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Friday 4 October 2024

PM to visit Maharashtra on 5th October

Prime Minister's Office
azadi ka amrit mahotsavg20-india-2023
PM to visit Maharashtra on 5th October

PM to launch various initiatives related to the agricultural and animal husbandry sector worth around Rs 23,300 crore in Washim

Celebrating the rich heritage of the Banjara community, PM to inaugurate Banjara Virasat Museum

PM to inaugurate and lay foundation stone of various projects worth over Rs 32,800 crore in Thane

Key focus of the projects: Boosting urban mobility in the region

PM to inaugurate Aarey JVLR to BKC section of Mumbai Metro Line 3 Phase – 1

PM to lay foundation stones of Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project and Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension

PM to lay foundation stone of Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) project
Posted On: 04 OCT 2024 5:39AM by PIB Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra on 5th October. He will travel to Washim and at around 11:15 AM, he will perform Darshan at Jagdamba Mata Temple, Poharadevi. He will also pay tribute at Samadhis of Sant Sevalal Maharaj and Sant Ramrao Maharaj in Washim. Thereafter, at around 11:30 AM, Prime Minister will inaugurate the Banjara Virasat Museum, celebrating the rich heritage of the Banjara community. At around 12 noon, he will launch several initiatives related to the agricultural and animal husbandry sector worth around Rs 23,300 crore. At around 4 PM, Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various development projects worth over Rs 32,800 crore at Thane. Thereafter at around 6 PM, from BKC Metro Station, he will flag off the Metro train scheduled to run from BKC to Aarey JVLR, Mumbai. He will also undertake a ride in the metro between BKC and Santacruz stations.

PM in Washim

In line with his commitment to empower farmers, Prime Minister will disburse the 18th instalment of the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi worth about Rs 20,000 crore to around 9.4 crore farmers. With the 18th instalment release, the total funds released to farmers under PM-KISAN will be around Rs 3.45 lakh crore. Further, Prime Minister will also launch the 5th instalment of NaMo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana disbursing about Rs 2,000 crore.

Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation more than 7,500 projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), worth over Rs 1,920 crore. The major projects include custom hiring centres, primary processing units, warehouses, sorting and grading units, cold storage projects, post-harvest management projects among others.

Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation 9,200 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) with a combined turnover of around Rs 1,300 crore.

Further, Prime Minister will launch the Unified Genomic Chip for cattle and indigenous sex-sorted semen technology. This initiative aims to increase availability of sex sorted semen at affordable price to farmers and reduce the cost by around Rs 200 per dose. Unified Genomic Chip, GAUCHIP for indigenous cattle and MAHISHCHIP for buffaloes, have been developed along with genotyping services. With the implementation of genomic selection, young high-quality bulls can be identified at an early age.

Further, Prime Minister will dedicate five solar parks with a total capacity of 19 MW across Maharashtra under Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana – 2.0. During the programme, he will also honour beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.

PM in Thane

In a major push to boost urban mobility in the region, Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of key metro and road projects. Prime Minister will inaugurate the BKC to Aarey JVLR section of Mumbai Metro Line - 3 worth around Rs 14,120 crore. This section will have 10 stations, of which 9 will be underground. Mumbai Metro Line - 3 is a key public transport project that will improve commuting between Mumbai city and Suburbs. Fully operational line-3 is expected to cater to about 12 lakh passengers daily.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project to be constructed at the cost of around Rs 12,200 crore. The total length of the project is 29 km with 20 elevated and 2 underground stations. This ambitious infrastructure project is a key initiative to address the growing transportation needs of Thane, a major industrial and commercial hub in Maharashtra.

Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension from Chheda Nagar to Anand Nagar, Thane worth around Rs 3,310 crore. The project will provide seamless connectivity from South Mumbai to Thane.

Further, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of Phase-1 of Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) project worth around Rs 2,550 crore. The project comprises construction of major arterial roads, bridges, flyovers, underpasses and integrated utility infrastructure.

Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of Thane Municipal Corporation to be constructed at a cost of around Rs 700 crore. The high rise administrative building of Thane Municipal Corporation will provide benefits to citizens of Thane by accommodating most Municipal offices at a centrally located building.

 

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Saturday 10 August 2024

Microwave based Brix measurement technology will help sugarcane farmers .

Ministry of Electronics & IT
MeitY's R&D Institute SAMEER transfers technology for Sugar Content Measurement to two private entities

Microwave based Brix measurement technology will help sugarcane farmers to produce sugar cane syrup more accurately and efficiently: Secretary, MeitY
Posted On: 10 AUG 2024 5:48PM by PIB Mumbai
 

Mumbai, August 10, 2024

Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER), a R&D Institute of MeitY, Government of India, signed a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement for Microwave based insitu BRIX measurement system with Toshniwal Hyvac Pvt. Ltd. and Sir Automation Industries to enable manufacturing of this system in large numbers. The Technology Transfer took place in presence of Secretary, MeitY, Shri S Krishnan, in Mumbai today.

