NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NITI Aayog organises National Workshop on “Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Challenges, Best Practices, and Policy Interventions” at IIT Madras, Chennai on March 29, 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 7:16PM by PIB Delhi

    A one-day National Workshop on ‘Internationalisation of Higher Education in India’, was organised by the Education Division of NITI Aayog, as a part of the NITI–State workshop series, an initiative under the State Support Mission, and in collaboration with its knowledge partners, IIT Madras, Association of Indian Universities (AIU), and Acumen at the IIT Madras campus in Chennai on Saturday, 29th March 2025.

    The workshop brought together officers from the Centre, State and UT Governments, Institutions of National Importance, Central Universities, State Public Universities, Private Universities, Deemed Universities, International Universities, and representatives from several countries to deliberate on challenges, best practices and policy interventions for implementing internationalisation initiatives in Indian higher education at the systemic and institutional levels as envisioned in the National Education Policy 2020.

    Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul, Hon’ble Member (Education), NITI Aayog delivered the Keynote Address and the Concluding Address and chaired the entire workshop’s proceedings. Prof. Kamakoti Veezhinathan, Director, IIT Madras, delivered the Inaugural Address. Dr. Sonia Pant, Programme Director (Education), NITI Aayog welcomed the 140-strong audience. Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean – Global Engagement, IIT Madras, Dr. (Mrs.) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities, and Shri Adrian Mutton, Executive Chairman, Acumen addressed the gathering on behalf of the knowledge partners’ consortium.

    The workshop featured 40 speakers across 4 technical sessions on: (i) Internationalisation of Higher Education in India (in retrospect and future prospects), (ii) Academic Mobility for Learning and Research, (iii) Internationalisation of Curricula & Programmes, and (iv) Expanding Global Presence of Indian universities through Offshore Campuses and beyond. Special case studies on successes of Indian and international universities were presented including Indian universities setting up overseas campuses and international universities establishing campuses in India including at the GIFT City. Several country case studies including those of Australia, France, New Zealand, UK, USA, among others were also presented at the workshop.

    As discussions proceeded, participants emphasized actionable strategies such as enhancing infrastructure, streamlining regulations, and promoting India as a destination for academic collaboration, research, and learning on a global scale.

    This workshop marked a significant milestone in India’s journey towards internationalisation of higher education. The insights generated will feed into the ongoing NITI policy research study that aims to position Indian higher education institutions at the forefront of global academic excellence, ensuring India-centric internationalisation, and creating world class and world ready talent to enable India to play an influential role as a knowledge economy and achieve its vision of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2116875) Visitor Counter : 55

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Liquor Licensing Board to meet on Tuesday

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

    The Liquor Licensing Board will meet on Tuesday (April 1) to consider an application for renewal of liquor licence.

    The application is:

    Kowloon:
    —————
    SPICY CRABS in Jordan

    The board will also consider renewal of the liquor licence (with bar endorsement) of THE POET in Central.

    The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of the Vice–President’s address at valedictory session of National Conference on Environment- 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi (Excerpts)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 6:34PM by PIB Delhi

    Good evening, all of you. Frankly, I’m not used to such kind of order.

    I’m more used to disorder in the house. And secondly, when I sit in the chair, as Chairman Rajya Sabha, on my right is the Government, on the left is the Opposition. Today there’s a strange combination, excellence, sublimity, of bar and bench on my right side.

    One regret that I have, of parting with the jealous mistress, the legal profession, by becoming Governor-State of West Bengal and now the Vice-President, I did not have the occasion to appear before one of the finest judges of this country, Justice P. S. Narsimha. And similarly, I had no occasion to cross swords with another legal luminary, Shri Tushar Mehta. A source of inspiration and motivation for me.

    Because rarely there is a combination where dedication, excellence, commitment, and nationalism converge. Very soothing experience. Justice P. S. Narsimha, Judge Supreme Court of India, Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal, I know him while he was Chief Justice, Calcutta High Court, while I was in Kolkata, because the High Court continues to be known as Calcutta High Court, exemplified highest judicial decorum and standards, and was not eyesore to anyone, fructifying, game-changing decisions.

    A chairman of the National Green Tribunal, you know what he is. But I must share one thing, that is common between us. We both fear our wives. Pradeepti is here, so is Dr. Sudesh. They are our strength. Shri Tushar Mehta Ji has equal challenge in the family as we have. No issue on that. Shri Thirumal Kumar, an IAS officer, I have admired him for a long time, he knows it. So he was a little astounded that I still recollect that.

    Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, nothing has happened to me by virtue of these constitutional offices. I am what I am. The only loss that I have is, a legal profession is known as a jealous mistress. I quoted the jealous mistress. When I joined the bar, the year I was married. So along with my wife, there was a jealous mistress.

    But it was very thoughtful of the President of India, Ramnath Kovind Ji. He chose 20th of July 2019, that I forsake the jealous mistress, because that happened to be the birthday of my wife. We have in the audience distinguished Chief Justices, acting Chief Justices, judges, lawyers, environmentalists, boys and girls, but I must recognise the presence of some.

    Justice Vishwanath, some other, I have one thing in common with him. We both belong to the Daughters Club. He has a daughter, and so do we have. And had the satisfaction of knowing him for long. Justice Ashutosh Kumar, Acting Chief Justice, Patna High Court, I’m sure I’ll be making some mistakes. So I leave it at that. My greetings to all of you.

    When I reflected on 20th of July, my wife’s birthday, it doesn’t end there. 20th of July, Neil Armstrong in 1969, landed on the moon for the first time. But my wife was born 12 years before. But what Neil Armstrong said is extremely relevant today for what we are discussing and deliberating. Neil Armstrong reflected, I quote him, “there’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

    That is what we need to deal with the issue. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s a privilege to address the valedictory session of this National Conference on Environment. Grateful to Chairman Prakash Shrivastava for securing convergence of over 1,200 environmental experts, judicial and administrative minds, as also most vital stakeholders, young boys and girls.

    They are supremely interested, both in democracy and environment. They will go a long way. I am confident the deliberations over the last two days must have been very fruitful and must have generated a lot of hope and possibility.

    Our planet faces, in the shape of climate change, not an ordinary challenge. It’s an existential challenge. And the nature of the existential challenge is unknown to history ever before.

    The situation is critical and cliffhanging and far too long, engaging the attention of everyone, governments and people all over the globe. The solution to this burning issue is complexed by the belief that someone else will fix it. This is not to be true. We’ll have to do it on our own. There is now live realisation of this menace. It has to be moderated to begin with and solved by all of us in tenement togetherness.

    Resolute addressing of the problem is paramount. And neither we have the time nor we have another planet to cohabit. This problem of huge dimensions has to be fixed by all individuals acting individually, organisations and the governments with immediate, urgent, concerted and sustained effort.

    Let me share with the distinguished audience. Everyone is positioned to make his or her contribution. And the contribution when converges in totality will be result-orientated. We need to realise we are trustees of everything offered by Mother Earth and there is divine ordainment that we must pass on to the future generations all this in good shape writing on the wall. Have we done it? The answer comes from within. Certainly not.

    The present scenario is alarming, daunting and far distanced from what it should have been. In such a scenario an institution like the National Green Tribunal in the largest democracy habitat for one-sixth of humanity is playing vital and significant role catalysing scenarios for containment and searching for solutions. I join Justice P.S. Narsimha in complimenting Justice Shrivastava for taking this initiative and it is not a day too soon.

    India happens to be the third country as was reflected not by this number as such by Shri Tushar Mehta that we have taken a number of initiatives, innovative steps, affirmative government policies in the country but we were amongst the first three in the world to have an institution and regulator like the National Green Tribunal. Distinguished audience not many countries in the world can claim to have civilisational depth which we as Bharat have thousands of years of civilisational ethos. Long before sustainability became a global buzzword much long before centuries before it became a global buzzword India lived it for centuries where every banyan tree was a temple, every river a goddess and waste an unknown concept in a civilisation that worshipped circularity.

    Our Vedic literature is gold mine for nurturing of mother earth and propagating harmony between men and nature. From Ayurveda’s living harmony to Gandhi’s world has enough for need not for greed. The wise sage who transformed democratic landscape of the world bringing about change through non-violence he said the world has everything, earth has everything for need but not for greed.

    India’s DNA carries the only vaccine against ecological collapse, conspicuous consumption. We only have to read what is there in our gold mine. Environmental depredation if we see the cause of it is brought about on the planet only by one species amongst living beings.

    We do it, no one else does it. Distinguished audience we have to be aware the planet is not exclusive to us we are not its owners. Flora and fauna must flourish and blossom alongside and so must all other living beings.

    In such a scenario men will have to learn to live in harmony with nature and other living beings. Are we doing it? No. Every technological development increasing human prowess is used to captivate and make others’ lives vulnerable to other living beings.

    There will have to be individual focus on optimal utilisation of resources of nature. This has to be our habit. Our fiscal power and our fiscal capacity cannot determine the use of natural resources.

    The consumption has to be optimal. We are paying heavy price already for reckless exploitation of these resources and thoughtless consumption conspicuous and lacking empathy. Distinguished audience protecting earth for future generations, an urgent need calls for sustainable practices that recognise nature’s inherent worth while reconciling conservation with development needs. It’s a delicate balance and NGT is required to navigate the fine print of it.

    Human activities particularly climate change and water management now influence seismic events. Studies have revealed earthquakes we all know are normally because of tectonic processes but then the way we conserve waters, build dams and get them emptied is a cause of profound impact on geological situations and therefore there is a global need to evolve and believe in environmental ethics. This underscores human’s moral obligations to protect and preserve the environment.

    This is the interconnection of all living beings. I can assure you once we lose it we know the worth of it. Let us realise the worth before we lose it forever.

    Both ecological extension and conservation ethics advocate harmonious human-nature relationships and are so easy to bring about. It doesn’t call for anything but a positive mindset towards life, we have to focus on environmental preservation and prudent resource stewardship for generational sustainability. Friends, global environmental challenges necessitate cross-border cooperation and innovative strategies that simultaneously advance ecological sustainability and economic development.

    No individual, no group, no nation can by itself resolve this issue. It has to be done by one and all on the planet. There will have to be convergence.

    I am so glad that a step has been taken by the chairman NGT Mr. Shrivastava by having this conference. More of it and it’s kind of needed. Environmental security must inform nuclear policy also.

    We all know weapon systems have huge ecological impact from manufacturing through potential deployment and pose existential risk that undermines their perpetrated security benefits. Something that is for security will result in our defacement from the planet. There has to be a thought process.

    Developed nations must transcend the political boundaries, environmental thinking adopting models where planetary health becomes foundational to human prosperity and well-being. They cannot isolate themselves. Okay, we are doing fine. We have means, technological means to generate a healthy ecosystem. It can last for some years but not forever. They will have to be enveloped into the menace if they do not join the rest of the global community.

    Friends, just look around. Proliferation of air purifiers, masks, water filters, generators usually witnessed in the last few decades. They represent the grievous symptoms of environmental degradation rather than solutions.

    Authentic progress requires eliminating pollution sources. We have to eliminate them because they are created by us. They are man-made.

    Transforming our relationship with nature and exploitation to stewardship. The Bhopal gas tragedy relations are still unlearned. The Union carbide leakage of 1984. I think if I’m not wrong it was in 2015 that Justice Shrivastava, the judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court dealt with as a commissioner what compensation could be given. It was mega environmental negligence. Even after four decades families suffered generation after generation genetic disorders and groundwater contamination.

    30 years after it as I reflected Justice Shrivastava dealt with an issue for welfare of the victims. Just imagine how pathetic was the lack of awareness. We did not have an institution like NGT.

    We did not have a regulatory regime that could address the issue. Things would have been very different if there had been a regulatory regime of the current level then. Distinguished audience there is a growing concern that environmental justice often follows a troubling pattern of 4Ds delay, deny, dispose, dissolve.

    This cycle must be broken. I am happy to note NGT is catalysing sensitisation on all fronts on this aspect. And I am sure intervention to the NGT exercise will be scarce.

    It is an expert body. I am not for a moment questioning anybody’s authority or power, sir. But then when expert bodies function and have the facility of getting expertise from people who are really knowledgeable, stalling their action delays environmental protection.

    It is soothing to note that the National Green Tribunal shifts from delay to decisiveness from denial to accountability from mere disposal to true restoration and from dissolution to sustainable resolution is increasingly getting respect of the people, institutions corporate world and workers. Our environmental jurisprudence in the country has to grow by looking into our reservoir I said, gold mine reflected in our Vedic literature. Fortunately, trends are emerging that now transcend remediation to embracing ecological preservation as a fundamental mandate.

