ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Special Service and Features
IISER 11th Convocation held
The 11th convocation of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram  was held at Thiruvananthapuram. Former Chairperson, of ISRO and Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the IIT Council Dr. K. Radhakrishnan was the Chief Guest at the event. He said that IISER is a game-changer for Indian science and urged the graduates to be the ambassadors for their alma mater. He also advised the graduates to contribute to addressing the key scientific, technical, social and environmental issues that our world is facing today. 189 BS-MS, 73 MSc, 21 MS , 36 PhD and 12 integrated PhD students were awarded the degrees in the 11th Convocation. Gold medals were also given to meritorious students.
IISER Board of Governors Chairperson Prof. Arvind A Natu presided over the event and said that the Indian education system is at crossroads and is undergoing a sudden massive expansion and liberalization. Director Prof. J. N. Moorthy presented the report on the developments and progress of the Institute.
NS
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Ministry of Tourism
Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism Shri Prahlad Singh Patel addresses a webinar on “Cross Border Tourism” promoting Buddhist Pilgrimages
Ministry of Tourism has taken several initiatives for the development and promotion of Buddhist sites in the country: Shri Patel
Union Minister of State  for Tourism & Culture Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, as Chief Guest inaugurated the Webinar on “Cross Border Tourism” organised by the Association of Buddhist Tour Operators on 15th July 2020
Inaugurating the Webinar, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel listed the important sites in India related to the life of Lord Buddha. He mentioned that Buddhism has a large following across the world and India being the ‘Land of Buddha’ and endowed with rich Buddhist heritage attracts very small percentage of Buddhist Pilgrims. Shri Patel stressed the point that it was important for all to ascertain the reasons for India receiving a fraction of global Buddhists as tourist/Pilgrims and take corrective measures accordingly.
The Minister also shared the initiative of having signage in international languages at important Buddhist sites in the country including signages in Chinese language that have been put up at 5 Buddhist sites / monuments in Uttar Pradesh including Sarnath, Kushinagar and Sravasti. Similarly, since Sanchi receives a large number of tourists from Sri Lanka, signages in Sinhalese language have been put up at the Sanchimonuments.
The MoS  Tourism & Culture also highlighted the decision of Government of India to declare the Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh as an International Airport which will offer better connectivity to the air-travellers resulting in boosting of domestic/international tourism and economic development of the region.
He further informed that the Ministry of Tourism, under its various schemes has taken several initiatives for the development and promotion of Buddhist sites in the country.
The Association of Buddhist Tour Operators is the association of dedicated inbound tour-operators engaged in promoting Buddhist tourism, with over 1500 members in India & Overseas.
Participants in the Webinar included representatives from the UN Peace Keeping Forces Council, Travel & Hospitality Associations of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam amongst others.
Ministry of Defence
IMPHAL, INDIAN NAVY’S THIRD SHIP OF PROJECT 15B SAILS FOR MAIDEN SEA TRIALS
Imphal, Indian Navy’s third indigenous stealth destroyer of the Project 15B class, planned to be commissioned later this year, undertook her maiden sea sortie today. The ship incorporates several niche technologies and high indigenous content and is designed in-house by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Ltd.  stands proud testimony to the Indian Navy’s thrust on the national vision of ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Imphal will have the unique distinction of being the largest and most advanced destroyer to be ever named after a city from the North-East. Imphal would thus be a befitting symbol of the growing importance and contribution of the North-Eastern region and the state of Manipur towards national security and development.
Imphal will add significantly to the Indian Navy’s combat capabilities. With the recent commissioning of her predecessor INS Mormugao in December 2022 and the fifth Project 75 submarine INS Vagir in January 2023, commencement of sea trials of Imphal is yet another important milestone in MDL’s continued contribution towards building a strong, modern and self-reliant India.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Credible data at frequent intervals will help in focussed and evidence-based policy making, leading to targeted and last mile delivery: Shri Bhupender Yadav
Union Labour & Employment Minister flags off field work of the Area Frame Establishment Survey 
Presents approval letters under ESIC Covid Relief Scheme;
Distributes letters under Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana on the occasion of 101st Foundation Day of Labour Bureau
Special camp for registration of unorganised workers under “e-Shram” portal organised, cards distributed
Minister for Labour and Employment, Shri Bhupender Yadav today said that following the motto of “Mehnat Ko Samman, Adhikar Ek Saman”, the Government is focused on the welfare of workers through evidence-based policy making. The Union Minister flagging off the field work of the Area Frame Establishment Survey  at Shram Bureau Bhawan, Chandigarh today on the occasion of 101st Foundation Day of Labour Bureau.
