ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Railways
Railways have operated around 2,359 Kisan Rail services till January, 2023
Potential circuits for movement of Kisan Rail services are identified in consultation with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Fisheries Departments of State Governments as well as local bodies and agencies, Mandis etc, and based on demand, rakes are provided on priority for running of Kisan Rail services.
Since the launch of Kisan Rail service on 7th August 2020 and upto 31st January 2023, Railways have operated around 2,359 Kisan Rail services, transporting approximately 7.9 lakh tonnes of perishables. The State-wise break up of number of services is as under:-

|
|
States
|
|
No. of outward services
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
116
|
|
Assam
|
|
1
|
|
Bihar
|
|
0
|
|
Delhi
|
|
0
|
|
Jammu & Kashmir
|
|
0
|
|
Gujarat
|
|
62
|
|
Karnataka
|
|
46
|
|
Maharashtra
|
|
1,838
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
|
74
|
|
Nagaland
|
|
0
|
|
Punjab
|
|
15
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
5
|
|
Telangana
|
|
66
|
|
Tripura
|
|
1
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
76
|
|
West Bengal
|
|
59
Up to 31.3.2022, 50 % subsidy in freight was granted by Ministry of Food Processing Industries  for transportation of fruits and vegetables by Kisan rail, which was not continued further. Thereafter, Railways have been continuing with the subsidy, at a rate of 45%. This subsidy is presently applicable till 31.03.2023.
During 2020-21, Railways disbursed ₹27.79 crore as subsidy which was reimbursed by MoFPI. During 2021-22, Railways disbursed ₹121.86 crores as subsidy, out of which only ₹50 crore was reimbursed by MoFPI. During the current year up to 31.01.2023, Railways have disbursed ₹4 crore as subsidy.
So far, no request has been received from farmers/traders for creation of temperature controlled storage facilities under the Kisan Rail Scheme.
This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM congratulates Bharat Ratna Awardees
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated Bharat Ratna Awardees.
PM praised Nanaji Deshmukh for his contribution to the society and said “Nanaji Deshmukh’s stellar contribution towards rural development showed the way for a new paradigm of empowering those living in our villages. He personifies humility, compassion and service to the downtrodden. He is a Bharat Ratna in the truest sense.”
“The songs and music of Bhupen Hazarika are admired by people across generations. From them radiates the message of Justice, harmony and brotherhood. He popularized India's music traditions globally. Happy that the Bharat Ratna has been conferred on Bhupen Da.” the Prime Minister said.
While speaking on Shri Pranab Mukherjee he said, “Pranab an outstanding statesman of our times. He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation's growth trajectory. His wisdom and intellect have few parallels. Delighted that he has been conferred Bharat Ratna.”
Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to GoI
Swachhta Saarthi Fellows from across the country attend the Swachhta Saarthi Samaroh 2022
The two-day ‘Swachhta Saarthi Samaroh’ was organised on 30th September and 1st October 2022 at the Indian Institute of Technology , Delhi. This event marked the completion of the first year of the Swachhta Saarthi fellowship  of the Waste to Wealth Mission of the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser  to the Government of India.
Photograph: Swachhta Saarthi Fellows
During the two-day event organized at IIT Delhi, the fellows showcased their work done over the past year in the form of posters/ prototypes/ papers/ presentations/ products in the event exhibition. The Scientific Secretary, O/o Principal Scientific Adviser interacted with the fellows during her visit to the exhibition booths.
Photograph: Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA at the Swachhta Saarthi Samaroh 2022
Apart from the exhibition, different sessions and workshops were also conducted for the students, including a Foldscope Microscopy Workshop for the Category A fellows and a session on Overview of Carbon Credit and Sustainable Future for the Category B & C fellows.
Photograph: Foldscope workshop
On the second day of the event, an excursion to the Nehru Planetarium and the Rashtrapati Bhavan museum was organised for all the SSFs. The visits were followed by the closing ceremony where Mr. Vijay Kumar, Head of Operations, Wellbeing Out of Waste  Program, I.T.C. Limited, felicitated 21 fellows with a fellowship amount of Rs. 5000 each and also provided an opportunity to one fellow to join the WOW programme.
Dr. Bhagwan Singh Chaudhary, Professor, Kurukshetra University, Haryana was the guest of honour for the closing ceremony and specially thanked the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to GOI for making it possible to get such a heterogenous group of fellows from different age groups, different states to one single platform to enable learning from each other.
During the closing ceremony, Dr. Monoranjan Mohanty, Adviser/Scientist ‘G’, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, congratulated all fellows for the wonderful work they have done over the last year and for showcasing various ways to reuse, reduce and recycle waste and converting it into wealth.
Ms. Malyaj Varmani, Vice President, Invest India, mentioned that “We encourage and expect our fellows to keep engaging with their communities and be the ambassadors for change, and remain Swachhta Saarthis for life.”
For more details, visit https://www.wastetowealth.gov.in/fellowship-home or email wastetowealthmission@investindia.org.in.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Hydration of Proteins May Act as a Potential Marker for Early Detection of Neuro-degenerative Diseases, Observes Scientists
Kolkata, September 1, 2022
Hydration dynamics of proteins plays a pivotal role in the aggregation of several proteins which is a preliminary step towards various neuro-degenerative diseases. The aggregation process could be spotted early by detecting altering water network dynamics and modulated using inactive substances that serve as the vehicle or medium for a drug or other active substance. This is the finding of the scientists of S.N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences , Kolkata, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology .
In a paper published in J. Phys. Chem. Lett the scientists, under the leadership of Prof. Rajib Kumar Mitra, of SNBNCBS examined four excipients ---arginine, glucose, ubiquitin, and bovine serum albumin. Some excipients like sucrose were found to stabilize the LLPS process while Bovine Serum Albumin  was found to inhibit the process.
Understanding debilitating neuro-degenerative diseases at the molecular level is crucial to find treatments or solutions for them. A phenomenon called ‘liquid liquid phase separation’  underlines the formation of cells organelles like P bodies, nucleolus which are membrane-less compartments in the cytoplasm of cells. LLPS, a self-aggregated system, is an intermediate step during the formation of the stable protein aggregates. When multivalent proteins interact they undergo rapid transformation from small complexes to large polymeric assemblies with increase in protein concentration. This dense phase often resembles liquid droplets exhibiting higher protein density and weaker molecular motion than the surrounding medium. This process, initiated through liquid liquid phase transfer, plays a crucial role in inducing human diseases, especially age-related neuro-degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and cataract. Therefore, understanding the process of phase separation at a molecular level has become an emergent area of research in the molecular biology fraternity.
Scientists of this autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology  have explored how the hydration of proteins gets altered as LLPS sets in. The researchers have spotted the crucial role of water in Liquid liquid phase separation which holds the key to neuro-degenerative diseases. They found that some excipients or inactive substances that serve as the vehicle or medium for a drug or other active substance like sucrose can stabilise LLPS while some can inhibit it. Thus the aggregation process of these diseases could be modulated by altering water network dynamics using these excipients.
Their experiments have identified that both protein and excipient hydration are important in regulating the LLPS process. Monitoring a change in hydration could therefore act as a potential marker for an early and easy detection of LLPS onset.
Prime Minister's Office
You gave your best and that is all that counts: PM to fencer Bhavani Devi
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has appreciated efforts of India's fencing player C A Bhavani Devi who registered India's first win in an Olympic fencing match before bowing out in the next round.
Reacting to an emotional tweet by the Olympian, the Prime Minister tweeted:
"You gave your best and that is all that counts.
Wins and losses are a part of life.
India is very proud of your contributions. You are an inspiration for our citizens."
Special Service and Features
BIS RAID AT TRANSFORMER MANUFACTURING UNIT, ALUVA
KOCHI: Feb 18, 2022
Bureau of Indian Standards, Kochi branch officials Smt. Junitha TR & Shri Dhinesh Rajagopalan L conducted a raid on 17 Feb 2022 at M/s Intrans Electro Components Pvt Ltd, Erumathala, Aluva. The company was found manufacturing Distribution Transformers without valid BIS licence. Distribution transformers were brought under compulsory certification of BIS through Electrical Transformer Quality Control Order issued by the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
Action is being initiated against the offender under Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016. The offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to two years or with fine not less than two lakh rupees or both.
The list of products under Compulsory certification of BIS is readily available in BIS website . General public as well as manufacturers are requested to take note of this. Any information regarding factories manufacturing products, which are under compulsory certification, without a valid licence from BIS may be sent to the following address:
Bureau of Indian Standards,
2nd Floor, CWC Office Complex,
Maveli Road, Gandhi Nagar,
Kadavanthara P.O, Kochi – 682020
Ph: 0482-22071714, 2207175
E-Mail: kobo@bis.gov.in
Ministry of Steel
RINL celebrates International Women’s Day
Women employees are the pride of RINL: Shri Atul Bhatt, CMD, RINL
International Women’s Day was celebrated in a grand and befitting manner on 9th March at RINL under the theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.
Smt. KGV Saritha , Superintendent of Police, CID, Govt. of AP, graced the occasion. She shared her experiences and motivated all women employees. Smt. KGV Saritha said that crisis management, multitasking and collaborative effort are the inherent properties of a woman. She appreciated the efforts of RINL women employees and though they are small in number but are posted in critical zones and play a major role in the progress of the company.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Atul Bhatt, CMD, RINL expressed hope that International Women’s Day  2023 will explore the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities. “Let us all re-affirm our commitment on this International Women’s Day to gender equality and move forward with courage and determination.”, added Shri Bhatt.
Shri Bhatt congratulated all the women achievers and prize winners. 19 women achievers who brought laurels to company at national and international level were felicitated on the occasion of international women’s day.
Shri Atul Bhatt, along with Directors, CVO, Smt. KGV Saritha, and executive committee members of WIPS-RINL released the Annual magazine DISHA depicting the achievements of RINL women employees on the occasion.
Various competitions including essay, poster painting, rangoli, quiz, sports etc. were organised by WIPS for women employees.
Senior officers of RINL ,Smt. Nupur Bhatt, President, Visteel Mahila Samithi, representatives of trade unions, VMS, OBC, Steel executive’ association, SC/ST associations also attended the event .
Prime Minister's Office
PM to inaugurate 3024 newly constructed flats at Kalkaji, Delhi under ‘In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation Project on 2nd November
PM to hand over keys of flats to eligible Jhuggi Jhopri dwellers at Bhoomiheen Camp
In line with PM’s vision to provide housing for all
Project will provide a better and healthy living environment; equipped with all civic amenities and facilities
Flats will give ownership title and sense of security
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate 3024 newly constructed EWS flats at Kalkaji, Delhi built for rehabilitating slum dwellers under ‘In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation’ Project and hand over keys to eligible beneficiaries at Bhoomiheen Camp in a programme at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi on 2nd November, 2022 at 4:30 PM.
In line with the vision of the Prime Minister to provide housing for all, in-situ slum rehabilitation in 376 Jhuggi Jhopri clusters is being undertaken by Delhi Development Authority . The objective of the rehabilitation project is to provide a better and healthy living environment to the residents of Jhuggi Jhopri clusters, with proper amenities and facilities.
DDA has undertaken three such projects at Kalkaji Extension, Jailorwala Bagh and Kathputli Colony. Under the Kalkaji Extension Project, in-situ Slum Rehabilitation of three slum clusters namely Bhoomiheen Camp, Navjeevan camp and Jawahar camp located at Kalkaji are being taken up in a phased manner. Under Phase I, 3024 EWS flats at the nearby vacant commercial centre site have been constructed. The Jhuggi Jhopri site at Bhoomiheen Camp will be vacated by rehabilitating eligible households of Bhoomiheen camp to the newly constructed EWS flats. Post vacation of Bhoomiheen Camp site, in Phase II, this vacated site will be utilised for rehabilitation of Navjeevan Camp and Jawahar Camp.
Phase I of the Project has been completed and 3024 flats are ready to move in. These flats have been constructed at a cost of about Rs. 345 crores and are equipped with all civic amenities including finishing having been done with vitrified floor tiles, ceramics tiles, Udaipur green marble counter in kitchen, etc. Public amenities like Community parks, Electric Sub-stations, Sewage Treatment plant, dual water pipelines, lifts, Underground reservoir for hygienic water supply etc have also been provided. The allotment of flats will provide the people ownership title as well as a sense of security.
President's Secretariat
President of India attends a roundtable of Czech Indologists at Charles University in Prague; receives briefings at ELI Beamlines, Europe’s leading Laser Research Centre, on tie-up with TIFR in Mumbai
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, attended a roundtable discussion of Indologists at Charles University in Prague today .
Speaking on the occasion, the President said Indology has a very old tradition in Prague, starting with the establishment of a Chair in Sanskrit at Charles University in 1850. Professor Lesny was among the founding fathers of the Czech school of Indology. He was the first European Indologist who translated Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry directly from Bengali into Czech, instead of using English as an intermediary. The President said Indology has not just brought India and the Czech Republic together. It has had an enormous role in the making of modern India and rediscovering India’s rich past.
Later in the day, the President visited ELI Beamlines International Laser Research Centre in Prague. He received detailed briefings at this cutting-edge institution, one of the world’s centres of laser technology and research. Coinciding with President Kovind’s visit, ELI Beamlines has signed an agreement with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. Technologists from TIFR also met the President and briefed him on the implications of their work in a variety of fields, including healthcare, energy, and security.
The President will leave for New Delhi tomorrow  on the completion of his three-nation visit to Cyprus, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. Before leaving Prague, the President will visit Thakurova Park, named in honour of Rabindranath Tagore, and pay respects to the poet.
Yesterday evening , the President addressed members of the India-Czech Republic Business Forum in Prague. The President said the economies of India and the Czech Republic have significant complementarities. Indian companies have expertise in IT, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and services. India offers a vast market and potential to scale up for Czech companies in heavy engineering, defence, advanced manufacturing, and automotive and energy technologies.
The President said the defence sector has been a vital area of cooperation between India and the Czech Republic. He invited Czech defence companies to invest and manufacture in India. He said from Bata to Skoda, the Indo-Czech partnership has been defined by popular embrace, sustainable practices and business confidence.
The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Mr Andrej Babis, and the President of the House of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Mr Radek Vondracek, also called on President Kovind yesterday evening . In the meeting with Prime Minister Babis, the President discussed closer defence and business relations and the scope for Czech manufacturing companies to partner with India.
Text of President's Speech and roundtable with Indologists at Charles University
Text of President's Speech at India-Czech Republic Business Forum
Ministry of Defence
Purchase of Army’s Disposal Vehicles for The Members
During the last two years  total number of 36 Members of Parliament had applied to purchase Army’s disposal vehicle. The vehicles were made available to all the Members who had applied. 11 MPs were allotted vehicles from Vehicle Sub Depot Meerut, 15 MPs were allotted from Ordnance Depot Avadi, 03 MPs were allotted from Central Ordnance Depot Chheoki, 02 MPs were allotted from Central Ordnance Depot Mumbai, 02 MPs were allotted from Central Armoured Fighting Vehicle Depot Kirkee, 01 MP each was allotted vehicles from 224 ABOD Jodhpur, Northern Command Vehicle Depot Udhampur and Vehicle Depot Panagarh.
All the Members of Parliament got the vehicle from the same depot from where they had asked for.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Naik in a written reply to Shri Ajay Pratap Singh in Rajya Sabha today.
Nampi/HS
(Visitor Counter : 863
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs
More than 196.04 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 7.16 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.
|
|
VACCINE DOSES
|
|

|
|
SUPPLIED
|
|
1,96,04,42,535
|
|
BALANCE AVAILABLE
|
|
7,16,44,320
More than 196.04 crore  vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt. of India  and through direct state procurement category.
More than 7.16 Cr  balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
More areas under Summer Crops over last year, procurement too rises despite lockdown
Sowing of Summer Crops:
The Sowing Area Coverage of Summer Crops is as follows:
- Rice: About 34.87 lakh hectares area coverage under summer rice as compared to 25.29 lakh ha during the corresponding period of last year.
- Pulses: About 12.82 lakh ha area coverage under pulses as compared to 9.67 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.
- Coarse Cereals: About 10.28 lakh ha area coverage under coarse cereals as compared to 7.30 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.
- Oilseeds: About 9.28 lakh ha area coverage under oilseeds as compared to 7.34 lakh ha. during the corresponding period of last year.
Pulses & Oilseeds procurement:
A quantity of 5.89 lakh MT Gram , 4.97 lakh MT Mustard and 4.99 lakh MT Toor has been procured by NAFED during the lockdown period.
Wheat procurement:
In Rabi Marketing Season  2020-21, a total of 337.48 Lakh MT wheat is arrived in FCI out of which 326.96 Lakh MT is purchased.
PM-KISAN:
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 the lockdown period in the wake of Covid 19 pandemic. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi  Scheme during the lockdown period from 24.3.2020 till date, about 9.55 crore farmer families have been benefitted and an amount of Rs. 19100.77 crore has been released so far.