NewzIntel.com

Category: India

  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington Man Sentenced to Seventeen Years in Prison for Murder on the Colville Reservation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Steven Joseph Zacherle, age 38, to 204 months in prison for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country and Threats in Interstate Commerce. Judge Rice also imposed 5 years of supervised release and restitution payable to the Colville Confederated Tribes for the murder victim’s funeral expenses.

    According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing, on the evening of October 18, 2022, Zacherle was in a domestic dispute with his intimate partner (Victim 1) near a gas station on the Colville Indian Reservation. During the dispute, Victim 1 drove away from the area without Zacherle, who had gone inside a nearby store.

    When Zacherle realized Victim 1 had left him, he began calling and texting her, demanding she return, or he was going to “kill” and “hurt people.” About the same time as Zacherle was making these threats to Victim 1, Dion Boyd, an elder within the Colville Tribe, exited the nearby gas station. Zacherle and Mr. Boyd walked the same direction for a short distance. Zacherle then attacked Mr. Boyd, striking him in the head.

    Within minutes of that attack, Zacherle called Victim 1 and referenced the assault, bragging that he had knocked someone out.  He then asked Victim 1 whether she wanted to see what Zacherle had done.  Victim 1 reported that she could hear garbled breathing and snorting on the phone line.

    Shortly after the assault, Omak Police and first responders located Mr. Boyd, who was unresponsive and face down, bleeding from his head. Medical providers later determined Mr. Boyd was braindead and that Mr. Boyd would never recover from the injuries Zacherle inflicted. Mr. Boyd’s family spent the next twenty days at Mr. Boyd’s bedside in the hospital hoping for a miracle, but Mr. Boyd ultimately died as a result of the injuries sustained in the assault.  The Medical Examiner determined Mr. Boyd suffered a severe brain hematoma and cracked skull because of the unprovoked attack.

    “My heart goes out to the Boyd family, who have suffered so much pain as a result of Mr. Zacherle’s unprovoked attack,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Barker. “My office is fully committed to working federal, state, local, and Tribal leaders to fully prosecuting violent crimes on Tribal land. The victims and survivors of these terrible crimes deserve nothing less.”

    At sentencing, MMIP AUSA Bree Black Horse explained “Mr. Boyd’s family and friends have uniformly described Mr. Boyd as a kind, generous person who helped raise his younger siblings and later his own children. Mr. Boyd also served his Tribe as an IT technician, ensuring Colville Tribal members living in rural areas could have cell service.”

    In recommending the Court impose a 17-year sentence, MMIP AUSA Black Horse explained “Mr. Boyd’s violent and senseless death at the hands of Zacherle has severely impacted the large family Mr. Boyd has left behind. And, Mr. Boyd is now among the disproportionate number of murdered Indigenous people and Mr. Boyd’s family has joined the ranks of too many other MMIP families throughout Eastern Washington and elsewhere.”

    “This appalling attack was truly senseless.” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “Mr. Zacherle displayed a shocking disregard for the value of human life when he took his frustrations out on an innocent bystander, recklessly costing that person his life.  The Colville Indian Reservation is a safer place with him off the streets.”

    This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners.  The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components.  Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the Colville Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker and Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Assistant United States Attorney Bree R. Black Horse.

    2:23-cr-00007-TOR

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: WEEK 11 WINS: President Trump Unleashes Economic Prosperity

    Source: The White House

    It was another highly successful week for the American people as President Donald J. Trump continues his relentless pursuit of strength, prosperity, and peace — and lays the foundation for America to be the global powerhouse for generations to come.

    Here is a non-comprehensive list of wins in week 11:

    • Illegal crossings hit a stunning new record low — down 95% over last year.
      • The number of unaccompanied illegal immigrant children also reached a record low.
      • Los Angeles Times: “California-Mexico border, once overwhelmed, now nearly empty”
      • Bloomberg: “US-Bound Migration Plunges 99% Along Panama Jungle Route”
    • President Trump continued to rid our communities of illegal immigrant criminals.
      • The Trump Administration directed the successful arrests of three illegal immigrant MS-13 gang members in Florida, wanted on first-degree murder charges, and another high-ranking MS-13 member in New York, linked to 11 murders.
      • The Trump Administration directed the transfer of 17 violent illegal immigrant terrorists from the U.S. to El Salvador.
      • The Trump Administration, with state and local law enforcement, successfully arrested more than 40 individuals in a Texas operation targeting the brutal Tren de Aragua gang.
      • The Trump Administration deported an illegal immigrant “influencer” who infamously encouraged fellow illegal immigrants to become squatters.
      • Since taking office, the Trump Administration has arrested 113,000+ illegal immigrants, deported 100,000+ illegal immigrants, and released just nine illegal immigrants into the U.S. — a staggering 99.995% decrease over the same period last year under Biden.
    • President Trump implemented his bold plan for reciprocal trade as he seeks to reverse the decades of globalization that has decimated our industrial base.
      • Coalition for a Prosperous America: “A permanent, universal baseline tariff resets the global trade environment and finally addresses the destructive legacy of decades of misguided free-trade policies. President Trump’s decision to implement a baseline tariff is a game-changing shift that prioritizes American manufacturing, protects working-class jobs, and safeguards our economic security from adversaries like China. This is exactly the type of bold action America needs to restore its industrial leadership.”
      • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association: “For too long, America’s family farmers and ranchers have been mistreated by certain trading partners around the world. President Trump is taking action to address numerous trade barriers that prevent consumers overseas from enjoying high-quality, wholesome American beef.”
    • Americans saw early results of President Trump’s declaration that the days of economic surrender are over.
      • Nissan abandoned plans to eliminate a shift at its Tennessee production facility.
      • General Motors announced it will increase truck production at its Indiana assembly plant.
      • Guardian Bikes announced it will expand its production capacity and grow its U.S.-based investment.
      • Equipment giant JCB committed to doubling the size of its new U.S. manufacturing facility.
      • Ford Motor Company and Stellantis both announced they will offer U.S. consumers employee pricing on their vehicles.
    • President Trump continued to pursue peace through strength around the world.
      • President Trump deployed additional military assets to the Middle East as a warning to the Iranian regime.
      • The Trump Administration inked a $2 billion air defense deal with Poland.
      • President Trump secured a pledge from Finland to raise its defense spending to 3% of its GDP.
      • President Trump held a successful call with Egyptian President El-Sisi to discuss the immense progress the U.S. has made in eliminating Houthi terrorists.
      • President Trump had a “productive call” with Vietnamese leader To Lam, who expressed willingness to cut the country’s tariffs on U.S. imports.
    • President Trump’s economic agenda delivered more relief for Americans.
      • The latest jobs report shattered expectations for the second straight month — highlighted by massive private sector job growth, a spike in full-time employment, wage growth, and an expanding labor market.
      • CNBC: “Private companies added 155,000 jobs in March, more than expected”
      • Wholesale egg prices continued to drop, falling to an average price of $3 per dozen — or nearly 60% since January amid the Trump Administration’s efforts to combat the avian bird flu and repopulate the chicken supply.
    • President Trump secured the release of two U.S. citizens detained in Mexico.
    • President Trump signed an executive order to crack down on price gouging and ticket scalping in the entertainment industry.
    • President Trump established the United States Investment Accelerator to attract and facilitate billion-dollar investments in the U.S.
    • The Department of Energy unveiled plans to use thousands of acres of its land — including national laboratory campuses, nuclear sites, and former enrichment plants — to quickly develop data centers that will power the artificial intelligence revolution.
    • The Department of Energy removed additional regulatory barriers on liquefied natural gas exports.
    • The Department of the Treasury launched a new public-private partnership to safeguard the financial system against illicit activities by the Iranian regime and announced additional sanctions against Iran as part of the Trump Administration’s maximum pressure strategy.
    • The Department of the Treasury leveled new sanctions against financiers of the Sinaloa drug cartel, which has flooded our country with deadly fentanyl.
    • The Department of the Treasury announced additional sanctions against a network of Houthi terrorist facilitators.
    • The Department of the Treasury withdrew burdensome, duplicative climate-based financial risk guidelines from the banking industry.
    • The Department of the Interior announced its next oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of America, fulfilling President Trump’s pledge to unleash American energy.
    • The Department of the Interior implemented President Trump’s executive order to enhance public safety, clean up lands, protect federal parks, and preserve historic monuments in the District of Columbia.
    • The Department of Health and Human Services launched a department-wide restructuring to realign with its core mission and save taxpayers billions of dollars.
    • The Department of Health and Human Services announced states can bar welfare recipients from using taxpayer dollars to purchase unhealthy soft drinks.
    • The Department of Labor announced it will return $1.4 billion in unused COVID funds back to the U.S. Treasury.
    • The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced a record number of new agent applications under its new leadership.
    • The Department of Justice dismissed a Biden-era lawsuit against common-sense, effective Georgia election law reforms.
    • The Department of Justice launched investigations into DEI initiatives at Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, Irvine.
    • The Department of Justice said it will pursue the death penalty for the accused cold-blooded killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
    • The Environmental Protection Agency continued cutting wasteful spending, shuttering a politicized museum erected by the Biden Administration, consolidating office space, and eliminating duplicative grants and contracts — saving taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.
    • The Department of Defense directed a review of the military’s physical fitness standards to ensure it remains the strongest, most lethal fighting force on the planet.
    • The Department of Education and the Department of Justice launched a joint effort to ensure rapid investigations into violations of women’s civil rights.
    • The Department of Education issued a final warning to Maine over its ongoing refusal to comply with Title IX by forcing women to compete against men in athletics.
    • The Department of Education warned states with unlawful K-12 “diversity, equity, and inclusion” programs that they are at risk of losing federal funding.
    • The Department of Education encouraged state education officials to leverage federal funds to support school choice initiatives — a key part of President Trump’s education agenda.
    • The Department of Agriculture paused federal funding to Maine over its unlawful policies forcing women to compete against men in athletics.
    • The Department of Agriculture announced sweeping reforms to protect forests and boost domestic timber production.
    • The Department of Transportation announced an updated Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, eliminating DEI and environmental justice requirements that prevented money from getting where it is needed.
    • The Department of Transportation continued making progress on the unprecedented backlog of unfulfilled grants left over by the Biden Administration.
    • The Department of Housing and Urban Development launched a streamlined website that efficiently provides vital information to Americans and saves taxpayers in the long run.
    • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services formally removed the option of a third gender on immigration paperwork, further restoring common sense to government.
    • Dr. Mehmet Oz was confirmed as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Matthew Whittaker was confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to NATO — continuing the rapid pace at which President Trump’s nominees receive final approval.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Marches into April with 259 New Immigration Cases

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 259 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from March 28 through April 3.

    Among the new cases, Mexican national Miguel Angel Torres-Segura resided illegally in San Antonio and was arrested March 28 for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. A criminal complaint alleges that Torres-Segura participated in a human smuggling organization (HSO) that transported illegal aliens using tractor trailers, carrying out at least 19 human smuggling events and leading to the apprehension of more than 900 aliens between May 2021 and June 2022. Torres-Segura allegedly communicated with high-level leaders and organizers and assisted the HSO by transporting aliens and preparing tractor trailers for transport. Torres-Segura has multiple convictions, including two illegal entries in 2009 and 2010 and an illegal re-entry in 2011. He was convicted again for illegal re-entry on March 26 following an October 2024 arrest and has now been charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.

    On March 26, 2025, in Presidio County, Texas, Miguel Andres Aguilar, a citizen and national of Mexico, was found in the United States illegally after having been preciously deported. Aguilar was removed in February 2017 through San Ysidro California. Border Patrol Agents had determined Aguilar had been deported from the US on four prior occasions.

    On March 31, 2025, at the Camino Real International Bridge II in Eagle Pass, Texas, Customs and Border Protection Officers conducting outbound operations observed a black semi-automatic pistol in the luggage being carried by Roman Lagunas-Nazario.  Lagunas, a permanent resident alien, advised officers that he lives in Mexico and was in the US to visit family in Houston.  He admitted being hired to transport the firearm to Mexico for $100. Lagunas was charged with smuggling goods from the United States and faces imprisonment for up to 10 years.

    On March 27, 2025, Victor Alfonso Cruz-Garcia was charged with illegal reentry after deportation in Del Rio, Texas, after being arrested by US Border Patrol Agents.  Cruz had been previously removed from the US on two occasions and was previously convicted of second degree murder.

    Customs and Border Protection Officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry arrested Juan Sebastian Cortez-Calzada on March 26, 2025. Cortez was taken to Passport Control Secondary where record checks confirmed that he is a native and citizen of Mexico with no legal right to enter the United States. Record checks further revealed that Cortez was deported to Mexico on February 22, 2012, through the Port of Laredo, Texas. Additionally, Cortez has a felony conviction for a controlled substance prior to his removal.

    Ronald Keith Henderson Jr. was arrested near Eagle Pass, Texas on Sunday, March 27, 2025. The driver of a gray Chevrolet Malibu, he was stopped near the Kickapoo Reservation in Eagle Pass. Three subjects in the vehicle were determined to be illegally present in the United States and freely admitted to had just crossed the Rio Grande River. Henderson admitted to conspiring with unknown subjects to transport aliens further into the United Staes.

    Carlos Heliberto Solares y Solares, a Guatemalan citizen, traveling in a Chevrolet Malibu with California plates entered a checkpoint in Hudspeth County Texas on March 28, 2025. Solares told agents he was traveling from Los Angeles to Houston to visit his daughter. From Statements made by Solares, it was determined he was without immigration documents allowing him to remain in the United States legally. During an interview with Border Patrol Agents, Solares was asked if he knew he had been ordered removed by a judge and needed to leave the United States in which Solares stated “yes.”  Solares was ordered removed by an immigration judge on December 05, 2007.  Solares had been previously convicted for cruelty to the elderly and domestic violence in 2021 and 2022.

    In an area known as Rusty’s Canyon approximately 31 miles east of Fort Hancock Texas, LeonelaAlejandra Prado-Sanchez was apprehended attempting to conceal herself in the brush.  Prado was determined to be a native and citizen of Honduras without immigration documents allowing her to be in the United States legally. Prado had previously been removed from the United States to Mexico on February 5, 2025 through Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

    On April 1, 2025, Mexican national Gabriel Gonzalez Carillo was arrested in Hudspeth County 31 miles from Fort Hancock Texas Point of Entry. Gonzalez told agents that he would be paid to be a foot guide and that he was obtaining routes and other information via messages from an unknown smuggler in Mexico. Gonzalez and other illegal aliens were found attempting to conceal themselves in the brush in an area known as Rusty’s Canyon.

    Kelvin Sauceda-Reyes, a passenger on a Greyhound Bus that entered an immigration inspection lane in Hudspeth County was placed under arrest on March 30, 2025. Sauceda, a citizen of Honduras, handed Border Patrol Agents and expired immigration document. Further search by agents revealed fraudulent Social Security Card and a fraudulent Lawfully Permanent Resident card in his wallet. After questions, Sauceda admitted he purchased the documents for $70 USD.

    Luis Alberto Escobedo-Duenas was found approximately 2.8 miles west of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry in Fort Hancock, Texas.  Escobedo is a citizen and national of Mexico who had previously been removed from the US on seven prior convictions and had been previously convicted of illegal entry in El Paso, Texas in 2008, on federal drug trafficking charges in Alpine, Texas in 2012 for which he was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release, on Indiana state marijuana dealing charges in 2015 for which he was sentenced to two years imprisonment in 2017, on Indiana state resisting law enforcement charges for which he was sentenced to one year imprisonment also in 2017, and was sentenced in 2018 to 13 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release after his 2012 supervised release was revoked.  Escobedo was arrested and charged in federal court in El Paso with illegal reentry after deportation.

    Eduardo Garcia-Gutierrez will face illegal reentry after deportation charges in El Paso, Texas, after he was arrested at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry.  Garcia presented himself for entry indicating he wanted to travel to California.  Garcia admitted that he did not have entry documents and was a citizen of Mexico who had previously been removed from the US.  Records checks revealed that Garcia had been previously removed on nine prior occasions, with the last being in 2023.  Criminal records check revealed Garcia had been convicted of transportation/sale of narcotics in 1994 for which he was sentenced to three years imprisonment, possession of narcotics and use of false citizenship documents in 1996 for which he was sentenced to three years imprisonment and was sentenced on four occasions for probation violations from 2018 to 2023.

