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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI Video: Palestine – Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Comments to the Media by Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations & others on the latest situation in Palestine.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osDioiNQdik

    MIL OSI Video –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tender of 3-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds to be held on October 23

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Tender of 3-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds to be held on October 23
    Tender of 3-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds to be held on October 23
    **********************************************************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (October 21) that a tender of 3-year HKD Institutional Government Bonds (Bonds) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, for settlement on Thursday, October 24, 2024.           A total of HK$5.5 billion 3-year HKD Bonds will be tendered. The Bonds will mature on October 25, 2027 and will carry interest at the rate of 2.89 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear.           Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at http://www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof.            Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK ) and Refinitiv (HKGBINDEX). The publication time is expected to be no later than 3pm on the tender day. HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds tender information—————————————————————–     Tender information of 3-year HKD HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds: 

    Issue Number
    :
    03GB2710001

    Stock Code
    :
    4283 (HKGB 2.89 2710)

    Tender Date and Time
    :
    Wednesday, October 23, 20249.30am to 10.30am

    Issue and Settlement Date
    :
    Thursday, October 24, 2024

    Amount on Offer
    :
    HK$5.5 billion

    Maturity
    :
    3 years

    Maturity Date
    :
    Monday, October 25, 2027

    Interest Rate
    :
    2.89 per cent p.a. payable semi-annually in arrear

    Interest Payment Dates
    :
    April 24 and October 24 in each year, commencing on the Issue Date up to and including the Maturity Date, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Institutional Issuances Information Memorandum of the Infrastructure Bond Programme and Government Sustainable Bond Programme (Information Memorandum) published on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website.

    Method of Tender
    :
    Competitive tender

    Tender Amount
    :
    Each competitive tender must be for an amount of HK$50,000 or integral multiples thereof. Any tender applications for the Bonds must be submitted through a Primary Dealer on the latest published list.

    Other Details
    :
    Please see the Information Memorandum available on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website or approach Primary Dealers.

    Expected commencement date of dealing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited
    :
    Friday, October 25, 2024

    Use of Proceeds
    :
    The Bonds will be issued under the institutional part of the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Proceeds will be invested in infrastructure projects in accordance with the Infrastructure Bond Framework published on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website.

     
    Ends/Monday, October 21, 2024Issued at HKT 18:15

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tender of 3-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds to be held on October 24

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

         The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSAR Government), announced today (October 21) that a tender of 3-year RMB Institutional Government Bonds (Bonds) under the Infrastructure Bond Programme will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2024, for settlement on Monday, October 28, 2024.
          
         A total of RMB1.0 billion 3-year RMB Bonds will be tendered. The Bonds will mature on October 28, 2027 and will carry interest at the rate of 2.13 per cent per annum payable semi-annually in arrear.
          
         Tender is open only to Primary Dealers appointed under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Anyone wishing to apply for the Bonds on offer can do so through any of the Primary Dealers on the latest published list, which can be obtained from the Hong Kong Government Bonds website at http://www.hkgb.gov.hk. Each tender must be for an amount of RMB50,000 or integral multiples thereof.
          
         Tender results will be published on the HKMA’s website, the Hong Kong Government Bonds website, Bloomberg (GBHK ) and Refinitiv (HKGBINDEX). The publication time is expected to be no later than 3pm on the tender day.

    HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds tender information
    —————————————————————–
         Tender information of 3-year RMB HKSAR Institutional Government Bonds:
     

    Issue Number
    :
    03GB2710002

    Stock Code
    :
    84574 (HKGB 2.13 2710-R)

    Tender Date and Time
    :
    Thursday, October 24, 2024
    9.30am to 10.30am

    Issue and Settlement Date
    :
    Monday, October 28, 2024

    Amount on Offer
    :
    RMB1.0 billion

    Maturity
    :
    3 years

    Maturity Date
    :
    Thursday, October 28, 2027

    Interest Rate
    :
    2.13 per cent p.a. payable semi-annually in arrear

    Interest Payment Dates
    :
    April 28 and October 28 in each year, commencing on the Issue Date up to and including the Maturity Date, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Institutional Issuances Information Memorandum of the Infrastructure Bond Programme and Government Sustainable Bond Programme (Information Memorandum) published on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website.

    Method of Tender
    :
    Competitive tender

    Tender Amount
    :
    Each competitive tender must be for an amount of RMB50,000 or integral multiples thereof. Any tender applications for the Bonds must be submitted through a Primary Dealer on the latest published list.

    Other Details
    :
    Please see the Information Memorandum available on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website or approach Primary Dealers.

    Expected commencement date of dealing on
    the Stock Exchange
    of Hong Kong Limited
    :
    Tuesday, October 29, 2024

    Use of Proceeds
    :
    The Bonds will be issued under the institutional part of the Infrastructure Bond Programme. Proceeds will be invested in infrastructure projects in accordance with the Infrastructure Bond Framework published on the Hong Kong Government Bonds website.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Video: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell Daily Press Briefing – October 18th, 2024

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell hosts a press briefing to provide an update on the ongoing federal and local response and recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kpnwboddsE

    MIL OSI Video –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Disastrous balance sheet of the EU Trust Fund for Africa – E-001982/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001982/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mathilde Androuët (PfE)

    The European Court of Auditors’ latest report lambasts the balance sheet of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF). It refers to support for projects that is not directly related to their purpose, in particular in the field of migration crisis management, repeated support for phantom projects, unused funded equipment, local authorities that failed to comply with the established agreements but still pocketed the allocated funds, and artificially inflated achievements. The Court of Auditors noted that ‘33 out of the 115 investments (businesses, constructions and equipment) […] examined were no longer operational at the time of our visit, and a further 66 risked becoming unsustainable’[1].

    In a very vague reply, the Commission promises to ‘better target’ the aid and confesses that ‘the sustainability of the actions financed […] is highly dependent on many external factors beyond the Commission’s control’[2].

    In light of the need for transparency and in the interest of accountability for European taxpayers, is the Commission able or does it intend to put into numbers the percentage of the billions pointlessly squandered in the eight years of the EU Trust Fund for Africa’s activity?

    Submitted: 8.10.2024

    • [1] Special report 17/2024: The EU Trust Fund for Africa – Despite new approaches, support remained unfocused – Court of Auditors – 25 September 2024.
    • [2] Replies of the European Commission to the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report – https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECAReplies/COM-Replies-SR-2024-17/COM-Replies-SR-2024-17_EN.pdf.
    Last updated: 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Video: Yesenia’s Story

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Yesenia tells her story about joining the health workforce, the financial support that was made possible with help from HHS, and the impact she is having on her community.

    —

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) | http://www.hhs.gov | HHS Privacy Policy | http://www.hhs.gov/Privacy.html

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWYI_XA9TJ8

    MIL OSI Video –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Banking: Stealer here, stealer there, stealers everywhere!

    Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

    Headline: Stealer here, stealer there, stealers everywhere!

    Introduction

    Information stealers, which are used to collect credentials to then sell them on the dark web or use in subsequent cyberattacks, are actively distributed by cybercriminals. Some of them are available through a monthly subscription model, thus attracting novice cybercriminals. According to Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence, almost 10 million devices, both personal and corporate, were attacked by information stealers in 2023. That said, the real number of the attacked devices may be even higher, as not all stealer operators publish all their logs immediately after stealing data.

    This year, we analyzed quite a few previously known and new stealers, which we described in detail in our private reports. You will find a few excerpts from these below. To learn more about our crimeware reporting service, contact us at crimewareintel@kaspersky.com.

    Kral

    In mid-2023, we discovered the Kral downloader which, back then, downloaded the notorious Aurora stealer. This changed in February this year when we discovered a new Kral stealer, which we believe is part of the same malware family as the downloader due to certain code similarities.

    The Kral stealer is delivered solely by the Kral downloader. The downloader itself sneaks onto the user’s device when a potential victim visits an adult website that embeds malicious ads. These redirect the victim to a phishing page which offers them to download a file. That file is the Kral downloader. Back in 2023, the downloader was written in a combination of C++ and Delphi, which resulted in relatively large samples. These days, the downloader is solely written in C++, which has shrunk the size of the payload tenfold.

    The Kral stealer has quite some similarities with the downloader. Both are signed and both use the same function for binary integrity verification ( WinVerifyTrust()). Also, they both use the same key for string encryption. Last but not least, the Kral name is used in the PDB paths to both binaries.

    In terms of functionality, the stealer is particularly interested in cryptocurrency wallets and browser data. A random folder is created in C:ProgramData, where stolen data, as well as information about the system (local time, time zone, CPU, etc) are stored. The folder is then zipped and sent to the C2 via the COM interface of the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS). The stealer only collects data once. However, if the user launches it again, it will steal once more.

    AMOS

    The AMOS stealer targeting macOS was first identified in early 2023. In June 2024, we discovered a new domain delivering this malware. The website impersonated the Homebrew package manager. Following a deeper investigation, we found out that users ended up on this site through malvertising.

    Homebrew fake website

    As you can see from the image above, there are two options to install the malware. First, there is an option to download the infected DMG image directly, while the second option is to use an installation script.

    The installation script is fairly simple. It downloads the malicious image and installs it, after which it downloads and installs the legitimate Homebrew package. In the other case, when the user downloads the image, the following screen is displayed:

    DMG file with nested files

    As can be seen, the user is tricked into thinking that they have launched the Homebrew app and opening the AMOS stealer. When the malware is executed, multiple instances of the Terminal and bash processes are started. These processes start collecting system information and creating new hidden session history files. The stealer also embeds a specific trick to collect the macOS user password. Instead of logging keystrokes, the malware displays deceptive dialog boxes requesting the user’s credentials.

    Vidar / ACR

    The actors behind Vidar spread it by adding comments on YouTube that contain links to a ZIP or RAR archive hosted on a file-sharing platform which is changing every week. The archive is password protected, but the password is found at the same URL as the archive.

    Contents of the cloud storage

    The downloaded archive contains another password-protected archive, which contains the following files:

    1. converter.exe: legitimate ImageMagick application;
    2. vcomp100.dll: malicious DLL used for DLL hijacking;
    3. bake.docx: encrypted first stage loader;
    4. blindworm.avi: IDAT loader, the second stage payload.

    The legitimate converter.exe loads vcomp100.dll as the former is vulnerable to DLL hijacking. Next, the malicious DLL reads the encrypted “bake.docx” file, gets the payload and the key from a specified offset, and decodes the payload. That payload is a variant of the Penguish downloader containing an IDAT packed sample. This means we can use the IDAT loader extractor to extract the final payload, which is the Vidar stealer.

    What is interesting here is that instead of stealing data, Vidar actually downloads the ACR stealer. The latter, like many stealers these days, is interested in browser data and wallets. Vidar, too, normally targets the same types of data, however in this case, it uses the ACR Stealer as an exfiltration module.

    According to our telemetry data, most victims are found in Brazil.

    Conclusion

    Stealers are found everywhere, and they are popular among cybercriminals. Stolen data can be either leveraged for further attacks by the attackers themselves or sold on the dark web. Although stealers implement extensive support for snatching crypto-related data, the harvesting of credentials can be just as damaging – or even more so. This is especially true for credentials that provide access to corporate networks which can then be leveraged to deploy ransomware attacks.

    Relatively simple measures, such as 2FA, choosing unique passwords, downloading software only from official websites, and double-checking the website before downloading, can complicate this kind of attacks.

    If you would like to stay up to date on the latest TTPs being used by criminals, or if you have questions about our private reports, contact us at crimewareintel@kaspersky.com.

    Indicators of compromise

    Kral
    02c168aebb26daafe43a0cccd85397b2
    039bebb6ccc2c447c879eb71cd7a5ba8
    0509cc53472b265f8c3fc57008e31dbe

    Amos
    ec7f737de77d8aa8eece7e355e4f49b9
    dd2832f4bf8f9c429f23ebb35195c791

    Vidar
    6f9d3babdeea3275489589ee69bc3f31

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft Improves Carbon Management System

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The 7th scientific and practical conference “Environmental Safety. Current Issues of Law Enforcement Practice and Improvement of Activities in the Sphere of Environmental Protection” was held in Samara. The conference was organized by the Rosneft Scientific Institute.

    The event was attended by more than 120 representatives of industrial enterprises and research institutes, higher education institutions, large engineering and manufacturing companies.

    Traditionally, one of the most important areas of work of the scientific forum is the development of carbon management in the oil and gas industry.

    Since 2021, the Company’s Samara scientific institute has been conducting an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions; during this time, work has been completed for more than 50 Rosneft enterprises.

    Samara specialists are creating a database of low-carbon technologies and decarbonization methods, conducting research and development work and feasibility studies of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The institute has proposed a number of solutions to reduce methane emissions at flare units to minimize the impact of technological processes at oil and gas producing enterprises on the environment.

    Responsible attitude to the environment is an integral part of the corporate culture and one of the key principles of Rosneft. The Company’s strategic focus is to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2050. The strategy’s goals are planned to be achieved through measures to reduce emissions, use low-carbon generation, develop energy-saving technologies, carbon capture and storage technologies, use the potential of natural absorption, and others.

    The scientific conference also considered issues of land reclamation, waste disposal, and practical aspects of obtaining permits in the field of environmental protection. The company is constantly improving approaches to managing environmental protection activities, increasing the scale of environmental measures and providing the necessary investments. Rosneft is focused not only on improving the environmental friendliness of its business and minimizing its impact on the environment, but also on achieving a total positive impact on ecosystems.

    Reference:

    Since 2016, a specialized expert center has been operating on the basis of the Rosneft Scientific Institute in Samara, which is engaged in the development and implementation of relevant environmental protection design products for Rosneft enterprises.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft October 21, 2024

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.rosneft.ru/press/nevs/item/220930/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Healthcare Professionals Gain Access to Innovative Online Tracking Tool

    Source: Center for Diagnostics and Medicine

    Medical professionals in Moscow now have access to an advanced online service for tracking the utilization of diagnostic equipment. Developed by experts at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine, this tool will be available to all outpatient departments. It facilitates the analysis of medical equipment usage dynamics, assesses operational efficiency, and enables more effective redistribution of workloads. This announcement was made by Yuri Vasilev, Senior Consultant in Radiology and CEO of the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine under the Moscow Healthcare Department.

