ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Home Affairs
MHA will organize “G20 Conference on Crime and Security in the age of NFTs, AI and Metaverse” on 13th and 14th July, 2023 in Gurugram, Haryana
A Round Table was organized in New Delhi today to present the details of the proposed G20 Conference
The Ministry of Home Affairs will organize “G20 Conference on Crime and Security in the age of NFTs , AI and Metaverse” on 13th and 14th July, 2023 in Gurugram, Haryana. The two day event will be held in partnership with Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology , Ministry of External Affairs , National Security Council Secretariat  and the Central Bureau of Investigation . Rashtriya Raksha University, National Forensic Science University, National Law School of India University, Interpol and UNODC are the organizing partners.
A Round Table was organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi today to present the details of the proposed G20 Conference. It was attended by ambassadors, high commissioners and senior dignitaries from more than 20 countries apart from senior officers from various ministries and organizations of government of India and partner organizations. During the roundtable Union Home Secretary Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla apprised the participating dignitaries about the contours of the forthcoming conference and countries were requested to send high level delegations for the conference.
The conference will bring together G-20 countries, guest/invitee countries and international bodies. There will also be participation from Ministries/Organizations of Govt. of India, Chief Secretaries/Administrators of States/UTs, Director Generals of Police of States/UTs, cyber experts and guest speakers representing legal fraternity, academia, training institutions, financial intermediaries, fintech, social media intermediaries, information and communication technology, cyber forensics, regulators, startups, over the top  service providers, e-commerce companies and others.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Gen V K Singh says, government focussed on aligning national standards for design, construction, maintenance and operation of roads
Union Minister of State Road Transport and Highways Gen  Dr V K Singh has said that the government is focussed on aligning national standards for design, construction, maintenance and operation of roads, bridges and flyovers with global standards. He said, this will bring down the cost of construction, while maintaining high standards of quality through adoption of innovative technologies and materials for road construction.
Addressing a FICCI conference on New and Emerging Technologies in Road Construction here today, Gen V K Singh hailed the participation of private sector in development of road infrastructure in the country. He said, increased industrial activities have supported the overall growth of the transport sector. The Minister Said, government’s policy of increasing private participation has yielded positive results, with India becoming world’s second largest road network of 5.8 million kms.
The Minister informed that nearly 65 per cent of all goods in the country are transported through roads, while 90 per cent of the total passenger traffic uses road network to commute. He said, the government is committed to building quality roads and highways in the country. He referred to the Bharatmala Pariyojana, which aims at building over 66 thousand kms of economic corridors, border and coastal roads, and expressways to boost the highway network. The Pariyajana envisages to provide 4-lane connectivity to 550 districts, increase vehicular speed by 20-25 per cent, and reduce the supply chain cost by 5-6 per cent.
Ministry of Science & Technology
A key cellular mechanism in Huntington Disease unravelled
Huntington disease  is a progressive genetic disorder affecting the brain
Huntington disease  is a progressive genetic disorder affecting the brain that causes uncontrolled movements, impaired coordination of balance and movement, a decline in cognitive abilities, difficulty in concentrating and memory lapses, mood swings and personality changes.
It is caused by a mutation in a gene called HTT. The HTT genes are involved in the production of a protein called huntingtin. They provide the instruction for making the protein. When the genes mutate, they provide faulty instructions leading to production of abnormal huntingtin proteins and these form into clumps. The clumps disrupt the normal functioning of the brain cells, which eventually leads to death of neurons in the brain, resulting in Huntington disease.
While it is known that the clumps formed by the abnormal huntingtin protein disrupt several cellular processes, it is not known whether they also influence the key process in the formation of other proteins in the cell.
A team of scientists from National Centre for Cell Science  in Pune led by Dr. Amitabha Majumdar have been working to gain insights into this by studying the HTT gene in fruit flies. They observed that the pathogenic Huntingtin protein causes a decrease in the overall protein production in cells and that the Huntingtin clumps collect together  molecules of another protein called Orb2, which is involved in the process of protein formation.
They speculated that the Huntingtin clumps were possibly making molecules of Orb2 unavailable to carry out their normal function associated with protein formation, leading to the observed reduction in proteins in the cell. To gain clarity on this, they induced the cells to produce Orb2 in excess, and found that this did indeed reduce the adverse effects of the faulty Huntingtin protein, which supported their speculation.
