Category: India

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Excel in frontier tech by making best use of internationally-competitive infrastructure being set-up in India: Raksha Mantri to youth during National Science Day celebrations in Hyderabad

Source: Government of India

Excel in frontier tech by making best use of internationally-competitive infrastructure being set-up in India: Raksha Mantri to youth during National Science Day celebrations in Hyderabad

“India can remain strong & secure in adverse situations if it has solutions to critical technological challenges”

Govt’s endeavour is to harness the potential of India’s youth to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, says Shri Rajnath Singh

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 2:43PM by PIB Delhi

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called upon the youth to inculcate scientific temper and excel in frontier technologies by making best use of the internationally-competitive infrastructure being established in the country due to the Government’s efforts. He was inaugurating Vigyan Vaibhav, a two-day science and technology extravaganza organised in Hyderabad, Telangana as part of National Science Day celebrations on February 28, 2025.

“War is increasingly moving from hardware to software-oriented. New technological breakthroughs are on the horizon and we have to take a lead in transformative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Machine Learning and Clean-tech. India can remain strong and secure in adverse situations if it has solutions to critical technological challenges. Our youth must adopt scientific outlook & critical thinking and try to go beyond the ordinary,” said Shri Rajnath Singh. He recalled the words of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who said “Science is a beautiful gift to humanity; we should not distort it but use it for betterment of society”.

Raksha Mantri reiterated Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government’s commitment to harness modern technology for the safety and security of the nation, terming education in the field as crucial for the future. India’s youth possesses tremendous potential and it is the Government’s endeavour to harness their capabilities to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh threw light on the New Education Policy 2020 which aims to transform science education in the country by encouraging creativity, critical thinking and innovation. He added that the theme of this year’s National Science Day i.e. ‘Empowering Indian youth for global leadership in Science and Innovation for Viksit Bharat’ reflects the same approach. He described the theme as a reflection of New India’s aspiration for progress through innovation and global scientific leadership.

Speaking on the occasion, Telangana Chief Minister Shri A Revanth Reddy stated that Hyderabad has long been a hub of scientific excellence and technological innovation. He urged the young minds participating in Vigyan Vaibhav 2025 to dream big and embrace innovation with passion.

As part of the event, a grand exhibition has been organised which welcomed over 30,000 students. Featuring 200+ exhibition stalls, it provided a rare opportunity for students to witness cutting-edge defence and aerospace technologies developed by DRDO and leading Indian industries. The exhibition aimed to ignite curiosity, inspire innovation, and encourage young minds to pursue careers in STEM fields, fostering the next generation of scientists, engineers, techno-preneurs who will propel India towards global technological leadership.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat; President, Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) Dr G Satheesh Reddy; Director Generals and Directors of DRDO; CMDs of PSUs and heads of industries attended the event.

Vigyan Vaibhav is jointly organised by DRDO, AeSI, and Kalam Institute of Youth Excellence to commemorate National Science Day in honour of legendary scientist Sir CV Raman and his ground-breaking contributions to science. The event brings together policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, academicians, and young innovators to discuss and showcase advancements that will shape the nation’s future. As India advances towards Viksit Bharat by 2047, it serves as a reminder that the path to self-reliance is paved with scientific excellence, innovation, and collaboration.

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SR/Savvy

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda inaugurates 9th National Summit on Good & Replicable Practices and Innovation in Public Healthcare System in Puri, Odisha

Source: Government of India

Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda inaugurates 9th National Summit on Good & Replicable Practices and Innovation in Public Healthcare System in Puri, Odisha

National Health Policy 2017 brought about a paradigm shift in approach from curative healthcare to one that encompasses curative as well as preventive, promotive and comprehensive aspects: Shri JP Nadda

“Work done on Ayushman Arogya Mandir under the National Health Mission has strengthened the foundation of primary healthcare in the overall healthcare pyramid”

“Decline of Maternal Mortality Rate in India is double that of the global decline which highlights the effort taken in strengthening the healthcare system from the grassroot level. The Infant Mortality Rate and Under 5 Mortality Rate has also seen a noteworthy downfall”

“WHO’s World Malaria Report 2024 and Global TB Report 2024 acknowledges India’s significant achievements towards the goal of elimination of both the diseases”

Shri Nadda highlights the importance of Jan Bhagidari; credits ASHA workers, SHOs and other grassroot level health workers for the achievements made in the healthcare sector

Emphasizes the importance of making lifestyle changes to counter the threat of Non-Communicable Diseases

Merging of Odisha’s Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana with the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is a momentous step as people from Odisha can now access over 29,000 private hospitals across the country, benefiting over 4.5 crore people, especially the migrant workers: Shri Mohan Charan Majhi

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 2:27PM by PIB Delhi

Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated the 9th National Summit on Good & Replicable Practices and Innovation in the Public Healthcare System in Puri, Odisha today in the presence of Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister, Odisha; Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Health Minister, Odisha and Dr Sambit Patra, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Puri.

The 2 days summit will showcase and document various best practices and innovations adopted by States and UTs for addressing their public health challenges. It will also provide an opportunity for knowledge sharing and cross-learning among the States/UTs.

Addressing the session, Shri JP Nadda highlighted that India has made a significant stride in healthcare since 2014. He stated that the National Health Policy 2017 brought about a paradigm shift in approach from curative healthcare to one that encompasses curative as well as preventive, promotive and comprehensive aspects. Similarly, the Union Minister noted that the government has also given a lot of impetus to tertiary healthcare in addition to improving primary and secondary healthcare.

He noted that the Union Government’s focus is on ensuring quality and affordable healthcare services for the people. On this note, he stated that the work done on Ayushman Arogya Mandir under the National Health Mission has strengthened the foundation of primary healthcare in the overall healthcare pyramid.

Shri Nadda stated that “the decline of Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in India is double that of the global decline which highlights the effort taken in strengthening the healthcare system from the grassroot level. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Under 5 Mortality Rate has also seen a noteworthy downfall.” He also credited Odisha for its appreciable strides in IMR and MMR.

The Union Health Minister highlighted that “the WHO’s World Malaria Report 2024 acknowledges India’s significant reduction in malaria cases. Similarly, India has witnessed a noteworthy 17.7% decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2023, a rate that is over twice the global average decline of 8.3% according to the WHO Global TB Report 2024”. He noted that despite the COVID-19 setback, India has not diluted its TB eradication target. He highlighted the ongoing 100-Day TB Elimination Campaign, spanning 455 districts across 33 states which has detected 5 lakh TB patients already.

Acknowledging the importance of Jan Bhagidari for the success of any campaign, the Union Health Minister credited the ASHA workers, SHOs and other grassroot level health workers for the achievements made in the healthcare sector. He stated that Panchayati Raj Institutions should be more empowered to further strengthen the healthcare base in India.

On the threat from Non-Communicable Diseases, Shri Nadda emphasized on the need for bringing lifestyle changes. He praised NHM for its ongoing Intensified Special NCD Screening Drive which is offering free of cost screening of Diabetes, Hypertension and 3 types of Cancer – Oral, Breast and Cervical cancer. He also highlighted a recent Lancet study which found that patients enrolled under AB PM-JAY saw a 90% rise in access to cancer treatment within 30 days, reducing delay in treatment and easing financial burden of cancer patients.

Shri Nadda noted that every district in the country will have day care cancer centers in the next 3 years with 200 districts to be covered in this year itself. He also emphasized on tele-medicine to strengthen healthcare further.

On the occasion, the Union Health Minister and other dignitaries released a Coffee Table Book on 9^th National Summit on Best Practices, Report on the 16^th Common Review Mission Report, Four Regional Conferences of NHM (2024-25) report and the Non-Communicable Diseases Conference Report (Jan 2025).

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi said that Odisha is an important pillar in the Union Government’s vision of a Swasthya Bharat. He said that under the motto of “Swasthya Odisha, Samruddh Odisha”, the state will bring more energy and focus in achieving all the UN SDG goals.

Shri Majhi said that the merging of Odisha’s Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana with the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY) scheme is a momentous step as people from Odisha can now access over 29,000 private hospitals across the country, benefiting over 4.5 crore people, especially the migrant workers of the state.

He informed that a slew of national institutes is coming up in the state including National Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER) and a National Institute of Speech and Hearing. He also stated that a new Government Nursing College and four dental colleges will be opened in Odisha.

Dr Mukesh Mahaling highlighted that Odisha has made remarkable achievements in institutional deliveries which has increased to more than 92% today. He stated that “MMR and IMR cases have reduced at a fast pace. Cancer treatment and chemotherapy are already provided in the district hospitals in Odisha.” He further stated that the government is working towards ensuring that all districts in Odisha have hospitals.

Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava noted that the NHM National Summits has developed into a powerful medium for delivery of equitable, quality and affordable health services. She noted that states will be able to share best practices and learnings from Common Review Missions (CRMs) held earlier which will help them in widening Jan Bhagidari, optimizing resources and meeting challenges. She urged states to continue to focus on enhancing quality standards and assess the areas where more resources are required for more effective service delivery.

Brief Note on 9^th National Summit on Best Practice:

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) organizes an annual National Innovation Summit on Good and Replicable Practices and Innovations in the Public Health System. This summit aims to showcase and document best practices and innovations adopted by States and Union Territories (UTs) to address public health challenges. It serves as a platform for knowledge sharing and cross-learning among States/UTs. The initiative began in 2013, with seven previous summits held. The eighth summit, along with Chintan Shivir, was conducted in May 2022 in Kevadia, Gujarat.

The process for the 9th National Summit on Best Practices commenced in December 2023. A directive (D.O. No. NHSRC/21-22/KMD/Best Practices/1001_part (1)) was sent to States/UTs, inviting submissions of innovations and best practices via the National Healthcare Innovation Portal (NHInP). A total of 165 entries were submitted, which included trial and duplicate entries. After a thorough review and elimination of duplicates, selected entries for oral presentations and posters were finalized, with input from Programme Divisions and under the review of the Joint Secretary (Policy).

Additionally, the dissemination of the report from the 16th Common Review Mission (CRM), conducted across 19 States in November 2024, will be a key part of the summit. The CRM involved a national briefing on November 18, 2024, followed by field visits from November 19-23, 2024, across 17 states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Tripura, Mizoram, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal) and from November 26-30, 2024 in two more states (Jharkhand and Maharashtra). A total of 19 teams, including government officials, public health experts, civil society representatives, and development partners, participated in the CRM.

Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary & Mission Director (NHM), Union Health Ministry; Shri Saurabh Jain, Joint Secretary (Policy), Union Health Ministry; senior officials such as Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Mission Directors, Senior Nodal officials from States/UTs (including NHM), and representatives from the Union Health Ministry, National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), and Regional Resource Centre for Northeastern States (RRC-NE) were present on the occasion.

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MV

HFW/HFM-NHM National Summit Inauguration/28^th February 2025/1

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ALIMCO to establish 1st Auxiliary Production Centre in Tripura to boost Assistive Device Manufacturing and Service Delivery for Divyangjan and Senior Citizens in the North-East region

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 2:11PM by PIB Delhi

In a landmark step towards enhancing accessibility and service delivery for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and Senior Citizens in the North-East region, Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) a PSU under Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is set to establish its first Auxiliary Production Centre (AAPC) at Purba Laxmibill, Sepahijala District, Tripura.

With an investment of Rs. 45 Crore, the centre will mark the beginning of a new era in assistive device manufacturing and service delivery in the North-East region. It will serve the need for a dedicated production and distribution facility to efficiently cater to the North-East. This new initiative further aims to enhance accessibility to assistive devices while generating employment opportunities for the local population.

The Bhumi Pujan and Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony for this facility will take place on 1^st March 2025, in the august presence of dignitaries viz. Chief Minister (Tripura), Dr. Manik Saha, along with Shri B.L. Verma, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment. Other dignitaries gracing the occasion would include Shri Tinku Roy, Minister of Social Welfare, Government of Tripura, Shri Biplab Dev, Member of Parliament, West Tripura and Shri Sushanta Deb, MLA, Bishalgarh.

This initiative is a significant step towards regional empowerment and inclusivity, reinforcing Central Government’s commitment to serving the persons with disabilities across India. The State Government of Tripura has played a key role in facilitating land acquisition in Sepahijala District, and efforts have been expedited under the guidance of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Government of India.

Shri Praveen Kumar, CMD, ALIMCO, Shri A. K Pandey, Deputy Secretary, DEPwD, Government of India, along with senior officers from the Social Welfare Department of Tripura and the District Administration of Sepahijala shall be present on the occasion.

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VM

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March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister for Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy to Inaugurate 175th Foundation Day Celebrations of Geological Survey of India at Kolkata on 4th March 2025

Source: Government of India (2)

Union Minister for Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy to Inaugurate 175th Foundation Day Celebrations of Geological Survey of India at Kolkata on 4th March 2025

GSI to Organize Mega Walkathon Across the Country on 2nd March 2025 to Kick Off the Commemorative Celebrations

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 1:50PM by PIB Delhi

The Geological Survey of India (GSI), one of the oldest scientific organizations in the country, is set to celebrate its 175^th year of geoscientific legacy. To mark this historic milestone, Union Minister of Coal & Mines, Shri G Kishan Reddy will inaugurate the Foundation Day celebrations on 4^th March 2025 at Central Headquarters, Kolkata, in the esteemed presence of Shri Asit Saha, Director General, GSI, heads of organisations along with senior officials, geoscientists, and stakeholders.

Established in 1851 by Sir Thomas Oldham, GSI has played a pioneering role in geological mapping, mineral exploration, disaster studies, and geoscientific research, significantly contributing to India’s industrial and economic growth.

As a curtain-raiser to this grand celebration, GSI will organize a Pan-India Walkathon on 2^nd March 2025, bringing together geoscientists, students, policymakers, and the general public, across all GSI offices in the country. The Central Headquarters, Kolkata will serve as the focal point, with the event taking place at CK-CL Park, Salt Lake, Sector-II, led by Shri Asit Saha, Director General, GSI. More than just a commemorative event, the Walkathon will provide a unique platform to engage with communities, raise awareness about the significance of geoscience, and inspire future generations to explore and innovate. Participants from diverse backgrounds will join hands to celebrate GSI’s 175-year legacy of excellence in geosciences.