    These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.

    These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Ethnic Communities Minister outlines key priorities

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Distinguished guests, community leaders, business representatives, and faith leaders.
    It is my pleasure as the Minister for Ethnic Communities to address you today. 
    New Zealand is home to speakers of more than 170 languages, and while I would love to greet you in each one, for now let me extend a warm welcome to you all with a simple “Kia ora. Tēnā koutou, katoa.”
    I would like to acknowledge and extend my gratitude to everyone here today.  Your dedication and contributions continue to strengthen the fabric of our nation.
    I also wish to thank those of you who have shared your insights and experiences, providing valuable perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing New Zealand’s Ethnic Communities. Your input is critical in shaping policies and initiatives that reflect the needs of all New Zealanders.
    It is a privilege to serve as the Minister for Ethnic Communities. When the Prime Minister invited me to take on this role, I was deeply honoured and excited by the opportunity to support and champion the diverse communities that make up our nation.
    Almost one in four people in New Zealand belong to an Ethnic Community. In Auckland, that number rises to one in three. These communities contribute immeasurably to our country—bringing expertise, knowledge, and cultural vibrancy that enriches every aspect of New Zealand life.
    I was fortunate enough to become Minister just in time to host the Lunar New Year event at Parliament, which was a vibrant and wonderful celebration.
    And in a couple of days, I will be hosting Eid celebrations as well, and I look forward to recognising and celebrating the many other significant cultural events that unite our communities throughout the year. 
    Today, I would like to outline my priorities as your Minister and share my vision for how we can work together to achieve meaningful outcomes.  I will get to that shortly.  First, a bit about myself. 
    I bring my own experience to this role.  I have lived in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. I have lived and worked in many communities sharing the challenges they faced and immersing myself in the culture and history of their countries.
    I am constantly learning but my experience has helped me understand where our ethnic communities come from, what is important to them, some of the challenges and complexities of making a new country home, and the richness and value they have brought to New Zealand, whether they arrived a week ago or 100 years ago. 
    Recently at an event celebrating EID I was able to talk to 3 young 2nd generation Somali Kiwis about Somalia. The beauty of the country, rich in history and with so much potential but facing continued challenges.
    They love being Kiwis and love New Zealand but remain so proud of their Somali heritage. 
    My message is I’m a 4th generation Kiwi of Irish descent and very proud of both being Kiwi and of my Irish heritage. I have the privilege of not just looking through the eyes of our ethnic communities through a New Zealand lens but also in many cases through the country-of-origin lens. 
    I believe this experience will help me be an informed, effective, passionate Minister and advocate, providing loyal service to our Ethnic Communities.
    My priorities
    There are four key areas that I will focus on as Minister to ensure that Ethnic Communities thrive in New Zealand: economic growth, security and resilience, emergency management, and social cohesion.
    Economic growth
    First, economic growth.
    Many of you will have seen the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation speech.  In that speech, the PM focused almost exclusively on economic growth as the main priority for our Government.
    Why? Because economic growth is vital for improving quality of life. For delivering better infrastructure. For providing Kiwis with more choices. And for giving a sense that better days lie ahead.
    Ethnic Communities already make a huge contribution to our economy.
    In 2021, this contribution was estimated at $64 billion. The average value of export goods for ethnic businesses is more than double the New Zealand average.  However, there are barriers that need to be addressed to unlock the full potential of these businesses.
    At the Ethnic Xchange business symposium the Ministry facilitated last year, people identified what the Government could do to increase foreign investment.  Business owners said long waiting times with the Overseas Investment Office and a lack of coordination between agencies put off foreign investors.
    The Government is taking action. We are setting up Invest New Zealand to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ to attract and promote foreign investment. 
    We are making changes to the Overseas Investment Act to make investment rules less restrictive and more welcoming of investment.
    The changes will ensure that for many investments, decisions will be made in just 15 days, where the application isn’t contrary to New Zealand’s national interest. 
    And we announced changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa to simplify the categories, increase the scope of acceptable investments and remove other potential barriers to investment, such as the English language requirement.
    Last month, we held a global infrastructure investment summit to showcase New Zealand’s infrastructure pipeline and growth sectors.
    You may be aware that I recently travelled to India with the Prime Minister.
    During that trip I saw first-hand the value and strength of the relationship between New Zealand and India, and our trading relationship was very clear.  All of this shows the Government’s commitment to growing the economy.
    Security and resilience
    Second, I want to talk about security and resilience.
    Foreign interference affects the safety and security of everyone in New Zealand.  The Government is clear that we do not condone foreign interference in New Zealand. It is particularly concerning that some members of our Ethnic Communities are experiencing undue pressure and suppression of rights from foreign states. This is unacceptable.
    As Minister, I want to acknowledge that Ethnic Communities’ resilience is a national security asset to all of New Zealand.  I’m committed to delivering practical support that will help our communities to withstand foreign interference and to ask for help when they need it.
    We’ve released resources in 24 languages to raise awareness about foreign interference in New Zealand. Including case studies, information about your rights, keeping safe online and how to report foreign interference.
    This is only the beginning of the work. I know the Ministry for Ethnic Communities is working hard, including looking internationally, to ensure what it produces for our communities is world-class.
    While we’ve started to shine a light on foreign interference there is more to be done.  Work will continue with a range of communities to develop and release more resources later this year.
    Emergency management
    Third, I want to talk about emergency management.
    We can’t get away from the fact that New Zealand is prone to emergencies. Many of us have experienced the devastating impacts of floods, cyclones and earthquakes, and have learned about them first hand.
    Recent events have highlighted gaps in the system, particularly in how emergency responses account for the linguistic, cultural, and religious needs of Ethnic Communities.
    The support provided was often not responsive to language, cultural or religious needs. And important information in different languages was slow in getting to the people who needed it.
    The Government has committed to making changes to the emergency management system to ensure it is fit for purpose. 
    The changes will build capability and capacity, support local government and help different parts of the system to work better together.  They are based on the idea that everyone needs to be part of preparing and responding to emergencies and recovering afterwards.
    Our Ethnic Communities often stand up in times of emergencies to provide life services for the entire community.  I have asked NEMA to make sure this important role is formally recognised and codified in the new Emergency Management legislation. 
    There has been positive progress made in recent years.  The Get Ready website, which provides information about what to do before, during and after an emergency, is translated into 14 languages. This proved to be a valuable resource during Cyclone Gabrielle.
    NEMA have also told me they are close to completing a resource about what support is available and where to find it. 
    This resource can be distributed to communities in multiple languages as soon an emergency happens, rather than taking days to develop and translate.
    You can have confidence that the needs of Ethnic Communities will be reflected in NEMA’s work. 
    Social cohesion
    Finally, I want to talk about social cohesion.
    New Zealand is becoming increasingly diverse.  With Ethnic Communities expected to make up one-third of the population in the next two decades, it is essential that we build cohesive and safe communities.
    We must build an inclusive society where all communities feel a sense of belonging and where discrimination and prejudice have no place. 
    I have heard concerns from many of you about experiences of harassment, Islamophobia, and antisemitism. These are issues we must confront directly.
    I’m also particularly concerned about the impact geopolitical events overseas are having on domestic social cohesion.
    It’s important we don’t let overseas tensions and conflict play out between our communities here.
    I am committed to listening, learning and taking action to deliver relevant and tangible initiatives that will make a difference for Ethnic Communities.
    Ensuring that we don’t just talk about social cohesion but do things to actively strengthen it.
    I want to explore more ways to foster Ethnic Communities’ sense of belonging to and integration with New Zealand society.
    I would like better ways to bring faith and community leaders together to build bridges and unite communities.
    The Ministry for Ethnic Communities is actively fostering social cohesion through community engagement, interfaith dialogue, and targeted funding. And I am committed to continuing these efforts and identifying further ways to strengthen ties between communities.
    Other issues
    While some issues fall outside my direct ministerial responsibilities, I remain committed to advocating for the needs of Ethnic Communities.
    For example, mental health remains a pressing concern. 
    Research indicates that Middle Eastern, Latin American, and African youth face disproportionately high rates of mental health struggles, yet cultural barriers often prevent individuals from seeking help. 
    I will work closely with the Minister for Mental Health to ensure that culturally appropriate support services are accessible to all who need them.
    Closing
    New Zealand’s Ethnic Communities make an invaluable contribution to our society—socially, culturally, and economically. My commitment as Minister is to ensure that these contributions are recognised, valued, and celebrated.
    By working together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive nation—one where diversity is seen as a strength, and where every community has the opportunity to thrive.
    Thank you for being here today.  I look forward to continuing these important conversations and strengthening our relationships.
    Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: First Federal Savings Bank Awards $27,500 in Funds to Habitat for Humanity Through FHLBank Indianapolis Grant Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EVANSVILLE, Ind., April 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Federal Savings Bank, a member bank of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBank Indianapolis), awarded Habitat for Humanity $27,500 in grant funds through the Community Multiplier – Member Match Program.

    The $27,500 grant will support Habitat for Humanity’s educational assistance programs for current and prospective homeowners.

    “We are proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity in support of their educational assistance programs for current and prospective homeowners,” said Courtney Schmitt, VP, Marketing Manager at First Federal Savings Bank. “Homeownership is a cornerstone of financial stability, and by investing in these programs, we are helping individuals and families build stronger, more secure futures. This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to empowering communities through financial education and support.”

    Beth Folz, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Evansville stated “We were excited to hear from First Federal Savings Bank that we had been selected to receive this wonderful grant from the Community Multiplier program. We are thrilled for the future Habitat homeowners who will be impacted by the financial education programs that we can offer due to this tremendous support.”

    The Community Multiplier – Member Match program is FHLBank Indianapolis’ newest program offering, designed to support targeted affordable housing initiatives that fall outside of FHLBank Indianapolis’ other grant programs. Community Multiplier offers grants between $25,000 and $125,000 for non-profit organizations headquartered in Indiana or Michigan who partner with an FHLBank Indianapolis member financial institution on targeted affordable housing initiatives. With a 10% matching funds commitment from the member financial institution, FHLBank Indianapolis is providing grants between $25,000 and $125,000. The program opened March 27, 2025 with a $5 million allocation and is available until October 1, 2025, or until funds are exhausted.

    You’re Invited

    To celebrate this meaningful partnership, First Federal Savings Bank and Habitat for Humanity of Evansville will host a press conference and check presentation ceremony on Wednesday, April 9 at 3:30 PM CST at First Federal Savings Bank’s corporate headquarters located at 5001 Davis Lant Drive Evansville, IN 47715. We invite the members of the media, community partners, and the public to join us as we present a $27,500 contribution in support of Habitat for Humanity’s mission to provide educational assistance programs for current and prospective homeowners

    About First Federal Savings Bank Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender

    First Federal Savings Bank was established on Evansville, Indiana’s Westside in 1904. A community bank offering eight locations in Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Henderson County. First Federal Savings Bank is also proud to offer Home Building Savings Bank locations in Daviess and Pike County.

    Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis: Building Partnerships. Serving Communities.

    FHLBank Indianapolis is a regional bank included in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. FHLBanks are government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to ensure access to low-cost funding for their member financial institutions, with particular attention paid to providing solutions that support the housing and small business needs of members’ customers. FHLBanks are privately capitalized and funded and receive no Congressional appropriations. FHLBank Indianapolis is owned by its Indiana and Michigan financial institution members, including commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, savings institutions and community development financial institutions. For more information about FHLBank Indianapolis, visit www.fhlbi.com and follow the Bank on LinkedIn and X (formerly known as Twitter) at @FHLBankIndy.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Economic and Social Council Fills Vacancies in 15 Subsidiary Bodies

    Source: United Nations 4

    The Economic and Social Council convened today to conduct elections, nominations, confirmations, and appointments to fill vacancies in 15 of its subsidiary bodies. 

    The Council, which plays a vital role in advancing the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, oversees a complex ecosystem of subsidiary entities, comprising regional and functional commissions, standing committees, and expert and ad hoc bodies. 

    For instance, its Statistical Commission, established in 1946, is responsible for the development of international statistics concepts and methods, including their implementation at the national and international level.  The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, formed in 2000, advises the Council on Indigenous peoples’ rights and provides recommendations to Member States on issues affecting indigenous communities. And the Commission on Narcotic Drugs formulates international drug policies and oversees the implementation of global drug control treaties. 

    Statistical Commission

    The Council by secret ballot today elected Romania to the Statistical Commission for a four-year term beginning on 1 January 2026 and expiring on 31 December 2029.  In a second round of balloting, the Russian Federation was elected for the same four-year term. 

    Since the number of candidates from the African States, the Asia-Pacific States, the Latin American and Caribbean States and the Western European and other States was equal to the number of vacancies, the Council also elected Austria, Benin, Brazil, Burundi, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Finland, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru and Uzbekistan by acclamation for the same four-year term. 

    Commission on Population and Development

    To the Commission on Population and Development, the Council elected Bolivia, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Ireland, Ghana, Malaysia, Mongolia, Norway, Russian Federation, Senegal, United Kingdom and the United Republic of Tanzania by acclamation for a four-year term of office beginning at the first meeting of the Commission’s sixtieth session in 2026 and expiring at the close of its sixty-third session in 2030. 

    The Council also elected Albania, by acclamation, to the Commission for a term of office beginning on 4 April 2025 and expiring at the close of the Commission’s fifty-ninth session in 2026.  Japan and the Philippines were elected, by acclamation, for a four-year term beginning at the first meeting of the fifty-ninth session and expiring at the close of the sixty-second session in 2029.

    Commission on the Status of Women

    To the Commission on the Status of Women, the Council elected Cabo Verde, China, Gabon, Japan, Maldives, Mongolia, Morocco, Qatar, United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe, by acclamation, for a four-year term of office beginning at the first meeting of the Commission’s seventy-first session in 2026 and expiring at the close of its seventy-fourth session in 2030.

    Commission on Narcotic Drugs

    To the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Council elected from the Asia-Pacific States — by secret ballot — Pakistan, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates and Kyrgyzstan for a four-year term beginning on 1 January 2026 and expiring on 31 December 2029.  From the Eastern European States, it elected Slovenia, Lithuania and Ukraine, and from the Western European and Other States, it elected Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and, in a second round of balloting, France, for the same four-year term beginning on 1 January 2026. 

    Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

    From the African States and the Latin American and Caribbean States, the Council elected Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Honduras, Mauritania and Trinidad and Tobago, by acclamation, to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice for a four-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026.

    Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

    To the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Council elected by secret ballot from the Eastern European States Valts Ernštreits of Latvia and Suleiman Mamutov of Ukraine for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026.

    Since the number of candidates from the African States, the Asia-Pacific States, the Latin American and Caribbean States and the Western European and other States was equal to or less than the number of vacancies, the Council elected Brenda Gunn of Canada, Nan Li of China, Rodrigo Paillalef Monnard of Chile, Diego A. Tituaña Matango of Ecuador and Anne-Chantal Nama of Cameroon, by acclamation, for the same three-year term of office. 

    Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund

    Since the number of candidates from the Asia-Pacific States, the Eastern European States, the Latin American and Caribbean States and the Western European and other States was equal to or less than the number of vacancies, the Council elected Antigua and Barbuda, China, Georgia, Guatemala, Iceland, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, by acclamation, to the Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026.

    The Council also elected by acclamation Canada, Türkiye and Liechtenstein to complete the unexpired term of office of Australia, France and Portugal, respectively, beginning on 1 January 2026 and expiring on 31 December 2027.  Australia, France and Portugal resigned from their seats on the Executive Board effective 31 December 2025.  

    Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme/United Nations Population Fund/United Nations Office for Project Services

    Next, the Council elected Armenia, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Estonia, Finland, Japan, Nepal, Norway, Rwanda and the United States, by acclamation, to the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme/United Nations Population Fund/United Nations Office for Project Services for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026.

