On the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will temporarily close a section of Gano Street, at the I-195 overpass between India Street and the I-195 West on ramp in Providence, for continued demolition of the Washington Bridge substructure.
The closures will be needed from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, while the demolition contractor removes the upper most sections of the old bridge piers close to the road. During the closures, drivers will follow signed detours using India Street, Wickenden Street and South Main and South Water streets. The on-ramp to I-195 West at Gano Street will remain open. Pedestrians should detour using Wickenden Street, East Street, the India Point Park pedestrian bridge, and India Street. The closures are scheduled for daytime hours to avoid any disruptive noise during evening hours.
For approximately two weeks following this weekend work, alternating single-lane closures are likely at this location from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to finalize demolition in this area. Pedestrian access will be maintained, and the on-ramp from Gano Street to I-195 West will remain open.
Depending on the pace of demolition on Saturday, the duration of Sunday’s planned closure may be shortened or canceled.
All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.
In terms of instructions contained in circular DOR.CO.SOG(Leg)No.59/09.08.024/2024-25 dated February 11, 2025, all branches of the banks dealing with Government receipts and payments are to be kept open for transactions on March 31, 2025 (Monday-Public Holiday), so as to account for the Government transactions in FY 2024-25 itself. Since such transactions might necessitate operations at CCs, the banks are advised to keep their CCs open on March 31, 2025, akin to a normal working day.
2. The CC holding banks shall keep the linked branches suitably informed.
The Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), a joint program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), undertakes a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of a country’s financial sector. Since September 2010 the exercise has become mandatory for jurisdictions with systemically important financial sectors. Currently, it is mandatory for 32 jurisdictions including India, every five years, and for another 15 jurisdictions every ten years. Last FSAP for India was conducted in 2017 and the Financial System Stability Assessment (FSSA) report was published by IMF on 21st December, 2017.
2. IMF released the latest India-FSSA report on their websites on February 28, 2025, based on the assessment carried out during 2024, while WB’s Financial Sector Assessment (FSA) report is due for publication.
3. India welcomes assessment of the Indian financial system undertaken by the joint IMF-World Bank team conforming to the highest international standards.
4. IMF’s FSSA report highlights that India’s financial system has become more resilient and diverse since the last FSAP in 2017, driven by rapid economic growth. Financial Sector in India has shown recovery from various distress episodes of 2010s and withstood the pandemic well. In terms of evolution of financial sector landscape, Non-Banking Financial Intermediaries (NBFI) sector has become diverse but more interconnected. Banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) have sufficient aggregate capital to support moderate lending even in severe macrofinancial scenarios.
5. On regulation and supervision of NBFCs, IMF acknowledged India’s systematic approach for prudential requirements of NBFCs with scale based regulatory framework. IMF appreciated India’s approach on introduction of bank-like Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for large NBFCs. For supervision of banks, IMF suggested strengthening credit risk management through IFSR 9 adoption and upgrading supervision over individual loans, collateral valuation, connected borrower groups, large exposure limits, and related-party transactions.
6. IMF acknowledges that the regulatory framework in securities markets has been enhanced in line with international practice to manage and prevent emerging risks. Notable improvements include establishing the Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF), introducing swing pricing and liquidity requirements for bond mutual funds. The regulatory scope has also been expanded over emerging areas such as sustainability and investor protection measures for fast-growing equity derivatives products.
7. IMF has stated that public digital infrastructures have significantly improved retail financial inclusion and recommended that financially underserved sectors’ access to credit can be enhanced by strengthening legal, tax, and informational infrastructures for asset-based and digital lending.
8. The FSSA report acknowledges that India’s insurance sector is strong and growing, with a significant presence in both life and general insurance. The sector has remained stable, supported by better regulations and digital innovations. The report notes India’s progress in improving oversight, risk management and governance and suggests further steps toward riskbased solvency / supervision frameworks and stronger group supervision. It acknowledged transition plans towards risk-based approach in the insurance sector. This reflects India’s commitment to global best practices and a resilient insurance sector.
9. IMF recommends that financial stability should be the primary objective of the macroprudential authorities.
10. In terms of emerging risks, cybersecurity, climate change and system-wide contagion need attention. Financial stability risks from climate change appear manageable but warrant careful monitoring. The assessment suggested enhanced data coverage with better granularity for mapping climate-related financial risks.
11. IMF also analysed cyber security framework in banking sector, Financial Market Infrastructure (FMI), Critical Information Systems, and other relevant players in securities market. IMF found that Indian authorities have advanced cybersecurity risk oversight, especially for banks. However, IMF stated that extensive cybersecurity crisis simulations and stress tests for banks could be expanded for cross-sectoral and market-wide events to further strengthen cybersecurity resilience.
12. The recommendations in case of India FSAP are mainly focussed on bringing about further improvements in the structure and functioning of the financial system and many of the detailed recommendations are in conformity with the concerned authorities’/regulators’ own developmental plans. India remains committed to adoption of internationally accepted standards and best practices in a phased manner, attuned to domestic needs and economic conditions, wherever necessary.
Rising prices and market volatility have led to food costs climbing to 11.4% of American’s disposable income, the largest percentage since 1991.
Arresting these rising costs, as I argue in my 2023 book, means reinventing supply chains to address the growing supply, demand and price volatility that has created uncertainty for consumers since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.
I have described global supply chains, and supply chains in the U.S. in particular, as “efficiently broken.” By this I mean that they aspire to offer low prices from economies of scale but lack sufficient resiliency to create stability.
Without addressing the systemic weaknesses in supply chains, I believe major health and economic disruptions will continue to happen in Colorado, nationally and around the world.
Cage-free eggs
Colorado faces a double whammy where egg prices are concerned.
It’s one of nine states with a cage-free egg mandate, which requires all eggs sold in the state to come from cage-free facilities. The regulation has been shown to increase the price of eggs by as much as 50%.
Over the past two decades, cage-free egg laws have been passed in states as consumers have grown more concerned with the welfare of farm animals. What that means varies from state to state because the term cage-free isn’t regulated by a federal agency. In Colorado, egg-laying hens must be housed in a cage-free system and must have a minimum of 1 square foot of usable floor space per hen.
But cage-free laws are not the main driver of increasing egg prices, as I’ve noted in my research. Like many others, the egg supply chain needs to be reinvented to balance price, scale, resiliency and stability.
Supply chain issues
What is driving up the prices of eggs and other consumer goods is the concentration of producers. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how vulnerable prices and supply chains are.
In 2022, a major product recall of Similac led to a baby formula shortage in the U.S. The baby formula market is highly concentrated, with four companies responsible for approximately 90% of the domestic market. A large-scale facility that produced the baby formula was found to have unsanitary conditions and contaminated products. Pulling this one facility offline at the same time the nation was coping with pandemic-related supply chain issues led to the shortage.
Then at the beginning of 2024, supplies of insulin ran short due to production issues at Eli Lilly, one of the three companies responsible for over 90% of the U.S. insulin market.
And in the second half of 2024, hospitals couldn’t get enough IV fluid due to damage caused by Hurricane Helene to a Baxter factory in North Carolina that manufactures approximately 60% of IV fluids in the U.S. This factory had been relocated to North Carolina from Puerto Rico due to the supply impact from Hurricane Maria that damaged the island in 2017.
In all of these cases, the supply chain was easily interrupted due to a reliance on a few large producers. In 2025, bird flu and eggs are just another example of America’s “efficiently broken” supply chain.
But this scale and efficiency comes at the price of resiliency during something like a bird flu outbreak. Larger farms create a higher risk of viral outbreak, which leads to the need for culling millions of birds and a heightened risk of viral replication and mutation.
The solution may increase prices
Policymakers want to reduce the spread of disease at American egg factories to mitigate the spread of bird flu. But these measures are expensive.
Factory farms increase the potential for viruses to spread rapidly and even mutate. Therefore, bird flu is a more serious precursor of supply chain disruption than a hurricane or product recall because it has the potential to create a public health crisis.
Following Canada’s lead wouldn’t result in egg prices as low as giant factory farms, but it would protect American consumers from the periodic price shocks caused by disease or localized weather events that disrupt supplies.
Despite the threat of a public health crisis, American consumers don’t want to pay more for eggs – and their leaders have promised they won’t have to.
Jack Buffington does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Despite pay transparency laws, wage equity progress continues to stall nationwide, with systemic barriers still limiting women’s earning potential.
The “childbearing penalty” remains highly evident, as women with children continue to earn just 75 cents for every dollar fathers make, while fathers make 2% more than childless men.
While the gender pay gap showed gradual improvement from 2018 to 2022, progress has remained stagnant since the Great Resignation, with declines especially evident among older women.
