ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Education
Union HRD Minister felicitates women employees of HRD ministry at International Women’s Day Celebration programme in New Delhi today
Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ felicitated women employees working in the Ministry of HRD at an International Women’s Day Celebration programme in New Delhi today. He expressed his gratitude to the women officers and other women employees and appreciated them for their hard work and contributionto the education sector. The Minister of State for HRD Shri Sanjay Dhotre also graced the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pokhriyal said that women make great leaders as they are natural multitaskers. The potential and abilities of the women are undeniable. They can balance both professional and personal life skills in an exceptional manner. He said that a woman has always been portrayed as a power and goddess. Our sages believed that where the woman is worshiped and gets due respect, the deity resides there. Underlining the important role of women for nation building and development, Swami Vivekananda has said that a country which does not have respect for women, can never progress.
The Minister said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi government is taking various women-centric policy measures for theempowerment of girls and women through education so that the female work force participation can be enhanced in the country. The HRD Minister has said that the Government has taken several game changing initiatives since 2014 for the education of the girl child. This is one of the reasons for the success of the scheme of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao whereby the Gross Enrolment Ratio of girls across all levels of education is now higher than boys. He hoped that the girls/women will outshine boys in all fields.
While addressing the gathering Shri Dhotre said that the society which has treated its women well, has prospered. When women's potential is unleashed, it benefits the society immensely. It is a mother who touches everyone's life most deeply and becomes one's first and foremost teacher. In this modern world there is not a single sphere untouched by women. And in our country, women have excelled in different sectors and have contributed so much in driving our country forward.
The Minister was delighted to interact with the cheerful women employees of the Ministry. He expressed his gratitude towards them by presenting flowers to them. Shri Pokhriyal and Shri Dhotre also clicked selfie with the officers. The female employees were overwhelmed with the felicitation by the HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and MoS HRD Shri Sanjay Dhotre.
Ministry of Power
Steps by Government to provide affordable and 24-hour power supply to the consumers in the country
The Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments by establishing power plants in Central Sector through Central Public Sector Undertakings  and allocating power from them to the various States / UTs. States/UTs meet their respective energy requirement.
The Central Government also supplements the efforts of the States through its various schemes including Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana , Integrated Power Development Scheme  and Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana , Power System Development Fund  to help them to achieve the objective of providing uninterrupted power supply to all households
The Central Government has established a reliable interconnected National Grid for transmission of power across the regions facilitating sale/purchase power amongst the States/UTs for the quantum of surplus availability over and above the Energy Requirement of the respective consumers at a given point of time. This has enabled the optimal utilization of the generation resources and availability of affordable power to meet the requirement of the consumers in the country.
This information was given by Shri R.K Singh, Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Railways
METRO RAILWAY INCREASES PASSENGER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON COVID APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR
Kolkata, April 19, 2021
Metro Railway authorities have taken up ‘No Mask, No Metro’ campaign since the resumption of Metro services in order to make the commuters aware about the deadly nature of the Covid virus and to stop the spread of this pandemic.
Regular announcements are made through the Public Address System and banners and posters are on display at all the Metro stations in order to make Metro commuters aware about the COVID Appropriate Behaviour. Metro Railway Protection Force  is also regularly conducting this campaign in running Metros as well as at stations. The Covid Awareness videos are also played on platform TVs.
In this campaign, Metro commuters are specially requested to wear masks properly and maintain social distance in the Metro premises. Focus is given to sanitisation of hands for which sanitiser dispensing machines have already been installed at all the Metro Stations. Metro commuters are requested repeatedly to sanitise their hands before boarding the Metro in order to stop the spread of this deadly disease. On-duty Metro staff are regularly requesting all to co-operate with them to stop the spread of Covid.
Special Service and Features
4.1 Kg of goldworth Rs. 2.16 Crore seized by Chennai Air Customs. Three arrested.
On Friday, based on intelligence that gold was likely to be smuggled from Dubai, a spcial vigil was maintained at airport. 14 passengers who had arrived from Dubai by Indigo flights 6E 8497 and 6E 8281 were intercepted at exit on the suspicion of carrying gold.On persistent questioning they confessed to be carrying gold paste bundles concealed in rectum. On their personal search 38 bundles of gold paste were recovered from their rectum. On extraction,total 4.14 kg gold valued at Rs. 2.16 crore was recoveredand seizedunder Customs Act 1962. Three arrested.
Further investigation is under process.
This is stated in a press release issued by the Commissioner of Customs, Chennai International Airport.
Ministry of Defence
Opening Ceremony: Exercise INDRA
Opening ceremony for the Tenth Indo-Russian Joint Exercise, INDRA 18 scheduled from 18 November to 28 November 2018 was held on 19 November 2018 at Babina Military Station. Contingents of the participating nations came together for the opening ceremony which was held in presence of a number of officers and officials of the participating nations. There was a fly past of Army Aviation helicopters which carried the national flags of both the participating nations during the parade. The members of both the participating nations also interacted and familiarised with each other after the opening ceremony.
The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and conduct to enhance interoperability of the two armies in the peace keeping and enforcement environment under the aegis of United Nations. The eleven day exercise focuses upon training on enhancing team building and tactical level operations in a counter insurgency environment in semi urban terrain.
Col Chiranjeet Konwer
for PRO 
(
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Draft rules for safety provisions for a child carried on a motor cycle
Section 129 of the Motor vehicles Act stands amended by the Motor Vehicles  Act 2019, dated 09.08.2019. The second proviso in the section is - "Provided Further that the Central Government may by rules provide for the measures for the safety of children below four years of age riding or being carried on a motor cycle".
Ministry has made draft rules vide GSR 758 dated 21 Oct 2021, recommending –
- For children below four years, Safety harness shall be used for attaching the child to the driver of the motorcycle.
- The driver shall ensure that the child pillion passenger aged between 09 months and 4 years must wear his/her own crash helmet which fits his/her head or wear bicycle helmet complying with [ASTM 1447]/ [European BS EN 1080/BS EN 1078] till such time that the specifications are prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016.
- The speed of the motorcycle with the child upto age 4 years being carried as a pillion, shall not be more than 40 kmph.
Click the link below for the Gazette Notification
MJPS
(Visitor Counter : 2400
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs
More than 141.80 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 16.42 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 vaccinemanufacturers in the country to States and UTs.
|
|
VACCINE DOSES
|
|

|
|
SUPPLIED
|
|
1,41,80,42,210
|
|
BALANCE AVAILABLE
|
|
16,42,12,506
More than 141.80 crore  vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt of India  and through direct state procurement category.
More than 16.42 Cr  balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
Special Service and Features
Universities can play a pivotal role in producing International standard athletes in India, says Shri. Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Youth & Sports Affairs
Universities can play important role in producing International standard athletes, says Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth & Sports Affairs. I am planning to convene a meeting with the VC’s of 40 to 50 universities to prepare a blue print for the project, said the Minister. He was interacting with the sports personalities, office bearers of the Indian Olympic Association and other sports associations, in Chennai today.
He said that there are 943 private universities functioning in the country. Even if each university can adopt an athlete and provide them with education and international training facilities, India will be able to produce 900 to 1000 International athletes, he said.
To make a big start in this direction, various Sports Centre of Excellence have been launched under the Khelo India Project. Center of Excellence in the field of sports science is also been planned. An athlete cannot achieve anything without the support of science. There is a lot of science behind the success of athletes, said the Union Minister.
A sports science center is been planned in Sonipet, Haryana. Similar centers will be established in Bengaluru, Karnataka and Patiala, Punjab also. Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi is giving special attention to the sports field.
“Currently there are 2745 identified sporting talents across 21 sports disciplines  selected under Talent Search & Development, the Union Minister said, added that they are supported with financial assistance of ₹6.28 L per year that includes funding for training and travel, sports science support, diet charges, medical expenses and out of pocket allowances.
He further pointed out that the PanditDeendayalUpadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons Scheme provides for grant of suitable financial assistance to sportspersons and coaches now living in indigent condition, medical treatment, procurement of sports equipment, participation in national and international events, etc.
Identifying sporting talent at a young age, Shri Anurag Singh said, ‘more than 23 lakh school going children in the age group of 5-18 years have been assessed using the Khelo India Mobile App. More than 82,000 physical education teachers have been trained to assess the sporting prowess of children’.
A sum of ₹2438.34 crore has been sanctioned by MYAS to develop 299 sports infrastructure projects across the country he said. Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta and recently Silambam have been identified for support under the vertical of ‘Promotion of Rural and Indigenous/Tribal Games’ under the Khelo India Scheme he added.
###
(Visitor Counter : 627
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
New Healthcare Scheme for Covid-19 Victims
There is provision made under ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19. This is a Central Sector scheme.
The scheme provide an insurance cover of Rs. 50 lakh to healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and who may be at risk of being impacted by this. It will also include accidental loss of life on account of contracting COVID-19.
The scheme also covers private hospital staff/ retired/volunteer/ local urban bodies/contract/daily wage/ ad-hoc/outsourced staff requisitioned by States/ Central hospitals/autonomous hospitals of Central/States/UTs, AIIMS & INIs/ hospitals of Central Ministries drafted for COVID-19 related responsibilities.
The insurance provided under this scheme would be over and above any other insurance cover being availed of by the beneficiary.
In addition for treatment of those affected by COVID, Government is implementing Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana  to provide health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to around 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families  as per Socio-Economic Caste Census  data. To effectively cover AB-PMJAY beneficiaries for testing and treatment of COVID-19, packages for ‘Testing for COVID-19’ and ‘Treatment of COVID-19’ have been notified.
The Minister of State , Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.
Ministry of Home Affairs
National Disaster Response Force  fully prepared for Cyclonic Storm "NIVAR"
NDRF pre-positions 22 teams at likely affected areas in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh
NDRF working in close coordination with district and local administrations
Cyclonic Storm "NIVAR" is centred about 380 km East-Southeast of Puducherry and 430 km Southeast of Chennai. Cyclone "NIVAR" is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours and is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry during late evening of 25th November, as a severe cyclonic storm, with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph.
A close watch is being kept over the system. National Disaster Response Force  HQ and Commandants of battalions located at Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are in coordination with the respective state authorities. In view of the India Meteorological Department  forecast and requirements projected by the state authorities, 22 teams  have been pre-positioned at likely affected areas. Teams have been kept reserve at Guntur , Thrissur  and Mundli  to meet additional requirements.
All teams have reliable wireless and satellite communications, tree cutters/ pole cutters for post landfall restoration, if need arises. In view of the current COVID-19 scenario, NDRF teams are equipped with appropriate PPEs.
NDRF is working in close coordination with district and local administrations. Awareness programmes are being conducted for all citizens in the form of information about cyclones, do’s and don’ts and information about COVID-19 in affected areas and prevention measures. All deployed teams are assisting the local administration in evacuation of people from areas that are likely to be affected by the cyclone. NDRF is spreading a sense of security amongst the communities that teams are available at their service and will remain present in the area until the situation returns to normal, so that the public does not panic.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Development of Agriculture in Drought-Prone Areas
Department of Land Resources , Ministry of Rural Development implements a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana  for development of rainfed / degraded lands. However, there is no specific scheme being implemented by DoLR for allocating funds for agricultural development in drought prone areas of States / Union Territories .
DoLR has sanctioned, 8214 watershed development projects covering an area of about 39.07 million hectare in 28 States  [now 27 States and UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) during the period 2009-10 to 2014-15 under the erstwhile Integrated Watershed Management Programme . During the year 2018, 1832 projects  were transferred to various States for implementation from the Budget of the concerned States. Thereafter, DoLR is implementing 6382 projects.
IWMP was amalgamated as the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana  in 2015-16. Keeping in view the focus of the Government on completion of all the ongoing projects, no new projects under WDC-PMKSY have been sanctioned since 2015-16. The central share is determined by taking into account various parameters such as, Annual Action Plan, unspent balance with States / UTs, utilization capacity, number of ongoing projects etc
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Lok Sabha.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Malnutrition among Children
The estimated number of underweight, malnourished and severely malnourished children under 5 years of age is obtained under National Family Health Survey  conducted by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. As per the recent report of NFHS-5 , the nutrition indicators for children under 5 years have improved as compared with NFHS-4 . Stunting has reduced from 38.4% to 35.5%, while Wasting has reduced from 21.0% to 19.3% and Underweight prevalence has reduced from 35.8% to 32.1%. The State/UT wise prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight and severe wasting among children under 5 years as per National Family Health Survey 5  2019-21 is at Annexure I.
Malnutrition is not a direct cause of child deaths; however, it can increase morbidity and mortality by reducing resistance to infections. The data regarding the mortality due to malnutrition is not maintained at central level.
The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes like Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana  under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services  Scheme as direct targeted interventions to address the problem of malnutrition in the country. Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition are treated at the Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Further, POSHAN Abhiyaan launched on 8th March 2018, aims to reduce malnutrition in the country in a phased manner, through a lifecycle approach, by adopting a synergised and result oriented approach.
Mission Poshan 2.0, an integrated nutrition support programme has been announced in budget 2021-2022 for all States/UTs. It seeks to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes with focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to disease and malnutrition. Steps have been taken to improve nutritional quality and testing in accredited labs, strengthen delivery and leverage technology under Poshan Tracker to improve governance. States/UTs have been advised to promote use of AYUSH systems for prevention of malnutrition and related diseases. A programme to support development of Poshan Vatikas at Anganwadi Centres to meet dietary diversity gap leveraging traditional knowledge in nutritional practices has also been taken up. Guidelines were issued for transparency and accountability in delivery of supplementary nutrition and to track nutritional outcomes on 13.01.2021.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Power
Power Minister Shri RK Singh lays the foundation stone of Regional testing laboratory of CPRI at Nashik; Manufacturers in the western region to benefit greatly
Shri R K Singh, Union Minister of State  for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India laid the foundation stone of Regional testing laboratory of Central Power Research Institute  at Nashik, Maharashtra today.
Manufacturers in the western region will be greatly benefited as they can test their products close to their manufacturing units. This would reduce the turnaround time and overhead cost. This shall help the power utilities in the country to install reliable and quality equipment in the power system network.
Electrical Equipment plays a vital role in the Power System Network right from Generation, Transmission & Distribution. Such electrical equipment needs to be tested and certified as per the national and international standards.
Electricity demand in the country has increased rapidly and is expected to rise further in the years to come. In order to meet the increasing demand for electricity in the country, massive addition to the installed generating capacity is required. This leads to growth of electrical industries and development of indigenous products. Keeping this in view, Government of India has sanctioned establishing Research and Testing facilities in the western region at Nashik at an outlay of Rs 115.3 Cr.
The proposed new unit of CPRI at Nashik is being established on the Land allotted by Government of Maharashtra at Shilapur, Nashik. The unit at Nashik will have On Line Short Circuit test facilities for Transformers, miniature circuit breakers, contactors, switch fuse unit, panels, busducts and Current Transformers. In addition state of the art facilities are being established for Energy Meter  and Transformer Oil.
The occasion was graced by Shri Chandrashekhar Krishnarao Bawankule, Minister for Energy, New & Renewable Energy and State Excise, Govt. of Maharashtra, and the people’s representatives from the area.
About CPRI :
To cater to the testing needs, CPRI, Autonomous body under Ministry of Power, Govt of India serves as an Independent third party testing laboratory. CPRI has been serving for the past five decades in the field of Testing and Certification, Research, Consultancy, Third Party Inspection services, Training & Vendor Analysis.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Gadkari condoles the demise of senior journalist Anuj Gupta
Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSME Shri Nitin Gadkari has condoled the sad demise of senior journalist Anuj Gupta. In a condolence message, the Shri Gadkari prayed to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed soul.
Anuj Gupta worked for the Hindi daily Navbharat, published from Nagpur.