    The Council also elected by acclamation Monaco, New Zealand and Türkiye to complete the unexpired term of office of Austria, Luxembourg and Ireland, respectively, beginning on 1 January 2026 and expiring on 31 December 2026.  Switzerland was elected to complete the unexpired term of office of Belgium, beginning on 1 January 2026 and expiring on 31 December 2027.  Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and Ireland resigned from their seats on 31 December 2025.

    Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

    The Council next elected Burkina Faso, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Japan, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda and Senegal by acclamation to the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026. 

    Executive Board of the World Food Programme

    The Council also elected Cuba, Gabon and Kenya by acclamation to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026.

    Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

    The Council by secret ballot elected Ukraine to the Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026.  Further, it elected Kenya, by acclamation, to the Programme Coordinating Board for the same term.

    The Council then elected by acclamation the Philippines to complete the unexpired term of office of Japan, beginning on 4 April 2025 and expiring on 31 December 2027.

    Committee for Programme and Coordination

    The Council next nominated China, Cuba, Egypt, Nigeria, Republic of Korea and Senegal, for election by the General Assembly to the Committee for Programme and Coordination for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 2026. 

    Commission for Social Development 

    To the Commission for Social Development, the Council elected Switzerland, by acclamation, for a term beginning on 4 April 2025 and expiring at the close of the Commission’s sixty-seventh session in 2029. 

    Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting

    Next, the Council elected Belarus, Colombia, India and Kyrgyzstan, by acclamation, to the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting, each for a term of office beginning on 4 April 2025 and expiring on 31 December 2027.  Greece was elected, by acclamation, to the same body for a term of office beginning on 4 April 2025 and expiring on 31 December 2026.

    Committee for the United Nations Population Award

    Finally, the Council elected Cyprus, by acclamation, to the Committee for the United Nations Population Award for a term of office beginning on 4 April 2025 and expiring on 31 December 2027.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Wintrust Financial Corporation Announces Cash Dividends

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ROSEMONT, Ill., April 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wintrust Financial Corporation (“Wintrust” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: WTFC) today announced that the Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share of outstanding common stock. The dividend is payable on May 22, 2025 to shareholders of record as of May 8, 2025.

    Additionally, the Company’s Board of Directors approved quarterly cash dividends on outstanding shares of the Company’s 6.50% Fixed-to-Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D and of the Company’s 6.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E. Each dividend is payable on July 15, 2025 to shareholders of record as of July 1, 2025.

    About Wintrust

    Wintrust is a financial holding company with $64.9 billion in assets whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Guided by its “Different Approach, Better Results®” philosophy, Wintrust offers the sophisticated resources of a large bank while providing a community banking experience to each customer. Wintrust operates more than 200 retail banking locations through 16 community bank subsidiaries in the greater Chicago, southern Wisconsin, west Michigan, northwest Indiana, and southwest Florida market areas. In addition, Wintrust operates various non-bank business units, providing residential mortgage origination, wealth management, commercial and life insurance premium financing, short-term accounts receivable financing/outsourced administrative services to the temporary staffing services industry, and qualified intermediary services for tax-deferred exchanges. For more information, please visit wintrust.com.

    Forward-Looking Information

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Investors are cautioned that such statements are predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. Wintrust’s expected financial results or other plans are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” and the forward-looking statement disclosure contained in Wintrust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and Wintrust undertakes no duty to update the information.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Timothy S. Crane, President & Chief Executive Officer
    David A. Dykstra, Vice Chairman & Chief Operating Officer
    (847) 939-9000
    Website address: www.wintrust.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: IMPORT OF STEEL AND ITS DOMESTIC PRODUCTION

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 8:33PM by PIB Delhi

    The details of import of finished steel in India for the last five years, country-wise and year-wise is placed at Annexure.

    The details of domestic crude steel production for the last five years, year-wise is given below:-

     

    Domestic Crude Steel Production

    Year

    Quantity (in MnT)

    2019-20

    109.14

    2020-21

    103.54

    2021-22

    120.29

    2022-23

    127.20

    2023-24

    144.30

    Source: Joint Plant Committee (JPC); MnT=million tonnes

     

    Steel is a deregulated sector and the government acts as a facilitator by creating a conducive policy environment for the development of steel sector in the country. The decision regarding import and export are taken by steel companies based on techno-commercial considerations and market dynamics.

    Government has taken steps to ensure that only quality steel is produced in the country or imported from outside. In this direction, 151 BIS standards have been notified and have been covered by Quality Control Orders (QCOs) by Ministry of Steel to ensure that only quality steel is made available to the end users & the public at large.

    The Government has taken following steps to encourage domestic steel production:-

    1. Domestically Manufactured Iron & Steel Products (DMI&SP) Policy for promoting ‘Made in India’ steel for Government procurement.
    2. Implementation of Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Specialty Steel to promote the manufacturing of ‘Specialty Steel’ within the country and reduce imports by attracting capital investments.

     Country-wise and Year-wise import of finished Steel during last five year

     

    IMPORT OF FINISHED STEEL (‘000 tonnes)

    Country

    2019-20

    2020-21

    2021-22

    2022-23

    2023-24

    ARGENTINA

    26

    7

    1

    0

    0

    AUSTRALIA

    4

    2

    1

    0

    1

    AUSTRIA

    13

    71

    9

    10

    52

    BAHARAIN

    10

    14

    5

    1

    3

    BELGIUM

    74

    56

    28

    33

    17

    BRAZIL

    23

    5

    6

    3

    1

    CANADA

    20

    17

    10

    11

    6

    CHINA

    1207

    843

    833

    1407

    2687

    CZECH REP

    2

    0

    1

    2

    4

    DENMARK

    3

    2

    2

    1

    1

    FINLAND

    9

    5

    5

    7

    6

    FRANCE

    56

    121

    58

    77

    15

    GERMANY

    135

    146

    151

    112

    80

    INDONESIA

    464

    79

    241

    148

    94

    ITALY

    81

    33

    34

    31

    23

    JAPAN

    1018

    560

    664

    841

    1274

    KAZAKHSTAN

    3

    11

    1

    6

    0

    KOREA

    2687

    1947

    2009

    2228

    2670

    KUWAIT

    8

    3

    3

    3

    9

    MALAYSIA

    51

    42

    8

    20

    6

    NEPAL

    6

    6

    9

    59

    120

    NETHERLANDS

    11

    20

    13

    4

    3

    NEWZELAND

    1

    1

    0

    1

    1

    OMAN

    4

    12

    5

    7

    11

    POLAND

    8

    5

    7

    6

    3

    PORTUGAL

    2

    1

    2

    2

    0

    ROMANIA

    3

    1

    1

    2

    17

    RUSSIA

    71

    63

    55

    313

    53

    SAUDI ARABIA

    8

    36

    14

    9

    39

    SINGAPORE

    139

    43

    8

    6

    4

    SLOVENIA

    11

    7

    6

    4

    1

    SOUTH AFRICA

    22

    15

    8

    5

    7

    SPAIN

    32

    20

    27

    21

    5

    SWEDEN

    23

    27

    39

    48

    20

    SWITZERLAND

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    TAIWAN

    165

    186

    194

    163

    185

    THAILAND

    52

    50

    25

    53

    58

    TURKEY

    5

    8

    2

    3

    3

    U.K.

    17

    11

    6

    5

    4

    UAE

    21

    21

    24

    12

    52

    UKRAINE

    84

    31

    22

    7

    1

    USA

    65

    54

    29

    17

    20

    VIETNAM

    86

    133

    75

    320

    737

    OTHERS

    39

    39

    26

    11

    27

    TOTAL

    6768

    4752

    4669

    6022

    8320

    Source: Joint Plant Committee (JPC)

     

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

    *****

    TPJ/NJ

    (Release ID: 2119067) Visitor Counter : 17

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SUBSIDY FOR PROMOTING E-VEHICLES

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 5:21PM by PIB Delhi

    Yes, the Government is providing subsidies to promote e-vehicles to enhances sales and reduce pollution. These subsidies are primarily offered to buyers of e-vehicles to make EVs more affordable. The following schemes are being implemented by Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) to provide subsidies to promote e-vehicles :-

    1. PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme: This scheme with an outlay of Rs.10,900 crore has been notified on 29.09.2024. It is a two-year scheme ending on 31/03/2026.  The subsidy is being provided to EVs including e-2Ws under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme. The details of subsidy are provided at Annexure.
    2. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component Industry in India (PLI-Auto): The Government approved this scheme on 15.09.2021 for Automobile and Auto Component Industry for enhancing India’s manufacturingcapabilities for Advanced Automotive Technology (AAT) products.  The budgetary outlay of the scheme is Rs.25,938 crore. The scheme provides financial incentives to boost domestic manufacturing of EVs, including cars.
    3. PLI Scheme for National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage: The Government on 12.05.2021 approved PLI Scheme for National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage for manufacturing of ACCin the country with a budgetary outlay of Rs.18,100 crore. The scheme is important, as battery is an integral component for EVs including cars and scooters.

    Besides this, many of the State Governments are providing subsidy for purchase of EVs.

    As per information received from Ministry of Power (MoP), record of EV charging stations installed in the offices is not maintained by the MoP.

    Additionally, the Ministry of Power issued the Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024 in September 2024. These guidelines include the following suggestions to facilitate the setup of charging stations in office complexes:

    1. Building/office owners can request a separate metered connection from the distribution licensee or use their existing electricity connections to charge employees’ EVs at the workplace.
    2. Building/office owners can apply to their electricity distribution licensee for a higher power load to accommodate EV charging stations.

    Details of subsidy being offered to e-2W buyers under the PM E-DRIVE scheme

     

    S. No

    Segment of  Vehicle

    Incentive per kWh

    Cap

    Period

    1

    e-2W

    Rs.5,000/-

    15% of ex-factory price

    FY 2024-25

    2

    e-2W

    Rs.2,500/-

    FY 2025-26

     

    The upper cap in the subsidy is restricted to EVs with an ex-factory price below a certain  threshold defined in the PM E-DRIVE scheme. 

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

    *****

    TPJ/NJ

    (Release ID: 2118896) Visitor Counter : 10

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government of India Taking Measures To Tackle Deepfakes

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Electronics & IT

    Government of India Taking Measures To Tackle Deepfakes

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 8:09PM by PIB Delhi

    The policies of Government of India are aimed at ensuring a safe, trusted and accountable cyberspace for users in the country. Key regulatory initiatives taken by the Central Government to address issues of misinformation and deepfakes, are as under:

    • The Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”) and the rules made there under have created a legal framework designed to protect the internet from unlawful activities to ensure safety and trust among the users.
    • The IT Act provides for punishment for various offences considered as cybercrimes such as identity theft, cheating by personation, violation of privacy, publishing/transmitting material that is obscene/ containing sexually explicit act, etc., depicting children in sexually explicit act/transmitting/ browsing child sexual abuse material, etc.
    • The IT Act and the rules made apply to any information that is generated using Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) tools or any other technology and those which are generated by users themselves for the purpose of defining offences.
    • To protect users in India and the Indian internet at large from the emerging harms emanating from the misuse of technologies including AI and to ensure accountability towards law of the land, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (“MeitY”) regularly engages with and receives inputs from the industry for promoting ethical use of technologies.
    • Accordingly, the Central Government after extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules, 2021”) and its subsequent amendments under the IT Act to address various emerging issues on the cyberspace.
    • The IT Rules, 2021 casts specific obligations on intermediaries, including social media intermediaries to not host, store or publish any information violative of any law.
    • They are also obligated to ensure their accountability that includes their expeditious action towards removal of the unlawful information categorised under the IT Rules, 2021 as notified by the appropriate government’s or on the basis of grievances received against any unlawful information.
    • Such unlawful information comprises any information that, among other things, is harmful to child or that is promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion or caste with the intent to incite violence, or that deceives or misleads the addressee about the origin of the message or knowingly and intentionally communicates any misinformation or information which is patently false and untrue or misleading in nature, or that threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India, public order, or that violates any law for the time being in force.
    • Where any information is categorised as unlawful under the IT Rules, 2021, any user may make a request to the Grievance Officer of the concerned intermediary on whose platform such unlawful information is made available to the public. Upon receipt of such request, the intermediary is required to act expeditiously within the timelines prescribed under IT Rules, 2021.
    • Also, under the IT Rules, 2021, the Government has established Grievance Appellate Committees to allow users and victims to appeal online on www.gac.gov.in against decisions taken by the Grievance Officers of intermediaries in case they are dissatisfied with the decision of the Grievance Officer.
    • Taking into cognizance that there is an urgent need to address the harms and criminalities being committed through widespread circulation of misinformation and deepfakes powered by AI, MeitY conducted multiple consultations with industry stakeholders/ social media platforms to discuss the challenges identified in combating deepfakes and has issued advisories time to time, through which the intermediaries were reminded about compliance with their due-diligence obligations outlined under the IT Rules, 2021 and advised on countering unlawful content including malicious “synthetic media” and “deepfakes” to curb deepfakes and promptly remove harmful content online.
    • The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) issues alerts and advisories regarding latest cyber threats/vulnerabilities including malicious attacks using Artificial Intelligence and countermeasures to protect computers, networks and data on an ongoing basis. In this context, an advisory on safety measures to be taken to minimize the adversarial threats arising from Artificial Intelligence (AI) based applications was published in May 2023. CERT-In has published an advisory in November 2024 on deepfake threats and measures that need to be followed to stay protected against deepfakes.
    • CERT-In has taken following measures to enhance awareness among users and organisations for safe usage of digital technologies and tackling digital risks:
    • CERT-In issues alerts and advisories regarding latest cyber threats/vulnerabilities including social engineering, phishing and vishing campaigns and countermeasures to protect computers, mobile phones, networks and data on an ongoing basis.
    • CERT-In has issued an advisory to various Ministries in November 2023 outlining the measures to be taken for strengthening the cyber security by all entities that are processing the digital personal data or information including sensitive personal data or information.
    • CERT-In operates the Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) to detect malicious programs and provides free tools to remove the same, and also provides cyber security tips and best practices for citizens and organisations.
    • CERT-In provides leadership for the Computer Security Incident Response Team-Finance Sector (CSIRT-Fin) operations under its umbrella for responding to and containing and mitigating cyber security incidents reported from the financial sector.
    • Security tips have been published for users to secure their desktops and mobile phones and to prevent phishing attacks.
    • CERT-In is regularly carrying out various activities for awareness and citizen sensitization with respect to cyber-attacks and cyber frauds. CERT-In is observing the Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) during October of every year, Safer Internet Day on 1st Week Tuesday of February Month every year, Swachhta Pakhwada from 1 to 15 February of every year and Cyber Jagrookta Diwas (CJD) on 1st Wednesday of every month by organising various events and activities for citizens as well as the technical cyber community in India. CERT-In conducted several awareness activities such as Quiz, webinars, Capture the Flag event in collaboration with Government and industry partners during NCSAM 2024 with the theme “Satark Nagrik, Secure our World”.
    • In addition, the Ministry of Home Affairs (“MHA”) has established the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (“I4C”) to provide a framework and eco-system for LEAs to deal with cyber-crimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. MHA has also launched the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in) to enable the public to report all types of cyber-crimes including cyber financial frauds.
    • Cybercrime incidents reported on this portal are routed to the respective State/UT law enforcement agency for further handling as per the provisions of law. The portal has distinct mechanisms for registering complaints related to financial frauds. A toll-free Helpline number ‘1930’ has been operationalised to get assistance in lodging online complaints.

    This information was given by Minister of State for Electronics & IT Shri Jitin Prasada as a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

    *****

    Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith

    (Release ID: 2119050)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of Vice-President’s Address at the Releaseof Book ‘AI on Trial’ Authored by Shri Sujeet Kumar, Hon’ble Member of Rajya Sabha (Excerpts)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 8:31PM by PIB Delhi

    Good evening, all of you.

    Shri Sunil Kumar Gupta, his description goes beyond an IAS officer of 1987 batch. He’s an alumnus of IIT Kanpur. Shri Sujeet Kumar, a member of the Upper House, the Council of States, House of Elders, popularly known as Rajya Sabha. I have had the good occasion and benefit to know the Hon’ble Member of Parliament inside out. He’s a lawyer, he’s an academician, he’s a positive thinker, he acts subterranean, but makes very effective contribution in the Council of States, and equally impactful contribution as part of international delegation of Bharat to global institutions.