     “The recent years have witnessed transformative advancements in the digitalization of healthcare in Moscow. We continue to expand our portfolio of digital services. Our team at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine has created an information dashboard that enables the analysis and monitoring of diagnostic equipment utilization. This dashboard integrates data from all digital diagnostic equipment linked to the EMIAS Unified Radiology Information Service, which is accessible to 155 medical organizations in the Moscow Healthcare Department. Now, specialists in outpatient departments can independently access real-time data on the utilization of both their own devices and those in other medical centers, facilitating improved planning, load redistribution, patient flow management, and informed decision-making. This initiative enhances the accessibility of radiological diagnostics,” stated Yuri Vasilev.

     The service includes customizable filtering options by medical organization, imaging studies type, district, and device type. Data is processed across more than 20 parameters, including equipment utilization percentage, number of studies, shift details, as well as information regarding the medical organization and specific devices. Users can also view utilization data in tabular format for specified periods, with updates being made regularly. To ensure optimal service operation, a feedback for users has been integrated.

     The new tracking service was developed by the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine under the Moscow Healthcare Department. Radiologist here currently interpret over 100,000 imaging studies weekly, with a reported 11% increase in studies conducted in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year. In response to this growing volume, various analytical dashboards are being developed, with approximately 75 already in place.

     The Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine is a leading scientific organization within the Moscow Healthcare Department. It specializes in interpretation imaging studies, coordinates radiology departments management, and enhances the quality of diagnostic studies through standardization efforts. Furthermore, the Center plays a vital role in disseminating best medical practices and implementing innovative technologies across healthcare facilities, not only in Moscow but throughout Russia.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, 1993-batch IAS officer (AGMUT cadre) assumes charge as Coal Secretary

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 21 OCT 2024 1:39PM by PIB Delhi

    Shri Vikram Dev Dutt assumed the charge as the Secretary of the Ministry of Coal today. A 1993-batch IAS officer of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre, Shri Dutt previously served as the Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

    He succeeds Shri VL Kantha Rao, who currently serves as the Secretary of the Ministry of Mines and holds additional charge of the Ministry of Coal. Prior to Shri Rao, Shri Amrit Lal Meena served as the Secretary of the Ministry of Coal.

     

    ****

    ST

    (Release ID: 2066631) Visitor Counter : 419

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan meets Singapore’s Prime Minister H.E. Lawrence Wong: India and Singapore strengthening partnership through ‘Talent, Resource & Market’

    Source: Government of India

    Shri Dharmendra Pradhan meets Singapore’s Prime Minister H.E. Lawrence Wong: India and Singapore strengthening partnership through ‘Talent, Resource & Market’

    Indian Education Minister pushes for Overseas Internships and Research Collaboration with Singapore

    Shri Dharmendra Pradhan strengthens India-Singapore ties, sets stage for educational collaborations and internships

    India looks at Singapore as trusted knowledge partner in furthering mutual priorities – Shri Dharmendra Pradhan

    Posted On: 21 OCT 2024 2:46PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan met the Prime Minister of Singapore, H.E. Lawrence Wong today.

    The Ministers had meaningful conversations on elevating and expanding the bilateral cooperation in school education, vocational education and research, between the two nations. The discussions focused on strengthening the partnership through three key pillars—‘Talent, Resource & Market.’

     

    Shri Pradhan emphasized that India views Singapore as a trusted knowledge partner, particularly in advancing deep tech, startups, and innovation ecosystems. 

     

    Shri Pradhan also highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Mr. Wong have outlined a robust framework to elevate India-Singapore cooperation into a comprehensive partnership, including collaboration in critical and emerging sectors.

    Earlier in the day, Shri Pradhan met his counterpart, Singapore’s Minister for Education, Mr. Chan Chun Sing, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation across various areas of education. Shri Pradhan emphasized the significance of the National Education Policy 2020 in facilitating the internationalization of India’s education system. The two ministers explored avenues for overseas internship programs, allowing Indian students to gain practical experience in Singaporean companies.

     

    To further strengthen cultural connect between students of both countries the possibility of twinning of schools in India and Singapore was discussed. Joint Research collaboration in areas of mutual interest like deep tech, medicine, advance materials, etc. was also discussed.

    They also deliberated on fostering academic and research collaboration through the twinning of schools and universities in both countries. Shri Pradhan highlighted opportunities for collaboration between Singapore’s National Institute of Education and NCERT in areas such as curriculum development, pedagogy, and teacher capacity-building.

    Extending an invitation to Minister Chan to visit India, Shri Pradhan expressed his commitment to advancing shared goals and enhancing educational ties between the two nations.

     

    Shri Pradhan also met with Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Vivian Balakrishnan, to discuss deepening the India-Singapore Knowledge Partnership.

     

     

    Both leaders emphasized the importance of working closely to elevate bilateral cooperation in education and expand collaborative efforts to achieve shared objectives.

    Shri Pradhan also visited the National University of Singapore and met with Prof. Tan Eng Chye, President of the university. They discussed leveraging complementary strengths to build knowledge bridges, strengthen academic and research collaborations, and deepen engagements between NUS and top Indian higher education institutions across all academic fronts.

     

     

    Shri Pradhan emphasized that NUS and Indian HEIs can collaborate to create value in areas such as deep start-ups, healthcare, advanced materials, digitalization, and sustainability, among others. The Minister also highlighted that a key focus area of NEP 2020 is enhancing access to quality higher education for the youth of India and the internationalization of its education system.

    On the first day of his visit on 20th October 2024, Shri Pradhan had engaged with the members of the Indian diaspora in Singapore. He highlighted NEP 2020’s role in upskilling India’s youth and the enormous scale and magnitude of education in India.

    The Minister’s visit to Singapore, followed by a trip to Australia, from 20 to 26 October 2024, aims to foster collaboration, participation, and synergy in critical areas of mutual interest in education.

    *****

    SS/AK

    (Release ID: 2066652) Visitor Counter : 28

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of Vice-President’s address at the first convocation ceremony of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh State University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh (Excerpts)

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 21 OCT 2024 2:21PM by PIB Delhi

    Smt. Anandiben Patel, Hon’ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh, and chancellor of this university, Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh State University. The Governor exemplifies passionate commitment to education. She has brought about big change and I have seen one here, names and certificates and mark sheets all electronically uploaded.

    She is very forward looking and handheld me when I was governor of West Bengal, when it came to the role of Chancellor. The Hon’ble Governor defines the role of chancellor with exemplification of highest virtuosity and commitment. She has been here twice and the state of Uttar Pradesh is lucky to have such an educationist, such a motivational, inspirational governor, particularly for the field of education.

    When I stepped into the premises हमने सबसे पहले एक काम किया महामहिम राज्यपाल ने और मैने ‘मां के नाम एक पेड़’ और जब यहां आकर देखा how thoughtful it was, Vedic chanting related to environment.

    हमें याद रखना पड़ेगा हमारे पास रहने के लिए पृथ्वी के अलावा कोई दूसरी जगह नहीं है इसी का सृजन करना पड़ेगा

    I therefore appeal to every student, every member of the staff, member of the faculty, everyone present here इस premises के अंदर इस प्रांगण में मां के नाम पेड जरूर लगाए यहां देखा है मैंने सब ठीक उन्नति के ऊपर है पर यह पक्ष कमजोर है यह अति शीघ्र होना चाहिए climate change time bomb is ticking we have to act while there is a time.

    Friends, it is an honour to be present at this convocation and for a very special reason. It is named after Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, a patriot, national hero and freedom fighter. Another very fascinating aspect is being in Brijbhoomi is always spiritually rewarding. My congratulations to all the graduating students, medalists their proud parents also and more importantly, my greetings and congratulations to the members of the faculty.

    My young friends, your high academic qualifications are an asset to the country. In whatever field you work, and the number of fields is now increasing day by day, you will be part of India’s developing growth story. This story of Bharat is full of promises. The next 25 years are with immense potential which you all are required to exploit.

    Friends, the most important component of our youth with high qualifications like you are our spinal strength.

    Our national ambitions are well defined. Our national ambition is well set out and that is to be a developed nation, develop Bharat by 2047.

    Young minds are the most vital stakeholders in this journey. You will define this journey, you will fuel this journey and you will make everyone proud. You are the future leaders, you are the creators of positive change, driving economic, technological and social progress.

    Our national ambitions are well defined, our national ambition is well set out, and that is to be a developed nation, developed part at 2047. Young minds are the most vital stakeholders in this journey, you will define this journey, you will fuel this journey and we will make everyone proud. You are the future leaders, you are the creators of positive change, driving economic, technological, and social progress. You have to be the change you believe in. Don’t be swept by the change. Bring about the change you want as per your aptitude and attitude.

    Friends it is a testament present governance that this university has emerged so well in a such short time with the foundation stone being led by our visionary Prime Minister just 3 years ago.

    This achievement alongside exemplary law and order, highways, infrastructure august well for its northward progress and rise.

    it is a historical fact – Civilizations survive by institutions and ordering their heroes. Imagine in the field of education, Nalanda, Takshashila and many more global beacon of knowledge and education. This university establishment is a step in the right direction to befittingly immortalise Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, a hero like others who ought to have been given space in our independence movement history, he should have occupied huge space. In 1915, he established first provisional Government of India in Kabul that was two decades before the Britishers could even imagine of the 1935 Government of India Act. It was a very great attempt. It was a thought to proclaim freedom, which we got later on and he had the good occasion to be a Member of Parliament. We thrive in an independent environment today because of sacrifices made by heroes like him.

    These inspiring stories of such great heroes unfortunately have had so far brief or no mention in our textbooks. A painful aberration is the history of independence was manipulated with credit being denied to those undeterred.

    It is our bounden ordainment to make aware our youth of our real heroes of freedom struggle. The next generation of historians should ensure that the sacrifice of multitude freedom fighters inspired this generation. It is soothing in recent times, vigorously we are celebrating all over the country our unsung heroes or well sung heroes.

    Belated conferment of the highest civilian award to Bharat Ratan to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1990, to Chaudhary Charan Singh and Karpoori Thakur in 2023 are steps in the right direction. I was privileged on both the occasions to be in the theatre of parliament. In 1990 I was a union minister and now Vice-President, Chairman Rajya Sabha.

    I feel blessed but a cause of concern. Why it took us so long to recognise our heroes?

    Similarly, very good developments have taken place recently. We celebrate 15th November Janjatiya Gaurav Divas to pay tributes to Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his birth anniversary. A great tribal freedom fighter, know about him. You will be enthused, motivated, inspired. In the prime of youth he went away but left indelible mark on our freedom movement struggle. The day is dedicated to the memory of brave tribal freedom fighters so that our coming generations and this generation know about their sacrifices, about this country.

    Similarly, another great hero who was denied rightful space. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, gifted with indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation. The government has decided to celebrate his birthday 23rd January every year as Prakram Diwas and rightly so. I was again privileged and honoured when the main function was held.

    In Kolkata, I happened to be governor of the state of West Bengal. The honourable Prime Minister inaugurated this great day remembering one of the finest human beings, finest souls, visionary who laid down everything, all comforts to serve the nation.

    Friends, our youth must always remember The fortitude these people exhibited in the face of grave adversity, this will infuse in all of you a fervour for nationalism.

    “शहीदों की चिताओं पर जुड़ेंगे हर बरस मेले।

    वतन पर मरनेवालों का यही बाक़ी निशाँ होगा॥

    कभी वह दिन भी आएगा जब अपना राज देखेंगे।

    जब अपनी ही ज़मीं होगी और अपना आसमाँ होगा॥“

    यह आज चरितार्थ हो रहा है आजादी के लंबे समय बाद इसको हर पल महसूस किया जा रहा है हर दृष्टि से किया जा रहा है।

    My young friends, I have adverted to some of such recent steps to remind you all that our commitment to nationalism should ever be unflinching and uppermost. राष्ट्र से ऊपर कुछ नहीं है। राष्ट्रवाद हमारा धर्म है, निजी हित या कोई भी हित हो राष्ट्रहित से ऊपर नहीं रख सकते यही हमारा संकल्प होना चाहिए, यही हमारी संस्कृति का निचोड़ है।

    Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh was also a visionary educationist who foresaw the need for technical education establishing the Prem Mahavidyalaya.

    Friends, history is proof of it. No country has excelled without being at the forefront of technological revolution. If we want to see Pax Indica becoming a reality, we must lead in technology.

    We are living virtually in the fourth industrial revolution where information is key to all our activities, from agriculture to education to communication. Everything is around communication these days. Technology is a game-changer.

    In our country, it has affected very fortunately, much-needed, transparent, accountable governance, ease of service delivery, and accomplishment of the last in the row, getting benefits.

    As we march towards Viksit Bharat@2047, driven by a knowledge economy, our goal should be to create institutions of excellence, rivalling the best in the world. Because this country had institutions of global excellence and eminence, people from all over the planet swarmed to get enlightenment.

    I appeal to industries and corporates to invest in India’s educational ecosystem. Investment in education is investment in your present, investment in your future, investment for economic growth, investment for peace, investment for harmony.

    This endeavour should be driven, now here is a word of caution by me. I can call it a caveat. We should never make education a commodity, we should never make education commerce. This endeavour, this enterprise, this spirit should not be driven by commodification and commercialisation of education but it should align with our traditional Gurukul system. गुरुकुल में क्या होता था कोई फीस नहीं होती थी, कोई रोक-टोक नहीं होती थी और यही कारण है कि भारत के संविधान निर्माता ने बहुत सोच समझकर जो 22 चित्र संविधान में रखे हैं आपसे अपील करूंगा उन चित्रों का आप अध्ययन कीजिए। आजकल सोशल मीडिया गूगल सब आपकी मदद करेगा उसमें जहां सिटीजनशिप है वहां गुरुकुल का चित्र है, शिक्षा को क्या इंपोर्टेंस दी गई है। They have to be crucibles of character formation, they have to inflame us with the spirit of commitment to our Bharat.

    To those shaping curricula, those who are devising curricula, the members of the faculty, I urge you to make the National Education Policy a success. The honourable Governor and myself have been associated at various stages in the evolution of National Education Policy. Thousands of stakeholders’ inputs have been considered. We have it after more than three decades, it presents a visionary roadmap for transforming our education system. It promotes multidisciplinary learning, skill development, innovation. It does not need a great emphasis on degrees. I want every teacher, every professor, every person associated with education to please go through National Education Policy. You can’t implement it unless you understand it, you have to understand it with a mindset to implement it.

    Our Bharat today, fortunately, and a great development for the world, is emerging as an intellectual powerhouse in terms of technology. My young friends, boys and girls, will know about it.  We rank fifth in terms of patents filed. You know the importance of patents, you know its economic results.  You can realise how it’s a soft diplomatic weapon also and with a significant increase of 25% year-on-year growth, our annual growth in terms of filing patents is 25%.

