ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Finance
Cabinet approves Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code  Bill, 2019
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved the proposal to make amendments in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 , through the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code  Bill, 2019. The amendments aim to remove certain difficulties being faced during insolvency resolution process to realise the objects of the code and to further ease doing of business.
Details of the Proposal
The Amendment Bill seeks to amend sections 5, 5, 7, 11, 14, 16, 21, 23, 29A, 227, 239, 240 and insert new section 32A in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 .
Impact
- Amendments to the Code to remove bottlenecks, streamline the CIRP and protection of last mile funding will boost investment in financially distressed sectors.
- Additional thresholds introduced for Financial Creditors represented by an authorized representative due to large numbers in order to prevent frivolous triggering of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process .
- Ensuring that the substratum of the business of corporate debtor is not lost, and it can continue as a going concern by clarifying that the licenses, permits, concessions, clearances etc. cannot be terminated or suspended or not renewed during the moratorium period.
- Ring-fencing corporate debtor resolved under the IBC in favour of a successful resolution applicant from criminal proceedings against offences committed by previous management/promoters.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Prevention of Corruption Act
The provision of section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as it presently exists is as follows:
“13. Criminal misconduct by a public servant.
 A public servant is said to commit the offence of criminal misconduct,-
…….
if he,----
……..
 while holding office as a public servant, obtains for any person any valuable thing or pecuniary advantage without any public interest;…….”
The aforesaid provision does not carry the element of mens rea and thus does not confine such type of corruption to bribing of a public servant or any dishonest behavior by him. This raises apprehensions and fears in the mind of public servant which prima facie have the potential of impeding and slowing down decision making.
The Prevention of Corruption  Bill, 2013, for amending the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 19.08.2013. The Bill after having been considered by the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, in its 69th Report and the Law Commission of India in its 254th Report, was also examined by the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha, which submitted its report on the Bill to the Rajya Sabha on 12th August, 2016.
Recommendations made by the Select Committee in its report on the Bill were considered by the Government and official amendments were moved on the Bill as reported by the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha.
The Bill was taken up for discussion and passed by the Rajya Sabha on 19th July, 2018 during its current 246th Session. Further, it was taken up for discussion and passed by the Lok Sabha on 24th July,2018 during its current 15th Session of the 16th Lok Sabha.
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.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID19 Vaccination-Day 67
India crosses a landmark milestone in COVID-19 Vaccination- More than 5 Cr COVID19 vaccine doses administered
15.80 lakh vaccine doses given till 7 pm today
India has crossed a significant milestone in the fight against the global pandemic. The cumulative number of COVID19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 5 Crore today.
A total of 5,00,75,162 vaccine doses have been given, as per the provisional report till 7 pm today.
These include 79,03,068 HCWs who have taken the 1st dose and 50,09,252 HCWs who have taken the 2nd dose, 83,33,713 FLWs , 30,60,060 FLWs , 2,12,03,700 beneficiaries more than 60 years old and 45,65,369 beneficiaries aged 45 and above with specific co-morbidities.
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HCWs
|
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FLWs
|
|
45 to <60 years with Co-morbidities
|
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Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
79,03,068
|
|
50,09,252
|
|
83,33,713
|
|
30,60,060
|
|
45,65,369
|
|
2,12,03,700
Total 15,80,568 vaccine doses were given till 7 pm today, the Sixty Seventh day of nationwide COVID19 vaccination. Out of which 13,74,697 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and 2,05,871 HCWs and FLWs received 2nd dose of vaccine as per the provisional report. Final reports would be completed for the day by late tonight.
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Date:23rd March,2021
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HCWs
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FLWs
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45to<60yearswithCo-morbidities
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Over60years
|
|
Total Achievement
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|
1stDose
|
|
2ndDose
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|
1stDose
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1stDose
|
|
1stDose
|
|
1stDose
|
|
2ndDose
|
|
43,489
|
|
49,288
|
|
91,586
|
|
1,56,583
|
|
2,67,059
|
|
9,72,563
|
|
13,74,697
|
|
2,05,871
Ministry of Science & Technology
Bengali Braille Atlas of India and Map of West Bengal in Bengali Braille script released.
The first edition of Atlas of India and Map of West Bengal in Bengali Braille script for visually impaired students were released by National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization  here today. Keeping in view the strong sense of touch of the visually impaired persons, the latest technology has been adopted on the digital platform which is soft to sense. Instructions on how to read the maps have also been given in the beginning of the atlas.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Tapati Banerjee, Director, NATMO said that this special publication will help the visually impaired students of Bengali medium in knowing the geographical features of the country. Comprising of 20 different themes on physical, social and cultural aspects of the country with brief description, this atlas with tactile maps will provide comprehensive knowledge to facilitate its users to have ready reference on concerned theme, she added and informed that the mixture of digital maps with Braille script unveils a new era on effectively transmitting the knowledge of our country even in different languages. Now NATMO is on the path of publishing atlases in Braille script of all regional languages to serve more than 50 lakh visually challenged citizens across the country, Dr. Banerjee added.
NATMO is a specialized institution of its kind in the world. It is known for its contribution in the field of atlas making with maps on different themes. It has been involved in preparing atlases for visually challenged persons of the country since 1997.
One day workshop on “Braille Map International and Awareness Drive for Braille Teachers/Trainers” from West Bengal Zone was also organized.
Smt. Hena Basu; Secretary, Society for the visually Handicapped; Smt. Lisa Banerjee, State Project Director, PBSSM and Teacher-in-Charge, Calcutta Blind School and Shri Debabrata Chattaraj, State Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities were also present on the occasion.
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister salutes teachers on Teachers Day
Also pays tributes to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has saluted the teachers on Teachers Day for their unwavering dedication and great impact in building our future and inspiring dreams.
Shri Modi also paid tributes to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary.
The Prime Minister also shared highlights from the interaction with teachers yesterday.
In a X post, the Prime Minister said;
“Teachers play a key role in building our future and inspiring dreams. On #TeachersDay, we salute them for their unwavering dedication and great impact. Tributes to Dr. S. Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary.
Here are highlights from the interaction with teachers yesterday…”
NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog releases ‘Mitigation and Management of Covid-19: Practices from India’s States & UTs’
Seeking to document and disseminate various practices adopted by states/UTs to enhance the effectiveness of Covid prevention and management initiatives in their local context.
NITI Aayog today released acompendium of practices from states and union territories that details information about various initiatives implemented by states, districts, and cities in India for containing and managing the Covid-19 outbreak.
The compendiumwas released by NITI Aayog Member DrVK Paul, CEO Amitabh Kant and Additional SecretaryDrRakesh Sarwal.
Over the past several months, the world has been facing an unprecedented public health crisis in the form of Covid-19. States and union territories have been equal partners of the Central Government in managing the Covid-19 outbreak in the country.
“While there is much to be gained by learning from global practices for tackling the pandemic, it is equally important to take note of practices that are grounded in our realities. Instead of expecting every state to reinvent the wheel, dissemination of such practices allows them to learn from each other and help find solutions to common problems,” wrote NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant in the foreword.
In preparing the compendium of practices, NITI Aayog reached out to all states and union territoriesby email and telephonically, requesting them to share any practices that they believe had been useful for Covid-19 mitigation and management. Additional information was provided by some states during review meetings with Member , NITI Aayog. Sourcing of information directly from states/UTs was supplemented with a comprehensive literature review.
The practices in the compendium have been disaggregated under six sections:  public health and clinical response  governance mechanisms  digital health  integrated model  welfare of migrants and other vulnerable groups  other practices. A summary of the relevant Government of India guidelines has been included for theaforementioned categories, wherever applicable.
Practices adopted by states/UTs in the fight against Covid-19 range from preparation of comprehensive route maps for contact tracing to operationalization of mobile vans for testing and providing essential health services to the doorsteps of people. Technology has been leveraged extensively by several states and UTs,including the use of robots for delivering food, water, and medicines to patients in hospitals as well as training health personnel using virtual platforms. Start-ups have been at the forefront of several technological innovations, such as the development of appsoffering telemedicine services. Civil society organizations too have worked closely with state governments and district administrations to set up control rooms for Covid management, enable the delivery of door-to-door food supplies, and mobilize self-help groups for making masks and sanitizers.
The full document can be accessed here: https://niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2020-11/Report-on-Mitigation-and-Management-of-COVID19.pdf.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
MSP Operations during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21
Paddy Procurement shows increase of 22.88 % over last year
45.92 Lakh Paddy Farmers have benefitted from KMS Procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs. 75263.52 Crore
In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season  2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes.
Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in the procuring States & UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pardesh, Maharashtra and Bihar with purchase of over 398.64 LMTs of paddy up to 16.12.2020 against the last year corresponding purchase of 324.40 LMT showing an increase of 22.88 % over last year. Out of the total purchase of 398.64 LMT, Punjab alone has contributed 202.77 LMT which is 50.86% of total procurement.
About 45.92 Lac farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs. 75263.52 Crore.
Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 48.11 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme . Further, sanction for procurement of 1.23 LMT of Copra  for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was also given. For other States/UTs, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra under PSS so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020-21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the respective States/UTs by the Central Nodal Agencies through State nominated procuring agencies.
Upto 16.12.2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 180032.69 MT of Moong, Urad, Groundnut Pods and Soyabean having MSP value of Rs. 966.10 Crores benefitting 100012 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Similarly, 5089 MT of copra  having MSP value of Rs.52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu upto 16.12.2020 as against the last year corresponding purchase of 293.34 MT of copra. In respect of Copra and Urad, rates are ruling above MSP in most of the major producing States. The respective State/UTs Governments are making necessary arrangements for commencement of procurement from the date as decided by the respective States based on the arrivals in respect of Kharif Pulses and Oilseeds.
Procurement operations of seed cotton  under MSP are going on smoothly in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. Till 16.12.2020 a quantity of 5380136 cotton bales valuing Rs. 15484.36 Crore has been procured benefitting 1040445 farmers.
Ministry of Culture
Union Minister of State for Culture  Shri Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurates the exhibition PRA-KASHI on finest trends of contemporary weaving
, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated the exhibition PRA-KASHI on the finest trends of contemporary weaving, in New Delhi today.The National Museum, New Delhi in collaboration with Devi Art Foundation, New Delhi has organized this exhibition. The exhibition will remain open for general public till 8th October 2019 between 10 am to 6 pm on Tuesday to Friday. The exhibition will remain open till 8 pm on Saturday & Sunday and it will be closed on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the talent of the weavers in the exhibition is really impressive. Even today, the machine is not able to match the beauty of work done by hand and such skills need to be appreciated, he added. Through the exhibition, efforts have been made to highlight the talent of the artists to the public.
46 textile objects were displayed in the exhibition that are hand-woven on traditional Indian draw looms over last twenty-five years at ASHA, a silk weaving workshop at Varanasi. To situate the textiles within the milieu of luxury arts in which they were traditionally created, they shall be juxtaposed with 21 objects comprising of historic textiles, miniature paintings, jewellery and decorative arts from the reserve collection of the National Museum.
The exhibition is curated by Pramod Kumar KG of Eka Archiving Services. It is in the memory of Padma Bhushan Shri Suresh Neotia and Padma Bhushan Shri Martand Singh, Patron and Savant of Indian textiles, crafts and the Arts.
Believed to be India’s oldest and most sacred city, Kashi  has been a spiritual destination for Hindu, Buddhist and Jaina pilgrims since the first millennium BCE. From around the same time, the city has been celebrated for its textiles and in recent centuries for weaving luminousgold- and silver-brocaded silks that mirror the transcendental light of its sacred river, the Ganga.
The exhibition will showcase the greatest range and diverse products of Asha through varied technical aspects, discernible shift in pattern and materials across their full range. The exhibition shall also depict the story of the finest Indian textiles produced at Varanasi. The textiles showcased in the exhibition are created under the guidance of Padma Shri Rahul Jain, a leading expert on the traditional textile arts of India. Textiles woven at the Asha workshop today feature in several major museum collections including the British Museum, London; the Musee Guimet, Paris; the Art Institute of Chicago,and the Textile Museum, Washington DC.
This special exhibition is a part National Museum’s ongoing effort to collaborate with other leading organizations to showcase India’s rich and diverse culture. This year, National Museum has already organised three special thematic exhibitions on Baluchari Textiles, Himachal Folk Art and West Bengal’s Patachitra or Scroll Painting. The National Museum is planning to organize seven more special exhibitions in next one year in collaboration with different national and international organisations.
Ministry of Defence
MoD initiates dialogue with OFB employees’ associations on corporatisation of OFB
A High Level Official Committee  of Department of Defence Production , Ministry of Defence  has taken initiative to commence dialogue with employees’ federations/unions to address their concerns regarding corporatisation of Ordnance Factory Board  here today.
The Committee, headed by Additional Secretary  Shri V L Kantha Rao along with senior MoD and Army officials, held a host meetings through video conferencing with three such associations – Confederation of Defence Recognised Associations , Indian Ordnance Factories Gazetted Officers Association  & National Defence Group-B Gazetted Officers Association  wherein, the intent of the Government to implement aforesaid decision with involvement of all the stakeholders was conveyed and suggestions were invited from the association members on ways to safeguard the benefits/interests of employees in terms of wages, salary, retirement benefits, health facilities and other service matters, etc, while converting OFB into one or more 100 per cent Government owned corporate entities.
Suggestions were also sought on their concern regarding future orders and budgetary support needed from the Government for the new corporate entity/entities.
The discussions in the meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere. The request of the associations to hold more meetings with all OFB employees’ federations/unions participating together was considered by the Committee and it was assured that the engagement with the Federations/Unions will be continued.
As part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package, the Government had announced on May 16, 2020 that it would improve autonomy, accountability and efficiency in ordnance supplies by corporatisation of OFB.
Employees’ associations were represented by CDRA President Shri B K. Singh and General Secretary Shri B B Mohanty. The IOFSGOA was represented by its General Secretary Shri S B Chaubey and General Treasurer Shri M A Siddiqui while NGDBGOA was represented by its President Shri M Barik and General Secretary Jaigopal Singh.
ABB/SS/Nampi/KA/DK/Savvy/ADA
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Ministry of Education
Promoting research under New Education Policy
The National Education Policy  2020 emphasizes to catalyse quality academic research in all fields.
Most of the research area in various schemes are decided by panel of expert academicians and researchers, and all researchers at various institutes carry out research in their own area of interests. Though the Government wants research to benefit the nation as a whole by promoting research in local problems as well as emerging technologies, there has not been any restrictions on the areas of research to be carried out in the nation.
The Para 10.11 of NEP 2020, talks a great deal about Institutional autonomy. It specifically states, “All HEIs will gradually move towards full autonomy - academic and administrative - in order to enable this vibrant culture.” It also mentions stage-wise mechanism for granting graded autonomy to colleges, through a transparent system of graded accreditation, will be established.
According to the NEP 2020, faculty will have the autonomy to innovate on matters of curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment within a broad framework of higher education qualifications that ensures consistency across institutions and programmes and across the ODL, online, and traditional ‘in-class’ modes.
The information was given by the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ in a written reply in the LokSabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM congratulates long jumper, Sreeshankar Murali on winning bronze medal at Paris Diamond League
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated long jumper, Sreeshankar Murali on winning bronze medal at Paris Diamond League.
The Prime Minister tweeted;
“Sreeshankar Murali scripts history with a great performance at the Paris Diamond League! His remarkable jump secured him a prestigious Bronze medal, giving India its first ever medal in the long jump at Diamond League. Congrats to him and best wishes for his upcoming endeavours.”
Vice President's Secretariat
I owe my attainment and accomplishments in life to my teachers and mentors: Vice President
Pays tributes to former President, S. Radhakrishnan on the occasion of Teachers’ Day
Enjoyed every moment of my school and college days: VP
Expresses confidence that the people of the country will overcome COVID-19 pandemic
Interacts virtually with teachers and students
The Vice President, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu today said that he owed his attainment and accomplishments in life to his teachers and mentors, who coached and trained him during his school and college days.
He was interacting virtually on the occasion of Teachers Day with teachers and students of Akshara Vidyalaya, a school run by Swarna Bharat Trust at Nellore and trainers of skilling courses conducted by SBT in association with various institutions at Nellore, Vijayawada and Hyderabad.
The Vice President paid his humble tributes to the former President and Vice President, Shri Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and described him as an eminent teacher, philosopher, scholar, statesman and author.
Shri Naidu also paid tributes to his teachers and mentors on the occasion and recalled that he had offered his reverence on Guru Purnima to more than 51 teachers and mentors, who played an important role in shaping his career and life.
The Vice President said that he had enjoyed every moment during his school and college days.
Observing that learning is a continuous process, the Vice President told the students to acquire knowledge from teachers, parents and their grandparents, who have rich practical experience of life. He also advised them to read books.
Lauding Akshara Vidyalaya, SBT, Muppavarapu Foundation and other organizations for conducting online classes and training courses, Shri Naidu expressed confidence that the people of the country would overcome the pandemic. He stressed that it was important to impart skills to the youth of the country to enable them find employment or become self-employed.
Observing that ‘share and care’ is the core of the Indian philosophy, Shri Naidu complimented SBT at Nellore for extending help to the migrants and other needy people of surrounding villages during the lockdown by providing food and other items, including medical assistance.