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US Navy submarine support ship reaches Visakhapatnam on goodwill visit

Indian Navy
United States Navy Submarine Support Ship

New Delhi (NVI) USS Emory S Land (AS-39), a United States Navy Submarine Support Ship docked at Visakhapatnam on a two-day goodwill visit to Eastern Naval Command (ENC).

The ship, which arrived on October 14 was given a traditional welcome with Navy Band in attendance, a Defence Ministry statement said.

The ship is commanded by Captain Michael Luckett who has been deployed in support of submarine missions across the world.

During the ship’s stay, professional interaction in the form of Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) and cross visits are planned for exchange of knowledge and sharing best practices among the personnel from both the Navies.

Officials from the US Embassy and US Consulate are expected to join the two-day programme and have official interactions with Naval and civil dignitaries. Informal engagements during social functions are also planned in addition to official calls on senior officers of ENC.

 

rb/ps

India fighting decisive battle to eliminate cross border terrorism ‘once and for all’: Shah

Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, as a Chief Guest attended 35th raising day ceremony of NSG

New Delhi (NVI): Describing revocation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir granted under Article 370 as a bold decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “peace in Kashmir”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said India is fighting a decisive battle to eliminate cross-border terrorism in the country, “once and for all”.

Addressing the 35th Raising Day function of National Security Guard (NSG), an elite counter-terrorism force, Shah said, “Modi government’s policy of “Zero Tolerance against terrorism” is unchangeable and to uphold this policy, a force like NSG is fully capable of safeguarding the nation from terrorism.

Expressing confidence in the force, Shah said, “NSG will always remain committed towards Modi government’s vision of a ‘world-class Zero-Error force’ and play a decisive role in eliminating terrorism from India.

Amit Shah

“It makes the country’s commandos role important in maintaining the internal security of the country,” he added.

Terming terrorism as a curse for modern developed society and a roadblock for growth and development of the people, Shah said, “India has been fighting the longest battle in the world” against the menace emanating from across the border, implying Pakistan. 

“In today’s time when unconventional warfare is the rule, NSG is always prepared and ready to protect the nation, whether it is during terror attacks like Akshardham temple, 26/11, Pathankot airbase or any other anti-hijack, bomb defusal operations, ” the Home Minister said. 

“NSG has impressed the world with its capability to counter any terror attack possible today. This inspires confidence in the minds of the people of the country that they are in safe hands,” he added.

Home Minister Amit Shah

Paying tributes to the martyrs of the force, Shah said, “NSG’s capabilities in protecting the nation from all acts of terrorism are unparalleled and it has always upheld its motto of ‘Sarvatra, Sarvottam, Suraksha’.”

During the event at NSG headquarters in Manesar, Gurugram, Home Minister witnessed a splendid display of the preparedness of the NSG to tackle any terror attack against the country.

Shah said, “The brave and selfless commandos of NSG have been equipped with latest anti-terror capabilities and weapons.”

Giving importance to human capabilities over weapons, he said, “Though capabilities like mobility surveillance, counter-drone firepower of NSG have been upgraded, yet any weapon cannot match a commando’s bravery and patriotism.”

National Security Guards Unit

Talking about the variety of activities undertaken by NSG, he said, “On the one hand, NSG has trained with Special Forces of different countries and exchanged best practices while on the other, NSG officers have participated in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and other environmental conservation efforts, which is another form of service to the Nation.”

He also congratulated NSG on its contingent for unfurling the National Flag on Mt. Everest.

–PS

Training process for 16th Indian Census begins

MHA

New Delhi/Greater Noida (NVI): Training the first batch of national trainers for conducting the Census of the country began at the National Statistical System Training Academy (NSSTA), Greater Noida.

The training period which began on October 14 will conclude on 25th of this month.

The 16th Indian Census will be carried in 2021 and training is an important aspect of conducting census successfully by ensuring seamless execution of the census in the field.

Additional Registrar General (RGI), Sanjay inaugurated and interacted the training session. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Vivek Joshi would address and interact with the participants during the training period.

At the apex level there will be 100 national trainers. The venues for the training are NSSTA, Greater Noida and ISTM, Delhi.

The national trainers are being trained on both Census and Trainer Development Skills (TDS) to further impart training to the next level, that is, master trainers.

Around 1800 master trainers will be deployed for Census 2021 who will impart training to the field trainers. The training of these master trainers will be held in 20 ATIs across the country between November to December, who will then train the field trainers.

About 44,000 field trainers would be trained to provide training to the field functionaries, that is, the enumerators and supervisors.

The training of these FTs would be held at the district level in January and February next year. They will also further train about 30 lakh enumerators and their supervisors in March-June at the sub-district level. These enumerators and supervisors will do house to house enumeration at designated places.

(sb/rb)

President invites Dutch companies to invest and be part of India’s growth story

kovind 2
President Kovind hosts a banquet in honour of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands

New Delhi (NVI): Stating economic partnership as a key pillar of India-Netherlands bilateral ties, President Ram Nath Kovind  invited Dutch companies to  invest in India and be a part of country’s growth story.

Welcoming King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of Netherlands at a banquet hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President said, “Dutch companies have a global name in the fields of agriculture, water management, port development, waste management and urban planning. He invited them to partner India in its growth story”.

He said, Netherlands was India’s 4th largest trading partner in the European Union (EU). The country was also among the leading investors in India and the companies here have made significant investment in Netherlands as well.

The President said that India and Netherlands share common concerns with regard to contemporary challenges, particularly climate action, cyber security and terrorism.

“Terrorism is among the gravest threats affecting the world today and we must come together to develop a strong global response to defeat and destroy this evil,” the President said.

The President also appreciated Netherlands’ support for India`s membership to the different Export Control Regimes and for its claim to a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

While stating that Netherlands was home to the largest Indian community on mainland Europe, the President said that growing Indian students and professional community in Netherlands was making the cultural knot and technology pertnership stronger and deeper.

(sb/rb)

Indo-Dutch accord: LOTUS-HR Phase-II launched to clean Barapullah drain

Harsh Vardhan
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan along with Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima

New Delhi (NVI): As a part of joint collaboration, India and Netherlands launched the second phase of the LOTUS-HR (Local Treatment of Urban Sewage Streams for Healthy Reuse plant) programme on October 14, for cleaning up 10,000 litres of sewage water per day in the Barapullah drain.

The programme was jointly commenced by the Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima in the presence of Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan during their visit to the Indo-Dutch water laboratory at the Barapullah drain in Delhi.

The Indo-Dutch collaboration aims to pave new ways to create techno entrepreneurship and encourage a sustainable business model to convert sewage water into clean water for healthy re-use.

Announcing the scaling up of LOTUS-HR for treatment of sewage water, Vardhan said, “Today, we are going to enter into the second phase, wherein 10 thousand L sewage water will be treated per day.”

He further added, “Dutch and Indian companies are contributing to the project by sharing their existing technologies and will showcase how one can treat urban wastewater into clean water for various purposes.  We are also in the process of emulating this in other projects across the country.”

The LOTUS-HR project is cooperatively supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology and Netherlands organisation for Scientific Research and STW.

In July 2017, this project was implemented to demonstrate a novel holistic (waste) water management approach that will produce clean water which can be reused for various purposes. The innovative pilot-scale modular plant upon commissioning will treat 10,000 L sewage water per day and will showcase a self-sustaining model for the end-user.

The pilot-scale facility will employ multiple technologies so that the data generated at the pilot-scale becomes a tool-box of treatment technologies for replication at other sites in Delhi as well as other parts of India where similar drains exist.

“During the visit to the water laboratory, Netherlands Majesties informed about the collaboration in the area of water technology and witnessed project demonstrations by the involved researchers. They also appreciated the numerous initiatives in this regard,” said the statement.

They showcased innovations under the Wetlab a Design challenge, jointly supported by DBT-BIRAC and Netherlands Enterprise Agency that provides a unique learning and networking platform for both Indian and Dutch young professionals and allows students to think differently for innovative ideas to solve India’s urban water challenges and contribute to cleaning up India’s rivers.

The event was also attended by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, Principal Scientific Advisor to GoI, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, VijayRaghavan and other dignitaries.

–PS

Govt pushes key reform in Indian medical education, conducts draw of lots for NMC

Harsh Vardhan
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan along with MoS Ashwini Kumar Choubey

New Delhi (NVI): Taking forward a key reform in medical education in India, Health Ministry on October 14  conducted draw of lots for selecting the part-time members of National Medical Commission here.

NMC is an Indian regularity body which has taken over medical education regulations from Medical Council of India within 6 months from 8 August 2019.

The proceedings of the draw of lots for selection of part-time members of NMC was presided over by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in the presence of MoS Ashwini Kumar Choubey and other senior officials from the Ministry.

Terming it a historic move, Health Minister said, “It is a huge and visionary reform in the medical education sector taken up by the NDA government under the leadership of visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and will prove to be a milestone in the years to come.”

“As promised, the process of selecting its members is being completed in a time-bound manner. We had nine months to select the members of the NMC, and within a short span of two months, we have framed the rules, notified them and also carried out the process of selection of the part-time members of the NMC today,” Vardhan added.

Stating the selecting process as ‘transparent mechanism’, Vardhan said, “To ensure probity and integrity of the highest order, a compact body is being selected through a transparent mechanism and representation of States and State Councils in rotation. This will also facilitate faster decision making.”

He further added, “The government has selected members from diverse backgrounds for ensuring balanced policy prescriptions.”

–PS

Hardeep Singh takes Gurbani to a new level with his unique calligraphy skills

Hardeep Singh’s unique tryst of ‘Gurmukhi’ with calligraphy

Hardeep Singh
Hardeep Singh while rewriting 'Gurbani' in art form of calligraphy

New Delhi: An academician by profession, Hardeep Singh has taken up the art of calligraphy for rewriting ‘Gurbani’, the Sikh scriptures in this beautiful art form which is originally used to write Persian or Arabic script. 

Hardeep Singh, who hails from Amritsar, Punjab said, “I am a teacher by profession but an artist by heart”.

Singh said, “I got this talent of calligraphy from my family. My ancestors have been associated with this art work.”

“My work is based on Gurmukhi calligraphy. I use traditional bamboo pens. It has been my endeavour to use traditional pens and red or black ink made by age old process,” said the great grand son of Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash.

Bhai Gian Singh Naqqash worked on a portion of the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple.

Stating that art is in his blood, Hardeep Singh said, “Earlier, I used to paint, but later, I developed an interest in calligraphy”.

Hardeep Singh with his creative art also brought out a beautiful pictorial book. He has made several religious paintings besides straight life paintings also.

–PS/RB

An ‘Aadhar’ for vehicles by December 2019: Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari, MoS for Road Transport and Highways Gen (Retd) VK Singh and others releasing Standard Data Book containing estimates on road construction during a conference on ‘One Nation One Tag – FASTag’ in New Delhi on October 14.

New Delhi (NVI): By December 2019, nobody will be required to wait at toll plazas anywhere in the country, as an Aadhar for vehicles comes into effect as part of the unified toll electronic system across the country.

This was announced by Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari while inaugurating a conference on ‘One Nation One Tag – FASTag’ here on October 14.

On the occasion Indian Highways Management Corp Ltd (IHMCL) exchanged Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with several states for integrating with FASTag. The move assumes special significance due to the fact that from December 1 this year, toll collections on all National Highways will mandatorily be done through FASTag only.

Speaking on the occasion, which was also attended by MoS Road Transport and Highways Gen (Retd) V K Singh, Gadkari said, “The integrated tolling system will provide seamless movement for road users and check revenue leakage at toll plazas”.

“This is likely to reduce the nation’s GDP loss by bringing down loss of fuel while waiting at toll plazas. This measure is both time saving, as also controls pollution substantially,” Gadkari added.

The Minister further said that efforts were being made to enable usage of FASTag for making various vehicle related payments apart from toll payments, such as for fuel, parking charges and others.

He said that the FASTag is being positioned as the ‘Aadhaar’ for a vehicle.

Gen (Retd) VK Singh while underlining the benefits of ‘One Nation One Tag – FASTag’ scheme said, “Seamless travelling at toll plazas will lead to ease of travelling”.

He complimented all stake holders for introducing this revolutionary idea, which he said, is going to prove very important in the overall national highways development plan.

Another agreement was signed between IHMCL and GST Network (GSTN) for integrating E-Way Bill system with FASTag. This has been done with a view to overcoming the existing challenge in track and trace mechanism for GST E-Way Bill (EWB) System and enhance the efficiency in its monitoring.

–RB

Govt to Introduce Water Quality Ranking in next 3 month

world standard day
Ram Vilas Paswan inaugurating the celebrations of ‘World Standard Day’

New Delhi (NVI): The Government is all geared to come out with Water Quality Rankings beginning with 100 Smart Cities and all State Capitals in the next 3 months and has written to all state Chief Ministers to make drinking water Standards mandatory for tap water.

The Water Quality Rankings will be extended to all districts in 6 months, as part of efforts to make access to clean drinking water a popular movement, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said while inaugurating the celebrations of ‘World Standard Day’ here on October 14.

Paswan said that it is the right of every citizen to get clean drinking water and asserted that nobody, especially the poor people who do not have access to water filters, should fall ill or become victims of water borne diseases. 

This year India is celebrating 60th ‘World Standard Day’ organized by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on the theme “Video Standards create a global stage.”

India is the fastest growing entertainment and media market globally and is expected to keep up the momentum by growing at a compounded annual growth rate of more than 11%. With this spectacular growth, media and entertainment industry in India will become a Rs. 4,51,373 crore industry by 2023.

Talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of providing tap water to all households by 2024 Paswan said that BIS, which sets quality standards for piped water, has a huge role to play in this regard. The Minister talked about the quality of Delhi water and said that the Ministry is awaiting the final report of the 11 samples collected from various places in Delhi and once the report is out it will be made public.

Paswan congratulated everyone on the occasion and appreciated the efforts of all officials of BIS and said that we have some of the best laboratories in the world. The Minister encouraged that BIS must take the lead in making global standards & benchmarks and it should look for ways and means to become synonymous with trust and quality.

Paswan said that he has been closely monitoring the work of BIS in minute details and it is quite important on multiple levels but their work does not get the appreciation it rightly deserves. The Minister asked officials to suitably highlight their work and also spread more awareness among the masses about BIS and quality products.

(sb)

 

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