    In artificial intelligence, India with its dense human interaction and deep technological penetration is poised to lead data set creation. As a matter of fact, our digitisation, our technological penetration, utilisation for service delivery has been accoladed by global institutions, the World Bank, that India is a role model when it comes to service delivery by digitisation but India’s accomplishments in six years are normally not attainable even in more than four decades.

    Friends, we are entering the Amrit Kaal of technological revolution. That has to be driven by young minds, ignited minds like yours. Be the change makers, lead innovation, and find Indian solutions to Indian problems and make available also to the global fraternity.

    To the graduating class of 2024, congratulations on your success. Be inspired by heroes like Radha Mahendra Pratap Singh, who placed national interest above everything else. Exploit the opportunities that new Bharat presents, use your education wisely and for greater good.

    Friends, as you enter and step into the world, you will have challenges, you will have serious challenges, you might get some setbacks also all these are natural.

    It will not be a dream entry for you, it will be fiercely competitive and it should be. Never fear failure. Any failure is a stepping stone to success, if you get a good idea in your mind, don’t harbour it, act on it.

    To the affiliated colleges and academics, my appeal is ensure your activities, prepare graduates for this emerging technological world. Imbibe in them a spirit of nationalism.

    It is no good, you may be brilliant, you may be technologically genius, you may be admired but if your attachment to the nationalism is fragile,

    ‘काट्यो काट्यो कपास हो जाए’ कपास को जब काटते हैं तो धागा बनता है, तो थोड़ा भी मिस डायरेक्शन हो तो वापस कपास बन जाता है। Your efforts go in vain.

    Friends, India, home to one-sixth of humanity, the oldest civilisation on the planet, with exponential economic surge. दुनिया का कोई भी देश 7.5% से 8%, GDP ग्रोथ के साथ आगे नहीं बढ़ रहा है।

    आंखों से देख रहे हैं जिसका सपना लेते हुए भी डर लगता था मेरी उम्र के लोगों को। World class infrastructure of rail, road, connectivity, waterways, digitisation all over the country is happening in this nation.

    It is time for our youth, now my special appeal to you, you are in silos. लगता है नौकरी सरकार की ही है लगता है नौकरियां कहां है थोड़ा सा देखोगे तो पता लगेगा की जो Basket of Opportunities है is enlarging.

    एक जानकारी के अनुसार सिर्फ 10% छात्रों को ही पता है कि कहां संभावनाएं हैं, 90% को नहीं पता है। Please come out of the silos.

    भारत को यदि अगर आज के दिन International Monetary Fund कह रहा है कि it’s a land of opportunity, destination and investment, क्यों? नौकरी के लिए तो नहीं कह रहा। Make most of it, look around you will find your talent can be used in blue economy in the sea, in a space economy.

    चाणक्य के शब्द बताता हूं आपको और चाणक्य का नाम आते ही चाणक्य का नाम लेते ही एक नई ऊर्जा अपने में आ जाती है जो चाणक्य का रोल करते हो वह कैसे बोलते हैं, लगता है चाणक्य कितना महान था। चाणक्य ने कहा था “Education is the best friend, an educated person is respected everywhere.”

    और स्वामी विवेकानंद जी ने कहा था “Arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is reached.” that you should never forget

    To those who are outgoing, stepping out, the cohort and the current students, my very best wishes. You couldn’t be more lucky with an ecosystem and the ecosystem is that you can fully exploit your talent and potential to realise your dreams and aspirations.

    To those who have got degrees today, my one appeal, you are in a very distinguished category, you are the first alumni of this institution. You should take a place to be ever attached to this institution, be in connect with this institution, make annual contributions. Amount does not matter, financial contribution, quantum is immaterial, making financial contribution is all important. Do it. You will find over the years, this will grow like a balloon and help students in need. This will be a great service to the field of education and your institution.

    अंत में एक बात कहूंगा आपको सदैव सचेत रहने के लिए एक सिख दे रहा हूं उसी को सदा याद रखना ‘नायमात्मा बलहीनेन लभ्यः’

    इसका अर्थ है अंग्रेजी में self realisation cannot be achieved by weak willed. हम रिलाइज करना चाहते हैं पर अगर weak willed हैं तो हम नहीं कर पाएंगे। so be strong willed, never be in fear of failure, never suffer from stress and tension because of the fear of failure. It is the earnestness and commitment in efforts that is all important and that was the lesson imparted by Lord Krishna to Arjun at Kurukshetra that should be guiding star for your future working.

    I am honoured to deliver the first lecture, the first convocation address. It will ever be etched in my memory. It is an occasion for me to pay tribute to one of the greatest sons of this soil.

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    JK/RC/SM

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: A 1993-batch IAS officer (AGMUT) cadre, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt assumes Charge as Coal Secretary

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 21 OCT 2024 1:39PM by PIB Delhi

    Shri Vikram Dev Dutt assumed the charge as the Secretary of the Ministry of Coal today. A 1993-batch IAS officer of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre, Shri Dutt previously served as the Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

    He succeeds Shri VL Kantha Rao, who currently serves as the Secretary of the Ministry of Mines and holds additional charge of the Ministry of Coal. Prior to Shri Rao, Shri Amrit Lal Meena served as the Secretary of the Ministry of Coal.

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    ST

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    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi commemorates UDAN’s 8th anniversary

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 21 OCT 2024 12:31PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today commemorated the 8th anniversary of UDAN (Ude Desh ke Aam Nagrik) scheme that has revolutisioned India’s avitation sector. 

    Shri Modi also highlighted the major impacts of this flagship initiative. 

    The Prime Minister posted on X:

    “Today, we mark #8YearsOfUDAN, an initiative that has transformed India’s aviation sector. From an increase in number of airports to more air routes, this scheme has ensured crores of people have access to flying. At the same time, it has had a major impact on boosting trade and commerce and furthering regional growth. In the times to come, we will keep strengthening the aviation sector and focusing on even better connectivity and comfort for the people.”

     

    Today, we mark #8YearsOfUDAN, an initiative that has transformed India’s aviation sector. From an increase in number of airports to more air routes, this scheme has ensured crores of people have access to flying. At the same time, it has had a major impact on boosting trade and… https://t.co/dnSNswBTsV

    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2024

     

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    MJPS/RT

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    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi pays tribute to police personnel on Police Commemoration Day

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 21 OCT 2024 12:36PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid tributes to the valiant police personnel on the occasion of the Police Commemoration Day today. 

    The Prime Minister posted on X:

    “Today, on Police Commemoration Day, we honour the bravery and sacrifice of our police personnel. Their unwavering dedication ensures the safety of our people. They exemplify courage and determination. Their proactive efforts and assistance during humanitarian challenges are equally commendable.”

     

    Today, on Police Commemoration Day, we honour the bravery and sacrifice of our police personnel. Their unwavering dedication ensures the safety of our people. They exemplify courage and determination. Their proactive efforts and assistance during humanitarian challenges are…

    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2024

     

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    MJPS/RT

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses NDTV World Summit 2024 in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses NDTV World Summit 2024 in New Delhi

    When the world is immersed in worry, India is spreading hope: PM

    Today India is working in every sector, in every area with unprecedented speed : PM

    India today is both a developing country and an emerging power: PM

    India is one of the youngest countries in the world with the potential of achieving great heights: PM

     India is now moving ahead with a forward looking thinking: PM

    140 crore people of India have joined the resolution of Viksit Bharat , they themselves are driving it: PM

    India has the advantage of double AI power, First AI, Artificial Intelligence, Second AI, Aspirational India: PM

    India does not believe in taken for granted relationships, the foundation of our relations is trust and reliability: PM

    India has shown the world a new path to digital public infrastructure by democratizing technology: PM

    India has shown that digital innovation and democratic values ​​can coexist: PM

    Posted On: 21 OCT 2024 12:18PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the NDTV World Summit 2024 in New Delhi today. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister welcomed all dignitaries and said that discussions on a multitude of issues would take place at the Summit. He also acknowledged the presence of global leaders from different sectors who would put forth their views.

    Reflecting on the past 4-5 years, the Prime Minister pointed out that discussions on the concerns of the future have been a common theme. He mentioned that the recent challenges of Covid pandemic, post covid economic stress, inflation & unemployment, climate change, ongoing wars, disruption of supply chains, death of innocents, geopolitical tensions and conflicts had become a point of discussions in all global summits. Drawing parallels with the discussions taking place in India at the time, the Prime Minister underlined that India is deliberating its century. “India has become a ray of hope in this era of global turmoil. When the world is worried, India is spreading hope”, the Prime Minister remarked. He underlined that even though India is affected by the global situation and the challenges before it, there is a sense of positivity that can be experienced.

    “Today, India is working in every sector and area with unprecedented speed”, the Prime Minister said. Noting the completion of 125 days of the third term of the government, Shri Modi threw light on the work done in the country. He mentioned the government’s approval for 3 crore new pucca houses for the poor, initiation of infrastructure projects worth Rs 9 lakh crore, flagging off of 15 new Vande Bharat Trains, foundation stone laying of 8 new airports, a 2 lakh crore package for the youth, Rs 21,000 crore transferred into the bank accounts of farmers, free treatment scheme for citizens above 70 years of age, installation of rooftop solar plants in about 5 lakh homes, plantation of 90 crore saplings under Ek Ped Maa ke Naam campaign, approval for 12 new industrial nodes, SENSEX and NIFTY growing about 5-7 percent, and India’s forex rising to USD 700 billion dollars among others. The Prime Minister also touched upon the global events taking place in India in the past 125 days and mentioned International SMU, Global Fintech Festival, discussion on Global Semiconductor Ecosystem, International Conference for Renewable Energy and Civil Aviation. “This is not merely a list of events but a list of hope associated with India that shows the country’s direction and the world’s hopes”, the Prime Minister said, underlining that these are issues which will shape the future of the world and these are being discussed in India.

    The Prime Minister stated that in the third term, India’s growth has accelerated to such an extent that many rating agencies have raised their growth forecasts. He also pointed out the enthusiasm of experts like Mark Mobius, who advised global funds to invest at least 50% of their funds in India’s share market. “When such seasoned experts advocate for major investments in India, it sends a strong message about our potential”, he added.

    “India of today is both a developing nation and an emerging  power”, the Prime Minister emphasized, stressing that India understands the challenges of poverty and knows how to pave the path of progress. He highlighted the government’s fast-paced policy-making and decision-making processes and new reforms. Addressing the issue of complacency, the Prime Minister said that this mindset does not drive a nation forward. He underlined that 25 crore people have come out of poverty over the past 10 years and 12 crore toilets have been built and 16 crore gas connections have been provided, but it is not enough.

    The Prime Minister further informed that in the last 10 years, India has built over 350 medical colleges and more than 15 AIIMS, established over 1.5 lakh startups and handed out Mudra loans to 8 crore young people. “This is not enough”, the Prime Minister stressed, emphasizing the need for continuous progress of India’s youth. He underlined that India’s potential as one of the world’s youngest nations can take us to great heights, and we have much more to achieve quickly and efficiently.

    Highlighting the nation’s shift in mindset, the Prime Minister noted that Governments often compare their achievements with previous administrations, considering surpassing them as success looking back 10-15 years. He emphasized that India is changing this approach and success is no longer measured by achievements but by course of the future’s direction. The Prime Minister further remarked on India’s forward-looking vision and said that India is now moving ahead with a future-focused approach. “Our goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 is not just a vision of the government but reflects the aspirations of 140 crore Indians. It’s no longer just a campaign for public participation, but a movement of national confidence”, Shri Modi remarked. He mentioned that lakhs of citizens contributed their suggestions when the government began working on the vision document for Viksit Bharat. He informed that debates and discussions were held in schools, colleges, universities and various organizations and the government set the goals for the next 25 years based on these inputs. “Today, discussions on Viksit Bharat are part of our national consciousness and have become a true example of transforming public power into national strength”, he added.

    Talking about AI, the Prime Minister said this is the era of AI and the present and future of the world is linked to AI. He said  India has the advantage of double AI power, the first AI, Artificial Intelligence and the second AI,Aspirational India. Shri Modi said when the power of Aspirational India and Artificial Intelligence combines then it is natural for the pace of development to be faster. Shri Modi underlined that artificial intelligence is not just a technology for India, but a gateway to new opportunities for India’s youth. He mentioned the launch of India AI Mission this year and laid emphasis on increasing the use of AI across sectors like healthcare, education and startups. “India is committed to delivering world-class AI solutions, and through platforms like Quad, we are taking significant initiatives to drive this forward”, he said. Focusing on Aspirational India, the Prime Minister said that the middle class, general citizens, enhancing the quality of life, empowering small businesses, MSMEs, youth, and women is at the heart of the government’s policy making process. The Prime Minister pointed to India’s remarkable progress in connectivity as a prime example of fulfilling national aspirations and said that the government has focused on fast, inclusive physical connectivity which is essential for a developing society, especially in a vast and diverse country like India. Due to this, the Prime Minister said that air travel was given special emphasis. Recalling his vision of affordable air travel, he said those wearing ‘hawai chappal’ should be able to afford air travel and mentioned the UDAN scheme which has completed 8 years in operation. He informed that new airport networks in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities have made air travel affordable for the masses. Highlighting the success of UDAN scheme, the Prime Minister mentioned that around 3 lakh flights have operated under UDAN, carrying 1.5 crore common citizens so far. He further added that there are over 600 routes under this initiative most connecting smaller towns. He pointed out that the number of airports in India have grown to more than 150 compared to around 70 airports in 2014.

    The Prime Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to empowering India’s youth to become a driving force for global growth and highlighted the government’s focus on education, skill development, research, and employment. He said that the result of the efforts in the last 10 years are now visible and mentioned India’s highest improvement globally in research quality as reflected in the latest Times Higher Education ranking. He noted that the participation of Indian universities in international rankings has grown from 30 to over 100 in the past 8–9 years. The Prime Minister  underlined that India’s presence in the QS World University Rankings has increased by more than 300% in the last ten years while the number of patents and trademarks filed in India is at an all-time high. He said that India is fast becoming a global hub for research and development where over 2,500 companies worldwide now have research centers in India, and the country’s startup ecosystem is undergoing unprecedented growth.

