Shri Muddada Ravichandra IAS (Andhra Pradesh 1996) presently waiting for posting is posted as Principal Secretary to Chief Minister.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri Muddada Ravichandra the very best.
Muddada Ravichandra IAS posted as Principal Secretary to Andhra Pradesh CM
Lourembam Nelson Mangancha IAS appointed as Asst Magistrate & Asst Collector -Uttar Dinajpur
Shri. Lourembam Nelson Mangancha IAS (West Bengal 2023) has been appointed as Assistant Magistrate & Assistant Collector (for undergoing District Training) in Uttar Dinajpur
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri. Lourembam Nelson Mangancha the very best.
Rathod Ashwin Babusingh IAS posted as Asst Secretary – Telecommunications
Shri Rathod Ashwin Babusingh IAS (West Bengal 2022) has been posted as Asst Secretary – Telecommunications , Government of India for a period of 8 weeks from 20.05.2024 to 12.07.2024 .
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri Rathod Ashwin Babusingh the very best.
Karan Singh IDAS transferred as PCDA (Army) Lucknow
Shri Karan Singh IDAS presently AO GE (North), Ambala Cantt, PCDA (Army), Chandigarh has been transferred and posted as PCDA (Army) Lucknow, PCDA (Army) Lucknow.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri Karan Singh the very best.
J Ashok Kumar IAS empanelled as Joint Secretary at the Centre
Shri J Ashok Kumar IAS ( AGMUT 2008) has been empanelled for holding the post of Joint Secretary at the Centre, Government of India.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri J Ashok Kumar the very best.
IIT Kanpur announces continuation of Bright Minds Scholarships
The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) announced continuation of its “Bright Minds Scholarships”, supporting the top 100 rank-holders of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2024. Established in 2021 and funded by alumnus Mr. Lokvir Kapoor, these scholarships provide an annual grant of Rs. 3 lakh for each of the four years of the undergraduate program, ensuring that no meritorious student faces financial barriers.
This year, IIT Kanpur recognises Ved Lahoti for securing the All-India Rank 1 and Dwija Dharmeshkumar Patel, the highest-ranked female candidate, with an impressive 7th rank. From the Kanpur Zone, Manya Jain emerged as the top performer with an AIR of 75, followed by Shubham Nair (AIR 131), Garv Chaudha (AIR 163), Shreshtha Gupta (AIR 191), and Siddharth Aggarwal (AIR 306). Shreshtha Gupta also stood out as the highest-ranking female candidate in the zone.
Out of the 21,634 candidates registered from the Kanpur Zone, 21,169 appeared for the examination, and 4,926 successfully qualified, showcasing the high standards and dedication of the students. Specifically, 4,338 male and 590 female candidates from the zone qualified.
Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, expressed his congratulations to the successful candidates and emphasized the institute’s commitment to supporting the brightest minds through the “Bright Minds Scholarships.” He noted that the scholarships ensure financial constraints do not hinder students’ academic pursuits, fostering excellence in science, engineering, and technology.
IIT Kanpur, established in 1959 and recognized as an Institute of National Importance, continues to uphold its tradition of excellence in education, research, and scholarship. The institute spans 1,050 acres and comprises 19 departments, 25 centers, and 3 interdisciplinary programs, with over 580 full-time faculty members and approximately 9,000 students.
Self-Help Groups funded by DMF to showcase their products at Dilli Haat
Self-Help Groups (SHGs), funded by District Mineral Foundation (DMF) and under CSR initiatives of Mining companies will be showcasing their products at Dilli Haat for next two months. This initiative has been taken to create a positive vibe and to make the public at large aware about the contribution of Self-Help Group (SHGs) to our society. In the Mining Sector the SHGs are increasingly being utilized as platforms for delivering development activities by funding agencies and governmental bodies.
Kosala Livelihood and Social Foundation, a social enterprise supported by HINDALCO, Unnati Maha Sangh, a collective social enterprise supported by BALCO and Bajrangbali Aajivika Self Help Group funded by Sonbhadra district in Uttar Pradesh under DMF are showcasing their products this week. These stalls were inaugurated by Smt Farida M Naik, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Mines today. She also interacted with SHGs and appreciated their products prepared by Women SHGs of DMF Sonbhadra and Unnati Maha Sangh and applauded their commendable efforts.
Ministry of Mines, through the amendment in Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) (MMDR) Act, in 2015, has made a provision for the establishment of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in all the districts affected by mining. The object of DMF shall be to work for the interest and benefit of persons, and areas affected by mining related operations. Through DMF various districts have set up a self-help group of Tribals who produce various local products.
Ministry of Mines has been inviting Several SHGs funded by DMF to showcase their products such as Handicrafts, Millet Products, Tasar Silk Products, Coir Products, Household Bamboo Furniture, Dairy Products/ Dry Eatables, Food Masala, Edible Oils and many other similar items, at regular intervals.
Rachna Shah | Startups in Technical Textiles to boost Innovation
Ministry of Textiles approved Startups in Technical Textiles to boost innovation and sustainability and to foster transformative developments that will shape the industry’s future. This was stated by Smt. Rachna Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, while chairing the 7th meeting of the Empowered Programme Committee (EPC) of National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) .
NTTM’s Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT) encourages young innovators, scientists/technologists, and startup ventures in the field of Technical Textiles to translate their ideas into commercial technologies/products and make India self-reliant. GREAT supports individual entrepreneurs or start-ups for functional prototypes or commercialization of their technologies for Technical Textiles, she said.
The Empowered Programme Committee (EPC) has approved 7 startup proposals under the GREAT scheme. GOI is providing a maximum fund support of INR 50 lakhs per startup. As of date, 8 startup proposals have been approved under NTTM, focusing on sustainability, composites, high-performance textiles, meditech, and smart textiles, driving significant advancements in these crucial areas.
Some of the start-ups which were approved by EPC and can go a long way in driving technology-oriented manufacturing in India are ‘developing and manufacturing Braided Composites for Military applications, Radmone Integrated IFF Antenna, Surgical Stimulations models made-up of composites for training doctors, Nano-fibre infused textiles for energy generation and sensing.’
Additionally, the EPC has approved a grant of approximately INR 6.4 crores to IIT Guwahati to introduce new papers/subjects in technical textiles and upgrade laboratory infrastructure in its Civil Engineering Department. The grant has been provided under NTTM’s ‘General Guidelines for Enabling of Academic Institutes in Technical Textiles- for Private & Public Institutes’.
By enhancing its laboratory infrastructure and expanding its capabilities in technical textiles, especially geotextiles, IIT Guwahati, a premier institute in North East Region, would be better equipped to address the unique geographical and environmental conditions of the region. The grant would catalyze the institute to become a key enabler of NER’s development by offering technical consultancy and necessary support.
Centre keeps close watch over market price of Wheat
The Department of Food and Public Distribution under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is keeping close watch on the market price of Wheat. In addition, suitable interventions, as warranted shall be undertaken to ensure that there is no hoarding by unscrupulous elements and the price remains stable.
During RMS 2024, the Department has reported production of 112 million MT of wheat. Food Corporation of India (FCI) has procured approximately 266 LMT of wheat till 11.06.2024 during RMS 2024. After meeting the requirement for Public Distribution System (PDS) and other Welfare Schemes, which is approximately 184 LMT, sufficient stock of wheat will be available to undertake market interventions, as and when required.
Buffer stocking norms vary for each quarter of year. As on 1st January, 2024, the wheat stock was 163.53 LMT against prescribed buffer norm of 138 LMT. The Wheat stock has at no point of time dipped below the quarterly buffer stock norms. In addition, at present, there is no proposal to alter the duty structure on imports of wheat.
Labour Secretary review meeting on EPFO Reforms
Smt. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India chaired a review meeting on reforms in EPFO on 13th June 2024.The meeting was attended by Smt. Neelam Shami Rao CPFC and other senior officers of Ministry of Labour & Employment and EPFO.
Smt. Dawra commended the recent steps of EPFO to automate the claim settlement and reduce the rejections of claims.For speedy disposal of claims, auto settlement of advances upto 01 Lakh for illness, education, marriage and housing has been implemented by EPFO. About 25 Lakhs advance claims have been settled on auto mode. More than 50% of the illness claims settled till now have been settled on auto mode. This has increased claims settlement speed and large number of them are now being settled within 03 days.
The cheque book/passbook of bank account upload for the KYC Aadhaar linked accounts of members have been dispensed with, thus eliminating the scrutiny requirement in almost 13 lakh claims in last one month. EPFO has also reduced and rationalised the remarks for easy comprehension of the members for return of incomplete cases and rejection of ineligible cases.
The number of auto transfers generated has also increased threefold with the numbers increasing from 02 Lakh in April-24 to 06 Lakh in May-2024 Smt. Dawra advised EPFO to continue the proactive steps for systemic reforms.
EPFO is in the process of revamping its application software with the UAN based single accounting system for each member and automation of process flow with minimum human intervention for faster settlement of claims. The new software is being developed with the consultation of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC).
The review meeting highlighted the need of the expansion of social security and new initiatives for ease of living and ease of business. The operational reforms in Litigation Management and Audit were also discussed during the meeting. Smt. Dawra urged the officials to work in close coordination for an effective social security system.
Sanjay Jaju | MIFF provides opportunity for Indian creators to capture the Imagination of World
Anticipation mounts as the 18th edition of Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) for short films, documentary and animation films gears up for its grand inauguration tomorrow, marking the commencement of a cinematic celebration that promises to captivate audiences and industry professionals alike. Offering a glimpse into the enriching experience that awaits participants and unveiling the festival’s array of cinematic treasures in a curtain raiser press conference, Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said that the whole objective of organizing such festivals is not just to promote cinema, but to reflect upon topical and socio-economic issues and to guide policy makers towards solutions.
Hinting at the growing market for documentary and short films, Shri Sanjay Jaju said that the documentary is a huge industry worth 16 billion US dollars globally demonstrating the genre’s power to inform, inspire, introspect and entertain. “Besides the documentaries we have a very buzzing and dynamic VFX segment which also includes the animation segment. It’s big industry which has huge economic and employment multipliers within our country. We are happy this segment is part of MIFF this year,” he added.
Highlighting the inroads our nation has made in Animation and VFX industry, the Secretary further said Indian VFX characters like Chota Bheem and Chacha Choudhary have become world known and they prove that Indian stories have the power to resonate universally. “The whole objective is to create intellectual properties within our country in Animation sector which should go far and beyond. This is an opportunity for many of our creators to come up with such ideas that will capture the imagination of the world”, he emphasized.
Shri Sanjay Jaju announced that over the next week, MIFF will have 314 films from 59 countries in 61 languages, 8 world premieres, 5 international premieres, 18 Asia premieres and 21 India premieres. “ Sixty countries are participating through their films and other kind of engagements.
While Government of Srilanka is putting up a performance that bring out their cultural heritage in the opening ceremony, Government of Argentina is showcasing their country’s talents in closing ceremony. MIFF is not just about India. It is about the world. It provides opportunities for film makers across the world,” he explained. Announcing some novel initiatives at MIFF, the Secretary said that this year’s festival is introducing the first-ever Doc Film Bazaar, a dedicated marketplace for independent filmmakers to find buyers, sponsors and collaborators for their projects.
For the first time, MIFF has selected a Midfest Film, “The Commandant’s Shadow” directed by Daniela Volker, adding a new dimension to the festival’s offerings. Towards giving a further impetus to Inclusivity and Accessibility, he said that MIFF 2024 is making its venues fully accessible to everyone and also showcasing special films for persons with disabilities in partnership with the NGO SVAYAM. In another first, MIFF screenings and red carpet events will take place simultaneously in five cities: Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, and Delhi where audiences can enjoy parallel screenings, bringing the magic of world-class cinema closer to film enthusiasts across India.
Detailing Ministry’s efforts to encourage future filmmakers, the Secretary said that this year, the festival takes a significant step forward by inviting students from premier film institutes like FTII, SRFTI, and IIMC. This will provide them the opportunity to immerse themselves in the festival and learn from industry leaders, and network. “ The festival allows budding filmmakers to learn from each other andfrom masters, experts and legends along with those who have already made a mark. MIFF has a legacy of creating many great film makers. The whole idea is to create champions for the future and provide them an opportunity to become big”, he said.
Shri Sanjay Jaju also said that opening ceremony will showcase FTII student short Film “Sunflowers were the first ones to know”, which won laurels at the 77th Cannes Film Festival this year. He further added that India’s ascendance in our soft power is a reality and it is going to get fuelled by these imaginative creators who are going to be part of the MIFF over the next week. “ We are a huge, diverse country with large number of languages and creators in all these languages. In the age of social media, there are lot of creators who have not even gone to a cinema school. But they have a huge influencer network and hold promise in the content they create. All such people will get an opportunity. There are lots of government schemes to promote independent film makers,” he explained.
Dr Virendra Kumar reviews the progress of DEPwD
Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar (15.6.2024) convened a pivotal daylong meeting with Ministers of State Shri Ramdas Athawale and Shri B.L Verma and reviewed the progress of schemes and strategized on key departmental initiatives for the next 100 days.
During the meeting, Secretary, DEPwD Shri Rajesh Aggarwal gave a comprehensive presentation on the Department’s initiatives followed by modernization efforts of the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO). The significant achievements of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD), the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), National Institutes (NIs), and the National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) have also been presented by respective heads of the NIs/NDFDC/ALIMCO etc.
The participants engaged in detailed deliberations on the strategic direction and action plans to enhance the department’s outreach and efficiency. The modernization of ALIMCO is set to revolutionize the aids and assistive devices for persons with disabilities, while the achievements of CCPD, RCI, NIs, and NDFDC underscore the department’s commitment to inclusive growth and empowerment.
Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar emphasized the importance of these initiatives in fostering an inclusive and equitable society. He stated, “The Government’s focus is on creating a robust framework that supports the empowerment and inclusion of all sections of society. The modernization of ALIMCO and the achievements of our various bodies are testaments to our dedication towards this goal.”
Ministers of State Shri Ramdas Athawale and Shri B.L. Verma echoed these sentiments, highlighting the collaborative efforts needed to drive these initiatives forward. Secretary Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, along with senior officers, provided valuable insights and detailed plans to ensure timely and effective implementation. The meeting concluded with a unanimous commitment of the Government to work tirelessly, particularly so over the next 100 days to achieve the outlined goals, setting a strong foundation for future advancements.