    I had the good fortune to interact with him briefly while he was invited to the banquet when we had the presence of Chilean president a decade younger to you. He’s 49, the president of Chile happens to be about 39. I must recognise a very distinguished presence of Smt. Sudha Murthy, has been accoladed for her simplicity, contribution to society, and captivating smile, ever positive. I remember in Rajya Sabha when the time came for her to ask a supplementary, it was 12 noon, which means Question Hour starts that was Zero Hour. I said, I’ll give you precedence.

    A veteran member reacted, she is always in public domain. I said, well earned, well deserved, public spirited, for a public cause. We had the occasion also, me and Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, when we were at the coronation of King Charles in London in that ceremony, we found a slim, simple looking girl coming to us and discovered she was then a spouse of the Prime Minister of UK, her son-in-law, and it was her daughter.

    So the traditions of what we say, sanskar, rightly filtered to the next generation. Shri Haris Beeran, he shares one thing in common with Sudha Ji, a charming smile. Rekha Sharma recently became a member of Rajya Sabha from the state of Haryana, but has all India perspective, having occupied a very significant position of Chairperson of National Women’s Commission.

    Mithlesh Kumar, well grounded to real politics, and also his presence at this function reveals he is very forward looking. Well, these constitute the, if I may say, contingent from the Upper House. We are enormously benefited by Tapir Gao, a member in the House of People, popularly known as Lok Sabha, from the state of Arunachal. Me and Dr. Sudesh Dhankar had the occasion to attend a very important programme just a month or two back in his state, a great state, a state with many tribes, culture and his colleague, Kiren Rijiju Ji is our minister for Minority Affairs.

    Ladies and gentlemen, it is for the first time in this country that a person professing Buddhism is a Cabinet Minister that indicates our inclusive approach. The world must learn from India, Bharat, the concept of inclusivity. Yet, some try to impart lessons to us. It does happen on occasions that those who are to learn quickly become your teachers. But then, they learn fast if they are in positive frame.

    Shri Pradeep Gandhi, I share something very different with him. He’s an ex-MP, I’m also one. But I am an ex-MP with a difference. My category of MPs in 89 to 91, 96 to 97, 98. axed-MP, we did not have the occasion to complete our term. We have amongst us Shri Rajit Punhani, an IAS officer of 1991 batch, Secretary to the Council of States, alumnus of Doon School, alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, President of the Union of St. Stephen’s, Harvard. IIM Bangalore, and he’s from the State of Bihar.

    I must commend his role in human resource transformation in Rajya Sabha, and for crafting a very innovative skill for Rajya Sabha interns. Alongside, Sumant Narain, another Harvard product, Indian Audits and Accounts Service. We have Mahaveer Singhvi, Indian Foreign Service.

    We have a journalist here who is more seen on television, like some of our parliamentarians. Because our parliamentarians are drawn from my one-time fraternity. I say one-time fraternity because, when I took oath of office of Governor of the State of West Bengal, my son as a senior advocate had to be suspended. So, I parted company with the jealous mistress. I see him. He’s extremely fond of young lawyers and promoting them on television.

    There’s another journalist also, nearly having the same size as he has, with a little more height. I was having you in mind. Then, of course, Tosif Alam, the co-author.  Well, I greet each and everyone present in this hall. But my real greetings to team Sujeet Kumar.

    Ladies and gentlemen, I was extremely, all my life, benefited from intelligence. That intelligence, I call it SDI, Sudesh Dhankar Intelligence. That intelligence has always held me in good state, generating in me transparency, accountability, and has a very strong sense of disciplining. I dare not reveal the rest of it.

    AI on Trial is a fascinating, illuminating book on a subject of huge contemporaneous relevance. Artificial intelligence invasion, incursion in our daily life is being felt by all of us. Its seismic impact is on every part of our activity. Disruptive technologies, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, blockchain, machine learning, used to be just words but now, artificial intelligence is the buzzword. On a lighter note, let me tell you, a member of the Parliament from journalistic category, did not reflect due diligence while sending a notice to get suspension of the working of the house, so that her subject, I have revealed the gender inadvertently, gets precedence. She sent it on a particular date and wanted suspension of the house that had already taken place five days ago.

    I lamented that even artificial intelligence cannot help me to suspend which has already fructified but we never know, there may be a time when artificial intelligence couldn’t go that far also. While I congratulate the authors for their dedication to this critical field and for contributing in an area that will define not only our economic trajectory, in a sense guide our ethical compass for decades to come, but also impacts every societal activity. Artificial intelligence has got such fast traction. It is known to one and all, be it a village, be it semi-urban, urban, or highly urbanised areas, the meadows. It has agitated our minds, also generated concerns but ladies and gentlemen, let me remind you, last 10 years, India is defined as the nation that has had the highest growth amongst large nations.

    Its exponential economic upsurge, phenomenal infrastructure growth have been accoladed by global institutions like the IMF and the World Bank. But the greatest certification has emanated from global institutions in respect of technological penetration. India’s landscape is now dotted with technological footprint everywhere and that is why the World Bank President reflected what India has achieved in technologically spread out in about six years that is not possible even in four decades.

    We as a Nation have tested accessibility of technology and revealed to the world high degree of adaptability resulting in transparency, accountability of services. Youngsters would not even know that to pay an electricity bill or a water bill or a telephone bill. One was compelled to take a day’s leave. The queue was long. Getting a railway ticket or a platform ticket. All this is now in your hand, your mobile. Our mobile coverage, I can say, is reaching nearly saturation point.

    The visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi was reflected. When he thought of banking inclusion and brought about 550 million people, mostly in the villages, into banking service industry. In the shortest time that has stood us in good state during COVID. And also, imagine a Nation where farmers, hundred million in number, get three times a year, direct transfer into their bank accounts but we have to be extremely worry also. AI, the gene, is out of the bottle and it can be extremely destructive. It can create havoc if not regulated, in the age of defects, working of deep state, wokeism. These menacing trends can get wings if this gene of artificial intelligence is not regulated.

    To put it for young minds, a nuclear power can give you energy. Nuclear power can lighten houses, run industry but it can also be destructive. Therefore, we have both the possibilities before us. This calls for something on which the book has deeply focused. The author, Shri Sujeet Kumar, has given illustrations. If you see one of the most widely propagated on social media, one was taking a route using artificial intelligence but the road was broken in between. AI did not show it and it was a disaster.

    It can be a challenge to nations, organised societies, because it is a power that is now available to all. India, being the fastest growing country in the last 10 years, is no longer a nation with a potential. Our objective is well set out to be a developed nation by 2047, if not before. And that requires for us to harness every available area and vista of opportunity because our income has to go eightfold per capita and that being the situation, we must look to harness artificial intelligence for our benefit and that surely can be done.

    I would say India is amongst the few nations in the world that have focused on this aspect, much before others. But we are the most populous country, largest, oldest, most vibrant democracy. Regulating artificial intelligence is daunting, frightening, but imperative. Right balance will have to be struck between regulating artificial intelligence and fostering innovation, this is fundamental. Overregulation can choke like over disciplining a child. We don’t have to impede the spirit of entrepreneurship but at the same time, we have to be extremely cognisant of the evil effects. Underregulation can endanger public safety, perpetuate bias, and erode trust.

    The author in his address had reflected on these problems. One of the greatest challenges that we face these days is, and let me come to the institution which I preside, every word is spoken in the Council of States by a member of Parliament. The Member of Parliament has the immunity from civil prosecution, criminal prosecution. The constitutional protection given to the member, even if the observations are slanderous, malicious, defamatory, damaging reputations of people, setting narratives that are anti-national, not factually well-premised, no citizen of the country can take action. Therefore, action has to be taken by the Council of States, self-regulation. But then, the quickest we can do is, if an Hon’ble Member makes an objectionable observation, it can be expunged. That is expunged only from the record. That is expunged only for posterity. But it gets the widest traction, how to deal with it.

    I have tasked a committee headed by a senior parliamentarian, Ghanshyam Tiwari Ji. He heads a committee on ethics, to devise ways and means. One is counselling members. Secondly, calling upon the political parties that put their people in these institutions to discipline them, sensitise them but the critical question is, how do we save the damage? Artificial intelligence has an answer. Machine learning for me, to begin with, was only machine plus learning but it’s a mechanism that can deal with this menace in split seconds. So technology will have to be availed to make things a little more soothing to society.

    We must therefore design regulation as a scaffold, not a cage. Our goal should be to enable a framework where responsible innovation thrives and sinister designs, pernicious designs, are neutralised. A risk-based, sector-specific, and principle-driven approach may serve us well in this regard. For instance, the level of scrutiny required for AI used in medical diagnostics should differ from the artificial intelligence creating social media feeds. We must assert India’s cyber sovereignty as much as we do the sovereignty understood in common parlance. But we have to be aligned to global standards. There can be no stand-alone activity in such kind of situations. There will have to be global convergence. All stakeholders will have to come on one platform so that we have a global, rule-based order in the field of artificial intelligence.

    India is a unique country, our civilisational depth is more than 5,000 years. Our ethos, our culture, our values, our knowledge is reflected in our Vedas, our epics. India has been a thought leader for centuries. A global centre of culture. Our institutes of excellence were thrown by scholars from all over the world Takshashila, Nalanda, to name only two. They came, gave us much, took away much, shared it, our treasure.

    In G20, India has taken a great initiative to generate a global community and that was reflected in India’s G20 motto, “One Earth, One Family, One Future.” Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. It was the vision of the Prime Minister that brought in the fold of G20 nations of the African Union. European Union was already represented. Global South in neglect for quite long. A word not even known to many. But an important segment of countries in global polity and economy was put on the centre stage. We need to work out something where artificial intelligence can be on that level. The first step has been taken through our India Stack Programme. We are making many of our digital governance solutions open source so the journey of other developing nations gets this facility. Most importantly, the impact of artificial intelligence on ordinary citizens must be at the heart of regulatory regime.

    An ordinary person will not be able to find solutions on his own. The system must provide automatic, inbuilt relief to ordinary citizens. To protect our citizens from the hazards of artificial intelligence, we need enforceable rights, such as right to explanation, the right to contest automated decisions. Decisions are automated. How to contest them, we are not aware and the right to opt out of algorithmic processing, especially when decisions impact livelihoods, liberty, and dignity.

    Artificial Intelligence has generated a compulsive scenario for us. It has forced us to re-examine existing jurisprudence. Traditional legal concepts like liability, or even personhood come under pressure when actions are carried out by autonomous systems. Artificial intelligence opacity challenges legal transparency and accountability principles. Delegating legal interpretation to unexplainable systems undermines judicial trust.

    Current legal artificial intelligence use lacks, this use is not complete. If we use current legal artificial intelligence, we find one deficiency. It lacks comprehensive regulation and oversight. There is urgent need for standards and safeguards to prevent consequences of unregulated artificial intelligence. Debate continues to raise all over whether artificial intelligence promotes legal consistency or perpetuates historical biases.

    Justice at the risk, and the risk is great, justice at risk when algorithms lacking human qualities influence law, judgments can’t be robotised. There can be no artificial intelligence replication. Sometimes the distinction is too fine to be detected even by artificial intelligence. It is the brain of the judge, the discerning brain, that finds a resolution.

    This book, friends, provides a road map for responsible artificial intelligence integration through case studies and regulation proposals. To put it in layman’s language, if you wish to know a gentleman, Google has enough to give you. You can assimilate it, but trust me, you will be ignorant of the person.  You have to go much beyond Google, you have to go much beyond artificial intelligence to know the man.

    Future of legal artificial intelligence requires deliberate shaping by professionals and policy makers. Friends, if artificial intelligence is not regulated, we will face trial by artificial intelligence. That will be a tough trial. The fundamentals of legal jurisprudence, like opportunity of hearing, a fair process, are its first casualty. Therefore, to prevent that, time is now to focus on ‘Artificial Intelligence on Trial’.

    Every person now has power in his hand because of smartphones. Media has come to be defined very differently.

    People are increasingly focused. The focus is intense on social media. The news sharing is the fastest on social media but what happens if it is moderated? It is manipulated? It is inspired by interests inimical to Bharat? It is aimed at destroying our constitutional institutions? Let me give you a highly alarmingly concerning aspect.

    Access to judiciary is a fundamental right and when it comes to challenge to individual’s fundamental rights, the doors of the highest court are open under Article 32 petitions but what we have seen of late?

    Access to judiciary has been weaponised by forces in a systemic manner, fuelled by extra-legal mechanisms, dubiously financed, and the object being to destroy core values of Bharat. We have to be extremely worried.

    I must share a deep concern with you, while institutions have to self-regulate themselves but parliamentary institutions and judiciary blossom only when they self-regulate. We must have respect for these institutions’ inter se, and I hold every institution in high regard. But I firmly believe if there is an incursion in the domain of an institution, be it executive, judiciary, or legislature, by another institution, the doctrine of separation of powers will be stressed.  The stress will be severe. The consequences may be huge.

    Therefore, time has come. These institutions also, one, to apply technology like artificial intelligence to enhance, to secure cutting-edge in their administrative working, and in delivering in their core areas, like judiciary has to deliver through judgments, legislature has to do it through legislation, and holding the executive accountable.

    But similarly, and it is undoubtedly a considered proposition, in all democratic nations, executive governance is the only way of life, because people elect their representatives for governance and for legislation but those who have the numbers get into executive seat from governments. If executive function is performed not by the government but by legislature or by judiciary, where is the accountability? Executive governance by another institution other than government is antithetical to our constitutional values.

    It is negation of power of the people, ‘We the People’, who gave us this constitution. Therefore, such kind of technologies can really get into even-handedness working, equitable working. The equilibrium can be maintained. I strongly advocate that we must be extremely sensitive to institutional domains. But at the same time, we must have highest regard for our institutions. 

    We as a nation are proud for our Parliament, that we are proud of our judiciary. We are equally proud of our executive and you have to look back for last 10 years, our performance, and you will know the statement is well thought out, well premised.

    I must also advert to another aspect. India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, much is being talked about it. People are having varying opinions, and that is the essence of democracy. Because a dialogue requires varying opinions. No one can be judgmental that I alone am right in democracy. Our Digital Personal Data Protection Act is a landmark step, but it now has to evolve in tandem with artificial intelligence regulation. Consent must be meaningful, those who are lawyers know it. A consent that is not free is no consent in law. And free means real freedom to give your consent. Consent cannot be buried in opaque and abstruse terms of service. I am sometimes surprised when I use my mobile phone, go to some application, there is pressure, I agree.

    Now in utter helplessness, you concede a very personal ground. Unknowingly, you are lured or forced. Otherwise, the utilisation doesn’t fructify with ease. Consent cannot be in opaque and abstruse terms of service. Anonymisation, data minimisation, and purpose limitation must be rigorously enforced.

    The regulation of artificial intelligence must be very transparent. It must go hand in hand with re-skilling and workforce planning. As artificial intelligence displaces certain tasks, it will. Because it has come to your house, come to your office. It does jobs sometimes better than normal resource and then an impression is gathered. Are we risking the jobs of people who work? Maybe in some situations, but then it does offer the stars of involvement. We must look in that direction. This requires that we must invest very heavily in education, vocational training, digital literacy, particularly for those who are marginalised, who are vulnerable, who need hand-holding situations.

    Artificial intelligence, the governance part of it, I see it after deep thought, cannot be left only to technocrats or corporations. Democratic oversight is quintessence of democracy. Citizen engagement and transparency are essential. India’s parliamentary committees, judicial forums, and civil society, all are stakeholders. They must converge to secure the citizen against ill effects, evil effects of artificial intelligence.

    Now, artificial intelligence, disruptive technologies are like another industrial revolution. There is paradigm shift every moment.  We seem to be on quicksand when it comes to technological changes. Changes are taking place by the hour, I can say by the seconds. Therefore, to regulate something that is as dynamic as artificial intelligence, we need an agile and empowered institutional framework.

    A national artificial intelligence authority or commission, independent but accountable with representation from government, industry, academia, and civil society could serve as a think tank. Let me give a simple illustration. This is turning out into a huge problem.  People are losing the money from their banks. Now, artificial intelligence must find a solution that once something is stolen by electronic means on account of an inadvertent error or whereas citizen becomes prey to mischief in technology to neutralise and ensure traction of money is controlled. We are still very conventional.