    Highlighting India’s rising global prominence as a trusted friend,  Shri Modi said India is taking the lead in providing direction to global future in several areas. Reflecting on the Covid-19 pandemic, Shri Modi said that India could have earned millions of dollars from its capacity of essential medicines and vaccines. “India would have benefited from that but humanity would have lost. These are not our values. We supplied medicines and life-saving vaccines to hundreds of countries during these challenging times,’ he said, adding,” I am satisfied that India was able to help the world in difficult moments.” Reinforcing India’s commitment towards building strong international relations, the Prime Minister said that the foundation of India’s relationships is trust and reliability ,it does not believe in taking relationships for granted and the world is also understanding this. Referring to India’s harmonious ties with the rest of the world, Shri Modi said, “India is a country whose progress does not invoke envy or jealousy from others. “The world rejoices from our progress because the entire world benefits from it.” Reflecting on India’s rich contribution to the world, Shri Modi said that in the past Bharat has played a positive role in increasing global growth, adding that its ideas, innovations and products left an indelible mark on the world for centuries. The Prime Minister said that Bharat could not take advantage of the industrial revolution due to colonization. “This is the era of Industry 4.0. India is no longer a slave. It has been 75 years since we gained independence, and therefore, now we are ready with our belts tightened,” Shri Modi added. 

    The Prime Minister emphasized that India is working swiftly on the skill sets and infrastructure required for Industry 4.0. He noted that during the past decade, he has participated in various global platforms, including G-20 and G-7 summits significant discussion about India’s Digital Public Infrastructure have taken place. “Today, the whole world is looking at India’s DPI,” he stated, referencing his discussions with Paul Romer, who praised India’s innovations like Aadhaar and DigiLocker. “India did not have the first-mover advantage in the era of the internet”, Shri Modi pointed out, noting that private platforms led the digital space in countries with the advantage. He said that India has provided a new model to the world by democratizing technology and highlighted the JAM trinity—Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile which provides a robust system for faster and leakage-free service delivery. He also touched on UPI facilitating over 500 million daily digital transactions and said that the driving force behind this is not corporations but our small shopkeepers and street vendors. He also mentioned the PM Gati Shakti platform created to eliminate silos in infrastructure project construction which is now helping to transform the logistics ecosystem. Similarly, the ONDC platform is proving to be an innovation that democratizes and enhances transparency in online retail. Shri Modi underlined that India has demonstrated that digital innovation and democratic values can coexist and reinforced the notion that technology is a tool for inclusion, transparency, and empowerment, rather than control and division.

    Shri Modi stated that the 21st century is the most significant period in human history, emphasizing the urgent needs of today’s era: Stability, Sustainability, and Solutions. He noted that these elements are essential for a better future for humanity, with India striving to address them. He noted the unwavering support of the Indian public and said that the people have given a government their mandate for a third consecutive term, sending a strong message of stability for the first time in six decades referring to the recent elections in Haryana where the public reinforced this sentiment.

    The Prime Minister highlighted the global crisis of climate change, stating that this is a crisis faced by all of humanity. Despite India’s minimal contribution to the global climate challenge, the country is taking the lead in addressing it, he said. Shri Modi explained that the government has made green transition a key driver of growth adding that sustainability is at the core of India’s development planning. He gave examples of this commitment and mentioned PM Suryagarh Free Electricity Scheme and solar pump schemes for agriculture, EV revolution, Ethanol Blending Program, large wind energy farms, the LED light movement, solar Powered Airports and Biogas Plants. He further added that every program reflects the strong commitment to a green future and green jobs.

    The Prime Minister highlighted that alongside Stability and Sustainability, India is also focusing on providing Solutions to address global challenges. He said that over the past decade, India has worked on numerous initiatives essential for tackling these challenges, including the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the India-Middle East Economic Corridor, the Global Biofuel Alliance, as well as efforts in Yoga, Ayurveda, Mission Life, and Mission Millets. “All these initiatives represent India’s commitment to finding solutions to the world’s pressing issues” he stated.

    Expressing pride in India’s growth, the Prime Minister remarked, “As India progresses, the world will benefit even more.” He envisions a future where India’s century becomes a victory for all of humanity. He said that India’s century thrives on everyone’s talent and is enriched by innovations. Shri Modi stressed the significance of India’s efforts in promoting global stability and peace. “This is a century in which India’s initiatives contribute to a more stable world and enhance global peace”, Shri Modi concluded.

    Addressing the #NDTVWorldSummit. @ndtvhttps://t.co/92yfOt9vBF

    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2024

    जब दुनिया चिंता में डूबी है, तब भारत आशा का संचार कर रहा है: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/1vHKLPq8Tc

    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 21, 2024

    आज भारत हर सेक्टर में, हर क्षेत्र में जिस तेजी से काम कर रहा है, वो अभूतपूर्व है: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/FdVDGvAWXZ

    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 21, 2024

    भारत आज एक विकासशील देश भी है और उभरती हुई शक्ति भी है: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/EutjT37shN

    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 21, 2024

    आज भारत दुनिया के सबसे युवा देशों में से एक है।

    इस युवा देश का पोटेंशियल…हमें आसमान की ऊंचाई पर पहुंचा सकता है: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/k7jJwR72O6

    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 21, 2024

    अब भारत forward looking सोच के साथ आगे बढ़ रहा है: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/nidsZlucxi

    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 21, 2024

    विकसित भारत के संकल्प से आज भारत के 140 करोड़ लोग जुड़ गए हैं। वो खुद इसे ड्राइव कर रहे हैं: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/zEN8jVWFCO

    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 21, 2024

    भारत के पास डबल AI पावर की एडवांटेज है।

    पहली AI…Artificial Intelligence…

    दूसरी AI…Aspirational India… pic.twitter.com/KBpMnmSNNB

    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 21, 2024

    भारत टेकन फॉर ग्रांटेड रिश्ते नहीं बनाता… हमारे रिश्तों की बुनियाद- विश्वास और विश्वसनीयता है: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/XllkeZclgh

    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 21, 2024

    भारत ने टेक्नॉलॉजी को डेमोक्रटाइज़ करके डिजिटल पब्लिक इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर का नया रास्ता दुनिया को दिखाया है: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/gTzgttGegN

    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 21, 2024

    भारत ने दिखाया है कि digital innovation और democratic values, coexist कर सकती हैं: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/OewYyydqcQ

    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 21, 2024

    *****

    MJPS/TS/RT

    (Release ID: 2066613) Visitor Counter : 11

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ADMIRAL DINESH K TRIPATHI, CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 21 OCT 2024 11:00AM by PIB Delhi

    Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) is visiting UAE from 21 – 24 October 2024. This visit aims to strengthen the defence cooperation between the two countries, in line with the deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across all sectors, and consolidate bilateral maritime relations between India and UAE, and to explore new avenues of cooperation between the two navies.

    The CNS is scheduled to hold discussions with Rear Admiral Pilot Saeed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Commander of the UAE Naval Forces and other senior Government officials of UAE. He is also scheduled to visit the National Defence College of UAE, where he will interact with the Student Officers. During the visit, the CNS will also witness the conduct of 3rd Edition of India-UAE Bilateral Naval Exercise.

    The cooperative engagements between the Indian Navy and the UAE Navy include Operational interactions through Port Calls, Bilateral Naval Exercise & reciprocal visits, Navy-to-Navy Staff Talks, as well as Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC).

    _______________________________________________________________

    VM/SPS                                                                                                        217/24

    (Release ID: 2066585) Visitor Counter : 71

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Department of Sports: Progress of Special Campaign 4.0

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 21 OCT 2024 11:45AM by PIB Delhi

    Special Campaign 4.0 has been launched by Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) for institutionalizing swachhata and minimizing pendency in Government offices from 2nd October to 31st October, 2024. The Department of Sports began Special Campaign 4.0 with the launch of Fit India Swachhata Freedom Run 5.0 on 02.10.2024 at Major Dhyanchand Stadium. The Department of Sports along with the organizations under it which includes Sports Authority of India (SAI), Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE), National Sports University (NSU), National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) are actively participating in the Special Campaign 4.0.

    This year, like previous years, the Campaign is divided into two phases. Phase-I, from 16th to 30th September 2024, was focused on identifying pending issues such as references from MPs, State Governments, and other Ministries, as well as public grievances. It also involved identifying areas that need cleaning, beautification, and improvement. Phase-II, which runs from 2nd to 31st October 2024, is dedicated to resolving the identified issues and carrying out the cleaning, sprucing up, and beautification of the selected sites.

    In Phase 1 of the campaign, 15 References from MPs, 2 Parliamentary Assurances and 30 Public Grievances were identified for resolution. Additionally, 210 physical files and 220 e-files were set aside for review. Apart from this, 44 Cleanliness drives are to be conducted in organizations under this Department. In the first two weeks of Phase 2 of the campaign, the Department successfully disposed of 8 References from MPs, 2 Parliamentary Assurances and addressed 22 Public Grievances. Additionally, 210 physical files and 130 e-files were reviewed, 29 outdoor cleanliness drives were also conducted.

    The Department is dedicated to disposing all pending matters that are ready for resolution and making sure that the selected sites for cleaning and beautification are well-maintained and cleaned as per the objectives of the campaign. Given below are some of the pictures of cleaning activities being carried out in of office premises/ campus under Special Campaign 4.0 at NDTL, New Delhi and LNIPE, Gwalior.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2066598) Visitor Counter : 48

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s address at the inauguration of RJ Sankara Eye Hospital in Varanasi

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 20 OCT 2024 6:13PM by PIB Delhi

    Har Har Mahadev!

    Shankaracharya of the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, venerable Jagatguru Sri Shankar Vijayendra Saraswati; Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel; Chief Minister, Shri Yogi Adityanath; Deputy Chief Minister, Brajesh Pathak ji; RV Ramani of the Sankara Eye Foundation; Dr. SV Balasubramaniam; Shri Murali Krishnamurthy; Rekha Jhunjhunwala; and all other distinguished members of the organization, ladies and gentlemen!

    Visiting Kashi during this sacred month is, in itself, a profound spiritual experience. Present here are not only the residents of Kashi but also saints and philanthropists, making this occasion a truly blessed convergence! I am fortunate to meet and receive the prasad and blessings of the revered Shankaracharya ji. It is through his blessings that Kashi and the Purvanchal region have been bestowed with another modern hospital today. In this divine city of Lord Shankar, the RJ Sankara Eye Hospital is dedicated to the people from today. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the families of Kashi and Purvanchal.

    Friends,
    Our scriptures proclaim: “तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय:” – meaning, lead us from darkness to light. This RJ Sankara Eye Hospital will remove the darkness from the lives of countless people in Varanasi and this region, guiding them towards the light. I have just returned from visiting this eye hospital, and in every sense, it represents a fusion of spirituality and modernity. This hospital will serve the elderly and give new sight to children. A significant number of poor people will receive free treatment here. Moreover, this eye hospital has created new employment opportunities for the youth. Medical students will be able to do internships and practise here, and numerous individuals will find work as support staff.

    Friends,

    I have had the privilege of being associated with the noble endeavours of the Sankara Eye Foundation in the past as well. During my tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, I was involved in the inauguration of the Sankara Eye Hospital there. I had the honour of undertaking that work under the guidance of your revered Guruji. Today, I once again have the opportunity to contribute under your guidance, and this fills me with immense satisfaction. In fact, Pujya Swami Ji reminded me that I have been blessed in another way. I was fortunate to have received the blessings of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peethadheepati Jagatguru Shankaracharya Chandrashekharendra Saraswati Mahaswamigal. I had the privilege of sitting at the feet of Param Acharya Ji on numerous occasions and received immense affection from Param Pujya Jagatguru Shankaracharya Shri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal Ji. I have completed several important projects under his guidance, and now I am blessed with the company of Jagatguru Shankaracharya Shri Shankar Vijayendra Saraswati Ji. In a way, being connected with three Guru traditions is one of life’s greatest blessings. This is something that gives me deep personal satisfaction. Today, Jagatguru has kindly taken time out to come to my parliamentary constituency for this programme. As the representative of the people here, I extend my heartfelt welcome to you and express my profound gratitude.

    Friends,

    On this occasion, it is only natural to remember my dear friend, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala Ji. The world is well aware of his stature in the business community, and much has been said about him in that regard. However, his dedication to social causes is evident here today. His family is now continuing his legacy, and Rekha Ji is devoting considerable time to this noble work. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to meet Rakesh Ji’s entire family today. I recall requesting both the Sankara Eye Hospital and the Chitrakoot Eye Hospital to establish themselves in Varanasi, and I am deeply grateful to both institutions for honouring the wishes of the people of Kashi. In the past, thousands of individuals from my parliamentary constituency have received treatment at Chitrakoot Eye Hospital. Now, the people of this region will benefit from two new modern institutions right here in Varanasi.

    Friends,

    Kashi has long been recognized as a centre of religion and culture. Now, it is also gaining recognition as a major healthcare hub for Uttar Pradesh and the Purvanchal region. Whether it is the trauma centre at BHU, the super-specialty hospital, the enhanced facilities at Deendayal Upadhyay Hospital and Kabirchaura Hospital, specialised hospitals for the elderly and government employees, or the medical college – many healthcare advancements have been made in Kashi over the past decade. Today, Banaras also boasts a modern cancer treatment facility, enabling patients who once had to travel to Delhi or Mumbai to receive quality care locally. Thousands of people from Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and other parts of the country now come here for treatment. Our Mokshadayini Kashi is evolving into a centre of new vitality, offering fresh energy and enhanced healthcare resources.

    Friends,

    During the tenure of previous governments, the healthcare infrastructure in Purvanchal, including Varanasi, was grossly neglected. The situation was so dire that, just 10 years ago, there were no block-level treatment centres for brain fever in Purvanchal. Children would tragically lose their lives, and the media would be filled with reports of this distress. Yet, the former governments did nothing to address the issue. I am gratified that over the past decade, we have seen an unprecedented expansion of healthcare facilities, not only in Kashi but across the entire Purvanchal region. Today, more than 100 centres are operational, providing treatment for brain fever throughout Purvanchal. Over the last 10 years, more than 10,000 new hospital beds have been added to primary and community health centres across the region. In the same period, over 5,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established in the villages of Purvanchal. A decade ago, there were no dialysis facilities in the district hospitals of Purvanchal. Today, more than 20 dialysis units are functioning, offering patients these services free of charge.

    Friends,

    The new Bharat of the 21st century has transformed the outdated thinking and approach to healthcare. Today, Bharat’s healthcare strategy is built on five key pillars. The first is preventive healthcare – taking steps to prevent illness before it occurs. The second is timely diagnosis of diseases. The third is providing free and affordable treatment, including access to inexpensive medicines. The fourth is ensuring quality medical care in smaller towns, addressing the shortage of doctors. And the fifth pillar is the expansion of technology in healthcare.