    Why should we get into remediation, repair? Let us keep an eagle’s eye. Let us keep it in deep focus. Why should there be no preservation? I admire and compliment the Chairman NGT. He has made no efforts to secure scientific expertise to assist and this is turning out to be a cutting edge to NGT’s adjudicatory functions helping it play a visionary role in environmental governance. The tribunal’s environmental jurisprudence is progressively integrating emerging scientific understanding with established legal doctrines and I can share it with you. Having had modest global exposure, the tribunal’s judgments are looked at with great deference globally.

    Invoking the power to interpret the Constitution, the Supreme Court has, and I would say earliest in the world, given dimensions to Article 21, that healthy environment and right to clean air are integrated inalienable facets of Article 21. Friends, despite the synergy between our constitutional values and cultural ethos, there is now an urgent need to deal with citizenry neglect that is widely evident. I reflect on occasions when no Indian who is abroad throws a banana skin out of a running vehicle. No one does it. Why do we have negligence on our holy land? Citizens must be sensitised and made aware. Such kinds of conferences as indicated by Justice Narasimha play a pivotal role because they get media attention and traction. Steps have been taken by the government, and I can share many steps that are game-changing. Toilet in the house, gas connection in the house. Just imagine making that kind of bulbs, making solar power available. Just imagine. Just a decade ago, our solar power capacity was in single-digit gigawatts. It is now beyond 100 gigawatts. We have an international solar alliance here. During G20, India took the initiative for biofuels.

    So world is changing, but India is changing fastest in the last 10 years, both in economy and infrastructure. But we need to do more because we have to lead on the front foot for the entire world and humanity. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

    At an individual level, we have to be constantly mindful of the environment as guided by one of the पंच प्राण, पर्यावरण संरक्षण यह हमारा धर्म है, यह हमारा कर्म होना चाहिए, यह हमारा दैनिक कर्म होना चाहिए, इसको करने से हम खुद को लाभ देते हैं, देश को देते हैं, दुनिया को देते हैं।

    We should proactively try to reduce our carbon footprint. And mind you, India is the only country where the Prime Minister could declare that not only we abide by the Paris Declaration, but we will meet the target aead other nations and the world has applauded us. The way I look, Chairman Shrivastava, to NGT and for nurturing G for green and T for tomorrow. NGT for me is nurturing green for tomorrow.

    Friends, this is not just wordplay. It is the vision of an institution that connects law, science, and ethics to transform our relationship with nature. Let us draw from our Vedic roots, wield cutting edge tools, and uphold climate justice with unwavering resolve.

    Shanti path from Yajurveda I’ll conclude with that. Let peace prevail in the sky and space. Let peace reign and radiate in earth, in water, and in all plants. Let peace prevail everywhere.

    द्यौः शान्तिः अन्तरिक्षं शान्तिः पृथ्वी शान्तिः वनस्पतयः शान्तिः। ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

    The earth is not for us to conquer. It is for us to cherish and pass on to posterity to future generations. The NGT which it’s blend of judicial mind and moral clarity is uniquely positioned to lead the charge under the guidance of Justice Prakash Shrivastava. I am grateful for this opportunity. Thank you everyone for your patience.

    ****

    JK/RC/SM

     

    (Release ID: 2116858) Visitor Counter : 125

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre in Nagpur, Maharashtra

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre in Nagpur, Maharashtra

    It is our priority that all citizens of the country get better health facilities: PM

    Even during the most difficult times, new social movements kept taking place in India to keep consciousness awakened: PM

    Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is the modern Akshay Vat of the immortal culture of India, this Akshay Vat is continuously energizing Indian culture and the consciousness of our nation: PM

    When during efforts the focus is on we and not I, when the spirit of nation first is paramount, when the interest of the people of the country is the most important factor in policies and decisions, only then its effect is visible everywhere: PM

    Wherever there is a natural disaster in the world, India stands up to serve wholeheartedly: PM

    Our youth, imbued with the spirit of nation-building, are moving ahead towards the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047: PM

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 2:09PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre in Nagpur, Maharashtra today. Addressing the gathering, he highlighted the significance of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, marking the beginning of the sacred Navratri festival. He noted that across the country, festivals such as Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, and Navreh are being celebrated today. He emphasized the importance of the day as it coincides with the birth anniversaries of Bhagwan Jhulelal and Guru Angad Dev. He also acknowledged the occasion as the birth anniversary of the inspirational Dr. K B Hedgewar and the centenary year of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) illustrious journey. He expressed his honor in visiting the Smruti Mandir to pay homage to Dr. Hedgewar and Shri Golwalkar Guruji on this momentous day.

    Highlighting the celebration of 75 years of the Indian Constitution during this period and the upcoming birth anniversary of its architect, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, next month, Shri Modi remarked on paying homage to Dr. Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi and seeking his blessings. He extended greetings to the citizens on Navratri and all other festivals being celebrated. 

    Emphasising the significance of Nagpur as a sacred center of service and acknowledging the expansion of a noble initiative, Shri Modi remarked on the inspiring anthem of Madhav Netralaya, which reflects spirituality, knowledge, pride, and humanity. He highlighted Madhav Netralaya as an institution that has been serving millions for decades, following the ideals of Pujya Guruji, and restoring light to countless lives.

    He noted the foundation stone laying of the new campus of Madhav Netralaya and expressed confidence that this expansion will accelerate its service activities, bringing light to thousands of new lives and dispelling darkness from their lives. He appreciated the efforts of everyone associated with Madhav Netralaya and extended his best wishes for their continued service.

    Reiterating the emphasis laid on ‘Sabke Prayas’ from the Red Fort and highlighting the significant strides made by the country in the healthcare sector, the Prime Minister noted that Madhav Netralaya is complementing these efforts. “Government’s priority is to ensure better healthcare facilities for all citizens, even the poorest should have access to the best possible treatment”, he emphasised, mentioning that no citizen should be deprived of the dignity of life, and senior citizens who have dedicated their lives to the nation should not live in worry about medical treatment. He highlighted the impact of Ayushman Bharat, which has provided free treatment to millions of people. Shri Modi also noted the thousands of Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country, offering affordable medicines to the poor and middle-class families, saving citizens thousands of crores of rupees. He remarked on the establishment of lakhs of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in villages over the past decade, providing primary health care through telemedicine to people. He emphasized that these facilities have eliminated the need for citizens to travel hundreds of kilometers for medical tests.

    Underlining the doubling of medical colleges in the country and the tripling of operational AIIMS institutions, Shri Modi said that the number of medical seats has also doubled to ensure the availability of more skilled doctors to serve the people in the future. He emphasized the Government’s efforts to provide opportunities for students to study medicine in their native languages, enabling them to become doctors. He noted that alongside advancements in modern medical science, the country is also promoting its traditional knowledge. He remarked on the global recognition being achieved by India’s yoga and Ayurveda, which are enhancing the nation’s prestige on the world stage.

    Mentioning that the existence of any nation depends on the expansion of its culture and consciousness across generations, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s history of centuries of slavery and invasions, which attempted to dismantle its social structure, yet India’s consciousness remained alive and resilient. “Even during the toughest times, new social movements in India kept this consciousness awakened”, he emphasised, citing the Bhakti movement as an example, where saints like Guru Nanak Dev, Kabir Das, Tulsidas, Surdas, and Maharashtra’s Sant Tukaram, Sant Eknath, Sant Namdev, and Sant Dnyaneshwar infused life into India’s national consciousness with their original ideas. He remarked that these movements broke the chains of discrimination and united society. Underscoring the contributions of Swami Vivekananda, who shook a despairing society, reminded it of its true essence, instilled self-confidence, and ensured that India’s national consciousness remained undimmed, the Prime Minister noted the role of Dr. Hedgewar and Guruji in energizing this consciousness during the final decades of colonial rule. He remarked on the seed of thought sown 100 years ago for the preservation and promotion of national consciousness, which has now grown into a great tree. He highlighted that the principles and ideals give height to this great tree, with lakhs of volunteers as its branches. “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is the modern Akshay Vat of the immortal culture of India, this Akshay Vat is continuously energizing Indian culture and the consciousness of our nation”, he added.

    Remarking on the natural connection between vision and direction as the new campus of Madhav Netralaya begins its journey, Shri Modi highlighted the significance of vision in life, quoting the Vedic aspiration, “Pashyema Sharadah Shatam,” which means “May we see for a hundred years.” He emphasized the importance of both external vision and inner vision. Recalling the great saint of Vidarbha, Shri Gulabrao Maharaj, known as “Prajnachakshu”, the Prime Minister said, “despite losing his eyesight at a young age, Shri Gulabrao Maharaj authored numerous books”. He noted that while he lacked physical sight, he possessed profound vision, which stems from wisdom and manifests through discernment. He emphasized that such vision empowers both individuals and society. He remarked that the RSS is a sacred endeavor working towards both external and inner vision. He highlighted Madhav Netralaya as an example of external vision and noted that the inner vision has made the Sangh synonymous with service. 

    The Prime Minister quoted scriptures, emphasizing that the purpose of life is service and altruism. He remarked that when service becomes ingrained in values, it transforms into a form of devotion, which is the essence of every RSS volunteer’s life. He highlighted that this spirit of service inspires generations of volunteers to dedicate themselves tirelessly. He noted that this devotion keeps volunteers constantly active, never allowing them to tire or stop. Recalling Guruji’s words that the significance of life lies not in its duration but in its utility, Shri Modi emphasized the commitment to duty, guided by the principles of “Dev to Desh” and “Ram to Rashtra.” He remarked on the selfless work of volunteers in various fields, whether in border villages, hilly regions, or forest areas. He highlighted their involvement in initiatives like Vanvasi Kalyan Ashrams, Ekal Vidyalayas for tribal children, cultural awakening missions, and Seva Bharati’s efforts to serve the underprivileged. Lauding the exemplary work of volunteers during the Prayag Mahakumbh, where they assisted millions through the Netra Kumbh initiative, he emphasized that wherever there is a need for service, volunteers are present. He remarked on the disciplined response of volunteers during disasters like floods and earthquakes, highlighting their selflessness and dedication to service. “Seva is a sacrificial fire, and we burn like offerings, merging into the ocean of purpose”, he quoted.

    Sharing an inspiring anecdote about Guruji, who was once asked why he referred to the Sangh as all-pervasive, Shri Modi said that Guruji compared the Sangh to light, emphasizing that while light may not perform every task itself, it dispels darkness and shows others the way forward. He remarked that Guruji’s teaching serves as a life mantra, urging everyone to become a source of light, remove obstacles, and pave the way for progress. He highlighted the essence of selflessness with the principles, “Not I, but you,” and “Not mine, but for the nation.” 

    Emphasising the importance of prioritizing “we” over “I” and placing the nation first in all policies and decisions, the Prime Minister said that such an approach yields visible positive impacts across the country. He highlighted the need to break the chains that have held the nation back, stressing the importance of moving beyond a colonial mindset. He noted that India is now replacing remnants of colonialism, carried for 70 years with inferiority, with new chapters of national pride. He remarked on the replacement of outdated British laws designed to demean Indians with the new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. He highlighted the transformation of Rajpath into Kartavya Path, symbolizing duty over colonial legacy. He also noted the removal of colonial symbols from the Navy’s flag, which now proudly features the emblem of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He further acknowledged the renaming of islands in the Andaman region, where Veer Savarkar endured hardships for the nation and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose sounded the bugle of freedom, to honor the heroes of India’s independence.

    “India’s guiding principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is reaching every corner of the world and is being reflected in India’s actions”, exclaimed Shri Modi, highlighting India’s efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing vaccines to the world as a family. He noted India’s prompt response to natural disasters, including the recent earthquake in Myanmar under “Operation Brahma,” as well as assistance during earthquakes in Türkiye and Nepal and the water crisis in the Maldives. He emphasized India’s role in evacuating citizens of other countries during conflicts and noted that India’s progress is amplifying the voice of the Global South. He remarked that this spirit of global brotherhood stems from India’s cultural values. Highlighting India’s youth as the nation’s greatest asset, brimming with confidence and an enhanced capacity for risk-taking, Shri Modi noted their contributions to innovation, startups, and their pride in India’s heritage and culture. He cited the participation of lakhs of young people in the Prayag Mahakumbh as an example of their connection to India’s eternal traditions. He remarked on the youth’s focus on national needs, their role in the success of “Make in India,” and their vocal support for local products. He emphasized their determination to live and work for the nation, excelling from sports fields to space exploration, driven by a spirit of nation-building. He expressed confidence that India’s youth will lead the nation toward the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. The PM highlighted the synergy of organization, dedication, and service as the driving force behind this journey. He remarked that the decades of effort and dedication by the RSS are bearing fruit, writing a new chapter in India’s development.