    The person has to go to a police station, and we find the area is in another state, so a physical visit has to be made. By that time, the crooks, the rogues who get themselves this kind of unjust enrichment move their working pattern. We need to do something about it.

    I greatly appreciate the effort of Sujeet Kumar and his young colleague, Tosif Alam, and I have carefully gone through, having had the benefit of book in advance, of the comments that emanated from Justice Ranjan Gogoi and our N. R. Narayana Murthy, Justice T. S. Sivagnanam. He was a judge when I was governor of the state of Bengal.

    Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a technocrat with deep belief, I share one thing in common with our young friend, Tauseef Alam. Salman Khurshid is a dear friend of mine, a distinguished senior advocate, and you have to learn a lot from his style. He absorbs everything which is a challenge by way of thought process, but makes his point in a subtle manner.

    Friends, in conclusion, the topic of regulation of AI will determine the kind of society we aspire to be. It has become a most important factor where we will be. Do we wish to become a digital dystopia where humans serve algorithm or a humane artificial Indian society where technology serves the people? The choice is ours. The choice is well known. There is nothing in artificial intelligence, it is far away from the human mind, so we must use capacity of human mind to regulate this artificial intelligence.  It is on trial as per the book.

    Let artificial intelligence not put us on trial. I’m extremely happy to release this book. It will be an eye-opener to everyone in all spheres of life. I wish the authors success for their next venture.

    Thank you so much.

    ****

    JK/RC/SM

    (Release ID: 2119066) Visitor Counter : 24

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 7 Years of Stand-Up India

    Source: Government of India

    7 Years of Stand-Up India

    Turning Aspirations into Achievements

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 8:06PM by PIB Delhi

     

    Since its launch on 5th April 2016, the Stand-Up India Scheme has been on a mission to empower SC, ST, and women entrepreneurs. It aimed to break barriers by providing bank loans to help them start new businesses. Over the past 7 years, the scheme has not just funded businesses—it has nurtured dreams, created livelihoods, and driven inclusive growth across India.


    Achievements Under Stand-Up India

     The Stand-Up India Scheme has shown remarkable growth over the years, with the total amount sanctioned rising from Rs. 16,085.07 crore as of 31st March 2019 to an impressive Rs. 61,020.41 crore by 17th March 2025, since its launch. This reflects a substantial increase, highlighting the scheme’s expanding impact in empowering entrepreneurs across the country.

    The scheme reflected significant financial empowerment for the SC, ST communities and women entrepreneurs (from March 2018 to March 2024):

    • SC accounts grew from 9,399 to 46,248 with loan amounts rising from Rs. 1,826.21 crore to Rs. 9,747.11 crore.
    • ST accounts increased from 2,841 to 15,228 with sanctioned loans jumping from Rs. 574.65 crore to Rs. 3,244.07 crore.
    • From 2018 to 2024, women entrepreneurs saw growth from 55,644 to 1,90,844 accounts, with sanctioned amounts rising from Rs. 12,452.37 crore to Rs. 43,984.10 crore.

    Conclusion

    The Stand-Up India Scheme has been a transformative initiative, empowering SC, ST, and women entrepreneurs to turn their business ideas into reality. With significant achievements in loan sanctions and disbursements, it continues to foster inclusive growth. This scheme is not just about loans; it’s about creating opportunities, inspiring change, and turning aspirations into achievements.

    References

    Kindly find the pdf file

    ****

    Santosh Kumar/ Sheetal Angral/ Kamna Lakaria

     

    (Release ID: 2119045) Visitor Counter : 9

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Directive for the Efficient and Effective Management of Litigation by the Government of India

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 8:29PM by PIB Delhi

    In furtherance of the Government of India’s policy to prevent, regulate, and reduce litigation involving the Union of India, the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA), Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, has formulated the “Directive for the Efficient and Effective Management of Litigation by the Government of India”. This Directive has been developed pursuant to the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries (CoS), chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. It shall be applicable to all Ministries and Departments of the Central Government, including their attached and subordinate offices, autonomous bodies, as well as Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) in matters pertaining to arbitration.

    The Directive adopts a comprehensive approach in reinforcing the goal of good governance, ensuring public welfare, and facilitating the timely dispensation of justice. It aims to introduce stringent measures to simplify legal procedures, prevent unnecessary litigation, address inconsistencies in notifications and orders, minimise unwarranted appeals, streamline inter-departmental coordination in litigation, ensure greater public accountability in arbitration matters, and establish a robust Knowledge Management System (KMS) to improve and enhance the efficiency of legal processes.

    The implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Directive will be reviewed by the Committee of Secretaries, chaired by the Cabinet Secretariat.

    *****

    Samrat/Allen

    (Release ID: 2119064) Visitor Counter : 53

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Empowering Indian Startups: Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal Reaffirms Government’s Commitment at Startup Mahakumbh

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 9:57PM by PIB Delhi

    Following the grand inauguration of the Startup Mahakumbh on April 3, 2025, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, returned to Bharat Mandapam for a walk through of the mega exhibition on Day 2 of the event.

    Addressing the media during his walk through, the minister heaped lavish praise on the work of startups. “Having visited the exhibition, the flavor that I got–the taste of innovative work that our young men and women have created through their sheer tenacity, hardwork, spirit of enquiry, research and innovation–is music to one’s ears,” he added.  “You can see the work of world-class quality, experience the technologies created on energy efficiency, powering electronics, see the defence equipment that young startups are creating, and realise how fintech is becoming a source of empowerment for the common citizen…” he said, referring to his visit to Startup Mahakumbh as “truly an experience of a lifetime.”

    The second edition of Startup Mahakumbh features 10 thematic pavilions covering key industries such as AI, DeepTech & Cybersecurity, HealthTech & BioTech, AgriTech, Climate Tech, Incubators & Accelerators, D2C, FinTech, Gaming & Sports, B2B & Precision Manufacturing, Defence & Space Tech, and Mobility. Shri Piyush Goyal visited a number of exhibits showcasing groundbreaking innovations in Climate Tech, BioTech, AI, and DeepTech and more, ranging from intelligent air purifiers and EV tractors to AI-driven platforms for functional brain mapping and cutting-edge manufacturing drones for defense applications.

    Specially curated Startup Booths/Pods within each pavilion offer startups and organizations a platform to showcase their innovations to key stakeholders, including angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate and ecosystem-driven incubators, accelerators, government agencies, and international investors. Startup Mahakumbh features over 3,000 startups, 1,000+ investors and incubators, and 10,000+ delegates from 50+ countries, making it a prime opportunity for startups to pitch their businesses, build investor relationships, and secure crucial funding.
    The union minister emphasized that he was confident India would emerge as a global leader in innovation and technology-driven growth. “This is the base–the foundation–on which I am confident, India will foray in a very big way into the world of innovation. We will make our presence felt on the global stage. I go back extremely satisfied with the work done with our young startups. Young India is raring to go. And they are ready to capture the world,” he said. 

    A landmark moment in India’s fintech journey with the launch of the India Fintech Foundation was also witnessed in the esteemed presence of Shri Amitabh Kant, Shri Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, and Shri NS Vishwanathan, former deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This initiative marks a significant step towards fostering a sustainable, innovative, and self-regulated fintech ecosystem in India.

    Shri Amardeep Bhatia, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade also engaged with startups from various sectors today at the Startup Mahakumbh. During the event, he also visited the startups showcased at the SCO Pavilion.

    Building on the success of the inaugural edition, which featured over 1,300 exhibitors and attracted more than 48,000 visitors, Startup Mahakumbh 2025 is one of India’s largest innovation and entrepreneurship events and promises an even bigger and more impactful platform for startups, investors, and industry leaders. The event witnessed a remarkable turnout, with a footfall of 107823 over two days.

    About Startup Mahakumbh

    Startup Mahakumbh is a first-of-its-kind event bringing together the entire startup ecosystem of India including startups, investors, incubators and accelerators, and industry leaders from several sectors. led by FICCI, ASSOCHAM, NASSCOM, TiE, IVCA and Bootstrap Foundation, and supported by GEM, SIDBI, ECGC, DPIIT and MeitY.

    The second edition of Startup Mahakumbh is set to make a grand return in 2025, building on the tremendous success of its inaugural edition. The flagship startup event was an extraordinary success, attracting over 50,000 business visitors engaging with 3000 exhibitors including finest startups, soonicorns, and unicorns, from 26+ states and 50+ countries. It also hosted 1000+ incubators and accelerators and 1000+ leading angel investors, VCs, and family offices.

    For more information, visit www.startupmahakumbh.org.

     

    ***

    Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

    (Release ID: 2119100) Visitor Counter : 25

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announces Centre of Excellence for Traditional Medicine during the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announces Centre of Excellence for Traditional Medicine during the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand

    I am pleased to announce that India will extend support for training and capacity building in cancer care across BIMSTEC countries: Prime Minister

    Initiative to boost Research & Development and academic collaboration

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 8:28PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the establishment of a Centre of Excellence to promote research and dissemination of Traditional Medicine during the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit held in Bangkok.

     

    While announcing the initiative, Shri Narendra Modi said, “Public health is a vital pillar of our collective social development. I am pleased to announce that India will extend support for training and capacity building in cancer care across BIMSTEC countries. In line with our holistic approach to health, a Centre of Excellence will also be established to promote research and dissemination of traditional medicine”.

    It is worth noting that Thailand and India have robust Traditional Medicine Systems with close mutual ties. With this announcement by the Prime Minister, the research and development activity in the area is set to get a significant boost. The two countries have been working together to strengthen, promote, facilitate and develop academic & research collaboration in Traditional Medicine.

    This may also be noted that last year the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, under the Ministry of Ayush of the Government of India and the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine of the Ministry of Public Health of the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 10th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting held at Hyderabad House, New Delhi on the establishment of an Academic Collaboration in Ayurveda and Thai Traditional Medicine.

    In academic collaboration, the Ayush Scholarship Scheme of the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India is offered through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The scholarship is provided for Undergraduate and Post-Graduate studies in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy, B.Sc. in Yoga, B.A. in Yoga Shastra, Ph.D in Yoga and Ph.D in Ayurveda. During the past five years, 175 students from BIMSTEC regions have availed the scholarships.

    India and Thailand have a long history of cooperation in various sectors including Traditional Medicine. The announcement of establishing a Centre of Excellence to promote research and dissemination of Traditional Medicine will further strengthen these ties.

    ***

    MV/AKS

    (Release ID: 2119063) Visitor Counter : 50

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: BILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISE INDRA-2025

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 8:00PM by PIB Delhi

    The bilateral Naval Exercise INDRA 2025 between Indian and Russian navies was held from 28 Mar to 02 Apr 2025.

    This 14th edition of the exercise included a wide range of activities and structured drills designed to enhance interoperability towards countering common maritime threats.

    The operations involved complex coordinated manoeuvres and simulated engagements showcasing the combined combat power of the participating navies.

    The exercise achieved its aim of enhanced jointmanship and reinforced the shared commitment to upholding the principles of maritime order, promoting global peace and stability.

    The drills also provided invaluable operational experience, strengthening collective capacity to address contemporary maritime security challenges. The exercise facilitated the exchange of best practices, fostering a deeper understanding of each other’s operational doctrines and enhancing the ability to operate seamlessly in complex maritime environments.

    The INDRA series of exercises have been a cornerstone of India-Russia Defence relations since its inception in 2003 and both countries recognise the importance of maritime security and the need for a collaborative approach to counter common threats and concerns.

    *****

    VM/SKS                       

    (Release ID: 2119037) Visitor Counter : 31

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: VEHICLES COVERED UNDER PME-DRIVE SCHEME

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Heavy Industries

    VEHICLES COVERED UNDER PME-DRIVE SCHEME

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 5:22PM by PIB Delhi

    10.27 lakh Electric Vehicles (EVs) have been sold under the PM E-DRIVE scheme as on 31/03/2025 as per details at Annexure.

    A total of 5,05,645 e-Vouchers have been generated and availed by EV customers under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, as on 31/03/2025.

    It is estimated that sale of 10.27 lakh EVs under the PM E-DRIVE scheme has led to reduction of 230K tonnes of CO2emission.  Currently no study on carbon emission from fuel-based vehicles has been carried out by MHI.

    To encourage the integration of renewable energy in EV charging stations, the Ministry of Power, in its Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024, has suggested a discount in electricity tariffs for EV charging during solar hours.”  These guidelines also allow charging stations to integrate solar energy to their stations. 

    No. of EVs sold under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme as on 31.03.2025

     

     

    State

    Total

    		              

    S.N.

    e-2W

    e-3W

    Total

    		              

    1

    Andaman & Nicobar

    17

    –

    17

    		              

    2

    Andhra Pradesh

    39,331

    2,640

    41,971

    		              

    3

    Arunachal Pradesh

    18

    –

    18

    		              

    4

    Assam

    2,464

    12,111

    14,575

    		              

    5

    Bihar

    13,672

    10,136

    23,808

    		              

    6

    Chhattisgarh

    24,193

    2,393

    26,586

    		              

    7

    Chandigarh

    1,220

    140

    1,360

    		              

    8

    Daman & Diu

    130

    8

    138

    		              

    9

    Delhi

    19,704

    3,433

    23,137

    		              

    10

    Goa

    6,421

    17

    6,438

    		              

    11

    Gujarat

    49,118

    1,187

    50,305

    		              

    12

    Himachal Pradesh

    765

    68

    833

    		              

    13

    Haryana

    14,019

    864

    14,883

    		              

    14

    Jharkhand

    6,015

    1,872

    7,887

    		              

    15

    Jammu & Kashmir

    1,996

    5,874

    7,870

    		              

    16

    Karnataka

    1,00,901

    6,343

    1,07,244

    		              

    17

    Kerala

    49,248

    3,156

    52,404

    		              

    18

    Ladakh

    4

    –

    4

    		              

    19

    Lakshadweep

    5

    1

    6

    		              

    20

    Maharashtra

    1,70,413

    6,842

    1,77,255

    		              

    21

    Meghalaya

    121

    163

    284

    		              

    22

    Manipur

    7

    193

    200

    		              

    23

    Madhya Pradesh

    49,204

    3,354

    52,558

    		              

    24

    Mizoram

    430

    –

    430

    		              

    25

    Nagaland

    5

    –

    5

    		              

    26

    Odisha

    45,926

    1,678

    47,604

    		              

    27

    Punjab

    16,553

    737

    17,290

    		              

    28

    Puducherry

    3,361

    187

    3,548

    		              

    29

    Rajasthan

    58,638

    2,450

    61,088

    		              

    30

    Shillong

    1

    1

    2

    		              

    31

    Telangana

    45,572

    2,909

    48,481

    		              

    32

    Tamil Nadu

    93,159

    1,683

    94,842

    		              

    33

    Tripura

    356

    6,811

    7,167

    		              

    34

    Uttarakhand

    5,881

    1,765

    7,646

    		              

    35

    Uttar Pradesh

    67,384

    39,062

    1,06,446

    		              

    36

    West Bengal

    19,387

    3,323

    22,710

    		              

     

    Total

    9,05,639

    1,21,401

    10,27,040

    		              

     

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

    *****

    TPJ/NJ

    (Release ID: 2118897)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM calls on Maha Vajiralongkorn, the King of Thailand

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 9:00PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi called on Maha Vajiralongkorn, the King of Thailand today in Bangkok.

    In a post on X, he said:

    “Called on Maha Vajiralongkorn, the King of Thailand. We talked about the robust friendship between India and Thailand and how to make it even stronger.”

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2119087) Visitor Counter : 24

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Digital dystopia where humans serve algorithms or a humane society where technology serves the people, questions VP

    Source: Government of India

    Digital dystopia where humans serve algorithms or a humane society where technology serves the people, questions VP

    VP calls for right to explanation, right to contest automated decisions for citizen protection

    Need the right balance between regulating artificial intelligence and fostering innovation, underlines VP

    VP calls for independent and accountable National Artificial Intelligence Authority

    Consent that is not free is no consent in law; Consent cannot be buried in opaque and abstruse terms of service-VP

    AI opacity challenges legal transparency and accountability principles-VP

    We must assert India’s cyber sovereignty-VP

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 8:52PM by PIB Delhi

    The Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today emphasised on the need for regulation for AI while maintaining the right balance between regulation and fostering innovation. The Vice-President today underscored that, “ Regulation of AI will determine the kind of society we aspire to be. It has become a most important factor where we will be ! Do we wish to become a digital dystopia where humans serve algorithms or a humane Indian society where technology serves the people? The choice is ours. The choice is well known.”