During the event, he mentioned that data on all aspects of labour is crucial and scientifically collected data is bedrock for any evidence-based policy making. With the increasing importance of data in the time to come coupled with the fact that India is a labour abundant nation, a dedicated organization for labour and price statistics like the Labour Bureau merits strengthening and full support, said the minister.
The Minister also held discussions with the State Labour Ministers, Labour Secretaries & Commissioners of States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh & UTs of Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh regarding progress with respect to registration of unorganized workers under e-Shram portal and preparedness of States/UTs on implementation of various schemes and reforms.
The Minister also distributed e-Shram cards to unorganised workers and presented approval letters under ESIC Covid Relief Scheme to the dependents of the people who lost their lives due to the pandemic. On the occasion Shri Yadav also distributed letters under Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana to workers.
The Minister made a visit to special camp for registration of unorganised workers under “e-Shram” portal organised by Office of Chief Labour Commissioner , Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India. The Minister distributed e-Shram cards to unorganised workers and held an interaction with trade union leaders, employers & unorganised workers.
The e-Shram portal https://eshram.gov.in was inaugurated on 26th August, 2021. More than 2.5 crore registrations have been done so far on the portal. The portal is the first-ever national database of unorganised workers including migrant workers, construction workers, gig and platform workers.
Expressing happieness, Shri Yadav also informed that while the 4th week, since the launch of website, was marked by a galloping registration of unorganized workers, crossing over 1.71 crores, this  week more than 2.51 crore workers in total are registered on this portal as on date
.An estimated 38 crore workers are engaged in the unorganized sector and employment .
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles the passing away of Geeta Press President, Radheshyam Khemka
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the passing away of Geeta Press President, Radheshyam Khemka Ji.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "गीता प्रेस के अध्यक्ष और सनातन साहित्य को जन-जन तक पहुंचाने वाले राधेश्याम खेमका जी के निधन से अत्यंत दुख हुआ है। खेमका जी जीवनपर्यंत विभिन्न सामाजिक कार्यों में सक्रिय रहे। शोक की इस घड़ी में मेरी संवेदनाएं उनके परिजनों और प्रशंसकों के साथ हैं। ओम शांति!"
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
14th BSM conducted by Spices Board in FY 2020-21, covering Chili and Turmeric
India is the world’s largest exporter of chili and turmeric, the exports of which have recorded a steady progress, over the years. During 2019-20, India exported 4,84,000 tonnes of chili and chili products valued at Rs.6211.70 crores which contributed to more than 40 per cent in volume and 29 per cent in value of India’s total spice exports. Turmeric held a share of 11 per cent in volume and 6 per cent in value of the export basket, with an export of 1,36,000 tonnes valued at Rs.1216.40 crores.
During the pandemic situation, the export of turmeric from India, a spice with immunity boosting properties, has recorded an impressive growth of 42 per cent in terms of volume during the first half of 2020-21.
Spices Board conducted the Virtual Buyer Seller Meet for Chili and Turmeric, with focus on Andhra Pradesh, which saw participation from 245 stakeholders. This was the 14th BSM conducted by the Board in FY 2020-21.
Highlighting the success of the BSMs in terms of better price discoveries by the remote areas and giving accessibility to farmers and farmer producer groups, Shri D Sathiyan, Chairman and Secretary, Spices Board stated that spices items in 225 categories were exported to 185 countries in the last year. He stressed on demand for value addition of spices and stated that the Spices Parks are available for entrepreneurs for availing processing and warehousing facilities.
Shri GVL Narsimha Rao, Hon’ble MP, Rajya Sabha and Member, Spices Board inaugurated the BSM and stated that the export quantity of chili has almost doubled in the last decade. He opined that integration between all segments of value chain will help to derive better value in export. He highlighted the need for more value addition in spices and urged the exporters to come up with ideas for enhancing export of value addition in chili and ways of investment in spice processing.