    The Prime Minister remarked on the contrasting circumstances during the establishment of the RSS in 1925, a time marked by struggle and the overarching goal of independence. He highlighted the significance of the Sangh’s 100-year journey and noted that the period from 2025 to 2047 presents new, ambitious goals for the nation. He recalled Guruji’s inspiring words from a letter, expressing the desire to be a small stone in the foundation of a grand national edifice. He emphasized the need to keep the commitment to service ignited, maintain relentless effort, and realize the dream of a developed India. He reiterated his vision, as shared during the construction of Shri Ram’s temple in Ayodhya, to lay the foundation for a strong India for the next thousand years. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the guidance of luminaries like Dr. Hedgewar and Guruji will continue to empower the nation. He concluded by affirming the resolve to fulfill the vision of a developed India and honor the sacrifices of generations. 

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari, RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, Swami Govind Devgiri Maharaj, Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj, Dr. Avinash Chandra Agnihotri, and other distinguished guests were present during the occasion.

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2116775) Visitor Counter : 149

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Game start-ups reach new level

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Hong Kong Game Enhancement & Promotion Scheme, sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, supports local start-ups in growing their businesses in international markets, leading to some generating over $10 million in revenue.

         News.gov.hk spoke to two game entrepreneurs who received funding to develop successful video games, while a representative from the scheme’s organiser outlined details of the support provided to start-ups and its results so far.

         The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature today (March 30) in text and video format.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, expresses happiness over the surrender of 50 Naxalites in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, and welcomes them into the mainstream

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, expresses happiness over the surrender of 50 Naxalites in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, and welcomes them into the mainstream

    Union Home Minister appeals to the rest of the Naxalites to give up arms and join the mainstream

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s policy is clear that Naxalites who give up arms and adopt the path of development will be rehabilitated and connected to the mainstream

    Our resolve is that after March 31, 2026, Naxalism will become history in the country

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 6:21PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, today expressed happiness over the surrender of 50 Naxalites in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, and welcomed them into the mainstream. He urged other Naxalites to abandon violence and integrate into society, emphasizing that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s policy ensures rehabilitation and development for those who renounce arms. Shri Shah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism, stating that after March 31, 2026, it will become history in the country.

    In a post on X, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said, “It is a matter of great joy that 50 Naxalites in Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) surrendered, abandoning the path of violence. I welcome those who leave violence and weapons and join the mainstream of development. Modi ji’s policy is clear that any Naxalite who leaves weapons and adopts the path of development will be rehabilitated and connected to the mainstream. I once again appeal to the rest of the people to give up weapons and join the mainstream. After March 31, 2026, Naxalism will become history in the country, this is our resolution.”

    ****

     

    RK/VV/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2116853) Visitor Counter : 173

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: WAVES 2025 to Host India’s Biggest Cosplay Championship, Elevating Pop Culture & Creativity

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 11:13AM by PIB Mumbai

     

    Creators Street and Epiko Con, in collaboration with the Telangana Government, ICA Indian Comics Association, Forbidden Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI) and Telangana VFX Animation and Gaming Association (TVAGA) and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India proudly announce the WAVES Cosplay Championship—India’s most prestigious cosplay competition. Set to take place at 2025 World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai from May 1-4, 2025, this landmark event will bring together India’s most talented cosplayers, celebrating their artistry, dedication, and craftsmanship in the world of pop culture.

    About WAVES Cosplay Championship

    The WAVES Cosplay Championship aims to empower India’s growing cosplay community by providing a world-class platform for participants to showcase their skills, creativity, and passion for pop culture. This championship aligns with India’s expanding entertainment and AVGC-XR sector, encouraging self-expression and innovation in costume design, performance and character portrayal.

    Competition Highlights

    • Grand Finale: 80-100 finalists will present their cosplays live on the WAVES 2025 stage.
    • Jury: Participants will be judged by esteemed industry experts, international guests and cosplay professionals.
    • Diverse Categories: Catagories will represent Indian mythology, Pop Culture, Anime, Manga, DC, Marvel, and more.

    ● Global Exposure: A chance to gain recognition on an international level.

    • Prize Money: Prize money of more than ₹1,50,000/- up for grabs.
    1. Online Registration & Jury Review – Cosplayers to submit their entries online, which will be reviewed by a jury.
    2. Finalist Selection – Top 80-100 cosplayers will be selected and notified via email.
    3. Live Championship at WAVES 2025 – Finalists will walk the ramp in full cosplay, showcasing their best poses and performances.
    4. Jury Evaluation & Announcement of Winners – Based on key judging parameters, winners across multiple categories will be crowned.

    Key Dates

    ● Registration Opens: March 28, 2025

    • Submission Deadline: April 7, 2025
    • WAVES Cosplay Championship Grand Finale: May 1 – 4, 2025

     

    For more details and registration information, visit https://creatorsstreet.in/. Registration Link https://forms.office.com/r/xpeg7sDASm

    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  Register for WAVES now

    ***

    PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rabee/ Nikita/Parshuram Kor| 77

     

     

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

    (Release ID: 2116706) Visitor Counter : 74

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Regional flag day today

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Regional flag day today 
    Arrangements have been made with the charities to help people to distinguish among the three flag-selling activities.    
     
    Information on the three flag-selling organisations on March 29 is as follows:
     

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone, inaugurates development works in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh worth over ₹33,700 crore

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone, inaugurates development works in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh worth over ₹33,700 crore

    Today, on the auspicious day of Navratri, on the New Year, three lakh poor families of Chhattisgarh are entering their new houses: PM

    Government is concerned about providing health facilities and medical treatment for poor tribals: PM

    Government is running a special campaign for the development of tribal society: PM

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 6:17PM by PIB Delhi

    In line with his commitment to enhance infrastructure development and sustainable livelihood, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone, initiated commencement of work and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 33,700 crore in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh today. Marking the auspicious beginning of the New Year today and the first day of Navratri, he emphasized the significance of Chhattisgarh as the land of Mata Mahamaya and the maternal home of Mata Kaushalya. He highlighted the special importance of these nine days dedicated to feminine divinity for the state. He expressed his privilege to be in Chhattisgarh on the first day of Navratri and congratulated everyone on the recent issuance of a postal stamp in honor of Bhakt Shiromani Mata Karma. He further remarked that the Navratri festival will conclude with the celebration of Ram Navami, highlighting the unique devotion to Lord Ram in Chhattisgarh, particularly the extraordinary dedication of the Ramnami Samaj, which has devoted their entire being to the name of Lord Ram. He extended his heartfelt wishes to the people of Chhattisgarh, referring to them as the maternal family of Lord Ram.

    With the blessings of Mohbhatta Swayambhu Shivling Mahadev on this auspicious occasion, Shri Modi highlighted the opportunity to accelerate development in Chhattisgarh. He noted the inauguration and foundation laying of projects worth over ₹33,700 crore, which include housing for the poor, schools, roads, railways, electricity, and gas pipelines. He stressed that these projects are aimed at enhancing convenience for Chhattisgarh’s citizens and creating new employment opportunities. He extended his congratulations to all for the progress achieved through these development initiatives.

    Emphasizing the cultural significance of providing shelter, calling it a great virtue, the Prime Minister said that it was an unparalleled joy of fulfilling someone’s dream of owning a home. On the auspicious occasion of Navratri and the New Year, he highlighted that three lakh poor families in Chhattisgarh are entering their new homes. He extended his heartfelt wishes to these families for a new beginning. He credited the realization of these homes to the trust placed in his leadership, noting that the dream of permanent housing for lakhs of families in Chhattisgarh was previously lost in bureaucratic files. He recalled the Government’s commitment to fulfilling this dream. He remarked that under Shri Vishnu Deo’s leadership, the first Cabinet decision was to construct 18 lakh houses, of which three lakh have been completed. He expressed happiness that many of these homes are in tribal areas, benefiting families in Bastar and Surguja, acknowledging the transformative impact of these homes for families who have endured generations of hardship in makeshift shelters, calling it a significant gift.

    “While the Government provided assistance in building these homes, the beneficiaries themselves decided how their dream homes would be designed”, said Shri Modi, emphasising that these homes are not just four walls but a transformation of lives. He highlighted the efforts to equip these homes with essential facilities such as toilets, electricity, Ujjwala gas connections, and piped water. He noted the significant presence of women at the event and remarked that most of these homes are owned by women. He acknowledged the milestone achieved by thousands of women who, for the first time, have property registered in their names. He expressed his gratitude for the joy and blessings reflected on the faces of these women, calling it his greatest asset.

    Highlighting the broader impact of constructing lakhs of homes which not only created the employment opportunities for local artisans, masons, and laborers in villages, the Prime Minister said that the materials used for these homes are sourced locally, benefiting small shopkeepers and transport operators. He noted that these housing projects have generated significant employment in Chhattisgarh, contributing to the livelihoods of many.

    Underlining that their Government is fulfilling every promise made to the people of Chhattisgarh, Shri Modi highlighted the presence of a large number of beneficiaries from various schemes, emphasizing the swift implementation of government guarantees. He noted that the promises made to the women of Chhattisgarh have been honored, including the disbursement of two years’ pending bonuses to paddy farmers and the procurement of paddy at increased MSP rates. These measures have provided thousands of crores of rupees to millions of farming families. The Prime Minister criticized the previous Government for recruitment exam scams and highlighted their Government’s transparent investigations and fair conduct of examinations. He emphasized that these honest efforts have strengthened public trust with growing support, evident from its victories in Assembly, Lok Sabha, and now municipal elections in Chhattisgarh. He expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support of the people for their Government’s initiatives.

    Shri Modi noted that this year was 25th anniversary of Chhattisgarh’s statehood, celebrating it as the state’s Silver Jubilee Year was coinciding as this year also marked the birth centenary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He said that the Chhattisgarh Government is observing 2025 as “Atal Nirman Varsh” and reaffirmed the commitment, “We built it, and we will nurture it.” He emphasized that the infrastructure projects inaugurated and launched today are part of this resolution. 

    Mentioning that Chhattisgarh had to be formed as a separate state because the benefits of development were not reaching the region, the PM criticized the previous Government for its failure to deliver development and for corruption in the projects that were undertaken. He underscored that their Government has prioritized the well-being of the people, focusing on improving their lives, facilities, and opportunities for their children. He highlighted the efforts to bring development schemes to every village in Chhattisgarh.

    Underlining the progress in remote tribal areas, where quality roads are now reaching for the first time, Shri Modi mentioned the introduction of train services to several regions, including the flagging off of a new train earlier in the event. He also highlighted the arrival of electricity, piped water, and mobile towers in previously underserved areas. He remarked on the construction of new schools, colleges, and hospitals, emphasizing that these initiatives are transforming the landscape of Chhattisgarh. 

    Highlighting Chhattisgarh’s achievement of becoming one of the states with a fully electrified rail network, calling it a significant milestone, the Prime Minister noted that approximately ₹40,000 crore worth of rail projects are currently underway in the state, with ₹7,000 crore allocated in this year’s budget to improve rail connectivity in various regions and neighboring states. Stressing that development requires both budgetary support and honest intentions, Shri Modi criticized the previous Government for its corruption and inefficiency, which hindered progress in tribal areas. He cited the example of coal, noting that despite Chhattisgarh’s abundant reserves, the state faced electricity shortages due to the neglect of power plants by previous dispensations. He remarked that under their Government, new power plants are being established to address these issues and ensure reliable electricity for the state.

    Highlighting the Government’s focus on solar energy and introduction of the ‘PM Suryagarh Muft Bijli Scheme,’ which aims to eliminate electricity bills and enable households to generate income by producing electricity, the Prime Minister noted that the Government is providing ₹78,000 assistance per household for installing solar panels. He added  that over two lakh families in Chhattisgarh have already registered for the scheme and encouraged others to join for significant benefits.