SEATTLE, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Payscale Inc., the leading provider of compensation data, software and services, released its 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report (GPGR), revealing that despite pay transparency laws, the closing of the gender pay gap has stalled nationwide, with systemic barriers still limiting women’s earning potential.
Payscale’s analysis found that in 2025 women still earn just 83 cents for every dollar men make. While this is unchanged from last year, according to AAUW, Equal Pay Day shifted back more than two weeks this year, meaning that women must work that much longer to achieve the same earnings as men in 2025, compared to 2024. The controlled gender pay gap also remains the same as last year, at 99 cents. The controlled gender pay gap is the amount that women earn for every dollar that a man earns when accounting for job title and compensable factors, while the uncontrolled gender pay gap is the difference in median pay for men and women overall.
“Even though our 2025 Compensation Best Practices Report showed a minor decrease in support for pay equity (57%), and there has been a recent weakening of public support around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) of late, some states have shown promising progress towards closing the gender pay gap,” said Ruth Thomas, pay equity strategist at Payscale. “While not every state has enacted pay transparency laws, which are shown to support pay equity efforts, many organizations are still staunchly committed to the cause. In fact, compared to 2020, there has been a 19% increase in corporate commitment to these efforts.”
Key takeaways from GPGR:
Working Parents— Motherhood continues to hurt pay equity, while fathers get a raise as a result of the childbearing penalty.
Women with children face a significantly wider gender pay gap, earning just 75 cents for every dollar fathers make—unchanged from last year.
This gap is even wider for women of color, with American Indian and Alaska Native mothers experiencing the largest disparity, earning just 64 cents for every dollar fathers earn.
When controlling for job roles and experience, mothers earn 98 cents for every dollar earned by fathers with similar characteristics, a figure that has remained steady.
Meanwhile, fatherhood financially benefits men, who earn 2% more than childless men, while mothers face stagnant or reduced pay compared to childless women.
Job Seeking— Women seeking new jobs are closing the pay gap, but parenting responsibilities and workplace flexibility keep many stuck with lower wages.
The gender pay gap is narrower for women actively seeking a new job in the next six months compared to those not looking, suggesting that a willingness to leave positions may lead to higher pay.
Yet, this uncontrolled gender pay gap slightly widened this year to $0.83 from $0.84 last year, indicating slower progress overall.
Women who stay in their current job may do so due to benefits they can’t afford to lose, such as flexible work schedules, which can result in tolerating lower pay.
Workplace culture, flexibility, and work-life balance may be more important to women than men when deciding whether to stay with an employer, potentially influencing their pay trajectory.
Higher Education— Despite earning advanced degrees like MBAs, law degrees, and health professional doctorates, women still face a significant pay gap, highlighting that education alone doesn’t guarantee pay equity.
Women with MBAs face the largest uncontrolled pay gap, earning just 77 cents for every dollar earned by men with the same degree.
Health professional doctorates have the smallest uncontrolled pay gap at 89 cents, while women with law degrees earn 87 cents for every dollar men with the same degree make, marking a slight decrease from last year.
Leadership and Career Progress— Not only do women earn less as their career progresses, they’re also less likely to reach leadership roles.
White men are the most likely to hold leadership positions, with 45% serving as managers or in higher roles. Women are underrepresented in leadership roles, with only 5% of white women becoming executives compared to 7% of white men. The numbers are even lower for women of color: 3% for Hispanic women, 4% for Black or African American women, and 3% for Asian women.
Women who do ascend the corporate ladder earn less than their male counterparts, with the gap widening at higher levels. Women at the executive level earn 93 cents for every dollar men make, even when controlling for job characteristics, and just 72 cents when not controlling for these factors.
The gender pay gap is widest for Hispanic women and American Indian and Native Alaskan women at the executive level when data are controlled, currently standing at 91 cents, which is two points narrower than 2024.
Gender Norms— While STEM industries show progress toward pay equity, traditional gender norms continue to widen the gap in other sectors.
The biggest pay gaps appear in occupations with deep-rooted gender norms, including Legal (63 cents), Farming & Fishing (77 cents), and Management (79 cents), where men dominate top-paying positions.
The gender pay gap is also widest in Finance & Insurance (78 cents) and Agencies & Consultancies (84 cents) industries, despite women making up 53% and 59% of the workforce in these industries, respectively.
Even in female-dominated industries like Healthcare (89 cents), Education (91 cents), and Nonprofits (88 cents), pay disparities persist.
Some STEM-heavy industries show pay equity when controlled, but women remain underrepresented in higher-paying roles within these industries.
Location– States with and without salary transparency laws have seen improvements in the controlled gender pay gap, likely due in part to increased awareness from transparency efforts in other regions or companies adopting national pay transparency practices.
In 2025, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont and Massachusetts will enact pay transparency legislation.
The controlled pay gap remained closed in 2025 for California, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. – all showed closed pay gaps last year, and, except for New Jersey and Oregon, have active pay transparency laws.
While other states continue to show improvement, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, New Mexico, Vermont, and Washington state have seen their gaps widen.
New gains are emerging in Alabama, Delaware, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and West Virginia, where the controlled pay gap has recently closed.
“It’s disappointing to still see a lack of progress towards closing the gender pay gap. Beyond being the right thing to do, ensuring fair pay without discrimination is required by law. This fact alone should support closing the gender pay gap. Even more, it’s a critical retention tool for businesses, which is why, unsurprisingly, women employees frequently leave organizations because they don’t think they are being paid fairly,” said Lulu Seikaly, senior corporate employment attorney at Payscale. “Pay transparency has an important role to play here, because when an employee has an understanding of their compensation trajectory it increases trust and loyalty. Our 2025 Compensation Best Practices Report revealed that over half (56%) of companies are sharing pay ranges in their job postings regardless of whether or not it’s required by law — a promising nod to the future of fair pay.”
According to Payscale’s 2025 Compensation Best Practices Report, 72% of HR and compensation professionals believe that gender pay gap research is meaningful. Paired with Payscale’s compensation management software and services enable organizations to easily evaluate their current compensation strategies and standardize their internal pay practices to increase transparency and ensure fair pay.
The 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report analyzes crowdsourced data from over 369,000 people in the U.S. who took Payscale’s free online salary survey between January 2024 and January 2025. The full report and its methodology, including analysis by race, job level, age, education, industry, occupation, and location, can be accessed in its entirety at Payscale.com/research-and-insights/gender-pay-gap.
About Payscale As the industry leader in compensation management, Payscale is on a mission to help job seekers, employees, and businesses make sustainable fair pay a reality. Empowering 65% of the Fortune 500, Payscale provides a combination of diverse and dynamic data sources, experienced compensation services, and scalable software to enable organizations such as Panasonic, ZoomInfo, Chipotle, AccentCare, University of Washington, American Airlines, and PetSmart to make fair and appropriate pay decisions.
In exercise of powers conferred under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (the Act), the Reserve Bank of India by its order dated March 24, 2025 has cancelled the Certificate of Registration No. B-03.00016 dated February 20, 1998 issued to M/s. Unitara Finance Limited, CIN No. U65921MP1994PLC008248, having its Registered Office at 70, Transport Nagar Indore, Madhya Pradesh-452001 for carrying on the business of a Non-Banking Financial Institution as defined in section 45-I(a) of the Act.
The company therefore cannot carry on the business of a Non-Banking Financial Institution under the Act.
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, will this week lead the Group of Twenty (G20) Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) as part of South Africa’s Presidency of the G20.
“It is expected that the outcome of this first virtual G20 ECSWG meeting will provide strategic direction and a common understanding amongst G20 Member States on the key environmental and climate change priorities and deliverables,” the Minister said on Sunday.
Taking place under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability,” the Minister is expected to open the meeting on Tuesday, by setting the scene for South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 ECSWG, provide an opportunity to discuss the five priorities and deliverables, and also present the proposed work plan for the G20 ECSWG for 2025.
The priority focus areas for South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 ECSWG include:
Biodiversity and Conservation – Implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Biodiversity Economy;
Land Degradation, Desertification and Drought – Land Degradation Neutrality targets;
Chemicals and Waste Management – Sustainable Chemicals Management; Circular Economy; Waste Management; Waste to Energy; Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementation;
Climate Change and Air Quality – Just Transition; Loss and Damage; Adaptation, including Climate Resilient Development (CRD); Climate Finance and Air Quality; and
The G20 ECSWG aims to enhance cooperation amongst all G20 members and invitees to address environmental and climate change priorities.
The G20 comprises 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom and United States, as well as two regional bodies, namely the European Union and the African Union.