During the 175th Foundation Day celebrations on 4th March 2025, GSI will showcase its rich legacy and scientific contributions through a series of engaging events, insightful publications and unveiling of Special Postal Cover, My stamp and two geoscientific mobile apps. Diverse exhibitions and historical photo gallery highlighting a visual journey through GSI’s 175-year legacy, its milestones and achievements will be showcased. To foster public engagement and awareness about geosciences, various competitions, interactive events and a blood donation camp will be organized, encouraging participation from all walks of life, reinforcing GSI’s commitment to social responsibility and community welfare.

As one of India’s pioneering scientific institutions, GSI has evolved from discovering coal for railways to driving cutting-edge innovations in geoscience. The 175th Foundation Day celebrations will not only honour its rich legacy but also reaffirm its commitment to advancing geoscientific investigations, mineral exploration, and technological innovation for the Nation’s progress. With an overwhelming spirit of participation, the Geological Survey of India looks forward to an inspiring and impactful celebration of knowledge, fitness, and consciousness for geoscience.

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Shuhaib T

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Post-Budget Webinar on “Agriculture and Rural Prosperity” to be held tomorrow

Source: Government of India

Post-Budget Webinar on “Agriculture and Rural Prosperity” to be held tomorrow

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to deliver virtual keynote address

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers ‘Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to address farmers

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 1:37PM by PIB Delhi

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare is organizing a daylong Post-Budget Webinar on “Agriculture and Rural Prosperity” tomorrow. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will deliver the keynote address, it would be joined by the all the Union Ministers. Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan would present his views at 3:30 pm tomorrow. This webinar aims to engage stakeholders in a focused discussion and strategizing the effective implementation of the 2025 Budget announcements. The event, scheduled in the form of a webinar, will address key areas on agriculture growth and rural prosperity, ensuring a collaborative approach to realize the vision outlined in the budget. Besides, the webinar is also to align key stakeholders, including private sector experts, industry representatives, and subject matter specialists, in the implementation of the 2025 Budget for “Agriculture and Rural Prosperity’ through structured, sub-theme-focused webinars. The goal is to facilitate dialogue, gather insights, and ensure timely and coordinated actions towards achieving the set goals. It is scheduled to start at 10 am tomorrow and as many as seven to eight speakers would present their views on various subject. Besides Prime Minister will deliver the keynote address at 12:3O pm virtually.

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MG/RN/KSR

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March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Vice-President to visit Mumbai (Maharashtra) on 1st March, 2025

Source: Government of India (2)

Vice-President to visit Mumbai (Maharashtra) on 1st March, 2025

VP to be Chief Guest at the Annual Day Function of K.P.B. Hinduja College of Commerce

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 12:52PM by PIB Delhi

The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, will be on a one-day tour of Mumbai, Maharashtra on 1^st March, 2025.

During the visit, the Vice-President will preside as Chief Guest at the Annual Day Function of K.P.B. Hinduja College of Commerce, Mumbai in Maharashtra.

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JK/RC/SM

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March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESIDENT OF INDIA GRACES CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF NATIONAL FORENSIC SCIENCES UNIVERSITY

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 12:35PM by PIB Delhi

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, graced the convocation ceremony of the National Forensic Sciences University at Gandhinagar today (February 28, 2025).

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that a justice-based social system is considered the best in our country. By combining heritage and development, we are building a developed India based on justice. In the last few years, the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken several effective steps to strengthen the role of forensic sciences and develop facilities and capacity in this field.

The President said that any justice system would be considered robust only if it is truly inclusive. She told students that their goal should be to provide fair and speedy justice based on forensic evidence to all sections of society, especially those from the weaker and disadvantaged sections. She urged them to contribute to the good governance of the country.

The President said that changes related to crime investigation and evidence have been made in the three new criminal laws. In cases where the punishment period is seven years or more, it has now become mandatory for a forensic expert to visit the crime scene and investigate. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita made provision for development of Forensic facilities in all states in a time-bound manner. Time-bound forensic examination has been made mandatory in many statutes. The President said that these changes would increase demand for forensic experts.

The President said that due to rapid changes in technology, especially in the fields of digital technology and Artificial Intelligence, the capabilities of forensic sciences experts are increasing, but at the same time, criminals are also discovering new ways. People associated with our policing, prosecution and criminal justice delivery system can be successful in controlling crime and making justice accessible only by being smarter, more prompt and alert than the criminals. She expressed confidence that with the contribution of National Forensic Sciences University, a strong forensic system would develop, the conviction rate would increase and criminals would be afraid of committing crimes.

Please click here to see the President’s Speech

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MJPS/SR/BM

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025; set to open new opportunities for private players in IWT sector

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 12:27PM by PIB Delhi

In a significant move to enhance infrastructure development and improve the ease of doing business, regulations have been put in place for the establishment of jetties and terminals by various entities, including private, public, and joint ventures, on national waterways across the country.

The National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025, formulated by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), are designed to attract private sector investment in setting up terminals, streamline processes and promote efficient use of India’s vast waterways network.

By enabling entities, including private players, to develop and operate jetties and terminals, these regulations open up new opportunities for investment, trade, and economic growth, while also improving logistical efficiency. This initiative is expected to contribute to the reduction of transportation costs, enhance cargo movement, and support the overall growth of the inland waterways sector, positioning it as a key driver of nation’s economy.

Key Highlights of the Regulations

Under the new regulations, any entity including private, wishing to develop or operate an inland waterway terminal on a national waterway need to obtain a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NoC) from IWAI. Both existing and new terminals, whether permanent or temporary, are covered under these regulations. Permanent terminals can be maintained for the lifetime by the operator, while temporary terminals will have an initial five-year term with the possibility of extensions. The terminal developer and operator will be responsible for the technical design and construction of the terminal, ensuring it aligns with their business plan and provides adequate access.

Digital Portal for Terminal Applications

IWAI is developing an online application portal to streamline and digitise the application process for terminal developers and operators. This digital platform will enhance efficiency, transparency, and accessibility, in line with the government’s vision of Ease of Doing Business (EODB) and digitisation. The portal will provide a seamless interface for applicants to submit requests and track progress.

Boosting Private Participation and Infrastructure Development

Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, IWAI has made significant strides in developing waterways as a key engine of economic growth. The cargo movement on national waterways has surged over the last decade, from 18 million tonnes to 133 million tonnes in FY 2023-24. This advancement is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to promote sustainable development, foster private sector participation, and enhance Ease of Doing Business by leveraging digitalisation and streamlining processes.

Additionally, the newly launched Jalvahak scheme, which aims to incentivize a shift in cargo transport by nearly 17% from the current 4700 million tonne kilometres on national waterways, is expected to further boost private sector participation.

With the enforcement of the National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025, private entities are expected to play a greater role in the development and expansion of inland waterway terminals, thus contributing to the overall growth of the sector.

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G.D. Hallikeri / Henry / Shweta

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Raksha Rajya Mantri meets Commissioner for Defence & Space, European Commission in New Delhi

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 12:20PM by PIB Delhi

Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth held a meeting with the Commissioner for Defence and Space, European Commission Mr Andrius Kubilius in New Delhi on February 28, 2025. They comprehensively discussed the India-European Union bilateral defence and security cooperation with focus on maritime engagements & information sharing in the Indo-Pacific.

Shri Sanjay Seth and Mr Andrius Kubilius also explored ways & means to enhance defence industrial cooperation, particularly the participation of European defence companies in joint projects and co-production opportunities in India. They considered the modalities of Indian participation in the European Union’s Permanent Structured Cooperation and other European developmental projects.

Mr Andrius Kubilius is visiting India as a part of the President European Commission-led delegation along with the College of Commissioners.

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SR/Savvy

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March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Monthly review of accounts of the Government of India upto January, 2025 (FY2024-25)

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 4:47PM by PIB Delhi

The monthly account of the Government of India upto January, 2025, has been consolidated and reports published. The highlights are given below:-

The Government of India has received ₹24,00,412 crore (76.3% of corresponding RE 2024-25 of Total Receipts upto January, 2025 comprising ₹19,03,558 crore Tax Revenue (Net to Centre), ₹4,67,630 crore of Non-Tax Revenue and ₹29,224 crore of Non-Debt Capital Receipts. ₹10,74,179 crore has been transferred to State Governments as Devolution of Share of Taxes by Government of India upto this period which is ₹2,53,929 crore higher than the previous year.

Total Expenditure incurred by the Government of India is ₹35,69,954 crore (75.7% of corresponding RE 2024-25), out of which ₹28,12,595 crore is on Revenue Account and ₹7,57,359 crore is on Capital Account. Out of the Total Revenue Expenditure, ₹8,75,461 crore is on account of Interest Payments and ₹3,37,733 crore is on account of Major Subsidies.

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NB/KMN

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March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is absolutely right in his vision to combat the problem of Obesity: Mr. Luke Coutinho

Source: Government of India

Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is absolutely right in his vision to combat the problem of Obesity: Mr. Luke Coutinho

We need to have regulation and awareness about junk food for children and adults, which is contributing towards the obesity epidemic: Mr. Luke

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 4:19PM by PIB Delhi

Our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, is absolutely right in his vision of combating this problem of obesity, said Mr. Luke Coutinho while visiting an Anganwadi Center in New Delhi today. Mr. Luke Coutinho is a renowned holistic health coach and co-founder of Luke Coutinho Holistic Healing Systems. He is on a visit to Delhi to attend a media conclave.

Talking about nutrition, Mr. Luke said that three issues need to be focused on. First, early start at child level to get their nutrition right, second, the right education about nutrition in different languages across our diverse country and, third, access to local superfoods like millet. He added that we need to have regulation and awareness about junk food for children and adults, which is contributing towards the obesity epidemic.

Praising the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Mr. Luke said that “Shri Modi has encouraged us to use local superfoods. We can maintain a natural balanced diet with these foods and support the macros of proteins, carbohydrates and fat “.

Supporting the mission against obesity, he said that “Everyone should take personal responsibility as an Indian citizen to do our part and choose the right food, exercise every day and focus on our mental & emotional health “.

Mr. Luke said that to overcome obesity, our Prime Minister has spoken about a reduction in edible oil in our foods by 10 percent. He added that “we need awareness and mindfulness and Ghar-ka-khana (home cooked food) has to be promoted and it will require the unity of the country, honoring the Prime Minister’s vision and all of our personal responsibility to make India healthy “.

Luke Coutinho, Co-Founder, Luke Coutinho Holistic Healing Systems, who visited the Anganwadi Centre in Delhi, praised the PM @narendramodi‘s vision for health at grassroot level. After the visit, he said that the amazing work the frontline workers at Anganwadi are doing to… pic.twitter.com/W2z3Qo0tvy

— DD News (@DDNewslive) February 28, 2025

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MV/AKS

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SECOND ADVANCE ESTIMATES OF ANNUAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT FOR 2024-25, QUARTERLY ESTIMATES OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT FOR THE THIRD QUARTER (OCTOBER-DECEMBER) OF 2024-25 AND FIRST REVISED & FINAL ESTIMATES OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, NATIONAL INCOME, CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE, SAVING AND CAPITAL FORMATION FOR 2023-24 & 2022-23 RESPECTIVELY

Source: Government of India (2)

SECOND ADVANCE ESTIMATES OF ANNUAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT FOR 2024-25, QUARTERLY ESTIMATES OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT FOR THE THIRD QUARTER (OCTOBER-DECEMBER) OF 2024-25 AND FIRST REVISED & FINAL ESTIMATES OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, NATIONAL INCOME, CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE, SAVING AND CAPITAL FORMATION FOR 2023-24 & 2022-23 RESPECTIVELY

Real GDP Growth Rate of 9.2% for 2023-24 is the highest in the previous 12 years except for 2021-22

Growth Rate of Real GDP for 2024-25 is estimated as 6.5%

Real GDP has observed a Growth Rate of 6.2% in Q3 of FY 2024-25

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 4:00PM by PIB Delhi

The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is releasing in this Press Note the Second Advance Estimates (SAE) of Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Financial Year (FY) 2024-25; Quarterly Estimates of GDP for October-December Quarter (Q3) of FY 2024-25 along with its expenditure components and following Revised Estimates of GDP, National Income, Consumption Expenditure, Saving and Capital Formation:

a. First Revised Estimates (FRE) for the Financial year 2023-24;

b. Second Revised Estimates or Final Estimates (FE) for the Financial year 2022-23.

These estimates are released both at Constant (2011-12) and Current Prices, in accordance with the release calendar of National Accounts. Detailed Notes on: (i) Second Advance Estimates (SAE) of Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of FY 2024-25, Quarterly Estimates of GDP for October-December Quarter (Q3) of FY 2024-25 and (ii) Abovementioned Revised Estimates for financial years 2023-24 and 2022-23 are given respectively in Part A and Part B of the Press Note.

Key Highlights:

1. Real GDP has been estimated to grow by 6.5% in FY 2024-25. Nominal GDP is expected to witness a growth rate of 9.9% in FY 2024-25. Both the growth rates are revised upward from their respective First Advance Estimates.

2. As per the First Revised Estimates, Real GDP has grown by 9.2% in the financial year 2023-24, which is highest in the previous 12 years except for the financial year 2021-22 (the post-covid year). This growth has been contributed by double-digit growth rates in ‘Manufacturing’ sector (12.3%), ‘Construction’ sector (10.4%) and ‘Financial, Real Estate & Professional Services’ sector (10.3%).

3. As per the Final Estimates, Real GDP has observed a growth rate of 7.6% in the financial year 2022-23, mainly contributed by double-digit growth rates in ‘Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication & Services related to Broadcasting’ sector (12.3%), ‘Financial, Real Estate & Professional Services’ sector (10.8%) and ‘Electricity, Gas, Water Supply & Other Utility Services’ sector (10.8%).

4. Real GDP is estimated to grow by 6.2% in Q3 of FY 2024-25. Growth rate in Nominal GDP for Q3 of FY 2024-25 has been estimated at 9.9%.

5. The growth rate of Real GDP for Q2 of financial year 2024-25 has been revised upward to 5.6%.

6. ‘Construction’ sector is estimated to observe a growth rate of 8.6%, followed by ‘Financial, Real Estate & Professional Services’ sector (7.2%) and ‘Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication & Services related to Broadcasting’ sector (6.4%) during 2024-25.

7. Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) is expected to register a good growth of 7.6% during 2024-25 as compared to 5.6% growth observed during 2023-24.