    Stressing on the Government’s efforts to address the challenge of delivering gas pipelines to Chhattisgarh, a landlocked state, Shri Modi criticized the previous Government for neglecting necessary investments in gas infrastructure and highlighted the ongoing work to lay gas pipelines in the region. He noted that these pipelines will reduce dependency on truck transportation for petroleum products, lower costs for consumers, and enable the use of CNG vehicles. He remarked that households will benefit from piped cooking gas, with a target of reaching over two lakh homes. He also emphasized that the availability of gas will facilitate the establishment of new industries in Chhattisgarh, creating significant employment opportunities.

    Criticizing the previous dispensation’s policies over the decades, stating that they contributed to the rise of Naxalism in Chhattisgarh and other states, the Prime Minister said that Naxalism thrived in areas lacking development and resources, and instead of addressing these issues, such districts were declared as backward, shirking their responsibility. He highlighted the neglect faced by the most underprivileged tribal families in many districts of Chhattisgarh under previous Government’s rule. In contrast, he emphasized their Government’s efforts to address the needs of poor tribal communities. He noted the initiatives undertaken, such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to provide toilets, the Ayushman Bharat scheme offering free treatment up to ₹5 lakh, and the establishment of PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which provide medicines at an 80% discount.

    The Prime Minister criticized those who falsely claim to champion social justice while neglecting the tribal community. He emphasized his Government’s commitment to the development of tribal societies, highlighting the launch of the “Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Utkarsh Abhiyan,” under which approximately ₹80,000 crore is being invested in tribal areas, benefiting nearly 7,000 tribal villages in Chhattisgarh. Noting the unique challenges faced by particularly vulnerable tribal groups, Shri Modi mentioned the introduction of the “PM Janman Yojana,” the first initiative of its kind for these communities. He remarked that under this scheme, over 2,000 settlements in 18 districts of Chhattisgarh are being developed. He highlighted the approval of 5,000 kilometers of roads for tribal settlements across the country, with nearly half—2,500 kilometers—being constructed in Chhattisgarh under the PM Janman Yojana. He also noted that many beneficiaries have received permanent homes under this initiative.

    Highlighting the rapid transformation of Chhattisgarh under the Union and State governments, Shri Modi remarked on the renewed confidence brought by achievements such as Sukma district’s health center receiving a national quality certificate and the reopening of a health center in Dantewada after several years. He emphasized that these efforts are ushering in a new era of lasting peace in Naxal-affected areas. Referring to the Bastar Olympics, discussed during his “Mann Ki Baat” program in December 2024, as evidence of the positive changes in Chhattisgarh, he noted the enthusiastic participation of thousands of youth in the event, reflecting the state’s progress. He expressed optimism about the bright future of Chhattisgarh’s youth and praised the state’s effective implementation of the New Education Policy. He highlighted the establishment of over 12,000 modern PM Shri Schools across the country, including approximately 350 in Chhattisgarh, which will serve as models for other schools and elevate the state’s education system.

    The Prime Minister acknowledged the excellent work being done by Eklavya Model Schools in Chhattisgarh and the reopening of schools in Naxal-affected areas. He also inaugurated the Vidya Samiksha Kendra in the state, calling it a significant step for the nation’s education system. He emphasized that this initiative will enhance the quality of education, providing real-time support to teachers and students in classrooms.

    Mentioning the fulfillment of another promise under the New National Education Policy, which enables medical and engineering studies

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appeal for information on missing man in Yau Ma Tei (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Police today (March 29) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Yau Ma Tei.

    Law Ah-cheung, aged 70, went missing after he was last seen at an elderly home on Man Ying Street yesterday (March 28) afternoon. Staff of the caring home then made a report to Police.
       
    He is about 1.6 metres tall, 52 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a blue checked shirt, black trousers, black slippers and carrying a beige recycle bag and a long umbrella.

    Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Long before ‘Sustainability’ became a global buzzword India lived it for centuries-VP

    Source: Government of India

    Long before ‘Sustainability’ became a global buzzword India lived it for centuries-VP

    Developed nations must transcend political boundaries in environmental thinking-VP

    The Union Carbide Leakage of 1984 was mega environmental negligence-VP

    Global need to evolve and believe in environmental ethics-VP

    NGT connects law, science and ethics to transform our relationship with nature-VP

    Vice-President addresses the valedictory session of National Conference on Environment- 2025

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 6:01PM by PIB Delhi

    Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today stated that, “ Long before sustainability became a global buzzword, much long before….India lived it for centuries where every Banyan tree was a temple, every river a goddess and best an unknown concept in a civilisation that worshipped secularity. Our Vedic literature is goldmine for nurturing Mother Earth and propagating harmony between man and nature.”

    “India’s DNA carries the only vaccine against ecological collapse conspicuous consumption. We only have to read what is there in our goldmine”, he added.

    Addressing the valedictory session of National Conference on Environment- 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi today, Shri Dhankhar stated, “Developed nations must transcend the political boundaries in environmental thinking. Adopting models where planetary health becomes foundational to human prosperity and well-being.”

    /center>

    Recalling the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984, Shri Dhankar said, “ The Bhopal gas tragedy lesson is still unlearned. The Union Carbide Leakage of 1984.  It was mega environmental negligence. Even after four decades, families suffered generation after generation, genetic disorders and groundwater contamination…..Just imagine how pathetic was the lack of awareness. We did not have an institution like NGT. We did not have a regulatory regime that could address the issue. Things would have been very different if there had been a regulatory regime of the current level then.”

    Emphasising on the need to evolve environmental ethics, he stated, “….There is a global need to evolve and believe in environmental ethics, this underscores human’s moral obligations to protect and preserve the environment…….we have to be aware the planet is not exclusive to us. We are not its owners. Flora and fauna must flourish and blossom alongside and so must all other living beings. In such a scenario, man will have to learn to live in harmony with nature and other living beings. Are we doing it? No…..There will have to be individual focus on optimal utilisation of resources of the nature. This has to be our habit. Our fiscal power, our fiscal capacity cannot determine the use of natural resources. The consumption has to be optimal.”

    “Both Ecological Extension and Conservation Ethics advocate harmonious human-nature relationship, and so easy to bring about. It doesn’t call for anything but a positive mindset towards life. We have to focus on environmental preservation and prudent resource stewardship for generational sustainability”, he added.

    Highlighting the interconnectedness of NGT with law, science and ethics, Shri Dhankhar stated, “ The way I look to NGT, N for nurturing, G for green and T for tomorrow. NGT for me is nurturing green for tomorrow. This is not just word play. It is vision of an institution that connects law, science and ethics to transform our relationship with nature. Let us grow from our very roots, wield cutting edge, tools and uphold climate justice with unwavering resolve.”

    “Let peace prevail in the sky and space. Let peace reign  and radiate in earth, in water and in all plants.  Let peace prevail everywhere”,he added.

    Dr. (Smt.) Sudesh Dhankhar, Spouse of the Hon’ble Vice-President of India, Justice P.S Narsimha, Judge, Supreme Court of India, Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, National Green Tribunal, Shri Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India, Shri Tanmay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and other dignitaries were present at the occasion.

    ****

    JK/RC/SM

     

    (Release ID: 2116844) Visitor Counter : 177

    Read this release in: Urdu

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mineral and non-ferrous metal production on growth track in FY 2024-25 (April- February)

    Source: Government of India

    Mineral and non-ferrous metal production on growth track in FY 2024-25 (April- February)

    Robust Growth in Production of Key Minerals and non-ferrous Metals

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 12:43PM by PIB Delhi

    Production of some key minerals in the country has continued to witness strong growth during FY 2024-25 (April- February), after reaching record production levels in FY 2023-24. Iron ore accounts for 70% of the total MCDR mineral production by value. Production of iron ore was 274 million metric tonne (MMT) in FY 2023-24.

    As per provisional data, production of iron ore has increased from 252 MMT in FY 2023-24 (April- February) to 263 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April- February), showing a healthy 4.4% growth. Production of manganese ore has risen by 12.8% to 3.4 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April- February) from 3.0 MMT during the corresponding period of previous year. Production of bauxite has also risen by 3.6% to 22.7 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April- February) from 21.9 MMT in FY 2023-24 (April- February). Production of Lead Concentrate has also risen by 3.5% to 352 THT in FY 2024-25 (April- February) from 340 THT in FY 2023-24 (April- February).

    In the non-ferrous metal sector, primary aluminium production in FY 2024-25 (April- February) posted a growth of 0.9% over the corresponding period last year, increasing to 38.36 lakh ton (LT) in FY 2024-25 (April- February) from 38.00 LT in FY 2023-24 (April- February). During the same comparative period, refined copper production has grown by 7.1% from 4.64 LT to 4.97 LT.

    India is the 2nd largest Aluminium producer, among top-10 producer in refined copper and 4th largest iron ore producer in the world. Continued growth in production of iron ore in the current financial year reflects the robust demand conditions in the user industry viz. steel. Coupled with growth in aluminium and copper, these growth trends point towards continued strong economic activity in user sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive and machinery.

    ****

    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    (Release ID: 2116738) Visitor Counter : 85

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKSAR search and rescue team leaves for Myanmar (with photos/video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government sent a 51-strong search and rescue team to the earthquake-stricken areas in Myanmar this afternoon (March 29) to assist in the search and rescue work.

    The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok; and the Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung, saw the search and rescue team off at Hong Kong International Airport. The Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr Tony Ko, also attended and showed support to the team.

    The team, led by Deputy Chief Fire Officer of the Fire Services Department (FSD), Mr Cheu Yu-kok, comprises 40 members of the FSD which include firemen, ambulancemen and fire services workshops personnel, as well as officers from the Security Bureau, the Immigration Department and the HA.

    Bringing along two search and rescue dogs, the team is also taking approximately nine tonnes of equipment which includes life detectors and masonry cutting machines, an automatic satellite tracking antenna system which provides network connection, as well as the team members’ daily necessities.

    Upon arrival at Myanmar, the team will join local rescue teams to start search and rescue work.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SJ at opening ceremony of 22nd Willem C Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot (English only) (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the opening ceremony of 22nd Willem C Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot today (March 30):

    Ms Barrington (Director of the Vis East Moot Foundation, Ms Louise Barrington), Ms Tung (Deputy Director of the Vis East Moot Foundation, Ms Sherlin Tung), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM reaffirms commitment to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision during his visit to Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 12:02PM by PIB Delhi

    Hailing the Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur as a symbol of social justice and empowering the downtrodden, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today reiterated the Government’s commitment to work even harder to realise the India which Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar envisioned.

    In a post on X, he wrote:

    “Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur stands tall as a symbol of social justice and empowering the downtrodden.

    Generations of Indians will remain grateful to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar for giving us a Constitution that ensures our dignity and equality.

    Our Government has always walked on the path shown by Pujya Babasaheb and we reiterate our commitment to working even harder to realise the India he dreamt of.”

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2116721) Visitor Counter : 173

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NFRA and IIT Kanpur jointly organize a Hackathon on Large Language Models (LLM) and Generative AI

    Source: Government of India

    NFRA and IIT Kanpur jointly organize a Hackathon on Large Language Models (LLM) and Generative AI

    Generative AI’s potential to revolutionize financial statement analysis showcased

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 4:54PM by PIB Delhi

    NFRA and IIT Kanpur jointly organized a Hackathon to encourage students to build cutting-edge solutions using Large Language Models (LLM) and Generative AI. The objective was to demonstrate  democratizing complex financial statements so that financial information is more readable and understandable. The challenge given was to transform financial data into clear, engaging stories to enable well informed decisions. The hackathon tried to address the challenge, leveraging GenAI. Teams attempted transformative solutions to simplify financial statements and unlock deeper insights.

    Students from various engineering colleges in India participated in hackathon held at IIT Kanpur from 28th and 29th March 2025.

    The hackathon enabled the interaction of academia, students and the regulator joining hands to address common challenges. The solutions were discussed and students were guided how to carry their innovative ideas further forward.

    The presentations made by the teams at the hackathon showed that GenAI has the potential to revolutionize financial statement analysis by simplifying complex financial concepts, automating data extraction, and generating insightful narratives. As technology continues to evolve, stakeholders can expect to see increased adoption in financial reporting leading to more efficient, accurate, and informed financial decision-making.

    Teams from VIT Vellore, MNNIT Allahabad, IIT Lucknow and Rajiv Gandhi University Of Knowledge Technologies, Nuzvid emerged winners in the competitions. The Hackathon was judged by a combined team of experts from IIT Kanpur and NFRA.

    It is also noteworthy that many of the winning teams choose to offer their innovations to the open-source community so that more improvements and value additions can happen and these solutions can be further developed and used by anyone interested. NFRA looks forward to further such opportunities to engage with the student community.

