NewzIntel.com

Category: India

  • MIL-OSI Security: CMF’s Combined Task Force 150 Carries Out First Drug Interdiction with New Zealand In Command

    Source: United States Naval Central Command

    MANAMA, Bahrain —

    A U.S. Coast Guard fast-response cutter, working in direct support of New Zealand-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 of Combined Maritime Forces, seized nearly 2,400 kilograms of illegal drugs from a vessel in the Arabian Sea, Feb. 7.

    The interdiction by the Sentinel-class fast-response cutter USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC-1145) represents CTF 150’s first drug seizure since New Zealand assumed command Jan. 15.

    The cutter’s boarding team discovered and seized 2,357kg of hashish from the vessel. After weighing and documenting the haul, the crew properly disposed of the narcotics.

    Commodore Rodger Ward, commander of CTF 150, said he’s proud of the team effort that went into making this interdiction a reality after only a few weeks in command.

    “Our command is a small cog in a system focused on interdicting illicit trafficking on the high seas,” Ward said. “This is a team effort and this bust would not have been possible without the support of the 46 nations who make up the Combined Maritime Forces.”

    Ward noted that every bust we make reduces the flow of finances to terrorist organizations. “This is why we’re here, to contribute to maritime security and protect the rules-based international order,” he said.

    Emlen Tunnell is forward deployed to Bahrain. The fast response cutter is part of a contingent of U.S. Coast Guard ships operating in the region under Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). PATFORSWA deploys Coast Guard personnel and ships alongside U.S. and regional naval forces throughout the Middle East.

    CTF 150 is one of five task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, the world’s largest international naval partnership. CTF 150’s mission is to deter and disrupt the ability of non-state actors to move weapons, drugs and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.

    Combined Maritime Forces is a 46-nation naval partnership upholding the international rules-based order by promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City’s inspirational women honoured as historic plaques unveiled

    Source: City of Leeds

    The names of inspirational women who made their mark on Leeds have been officially etched in history today.

    In a landmark project, plaques honouring the names of six trailblazing women from the city’s past were unveiled in the prestigious council chamber of Leeds Civic Hall.

    Taking their rightful place alongside the names of men who already feature, they have become the very first women to be permanently added to the chamber walls since the building opened in 1933.

    The project is aimed at recognising the extraordinary accomplishments of women in Leeds and the unique contribution they have made to the city’s story.

    Their names were chosen after a public consultation and confirmed by members of the council’s executive board.

     The plaques unveiled today bear the names of:

    • The Barnbow Lasses: These women worked in the Barnbow Munitions Factory, where 35 women and girls were tragically killed in an explosion during the First World War. It remains the single biggest loss of life in the city’s history.
    • Leonora Cohen OBE: A pioneer of the Suffragette movement, born in Leeds. She was famously arrested for smashing a glass case containing a royal insignia at the Tower of London in protest against the government’s position on a woman’s right to vote.
    • Gertrude Paul: A founding member of the Leeds West Indian Carnival and the first black head teacher in Leeds. She also founded the Leeds International Women’s Group, the Afro Asian Organisation and the United Caribbean Association.
    • Alice Bacon MP CBE: The city’s first female MP, as a minister in the Home Office in the 1960s she oversaw the introduction of substantial societal changes, including the abolition of the death penalty, the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the legalisation of abortion.
    • Beryl Burton OBE: Racing cyclist who dominated the sport in the UK and abroad, winning more than 90 domestic championships and seven world titles and setting numerous national records.
    • Ivy Benson: Born in Holbeck, Benson was a saxophonist and bandleader, who led an all-female swing band. Benson’s band were the first entertainers to be invited to perform at the VE celebrations in Berlin in 1945.

    Attending today’s unveiling ceremony was Heather Paul, daughter of Gertrude Paul, who said: “Today is a great day honouring all the women, and a celebration of everyone who worked with Gertrude Paul and those whom she supported. She was a woman who believed in collective action, galvanising young and old to promote equity not only in education but in all public services.  

    “Her strong vision for reform meant she was strategically excellent in making an impact with sustainable projects. She worked tirelessly with voluntary organisations and volunteers beyond the school gate, locally and nationally to ensure that antiracist activism influenced institutional processes and practices.

    “She was particularly influential in raising the bar for student attainment in Chapeltown and South Leeds. Proud of her identity as a Black woman of African Caribbean heritage, arriving as a young, qualified teacher meant that she shared her exceptional talents, her concept of hope and belief in optimism with her community and anyone who shared experiences of discrimination based on skin colour, disabilities, class, gender or being seen as different throughout their lives.

    “It is a proud moment for her name to be added to the council chamber, especially for the diverse groups of people who worked with her collectively. Her vision and impact continue to make a difference to many people generationally.”

    When Leeds Civic Hall was built in 1933, men who had a close association with Leeds or who contributed in a significant way to the history of the city saw their names added to the walls of the council chamber.

    More recently the council has been working to ensure women from the city’s past are also recognised.

    Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for resources, said: “The response to this project from the people of Leeds has been so overwhelmingly positive and it’s been clear from the outset that the city wants to see these remarkable women recognised for their accomplishments.

    “Each one of these names has played their own unique role in the story of Leeds, and it’s an honour and privilege for us to add them to the walls of the chamber today.

    “By creating a permanent tribute, we can ensure they continue to inspire future generations of Leeds women and girls and help them to know they can make a difference in their city and that anything is possible.”

    Funding for the project will come through savings from former chief executive Tom Riordan not taking a pay award for a number of years.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Future AGI launches world’s most accurate multimodal AI evaluation tool

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — While enterprise AI adoption accelerates, 85% of AI projects fail to meet expectations due to accuracy and reliability challenges in tooling*. Current tools lack the depth to provide actionable insights, leaving teams with vague evaluations without identifying root causes or improvement strategies. 

    Today, Future AGI announces a $1.6M pre-seed funding round to scale its AI lifecycle management platform that enables enterprises to build and maintain high-performing AI applications with unprecedented accuracy. The funding round is co-led by Powerhouse Ventures and Snow Leopard Ventures, with participation from Angellist Quant Fund, Swadharma Source Ventures, Saka Ventures and a marquee group of 30+ industry stalwarts and angels.

    Future AGI founders: Nikhil Pareek and Charu Gupta.

    Current AI tooling falls short in several critical areas—ranging from generating high-quality synthetic data and providing granular error analysis to enabling effective feedback and optimization loops—leaving cross-functional teams of subject matter experts, data scientists, and software developers without clear pathways to improvement. Most evaluations remain manual and superficial, with developers often defaulting to guesswork or “vibe checks” rather than informed experimentation. This fragmented ecosystem, coupled with limited domain expertise in tooling usage, makes it exceedingly difficult to pinpoint where models fail, devise data-driven remediation strategies, and ultimately treat AI development with the same rigor as modern software engineering.

    Building trustworthy high-performing AI applications is complex — requiring rapid iterations across models, prompts, and data while safeguarding against harmful outputs. Future AGI’s platform streamlines this entire lifecycle with rapid experimentation, deep multi-modal evaluations, real-time observability, and continuous improvement capabilities. The platform’s proprietary technology includes advanced evaluation systems for text and images, agent optimizers, and auto-annotation tools that can reduce AI product development time by up to 95%. Users can complete evaluations in minutes and automatically optimize their AI systems for production, eliminating manual overhead and ensuring consistent performance.

    “AI is becoming the new software, but its widespread adoption faces a critical challenge – reliability and accuracy at scale,” said Nikhil Pareek, CEO of Future AGI. “Today’s AI systems are probabilistic and error-prone, with improvement cycles taking 6-8 months. We’re building the foundational layer that ensures AI systems are trustworthy and reliable in production. Our platform isn’t just about workflow automation – we’re creating the data layer that continuously monitors, evaluates, and improves AI systems across multimodal interactions.”
    FutureAGI is making significant strides across various industries. A Series E sales-tech company leveraged FutureAGI’s LLM Experimentation Hub to achieve an impressive 99% accuracy in agentic pipeline, accelerating their processes 10 times faster than previous methods, compressing weeks of work into just hours. This transformation has drastically improved their capacity for delivering personalized customer interactions at scale.

    In another case, an AI image generation company utilized FutureAGI’s platform to streamline its image generation pipeline, resulting in a remarkable 90% reduction in costs by decreasing reliance on human evaluators while maintaining 99% accuracy for catalog and marketing images. These examples highlight FutureAGI’s ability to optimize operations and drive substantial cost savings while enhancing performance.

    The platform’s capabilities extend beyond pure software applications to hardware AI agents in robotics and autonomous vehicles, where accuracy requirements are even more stringent. Future AGI’s synthetic data generation and evaluation systems enable companies to simulate edge cases and validate AI models under various real-world conditions before deployment.

    Future AGI was the genesis of Nikhil Pareek and Charu Gupta and was born out of founders’ frustration with the growing challenges in data collection, annotation, and training model readiness. Each iteration magnified these issues, and through conversations with fellow AI builders, they realized this problem was widespread. Nikhil Pareek is a former AI founder, with multiple patents and research papers, comes with experience ranging from building autonomous drones to tackling complex data science challenges for Fortune 50 companies. Charu Gupta is a veteran in revenue growth, having successfully navigated multiple startups from inception to achieving revenues of up to $100 million. 

    Future AGI team.

    With a powerful team of 30 AI researchers and ML engineers—hailing from Microsoft, Amazon, and other top tech giants—alongside alumni from Ivy League and premier institutions, they bring deep expertise in AI innovation, published research, and patented technologies. Together, the team is tackling one of AI’s most formidable challenges—redefining accuracy and trust in AI at an unprecedented scale’

    “The AI landscape is evolving rapidly, and one of the biggest challenges enterprises face today is ensuring the accuracy and reliability of their AI applications,” said Sri Peddu, General Partner at Powerhouse Ventures “Future AGI’s innovative approach to solving this critical problem through their comprehensive AI lifecycle management platform positions them uniquely in the market. We believe their solution will be instrumental in helping companies achieve the highest accuracy levels required for production-grade AI applications.”

    “We believe great people build great companies, and we know from our data that Future AGI is one of the top early-stage startups for attracting the best job applicants on Wellfound (fka AngelList Talent)” said Abraham Othman, PhD, managing partner of the AngelList Early-Stage Quant Fund.

    The timing for this challenge becomes especially critical as organizations transition from experimental AI implementations to business-critical applications, and as major players like Meta, Google, and Anthropic rapidly expand into multimodal AI — combining text, images, audio, and video. This evolution of AI has intensified market demand for solutions that can effectively manage the trustworthiness and reliability of AI products by ensuring accuracy.

    Looking ahead, Future AGI will use the new funding to accelerate product development and grow its engineering and growth teams while strengthening its proprietary technology stack. The company has offices in the Bay Area and its R&D center in Bangalore, positioning it to serve the growing global demand for reliable AI solutions.

    Ends 
    *Gartner, Gartner Business Insights, Strategies & Trends For Executives

    Media images can be found here. 

    About Future AGI
    Future AGI is a venture-backed AI infrastructure company founded by seasoned entrepreneurs with deep expertise in AI and business scaling. Led by a technical founder with multiple patents and an experienced business leader, the company is transforming how enterprises build and maintain high-quality AI products. Our platform dramatically reduces the time and effort needed to achieve reliable AI systems, enabling organizations to confidently deploy AI across their operations. With a growing roster of clients and POCs, Future AGI is positioned to become the foundation for trustworthy AI development.

    Founded in 2024 and headquartered in the US with an R&D center in India, Future AGI’s proprietary technology includes advanced evaluation systems for text and images, auto-tuning prompt optimizers, and auto-annotation tools that can reduce AI product development time by up to 95%. The company serves a diverse client base ranging from late-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies, helping them achieve and maintain 99% accuracy in their AI applications.

    Powerhouse Ventures
    Powerhouse Ventures (PV) is a Singapore-based early-stage Venture Capital firm with an investment focus on startups emerging from India and the United States. PV supports early-stage companies in high-growth sectors where technology is the driver. Currently, PV manages an active portfolio of 40+ companies spread across India, the United States, and Singapore and includes category-defining companies such as Whatfix, Slintel, Medibuddy, Quizizz, DailyRounds/Marrow, Sybill, etc.

    Snow Leopard Ventures
    Snow Leopard Ventures/Snow Leopard Global Capital Management is a global alternative asset manager investing largely proprietary capital with offices in Pune, India and New York, NY. The firm invests across multiple industries and across different stages, from pre-seed through pre-IPO.

    AngelList Early Stage Quant Fund
    The AngelList Early Stage Quant Fund is a data-driven investment fund that has raised $25 million to invest in over 100 early-stage startups in technology, data, and finance sectors, leveraging advanced analytics to enhance decision-making.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Art and science illuminate the same subtle proportions in tree branches

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mitchell Newberry, Research Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Michigan

    Tree branches in art throughout history follow geometric rules related to fractal geometry. ‘Almond blossom’ by Vincent van Gogh. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.

    Do artists and scientists see the same thing in the shape of trees? As a scientist who studies branching patterns in living things, I’m starting to think so.

    Piet Mondrian was an early 20th-century abstract artist and art theorist obsessed with simplicity and essence of form. Even people who have never heard of Mondrian will likely recognize his iconic irregular grids of rectangles.

    When I saw Mondrian’s 1911 “Gray Tree,” I immediately recognized something about trees that I had struggled to describe. By removing all but the most essential elements in an abstract painting, Mondrian demonstrated something I was attempting to explain using physics and fractal geometry.

    My field of research is mathematical biology. My colleagues and I try to explain how treelike structures such as veins and arteries, lungs and leaves fine-tune their physical form to efficiently deliver blood, air, water and nutrients.