The G20 members represent about two-thirds of the world population, approximately 85% of the global GDP and over 75% of the global trade.
This platform is considered as the leading forum for international economic cooperation and plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues.
South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 commenced on 01 December 2024 and will continue until 30 November 2025.
The Presidency will build upon on the achievements of India (2023 Presidency) and Brazil (2024 Presidency), to ensure continuity in advancing the developmental agenda within the G20.
“South Africa’s G20 Presidency provides a unique opportunity for the country to champion the aspirations of emerging market economies and lead the developmental agenda of the African Continent within the framework of the G20.”
A total of three G20 ECSWG meetings and one ECSWG Ministerial meeting will be held in South Africa, with the first virtual meeting scheduled to take place from 25 – 28 March 2025; followed by the second meeting from 14-18 July 2025 at Kruger National Park, and the final meeting in October 2025 at Cape Town.
The Ministerial meeting will be held back-to-back with the third ECSWG meeting in October 2025.
The department will also roll out outreach and awareness activities in the buildup to the three G20 ECSWG meetings throughout the country to amplify the messaging on the focus areas for the G20 ECSWG.
“The department will leverage South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 to market and showcase the Kruger-Kirstenbosch-iSimangaliso Icon Status Strategy (KISS). Some of the meetings and activities will take place at these iconic world-class sites to showcase them on the global stage,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
President Cyril Ramaphosa says since the advent of democracy, government have strived to build a society that recognises the injustices of the past while advancing reconciliation and national unity.
“That is why as a country we have chosen 21 March as an occasion to recommit ourselves to the advancement of human rights for all,” President Ramaphosa said.
In his weekly newsletter, President Ramaphosa said since the dawn of democracy, South Africans have been able to exercise their rights freely, and many know that they can approach the independent courts and the institutions supporting democracy if their rights are infringed or violated.
“We can be proud that South Africans are confident they have a voice and a say in how their country is run, demonstrated by the fact that we have held successive free and fair elections since 1994,” President Ramaphosa said.
President Ramaphosa said in South Africa today, all citizens, African, white, Indian and coloured, male and female, enjoy equal rights and freedoms that the state is obliged to uphold, protect and advance.
“In South Africa today, there are constitutional protections guaranteed to all racial, cultural and linguistic groups, including their right to enjoy their culture and to use their language.
“As South Africans we should therefore reject the politics of divisiveness that is emerging in many parts of the world. In particular, we should challenge the completely false narrative that our country is a place in which people of a certain race or culture are being targeted for persecution.
“We should not allow events beyond our shores to divide us or turn us against each other. Since the end of apartheid our country has been recognised globally for upholding human rights. The free flow of ideas and opinions are vital to democracy and to having a vibrant society,” the President said.
The President said even those with the most offensive views should know that in the democratic South Africa, and unlike in many other parts of the world, the constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression, as long as it does not include incitement to violence or advocacy of racial and other hatred.
“Since we attained our freedom, South Africans have been steadfast in our solidarity with peoples everywhere who are facing persecution, discrimination and the violation of their rights.
“Human rights are universal and indivisible. As South Africa we stand in solidarity with all those whose right to lead lives of dignity are being undermined by conflict and war. As a country we will continue to repeat our call for a renewed global human rights movement so that the rights and dignity of all people should be upheld.
“As we reflect on the state of human rights in South Africa during this month, let us be proud of our achievements as a country. At the same time, let us recommit ourselves to working together to ensure our human rights culture is upheld and strengthened,” President Ramaphosa said.
South Africa commemorates National Human Rights Day on 21 March to remember the Sharpeville massacre, where apartheid police killed 69 peaceful protesters against the regime in 1960.
March 2025 marks over six decades since the painful events of 21 March 1960 where 69 lives were lost in the Sharpeville Massacre. The massacre came to be as a result of citizens choosing to protest against the then pass laws of the apartheid government. – SAnews.gov.za
NEW DELHI, INDIA (24 March 2025) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Shriram Finance Limited have signed a loan agreement for $150 million to boost access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in India with a focus on business loans and for financing electric vehicles (EVs) and low-emission commercial vehicles for business purposes. The loan will particularly benefit women-owned MSMEs and those in lagging states.
The transaction is part of a total $306 million financing package led by ADB as the mandated lead arranger and bookrunner, which includes a loan of $150 million from Japan International Cooperation Agency and INR 500 million from Export-Import Bank of India.
Shriram Finance Limited is the flagship company of the Shriram Group and is one of India’s largest non-banking financial companies specializing in commercial vehicle financing and MSME lending.
“This project underscores ADB’s commitment to supporting financial inclusion and sustainable development in India while addressing the significant financing gap faced by MSMEs,” said ADB Country Director for India Mio Oka. “By partnering with Shriram Finance Limited, we will empower MSMEs, particularly women entrepreneurs, and accelerate the transition to electric mobility, which is crucial for reducing air pollution and achieving India’s climate goals.”
MSMEs play a vital role in India’s economy, contributing 30% of India’s GDP and employing over 123 million people. However, they face significant challenges in accessing formal credit, with only a quarter of the MSME market being served by financial institutions. Women entrepreneurs face additional barriers due to social norms and limited access to collateral. ADB’s loan will help bridge this gap by enhancing Shriram Finance’s ability to provide tailored financial solutions to MSMEs, enabling them to reach underserved segments particularly in rural, semi-urban areas and in lagging states, and provide economic opportunities for women-owned MSMEs. ADB’s loan also supports the government’s initiatives to reduce air pollution through the adoption of EVs and low-emission (Bharat Stage-VI compliant) vehicles. The government’s EV30@30 initiative targets 30% of all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030.
“We value ADB’s support and funding, which will enable us to expand our financing to underserved MSMEs and promote the adoption of electric vehicles,” said Shriram Finance Limited Executive Vice Chairman Umesh Revankar. “Our continued partnership with ADB aligns with our corporate mission to drive inclusive growth and support India’s transition to a greener economy. This facility strengthens our commitment to financial inclusion and economic development.”
Founded in 1979, Shriram Finance has 3,196 branches and 79,405 employees serving over 9 million customers, with assets under management of INR 2.54 trillion and strong operations in rural and semi-urban areas. It is well-positioned to support underserved MSMEs and drive the adoption of electric and low-emission vehicles.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
The Department of School Education and Literacy is implementing an integrated centrally sponsored scheme for School education- Samagra Shiksha. The scheme treats school education holistically, without segmentation from pre-primary to class XII in alignment with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to ensure that all children have access to quality education with an equitable and inclusive classroom environment which should take care of their diverse background, multilingual needs, different academic abilities and make them active participants in the learning process.
Under Samagra Shiksha, financial assistance is provided to States and UTs for implementation of various provisions of Samagra Shiksha Scheme including free uniform to eligible children at elementary level, free textbooks at elementary level, reimbursement under RTE Act, various qualitative components development of primers/textbooks for tribal language, teaching learning materials, transport/escort facility up to secondary level, special training for age appropriate admission of out of school children and residential as well as non-residential training for older children, seasonal hostels / residential camps, special training centers, age-appropriate residential and non-residential training, support to Out of School Children (16 to 19 years) for completion of education through NIOS/SIOS, Holistic Progress Card, bilingual teaching material and books.
Further, financial assistance is also provided to the States and UTs for opening/strengthening of new schools upto senior secondary level, construction of school buildings & additional classrooms, development/strengthening of school infrastructure in northern border areas under Vibrant Village Programme, setting up, up-gradation and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, setting up of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas, construction of hostels for PVTGs under PM-JANMAN, construction of hostels under Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan for unsaturated ST population, strengthening of teacher education and strengthening of DIETs/BRCs/CRCs, provision of ICT and digital interventions.
Under the student-oriented component for the children with special needs, financial assistance is provided for identification and assessment of children with special needs, aids and appliances, braille kits and books, appropriate teaching learning material and stipend to girl students with disability etc. It also has provisions for creation of differently-abled friendly infrastructure such as ramps, ramps with handrails and differently-abled friendly toilets for barrier free access in schools. Further, to improve the identification of CwSN, the Government has introduced the Prashast App for early screening and identification of CwSN in regular schools. Teacher capacity building programs are being undertaken under NISHTHA in hybrid mode to train general teachers to address the learning needs of CwSN.
The New India Literacy Programme (NILP) popularly known as ULLAS – targets non-literates aged 15 years and above who have missed formal schooling and provide educational opportunities to them to make them literate. It is being implemented from FY 2022-23 to 2026-27. A dedicated ULLAS App has been created for registering learners and volunteer teachers. Till now, over 2.20 crore learners and more than 40 lakh volunteer teachers have registered on the app. The App also contains TLM in the form of ULLAS primers in all languages.