This state of the art technology of Sugar COntent MeasuREment (SCORE) system is transferred to the two private industry partners to enable manufacturing of this system in large numbers. The innovative Microwave-Based Brix Measurement System, designed and developed by SAMEER, offers a rapid, non-destructive, and accurate method for measuring insitu sugar concentration (Brix) in sugar mills during the production of sugar. This cutting-edge technology eliminates the need for manual sampling and enables reducing production time.





This initiative is part of PM’s vision of Jai Jawan (Soldier), Jai Kisan (Farmer), Jai Vigyan(Science), Jai Anusandhan (Research) - “जय जवान, जय किसान, जय विज्ञान, जय अनुसंधान", to build indigenous technologies to support sugarcane farmers (Ganna Kisan) and associated sugar production Industry in India.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, MeitY said that the microwave based Brix measurement technology built by SAMEER helps sugarcane farmers to produce sugar cane syrup more accurately and efficiently. He further highlighted that priority for MeitY is to develop indigenous technologies with own IP and in all sectors of ICT including agriculture. Through R&D initiatives of the Ministry, the technologies/products developed by SAMEER will provide ease of living, safety, energy saving, reduce carbon foot print etc. He congratulated SAMEER’s scientists for their efforts in building Microwave based compact cost effective BRIX meter for sugar industry. These solutions are designed and developed keeping in view Indian specific scenarios. The Secretary urged that R&D Institutes like SAMEER are providing an opportunity for use of retrofitting technology in traditional industries.



Director General of SAMEER, Dr. P. Hanumantha Rao, said that it is a milestone achievement in the journey of SAMEER’s efforts in the application of microwaves for agricultural and Industrial food processing sector of India. He added that SAMEER has been pursuing R&D in the advanced Radio Frequency (RF) and microwave research programs funded by MeitY, Government of India. The developed technology under "Make in India" initiative will help the sugarcane farmers with Enhanced Production Efficiency and high Accuracy on BRIX. Technology Transfer of "Microwave Based Brix Measurement System", is a significant milestone in the project's journey. This event marks the successful transfer of cutting-edge technology from SAMEER research team to industry partners and stakeholders, for innovative applications and impact. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the sugar industry, he added.

The testing and trials for the BRIX technology was carried out at Shri Sant Tukaram Sugar Factory at Pune and also validated by Vasant Dada Sugar Institute at Pune.

Dignitaries present on the occasion included Prof R. Prakash from Anna University, Chennai, who headed the Project Review and Steering Group for this technology; Dr. R. V. Dani, Technical Adviser and Head, Sugar Technology Division of VSI, Smt. Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator, R&D, MeitY, representatives of the two private manufacturing firms and the senior scientists of SAMEER.

About Microwave-Based Brix Measurement System:

Inline sugar concentration measurement technology has huge potential in other food and beverage industries be it dairy, brewery, fruit juices, confectionary. In the era of health conscious society, reliable sugar content measurement is very crucial since this information has to be mandatorily mentioned on the package for the consumer. The developed technology provides ideal solution for this requirement. 

About SAMEER:

The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) is a premier R&D institution under the administrative control of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. SAMEER specializes in the research, development and commercialization of microwave electronics, electromagnetic technology and related areas.



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Tuesday 6 August 2024

LIC of India introduces new Plans....

LIC of India introduces new Plans “LIC’s Yuva Term (Plan 875) / Digi Term (Plan
876 and LIC’s Yuva Credit Life (Plan 877) / Digi Credit Life (Plan 878)
Shri Siddhartha Mohanty, CEO & MD, Life Insurance Corporation of India
launched new plans, LIC’s Yuva Term (UIN: 512N355V01) / Digi Term (UIN:
512N356V01) and LIC’s Yuva Credit Life (UIN: 512N357V01) / Digi Credit Life
(UIN: 512N358V01) with effect from 05.08.2024.
LIC of India is launching new Plans for providing Term insurance and safety net
against loan repayments, both available offline and online.
LIC’s Yuva Term is available offline through our intermediaries and LIC’s Digi Term is
available online only through our website. The purpose of these products being to
cater to youngsters who wish to take Term insurance in initial stages of life and give
them a wider choice to buy offline or online.
We have also launched a product to cover your loan liabilities through term insurance
– LIC’s Yuva Credit Life in offline mode through our intermediaries and LIC’s Digi
Credit Life, which is only available online. As today people are utilizing loan facilities
available for various needs, LIC has launched Term insurance plan to cover loan
liabilities like housing/education/vehicle etc for providing a safety net against loan
repayments to the insured’s family.
LIC’s Yuva Term / Digi Term is a Non-Par, Non-Linked, Life, Individual, Pure Risk
Plan, which provides financial protection to the insured’s family in case of his/her
unfortunate death during the policy term. This is a non-par product under which
benefits payable on death are guaranteed.
 Minimum Age at Entry is 18 year (Last Birthday). Maximum Age at Entry is 45 years
(Last Birthday)
 Minimum Age at maturity is 33 years (Last Birthday) and Maximum Age at maturity is
75 years (last Birthday)
 Minimum Basic Sum Assured is Rs. 50,00,000/- and Maximum Basic Sum Assured is
Rs. 5,00,00,000/- (The Basic sum Assured above RS 5,00,00,000 (Five Crore) may
be considered on case to case basis in accordance with underwriting decision as per
the Board Approved Underwriting Policy)
 Benefit of attractive High Sum Assured Rebate.
 Special lower premium rates for women
 Amount payable on death of Life Assured under Regular premium and Limited
premium payment is 7 times of Annualised Premium or 105% of Total Premiums paid
upto the date of death or Absolute amount assured to be paid on death. Under Single
premium payment, death benefit is 125% of Single Premium or Absolute amount
assured to be paid on death.
LIC’s Yuva Credit Life/ Digi Credit Life is a Non-Par, Non Linked, Life, Individual,
Pure Risk Plan. It is a pure decreasing Term Assurance plan wherein the death benefit
will reduce over the term of the policy.
 Minimum Age at Entry is 18 year (Last Birthday). Maximum Age at Entry is 45 years
(Last Birthday)
 Minimum Age at maturity is 23 years (Last Birthday) and Maximum Age at maturity is
75 years (last Birthday)
 Minimum Basic Sum Assured is Rs. 50,00,000/- and Maximum Basic Sum Assured is
Rs. 5,00,00,000/-
 Benefit of attractive High Sum Assured Rebate.
 Special lower premium rates for women
 Choice of loan interest rate as appropriate to the policyholder at the inception of the
policy
 Amount payable on death of Life Assured during the policy term provided policy is in
force and the claim admissible shall be Sum Assured on Death
For details, Please refer to the Sales Brochure on our website www.licindia.in.
Dated at Mumbai on August 5th, 2024
For Further Information please contact: Executive Director (CC) LIC of India, Central Office,
Mumbai. Email id: ed_cc@licindia.com Visit us at www.licindia.in
We believe that the news contained in this release is of value to your readers. While we would
thank you to publish it as soon as possible, we also readily recognize that the decision to do so
rests entirely with you. 