PART A

NOTE ON SECOND ADVANCE ESTIMATES OF ANNUAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT FOR 2024-25

QUARTERLY ESTIMATES OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT FOR THE THIRD QUARTER (OCT-DEC) OF 2024-25

The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is releasing in this Press Note, the Second Advance Estimates (SAE) of Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the Financial Year (FY) 2024-25 and Quarterly Estimates of GDP for the Third quarter (October-December) of 2024-25 along with its expenditure components both at Constant (2011-12) and Current Prices. Annual, Quarterly as well as April-December estimates of Gross Value Added (GVA) at Basic Prices by kind of economic activity along with year on year percent changes, expenditure components of GDP and annual estimates of Gross/Net National Income and Per Capita Income for the Financial years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 at Constant and Current Prices are given in Statements 1A to 12A of Annexure A.

I. Annual Estimates and Growth Rates

Real GDP or GDP at Constant Prices is estimated to attain a level of ₹187.95 lakh crore in the financial year 2024-25, against the First Revised Estimate of GDP for the year 2023-24 of ₹176.51 lakh crore. The growth rate in Real GDP during 2024-25 is estimated at 6.5% as compared to 9.2% in 2023-24. Nominal GDP or GDP at Current Prices is estimated to attain a level of ₹331.03 lakh crore in the year 2024-25, against ₹301.23 lakh crore in 2023-24, showing a growth rate of 9.9%.

Real GVA is estimated at ₹171.80 lakh crore in the year 2024-25, against the FRE for the year 2023-24 of ₹161.51 lakh crore, registering a growth rate of 6.4% as compared to 8.6% growth rate in 2023-24. Nominal GVA is estimated to attain a level of ₹300.15 lakh crore during FY 2024-25, against ₹274.13 lakh crore in 2023-24, showing a growth rate of 9.5%

Fig. 1: Annual GDP and GVA Estimates along with Y-o-Y Growth Rates at Constant Prices

Fig. 2: Sectoral Composition and Growth Rates of Annual GVA

Sectoral Composition of Nominal GVA in FY 2024-25

Fig. 3: Composition and Growth Rates of Annual GVA in Broad Sectors

II. Quarterly Estimates and Growth Rates

Real GDP or GDP at Constant Prices in Q3 of FY 2024-25 is estimated at ₹47.17 lakh crore, against ₹44.44 lakh crore in Q3 of FY 2023-24, showing a growth rate of 6.2%. Nominal GDP or GDP at Current Prices in Q3 of FY 2024-25 is estimated at ₹84.74 lakh crore, against ₹77.10 lakh crore in Q3 of FY 2023-24, showing a growth rate of 9.9%.

Real GVA in Q3 of FY 2024-25 is estimated at ₹43.13 lakh crore, against ₹40.60 lakh crore in Q3 of FY 2023-24, showing a growth rate of 6.2%. Nominal GVA in Q3 of FY 2024-25 is estimated at ₹77.06 lakh crore, against ₹69.90 lakh crore in Q3 of FY 2023-24, showing a growth rate of 10.2%.

Fig. 4: Quarterly GDP and GVA Estimates along with Y-o-Y Growth Rates from Q1 FY 2021-22 to Q3 FY 2024-25 at Constant Prices

Fig. 5: Sectoral Composition and Growth Rates of Quarterly GVA

Sectoral Composition of Nominal GVA in Q3 of FY 2024-25

Fig. 6: Composition and Growth Rates of Quarterly GVA in Broad Sectors

[Primary Sector: Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry & Fishing and Mining & Quarrying

Secondary Sector: Manufacturing, Electricity, Gas, Water supply & Other Utility Services and Construction

Tertiary Sector: Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication and Services related to Broadcasting, Financial, Real Estate & Professional Services and Public Administration, Defence & Other Services]

III. Methodology and Major Data Sources:

Second Advance Estimates of Annual GDP and Quarterly Estimates GDP are compiled using the Benchmark-indicator method i.e. the estimates available for the previous financial year (2023-24) are extrapolated using the relevant indicators reflecting the performance of sectors. The First Advance Estimates (FAE) of Annual GDP for the financial year 2024-25 were released on 7^th January, 2025, which were based on very limited data and used Provisional Estimates of 2023-24 as Benchmark Estimates. For Compilation of SAE, 2024-25, the Provisional Estimates of 2023-24 used at the time of FAE have been replaced by FRE, 2023-24 which have been compiled using industry-wise/institution-wise detailed information. Thus, overall as well as sectoral variations in SAE from FAE is attributed to revision of benchmark estimates and additional or updated data available on various indicators. The quarterly estimates of previous years along with the First and Second quarter estimates of 2024-25 released earlier have also undergone revision in accordance with the revision policy of National Accounts.

The sector-wise estimates have been compiled using indicators/data sources like (i) Index of Industrial Production (IIP), (ii) Financial performance of Listed Companies based on available quarterly financial results of these companies upto Q3 FY 2024-25, (iii) Estimates of Major Agricultural Crops and Horticultural crops for 2024-25, as provided by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (iv) Production Targets and Summer as well as Rainy season production estimates of Major Livestock Products for FY 2024-25; (v) Fish Production, (vi) Production of Coal, Crude Petroleum, Natural Gas, Cement and Consumption of Steel, (vii) Net Tonne Kilometres and Passenger Kilometres for Railways, (viii) Passenger and Cargo traffic handled by Civil Aviation, (ix) Cargo traffic handled at Major and Minor Sea Ports, (x) Sales of Commercial Vehicles, (xi) Bank Deposits and Credits, (xii) Premium related information of Life and Non-Life Insurance companies, (xiii) Data on outward Supplies of Goods and Services available from GSTN upto January, 2025 (xiv) Accounts of Central and State Governments, (xv) Goods and Services Tax collections etc., available for first 9-10 months of the FY 2024-25. Year-on-Year growth rates (%) in the main indicators used in the estimation are given in the Annexure B.

Total tax revenue used for GDP compilation includes non-GST revenue as well as GST revenue. The Revised Estimates of Tax revenue for 2024-25 as available in the Annual Financial Statement of the Central Government, along with latest available information from the websites of Controller General of Accounts (CGA) and Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) have been used for estimating taxes on products at Current Prices. For compiling taxes on products at Constant Prices, volume extrapolation is done using volume growth of taxed goods and services. The total product subsidies at Current prices were compiled using the latest information on major subsidies viz. Food, Urea, Petroleum and Nutrient based subsidy for Centre as available on CGA website and the expenditure incurred on subsidies by most States up to December 2024 as available on CAG website along with the Centre/State-wise RE and BE provision for FY 2024-25. Information available on Revenue expenditure, Interest payments, Subsidies etc. from Centre and States for FY 2024-25 were used for estimating Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE).

Improved data coverage and revision in input data made by source agencies would have a bearing on subsequent revisions of these estimates. Estimates are, therefore, likely to undergo revisions for the aforesaid causes in due course, as per the release calendar. Users should take these into consideration while interpreting the figures. The Provisional Estimates of Annual GDP for FY 2024-25 along with Quarterly GDP estimates for the quarter January-March of FY 2024-25 (Q4 2024-25) will be released on 30.05.2025.

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Annexure A

Annexure B

PART B

NOTE ON FIRST REVISED & FINAL ESTIMATES OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, NATIONAL INCOME, CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE, SAVING AND CAPITAL FORMATION FOR 2023-24 & 2022-23 RESPECTIVELY

In this part of the press note, First Revised Estimates of GDP, National Income, Consumption Expenditure, Saving and Capital Formation for the financial year 2023-24 and Second Revised/ Final Estimates for the financial year 2022-23 are given.

2. The First Revised Estimates for the year 2023-24 have been compiled using industry-wise/institution-wise detailed information instead of using the benchmark-indicator method employed at the time of release of Provisional Estimates on 31^st May, 2024. The estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other aggregates for the year 2022-23 have also undergone revisions on account of use of latest available datasets on agricultural production; industrial production (final results of Annual Survey of Industries: 2022-23); government data as available in budget documents (replacing Revised Estimates with actuals for the year 2022-23); comprehensive data available from various source agencies like Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) etc. and additional data from State/UT Directorates of Economics and Statistics (DES).

3. The salient features of the revised estimates at aggregate level are given in the paras as follows.

Gross Domestic Product

4. Real GDP or GDP at constant (2011-12) prices for the years 2023-24 and 2022-23 stands at ₹176.51 lakh crore and ₹161.65 lakh crore, respectively, showing a growth of 9.2 per cent during 2023-24 as compared to growth of 7.6 per cent during 2022-23.

5. Nominal GDP or GDP at current prices for the year 2023-24 is estimated at ₹301.23 lakh crore, against ₹268.90 lakh crore for the year 2022-23, showing a growth of 12.0 per cent during 2023-24 as compared to growth of 14.0 per cent during 2022-23.

GVA and its Industry-wise Analysis

6. At the aggregate level, nominal Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices has increased by 11.2 per cent during 2023-24 compared to growth of 13.9 per cent during 2022-23. Real GVA, i.e., GVA at constant (2011-12) prices, has increased by 8.6 per cent in 2023-24, compared to 7.2 per cent growth in 2022-23.

7. The shares of broad sectors of the economy in overall GVA during 2011-12 to 2023-24 and the annual growth rates during these periods are mentioned below:

#: Final Estimates; @: First Revised Estimates

8. The growth rates of Primary sector (comprising Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fishing and Mining & Quarrying), Secondary sector (comprising Manufacturing, Electricity, Gas, Water Supply & Other Utility Services, and Construction) and Tertiary sector (Services) have been estimated as 2.7 per cent, 11.4 per cent and 9.0 per cent respectively in 2023-24 as against growth rates of 5.9 per cent, 2.4 per cent and 10.3 per cent respectively in the previous years. The growth in real GVA during 2023-24 is on account of growth in ‘Manufacturing’, ‘Electricity, Gas, Water Supply & Other Utility Services’, ‘Construction’, ‘Trade, repair, Hotels and Restaurants’, ‘Financial Services’, ‘Real Estate, Ownership of Dwelling & Professional Services’ and ‘Other services’ as may be seen from Statement 4.2B. However, ‘Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Fishing’, ‘Mining and Quarrying’ and ‘Public Administration and Defense’ have witnessed modest growth.

Net National Income

9. Net National Income (NNI) at current prices for the year 2023-24 stands at ₹263.50 lakh crore as against ₹233.91 lakh crore in 2022-23, showing a growth of 12.7 per cent during 2023-24 as compared to growth of 13.3 per cent in the previous year.

Gross National Disposable Income

10. Gross National Disposable Income (GNDI) at current prices is estimated at ₹305.94 lakh crore for the year 2023-24, while the estimate for the year 2022-23 stands at ₹273.39 lakh crore, showing a growth of 11.9 per cent for year 2023-24 as compared to growth of 14.3 per cent in the year 2022-23.

Saving

11. Gross Saving during 2023-24 is estimated at ₹92.59 lakh crore against ₹82.44 lakh crore during 2022-23. Share of Non-financial corporations, Financial corporations, General Government and Household sectors in Gross Savings during 2023-24 stands at 36.0%, 8.2%, (-) 3.1% and 59.0% respectively. Rate of Gross Saving to GNDI for 2023-24 is estimated at 30.3 per cent as against 30.2 per cent for 2022-23.

Capital Formation

12. Gross Capital Formation (GCF) at current prices is estimated at ₹94.68 lakh crore for the year 2023-24 as compared to ₹87.72 lakh crore during 2022-23. The rate of GCF to GDP is 31.4 per cent during 2023-24 as against 32.6 per cent in the 2022-23. The rates of capital formation in the years 2011-12 to 2019-20 and 2021-22 to 2023-24 have been higher than the rate of saving because of positive net capital flow from Rest of the World (RoW).

13. In terms of the share to the total GFCF (at current prices), the highest contributor is Non-Financial Corporations followed by Household sector, share of which stood at 44.2% and 41.7% respectively in 2023-24.

14. The rate of GCF to GDP at constant (2011-12) prices was 35.2 per cent in 2022-23 and 34.6 per cent in 2023-24.

Consumption Expenditure

15. Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) at current prices is estimated at ₹181.30 lakh crore for the year 2023-24 as against ₹165.28 lakh crore in 2022-23. In relation to GDP, the PFCE to GDP ratio at current prices during 2022-23 and 2023-24 are 61.5 per cent and 60.2 per cent respectively. At constant (2011-12) prices, the PFCE is estimated at ₹93.85 lakh crore and ₹99.07 lakh crore, respectively for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24. The corresponding PFCE to GDP ratio for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24 are 58.1 per cent and 56.1 per cent respectively.

16. Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE) at current prices is estimated at ₹31.04 lakh crore for the year 2023-24 as against ₹27.58 lakh crore during 2022-23. At constant (2011-12) prices the estimates of GFCE for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24 stand at ₹15.44 lakh crore and ₹16.70 lakh crore respectively.

Per Capita Estimates

17. Per Capita Income i.e. Per Capita Net National Income at current prices is estimated at ₹1,69,145 and ₹1,88,892 respectively for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24. Per Capita PFCE at current prices, for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24 is estimated at ₹1,19,516 and ₹1,29,967 respectively.

Summary of Revisions in the GDP Estimates

Revision in the estimates of the year 2023-24

18. The following statement gives the major reasons of variation between the Provisional Estimates (released on 31^st May, 2024) and the First Revised Estimates of GVA for 2023-24.

Sector	GVA growth in 2023-24 (at 2011-12 Prices)		Major reasons for variation
Sector	Provisional Estimate (PE), May 2024	First Revised Estimate (FRE), Feb 2025	Major reasons for variation
Primary	2.1	2.7	GVA estimates of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Fishing sectors have undergone revision due to revision in production estimates of crop sector as per Final Estimate of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare. The revision in other industries in Primary Sector is due to the incorporation of latest revised data.
Secondary	9.7	11.4	Estimates of secondary sector have undergone revision due to use of data from source agencies along with detailed analysis of Non-departmental Enterprises (NDE) & Private Corporate sectors and budget documents of Government whereas provisional estimates were indicator based.
Tertiary	7.6	9.0	Data from source agencies along with detailed analysis of Departmental Enterprises (DE), NDE and Private Corporate sectors have been used for compilation of estimates for FRE 2023-24 whereas provisional estimates were indicator based. Furthermore, the revision in Public Administration and Defence sector is due to the use of detailed analysis of Budget documents (Centre and State Governments) and latest information of Local Bodies and Autonomous Bodies. In case of Financial services, FRE is based on analysis of annual reports of Financial Corporations and data released by RBI, NABARD and other financial regulators.
Total GVA at Basic Prices	7.2	8.6
GDP	8.2	9.2

[Primary Sector: Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry & Fishing and Mining & Quarrying

Secondary Sector: Manufacturing, Electricity, Gas, Water supply & Other Utility Services and Construction

Tertiary Sector: Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication and Services related to Broadcasting, Financial, Real Estate & Professional Services and Public Administration, Defence & Other Services]

Revisions in the estimates of the year 2022-23

19. The use of latest available data from various agencies has resulted in changes in both the levels of GVA and growth estimates for the years 2022-23.