The Scheme supports creation and strengthening of infrastructure like, School buildings, Additional Classrooms, Toilets, Drinking Water, Ramp and Handrails, electrifications, Boundary wall, Science labs, Library Rooms, Computer Rooms, and Major Repairs works as per state requirements.
To bridge the gap between rural and urban areas in educational access, digital initiatives like ICT Labs, Smart Classrooms, PM e-Vidya including DIKSHA and SWAYAM PRABHA DTH-TV Channels are also being supported under the scheme.
The annual plans are prepared by the States and UTs as per their requirements/ priority including creation/ strengthening of infrastructure, support to teachers’ salary etc. and same is reflected in their respective Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) Proposals. These plans are then appraised and approved by the Project Approval Board (PAB) in the Department of School Education & Literacy in consultation with the States and UTs as per the programmatic and financial norms of the scheme and physical and financial progress of the State for the interventions approved earlier.
The information was given by the Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
APEDA Facilitates Export of GI-Tagged Dalle Chilly from Sikkim to the Solomon Islands 15,000 kg of Dalle Chilly Exported, Boosting Farmer Incomes in Sikkim
Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 3:19PM by PIB Delhi
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has successfully exported the first consignment of GI-Tagged Dalle Chilly from Sikkim to the Solomon Islands. This significant achievement underscores India’s growing prominence in the global organic agricultural market and highlights the increasing international demand for premium products from the North Eastern region.
Dalle Chilly, also known as Fire Ball Chilly or Dalle Khursani, is renowned for its intense pungency, bright red color, and high nutritional value. Rich in vitamins A, C, and E, along with potassium, its Scoville Heat Units (SHU) range from 100,000 to 350,000, making it a sought-after spice for both culinary and medicinal applications.
Through its extensive procurement network, Mevedir sourced approximately 15,000 kg of fresh Dalle Chilly from farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in South Sikkim, including Tinkitam and Tarku regions. This consignment ensured farmers received a premium price of Rs 250-300 per kg, compared to the usual Rs 180-200 per kg, reaffirming the economic benefits of GI tagging and international trade.
The processing of the consignment was undertaken at an APEDA-funded Integrated Pack House, developed by the Department of Horticulture, Sikkim. Of the total quantity, 9,000 kg was dehydrated, while 6,000 kg was preserved for further processing and export. The drying process yielded a 12.5% recovery rate, with 1,600 kg of fresh chillies processed into 200 kg of dried chillies for export.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had earlier emphasized that the North East holds the key to India’s vision for a healthier and more sustainable future. He noted that the Geographical Indication (GI) tag is not just a recognition but a transformative opportunity for farmers and artisans, unlocking new markets and ensuring economic prosperity for the region.
In 2020, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, granted the GI tag to Dalle Chilly, a unique and highly pungent variety grown in Sikkim. The North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) facilitated the GI registration, strengthening the identity and marketability of this specialty product.
The Government of India has been actively promoting organic farming in the North East under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER) scheme, spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. This initiative has played a crucial role in enhancing the production and quality of organic Dalle Chilly, further boosting its appeal in international markets.
APEDA, in collaboration with the Agriculture Department of Sikkim and its Regional Office in Guwahati, played a pivotal role in facilitating this export, ensuring local farmers and FPOs benefit from global market access.
For this landmark export transaction, Mevedir, a leading agri-export enterprise committed to promoting organic produce from Sikkim, directly supplied the first shipment to the Solomon Islands. This marks a departure from previous indirect export routes and highlights the growing trust in India’s organic supply chain. The buyer from the Solomon Islands was introduced to the product through its international debut in Singapore in 2023 and subsequently sought direct sourcing from Mevedir.
The export of Dalle Chilly to the Solomon Islands is expected to enhance Sikkim’s prominence on the global spice map, opening new avenues for international trade. With its ideal climate and fertile soil, Sikkim has the potential to emerge as a key player in the global spice industry. This successful transaction serves as a testament to the increasing global recognition of India’s organic agricultural products and its commitment to expanding agri-exports worldwide.
PMG Reviews Mega Infrastructure Projects in Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal 23 issues across 19 major projects worth INR 63,858 crore reviewed
Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 3:18PM by PIB Delhi
The Project Monitoring Group (PMG) of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) conducted a comprehensive review of key infrastructure projects in Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha.
Officials examined 23 issues across 19 major projects, with a total investment exceeding INR 63,858 crore. This included five projects under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, particularly focusing on Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospitals across all three states. These hospitals aim to provide essential healthcare benefits, including specialized treatments, medicines, and hospitalization, for insured citizens and their families.
Additionally, projects related to the Ministries of Steel, Coal, Road Transport & Highways, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Railways, and Power were reviewed to identify and address bottlenecks, ensuring smooth execution. Notably, the Buxar Thermal Power Plant (1320 MW) project in Bihar, with an estimated cost of INR 10,439.09 crore, was a key focus of discussions.
The meeting, chaired by Principal Economic Advisor, Shri Praveen Mahto, was attended by senior officials from Central Ministries, State Governments, and project proponents to address and resolve pressing issues affecting project execution. Shri Praveen Mahto reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the institutional framework for project monitoring and urged authorities to adopt a proactive approach in resolving pending issues. He emphasized the critical role of private stakeholders in leveraging the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) mechanism ((https://pmg.dpiit.gov.in)) to accelerate project implementation. Enhanced coordination between the Central Government, State Authorities, and the Private Sector remains key to ensuring the timely and efficient execution of these infrastructure projects.
The DPIIT, through its Project Monitoring Group, will continue to facilitate high-impact infrastructure projects, ensuring their timely completion and contributing to India’s economic growth.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the results of Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for the reference period April 2022 to March 2023 (i.e. financial year 2022-23) referred to as ASI 2022-23 in October 2024.
National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2-digit wise estimated total persons engaged based on ASI 2022-23 and ASI 2021-22 along with its growth rate are given in Table at Annexure.
The survey is related to the reference period April 2022 to March 2023 i.e. financial year 2022-23.
The reference period (year) for ASI is the financial year and the actual survey period for ASI is in the subsequent year following the reference period. In this sequence, the field work of ASI 2023-24 has commenced from September 2024.
The estimated number of factories based on ASI 2013-14 and ASI 2022-23 and its growth rate are given below:
Parameter
ASI 2013-14
ASI 2022-23
Growth Rate (%)
Estimated Number of Factories
2,24,576
2,53,334
12.81
*****
Annexure
NIC 2-digit wise Estimated Total Persons Engaged (no.) based on ASI 2021-22 and ASI 2022-23 and Percentage Growth Rate (%)
NIC-
2008
Description
ASI 2021-22
ASI 2022-23
Growth
Rate (%)
1
2
3
4
5
01
COTTON GINNING, CLEANING AND BAILING (01632); SEED PROCESSING FOR PROPAGATION (01640)
77,167
83,315
7.97
08
SALT PRODUCTION BY EVAPORATION OF SEA WATER OR OTHER SALINE WATERS (08932)
6,561
7,928
20.84
10
FOOD PRODUCTS
19,02,472
21,16,320
11.24
11
BEVERAGES
1,65,576
1,80,334
8.91
12
TOBACCO PRODUCTS
4,18,575
4,35,988
4.16
13
TEXTILES
16,59,772
17,22,672
3.79
14
WEARING APPAREL
11,80,573
13,20,172
11.82
15
LEATHER AND RELATED PRODUCTS
3,84,646
4,07,753
6.01
16
WOOD AND PRODUCTS OF WOOD AND CORK, EXCEPT FURNITURE
95,424
1,05,575
10.64
17
PAPER AND PAPER PRODUCTS
3,24,657
3,50,482
7.95
18
PRINTING AND REPRODUCTION OF RECORDED MEDIA
1,37,026
1,55,178
13.25
19
COKE AND REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
1,59,001
1,68,852
6.20
20
CHEMICALS AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
10,26,380
10,58,217
3.10
21
PHARMACEUTICALS, MEDICINAL CHEMICAL AND BOTANICAL PRODUCTS
8,92,308
9,25,811
3.75
22
RUBBER AND PLASTICS PRODUCTS
9,53,779
9,48,210
-0.58
23
OTHER NON-METALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS
10,37,141
10,49,399
1.18
24
BASIC METALS
12,71,623
14,11,577
11.01
25
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, EXCEPT MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
7,05,612
7,77,563
10.20
26
COMPUTER, ELECTRONIC AND OPTICAL PRODUCTS
3,84,733
4,25,174
10.51
27
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
6,65,596
7,70,531
15.77
28
MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT N.E.C.
10,25,773
11,09,876
8.20
29
MOTOR VEHICLES, TRAILERS AND SEMI-TRAILERS
11,75,314
12,64,272
7.57
30
OTHER TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT
3,61,877
3,95,069
9.17
31
MANUFACTURE OF FURNITURE
1,10,881
1,29,801
17.06
32
OTHER MANUFACTURING
5,04,669
5,54,033
9.78
33
REPAIR AND INSTALLATION OF MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
The Statistical Training Needs Assessment (STA) Survey Report systematically evaluates the existing training ecosystem and strategic planning for capacity building. The report highlights not only the existing strengths but also the areas where there are critical skill gaps, particularly in emerging areas. It prioritizes the required skills, examines learning styles and cultural contexts. The findings help to bridge skill gaps and align learning interventions with national priorities.
The National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) organizes training programmes in the field of Official Statistics and related disciplines covering the topics inter alia advanced technologies like AI, Big data analytics and machine learning. NSSTA also leverages the integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) Karmayogi platform for enhancing the competencies including those in advance technologies.
The NSSTA also organizes talks, webinars, seminars, workshops and training programmes to share knowledge and global best practices in the field of Official Statistics and related disciplines.
In the recent National Sample Survey (NSS) rounds, for selected surveys, provision has been made in the sampling design by considering district as ‘Basic Stratum’, so that district level estimates can be generated by the States participating in the surveys.
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in collaboration with MyGov is organising a data visualization hackathon titled ‘Innovate with GoIStats’ during the period 25.2.2025 to 31.03.2025.
The hackathon is organised aiming to create awareness about the data being generated by the Ministry and encourage students and researchers to utilize the data for analysis to create any data visualization by using technology which may include AI/ML. The visualizations would aid dissemination of insights derived from the data for further use by researchers and policy makers.
MoSPI has taken the following measures to promote data literacy and statistical analysis among students and researchers in India:
The official statistics being generated by the Ministry are published on the website of the Ministry and also disseminated through social media handles of the Ministry for use by students and researchers.
MoSPI provides internship opportunities to students pursuing or completed graduate/post-graduate or research scholars in recognized institutes / universities / research institutes under the ‘National Internship in Official Statistics’ programme.
MoSPI promotes research in official statistics by way of providing financial assistance under the Grant-in-Aid component of the Capacity Development scheme of the Ministry.
The National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) organizes one-week awareness programme on official statistics for Heads of the Departments and UG/PG Students of Departments of Statistics / Economics / Social Science of Central and State Universities.
NSSTA also organises one-day awareness workshop on official statistics for UG/PG students of Departments of Statistics/ Economics/Social Science at the campuses of the Universities/ Colleges.
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
MeitY to host ‘Nano Electronics Roadshow and Conference on Semiconductor Ecosystem in India’ at Bengaluru on March 27, 2025 Grand roadshow to showcase breakthroughs in quantum technology, neuromorphic computing, AI, IT, electronics and indigenous nanoelectronics advancements
The roadshow to bring together key stakeholders, showcase innovation and drive investments for Atmanirbhar Bharat
Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 2:56PM by PIB Delhi
The Nanotechnology Initiatives Division of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in partnership with IISc Bengaluru, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT Guwahati, will be organizing the Nano Electronics Roadshow and Conference on Semiconductor Ecosystem in India. The event is scheduled for March 27, 2025, starting from 9:00 AM onwards at the National Science Seminar Complex, IISc Bengaluru.
This initiative aims to bring together key stakeholders from government, industry, academia, strategic sectors, startups, and the VC ecosystem to drive innovation and collaboration in the segment.
Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, will grace the event as the Chief Guest in the august presence of our Guests of Honour— Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY; Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO, Anusandhan National Research Foundation; Utpal Shah, Senior VP, Strategy and Business Development, Tata Electronics; Anand Ramamoorthy, Managing Director, Micron; V. Narayanan, Chair, ISRO.
Roadshow on tech innovations The roadshow will encompass a diverse range of topics, including quantum technology, neuromorphic computing, opportunities in AI, IT, and electronics, as well as a showcase of indigenous advancements in nanoelectronics technology. Speaking about the conference, Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, said, “The Nanotechnology Roadshow is a very critical part of India’s pathway towards semiconductor self-sufficiency in the years to come. MeitY had promoted Nano science centres in 6 IITs and the Indian Institute of Science across the country in order to ensure that we have a dedicated team of scientists, technologists, and professionals in the semiconductor space built up over a period of time. Today we have an occasion to actually have many of the deep tech startups, many technology demonstrations, industries who have benefited from this programme coming together. Almost 50 technology demonstrations are being held, 25 deep-tech startups are participating who are specifically involved in the Nano Electronic space, 25 Venture Capitals will be participating alongside 25 more industries. We expect that this event will be the first of many more which will lead India in its part towards semiconductor self sufficiency and in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of a self-sufficient, self-reliant India under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).”
The roadshow will also serve as a platform for India’s vibrant electronics startup ecosystem to showcase their innovations and pitch to an extensive network of Venture Capital firms, aiming to secure investment and accelerate growth.
With India’s increasing focus on Atmanirbhar Bharat, this initiative underscores the Government’s commitment to achieving self-reliance in electronics innovation and manufacturing. By fostering collaboration between industry and academia, the Ministry aims to cultivate a thriving ecosystem that encourages innovation and sustainable growth in the nanoelectronics sector.
Neither any RTI nor any Public Grievance received by the end of 2024 was pending for disposal and in 2025 as on 17.03.2025, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has received 57 RTIs and 333 Public Grievances and all have been disposed off.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan says that Central Government completely abolished the 20 percent export duty on onion Giving remunerative prices to farmers, ensuring fair prices is priority and commitment of Modi government: Shri Chouhan Farmers Deserve Remunerative Prices for Onions in Global Markets: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 2:21PM by PIB Delhi
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the Modi Government is a farmer-friendly government and giving remunerative prices to farmers, ensuring fair prices is its priority and commitment. Shri Chauhan told today that earlier 40% export duty was levied on onions but when the price of onions started falling and farmers started getting less price, then the government decided to reduce the export duty on onion from 40% to 20%. Today the government has decided that the 20% export duty should also be completely removed. The removal of export duty on onions will enable our farmers’ hard-earned produce to reach global markets duty-free, securing better and more remunerative prices.
Advancing Cashless India ₹1,500 Cr Incentive Scheme for Low-Value BHIM-UPI Transactions
Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 2:09PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹1,500 crore incentive scheme for FY 2024–25 to promote low-value BHIM-UPI (P2M) transactions and encourage digital payments among small merchants.
The scheme ensures zero MDR on UPI transactions and offers a 0.15% incentive for transactions up to ₹2,000 made to small merchants.
The scheme aims to expand UPI infrastructure across rural and semi-urban areas through tools like UPI 123PAY, Lite, and LiteX.
According to the ACI Worldwide Report 2024, India contributed 49% of all global real-time transactions in 2023 — reaffirming its position as a global leader in digital payment innovation.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the ‘Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Low-Value BHIM-UPI Transactions (Person to Merchant – P2M)’ for the financial year 2024-25. This step supports the Government’s goal of boosting digital payments, encouraging small merchants to adopt UPI, and promoting financial inclusion.
Strengthening India’s Digital Payment Ecosystem
Promotion of digital payments is an integral part of the Government’s strategy for financial inclusion and providing wide-ranging payment options to the common man.
The expenditure incurred by the digital payment industry for providing services to customers/merchants is recovered through the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR). The merchant discount rate (MDR) is a fee that merchants and other businesses must pay to a payment processing company on debit or credit card transactions. The MDR typically comes in the form of a percentage of the transaction amount.
As per RBI, MDR of up to 0.90% of the transaction value is applicable across all card networks for debit cards. As per NPCI, MDR of up to 0.30% is applicable for UPI P2M (Person to Merchant) transactions. Since January 2020, to promote digital transactions, MDR has been made zero for RuPay Debit Card and BHIM-UPI transactions through amendments in Section 10A of the Payments and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 and Section 269SU of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
To support payment ecosystem participants in effective service delivery, the Government has implemented the “Incentive scheme for promotion of RuPay Debit Cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions (P2M)”, with due Cabinet approval. The incentive is paid by the Government to the Acquiring Bank (merchant’s bank) and is then shared among other stakeholders: Issuer Bank (customer’s bank), Payment Service Provider Bank (facilitates UPI onboarding/API integration), and App Providers (TPAPs). Year-wise incentive payout by the Government (in Rs. crore) during the last three financial years:
Scheme overview
The incentive scheme for promotion of low-value BHIM-UPI transactions (P2M) will be implemented at an estimated outlay of Rs1,500 crore, from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025. It exclusively covers UPI (Person to Merchant – P2M) transactions of up to ₹2,000, specifically targeting small merchants to encourage the adoption of digital payments at the grassroots level.
UPI transactions have seen a significant surge in recent years, with total transaction value rising from ₹21.3 lakhcrore in FY2019-20 to ₹213.8 lakh crore till January 2025. Of this, Person to Merchant (P2M) transactions have grown steadily, reaching ₹59.3 lakh crore, reflecting increased digital payment adoption among merchants.
P2P-Person to Person, P2M-Person to merchants
Scheme objectives
Promote BHIM-UPI Platform: Aim to reach ₹20,000 crore in transaction volume during FY 2024-25.
Strengthen Payment Infrastructure: Support participants in building secure digital payment systems.
Ensure Reliability: Maintain high uptime and reduce technical declines.
Rural Penetration: Expand UPI services in tier 3 to 6 cities and remote areas using:
UPI 123PAY (for feature phones)
UPI Lite and UPI LiteX (for offline payments)
Incentive Structure
Under the approved scheme, incentives are designed based on the merchant category and transaction value. For small merchants, UPI transactions up to ₹2,000 will attract zero Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) and will be eligible for an incentive of 0.15% of the transaction value. For transactions above ₹2,000, there will be zero MDR but no incentive. In the case of large merchants, all transactions—regardless of the amount—will have zero MDR and will not carry any incentive.
Reimbursementmechanism
80% of the admitted claim amount by the acquiring banks will be disbursed unconditionally each quarter.
Remaining 20% will be disbursed based on the following performance criteria:
10% of the admitted claim will be paid only if the acquiring bank’s technical decline rate (failed transactions due to technical issues on their side) is less than 0.75%.
The remaining 10% of the admitted claim will be paid only if the acquiring bank’s system uptime (availability of their systems) is more than 99.5%.
UPI – Benefits to merchants
Key benefits of scheme
Convenience & Speed: Seamless, secure, and fast payments improve cash flow and provide digital credit access.
No Extra Charges: Citizens can pay digitally without any additional fees.
Support for Small Merchants: Encourages cost-sensitive merchants to accept UPI payments.
Less-Cash Economy: Promotes formal, accountable digital transactions.
System Efficiency: High uptime and low failure rate conditions ensure reliable 24×7 payment services.
Balanced Approach: Encourages digital growth while managing Government expenditure prudently.
Unique features of BHIM-UPI
Instant Transfers: Round-the-clock money transfer via mobile devices, all 365 days.
Unified Access: One mobile app to access multiple bank accounts.
Single Click 2FA: Strong, seamless two-factor authentication.
Virtual Addresses: Enhanced security—no need to enter card or bank details.
QR Code Payments: Easy scan-and-pay experience.
Versatile Use: Suitable for in-app purchases, utility bills, donations, collections, and more.
Direct Complaint Handling: Users can raise issues via the mobile app itself.
UPI’s Global Expansion
India’s digital payments movement is gaining global attention, with UPI and RuPay expanding across borders. UPI is now operational in seven countries: UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, and Mauritius.
France marks UPI’s debut in Europe, allowing smooth payments for Indians abroad.
UPI is also being promoted within the BRICS group, enhancing remittances, financial inclusion, and global recognition.
As per the ACI Worldwide Report 2024, India accounted for 49% of all global real-time transactions in 2023 underscoring India’s leadership in digital payment innovation.
Towards an inclusive digital economy
The approved incentive scheme for FY 2024-25 marks a major step forward in India’s digital journey. It not only supports the use of BHIM-UPI among small merchants but also strengthens the country’s financial infrastructure. With UPI leading globally, India continues to set benchmarks in innovation, inclusion, and secure digital payments. Through this initiative, the Government aims to ensure that businesses of all sizes—especially at the grassroots—can benefit from seamless, secure, and cost-effective cashless transactions.
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu graced the silver jubilee function of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly at Raipur today (March 24, 2025).
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly has set the highest standards of democratic traditions. It has made an extraordinary rule of automatic suspension of members who enter the well during the proceedings of the House and has followed it. She was happy to note that during the last 25 years, the Marshall never had to be used. She said that the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly has presented a unique example of excellent parliamentary conduct not only to the rest of India but also to all the democratic systems of the world.
The President urged women MLAs to support all other women. She said that when they promote women working in various fields, everyone’s attention will be drawn to those women and the path of their development will be paved. She stated that whether they are teachers or officers, social workers or entrepreneurs, scientists or artists, laborers or farmers, often our sisters make their place in the outside world while fulfilling day-to-day household responsibilities and struggling hard. When all the women empower each other, our society will become stronger and more sensitive.
The President said that Chhattisgarh has immense possibilities for development. There are ample opportunities for development in sectors like cement, mineral industry, steel, aluminum, and power generation. This beautiful state is rich in lush green forests, waterfalls, and other natural boons. She urged policymakers of the state to ensure environmental conservation while moving ahead on the path of development. She said that they also have the responsibility of connecting all sections of society with the journey of modern development.
Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), namely Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), are implementing various measures to ensure the sustainable utilization of mine water for irrigation use. Excess mine water is gainfully utilized for industrial, and community use, including irrigation and domestic use, thereby reducing the need for groundwater extraction for such purposes. Regular monitoring and quality checks are conducted by accredited laboratories to ensure that the water meets the required standards for irrigation and domestic use. Rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge measures are implemented alongside mine water utilization to maintain the groundwater balance. During FY 2024-25 (up to February 2025), Coal and Lignite PSUs have supplied approximately 3963 Lakh Kilo Liters (LKL) of treated mine water for domestic and irrigation use to local communities in and around coal and lignite mining areas in the respective states.
Investment on infrastructure for mine water treatment has been made by Coal and Lignite PSUs on a regular basis in coal and lignite mining areas. Mine water treatment infrastructure forms an integral part of mining operations as per the statutory provisions mentioned in the Environment Clearance, Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate of the coal and lignite mining projects and includes such as effluent treatment plants for treating industrial discharge, water filter plants to ensure treated mine water meets quality standards, sedimentation tanks for filtration and settling of suspended particles, maintenance and upgradation of existing water treatment infrastructure to enhance efficiency and capacity, etc.
An MoU has been executed between Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) and Maharashtra State Power Generation Corporation Limited for supplying treated mine water from Bhanegaon Open Cast Mine to Kapakheda Thermal Power Station. Due to this, water from the Irrigation Department, which was previously catering to the water requirements of the thermal power station is now available for domestic and irrigation purposes.
This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Supply of coal to thermal power plants was earlier governed by New Coal Distribution Policy, 2007 (NCDP). The provisions of coal linkages of NCDP for power sector have been replaced by the Shakti Policy, 2017. Coal under these policies is supplied as per the commercial terms and conditions of the Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) executed between the coal companies and the power plants. It has been decided by the Government in 2022 that the coal to meet the full Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) requirement of all the existing linkage holders of Power Sector shall be made available by the coal companies irrespective of the trigger and Annual Contracted Quantity (ACQ) levels. Coal Supply beyond the ACQ under the FSA has enabled supply of coal as per the requirement of the power plants. In addition, coal is also sold by the coal companies under the Single Window e-auctions, which caters to all the sectors including power sector.
In case of coal supply under FSA, pricing of coal is done as per commercial terms, conditions of the FSA and the price notifications issued by Coal India Limited / Singareni Collieries Company Limited from time to time.
The focus of the Government is on increasing the domestic production of coal to ensure sufficient availability of domestic coal. The country has witnessed highest ever coal production in the year 2023-24. The all-India coal production during the year 2023-24 was 997.826 Million Tonne (MT). In the current year 2024-25, the country has produced 929.15 MT (provisional) of coal (upto February, 2025) in comparison to 881.16 MT in the corresponding period of the last year 2023-24 with a growth rate of 5.45%.
The steps taken by the Government to ensure adequate coal availability and enhance coal production in the country are as under:
Regular reviews by Ministry of Coal to expedite the development of coal blocks.
Enactment of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021 [MMDR Act] for enabling captive mines owners (other than atomic minerals) to sell up to 50% of their annual mineral (including coal) production in the open market after meeting the requirement of the end use plant linked with the mine in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government on payment of such additional amount.
Single Window Clearance portal for the coal sector to speed up the operationalization of coal mines.
Project Monitoring Unit for hand-holding of coal block allottees for obtaining various approvals / clearances for early operationalization of coal mines.
Auction of commercial mining on revenue sharing basis launched in 2020. Under commercial mining scheme, rebate of 50 % on final offer has been allowed for the quantity of coal produced earlier than scheduled date of production. Further, incentives on coal gasification or liquefaction (rebate of 50 % on final offer) have been granted.