In humans, a family of proteins called CPEB is equivalent to the Orb2 protein in fruit flies. The scientists conducted further studies and found that CPEB proteins are also sequestered by the pathogenic Huntingtin clumps, similar to the Orb2 protein molecules. This suggests that the insights gained through the studies carried out by this group in fruit flies are relevant to and valuable in understanding HD in humans.
- Orb2 protein is also crucial for maintenance of memory in fruit flies. Therefore, sequestration of Orb2 by Huntingtin clumps may hold relevance to the memory-related issues associated with HD as well. The findings of Dr. Majumdar are expected to pave the way for further exploration to understand this disease better.
The research team has published a report on their work in Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences The team included Hiranmay Joag, Vighnesh Ghatpande, Meghal Desai, Maitheli Sarkar, Anshu Raina from NCCS and Mrunalini Shinde, Ruta Chitale, Ankita Deo and Tania Bose from S.P.Pune University.
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles demise of Lok Sabha MP Balli Durga Prasad Rao Garu
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the demise of Lok Sabha MP, Balli Durga Prasad Rao Garu.
“Saddened by the demise of Lok Sabha MP, Balli Durga Prasad Rao Garu. He was an experienced leader, who made effective contributions towards the progress of Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with his family and well-wishers in this sad hour. Om Shanti.”, the Prime Minister said.
Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises
111 Proposals of SFURTI Clusters Approved in Last Three Years: Giriraj Singh
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises  has approved 111 proposals of clusters under Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries’  scheme. Under the Scheme, financial assistance is provided for development of Khadi, coir and village Industries clusters. For major clusters with more than 500 artisans the budget limit is Rs. 5.00 crore and for Regular Clusters with upto 500 artisans, the budget limit is 2.5 crore rupees.
During the last three years, Rs. 13,847.817 lakhhave been spent by the SFURTI clusters, with the no. of artisans and beneficiaries reaching nearly 72,400 persons. Minister of State  for MSME,Giriraj Singh,stated this in Lok Sabha to day while replying to a question.
The MSME Minister further said the Scheme Steering Committee chaired by Secretary MSME, reviews the progress of approved clusters periodically. Further, an online portal for SFURTI Scheme is operational which is updated regularly for monitoring its effective implementation.CSR and Multilateral Development Bank’s resources have yet not been leveraged under SFURTI Scheme, the Minister added.
The SFURTI scheme revamped in 2015 will continue till 2019-20.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Construction of Toilets
Swachh Bharat Mission  [SBM] is a demand driven scheme. Hence, no fixed targets for construction of individual household latrines  could be set under the programme. As per the data reported by the States/UTs on the online Integrated Management Information System  of SBM, about 11 crore IHHLs have been constructed under the programme from 2014-15 to 2021-22. The State/UT and district-wise details of the IHHLs constructed under the programme are available in the public domain and the link is:
https://sbm.gov.in/sbmReport/Report/Physical/SBM_TargetVsAchievementWithout1314.aspx
This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Shri Piyush Goyal to visit New York and Washington DC from 9-11 January 2023 to participate in 13th India-US Trade Policy Forum
Shri Goyal will also meet USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai and have bilateral meeting with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo
Shri Goyal will interact with CEOs, business leaders, think tanks and visit industries in New York
Visit to further trade and investment relations between both the nations
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal will be on a official visit to New York and Washington DC from 9-11 January 2023 to participate in India - US Trade Policy Forum.
In the first leg of visit, Minister will interact with CEOs of reputed multinational enterprises, participate in community event, join roundtable meetings with business leaders and think tank and visit industries in New York.
He will attend the 13th Trade Policy Forum  meeting in Washington DC on 11th January 2023. Before delegation level talks he will also hold one to one meeting with USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai.
The 12th TPF Ministerial meeting was held on 23 November 2021 after a gap of four years in New Delhi. Working groups were re-activated after the last ministerial. TPF is a platform for continuous engagement between two countries in the area of trade and to further the trade and investment relations between the two countries. Both countries are looking forward to the meeting and confident of making progress on the trade issues. The TPF is chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister from Indian side and USTR from the US side.
In Washington DC, he will also have bilateral meeting with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. There will also be interaction with some captains of Industry.
Both India and USA are natural partners and have trade complementarities, long standing strategic and economic relationship, people to people contact, and both are vibrant democracies too. The two countries are also collaborating under the QUAD, I2U2  and IPEF . Regular exchanges at the leadership-level have been an integral element of the expanding bilateral engagement. The outcomes emerging from these visits have been instrumental in further strengthening the multifaceted ties between the two countries.
Ministry of Education
Union Education Minister addresses students, teachers and stakeholders regarding board exams
Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ virtually addressed students, teachers and stakeholders regarding Board Examinations today.
Shri Pokhriyal expressed deep gratitude and thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for taking a decision to cancel the class 12 CBSE Board Exam in the interest of the students keeping in view their health and safety in the wake of Covid.
In his address, Shri Pokhriyal stated that CBSE has already issued comprehensive guidelines on assessment and evaluation for Class 12th Board examinations. He assured that those students who are not satisfied with the assessment, will be provided with an option to take the exams, whenever the situation becomes conducive, in August.
The Minister reiterated that safety, health and the future of the students are the top priorities of the government.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
MoU Signed for Indore- Manmad New Railway Line Project
Shri Nitin Gadkari Hails The Project as A Major Step Towards Development of Backward Areas of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
An MoU for implementation of the 362 km Indore- Manmad New Railway Line Project was signed today between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust- Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Railways, Govt of Maharashtra and Govt of Madhya Pradesh. Containers and other rail traffic from Indore and other Central Indian locations earlier had to follow a circuitous route through Vadodara and Surat to reach Mumbai, Pune and ports like JNPT, travelling a distance of 815 km. The new project will reduce the distance from Mumbai/Pune to key central India locations by 171 kilometers, resulting in lower logistics costs. This is especially significant as the new railway line will pass through the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor nodes of Igatpuri, Nashik and Sinnar; Pune and Khed; and Dhule and Nardana.
The MoU was signed today in the presence of Minister of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Railways Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Defence Shri Subhash Bhamre, Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh - Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Maharashtra CM - Shri Devendra Phadnavis.
The implementation of the project will be through the Indian Port Rail Corporation Limited  on Joint Venture SPV model. A Joint Venture Company will be formed between Ministry of Shipping or its nominated PSUs/Entity including JNPT  with equity share of 55 per cent, Government of Maharashtra or its nominated PSUs/Entity, Government of Madhya Pradesh or its nominated PSUs/Entity, and others with equity share of 15 per cent each.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Gadkari hailed the signing of this MoU as a major step towards development of backward areas of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra through which the new railway line will pass. The project is estimated to result in cumulative net economic benefits of Rs 15,000 crore in the first ten years of operations. The Minister further said that the logistics advantages of the project include providing a shorter route for passenger as well as the freight traffic originating from / terminating at or crossing through the region. The project will reduce the logistics cost for the cargo centres located in Northern India such as Lucknow, Agra, Gwalior and Kanpur belt as well as Indore – Dhule – Bhopal region to the gateway ports JNPT and Mumbai. It will provide an alternate route to the existing central and western railway lines and will reduce congestion on the over utilized existing railway network. Shri Gadkari also said that the project will help in employment generation, reduction in pollution, fuel consumption and vehicle operating costs. The project will be constructed within six years.
Special Service and Features
Walk in Interview at Central Institute of Fisheries Technology
Kochi: September 16, 2022
Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kochi will conduct walk-in-interview for two temporary vacancies for the post of Young Professional on contract basis. Interview will be held on 23rd September 2022 at 10 am. The position is purely on contractual basis initially for a period of one-year extendable upto 3 years  or closure of the project whichever is earlier. Consolidated Salary is Rs 35,000 per month. More information is available on the website of the institute- www.cift.res.in.
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Ministry of Women and Child Development
Malnutrition among Women
As per the recent report of National Family Health Survey  – 4 conducted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2015-16, 22.9% women  are underweight . The five States having highest percentage of malnutrition among women are Jharkhand , Bihar , Dadra and Nagar Haveli , Madhya Pradesh , Gujarat  and Rajasthan .
The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is making serious efforts to address this issue. Several schemes with direct as well as indirect interventions are being implemented across the country. Schemes like Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna  under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services  Scheme are direct targeted interventions being implemented to address the problem of malnutrition among women and children in the country.
Anganwadi Services Scheme aims to improve the nutritional and health status of pregnant women & lactating mothers and reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity and malnutrition. Under the Scheme, pregnant women and lactating mothers are provided supplementary nutrition, nutrition and health education, immunization, health check-up and referral services.
Scheme for Adolescent Girls is implemented for out-of-school adolescent girls in the age group of 11-14 years for self-development and empowerment of adolescent girls; improvement of nutritional and health status; to promote awareness about health, hygiene & nutrition; support to out-of-school Adolescent Girls for successful transition back to formal schooling or bridge learning/skill training; upgrade their home-based skills and life skills.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana  is implemented with an aim to provide cash incentive to improve health seeking behaviour amongst the Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers  and to compensate partially the wage loss in terms of cash incentive so that the woman can take adequate rest before and after delivery of the first child.
Government has set up POSHAN Abhiyaan on 18.12.2017. One of the goals of POSHAN Abhiyaan is to achieve improvement in nutritional status of Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time bound manner.
Further, to address malnutrition among women, the steps taken under the National Health Mission , a flagship programme of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, are Anaemia Mukt Bharat; organization of Monthly Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition days for provision of maternal and child health services and creating awareness on maternal and child care; Iron and Folic Acid  supplementation; calcium supplementation and promotion of iodized salt.
This information was given by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM pays tributes to Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;
"Tributes to Loknayak JP on his birth anniversary. His contribution to India is unparalleled. He inspired lakhs of people to devote themselves to nation building. He will always be remembered as a torchbearer of democratic ideals."
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets the nation on Navroz
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has greeted nation on the occasion of Navroz.
“Navroz Mubarak! I pray that the coming year is filled with happiness and prosperity. May everyone be healthy and their aspirations be fulfilled”, the Prime Minister said.
VRRK/ VJ
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President's Secretariat
President of India reviews passing out parade of 134th course of National Defence Academy; says armed forces represent India’s pluralism and India’s ethos
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, reviewed the passing out parade of the 134th course of the National Defence Academy, this morning  in Khadakwasla, near Pune.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that he was delighted to review the passing out parade at the NDA. As the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, this was a moment of immense satisfaction for him. The Armed Forces are a symbol of excellence and dedication for the entire country. This parade comprises cadets from all parts of India and from a variety of communities. Its harmony speaks for our essential unity as much as for our pluralism as a society.
The President said that a soldier or an officer in uniform, irrespective of whether he or she is from the Army, the Navy or the Air Force, evokes admiration and trust everywhere in the country. If a fellow citizen sees a member of the Armed Forces at a railway station or a market or at any other place, there is an immediate emotion of pride and reassurance. This is due to the unparalleled and unquestioning service to the nation in times of war and peace, on the border or within the country during a natural calamity. The Armed Forces represent the best of the Indian ethos.
The President said that the NDA is more than just a training facility. It is the crucible of valour and bravery. It has inculcated a resolve and a spirit of national service in generations of cadets and generations of officers. It is because of this heritage that in December 1978 President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy conferred the President’s Colours on the NDA.
Addressing the cadets, the President said that the Armed Forces are not merely about doing a job – they are about answering a calling. And this is a calling for a rare breed of human beings. Today, the cadets have become role models for our young people, guarantors of our peace and prosperity, and guardians of our nation. He expressed confidence that the graduating cadets would prove worthy successors to the unflinching and fearless officers who have preceded them.
Prime Minister's Office
PM inaugurates Multi-Speciality Hospital, Diamond Manufacturing Unit in Surat
PM inaugurates Multi-Speciality Hospital, Diamond Manufacturing Unit in Surat
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Kiran Multi-Speciality Hospital, and the Diamond Manufacturing Unit of M/s Hare Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd in Surat.
The Prime Minister described the effort devoted towards making the hospital as “commendable”, and added that the state-of-the-art hospital would benefit citizens. He emphasized that the poor must have access to quality and affordable healthcare. In this context he talked about the Union Government’s initiatives to bring down the prices of medicines, stents etc. He said he is committed to providing affordable healthcare for the poor and the middle class. Calling for focus on preventive healthcare, the Prime Minister said that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is linked to efforts towards a healthier India.
The Prime Minister said Surat has made a mark in the diamond industry but there is now need to look at the entire gems and jewellery sector. He said that as far as the gems and jewellery sector is concerned, our aim should not only be ‘Make in India’ but also 'Design in India'.
PIB Headquarters
Diplomatic Outreach event on 21-22 Feb. in Chennai
The Ministry of External affairs and Tamil Nadu State Government are jointly hosting a “Diplomatic Outreach’ event focused on ‘Economic and Investment Opportunities in Tamil Nadu’ on 21-22 February 2020 in Chennai.
Chief Minister Shri. Edappadi K. Palaniswami will inaugurate the event and deliver his address during the inaugural session. It is expected that 50 foreign diplomats and senior government officials will attend.