Friday 2 August 2024

Surprise Your BFF: Ideal Gifts to Celebrate Friendship Day


Good friends help paint the canvas of our good days and hold our hair back through our worst. Friendship Day celebrates these omnipresent friendships and values the special bond between friends, reminding us to cherish and appreciate them despite our busy lives. Stemming from simple gestures like friendship bracelets, exchanged as tokens of affection among friends, it’s now a special day to express our love and care even when things keep us busy in our separate lives. Serving as a modern replacement for the yearly exchange of friendship bracelets, Friendship Day gifts symbolize and value our enduring friendships.  

This curated gift guide for Friendship Day offers a selection of practical and thoughtful gifts, ensuring every modern shopper finds the perfect token for their friends; from practical accessories to a digital gift card, we’ve ensured there's a special something to mirror your appreciation for the close friends in your life. Celebrate Friendship Day with Flipkart and find the perfect gift to honor the friendships that enrich your life.

Brooklyn Bag by Miraggio


The perfect tote for a person on the go: a sturdy and spacious bag to hold their laptop, journal, notes and everything else they need for a busy day. The contrasting beige and tan tones make it classy and versatile to style with both Western and Indian outfits - the perfect practical gift for your best friend. 
Shop from Flipkart for Rs. 2900


Tommy Hilfiger Men’s Wallet 


A foolproof product for your male friends when you’re confused about picking the perfect gift: wallets. A always practical and masculine staple of leather goods, it makes for an ideal gift. This classic black leather wallet from Tommy Hilfigher adds the perfect touch of sophistication and style.
Shop from Flipkart for Rs.3299



Flipkart Gift Cards 


This Friendship Day, give the gift of freedom and flexibility with gift cards! Choose from a range of Flipkart gift cards that cater to every interest and budget. Treat your friends to something special of their choice, whether it's a delicious meal, a shopping spree, or an exciting movie day. With Flipkart gift cards, show your friends you care without the hassle of guessing games or returns!

Shop from Flipkart Gift Cards

Calvin Klein Sweatshirt 


Cozy, effortless and cool. This sweatshirt, in a warm neutral color, serves as the perfect clothing staple that adds a touch of modern classic to a wardrobe. A minimal, unisex product that’ll easily blend into every person’s style. 
Shop from Flipkart for Rs. 3100



boAt Stone 1200F



The boAt Stone 1200F Bluetooth speaker is your ideal companion for any celebration. With vibrant sound and colorful RGB lights, it sets the perfect mood for fun gatherings. Enjoy music together and create unforgettable memories with friends. 
Shop from Flipkart for Rs. 3,999



boAt Smart Ring Active


The boAt Smart Ring Active combines fashion-forward design with smart functionality. Keep track of your heart rate and sleep patterns effortlessly. Crafted with a lightweight stainless-steel design and complemented by a charging case, this sleek wearable seamlessly blends style with functionality.
Shop from Flipkart for Rs. 3,999


GIVA Sterling Silver Tennis Bracelet 


A grown-up version of our childhood friendship bracelets - the tennis bracelet. A riveting and dazzling stack of Zirconia studs makes this the perfect arm candy for a special friend, whether they’re fans of jewelry or fashion! A versatile jewelry piece that can be worn as is, or stacked with your favourite watch. 
Shop from Flipkart for Rs. 3999

Don’t wait for your friend to surprise you first! Give them the gift of friendship from Flipkart now!

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Wednesday 31 July 2024

SUGAR Cosmetics celebrates 9 years of redefining the Indian beauty sector~launches #FlauntALookSoFine campaign; popular Gen Z beauty influencers join the celebrations~


Mumbai, July 2024: SUGAR Cosmetics, India’s leading omnichannel beauty brand and a cult favorite amongst Gen Z and Millennial consumers, marked its 9th anniversary on a high note after experiencing phenomenal growth in the previous year. 

To celebrate, SUGAR Cosmetics launched its birthday campaign #FlauntALookSoFine where consumers receive a complimentary face product with every purchase. Popular Gen Z beauty influencer Nancy Tyagi led the campaign with her reel wishing SUGAR on its birthday, fetching 7.2 million+ views to date. Popular influencers like Nitibha Kaul and Unnati Malharkar along with others also joined the celebrations and collaborated to showcase the party's makeup looks.  
The campaign was celebrated across digital platforms and 45,000+ retail touchpoints selling SUGAR Cosmetics across 550+ cities.

SUGAR Cosmetics offers a high-quality, cruelty-free, and trendy product range with over 550 SKUs. This includes foundations, highlighters, BB creams, concealers, lipsticks, eyeshadows, and bronzers for a varied skin tones. The fast-selling products across distribution channels are SUGAR Matte As Hell Crayon Lipstick and SUGAR Ace of Face Foundation Stick. Recently, renowned Bollywood actor Tamannaah Bhatia was featured in a campaign highlighting the brand’s airy-light, transfer-proof, and hydrating liquid lipstick range SUGAR Mousse Muse Lip Cream. 

Commenting on the completion of the 9th year, Vineeta Singh, Co-founder, and CEO, of SUGAR Cosmetics said, “SUGAR Cosmetics began with three SKUs. Nine years later, we have served 57 million long-lasting high-quality products to over two crore women, making us the third-largest color cosmetics brand in India. We are humbled by the love shown by our incredible community of beauty aficionados. We will continue to ride on the pillars of inclusivity, honesty, and novelty. While we are excited to roll out our innovative product launches and campaigns this year, we remain steadfast in our mission to redefine beauty which inspires confidence for women to embrace their most authentic selves.”

Almost 60% of SUGAR’s sales come from Tier 2 & Tier 3 retail stores while product discovery takes place online. The brand has maintained its position as the most-followed Indian consumer brand on Instagram with its 2.9 million follower community and over 1.89 million subscribers on YouTube. With 6.3 million app downloads and 4.5+ ratings across app stores, the brand ships make-up products across 19,000+ pin codes via its web and app platforms. Digitally the brand is available on leading quick commerce portals, online marketplaces, and online beauty aggregators.  

Friday 19 July 2024

Traya’s study reveals a concerning finding: One in Two Women Aged 36-40 Suffer from Advanced Widening or female pattern hair loss.



~ Hair loss remains a critical issue among women of all ages, demanding early intervention and holistic treatment approaches ~

Mumbai, July 18, 2024: Traya, India's first health-tech brand to treat hair loss internally, unveils astonishing findings from an extensive study involving 2.8 lakh women across India. The survey reveals that 71.19% of Indian women experience medium to advanced widening or female pattern hair loss, highlighting that hair loss is a significant concern that transcends age. As per the study, over 51% of women aged between 36 and 40 are already encountering medium to advanced stages of hair loss. Given that stress, depleted energy levels, and hormonal issues are the primary root causes, it underscores an urgent need for heightened awareness and early intervention.

The study brought to light that stress and low energy levels are rampant among Indian women. The most startling discovery was that 88.6% of the women who struggle with hair loss suffer from moderate to severe stress. Stress and anxiety are significant contributors to hair loss, with the high pressures of modern life exacerbating the condition. Additionally, the study found a connection between lack of sleep and hair loss, as it revealed that 48.14% of women experiencing hair loss also struggle with poor sleep habits.

Similar to the findings in Traya’s survey on men’s hair loss, dandruff emerged as a major cause of hair loss in women. Over 70% of women linked their hair loss to dandruff, with 22% facing severe cases, making it crucial to address dandruff for effectively reducing hair loss. Furthermore, 90% of the 2.8 lakh women who participated in the Traya study reported low energy levels, emphasizing the urgent need to address hair loss from within. Moreover, PCOS was identified as a rising cause of hair loss among young women aged 18-25.

Speaking on the findings, Saloni Anand, Co-Founder of Traya, stated, "Hair loss is predominantly considered to be an issue faced by men, leading many women to ignore or feel uncomfortable discussing it. However, it is a significant and growing concern for women, requiring effective and comprehensive intervention. Our study aims to help women understand the various causes of hair loss and tackle them effectively. The issue is quite complicated for women, where damaged hair strands and low hair volume pose significant problems too. There have also been psychological implications linked to hair loss, such as anxiety and diminished self-esteem.” She adds “In today's fast-paced world, many women encounter early hair loss but turn to quick fixes that offer temporary solutions rather than addressing the root causes. This only prolongs the problem and makes it harder to treat effectively. At Traya, we advocate for a holistic approach to hair health, focusing on the underlying issues. Our goal is to educate women on the importance of early and comprehensive treatment, steering them away from superficial solutions and towards long-lasting results."

Overall the study highlights the necessity for a personalized and holistic approach to treatment, as a one-size-fits-all solution is ineffective. Traya continues to advocate for holistic solutions to hair loss, focusing on creating awareness and encouraging timely intervention.

For more details on the study, please check: 
https://traya.health/blogs/hair-care/female-hair-loss-statistics

About Traya
Established in 2019, Traya is India’s first-ever hair fall solutions brand to help treat hair fall internally by identifying the root cause of hair fall. With the growing burden of hair fall issues in India, the brand has developed a unique doctor-backed solution where customers can take a free hair test that helps them understand the root cause of their hair fall. Traya has built its unique stack of tech, people and formulations that includes its online diagnosis, formulations coming from three sciences, a hair care team of hair coaches and doctors - all together helping them deliver unmatched outcomes for more than 8 Lakh customers who have chosen Traya. Today the brand has a workforce of about 800 employees and strong brand tie-ups with leading e-commerce brands, Flipkart and Amazon.
Website: https://traya.health/


Friday 12 July 2024

Vice-President's address at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai


Vice President's Secretariat
Text of the Vice-President's address  at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai
Posted On: 12 JUL 2024 4:51PM by PIB Delhi
Namaskar, my greetings to all of you. 

Distinguished members of the faculty, members of the staff, and dear students, Amrish Bhai ji does not need any test for his spine, he comes from a very distinguished lineage, Sardar Patel Ji stands in this country as the tallest leader with a great spine, and made India what it is. For the benefit of young boys and girls, let me tell you, Sardar Patel ji was entrusted with the task of putting various states into Bharat, India. He did it remarkably well, efficiently, but one state was kept out of his purview, the state of Jammu and Kashmir, that became a problem, which means Dr. Sardar Patel Ji provides solution, quick solution, lasting solution, difficult situations he tackled seamlessly.

Another instance, Dr. Ambedkar was chairman of the drafting committee, father of our Indian Constitution, did a remarkably good job. He drafted all the articles of the Constitution except Article 370. So these two very distinguished people, if Dr. Ambedkar had drafted Article 370, or Sardar Patelji had been given also the job of integration of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, things would have been very different.

Let me take you to a historical perspective, then I'll come to the subject. In 1963, in Parliament, the then Prime Minister, the first Prime Minister of the country, a question came up: how long will Article 370 last? Because it is the only article in the Indian Constitution which is labeled as temporary. Many, for various reasons, believe it is permanent.

Now no longer in our Constitution, thankfully, thanks to parliamentarians like him. I salute all the parliamentarians who, in one voice, took note of it. But Pandit Ji then said, “घिसते घिसते घिस जायेगा.” I'm quoting him about Article 370. We have seen it. Article 370 ने हमको बहुत घिसाया, घिसाते गए till we had a dispensation that dispensed with Article 370. I am deeply honored to be amongst you all.

And the subject is of contemporaneous relevance. It is pivotal to the future of our great nation, empowering India. The role of higher education in Viksit Bharat by 2047.

This institute has been nurturing the leaders of tomorrow, as was indicated by the Vice-Chancellor. The alumni are spread over the entire globe, setting benchmarks in management studies. This institute, I have no doubt, is a crucible of change.

It catalyzes big change. And a big change that goes to the benefit of empowering our Bharat, home to one-sixth of humanity. Your commitment to academic rigor and innovation is commendable, as indicated by the Vice-Chancellor. And I am thrilled, therefore, to be amongst you all. Since the times of Vedic civilization, India has been home to some of the finest, world-renowned institutions and universities: Nalanda, Takshila, Vikramshila, Vallabhi, to name just a few.

Because of these institutions, India was a knowledge powerhouse. Because of these institutions, India then had great soft power in diplomacy. Our trade went in a different direction because of these institutions.

And therefore, higher education bears critical relevance to the development of a nation and empowering it. These universities, Nalanda, Takshila, were repositories of our age-old values and wisdom and provided direction for the wholesome evolution of society. Where you have institutions of this calibre, the flavour of the society, the flavour of the entire ecosystem is soothing, wholesome, and full of positivity.

You get to feel hope and possibility. These resource centres were linked between exalted ideals and pragmatic exigencies of life, a neat balance. Now, with the introduction of the new education policy, and that came after three decades, several hundred thousand stakeholders were taken into consideration. And it was emphasised that it should not be degree-oriented. It must reflect something more that makes a person really in a satisfaction mode to contribute as per his attitude. Friends, I firmly believe, and I experienced it, because my education was propelled by a scholarship.

From a small village, I could go to any school only on account of a scholarship. I believe education is the most impactful transformational mechanism of securing, first, equality, and second, containing decimating inequities. Education does wonders, and quality education makes things geometric, not arithmetic.

Power to empower emanates from education and that power is of the nation also, apart from society and the individual. Education facilitates the unleashing of your potential, exploitation of your talent, and it becomes a conveyance, a vehicle to realise your dreams and aspirations.

Education is the driving force that empowers individuals, fosters innovation, and propels economic growth by contributing to productivity and innovation that enables the nation and society to grow incrementally. In a sense, education is both personal empowerment and a cornerstone of community development, fostering a brighter future and social harmony. You may have several positions, wealth, house, car. That is individual in nature. Education is not. It empowers you simultaneously. It helps everyone else. You are educated, the benefit accrues to the entire people around you and the society. Now, if education is quality education, things are very different.

Then the human resource is sharpened to face any challenges and convert challenges into opportunities for larger welfare. And higher education, according to me, is fundamental to sustain our economic upsurge, to register social progress of the kind we aspire, something to attain like utopian society. Quality education helps fire all cylinders of the engine, and there is good productivity.

We have potential. India was taken to be a sleeping giant. Not any longer.  We are on the move. Our rise is incremental, unstoppable, and getting accolades from global institutions. But what do our youth need? Your quality education.

But you suffer certain drawbacks, and drawbacks are, you are really meritorious, but you find the system promotes patronage, favouritism, nepotism, and corruption becomes a password for securing a job, an appointment, or an opportunity. When you move out with your credentials that are illustrious, you find privileged pedigree marching ahead. Being made to march ahead, and you look, this generates despondency.

This shuts down the nation. That system was there not long ago. Our power corridors were infested with lies and agents, corrupt elements.

They extra-legally leveraged decision-making. An opportunity, a job, a contract, would come through a passage. That was corrupt.

Liaison and agents were there. Another thing, promising, talented boys and girls what they want?, they want equality before law. They are in deep pain that we live in a democracy when some are so privileged to be above law, not amenable to law.

The strong arm of law does not reach them. So these things were holding us back. But now, in the last decade or so, as a result of affirmative government policies, initiatives and innovative steps, an ecosystem is in place where our youth can have full play in their joints.

They can fully expand their potential. And this is because now our power corridors are sanitised of corrupt elements. I am sure youngsters will have no occasion to see what we have seen.

The institution of liaison and agents, which was indispensable, is now extinct, beyond revival. Equality before law, that eluded us for long, that was the bane of our system, is a ground reality. We see day in and day out people who entertain the idea they are beyond the reach of law, they are immune from legal process, are suffering the heat of law, suffering the heat of system.

Then, with this ecosystem, you will be marching into the world. You will be taking a big leap. Imagine, with this quality of education, with these credentials, the reputation of an institution and a system outside, nothing can be more soothing for you.

The entire world is before you. A number of vistas of opportunities, I therefore appeal to all of you, get out of silos. We are not fully exposed to the kind of opportunities that are available to our youth. We still are in a groove of competitive examinations. And what was conventional? Things are changing as much as energy has changed. Now the non-conventional sources of energy match the non-conventional sources of opportunities for our youth.

I would urge you to look beyond what is visible, and you will find, you will have opportunities in space, in every walk of life. Disruptive technologies, I'll come to that later, afford you opportunities of development of a dimension which is unbelievable. 

My young friends, respect for law is a respect for nationalism. Respect for law is respect for democracy, and respect for law is respect for meritocracy. And therefore, we must always believe in being on the right side of law.

A shortcut is the shortest distance physically between two points. But on the Day of Awakening, if the shortcut is not lawful, it turns out to be painful and the longest distance. So never take shortcuts in life.

Let me tell you, those on the dais know it. In 1989, I started my political career, and around the same time, in the same Lok Sabha, the Hon’ble Governor was there. In 1990, Amrish Ji started.  In 1991, Mr. Parful Patel started. what a difficult situation I face in the house. But that apart, now look at the scene in 1990. I was a union minister.

The size of our economy was less than that of the cities of Paris and London. Where are we now? In the last decade, we have travelled from 11 positions to be the fifth largest global economy, ahead of the UK and France, because then we were behind Paris and London. That's a big change.

During that time, our gold, gold of Bharat, gold of that nation, which was known earlier as Sone Ki Chidiya, was taken in an aircraft, physically, to be placed to two banks in Switzerland, because our foreign exchange was around one billion US dollars. Now, it is more than 650 to 660 billion dollars. I had the occasion then as a minister to go to Jammu and Kashmir.

There was a deathly silence. Just imagine, after removing Article 370, a temporary article from our constitution, we had tourists in lakhs. Now, here comes a catch. Media will report an incident.

I don't know why people do not appreciate that India, globally at the moment, is a favourite destination of investment and opportunity, according to the IMF. According to the World Bank, our digitisation is worth emulating by others, it's a role model. We have, we are breathing in an atmosphere which is not despondent, not dragging us, is one of hope and possibility.

We must look at the grandiose achievements we have, the exponential, phenomenal rise in every sector. Could we ever imagine that in our Bharat, every house will have a toilet? Could we imagine that cooking gas will be available in that measure? As members of Parliament, we had 50 gas connections a year and we thought we were a big power. We could distribute those 50 connections. And 25 phone connections. Where have we come now? By millions, gas connections have been given free to needy households. And telephone? Well, they persuade you to have a landline. They don't charge these days. We all had telephones in the OIT category. Then, in the late 80s, it was 5000 rupees. A big change.

So we have really come to a level where global institutions that were earlier trying to advise us now are seeking our advice. All this has taken place recently in a decade. When you have a political journey, that journey may have sometimes Air pocket here and there. That air pocket doesn't disturb the destination or the flight trajectory. In the next five years, India's rise will be like that which a rocket has beyond gravitational force. The rocket took off. And you know, when a rocket takes off, huge power is required. That was there a decade ago.

Five years later, the rocket left gravitational force. And now the rocket is in space. And that is why the entire world says, look up to India. My young friends, just look at what has happened in G20. G20 functions were held in every state and every union territory. The main function was in Bharat Mandapam. 

Bharat Mandapam, a convention centre of world repute. We had P20, Parliament, world parliaments meet at Yashobombi. Meaning thereby, we are really going in big ticket achievements, infrastructure and otherwise.

Friends, in the face of all these, you will find nefarious forces with pernicious design trying to set afloat a narrative to demean, taint, tarnish our institutions, run down our growth trajectory. Now you youngsters know it. Your silence may not be appropriate because it gives wings to these false narratives.

We must neutralise these narratives because the ground reality is so very different. Sometimes I'm amazed that people are caught and it picks up fast. Some agency in the globe has said about India's hunger status. I was governor of the state of West Bengal. The way we faced COVID, we helped 100 nations. There were some in the country who sounded alarming bells wrongly.

The leadership of the country took initiatives, innovative steps. We became the only country that gave digital certificates. Similarly, we have to be on guard that from 1st April 2020, to be precise, 850 million people of this country are getting free food, ration and dal.

Imagine, it will continue for 5 years. How can there be a challenge in this country? Now some people who always look for negativity say, Oh, 850 million people are being fed, so the country must be poor. No. This is hand-holding. This is hand-holding so that they march to the upper slot.

But that speaks of the strength our nation has. Friends, our progress at the moment is galloping. Cutting-edge can be given only by higher education. Power of a nation is decided by the progress of its technological innovations.

And that takes place in institutions of eminence like you. I would appeal from this platform. Our corporates should come forward. They should hand-hold these institutions. They must nurture them so that innovation and research take place. These institutions must be laboratories for innovation and research. And thereby they will become crucibles of change. 

2047 is our target. But I have no doubt we will accomplish it. Everyone in this room, particularly the youngsters, you are a great part of the marathon march for 2047. You are vital stakeholders in democratic governance of the nation. By 2047, you would be in the driver's seat. And therefore, I have no doubt Bharat will regain what it had ages ago. 

Our concept of Vikshit Bharat is not just a goal. It's a sacred mission. It calls on every citizen to be vigilant and commit. यह एक ऐसा हवन है इस हवन में हर किसी को आहुति देनी है| हर किसी का सहयोग होना है| पूर्ण आहुति होगी उसमें सब की भागीदारी होगी| यह हमने कर कर भी दिखाया है|

Can you imagine in our country? What was the stage of banking situation? I started my career by going to a bank and took a loan of 6000 rupees.  Opening a bank account was difficult. In 10 years, 500 million bank accounts. What a testament to inclusivity in society.

And that is why I come from a farmer's family. More than 100 million farmers, three times a year, get amount in their account directly. I'm not on the amount. I'm not on the government capacity. I'm on the capacity of the farmer. That a farmer has a bank account, the farmer can receive direct payments. And that is where our Bharat is going. That is the change people have to notice. Presently, there are many who are in opposite atmosphere.

And I'm not aware where our Bharat is going. Go to any village, as indicated by Prabhupadaji, you'll find digital connectivity, road connectivity, tap water, electricity. These are big changes.  If you have to work from home, you can work from your home in a village also. Because we are technologically enabled. Friends, a great beginning has been made. We have a resilient financial ecosystem. It is fueled by schemes. Mudra scheme.

Just imagine, our women and girls have enormously benefited. 60% out of this. Huge amounts are available to them. Women empowerment is so fundamental to growth of society on the planet. But Bharat has taken a great step. In 2023, there will be vertical and horizontal reservation for women in Parliament, Lok Sabha, and state legislatures, to the extent of one third. You must have witnessed Republic Day parade in 2024 on Kartavya Path. Our women empowerment was blossoming. Bharat is defining women empowerment and women-led empowerment to the entire world. We have, as a first citizen, a tribal lady. Imagine where we have come. Extremely talented, has seen great experience, ground reality. She is there. This is the big change that is coming.

Each one of you, let me tell you, can unsettle the list of top corporates because now we have in place new situations. If we go for, let's say, quantum computing, you will have much better idea.

Our green hydrogen mission, something very different. Even 6G, the commercial part of it will start from 2025. And in all these things, my young friends, we are part of countries that are in single digit. All of you will be going to corporates or having your start-ups. But you will be helping the nation greatly. If you please take into consideration some of my suggestions.

I have urged parliamentarians on a number of occasions. Economic nationalism is fundamental to us. What a pain it is for us.  For fiscal gain, we import kites, furniture, dia, toys, curtains. Should our country be importing items that are available? We must have a policy to be vocal for local. We will be saving more than 100 billion US dollars in foreign exchange if we rigorously practise it.

You will find at the root of it that those in business, industry, trade and commerce engage into imports only to see their profit goes up. In the process they forget that the profit they are making is at the cost of indigenous labour, indigenous entrepreneurship and draining out our precious foreign exchange. To the leader here, I especially appeal.

Please catalyse the whirlwind of opinion. Why should our raw materials leave our shores without value addition? It is not a good reflection that iron ore is being so exported. We must add value to our produce. We must add value to our produce significantly if we have to empower our nation. And from that perspective, I will appeal to all of you. You can also in your life contribute because when it comes to economic nationalism, it is twofold. One, the importer. Second, the consumer.

We can be extremely right and I am sure that will bring about a big change. Friends, we like it or not, disruptive technologies are with us. They wanted our home, they wanted our workplace.

It is nothing short of a fourth industrial revolution. Because of these technologies, we are at the cusp of a big change. A change that will startle us.

There are challenges and opportunities. Impressionable minds like you can convert these challenges into opportunities. Artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, machine learning, blockchain are not defined by lexical words.

You have to go deep into it. I was myself startled at the enormous potential that is there. When I got a presentation from the experts. You can handle it. Because in whatever walk of life you go, you will be contributing massively. Therefore, your learning doesn't stop once you walk out of this institution.

Your learning is lifelong. And as a human resource of the largest mother of democracy, you have to be ahead of the others in the world. I have no doubt our genius is defined by our history and civilization of 5,000 years.

I can say this century belongs to Bharat. Look at what we did in G20. I'll take you to three decisions, fundamentally.

One, the European Union was already part of G20. And the countries of the European Union had colonised other countries by and large. It was in Bharat, at the initiative of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that African Union was made a part of G20.  A big thing. Another landmark decision. Global South constitutes a huge chunk of population and GDP of the world. It was unknown to the world. Prime Minister Modi took the initiative. And Bharat became the voice of Global South. And third, ages back, centuries back, we had trade with other countries through land and sea. That route has been formalised. It is a matter of time it will be functional. Enormous opportunities for all of you. 

Friends, you are not part of the privileged pedigree. You are the privileged. You are the privileged defined by your merit, by your attainment of skill. And therefore it lies that you not only work for yourself, but you handhold others also.

In your own life, if you make it a mission, you can certainly create a wave, that yes, I undertake to inspire, motivate, energise at least two persons. That will go a long way. Dear friends, when I look at young people, particularly institutions of your category, here I am interacting with you one way.

But when I have the occasion to interact both sides, I am enriched. I am enlightened. And I have no doubt our Bharat is on the rise.

I would be happy and delighted to ensure a visit of the students and faculty to new building of Parliament. I am the President of Indian Council of World Affairs. We will have an MOU with your institute in next one month.

We don't have to define our progress in economic terms. But India's rise, let me tell you friends, is like a plateau. That plateau is defined because of road connectivity to the villages, toilets, digitalization of the village, all the electricity.

And now a new concept has come. You power yourself because government has come out with a scheme of solar power for everyone. So I call upon industry, trade, business and commerce, their leadership, their associations, to nurture the spirit of educational institutions, innovation, research, economic nationalism.

These institutions must think beyond their normal working. When it comes to alumni, I have changed an idea. And we have people here who can rectify it.

We must have confederations of alumni associations. If we have alumni associations of prestigious institutions, like yours, IITs, IIMs, we will have a think tank, unmatched in the world, which can help us formulate policies. I'm sure it will take a lot of. 

Friends, don't fear failure don't have stress. Don't have tension. Chandrayaan 3 would not have been a success but for Chandrayaan 2 effort. For some people Chandrayaan 2 was a failure. I was governor of the state of West Bengal. Chandrayaan 2 was to land around 2 a.m. Along with my wife, we went to Sai city in Kolkata. 500 boys and girls were before us. It reached quite close to the lunar surface. Landing was not soft. Some thought it was failure. No. It was largely successful.

Success of Chandrayaan 3 is firmed up on Chandrayaan 2. Therefore, if an idea occurs to you, don't allow your mind to be a parking place for that idea. If you have a brilliant idea, it is parked in your mind, you don't act on it, you are doing a disfavour to yourself and also not favouring the society at large. So never fear failure.

Friends, dream big, think out of the box, because you are living in times when you can achieve anything.

Let me end by saying one thing to you. Startups attract the attention of corporate giants. Startup is the brain wave of boys and girls like you.

So you will be looked upon immediately. Think about it. I would end by quoting Chanakya, because we are speaking of education and empowerment of the nation.

Chanakya said, “Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere”  Couple it with what Swami Vivekananda said “Arise, I'm quoting you, Arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is reached”.

I wish you, as part of the marathon march for Vikshit Bharat, with full optimism and confidence that you will not reach it in 2047, you would go there much before that. 

Thank you so much. 

****

MS/RC/JK



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