Revisions in Major Aggregates

20. The level of revisions in the major aggregates at current and constant (2011-12) prices are given in the following table:

Major National Income Aggregates and their % Changes

(₹ in Lakh Crore)

Sl. No.	Item	2022-23
Sl. No.	Item	1st RE	Final Estimates	% change
At Current Prices
1	GVA at basic prices	246.59	246.47	-0.1
2	GDP	269.50	268.90	-0.2
3	GNI	265.79	265.20	-0.2
4	NNI	234.39	233.91	-0.2
5	GNDI	273.99	273.39	-0.2
At Constant Prices
1	GVA at basic prices	148.05	148.78	0.5
2	GDP	160.71	161.65	0.6
3	GNI	158.31	159.39	0.7
4	NNI	137.47	138.51	0.8

Major reasons for revisions in GVA/GDP estimates for FY 2022-23 are as given below:

Use of updated production estimates (Final Estimates) of horticulture crops from Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, increase in area under fodder crop and increase in production of sugarcane.
Increase in input value due to use of Cost of Cultivation Survey (CCS) 2022-23 and Electricity tariff for agriculture sector for the year 2022-23.
Use of updated information from NDE and updated information on minor minerals from States in case of Mining & Quarrying sector.
Use of final results of Annual Survey of Industries (ASI): 2022-23 and augmented data for non-financial private corporate sector.
Use of ‘Actuals’ in place of ‘Revised Estimates’ of different items of expenditure and receipts in the Central & State government budgets.
Use of updated information on Local Bodies & Autonomous Institutions.
Use of latest annual reports of Public Sector Enterprises.
Use of latest data received for Cooperative Banks, Post Office Saving Bank (POSB), Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs), and Financial Auxiliaries.

Detailed statements

21. List of Statements released in part ‘B’ of the press note is given below. More details of the revised estimates, i.e., FRE 2023-24 and FE 2022-23 are available in Statements 1.1B to 9B of Annexure C, which are given in the PDF format of the press note.

Statement 1.1B: Key Aggregates of National Accounts at Current Prices
Statement 1.2B: Key Aggregates of National Accounts at Constant (2011-12) Prices
Statement 2B: Per Capita Income, Product and Final Consumption
Statement 3.1B: Output by Economic Activity and Capital Formation by Industry of Use at Current Prices
Statement 3.2B: Output by Economic Activity and Capital Formation by Industry of Use at Constant (2011-12) Prices
Statement 4.1B: Gross Value Added by Economic Activity at Current Basic Prices
Statement 4.2B: Gross Value Added by Economic Activity at Constant (2011-12) Basic Prices
Statement 5B: Finances for Gross Capital Formation
Statement 6.1B: Gross Capital Formation by Industry of Use at Current Prices
Statement 6.2B: Gross Capital Formation by Industry of Use at Constant (2011-12) Prices
Statement 7.1B: Gross Fixed Capital Formation by Asset & Institutional Sector at Current Prices
Statement 7.2B: Gross Fixed Capital Formation by Asset & Institutional Sector at Constant (2011-12) Prices
Statement 8.1B: Private Final Consumption Expenditure at Current Prices
Statement 8.2B: Private Final Consumption Expenditure at Constant (2011-12) Prices
Statement 9B: Institutional Sectors – Key Economic Indicators at Current Prices

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Annexure C

FORMULAE

GVA at basic prices (Production Approach) = Output at basic prices – Intermediate Consumption
GVA at basic prices (Income Approach) = CE + OS/MI + CFC + Production taxes less Production subsidies⁽ⁱ⁾
GDP = ∑ GVA at basic prices + Product taxes less Product subsidies⁽ⁱⁱ⁾
NDP/NNI = GDP/GNI – CFC
GNI = GDP + Net primary income from ROW (Receipts less payments)
Primary Incomes = CE + Property and Entrepreneurial Income
NNDI =NNI + other current transfers⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾ from ROW, net (Receipts less payments)
GNDI = NNDI + CFC = GNI + other current transfers⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾ from ROW, net (Receipts less payments)
Gross Capital Formation^(iv) (Financing Side) = Gross Savings + Net Capital Inflow from ROW
GCF (Expenditure Side) = GFCF + CIS + Valuables
Gross Disposable Income of Govt. = GFCE + Gross Saving of General Government
Gross Disposable Income (GDI) of Households = GNDI – GDI of Govt. – Gross Savings of All Corporations

REMARKS ON THE FORMULAE

Production taxes or subsidies are paid or received with relation to production and are independent of the volume of actual production. Some examples are:

Production Taxes – Land Revenues, Stamps & Registration fees and Tax on profession

Production Subsidies – Subsidies to Railways, Subsidies to village and small industries.

Product taxes or subsidies are paid or received on per unit of product. Some examples are:

Product Taxes- Goods & Service Tax, Excise duties, Sales tax, Service Tax and Import, Export duties

Product Subsidies- Food, Petroleum and fertilizer subsidies.

Other Current Transfers refers to current transfers other than the primary incomes.

Gross Capital Formation (GCF) at the current as well as the constant prices is estimated by two approaches: – (i) through flow of funds, derived as Gross Saving plus net capital flow from Rest of the World (RoW); and (ii) by the commodity flow approach, derived by the type of assets.

Click here to see Press Note in PDF format

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Samrat/ Dheeraj/Allen

(Release ID: 2106921) Visitor Counter : 310

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mr. Reuven Azar, Ambassador of Israel, calls on Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 3:43PM by PIB Delhi

Ambassador of Israel, Mr. Reuven Azar called on Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. The meeting served as a platform to explore opportunities for strengthening cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors, with a focus on food security, sustainable supply chains, and innovative agricultural technologies.

Dr. Chaturvedi emphasized the longstanding partnership between India and Israel in agriculture and allied sectors. He also highlighted the Prime Minister’s vision for recycling sewage water for agricultural use, as well as key trade and grain storage issues.

The meeting focused on the upcoming visit of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Israel, the impact of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) across 20 states on productivity, precision irrigation, post-harvest management, and market access issues.

The discussions concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening Indo-Israel cooperation in agricultural innovation, technologies, and the horticulture sector, emphasizing mutually beneficial outcomes for both nations.

The Israeli delegation included Mr. Fares Saeb, Deputy Chief of Mission. The Indian side was represented by senior officials from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW), including Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Joint Secretary (MIDH) and Additional Commissioner (Plant Protection).

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MG/RN/KSR

(Release ID: 2106918) Visitor Counter : 47

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Rail Sea Rail (RSR) Mode Coal Movement Almost Doubles in Two years to 54 MT in FY 24

Source: Government of India

Rail Sea Rail (RSR) Mode Coal Movement Almost Doubles in Two years to 54 MT in FY 24

Push to Coal Ministries Efforts to Make Coal Transportation Competitive: Indian Railways Notifies Telescopic Benefit in Freight Rate to Coal Movement RSR Mode

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 3:26PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Coal has taken initiatives to promote Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) which aims to integrate the RSR transportation for efficient movement of coal. This multi-modal system allows for seamless transportation of coal from mines to port and to their end users, while improving logistical efficiencies.

The RSR mode reduces congestion on the all-rail route (ARR) by providing additional alternative mode of coal evacuation and ensures lower carbon-footprint compared to ARR mode of coal movement. The coastal shipping mode of transportation has potential to revolutionize India’s logistics industry.

Over the last few years Ministry of Coal has made significant strides in use of the coal Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) networks for evacuation of coal in coordination with Railways. As a result, the coal movement which was 28 MT in FY22 has almost doubled to 54 MT in FY 24 and is on the increasing trend.

To achieve further increase in RSR mode for coal movement, Indian Railways has notified in February 2025 their decision to permit telescopic benefit in freight rate to coal movement to power houses transported from coal mines of CIL and its Subsidiaries. This would further aid in increasing the coal movement in RSR mode.

At present movement of domestic coal from mines has been taking place through Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) route in order to meet demand of various power plants. This involves movement of coal by rail in two legs i.e. from mines to Unloading Port as first leg and from subsequent Loading Port to power plants as second leg. As a matter of policy, the charging of both the legs of rail transportation was done separately and independently by Railways.

The telescopic benefit reduces rail freight for coal movement as compared to charging coal freight in both legs separately, resulting in reduced cost of transportation in RSR mode.

This decision of Railways will aid in increasing the volume of coal movement further in RSR mode and promote coastal shipping.

The Ministry of Coal remains committed to enhancing the Rail-Sea-Rail Coal Evacuation strategy to consistently meet the nation’s growing energy demands, ensuring a resilient and efficient energy supply system.

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Shuhaib T

(Release ID: 2106915) Visitor Counter : 72

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs 237th meeting of Central Board of Trustees (CBT), EPF
Source: Government of India

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs 237th meeting of Central Board of Trustees (CBT), EPF

Central Board Recommends 8.25% Rate of Interest on EPF to its Subscribers for FY 2024-25

Key Modifications Approved in EDLI Scheme; To Provide Greater Financial Security and Support to Family of Members

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 3:23PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the 237^th meeting of Central Board of Trustees (CBT), EPF in New Delhi today. The Vice-Chairman Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Co-Vice-Chairperson Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Labour & Employment and Member Secretary Mr. Ramesh Krishnamurthi, Central PF Commissioner were also present during the meeting.

CBT recommended 8.25% annual rate of interest to be credited on EPF accumulations in members’ accounts for the financial year 2024-25. The interest rate would be officially notified by the Government of India, following which EPFO would credit the rate of interest into the subscribers’ accounts.

Compared to many other fixed-income instruments, the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) offers relatively high and stable returns, ensuring steady growth of savings. The interest earned on EPF deposits is tax-free (up to a specified limit), making it a highly attractive investment option for salaried individuals. This reflects strong confidence in the credit profile of EPFO’s investments and its ability to deliver competitive returns to its members.

Further continuing with the reform agenda, the CBT, under the chairmanship of Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, took a series of path breaking decisions during the CBT meeting. The major decisions taken by the Board in the meeting include:
- Enhancement of insurance benefits under EDLI Scheme: Following the actuarial valuation of the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme, the Board approved key modifications in scheme to provide greater financial security and support to the family of members. This will address major grievances under this category and ensure a more inclusive approach to benefit claimants.
Key enhancements under the revised scheme would be:
1. Minimum Benefit Introduced for death within one year of service: A minimum life insurance benefit of Rs. 50,000 will be provided in cases where an EPF member dies without completing one year of continuous service. This amendment is expected to result in higher benefits for more than 5,000 cases of deaths in service, every year.
2. Benefit for Members who die while in service after a non-contributory period: Previously, EDLI benefits were getting denied in such cases considering these as death away from service. Now, if a member passes away within six months of their last contribution received, the EDLI benefit will be admissible, provided the member’s name is not stuck off from rolls. The modification is estimated to result in benefits for more than 14,000 cases of such death cases every year.
3. Consideration of Service Continuity: Earlier, a gap of even one or two days (such as weekends or holidays) between employment in two establishments led to the denial of minimum EDLI benefits of Rs 2.5 lakh and maximum of Rs 7 lakh, as the condition continuous service of one year was not met. Under the new modifications, a gap of up to two months between two spells of employment will now be considered as continuous service, ensuring eligibility for higher quantum EDLI benefits. This change is expected to benefit more than 1,000 cases of deaths in service, every year.
The modifications are estimated to result in higher benefits under EDLI in more than 20,000 cases of death in service every year. These improvements aim to enhance the social security benefits for families of EPF members, ensuring better financial protection and reducing hardships faced by families in distress.
- Status Note on Hon’ble Supreme Court Judgment on PoHW: For implementation of Hon’ble Supreme Court judgment dated 04.11.2022 relating to Pension on Higher Wages (PoHW), various steps have been taken by EPFO to facilitate members/pensioners/employers. CBT was apprised that EPFO is working on a mission mode and 72% of the applications have been processed.
- Performance in Centralised Pension Payments System (CPPS): The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has successfully implemented the Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS) across all Regional Offices (ROs) from January 2025. Under this system, pension payments for all ROs are disbursed through a Centralized Pension Disbursement Account (CPDA) maintained at the New Delhi Branch of SBI. This will significantly reduce the grievances of pensioners who earlier had to wait for a long time for transfer of their case details from one RO to another. During the month of January, 2025, pension to 69.35 lakh pensioners amounting to Rs. 1710 crore was disbursed through CPPS.
- Rationalizing Damages and Reducing Litigation: One of the major reasons for litigation has been the cases of imposition of damages for belated remittances of PF dues. The rate of imposition of damages had been rationalized to 1% per month of delay vide a Gazette Notification dated 14.06.2024. This is effective for defaults after the date of notification i.e. June 2024. In respect of defaults that had occurred prior to this period the rate of damages applicable ranged from 5% for delays for two months and up to 25% for delays beyond 6 months. In order to mitigate this situation and with a view of reduce and control the litigation, it was discussed to introduce a statutory mechanism wherein there would be an automatic abatement of cases on deposit of damages at the rate of 1% per month of delay.
- Approval of Annual Budget of EPFO: The Board also approved the Revised Estimates for the year 2024-25 and Budget Estimates for the year 2025-26 for EPFO and the schemes administered by it.
In the above meeting of CBT, representatives from the employers, employees and other senior officers of the Central Government and EPFO were also present.