    Fundamental research in the biology of branching helps cure cardiovascular diseases and cancer, design materials that can heal themselves and predict how trees will respond to a changing climate. Branching also shows up in ant foraging patterns, slime molds and cities.

    The treeless tree

    From 1890 to 1912, Mondrian painted dozens of trees. He started with full-color, realistic trees in context: trees in a farmyard or a dappled lane. Gradually he removed leaves, depth, color and eventually even branching from his tree paintings. “Gray Tree” uses only curved lines of various thickness superimposed on top of one another at seemingly random angles. Yet the image is unmistakably a tree.

    How did Mondrian convey the sense of a tree with so little? The science of trees may offer some clues.

    The science of branching

    One goal of mathematical biology is to synthesize what scientists know about the vast diversity of living systems – where there seems to be an exception to every rule – into clear, general principles, ideally with few exceptions. One such general principle is that evolution fine-tunes treelike structures in living things to make metabolism and respiration as efficient as possible.

    The body carefully controls the thickness of vessels as they branch, because deviation from the most efficient diameter wastes energy and causes disease, such as atherosclerosis.

    In many cases, such as human blood vessels, the body exerts much tighter control over diameter than length. So while veins and arteries might take circuitous routes to accommodate the vagaries of organs and anatomy, their diameter usually stays within 10% of the optimum. The same principle appears in tree branches as well.

    The precise calibration of branch diameter leads to a hallmark of fractal shapes called scale invariance. A scale invariance is a property that holds true regardless of the size of an object or part of an object you’re looking at. Scale invariance occurs in trees because trunks, limbs and twigs all branch in similar ways and for similar reasons.

    The scale invariance in branch diameter dictates how much smaller a limb should be as it branches and how much investment a tree makes in a few thick branches versus many thin ones. Trees have evolved scale invariance to transport water, reach light and resist gravity and wind load as efficiently as possible given physical limits.

    This science of trees inspired my colleague and me to measure the scaling of tree branch diameter in art.

    The art of trees

    Among my favorite images is a carving of a tree from a late-medieval mosque in India. Its exaltation of trees reminds me of Tolkien’s Tree of Gondor and the human capacity to appreciate the simple beauty of living things.

    But I also find mathematical inspiration in the Islamic Golden Age, a time when art, architecture, math and physics thrived. Medieval Islamic architects even decorated buildings with infinitely nonrepeating tiling patterns that were not understood by Western mathematics until the 20th century.

    The stylized tree carvings of the Sidi Saiyyed mosque also follow the precise system of proportions dictated by the scale invariance of real trees. This level of precision of branch diameter takes an attentive eye and a careful plan – much better than I could freehand.

    Indeed, wherever our team looked at trees in great artwork, such as Klimt’s “Tree of Life” or Matsumura Goshun’s “Cherry Blossoms,” we also found precise scale invariance in the diameter of branches.

    “Grey Tree” also realistically captures the natural variation in branch diameters, even when the painting gives the viewer little else to go on. Without realistic scaling, would this painting even be a tree?

    As if to prove the point, Mondrian made a subsequent painting the following year, also with a gray background, curved lines and the same overall composition and dimensions. Even the position of some of the lines are the same.

    But, in “Blooming Apple Tree” (1912), all the lines are the same thickness. The scaling is gone, and with it, the tree. Before reading the title, most viewers would not guess that this is a painting of a tree. Yet Mondrian’s sketches reveal that “Blooming Apple Tree” and “Gray Tree” are the very same tree.

    The two paintings contain few elements that might signal a tree – a concentration of lines near the center, lines that could be branches or a central trunk and lines that could indicate the ground or a horizon.

    Yet only “Gray Tree” has scale-invariant branch diameters. When Mondrian removes the scale invariance in “Blooming Apple Tree,” viewers just as easily see fish, scales, dancers, water or simply nonrepresentational shapes, whereas the tree in “Gray Tree” is unmistakable.

    Photo synthesis

    Mondrian’s tree paintings and scientific theory highlight the importance of the thickness of tree branches. Consilience is when different lines of evidence and reasoning reach the same conclusions. Art and math both explore abstract descriptions of the world, and so seeing great art and science pick out the same essential features of trees is satisfying beyond what art or science could accomplish alone.

    Just as great literature such as “The Overstory” and “The Botany of Desire” show us how trees influence our lives in ways we often don’t notice, the art and science of trees show how humans are finely attuned to what’s important to trees. I think this resonance is one reason people find fractals and natural landscapes so pleasing and reassuring.

    All these lines of thinking give us new ways to appreciate trees.

    Mitchell Newberry has published research on tree branching supported by University of Michigan and University of New Mexico. He volunteers with Cool It Burque, a tree-planting group in Albuquerque, NM.

    – ref. Art and science illuminate the same subtle proportions in tree branches – https://theconversation.com/art-and-science-illuminate-the-same-subtle-proportions-in-tree-branches-247967

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Exercise Cutlass Express 2025 launches across East Africa

    Source: United States Navy

    Exercise Cutlass Express 2025, sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and enabled by U.S. 6th Fleet, brings together more than 20 multinational partners for two weeks of training to support collaborative maritime security operations in the region.

    Throughout the exercise, U.S. forces will work alongside participating nations to enhance maritime domain awareness, improve international law enforcement capacity and increase interoperability between the U.S., African, and other multinational partner navies and coast guards.

    “Cutlass Express continues to provide an exceptional venue to collaborate with our African partners on maritime security,” said Vice Adm. J. T. Anderson, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. “When we combine the strength of our partnerships with the high level of training provided by exercises like this, we improve the overall security and economic prosperity of a region that extends far beyond the territorial waters and exclusive economic zones of each individual nation.”

    This year’s exercise will focus training efforts in Mauritius, Seychelles and Tanzania, though information sharing and coordination will take place across nine maritime operation centers (MOCs) located throughout the region. Additionally, Exercise Cutlass Express 2025 is linked to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s International Maritime Exercise 2025 through information sharing between MOCs to improve theater-to-theater coordination, reduce regional seams, and strengthen U.S. and partner nation capabilities and interoperability.

    Exercise Cutlass Express 2025 will also run concurrently with the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa led exercise Justified Accord 2025 in Kenya and Tanzania to improve defense capabilities of multi-domain forces and refine crisis and counterterrorism responses, ultimately reducing global maritime threats.

    Participants in this year’s iteration of Cutlass Express include Belgium, Comoros, Djibouti, France, Georgia, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom.

    Cutlass Express is one of three regional maritime exercises led by U.S. 6th Fleet as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities to African forces and international partners to address maritime security concerns.

    Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Camp Hill virus explained: what are the risks of a henipavirus outbreak in America?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Shirin Ashraf, Postdoctoral Researcher, MRC-Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow

    A new pathogen, called Camp Hill virus, was recently discovered in Alabama, drawing attention to a group of viruses known as henipaviruses. This is a big deal because other viruses in this group are linked to serious, often fatal, disease, and this is the first time one of them has been found in North America.

    Camp Hill virus was discovered by looking at tissue samples from short-tailed shrews that were collected in 2021. It’s a new species of virus that’s related to other dangerous viruses such as Nipah and Hendra, which have caused serious outbreaks in other parts of the world. It’s also distantly related to the measles virus.

    The first known henipavirus, Hendra virus, was identified in Australia in 1994. There have been just seven cases of humans getting infected – four of them were fatal.

    Nipah virus, discovered in Malaysia in 1998, is much more deadly. It has caused 30 outbreaks in south-east Asia, infecting over 600 people, with death rates as high as 100% in some cases.

    These viruses usually cause fever and other serious symptoms, such as brain swelling and difficulty breathing. They are thought to be carried by bats and can spread to humans through their saliva or urine. Horses are also thought to be carriers.

    Thanks to new technology that allows scientists to study the genetics of viruses, they’ve now found nearly 20 species of henipaviruses around the world. These viruses have been found on every continent except Antarctica, including places like Ghana, China, Australia and Brazil. This shows that henipaviruses are probably common in nature, and new ones could pop up almost anywhere.

    For example, in China, a virus called Mojang virus was linked to the deaths of three workers who were exposed to it in a mine. Another virus, Langya, spread by shrews, caused an outbreak in which 35 people got sick – although they all recovered.

    So far, other henipaviruses haven’t caused human infections, but the potential is there.

    The rapid growth in our understanding of these viruses comes from improvements in technology and global efforts to study diseases. But it also reminds us that viruses can suddenly jump from animals to humans in unpredictable ways.

    Whether a virus can harm humans depends on how well it can infect human cells, and how badly it affects the body. Some viruses cause mild symptoms, while others can lead to life-threatening diseases. Studying these viruses requires scientists to look closely at their genetic code and run laboratory tests to understand how they work.

    Henipaviruses can infect many animals, including bats, horses, monkeys, dogs, cats and even rodents. This means they are more adaptable and have a higher chance of jumping from animals to humans in different ways. In comparison, a virus like measles can only infect humans, which makes it less likely to spread to other species.

    No drugs or vaccines … yet

    There is no cure for henipavirus infections, but researchers are working on a vaccine for Nipah virus. Some new treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies, are also being developed but aren’t ready for use yet. This makes Nipah and Hendra viruses major public health concerns. The World Health Organization has called for more research to help fight them.

    While there’s no evidence that Camp Hill virus has infected any humans yet – and the chances of it doing so are low – its discovery in North America is a reminder that viruses can emerge anywhere. Even though shrews usually live in forests and don’t come into much contact with people, the potential for the virus to spread remains a worry.

    The more we learn about these viruses, the better we’ll be at creating vaccines that can protect us from both known and new threats. Keeping up with research and staying prepared is crucial to protecting global health from future outbreaks.

    Shirin Ashraf 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. Camp Hill virus explained: what are the risks of a henipavirus outbreak in America? – https://theconversation.com/camp-hill-virus-explained-what-are-the-risks-of-a-henipavirus-outbreak-in-america-249183

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Saving Lives, Delivering the Future: Heroes in Uniform and Scrubs

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    Story by: Chiara M. Caputo

    U.S. Navy Medicine and Training Command (USNMRTC) Sigonella highlights the accomplishments of three remarkable physicians who have dedicated their lives to serving both their patients and their country. These leaders in military medicine embody the values of innovation, resilience, and selfless service.

    Through their tireless efforts, these physicians have not only advanced medical care within the Military Health System but have also paved the way for future generations of leaders in medicine and the armed forces. Each of their stories highlights a profound commitment to excellence and a passion for making a difference, whether on the battlefield, in clinics, or through groundbreaking research.

    We honor their contributions and celebrate their unwavering dedication to health care, military service, and the pursuit of a healthier, stronger future. Through their stories, we hope to inspire future generations and showcase the unwavering commitment of these women in uniform and in diverse roles in Navy Medicine.

    Brandi L Sakai, MD
    Commander, USN
    Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician

    Born in Welsh, Louisiana, on June 6, 1981, Cmdr. Sakai grew up with a passion for science and the ocean. After graduating from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in 1998, she pursued marine biology, studying diverse ecosystems from the marshes of Louisiana to Scotland’s marine mammals and the vibrant reefs of the Virgin Islands. Her work at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital’s barometric pressure chamber sparked her drive to combine science with service, graduating cum laude with a B.S. in Biology.

    In 2005, she commissioned in the Navy through the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and began medical school at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Hurricane Katrina hit during her training, and Commander Sakai worked tirelessly in pop-up clinics, providing care and vaccinations to displaced communities. This experience shaped her dedication to serving others in times of crisis.
    Her Navy career has been marked by leadership and innovation. From integrating Marine medical services in Japan to creating advanced training programs for shock trauma care, she has consistently raised the bar for military medicine. As the Senior Medical Officer in Okinawa and later the Department Head of Emergency Medicine in Guantanamo Bay, she improved operations, ensured top-tier care, and earned recognition for her commitment to excellence.

    Beyond her professional achievements, Commander Sakai is a certified Emergency Medicine Diplomate and a devoted wife and mother of two. When she’s not scuba diving, sailing, or baking, she’s embracing projects that reflect her passion for problem-solving and innovation.

    Reflecting on her career, Cmdr. Sakai shared, “I had many jobs that many would consider a career. I was a PADI scuba instructor and manager of the storefront of a tour operation in St. Thomas US Virgin Islands (USVI). If you took a cruise to the island, you walked past our store on the docks. We may have said hello two decades ago! After doing the job for 5 years, I felt that I had learned all that I could, and there was no chance for advancement based on performance, so I knew that I needed something new and challenging. After getting my degree in Marine Biology and presenting environmental research to the Senate on USVI fisheries and the impact of hotel expansion, I realized that I enjoyed talking and educating people one-on-one, and speaking to rooms and presenting posters wasn’t going to make me happy. I volunteered at the local Emergency Department, and the variety and mental challenge of solving a puzzle on every patient kept me coming back. I decided to turn it into a career, but I also hated to stay in one place (there was a big wide world to explore), so I joined the Navy and never looked back. I did a General Surgery internship, and the Chaplain and I were the only Naval Officers in my first duty with the Marines in Iwakuni, Japan for 3 years. Being part of the Marines for 3 years to start my career really shaped me and set the tone for all my OCONUS tours since. My husband was an Ombudsman and found a great career as a financial educator that allows him to work virtually. If you need advice on mainland Japan, Korea, Okinawa, or Guantanamo Bay, or love medicine and want to explore your options give me a ring.”

    Meagan G. Chauvin, MD, FACOG
    Lieutenant Commander, USN
    Director of Medical Services/Staff Attending OBGYN

    A Houston, Texas native, Lt. Cmdr. Meagan Chauvin has built a remarkable career in military medicine. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2010, she completed her Medical Doctorate at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston in 2014. She completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency in 2018 at Naval Medical Center San Diego.

    Her first assignment as a staff OB/GYN took her to Naval Hospital Guam, where she led the OB/GYN Clinic as Department Head and earned Board Certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Later, at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia, she became Department Chief of the Women’s Health Clinic, further demonstrating her leadership and dedication to women’s health.

    Now serving as the Director of Medical Services at Naval Hospital Sigonella in Italy, Lt. Cmdr. Chauvin continues to lead with excellence. Among her awards are the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

    Lt. Cmdr. Chauvin is also a proud wife to Matthew Gerard Chauvin and mom to three children—EJ, Madeline, and Ellie—balancing her professional success with a fulfilling family life. Reflecting on her career, LCDR Chauvin shared, “I was inspired to become an OBGYN, because I loved taking care of women across their lifespan and developing long-term relationships with my patients. In addition, I love welcoming babies into the world and being part of helping patients grow their families. I joined the Navy after being inspired by classmates from high school who also went to service academies. The Naval Academy was an amazing experience that led me to the most important job I can imagine, supporting Navy women and families as an OBGYN. I am proud to follow in the Navy tradition of my great grandfather, who served on a troop transport ship in WWI, and my grandfather, who joined via the Navy V-12 program during WWII.”

    Kristen Shafer, MC
    Lieutenant, USN
    Emergency Medicine Attending

    Born in New York, New York, Lt. Shafer discovered her passion for science and outreach early in life. After earning her bachelor’s degree in chemistry pre-medicine at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2014, she brought the wonders of chemistry to life for local elementary students through her self-created Chemistry Magic Show.

    In 2015, she pursued her Master of Science in Space Physiology and Health at King’s College London, where her thesis explored visual function and impairment in dynamic environments. She collaborated with the United Kingdom space program’s Mission X initiative, blending her love of science with public engagement.

    Lt. Shafer joined the Navy through the HPSP program and earned her Doctor of Medicine from Stony Brook University in 2020, graduating early to assist with the initial surge of COVID-19 patients in New York. She went on to complete her Emergency Medicine Residency at USNMRTC Portsmouth in 2024, where she expanded Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) outreach programs, inspiring over 300 high school students annually.

    Now an Emergency Medicine Attending at USNMRTC Sigonella, Lt. Shafer continues her commitment to both medicine and mentorship. As Emergency Response Committee Chair, she oversees emergency preparedness, and as a liaison to local DoDEA schools, she is developing a mentorship program to introduce students to healthcare careers and military opportunities.

    With a passion for outreach and academic medicine, LT Shafer embodies the Navy’s mission to serve both on and off the field, inspiring the next generation of leaders. Reflecting on her career in emergency medicine, Lt. Shafer said, “In emergency medicine, we need to be ready for whatever comes in the door at any time. Military medicine lets me practice that medicine and be comfortable providing care not just at any time, but any place in the world and to a population that is dedicated to serving others and making a difference.”

    USNMRTC Sigonella is one of The Defense Health Agency’s Overseas Military Treatment Facilities (MTF). The staff are comprised of active duty service members, General Service (GS), contractors, and Local Nationals. It ensures maximum readiness by providing high-quality, safe patient and family-centered care to maximize force health protection for all beneficiaries, to included NATO and transient DoD forces in the U.S. Fifth Fleet and U.S. Sixth Fleet areas of operation.

    The U. S. Naval Academy (USNA) offers a variety of academic curriculums that prepare their graduates for a rewarding military career. Graduates of the USNA will accept a commission for 5 years of active duty service in the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. For more information regarding the USNA visit: https://www.usna.edu/homepage.php.

    If you are already in or plan to attend school to be a physician, dentist, optometrist, physician assistant or clinical psychologist, the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) will pay your educationally based tuition and fees for up to four years of school and provide a monthly stipend paid directly to you. After graduation, you’ll join the Navy’s active duty team as a commissioned officer. In return, you agree to serve a minimum of 2 years on active duty or year for year of scholarship, whichever is longer.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales and Bharat Dynamics Ltd Agree on Initial Supply of Man Portable Air Defence systems to India

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales and Bharat Dynamics Ltd Agree on Initial Supply of Man Portable Air Defence systems to India

    • Thales and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) will provide a first supply of Laser Beam Riding MANPAD (LBRM) Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) Missiles and launchers to the Indian Ministry of Defence. This is a major success, following on from the signing of the Partnership Agreement in 2021 between Thales and BDL to work on the LBRM, with the support of the Indian and UK Governments.
    • This agreement will improve India’s Air Defence capabilities to enable them to enhance their national security with a highly accurate and countermeasure-resistant up-to-date technology.
    • LBRM, manufactured up to 60% in India, are short-range, man-portable, air-defence systems and optimised to provide defence against air threats, including fixed-wing Fighter Ground Attack aircraft and late unmasking Attack Helicopters, as well as drones.
    ©Thales

    Bengaluru, 10 February 2025: Thales and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) are proud to announce the signing of an initial supply of Laser Beam Riding Man Portable Air Defence systems (LBRM) in response to a requirement set out by the Indian Government to support India’s air defence capabilities.

    This initial supply of High Velocity Missiles (STARStreak) and launchers will be delivered this year and represents the first time that India has received this latest VSHORAD capability. This step confirms the foundation of a long-term collaboration and manufacturing partnership between Thales and BDL. In the spirit of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, this partnership will serve the current and future requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defence.

    Thales, together with BDL, is committed to the transfer of technology (ToT) of battle proven capabilities to India to equip the Indian Armed Forces.

    This contract represents the first major agreement since the establishment of the United Kingdom’s Defence Partnership-India, a bespoke programme office breaking down barriers to trade and offering government-to-government contracting, where appropriate, further solidifying the defence and security relationship between the two nations. This contract also reflects Thales’ long-term partnership of 70+ years with India, serving as a testimony to its continued growth.

    A production partnership with India will also increase UK production at the Thales Belfast site, where LBRM is designed.

    Lord Vernon Coaker, Minister of State for Defence, said: “This exciting collaboration is just one of the ways that we are growing our defence relationship and partnership with India. While supporting India’s air defence capability and global security, this agreement also demonstrates defence as an engine for growth and delivers on the government’s Plan for Change.”

    “This is a momentous occasion for all the stakeholders involved in the development of LBRM Air Defence solutions. It signifies the beginning of an exciting chapter in our collaboration with BDL, contributing to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. The UK-India strategic partnership finds renewed strength through this contract, which is poised to make a significant impact in the domain of air defence in India.” declared Pascale Sourisse, President & CEO, Thales International.

    “We are pleased to take our collaboration with Thales to this next significant step, enhancing our contribution to the defence ecosystem and our ability to support existing and future LBRM Air Defence customers. This initiative aligns perfectly with our Government’s ‘Make in India,’ ‘ease of doing business,’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ programmes, giving a major boost to the local industry through partnerships with global organisations like Thales.” said Cmde A Madhavarao (retd.), Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Dynamics Limited.

    “The signing of this contract with BDL and Thales to support India’s air defence capability is a huge stride forward in strengthening our partnership with India. I am proud to see that Thales’ expertise in the domain of Air defence will bring vital, battle proven capabilities to India.” said Phil Siveter, CEO of Thales in the UK.

    About LBRM

    High Velocity Missiles (STARStreak) are a truly versatile, complex weapon system. Designed for very short-range air defence, they are the fastest missiles in their class at Mach >3.0. They are best suited to address late unmasking threats such as fixed and rotary wing targets, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and pop-up attack helicopters.

    Thales is a world leader in the provision of Air Defence solutions and in particular of complex weapon systems and has been a trusted partner of forces in this field for more than 60 years.

    About Thales

    Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies specialized in three business domains: Defence & Security, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital.

    It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

    The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G.

    Thales has close to 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of €18.4 billion.

    About BDL

    BDL, right from its inception in the year 1970, has been in the forefront of Defence Technology to manufacture state of the art, cost-effective Missile systems, underwater weapons and allied defence equipment to the Indian Armed Forces. With the domain expertise, BDL participates in the indigenously developed missile programs by DRDO, ToT from Foreign OEMs or co-developed using in house R&D and manufactures the world class products for the domestic and international market.

    About Thales in India

    Present in India since 1953, Thales is headquartered in Noida and has other operational offices and sites spread across Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai, among others. Over 2200 employees are working with Thales and its joint ventures in India. Since the beginning, Thales has been playing an essential role in India’s growth story by sharing its technologies and expertise in Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital markets. Thales has two engineering competence centres in India – one in Noida focused on Cyber & Digital business, while the one in Bengaluru focuses on hardware, software and systems engineering capabilities for both the civil and defence sectors, serving global needs.

    PRESS CONTACTS

    Bharat Dynamics Ltd

    Homnidhi Sharma

    +91 94939 84976

    bdlbd-pr@bdl-india.in

    Thales, Group Media Relations

    Defence

    Camille Heck

    +33 6 73 78 33 63

    camille.heck@thalesgroup.com

    Thales, Communications in India

    Pawandeep Kaur

    +91 9990098828

    pawandeep.kaur@thalesgroup.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Patrushev: Agricultural trade turnover between Russia and India increased by more than 60% in 2024

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Dmitry Patrushev held a working meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation Vinay Kumar

    February 11, 2025

    Dmitry Patrushev held a working meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation Vinay Kumar

    February 11, 2025

    Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation Vinay Kumar

    February 11, 2025

    Dmitry Patrushev held a working meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation Vinay Kumar

    February 11, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Dmitry Patrushev held a working meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation Vinay Kumar

    Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Patrushev held a working meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Russian Federation Vinay Kumar. The meeting participants discussed the possibilities of cooperation between the two countries in the field of agriculture.

    “Trade in agricultural products and food between Russia and India is growing rapidly. Thus, last year, the turnover of agricultural products increased by more than 60%. We are interested in further development of mutual trade,” said Dmitry Patrushev.

    The Deputy Prime Minister added that Russia is ready to increase exports to India of vegetable oils, livestock and fish products, wheat and legumes and, in addition, is interested in importing Indian agricultural products, including fruits and vegetables.

    The meeting also discussed possible additional growth points for the development of bilateral cooperation.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses inaugural session of India Energy Week 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 4:17PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi delivered his remarks at the inauguration of third edition of India Energy Week 2025 via video message today. Addressing the gathering at Yashobhoomi, he emphasized that the attendees are not just part of the Energy Week, but are also integral to India’s energy ambitions.

    India Energy Week was envisioned as more than just another industry conference—it was designed to be a dynamic platform redefining global energy dialogues. In just two years, this self-funded initiative has achieved precisely that, becoming the world’s second-largest energy event. IEW 2025, scheduled from February 11-14, 2025, at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, represents a significant milestone in shaping the global energy narrative.

     

    Highlighting that experts worldwide are asserting that the 21st century belongs to India, Shri Modi remarked, “India is driving not only its growth but also the growth of the world, with the energy sector playing a significant role”. He emphasized that India’s energy ambitions are built on five pillars: harnessing resources, encouraging innovation among brilliant minds, economic strength and political stability, strategic geography making energy trade attractive and easier, and commitment to global sustainability. The Prime Minister noted that these factors are creating new opportunities in India’s energy sector.

    “India has grown from the tenth largest to the fifth largest economy in the past decade”, remarked Shri Modi. He highlighted that India’s solar energy generation capacity has increased thirty-two times in the last ten years, making it the third-largest solar power generating nation in the world. He noted that India’s non-fossil fuel energy capacity has tripled and that India is the first G20 country to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. The Prime Minister emphasized India’s achievements in ethanol blending, with a current rate of nineteen percent, leading to foreign exchange savings, substantial farmer revenue, and significant reductions in CO2 emissions. He highlighted India’s goal of achieving a twenty percent ethanol mandate by October 2025. He remarked that India’s biofuels industry is ready for rapid growth, with 500 million metric tonnes of sustainable feedstock. He further noted that during India’s G20 presidency, the Global Biofuels Alliance was established and is continuously expanding, now involving 28 nations and 12 international organizations. He highlighted that this alliance is transforming waste into wealth and setting up Centers of Excellence.

    Highlighting that India is continuously reforming to fully explore the potential of its hydrocarbon resources, Shri Modi highlighted that major discoveries and extensive expansion of gas infrastructure are contributing to the growth of the gas sector, increasing the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix. He noted that India is currently the fourth largest refining hub and is working to increase its capacity by 20 percent.

    Pointing out that India’s sedimentary basins hold numerous hydrocarbon resources, some of which have already been identified, while others await exploration, the Prime Minister highlighted that to make India’s upstream sector more attractive, the Government introduced the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP). He emphasized that the Government has provided comprehensive support to the sector, including opening the Exclusive Economic Zone and establishing a single-window clearance system. Shri Modi noted that changes to the Oilfields Regulation & Development Act now offer stakeholders policy stability, extended leases, and improved financial terms. He emphasized that these reforms will facilitate the exploration of oil and gas resources in the maritime sector, increase production, and maintain strategic petroleum reserves.

    Prime Minister underlined that due to several discoveries and the expanding pipeline infrastructure in India, the supply of natural gas is increasing. He emphasized that this will lead to a rise in the utilization of natural gas in the near future. He also highlighted that there are numerous investment opportunities in these sectors.

    Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, in his address at the event, highlighted the growing significance of the event, which has rapidly become the second-largest energy conference in the world in just three years. This year’s edition has drawn over 70,000 energy professionals from more than 50 countries, including over 20 Ministers and 100 CEOs from Fortune 500 energy companies, making it a key forum 6for discussions on the evolving global energy landscape.

    Shri Puri underscored that IEW 2025 comes at a crucial juncture amid major geopolitical shifts that have reshaped the global energy order. He stressed that the conference offers a unique opportunity for policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue, exchange ideas, and chart a course for a balanced and inclusive energy transition. While reaffirming India’s commitment to sustainability, he emphasized that the transition must be pragmatic, recognizing the continued role of hydrocarbons alongside renewables, hydrogen, and biofuels. He cited the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) projection of global energy investment surpassing USD 3 trillion in 2024, with USD 2 trillion dedicated to clean energy technologies, as a clear indication of the accelerating shift toward cleaner energy sources.

    The Minister highlighted India’s leadership in driving energy innovation and entrepreneurship, noting that major global energy firms like BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, and Chevron operate Global Capability Centres in India, employing thousands of Indian engineers to develop cutting-edge solutions for energy efficiency, data analytics, and sustainable operations. He also acknowledged the role of 500+ entrepreneurs participating in start-up challenges such as Avinya and Vasudha, and the 700 exhibiting companies, including over 100 start-ups, showcasing AI-driven energy solutions, quantum computing applications, and advancements in biofuels and battery technologies.

    A key theme of his address was energy justice, where he warned against fragmented energy policies that could deepen inequality by leaving developing economies behind in the transition. He emphasized the need for resilient supply chains in critical minerals, semiconductors, and emerging energy technologies, calling for global collaboration to prevent disruptions that could hinder progress. He also pointed out that India is strategically investing in diverse energy sources, including scaling up biofuel production, increasing its gas share from 6% to 15%, and targeting 5 million metric tonnes of hydrogen production by 2030 to ensure a smooth transition without compromising energy security.

    Concluding his remarks, Shri Puri urged all stakeholders to leverage India Energy Week as a platform for forging transformative partnerships and shaping the global energy agenda. He invited the 6,000+ delegates to engage in the conference’s discussions over the next four days, focusing on strategies to stabilize energy markets, drive technological advancements, and enhance international cooperation. With India playing an increasingly central role in the global energy ecosystem, IEW 2025 is set to be a landmark event for defining the future of energy.

    *******

    MONIKA

    (Release ID: 2101769) Visitor Counter : 48

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: New device enables smart windows to change color without external power source

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 4:13PM by PIB Delhi

    Researchers have developed a new generation of smart windows with advanced self-charging, color-responsive technology with integrated energy storage.

    Conventional smart windows are only capable of modulating the transmission of light. Researchers have made a significant leap in smart window technology by developing innovative windows that not only change color but also possess self-rechargeable capabilities, making them a promising addition to modern buildings. These smart windows enhance aesthetics by seamlessly switching colors while simultaneously storing energy, a feature that could revolutionize energy efficiency in architecture.

    For decades, the quest to fabricate functional windows has focused on boosting performance and adding new functionalities. However, when it comes to windows with energy storage and rechargeable capabilities, challenges like cyclic stability and the need for external power have restricted their widespread adoption.

    Addressing these issues, researchers from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in Bengaluru, India, have developed a device that enables smart windows to change color without requiring an external power source.

    A team led by Dr. Ashutosh Kumar Singh explored the integration of zinc-ion (Zn2+) battery concept in smart windows, utilizing tungsten oxide (WO3) as the primary active material in a paper published in the journal Energy Storage Materials.

    A major finding of the study is the successful use of spray coating of tungsten oxide with ethanol as a solvent, which resulted in superior uniformity and film quality, due to the Marangoni flow effect (isphenomenon of a liquid moving from areas of low surface tension to high surface tension, in the way soap makes water flow away from dirty spots). Additionally, the incorporation of hybrid Zn-K electrolytes significantly enhanced both the electrochromic and electrochemical performance of the devices, achieving a high transmittance modulation of 50% and impressive cyclic stability lasting up to 10000 seconds.

    The team successfully developed and tested a prototype device using the optimized WO3sample and Zn-K electrolytes. The prototype demonstrated remarkable cyclic stability over 3000 cycles, rapid self-charging within 10 minutes, and reversible optical modulation of 40%, highlighting its potential for sustainable energy storage in future smart electronic applications.

    This research represents a significant advancement in smart window technology, emphasizing the potential of WO3-based materials to create energy-efficient and sustainable electronic solutions. The findings pave the way for integrating these devices into smart electronics, potentially powered by renewable energy sources, marking a major step forward in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions and demonstrating the practical utility of transparent batteries in modern technology.

    Figure: Schematic representation of hybrid electrolyte. Configuration of an electrochromic battery (left), a visual representation of the device in charged and discharged states (right).

     

    ***

    NKR/PSM

    (Release ID: 2101765) Visitor Counter : 34

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SETTING UP OF FLOATING JETTIES

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 4:11PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is actively promoting the establishment of floating jetties across various locations in India. These initiatives aim to enhance infrastructure for both fishing activities, tourism and cargo transport. A total of 50 locations in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have been identified for implementation under Phase I of floating jetties projects out of which 12 locations in Andhra Pradesh are floating jetties related to fisheries. The details are at Annexure.

    Floating jetties can significantly benefit both fishermen and cargo transport. For fishermen, they provide stable docking in varying water levels, enabling year-round access to the water, reducing downtime caused by tides, and improving safety and convenience for unloading catch. For cargo transport, floating jetties offer flexibility in accommodating different vessel sizes, enhancing port capacity and efficiency, and supporting both small-scale and large-scale shipping. This infrastructure boosts logistics, reduces congestion at fixed docks, and facilitates smoother, uninterrupted operations.

    This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in Rajya Sabha, today.

     

    ***

    G.D. Hallikeri/Henry

    (Release ID: 2101764) Visitor Counter : 41

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS UNDER SAGARMALA

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 4:09PM by PIB Delhi

    The Sagarmala programme is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to promote port-led development in the country through harnessing India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes. As a part of Sagarmala Programme, around 839 projects at an estimated cost of around 5.5 lakh crore have been identified for implementation. These projects are implemented by Central Ministries, IWAI, Indian Railways, NHAI, State Government and Major Ports etc. As of now, 272 projects have been completed, which account for an investment of approximately Rs. 1.41 lakh crores.

    For timely execution of projects, Ministry on regular intervals interacts with State Maritime Boards (SMBs)/State Govts/UTs’Administration/Central Line Ministries by organizing project based and State level meetings to understand their concerns and aiding to resolve the issues concerning Government of India in timely manner. Ministry from time to time holds Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) meetings and also encourage coastal States/UTs to hold State Sagarmala Committee meetings for creating synergy among various stakeholders for expeditious implementation of Sagarmala projects. To date, twenty meetings of MSDC have been held with State Governments and other stakeholders. Further, at the top of the Sagarmala framework, a National Sagarmala Apex Committee has been constituted for overall policy guidance and high-level coordination, and to review aspect of planning and implementation of the plan and projects.

    Sagarmala Programme core focus is economic and infrastructural development, which has indirect strategic significance. By modernizing and expanding Indian ports, India strengthens its position in the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean region. The programme aims to boost maritime trade within India and internationally, improving its standing as a global maritime hub, which directly competes with neighbouring countries.

    This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in Rajya Sabha, today.

    ***

    G.D. Hallikeri/Henry

    (Release ID: 2101762) Visitor Counter : 43

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LOGISTICS PERFORMANCE INDEX

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 4:08PM by PIB Delhi

    As per the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI), 2023 India moved up to 22nd Rank in the Global Ranking in International Shipments category and the Overall 38th Rank in Logistics Performance Index score. Indian Ports have registered quantum improvement in “Turn Around Time”. Global comparison of Indian Ports on “Turn Around Time” parameter, as published in World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) Report-2023, acknowledges Indian Ports “Turn Around Time” as 0.9 days which is better than USA (1.5 days), Australia (1.7 days), Belgium (1.3 days), Canada (2.0 days), Germany (1.3 days), UAE (1.1 days), Singapore (1.0 days), Russian Federation (1.8 days), Malaysia (1.0 days), Ireland (1.2 days), Indonesia (1.1 days), New Zealand (1.1 days) and South Africa (2.8 days).

    The Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 was developed in alignment with the principles of the blue economy. It outlines long-term aspirations for India’s maritime sector and provides a broad action plan for implementation. The vision aims to transform the sector through various key initiatives, including the expansion of port capacity through greenfield and brownfield developments, enhancing operational efficiency by leveraging automation and digitization, and making the sector more sustainable through green initiatives such as the development of hydrogen hubs. In addition to sustainability, the vision emphasizes the development of islands and the cruise sector, aiming to boost coastal tourism and related infrastructure. It also focuses on strengthening maritime capacity building by enhancing workforce training and skill development. Furthermore, the vision aspires to elevate India’s global maritime presence by increasing participation in international maritime platforms. Another critical area of focus is the shipbuilding and repair sector. The vision seeks to position India as a global leader in shipbuilding while also working toward increasing the country’s shipping tonnage. To achieve these ambitious objectives, the strategy proposes a comprehensive set of interventions spanning infrastructure development, policy reforms, technological advancements, institutional strengthening, and regulatory enhancements.

    GMIS 2023 attracted investment commitment of ₹10 lakh crore. This includes signing of 360 MoUs, with an investment commitment of ₹8.35 lakh crore (including international collaborations), and the announcement of additional investible projects worth ₹1.68 lakh crore.

    This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in Rajya Sabha, today.

    ***

    G.D. Hallikeri/Henry

    (Release ID: 2101760) Visitor Counter : 42

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ENHANCING PORT EFFICIENCY

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 4:07PM by PIB Delhi

    During the year 2023-24, the Major Ports handled total cargo traffic of 820 million tonnes against a combined capacity of 1,630 million tonnes per annum, resulting in approximately 50% capacity utilization. From 2013-14 to 2023-24, the average turnaround time of Major Ports has decreased by an impressive 49%, while the average Output per Ship Berth Day has seen a significant rise of 52% during the same period. India’s logistics performance has significantly improved, rising to 38th position in the 2023 World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI), up from 54th in 2014. This progress is attributed to factors like reduced port dwell times, faster turnaround times and significant advancements in international shipment and delivery timeliness rankings.

    Infrastructure development and capacity augmentation of Major Ports is a continuous process. It involves construction of new berths and terminals, mechanization of existing berths and terminals, capital dredging for increasing drafts for attracting larger vessels, development of road, rail and waterways connectivity, etc. Further, Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra has been approved to be developed as the mega container port in the country catering the requirement of handling new generation mega size container vessels.

    This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in Rajya Sabha, today.

    ***

    G.D. Hallikeri/Henry

    (Release ID: 2101759) Visitor Counter : 38

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DOUBLING CRUISE PASSENGER TRAFFIC

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 4:06PM by PIB Delhi

    The Cruise Bharat Mission (CBM), was launched by the Hon’ble Minister on 30th September 2024. CBM provides for a framework for inter-ministerial approach for crafting interventions along policy, regulatory, and other aspects governing cruise sector and enable responsible involvement of all regulatory agencies, such as Customs, Immigration, CISF, State Tourism Departments, State Maritime Agencies, District Administrations, and local police. The key performance indicator (KPI) in respect to cruise passenger, phase wise are as under:

    This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in Rajya Sabha, today.

    ***

    G.D. Hallikeri/Henry

    (Release ID: 2101758) Visitor Counter : 40

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Raksha Mantri invites global community to co-develop & co-produce advanced systems in India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Raksha Mantri invites global community to co-develop & co-produce advanced systems in India

    Present global security scenario demands innovative approaches & stronger partnerships: Shri Rajnath Singh at Defence Ministers’ Conclave

    “India does not believe in transactional relationships; Its approach emphasises mutual capacity building, prosperity and security of partner nations”

    “Our commitment extends beyond Indian Ocean Region, it serves as a blueprint for fostering global partnerships on equality, trust, mutual respect & adherence to international law”

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 3:55PM by PIB Delhi

    Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has exhorted the global community to join India in the co-development and co-production of advanced systems, emphasising that the present global security scenario demands innovative approaches & stronger partnerships. He was addressing the Defence Ministers’ Conclave ‘Building Resilience through International Defence and Global Engagement (BRIDGE)’, organised as part of the 15th Aero India in Bengaluru, Karnataka on February 11, 2025. The event witnessed the participation of over 162 delegates from 81 countries, including 15 Defence Ministers, 11 Deputy Defence Ministers, 15 Permanent Secretaries, and 17 Service Chiefs.

    “Increasing number of conflicts, new power plays, new methods & means of weaponisation, growing role of non-state actors and the emergence of disruptive technologies have made the world order more fragile. The distinction between border security and internal security is getting blurred as hybrid warfare has the ability to target critical national infrastructure even during peace time. Cyberspace and Outer space are challenging the established definition of sovereignty,” said Raksha Mantri.

    Shri Rajnath Singh added that disruptive technologies such as Al, quantum technologies, hypersonic and directed energy are transforming the character of warfare, creating new vulnerabilities. He stressed that these changes would have a deep impact on future warfare, forcing reassessment of the capabilities required to meet the challenges.

    Raksha Mantri pointed out that international order and peace cannot be ensured from a position of weakness, and the Government of India, under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is leaving no stone unturned to transform defence capabilities. “We have put in place a conducive policy regime which encourages investment and production of an entire range of modern state-of-the-art land, maritime & air systems. India’s emergence as a global hub for R&D and innovation in defence is a testament to our capabilities and aspirations,” he said.

    Shri Rajnath Singh said India possesses a vibrant defence start-up ecosystem which has the third largest number of unicorns in the world. He highlighted the unparalleled opportunities for collaboration offered by the thriving Indian aerospace and defence sectors, supported by a significant R&D base and an entrepreneurial spirit. “Our skill base enables us to produce at highly competitive costs. India is committed to share state-of-the-art defence equipment, hardware, services, and technology with our friends and partners,” he told the Defence Ministers and other foreign delegates.

    Raksha Mantri voiced India’s vision of peace, security and development, which is inclusive & collaborative, stating that it is guided by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s dynamic five ‘S’ approach: Samman (Respect), Samvaad (Dialogue), Sahyog (Cooperation), Shanti (Peace) and Samriddhi (Prosperity). These principles, he added, form the cornerstone of India’s international engagements and resonate strongly in today’s world, which is increasingly witnessing divisions.

    Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that India has embraced the vision of  ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’ for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), focussing on key areas such as maritime security, economic development and blue economy. He added that India’s collaborative efforts in combating non-traditional threats such as piracy, terrorism, illegal & unregulated fishing, and climate-related challenges underline the commitment for global cooperative action beyond IOR. “Our commitment extends beyond IOR and serves as a blueprint for fostering global partnerships built on equality, trust, mutual respect, and adherence to international law,” he said.

    Raksha Mantri laid stress on the fact that India does not believe in transactional relationships or imposing solutions, and its approach emphasises on mutual capacity building, prosperity and security for the sovereignty of partner nations. He stated that the aim is to empower its partners to chart their own paths, through support that aligns with their national priorities. He described equitable partnership as the foundation of defence collaboration, whether it involves supplying Indian-made ships and aircraft, sharing expertise or conducting joint training programmes.

    Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that India’s position as a preferred partner for defence exports is reinforced by its adherence to quality, reliability, and commitment to the specific needs of partners. “Our defence industry is well-equipped to meet diverse requirements from cutting-edge technology to cost-effective solutions. We take pride in offering customised support that strengthens the capabilities of our partner nations, enabling them to address their security challenges effectively,” he said.

    Raksha Mantri termed the BRIDGE initiative as the commitment to transforming dialogue into actionable outcomes, fostering partnerships that are resilient, adaptable, and forward-looking. Challenges ranging from terrorism and cyber-crime to humanitarian crises and climate-induced disasters transcend borders, and they demand a united response.

    During the meeting, the Defence Ministers lauded the efforts of Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence for organising Aero India and providing an opportunity to world-class manufacturers for showcasing latest innovations and technologies under one roof. They appreciated the concept of BRIDGE which promises to work for peace and prosperity for all. They expressed their willingness to work with India for their defence and other requirements, reaffirming their commitment to further deepen the ties with New Delhi.

    The delegates conveyed their desire for Transfer of Technology and co-development & co-production of latest equipment and products, terming India as a partner in resilient supply chain. They acknowledged India’s role in peacekeeping and its efforts towards upgrading the capabilities of many countries in various fields, including defence, health and education.

    Shared security concerns also figured during the deliberations, with the Ministers unanimously agreeing to avoid armed conflict, describing it as anti-people and anti-development. Various challenges such as illegal drug trafficking, illicit fishing, terrorism and cybercrime were discussed, with the nations pledging to fight together against these menaces. They collectively agreed to move forward together with the idea of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, which was the theme of India’s G20 Presidency.

    Delivering the closing remarks, Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth expressed gratitude to the attending dignitaries for their participation. He thanked the Defence Ministers, senior officials, and distinguished guests for their engagement and contributions to the conclave. He emphasised the spirit of collaboration embodied by the theme BRIDGE and expressed optimism for continuing existing partnerships while exploring new areas of mutual prosperity through cooperation.

    Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar delivered the welcome address.

    Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat were also among the dignitaries present on the occasion.

    The conclave provided a platform to discuss key aspects such as defence capacity building through investment, joint ventures & co-production, collaboration in R&D, training & technological advancements in AI & space, Maritime security cooperation and strategic partnerships.

    ****

    VK/SPS/Savvy

    (Release ID: 2101749) Visitor Counter : 75

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India and Israel united against terrorism, pledge stronger ties: Shri Piyush Goyal at India Israel Business Forum

    Source: Government of India (2)

    India and Israel united against terrorism, pledge stronger ties: Shri Piyush Goyal at India Israel Business Forum

    Commerce Minister invites investment from Israel, says India offers a stable and growing market

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 3:54PM by PIB Delhi

    India and Israel’s common enemy is terrorism and Prime Ministers of both nations work with a shared purpose to eliminate it. This was stated by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal during his address at the India Israel Business Forum organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) today in New Delhi.

    In the last decade, Shri Goyal noted, the Government has focused on strengthening the macroeconomic fundamentals of the country with a strong emphasis on improving the infrastructure to take economic prosperity to every corner of the country. He also pointed out the Centre’s efforts to provide public welfare over the years. Today the efforts have given rich dividends. The nation is standing on strong macroeconomic fundamentals with ability to withstand Covid, war and amidst turbulent geopolitical times, he said.

    In a bid to prepare the nation to leverage the opportunities, Shri Goyal spoke of 10 Ds – Democracy, Demographic Dividend, Digitalisation of the economy, Decarbonisation, Determination, Dependability of India, Decisive Leadership, Diversity, Development and Demand.

    India has a strong judiciary to fall back on, the Minister noted, and said that the young demographic will provide a strong workforce for the future decades to come. Minister Goyal emphasised on India being a dependable partner to Israel as the country is known to keep every commitment it makes. He also stressed on the demand potential of the country that has shown rapid growth and is set to increase every year. Calling India and Israel natural allies, he noted that due to India’s large demand growth Israel has several key areas from technology to appliances to invest in.

    ***

    Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan/Asmitabha Manna

    (Release ID: 2101747) Visitor Counter : 118

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Hosts “Culinary, Crafts & Clicks – Moods & Magic” Festival, Another Pursuit to Honour India’s Street Food & Craft Heritage

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Hosts “Culinary, Crafts & Clicks – Moods & Magic” Festival, Another Pursuit to Honour India’s Street Food & Craft Heritage

    The festival, is a unique showcase of regional taste, craft, and tradition; and strengthens local economies by bringing street food vendors and women self-help groups to a national platform

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 3:51PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is hosting “Culinary, Crafts & Clicks – Moods & Magic”, a Festival of Street Food & Handicraft at Amrit Udyan, Rashtrapati Bhavan from 8th to 23rd February 2025.

    This initiative aims to celebrate India’s diverse street food and handicraft, offering self-help groups (SHGs) from across India and street food vendors, a platform to enhance their reach and integrate into mainstream markets.

    A key highlight is the Street Food Festival, featuring authentic flavours from across the country, alongside 40 SHGs led by women entrepreneurs, displaying handcrafted artifacts, artisanal products, and traditional delicacies.

    Adding a creative dimension to the festival, the “Kartavya Path to Amrit Udyan” Photography Contest is inviting participants via MyGov to capture the vibrant moods and joyful expressions of people along the stretch from Kartavya Path to Amrit Udyan, as well as the festive ambiance within Amrit Udyan.

    Selected photographs will be exhibited at Kartavya Path, celebrating India’s diversity. The contest will run from 8th to 21st February and the results will be announced on 23rd February, 2025.

    To uphold Swabhav Swachhata and Sanskaar Swachhata, the festival is a zero-waste event with no use of single-use plastic. Exhibitors and street food vendors are exclusively using biodegradable products. Additionally, dry waste is being sent for recycling, while wet waste is being sent for composting directly from the event.

    Beyond cultural celebration, this festival holds economic and social significance, empowering women entrepreneurs, grassroots artisans, and informal street vendors while aligning with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s ‘Vocal for Local’ vision.

    **********

    JN / SK

    (Release ID: 2101745) Visitor Counter : 17

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (14AFAF) on “Greening the Blue Growth in Asia-Pacific” to be held in Delhi

    Source: Government of India (2)

    14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (14AFAF) on “Greening the Blue Growth in Asia-Pacific” to be held in Delhi

    Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh to inaugurate the three-day event tomorrow

    ICAR and AFS jointly organizing the event

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 3:33PM by PIB Delhi

    The 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (14AFAF), with the theme “Greening the Blue Growth in Asia-Pacific” is being organized in New Delhi during February 12-14, 2025. The Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (AFAF) is a triennial event of the Asian Fisheries Society with its Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This 14th AFAF is being jointly organized by the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS), Kuala Lumpur; Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi; the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of India; and the Asian Fisheries Society Indian Branch (AFSIB), Mangalore. This prestigious event is being hosted in India for the 2nd time after the 8AFAF held at Kochi in 2007.

    The 14thAFAF brings together key players from the fisheries and aquaculture sectors and will host around 1,000 delegates from 24 countries, including researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders. The Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (AFAF) has a strong legacy of fostering global collaboration in the sector. Since its inception, the forum has been successfully hosted in multiple countries across Asia. Hosting the 14th AFAF in India after 18 years highlights the country’s growing prominence in global fisheries and aquaculture. With a rapidly expanding blue economy, progressive government policies, and significant scientific advancements, India has emerged as a key player in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Today, India occupies 2nd position in total fish production and also aquaculture production globally. The forum will provide a platform to showcase India’s contributions, strengthen international partnerships, and promote innovative approaches for sustainable, resilient, and economically viable fish production systems.

    The forum will be inaugurated by Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Govt. of India on at 10.00 AM on 12th February 2025 ( WEDNESDAY) at Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium, ICAR Convention Centre, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. Dr. Himansu Pathak, Secretary, DARE, and Director General, ICAR; Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India; Dr. S. Ayyappan, Former Secretary, DARE, and DG, ICAR; Dr. Essam Yassin Mohammed, Director General of World Fish, Malaysia will also be present. The event will include over 20 Lead Presentations by internationally acclaimed experts from India and overseas.

    On the second day a Symposium on “Aquatic Animal Diseases: Emerging Challenges and Preparedness” will be held at A.P. Shinde Auditorium, NASC Complex, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. Shri George Kurian, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, and Minority Affairs, Govt. of India will inaugurate the event.

    On the third day, the Academia-Industry-Government Meet on ‘De-risking Shrimp Aquaculture Value Chain for Improved Global Competitiveness‘ at Parijat Lecture Hall, Ground Floor, NAAS Block, NASC, New Delhi. Dr B. Mastan Rao, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) will inaugurate it.

    Closing Ceremony of 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (14AFAF) will be held at 4.30 pm on 14thFebruary, 2025 at Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium, ICAR Convention Centre, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India has consented to be the Chief Guest of the Closing Ceremony.

    ****

    MG/KSR   

    (Release ID: 2101732) Visitor Counter : 151

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: WAVES 2025 “Reel Making” Challenge

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 3:48PM by PIB Delhi

    Shaping the Future of Storytelling, One Reel at a Time

     

    Introduction

    The WAVES 2025 “Reel Making” Challenge is a unique competition that empowers creators and enthusiasts to showcase their storytelling skills using Meta’s tools through a concise 30-90 second film format. Organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the challenge has received an overwhelming response, with 3,379 registrations from across India and 20 countries as of February 5, 2025. It provides a platform for digital creators to experiment, innovate, and push the boundaries of short-form content.

    This challenge is part of the Create in India Challenges, a flagship initiative under the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), which will be held from 1st to 4th May 2025 at Jio World Convention Centre & Jio World Gardens, Mumbai. WAVES is a premier global platform fostering discussions, collaboration, and innovation in the Media & Entertainment (M&E) industry. Bringing together industry leaders and stakeholders, the summit will explore emerging opportunities, address challenges, and strengthen India’s position as a global creative hub. With over 70,000 registrations across 31 competitions, the Create in India Challenges continue to fuel creativity, talent, and international participation.

    WAVES 2025: Uniting Creators Worldwide

    The “Reel Making” Challenge, launched as a key initiative under WAVES 2025, underscores India’s emergence as a global hub for media and entertainment while reflecting the rapid growth of its digital creator economy. It aligns with the Government of India’s “Create in India” vision, fostering talent from across the nation and beyond.

    The challenge has attracted notable international participation from countries including Afghanistan, Albania, the United States, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, UAE, Australia, and Germany, among others. This global reach highlights India’s increasing influence in the creative sector and the growing appeal of WAVES as a premier platform for content creators worldwide.

    Domestically, entries have come from diverse and remote locations across India, such as Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh), Dimapur (Nagaland), Kargil (Ladakh), Leh, Shopian (Kashmir), Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), Teliamura (Tripura), Kasaragod (Kerala), and Gangtok (Sikkim). The strong response from smaller towns and emerging creative hubs showcases India’s rich storytelling traditions and thriving digital ecosystem.

    Participants above the age of 20 are required to create reels on themes such as “Viksit Bharat,” highlighting India’s technological and infrastructure advancements, and “India @ 2047,” envisioning the nation’s future growth. These themes provide a platform for storytellers to capture India’s innovation journey, demonstrating their creativity and vision for the country’s progress.

     

    Themes

     

    1. Food: Celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage, from street food delights to regional specialties.

     

    1. Travel: Capture India’s breathtaking landscapes, iconic landmarks, and hidden gems.

     

    1. Fashion: Explore the fusion of traditional and modern Indian fashion.

     

    1. Dance & Music: Showcase India’s vibrant rhythms, from classical performances to contemporary beats.

     

    1. Gaming: Dive into India’s evolving gaming culture and its impact on entertainment.

     

    1. Yoga & Wellness: Highlight the essence of holistic living through yoga, Ayurveda, and well-being practices.

     

    1. Road Trips: Share the thrill of Indian road trips, scenic routes, and travel adventures.

     

    1. Tech: Unleash creativity with AR, VR, and digital innovations shaping the future.

    Rules

    Reel Guidelines

    Rewards & Recognition

     

    1. Exclusive invitation to a Meta-hosted event and a reels masterclass in 2025.

     

    1. All-expenses-paid access to the WAVES event.

     

    1. Winning reels featured in the WAVES Hall of Fame, official website, and social media.

     

    1. Ministry-backed support for finalists to compete in global content creator competitions.

     

      

    References:

    https://wavesindia.org/challenges-2025

    https://eventsites.iamai.in/Waves/reelmaking/

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2099990

     Click here to download PDF

    ****

    Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Saurabh Kalia

    (Release ID: 2101742) Visitor Counter : 39

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Second India-France AI Policy Roundtable held on the sidelines of AI Action Summit 2025 in Paris, France

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 12:27AM by PIB Delhi

    The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India in partnership with Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, IndiaAI Mission and Sciences Po Paris organised an official side-event to the AI Action Summit 2025, titled ‘2nd India-France AI Policy Roundtable’ on 10th February 2025 at the Sciences Po Paris university campus.

    The roundtable discussion started with opening remarks by PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood where he highlighted India’s priorities in global AI policy and governance, including responsible AI development and deployment, equitable benefit sharing, adoption of a techno-legal framework for AI governance, interoperable data flows, and collaboration on AI safety, research, and innovation. Prof. Sood also stressed upon the potential for India and France to synergize on various policy positions and technological initiatives, fostering benefits not only at the bilateral level but also on a global scale by leveraging complementary knowledge and skill sets.

    Shri Amit A. Shukla, Joint Secretary, Cyber Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India and H.E. Henri Verdier, Ambassador for Digital Affairs, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs gave co-chairs remarks highlighting (a) DPI for AI; (b) AI foundation models; (c) global AI governance and (d) Priority areas, such as integrating AI in addressing global challenges. They also mentioned cross-border data flows lacking arbitration mechanisms and the importance of aligned views on data sovereignty.

    Following the co-chair remarks, interventions were made by Dr. Preeti Banzal (Adviser/Scientist G, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India);  Smt. Kavita Bhatia (Scientist ‘G’ & Group Coordinator, AI & Emerging Technology and Bhashini, MeitY, Government of India); Mr. Clément Bacchi (International Digital Policy Lead, Directorate General of Enterprises, Ministry of the Economy and Finance); Ms. Hélène Costa (Project Director, French ministry for the ecological transition); Mr. Sharad Sharma (Co-Founder, iSPIRT Foundation); Mr. Francis Rousseaux (International Technical Expert on AI, iSPIRT Foundation); Dr. Sarayu Natarajan (Founder, Aapti Institute); Mr. Charbel-Raphaël Segerie (Executive Director, Centre pour la Sécurité de l’IA); Mr. Saurabh Singh (Head, Digital and AI Policy, AWS India & South Asia); Mr. Alexandre Mariani (International Affairs Manager, Sciences Po Paris); Kapil Vaswani (Principal Researcher, Microsoft Research); Sunu Engineer (Entrepreneur, Co-Founder, Transforming.Legal); Vivek Raghavan (Co-Founder, Sarvam AI).

    The interventions emphasized the need for democratized access to AI resources, and capacity building while recognizing the importance of techno-legal frameworks. The participants highlighted the significance of sovereign AI models, ethical AI deployment and the need to define globally accepted terminologies and standards. Speakers also aligned on multilingual LLMs, federated AI compute infrastructure, and interoperable access to AI research, datasets, and high-performance computing resources. The meeting also covered key discussions on collaboration between India and France. Opportunities mentioned included creating indigenous foundation models and adopting a balanced governance approach to minimize risks while fostering innovation. Sustainable AI and energy-efficient computing was highlighted, alongside the importance of cross-border cooperation in AI research, datasets, and startups. The conversation also touched on AI’s societal impact, data governance, and the role of global institutions in shaping AI safety frameworks.

    The Second Roundtable built upon key objectives from the First Roundtable organised in IISc, Bengaluru during Technology Dialogue 2025 on 25th January 2025. The First Roundtable discussion focussed on inclusive AI frameworks, diverse datasets, infrastructure and skills, and foundational models. It also addressed governance and innovation, public-private partnerships, sustainability and health, and academic and data collaboration. Both discussions highlighted ethical and responsible AI, along with sector-specific and long-term goals.

    For more information, visit: https://technologydialogue.in/ai-rt-feb.html

     

    ***

    MJPS/ST

    (Release ID: 2101570) Visitor Counter : 61

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:37PM by PIB Delhi

    Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease of livestock with the significant economic impact.   The steps taken by the Union Government in this regard; are as under:

    i. National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) was launched in 2019 with a provision of 100% central assistance to states and Union Territories for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination.NADCP was included as a component under Livestock Health and Disease Control programme (LHDCP) scheme from 2021

    1. Procurement and supply of the quality FMD vaccine for required FMD vaccination and ear tags for respective States and Union Territories is done centrally
    2. Financial support is provided to States and Union Territories for procurement of vaccination accessories, strengthening of cold chain infrastructure and for awareness generation amongststakeholders
    3. Financial support is provided to Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- National Institute of Foot and Mouth Disease (NIFMD)-Bhubaneswar, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institutes (IVRI)-Bareilly, ICAR-IVRI-Bengaluru, ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI)-Bengaluru and Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Animal Health-Baghpat for FMD related activities
    4. Data related to registration of livestock using ear-tags and vaccination is uploaded on Bharat Pashudhan portal
    5. As gathered from States/UTs, cumulative vaccination under National Animal Disease Control Programme till date (January, 2025) against FMD is 107.34 crore. The vaccinations done Round-wise is 16.91 crore, 24.18 crore, 24.23 crore and 24.84 crore for Rounds I, II, III and IV respectively. The Rounds V and VI are ongoing in various States/ UTs and till date 14.89 crore and 2.29 crore vaccinations have been done respectively.
    6. On 17th August, 2024, a review of the measures was taken by the Department towards achieving the goal of FMD-Mukt Bharat. Besides, Regional review meetings are conducted twice with participation from all States and Union Territories to assess the progress of ongoing initiatives and programs including vaccination against FMD. These reviews serve as a platform for evaluating the implementation status, identifying challenges, and sharing best practices among stakeholders. Also, time to time various national level meetings like monsoon meet, conclaves are held by which status of FMD control is reviewed with States/ UTs.
    7. The State/Union Territory wise released funds are at Annexure I. 
    8. There is considerable reduction in FMD outbreaks over last few years, by over 60% from prior to launch of NADCP to 5 years of its implementation. The outbreaks now are sporadic in nature and there have been cases of FMD affecting limited number of animals
    9. Sampling plans are shared timely with States and overall, the protective titres indicated by seromonitoring are showing an increasing trend. The serosurveillance values are also showing a decreasing trend. These indicate the effectiveness of the vaccination programme.

     

    Under LHDCP, 100% assistance is provided to all States/Union Territory irrespective of region in the Country for control and eradication of FMD for activities as per operational guidelines of the concerned scheme ie. LHDCP. As far as FMD free zone is concerned, it is only an intermediate stage/measure aiming differentiated focus based on need and requirements. As of now, 09 states namely Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Uttarakhand identified to have special focus to make them FMD free. Adding more states for special focus to make them FMD free depends upon their need and requirement.

    Annexure I

    The State/Union Territory wise released of funds for vaccination programmes including FMD from 2019-20 till 2024-25 (till 31-01-2025):

    (Rs. in Lakh)

    S.NO.

    State/UTs

    2019-20 to

    2024-25 (till 31-01-2025)

    1

    Andaman & Nicobar Islands

    19.89

    2

    Andhra Pradesh

    16373.84

    3

    Arunachal Pradesh

    1826.4

    4

    Assam

    5016.71

    5

    Bihar

    8428.8

    6

    Chandigarh

    14.13

    7

    Chhattisgarh

    4134.17

    8

    Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu

    6.62

    9

    Goa

    246.6

    10

    Gujarat

    3383.75

    11

    Haryana

    5865.54

    12

    Himachal Pradesh

    1265.54

    13

    Jammu & Kashmir

    2193.58

    14

    Jharkhand

    3090.83

    15

    Karnataka

    8426.89

    16

    Kerala

    1039.14

    17

    Ladakh

    190.74

    18

    Lakshadweep

    40.22

    19

    Madhya Pradesh

    9968.88

    20

    Maharashtra

    14424.41

    21

    Manipur

    194.94

    22

    Meghalaya

    501.74

    23

    Mizoram

    245.79

    24

    Nagaland

    203.18

    25

    NCT Delhi

    74.57

    26

    Odisha

    3772.15

    27

    Puducherry

    46.18

    28

    Punjab

    1381.33

    29

    Rajasthan

    6636.26

    30

    Sikkim

    391.35

    31

    Tamil Nadu

    4981.02

    32

    Telangana

    3947.1

    33

    Tripura

    786.31

    34

    Uttar Pradesh

    21892.39

    35

    Uttarakhand

    1608.61

    36

    West Bengal

    7099.33

    This information was given by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    *****

    AA

    (Release ID: 2101856) Visitor Counter : 28

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MILK PRODUCTS

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:35PM by PIB Delhi

    The productivity of Indigenous bovine breeds in the country is low compared to advanced dairy nations globally and this is mainly due to low genetic potential of dairy animals and animals are maintained on low plane of nutrition.  However, the total productivity of Bovines in the country has increased from 1640 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 2072 kilograms per animal per year in 2023-24 that is by 26.34% which is the highest productivity gain by any country in the world.  The productivity of the indigenous and non-descript cattle has increased from 927 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 1292 kilograms per animal per year in 2023-24 that is by 39.37 %. The productivity of the buffaloes has increased from 1880 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 2161 kilograms per animal per year in 2023-24 that is by 14.94%. Milk production in the country has increased from 146.31 Million Tonnes in 2014-15 to 239.30 Million Tonnes in 2023-24 that is by 63.55 % during the last 10 years. Rashtriya Gokul Mission envisages to achieve productivity of bovines upto 3000 kilograms of milk per animal per year by 2030.

    In order to complement and supplement the efforts of the States and Union Territories to improve the nutrition, management practices, genetic potential of local cattle breeds and to provide training and support to dairy farmers in adopting best practices, the details of the steps undertaken and schemes being implemented by Government of India is as under:

    1.         Rashtriya Gokul Mission: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission since December 2014 for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines. Following efforts are being made under the scheme to enhance milk production and productivity of bovines:

    (i)         Nationwide Artificial Insemination Program: Under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is expanding artificial insemination coverage to boost the milk production and productivity of bovines, including indigenous breeds.

    (ii)        Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection: This program aims to produce high genetic merit bulls, including bulls of indigenous breeds. Progeny testing is implemented for Gir, Sahiwal breeds of cattle, and Murrah, Mehsana breeds of buffaloes. Under the Pedigree selection programme Rathi, Tharparkar, Hariana, Kankrej breed of cattle and Jaffarabadi, Nili Ravi, Pandharpuri and Banni breed of buffalo are covered.

    (iii)       Implementation of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Technology: To propagate elite animals of indigenous breeds, the Department has established 22 IVF laboratories. The technology has important role in genetic upgradation of bovine population in single generation. Further, to deliver technology at reasonable rates to farmers Government has launched IVF media.

    (iv)       Sex-Sorted Semen Production: The Department has established sex sorted semen production facilities at 5 government semen stations located in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. 3 private semen stations are also producing sex sorted semen doses.

    (v)        Genomic Selection: To accelerate genetic improvement of cattle and buffaloes, the Department has developed unified genomic chips—Gau Chip for indigenous cattle and Mahish Chip for buffaloes—specifically designed for initiating genomic selection in the country.

    (vi)       Multi-purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs): Under the scheme MAITRIs are trained and equipped to deliver quality Artificial Insemination services at farmers’ doorstep.

    (vii)      Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using sex sorted semen: This program aims to produce female calves with up to 90% accuracy, thereby enhancing breed improvement and farmers’ income. Farmers receive support for assured pregnancy upto 50% of the cost of sex sorted semen.

    (viii)     Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology: This technology is utilized for the rapid genetic upgradation of bovines and an incentive of Rs 5,000 per assured pregnancy is made available to farmers interested in taking up IVF technology.

    2.         National Livestock Mission (NLM): National Livestock Mission (NLM) aims to create employment generation, entrepreneurship development, increase in per-animal productivity and thus targeting increased production of meat, goat milk, egg and wool under the umbrella scheme Development Programme.  The scheme envisages following three submissions: (i) Sub-Mission on Breed Development of Livestock and Poultry; (ii) Sub-Mission on Feed and Fodder Development and (iii) Sub-Mission on Innovation, Extension. Details of the activities covered under these submissions are as under:

    (A) Sub-mission on Breed Development of Livestock and Poultry:  This Sub-Mission has following activities: (I)                 Establishment of Entrepreneurs for breed development: under this activity following sub activities are included (i) Establishment of Entrepreneurs for breed development of Rural Poultry and (ii) Establishment of Entrepreneur for breed development in small ruminant sector (sheep and goat farming). (II) Genetic Improvement of Sheep and Goat breeds: under this activity following are the sub activities: (i) Establishment of Regional Semen Production Laboratory and Semen Bank for sheep and goat; (ii) Establishment of State Semen Bank: (iii) Propagation of Artificial Insemination through existing cattle and buffalo Artificial Insemination centers and (iv)  Import of exotic sheep and goat germplasm.  (III) Promotion of Piggery Entrepreneur. (IV) Genetic Improvement of Pig breeds: Under this activity following activities are implemented:  (i) Establishment of pig semen collection and processing lab and (ii) Import of exotic pig germplasm. (V) Establishment of Entrepreneurs for horse, donkey, mule and camel. (VI) Genetic Improvement of Horse, Donkey, Mule, Camel:  (i) Regional Semen Station for Horse, donkey and camel; (ii) Nucleus Breed Farm for Conservation of Horse/Donkey/Camel germplasm and (iii) Breed Registration Society.

    (B) Sub-Mission on feed and fodder development: The Sub-Mission of the feed and fodder is covering the following activities: (I)     Assistance for quality Fodder seed production. (II) Entrepreneurial activities in feed and fodder. (III) Establishment of Entrepreneurs for Fodder Seed processing Infrastructure (processing and grading unit/ fodder seed storage godown). (IV) Fodder production from Non-Forest Wasteland / Rangeland / Non-arable Land” and “Fodder Production from Forest Land.

    (C)       Sub Mission on Innovation and Extension: Under this Sub-Mission the following are the activities: (I) Research and Development and innovations. (II) Extension activities. (III) Livestock Insurance programme.

    3.         National Programme for Dairy Development: This scheme focuses on creating dairy infrastructure for the procurement, processing, and marketing of milk and milk products in the cooperative dairy sector inter alia training and awareness programs for dairy farmers, input services such as cattle-feed and mineral mixtures, and assistance for quality testing of milk and milk products, thereby improving the economic condition of dairy farmers enrolled in cooperatives.

    4.         Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH & DC): The scheme is implemented for providing assistance for control of animal diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucellosis and also to provide assistance to State Governments for Control of other infectious diseases of livestock including dairy animals. Mobile Veterinary Units are established under the scheme to deliver quality livestock health services at farmers doorstep. Under the vaccination programme: (i) more than 100 crore vaccinations have been done against FMD including 35 crore vaccination performed during current year; and (ii) about 4.3 crore calves vaccinated against Brucellosis under brucellosis control programme including 1.3 crore calves vaccinated during current year. Under the component of Establishment and Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries (ESVHD- MVU), 100% financial assistance is provided towards procurement & customization of Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) with recurring operational expenditure in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern & Himalayan States; 60% for other States, and 100% for UTs for delivery of veterinary healthcare services through Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) through a Toll-Free Number (1962) at farmers’ doorsteps which include disease diagnosis, treatment, vaccination, minor surgical interventions, audio-visual aids and extension services. So far, 4016 MVUs are operational in 28 states and 65 lakh farmers benefitted. This helps in increasing productivity

    5.         Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) The scheme is to facilitate incentivisation of investments to establish (i) Dairy processing and product diversification infrastructure, (ii) Meat processing and product diversification infrastructure and (iii) Animal Feed Plant (iv) Breed Improvement Technology and Breed Multiplication Farm, (v) Veterinary Vaccine and Drugs production facilities, (vi) Animal waste to wealth management (Agri-waste Management). Keeping in view of the success of AHIDF, the erstwhile Dairy Processing Infrastructure Development Fund has been subsumed with the AHIDF on 01.02.2024. Now total size of the fund is Rs 29110 cr.

    The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme National Livestock Mission with a Sub-Mission on Feed and Fodder Development. Under the Submission, fodder development activity is undertaken through strengthening of fodder seed chain (Breeder-Foundation-Certified) thereby improving the availability of certified/quality fodder seeds required for production of high quality and  nutritious fodder. Approx.  1.03 lakh Tons of fodder seeds were produced under the Component Assistance for Quality Fodder Seeds Production since 2021-22 with release of funds of Rs.636.83 crores. The details of the progress under the component is at Annexure-I

    Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute ( IGFRI) Jhansi along with its All India Co-ordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Forage Crops & Utilization with 22 coordinated centers located in 21 states of the country are dedicatedly working on development of high yielding and nutritious fodder crop varieties for different agro-climatic conditions of the country and many varieties have been released for cultivation. Different approaches of crop improvement viz. speed breeding, apomixes; gene editing, SS markers, transgenic etc. are being used to develop high yielding trait specific cultivars. Major thrust are being placed for the development of varieties with attributes of high yielding, nutritionally superior, climatically resilient and resistant for different biotic factor. Till now more than 400 improved varieties in 40 fodder crops has been developed for different parts of the country and out of these about 200 varieties are in seed production chain. During last five years (2019-2024) nutritionally better and high yielding 86 varieties/ hybrids in 17 fodder crops have been identified/ notified for the cultivation in different agro-climatic regions of the country.

    Annexure-I

    Progress under component Assistance for Quality Fodder seeds Production under realign National Livestock Mission (NLM)

    1. Physical Progress – Year and Class wise Fodder Seed Production (Qtls)

    Class of seeds

    2021-22

    2022-23

    2023-24

    2024-25

    Total

    Breeder

    530.13

    0

    0

    0

    530.13

    Foundation

    6120.87

    21864.75

    15312.89

    12832.06

    56130.57

    Certified

    104852.2

    303222.4

    407874.5

    159383.0

    975332.1

    Total

    111503.2

    325087.2

    423187.4

    172215.1

    1031993
    1. Financial Progress – Year-wise Release of funds

    Year

    Release of funds (Rs.in crores)

    2021-22

    100.44

    2022-23

    159.99

    2023-24

    156.07

    2024-25

    (As on 4.2.2025)

    220.31

    Total Releases

    636.83

    This information was given by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    *****

    AA

    (Release ID: 2101854) Visitor Counter : 25

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: VACCINATION TARGETS UNDER LIVESTOCK

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying

    VACCINATION TARGETS UNDER LIVESTOCK

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:34PM by PIB Delhi

    The following actions taken by Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying(DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries & AHD Government of India to streamlined the vaccination programs against FMD, Brucellosis, PPR and CSF;.

    1. Vaccination against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Classical Swine Fever (CSF) is covered under 100% central assistance under Livestock Health And Disease Control Programme (LHDCP)  for all States and Union Territories.
      1. As gathered from States/UTs, cumulative vaccination till date (January, 2025), 107.34 crore, 4.39 crore, 20,40 crore, 0.67  crore vaccine hasbeen done against FMD, Brucellosis, PPR and CSF respectively. The last FMD-Round IV vaccination completed has covered more than 96% vaccination coverage (24.84 crore).  Further, FMD Rounds V and VI are ongoing in various States with nearly 14.89 Crores and 2.29 Crores vaccinations done respectively.
      1. The coverage percentage of vaccination program has increased, and the gaps have been narrowed down by ensuring timely supply of quality tested vaccines for FMD, Brucellosis, PPR and CSF along with awareness generation among stakeholders
      1. Assistance to States for Control of Animal Disease (ASCAD) for control of state prioritized exotic, emergent and zoonotic animal diseases with funding pattern of 60:40 between Central and State; 90:10 for hilly and North East States and 100% for UTs. Total more than 27.21 crore cattle have been vaccinated/re-vaccinated upto January, 2025 against Lumpy Skin Disease in the country.
      1. Financial support is provided to Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR)- National Institute of Foot and Mouth Disease (NIFMD)-Bhubaneswar, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institutes (IVRI)-Bareilly, ICAR-IVRI-Bengaluru, ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI)-Bengaluru and Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Animal Health-Baghpat for FMD related activities
      1. Data related to registration of livestock using ear-tags and vaccination  is uploaded on Bharat Pashudhan portal

    Total vaccination performance reducing the gap under the programmeare at Annexure-I

    ANNEXURE-I

     

    Animals Vaccinated in FMD Round IV

    Animals Vaccinated in FMD Round V

    (ongoing)

    Animals Vaccinated in FMD Round VI

    (ongoing)

    Animals Vaccinated against Brucellosis

    Animals Vaccinated against PPR Round I

    Animals Vaccinated against PPR Round II

    Animals Vaccinated against CSF Round I

    Animals Vaccinated against CSF Round II

    Progress of vaccination mentioned in 4th report of standing committee on agriculture, animal husbandry and food processing

    21,13,30,176

    5,35,73,039

    Not mentioned

    4,23,46,856

    15,19,38,427

    2,17,66,205

    49,05,771

    10,85,612

    Present status

    24,84,36,177

     

    14,88,63,831

     

    2,29,21,706

    4,38,86,128

    16,57,04,186

    3,82,66,375

    51,41,962

    15,08,624

    This information was given by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    *****

    AA

    (Release ID: 2101852)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DAIRY VALUE CHAIN

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:33PM by PIB Delhi

    Animal Husbandry is an important sub-sector of Indian agricultural economy and plays a multifaceted role in providing nutrition and livelihood support to the rural population. Milk plays an important role in nutritional security as it is important source of animal protein. Milk is a near complete food and has high nutritive value. It contains body building proteins, bone forming minerals, health giving vitamins, furnishes energy giving lactose and milk fat. Milk and dairy products are vital sources of nourishment for billions globally, benefiting people of all ages, from young children to older adults, by supporting health and active lifestyles. Nutrient-dense and energy-rich, milk provides high-quality protein along with essential micronutrients, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus, all in forms that the body can readily absorb. Numerous studies highlight the key role of milk and dairy in supporting healthy nutrition and development throughout life, particularly during childhood. As of date per capita availability of milk  has increased to 471 gram / day higher than, ICMR recommendation of 300 gram/ day. The livestock sector apart from contributing to national economy in general and to agricultural economy in particular also provides employment generation opportunities, asset creation, handling mechanism against crop failure and social and financial security. The benefit of the schemes has been accruing to all farmers engaged in dairying in terms of enhancement in milk production and productivity of bovines. Value of output of milk is more than Rs.11.16 lakh crore during 2022-23 (As per National Accounts Statistics 2024)  which is the highest of the agriculture produce and even more than the combined value of Paddy and Wheat. The schemes are playing important role in enhancing milk production and productivity of bovines to meet growing demand of milk and making dairying more remunerative to the rural farmers of the country.

    In order tostrengthen the dairy value chain right from quality feed, breed, processing, value addition to market linkages the following steps are undertaken by Government of India:

     

    1.         Rashtriya Gokul Mission:        Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission since December 2014 for development and conservation of indigenous breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines. Following steps are taken under the scheme to enhance milk production and productivity of bovines:

    (i)         Nationwide Artificial Insemination Program: Under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is expanding artificial insemination coverage to boost the milk production and productivity of bovines, including indigenous breeds. As on date, 8.32 crore animals have been covered, with 12.20 crore artificial inseminations performed, benefiting 5.19 crore farmers.

     

    (ii)        Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection: This program aims to produce high genetic merit bulls, including bulls of indigenous breeds. Progeny testing is implemented for Gir, Sahiwal breeds of cattle, and Murrah, Mehsana breeds of buffaloes. Under the Pedigree selection programme Rathi, Tharparkar, Hariana, Kankrej breed of cattle and Jaffarabadi, Nili Ravi, Pandharpuri and Banni breed of buffalo are covered. So far 3,988 high genetic merit bulls have produced and inducted for semen production.

     

    (iii)       Implementation of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Technology: To propagate elite animals of indigenous breeds, the Department has established 22 IVF laboratories. The technology has important role in genetic upgradation of bovine population in single generation. Further, to deliver technology at reasonable rates to farmers Government has launched indigenously developed IVF media.

     

    (iv)       Sex-Sorted Semen Production: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India has established sex sorted semen production facilities at 5 government semen stations located in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. 3 private semen stations are also producing sex sorted semen doses. So far 1.15 crore sex-sorted semen doses from high genetic merit bulls have been produced and made available for Artificial Insemination.

     

    (v)        Genomic Selection: To accelerate genetic improvement of cattle and buffaloes, the Department has developed unified genomic chips—Gau Chip for indigenous cattle and Mahish Chip for buffaloes—specifically designed for initiating genomic selection in the country.

     

    (vi)       Multi-purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs): Under the scheme MAITRIs are trained and equipped to deliver quality Artificial Insemination services at farmers’ doorstep. During the last 3 years 38,736 MAITRIs have been trained and equipped under Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

     

    (vii)      Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using sex sorted semen: This program aims to produce female calves with up to 90% accuracy, thereby enhancing breed improvement and farmers’ income. Farmers receive support for assured pregnancy upto 50% of the cost of sex sorted semen. As of now, 341,998 farmers have been benefited from this program. Government has launched indigenously developed sex sorted semen technology to deliver sex sorted semen at reasonable rates to farmers.

     

    (viii)     Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology: This technology is utilized for the rapid genetic upgradation of bovines and an incentive of Rs 5,000 per assured pregnancy is made available to farmers interested in taking up IVF technology.

     

    2.         National Livestock Mission (NLM): The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing NLM scheme since the financial year 2014-15. In view of the present need of the sector the NLM scheme has been revised and realigned from financial year 2021-22. The National Livestock Mission along with along other components and subcomponents of the scheme covers Sub-Mission on feed and fodder development.

    The Sub-Mission of the feed and fodder is covering the following activities:

    Activity I:        Assistance for quality Fodder seed production: 100% incentivization for production of all categories of fodder seed production by Central and State Govt. institutions;

    Activity II:       Entrepreneurial activities in feed and fodder: One time 50% capital subsidy up to Rs 50 lakh is provided to the Individuals. SHG, FCOs JLG, FPOs, Dairy Cooperative societies, section 8 companies are incentivized for the value addition such as Hay/Silage/Total Mixed Ration(TMR)/ Fodder Block.

    Activity III: Establishment of Entrepreneurs for Fodder Seed processing Infrastructure (processing and grading unit/ fodder seed storage godown):  One time 50% capital subsidy up to Rs 50 lakh is provided to companies, start-ups/ SHGs/FPOs/FCOs/JLGs/ Cooperative societies Section 8 companies and other credible organizations for establishing fodder seed processing infrastructure.

    Activity IV:      Fodder production from Non-Forest Wasteland / Rangeland / Non-arable Land” and “Fodder Production from Forest Land: The Central assistance is provided for production of various fodder in the degraded non-forest wasteland / rangeland / grassland/ non-arable land and forest land to enhance the vegetation cover of problematic soils like saline, acidic and heavy soil. 

    The Scheme National Livestock Mission also provides assistance to States/ UTs for livestock Insurance and component is implemented on 60:40 sharing basis between the Central Government and States and 90:10 sharing basis for North-Eastern and Himalayan States. Along with other livestock species dairy animals including cattle buffaloes are covered under the component.

    3.         National Programme for Dairy Development: This scheme focuses on creating dairy infrastructure for the procurement, processing, and marketing of milk and milk products in the cooperative dairy sector inter alia training and awareness programs for dairy farmers, input services such as cattle-feed and mineral mixtures, and assistance for quality testing of milk and milk products, thereby improving the economic condition of dairy farmers enrolled in cooperatives.

    4.         Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH & DC): The scheme is implemented for providing assistance for control of animal diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucellosis and also to provide assistance to State Governments for Control of other infectious diseases of livestock including dairy animals. Mobile Veterinary Units are established under the scheme to deliver quality livestock health services at farmers doorstep. Under the vaccination programme: (i) more than 100 crore vaccinations have been done against FMD including 35 crore vaccination performed during current year; and (ii) about 4.3 crore calves vaccinated against Brucellosis under brucellosis control programme including 1.3 crore calves vaccinated during current year. Under the component of Establishment and Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries (ESVHD- MVU), 100% financial assistance is provided towards procurement & customization of Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) with recurring operational expenditure in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern & Himalayan States; 60% for other States, and 100% for UTs for delivery of veterinary healthcare services through Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) through a Toll-Free Number (1962) at farmers’ doorsteps which include disease diagnosis, treatment, vaccination, minor surgical interventions, audio-visual aids and extension services. So far, 4016 MVUs are operational in 28 states and 65 lakh farmers benefitted.

    5.         Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) The scheme is  to facilitate incentivisation of investments to establish (i) Dairy processing and product diversification infrastructure, (ii) Meat processing and product diversification infrastructure and (iii) Animal Feed Plant (iv) Breed Improvement Technology and Breed Multiplication Farm, (v) Veterinary Vaccine and Drugs production facilities, (vi) Animal waste to wealth management (Agri-waste Management). Keeping in view of the success of AHIDF, the erstwhile Dairy Processing Infrastructure Development Fund has been subsumed with the AHIDF on 01.02.2024. Now total size of the fund is Rs 29110 crore.  So far 131 projects of dairy processing with the total project cost of Rs 5976 crore has been sanctioned under the scheme and 77 breed improvement projects with the total project cost of Rs 1027.82 crore.

     

    This information was given by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    *****

    AA

    (Release ID: 2101849) Visitor Counter : 25

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: H5N1 AVIAN INFLUENZA IN WILDLIFE

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:31PM by PIB Delhi

    In response to the question regarding the measures taken by the Government to monitor and manage the health of captive animals in zoos following the detection of H5N1 avian influenza in wildlife at the Nagpur rescue center, the written reply stated the measures taken by the Central Government:

    1. Central Zoo Authority (CZA), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has issued circular to all Zoos regarding their preparedness to prevent ingress of Avian Influenza and  advised zoos to comply with the National Action Plan on “Prevention, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza”.
    2. CZA advisedthe Zoos to consult Centre for Wildlife, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly for technical advise on Wildlife management, disease control and diagnosis.
    3. Department of Animal Husbandry& Dairying (DAHD), GoI has issued an advisory to the state for isolation of animals showing any clinical signs, closure of the establishment to the public including isolation and restriction of movement of zoo workers and use of Personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation of animal handlers, strengthening of biosecurity measures.
    4. States have been requested for surveillance of Tigers, Leopards and other wild animals and birds present in the Zoo and reporting of unusual mortality
    5. The State has been requested to follow the DAHD National Action Plan for Prevention Control and Containment of Avian Influenza 2021 especially Chapter 6 which has action points to deal with outbreaks of avian influenza in Zoos.
    6. The National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) involving members from NCDC, ICMR, Wildlife and DAHD was alsodeputed to conduct thejoint investigation and suggestion for future preparedness.
    7. Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, GoIconducted a review meeting on 7.1.2025 of all the stakeholders like Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Maharashtra, Central Zoo Authority, Wildlife Division-MOEFCC, Indian Council of Medical research, National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, officials of Gorewada Zoo and ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD)- Bhopal and advised all stakeholders to work in close collaboration following One Health Approach.
    8. A separate team from ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal and WRDDL Pune also conducted epidemiological investigations in and around the rescue centre and Chandrapur Forest area.
    9. 68 samples from the wild animals housed in the rescued centre of Gorewada Zoo were screened and they are tested negative by ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal as on 10.1.2025.

    In response to the question, whether there are any cases of avian flu in other wildlife sanctuaries, rescue centers, or zoos in the country, the written reply stated that no such report is received from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

    Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed that the management of recognised Zoos were advised to allot required resources or teams as per the National Action Plan on “Prevention, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza” and its addendum specific to Zoos for early detection and containment of Avian Influenza.

    This information was given by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha

    today.

    *****

    AA

    (Release ID: 2101846) Visitor Counter : 20

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: India: Authorities must uphold human rights and end violence in Manipur following Biren Singh’s resignation

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Responding to the resignation of N Biren Singh as the Chief Minister of the state of Manipur in India yesterday, Aakar Patel, chair of the board at Amnesty International India, said:

    “Biren Singh’s resignation presents in Manipur the opportunity for the authorities to uphold and ensure human rights for everyone, break with the violence and impunity of the past and work towards ending the ethnic violence in the state which has claimed the lives of more than 250 people in the last two years.  The (BJP)-led governments at both state and central level have utterly failed to end the violence in Manipur, impunity of vigilante groups, and the divisive rhetoric that has flamed the ethnic violence. Their actions have led to repression of dissenting voices and an abject humanitarian crisis in the state.

    “By the continued failure to hold to account those suspected to be responsible for serious human rights violations, the government risks sending the message that the impunity for these violations will continue. This in turn will fuel further violations.  Unlike the emblematic cases taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation, like the case of the gang-rape of two Kuki women in May 2023 that found the Manipur police complicit – many lesser-known ones continue to struggle for attention of the state and central governments. This must change.”

    Biren Singh’s resignation presents in Manipur the opportunity for the authorities to uphold and ensure human rights for everyone, break with the violence and impunity of the past…

    Aakar Patel, chair of the board at Amnesty International India

    Background:

    Since May 2023, more than 60,000 people have been displaced in Manipur due to the ongoing violence between the dominant ethnic community, the Meities and the other minority ethnic communities including the Kukis. Homes, business, villages and places of worship have been burnt down, attacked, looted and vandalised.

    The resignation of Biren Singh comes after the Supreme Court of India earlier this month ordered for a sealed-cover report from the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory into audio tapes that allegedly had him saying that the ethnic violence in the state had been instigated at his insistence.

    In July 2024, Amnesty International documented the ongoing violence and impunity in Manipur state.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Opening Address by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the AI Action Summit, Paris

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 3:41PM by PIB Delhi

    Excellencies,

    Friends,

    Let me begin with a simple experiment.

    If you upload your medical report to an AI app, it can explain in simple language, free of any jargon, what it means for your health. But, if you ask the same app to draw an image of someone writing with their Left hand, the app will most likely draw someone writing with their Right hand. Because that is what the training data is dominated by.

    It shows that while the positive potential of AI is absolutely amazing, there are many biases that we need to think carefully about. That is why I am grateful to my friend, President Macron, for hosting this summit. And for inviting me to co-chair it.

    Friends,

    AI is already re-shaping our polity, our economy, our security and even our society. AI is writing the code for humanity in this century. But, it is very different from other technology milestones in human history.

    AI is developing at an unprecedented scale and speed. And being adopted and deployed even faster. There is also a deep inter-dependence across borders. Therefore, there is a need for collective global efforts to establish governance and standards, that uphold our shared values, address risks, and build trust.

    But, Governance is not just about managing risks and rivalries. It is also about promoting innovation, and deploying it for the global good. So, we must think deeply and discuss openly about innovation and governance.

    Governance is also about ensuring access to all, especially in the Global South. It is where the capacities are most lacking – be it compute power, talent, data, or the financial resources.

    Friends,

    AI can help transform millions of lives by improving health, education, agriculture and so much more. It can help create a world in which the journey to Sustainable Development Goals becomes easier and faster.

    To do this, we must pool together resources and talent. We must develop open-source systems that enhance trust and transparency. We must build quality data sets, free from biases. We must democratise technology and create people-centric applications. We must address concerns related to cyber security, disinformation, and deep fakes. And, we must also ensure that technology is rooted in local ecosystems for it to be effective and useful.

    Friends,

    Loss of jobs is AI’s most feared disruption. But, history has shown that work does not disappear due to technology. Its nature changes and new types of jobs are created. We need to invest in skilling and re-skilling our people for an AI-driven future.

    Friends,

    There is no doubt that the high energy intensity of AI needs to be looked into. This will require green power to fuel its future.

    India and France have worked together for years through initiatives like the International Solar Alliance to harness the power of the sun. As we advance our partnership to AI, it is a natural progression from sustainability to innovation to shape a smarter and responsible future.

    At the same time, Sustainable AI does not only mean using clean energy. AI models must also be efficient and sustainable in size, data needs and resource requirements. After all, the human brain manages to compose poetry and design space ships using less power than most lightbulbs.

    Friends,

    India has successfully built a Digital Public Infrastructure for over 1.4 billion people at a very low cost. It is built around an open and accessible network. It has regulations, and a wide range of applications to modernize our economy, reform governance and transform the lives of our people.

    We have unlocked the power of data through our Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture. And, we have made digital commerce democratic and accessible to all. This vision is the foundation of India’s National AI Mission.

    That is why, during our G20 Presidency, we built a consensus on Harnessing AI Responsibly, for Good, and for All. Today, India leads in AI adoption, and techno-legal solutions on data privacy.

    We are developing AI applications for public good. We have one of the world’s largest AI talent pools. India is building its own Large Language Model considering our diversity. We also have a unique public-private partnership model for pooling resources like compute power. It is made available to our start-ups and researchers at an affordable cost. And, India is ready to share its experience and expertise to ensure that the AI future is for Good, and for All.

    Friends,

    We are at the dawn of the AI age that will shape the course of humanity. Some people worry about machines becoming superior in intelligence to humans. But, no one holds the key to our collective future and shared destiny other than us humans.

    That sense of responsibility must guide us.

    Thank you.

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2101740) Visitor Counter : 114

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Measures taken by the government to stop food adulteration

    Source: Government of India

    Measures taken by the government to stop food adulteration

    Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and random sampling of food products are conducted by FSSAI through its regional offices and State/ UTs; penal action taken against defaulting Food Business Operators

    Mobile food testing labs “Food Safety on Wheels” (FSWs) provided to extend the reach of basic testing facilities in remote areas

    Pan-India Surveillance of food products conducted by FSSAI, especially on staple foods and commodities prone to adulteration

    Mechanisms for receiving and addressing food adulteration complaints by consumers in place through the FSSAI helpline or Food Safety Connect mobile app

    Mandatory registration certification and licensing by FSSAI for food businesses; regular reviews of the certification process and improvement based on the stakeholder feedback in place

    Various campaigns launched by FSSAI to raise consumer awareness about food adulteration

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 3:38PM by PIB Delhi

    Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) through its regional offices and State/ Union Territories conducts regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and random sampling of food products. In cases where food samples are found to be non-conforming, penal action is taken against the defaulting Food Business Operators as per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, Rules and Regulations.

    To extend the reach of basic testing facilities even in remote areas, FSSAI has provided mobile food testing labs called Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs). FSSAI also conducts periodic Pan-India Surveillance of food products especially on staple foods and commodities that are prone to adulteration.

    FSSAI has also established mechanisms for receiving and addressing complaints related to food adulteration. Consumers can lodge complaints through the FSSAI helpline or Food Safety Connect mobile app, which are promptly investigated and acted upon as per FSS Act, Rules and Regulations. Further, FSSAI has launched various campaigns to raise consumer awareness about food adulteration.

    Details of samples analysed, found non-conforming and penal action taken during last 4 years are as below:

     

    Year

    No. of Samples Analysed

    No. of Samples found non-conforming

    No. of Civil Cases launched

    No. of Criminal Cases launched

    2020-21

    1,07,829

    28,347

    24,195

    3,869

    2021-22

    1,44,345

    32,934

    28,906

    4,946

    2022-23

    1,77,511

    44,626

    38,053

    4,817

    2023-24

    1,70,513

    33,808

    33,750

    4,737

    As per the FSS Act 2006, no person can commence a food business without holding a license under the Act.  Accordingly, petty food businesses such as petty retailers, hawkers, itinerant vendors or temporary stall holders, etc with a turnover of less than 12 lakhs per annum have to take a registration certificate before starting any food business whereas food businesses having an annual turnover of more than 12 lakh need FSSAI license.

    A Food Business Operator (FBO) submits an online application through the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal, providing necessary documents, undergoing an inspection by FSSAI officials at their premises, and upon approval, receiving a registration certificate or license depending on their business type and turnover.         

    FSSAI regularly reviews the certification process and improves it based on stakeholder feedback.

    The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

    ****

    MV

    HFW/ Measures taken by the government to stop food adulteration/11 February 2025/4

    (Release ID: 2101739) Visitor Counter : 79

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –