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Ministry of Tourism
Incredible India Tourist Facilitators Certification Program - Identity Cards & Badges issued to First Batch of Tourist Facilitators
Mumbai, 6 May 2022
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has introduced the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator  which is a digital initiative aimed at creating an online learning platform with the objective of creating a pool of well trained and professional Tourist Facilitators across the country, including in remote areas with tourism potential. The candidates can pursue these online courses from anywhere and at any time and at their own pace. The tourist facilitators are essentially interpreters of a place/event/experience tasked with making tourist spots appealing, explaining the history, myths, legends and culture associated with the destinations. The Programme has been made available online w.e.f. 01.01.2020.
The first batch of successful Incredible India Tourist Facilitators were issued the Identity cards and badges in Mumbai on 5th May 2022. The total of 302 candidates from western and central India have completed the basic course of Incredible India Tourist Facilitators Certification .
Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification  Programme, which is an online training course open to the public, conducted by the Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management-IITTM an autonomous body under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
A 50% concession in course fee is being extended to all women applicants/candidates towards the enrolment fee for the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme being conducted by the Indian Institute of Travel and Tourism Management w.e.f 08.04.2022. The concession for the Basic course enrollment will be applicable for Women Participants ONLY.
For further details: https://iitf.gov.in/| PIB Mumbai | CP/DR
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Ministry of Power
NTPC invites tender to set up India’s first Green Hydrogen Fuelling Station in Leh
Project to boost emission free transport and tourism in the region
A dedicated 1.25 MW Solar plant also being set up in Leh
National Thermal Power Corporation Renewable Energy Ltd , NTPC’s wholly owned subsidiary has invited a domestic tender to set up India’s first Green Hydrogen Fuelling Station in Leh, Ladakh. The sale of bid documents would commence from 31st July, 2021.
The tender follows the recent tender floated by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited  for procurement of Fuel Cell Buses for Ladakh. NTPC REL and NVVN would jointly be executing the Green Mobility Project in Union Territory of Ladakh. A dedicated 1.25 MW Solar plant is also being set up in Leh by NTPC REL to make the Hydrogen Fuelling Station completely green. The solar plant contract is expected to be awarded within a month.
NTPC REL has earlier signed a landmark MoU with Union Territory of Ladakh for development of Green Hydrogen technologies in the high altitude region. The successful completion of the project would usher in a new era of emission free transport in and around Leh and India would be amongst few countries to take a lead in this coveted space.
The project will be a definitive step towards building a cleaner and greener ecosystem in the region. The successful execution of the project will also ease the surface transport issues of the union territory of Ladakh and will prove to be a major boost to tourism in the region.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Stimulus Package for J & K
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has approved business revival package of Rs. 1,352.99 Crore on 25th September, 2020.
An amount of Rs. 434.08 crore was released up to 31st December, 2020, out of which Rs. 250 crore was as Economic Package and Rs. 184.08 crore as COVID-19 Relief. The amount of Rs. 434.08 crore has been fully utilized by 31st December, 2020.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Education
Steps taken by the government to promote IT based education
A comprehensive initiative called PM eVIDYA has been initiatedas part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan on 17th May, 2020, which unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-mode access to education. The initiative includes:
- DIKSHA is the nation’s digital infrastructure for providing quality e-content for school education in states/UTs and QR coded Energized Textbooks for all gradesare available on it.
- One earmarked Swayam Prabha TV channel per class from 1 to 12 .
- Extensive use of Radio, Community radio and CBSE Podcast- Shiksha Vani.
- Special e-content for visually and hearing impaired developed on Digitally Accessible Information System  and in sign language on NIOS website/ YouTube.
In order to promote online education, UGC has notified necessary regulation, which facilitates the Universities to offer full-fledged Online Program. Further, the current provisions of 20 per cent Online courses in a programme, as per provisions of UGC SWAYAM and ODL Regulations to be enhanced up to maximum 40 per cent for implementation considering “National interest during COVID-19” and also to ensure effective utilization of e-resources.
Various digital initiatives are also undertaken by Ministry of education viz. SWAYAM , SWAYAM Prabha, National Digital Library , Virtual Lab, e-Yantra, NEAT , FOSSEE  etc to ensure quality education to the students.
To improve the internet connectivity in rural areas the CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd  of MEITY has been assigned the task of providing Fibre to the Home  connectivity to the Government Institutions, including schools.
Central Board of Secondary Education  has launched a ‘Cyber Security Handbook’ to ensure safe and healthy digital habits among students. The ‘Cyber Security Handbook’ can be accessed at this link:
http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/Manuals/Cyber_Safety_Manual.pdf.
An Integrated Teacher Training Programme called NISHTHA has been launched it is a capacity building programme for "Improving Quality of School Education through Integrated Teacher Training".NISHTHA can be accessed from the below link:https://itpd.ncert.gov.in//
This information was given by the Union Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities to organize a two days Sensitization Workshop in Panaji, Goa
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in association with the Office of Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities  is organizing a two days Sensitization Workshop on 6th and 7th Jan 2023 at Taj Vivanta, Panaji, Goa. In the proposed workshop, Best Practices in the field of Disability with a focus on improving accessibility, implementation-related issues of various schemes and programmes for Persons with Disabilities, innovations and action plans in the field of accessibility, etc. will be discussed with the representatives of States/UTs Government and some of the eminent NGOs and other stakeholders.
The Workshop will be inaugurated by the Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar at 1:30 pm, and the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant will grace the workshop as the Guest of Honor. Secretaries from various States/UTs and the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities from all States/UTs, representatives of some selected NGOs implementing various schemes of DEPwD, and some identified organizations working in the field of Accessibility and Sugamya Teerath will also be present during the workshop.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
“Sustainability and climate resilience must be embedded across the lifecycle of built environment.”~Shri Hardeep S. Puri
“Urgent need to decarbonise the built environment”~Shri Hardeep S. Puri
Conference on Adoption of New and Emerging Building Materials and Technologies in Construction Industry Inaugurated
Shri Hardeep S. Puri, Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Petroleum and Natural Gas stressed the need to view urban planning from the perspective of embedding sustainability and climate resilience across the lifecycle of built environment. Inaugurating the Conference on Adoption of New and Emerging Building Materials and Technologies in Construction Industry, the Minister said that the Modi government has viewed urbanisation as an opportunity for multifaceted growth and therefore India boasts one of the most comprehensive programmes for planned urbanisation. It is against this backdrop, that the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban , the flagship housing scheme of the Ministry, gains particular significance as it has addressed the issue of affordable housing for India’s urban poor while creating sustainable and green infrastructure. Highlighting the use of green construction technologies in PMAY-U, Shri Puri informed the gathering that about 43.3 lakh houses are being constructed under the mission using sustainable building materials such as flyash bricks/blocks and AAC blocks. These houses will contribute to a reduction of 9 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by the end of December 2024.
To bring a paradigm shift in the housing construction sector, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs  shortlisted 54 innovative construction technologies from all over the world, under the Global Housing Technology Challenge . Further, 6,368 houses are being built under six light house projects currently being implemented in Chennai, Rajkot, Indore, Lucknow, Ranchi and Agartala. The Minister shared the multiple benefits of using these innovative construction technologies, including reduction in construction cost, time, cement used and waste generated apart from the enhanced thermal comfort and low lifecycle costs.
Shri Kaushal Kishore MoS, MoHUA, reiterated the need to provide quality housing to all strata of society, using latest and innovative technologies, as this would contribute to a better quality of life in the new and self reliant India. Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary MohUA, also underscored the importance of promoting and mainstreaming the modern and green construction technologies which will help the country to address the rising housing demand. These building materials facilitate faster and better quality housing construction to suit different geo-climatic and hazard conditions of the country. The conference organised by CREDAI, in collaboration with CPWD and NBCC, brought together some of the brightest minds in the construction and real estate industries.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
National Commission for Migrant Labour
NITI Aayog has constituted a sub-group to prepare a National Action Plan for Migrant Workers. The sub-group comprises the members from various Ministries of Govt. of India, subject experts, NGOs and civil society organisations, to prepare a tangible action plan to address issues related to migrant workers.
In order to safeguard the interest of the migrant workers, the Central Government had enacted the Inter-state Migrant Workmen  Act, 1979. This Act has now been subsumed in the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 and the Code has been notified on 29.09.2020. The above mentioned code, commonly known as OSH Code, provides for decent working conditions, minimum wages, grievances redressal mechanisms, protection from abuse and exploitation, enhancement of the skills and social security to all category of organised and unorganised workers including Migrant workers.
The relevant provisions of the Code are applicable to every establishment in which 10 or more inter-state migrant workers are employed or were employed on any day of the preceding 12 months.
This information was given by Minister of State  for Labour & Employment Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Election Commission
Shri Rajiv Kumar assumes charge as the 25th CEC of India
Shri Rajiv Kumar today assumed charge as the 25th Chief Election Commissioner of India at Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi in pursuance of the Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India’s Gazette Notification dated May 12, 2022.
Shri Rajiv Kumar has been serving in ECI as Election Commissioner since September 1, 2020. During his tenure as Election Commissioner, elections have been held for State Assemblies of Bihar in 2020, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal amidst Covid concerns in March-April 2021 and also elections to Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh recently in early 2022.
After assuming charge as CEC, Shri Rajiv Kumar said that he is honoured to have been given the responsibility to lead one of the finest institutions gifted by the Indian Constitution - the institution that reinforces our democracy. He added that a lot has been done during the last seventy years by ECI to give our citizens free and fair elections, to ensure purity of the electoral rolls, prevent malpractices and enhance the quality of our elections. “The Commission will follow the time-tested and democratic methods of consultations and consensus building in bringing about any major reforms for dynamically evolving to changing contexts. And in matters for which it is responsible under the Constitution, ECI will not shy away from tough decisions”, he added.
Sh Kumar also said that Technology will further be made the major instrument for simplification of processes and practices for bringing about transparency and ease of voter services for better election management and operations.
President's Secretariat
President of India launches Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu virtually launched the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan today .
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that it is the duty of all citizens to give high priority to 'Pradhan Mantri TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' and to make this campaign a mass movement. It is because TB causes the largest number of deaths among all other infectious diseases in our country. She noted that India has a little less than 20 percent of the world's population, but has more than 25 percent of the total TB patients of the world. This is a matter of concern. She also noted that most of the people affected by TB come from the poor section of society.
The President said that the thinking and methodology of ‘New India’ is to make India a leading nation of the world. India has set an example to the world in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy of ‘New India’ to move forward with confidence is also visible in the field of TB eradication. According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, all nations have set the goal of eradicating TB by the year 2030. But the Government of India has set the target of eradicating TB by the year 2025 and efforts are being made at every level to fulfill this resolution.
The President said that to make this campaign a mass movement, awareness about TB has to be created among the people. They have to be informed that prevention of this disease is possible. Its treatment is effective and accessible and the government provides a free of cost facility for prevention and treatment of this disease. She said that in some patients or communities, there is an inferiority complex associated with this disease, and they view the disease as a stigma. This illusion also has to be eradicated. Everyone should be aware that TB germs are often present in everyone's body. When the immunity of a person, due to some reason, decreases, then this disease expresses in the person. With treatment, one can definitely get rid of this disease. All these things should reach the people. Then the people affected by TB will be able to take advantage of the treatment facilities.
The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has been envisioned to bring together all community stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination.
The virtual event was attended by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Governors and Lt. Governors of states and UTs, representatives from State and District Health Administration and other stakeholders.
Click here to see the President's Speech in Hindi
Special Service and Features
Postal Department Pension Adalat
It is hereby informed that Nation-wide All India Pension Adalat, 2023 with the objective of “Ease of Living” meet at Circle Level will be held on 17.05.2023  by 11:00 hrs at the O/o Chief Postmaster General, Tamilnadu Circle, Chennai through Video Conferencing.
Grievances related to Pension / Family Pension may be submitted by post or email to bgt.tn@indiapost.gov.in on or before 10.05.2023 by 15:00 hrs. It is also requested to kindly provide email id and mobile number along with grievance so that the Video Conferencing link can be sent to the concerned pensioners, Through Tamil Nadu circle Chief Post Master general office chennai.
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Ministry of Finance
Net Direct Tax collections for the Financial Year 2021-22 have grown at over 100%
Advance Tax collections for F.Y. 2021-22 stand at Rs. 28,780 crore which shows a growth of approximately 146%
Net Direct Tax collections for the F.Y. 2021-22 have grown at a robust pace despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy
Refunds amounting to Rs. 30,731 crore have been issued in the F.Y. 2021-22
The figures of Direct Tax collections for the Financial Year 2021-22, as on 15.06.2021 show that net collections are at Rs.1,85,871 crore compared to Rs. 92,762 crore over the corresponding period of the preceding year, representing an increase of 100.4% over the collections of the preceding year. The net Direct Tax collections include Corporation Tax  at Rs. 74,356 crore  and Personal Income Tax including Security Transaction Tax at Rs. 1,11,043 crore .
The Gross collection of Direct Taxes for the F.Y. 2021-22 stands at Rs. 2,16,602 crore compared to Rs. 1,37,825 crore in the corresponding period of the preceding year. This includes Corporation Tax at Rs. 96,923 crore and Personal Income Tax  including Security Transaction Tax at Rs. 1,19,197 crore. Minor head wise collection comprises Advance Tax of Rs. 28,780 crore, Tax Deducted at Source of Rs.1,56,824 crore, Self-Assessment Tax of Rs. 15,343 crore; Regular Assessment Tax of Rs. 14,079 crore; Dividend Distribution Tax of Rs.1086 crore and Tax under other minor heads of Rs. 491 crore.
Despite extremely challenging initial months of the new Fiscal , the Advance Tax collections for the first quarter of the F.Y. 2021-22 stand at Rs. 28,780 crore against Advance Tax collections of Rs. 11,714 crore for the corresponding period of the immediately preceding Financial Year, showing a growth of approximately 146%. This comprises Corporation Tax at Rs. 18,358 crore and Personal Income Tax  at Rs. 10,422 crore. This amount is expected to increase as further information is received from Banks.
Refunds amounting to Rs. 30,731 crore have also been issued in the F.Y. 2021-22.
Ministry of Defence
IA Initiative with Flood Relief Veterinary and Medical Camps in Lower Assam
‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’, standing true to its ethos, Indian Army integrated with its Medical and Veterinary components along with State Health and Veterinary Services is currently organising three Medical Camps and two Veterinary Camps in the Flood affected Areas of Lower Assam on 21 July and 22 July 2019. The Medical Camps are being organised in Barpeta, Moigaon and Sonitpur districts while the Veterinary Camps are being conducted in Dhubri and Nalbari districts.
Due to incessant rains over the past few days, almost all districts of Lower Assam have been affected by flood. The Camps are established with intent to address issues pertaining to waterborne infectious diseases and epidemic threat - both to live stock and human. The said Camps are also providing Mobile Detachments of an effective outreach to neighbouring villages which are still inundated.
Since 11 July 2019, six Flood Relief Columns of Indian Army have been requisitioned in various districts to augment the efforts of State Government during Flood Relief for evacuation of locals stuck in flood affected areas as also in reaching out and distribution of Relief Materials to the flood victims.
Lt Col Mohit Vaishnava
For PRO 
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
128.76 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
India's Active caseload currently stands at 95,014; lowest in 554 days
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
10,004 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 3,40,79,612
6,822 new cases in the last 24 hours; lowest in 558 days
Daily positivity rate  less than 2% for last 64 days
Weekly Positivity Rate  less than 1% for last 23 days
64.94 cr Total Tests conducted so far
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
The G20 2nd Agriculture Deputies Meeting begins in Chandigarh
The 2nd Agriculture Deputies Meeting  of Agriculture Working Group  under India’s G20 Presidency began today, i.e., 29th March at Chandigarh. The day was dedicated to the Rapid Response Forum  of Agricultural Market Information System  and started with a welcome remark by Mr. Arun Kumar, Senior Economic and Statistical Adviser, Government of India. He welcomed all the delegates to the 12th session of the RRF and spoke about the timely evidence-based policy making as the need of the hour to address the concern of high food prices. Opening remarks for the session were given by Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, MoA&FW where he mentioned that the main objective of G20 is to build consensus on current challenge of food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture with a climate smart approach, inclusive agricultural value chains and food systems, and digitalization for agricultural transformation. Dr. Likhi further emphasized PM Modi’s vision of Mission LiFE through which everyone can contribute in the fight against climate change.
The RRF was chaired by Mr. Seth Meyer, Chairperson, AMIS wherein he spoke about the current situation on global food security and contribution of AMIS on the same. Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda, Additional Secretary, MoA&FW giving examples from India, spoke on the need for digital public infrastructure architecture that is standardized and non-proprietary. This would help AMIS in obtaining credible and real time information on production estimates, supplies and consumption for countries to respond quickly to shocks and volatility in food markets. He then introduced the speakers for the first and second sessions of AMIS on ‘Food Market Situation and Outlook’, which was based on providing the current situation on global food markets and an outlook for 2023 and on the status and development of AMIS highlighting their notable achievements in 2022 and any new developments for 2023, respectively.
Mr. Ritesh Chauhan, Joint Secretary, MoA&FW introduced the speakers for the third and the fourth sessions. Third session was focused on the vision for the future evolution of the AMIS initiative and fourth session was based on identifying capacity building needs and strategies.
Mr. Samuel Praveen Kumar, Joint Secretary, MoA&FW, introduced the speakers for the fifth and sixth sessions. Fifth session was centered around Asia’s role in regional and global food security and the sixth session discussion was on the impact of financial factors on importing countries. Mr. Samuel Praveen Kumar stressed the need for regional cooperation and investment in climate resilient agriculture to address the challenges of climate change, urbanization and food waste. The first day concluded with the visit of delegates to food festival at Rock Garden.