***

Himanshu Pathak

(Release ID: 2106914) Visitor Counter : 130

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 10,000 FPOs Achieved under Government’s Flagship Scheme
Source: Government of India

10,000 FPOs Achieved under Government’s Flagship Scheme

A Step Towards Atmnirbhar Krishi

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 3:21PM by PIB Delhi

Introduction

The Central Sector Scheme for “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 29th February, 2020. The scheme was launched with a budget outlay of ₹6,865 Crore till 2027-28. Since the launch of the scheme, ₹254.4 Crore in equity grants has been released to 4,761 FPOs and credit guarantee cover worth ₹453 Cr. has been issued to 1,900 FPOs.[1]

[2]

Recently, on the occasion of the release of the 19^th instalment of PM-KISAN in Bhagalpur, Bihar, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the 10,000^th FPO. The 10,000^th FPO has been registered in Khagaria district and focuses on maize, banana, and paddy. FPOs are not just organizations but an unprecedented force to increase farmers’ income and provide small farmers with direct access to significant market benefits, bargaining power and improving market access. Approximately 30 lakh farmers in the country are connected to FPOs, with around 40 percent of them being women. These FPOs are now conducting business worth thousands of crores in the agricultural sector.[3]

Under this scheme, there is a provision for handholding support for a period of five years to each new FPO formed, and financial assistance to the tune of Rs.18 lakhs to each FPO under the scheme towards management cost for 3 years. Additionally, matching equity grant upto Rs. 2,000 per farmer member of FPO with a limit of Rs. 15.00 lakh per FPO and a credit guarantee facility upto Rs. 2 crore of project loan per FPO from eligible lending institutions to ensure institutional credit accessibility to FPOs[4]

What are FPOs?

Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) is a generic name, which refers to farmer- producers’ organization incorporated/ registered either under Part IXA of Companies Act or under Co-operative Societies Act of the concerned States and formed for the purpose of leveraging collectives through economies of scale in production and marketing of agricultural and allied sector.

The concept behind Farmer Producer Organizations is that farmers, who are the producers of agricultural products, can form groups. To facilitate this process, the Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) was mandated by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, to support the State Governments in the formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).[5]

The “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)” scheme was launched with the main focus on leveraging economies of scale in production and marketing with a view to enhance productivity through efficient, cost effective and sustainable resource use for ensuring sustainable income-oriented farming, thus helping in reduction of cost of farm production and increase in farmers’ income.[6]

Need for FPOs
- Small, marginal and landless farmers face tremendous challenges during agriculture production phase such as for access to technology, quality seed, fertilizers and pesticides including requisite finances.
- They also face tremendous challenges in marketing their produce due to lack of economic strength.
- FPOs help in collectivization of such small, marginal and landless farmers in order to give them the collective strength to deal with such issues. Members of the FPO will manage their activities together in the organization to get better access to technology, input, finance and market for faster enhancement of their income.[7]
OBJECTIVES
1. To provide holistic and broad-based supportive ecosystem to form 10000 new FPOs to facilitate development of vibrant and sustainable income-oriented farming and for overall socio-economic development and wellbeing of agrarian communities.
2. To enhance productivity through efficient, cost-effective and sustainable resource use and realize higher returns through better liquidity and market linkages for their produce and become sustainable through collective action.
3. To provide handholding and support to new FPOs up to five years from the year of its creation in all aspects of management of FPO, inputs, production, processing and value addition, market linkages, credit linkages and use of technology etc.
4. To provide effective capacity building to FPOs to develop agriculture entrepreneurship skills to become economically viable and self-sustaining beyond the period of support from the government.[8]
Convergence of Ministries for FPOs in India-
1. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: Supports FPOs in getting seed, pesticides and fertilizer licenses, and helps in providing dealership through Agri Input companies. With this assistance, FPOs are able to work as dealers/distributors and generate income. The Ministry also supports FPOs by linking them to Institutional buyers and through ecommerce platforms like ONDC, e-NAM etc.[11]
2. Ministry of Food Processing: Support for FPOs through financial outlays, such as providing credit-linked capital subsidy @ 35% of the eligible project cost, 50% financial grant for branding and marketing.[12]
3. Ministry of Micro & Small Enterprises: Special provisions for FPOs such as access to funds in the form of FPO management cost, equity grant and credit guarantee facility apart from capacity building trainings, marked and credit linkages. [13]
4. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying: Benefits and schemes tailored to FPOs, such as “Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer organizations engaged in dairy activities” with a total allocation of Rs. 500 Cr during 2021-22 to 2025-26.[14] Additionally, forming and promoting 100 Fodder Plus FPOs through NDDB (National Dairy Development Board).[15]
5. APEDA (Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority): APEDA provides assistance to APEDA registered FPOs for export and MSME under its scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), which provides assistance for setting up enterprises.[16]
6. Spices Board: The Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development (SPICED) scheme is designed to expand area and improve productivity of Cardamom (small & large). It also aimed at generating an exportable surplus of quality spices through post-harvest improvement, export promotion of spices, increasing the share of value-added spices in the export basket, evaluating compliance of export consignments with applicable standards of quality and safety, capacity building & skill development of stakeholders etc. [17]
[18]

Services and Activities undertaken by FPOs

The FPOs provide and undertake following relevant major services and activities for their development:
1. Supply quality production inputs like seed, fertilizer, pesticides and such other inputs at reasonably lower wholesale rates
2. Make available need-based production and post-production machinery and equipment like cultivator, tiller, sprinkler set, combine harvester and such other machinery and equipment on custom hiring basis for members to reduce the per 2 unit production cost
3. Make available value addition like cleaning, assaying, sorting, grading, packing and also farm level processing facilities at user charge basis on reasonably cheaper rate. Storage and transportation facilities may also be made available
4. Undertake higher income generating activities like seed production, bee keeping, mushroom cultivation etc
5. Undertake aggregation of smaller lots of farmer-members’ produce; add value to make them more marketable
6. Facilitate market information about the produce for judicious decision in production and marketing
7. Facilitate logistics services such as storage, transportation, loading/un-loading etc. on shared cost basis.
8. Market the aggregated produce with better negotiation strength to the buyers and in the marketing channels offering better and remunerative prices[19]
Initiatives under the scheme

Credit Guarantee Fund: FPOs need finance, both grants and loans, to quickly establish input collectivisation, working capital, marketing and improved services to member farmers. Considering FPOs’ need for credit from formal financial institutions, a dedicated Credit Guarantee Fund (CGF) has been created under the Central Sector Scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs. CGF provides credit guarantee cover to financial institutions for extending loans to FPOs.[20]

ONDC platform: Almost 5 thousand out of 8,000 registered Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been registered on Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) portal for selling the produce online to consumers across the country. The onboarding of FPOs on ONDC to reach out to their buyers in any part of the country is in line with the Central government objective of providing growers with better market access. The move aims to empower FPOs with direct access to digital marketing, online payment, business-to-business and business-to-consumer transactions.[21]

MoU to convert 10,000 FPOs into CSCs: An MoU between CSC SPV (Common Services Centres Special Purpose Vehicle) and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare was signed to convert FPOs registered under ‘Formation & Promotion of 10,000 FPOs scheme’ into CSCs and help them to deliver citizen-centric services. As per the MoU, 10,000 FPOs will be converted into CSCs. CSC SPV will enable them to provide the services that are available on the Digital Seva Portal. The delivery of CSC services through FPOs is aimed at increasing employment opportunities in rural areas.[22]

[23]

FPOs provide special focus to include small, marginal and women farmers/women SHGs, SC/ST farmers and other economically weaker categories etc. as members to make FPOs more effective and inclusive.

How to Apply

FPOs/FPCs can register on e-NAM Portal via website (www.enam.gov.in) or mobile app or providing following details at nearest e-NAM mandi:
- Name of FPOs/ FPCs
- Name, address, email Id and contact no. of authorized person (MD/CEO /Manager)
- Bank account Details (Name of Bank, Branch, Account no. IFSC Code)[24]
Conclusion

Formation & promotion of FPOs is the first step for converting Krishi into Atmanirbhar Krishi. The successful formation of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) under the Central Sector Scheme marks a transformative milestone for the agriculture sector. By fostering collectivization, enhancing market access, and providing financial and institutional support, this initiative has empowered millions of small and marginal farmers, including women and economically weaker sections. This achievement not only boosts agricultural productivity and income but also contributes to rural job creation and economic resilience. As India moves forward, the continued support and expansion of FPOs will be instrumental in shaping a self-reliant, efficient, and prosperous agricultural ecosystem.

References:

Click here to see PDF.

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Santosh Kumar/ Ritu Kataria/ Kritika Rane

(Release ID: 2106913) Visitor Counter : 88

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English translation of Press Statement by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the Joint Press Conference with President of European Commission (February 28, 2025)

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 3:04PM by PIB Delhi

Your Excellency, President of the European Commission,

European College of Commissioners,

Delegates,

Friends from the media,

Namaskar!

This visit of the President of the European Commission and the College of Commissioners to India is unprecedented.

This isn’t just the European Commission’s first visit to India, but also the first such comprehensive engagement of the European Commission in any single country. Also, this is one of the first visits of the new Commission in its latest term. On this historic occasion, I warmly welcome the President of the European Commission and the College of Commissioners to India.

Friends,

This two-decade long strategic partnership between India and EU is natural and organic. Its core is built on trust, a shared belief in democratic values, and a mutual commitment to prosperity and shared progress.

In this spirit, we have held almost 20 ministerial level meetings of different sectors between yesterday and today. Sincere and meaningful discussions were held on various regional and global matters. Many important decisions have been taken to elevate and accelerate our partnership.

We have prepared a blueprint for collaboration in the areas of Trade, Technology, Investment, Innovation, Green Growth, Security, Skilling and Mobility. We have directed our teams to conclude a mutually beneficial Bilateral Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year.

Friends,

To strengthen the investment framework, there has also been talk of moving forward on Investment Protection and GI Agreement. In the field of Technology and Innovation, a trusted and secure value chain is our common priority.

We have also agreed on increasing cooperation in semiconductors, AI, high performance computing and 6G. We have also decided to initiate a Space Dialogue.

Friends,

A balance between Ecology and Economy has been our shared commitment, and our cooperation in this direction has been strong. We have decided to conduct a Green Hydrogen Forum and Offshore Wind Energy Business Summit. Joint research shall be undertaken on EV Batteries, Marine plastics and Green hydrogen. We shall also take forward our Joint Plan on Sustainable Urban Development.

In the field of connectivity, concrete steps will be taken, to take forward the India – Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor or “IMEEC”. I firmly believe that “IMEEC” shall serve as an engine that drives global commerce, sustainable growth and prosperity in the days to come.

Friends,

Our growing cooperation on issues related to Defence and Security, is a symbol of our mutual trust. We will take forward our cooperation on Cyber Security, Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism.

Both sides agree on the importance of peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. We welcome the decision of the EU to join the “Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative”. We will work together on Triangular Development projects for sustainable and inclusive development in the Indo-Pacific region and Africa.

Friends,

People-to-people connect is the strongest asset of our relationship. Today, we have reached a new agreement to increase academia, research and industry partnerships between us. I believe that India’s young talent and Europe’s innovation can together create limitless possibilities.

We welcome the new visa cascade regime of the EU. This will provide better mobility to the abilities of India’s talented youth.

Today, we have decided to create a bold and ambitious roadmap for the India-EU partnership for the period beyond 2025. It will be launched during the next India-EU Summit.

Excellency,

Your visit to India has given new momentum, energy and enthusiasm to our partnership. This journey is the biggest catalyst that will translate our ambition into action.

I eagerly look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back to India for the next India-EU Summit.

Thank you very much.

******

MJPS/ST/SKS

(Release ID: 2106908) Visitor Counter : 106

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Coal Ministry Successfully Hosts Roadshow on Investment Opportunities and Commercial Coal Mine Auctions in Mumbai

Source: Government of India (2)

Coal Ministry Successfully Hosts Roadshow on Investment Opportunities and Commercial Coal Mine Auctions in Mumbai

Coal Minister Reaffirms Government’s Commitment to Mine Safety and Community Welfare

12th Round of Commercial Coal Mines Auctions to Include Underground Mines

Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 2:49PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Coal, in its continued efforts to promote investment opportunities in the coal sector and commercial coal mine auctions, successfully conducted a high-impact roadshow today in Mumbai. The event was graced by Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, as the Chief Guest. Also present were, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary & Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal, and senior officials from the Ministry of Coal. The event also witnessed the participation of key stakeholders, industry leaders, investors, and policy experts, who engaged in insightful discussions on the future of coal mining in India.

The roadshow served as a strategic platform to accelerate private sector participation, enhance domestic coal production, and promote sustainable mining practices. It focused on policy reforms, ease of doing business, and technological advancements, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of India’s coal sector while ensuring environmental sustainability and long-term energy security.

In his keynote address, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy highlighted the crucial role of coal in India’s economic progress, particularly in ensuring energy security and meeting growing industrial and power sector demands. He reiterated the Government’s commitment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to accelerate domestic coal production, reducing import dependence, and ensuring sustainable mining practices.

The Minister emphasized the remarkable growth in India’s coal production, which has enabled industries and power plants to meet their energy needs efficiently. He underscored the Government’s efforts to bridge the demand-supply gap and ensure uninterrupted coal availability for both captive and commercial consumers. Shri Reddy reaffirmed that coal remains the backbone of India’s energy landscape, contributing over 70% to electricity generation. He also outlined key reforms to attract private investment in commercial coal mining, enhance ease of doing business, and deploy advanced technologies such as automation and digital monitoring to optimize mining operations while minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, the minister highlighted the Government’s large-scale afforestation initiatives on reclaimed land, leading to the development of eco-parks, green belts, and biodiversity zones. Further, he assured that as per Mine closure plan, post-mining landscapes are being restored for sustainable use, including agriculture, forestry, and mine tourism, benefiting local communities.

As India moves towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy and strives for Viksit Bharat 2047, minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to community welfare, prioritizing mine safety, rehabilitation, and skill development initiatives. Impressing upon sustainability, minister highlighted the importance of socio-economic upliftment of coal dependent communities and said that worker safety remains a priority urging coal companies to adopt best safety practices, and eco-friendly mining practices to ensure environmental conservation and long-term sectoral stability.

In his address, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, assured investors of the Ministry’s proactive approach in facilitating seamless investment in the coal sector. He emphasized that the Ministry is committed to assisting investors at every stage from obtaining clearances to project execution by coordinating with regulatory bodies and stakeholder ministries to expedite approvals for early operationalization.

He further emphasized that the Ministry is ensuring a fast-tracked approval process, reducing bottlenecks, and improving transparency in the allocation of coal blocks. The Secretary reaffirmed the Ministry’s focus on afforestation on Mined-out land biodiversity conservation, and responsible mine closure practices, ensuring mining activities align with India’s sustainability goals. He also announced that the upcoming 12th round of auctions which is going to start very soon will include underground mines, offering additional financial incentives. Encouraging industry leaders and investors to actively participate in upcoming coal mine auctions, he assured them of full government support, including regulatory assistance, financial incentives, and streamlined processes to enhance business confidence. He reiterated that India’s coal sector offers immense opportunities for investment, innovation, paving the way for a self-reliant and resilient energy future.