    Addressing the gathering at the release of the book ‘AI on Trial’ authored by Hon’ble member of Rajya Sabha, Shri Sujeet Kumar at Vice-President’s Enclave today, Shri Dhankhar stated,  “Regulating Artificial Intelligence is daunting, frightening, but imperative. Right balance will have to be struck between regulating artificial intelligence and fostering innovation. This is fundamental. Overregulation can choke like over-disciplining a child. We don’t have to impede the spirit of entrepreneurship. But at the same time, we have to be extremely cognizant of the evil effects. Under regulation can endanger public safety, perpetuate bias and erode trust.”

    “……to regulate something that is as dynamic as artificial intelligence, we need an agile and empowered institutional framework. A national artificial intelligence authority or commission, independent but accountable with representation from government, industry, academia, and civil society could serve as a think tank. We must therefore design regulation as a scaffold, not a cage. Our goal should be to enable a framework where responsible innovation thrives, and sinister designs, pernicious designs, are neutralised. A risk-based, sector-specific, and principle-driven approach may serve us well in this regard. For instance, the level of scrutiny required for AI used in medical diagnostics should differ from the Artificial Intelligence creating social media feeds……impact of artificial intelligence on ordinary citizens must be at the heart of regulatory regime. An ordinary person will not be able to find solutions on his own. The system must provide automatic, inbuilt relief to ordinary citizens. To protect our citizens from the hazards of artificial intelligence, we need enforceable rights, such as right to explanation, the right to contest automated decisions. Decisions are automated. How to contest them, we are not aware and the right to opt out of algorithmic processing, especially when decisions impact livelihoods, liberty, and dignity.

    ”, he added.

    “..we have to be extremely wary also. AI, the genie is out of the bottle, and it can be extremely destructive. It can create havoc  if not regulated. In the age of deep fakes, working of Deep State, wokeism, these menacing trends can get wings if this genie of Artificial Intelligence is not regulated. To put it for young minds,  a nuclear power can give you energy. Nuclear power can lighten houses, run industry, but it can also be destructive, and therefore, we have both the possibilities before us”, he cautioned.

    In his address he further stated, “The regulation of artificial intelligence must be very transparent. It must go hand in hand with re-skilling and workforce planning. As artificial intelligence displaces certain tasks, it will. Because it has come to your house, come to your office. It does jobs sometimes better than normal resource and then an impression is gathered. Are we risking the jobs of people who work? Maybe in some situations…..this requires that we must invest very heavily in education, vocational training, digital literacy, particularly for those who are marginalised, who are vulnerable, who need hand-holding situations”.

    Underlining the importance of cyber sovereignty, he stated, “We must assert India’s cyber sovereignty as much as we do the sovereignty understood in common parlance but we have to be aligned to global standards.  There can be no standalone activity in such kind of situations. There will have to be global convergence. All stakeholders will have to come on one platform so that we have a global rule-based order in the field of Artificial Intelligence.”

    Talking about the ramifications of AI in the legal domain, Shri Dhankhar stated, “Artificial intelligence has generated a compulsive scenario for us. It has forced us to re-examine existing jurisprudence. Traditional legal concepts like liability, or even personhood come under pressure when actions are carried out by autonomous systems. Artificial intelligence opacity challenges legal transparency and accountability principles. Delegating legal interpretation to unexplainable systems undermines judicial trust…..If we use current legal artificial intelligence, we find one deficiency. It lacks comprehensive regulation and oversight. There is urgent need for standards and safeguards to prevent consequences of unregulated artificial intelligence. Debate continues all over, whether artificial intelligence promotes legal consistency or perpetuates historical biases.…Justice is at the risk, and the risk is great, justice at risk when algorithms lacking human qualities influence law, judgments can’t be robotised. There can be no artificial intelligence replication. Sometimes the distinction is too fine to be detected even by artificial intelligence. It is the brain of the judge, the discerning brain, that finds a resolution.”

    Emphasising on the significance of meaningful consent, Shri Dhankhar stated,“ Our Digital Personal Data Protection Act is a landmark step, but it now has to evolve in tandem with artificial intelligence regulation. Consent must be meaningful, those who are lawyers know it. A consent that is not free is no consent in law and free means real freedom to give your consent. Consent cannot be buried in opaque and abstruse terms of service. I am sometimes surprised when I use my mobile phone, go to some application, there is pressure, I agree. Now in utter helplessness, you concede a very personal ground. Unknowingly, you are lured or forced otherwise, the utilisation doesn’t fructify with ease. Consent cannot be in opaque and abstruse terms of service. Anonymisation, data minimisation, and purpose limitation must be rigorously enforced.”

    Shri Sujeet Kumar, MP, Rajya Sabha; Smt. Sudha Murthy, MP, Rajya Sabha; Smt. Rekha Sharma, MP, Rajya Sabha; Shri Sunil Kumar Gupta, Secretary to the Vice-President of India; and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

    ****

    JK/RC/SM

    (Release ID: 2119081) Visitor Counter : 44

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Centre Allocates Rs 5,000 Crore for New Women Hostels Across 28 States; Centre Releases 1stInstalment to 28 States for Construction of Women Hostels during the financial year 2024-25

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 7:45PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government is committed to providing safe, secure and affordable hostel facility for working women and women aspiring to join the work force. Working women hostels are critical components for improving participation of women in the labour force, which is a major step towards realising the idea of ‘Women led development’.

    Sakhi Niwas Scheme [Working Women Hostel (WWH)] under the umbrella Mission Shakti, is a demand driven Centrally Sponsored Scheme where States/UTs assess their requirement as per local needs and proposals are approved by the Programme Approval Board (PAB) after discussion with States/UTs. The scheme aims to promote availability of safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women and for those women who are pursuing higher education/training, with Day care facility for children in urban, semi-urban and even rural areas where employment opportunity for women exist. In this scheme, fund is provided on rental basis. The component of new greenfield construction has been discontinued.

    However, the Department of Expenditure(DoE), Ministry of Finance, under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) has allocated Rs.5000.00 crore for greenfield construction of new WWH to 28 States during the financial year 2024-25. After assessing their needs and requirements, 28 States have submitted proposals of construction of WWH to the DoE. Based on theproposals received from States, DoE has released 1stinstalment to 28 States for construction of WWH during the financial year 2024-25.

    There is no provision in the Sakhi Niwas Scheme (WWH) for providing skill and marketing facilities to the beneficiary of WWH.

    The Empowered Committee under the framework of Nirbhaya Fund has also appraised greenfield construction of more WWH i.e. 7 in Uttarakhand, 3 in Uttar Pradesh, 7 in Nagaland, 1 in Punjab, 3 in Tamil Nadu and 1 for the University of Delhi.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur in Lok Sabha in reply to a question today.

    *****

    SS/MS

    (Release ID: 2119028) Visitor Counter : 18

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Joint Declaration on the Establishment of India-Thailand Strategic Partnership

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 6:47PM by PIB Delhi

    During 03-04 April 2025, H.E. Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India paid an Official Visit to Thailand and participated in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, on the invitation of H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand. Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome by Prime Minister Shinawatra at the Government House in Bangkok.

    Acknowledging the deep civilisational, cultural, religious and linguistic bonds and 78 years of establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Thailand, both leaders held wide ranging discussions on various areas of bilateral cooperation including defence and security, trade and investment, connectivity, science and technology, innovation, space, education, health, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. They also exchanged views on sub-regional, regional, and multilateral issues of mutual interest. Both leaders witnessed exchange of several MoUs covering various areas of cooperation. They also welcomed the establishment of an India-Thailand Consular Dialogue.

    Prime Minister Shinawatra and Prime Minister Modi also visited Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan to pay homage to the historic Reclining Buddha.

    Taking into consideration the existing cooperation and the potential for closer cooperation not only at the bilateral and regional levels but also in the global context in view of the rapidly evolving global geopolitical situation, the two leaders agreed to elevate the existing bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership. This marks a new chapter of enhanced partnership for realising the full potential of cooperation between the two countries.

    The Strategic Partnership is based on mutual commitment to strengthen bilateral relations for the continuing peace, stability and prosperity of the two countries and their respective regions. The Strategic Partnership will serve as an important foundation for the two countries to chart a future-oriented and mutually-beneficial path towards increasing opportunities, closer cooperation and to jointly respond to common challenges.

    The Strategic Partnership will build upon existing agreements and mechanisms of cooperation which encompass partnering in political, defence and security, trade and investment, connectivity, education, socio-cultural development and people-to-people exchanges, as well as other areas of mutual interest.

    In declaring this Strategic Partnership, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared interests in a free, open, transparent, rules-based, inclusive, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific region and reiterated their strong support for ASEAN Centrality. They also reaffirmed their commitment to exploring concrete activities to implement the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) for Peace, Stability and Prosperity in the Region through enhanced cooperation between the AOIP and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) including Thailand’s constructive role to co-lead the Maritime Ecology Pillar of the IPOI with Australia.

    In an effort to further broaden and deepen the relationship between the two countries, the two leaders agreed to the following:

    ­Political Cooperation

    Strengthen political engagement through regular high-level exchanges at the Leadership level, including on the sidelines of multilateral meetings with a view to discuss shared regional interests, as well as to address regional and global security challenges.

    Convene regular meetings between the Foreign Ministers and Senior Officials from respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs/External Affairs under existing mechanisms of Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation at the Foreign Ministers’ level and Foreign Office Consultations at the Senior Officials’ level.

    Promote regular Parliamentary exchanges between both countries.

    Defence and Security Cooperation

    Strengthen the existing mechanisms of defence cooperation, as well as to promote further collaboration between the defence sectors of the two countries, with particular emphasis on defence technology, defence industry, research, training, exchanges, exercises and capacity building including by establishing appropriate mechanisms.

    Enhance security cooperation through regular dialogues and exchanges between the respective security and law enforcement agencies/ organisations, also by including a Deputy National Security Adviser/ Secretary General level strategic dialogue between the Thai National Security Council and the National Security Council Secretariat of India, to address the increasingly challenging global and regional security environment and cooperate on both traditional and non-traditional security issues such as defence, maritime security, cybersecurity, counter terrorism, law enforcement issues and combating transnational organised crime like cyber-crimes, international economic crimes, anti-money laundering and human, drug, arms and wildlife trafficking, through exchange of information and intelligence, and sharing of best practices.

    Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation

    To organise regular meetings and exchanges between the respective Ministry of Commerce/Commerce & Industry under existing mechanism of the Joint Trade Committee between India and Thailand. It was also agreed to ensure annual meetings of existing mechanisms to promote trade and investment between the two countries; to facilitate trade and resolve market access issues with a view to strengthening both countries’ linkages to the global supply chain and to enhance the confidence of the private sectors of both countries; including through cooperation in harmonization, equivalence and Mutual Recognition of Standards of mutually agreed areas; and to prepare for new areas of trade and investment, especially in future-oriented industries, such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, digital technology, robotics, ICT, space technology, biotechnology, creative industry and startups.

    Welcome the increasing bilateral trade, which reached approximate US$ 15 billion in 2023-24 and seek to enhance sustainable bilateral trade to realise its full potential, through an expansion of economic linkages in potential areas. Promote sustainable trade in sectors such as value-added marine products, smartphones, electrical vehicles, food processing, petroleum products, auto components, services and pharmaceuticals.

    Promote trade facilitation and to deepen cooperation under the existing agreements and frameworks, including the Framework Agreement for Establishing Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Thailand and India and the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). Provide greater impetus to bilateral trade by exploring the establishment of local currency-based settlement mechanism.

    To support and expedite the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to make it more user-friendly, simple and trade facilitative for businesses, aiming to achieve substantial conclusion in 2025 and to strengthen supply chains between India and ASEAN Countries.

    Promote closer collaboration between the investment promotion agencies of the two countries, including the Board of Investment of Thailand and Invest India, to promote effective utilisation of existing investment policies and schemes, particularly those driving forward the vision of Ignite Thailand through Act East Policy and Make In India, as well as the utilisation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) & Industrial Corridors in both countries for increasing bilateral investment.

    Organise regular meetings on annual basis of the India-Thailand Joint Business Forum (ITJBF) to serve as the main mechanism for exchanges and the promotion of joint projects and collaboration between the private sectors of the two countries.

    Explore appropriate mechanisms to promote exchanges between entrepreneurs, SMEs, and startups. Keeping in mind the common strategic goals of capacity building and increased market access for India and Thailand startup ecosystems, both sides agreed to conduct startup related activities including mentorship programmes and expert sessions on sectors of mutual importance, focused investor pitching, business matchmaking with corporates and business associations, innovation challenges, integration of academic institutes in both countries and supporting cross-incubation models.

    Promote closer collaboration between the financial service providers in India and Thailand to facilitate trade, investment, and cross-border payments to strengthen economic and financial linkages between the two countries.

    Promote cooperation for sustainable economic growth, including Bio-Circular- Green Economy and Life Style for Environment, especially in the areas of renewable energy, and energy efficiency technologies, to meet both sides’ respective climate change goals.

    Connectivity

    Enhance all modes of connectivity such as physical, digital and financial between India and Thailand and strengthen regional linkages, including through expediting the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and its eastward extension, as well as the India, Myanmar and Thailand Motor Vehicles Agreement, strengthening regional maritime connectivity through coastal shipping and enhancing port-to-port connections and to encourage the civil aviation authorities of the two countries to continue engaging in discussions for enhancing air connectivity between both countries.

    Socio-cultural, Educational and People-to-People Exchanges

    Foster the positive momentum of people-to-people exchanges, as well as promote potential areas of tourism between the two countries.

    Strengthen mechanisms of cooperation between the Ministries responsible for education in both countries in order to promote educational cooperation, including through mutual recognition of qualifications, increased exchanges of scholarships for students pursuing university-level education in India and Thailand, to facilitate student exchanges, joint research and fellowships. Promote cooperation in skill development, English Language training, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Thai and Hindi Studies, and collaboration between educational and training institutions in both countries.

    Strengthen the links between the two countries through the deepening of cultural relations and cooperation, including in performing arts, exhibitions, seminars, conference, archaeology, archives, museums, research and documentation, and festivals as identified in the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP).

    Explore potential areas of collaboration in sports, such as sports integrity, sports governing bodies, sport sciences & research, sports industry, and sports tourism, as well as exchanges of experts and practitioners in areas of mutual interest.

    Promote closer collaboration between India and Thailand in establishing closer cooperation with the North Eastern Region (NER) of India and to increase exchanges, particularly in the areas of tourism, culture, education, vocation and technical cooperation.

    Strengthen cooperation between Ministries responsible for science and technology to address new challenges and create opportunities with increased exchanges and closer collaboration in science and technology, through joint research projects, workshops, and exchanges in priority areas such as agriculture, biotechnology, ICT and space technology.

    Promote closer cooperation between the two countries in the areas of health, medical products, as well as traditional medicine, including through increased exchanges of information, research and development, and human resource development.

    Establish exchanges and cooperation involved in women’s all-round development, including leadership, decision-making and vocational skills to enhance women entrepreneurship.

    Regional, Multilateral and International Cooperation

    Enhance cooperation between India and Thailand especially at the United Nations to promote constructive role of both sides on global issues of mutual concern and interest.

    Strengthen cooperation between India and Thailand within regional and sub-regional frameworks, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) and promote synergies and complementarities among these frameworks with the aim to comprehensively and effectively address regional and sub-regional challenges.

    Strengthen cooperation between Thailand and India in multilateral frameworks such as G77 and South-South Cooperation to jointly advocate the voice of developing countries.

    Jointly strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established at the 19th ASEAN-India Summit to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations in 2022 in Phnom Penh and welcome India’s continued support for ASEAN Centrality and active cooperation in ASEAN-led mechanisms in the evolving regional architecture.