    Friends,

    Protecting individuals from disease is a top priority of Bharat’s health policy and forms the first pillar of the health sector. Illness only deepens the poverty of the disadvantaged. As you know, over the past 10 years, 250 million people have been lifted out of poverty. However, a serious illness could easily push them back into the depths of poverty. This is why the government is placing significant emphasis on disease prevention. Our government is focusing particularly on cleanliness, yoga and Ayurveda, nutritious food, and related areas. We have also extended the vaccination campaign to as many households as possible. Just 10 years ago, the country’s vaccination coverage stood at only around 60 percent, leaving crores of children unvaccinated. Furthermore, the rate of increase in vaccination coverage was a mere 1 to 1.5 percent annually. At that pace, it would have taken another 40 to 50 years to achieve universal vaccination coverage for every child and every region. You can imagine the great injustice this was doing to the younger generation of the nation. Therefore, upon forming the government, we prioritised child vaccination and expanding its coverage. We launched Mission Indradhanush, involving multiple ministries in this effort simultaneously. As a result, not only did the vaccination rate rise significantly, but crores of pregnant women and children who were previously excluded from it were vaccinated. The strong emphasis Bharat placed on vaccination proved highly beneficial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the vaccination campaign continues to progress rapidly across the country.

    Friends,

    In addition to disease prevention, timely detection of illnesses is equally important. For this reason, lakhs of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established nationwide, enabling early detection of diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Today, we are also building a network of critical care units and modern laboratories across the country. This second pillar of the health sector is saving the lives of lakhs of people.

    Friends,

    The third pillar of healthcare is affordable treatment and inexpensive medicines. Today, the average medical expenditure for every citizen in the country has reduced by 25 percent. People are now able to purchase medicines at an 80 percent discount through PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Whether it be heart stents, knee implants, or cancer medicines, the prices of these essential treatments have been significantly reduced. The Ayushman Yojana, which offers free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh for the poor, has become a lifesaver for many. So far, more than 7.5 crore patients across the country have benefited from free treatment under this scheme. Moreover, this service is now being extended to the elderly in every family throughout the nation.

    Friends,

    The fourth pillar of healthcare aims to reduce the dependency on major cities like Delhi and Mumbai for treatment. Over the past decade, we have established AIIMS, medical colleges, and super-specialty hospitals in smaller cities. To address the shortage of doctors in the country, thousands of new medical seats have been added in the last decade. Looking ahead, we have decided to add 75,000 more seats in the next five years.

    Friends,

    The fifth pillar of healthcare is increasing access to health services through technology. Today, digital health IDs are being created, and patients can receive consultations from the comfort of their homes through platforms like the e-Sanjeevani app. I am pleased to share that over 30 crore people have already taken advantage of consultations via the e-Sanjeevani app. We are also advancing towards integrating drone technology with healthcare services.

    Friends, 

    A healthy and capable young generation is essential for achieving the vision of a developed Bharat. I am immensely pleased that in this mission, we are blessed with the support of the revered Pujya Shankaracharya Ji. I pray to Baba Vishwanath that this mission for a healthy and capable Bharat continues to grow stronger. Today, as I sit at the feet of Pujya Shankaracharya Ji, I am reminded of memories from my childhood. When I was young, a doctor from my village would travel to Bihar for a month each year with a group of volunteers. There, he would conduct a large-scale cataract surgery campaign, which he referred to as “Netra Yagna.” He dedicated one month every year to this cause, and many people from my village would accompany him as volunteers. Even as a child, I was aware of the immense need for such services in Bihar. Therefore, today, I make a heartfelt request to Pujya Shankaracharya Ji to consider opening a similar Sankara Eye Hospital in Bihar. Those memories from my childhood remind me of how impactful such a service would be for the people of Bihar. Maharaj Ji has a vision of reaching every corner of the country, and I am confident that Bihar will be given priority and receive your blessings. It would be a tremendous honour to serve the diligent and hardworking people of Bihar, and contributing to their well-being would bring us great fulfilment in life. Once again, I extend my best wishes to all of you, especially our dedicated doctors, paramedical staff, and all the brothers and sisters working in this noble mission. With deep reverence, I bow before Pujya Jagatguru Ji, offering my heartfelt prayers for his continued blessings and guidance. With gratitude in my heart, I conclude my speech.

    Har-Har Mahadev!

     

    ***

    MJPS/ST/IG

    (Release ID: 2066527) Visitor Counter : 427

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s address at the laying of foundation stone and inauguration of multiple development projects in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 20 OCT 2024 7:34PM by PIB Delhi

    Namah Parvati Pataye …

    Har Har Mahadev!

    Present on the stage Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji, the esteemed Governors and Chief Ministers of other states who are connected to this event via technology, my colleague in the Union Cabinet, Shri Naidu ji, other members of the Union Cabinet connected via technology, Deputy Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak ji, other ministers of the UP government, members of parliament, and legislators, and my dear brothers and sisters of Banaras!

    Today, once again, I have the opportunity to visit Banaras… today the Nakkataiya Fair is also happening in Chetganj … Dhanteras, Diwali, and Chhath festivals are approaching… and today Banaras is witnessing a celebration of development before these festivals. Heartiest congratulations to all of you.

    Friends,

    Today is an auspicious day for Banaras. I have just inaugurated a big eye hospital and then came here, which is why I was a bit late. The Sankara Eye Hospital will be a great help to the elderly and children. With the blessings of Baba Vishwanath, projects worth thousands of crores of rupees have been either inaugurated or their foundation stones laid. These projects will boost the development of the country and UP to new heights. Today, airports in UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh have been inaugurated. This includes not only Babatpur Airport but also airports in Agra and Sarsawa in Saharanpur. In total, projects from education, skill development, sports, health, and tourism sectors have been granted to Banaras. These projects will not only bring convenience but also create numerous employment opportunities for our youth. This land boasts of Sarnath where Lord Buddha gave his teachings. I recently participated in the Abhidhamma Mahotsav. Today, I also had the opportunity to inaugurate development projects worth crores of rupees related to Sarnath, and as you know, we recently recognized some languages as classical languages, including Pali and Prakrit. Both Pali and Prakrit have special connections to Sarnath and Kashi. Their recognition as classical languages is a matter of pride for all of us. I congratulate all my fellow citizens of Kashi and the nation on these development projects.

    Friends,

    When you entrusted me with the responsibility of serving for the third consecutive time, I had promised to work at triple speed. It has not even been 125 days since the government was formed, and in such a short period, projects worth more than 15 lakh crore rupees have been started across the country. Most of this budget has been allocated for the poor, farmers, and youth. Just think, headlines in newspapers were dominated by scams worth lakhs of crores of rupees 10 years ago. The conversation always revolved around corruption worth lakhs of crores of rupees. Today, discussions in every household are about projects worth 15 lakh crore rupees within 125 days. This is the change the country desires. It is our priority that the people’s money is spent on the people, on the development of the country, and spent honestly.

    Friends,

    We have launched a massive infrastructure development campaign in the country in the last 10 years. This infrastructure campaign has two major goals. The first is to increase the convenience of citizens through investments, and the second is to create jobs for the youth through investments. Today, modern highways are being built across the country, new railway tracks are being laid on new routes, and new airports are being built. This is not just about the work of bricks, stones, iron, and iron rods; it is also increasing convenience for people and providing jobs for the country’s youth.

    Friends,

    Look at the Babatpur Airport Highway we built and the modern facilities added to the airport. Did only those travelling to and from the airport benefit from it? No, it provided jobs to many people in Banaras. It boosted agriculture, industry, and tourism. Today, the number of people coming to Banaras has increased rapidly. Some come for tourism, and some come for business, and you are benefiting from it. Therefore, now that the expansion of Babatpur Airport is underway, you will benefit even more. The work on this airport has started today. Once it is completed, more planes will be able to land here.

    Friends,

    In this ‘maha yagna’ of building modern infrastructure, our airports, their magnificent buildings, and the most advanced facilities are being talked about worldwide. In 2014, our country had only 70 airports. And as Naidu ji has explained in detail, today we have more than 150 airports. We are also renovating older airports. Last year, new facilities were built at over a dozen airports across the country—on average, one airport per month. This includes airports in Aligarh, Moradabad, Shravasti, and Chitrakoot. Ayodhya now has a grand international airport, welcoming Ram devotees every day. Remember the time when Uttar Pradesh was mocked for its poor roads. Today, UP is known as the state of expressways. Today, UP is recognized for having the most international airports. A grand international airport is also nearing completion in Noida’s Jewar. I commend Yogi ji, Keshav Prasad Maurya ji, Brajesh Pathak ji, and their entire team for this progress in UP.

    Friends,

    As a Member of Parliament from Banaras, I feel happy when I see the development here. We all have a shared dream of making Kashi a model city for urban development—one where progress is made while heritage is also preserved. Today, Kashi is known for the grand and divine Kashi Vishwanath Dham, the Rudraksh Convention Centre, and infrastructure projects like the Ring Road and Ganjari Stadium. A modern ropeway system is also being built in Kashi. These wide roads, alleys, the beautiful ghats of the Ganga—all are captivating.

    Friends,

    We are making continuous efforts to turn Kashi and the entire Purvanchal region into a major business hub. Just a few days ago, the government approved the construction of a new rail-road bridge over the Ganga. Near the Rajghat Bridge, a grand new bridge will be built. Trains will run underneath, and a six-lane highway will be constructed on top. This will benefit lakhs of people in Banaras and Chandauli.

    Friends,

    Our Kashi is also becoming a major centre for sports. The Sigra Stadium has been renovated and is now in front of you in a new form. The new stadium is equipped for national competitions and for the Olympics as well. Modern sports facilities have been built here. We witnessed the potential of Kashi’s young athletes during the Sansad Khel Pratiyogita. Now, our sons and daughters from Purvanchal have access to excellent facilities for major sports preparations.

    Friends,

    A society develops when its women and youth are empowered. Keeping this in mind, the government has given new strength to ‘Nari Shakti’ (women power). Millions of women have been given Mudra loans to help them start their own businesses. Now we are working to create ‘Lakhpati Didis’ in villages across the country. Today, our sisters from the villages are even becoming drone pilots. And this is Kashi, where even Lord Shiva seeks alms from Mother Annapurna. Kashi teaches us that society prospers when women are empowered. With this belief, we have placed ‘Nari Shakti’ at the centre of every goal for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has gifted millions of women their own homes. Many women in Banaras have also benefited from this scheme. You know the government is now planning to build 3 crore more homes. Women in Banaras who haven’t yet received homes under the PM Awas Yojana will soon get them. We have already provided tap water, Ujjwala gas, and piped water to homes. Now, we are launching a scheme for free electricity and earning income from electricity. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana will make the lives of our sisters even easier.

    Friends,

    Our Kashi is a vibrant cultural city. It is home to the sacred Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva, Manikarnika, the holy site of Moksha, and Sarnath, the place of knowledge. After so many decades, so much development work is happening in Banaras simultaneously. Otherwise, Kashi was left as if abandoned. So today, I pose a question to every resident of Kashi: What was the mentality that kept Kashi deprived of development? Think about the situation 10 years ago when Banaras was starved for development. The parties that ruled UP for long periods, and those who enjoyed power in Delhi for decades, never cared about Banaras. The answer lies in the politics of dynasties and appeasement. Be it Congress or Samajwadi Party, Banaras’s development was never a priority for such parties, nor will it ever be in the future. These parties even discriminated in development. But our government works with the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. Our government does not discriminate in any plan. What we say, we do loudly and clearly. A grand Ram Temple is being built in Ayodhya. Today, lakhs of people visit Ram Lalla every day. The reservation for women in assemblies and parliament was stalled for years. This historical work has also been achieved by our government. Many families were suffering due to the evil practice of triple talaq. Our government worked to free Muslim daughters from it. It was the BJP government that gave constitutional status to the OBC Commission, and it was the NDA government that gave 10% reservation to the economically weaker sections without taking away anyone’s rights.

    Friends,

    We have done our work. We implemented policies with good intentions and worked honestly to transform the lives of every family in the country. That is why the nation continues to bless us. We saw how the BJP government was re-elected for the third consecutive time in Haryana. The BJP received a record number of votes in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Friends,

    Today, Bharat faces a significant threat from family-based politics. These dynastic politicians cause the most harm to the youth of the country. They never believe in giving opportunities to young people. That is why, I called upon the nation from the Red Fort that I will bring 100,000 such young individuals into politics who have no family ties to politics. This is a campaign that will change the direction of Indian politics. It is a mission to eradicate corruption and the dynastic mentality. I urge the youth of Kashi and Uttar Pradesh to openly become the pillars of this new political movement. As the Member of Parliament from Kashi, I am committed to bringing the youth of this region forward as much as possible.

    Friends,

    Once again, Kashi has become the launching ground for new standards of development across the country. Kashi has once again witnessed a new surge for the nation. I extend my congratulations to all the states, Hon’ble governors, chief ministers, the people of Kashi, and citizens of the country who are associated with today’s development programs.

    Join me in saying: 

    Namah Parvati Pataye…

    Har Har Mahadev!

     

    ***

    MJPS/ST/VK

    (Release ID: 2066550) Visitor Counter : 368

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Dedicates Key Maritime Projects at 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival

    Source: Government of India

    Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Dedicates Key Maritime Projects at 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival

    Steps to Enable Coastal Communities around Lighthouses to Preserve, Protect & Promote as Tourist Hubs: Shri Sonowal

    The Union Minister announced Two New Lighthouses at Chaumuck and Dhamra on Odisha’s Coastline

    Shri Sarbananda Sonowal dedicates ‘New Kalwan Lighthouse’ in Jamnagar, Gujarat along with Stacker-cum-Reclaimant & a Flyover at the Paradip Port Authority, Odisha, to the nation

    Under the Visionary leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi ji, Lighthouse Tourism soared by more than 400% since 2014: Shri Sonowal

    Shri Sonowal inaugurates multifaceted celebration with beach activities like Sand Art, Boat Art competition, Yoga session

    Shri Sarbananda Sonowal leads Swachhata Abhiyan at Niladri Beach, lauds efforts of people’s Participation

    2nd edition of Indian Lighthouse Festival witnessed electrifying performances by noted singers like Papon, Sona Mohapatra among others

    The Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi joined Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal at the Valedictory Session of the Festival

    Assam & Odisha share a close spiritual, historical, cultural, commercial ties as Srimanta Sankardeva, Lakshminath Bezbarua & Bholanath Barooah strengthened it over the years: Shri Sonowal

    Posted On: 20 OCT 2024 7:21PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal dedicated key maritime projects to the nation during the 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival here today. At the valedictory session here, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also announced that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Govt of India, would take necessary steps to enable coastal communities around the Lighthouses in order to empower them to preserve & promote the lighthouses – the rich heritage of India’s marine sector. The Union Minister also announced two new lighthouses on Odisha’s coastline – one at Chaumuck at Narayanpur in Balasore district and another at Dhamra in Bhadrak district of the state. The Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi joined Sonowal as the second edition of Indian Lighthouse Festival draws a closure here today.

    The Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced that the coastal communities of the country would be developed as societies in order to enable and empower the communities within the vicinity of lighthouses. The effort is aimed at community engagement to take pride in the lighthouses for their preservation, protection, and promotion. A central association of all these societies would be created to give a national momentum to celebrate the lighthouse as national icons as cultural heritage & legacy of India’s rich maritime sector.

    The new Kalwan reef Lighthouse at Jamnagar in Gujarat as well as two projects in Padadip Port, Odisha; i.e., Stacker-cum-Reclaimant & a Flyover bridge, were inaugurated. The Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also inaugurated Sand Art Competition, Boat Art Competition, Beach run, Beach Yoga and many other activities at the second day of the 2nd edition of multifaceted Indian Lighthouse Festival. Sonowal also led a Swachata Abhiyan at the Niladri beach where the collective effort led to removal of garbage.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, said, “The Indian Lighthouse Festival or Bharatiya Prakash Sthamb Utsav has been receiving laurels from all quarters of the country as we continue our effort to further bolster facilities for the tourists – both domestic and foreign – for a memorable experience at these wonderful monuments. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the government is taking all steps to realise the full potential of India’s rich cultural heritage as well as its historical legacy in propelling the economic growth of the country. Modiji’s call for an Atmanirbhar Bharat has resonated well with people and we, the Ministry, remain committed to usher in a new chapter of growth in India’s blue economy. Lighthouse Tourism is part of this vision of Modi ji. It gives me immense pleasure to inform you that a rise of more than 400% footfall of tourists in the lighthouses since 2014. From 4 lakhs in 2014, it reached 16 lakhs tourists in the last fiscal. We have already crossed 9 lakhs in the first half of the current fiscal, and it is evident, that the growing trend of lighthouses as tourists hotspots to continue. For years, the guardians of our shores have remained unnoticed, even while they guided vessels and seafarers through the most challenging nights. The ‘Lighthouse Festival’ is our effort to shift this perception. Our goal is to raise awareness, foster involvement, and enlighten people about the significant contribution these iconic structures have made to our country’s maritime legacy.”

    Shri @sarbanandsonwal, Union Minister, MoPSW said that this initiative seeks to showcase the significance of India’s centuries-old lighthouses, spread across our vast coastline & celebrate their rich heritage at the inauguration of the 2nd Lighthouse Festival. @PIBBhubaneswar pic.twitter.com/7YZYbSwoE9

    — Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (@shipmin_india) October 19, 2024

    Highlighting the importance of coastal communities in preservation of the Lighthouses, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced, “In order to rope in the coastal community, the government is keen to enable and empower them to preserve, conserve, and promote these iconic structures. A national framework is being mooted to ensure that a well thought out system is in place for the coastal communities to preserve, protect & promote the lighthouses as the torchbearers of India’s rich maritime history and legacy.”

    During the festival, the Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi and the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal felicitated eminent personalities from the fields of education, sports and culture. Among them, Odishi dancer, Mamta Ojha; artist Dr Ramesh Prasad Panigrahi; sand sculptor, Om Prakash Sahu; Mariner Nividita Acharya; Oriya Literary figure & poet, Dr Haldar Nath; footballer Sasmita Malik and social worker Sujit Mahapatra, were felicitated. Eight employees of the Directorate General of Lighthouse & Lightships (DGLL) were also felicitated for their good performance.

    Earlier, the 2nd edition of Indian Lighthouse Festival was inaugurated by the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The festival, in its second avatar here, aimed at rejuvenating the rich maritime history of India iconic lighthouses in a culturally vibrant atmosphere. The festival showcased rich flavours of coastal cuisine, amusement park, folk dance & music, coastal hut among many other interesting performances.

    On the historic relationship between Assam and Odisha, Sarbananda Sonowal added, “Assam & Odisha have always shared a close spiritual, historical, cultural, commercial ties through the lives of great saint Srimanta Sankardeva, literary genius Lakshminath Bezbarua & visionary trader Bholanath Barooah which has only strengthened over the years. It is heartening to witness cultural show by the artists of both Assam and Odisha here today celebrating the vibrancy of this festival.”

    The Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi joined the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at the valedictory session of the festival. The event was also attended by Shantanu Thakur, Union Minister of State, MoPSW; Pravati Parida, the Deputy Chief Minister, Odisha; Suresh Gopi, the Union Minister of State of Tourism & Petroleum and Natural Gas; Sambit Patra, MP as well as TK Ramachandran, IAS, Secretary, MoPSW among others.

    During the first day, the festival witnessed sessions on ‘Lighthouse Tourism & Heritage,’ ‘Preservation and conservation of Lighthouse.’

    The festivities began with the invocation dance, Ganesh Vandana, followed by a captivating medley of traditional Assamese performances, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Assam. The concluding performance began with the invocation dance, Shiva Stuti, followed folk dance. The festival was enthralled by some electrifying performances by noted singer Papon on the first night of the festival while Sona Mahapatra was slated to perform on the concluding night.

    With an investment of ₹60 crore, 75 iconic lighthouses across 9 coastal states and 1 union territory have been developed under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. Each lighthouse has become a beacon of both heritage and recreation, with modern amenities such as museums, amphitheaters, children’s parks, and more. In Odisha, five lighthouses—Gopalpur, Puri, Chandrabhaga, Paradip, and False Point—have been developed as part of this initiative to promote lighthouse tourism.

     

    In the fiscal year 2023-24 alone, the 75 dedicated lighthouses attracted an impressive 16 lakh visitors. As of September 2024, the current fiscal year 2024-25 has already welcomed more than 10 lakh visitors. These developments have also resulted in job creation, with 150 direct and 500 indirect employment opportunities emerging in nearby hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transportation services, and local shops and artisans.

    In 2023, the maiden edition of Indian Lighthouse Festival took place in Goa with a spotlight on 75 historical sites to be developed into tourists destinations. The ‘Bharatiya Prakash Sthamb Utsav’ was conceived with an intent to transform these historical sites into tourist destinations with the help of Public Private Partnerships. The key highlights of India’s First Lighthouse Festival were cultural exhibitions, session highlighting maritime history and culture, classical performances, light and sound shows, melodious evenings with celebrity singers, flavours of the coast and community engagements.

    In Odisha, the Sagarmala Programme encompasses 36 projects with a total value of ₹20,200 Cr. Among these, 15 projects, valued at approximately ₹4,330 Cr., have been successfully completed, while 21 projects, totalling around ₹15,850 Cr., are currently in various stages of implementation. One standout achievement of the Sagarmala Programme is the living example of Paradip Port’s growth Story. This Port today is the number one major port in cargo handling. Paradip Port will transform into a mega port with a formidable cargo handling capacity of over 300 MTPA very soon and will exceed 500 MTPA capacity by Amrit Kaal 2047. The mammoth traffic volume growth at the port in the recent years has been due to the successful implementation of Capacity augmentation projects under the Sagarmala projects. The Sagarmala program also envisions uplifting the fishermen community with the Modernization of Paradip Fishing Harbour project, with a project cost of  ₹108 Crores. The modern fishing harbour will be a strong step towards the coastal community development initiative in Odisha. For upliftment of fishermen community, a fishing harbour at Chandipur in Odisha has also been sanctioned under Sagarmala at a cost of ₹50 Cr. Paradip port is also being developed as a green hydrogen hub in the country.

    Odisha, a principal maritime state situated on the eastern coast of India, has a coastline of about 480 km. Paradip Port (290 MTPA Capacity, Cargo handled in 2023-24 – 145.38 MTPA) is the only Major Port in the State under the control of the Government of India. The Government of Odisha has already identified 14 potential sites for the development of Non – Major Ports, out of which, Dhamra (Adani – 100 MTPA Capacity) and Gopalpur (Shapoorji Pallonji & Odisha Stevedore Ltd. – 25 MTPA capacity) are already functioning.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Dr Jitendra Singh releases first of its kind, largest ICMR-India Diabetes ‘INDIAB’ Study, all-India survey’s Jammu related data on prevalence of Diabetes in Jammu region

    Source: Government of India (2)

     Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who is also a nationally renowned Diabetologist, today released the Jammu related data of the ‘first of its kind’ world’s largest survey ‘ICMR-India Diabetes ‘INDIAB’ Study to assess the prevalence of Diabetes in India, including Jammu & Kashmir in Jammu today.

    According to the survey, the overall burden of the disease in Jammu region covering its 10 districts is 18.9 percent, with 26.5 percent in urban areas and 14.5 per cent in rural areas which is higher than the national average.

    Expressing concern over the rising cases of Diabetes in the region, Dr Jitendra Singh called upon everyone, including medical institutions, NGOs and the media to create awareness in the society about the disease in order to prevent and control it before it assumes an alarming proportion. He said the study offers an opportunity for prevention and control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). He called for adopting a multi-sectoral approach involving the government, non-governmental agencies, the community at large as well as the individual to slow down or stop the rising tide Diabetes and other NCDs.

    Describing the ICMR- India Diabetes (INDIAB) nationwide study as landmark, he said its findings will help to estimate the health burden due to Diabetes, prediabetes and metabolic NCD. He added that the study will also help in shifting focus to the prevention and control of Diabetes and other NCDs in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

    Dr Jitendra Singh further said that the findings of the study are expected to help policymakers, health professionals and stakeholders to develop targeted interventions for prevention and management of Diabetes and other NCDs in Jammu and across India as it was a national responsibility. He also mentioned the need for early detection of the disease as well as the need to break the chain of passing from one generation to another by focussing diabetic pregnant women.

    The Union Minister said that all-out efforts must be made to prevent the youth from falling prey to this preventable disease. Calling the youth architects of a Vikisit Bharat, the Minister said that proper care of their health and well-being must be taken by all the stakeholders. He said that the energy and potential of youngsters cannot be consigned to this silent killer, but must be nurtured and preserved to realise the goal of a developed India by the year 2047.

    Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the Government is setting up nearly 1,50,000 Health and Wellness Centres all over the country with a focus on prevention and control of NCDs like Diabetes, hypertension and some forms of cancer. The Union Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with bringing in a preventable healthcare ecosystem in the country, saying prior to COVID pandemic, this concept was alien to India. “Credit goes to Prime Minister Narendra for awakening the nation to the virtues of preventable healthcare, using traditional medicines like Ayurveda and Unani, and practising yoga for health”, the Minister noted.

    “It is at the initiative of PM Modi that 1.5 lakh Wellness Centres are to be opened across the country” , the Minister said.

    Dr Jitendra Singh called for tapping the vast expanse of unexplored Himalayan resources of J&K. He said these resources have a huge potential for making value addition to India’s economy. He expressed happiness at the recent impressive economic growth of India and said that India has now joined the league of top five economies of the world while mentioning that the journey from fragile five to top five economies of the world has been momentous.

    Further elaborating Dr Jitendra Singh said if the vast bio resources of J&K are tapped, they will contribute to India’s growth story in the times to come.

    According to the ICMR-INDIAB study, 10.8 per cent of the population in Jammu region is affected by prediabetes, emphasizing the urgent need for action against the growing burden of NCDs in the region.

    The Jammu phase surveyed 1,520 participants across urban and rural areas, providing critical insights into the region’s health landscape. As per the survey, the overall prevalence of hypertension, generalised obesity and abdominal obesity in Jammu is 27.1 %, 41.7 % and 62.7 % respectively. The study was conducted by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation with the collaboration of ICMR and the Department of Health Research.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone and inaugurates multiple development projects in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone and inaugurates multiple development projects in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

    Inaugurates and lays foundation stone of multiple airport projects worth over Rs 6,100 crore

    Development initiatives of today will significantly benefit the citizens, especially our Yuva Shakti: PM

    In the last 10 years, we have started a huge campaign to build infrastructure in the country: PM

    Kashi is model city where development is taking place along with preservation of heritage:PM

    Government has given new emphasis to women empowerment ,society develops when the women and youth of the society are empowered: PM

    Posted On: 20 OCT 2024 6:47PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh today. The projects of today include multiple airport projects worth over Rs 6,100 crore and multiple development initiatives in Varanasi.

    Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that today is a very auspicious occasion for Kashi as he mentioned inaugurating RJ Sankara Eye Hospital earlier today. He said that the Hospital would be very helpful for the elderly and children. Referring to the development projects of today, the Prime Minister mentioned the inauguration of new airport terminals in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh including Babatpur Airport and Sarsawa Airport of Agra and Saharanpur. He emphasized that development projects pertaining to Education, Skill Development, Sports, Healthcare and Tourism among other sectors have been presented to Varanasi today which would not only boost services but also create employment opportunities for the youth. Shri Modi recalled participating in Abhidhamma Diwas a few days ago and mentioned inaugurating multiple development projects worth crores of rupees today related to the development of Sarnath, the land of Lord Buddha’s sermons. The Prime Minister highlighted the association of Sarnath and Varanasi With Pali and Prakrit languages and mentioned granting them the status of classical language recently. He said that it is a matter of great pride that languages used in the scriptures have been granted classical language status. The Prime Minister congratulated the people of Kashi and India for the development projects of today. 

    Recalling his promise to work three times more when he was given the opportunity to serve the people of Varanasi, the Prime Minister remarked that in less than 125 days of the formation of Government, the work on various schemes and projects worth more than Rs. 15 lakh crore had already begun. He added that the maximum budget of these was dedicated to the poor, farmers and the youths. Shri Modi said that today there was a discussion in every household about the work of Rs. 15 lakh crore as against the scams which were being reported in the newspapers a decade ago. He added that the change that the country desired where the money of the people was spent on the people along with the progress of the country with utmost honesty were the top priorities of the Government. 

    The Prime Minister underlined that the government has initiated a huge campaign for infrastructural development in the country in the last 10 years with two main objectives of improving services for the people and creating employment opportunities for the youth through investments. Giving examples of development works of modern highways, laying of railway tracks on new routes and establishment of new airports, the Prime Minister emphasized that it is enhancing convenience for the people and creating employment at the same time. He said that the construction of the highway for Babatpur Airport not only benefited the travelers but also gave a boost to agriculture, industry and tourism. He informed that work is already underway for the expansion of Babatpur Airport to increase its flight handling capacity.  

    Shri Modi highlighted that India’s airports and their magnificent buildings with amazing facilities is a topic of discussion all over the world. Shri Modi said that in 2014, there were only 70 airports, while today, there are more than 150 airports along with the renovation work of the old airports. He added that last year, the construction of new facilities was completed at more than a dozen airports in the country which include Aligarh, Moradabad, Shravasti and Chitrakoot airports. Shri Modi remarked that the grand international airport in Ayodhya was welcoming Ram devotees every day. The Prime Minister highlighted that today UP was known as ‘state of expressways’ as against the past when it was taunted for its dilapidated roads. He added that today UP was also known as a state with the most number of international airports with a grand international airport going to be built soon in Jewar, Noida. Shri Modi lauded the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers of UP along with the entire team for the progress of UP.

    The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the rate of progress as a Member of Parliament from Varanasi and reiterated his dream of making Kashi a model city of urban development where progress and heritage go hand in hand. He said that today Kashi is identified by the grand and divine Dham of Baba Vishwanath, Rudraksh Convention Center, infrastructure projects like Ring Road and Ganjari Stadium and modern facilities like ropeway. “City’s wide roads and beautiful ghats of Ganga ji are captivating everyone today”, he added.

    The Prime Minister said that it is the Government’s constant endeavor to make Kashi and Purvanchal a huge center of trade and business as he mentioned  the construction of a new rail-road bridge over River Ganga a few days ago which would comprise a 6 lane highway and railway lines for several trains. He said that it would hugely benefit the people of Varanasi and Chandauli. 

    “Our Kashi is now becoming a very big center for sports”, said Shri Modi. He added that the revamped Sigra Stadium was in front of the people now and arrangements were made in the new stadium for preparations from national competitions to Olympics along with modern facilities for sports. The Prime Minister highlighted the potential of young players of Kashi, which was evident during the Member of Parliament sports competition and now youngsters of Purvanchal were provided with good facilities for preparing for bigger competitions.

    Underlining that development of society occurs when its women and youth are empowered, the Prime Minister stressed that the government has given new strength to women. He mentioned schemes like Mudra Yojna where crores of women have been facilitated loans to start their own businesses. “Today, efforts are being made to create ‘Lakhpati Didis’ in villages and women are even becoming drone pilots”, PM Modi said. Highlighting the belief in Kashi that even Lord Shiva seeks alms from Goddess Annapurna, the Prime Minister said that this belief has driven the government to place Nari Shakit at the center of every initiative for the goal of Viksit Bharat. He emphasized that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, millions of women have been handed out their own homes including women of Varanasi. The Prime Minister also highlighted that the government is set to construct another three crore houses and assured that those women who have yet to receive homes under the PM Awas scheme will be given their houses soon. In addition to providing piped water, Ujjwala gas, and electricity, PM Modi said that the new PM Suryaghar Free Electricity Scheme will further ease the lives of women, allowing them to benefit from free power and even earn from it.

    “Our Kashi is a multi-hued cultural city, with the holy Jyotirlinga of Lord Shankar, a Moksha Tirtha like Manikarnika and also a place of knowledge like Sarnath”, said Shri Modi. He remarked that it was only after decades, that so much work was simultaneously carried out for the development of Banaras. Questioning the previous governments on the poor development and progress of Varanasi, Shri Modi remarked that his Government worked on the mantra of Sabka Saath. Sabka Vikas without any discrimination in any scheme. He added that the Government stuck to its words and cited the example of the grand Ram temple built in Ayodhya, as promised. He also mentioned the historic reservation for women in the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha completed by the government. Shri Modi also mentioned the other achievements of abolition of Triple Talaq, granting constitutional status to the Backward Class Commission and granting 10 percent reservation to the economically backward classes of people.

    “We have done our work with sincerity, implemented policies with good intentions and strive to improve the lives of every family in the country,” said Prime Minister Modi. He emphasized that the nation’s continuous blessings are a result of the government’s efforts as recently seen in Haryana, where the ruling dispensation secured its third consecutive government. He also noted the record number of votes received in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Noting that dynastic politics is a significant danger to the country, especially to the youth, the Prime Minister explained that such form of politics often deprives young people of opportunities. He reiterated his clarion call from the Red Fort to bring one lakh young individuals into politics whose families have no political background. He stressed that this initiative will change the direction of Indian politics eradicating corruption and family-driven mindsets. Encouraging the youth of Kashi and Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister said, “I urge the youth to become the pivot of this new political movement. As the Member of Parliament of Kashi, I am committed to bringing forward as many young people as possible.” Concluding the address, the Prime Minister said that Kashi stands as a symbol of new benchmarks of development for the entire nation. He congratulated the states and people of Kashi on the new development programs launched today.

    Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Smt Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu were present on the occasion among others. 

    Background

    In line with his commitment to boost connectivity, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the expansion of the airport runway and construction of a new terminal building and allied works of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi worth around Rs 2870 crore. He also laid the foundation stone of New Civil Enclave at Agra Airport worth more than Rs 570 crore, Darbhanga Airport worth around Rs 910 crore and Bagdogra Airport worth around Rs 1550 crore.

    The Prime Minister inaugurated new terminal buildings of Rewa Airport, Maa Mahamaya Airport, Ambikapur and Sarsawa Airport worth over Rs 220 crore. The combined passenger handling capacity of these airports increases to more than 2.3 crore passengers annually. The designs of these airports are influenced and derived from the common elements of heritage structures of the region.

    In line with his vision to provide top-quality infrastructure for sports, the Prime Minister inaugurated Phases 2 and 3 of the redevelopment of Varanasi Sports Complex worth over Rs 210 crore under Khelo India scheme and the Smart City Mission. The project aims to create a state-of-the-art sports complex featuring a National Centre of Excellence, players’ hostels, sports science center, practice fields for various sports, indoor shooting ranges and combat sports arenas among others. He also inaugurated 100-bed girls’ and boys’ hostels and a public pavilion at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Sports Stadium, Lalpur.

    The Prime Minister inaugurated tourism development works in Buddhism-related areas in Sarnath. These enhancements include the construction of pedestrian-friendly streets, new sewer lines and upgraded drainage systems and organized vending zones with modern designer vending carts to promote local handicraft vendors, among others. The Prime Minister also inaugurated multiple other initiatives like tourism development works at Banasur Temple and Gurudham Temple along with beautification and redevelopment of parks etc.

     

    Speaking at the launch of infrastructure projects in Varanasi. These development initiatives will significantly benefit the citizens, especially our Yuva Shakti.https://t.co/wwzjuVyFW8

    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 20, 2024

    बीते 10 सालों में हमने देश में इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर निर्माण का एक बहुत बड़ा अभियान शुरू किया है: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/G4EYxqkUeV

    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 20, 2024

    समाज का विकास तब होता है, जब समाज की महिलाएं और नौजवान सशक्त होते हैं।

    इसी सोच के साथ सरकार ने नारी शक्ति को नई शक्ति दी है: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/ooZmWvXt7W

    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 20, 2024

     

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    MJPS/SR/TS

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: KARMAYOGI SAPTAH

    Source: Government of India (2)

    KARMAYOGI SAPTAH

    National Learning Week: A New Era of Capacity Building for Civil Services Under Mission Karmayogi

    Speakers for tomorrow’s Indic Day Webinar Series

    Posted On: 20 OCT 2024 6:18PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, inaugurated the National Learning Week (NLW) on the 19th October, 2024, marking a new chapter in civil service capacity building under the Mission Karmayogi initiative.

    This groundbreaking effort aims to foster continuous skill enhancement and lifelong learning among civil servants, ensuring their competencies align with the country’s evolving goals.

    The National Learning Week will feature the Indic Day Webinar Series, on 21st October, 2024. Esteemed speakers from diverse domains will share insights on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), civilizational development and digital infrastructure, offering a rich understanding of how traditional wisdom and modern innovations intersect.

    Key Highlights of the Day:

    • Mr David Frawley: A Vedic scholar, Mr. Frawley shall explore the Karmayogi philosophy and its emphasis on selfless action as a path to personal and societal excellence.
    • Mr Raghava Krishna: Mr. Krishna shall discuss the importance of Indian Knowledge Systems and the need for a multidisciplinary approach to tackle global challenges.
    • Mr Amritanshu Pandey: Historian, Mr. Pandey shall speak about the enduring influence of Sanskrit and Sanskriti in shaping India’s civilizational heritage and future trajectory.
    • Mr Nandan Nilekani and Mr Shankar Maruwada: Tech innovators such as Mr. Nilekani and Mr. Maruwada shall examine India’s digital public infrastructure and the opportunities for future growth and empowerment.

    This series of webinars will underscore the broader themes of Mission Karmayogi, connecting India’s past wisdom with its future aspirations.

    Details and timings are as follows:

     

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    (Release ID: 2066530) Visitor Counter : 18

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates Saharanpur, Rewa and Ambikapur airports under RCS-UDAN

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates Saharanpur, Rewa and Ambikapur airports under RCS-UDAN

    RCS-UDAN celebrates 08 Years in service of the Nation

    1.44 crore people already flown under RCS-UDAN

    601 UDAN routes operationalized so far

    RCS key element of NCAP 2016 to promote Regional Air Connectivity

    Posted On: 20 OCT 2024 6:17PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated three airports, developed under the  Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. These airports are: Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, Ambikapur in Chhatisgarh and Saharanpur in UP. Flights under RCS-UDAN will begin from these airports shortly.

    The RCS- UDAN, a government-backed initiative to improve infrastructure and connectivity in India, especially in remote and underserved regions, completes seven years. It is a vital component of India’s National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016, launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on October 21, 2016, with a 10-year vision.

    The first RCS-UDAN flight was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on April 27, 2017, connecting Shimla to Delhi. The scheme focuses on improving unserved air routes in underserved regions of the country and fulfilling the aspirations of the common citizens.

    So far, the RCS-UDAN has facilitated travel of more than 144 lakh passengers, demonstrating its success in enhancing air travel accessibility.

    Over the period of 7 years, various versions of UDAN Scheme were launched, as follows:

     

    • UDAN 1.0: Five airlines companies were awarded 128 flight routes to 70 airports (including 36 newly made operational airports)
    • UDAN 2.0: 73 underserved and unserved airports were announced and for the first time, helipads were also connected.
    • UDAN 3.0: In coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Routes were included. In addition to Seaplanes for connecting Water Aerodromes, several routes in the North-East Region came under the ambit of the scheme.
    • UDAN 4.0: Gave impetus to North-Eastern Regions, Hilly States, and Islands. The operation of helicopters and seaplanes incorporated.

     

    UDAN Version 5 – 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 &5.4

    Following the four successful rounds of bidding, the Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the 5thversion of RCS-UDAN with numerous improvements based on stakeholder feedback.

    UDAN 5.0 where the focus is on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-3 (>80 seats) aircraft. Similarly, the cap of 600 km has been removed and there is no restriction on the distance between the origin and destination of the flight. This round prioritizes the routes that will connect the airports that are ready for operations or will be ready soon, which will lead to quicker operationalization of awarded routes. Consequently, Airlines would now be required to commence operations within 4 months of the award of the route, and they are welcoming this change as this helps them to better plan their operations.

    This was soon followed by UDAN 5.1, This round of RCS-UDAN is designed specifically for helicopter routes by increasing the scope of operations for helicopter operators, enhancing VGF and reducing Airfare Caps. The Scheme will now allow operations on routes provided that at least one origin or destination is in a priority area and at least one origin or destination is a heliport, thereby enhancing the potential range of connectivity. VGF caps have been enhanced to improve viability for operators and airfare caps have been reduced to make flying more affordable for passengers respectively.

    Later, bidding for UDAN 5.2 was launched to further enhance the connectivity to remote and regional areas of the country, achieve last-mile connectivity, and provide impetus to the tourism sector through small aircraft (<20 seats). The Scheme will provide greater operational flexibility to the small aircraft operators, by allowing them to operate a maximum of 40% of annually quoted RCS seats and a minimum of 10% of annually quoted RCS seats in any given quarter.

    The Ministry of Civil Aviation further launched special bidding rounds to operationalize the routes those have been discontinued before completion of tenure or cancelled/terminated due to multiple reasons. In order to further enhance point-to-point air connectivity on such previously identified routes, bids under UDAN 5.3 and UDAN 5.4 were invited from all categories of airline operators. Consequently, UDAN 5.3 was launched in January 2024, while UDAN 5.4 is underway.

    Fueling Growth in the Aviation Industry

    RCS-UDAN is contributing to the growth of the civil aviation industry as many new and successful airlines have come up in the last seven years. The scheme has helped airline operators to start up and develop a sustainable business model. Additionally, it’s providing opportunities to small regional airlines Flybig, Star Air, IndiaOne Air and Fly91 to scale up their businesses and their successful run is evidence of the fact that the scheme is creating an amiable ecosystem conducive to airline business.

    Demand for new aircraft of all sizes

    The scheme’s incremental expansion has generated an escalating demand for new aircraft, concurrently broadening the spectrum of aircraft deployed. This augmentation encompasses a comprehensive range of aircraft and encompasses helicopters, seaplanes, 3-seat propeller planes, and jet planes. Presently, a diversified fleet, including Airbus 320/321, Boeing 737, ATR 42 and 72, DHC Q400, Twin Otter, Embraer 145 and 175, Tecnam P2006T, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX, Dornier 228, Airbus H130, and Bell 407 is actively serving on the RCS routes. The heightened demand for aircraft is substantiated by Indian carriers’ orders, which exceed 1,000 aircraft slated for delivery over the next 10-15 years, representing a significant augmentation of India’s existing fleet, which currently comprises approximately 800 planes operated by various airlines.

    Promoting tourism

    RCS-UDAN is not solely dedicated to offering last-mile connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities; it also stands as a prominent contributor to the burgeoning tourism sector. UDAN 3.0 introduced tourism routes connecting several destinations in the Northeast region, while UDAN 5.1 is dedicated to expanding helicopter services in hilly regions to stimulate tourism, hospitality, and local economic growth.

    This initiative has successfully connected destinations such as Khajuraho, Deoghar, Amritsar, and Kishangarh (Ajmer), which have substantial relevance in religious tourism. The entire Northeast region’s tourism industry is experiencing a considerable upsurge due to the introduction of Pasighat, Ziro, Hollongi, and Tezu airports, fostering greater accessibility.The Scheme also achieved another milestone by bringingAgatti Island on the Indian aviation map, further boosting tourism in Lakshadweep.

    Boosting air connectivity

    From Mundra (Gujarat) to Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh andKullu in Himachal Pradesh to Salem in Tamil Nadu, RCS-UDAN hasconnected 34 States/UTs across the length and breadth of the country. A total of 86 aerodromes have been operationalized under UDAN. Ten airports have been operationalized in the Northeast regionin addition to two heliports. Many airports that were operationalized under UDAN such as Darbhanga, Prayagraj, Hubli, Belgaum, Kannur, etc. have or may soon become sustainable with many non-RCS commercial flights operating from these airports.

    ******

    PSF/DK

    (Release ID: 2066529) Visitor Counter : 40

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government provides certainty to horticulture and poultry businesses  

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Government has underlined its commitment to the horticultural and poultry sectors by confirming measures to provide stability, including the allocation for the Seasonal Worker visa route for 2025.

    A package of measures to provide certainty and stability to farmers and growers in the UK’s horticulture, poultry and sheep sectors has been announced by the government today (Monday 21 October).   
     
    Underlining the government’s commitment to the horticultural and poultry sectors, the Seasonal Worker visa route has been confirmed for 2025, with a total of 43,000 Seasonal Worker visas available for horticulture and 2,000 for poultry next year. 

    This will provide certainty and will help the sector secure the labour and skills needed to bring high quality British produce, including strawberries, rhubarb, turkey and daffodils to market.  

    Alongside this, the government is taking action to keep costs down and protect poultry farmers from the impact of avian influenza and delivering fairness in the supply chain for sheep farmers by ensuring producers receive a fair price for their livestock through legislation to mandate sheep carcase classification and price reporting.  

    Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner said:  

    This government recognises that food security is national security, and this can only be achieved by supporting food and farming businesses.  

    Confirming the seasonal worker visa allocation for 2025 gives growers and producers certainty, allowing them to plan ahead and secure the labour they need to grow and thrive.    

    This package of measures will also support farmers by protecting our poultry producers from the impact of avian flu outbreaks and ensuring fairness in the sheep supply chain.

    As well as confirming visa numbers for 2025, Defra has also published the 2023 Seasonal Worker’s Survey report. This is an important part of Defra’s commitment to monitoring the welfare of the seasonal migrant workers who help bring home the horticulture harvest each year.

    Conducted in early 2024, the survey shows that the vast majority of respondents (91.0%) reported a positive experience from their time in the UK and 95% expressed a desire to return.  

    The government is working with industry to improve these numbers further through its farm compliance checks to ensure sponsors are adhering to their duties and undertaking welfare checks on workers, and working with international partners to ensure workers know what work to expect before they arrive and can avoid unnecessary costs and fees.  

    Measures announced on egg and poultry labelling will help farmers to deal with the impact of future avian influenza outbreaks.  

    Currently, when mandatory housing measures are introduced to protect birds from the spread of disease, eggs from free-range birds can only continue to be labelled as ‘free-range’ for 16 weeks after the housing order has come into effect – leading to significant costs to industry. The changes will mean that free-range eggs can continue to be labelled as such throughout mandatory housing measures.  

    This will be brought in through legislation due to be laid on 4 November, and is expected to take effect in January 2025, ensuring a level playing field for UK free-range egg producers against producers in the EU.    

    A consultation on introducing similar measures for the labelling of free-range poultry is also being launched – proposing the removal of the current restrictions which mean that free range poultry can only be labelled as such for 12 weeks after the introduction of housing measures, and the removal of the need for optional indicator certificates to accompany imported poultry meat.  

    The government is also taking action to ensure fairness across the food supply chain to ensure producers receive a fair price for their livestock by bringing forward legislation to mandate sheep carcase classification and price reporting, bringing the sheep sector in line with the beef and pork sectors.

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    Published 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: Over 120 thousand people have taken part in the Abilympics championship in 10 years

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    The final of the National Championship of Professional Skills among Disabled People and People with Limited Health Abilities “Abilympics” will be held at the Gostiny Dvor Exhibition Center in Moscow from October 26 to 29.

    October 21, 2024

    The final of the National Championship of Professional Skills among Disabled People and People with Limited Health Abilities “Abilympics” will be held at the Gostiny Dvor Exhibition Center in Moscow from October 26 to 29.

    October 21, 2024

    Previous news Next news

    The final of the National Championship of Professional Skills among Disabled People and People with Limited Health Abilities “Abilympics” will be held at the Gostiny Dvor Exhibition Center in Moscow from October 26 to 29.

    The final of the National Championship of Professional Skills among Disabled People and People with Limited Health Abilities “Abilympics” will be held in the Gostiny Dvor Exhibition Center in Moscow from October 26 to 29. The championship is being implemented within the framework of the federal project “Professionalism”. This year it will be held under the motto “Dream! Act! Win!”

    “In 2024, the Russian Abilympics movement turns 10. This is an important event in the history of inclusive education in Russia. Over the past time, the championship has become more than just a competition for people with disabilities, but a real guide to the world of professions. It helps schoolchildren, students and specialists realize their potential and develop talents – in accordance with the national goal set by President Vladimir Putin. Over 120 thousand people have taken part in the championship at all stages over 10 years. We are especially proud of the high level of employment: more than 93% have already found work, including those who are still studying,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The main goal of the Russian movement “Abilympics” is to form mechanisms for the comprehensive professional rehabilitation of people with disabilities and limited health capabilities, as well as the development of socio-cultural inclusion in society.

    Today, the championship covers all 89 regions of the country, and the number of competitive competencies has increased sevenfold over 10 years – from 29 to 206. About 2.5 thousand enterprises have become partners of the movement at all levels, and all key decisions are now made with the participation of representatives of public organizations of disabled people.

    “The Abilympics Championship includes two main stages. This year, regional stages were held from March to June in 89 subjects of the Russian Federation. Over 25 thousand people competed in 206 competencies, of which over 10 thousand were with disabilities of the first and second groups. I would like to note separately that this year the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions held regional championships for the first time on the basis of their professional institutions. I thank all the organizers for this work,” said Minister of Education Serhiy Kravtsov.

    Traditionally, the final of the national championship will be held in Moscow, where innovative approaches to ensuring special educational needs are widely implemented and an accessible environment is actively being formed. The site will host competitions in 50 basic and 11 presentation competencies, more than 1 thousand people from all regions of the country will compete for medals and the title of the best in their competence. This event is the largest and most recognizable in Russia in the field of skill development among disabled people and people with disabilities.

    This year, the championship final will be attended by more than 12 thousand people, including participants, heads of executive authorities of the regions of Russia, representatives of all-Russian organizations of the disabled, employer organizations, manufacturers of equipment for people with disabilities, educational and non-profit organizations, as well as delegations from friendly countries. Guests of the championship will be treated to a variety of events and activities: a job fair, career guidance consultations and testing, as well as many master classes.

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://government.ru/nevs/53066/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman Travels to Italy

    Source: USAID

    Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman will travel to Italy on October 21-24 to engage development partners on key priorities, as well as lead the U.S. delegation to the G7 Development Ministerial Meeting.

    The Deputy Administrator will have engagements in Rome on October 21, which will include convening donors and implementing partners to discuss the dire humanitarian conditions in Sudan, and speaking at a panel discussion on combating the ongoing crisis of child wasting. Deputy Administrator Coleman will emphasize U.S. government support for programs to prevent and treat malnutrition and continued evidence generation and learning. 

    Alongside other G7 development leaders in Pescara, Deputy Administrator Coleman will discuss approaches to mitigating the global food security crisis, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), global health, and humanitarian needs around the world. She will also emphasize the U.S. government’s ongoing commitment to partnerships and collaboration with our allies and partners, showcase USAID’s efforts to support increased investment in sustainable infrastructure that delivers mutual economic benefits, and call for greater cooperation to increase access to quality health care for vulnerable populations around the world.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: EPA Settles with Keystone-Conemaugh Projects, LLC for Failure to Meet Coal Ash Regulations

    Source: US Environment Protection Agency

    Settlement is part of EPA’s larger initiative to protect communities from coal ash contamination

    October 18, 2024

    PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Keystone-Conemaugh Projects, LLC (“KEY-CON”) of Blairsville, PA. This settlement commits KEY-CON to ensure that groundwater at its Conemaugh Generating Station (“Conemaugh”) in New Florence, PA is properly monitored and remediated, if necessary, and to pay a civil penalty of penalty of $185,927.

    The settlement is part of EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative, Protecting Communities from Coal Ash Contamination. This Initiative is needed given the breadth and scope of observed noncompliance with the federal coal ash regulations. Coal ash, which is produced from the burning of coal for energy, is a large industrial waste stream (by volume) and contains certain contaminants known to cause cancer and other serious health effects. Prior to 2015, the management and disposal of coal ash was not regulated at the national level; instead, it was regulated to varying degrees, if at all, by some states. Historically, coal ash was typically disposed in unlined landfills and unlined surface impoundments many of which are in contact with groundwater.

    Without proper containment and management, contaminants from coal ash can pollute waterways, groundwater, drinking water and the air. The additional enforcement resources under EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative to address this issue will help protect both water sources, including drinking water, as well as the often-overburdened communities who live near these units.

    “The Biden-Harris Administration takes seriously the threat to human health and the environment from coal ash contamination, especially in communities historically overburdened by pollution,” said EPA Region 3 Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “Our goal is always to bring companies into compliance and ensure that everyone, regardless of zip code, is protected.”

    Conemaugh is a coal-powered electric generation facility and has disposed of coal ash in four Ash Filter Ponds (surface impoundments). KEY-CON has made improvements at its facility, such as installing geosynthetic liners in its Ash Filter Ponds and adding additional groundwater monitoring wells. If groundwater monitoring reveals contamination above the federal groundwater protection standards, then KEY-CON will be required by regulation to design and implement a corrective action program to address the detected contamination.

    In the agreement, EPA alleges that KEY-CON did not meet certain requirements under the coal ash program, including:

    • Failure to install a groundwater monitoring system that accurately characterizes the quality of groundwater passing the waste boundary of the coal ash unit;
    • Failure to monitor all potential contaminant pathways and install a sufficient number of wells to achieve the general performance standard of accurately representing the quality of both background groundwater and groundwater passing the waste boundary of Ash Filter Ponds;
    • Failure to adequately document the basis for including the minimum number of wells in the facility’s groundwater monitoring system; and
    • Failure to perform assessment monitoring after a statistically significant increase (SSI) over background levels was detected for one or more constituents listed in Appendix III to 40 C.F.R. Part 257.

    Read EPA’s Consent Agreement and Final Order here

    Background

    In April 2015, EPA established national rules for coal ash management and disposal to address:

    • Risks from disposal and discharge of coal ash, including leaking of contaminants into groundwater,
    • blowing of contaminants into the air as dust, and
    • Catastrophic failure of coal ash surface impoundments. 

    These rules established a comprehensive set of requirements for the safe handling and disposal of coal ash from coal-fired power plants, including technical requirements for coal ash landfills and surface impoundments.

    For more information on coal ash and the Agency’s coal ash program activities, please visit EPA’s Coal Ash (CCR) website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 24, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: EPA Announces Over $5.5M to Missouri Selectees to Upgrade Older Diesel Engines to Cleaner and Zero-Emission Solutions

    Source: US Environment Protection Agency

    Selectees have projects benefitting Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska

    October 18, 2024

    LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 18, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced selections totaling nearly $125 million under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants program, including over $5.5 million to Missouri selectees.

    This funding will incentivize and accelerate the upgrade or retirement of older diesel engines to cleaner and zero-emission solutions, leading to significant emission reductions and air quality and public health benefits.

    These awards are in final workplan negotiations with the tentatively selected applicants. The DERA program prioritizes projects in areas that face air quality impacts, especially those projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and other areas that face particular public health or environmental justice risks or impacts.

    “Every community deserves to breathe clean air, but too many communities are still over-burdened by pollution from older diesel equipment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With the latest round of funding, EPA’s successful DERA program will upgrade these sources of harmful pollution, and accelerate real progress toward a cleaner, more just, and healthier future for all Americans.”

    In total, EPA has tentatively selected approximately 70 national DERA projects to reduce diesel emissions across a range of transportation sectors, including the engine replacements and upgrades to school buses, port equipment, and construction equipment. In addition to funding new cleaner diesel technologies, over half of these selections will support replacing older equipment and vehicles with zero-emission technologies, such as all-electric school buses, terminal tractors, drayage trucks, and provide shore power to marine vessels.

    Missouri selectees may have projects in additional Region 7 states, as noted below:

    • The American Lung Association was selected to receive $1,715,131 to replace one diesel terminal tractor with one zero-emission terminal tractor; replace three diesel regional-haul delivery trucks with three zero-emission, regional-haul delivery trucks; replace 11 diesel refuse haulers with 11 compressed natural gas refuse haulers; and purchase eight auxiliary power units for line-haul locomotives. This selection will benefit projects in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
    • The Metropolitan Energy Center Inc. was selected to receive $2,832,804 to replace three diesel school buses with propane buses; replace four terminal trucks with battery-electric and install two direct-current, fast charger charging stations; and replace eight Class 6-7 delivery vans with battery-electric models. This selection will benefit projects in Kansas and Missouri.
    • The Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission was selected to receive $117,164 to replace three dump trucks with new diesel engine vehicles.
    • The Leonardo Academy Inc. was selected to receive $912,017 to replace 16 diesel school buses with 16 propane-powered school buses. This selection will benefit projects in Missouri.

    All selected projects will reduce diesel pollution and benefit local communities, including disadvantaged communities and other areas facing environmental justice concerns. A small number of awards are still being processed. Once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied and additional selections are finalized, EPA will update the DERA National Awards webpage.

    Background

    Eligible activities include the retrofit or replacement of existing diesel engines, vehicles, and equipment with EPA- and California Air Resources Board (CARB)-certified engine configurations and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies. Reducing emissions from diesel engines is one of the most important air quality challenges facing the country. New diesel engines must meet tight standards, however, nearly 8 million legacy diesel engines across transportation sectors remain in service and emit higher levels of harmful nitrogen oxides and particulate matter than newer diesel engines. These pollutants are linked to a range of serious health problems including asthma, lung and heart disease, other respiratory ailments, and premature death.

    In selecting projects for awards, priority was given to projects that:

    • Are in areas designated as having poor air quality.
    • Reduce emissions from ports and other goods movement facilities.
    • Benefit local communities.
    • Incorporate local communities in project planning.
    • Demonstrate planning or action toward reducing vulnerabilities to climate impacts.
    • Illustrate preparation for workforce development.
    • Demonstrate an ability to continue efforts to reduce emissions after the project has ended.

    DERA advances environmental justice by prioritizing emissions reductions in areas particularly affected by health and environmental impacts from diesel fleets. EPA is committed to ensuring that the DERA program delivers on the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

    Read more about the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program.

    # # #

    Learn more about EPA Region 7

    Visit the Region 7 Media page

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 24, 2025
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