In her welcome address, Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary & Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal, underlined the strategic importance of private sector’s participation in coal mining. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to creating a transparent, competitive, and investor-friendly coal sector. She also highlighted key incentives available to investors and urged stakeholders to leverage policy reforms for long-term growth. She noted that since the commencement of commercial coal mining, coal demand has surged, and the Government has allowed its use beyond captive purposes, enabling mining companies to operate with greater flexibility and market coal as a commodity.

The roadshow featured detailed discussions on investment potential, regulatory reforms, sustainability measures, and coal gasification prospects. It provided a platform for direct engagement between policymakers and industry leaders, facilitating insightful deliberations on upcoming rounds of commercial coal mine auctions, Technological advancements, best practices in sustainable coal mining, policy support for ease of doing business and fast-tracking project approvals.

The roadshow included an engaging and interactive Q&A session, where investors actively engaged with officials, seeking clarity on policies, auction processes, and growth prospects in the coal sector. The queries of potential investors were addressed comprehensively, reinforcing confidence in the industry’s transparent and investor-friendly approach.

The Mumbai roadshow was another significant milestone in the Ministry of Coal’s mission to promote investment, enhance domestic production, and ensure a sustainable future for coal mining in India. The event reinforced the Government’s commitment to strengthening investor confidence, fostering innovation, and advancing India’s energy security goals in line with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Hon’ble Minister of Coal & Mines, Shri G Kishan Reddy, addressed the Roadshow on Investment Opportunities in the Coal Sector & Commercial Coal Mine Auctions in Mumbai, highlighting the transformative vision for India’s coal industry. He emphasized key policy reforms, ease of… pic.twitter.com/YfDjlN666g

— Ministry of Coal (@CoalMinistry) February 28, 2025

During his insightful address at the Roadshow on Commercial Coal Mine Auctions, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, highlighted the sector’s strong growth trajectory. Emphasizing the importance of investor outreach, he noted that the policy framework has been… pic.twitter.com/k1SXLTo1ll

— Ministry of Coal (@CoalMinistry) February 28, 2025

In a welcome address during the roadshow on commercial coal mine auctions at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai.

Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary & Nominated Authority , Ministry of Coal, highlighted that 2025 marks five years since the launch of commercial coal mine auctions,… pic.twitter.com/3YVIGXahD7

— Ministry of Coal (@CoalMinistry) February 28, 2025

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Shuhaib T

(Release ID: 2106901) Visitor Counter : 102

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 1, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Sectoral Deployment of Bank Credit – January 2025

Source: Reserve Bank of India

Data on sectoral deployment of bank credit for the month of January 2025¹ collected from 41 select scheduled commercial banks, accounting for about 95 per cent of the total non-food credit deployed by all scheduled commercial banks, are set out in Statements I and II.

On a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, non-food bank credit² as on the fortnight ended January 24, 2025³ grew at 12.5 per cent (a three-month high) as compared to 16.2 per cent for the corresponding fortnight of the previous year (January 26, 2024).

Highlights of the sectoral deployment of bank credit³ are given below:

Credit to agriculture and allied activities registered a growth of 12.2 per cent (y-o-y) as on the fortnight ended January 24, 2025 (20.0 per cent for the corresponding fortnight of the previous year).
Credit to industry recorded a growth of 8.2 per cent (y-o-y) as on the fortnight ended January 24, 2025, compared with 7.5 per cent for the corresponding fortnight of the previous year. Among major industries, outstanding credit to ‘petroleum, coal products and nuclear fuels’, ‘basic metal and metal product’, ‘chemicals and chemical products’ and ‘all engineering’ recorded an accelerated growth.
Credit growth to services sector moderated to 13.8 per cent (y-o-y) as on the fortnight ended January 24, 2025 (21.0 per cent for the corresponding fortnight of the previous year), with a decelerated growth in credit to ‘non-banking financial companies’ (NBFCs) and trade segments. However, credit growth (y-o-y) to ‘computer software’ accelerated.
Credit to personal loans segment registered a growth of 14.2 per cent (y-o-y) as on the fortnight ended January 24, 2025, as compared with 18.2 per cent a year ago, largely due to decline in growth rate in ‘other personal loans’, ‘vehicle loans’ and ‘credit card outstanding’ segments.

Ajit Prasad
Deputy General Manager
(Communications)

Press Release: 2024-2025/2276

MIL OSI Economics –

February 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Swap Auction, February 28, 2025: Results

Source: Reserve Bank of India

Today, the Reserve Bank conducted a USD/INR Buy Sell swap auction for a notified amount of USD 10 billion as announced vide press release dated February 21, 2025.

I. SUMMARY RESULTS

Aggregate amount notified (USD Billion)	10.00
Total amount bid by participants (USD Billion)	16.23
Total amount accepted (USD Billion)	10.06
Cut-off premium (in paisa)	655.10

II. OTHER DETAILS

USD/INR Buy Sell Swap auction
No. of bids received	244
Bid to cover ratio	1.62
No. of bids accepted	161
Partial allotment as % of competitive bids at cut-off premium	NA
Weighted Average Premium of accepted bids (in paisa)	673.29
First leg settlement date	March 04, 2025
Second leg settlement date	March 06, 2028

Ajit Prasad
Deputy General Manager
(Communications)

Press Release: 2024-2025/2274

MIL OSI Economics –

February 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Amgen strategic hiring push in India: GlobalData insights on R&D growth and tech integration

Source: GlobalData

Amgen strategic hiring push in India: GlobalData insights on R&D growth and tech integration

Posted in Business Fundamentals

Amgen is expanding its presence in India by ramping up hiring for its new technology and innovation center in Hyderabad. The company aims to strengthen its operations and R&D capabilities by recruiting tech professionals skilled in data analytics, AI, and digital health technologies. This investment highlights Amgen’s commitment to innovation and further solidifies Hyderabad as a key hub for life sciences and technology integration, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Sherla Sriprada, Business Fundamentals Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Amgen’s tech and innovation center in Hyderabad signals a strategic move to enhance its global R&D capabilities. By tapping into India’s thriving tech industry and emphasising on digital transformation, the US biotech major is looking to recruit tech professionals for integrating cutting-edge data analytics, AI, and digital health technologies into its operations.”

An analysis of GlobalData’s Job Analytics Database reveals that Amgen’s hiring strategy in India reflects a strong emphasis on leadership in procurement, technology integration, and data-driven decision-making. The company is focused on developing and implementing innovative strategies for indirect materials procurement, overseeing data analytics governance, and spearheading efforts to improve procurement processes through technology.

Additionally, Amgen is looking for professionals to drive end-to-end technology implementation and integrating new solutions to optimize procurement functions, while also focusing on supplier risk, cost analysis, and demand forecasting.

Moreover, Amgen is prioritizing roles for the Hyderabad office for leading pharmacovigilance activities. The company is actively seeking individuals with expertise in cloud technology and generative AI to drive innovation.

A deep dive into GlobalData’s Company Filings Analytics Database and News Database also reveals that the company announced a $200 million investment in the newly opened technology and innovation center in Hyderabad. The company is focusing on driving efficiencies and prioritizing resources. This includes leveraging both automation and newly established innovation and technology hub in India to enhance digital capabilities, such as artificial intelligence, data science, life science, and medical advancements.

Sriprada concludes: “The recent job postings, along with media reports on potential investment, not only suggest the company’s commitment to expanding its global footprint and enhancing its capabilities in India.”

MIL OSI Economics –

February 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Renewal of the Bilateral Swap Arrangement between Japan and India

Source: Reserve Bank of India

Japan and India renewed the Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) effective today (Feb. 28, 2025).

The Bank of Japan, acting as agent for the Minister of Finance of Japan, and the Reserve Bank of India signed the second Amendment and Restatement Agreement of the BSA. The BSA is a two-way arrangement where both authorities can swap their local currencies in exchange for the US Dollar. The size of the BSA remains unchanged, that is, up to 75 billion US Dollars.

Japan and India believe that the BSA, which aims to strengthen and complement other financial safety nets, will further deepen financial cooperation between the two countries and contribute to regional and global financial stability.

(Puneet Pancholy)
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2024-2025/2272

MIL OSI Economics –

February 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on February 28, 2025

Source: Reserve Bank of India

Tenor	3-day
Notified Amount (in ₹ crore)	25,000
Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore)	16,258
Amount allotted (in ₹ crore)	16,258
Cut off Rate (%)	6.26
Weighted Average Rate (%)	6.27
Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%)	N.A.

Ajit Prasad
Deputy General Manager
(Communications)

Press Release: 2024-2025/2271

MIL OSI Economics –

February 28, 2025

MIL-Evening Report: Yes, paper straws suck. Rather than bring back plastic ones, let’s avoid single-use items

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bhavna Middha, ARC DECRA Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University

Dragon Images/Shutterstock

When US President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to return to plastic straws, claiming the paper version is ineffective and “disgustingly dissolves in your mouth”, he was widely criticised for setting back efforts to reduce plastic pollution. But many alternatives designed to help phase out single-use plastics don’t really solve the problem at all.

It’s not unusual to see plastic bans challenged or overturned. However, a government ban on the substitute is altogether new.

It’s true paper straws can disintegrate and become soggy before we finish a drink. Problems with finding viable substitutes to single-use plastics is one of the many challenges involved in phasing them out.

Sometimes, swapping one single-use item for another really is more trouble than it’s worth. A better approach would be to change our society’s single-use and disposal mindset.

The problem with plastic

Plastic pollution is an urgent problem for the environment and human health. Microplastics are everywhere, from Antarctica to our brains.

Plastic is made from fossil fuels, and so contributes to global warming. What’s more, plastic production is forecast to triple by 2050.

But recycling is difficult. Less than 10% of the world’s plastic has been recycled.

So we need to reduce our use of plastic in the first place, rather than trying to clean it up afterwards.

Substituting plastic straws for paper still involves using virgin materials.
JeniFoto/Shutterstock

Poor substitutes and other traps

Trump rejected paper straws, saying they “don’t work” as well as plastic straws. The poor consumer experience of drinking through a soggy straw is one thing, but there are other problems too.

Swapping one problematic or hazardous material for another is sometimes called “regrettable substitution”, because the replacement has its own issues. For example, one harmful chemical used to make plastics is often replaced with others that are as bad or worse.

Paper straws, like paper cups, are often coated with plastics such as polyethylene or acrylic resin. This makes them difficult to recycle but also raises the risk of pollution. Some paper straws have been shown to contain more “forever chemicals” (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS) than plastic.

Along with paper, other plant-based materials such as corn starch and bamboo are increasingly replacing single-use plastics – especially in food packaging. These substitutes carry a cost that is passed down to consumers, and many are more expensive to produce than plastic.

Some are labelled “compostable” or “biodegradable”. The term compostable suggests they will break down in home compost heaps or green waste bins, but that has been called into question.

Unfortunately, the term “biodegradable” does not necessarily mean a material will break down in home compost, or even landfill. It may require heat or pressure – in an industrial setting – for it to disintegrate enough to be harmless or safely used on your garden.

When it comes to straws, paper, bamboo, metal and glass have all been adopted as substitutes. Metal and glass straws could be dangerous for kids and less able-bodied people. They can also be hard to clean. Again, “biodegradable plastic” products have been accused of greenwashing and have been banned from organic composting bins in New South Wales and potentially Victoria because they don’t disintegrate well or are contaminated.

Meanwhile, thicker plastic bags labelled “reusable” have been introduced following bans on lightweight “single-use” plastic bags. While these durable bags may be reused for months at a time, they will eventually wear out and then they are even harder to break down in landfill.

Plastic bans can be problematic

Governments all over the world have attempted to ban single-use plastic. Often these bans are introduced without considering how the products are used in daily life and how those services will be replaced. The changes may disadvantage certain groups and new supply chains need to be created.

Often, governments wanting to be seen as protecting the environment target the low-hanging fruit such as plastic straws and plastic bags, rather than packaging as a whole.

So it’s no surprise these bans have faced opposition. Many have already been repealed or diluted.

In India, for example, the plastic ban was criticised for shifting the burden of waste management away from larger, more polluting industries on to smaller businesses. Larger establishments were also accused of passing the costs of substitute packaging, such as more expensive paper and cloth, to consumers.

Better to avoid single-use items

It’s time to stop searching for the perfect substitute. Let’s instead focus on getting rid of single-use items altogether.

Remember, straws were originally used for very specific cases and places: very young children and others unable to drink straight from a cup. They might still need straws.

Single-use bottles are unnecessary. We should learn from Germany’s glass bottle reuse system and set up circular loops of production and distribution.

Get serious about reducing plastic packaging

While some packaging – even some plastics – is needed for food safety and freshness, an overhaul of unnecessary packaging would go a long way.

In the United Kingdom, anti-waste charity WRAP examined fresh produce in supermarkets and called for the government to ban packaging on 21 fruits and vegetables sold in supermarkets by 2030. These included cucumbers, bananas and potatoes.

Removing unnecessary packaging and plastics involves reconfiguring social rules, knowledge, standards and expectations such as making items without packaging affordable and widely available. We must challenge our disposable society by creating spaces and practices that allow reuse.

Better policies and regulations

Policies that prevent plastics from reaching consumers in the first place would be better than bans on single-use items.

Governments should put the onus on the corporations that have profited from plastic and their role in plastic pollution.

Supermarkets and the food industry as a whole must also take responsibility for their part in the plastic waste problem.

Voluntary codes have not worked. Government regulation levels the playing field, but industry expertise and technical and social knowledge is needed to ensure systems work. While not without its challenges, Australia’s tyre recycling system has addressed many similar issues. The scheme’s approach to developing a national market for used tyres could be replicated for plastics, packaging and glass.

Meaningful change for our environment and health requires government regulations done well and fairly. It also requires coordinated waste infrastructure and industry practices that build on technical expertise and consumers’ lived experience.

Bhavna Middha receives funding from the Australian Research Council through the Discovery Early Career Research Award.

Ralph Horne receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and a range of industry and government partners from time to time, to support research activities relevant to this article. In particular, he is a Chief Investigator on the ARC Research Hub Transformation of Reclaimed Waste Resources to Engineered Materials and Solutions for a Circular Economy (TREMS).

Kajsa Lundberg does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Yes, paper straws suck. Rather than bring back plastic ones, let’s avoid single-use items – https://theconversation.com/yes-paper-straws-suck-rather-than-bring-back-plastic-ones-lets-avoid-single-use-items-250266

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on February 27, 2025

Source: Reserve Bank of India


(Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)

	Volume (One Leg)	Weighted Average Rate	Range
A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV)	5,68,518.08	6.23	5.15-6.65
I. Call Money	18,397.29	6.31	5.15-6.40
II. Triparty Repo	3,97,349.95	6.21	5.90-6.32
III. Market Repo	1,51,241.64	6.27	5.75-6.45
IV. Repo in Corporate Bond	1,529.20	6.41	6.40-6.65
B. Term Segment
I. Notice Money**	224.50	6.28	5.80-6.45
II. Term Money^@@	910.00	–	6.50-7.25
III. Triparty Repo	380.00	6.40	6.40-6.40
IV. Market Repo	633.79	6.61	6.35-6.62
V. Repo in Corporate Bond	0.00	–	–

	Auction Date	Tenor (Days)	Maturity Date	Amount	Current Rate / Cut off Rate
C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
I. Today’s Operations
1. Fixed Rate
2. Variable Rate^&
(I) Main Operation
(a) Repo
(b) Reverse Repo
(II) Fine Tuning Operations
(a) Repo	Thu, 27/02/2025	1	Fri, 28/02/2025	49,955.00	6.26
(b) Reverse Repo
(III) Long Term Operations^
(a) Repo
(b) Reverse Repo
3. MSF^#	Thu, 27/02/2025	1	Fri, 28/02/2025	1,334.00	6.50
4. SDF^Δ#	Thu, 27/02/2025	1	Fri, 28/02/2025	1,03,098.00	6.00
5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*				-51,809.00
II. Outstanding Operations
1. Fixed Rate
2. Variable Rate^&
(I) Main Operation
(a) Repo	Fri, 21/02/2025	14	Fri, 07/03/2025	41,046.00	6.26
(b) Reverse Repo
(II) Fine Tuning Operations
(a) Repo
(b) Reverse Repo
(III) Long Term Operations^
(a) Repo	Fri, 21/02/2025	45	Mon, 07/04/2025	57,951.00	6.26
	Fri, 14/02/2025	49	Fri, 04/04/2025	75,003.00	6.28
	Fri, 07/02/2025	56	Fri, 04/04/2025	50,010.00	6.31
(b) Reverse Repo
3. MSF^#
4. SDF^Δ#
D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI^$				9,095.71
E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*				2,33,105.71
F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*				1,81,296.71
G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
(i) Cash balances with RBI as on		February 27, 2025		9,42,396.93
(ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending		March 07, 2025		9,22,740.00
H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on^¥		February 27, 2025		49,955.00
I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on		February 07, 2025		-1,973.00
^@ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
– Not Applicable / No Transaction.
** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
^@@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
^$ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
^& As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
^Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
* Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
^¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
^# As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
^ As per the Press Release No. 2024-2025/2013 dated January 27, 2025, Press Release No. 2024-2025/2138 dated February 12, 2025, and Press Release No. 2024-2025/2209 dated February 20, 2025.
Ajit Prasad Deputy General Manager (Communications)
Press Release: 2024-2025/2269

MIL OSI Economics –

February 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Submissions: Global: Failure to consult Indigenous Peoples on future pandemics will further harm children’s education – Amnesty International

Source: Amnesty International

The failure of governments around the world to consult Indigenous Peoples on Covid-19 school closures and other emergency pandemic responses violated their rights, as children continue to feel the effects five years after the first global lockdown, Amnesty International said in a new report today.

Indigenous leaders interviewed by Amnesty International for its report What If Indigenous Consent Is Not Respected?, testified to sharp and sustained increases in post-pandemic absenteeism and school dropout rates, of more than 80 per cent in some cases, among Indigenous children in more than 10 countries. Indigenous leaders and activists also voiced concerns that the often discriminatory, desultory or non-existent response by authorities to the educational needs of Indigenous children during the pandemic worsened long-standing inequities faced by Indigenous communities – with Indigenous girls and children with disabilities particularly disadvantaged. Going forward, the organization is calling for Indigenous Peoples to be consulted during future pandemics. (ref. https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/pol40/8959/2025/en/ )

“The Indigenous leaders and activists we spoke to felt completely ignored by governments during the pandemic, which had an enduring and damaging impact on their rights and prospects,” said Chris Chapman, Amnesty International’s Researcher on Indigenous Rights.

“They said that remote learning solutions were often unavailable to Indigenous children. Those in rural areas, where Indigenous communities often lacked devices, internet connections, electricity and the technological knowledge or capacity to participate in virtual classes or remote learning, were worst affected.”

When lower-tech solutions such as printed materials were distributed to other groups, Indigenous communities in several different countries said they were passed over, ignored, or asked to pay for them.

Indigenous campaigner Sylvia Kokunda said: “For the most part these materials were distributed by the local government, since it can be easier for the village chairperson to identify the people in this community. However, local officials would not give the materials to these Batwa people, they would give only to their people.”

Radio or television-based educational broadcasting during the pandemic was often unavailable in Indigenous languages. An Ogiek activist said that although Sogoot FM 97.1, an Ogiek language radio station, was used to reach the community to inform them about Covid-19 and its impacts, it was not used for school coursework.

The report is based on data and more than 80 interviews or collected responses that Amnesty International gathered to explore how Indigenous students around the world were impacted by pandemic-related school closures, including in Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Russia, Taiwan and Uganda. There are 476 million Indigenous people worldwide in more than 90 countries, belonging to 5,000 different Indigenous groups and speaking more than 4,000 languages.

Technology, discrimination and dropout rates

Where Indigenous families had limited access to technology for remote learning during the pandemic, boys were often prioritized.

According to Indigenous women activists from Nepal, “If some families have a mobile, then only one or two will use it. And if there are more children in the house, one has to sacrifice their education. When it comes to the sacrifice, the girls are sacrificed more.”

Even if Indigenous students had devices capable of being used for remote learning, their families were sometimes unable to afford sufficient data. In addition, remote teaching was rarely provided in Indigenous languages.

Children with learning difficulties or disabilities which required specialist teaching, for instance through use of sign language or braille, were often excluded, including among Indigenous communities.

Interviewees in many states said there was often little or no government monitoring, or consideration of the effectiveness of alternative learning initiatives for Indigenous communities. Information on how to access education when schools closed – and they stayed shut for more than 18 months in some countries – was rarely provided in Indigenous languages.

Students with little or no access to education during the pandemic often worked instead, and never returned to schools when they reopened. Those who did return when schools reopened, often found that they had fallen behind their classmates. If they were unwilling to retake a year, or could not be supported financially, they too dropped out.

In Kenya, the majority of dropouts of Ogiek students were girls, especially girls who got pregnant during Covid-19 or were subjected to early marriage. However, it affected boys too. An Indigenous activist from Kenya said: “Boys between the ages of 12 and 18 who had begun working in jobs such as motorcycle taxi drivers or farm workers to earn money for themselves and their families also dropped out.”

Some schools across many states never reopened, further reducing access to education for Indigenous children, Indigenous activists reported.

Asked to reply to Amnesty’s findings, the Mexican government stated that it responded to the “unprecedented challenge of Covid-19″ by working with Indigenous schools and teachers to roll out a set of measures including distributing materials in five Indigenous languages, sometimes in printed formats where access to internet or devices was restricted, developing new digital educational materials, and capacity-building for schools and parents to use digital platforms.

Recommendations

“Significantly more resources are now required to safeguard, restore and improve the educational opportunities and rights of Indigenous communities,” Chris Chapman said.

“States must work with Indigenous communities to immediately restore and enhance the right to education for all Indigenous children including a focus on re-enrolling Indigenous girls, and Indigenous students with disabilities.”

Alongside the report, Amnesty International has shared a guide for researchers who wish to investigate the extent to which the human right to participate effectively in decision-making has been violated, especially when it comes to Indigenous communities. (ref. https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/pol30/8958/2025/en/ )

“Governments must consult with Indigenous Peoples on Covid-19 response measures and other pandemic and emergency response measures, otherwise they risk violating their right to consultation, and their right to give or withhold their consent to decisions affecting them. Our study highlights the risks of failing to take into account the realities, cultures and rights of Indigenous Peoples,” said Chris Chapman.

“While our report sets out the devastating impact of this lack of inclusion, it’s hoped that Amnesty’s guide will ensure Indigenous people are included in discussions that affect them in the future. Every child has the right to free, high-quality primary education. States must therefore ensure that no child is left behind.”

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

February 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Address at the Royal Australian Mint 60th anniversary, Canberra

Source: Australian Treasurer

I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people on whose lands we meet today, and all First Nations people present. Thank you, and welcome to the voice of Trixie Heeler, Myf Warhurst. It’s wonderful to have you as part of this special occasion.

A big thank you to the Royal Australian Mint and Acting CEO Emily Martin for hosting this event, and to all of you – coin collectors, visitors, Mint staff, and Canberrans – for being here today.

Today, we celebrate 60 years of the Royal Australian Mint—a milestone that reflects not only the passage of time but also the evolution of our nation’s currency, craftsmanship, and innovation.

The story of Australian coinage is one of transformation and progress. When the Mint opened its doors in 1965, Australia was on the cusp of a historic shift – from the familiar imperial system of pounds, shillings, and pence to a modern decimal currency.

Proposals to adopt decimal currency emerged shortly after Federation, but it was not until Leslie Melville’s 1957 Decimal Currency Council report that momentum began. The new Currency Act was enacted in 1963, and the public were asked what to call the new currency. Suggested names included ‘Austral’, ‘Oz’, ‘Boomer’, ‘Emu’, ‘Deci‑mate’, ‘Kwid’, ‘Kanga’, ‘Digger’, ‘Dinkum’ and ‘Roo’. Some rue the fact that we eventually went with ‘dollar’.

The switch to decimal currency was a national effort, one that required education, precision, and trust – all embodied in the very coins produced within these walls.

Befitting the romantic approach of the Mint, Valentine’s Day 1966 was chosen for the changeover, and public education campaigns began. One jingle was sung by a character dubbed ‘Dollar Bill’ to the tune of the folk song ‘Click Go the Shears’:

In come the dollars and in come the cents
To replace the pounds and the shillings and the pence.
Be prepared folks when the coins begin to mix
On the 14th of February 1966.

I wasn’t born until the following decade, but the Mint’s jingle was such an effective earworm that my parents often sang it to my brother and me as young children.

Handling 2 currencies wasn’t easy. Many shopkeepers had conversion charts behind the counter, and there were humorous moments as Australians adjusted. One story, possibly apocryphal, is of a man who walked into a bar a few weeks after the introduction of decimal currency and attempted to pay for his drink using a mixture of new and old coins. The bartender, flummoxed by the mix of pence and cents, apparently decided it was easier to give the bloke his drink on the house.

The designer who gave these coins their first distinct character was Stuart Devlin, a Melbourne‑born artist and silversmith. His designs, chosen through a national competition, brought our native wildlife to life on the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50‑cent pieces. The bounding kangaroo, the spiky echidna, and the playful platypus became symbols of Australian pride. Devlin’s artistry set a benchmark for numismatic design, and his influence continues to be felt in the coins produced by the Mint today.

The history of Australian currency stretches back well before decimalisation. Before the Mint’s founding, before Federation, before European settlement, different forms of exchange shaped our economy. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people engaged in sophisticated barter systems, trading goods such as ochre, shell, and tools across vast distances. The earliest colonial transactions were conducted with rum, promissory notes, and an eclectic mix of foreign coins before the establishment of our first official currency. Today, the Mint serves as the custodian of the National Coin Collection, preserving these stories and artefacts so future generations can walk through history – not just since 1965, but from our nation’s earliest days.

The Mint has also played a key role in preserving Australia’s military history through commemorative coin releases. From ANZAC Day coins to the first coloured red poppy coin in 2012, released in partnership with the RSL to commemorate the wartime sacrifice of Australian service personnel, these pieces honour our nation’s service and sacrifice. During World War II, Australia faced severe coin shortages and had to mint coins in the USA and India. This experience reinforced the need for a sovereign minting facility, leading to the foundation of the Royal Australian Mint.

The Mint’s work has never been confined to our own shores. Over the decades, it has become a respected global producer, currently supplying coins to 7 nations in the Asia‑Pacific. This international role highlights the skill and reputation of the Mint and has supported the economies of many countries, reinforcing Australia’s standing in the numismatic world.

This global reputation for craftsmanship and innovation has positioned the Royal Australian Mint as more than just a manufacturer – it is a creator of currency that tells a story. Each coin it produces carries history in its design, whether celebrating our culture, achievements, or aspirations.

Coins don’t just mark history—they make history. We’ve seen that most recently with the transition of the effigy on our coinage. For more than 70 years, coins in Australia bore the right‑facing portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, evolving through 6 different designs as her reign progressed. Then, in October 2023, in this very building, I had the honour of unveiling the left‑facing effigy of King Charles III. It was the first change in monarch on our coins since decimalisation – a reminder that history is reflected in the coins we carry in our pockets.

Looking ahead, the future of coins is a subject of great interest. The rise of digital payments has led some to question their place in modern society. Yet, coins continue to hold cultural, historical, and collectible value. Some of Australia’s most collectible coins, such as the rare 1930 penny, fetch tens of thousands at auction. Error coins, such as the famous 2000 $1 ‘mule’ coin, which was mistakenly struck with a 10c die, remain highly sought after.

The Mint has adapted to technological advancements, from new minting techniques to sustainable materials, ensuring that Australian coins remain relevant in an evolving world. The introduction of coloured and uniquely shaped coins demonstrates the Mint’s continuous innovation.

Today, as we reflect on the past 6 decades, we acknowledge the skill, dedication, and vision of those who have contributed to the Royal Australian Mint’s success. From its first decimal coins to its latest commemorative releases, this institution has helped shape the way Australians interact with their currency, history and culture. It has been more than a manufacturer of money – it has been a storyteller, an innovator, and a guardian of tradition.

Coins of the future will evolve in design, composition, and possibly even purpose. But one thing remains certain – the Royal Australian Mint will continue to play a defining role in Australia’s numismatic legacy. Happy 60th anniversary.

MIL OSI News –

February 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Secretary Dev Sangvai Visits Western North Carolina

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Secretary Dev Sangvai Visits Western North Carolina

Secretary Dev Sangvai Visits Western North Carolina
jwerner
Thu, 02/27/2025 – 16:33

North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai traveled to western North Carolina this week to meet with health care and social services partners to learn more about the status of Hurricane Helene recovery efforts and discuss the impacts of staffing shortages and other challenges they face. Together, we are committed to recovery efforts and supporting staff as we continue to create a healthier North Carolina for all.

Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center

Secretary Sangvai began the first day of his trip on Tuesday, Feb. 25, in Buncombe County for a site visit and informational meeting with staff at the Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center (BMNTC), one of three state-operated facilities in North Carolina that serves adults with chronic and complex medical conditions that co-exist with neurodevelopmental and/or neurocognitive disorders and/or a diagnosis of severe and persistent mental illness.

Secretary Sangvai was led on a tour of the facility, including one of the residential units, to learn more about the quality care received by patients both during and after Hurricane Helene. He also visited the third floor of the Gravely Wing at BMNTC to assess the status of renovations that were planned prior to Helene and are estimated to be completed by July 2025.

Secretary Sangvai met with the BMNTC Executive Committee to discuss the successes and areas of concern among staff members. The facility has largely recovered from the devastation left by Hurricane Helene, returning to normal operations with all evacuated residents returning to BMNTC. Employees shared concerns regarding staffing shortages as well as recruitment and retention challenges, particularly in nursing positions. BMNTC has ramped up recruitment efforts this quarter as unemployment in the region has spiked due to business closures in the wake of Helene.

NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai and Chief Deputy Secretary for Operational Excellence Dr. ClarLynda Williams-Devane travel to western North Carolina to meet with health care and social services partners.

Julian F. Keith Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center

Following the visit to BMNTC, Secretary Sangvai continued his travels through Black Mountain to the Julian F. Keith Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center (JFK). There, he met with staff to learn more about the facility and services offered as well as the status of recovery efforts. He also went on a tour to get a more comprehensive look at the various services JFK staff provide their patients.

Secretary Sangvai heard from JFK staff about their continued work to recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene, all while battling staffing shortages, closures to the facility and increased mental health challenge among the community they serve. JFK staff cared for and assisted in the evacuation of patients during Hurricane Helene, standing up a detox unit at Broughton Hospital to provide a place of respite for those unable to seek care at JFK. A huge win for JFK staff recently came in the form of the treatment center reopening their kitchen after a seven-month long closure .

“I am so grateful for the work being done at our facilities as recovery continues from the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene,” said Secretary Sangvai. “These teams have worked tirelessly to provide life-changing care. This commitment matches what I have seen across the department, as we work to improve access to care and ensure people receive the care they need no matter where they live or how much money they make.”

Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Secretary Sangvai traveled to Cherokee, NC, to meet with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA). EBCI has contracted with NCDHHS to participate in NC Medicaid, thereby providing access to Medicaid managed care services for federally recognized Tribal Members and other individuals eligible to receive Indian Health Services. Through this partnership with NCDHHS, EBCI is the first Tribal-led Medicaid managed care entity in the country, aligning Medicaid services with Tribal health priorities and providing care for enrolled EBCI members.

During his visit, Secretary Sangvai learned about the status of NCDHHS and CIHA’s multiple partnerships, including the development of a Child Crisis Stabilization Unit on the Qualla Boundary, the location of CIHA’s main hospital. The new unit will provide emergency mental health stabilization services for youth experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis. A revolutionary care model for western North Carolina, the unit will serve both tribal and non-tribal youth, ensuring that all children in the region have access to these critical resources.

Secretary Sangvai saw first-hand during his trip that CIHA has also been battling recruitment difficulties, struggling to address rural health care workforce shortages and retention issues. Despite these challenges, CIHA is a pillar of health care excellence for the EBCI, working diligently to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care that honors and integrates the rich heritage of Cherokee culture.

Broughton Hospital

Later in the day, Secretary Sangvai visited Broughton Hospital, one of three psychiatric hospitals operated by the NCDHHS Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities, to tour the facility and learn more about the hospital’s priorities as western North Carolina moves forward from Hurricane Helene. He spoke with staff as he toured the patient care center, gym, chapel and treatment mall.

Broughton staff emphasized their struggles to recruit and retain staff with a high number of vacancies in full-time positions at the facility. These staffing shortages directly impact the hospital’s ability to serve more patients, limiting the number of beds that can be filled and increasing wait times prospective patients may face before receiving care. Hospitals are growing increasingly reliant on temporary employees, especially for nursing and medical staff, due in part to salaries that struggle to compete with others on the job market.

“The staff at our state operated psychiatric hospitals work incredibly hard to provide critical support to their patients every day,” Secretary Sangvai said. “I will continue to advocate for the resilient staff that serve our state and support NCDHHS’ efforts to strengthen the health care workforce in order to improve capacity limitations, so more patients are able to quickly access needed care.”

J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center

On Thursday morning, Feb. 26, Secretary Sangvai traveled to Burke County, making his first stop at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center (JIRDC), one of three State Developmental Centers which provides services and support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), complex behavioral challenges and/or medical conditions whose clinical treatment needs exceed the supports currently available in the community. He toured JIRDC, making a visit to one of the homes at the facility to greet staff and residents.

Facility leadership voiced concerns regarding recruitment, including filling key positions at JIRDC. Despite recent measures taken to increase Direct Support Professionals and Registered Nurses salaries, JIRDC still struggles from a 23% vacancy rate, impacting staff’s ability to serve more patients.

In addition to staff’s efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene, JIRDC housed approximately one-third of BMNTC residents during local infrastructure repairs. As many employees face burnout amidst an unprecedented crisis, Secretary Sangvai pledged to continue to prioritize the well-being of the health care workforce in North Carolina and to ensure the sustainability and functionality of state operated healthcare facilities for patients and staff.

Burke County DSS

The Secretary then traveled to the Burke County Department of Social Services, where he toured facilities and met with local social services staff. Staff at Burke County DSS worked to quickly respond to issues as Hurricane Helene hit their community. Their team had to navigate a total loss of communications systems, staffing shortages, burnout and the increased stress of managing a large-scale recovery operation in the wake of the storm. Today, Burke County DSS has fortunately largely returned to “normal” operations. This is partially because as a county on the eastern edge of Helene’s path, Burke County saw fewer individuals permanently displaced than some other counties impacted by the storm.

Secretary Sangvai spoke with Burke County DSS Director Korey Fisher-Wellman to form a better understanding of the issues facing their office and other county DSS offices across the state. The Secretary reinforced NCDHHS’ ongoing commitment to support recovery efforts as western North Carolina continues to recover and rebuild.

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital

Secretary Sangvai concluded his trip on Thursday at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital, which has served as a Critical Access Hospital for the people of western North Carolina since 1955. The Secretary was joined by CEO and Chief Nurse Tonia Hale, and the Vice President of Government Relations for HCA Healthcare Lori Kroll , for a tour of the hospital and a presentation on workforce development and Hurricane Helene recovery. The team highlighted the hospital’s efforts to bounce back from the hurricane, and Secretary Sangvai shared NCDHHS’ commitment to work with hospitals across the state to address the impacts of staffing shortages and support recruitment and retention efforts.

Please see more photos from Secretary Sangvai’s visit.

Feb 27, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –

February 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Northwest Arkansas Man Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Prison for Operating an Illegal Money Transmitting Business Using Pandemic Funds

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

FAYETTEVILLE – A Northwest Arkansas man was sentenced on February 20, to 51 months in Federal Prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to pay restitution of $725,558.00 on one count of operating an Illegal Money Transmitting Business. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing, which took place in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.

According to court documents, Richard Harold Stone, age 77, waived indictment by a grand jury and pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business in the State of Arkansas. Stone was the President or Chief Officer of numerous businesses registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State, including: Partex Oman Corp., Renewable Energy Campus Arkansas, Inc., Stonetek Global Corp., and Tires 2 Energy, LLC. Stone also was associated with Environmental Energy & Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation. The advertised purpose of these businesses was developing technology and facilities to repurpose waste materials, such as tires, into useable fuel sources. None of these businesses were registered with the State of Arkansas as a money transmitting business, as required by Arkansas law (Arkansas Code, Section 23-55-806(b)&(c)).

Between November 2020 and March 2021, Stone received through various bank accounts associated with the above entities and other accounts under his control, deposits of funds from applications made on behalf of unwitting victims for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, Economic Impact Disaster Loans (EIDL), and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), totaling more than $600,000. After receiving these funds, Stone immediately transferred most of the funds by wire transfer to parties in locations including Berne, Switzerland; London, England; New York, NY; Chennai, India; and Mumbai, India.

At the conclusion of Thursday’s sentencing hearing, Stone was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.

The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter Bridges is prosecuting the case.

Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.

MIL Security OSI –

February 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Museum of the Albemarle to Host Final Moonshine and Motorsports Concert March 29

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Museum of the Albemarle to Host Final Moonshine and Motorsports Concert March 29

Museum of the Albemarle to Host Final Moonshine and Motorsports Concert March 29
jejohnson6
Thu, 02/27/2025 – 15:40

The finale in a special series of concerts celebrating North Carolina’s unique story of moonshine and motorsports will take place March 29 at the Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, N.C.

The concert will feature Tar Heel legend of Americana, Jim Lauderdale, the iconic bluegrass combo, the Kruger Brothers with special guest Jonah Horton, along with the Nest of Singing Birds.

Inspired by the Moonshine and Motorsports Trail developed by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), this North Carolina Museum of History-sponsored series has blended music with storytelling as it moved from Raleigh to Charlotte to Elizabeth City, highlighting the historic places on that very trail.

Tickets can be purchased through this link (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/moonshine-and-motorsports-music-museum-of-the-albemarle-tickets-964317308027?aff=oddtdtcreator).

For accessibility accommodations, please contact the Museum of the Albemarle at (252) 353-1453.

About Jim Lauderdale
At any given time, you’re likely to find Jim Lauderdale making music, whether he’s laying down a new track in the studio or working through a spontaneous melody at his home in Nashville. And if he’s not actively crafting new music, he’s certainly thinking about it. “It’s a constant challenge to try to keep making better and better records, write better and better songs. I still always feel like I’m a developing artist,” he says. This may be a surprising sentiment from a man who’s won two Grammys, released 37 full-length albums, and taken home the Americana Music Association’s coveted Wagonmaster Lifetime Achievement Award among other awards. But his latest album, My Favorite Place, is convincing evidence that the North Carolina native is only continuing to hone his craft.

About the Kruger Brothers
Born and raised in Europe, brothers Jens and Uwe Kruger started singing and playing instruments at a very young age. Growing up in a family where music was an important part of life, they were exposed to a wide diversity of musical influences. The brothers were performing regularly by the time they were eleven and twelve years old, and they began their professional career in 1979. Several years later the brothers teamed up with bass player Joel Landsberg, forming a trio that has been playing professionally together since 1995. Together, they established the incomparable sound that the Kruger Brothers are known for today. The trio moved to the United States in 2002 and is based in Wilkesboro, N.C.

About the Nest of Singing Birds
Sheila Kay Adams is a 7th generation ballad singer, storyteller, and banjo player. She is a recipient of the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts and the North Carolina Heritage Award. Her daughter, Melanie Rice, along with Donna Ray Norton are 8th generation ballad singers. They will be performing with old-time traditional fiddle player, William Ritter.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

Feb 25, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –

February 28, 2025

Category: India

Union Minister for Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy to Inaugurate 175th Foundation Day Celebrations of Geological Survey of India at Kolkata on 4th March 2025GSI to Organize Mega Walkathon Across the Country on 2nd March 2025 to Kick Off the Commemorative Celebrations

Post-Budget Webinar on “Agriculture and Rural Prosperity” to be held tomorrowPrime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to deliver virtual keynote address

Vice-President to visit Mumbai (Maharashtra) on 1st March, 2025VP to be Chief Guest at the Annual Day Function of K.P.B. Hinduja College of Commerce

Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is absolutely right in his vision to combat the problem of Obesity: Mr. Luke CoutinhoWe need to have regulation and awareness about junk food for children and adults, which is contributing towards the obesity epidemic: Mr. Luke

Rail Sea Rail (RSR) Mode Coal Movement Almost Doubles in Two years to 54 MT in FY 24Push to Coal Ministries Efforts to Make Coal Transportation Competitive: Indian Railways Notifies Telescopic Benefit in Freight Rate to Coal Movement RSR Mode

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs 237th meeting of Central Board of Trustees (CBT), EPFCentral Board Recommends 8.25% Rate of Interest on EPF to its Subscribers for FY 2024-25

10,000 FPOs Achieved under Government’s Flagship SchemeA Step Towards Atmnirbhar Krishi

Coal Ministry Successfully Hosts Roadshow on Investment Opportunities and Commercial Coal Mine Auctions in MumbaiCoal Minister Reaffirms Government’s Commitment to Mine Safety and Community Welfare

The problem with plastic

Poor substitutes and other traps

Plastic bans can be problematic

Better to avoid single-use items

Get serious about reducing plastic packaging

Better policies and regulations

Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center

Julian F. Keith Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center

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Broughton Hospital

J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center

Burke County DSS

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital

Union Minister for Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy to Inaugurate 175th Foundation Day Celebrations of Geological Survey of India at Kolkata on 4th March 2025

GSI to Organize Mega Walkathon Across the Country on 2nd March 2025 to Kick Off the Commemorative Celebrations

Post-Budget Webinar on “Agriculture and Rural Prosperity” to be held tomorrow

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to deliver virtual keynote address

Vice-President to visit Mumbai (Maharashtra) on 1st March, 2025

VP to be Chief Guest at the Annual Day Function of K.P.B. Hinduja College of Commerce

Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is absolutely right in his vision to combat the problem of Obesity: Mr. Luke Coutinho

We need to have regulation and awareness about junk food for children and adults, which is contributing towards the obesity epidemic: Mr. Luke

Rail Sea Rail (RSR) Mode Coal Movement Almost Doubles in Two years to 54 MT in FY 24

Push to Coal Ministries Efforts to Make Coal Transportation Competitive: Indian Railways Notifies Telescopic Benefit in Freight Rate to Coal Movement RSR Mode

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs 237th meeting of Central Board of Trustees (CBT), EPF

Central Board Recommends 8.25% Rate of Interest on EPF to its Subscribers for FY 2024-25

10,000 FPOs Achieved under Government’s Flagship Scheme

A Step Towards Atmnirbhar Krishi

Coal Ministry Successfully Hosts Roadshow on Investment Opportunities and Commercial Coal Mine Auctions in Mumbai

Coal Minister Reaffirms Government’s Commitment to Mine Safety and Community Welfare