Terms and conditions of commercial coal mining are very liberal with no restriction on utilization of coal, allowing new companies to participate in the bidding process, reduced upfront amount, adjustment of upfront amount against monthly payment, liberal efficiency parameters to encourage flexibility to operationalize the coal mines, transparent bidding process, 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through automatic route and revenue sharing model based on the National Coal Index.
In addition to the above, coal companies have also taken the following steps to increase domestic coal production:
Coal India Limited (CIL) has adopted a number of measures to increase coal production. In its Underground (UG) mines, CIL is adopting Mass Production Technologies (MPT), mainly with Continuous Miners (CMs), wherever feasible. CIL has also planned Highwalls (HW) mines in view of the availability of Abandoned/ Discontinued mines. CIL is also planning large capacity UG mines wherever feasible. In its Opencast (OC) mines, CIL already has State-of-the- Art technology in its high-capacity Excavators, Dumpers and Surface Miners.
Regular liaison is being undertaken by Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) for grounding of new projects and operation of existing projects. SCCL has initiated action for developing infrastructure for evacuation of coal like Coal Handling Plants (CHPs), Crushers, Mobile Crushers, Pre-weigh-bins etc.
This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Indian Army doctors conduct over 350 cataract surgeries during five-day camp at 158 Base Hospital in West Bengal 17 ex-servicemen & their dependents from Nepal with ophthalmic ailments successfully treated free of cost
Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 12:58PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Army conducted a state-of-the-art eye surgical camp at 158 Base Hospital, Bagdogra, West Bengal from March 20 to 24, 2025, providing advanced medical care to ex-servicemen. A total of 1,752 ex-servicemen and their dependents were screened for various ophthalmic ailments, including cataract. An expert medical team from Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi; Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt and Command Hospital, Lucknow cumulatively conducted more than 350 cataract surgeries over five days.
In addition, over 500 high-standard glasses were distributed free of cost. The use of top-tier equipment and high-quality lenses ensured that patients received the best possible care, reinforcing the Ministry of Defence’s emphasis on quality healthcare under the leadership of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh.
The biggest highlight of the camp was the Ophthalmic patients from Nepal. A total of 17 ex-servicemen including their dependents were screened for ophthalmic ailments and some of them were subjected to cataract surgeries free of cost with high-quality lenses.
This initiative was spearheaded by Brig Sanjay Kumar Mishra, an ophthalmic surgeon and the Head of Department of Ophthalmology at Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi. Brig SK Mishra has been credited to perform over one lakh successful cataract, vitreoretinal, refractive and glaucoma surgeries. He stated that the camp had brought world-class treatment at the doorsteps of veterans who have devoted their life to the nation in the foothills of the Himalayas, spanning a vast region of West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, and even Nepal. It was ensured that the veterans receive the care they deserve without the need to travel, he added.
The camp was conducted under the directives of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on the request of Governor of West Bengal Shri CV Ananda Bose, extending high-quality ophthalmic treatment to the region. This initiative is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Indian Army in ensuring top-tier medical services reach our veterans in an eastern sector.
This initiative highlighted the Indian Army’s commitment to the well-being of its veterans and their families. It is a testament to the collaborative efforts between the state and military leadership, especially the Trishakti Corps, to enhance healthcare access for the bravehearts who have served the nation.
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: POTABLE WATER CONNECTIONS TO SC HOUSEHOLDS UNDER NRDWP
Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 12:23PM by PIB Delhi
Since August 2019, the Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), after subsuming erstwhile National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), for making provision of potable water supply through functional tap water connection i.e. at a service level of 55 litre per capita per day (lpcd), of prescribed quality (BIS:10500), on regular and long-term basis to every rural household of the country inter alia including Scheduled Caste (SC).
JJM follows a universal approach for coverage of rural households. Further, while allocating the fund under JJM, 10% weightage is assigned for rural SC/ ST population, so as to prioritize their coverage. Also, States/ UTs have been advised to prioritize the coverage of SC/ST concentrated villages. As reported by States, out of 215.75 lakh rural households in SC dominated habitations, as on 17.03.2025, more than 172.86 lakh (80.12%) households have been provided with tap water connection. State/ UT-wise details of tap water connections in SCs concentrated areas as on 17.03.2025 are BELOW. Details of Scheduled Castes (SCs) households provided with tap water connection is not maintained at Government of India level.
Further, 22% of annual allocation of fund under JJM is mandatorily earmarked for Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP). The detail of funds allocated under JJM and fund drawn by the States under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan is as follows:
(Amount in Rs. Crore)
Year
Allocation as per RE
Actual Utilization
Fund drawn by States under SCSP
2019-20
10,000.66
10,000.44
2,200.15
2020-21
11,000
10,999.94
2,508.90
2021-22
45,011
40,125.64
8,826.30
2022-23
55,000
54,839.79
12,100
2023-24
70,000
69,992.34
15,400
2024-25*
22,694
22,485.88
4,967.68
*As on 17.03.2025
Water being a State subject, the responsibility of planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, lies with State/ UT Governments. States/ UTs have been advised, through numerous review meetings, field visits, etc., to ensure functionality of tap water connections provided inter alia including quantity, quality and regularity of water supplied to all the rural households. Further, no such information with regard to disparity among the States in providing tap water connections to SC households has so far been received in this Department.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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State/ UT-wise status of tap water connections in rural households in SC dominated areas
Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) [SBM(G)] was launched on 2nd October, 2014 with the aim to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in rural areas by 2nd October, 2019 by providing access to toilets to all rural households. Under SBM(G), sanitation coverage was increased from 39% in 2014 to 100% in 2019 with over 10 crore Individual household Latrines (IHHLs) constructed under Phase-I of SBM(G) and all the villages of the country declared themselves ODF by 2nd October, 2019.
Having achieved the ODF status, Phase-II of SBM (G) has been launched with effect from 1st April, 2020, with the focus on ODF sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) in villages i.e. to convert the villages from ODF to ODF Plus (Model) by 2025-26. ODF Plus progress is captured in three categories viz. Aspiring and Rising (intermediate categories) and Model (final category). As per the data reported by the States/UTs on online Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of SBM(G), out of 5,86,788 villages in the country, 5,64,096 villages have declared themselves Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus (1,12,115 Aspiring, 7,337 Rising and 4,44,644 Model) and 5,03,585 villages have been covered with Solid Waste Management (SWM) and 5,22,462 villages have been covered with Liquid Waste Management (LWM) in the Country as on 17-03-2025.
The main features of SBM(G) are as under :-
Providing flexibility to State governments, as sanitation is a State subject, to decide on their implementation policy, use of funds and mechanisms, taking into account State specific requirements.
Strengthening the capacities of implementing agencies to roll out the programme in a time-bound manner and to measure collective outcomes
The funds released since last 10 years and current year under SBM(G) are as under :
(Rs. in crore)
Year
Release
2014-15
2849.95
2015-16
6524.53
2016-17
10496.04
2017-18
16941.96
2018-19
21629.79
2019-20
11845.71
2020-21
4947.92
2021-22
3111.37
2022-23
4925.14
2023-24
6802.58
2024-25
3014.06
Fund sharing under SBM(G) between the Centre and the States is in the ratio of 60:40 for all components for the normal States; 90:10 in case of 8 North Eastern States (including Sikkim) and Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and UT of Jammu & Kashmir. In the case of other UTs, 100% share is borne by the Centre.
As per the data reported by the States/UTs on online Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of SBM(G), 11.83 crore Individual household latrines (IHHLs) and 2.53 lakh Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs) have been constructed under SBM(G). Also out of 5,86,788 villages in the country, 5,64,096 villages have declared themselves Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus (1,12,115 Aspiring, 7,337 Rising and 4,44,644 Model) and 5,03,585 villages have been covered with Solid Waste Management (SWM) and 5,22,462 villages have been covered with Liquid Waste Management (LWM) in the Country as on 17-03-2025.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Since August, 2019, Government of India is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in partnership with States to make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to every rural household in the country. Water being a state subject, the responsibility of planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes/ works, including those under the Jal Jeevan Mission, lies with State/UT Governments. The Government of India supports the States by providing technical and financial assistance. States/ UTs report data (related to coverage of tap connections and progress of the mission) through the means of field survey on households provided with tap connections and remaining households, or as per the methodology adopted by States/ UTs in this regard. Details of such surveys are not maintained by Ministry of Jal Shakti.
For capturing the coverage of tap connections in States/ UTs, Ministry of Jal Shakti has developed a robust online JJM dashboard which provides State/ UT, district and village-wise progress of the mission. After reporting of the data regarding progress of JJM, by States/ UTs on JJM dashboard, the same gets recorded and starts reflecting on JJM dashboard which is available in public domain and can be accessed at: https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx
As per the information reported by States/ UTs on JJM dashboard, around 89% of Schools and 85% of Anganwadis are reported to have been covered with tap water supply in the country.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal, is being implemented since August, 2019, in partnership with States, to make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to rural households. The Government of India supports the States by providing technical and financial assistance. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, as per existing guidelines, Bureau of Indian Standards’ BIS:10500 standards are adopted as benchmark for quality of water being supplied through the piped water supply schemes. Drinking Water being a State subject, the responsibility of Planning, Approval, Implementation, Operation & Maintenance of drinking water supply schemes, including those under the Jal Jeevan Mission, is vested with State/UT Governments. The choice of technology, best suited to the context in a State/UT, for making provision of potable water supply to households is to be decided by the respective State/UT Governments.
A Handbook on Drinking Water Treatment Technologies was released in March 2023 to disseminate information regarding new technologies available amongst all stakeholders to understand and implement the new technologies that address local issues and challenges faced in water-quality affected villages. The States may take up appropriate numbers of water treatment system of one or a combination of technologies depending upon techno-economic feasibility. As on date, as reported by the States/ UTs there are a total of 35,578 water treatment plants geo-tagged under JJM for various categories of schemes. The details are placed at below.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
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DHANYA SANAL K
(Lok Sabha US Q3401)
State and UT wise details of water treatment plant which have been geo-tagged and reported on JJM-IMIS
Since August, 2019, Government of India is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in partnership with States to make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to every rural household in the country.
Water being a state subject, the responsibility of planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes/ works, including those under the Jal Jeevan Mission, lies with State/UT Governments. The Government of India supports the States by providing technical and financial assistance.
As reported by State Government of Andhra Pradesh, the details of the water sources utilized for water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), source type, State and district-wise in Andhra Pradesh, including those in Konaseema district, are at below.
The number of tap connections receiving water supply from the above-mentioned sources in Konaseema district, water source-wise, are as under:
Name of the District
No.of Tap connections receiving water
Ground Water Based
Surface Water Based
Ground Water & Surface Water both
Konaseema
1,28,558
84,856
72,537
The details of Ground Water levels in meters (Below Ground level) in Konaseema district during last 5 years is enclosed at below.
As reported by Government of Andhra Pradesh, assessment of variation of water levels of 1524 Summer Storage tanks in the state and 42 Summer Storage tanks in Konaseema District, fed from canals is being carried out through a mobile application developed for capturing photo and Geotagging of Summer Storage tanks and the supply is planned accordingly.
Also, assessment of variation in Ground water levels is being done as per the data received Ground Water department and the supply is planned accordingly.
Ministry of Jal Shakti does not monitor water levels for JJM sources. However, development of reliable drinking water sources and/ or augmentation of existing sources to provide long-term sustainability of water supply system in villages, is an integral part of JJM. To achieve this objective, following provisions have been made in operational guidelines for the implementation of JJM:
i.) Any water supply scheme undertaken under JJM is approved only after the recommendation of a Source Finding Committee of the respective state government, to the effect that the identified water source through which the scheme is planned, has sufficient yield for sustaining water supply as per required norm, for the scheme design period.
ii.) Development/ strengthening/ augmentation of drinking water sources and infrastructure for bulk transfer of water, treatment, and distribution systems in water deficit drought-prone and desert areas without dependable ground water sources apart from creation of in-village water supply infrastructure.
iii.) Strengthening of drinking water sources in convergence with other schemes such as MGNREGS, Finance Commission grants to rural local bodies/ PRIs, MP & MLA’s Local Area Development Fund, District Mineral Development Fund, CSR fund, etc.
Besides, National Water Mission (NWM) has developed a guidance document titled “Simple and Practical Methods of Artificial Recharge of Groundwater Augmentation” in the form of FAQs to provide technical support. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities have also been undertaken to spread awareness about the initiative. A monitoring and evaluation framework has also been established through the Jal Sanchay Dashboard, which tracks progress with geo-tagged locations of recharge structures. CWC and CGWB also provide technical assistance for the creation and renovation of recharge structures to improve groundwater augmentation efforts.
In so far as Government of Andhra Pradesh is concerned, State has taken number of steps towards monitoring of drinking water sources viz. Geo-tagging of sources and summer tanks, tracking water levels of summer storage tanks, feeding from canals through mobile application for capturing photo.
Also, State is constructing Ground Water Recharge Structures under MGNREGS programme to rejuvenate/improve ground water levels in villages near JJM sources. All the summer storage tanks are filled well before the canal closure period to ensure uninterrupted water supply to Households during summer.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
The North and South Blocks in New Delhi are set to house the new national museum, named as Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum. This initiative is part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. It includes the transformation of two blocks of symmetrical buildings into museum spaces for the creation of a new National Museum elucidating the thousands-year-old civilizational and cultural heritage. An agreement has been signed on 19th December, 2024 between National Museum & France Museums Development for the technical cooperation for the development of the upcoming museum.
The project timeline and budget allocation is contingent on the outcomes of the feasibility study and subsequent formalities.
This project aimed at showcasing India’s cultural heritage – a celebration of timeless & eternal India to explore our proud past, illuminate the present & imagine the bright future.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
To preserve and promote India’s rich cultural heritage, the Ministry of Culture has established the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM). Implemented by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), the mission aims to document India’s cultural heritage and its potential to revitalize rural economics.
As a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, NMCM launched Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) portal in June 2023 (https://mgmd.gov.in/). This initiative aims to document the cultural heritage of 6.5 lakh villages of India. Currently, 4.5 lakh villages are live on the portal with their respective cultural portfolios.
The MGMD portal captures a wide range of cultural elements, including oral traditions, beliefs, customs, historical significance, art forms, traditional food, prominent artists, fairs and festivals, traditional dress, ornaments and local landmarks. This Portal also includes the cultural expressions of India’s marginalizedcommunities and lesser-known traditions across the country.
NMCM is a significant step towards preserving India’s cultural heritage and empowering rural communities. By documenting and promoting cultural assets, the mission aims to strengthen cultural identity and foster economic development.
Project PARI (Public Art of India) is a collaborative initiative by the Ministry of Culture, Lalit Kala Akademi, and the National Gallery of Modern Art to revitalize India’s public art landscape. Drawing inspiration from India’s rich artistic heritage and contemporary themes, it aims to create public art that reflects the nation’s cultural identity. Launched during the 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting, Project PARI encourages dialogue and inspiration through a fusion of traditional and modern art forms. The first major event took place in Delhi from July 21-31, 2024, coinciding with the World Heritage Committee session. This collaborative effort brought together over 200 visual artists from across India, with the aim of presenting India’s artistic heritage in all its glory. A significant number of women artists have also actively participated in this program with immense enthusiasm. The initiative was hosted at iconic locations in Delhi, such as Africa Avenue, near Leela Hotel, and the Kiosk inside Bharat Mandapam, near IGI Airport, ITO Bridge, and many more locations etc. transforming these spaces into vibrant canvases that celebrated the unique artistic traditions and styles from various states.
A total of 23 art forms were displayed during this initiative, including Phad, Gond, Kalamkari, Pichwai, Thangka, Cheriyal, Lanjja Saura, Bani Thani, Warli, Pithora, Aipan, Kerala Mural, Alpona (Tripura), Bundi, Pattachitra, Kangra, Bengal Patua, Santhal, Sohrai, Kohbar, Kaavi, and Shora, among others in the prominent location in Delhi. Additionally, sculptures made from hues and scrap materials were also created by the artists at some of Delhi’s prime locations, further enhancing the diversity and innovation of the public art installations.
This initiative was dedicated to India’s cultural richness and heritage, offering a unique opportunity for people to explore and engage with diverse art forms, while fostering a deeper appreciation for the country’s artistic diversity through public art.
To ensure that Project PARI (Public Art of India) remains inclusive, the government has taken several impactful steps. Firstly, artists from various states across India have been given a platform, promoting regional art forms like Phad, Gond, Warli, and Pichwai, etc, ensuring these art forms receive the recognition they deserve. In addition, historians and cultural experts have played a key role in highlighting the historical and cultural significance of these art forms, ensuring they are presented in the right context. Furthermore, the government has made dedicated efforts to promote lesser-known regional art forms, such as Saura, Kangra Painting, and Santhal Art etc, providing them with much-needed visibility. These steps have made Project PARI not only inclusive but also a vibrant platform for showcasing India’s diverse and rich cultural heritage to the world.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
