ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Culture
G20 delegates visit the Kanheri Caves in Mumbai
Attend live classical instrumental music performance
The Mumbai Regional Office of Ministry of Tourism enthralled the G20 delegates with Indian Classical Music at Mumbai today. The Delegates, attending the development group meeting of G20 today, also visited the Kanheri Caves in Mumbai for excursion. On arrival, all the delegates were given a traditional welcome by Yuva Tourism Club students from Atharva College of Hotel Management and Catering Technology. During the lunch organised by Ministry of External Affairs at the Tulsi Log Huts, Sanjay Gandhi National Park , the delegates were treated with live classical instrumental music organised by India Tourism Mumbai.
Prime Minister's Office
PM’s statement prior to his departure to Davos
Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Davos.
“I look forward to my first visit to the World Economic Forum at Davos, at the invitation of India’s good friend and Founder of the WEF, Prof Klaus Schwab. The theme of the Forum, “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World” is both thoughtful and apt.
The existing and emerging challenges to the contemporary international system and global governance architecture deserve serious attention of leaders, governments, policy makers, corporates and civil societies around the world.
In recent years, India’s engagement with the outside world has become truly and effectively multi-dimensional covering the political, economic, people to people, security and other spheres.
At Davos, I look forward to sharing my vision for India’s future engagement with the international community.
Apart from the events for the World Economic Forum, I look forward to my separate bilateral meetings with the President of the Swiss Confederation H. E. Mr. Alain_Berset and Prime Minister of Sweden H. E. Mr. Stefan Lofven.
I am confident that these bilateral meetings would be fruitful and give a boost to our relations with these countries and further strengthen economic engagement”.
Ministry of External Affairs
POST OFFICE PASSPORT SEVA KENDRAS TO START AT SAMSI, KAKDWIP, JIAGUNJ AND GHATAL
Kolkata, 20 February 2019
Post Office Passport SevaKendra , Samsi and Kakdwip are going to be inaugurated on 27.02.2019 and on 01.03.2019 respectively. Also Post Office Passport SevaKendra ,Ghatal and Jiaganj are going to be operationalize from 27.02.2019. Addresses of the POPSKs aregiven below. Applicants are requested to bring online Application Reference Number  sheetsalong with other necessary documents of identity proof, address and proof of date of birth . The detail information of the documents required can be obtained from thewebsite www.passportindia.gov.in. 40 appointments will be attended to from the date ofinauguration/operationalization onwards at all the POPSKs. Appointments for the same will bereleased on the website www.passportindia.gov.in as per the details given below. The applicantshave to pay the passport fees through online payment system.
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SI.No.
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Name of the POPSK
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Address
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No. of appointments will be entertained
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Date from which appointments will be entertained
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Appointment release date and time
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1
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POPSK Samsi
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Samsi Post Office,
Deshbandhu Para, Station Road, Near 420 More, Malda, West Bengal-732139
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40
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27.02.2019
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25.02.2019 at 15.30 hrs onwards
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2
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POPSK Ghatal
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GhatalMukhyaDakGhar, Konnagar, PaschimMidnapur, West Bengal-721212
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40
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27.02.2019
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25.02.2019 at 15.30 hrs onwards
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3
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POPSK Jiagunj
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Jiagunj Sub Post Office, Hatibagan, Jiagunj, Murshidabad, West Bengal-742123
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40
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27.02.2019
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25.02.2019 at 15.30 hrs onwards
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4
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POPSK Kakdwip
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Kakdwip Sub Post Office, Area Head Quarter, Kakdwip, West Bengal-743347
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40
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01.03.2019
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27.02.2019 at 15.30 hrs onwards
It has been stated in a press release of Regional Passport Office that only those applicants who have obtained appointments through the online mode  will be entertained. Tatkaal, On-Hold files, walk-in and PCC applications will not be accepted and processed.
CG/SC/dk
(Visitor Counter : 85
Special Service and Features
ADMISSION TO BVSC & AH / B Tech DEGREE PRORAMMES 2021-2022
Online applications are invited from the candidates of Tamil Nadu state for admission to the following Undergraduate Degree Programmes viz., BVSc & AH, BTech , BTech  and BTech  of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University for the academic year 2021-22 from 09.09.2021, 10.00 AM to 08.10.2021, 06.00 PM. For the candidates of Non-Resident Indians  / Wards of NRIs / NRI Sponsored, Foreign Nationals category, Online applications may be submitted in the University website from 09.09.2021, 10.00 AM to 08.11.2021, 06.00 PM. Candidate should fill, upload necessary documents / certificates, pay the prescribed fee and submit their online application on or before prescribed date at University website. For online application, Prospectus, eligibility conditions, mode of selection and any other details, please visit TANUVAS website www.tanuvas.ac.in and www2.tanuvas.ac.in.
This is stated in a press release issued by the Chairman of Admission Committee , TANUVAS, Chennai – 600 051.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Indian astronomers develop methodology to understand the Exoplanets accurately
Indian astronomers have developed an algorithm that can increase the accuracy of data from exoplanets by reducing the contamination by the Earth’s atmosphere and the disturbances due to instrumental effects and other factors. This algorithm, called the critical noise treatment algorithm, can help to study the environment of exoplanets with better precision.
The understanding of physical properties of exoplanets with extreme accuracy can help to explore the ones that could be similar to planet Earth and hence might be habitable. With this purpose, a group of astronomers at Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore has been using the ground-based optical telescopes available in India and the data obtained by the space telescope “Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite” or TESS.
Prof. Sujan Sengupta of Indian Institute of Astrophysics and his Ph.D. students Aritra Chakrabarty and Suman Saha have been using the Himalayan Chandra Telescope at Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle and the Jagadish Chandra Bhattacharyya Telescope at Vainu Bappu Observatory, Kavalur in order to obtain signals of Exoplanets. Following the photometric transit method, they have acquired photometric data from several planet hosting stars.
However, the transit signals are heavily affected by the noise due to various sources that pose a challenge to estimate the physical parameters of the planets accurately. The team lead by Prof. Sengupta have developed a critical noise treatment algorithm that can treat the transit signals detected by both ground- and space-based telescopes with much better precision than ever before.
Recently, Saha and Sengupta have demonstrated the effectiveness of this algorithm by critically analysing the data of TESS  space telescope, reduced the instrumental noise and the disturbances arising from variability and pulsation of the host stars and estimated the physical parameters of a few Exoplanets accurately. The work has been published in The Astronomical Journal, a peer-reviewed scientific journal by the American Astronomical Society .
Figure-1: Signal of Exoplanet WASP-43 b obtained by using 1.3-meter class Jagadish Chandra Bhattachayya Telescope at Vainu Bappu Observatory, Kavalur, TN.
Figure 2: Signal of Exoplanet HAT-P-54 b obtained by using 2-meter class Himalayan Chandra Telescope at Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle, Ladakh.
Figure 3: Signal of Exoplanet KELT-7 b obtained by the space telescope TESS launched and operated by NASA.
Publication link: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ac294d
For more details Prof. Sujan Sengupta  and Suman Saha  can be contacted.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
The Farm Acts are steps taken by the Government towards doubling farmers income by 2022 -- Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar
Farmer Producer Organisations from across the country met Agriculture Minister and narrated the benefits of the Farm Acts
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar met members of Farmer Producer Organisations of Federation of Indian FPOs and Aggregators  representing 15 states and around500 FPOs at Krishi Bhawan today. They expressed their support for the recent Agricultural Reforms by the Government of India. They thanked the minister for the enabling environment which these Acts have created to scale business of FPOs to benefit the small and marginal farmers.They narrated their experiences in which they described how small farmers have benefitted from the recent reforms and Farm Acts.
The recent Agricultural Reforms, which can support FPOs to setup their own markets to enhance the incomes of farmers are --: the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce  Act, 2020;the Farmers  Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; Liberalization of control orders under the Essential Commodities Act; Agriculture Infrastructure Fund and operational guidelines for promotion of 10,000 FPOs.
These reforms in Agriculture sector will lead to increased volume of production of horticulture crops and value-added commodities; Institutional credit to strengthen small farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations ; will boost the agri-logistic infrastructure in a major way; will develop backward and forward linkages to meet demand of all consumption zones of India; will lead to One Nation One Market and will make the FPO movement a mass movement.
NAFED  has been designated as one of the National Implementing Agencies for formation and promotion of 10000 FPOs Programme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. NAFED has acquired FIFA to provide market linkage support to the FPOs for their produce and create markets in partnership with the FPOs under the brand of NAFED e-Kisan Mandi  which will be connected to the National Digital Marketing platform being created by NAFED.
50 NeKMs will be created in 2021 in the following states:
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- Haryana 3
- Punjab 2
- Rajasthan 3
- Madhya Pradesh 3
- Gujarat 5
- Maharashtra 8
- Karnataka 3
- Tamil Nadu 4
- Andhra Pradesh 3
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- Telangana 1
- Jharkhand 2
- Bihar 2
- Chattisgarh 1
- Odisha 2
- Uttar Pradesh 4
- J&K 1
- NorthEast 3
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
India and Bangladesh sign MOU for training 1800 Bangladesh civil servants in National Centre For Good Governance
India and Bangladesh have signed an MOU for training 1800 Bangladesh Civil Servants at the National Centre for Good Governance  an institute under the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances , Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Govt. of India, over the next 6 years. The MOU was signed between the NCGG and the Ministry of Public Administration, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on February 8, 2019 during the visit of the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh.
Shri K. V. Eapen Secretary DARPG and the Director General of NCGG said that the collaboration represents a historic milestone in training and capacity building programs between India and Bangladesh. He further added that the Bangladesh Civil Servants will be trained in e-Governance and service delivery, public policy and implementation, information technology, decentralization, urban development and planning, Ethics in Administration and challenges in implementation of SDGs. This is the second time that NCGG would be entering into an MOU for a training program for Bangladesh Civil Servants. Under the first MOU signed 5 years ago, 1500 Bangladesh Civil Servants have already been trained in NCGG.
The participants of the training program will be selected amongst Additional Deputy Commissioners/ Additional District Magistrates, Upazila Nirbahi Officers, Deputy Director Local Government, Senior Assistant Secretaries, Senior Assistant Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners  and Officers of equivalent rank in the Ministries from Bangladesh Civil Service  cadre.
The NCGG is planning to conduct 15 training programs in 2019 each of 2 weeks duration. The trainee officers will undergo training at the NCGG Mussoorie centre and in Delhi where they would visit Government of India establishments.
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
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India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 209.40 Cr
Over 3.99 Cr 1st dose vaccines administered for age group 12-14 years
India's Active caseload currently stands at 1,01,166
13,272 new cases reported in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently stands at 98.58%
Weekly Positivity Rate is presently at 3.87%
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 209.40 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 2,78,34,092 sessions.
COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on 16 March, 2022. So far, more than 3.99 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:
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Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
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HCWs
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1st Dose
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1,04,13,413
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2nd Dose
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1,01,00,868
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Precaution Dose
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66,15,955
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FLWs
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1st Dose
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1,84,33,464
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2nd Dose
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1,76,88,704
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Precaution Dose
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1,28,61,388
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Age Group 12-14 years
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1st Dose
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3,99,22,101
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2nd Dose
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2,94,71,525
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Age Group 15-18 years
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1st Dose
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6,15,36,693
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2nd Dose
|
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5,19,25,571
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Age Group 18-44 years
|
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1st Dose
|
|
56,01,95,227
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2nd Dose
|
|
51,15,83,746
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Precaution Dose
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4,75,13,724
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Age Group 45-59 years
|
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1st Dose
|
|
20,38,25,961
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2nd Dose
|
|
19,59,47,673
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Precaution Dose
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2,81,88,517
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Over 60 years
|
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1st Dose
|
|
12,75,32,399
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2nd Dose
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12,24,69,258
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Precaution Dose
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3,78,21,953
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Precaution Dose
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13,30,01,537
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Total
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|
2,09,40,48,140
India’s Active Caseload currently stands at 1,01,166. Active cases now constitute 0.23% of the country's total Positive Cases.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.58%. 13,900 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients  is now at 4,36,99,435.
13,272 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
The last 24 hours saw a total of 3,15,231 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 88.21 Cr  cumulative tests.
Weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently stands at 3.87% and the Daily Positivity rate is reported to be 4.21%.
Ministry of Defence
FLAME MERGING CEREMONY AT NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL
National War Memorial was inaugurated and dedicated to the Nation by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 25 Feb 2019. The Memorial stands testimony to the sacrifices made by our gallant soldiers since Independence. The Memorial houses the eternal flame which exemplifies the supreme sacrifice made by a soldier in the line of duty thus making him immortal. Since its inauguration, all homage ceremonies are being conducted only at the National War Memorial, including those on National Days.
Today in a befitting solemn ceremony, the flame at Amar Jawan Jyoti was merged with the eternal flame at National War Memorial with full military honours. The ceremony was presided over by Air Marshal BR Krishna AVSM SC, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee .
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SC/VBY/KRC
(Visitor Counter : 2129
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare releases the Third Advanced Estimate  of Area and Production of various Horticulture Crops
Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has released the Third Advanced Estimate  of Area and Production of various Horticulture Crops. This is based on the information received from different State/UTs and other source agencies.
Highlights
- The Total Horticulture Production of the country is estimated to be 313.85 Million Tonnes which is 0.69% higher than the Horticulture Production in 2017-18.
- As area under Horticulture Crops has remained broadly at the same level, the higher production owes mainly to Productivity gains.
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Total Horticulture
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2017-18
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2018-19

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Area 
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25.43
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25.49
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Production

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311.71
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313.85
- Overall increase is observed in production of Fruits, Vegetables, Spices, Flowers and Honey whereas decrease is observed in production of Plantation and Aromatics & Medicinal crops as compared to last year.
- Fruits Production is estimated to be around 98.57 Million Tonnes, compared to 97.36 Million Tonnes last year.
- Vegetables Production is estimated to be around 185.88 Million Tonnes, which is 0.81% higher than the production last year.
- Onion Production is estimated to be around 23.48 Million Tonnes, which is 0.95% higher than the production last year.
- Potato Production is estimated to be around 53.03 Million Tonnes, which is 3.4% higher than the production last year.
- Tomato Production is estimated to be around 19.39 Million Tonnes, which is 1.8%, lower than the production last year.
- Spices Production is estimated to be around 9.22 Million Tonnes, which is higher than the production last year.
Click for details here
Ministry of Science & Technology
Young researchers selected for support under SERB-N-PDF to work in frontier areas of science and engineering
A total of 301 young researchers have been selected for support under SERB-National Post-Doctoral Fellowship , to work for 2 years in frontier areas of science and engineering.
The fellows will work under a mentor who is in a regular academic/research position in a recognized institution in India and this training will provide them a platform to develop as an independent researcher.
Applications were received from 3,833 researchers against the invitations for proposals. The applications were reviewed by the designated expert committees and Science and Engineering Research Board , a statutory body, working under the umbrella of Department of Science and Technology  announced the names of 301 awardees.
The support which includes a monthly fellowship, an annual research grant and overheads for the host institution is broadly given in five thematic areas, namely Chemical Sciences, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical & Mathematical Sciences. Candidates within the upper age limit of 35 years, with Ph.D/M.D/M.S degree from a recognized University and also those who have submitted their PhD/M.D/M.S thesis and are awaiting award of the degree, are eligible to apply.
The fellowship, initiated in 2015 to tap the young budding researchers and support them to graduate to an independent scientist, has received around 23000 applications in last eight years, out of which around 3500 fellows have been benefitted so far. N-PDF 2022 fellows will bring this number to 3800.
Applicants can log on to www.serbonline.in for further details.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
New Rules Under RTI
‘The Right to Information  Rules, 2019’ were made in pursuance of The RTI  Act, 2019.
These Rules do not in any way affect the citizens’ Right to Information or obligations of Public Authorities and Public Information Officers given in Chapter II of the RTI Act inter-alia. The powers and functions of the Information Commissions stay undiluted as the relevant provisions under Chapter V of the Act remain unaltered. Nor are the independence and autonomy of these institutions affected in any way.
The rules are of administrative nature and pertain to the internal administration of the concerned organization. They do not involve any social or additional financial implications which may have necessitated pre-legislative consultations outside the Government. The Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department have been duly consulted.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State  Development of North-Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Special Service and Features
SEIZURE OF WILDLIFE SPECIES ’01 no. of De Braza monkey , o1 no. of Mantled gureza  and 02 nos. Of Spider monkey” BY CHENNAI AIR CUSTOMS
Based on intelligence, one male passenger who arrived from Kuala Lumpur by Air Asia airlines Flight no.AK13 on 19.03.2023 were intercepted by the Custom Officers. On examination of check in luggage, the following wildlife species were found and seized under the Customs Act, 1962 read with Wildlife Protection act 1972:
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SL.No
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Name 
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Quantity
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CITES status
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1
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De Braza monkey 
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01 number
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Appendix II
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2
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Mantled gureza 
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01 number
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Appendix II
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3.
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Spider Monkey
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02 number
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Appendix II
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The above mentioned wildlife species were certified as above on arrival by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Southern Region, Chennai and the same were deported back to Kuala Lumpur as instructed by the AQCS.
Further investigation is under progress, according to a press release issued by M.Mathew Jolly, Pr.Commissioner of Customs, Chennai International Airport.
Ministry of Heavy Industries
Re-bidding of 20 GWh Advanced Chemistry Cell  manufacturing under Production Linked Incentive scheme “National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage”
MHI to facilitate a stakeholder consultation with industry representatives on July 24th, 2023 for their inputs and suggestions before the start of the re-bidding process
The Ministry of Heavy Industries  has announced the re-bidding of performance linked incentives  for 20 GWh Advanced Chemistry Cell  manufacturing. With this auctioning process, the prospective applicants can submit their bids to set-up domestic manufacturing facility for advanced chemistry cell, which will help them qualify for incentives under ACC PLI scheme. The initiative is aligned with the Prime Minister's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat by increasing reliance on domestic manufacturing, reducing dependence on imports, and thereby creating more job opportunities for fellow Indians.
The MHI will be facilitating a stakeholder consultation with industry representatives on Monday, July 24th, 2023 for their inputs and suggestions before the start of the re-bidding process of remaining 20 GWh capacity. A Public Notice link- https://heavyindustries.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Notice-and-Questionnaire-for-ACC.pdf regarding this, inviting the stakeholders, has been issued. The consultation shall be chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries . The Ministry is committed to finalize the bidding documents and proceeding with the rebidding process at the earliest.
ACCs are the new generation of advanced storage technologies that can store electric energy either as electrochemical or as chemical energy and convert it back to electric energy as and when required. These have major applications in the electric vehicles, maintaining grid stability, solar rooftop, consumer electronics etc. With India’s commitment towards renewable energy and achieving net-zero by 2070, energy storage is expected to play a crucial role in the overall energy ecosystem.
In May 2021, the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister, had approved the Production Linked Incentive  Scheme on 'National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell  Battery Storage’ for achieving manufacturing capacity of Fifty  Giga Watt Hour  of ACC and 5 GWh of "Niche" ACC with an outlay of Rs.18,100 Crore. The first round of the ACC PLI bidding was concluded in March 2022, and three companies were allocated a total capacity of Thirty  Giga Watt Hour , and the program agreement with selected companies was signed in July 2022.