ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister reviews COVID Vaccine Development in Pune, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, asks scientists and doctors for suggestions to improve vaccine distribution
India is following sound principles of science in the entire journey of vaccine development: PM
Pune / Mumbai / New Delhi, November 28, 2020
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a 3-city tour to Serum Institute of India in Pune, Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad and Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad today, to personally review the development and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine. The PM’s visit aimed at getting a first-hand perspective of the preparations, challenges and roadmap in India’s endeavour to vaccinate its citizens.
On his visit to Serum Institute of India, Pune, the Prime Minister was briefed about the institute’s plan to ramp up manufacturing of biotechnology company Novavax’ Covishield vaccine and the progress on the same.
The PM interacted with the team comprising doctors and scientists and also visited the vaccine manufacturing facility.
Earlier in the day, the PM visited the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad to know more about the indigenous DNA based vaccine being developed by Zydus Cadila. He complimented the team for their work and assured them that the Government of India is actively working with them to support them in this journey.
During his visit to Bharat Biotech facility in Hyderabad, the Prime Minister was briefed about their indigenous COVID-19 vaccine. The PM congratulated the scientists for their progress in the trials so far.
The scientists expressed joy that the Prime Minister met them face to face in order to boost their morale and help accelerate their efforts at this critical juncture in the vaccine development journey. Prime Minister expressed pride in the fact that India’s indigenous vaccine development has progressed at such a rapid pace so far. He spoke on how India is following sound principles of science in the entire journey of vaccine development, while also asking for suggestions to make the vaccine distribution process better.
Prime Minister stressed that India considers vaccines as not only vital to good health but also as a global good, and it is India’s duty to assist other countries, including the nations in our neighbourhood, in the collective fight against the virus.
He asked the scientists to express their free and frank opinion on how the country could further improve its regulatory process. The scientists also presented an overview of how they are also developing various new and repurposed drugs to better fight COVID-19.
Ministry of Finance
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence , Nagpur seizes 03.07 Kgs of ‘Amphetamine Type Substance’ at Nagpur Airport valued at more than Rs. 24 Crore
Nagpur : 22 August 2023
The officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence , Nagpur, on 20.08.2023, successfully intercepted an Indian national, who had arrived from Nairobi, Kenya through Sharjah, UAE, and seized 3.07 Kgs of “Amphetamine Type Substance” from the said passenger at Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur.
The passenger who arrived at Nagpur International Airport in an Air Arabia Flight No. G9-415 from Sharjah had ingeniously concealed the contraband in a hollow metal roller packed in a rectangular carton box kept in his personal baggage. Amphetamine is a Psychotropic substance covered under Schedule I of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Act, 1985, trade of which is prohibited. The said person was arrested and remanded to DRI Custody by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Nagpur. In a swift follow up, the officers arrested a Nigerian national, the intended recipient of the contraband, from Subhash Nagar area of West Delhi on 21.08.2023.
Seizure of such significant quantity of Amphetamine type substance, a highly addictive stimulant drug, from a small Airport like Nagpur indicates that newer places and methods are being adopted by syndicates involved in this illegal activity. DRI is committed to maintaining constant vigil to thwart these syndicates.
NJ/PM
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Competition Commission of India
CCI approves the acquisition of shareholdings in Mumbai International Airport Limited  by Adani Properties Private Limited from Bid Services Division  Limited  and ACSA Global Limited , under Section 31 of the Competition Act, 2002 
The Competition Commission of India  approves the acquisition of shareholdings in Mumbai International Airport Limited  by Adani Properties Private Limited from Bid Services Division  Limited  and ACSA Global Limited , under Section 31 of the Competition Act, 2002 
The proposed combination relates to acquisition of 23.5 percent equity stake of MIAL by APPL from BSDA and ACSA. APPL proposes to acquire 13.5 percent equity shares of MIAL from BSDA and 10 percent equity shares of MIAL from ACSA.
The acquirer i.e. APPL is a member of the Adani Group which is a diversified infrastructure conglomerate. APPL is engaged in let-out and/or leasing of immovable properties and wholesale trading of commodities. APPL has various subsidiaries, associates and joint venture companies/ entities, which are into real estate business, financial services, generation of power using renewable sources of energy and LPG terminal setup.
The target i.e.MIAL, a public company registered at Mumbai, is engaged in operating, maintaining, developing, designing, constructing, upgrading, modernising, financing and managing the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport  at Mumbai. Its services include activities incidental to air transportation such as operation of terminal, airway facilities, etc.
The Commission approved the proposed combination under Section 31 of the Act.
Detailed order of the CCI will follow.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Fund Spent Under NGP
The Government of India releases funds to National Mission for Clean Ganga  for the implementation of the program. Thereafter, funds are released by NMCG to State Governments /State Programme Management Groups/CPSUs/ Other Executing Agencies. The actual releases by Government of India to NMCG from the Financial Year 2014-15 to Financial Year 2021-22 , is Rs.10,792.02 crores. Out of this, the Releases/Disbursement by NMCG , is Rs.10,248.46 crores. State-wise and year-wise funds released/expended by NMCG are annexed at Annexure-I.
The state-wise details of sanctioned projects and the expenditure incurred along with completed projects are annexed at Annexure-II.
There is improvement observed in the water quality of River Ganga over the last few years. Under the Namami Gange Programme, Central Pollution Control Board  is carrying out the water quality monitoring of river Ganga in association with State Pollution Control Boards . Water quality data was analyzed using statistical tool median which is simply a measure of central tendency. As per CPCB data for 2021, the observed water quality of river Ganga indicates that Dissolved Oxygen which is an indicator of river health has been found to be within acceptable limits of notified primary bathing water quality criteria and satisfactory to support the ecosystem of river across all seasons and also for almost entire stretch of river Ganga. As a result of multi sectoral interventions, as per comparison of median data of water quality parameters viz., Dissolved Oxygen , Biochemical Oxygen Demand  and Faecal Coliform  of year 2014 and 2021, Dissolved Oxygen has improved at 40 locations, BOD at 41 locations and FC at 21 locations, respectively.
Under Namami Gange Programme, diverse set of interventions for cleaning and rejuvenation of river Ganga have been taken up. These includes pollution abatement activities including domestic sewage, industrial effluent, solid waste etc., River front Management, Aviral Dhara, Rural Sanitation, Afforestation, Biodiversity Conservation, Public Participation etc. A total of 346 projects are taken up at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 30,235 Cr and 158 such projects are completed.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles demise of Shri Buddhadeb Dasgupta
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep sorrow on the demise of filmmaker, thinker and poet Shri Buddhadeb Dasgupta.
In a tweet, The Prime Minister said:
“Anguished by the demise of Shri Buddhadeb Dasgupta. His diverse works struck a chord with all sections of society. He was also an eminent thinker and poet. My thoughts are with his family and several admirers in this time of grief. Om Shanti.”
Ministry of Finance
India undertaking one of the world’s largest renewable energy expansion programmes
Globally India stands 4th in wind power, 5th in solar power and 5th in overall renewable power installed capacity
The share of renewables in total electricity generation increased from 6 per cent in 2014-15 to 10 per cent in 2018-19
Additional investments in renewable plants upto the year 2022 would be about USD 80 billion and USD 250 billion for the period 2023-2030
The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey 2018-19 in Parliament today. The Survey states that renewable energy sources are a strategic national resource and adds, “Harnessing these resources is part of India’s vision to achieve social equity and energy transition with energy security, a stronger economy and climate change mitigation”. While increasing access to energy is important, it is also imperative that this comes at much lower costs to the environment than it has happened historically in advanced economies, the Survey states.
Stating that India has been undertaking one of the world’s largest renewable energy expansion programmes, the Survey notes that the share of renewable energy is progressively increasing in the Indian electricity mix. As per the Economic Survey, the share of renewable  in total generation was around 10 per cent in the year 2018-19 compared to around 6 per cent in 2014-15. “Now, globally, India stands fourth in wind power, fifth in solar power and fifth in overall renewable power installed capacity. The cumulative renewable power installed capacity  has more than doubled from 35 GW on 31st March, 2014 to 78 GW on 31st March, 2019. The target is to achieve an installed capacity of renewable based power of 175 GW by the year 2022”, the Survey adds.
The Survey estimates that additional investments in renewable plants upto year 2022  would be about USD 80 billion at today’s prices and an investment of around USD 250 billion would be required for the period 2023-2030. Thus, on an annualized basis, investment opportunity for over USD 30 billion is expected to come up for the next decade and beyond.
While renewable energy capacity has been expanded manifold, fossil fuel based energy is likely to continue to be an important source of power, the Survey adds.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
ACC appoitment
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri Anil Kumar Jain, IAS , Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change as Secretary, Ministry of Coal vice Shri Sumanta Chaudhuri, IAS .
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya reviews conduct of NEET PG Examination by undertaking surprise visit to NEET PG Centre at Patiala
Supervises all arrangements and interacts with parents of students appearing for NEET PG 2023 exam
NEET PG 2023 is being conducted by NBEMS on computer based platform for 2,08,898 candidates at 902 examination centres spread across 277 cities
Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya made a surprise visit to NEET PG Centre at Patiala to review the security arrangements and conduct of examination at the exam centre. He also met and interacted with the parents of the candidates. This is the first time that the Union Health Minister has visited a National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences  exam centre while the examination is ongoing.
Congratulating the students appearing for the NEET PG exam, the Union Health Minister said that he is satisfied with the arrangements at the examination centre. “I had the opportunity to interact with parents of students during my visit at the Patiala Exam centre. I wish them all the best for the exam today”.
NEET PG 2023 is being conducted by NBEMS on computer based platform for 2,08,898 candidates at 902 examination centres spread across 277 cities. As a part of zero tolerance policy of NBEMS for use of unfair means, strict vigilance is being observed at all the examination centres, including but not limited to biometric verification, CCTV surveillance, document verification, mobile phone jammers, etc.
Dr. Abhijat Sheth, President NBEMS, is monitoring the conduct of the NEET PG from the command centre setup at Ahmedabad. A team of 90 members headed is making surprise visits at various test centres. This team has Governing body members of NBEMS, NBEMS officers and representatives of TCS.
A command center has been setup at Dwarka office of NBEMS to monitor the conduct of NEET PG and resolve the issues of candidates appearing in the exam. The purpose is to ensure that NEET-PG is conducted smoothly on pan India basis. The command center is also receiving live feeds from various test centres. Police check post and medical assistance room have also been setup at Dwarka office of NBEMS as a part of emergency response team.
A Surveillance Command Centre is setup at Mumbai by TCS, manned by 10 associates with state-of-the-art technology. Keeping in view the sensitivity for NEET PG exam, a dedicated security command centre is set up at Patna. Regional Command centres have also been setup to monitor operational parameters to ensure that the exam commences & finishes on time. TCS iON is monitoring the conduct of this examination. A 25 TCS team members is also available at the Command Centre established at NBEMS. Many centres are getting monitored through live CCTV as well.
All the state governments have been informed to provide adequate security and uninterrupted power supply at all the exam centres. The NEET PG successfully started at 09:00 AM at 896 centres and got completed at 12:30PM today.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Secretary DARPG reviews COVID 19 Public Grievances with Grievance Officers of Central Ministries/ Departments and with the State Governments/ Union Territories
Stresses on the need to pursue time bound and quality grievance redressal in the pandemic times to ensure citizen centric services are delivered in a time bound manner
Secretary DARPG today chaired 2 review meetings with Grievances officers of 84 central ministries/ departments and the Grievance officers of State/ UT Governments. He highlighted the policies adopted by Government to ensure time bound grievance redressal in the pandemic times. These include operationalization of a dedicated COVID-19 portal for monitoring citizen grievances related to the pandemic, each grievance being assigned a unique identification number, classification of grievances into 11 categories, bringing down the grievance redressal time from 60 days to 3 days, auto generated email reminders and daily report generation for considered analysis. In the period March 30, 2020 to May 3 2021 the CPGRAMS portal of DARPG received 1.92 lac PG cases of which 1.66 lac cases have been redressed. The Central Ministries/ Departments have redressed 1.16 lac PG cases and States/ UT’s have redressed 0.50 lac PG cases. In the period March 1, 2021 to May 3, 2021 the CPGRAMS portal has received 14137 PG cases of which 9267 cases have been redressed.
Secretary DARPG said that the roadmap ahead lay in expeditious implementation of CPGRAMS reforms, integration of State portals with CPGRAMS, integration of district portals with CPGRAMS, analysing the root cause of grievances and bringing systemic reforms and effective operationalization of the appellate authority system. He urged all Grievance officers to focus on citizen centrality in providing grievance redressal in the pandemic period.
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SNC
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Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Total 13.92% increase in sowing area coverage of kharif crops in comparison to last year
Significant increase in sowing area coverage of all crops except Jute & Mesta
The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Government of India is taking several measures to facilitate the farmers and farming activities at field level during COVID 19 pandemic.
- There has been satisfactory progress of sowing area coverage under Kharif crops, the status of which is given as under:
Sowing Area Coverage of Kharif Crops : as on 31.07.2020, the total Kharif crops has been sown on 882.18 lakh ha area against 774.38 lakh ha area during the corresponding period of last year, thus, increase in area coverage by 13.92 % compared to last year in the country. The crop wise area sown is as under:
Rice: About 266.60 lakh ha area coverage under rice as compared to 223.96 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.
Pulses: About 111.91 lakh ha area coverage under pulses as compared to 93.84 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.
Coarse Cereals: About 148.34 lakh ha area coverage under coarse cereals as compared to 139.26 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.
Oilseeds: About 175.34 lakh ha area coverage under oilseeds as compared to 150.12 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.
Sugarcane: About 51.78 lakh ha area coverage under sugarcane as compared to 51.20 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.
Jute & Mesta: About 6.95 lakh ha area coverage under jute & mesta as compared to 7.05 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.
Cotton: About 121.25 lakh ha area coverage under cotton as compared to 108.95 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.
So, as a whole, there is no impact of COVID-19 on progress of area coverage under kharif crops as on date.
- As on 30.07.2020, actual rainfall received in the country is 447.1 mm against normal of 443.3 mm i.e. departure of 1% during the period from 01.06.2020 to 30.07.2020. Central Water Commission  has reported that the live water storage in 123 reservoirs in different parts of the country is 141% of the corresponding period of the last year.
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Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Union Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar joins Punekars in listening to Mann Ki Baat today
Pune residents listened to Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat today, in the company of Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Information & Broadcasting, Shri Prakash Javadekar. This is the first episode of Mann Ki Baat during the second tenure of Shri Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. The DD News telecast of the programme was shown on a big screen.
While talking to the audience after the programme, the Union Minister emphasized the need for conservation of water, as mentioned by the Prime Minister in Mann Ki Baat.
Prime Minister said in Mann Ki Baat today that “Water scarcity affects many parts of the country every year. You will be surprised that only 8% of the water received from rains in the entire year is harvested in our country. Just and just 8%! Now the time has come to find a solution to this problem. I believe, like the other problems on hand, we can also solve this predicament by the participation of the people, Janbhagidari and their power, Janshakti we are bound to find a solution through the strength, cooperation and resolution of one hundred and thirty crore citizens.”
The programme was well-received.
DJM/MI/DR
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs
More than 199.41 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 6.75 Crore balance and unutilized vaccine doses still available with States/UTs
The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The nationwide COVID 19 vaccination started on 16th January 2021. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply  75% of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs.
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VACCINE DOSES
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SUPPLIED
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1,99,41,29,995
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BALANCE AVAILABLE
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6,75,31,140
More than 199.41 crore  vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt. of India  and through direct state procurement category.
More than 6.75 Cr  balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
11,30,840 Permanent employees in PSUs
As per Public Enterprises Survey 2016-17 laid in Parliament on 13.03.2018, the total number of permanent employees employed in Central Public Sector Enterprises as on 31.03.2017 are 11,30,840 of which Managerial/Executives are 2,65,486. The total number of contract workers engaged by CPSE as on 31.03.2017 stood at 3,38,521.
This information was given by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union Minister of State  for Labour and Employment in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Textiles
Robust collection of Aboriginal women’s Textile art from the Bábbarra Women’s Centre, Australia exhibited in National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy
‘Jarracharra: Dry Season Wind’ exhibition organized by Ministry of Textile and Austrilan High Commission
The Ministry of Textile in Collaboration with the Australian High Commission, New Delhi is hosting a textile art exhibition at the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy from 01st to 17th March, 2023, in the spirit of India bringing nations together for G20 2023 and bringing the G20 closer to the public.
The exhibition ‘Jarracharra: Dry Season Wind’ showcases a robust collection of Aboriginal women’s textile art from the Bábbarra Women’s Centre , one of the most remote art centres in the world, found in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia.
This exhibition features women depicting ancient narratives using contemporary mediums, and walking through the exhibition, you feel like you are travelling across the ancient country of Northern Australia.
The title, Jarracharra, represents a metaphor for how the Bábbarra Women’s Centre brings different Aboriginal cultures and stories together, just as Jarracharra winds have brought Aboriginal people together for ceremony, dance, and ritual for tens of thousands of years.
Dr. Sudha Dhingra & Prof. Ruby Kashyap Sood from NIFT, New Delhi has curated this Exhibition. Ms. Sunanda Dawar & Ms. Nargis Zaidi has assisted in displaying the artifacts.