    ****

    NB/AD

    (Release ID: 2116830) Visitor Counter : 178

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM visits Smruti Mandir in Nagpur

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 11:48AM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today visited Smruti Mandir in Nagpur. During the visit, he paid homage to Dr. K B Hedgewar and Shri M S Golwalkar. 

    In a post on X, he wrote:

    “Visiting Smruti Mandir in Nagpur is a very special experience. 

    Making today’s visit even more special is the fact that it has happened on Varsha Pratipada, which is also the Jayanti of Param Pujya Doctor Sahab. 

    Countless people like me derive inspiration and strength from the thoughts of Param Pujya Doctor Sahab and Pujya Guruji. It was an honour to pay homage to these two greats, who envisioned a strong, prosperous and culturally proud Bharat.”

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2116719) Visitor Counter : 201

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurates and lays foundation stones for various projects worth over ₹800 crore of the central and state governments in Patna, Bihar

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation   Shri Amit Shah inaugurates and lays foundation stones for various projects worth over ₹800 crore of the central and state governments in Patna, Bihar

    Bihar, with its fertile land, water, and other natural resources, will benefit the most from the cooperative sector

    The opposition governments completely ruined the cooperative sector in Bihar during their tenure

    The government under the leadership of PM Modi will restart the 30 closed sugar mills in Bihar

    From 1990 to 2005, the opposition ran an industry of murder, kidnapping, extortion, robbery, and looting in Bihar, which completely destroyed the state

    Under the opposition’s rule in Bihar, there were caste massacres and government-sponsored corruption, and the fodder scam tarnished the state’s reputation both in the country and internationally

    The opposition’s tenure will forever be remembered in Bihar’s history as the “Jungle Raj,” and it ended with our government

    Between 2004 and 2014, the central government provided ₹2.8 lakh crore to Bihar, while the Modi government has allocated ₹9.23 lakh crore to Bihar in the past 10 years

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 4:20PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various Central and State Government projects worth over Rs 800 crore in Patna, Bihar. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Bihar Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai.

    In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that several schemes related to the cooperative sector and other departments were inaugurated and their foundation stones laid today. He highlighted that over the past 10 years, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has undertaken numerous initiatives for the welfare of crores of poor people across the country. Shri Shah criticized previous opposition governments for neglecting the poor, whereas Prime Minister Modi has provided for to meet the essential needs such as housing, electricity, gas, drinking water, toilets, medicines, and 5 kg of free food grains. He emphasized that under PM Modi’s leadership, 80 crore people receive 5 kg of free food grains per person per month, 4 crore people have been given houses, 11 crore gas connections have been distributed, over 12 crore toilets have been built, and free medical treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh has been made available.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi established the Ministry of Cooperation after 75 years of independence to boost the rural economy, benefiting farmers, women, dairy, fisheries, and agriculture-related activities. He pointed out that for decades, no government prioritized strengthening the cooperative sector. Shri Shah emphasized that Bihar, with its abundant land, water, and natural resources, stands to gain significantly from the cooperative sector in the coming years. He criticized previous opposition governments for neglecting cooperation in Bihar, leading to the decline of the sector and the closure of hundreds of sugar mills. He noted that Bihar once contributed over 30% of the country’s sugar production, but under opposition rule, this share dropped to less than 6%. He assured that the Modi government is committed to reviving the state’s closed sugar mills.

    Shri Amit Shah stated that the Modi government has undertaken significant efforts to strengthen Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). He highlighted that a Makhana Board has been established in Bihar and announced plans to revive the Maize Research Centre with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore, along with introducing various schemes to support maize farmers. He emphasized that the Government of India is now purchasing the entire maize, pulses, wheat, and rice from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Shri Shah also noted Bihar’s leading position in agricultural production, ranking first in litchi, mushroom, and makhana production; second in maize; third in lentil and honey; fifth in moong and sugarcane; and sixth in wheat and rice production. Shri Shah stressed that Bihar has immense potential for agricultural and cooperative sector development, which will be fully harnessed. He assured that the government is committed to reviving all 30 closed sugar mills in the state with full dedication and effort.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that PACS is now doing various types of work, they have been computerized, and through them, a plan is being implemented to strengthen district-level banks across Bihar. He mentioned that between 1990 and 2005, the opposition governments ran an industry of murder, kidnapping, extortion, robbery, and looting in Bihar, which completely ruined the state. Shri Shah said that during the rule of the opposition governments in Bihar, there were caste massacres, government-sponsored corruption, and the state was defamed in the country and the world due to the fodder scam. He said that the opposition government will always be remembered in Bihar’s history as the “Jungle Raj.”

    Shri Amit Shah said that during the 10-year tenure of the Nitish government in Bihar, roads, electricity, and tap water have reached every village. He mentioned that Prime Minister Modi has worked for the welfare of the poor in Bihar by providing homes, toilets, water, medicines, and ration. He said that during the 10-year tenure of the previous central government, Bihar was given Rs. 2.8 lakh crore, whereas during the 10 years of the Modi government, Bihar has been allocated Rs. 9.23 lakh crore. Shri Shah highlighted that Bihar has received projects worth Rs. 4 lakh crore for roads and bridges, Rs. 1 lakh crore for railway projects, and Rs. 2,000 crore for airport projects. He stated that with Rs. 8,000 crore, seven major bridges are being constructed in Bihar, and with Rs. 31,000 crore, a 5,000-kilometer-long railway line is being built, with the first-ever farmer’s train also starting from Bihar. He added that the Modi government has set up the Makhana Board in Bihar, and with the help of the central government, 766 other projects, including the Barauni fertilizer plant, have been initiated in the state. He emphasized that our government has a 20-year track record of development, and the era of ‘Jungle Raj’ has now ended here.

    The schemes inaugurated and laid the foundation stone by the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in Bihar today include the foundation stone laying of a project costing Rs. 83.16 crore to develop a storage capacity of sixty-two thousand five hundred metric tonnes in a total of twenty-five PACS under the world’s largest food storage scheme. Apart from this, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of a total of 133 police buildings of the Home Department, which cost Rs. 181.14 crores. The foundation stone was also laid today for three projects of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which cost Rs. 109.16 crores. Moreover, a hostel constructed at Deep Narayan Singh Regional Cooperative Management Institute, Patna at a cost of Rs. 27.29 crore was inaugurated. Makhana processing cum marketing center constructed at a cost of Rs. 46 lakh under the Integrated Cooperative Development Project and a total of 11 warehouses constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.27 crore were also inaugurated today. Along with this, a total of five drinking water supply schemes costing Rs. 421.41 crore were also inaugurated today under the AMRUT-1 project of the Urban Housing and Development Department.

    ****

    RK/VV/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2116822) Visitor Counter : 127

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s address in the 120th Episode of ‘Mann ki Baat’ on 30.03.2025

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 11:41AM by PIB Delhi

    My dear countrymen, Namaskar. Today, on a very auspicious day, I have got the opportunity to talk to you through ‘Mann Ki Baat’. Today is the Pratipada Tithi of the Shukla Paksha of the Chaitra month. Chaitra Navratri is beginning from today. The Indian New Year is also commencing from this day. This is also the start of Vikram Samvat 2082. At the moment, I have many of your letters in front of me. Some are from Bihar, some from Bengal, some from Tamil Nadu & some from Gujarat. In these, people have expressed their inner most thoughts in a very interesting way. Many letters also comprise good wishes and congratulatory messages. But today I feel like sharing some messages with you –

    Prime Minister (Sarvarigu Yugadi Habbadaa Shubhaashegadu) – Happy Ugadi festival to all

     

    The next message is –

    Prime Minister (Andariki Ugadi Shubhaakaankshalu) – Happy Ugadi festival to all

    Now in another letter it is written –

    Prime Minister (Saunsaar Paadvyaachi Parbi) – Greetings on Saunsaar Padwa

    Inscribed in the next message is –

    Prime Minister (Gudipaadwya Nimitta Haardik Shubhechhaa) – Heartiest greetings on the occasion of Gudi Padwa

    One of our friends has written –

    Prime Minister (Illaavarakkum Vishu Aashamshagal) – Happy Vishu festival to all

    Another message is –

    Prime Minister (Inniy Puttaand Nalla Vaazhathukkal) – Happy New Year to all

    Friends, you must have understood that the messages have been sent in different languages. But do you know the reason behind this? This exactly is the special thing that I want to share with you today. New Year is starting today and during the next few days in different states of our country. And all these messages are of greetings for New Year and various festivals. That is why people have sent me greetings in different languages.

    Friends, today the festival of Ugadi is being celebrated with great fervour in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana. Today itself, Gudi Padwa is being celebrated in Maharashtra. In our country full of diversity, during the next few days, in different states, ‘Rongali Bihu’ will be celebrated in Assam, ‘Poila Boishakh’ in Bengal, ‘Navreh’ in Kashmir. Similarly, between 13th and 15th April, there will be joyous celebration of festivals in different parts of the country. There is an atmosphere of excitement about this too and the festival of Eid is also there. That means this whole month is of festivals; of festivities. I extend my greetings to the people of the country on these festivals. These festivals of ours may be in different regions, but they show how unity is woven into the diversity of India. We have to keep reinforcing this spirit of unity, on our way ahead.

    Friends, at the advent of exams, I have a discussion, ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’, with young friends. Now the exams are over. In many schools, preparations are on to resume the classes. After this, summer vacations are also round the corner. Children eagerly await this time of the year. I am reminded of my childhood days when my friends and I used to play one prank or the other all day long. But simultaneously, we used to do something constructive and learn too. Summer days are long and children have a lot to do during the time. This is the time to inculcate a new hobby as well as hone your skills. Today, there is no dearth of platforms for children where they can learn a lot.

    For example, if an organization is running a technology camp, children can learn about open-source software along with developing apps. Be it environment, be it theatre or be it leadership, courses on various subjects are being conducted… they can join them as well. There are many schools that teach speech or drama, which are very useful for children. Apart from all this, you also have the opportunity to join volunteer activities and service endeavours going on at many places during these holidays. I specially urge you regarding such programs… If any organisation, school or social institution or science centre is organising such summer activities, do share it with #MyHolidays. This will help children and their parents from across the country to get information about these easily.

    My young friends, today I would also like to discuss with you the special calendar of MY-Bharat, which has been prepared for this summer vacation. At the moment, copy of this calendar is kept in front of me. I want to share some unique efforts through this calendar. For example, in the study tour of MY-Bharat, you can know how our ‘Jan Aushadhi Kendras’ function. You can undergo a unique experience in the border villages by becoming a part of the vibrant village campaign. Along with this, you can definitely become a part of the cultural and sports activities there. At the same time, by participating in the padyatra on Ambedkar Jayanti, you can also spread awareness about the values ​​of the Constitution.

    I specially urge children and their parents as well to share their holiday experiences with #HolidayMemories. I will try to include your experiences in the upcoming ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

    My dear countrymen, as soon as the summer season approaches, preparations for saving water begin in many cities and villages. In many states, works related to water harvesting and water conservation have gained new momentum. The Ministry of Jal Shakti and numerous NGOs are working in that direction. Thousands of artificial ponds, check dams, borewell recharge and community soak pits are being constructed in the country. Like every year, this time too, preparations have been made on a war footing for the ‘catch the rain’ campaign. This campaign too, is not of the government… but of the society, of the Janata-Janaardan; the people. Jal Sanchay-Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan is also being run to connect more and more people with water conservation. The endeavour is to safely pass on the natural resources that we have, to the next generation.

    Friends, by conserving raindrops, we can save a lot of water from getting wasted. Over the last few years, under this campaign, unprecedented tasks related to water conservation have been undertaken in many parts of the country. I will give you an interesting figure. During the last 7-8 years, over 11 billion cubic metres of water has been conserved through newly built tanks, ponds and other water recharge structures. You must now be wondering how much 11 billion cubic metres of water is?

    Friends, you must have seen the pictures of the water that gets accumulated in the Bhakra Nangal dam. This water forms the Govind Sagar lake. The length of this lake is more than 90 kilometres. Even in this lake, not more than 9-10 billion cubic metres of water can be conserved. Only 9-10 billion cubic metres! And the countrymen, through their tiny efforts, have managed to conserve 11 billion cubic meters of water in different parts of the country – isn’t that a great effort!

    Friends, in this direction, the people of Gadag district of Karnataka have also set an example. A few years ago, the lakes of two villages dried up completely. There came a time when there was no water left even for the animals to drink. Gradually, the lake got covered with weeds and bushes. But some villagers decided to revive the lake and started working on it. And as they say, ‘where there is a will there is a way’. Noticing the efforts of the villagers, the social organizations in the vicinity also joined them. All of them, together cleaned the garbage and mud and after some time the lake area became completely clean. Now people are waiting for the rainy season. Indeed, this is a great example of the ‘catch the rain’ campaign. Friends, you can also join such efforts at the community level. You must make a plan from now on to take this mass movement forward, and you have to remember one more thing. If possible, keep cold water in an earthen pot in front of your house during summers. Keep water for birds on the roof of the house or even in the verandah. See how blessed you will feel after doing this punya karma (pious deed).

    Friends, in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ we will now talk about adding wings to your zeal… About displaying passion despite challenges. In the Khelo India Para Games that concluded a few days ago, the players surprised everyone with their dedication and talent, once again. This time more players participated in these games than earlier. This shows how popular Para Sports is becoming. I congratulate all the players participating in the Khelo India Para Games for their sterling efforts. My best wishes for the players of Haryana, Tamil Nadu and UP for securing the first, second and third positions, respectively. During these games, our divyang players also set 18 national records. Out of which 12 were in the name of our women players. Arm wrestler Joby Mathew who won a Gold Medal in this year’s Khelo India Para Games has written a letter to me. I would like to read out an excerpt of his letter. He has written-

    “Winning a medal is very special, but our struggle is not limited to just standing on the podium. We fight a battle every day. Life tests us in many ways… very few people understand our struggle. Despite this, we move forward with courage. We work towards fulfilling our dreams. We believe that we are no less than anyone else.”

    Great! Joby Mathew, you have written an amazing, wonderful letter. I thank you for this letter. I want to tell Joby Mathew and all our Divyang friends that your efforts are a great inspiration for us.

    Friends, another grand event in Delhi has inspired people a lot; filled them with enthusiasm. Fit India Carnival was organized for the first time as an innovative idea. About 25 thousand people from different fields participated in it. All of them had the same goal – to stay fit and spread awareness about fitness. People involved in this event got information related to their health as well as nutrition. I urge you to organize such carnivals in your area as well. MY-Bharat can be of great help to you in this initiative.

    Friends, our indigenous games are now becoming a part of popular culture. You all must be knowing the famous rapper Hanumankind. His new song “Run It Up” is becoming quite famous these days. Our traditional Martial Arts like Kalaripayattu, Gatka and Thang-Ta have been included in it. I congratulate Hanumankind that due to his efforts people of the world are getting to know about our traditional Martial Arts.

    My dear countrymen, every month I get a lot of messages from you on MyGov and NaMo App. Many messages touch my heart, while others fill me with pride. Many a time, these messages provide unique information about our culture and traditions. This time, I want to share with you the message that caught my attention.

    Atharva Kapoor from Varanasi, Aaryash Leekha and Atrey Maan from Mumbai have written about their feelings on my recent visit to Mauritius. They have written that they greatly enjoyed the performance of “Geet Gawai” during this visit. I have felt similar sentiments in many letters received from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. What I felt during the wonderful performance of Geet Gawai in Mauritius was truly amazing.

    Friends, when we stay connected to our roots, no matter how big the storm, it cannot uproot us. Just imagine, about 200 years ago, many people from India went to Mauritius as indentured labourers. Nobody knew what would happen next. But with the passage of time, they settled there. They carved a niche identity for themselves in Mauritius. They preserved their heritage and remained connected to their roots. Mauritius is not the only such example. Last year when I went to Guyana, the Chowtaal performance there impressed me a lot.

    Friends, let me now play an audio for you.

    #(Clip)#

    You must be wondering that this must be about some part of our country. But you will be surprised to know that it is related to Fiji. This is the very popular ‘Phagwa Chowtaal’ of Fiji. This song and music fills everyone with fervour. Let me play another audio for you.

    #(Clip)#

    This audio is the ‘Chowtaal’ of Suriname. The countrymen watching this program on TV can see the President of Suriname and my friend Chan Santokhi Ji enjoying it. This tradition of coming together & singing is also very popular in Trinidad and Tobago. In all these countries, people read Ramayan a lot. Phagwa is very popular here and all Indian festivals are celebrated with full enthusiasm. Many of their songs are in Bhojpuri, Awadhi or mixed language; at times Braj and Maithili are also used. All those who preserve our traditions in these countries deserve appreciation.

    Friends, there are many such organizations in the world, which have been working to conserve Indian culture for years. One such organization is – ‘Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society’. This organization, engaged in preserving Indian dance, music and culture, has completed its glorious 75 years. In the program related to this occasion, the President of Singapore, Shriman Tharman Shanmugaratnam Ji was the Guest of Honour. He praised the efforts of this organization. I extend my best wishes to this team.

    Friends, in ‘Mann Ki Baat’, along with the achievements of the countrymen, we often raise social issues as well. Many a time, challenges are also discussed. This time in ‘Mann Ki Baat’, I want to talk about a challenge that is directly related to all of us. This challenge is of ‘textile waste’. You must be wondering, what is this new problem of textile waste?

    Actually, textile waste has become a major cause of worry for the whole world. Nowadays, the trend of getting rid of old clothes as soon as possible and buying new ones is increasing all over the world. Have you ever thought what happens to the old clothes that you stop wearing? This becomes textile waste. A lot of global research is being done on this subject. It has come to light in a research that only less than one percent of textile waste is recycled into new clothes… less than even one percent. India is the third country in the world where the maximum textile waste is generated. This means that we also face a huge challenge. But I am happy that many commendable efforts are being undertaken in our country to deal with this challenge. Many Indian start-ups have started working on textile recovery facilities.

    There are many such teams that are also working for the empowerment of our ragpicker brothers and sisters. Many young friends are involved in the efforts towards sustainable fashion. They recycle old clothes and footwear and distribute them to the needy. Many items like decorative pieces, handbags, stationery and toys are being made from textile waste. Many organizations are engaged in popularizing the ‘circular fashion brands’ these days. New rental platforms are also coming up, where designer clothes are available on rent. Some organizations collect old clothes, make them reusable and distribute them to the poor.

    Friends, some cities are also carving a new identity for themselves in dealing with textile waste. Panipat in Haryana is emerging as a global hub for textile recycling. Bengaluru is also creating a distinct identity for itself with innovative tech solutions. More than half of the textile waste is collected here, which is an example for our other cities as well. Similarly, Tirupur in Tamil Nadu is engaged in textile waste management through wastewater treatment and renewable energy.

    My dear countrymen, today along with fitness, count is also playing a big role. Count of the number of steps taken in a day, count of the number of calories eaten in a day, count of the number of calories burnt… amidst all these counts, another countdown is about to begin. The countdown to the International Yoga Day. Now less than 100 days are left for Yoga Day. If you have not yet included yoga in your life, do it now… it is not too late yet. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated 10 years ago on the 21st of June, 2015. Now this day has taken the shape of a grand festival of yoga. This is such a priceless gift from India to humanity, which is going to be very useful for future generation. The theme of Yoga Day 2025 has been kept as ‘Yoga for One Earth One Health’. That is, we wish to make the whole world healthy through yoga.

    Friends, it is a matter of pride for all of us that today the curiosity about our yoga and traditional medicine is rising, all over the world. A large number of youths are adopting yoga and Ayurveda as an excellent medium for wellness.

    For example, there is a South American country, Chile. Ayurveda is rapidly becoming popular there. Last year, during my visit to Brazil, I met the President of Chile. We had a lot of discussions about the popularity of Ayurveda. I have come to know about a team named ‘Somos India’. In Spanish, it means – ‘We are India’. This team has been promoting yoga and Ayurveda for almost a decade. Their focus is on treatment as well as educational programmes. They are also getting information related to Yog and Ayurveda translated into the Spanish language. If we talk about last year alone, about 9 thousand people participated in their myriad events and courses. I congratulate all the people associated with this team for their efforts.

    My dear countrymen, now an interesting yet strange question in ‘Mann Ki Baat’! Have you ever wondered about the journey of flowers? Some flowers that bloom on trees and plants travel to temples. Some flowers beautify the house, some dissolve in perfume and spread fragrance everywhere. But today I will tell you about another journey of flowers. You certainly must have heard about Mahua flowers. People of our villages and especially the tribal community know very well about its importance. The journey of Mahua flowers in many parts of the country has now embarked upon a new path. Cookies are being made from Mahua flowers in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. These cookies are becoming very popular due to the efforts of four sisters of Rajakhoh village.

    Observing the passion of these women, a big company trained them to work in a factory. Inspired by them, many women of the village have joined them. The demand for Mahua cookies made by them is increasing rapidly. In the Adilabad district of Telangana also, two sisters have carried out a new experiment with Mahua flowers. They make various types of dishes with them, which people like very much. There is also the sweetness of tribal culture in their dishes.

    Friends, I want to tell you about another wonderful flower and its name is ‘Krishna Kamal’. Have you visited the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat? You will see these Krishna Kamal in large numbers around the Statue of Unity. These flowers captivate the tourists. These Krishna Kamal have become the centre of attraction in Arogya Van, Ekta Nursery, Vishwa Van and Miyawaki forest of Ekta Nagar. Lakhs of Krishna Kamal plants have been planted here in a planned manner. If you look around you, you will notice interesting journeys of flowers. Do write to me about such unique journeys of flowers in your area.

    My dear friends, keep sharing your thoughts, experiences and information with me as always. It is possible that something may be happening around you which may seem normal, but for others that topic might be very interesting and new. We will meet again next month and discuss those things of countrymen which fill us with inspiration. Thank you very much to all of you, Namaskar.

    **********

    MJPS/ST/RT

    (Release ID: 2116715) Visitor Counter : 307

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lead Fit India Sundays on Cycle Event Across Nation

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lead Fit India Sundays on Cycle Event Across Nation

    Cricketer Deepti Sharma as well as Boxers Sonia Lather and Prachi Dhankhar join event in New Delhi

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 3:52PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya once again led the Fit India Sundays on Cycle in Junagadh, Gujarat, today. Simultaneously, the cycling rally was flagged off by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan from Cliff House, Trivandrum.

    In Junagadh, over 500 cyclists embarked on a route from the iconic Girnar Gate to the revered Bhavnath Mahadev temple, hosted by Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centre in Gandhinagar. In Trivandrum, the rally followed an iconic 7 km route, from the Cliff House through the Central Stadium; this was hosted by the SAI Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education (SAI LNCPE).

    This week’s Sundays on Cycle placed a special emphasis on the involvement of school students across the country, who cycled alongside their parents and teachers. “You can make a lifelong friendship with cycling, so make this exercise your best friend,” Dr. Mandaviya encouraged participants at the event in Junagadh. “The Fit India campaign is developing as a nationwide festival, and today, the large participation of school children in Sundays on Cycle vividly depicts this. Paying attention to health is crucial for the progress of the country.”

    Active cycling drives were also conducted across Khelo India Centres (KICs), in districts such as Shivtarai in Bilaspur and Janjgir Champa in Chhattisgarh, Darbhanga in Bihar, and Orai in Uttar Pradesh.

    In Trivandrum, over 500 fitness enthusiasts, cycling groups, and organizations from across Kerala, including Indian Army CRPF, BSF, NCC, Kerala Police (SAP), Kerala Police (Traffic), Crime Branch, Collectorate, FCI, RBI, Department of Sports, Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs, KRCC, KSSC, NSS, Trivandrum Golf Club, Kerala Olympic Association, Kerala Cycling Association, participated.

    In the national capital, the Fit India Sundays on Cycle event saw presence of prominent sports personalities. Arjuna Awardee boxer Sonia Lather and Asian U-22 Championships 2024 gold medalist and Khelo India scheme athlete Prachi Dhankhar joined the gathering. ‘Push-up man of India’ Rohtash Chaudhary returned for the event, while Indian cricketer Deepti Sharma contributed to the event virtually, extending the reach of the fitness message.

    “As a cricketer, I understand the profound significance of physical activity,” remarked Deepti Sharma, a key member of the Indian women’s cricket team that secured gold at the Asian Games 2022. “Cycling is not only a fantastic way to stay fit but also an enjoyable activity that strengthens connections within our communities and promotes environmental consciousness. It is truly amazing that over 2 lakh riders from all age groups have participated in the Sundays on Cycle initiative since its start in December 2024, spanning over 4500 locations across the country.”

    21-year-old boxer Prachi Dhankhar expressed her appreciation for the broader impact of the Fit India Movement. “The Fit India Movement is a fantastic initiative, launched under the visionary leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in 2019, with the aim of creating a healthier and more active nation. So many diverse events have been conducted through this movement – walking, jogging, and now cycling. It is truly heartening to see,” she shared.

    Sonia Lather, silver medalist at the 2016 World Boxing Championship, conveyed her enthusiasm for the event’s inclusive nature. “Fitness should be the foremost priority for everyone, regardless of age,” Lather emphasized. “It was a truly enriching experience to ride alongside children as young as 6 or 7 years old, as well as individuals well over and under 70 years old.”

    The nationwide events on March 30 also witnessed strong participation from students representing a diverse range of educational institutions — Tagore International School EOK, Delhi Public School Gurugram Sec 45, Modern School Barakhamba Road, Modern Public School Shalimar Bagh, St Marks School Meera Bagh, Bal Bharati Public School Noida, DAV Public School CMC, Army Public School Sankar Vihar, Bal Bhavan Public School Mayur Vihar, DLF School Sahibabad and KV Sangathan.

    The Sundays on Cycle initiative sees simultaneous events held nationwide at Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), and Khelo India Centres (KICs). These events are collaborated with key stakeholders, including the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), the Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI), doctors from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and various cycling groups.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2116807) Visitor Counter : 65

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: INDIAN AIR FORCE TO PARTICIPATE IN MULTI-NATION AIR EXERCISE INIOCHOS-25

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 11:29AM by PIB Delhi

    The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS-25, a prestigious multi-national air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. The exercise will take place at Andravida Air Base, Greece, from 31 March 2025 to 11 April 2025. The IAF contingent will include Su-30 MKI fighters along with combat enabler IL-78 & C-17 aircraft.

    INIOCHOS is a biennial multinational air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. It serves as a platform for air forces to hone their skills, exchange tactical knowledge, and strengthen military ties. The exercise will integrate multiple air and surface assets from fifteen countries under realistic combat scenarios, designed to simulate modern-day air warfare challenges

    The IAF looks forward to participating in Exercise INIOCHOS 25, a platform to enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability among participating Air Forces. This exercise will provide an opportunity to train in planning and executing Combined Air operations, refine tactics in complex air warfare scenarios, and gain insights into operational best practices.  With all operations conducted from Andravida, IAF’s participation will not only strengthen its operational capabilities but also contribute to mutual learning and enhanced coordination among participating countries.

    IAF’s participation in INIOCHOS-25 reflects its commitment to global defence cooperation and operational excellence. The exercise will further reinforce India’s strategic partnerships-and bolster its capabilities in joint operations with friendly nations

     

    *** 

    VK/JS/SM

     

    (Release ID: 2116710) Visitor Counter : 485

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESIDENT OF INDIA’S GREETINGS ON THE EVE OF EID-UL-FITR

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 7:14PM by PIB Delhi

    The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu has greeted fellow citizens on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr.

    In her message, the President has said, “On the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, I extend my greetings and best wishes to all Indians living in India and abroad, especially Muslim brothers and sisters.

    Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of fasting and prayer during the holy month of Ramadan. This festival strengthens the spirit of brotherhood, cooperation and compassion. This festival also promotes social bonding and inspires us to build a harmonious, peaceful and prosperous society. Eid is an occasion to promote the spirit of empathy, compassion and charity.

    May this festival bring peace, progress and happiness in lives of all and give us strength to move forward with positive attitude”.

    Please click here to see the President’s message – 

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2116873) Visitor Counter : 86

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025 to Kick Off in New Delhi from April 1st to 3rd, 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025 to Kick Off in New Delhi from April 1st to 3rd, 2025

    A Landmark Moment in Youth-Led Nation-Building and Governance

    From Debate to Resolution: Youth to Deliberate on One Nation, One Election and Viksit Bharat

    Youth to Experience Parliamentary Proceedings Firsthand: A Transformative Insight into Governance

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 3:25PM by PIB Delhi

    Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, under the leadership of Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, is organizing the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament from 1st – 3rd April 2025. This event, a reimagination of the traditional Youth Parliament, serves as a powerful platform to connect young individuals with politics and public policy, fostering their engagement in governance and nation-building.

    For the first time since COVID-19, all District Nodal Rounds (300) were conducted in person, ensuring greater participation and direct engagement. Over 75,000 young people from every State and Union Territory submitted their video entries through the MY Bharat portal, showcasing their enthusiasm and commitment to shaping the nation’s future. The entire selection process was conducted digitally, reflecting the growing integration of technology in governance initiatives.

    The Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament is structured into three key stages:

    District Nodal Rounds:

    • The discussion on One Nation, One Election reached every town and village through massive dialogues held at 300 district nodes.
    • To qualify, candidates uploaded a 1-minute video answering the question: “What does Viksit Bharat mean to you?”

    State Rounds:

    • Held in over 17 State assemblies and other government establishments, these rounds marked a historic milestone in bridging the gap between youth and governance.
    • Sessions were presided over by State Speakers and Governors, lending credibility and significance to youth discussions.

    National Round (1st – 3rd April 2025):

    • The top 3 candidates from each State/UT (totaling 108 youth) have been selected to participate at the national level.
    • Participants will engage in high-level discussions and activities, including
    1. Question Hour: Focused on One Nation, One Election and Viksit Bharat, culminating in a resolution.
    2. Masterclass: Conducted by a senior Member of Parliament, equipping youth with essential oratory and leadership skills.
    3. Parliamentary Experience: Attending sessions in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for firsthand exposure to governance.
    4. PM Sangrahalaya Visit: Providing insights into India’s political journey and leadership stories.
    5. Awards Ceremony: On 3rd April, the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament Awards and National Youth Awards will be conferred.

    The Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament is more than just a programme—it is a transformative movement. The ideas and discussions generated through this initiative will extend far beyond Central Hall, resonating across the nation and paving the way for a new era of youth-led policy engagement and national progress.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2116802) Visitor Counter : 132

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shri Shripad Yesso Naik chairs the 3rd meeting of Group of Ministers constituted for addressing issues related to viability of distribution utilities in the country

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shri Shripad Yesso Naik chairs the 3rd meeting of Group of Ministers constituted for addressing issues related to viability of distribution utilities in the country

    Inflation-indexed and cost-reflective power tariffs need of the hour

    Use of AI and digital innovations for financial viability of power sector

    Need to review Net-metering and RPO provisions

    Prudent O&M cost and reasonable Return on Equity (RoE) should be allowed in Annual Revenue Requirement

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 10:48AM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, chaired the third meeting of Group of Ministers constituted for addressing issues related to viability of electricity distribution utilities in Lucknow today.

    Shri A. K Sharma, Energy Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Gottipati Ravi Kumar, Energy Minister, Andhra Pradesh, Shri Pradyuman Singh Tomar, Energy Minister, Madhya Pradesh, Smt. Meghana Sakore Bordikar, Minister of State for Energy, Maharashtra and Shri Somendra Tomar, Minister of State for Energy, Uttar Pradesh attended the meeting. The meeting was also attended by senior officials from Central Government, State Governments, State Power Utilities of Member States, Power Finance Corporation (PFC) Ltd and REC Ltd.

    In his opening remarks, Union Minister of State welcomed Energy Ministers from the Member States and thanked Energy Minister, Uttar Pradesh, for hosting the meeting. He highlighted about the discussions held during the first two meetings of the GoM and the collective efforts required from the member States for improvement of power distribution sector. He highlighted the need for designing a mechanism for financial restructuring of liabilities of distribution utilities, lowering interest burden on utilities, development of storage solutions, facilitating daytime power supply for agriculture to lower the overall power purchase costs and reduce subsidy burdens.

    The Minister also highlighted the need for implementing AI and digital innovations and need for ensuring cost-reflective tariffs for financial viability of power sector. He added that implementing these measures shall help utilities improve the financial sustainability. He also emphasized the need for a scheme similar to UDAY.

    In his address Energy Minister, Uttar Pradesh thanked the Union Minister of State for having the 3rd meeting of the Group of Ministers in Lucknow.  He highlighted the achievements of the State of Uttar Pradesh in the power sector including adoption of RE technologies. He commended that the measures taken by the Government of India will have far reaching impact on making country’s distribution sector stronger and healthier. He emphasised on the need for expeditious growth of renewable sources of energy coupled with energy storage solutions so as to meet the future challenges of energy transition and growing power demand. Hon’ble Minister mentioned about the importance of the Government of India’s role in aiding human resources development for achieving better outputs.

    Joint Secretary (Distribution), Ministry of Power, GoI made a presentation highlighting key areas of intervention identified during first two meetings of the GoM and proposed measures to be taken by the stakeholders (Central Govt., State Govts. and Regulatory Commissions) to address the viability concern for deliberation.

    TATA power distribution, Odisha, as a special invitee, shared the best practices adopted and their journey toward making their DISCOMs profitable.

    The member States actively participated in the meeting and presented the overview of State DISCOMs. They gave valuable suggestions for improving the financial condition of DISCOMs. States of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu made presentations on the subject.

    The contours of the Action plan identifying the ways to reduce the outstanding debts and losses of the distribution utilities and the means to bring them into profits, were discussed in detail.

    Emphasis was placed on the need for review of regulators’ performance for determining tariffs. The support from Government of India for Privatisation initiatives by State was suggested. The need for regulators to adapt to the latest developments in the sector including the current levels of RE integration, the requirements of capacity building and O&M costs, while finalizing the tariff, was also discussed. It was discussed that delays in payment of Government department dues and subsidies are forcing DISCOMs to resort to working capital loans, which are not being passed on in tariff. There are also delays in passing on of Fuel and Power Purchase Cost Adjustments in tariffs thus creating need for working capital which are not considered in Annual Revenue Requirements of the Utilities. To avoid future tariff shocks, it was suggested to link tariffs to annual inflation-linked tariff hike.

    The Group of Ministers reiterated its commitment and expressed resolve to take necessary measures for improving the financial viability of DISCOMs.

    In his Closing remarks, the Hon’ble Union Minister of State emphasized on the need for States to demonstrate greater political will and determination to make the power sector viable and urged the member States to work upon the ideas that have emerged during the meeting. It was recommended to invite All India DISCOM Association (AIDA) to the next GoM meeting for their suggestions.

    It was also unanimously decided to have 4th meeting of GoM in Andhra Pradesh in the month of April.

    *******

    Navin Sreejith

    (Release ID: 2116705) Visitor Counter : 216

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’ – Theme for IDY2025: PM in ‘Mann Ki Baat’

    Source: Government of India

    ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’ – Theme for IDY2025: PM in ‘Mann Ki Baat’

    It is a matter of pride for all of us that today the curiosity about our yoga and traditional medicine is rising, all over the world: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

    Prime Minister appeals to everyone to include Yoga into their routine and take pride in the country’s traditional wisdom for overall well being

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 7:04PM by PIB Delhi

    In his latest Mann Ki Baat address, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of fitness in daily life and praised initiatives like the Fit India Carnival and International Yoga Day. While sharing India’s vision for a healthier world population, the PM mentioned, “The theme of Yoga Day 2025 has been kept as ‘Yoga for One Earth One Health’. That is, we wish to make the whole world healthy through yoga.”

    Notably, the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), a premier institute under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, has been entrusted with the responsibility of organising activities to mark the International Day of Yoga (IDY) this year on a grand scale. The institute recently unveiled the 100-day countdown to IDY2025 during the Yogamahotsav event held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 13 March, 2025.

    During the 120th episode of the popular radio program, the Prime Minister said, “Today along with fitness, the count also plays a big role. Count the number of steps taken in a day, count the number of calories eaten in a day, count the number of calories burnt… amidst all these counts, another countdown is about to begin. The countdown to the International Yoga Day. Now less than 100 days are left for Yoga Day. If you have not yet included yoga in your life, do it now… it is not too late yet. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated 10 years ago on the 21st of June, 2015. Now this day has taken the shape of a grand festival of yoga. This is such a priceless gift from India to humanity, which is going to be very useful for future generations.”

    As the world gears up for International Yoga Day (IDY) 2025, the theme “Yoga for One Earth One Health” takes center stage and a wide range of activities revolving around it is being held. The 2025 theme highlights yoga’s role in promoting physical, mental, and environmental well-being, aligning with global calls for sustainability and unity. It builds on a decade of success since the United Nations recognized June 21 as International Day of Yoga, following India’s proposal in 2014.