    Further strengthen cooperation under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) framework for enhancing socio-economic development and connectivity of the region, and further strengthen the centuries old civilisational ties.

    Promote the leading and proactive role of India and Thailand as founding members and the two largest economies of BIMSTEC in working towards a prosperous, resilient and open Bay of Bengal community, while capitalising on the commitment from the recent adoption of the BIMSTEC Charter as well as the unique character of BIMSTEC as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia. Strengthen BIMSTEC transport connectivity through implementation of the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity and related agreements, including the Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation.

    The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Prime Minister of the Republic of India agreed to task the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India to coordinate with relevant agencies to formulate a Joint Plan of Action towards the effective implementation of the Strategic Partnership.

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2118985) Visitor Counter : 22

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Budget Session, 2025 of Parliament adjourns sine-die

    Source: Government of India

    Budget Session, 2025 of Parliament adjourns sine-die

    Productivities of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during Budget Session were approximately 118% and 119% respectively

    16 Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament 

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 6:14PM by PIB Delhi

    The Budget Session, 2025 of Parliament which commenced on Friday, the 31st of January, 2025, adjourned sine-die on Friday, the 4th of April, 2025. In between both Houses were adjourned for recess on Thursday, the 13th of February, 2025 to reassemble on Monday, the 10th of March, 2025 to enable Department related Standing Committees to examine and report on the Demands for Grants relating to various Ministries/Departments.

    The Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju held a press conference today after the end of the Budget Session, 2025 of Parliament. The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice & Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal and the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan were also present on the occasion. Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju informed that the first part of the Budget Session yielded a total of 9 sittings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.  In the second part of the Session, there were 17 sittings of both Houses.  During the entire Budget Session, in total, there were 26 sittings.

     

    This being the first Session of the year, the President addressed both Houses of Parliament assembled together in terms of Article 87(1) of the Constitution, on 31st of January, 2025. Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in Lok Sabha was moved by Shri Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and seconded by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad.  This item engaged the Lok Sabha for 17 Hours 23 minutes against allotted time of 12 Hours. 173 Members participated in the discussion. In Rajya Sabha it was moved by Smt. Kiran Choudhary and seconded by Shri Neeraj Shekhar. This item engaged the Rajya Sabha for 21 Hours 46 minutes against allotted time of 15 Hours. 73 Members participated in the debate. The Motions of Thanks on President’s Address were discussed and adopted after reply from the Prime Minister by the two Houses during the first part of the Session.

    The Union Budget for 2025-26 was presented on Saturday, the 1stof February, 2025. General Discussion on the Union Budget was held in both Houses in the first part of the Session.  This engaged the Lok Sabha for 16 Hours 13 minutes against allotted time of 12 Hours and 169 Members took part in the debate and Rajya Sabha for 17 Hours 56 minutes against allotted time of 15 Hours and 89 Members participated in the discussion.

    During the second part of the Session, Demands for Grants of individual Ministries of Railways, Jal Shakti and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare were discussed and voted in Lok Sabha. In the end the Demands for Grants of the remaining Ministries/ Departments were put to the Vote of the House on Friday, the 21stof March, 2025. The related Appropriation Bill was also introduced, considered and passed by Lok Sabha on 21.03.2025 itself.

    Appropriation Bills relating to Second and Final Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2024-25; Excess Demands for Grants for the year 2021-22 and Supplementary Demands for Grants of Manipur for the year 2024-25 and Demands for Grant on Account for the year 2025-26 in respect of the State of Manipur were also passed on 11.03.2025 in Lok Sabha. 

    The Finance Bill, 2025 was passed by Lok Sabha on 25.03.2025.

    In the Rajya Sabha the working of the Ministries of Education, Railways, Health & Family Welfare and Home Affairs were discussed. 

    The Rajya Sabha returned the Appropriation Bills related to Second and Final Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2024-25; Excess Demands for Grants for the year 2021-22 and Supplementary Demands for Grants for Manipur for the year 2024-25 and Demands for Grant on Account for the year 2025-26 in respect of the State of Manipur on 18.03.2025.

    The Appropriation Bill relating to the Demands for Grants for Union for the year 2025-26 and the Finance Bill, 2025 were also returned by Rajya Sabha on 27.03.2025. 

    As such the entire Financial Business was completed in the Houses of Parliament before 31stof March, 2025.

    Statutory Resolution approving the proclamation issued by the President on 13thFebruary, 2025 under Article 356(1) of the Constitution in relation to the State of Manipur was also adopted in both the Houses in their extended sittings on 3rdand 4thof April, 2025, respectively.

    After the presentation of the report of the Joint Committee, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was passed, which seeks to focus on improving the management of waqf properties, empowerment of stakeholders relevant to management of waqf properties, improving the efficiency in survey, registration and case disposal process, and development of waqf properties. While the core purpose remains to manage waqf properties, the aim is to implement modern and scientific methods for better governance.” The Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923 was also repealed.

    The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to bring more clarity and convergence in the roles of different organizations working in the field of Disaster Management to strengthen the efficient working of the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities, empower the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities to prepare the disaster plan at national level and state level,  provide for creation of disaster database at national and state level, make provision for constitution of “Urban Disaster Management Authority” for State Capital and large cities having Municipal Corporation and make provision for constitution of “State Disaster Response Force” by the State Government has also been passed.

    The “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025 relating to establishment of “Tribhuvan” Sahakri University to provide education, training, and capacity building in the cooperative sector and undertake research and development activities in related areas. It will offer degree programs, distance learning and e-learning courses, and develop centres of excellence in co-operative sector was also passed. 

    The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 has been passed to simplify the laws for requirement of passports or other travel documents in respect of persons entering into and exiting from India and for regulating matters related to foreigners including requirement of visa and registration.

    The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was also passed to improve governance standards, provide consistency in reporting by banks to the RBI, ensure better protection for depositors and investors, improve audit quality in public sector banks and bring customer convenience in respect of nominations etc.

    During this Session a total of 11 Bills (10 in Lok Sabha and 1 in Rajya Sabha) were introduced. 16 Bills were passed by Lok Sabha and 14 Bills were passed/returned by Rajya Sabha. Total number of Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament is 16.

    A list of Bills introduced in Lok Sabha, Bills passed by Lok Sabha, Bills passed/returned by Rajya Sabha, Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament is attached in Annexure.

    The productivity of Lok Sabha during the Budget Session, 2025 was approx. 118% and that of Rajya Sabha was approx. 119%.

    ***

    SS/ISA

    Annexure

    LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS TRANSACTED DURING THE 4th   SESSION OF 18th LOK SABHA AND 276th SESSION OF RAJYA SABHA

    (BUDGET SESSION, 2025)

     

    1.      Bills introduced in Lok Sabha

    1. The Finance Bill, 2025
    2. The Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025
    3. The Income-Tax Bill, 2025
    4. The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025
    5. The Appropriation Bill (No.2), 2025
    6. The Appropriation Bill, 2025;
    7. The Manipur Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2025
    8. The Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2025
    9. The Appropriation Bill (No.3), 2025
    10. The Indian Ports Bill, 2025.

     

    2.      Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha

              1. The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025

     

    3.      Bills Passed by Lok Sabha

    1. The Bills of Lading Bill, 2025
    2. The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2025
    3. The Appropriation Bill, 2025
    4. The Manipur Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2025
    5. The Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2025
    6. The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2025
    7. The Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2025
    8. The Finance Bill, 2025
    9. The Boilers Bill, 2025
    10. The “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025
    11. The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025
    12. The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025.
    13. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
    14. The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025
    15. The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025.
    16. The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025.

    4.      Bills Passed/Returned by Rajya Sabha

    1. The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2025
    2. The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2025
    3. The Appropriation Bill, 2025
    4. The Manipur Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2025
    5. The Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2025
    6. The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025
    7. The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025
    8. The Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2025
    9. The Finance Bill, 2025.
    10. The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025
    11. The “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025
    12. The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025
    13. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
    14. The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025

    5.      Bills Passed by Both Houses.

    1. The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2025
    2. The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2025
    3. The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2025
    4. The Appropriation Bill, 2025
    5. The Manipur Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2025
    6. The Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2025
    7. The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025
    8. The Boilers Bill, 2025
    9. The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025
    10. The Appropriation Bill (3), 2025
    11. The Finance Bill, 2025.
    12. The “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025
    13. The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025
    14. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
    15. The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025
    16. The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025.

    ***

    (Release ID: 2118954) Visitor Counter : 21

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRODUCTIVITY DURING FOURTH SESSION OF 18TH LOK SABHA WAS AROUND 118 PERCENT: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

    Source: Government of India

    PRODUCTIVITY DURING FOURTH SESSION OF 18TH LOK SABHA WAS AROUND 118 PERCENT: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

    26 SITTINGS OF LOK SABHA WERE HELD DURING FOURTH SESSION, WHICH LASTED FOR 160 HOURS 48 MINUTES: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

    DISCUSSION ON VOTE OF THANKS ON PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS LASTED FOR 17 HOURS 23 MINUTES AND 173 MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN THE DISCUSSION: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

    GENERAL DISCUSSION ON UNION BUDGET 2025-26 LASTED FOR 16 HOURS 13 MINUTES AND 169 MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN DISCUSSION: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

    10 GOVERNMENT BILLS WERE INTRODUCED IN LOK SABHA AND 16 BILLS WERE PASSED: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

    RECORD 202 MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE WERE RAISED DURING ZERO HOUR ON 3 APRIL, 2025: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

    FOURTH SESSION OF EIGHTEENTH LOK SABHA CONCLUDES

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 6:05PM by PIB Delhi

    The Fourth Session of the Eighteenth Lok Sabha, which commenced on 31 January, 2025, concluded today. Shri Birla informed the House that 26 sittings were held during the Session which lasted for around 160 hours 48 minutes. The productivity of the House during the Session was 118 percent, informed Shri Birla.

    Hon’ble President of India addressed Members of both the Houses of Parliament on 31 January, 2025 and the discussion on Vote of Thanks on the President’s Address lasted for 17 hours 23 minutes. 173 Members participated in the discussion, informed Shri Birla.

    The Finance Minister presented Union Budget 2025-2026 on the floor of the House on 1 February, 2025. General Discussion on the Union Budget 2025-26 lasted for 16 hours 13 minutes. Shri Birla informed that 169 Members participated in the discussion. Finance Minister replied to the discussion on 11 February, 2025.

    Demands for Grants of selected Ministries/ Departments were discussed in the House from 17 to 21 March, 2025 and subsequently the Demands for Grants were passed by the House. Appropriation Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on 21 March, 2025 and the Finance Bill was passed on 25 March, 2025.

    Shri Birla further informed that, 10 Government Bills were introduced and 16 Bills were passed, during the session. Some of the important bills which were passed are as follows:

    (i)            The Finance Bill, 2025;

    (ii)           The Appropriation Bill, 2025;

    (iii)          The “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025;

    (iv)         The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and

    (v)          The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025

    During the Session, 134 starred questions were answered orally. A total of 691 Matters of Public Importance were raised by the Members during the Zero Hour, out of which a record number of 202 Matters of Public Importance were raised during Zero Hour on 3 April, 2025, Shri Birla informed. A total of 566 matters were taken up under Rule 377 during the Session.

    Shri Birla informed that during the Session, a total number of 32 Statements, including 23 Statements under Direction 73A. 61 Reports were presented by Departmentally Related Standing Committees and as many as, 2518 papers were laid on the Table of the House, he further said.

    A Calling Attention Motion on hardships faced by fishermen community was discussed under Rule 197 on 1 April, 2025.

    As regards Private Members’ Business, a Private Member’s Resolution moved by Shri Shafi Parambil, MP, regarding appropriate measure to regulate airfare in the country was discussed in the House on 28 March, 2025 however, the discussion remained inconclusive. On 2 April, 2025, Statutory Resolution ratifying President’s Rule in Manipur was adopted by the House.

    During the Session, the House welcomed the Russian Parliamentary Delegation led by Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, H.E., Mr. Vyacheslav Volodin on 3 February 2025. On 11 February 2025, the House welcomed the Parliamentary Delegation from Maldives led by H.E. Mr. Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Speaker of the People’s Majlis of Maldives. Similarly, on 12 March 2025, the House welcomed the Parliamentary Delegation from Madagascar led by H.E. Mr. Justin Tokley, President of the National Assembly of Madagascar.

    ***

    AM

    (Release ID: 2118945) Visitor Counter : 74

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister’s Royal Audience with the King and the Queen of Thailand

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 6:45PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister had a Royal Audience today with His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of the Kingdom of Thailand and Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana at Dusit Palace in Bangkok.

    They exchanged views on shared cultural heritage between India and Thailand. In this context, they spoke about the relics of Lord Buddha which travelled from India to Thailand last year and the positive impact the initiative has had in further strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries. They also discussed ways to further strengthen the multifaceted ties between the two countries.

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2118982) Visitor Counter : 42

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah hails Union Cabinet’s decision to approve Vibrant Villages Program-2

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah hails Union Cabinet’s decision to approve Vibrant Villages Program-2

    Heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for this landmark initiative

    Vibrant Villages Program has been a game-changing medium to transform our border villages into the nerve centers of growth and development

    Advancing the vision further, the Modi govt has today approved the Vibrant Villages Program-2 with a total outlay of ₹6,839 crore

    The program will transform the villages along the International Land Borders into comprehensive development models with adequate amenities for sustainable livelihoods, higher living standards and further bolstered security

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 6:44PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah hailed Union Cabinet decision to approve Vibrant Villages Program-2. Shri Amit Shah expressed heartfelt gratitude towards Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for this landmark initiative.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah in a post on X platform said, the Vibrant Villages Program has been a game-changing medium to transform our border villages into the nerve centers of growth and development. Advancing the vision further, the Modi govt has today approved the Vibrant Villages Program-2 with a total outlay of ₹6,839 crore, he added. 

    Union Home Minister said the program will transform the villages along the International Land Borders into comprehensive development models with adequate amenities for sustainable livelihoods, higher living standards and further bolstered security.

    ***

    RK/VV/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2118980) Visitor Counter : 37

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LOK SABHA SPEAKER TO LEAD PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO 150TH ASSEMBLY OF INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU) AT TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN FROM 5 to 9 APRIL, 2025

    Source: Government of India

    LOK SABHA SPEAKER TO LEAD PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO 150TH ASSEMBLY OF INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU) AT TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN FROM 5 to 9 APRIL, 2025

    LOK SABHA SPEAKER TO ADDRESS THE ASSEMBLY ON “PARLIAMENTARY ACTION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND JUSTICE”

    ON THE SIDELINES OF THE ASSEMBLY, LOK SABHA SPEAKER WILL MEET HIS COUNTERPARTS FROM OTHER PARLIAMENTS

    DURING HIS VISIT TO TASHKENT, LOK SABHA SPEAKER WILL ALSO INTERACT WITH MEMBERS OF INDIAN COMMUNITY AND INDIAN STUDENTS IN UZBEKISTAN

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 6:25PM by PIB Delhi

    Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Om Birla is leading a Parliamentary Delegation to 150th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), being held in Tashkent from 5 to 9 April, 2025.

    The Delegation comprises of Shri Harivansh, Hon’ble Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha; Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, MP; Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, MP; Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram, MP; Smt. Aparajita Sarangi, MP; Dr. Sasmit Patra, MP; Shri Ashok Kumar Mittal, MP; Smt.Kiran Choudhry, MP; Smt. Lata Wankhede, MP; Smt. Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MP; Shri Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary – General, Lok Sabha and Shri P. C. Mody, Secretary – General, Rajya Sabha.

    Shri Birla will address the Assembly during the High Level Segment of General Debate on the theme “Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Justice”.

    Members of the Indian Parliamentary Delegation will also participate in the meetings of various IPU bodies including the Governing Council, Executive Committee, Standing Committees, and various thematic panel discussions which will be held during the Assembly.

    On the sidelines of the Assembly, Shri Birla will share his perspectives on issues of common interest with his counterparts from other Parliaments.

    During his visit to Tashkent, Shri Birla will also interact with members of Indian Community and Indian students in Uzbekistan.

    ***

    AM

    (Release ID: 2118966) Visitor Counter : 57

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of International Cooperation for AYUSH to give boost to the export of AYUSH products and services

    Source: Government of India

    Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of International Cooperation for AYUSH to give boost to the export of AYUSH products and services

    Ministry of Ayush has signed 24 Country-to-Country level Memorandum of Understanding and 51 Institute-to-Institute level MoUs, to promote and strengthen traditional Indian Medicine Systems globally

    The Yoga Certification Board (YCB) under the Ministry of Ayush, provides certification of Yoga professionals and accreditation of Institutions

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 4:46PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Ayush is implementing the Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of International Cooperation for AYUSH. Under this scheme the Ministry provides support to Indian AYUSH drug Manufacturers/ Ayush Service providers to give boost to the export of AYUSH products and services; facilitates the International promotion, development and recognition of AYUSH systems of medicine; foster interaction of stakeholders and market development of AYUSH at international level; promote academics and research through the establishment of AYUSH Academic Chairs in foreign countries and holding training workshop/symposiums for promoting and strengthening awareness and interest about AYUSH Systems of Medicine at international level including Yoga. The Ministry of Ayush has signed 24 Country-to-Country level Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), and 51 Institute-to-Institute level MoUs, to promote and strengthen traditional Indian Medicine Systems globally.

    At the initiative of the Prime Minister, the United Nations General Assembly took a historic decision in 2014 to declare 21st June as the International Day of Yoga. So far, approximately Rs. 161 crore has been spent for the promotion of International Yoga Day. IDY was successfully celebrated every year, spreading the message of yoga across the globe. It is also observed that more and more people from diverse backgrounds are joining the IDY celebrations each year.

    The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) recommended Yoga as an integral part of Health and Physical Education. Health and Physical Education is a compulsory subject from Class I to Class X and optional from Class XI to XII. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has already developed integrated syllabi on Health and Physical Education from Class I to Class X. The syllabus is available on NCERT website www.ncert.nic.in. Further, NCERT has brought up two modules and books for the introduction of Yoga in schools for the age group between 8-18 years.

    The Yoga Certification Board (YCB) under the Ministry of Ayush, provides certification of Yoga professionals and accreditation of Institutions, prescribing syllabus for various levels of Yoga trainers and any such activities that may be considered necessary for the promotion of Yoga. The aim of YCB is to bring quality and standards in practice of Yoga and to promote Classical Yoga as a career skill.

    This information was given by Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    ***

    MV/AKS

    (Release ID: 2118856) Visitor Counter : 67

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DRDO & Indian Army conduct four successful flight-tests of Army version of Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 5:43PM by PIB Delhi

    Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army conducted four successful flight-tests of the Army version of Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on April 03 & 04, 2025. The four operational flight-trials were carried out against high-speed aerial targets. The missiles intercepted the aerial targets and destroyed them, registering direct hits. The trials were carried out to intercept four targets at long-range, short-range, high altitude and low altitude, proving the operational capability.

    The flight-tests were carried out with the weapon system in operational condition. The performance of the weapon system was validated through the flight data captured by range instruments like radars and electro-optical tracking systems deployed by Integrated Test Range, Chandipur. The flight tests were carried out in the presence of senior officials from DRDO and the Indian Army.

    The trials were carried out by the Indian Army from Eastern and Southern Commands under DRDO guidance. These trials have proven the operational capability of both Army Commands and paved the way for operationalisation of weapon systems in two Regiments.

    The MRSAM is developed jointly by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries for use by the Indian Army. The MRSAM Army weapon system comprises multi-function radar, command post, mobile launcher system and other vehicles.

    Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, Indian Army and the industries for the successful flight-tests. Four successful tests have re-established the capability of the weapon system in intercepting targets at critical ranges, he said.

    Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat complimented the teams involved in the successful flight-trial, terming the as major milestones for building operational capability of the Indian Army.

    ****

    VK/Savvy

    (Release ID: 2118918) Visitor Counter : 117

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Indian Railways and DMRC Sign MoU for Automatic Wheel Profile Measurement Systems

    Source: Government of India

    Indian Railways and DMRC Sign MoU for Automatic Wheel Profile Measurement Systems

    Indian Railways partners with DMRC to introduce state-of-the-art Automatic Wheel Profile Measurement Systems

    The system enables automatic, non-contact measurement of train wheel profiles for enhanced safety and efficiency

    DMRC to procure, supply, install and commission four AWPMS units for Indian Railways

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 5:42PM by PIB Delhi

    Indian Railways has taken a major step towards automation and efficiency in rolling stock maintenance by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the procurement and installation of Automatic Wheel Profile Measurement Systems (AWPMS). The agreement was formalized today at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi.

    AWPMS is an advanced system that allows for automatic, non-contact measurement of train wheel profiles, ensuring real-time assessment of wheel geometry and wear. Utilizing laser scanners and high-speed cameras, the system provides accurate and rapid measurements without manual intervention. In case of deviations, automated alerts will ensure timely corrective actions, enhancing both safety and operational efficiency.

    The MoU signing ceremony was attended by senior officials, including:

    • Shri B.M. Agrawal, Member (Traction & Rolling Stock)

    • Shri S.K. Pankaj, Additional Member (Production Units)

    • Shri Ashish Sharma, Additional Member (Mechanical Engineering)

    • Shri Parmit Garg, Director (Business Development), DMRC

    Under this partnership, DMRC will take responsibility for the procurement, supply, installation and commissioning of four AWPMS units for Indian Railways.

    This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the modernization of Railway maintenance practices. By integrating cutting-edge technology, Indian Railways is enhancing its rolling stock management, reducing maintenance time and improving overall service efficiency. The partnership also promotes technology exchange and skill development between Indian Railways and DMRC, reinforcing their commitment to innovation, safety and operational excellence.

    ****

    Dharmendra Tewari/Shatrunjay Kumar

    (Release ID: 2118916) Visitor Counter : 73

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AYUSH Chair in foreign universities to promote and strengthen traditional Indian medicine systems globally

    Source: Government of India

    AYUSH

    AYUSH Chair in foreign universities to promote and strengthen traditional Indian medicine systems globally

    50 Institute-to- Institute Memorandum of Understanding with foreign institutions to facilitate research and academic exchange in AYUSH

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 4:45PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) Chair Programme is an initiative by the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, to promote and strengthen traditional Indian medicine systems (AYUSH) globally. Under this program, AYUSH Chairs are established in foreign universities and institutions to facilitate academic collaboration, research, and awareness about AYUSH systems. The Ministry of Ayush, has established AYUSH academic chairs in Bangladesh, Australia, Mauritius, Latvia and Malaysia.

    These chairs are part of a broader strategy to promote AYUSH systems of medicine internationally. The specific objectives being pursued through this initiative are as under:

     

    1. Undertake academic and research activities related to AYUSH Systems of Medicine.
    2. Design and finalize the curriculum for the short term/ medium term courses as per need of the University and AYUSH education guidelines in India.
    3. Take tutorials/ lectures / practical sessions as per the curricular requirements of the University and will take part in the activities such as departmental seminars, conferences, faculty meetings, etc. as mutually agreed between University and the Chair.
    4. Explore feasibility of undertaking collaborative research.
    5. Act as credible source of information related to AYUSH systems of medicine for the host country and other neighboring countries.
    6. Liaise with Indian Embassy/ High Commission of India, host University and Ministry of AYUSH.
    7. Conduct workshops/ seminars on AYUSH Systems in cooperation with the host organization.
    8. Identify existing academic/ research programmes on AYUSH systems, their strength & gaps and provide inputs to the Ministry of Ayush and concerned institute in India.
    9. Carry on other incidental responsibilities as may be determined by the host University such as providing clinical services for practical demonstration / clinical trainings at the attached Hospital/ Clinic.
    10. Undertake any other activity as assigned by the Ministry of Ayush from time to time.
    11. Deliver at least 2 public lectures in a year to be arranged by the University, which would be termed as AYUSH Lectures.

     

    The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India has signed 50 Institute-to-Institute Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with foreign institutions to facilitate research and academic exchange in AYUSH. The details of the Institutes with whom the Ministry of Ayush has signed the MoUs are placed at Annexure.

    -3-

    These initiatives help to enhance global propagation, recognition, and acceptance of AYUSH systems of medicines. For assessing the impact of AYUSH Chair, a monthly report on activities undertaken is obtained from the chair. The evaluation of the chair’s impact is being conducted based on the report.

    Annexure

     

    Sl.

    No.

    Details of MoU

    Country

    1.

    MoU between Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH (on behalf of all the research councils- CCRAS, CCRUM, CCRS, CCRH, CCRYN) and the University of Mississippi, USA, on behalf of National Centre for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) for cooperation

    in the field of traditional medicine

    USA

    2.

    MoU between CCRH and Royal London Hospital for

    Integrated Medicine, UK

    United

    Kingdom

    3.

    MoU       between      Central      Council      for     Research                in Homoeopathy (CCRH) and College of Homeopaths of

    Ontario (CHO), Canada

    Canada

    4.

    United         States       Pharmacopoeia          Convention                    and

    Pharmacopoeia Commission of Indian Medicine

    USA

    5.

    MoU on cooperation in the field of Research and Education in Homeopathy Medicine was signed between CCRH and Universidad Maimonides, Buenos

    Aires, Argentina

    Argentina

    6.

    MoU on Cooperation in Research and Development in the field of Ayurvedic Science was signed between Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and the Medical Research Infrastructure and Health Services fund of the Tel Aviv Sourasky medical

    Institute (TASMC), Israel

    Israel

    7.

    MoU between Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Science, on Behalf of All Research Councils, Ministry of AYUSH(Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), Government of India located in New Delhi, (“CCRAS”) and The Governors of the University of Alberta  as  Represented  by  the  Integrative  Health

    Institute Located in Edmonton, ALBERTA, Canada

    Canada

    8.

    MoU between National Institute of Ayurveda and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia in the field of Education, Training, Research, Publication  and  Popularization  of  Ayurveda  in

    Malaysia

    Malaysia

    9.

    MoU between Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) and Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) with Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the

    United States (HPCUS)

    USA

    10.

    MoU between Scientific Society for Homoeopathy (WissHom), Germany and Central Council for

    Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH)

    Germany

    11.

    Agreement on cooperation in the field of Research and Education in Homoeopathy between Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) and Federal

    University of Rio De Janerio (FURJ), Brazil

    Brazil

    12.

    MoU on cooperation and collaboration in the field of Ayurveda between the All India Institute of Ayurveda, (AIIA), Ministry of AYUSH and European Academy

    of Ayurveda (Birstein), (REAA) Germany

    Germany

    13.

    MoU on Cooperation in the field of Research in Homeopathic Medicine was signed between Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) and Centre for Integrative Complementary Medicine,

    Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    Israel

    14.

    MoU on cooperation in the field of Research in Homeopathy was signed between Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) and National Institute of Integrative Medicine (NIIM), Australia

    Australia

    15.

    MoU on Establishment of an Academic Collaboration in Ayurveda between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and College of Medicine (UK) was signed during the visit of Hon’ble PM of India to UK

    United Kingdom

    16.

    MoU on collaboration in the field of Ayurveda was signed between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and the Medical University of Graz, Graz Austria

    Austria

    17.

    MoU on cooperation in the field of Unani medicine was signed between Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) and State Educational Establishment“ Tajik State Medical University named

    AbualiIbn Sino”

    Tajikistan

    18.

    MoU        on      the      establishment         of      an                 academic

    collaboration in Ayurveda has been signed between All India       Institute      of    Ayurveda      (AIIA),     Ministry               of

    USA

    AYUSH and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, USA

    19.

    MoU CCRAS, Ministry of AYUSH and Department of Neurology and Complementary Medicine, Lutheran, Hospital Hattingen, Germany for Cooperation in the field of Research and Education in Ayurveda

    Germany

    20.

    MoU between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and Wester Sydney University (WSU), Australia

    Australia

    21.

    MoU between MORARJI DESAI NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF YOGA (MDNIY) MINISTRY OF AYUSH, GOVT OF INDIA NEW DELHI and DIVINE VALUES SCHOOL, ECUADOR (DVSE)

    Ecuador

    22.

    MoU between Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, (CCRAS) Ministry of AYUSH Government of the Republic of India and University of Debrecen, Hungary (UD) on the Intention of Establishment of European Institute of Ayurvedic Sciences (EIAS), Hungary

    Hungary

    23.

    MoU between NIA & the University of West Indies for Collaboration in the field of Education, Training, Research, Treatment, Publication etc

    West Indies

    24.

    An Agreement signed between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Ministry of Ayush and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UK for undertaking research on Ashwagandha for promoting recovery from Covid-19 in the UK.

    United Kingdom

    25.

    MoU between Shimane University, Japan and All India Institute of Ayurveda

    Japan

    26.

    MoU between Fizz, Frankfurt, Germany and All India Institue of Ayurveda

    Germany

    27.

    MoC with Japan

    Japan

    28.

    MoU       between      CCRUM      and     Hamdard               University Bangladesh

    Bangladesh

    29.

    MoU between CCRAS, Ministry of AYUSH and OCCAM, National Cancer Institute National Institutes of Health Department of Health and Human Services, Government of the United States of America

    USA

    30.

    Memorandum of Understanding between Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH, and The Institute for Social medicine, Epidemiology and the Health Economics, Charite University Medical Centre, Berlin Germany

    Germany

    31.

    Institute for the History of Medicine, Robert Bosch Foundation,                            Stuttgart,                                                Germany on Cooperation in the Field of Development of Museum on AYUSH System and Archives on Homoeopathy

    Germany

    32.

    MoU between MORARJI DESAI NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF YOGA (MDNIY) MINISTRY OF AYUSH, GOVT OF INDIA NEW DELHI and Leaders

    Development Institute (LDI), Ministry of Sports Saudi Arabia

    Saudi Arabia

    33.

    MoU between Rashtriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth (RAV) and Fundacion De Salud Ayurveda Prema, Argentina

    Argentina

    34.

    MoU between AIIA and Future Vision Institute, Brazil and University of Sao Paulo Brazil

    Brazil

    35.

    MoU between AIIA and The University General Hospital in La Reunion – CHU de La Reunion in the field of Ayurveda

    Chu      de             La Reunion

    36.

    MoU between AIIA, The Fedral University of Rio De Jenerio (UFRJ) and The Brazilian Academic Consortium for Integrative Health (CABSIN), Brazil

    Brazil

    37.

    MoU between National Institute of Ayurveda Jaipur

    and Philippines institute of traditional and Alternative Healthcare, (PITHAC)Philippines

    Philippines

    38.

    MoU between All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and University Health Netwrok (UHN), Canada

    Canada

     

    39.

    Agreement on Co-operation in collaborative research in the field of Ayurveda and Siddha between CCRAS,       Romanian               Society                                   of Medicine and Suraj Ayurveda Clinic and Research Centre Pune.

    Romania

    40.

    MoU between CCRAS and PHFI for Ayush- WHO- PHFI collaborative project entitled Assessment of integration of AYUSH System into the public health system for combating COVID-19.

    WHO

    41.

    India Yoga Center (IYC), Korea

    Korea

    42.

    MoU between AIIA and UCMH, Havana Cuba The Establishment of an Academic Collaboration In Ayurveda

    Cuba

    43.

    MoU        between       AIIA     and     National       Institute      of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

    Japan

    44.

    MoU Between MDNIY and Sarv Yoga International Italy

    Italy

    45.

    MoU Between ITRA and National Institute of Health,

    Republic of Peru

    Peru

    46.

    MoU between AIIA and Kvarner Health Tourism

    Cluster, Croatia

    Croatia

    47.

    MoU between NIA and Department of Thai Traditional

    and Alternative Medicine

    Thailand

    48.

    MoU between All India Institute of Ayurveda and Sri

    Vajera Foundation and Associated Institutions

    Brazil

    49.

    MoU Between CCRUM and Allied Health professions

    Council of South Africa (AHPCSA)

    South Africa

    50.

    A Tripartite MoU between Charles University Czech Republic with NIA, Jaipur and MDNIY New Delhi was signed on 17.07.2024 on the Establishment of

    Academic Collaboration in Ayurveda and Yoga

    Czech Republic

     

    This information was given by Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    ***

    MV/AKS

    (Release ID: 2118854)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –