ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
President's Secretariat
With the Second Highest Literacy Levels in The Country, Mizoram is a Truly Modern State Ready to Take Off for Higher Achievements: President Kovind
President of India Graces the 16th Convocation of Mizoram University
With the second highest literacy levels in the country, Mizoram is a truly modern state ready to take off for higher achievements, said the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind. He was addressing the 16th convocation of Mizoram University at Aizawl today .
The President said that Mizoram is blessed with natural resources in abundance. A region which is rich in bio-diversity offers vast opportunities for research and development. However, it is our responsibility to strike the right balance between development and sustainability. The environment in this state as well as the other north-eastern states needs to be preserved with care. We must adopt practices which are beneficial not only to us but also to the nature. He praised the people of Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura for generating the least plastic waste as per a study by NITI Aayog. He said that this is a good example of responsible consumption and production. He also noted that despite busy traffic, the dutiful people of Aizawl refrain from honking. He said that this practice is worth appreciating and may be adopted by people in other cities too.
The President said that according to progress on Goal - 4 of UN Sustainable Development Goals which pertains to providing Quality Education, NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2020-21 shows that Mizoram with a score of 60 performed better than the national average of 57. An interesting point that figured in the analysis was that the score for Goal - 4 ranked Aizwal as the top performer among all districts of the north-eastern states. He urged the people of Aizwal to handhold and encourage the people in the other districts of the state to improve their social indices and participate in the process of national development.
The President said that educational institutions are the incubators of the future. They not only provide training and education to students but mould them into good citizens. It is the unrelenting support of the teachers at the educational institutions and universities that plays the most prominent role in the lives of the students. He was happy to note that the faculty of Mizoram University is not only well qualified but also engaged in qualitative research work. He said that good researchers are often exceptional teachers too. Their experimental learning is better imbibed by the students. Such faculty also encourages the spirit of research and innovation.
The President said that the entrepreneurship development activities and establishment of “Technology Incubation Centers” in the Mizoram University extending support to the budding entrepreneurs to nurture their ideas with innovation and creativity is a step in the right direction. He appreciated those initiatives of the university to promote innovation and transform it into enterprise. He said that this is the key to bring about change in our society and economy.
Please click here to see the President's Speech -
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Contract Farming
Though Agriculture and Agricultural Marketing is a State Subject, Government has made a provision for Contract Farming in the Model Acts circulated to the States for their adoption. As per the Model APMC Act, 2003, 15 States have provisioned Contract Farming in their state APMC Acts.
Details of States provisioning Contract Farming in their State APMC Acts
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Andhra Pradesh
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Chhattisgarh
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Haryana
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Himachal Pradesh
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Jharkhand
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Karnataka
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Madhya Pradesh
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Maharashtra
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Mizoram
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Odisha
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Punjab 
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Rajasthan
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Sikkim
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Telangana
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Uttarakhand
This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
130.39 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
India's Active caseload currently stands at 94,742
Active cases account for less than 1% of total cases, currently at 0.27%; Lowest since March 2020
Recovery Rate currently at 98.36%; Highest since March 2020
8,251 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 3,40,97,388
9,419 new cases in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate  less than 2% for last 66 days
Weekly Positivity Rate  less than 1% for last 25 days
65.19 cr Total Tests conducted so far
Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department designates Income tax Authority before whom particulars of parent entity and alternate reporting entity to file Country-by-Country Report would be notified
In order to ensure that a multinational enterprise would report its profit correctly where it is earned, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development  had developed an Action Plan called “Base Erosion and Profit Shifting  Action Plan 13”. Under BEPS Action Plan 13, all large multinational enterprises  are required to prepare a country-by-country  report with aggregate data on the global allocation of income, profit, taxes paid and economic activity among tax jurisdictions in which they operate. In essence, CbC Report is an annual return that breaks down key elements of the financial statements by jurisdiction. A CbC report provides local tax authorities visibility to revenue, income, tax paid and accrued, employment, capital, retained earnings, tangible assets and activities of the concerned MNE.
This CbC report is used as a corroborating material by Income tax Authorities in carrying out revenue risk assessment.
As per corresponding provisions of Indian Income tax Laws, every MNE group which has a constituent entity resident in India is mandated to notify the Income-tax Department its parent entity and alternate reporting entity and the countries where such entities are resident. Such parent entity or alternate reporting entity is required to furnish a report called “Country-by-Country Report” specifying certain information including:
 the aggregate information in respect of the amount of revenue, profit or loss before income-tax, amount of income-tax paid, amount of income-tax accrued, stated capital, accumulated earnings, number of employees and tangible assets not being cash or cash equivalents, with regard to each country or territory in which the group operates;
 the details of each constituent entity of the group including the country or territory in which such constituent entity is incorporated or organised or established and the country or territory where it is resident;
 the nature and details of the main business activity or activities of each constituent entity.
For the above stated purpose, the Central Board of Direct Taxes had notified Rules 10DA, 10DB and Form Nos. 3CEAA to 3CEAE in Income-tax Rules, 1962.
The Income Tax  Rules, 2020 has amended rules 10DA and 10DB and notification no. 03/2020 dated 06.01.2020 has already been issued in this regard. As per the amended sub-rule of rule 10DB, the income tax authority for the purpose of section 286 shall be the Joint Commissioner as may be designated by the Director General of Income tax .
In view of the above amendment and in exercise of the powers conferred by section 286 of the Act, the Director General of Income tax  has designated the Joint Director of Income tax -1 having office at 4th Floor, C-Block, Dr. S.P. Mukherjee Civic Centre, Minto Road, New Delhi-110002 as the Income tax Authority for the purpose of section 286 of the Act, with effect from the first day of April, 2020.
The notification no. 03/2020 is available on www.incometaxindia.gov.in.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
A series of events planned for this year’s World Environment Day
Song “Hawa Aane De” released on this year’s theme, Air Pollution.
World Environment Day  is celebrated on 5th June every year. Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change  celebrates WED focussing on the theme declared by UNEP and organizes several events. This year’s theme is ‘Air Pollution’. Keeping with the tradition, this year the main function is being held at Vigyan Bhawan on 5th June, 2019 and will be presided over by the Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change. The events will include launch of film competition on environment, release of several books and three thematic sessions on Air Pollution, Waste Management and Forests: the Green Lungs of cities. The World Environment Day will also be celebrated across the country in State Capitals and other places.
The theme song was launched by Secretary MoEFCC, Shri C.K. Mishra in the presence of the artists involved with the song, today in New Delhi. At the launch function Secretary said that the song is a call to action for all to come together to combat the environmental challenges of our time, urging each one of us to explore green technologies and measures to improve the quality of air and make the country and our cities less polluted.
It is noteworthy that to combat air pollution, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has recently launched the National Clean Air programme  which is a mid-term 5 Year Action Plan with targets of 20-30% reduction of PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration in 102 cities, out of which 84 cities have already submitted their action plan. The main objective of NCAP is to control and abate air pollution across the country. It is a multi sectoral and collaborative approach with mainstreaming and integration.
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, in collaboration with Bhamla Foundation, Mumbai,has produced the theme song on the subject. The song #HawaAaneDe with celebrities and influencers is intended to carry out the message of Air Pollution. The theme song is written by Shri Swanand Kirkire and sung by Shri Shantanu Mukherjee, Kapil Sharma, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shankar Mahadevan. The film has been directed by Shri Romanchak Arora.
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles loss of lives due to bus accident in Cuttack
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives due to the bus accident in Cuttack, Odisha.
“Condolences to those who lost their loved ones due to the bus accident in Cuttack, Odisha. May the injured recover at the earliest”, the Prime Minister said.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Government approves amendments in FM Radio Phase-III Policy guidelines
The Government has approved the amendments of certain provisions contained in the Policy Guidelines on Expansion of FM Radio Broadcasting Services through Private Agencies  referred as Private FM Phase-III Policy Guidelines. The decision was taken in the last Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
In this direction, Government has decided to remove the 3-year window period for restructuring of FM radio permissions within the same management group during the license period of 15 years. Government has also accepted the long pending demand of the radio industry to remove the 15% National cap on channel holding. Further with the simplification of financial eligibility norms in FM radio policy, an applicant company can now participate in bidding for ‘C’ and ‘D’ category cities with a net worth of just Rs.1 crore in place of Rs.1.5 crore earlier.
These three amendments together will help private FM radio industry to fully leverage the economies of scale and pave the way for further expansion of FM radio and entertainment to Tier-III cities in the country. This will not only create new employment opportunities but also ensure that music and entertainment over the FTA  radio media is available to the common man in the remotest corners of the country.
To improve Ease of Doing Business in the country, the emphasis of the Government has been on simplification and rationalization of the existing rules to make Governance more efficient and effective so that its benefits reach the common man.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
200.33 cr Total Vaccine doses  have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
27,78,013 doses administered in last 24 hours
India's Active caseload currently stands at 1,43,654
Active cases stand at 0.33%
Recovery Rate currently at 98.47%
16,113 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 4,31,13,623
15,528 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate 
Weekly Positivity Rate 
87.01 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 4,68,350 tests conducted in the last 24 hours
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Green Climate Fund
The Government of India organized a stakeholder consultation workshop on ‘Understanding India’s Climate Financing needs and its mobilization with focus on Green Climate Fund ’ under the ongoing GCF Readiness Program on 24th June 2022 in New Delhi. The workshop addressed ways of mobilizing finance at scale to facilitate a shift to low greenhouse gas emission and climate resilient development path, aligned with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions under Paris Agreement. The workshop suggested that sustainability path significantly raises the need for finance and human, technological and institutional capacities.
The task of developing a global architecture for trade in credits for emission reductions under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is assigned to the UNFCCC Secretariat, as per the decisions of Parties to Paris Agreement. The GCF’s objective is to support shift towards low-emission and climate resilient development path by providing support to developing countries in the form of grants, loans, guarantees, equity etc. The Government of India has been actively engaging with GCF. So far, 5 projects have been approved with total allocation of USD 514.8 million in diverse areas including water, clean energy, livelihoods and transport. Two projects under GCF i.e.,  Ground Water Recharge and Solar Micro Irrigation to Ensure Food Security and Enhance Resilience in Vulnerable Tribal Areas of Odisha and  Enhancing climate resilience of India’s coastal communities, are being implemented with the active participation of communities in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
EAC-PM
Government reconstitutes Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
Government of India has reconstituted the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister  for a period of two years with effect from 26th September 2019.Dr. Bibek Debroy and Shri Ratan P. Watal will continue to be the Chairman and Member Secretary respectively of the reconstituted EAC-PM. Apart from these two Full-Time Members, the EAC-PM will have two Part-Time Members.While Dr. Ashima Goel continues to be one of the Part-Time Members, Dr. Sajjid Chinoy has been made as another Part-time Member.
Ministry of Coal
Coal Sector geared up to meet the upsurge in Power Demand: Ministry of Coal
Ministry of Coal is all geared up to address the issue of stock build up at the end of the Thermal Power Plants  during the monsoon season. It is notable that coal stocks with CIL are adequate to meet the upsurge in Power demand being witnessed in the country since July this year. The supply of coal to the Power Plants is being monitored at the highest level in the Ministry on a daily basis in coordination with the Ministry of Power, Railways and the Coal Companies. Secretary  has reviewed the supply scenario with the Coal Companies on 27th August as well as 30th August. Secretary  has given specific instructions to the coal companies to give priority supplies to all the TPPs having critical stock level and to focus on stock liquidation from the mines having high stock level. He has further directed that in case of availability issue at linked mines alternative sources be allocated for smooth running of the plant. The despatches are being aligned with the advisories of Power Ministry.
Coal India Limited  has stepped up its coal supplies vigorously during the last five days of August’ 21 consistently clocking 1.7 million tonnes  per day. Augmenting supplies to coal fired power plants, CIL is pumping 1.36 MTs of coal per day. The last three-day average loading to power sector has touched 1.4 MTs. The coal supplies to TPPs has picked up only in July and have been at a historic high since then. All efforts are being made in cooperation with Railway authorities to enhance despatch to meet the unprecedented growth in demand for coal-based power. The subsidiaries of CIL have upped their loading commensurate with the prevailing demand scenario. Mahanadi Coalfields Limited  in a record performance has despatched 102 rakes on 30th August. CIL has registered the highest ever loading since July’ 21of 285 rakes in a single day on 30th August from CIL sidings. The depletion rate of coal stocks in TPPs has now much reduced.
In the coming days the supplies from the coal companies to the Power Plants is expected to improve further to stand by the nation in these critical monsoon months and meet the demand of the power sector. It is expected that in the next few days, the coal stock at TPPs will stabilise and start rising thereafter.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Cabinet Secretary chairs NCMC meeting to review flood situation in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan
A meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee , chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, Shri Rajiv Gauba, was held today to review the prevailing flood situation in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Cabinet Secretary took stock of the current situation, preparedness, rescueand relief operations and directed that immediate assistance, as sought by the states, be provided to meet the crisis.
It was informed by both the States that due to extremely heavy rainfall and the consequent discharge of water from the Gandhi Sagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh and other reservoirs in the two states, there has been flooding in the upstream as well as downstream areas.
Action to evacuate and rescue people and livestock has been taken by the states and no loss of life has been reported. Adequate teams of the NDRF and Army have also been deployed and are engaged in rescue work.
India Meteorological Department  has stated that while there has been very heavy rainfall in these States over the past few days, the intensity is likely to decline from tomorrow.
Senior officials of the Ministries of Home and Defence, as well as those from IMD, NDRF and Central Water Commission attended the meeting. Chief Secretaries and other senior officers from the State Governments participated in the meeting through Video Conference.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Overseas Scholarships for SCS, OBCS, EBCS and Weaker Sections
Government of India has been implementing following two schemes for Overseas studies:
1. National Overseas Scholarship for SC etc. candidates under which financial assistance is provided to the selected students from Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadics & Semi - Nomadic Tribes, Landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans categories for pursuing higher studies at Masters level courses and Ph.D. abroad. Hundred awards, subject to availability of funds, per year are available under the Scheme. 30% of the awards have been earmarked for women candidates. The Scheme provides for payment of tuition fees charged by the institutions as per actuals, maintenance allowance, air passage, visa fee, insurance premium, annual contingency allowance and incidental journey allowance.
2. Dr. Ambedkar Central Sector Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies for Other Backward Classes  and Economically Backward Classes  under which interest subsidy is provided to the education loans for overseas studies availed by OBC/EBC students during the moratorium period i.e. course period, plus one year or six months after getting job, whichever is earlier.
Norms/ eligibility criteria of both schemes are as under:
1) National Overseas for SC candidates: The prospective awardees should not be more than 35 years of age as on 1st April of the selection year. In case of Scholarship for Masters Degree abroad, minimum required qualification is Graduation Degree with 60% of marks whereas for Ph.D, the minimum qualification requirement is Masters Degree with 60% of marks. The total family income of the candidate from all sources should not be more than Rs 8.00 lakh /- per annum. Maximum of two children of the same parents/guardians are eligible.
2) Dr. Ambedkar Central Sector Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies for Other Backward Classes  and Economically Backward Classes  is awarded to students for pursuing Masters, M.Phil or Ph.D levels abroad to students of OBCs and EBCs category having income from all sources  shall not exceed present creamy layer limit of Rs. 8.00 lakh per annum for OBCs and EBCs.
This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Communications
Pre-selling/booking of Starlink services in India Regarding
It has come to the notice of the Telecommunications Department that M/s Starlink has started pre-selling/booking of its satellite based Internet Services in India. The same is also evident from the website of Starlink  wherein such services can be booked by users in Indian territory.
For rendering satellite based services in India, requisite license  from the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India is/are required. It is hereby informed to the public at large that the said company has not obtained any license/authorization for rendering satellite based internet services that are being booked on its website. Accordingly, the Government has asked the company to comply with the Indian regulatory framework and refrain from booking/rendering such services in India with immediate effect.
Given the fact that Starlink is not a licensee, the public is advised not to subscribe to Starlink services being advertised.
Ministry of Defence
Kashmir Super 50
Project Kashmir Super 50, a joint initiative by Indian Army, Center for Social Responsibility and Leadership  and PETRONET LNG Limited  was launched on 22 March 2013 to transform the educational status of children from economically weaker sections in the Kashmir region. As part of the 11-month program, selected students are provided with complete free residential coaching for IIT-JEE, JKCET and other premier Engineering Institutes.
The outgoing batch is the fifth batch of Kashmir Super 50 which had 45 boys based in Srinagar and five girl students based in Noida. Out of which this year, 32 students  have cleared IIT-JEE Mains and seven students have cleared IIT-JEE Advance.
Kashmir Super 50 has been one of the most successful projects undertaken by the Indian Army in the valley and has directly impacted the lives of number of youths in J&K by providing them the right guidance and opportunity to make a career for themselves. The project has equally helped the families of these youths in their growth and prosperity. It is a major initiative towards bringing normalcy in the valley.
A group of 30 students, part of Kashmir Super 50 visited New Delhi and interacted with General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff on 12 Jun 18. The General shared his experiences while serving in these areas, with the students and motivated them to work hard & contribute actively in the nation building process.
On similar lines of Kashmir Super 50 for engineering aspirants, Indian Army has recently signed a MoU for medical aspirants with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited  & National Integrity Educational Development Organisation , under which selected students will be provided with complete free residential coaching for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test .