioritize public-facing segments like transport and domestic cooking.

4. Pricing Linked to Indian Crude Basket:

• As both APM gas and New Well Gas prices are linked to Indian Crude Basket prices, calculated monthly, with the recent decline in crude prices, this allocation of domestic gas would make natural gas more affordable for CNG (T) and PNG (D) consumers.

These strategic measures by the Government will lead to enhanced ability of CGD entities to forecast demand and manage supply efficiently, improved supply predictability and better affordability for CGD companies due to crude-linked pricing. These measures will ensure a stable, affordable, and transparent domestic gas supply system for the critical transport and domestic segments under the CGD network, benefitting millions of urban and semi-urban consumers across India.

*****

MONIKA

(Release ID: 2122694) Visitor Counter : 64

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today expressed its strong opposition to and grave dissatisfaction towards US authorities’ imposition of port fees on vessels owned, operated, or built by Chinese companies, and other associated measures. 

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government outlined that under the unique institutional strengths of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong – as a globally renowned international maritime centre – has long provided an open, level, efficient, and well-regulated business environment for shipping enterprises around the world to operate in.

It iterated that the US measures are blatantly discriminatory, deliberately divide the international maritime community, and undermine the spirit of solidarity and co-operation built over many years, adding that such actions fall short of the basic standards of international conduct.

Describing the actions by the US as bullying, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that Hong Kong will continue to uphold the spirit of openness and co-operation, work with global maritime partners to safeguard free trade principles and promote the healthy development of the international shipping industry.

Only by adhering to the principles of fairness, justice, mutual benefits and win-win co-operation can the common interests of the global maritime community be truly protected, it added.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Customs & Excise Department today held an open day at the Customs College to promote national security education, with more than 1,000 students taking part.

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing attended the event and officiated at an eye-dotting ceremony for a dragon and lion dance performance.

Besides an exhibition on the department’s work to safeguard national security, the open day featured performances by its detection dog team, and a dragon and lion dance team. There was also a display of firearms and weapons, while game booths and an inflatable jumping castle were set up for children to enjoy.

Games, including virtual reality simulations of customs operations, showcased the department’s gatekeeping role in an interactive manner. 

Meanwhile, a recruitment booth featuring fitness tests – including an isometric strength test and a standing long jump test – gave attendees an understanding of the department’s fitness requirements.

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 4:32PM by PIB Delhi

The Create in India Challenge (CIC) Season 1, launched as a flagship initiative under the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), is gearing up for a spectacular finale at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai, from 1st to 4th May 2025. With registrations now officially closed for all 32 challenges, CIC has achieved a significant milestone, receiving nearly 1 lakh registrations, including over 1,100 international participants. The challenges have attracted entries from over 60 countries, reflecting the global appeal and reach of this pioneering initiative. From this exceptional pool of talent, 750 finalists will be given the opportunity to showcase their creative skills and outcomes at Creatosphere, a specially curated platform featuring innovation across animation, comics, AI, XR, gaming, music, and more, as part of WAVES 2025. The winners of these challenges will be conferred the prestigious ‘WAVES Creator Awards’ in a grand red carpet ceremony on Day 2 of the event.

The Creatosphere at WAVES will witness remarkable global participation, with 43 international finalists showcasing their talents, adding a truly international dimension to this celebration of creativity. These finalists represent over 20 countries, including Argentina, Nepal, Germany, Bermuda (BOT), the United States, Greece, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Laos, Thailand, Tajikistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Russia, Maldives, Malaysia, and Japan. Notably, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Tajikistan each contributes 6 finalists, followed by 5 each from Indonesia and Maldives, and 4 from Mauritius. The United States is represented by 2 finalists, while Russia, Canada, Argentina, Laos, Malaysia, Bermuda, Egypt, Thailand, and the United Kingdom each have 1 finalist. This diverse international presence underscores the global appeal and growing reach of the Create in India Challenge.

In India, the challenges saw enthusiastic participation from across all 28 states and 8 Union Territories, underscoring the truly national footprint of the initiative. The list of finalists across the challenges reflects remarkable regional representation, with participants hailing from across the country from Assam and Meghalaya in the East to Gujarat in the West and from Himachal Pradesh in the North to Kerala in the South.

Celebrating the energy of youth, the Create in India Challenges are overwhelmingly driven by young creators predominantly in their 20s, reflecting a vibrant ecosystem of college students, early-career professionals, and teen innovators. With the youngest finalist just 12 years old and the oldest at 66, the initiative showcases a truly inclusive creative platform that transcends age.

The Create in India initiative champions grassroots innovation while celebrating diversity in purpose and participation. From making education accessible through the Innovate 2 Educate Challenge to reviving India’s textile legacy with “Make the World Wear Khadi,” the challenges span tradition and technology. “India: A Bird’s Eye View” captures the nation’s spirit through breathtaking aerial visuals by filmmakers and Drone Didis, using drone technology for storytelling and community empowerment.

As excitement for WAVES 2025 reaches its crescendo, the Create in India Challenge has emerged as a powerful expression of India’s creative ambition, unlocking new opportunities for talent and reaffirming the nation’s rising leadership in the global media and entertainment landscape. With its vibrant mix of Indian and international participation, the Create in India Challenge has grown into a dynamic global platform, empowering voices across regions and generations, and truly embodying the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision that “WAVES should reach every home and every heart.”

*****

PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith | 98

(Release ID: 2122688) Visitor Counter : 91

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 4:19PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 18 April 2025

 

Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Shri. L Murugan chaired a Review Meeting in Mumbai today for the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025. Nodal officers for the event from Government of India and State Government of Maharashtra participated in the Review Meeting held at Jio World Convention Centre. The progress on the various activities under the four pillars of WAVES i.e. Broadcasting and Infotainment, AVGC-XR, Digital Media and Innovation and Films were discussed during the meeting. The work being undertaken under various initiatives such as WAVES Bazar, WAVEX, Bharat Pavilion, Create in India Challenges and others was assessed and the way forward was deliberated upon.  Nodal officers for various verticals briefed the Minister regarding the progress of preparations. On the occasion Shri. L Murugan also assessed the on-ground preparations of the event at the Summit venue.

   

 

Union Minister of State for @MIB_India Shri @Murugan_MoS chaired a review meeting in Mumbai today for #WAVES2025 with nodal officers from the Govt of India and Maharashtra. He also reviewed on-ground preparations at the summit venue.Officials from various departments were present pic.twitter.com/ccXhWMMGA5

— PIB in Maharashtra 🇮🇳 (@PIBMumbai) April 18, 2025

 

About WAVES

The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a milestone event for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, will be hosted by the Government of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from May 1 to 4, 2025.

Whether you’re an industry professional, investor, creator, or innovator, the Summit offers the ultimate global platform to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute to the M&E landscape.

WAVES is set to magnify India’s creative strength, amplifying its position as a hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. Industries and sectors in focus include Broadcasting, Print Media, Television, Radio, Films, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Sound and Music, Advertising, Digital Media, Social Media Platforms, Generative AI, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Extended Reality (XR).

Have questions? Find answers here

Stay updated with the latest announcements from PIB Team WAVES

Come, Sail with us! Register for WAVES now

 

* * *

PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Sayyid/ Nikita/ Darshana | 97

 

Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai    /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai   pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com  /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai

(Release ID: 2122686) Visitor Counter : 66

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 10:43AM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today hailed the inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register as a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture.

Responding to a post by Union Minister, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on X, Shri Modi said:

“A proud moment for every Indian across the world! 

The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. 

The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilisation, and consciousness for centuries. Their insights continue to inspire the world. 

@UNESCO”

 

 

***

MJPS/SR

(Release ID: 2122608) Visitor Counter : 77

Source: Government of India

India takes part in Africa’s largest tech and startup show GITEX Africa 2025

Knowledge transfer and technology sharing, key pillars of collective growth, says MoS Jayant Chaudhary

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 10:35AM by PIB Delhi

Africa’s largest tech and startup show, GITEX provides platform for policy leaders, changemakers and visionaries to collectively discuss and deliberate on the opportunities to collaborate and further the imperative of inclusive and equitable growth of the global economy. The three-day event just concluded at Morocco capital Marrakesh.

Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Education Shri Jayant Chaudhary represented Republic of India at the summit. He took part in high-level bilateral meetings, panel discussions and interacted with Indian startups showcasing their innovations.

In the discussions, Shri Jayant Chaudhary stated, “India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has driven transformative changes across areas, especially through developments of digital identity (Aadhaar), digital payments (UPI), e-commerce (ONDC), and healthcare. And we are increasingly integrating advanced technologies – AI, cybersecurity, fintech, and digital infrastructure – into our skilling ecosystem. Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), a digital public infrastructure for the skilling ecosystem has onboarded more than one crore users in over one and a half years. These are areas, rich with potential, for collaboration with our African partners and we can collectively grow our economies through sustained partnerships.”

“India, where the pace of digitalization is higher relative to some other developing economies, with established open-source Digital Public Infrastructure systems, has the potential to catalyze speed of digitalization in other developing countries seeking to develop such systems through collaboration and knowledge sharing,” Shri Jayant Chaudhary added. In addition, India is a key resource talent hub for AI professionals leading the way with 33.39% YoY growth in AI talent hiring as per AI Stanford Index 2025, which is a clear indicator of the efforts of the government and the industry to nurture an environment for adoption on AI.

On the sidelines of the summit, the Minister held productive bilateral meetings with Ms Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform; Prof Azzedine EL Midaoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation; Mr Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills; and Mr Mohammed Saad Berrada, Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports. In his discussions, Shri Jayant Chaudhary touched upon broadly on exploring synergies in AI, research and capacity; discussed insights on how Digital Public Infrastructure can be a catalyst for inclusion, innovation and equitable growth; and shared India’s experience in building scalable, inclusive technology for public good.

India’s participation at GITEX Africa 2025 reaffirmed its role as a global leader in skilling and digital innovation. Through pathbreaking initiatives like Skill India, Digital India, and the creation of scalable Digital Public Infrastructure such as Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) and DIKSHA, India has demonstrated how inclusive, technology-driven models can empower citizens at scale. These initiatives are increasingly being recognized as global best practices, offering adaptable frameworks for developing nations seeking to build resilient, future-ready societies.

****

Beena Yadav/Divyanshu Kumar

(Release ID: 2122606) Visitor Counter : 83