    During the Mann Ki Baat programme, the Prime Minister also stated, “It is a matter of pride for all of us that today the curiosity about our yoga and traditional medicine is rising, all over the world. A large number of youths are adopting yoga and Ayurveda as an excellent medium for wellness. For example, there is a South American country, Chile. Ayurveda is rapidly becoming popular there. Last year, during my visit to Brazil, I met the President of Chile. We had a lot of discussions about the popularity of Ayurveda.

    While acknowledging the fast growing popularity of Ayush systems across the globe and the contribution of key stakeholders in this, the PM said, “I have come to know about a team named ‘Somos India’. In Spanish, it means – ‘We are India’. This team has been promoting yoga and Ayurveda for almost a decade. Their focus is on treatment as well as educational programs. They are also getting information related to yoga and Ayurveda translated into the Spanish language. If we talk about last year alone, about 9 thousand people participated in their myriad events and courses. I congratulate all the people associated with this team for their efforts.”

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi also appealed to everyone to include Yoga into their routine and take pride in the country’s traditional wisdom for overall well being.

    10 unique signature events to guide events to International Day of Yoga 2025

    This year IDY activities will revolve around 10 unique signature events to mark the 11th edition of the global event, which makes it the most expansive and inclusive:

    • ● Yoga Sangama – A synchronised Yoga demonstration at 10,000 locations, aiming for a world record.
    • ● Yoga Bandhan – Global partnerships with 10 countries to host Yoga sessions at iconic landmarks.
    • ● Yoga Parks– Development of 1,000 Yoga Parks for long-term community engagement.
    • ● Yoga Samavesh – Special Yoga programs for Divyangjan, senior citizens, children, and marginalised groups.
    • ● Yoga Prabhava – A decadal impact assessment on Yoga’s role in public health.
    • ● Yoga Connect – A Virtual Global Yoga Summit featuring renowned Yoga experts and healthcare professionals.
    • ● Harit Yoga – A sustainability-driven initiative combining Yoga with tree planting and clean-up drives.
    • ● Yoga Unplugged– An event to attract young people to Yoga
    • ● Yoga Maha Kumbh – A week-long festival across 10 locations, culminating in a central celebration led by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
    • ● Samyogam – A 100-day initiative integrating Yoga with modern healthcare for holistic wellness.

    Annexure

    The International Day of Yoga (IDY) has become a global wellness movement, uniting millions across countries. Here’s a brief look at its key milestones:

    • ● IDY 2015 – New Delhi: The first IDY at Rajpath saw 35,985 participants, setting two Guinness World Records.
    • ● IDY 2016 – Chandigarh: 30,000+ participants gathered at Capitol Complex, including 150 Divyangjan performing Yoga Protocol for the first time. The Prime Minister emphasised Yoga’s role in treating ailments like diabetes.
    • ● IDY 2017 – Lucknow: 51,000 participants joined at Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, with Yoga highlighted as affordable ‘health insurance’.
    • ● IDY 2018 – Dehradun: 50,000+ participants at Forest Research Institute, with the theme “Yoga for Public Health”. ISRO launched BHUVAN-YOGA and Yoga Locator apps.
    • ● IDY 2019 – Ranchi: Focused on ‘Yoga for Heart Care’, with eco-friendly Yoga accessories benefiting Khadi artisans.
    • ● IDY 2020 – Virtual: Amid the pandemic, 12.06 crore people joined online. The “My Life, My Yoga” contest attracted entries from 130 countries.
    • ● IDY 2021 – Virtual: Themed “Yoga for Wellness”, reaching 496.1 million people globally. Iconic celebrations occurred at Times Square, the Eiffel Tower, and Tokyo Skytree.
    • ● IDY 2022 – Mysuru: 15,000 participants at Mysore Palace, with a ‘Guardian Ring’ global Yoga relay and VR-powered digital exhibition.
    • ● IDY 2023 – Jabalpur & UN HQ, New York: With 23.44 crore participants, this IDY set two Guinness World Records, including the most significant Yoga session (1.53 lakh participants in Surat). The ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ covered 35,000 km.
    • ● IDY 2024 – Srinagar: Held at SKICC, Srinagar, with 7,000 participants braving the rain. The ‘Yoga for Space’ initiative saw ISRO scientists join in. A Guinness World Record was set in Uttar Pradesh, with 25.93 lakh people pledging to Yoga. 24.53 crore global participants marked this as a historic celebration.

    ****

    MV/AKS

    (Release ID: 2116869) Visitor Counter : 116

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: OPERATION BRAHMA – INDIAN NAVAL SHIPS SAIL WITH RELIEF MATERIAL

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 3:21PM by PIB Delhi

    In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand on 28 Mar 25, the Government of India has launched Operation Brahma for rendering assistance to Myanmar. Under MEA’s direction, the HADR efforts are being progressed in conjunction with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and NDRF.

    Indian Navy ships Satpura and Savitri, from the Eastern Naval Command, have sailed for Yangon on 29 Mar 25, as part of the Indian Navy’s immediate response towards Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). In addition, Indian Navy Ships Karmuk and LCU 52 from the Andaman and Nicobar Command will also be sailing for Yangon on 30 Mar 25, to assist in the HADR operations. Approximately 52 Tons of relief material have been embarked onboard these ships, including HADR pallets consisting of essential clothing, drinking water, food, medicines, and emergency stores. The Indian Navy remains committed to India’s resolve to remain the ‘First Responder’ in the region.

    _____________________________________________________________

    VM/SKY                                           

    (Release ID: 2116801) Visitor Counter : 148

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NESTS to celebrate its ‘7th Foundation Day’ on 1st April, showcasing transformative impact on tribal education

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 10:39AM by PIB Delhi

    National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, is set to celebrate its 7th Foundation Day on April 01, 2025, at Akashwani Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi. The NESTS establishes and manages Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), which provide quality education from class 6th -12th to tribal students.

    This foundation day celebration will be graced by the presence of Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram, as the Chief Guest, along with Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Durgadas Uikey, as the Guest of Honour. Shri Vibhu Nayar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, will grace the occasion as the Special Guest. Senior officers from Ministry and the NESTS will also witness this event.

    The foundation day celebrations will feature keynote addresses by dignitaries, cultural performances by EMRS students, and a special segment highlighting NESTS’ role in enabling tribal youth to compete at national and global levels while preserving their traditions. The event will also recognize outstanding EMRS students, with twelve students being felicitated in the morning session, while the staff who excelled in the Sports meet will be awarded in the evening program. A special screening will showcase the remarkable achievements of EMRS over the past year, emphasizing their impact on education, skill development, and holistic growth.

    Since its inception, the NESTS has been a transformative force in tribal education, spearheading the expansion of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) across the country. These schools serve as centres of empowerment, providing tribal students with quality education, modern skill development, and a strong connection to their cultural heritage. With the continuous efforts of Shri Ajeet Kumar Srivastava, Commissioner, NESTS, and his team, under the guidance of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the NESTS has made significant strides in enhancing infrastructure, teaching and non-teaching staff recruitment, and access to quality education for tribal students.

    The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through NESTS, remains committed to empowering tribal communities with quality education, providing them a platform to preserve their rich heritage, thrive in their homeland, and excel in the modern world.

    ***

    Pawan Singh Faujdar/Divyanshu Kumar

    (Release ID: 2116701) Visitor Counter : 26

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Chairs Valedictory Session of National Green Tribunal’s National Conference on Environment 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Chairs Valedictory Session of National Green Tribunal’s National Conference on Environment 2025

    Two-Day Conference on Environment 2025 Concludes with Focus on Forest Conservation and Policy Advancements

    The Event Highlights Crucial Role of Judicial Bodies, Government Agencies, and Experts in Shaping India’s Environmental Future

    Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 6:51PM by PIB Delhi

    The Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, chaired the valedictory session of the National Green Tribunal’s two-day conference on Environment 2025 today at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The session was graced by distinguished dignitaries, including Hon’ble Justice P. S. Narsimha, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, Hon’ble Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson of NGT, Shri Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India, and Sh. Tanmay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.

    Addressing the valedictory session, Hon’ble Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar pointed out that neither the planet is exclusive to us nor are we the owners of it. He emphasized that Developed nations must transcend political boundaries in environmental thinking and urged for a collective commitment to live in harmony with nature and protect the environment. (Detailed Press Release:

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2116844®=3&lang=1)

    The second day’s proceedings began with Technical Session III, focusing on “Forest and Biodiversity Conservation”, chaired by Hon’ble Justice Anand Pathak, Judge, Madhya Pradesh High Court. Experts and policymakers deliberated on the impact of human intervention on forests and biodiversity, highlighting legal and policy frameworks necessary for conservation. Justice Anand Pathak of the Madhya Pradesh High Court stated that every citizen has a duty to promote the environment by planting right trees in the right places. He proposed a range of ideas such as transforming minor penalties into plantation initiatives, corporate climate responsibility, creating National Carbon Credit Bank and establishing Sovereign Funds for conserving biodiversity. It is a need of an hour to shift from human rights to planetary rights and nurturing the thought of environmental responsibility, he added.

    The Technical Session IV, titled “Reflections and Key Takeaways”, provided a comprehensive review of the discussions held in technical sessions over the two days. Chaired by Hon’ble Justice P. S. Narsimha, Judge, Supreme Court of India, and co-chaired by Hon’ble Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, Judicial Member, NGT, the session summarized key environmental concerns and proposed a roadmap for legal and policy advancements. Hon’ble Justice P.S. Narsimha emphasized upon the effective execution and implementation of policies. Focusing upon the institutional integrity, he proposed to strengthen and empower the regulatory bodies to function effectively at the grassroots level.

    The event was also marked by the felicitation of universities and students for their outstanding contributions towards environmental conservation and sustainable practices. This initiative was aimed at motivating young minds to continue their efforts in ensuring a cleaner and greener future.

    A key moment of the session was the release of the NGT Souvenir book titled ‘Voice of Nature’, which highlights the history, activities, and achievements of NGT.

    The NGT e-Journal, comprising notable NGT cases, was also launched by the Hon’ble Vice President.

    Over the course of two days, the National Conference on Environment – 2025 served as a significant step towards fostering collaboration between judicial bodies, government agencies, and environmental experts. The resolutions and discussions will play a crucial role in shaping India’s environmental governance framework and will contribute to future national and international environmental initiatives.

    ****

    VM/GS

    (Release ID: 2116868) Visitor Counter : 101

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Public transport service arrangements for departures of Hong Kong Sevens

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

    Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:

         All matches of the Hong Kong Sevens held at the Kai Tak Sports Park are scheduled to conclude after 7pm today (March 30). As more spectators are expected to disperse at the same time, the Transport Department (TD) urges those leaving the venue to take the MTR as far as possible. The TD has been steering public transport service arrangements and the overall traffic conditions have mostly been smooth so far:

         MTR: The service headway of the Tuen Ma Line will be further enhanced to about 3.5 minutes and spare trains will be deployed as needed to expedite the dispersal. The service level of the East Rail Line and the Kwun Tong Line will also be enhanced accordingly. Passengers can travel directly from Kai Tak Station or Sung Wong Toi Station to East Tsim Sha Tsui Station within 15 minutes, and it only takes some 24 minutes to Central Station via interchanging at Hung Hom Station and Admiralty Station;

         Taxis: In view of an outflux of spectators, the waiting time is anticipated to be longer and your patience is appreciated. The TD has made all-out efforts with the taxi trade to mobilise more taxis for picking up passengers, including disseminating real-time information on passengers queuing to the trade directly. The Kai Tak Sports Park Limited has also mobilised taxis via instant messaging platform; and

         Special bus routes: The route departing for Central (Causeway Bay and Wan Chai) will be advanced to commence service from 6pm while the remaining special bus routes will operate after the tournaments conclude, subject to the passenger demand and traffic conditions on-site.

         Spectators are advised to take heed of the real-time information via on-site broadcast and the “Easy Leave” (QR code displayed on-site) as well as the latest traffic news through the “HKeMobility” mobile application, radio and television broadcasts.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government officials visit Henan Province to attend Ancestor Worship Ceremony of Yellow Emperor

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; and the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, will depart for Zhengzhou in Henan Province tomorrow (March 30), to attend the Ancestor Worship Ceremony of the Yellow Emperor in the Year of Yisi on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

    They will return to Hong Kong on March 31. During the absence of Mr Yau and Miss Mak, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, and the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, will act as the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs respectively.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –