India is presently a net importer of edible oil, with 57% of the total edible oil being imported from various countries. The insufficiency in edible oil is negatively impacting our FOREX by 20.56 billion USD, making it more important for the nation to become self-sufficient (Atmanirbhar) in the production of edible oil through the promotion of oilseeds and palm oil.

During the visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the Prime Minister of India underscored India’s self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in edible oil production. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi highlighted the Mission Palm Oil, a special campaign carried out by the central government with a focus on the Northeast, and inaugurated the first oil mill under this mission. “Mission Palm Oil will make India Aatmanirbhar in the edible oil sector and boost the income of farmers,” the Prime Minister said, expressing gratitude towards the farmers for taking up palm cultivation.

The Government of India launched the National Mission for Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) in August 2021. The mission is committed to escalating oil palm cultivation and elevating Crude Palm Oil production to 11.20 lakh tonnes by 2025-26. The scheme is presently operational in 15 states nationwide, covering a potential area of 21.75 lakh hectares. So far, 111 nurseries with the capacity of 1 crore planting material have been established, along with 12 seed gardens with the potential of 1.2 crore planting material for area expansion under the mission.

The Oil Palm Mission has been designed to promote oil palm in new geographies, providing end-to-end support to farmers in terms of assistance in planting material, assured buyback from private players involved, and protecting the farmers from the global price volatility in oil palm by providing viability gap payment (VGP) to hedge farmers’ risk. The government has timely revised the viability price of oil palm from Rs. 10,516 in October 2022 to Rs. 13,652 in November 2023.

Besides the VGP benefit, NMEO-OP also offers special assistance of Rs. 70,000 per hectare to farmers for planting material and management. The mission is also providing Rs. 2,90,000 for the purchase of harvesting tools to farmers for palm oil cultivation and assistance of Rs. 25 lakh for establishing custom hiring centers (CHC).

Processing companies under the mission are also establishing One-Stop Centers for oil palm farmers where they are providing inputs, custom hiring services, farm advisories of good agricultural practices, and collection of farmers’ produce. This visionary initiative reflects the government’s commitment to fostering economic growth, empowering farmers, and creating a sustainable and self-reliant ecosystem for edible oil production in India. The NMEO-OP stands as a testament to India’s dedication to achieving self-sufficiency in the crucial sector of edible oils.

Ministry of Tourism hosted an award ceremony for the winners of the ‘Design Challenge: Eco-Friendly Cutlery and Crockery to Substitute Single Use Plastic’ along with an exhibition of edible crockery and cutlery on 14^th March, 2024, New Delhi which was chaired by D.G. (Tourism), Ms. Manisha Saxena and graced by the presence of Senior Economic Advisor Mr. Gyan Bhushan, renowned Chef Manjit Singh Gill, Chef Gunjan Goela and others.

Ministry of Tourism, in coordination with National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology (NCHMCT) had organized the ‘Design Challenge: Eco-Friendly Cutlery and Crockery to Substitute Single Use Plastic’ on pan India basis. 22 Hotel Managements Institutes from across the country participated in the Design Challenge, out of which top 07 Institutes were selected who have designed and developed the innovative edible cutlery and crockery options after extensive research and creativity. On the parameters of durability, cost effectiveness, scalability, nutritional values and hygiene standards etc. the innovations were evaluated.

The institutions that secured positions in the top 07 were SIHM Indore, IHM Lucknow, IHM Raipur, SIHM Ranchi, IHM Mumbai, IHM Gurdaspur and Dr.Ambedkar Hotel Management Institite Chandigarh. All these institutes have exhibited the attractive and biodegradable edible cutlery and crockery designs. The top-ranked institutions in the list were IHM Mumbai, followed by SIHM Raipur in second place, and IHM Lucknow in third place.

This initiative was held in line with Travel for LiFE, a specialized program within Mission LiFE, designed to inspire widespread changes in behaviour among tourists, tourism businesses, and related stakeholders. One of the major objectives of the Travel for LiFE initiative is the advocacy to ‘Say no to single-use plastic’, which is a step forward towards sustainable tourism practices. The Design Challenge was conceptualised with the aim to safeguard the environment from the effects of climatic changes and encourage the development of innovative and eco friendly solutions in the field of cutlery and crockery as an alternative of single use plastic.

An information booklet on ‘Design Challenge: Eco-Friendly Cutlery and Crockery to Substitute Single Use Plastic’ was released during the event and a comprehensive panel discussion was also held for deliberating on the strengths and weaknesses of this alternative initiative and challenges in implementing such alternative practices in general. This initiative will not only benefit in ensuring implementation of sustainable practices but would also generate employment opportunities for associated stakeholders.

Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, today announced several strategic partnerships to bring scale and speed to the country’s skill ecosystem. Dr. Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi, Chairman, NCVET; Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE); Shri Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution; Smt. Trishaljit Sethi, DG, DGT-MSDE; Smt. Sonal Mishra, Joint Secretary, MSDE; Smt. Hena Usman, Joint Secretary, MSDE; and Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC, and MD, NSDC International also graced the event. During the event, the Minister also launched Mock Test 2.0 by NIMI in 12 languages and 4 New Age courses under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) in Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security which will prepare India’s youth for the technology-driven market.

Congratulating all the stakeholders for coming together to create futuristic instruments to further the skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling agenda, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, said, these skilling initiatives and partnerships will prepare the population for 21st century job markets, help them thrive as innovators and entrepreneurs and also contribute to driving economic growth. The two CoEs will equip youth with industry-ready skills, making them employable, enhance livelihoods and enable the enterprising ones to become entrepreneurs, he said.

The key announcements included strategic collaborations with industry partners, academia and government departments, the inauguration of two Centres of Excellence (CoE) in the media and electronics sector at Skill Development Institute (SDI) in Bhubaneshwar, the launch of Mock Test Application 2.0 by NIMI and introduction of four new-age courses for ITI and NSTI candidates. The aim is to bridge the gap between industry requirements and skill development initiatives, ensuring that India’s young workforce remains competitive and is adaptable to emerging trends.

MSDE has signed 19 MoUs with its various departments – one led by the Directorate General of Training (DGT), 3 MoUs signed by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), 5 under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), one under PM Vishwakarma and 9 MoUs through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). These collaborations with the private sector and fellow ministerial departments will play a pivotal role in transforming India into ‘Kushal Bharat Viksit Bharat’ where the youth will not only be equipped to meet the demands of both domestic and international markets but also will lead and innovate on a global scale.

The government associations, industry players and academic institutions with whom the MoUs were signed are North-Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd, Gems & Jewellery Promotion Export Council, Divya Yog Mandir Trust, North-East Regional Agricultural Marketing Co-operation (NERAMAC), iHub for IIT Mandi, North-East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), Takt Group, Meril Life Science Private Limited, IIT ISM Dhanbad, Sri Sri University, Coding Pro Technologies, Shobhit University, Meerut, Sanskriti University, Mathura, Silver Oak University, Ahmedabad, and Galgotias University, Greater Noida. Also, NEISBUD collaborated with the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE), The Department of Food & Public Distribution and the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts toward the sustainable development of entrepreneurial skills among various target groups aimed at the enhancement of self-employment opportunities. In addition, DGT renewed its partnership with the Future Right Skills Network (FRSN), facilitated by Quest Alliance in collaboration with other partners Accenture, Cisco, JP Morgan, and SAP.

The event witnessed the launch of two CoEs: Media and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) at the SDI in Bhubaneswar to elevate the capabilities of India’s youth population in the fields of Media & Entertainment and Electronics. By leveraging new-age technologies like Apple Studio Workstation, digital cameras, and the latest HP workstations, the centres will deliver cutting-edge training programs in courses like Graphic Design, Social Media Manager, Digital Marketing Manager, Video Editing, and Digital Marketing Manager. These courses are meticulously crafted based on extensive research and market mapping of the Media and Entertainment industry to make the sector aspirational in Odisha.

The delegates also released the Skill Gap Assessment Report on Green Hydrogen, undertaken by the Skill Council for Green Jobs, in association with USAID. The report will serve as a comprehensive guide in cultivating a pipeline for a skilled workforce in India’s green hydrogen industry by proposing tailored training programs and practical recommendations to meet the evolving demands of this sector.

Recognizing the importance of adapting to the evolving job landscape, MSDE has been proactively introducing new-age trades, setting up ITIs dedicated to new-age technologies and providing entrepreneurial support through initiatives like the PM Mudra Yojana. Moreover, the launch of the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) underscores the ministry’s commitment to leveraging technology for inclusive skilling, offering personalized learning opportunities, and enhancing accessibility to skill development programs.

The Passing Out Parade (POP) of the third batch of Agniveers is scheduled at INS Chilka on 15 Mar 24. The POP marks the successful culmination of training of approx. 2600 Agniveers, including women Agniveers who have undergone rigorous training at Chilka. Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, will be the Chief Guest and review the post sunset POP. Vice Admiral V Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command will also be present for the POP.

This momentous event will be witnessed by the proud family members of the passing out Agniveer course. Besides this, various high achiever veterans and sports personalities will also be present during the ceremony inspiring the Agniveers with their remarkable achievements. The Chief of Naval Staff will also attend the valedictory function and present awards and trophies to various divisions and unveil the bilingual trainees’ magazine ‘Ankur’.

To enable seamless flow of traffic on the newly opened Dwarka Expressway, NHAI has urged commuters to drive responsibly and has taken various measures that will help to minimize traffic rule violations and ensure safety of the commuters.

To assist commuters on the expressway, NHAI has deployed marshals to guide and provide directions at major junctions & entry /exit points, as well as additional road signages have been put up for the convenience of the commuters. Also, as the Dwarka Expressway has been developed as a high-speed corridor, the movement of high-speed vehicles may pose risk to the safety of comparatively slow-moving vehicles. Therefore, vehicles such as two/three wheelers and non-motorized vehicles have been prohibited from using the corridor. Such vehicles can use the service lane provided on either side of the expressway. Leveraging technology, advanced CCTV Cameras have also been deployed on the corridor to check violations and enhance road safety.

Also, to provide robust Incident Management System dedicated expressway patrol vehicles, and ambulances have been deployed on the corridor. In addition, services of toll-free National Highway Helpline Number 1033 are also available to assist commuters in case of any emergency/ non-emergency situations.

NHAI urges commuters to drive responsibly, avoid wrong side driving, follow lane discipline and drive within speed limits to ensure safety on the high-speed corridor.

The 19 km long Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway has been recently opened to traffic. The 8-lane access control Urban Expressway connects Delhi-Haryana border to Kherki Daula cloverleaf interchange and is India’s first Elevated Road that has been developed on a Single Pier. The expressway also features India’s first three level grade segregation at major junctions, ensuring segregation of local traffic and thorough traffic on the corridor.  Upkeep of safety on Dwarka Expressway is a high priority for NHAI, and the authority is making all out efforts to provide safe and smooth travel experience to the commuters.