Spices Board and state Agri/Horti Departments have been putting in increasing efforts through various schemes and programmes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana region which is a production hub of spices like chili, turmeric and pepper.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 217.68 Cr
Over 4.09 Cr 1st dose vaccines administered for age group 12-14 years
India's Active caseload currently stands at 43,415
4,129 new cases reported in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently stands at 98.72%
Weekly Positivity Rate is presently at 1.61%
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 217.68 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today.
COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on 16 March, 2022. So far, more than 4.09 Cr  adolescents have been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, the COVID-19 precaution dose administration for age group 18-59 years also started from 10th April, 2022 onwards.
The break-up of the cumulative figure as per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
|
|
Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
10414991
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
10116876
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
6979559
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
18436448
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
17713627
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
13573416
|
|
Age Group 12-14 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
40940886
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
31531491
|
|
Age Group 15-18 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
61915598
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
52962331
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
561179893
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
515390777
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
90004699
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
204012489
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
196872442
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
46572396
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
127655498
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
123079807
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
46314718
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
20,44,12,463
|
|
Total
|
|
2,17,68,35,714
India’s Active Caseload currently stands at 43,415. Active cases now constitute 0.10% of the country's total Positive Cases.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.72%. 4,688 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients  is now at 4,40,00,298.
4,129 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
The last 24 hours saw a total of 1,64,377 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 89.38 Cr  cumulative tests.
Weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently stands at 1.61% and the Daily Positivity rate is reported to be 2.51%.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Advances in microscopy has helped study complex questions of locomotion: Prof VijayRaghavan
Professor K. VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, has highlighted how advances in microscopy has helped in the study of complex questions of walking and flying by allowing us to witness the cells at their finest resolution and revealing the specific components of the cells as well as their functions. He was delivering the Founder’s Day lecture of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics .
“Improvements in observational tools allow us to experiment, cells can be removed genetically, components of cells can be knocked down and their functions can be increased, and much can be derived from ‘loss of functions’ and ‘gain of functions’ technology, Professor K. VijayRaghavan said during his lecture on ‘The Development of Locomotion’ at the virtual celebration of the Founder’s Day on the 50 years of Indian Institute of Astrophysics, , an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India.
Referring to his experiments on the fruit-fly, he added that over the last twenty years, the tools of observation have been improved so much that one can open up the insect and observe what is happening. Further, various kinds of dyes and labels can be used to highlight various components, just like observational astronomy across various spectra.
Professor VijayRaghavan explained that locomotion or movement is the output of the nervous system reacting to the information we pick from our surroundings and depends on how we take it up and process it in our brain and spinal cord.
He elaborated that there is a substantial amount of work being done on the connectivity of the commands which control these movements. Another area of that has been focused on in the past 20 years is ‘how movement develops’ or ‘how a baby monkey runs around soon after its birth while humans cannot, as well as how the ability to move and deal with the real world is put together. “The answer to these questions lies substantially in breaking down the components required for movement in different units-- the nervous system, muscles, tendons, connections to the brain and so on and asking how each of them develops just like in case of an automobile factory where different parts are manufactured to function perfectly and connect to other parts so that the interaction functions perfectly.
Professor VijyaRaghavan elucidated how two principal theories of biological sciences--Theory of evolution by natural selection and the concept of how chemistry on this planet is linked by the thread of the DNA, has helped understanding of one organism from the study of another. “The studies on the fruit fly have been of great importance in understanding various phenomenon like innate immunity because the same toolkit which is there in fruitfly is used to make a human being. What changes is the material and scale of implementation of rules, but the rules remains the same,” he pointed out.
Ministry of Minority Affairs
Infrastructure Development Programme
The Ministry of Minority Affairs implements the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakaram , in the identified Minority Concentration Areas  of the country, with the objective to develop socio economic assets and basic amenities in the MCAs. The scheme was restructured in May 2018 and areas identified for implementation of the scheme was increased from a coverage of 196 districts to 308 districts which includes 870 Minority Concentration Blocks, 321 Minority Concentration Towns and 109 Minority Concentration District Headquarters. The District Headquarters were identified as Minority Concentration Areas for the first time. The details of MCAs are available at http:// www.minorityaffairs.gov.in. In the last 7 years, under the “Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karykram”  more than 43 thousand basic infrastructure projects have been created such as schools, colleges, hostels, community centres, common service centres, ITIs, Polytechnics, Girls Hostels, Sadbhavana Mandap, Hunar Hub etc in backward Minority concentrated areas across the country.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Textiles
Promotion of Domestic Textile Clusters
Domestic textile clusters are promoted through various Government initiatives. The concept of setting up of Mega Textiles Parks by Ministry of Textiles is at stage of discussion.
Products like fibre, yarn and fabric in the textile value chain are being strengthened and made competitive through various scheme like Powertex for fabric segment, Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme  for all segments except spinning and Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks  for all segments.
Government has removed anti-dumping duty on PTA, a key raw material for the manufacture of MMF fibre and yarn. To enhance local sourcing, the consolidated FDI policy s effective from August 28, 2017.
According to this policy, for Single Brand Product Retail trading, in respect of proposals involving foreign investment beyond 51%, sourcing of 30% of the value of goods purchased, will be done from India, preferably from MSMEs, village and cottage industries, artisans and craftsmen, in all sectors.
For Multi Brand Retail trading, at least 30% of the value of procurement of manufactured/ processed products purchased will be sourced from Indian micro, small and medium industries, which have a total investment in plant & machinery not exceeding USD 2 million.
This information was given by the Minister of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
In view of sharp spike in COVID-19 cases, Centre rushes High Level team to Kerala
Central Team to support the State in effective public health interventions for COVID19 management
Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has decided to depute a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Kerala to collaborate with the State Health Authorities in instituting effective public health measures for COVID-19 management in view of the significantly enhanced number of daily COVID cases being reported by Kerala.
The 6 member Central team to Kerala is headed by Dr. S K Singh, Director, National Centre for Disease Control . The team shall reach Kerala on 30th July, 2021 and visit a few districts.
The team shall work closely with the State Health Departments, take a stock of on ground situation and recommend necessary public health interventions to contain the large number of cases being reported by the State.
Kerala with an active case load of 1.54 lakh is contributing 37.1% of the total active cases in the country, with a growth rate of 1.41 in the last 7 days. Average daily cases being reported in the state are above 17,443. The state has also reported a high case positivity of 12.93% cumulatively and 11.97% weekly. 6 districts are reporting more than 10% weekly positivity.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Two special invitees from Andhra Pradesh for successful implementation of Centre’s Jal Jeevan Mission programmes are among 1800 guest list, to attend the Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi.
In line with the Government’s vision of ‘Jan Bhagidari’, people from every walk of life, across India, are participating in the special event to witness Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressing the nation from the ramparts of iconic Red Fort, on August 15.
The Independence Day celebrations this year will be observed at Red Fort, New Delhi in the presence of Special Invitees from across the country who have been invited to witness the hoisting of National flag by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and listen to his address to the nation on the occasion. These special invitees include sarpanches of vibrant villages, teachers, nurses, farmers, fishermen, people working in flagship programmes such as Central Vista project, Jal Jeevan Mission, Amrit Sarovar, etc.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti has selected two people from Andhra Pradesh among 50, across the country for successful implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission programmes, who will witness the Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort, on August 15, 2023. They, along with their families, are among 1800 persons to take part in the national festival. The initiative to invite people from all walks of life, across the country, and be a part of the main celebrations has been taken by the Government in line with its vision of ‘Jan Bhagidari’.
Shri Medepalli Prabhakar Rao, one of the invitees, hailing from Gudiwada mandal of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh expressed his happiness for being invited to attend the Independence Day Celebrations 2023. He was excited to go to Delhi to a grand reception. In all his humbleness, he was thankful to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the invitation to participate in the iconic event.
Ministry of Law and Justice
Press Communique
In exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President, is pleased to appoint the Shri Justice Vipin Sanghi, senior-most Judge of the Delhi High Court to perform the duties of the office of Chief Justice of that High Court, with effect from 13.03.2022, vide notifications dated 11.03.2022
Department of Justice , Ministry of Law & Justice.