#Quality Bharat @100 Mission

[pebblegalaxy]

Empowering India's Youth: Insights from Viksit Bharat Yatra and Youth for Quality Bharat Festival #ViksitBharatYatra #YouthForQualityBharat #YQBF #QCI

Empowering India's Youth: Insights from Viksit Bharat Yatra and Youth for Quality Bharat Festival #ViksitBharatYatra #YouthForQualityBharat #YQBF #QCI #EmpoweringYouth #QualityBharatMission #IndiaVision2047

Viksit Bharat Yatra is a nationwide campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 15, 2023, from Khunti, Jharkhand. The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness and track the implementation of various central schemes, such as Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala Yojana, PM Suraksha Bima, PM SVANidhi, and more. The campaign aims to reach out to the vulnerable population, spread…

[gogarbha]

Gogarbha are committed to providing the best quality products to our customers without any compromise. Our products are 100 % safe & natural. We offer you the best-handpicked products blended with natural herbs that are not just the finest but also fine-tuned to meet your needs in home care. Gogarbha is a mission to re-establish the Bharatiya breed of cows as the economic backbone of the country. We are committed to providing a market and a platform for producers that are committed to manufacturing high-quality cow products in order to save mother cows and restore Bharat's decentralized economy, which served as a significant model. We are committed to providing the highest quality products to our consumers at all times and are dedicated to rigorously exploring the potential of the Bharatiya cow species to fulfill today's challenges and needs.

[believersia]

Important Government Schemes for UPSC 2024

When preparing for the UPSC exams, a thorough understanding of various government schemes is crucial. Here’s a detailed look at some significant schemes you should focus on for the 2024 examination:

1. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

Objective:

To ensure access to financial services, namely Banking/Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance, and Pension in an affordable manner.

Key Features:

Account Opening: Zero balance savings accounts.

RuPay Debit Card: Free issuance to all account holders.

Overdraft Facility: Up to ₹10,000 is available after six months of satisfactory operation.

Insurance Cover: Accidental insurance cover of ₹2 lakh and life cover of ₹30,000 for accounts opened up to 28th August 2018.

Achievements:

Increased financial inclusion.

Enabled direct benefit transfers.

2. Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

Objective:

To create a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the under-privileged, and workers in the unorganized sector.

Key Features:

Age Eligibility: 18 to 40 years.

Pension Benefits: Minimum guaranteed pension ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per month.

Contribution Period: Minimum of 20 years.

Government Co-contribution: 50% of the total contribution or ₹1,000 per annum, whichever is lower.

Achievements:

Promoted retirement savings among unorganized sector workers.

Enhanced social security.

3. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

Objective:

To ensure housing for all by 2022 by providing affordable housing to the urban poor.

Key Features:

Beneficiary Categories: Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG), Middle Income Group (MIG).

Subsidy: Credit-linked subsidy for home loans taken by eligible urban poor to buy, construct, or renovate a house.

Technology Sub-Mission: Promotes use of modern, innovative, and green technologies and building materials.

Achievements:

Significant increase in housing development projects.

Improved living conditions for the urban poor.

4. Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PM-JAY)

Objective:

To provide health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families.

Key Features:

Coverage: Covers both pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization expenses.

Cashless and Paperless: Services across all public and empaneled private hospitals.

E-Cards: Issued to the beneficiaries for access to healthcare services.

Achievements:

Improved access to quality healthcare.

Reduced out-of-pocket expenditure for medical treatments.

5. Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

Objective:

To achieve universal sanitation coverage and to put focus on sanitation.

Key Features:

Gramin (Rural): Focus on eliminating open defecation through construction of household-owned and community-owned toilets.

Urban: Focus on 100% scientific management of municipal solid waste.

Behavioral Change: Extensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities to promote hygiene practices.

Achievements:

Increased toilet coverage in rural areas.

Enhanced cleanliness and hygiene across urban areas.

6. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)

Objective:

To address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of women empowerment over a life-cycle continuum.

Key Features:

Multi-Sectoral Action: Involvement of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare, and Human Resource Development.

Focus Areas: Enforcement of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, promoting girl child education, and generating awareness about gender equality.

Achievements:

Improved awareness and advocacy on gender equality.

Positive changes in the Child Sex Ratio (CSR).

7. Make in India

Objective:

To transform India into a global design and manufacturing hub.

Key Features:

Sectors: Focus on 25 sectors including automobiles, textiles, biotechnology, and electronics.

Ease of Doing Business: Simplification of policies and regulations to attract foreign investment.

Skill Development: Initiatives to develop skills required for manufacturing and other sectors.

Achievements:

Increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Boosted manufacturing sector growth.

8. Skill India Mission

Objective:

To provide market-relevant skills training to over 40 crore youth by 2022.

Key Features:

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Short-term training and recognition of prior learning.

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC): Facilitates private sector participation in skill training.

Skill Loan Scheme: Financial assistance for skill training programs.

Achievements:

Enhanced employability of the workforce.

Bridged the skills gap in various sectors.

9. Digital India

Objective:

To transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

Key Features:

Digital Infrastructure: High-speed internet, digital identity (Aadhaar), and mobile connectivity.

E-Governance: Online access to government services.

Digital Literacy: Initiatives like the National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM).

Achievements:

Improved access to government services.

Increased digital literacy and internet penetration.

10. Jal Jeevan Mission

Objective:

To provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.

Key Features:

Community Participation: Involvement of local communities in water management.

Sustainable Water Supply: Focus on sustainable water sources and efficient use of water.

Technological Intervention: Use of technology in monitoring and ensuring water quality.

Achievements:

Increased household tap connections.

Enhanced water supply management in rural areas.

Familiarize yourself with these schemes, understand their objectives, features, and achievements, and keep abreast of any updates or new schemes introduced by the government. This will not only help you in the UPSC exams but also in understanding the broader context of India’s developmental policies.

[bankabio]

Steps Towards Achieving ODF (Open Defecation Free)

Open defecation, defined as defecating in fields, forests, bushes, bodies of water, or other open locations, has long been a problem in India. This practice causes several concerns and effects, ranging from health dangers, and pollution to social issues and economic losses. The goal of the article is to look into India's moves towards ODF status, as well as the obstacles and opportunities that lie ahead in the fight for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable nation.

The Long-Persisting Problem of Open Defecation in India

Certain alarming facts must be studied to comprehend the scale of India's open defecation problem. India had 450 million individuals defecating out in the open in 2014, representing 59% of the worldwide aggregate. India announced itself ODF in 2019 in the wake of finishing the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), which included the development of more than 100 million latrines for rural regions. Despite this noteworthy advancement, a joint report published by WHO and UNICEF in 2021 viewed that 15% of India's general public still practices open defecation.

Several factors contribute to open defecation in India, including the lack of access to adequate sanitation facilities and services, deeply rooted cultural and behavioural norms that favour open defecation, low awareness and demand for improved sanitation among communities, and weak governance and accountability mechanisms for sanitation delivery.

Steps the Indian Government Has Taken to Overcome Open Defecation

India has made significant progress towards eliminating open defecation. The following are the main initiatives and policies that the government and other stakeholders have implemented:

Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): Launched in 2014, SBM aimed to achieve universal sanitation coverage and cleanliness by 2019. It focused on two key components:

a. SBM-Gramin: Targeted rural areas and aimed to make all villages open defecation-free (ODF) by constructing toilets, promoting behavior change, and ensuring solid and liquid waste management.

b. SBM-Urban: Focused on urban areas and aimed to make all cities ODF by providing access to toilets, improving sewerage networks, and managing fecal sludge.

ODF+ and ODF++: Launched in 2018 to sustain the work undertaken by cities after achieving ODF status under SBM-Urban. ODF+ focuses on toilets with water, maintenance, and hygiene, while ODF++ focuses on toilets with sludge and septage management.

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Launched in 2019, JJM aims to provide piped water supply to all rural households by 2024. This initiative complements SBM-Gramin by ensuring the availability of water for sanitation and hygiene purposes while promoting community participation and convergence with other schemes for water conservation and management.

Open Defecation Challenges 

While India has made remarkable progress, several challenges and opportunities remain on the path to achieving and sustaining ODF status:

Ensuring quality and functionality of toilets and sanitation services: Constructing toilets is one thing; ensuring they are used correctly and maintained is another challenge.

Addressing gaps and disparities in sanitation access and usage: There are significant disparities in sanitation access among different regions, states, districts, and social groups. Bridging these gaps is crucial.

Monitoring and verifying ODF outcomes and impacts: Reliable data and indicators are essential for assessing progress accurately and ensuring that ODF status leads to actual improvements in health and well-being.

Mobilizing adequate financial resources and human capacities: The scale of sanitation delivery requires sustained funding and a skilled workforce.

Coordinating and aligning efforts among various sectors involved in sanitation: Effective coordination is vital to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure that resources are used efficiently.

Many companies have taken initiatives for India to be open defecation-free. One of them is Banka Bio! Banka Bio is a company that specializes in providing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) infrastructure solutions.

Banka Bio: Winning the Fight Against Open Defecation

Banka Bio's Bio toilet is a revolutionary solution for sanitation needs, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to waste disposal. It consists of two main components: a bio-digester tank and a prefabricated shelter, both designed to provide a complete end-to-end sanitation solution.

The bio-digester tank lies at the heart of this innovative system. This tank is typically cylindrical or cubical and incorporates several key features. It includes an inlet for human waste, a water outlet, and a small vent for the release of biogas. Users of the toilet, which is connected to the bio-digester, can conveniently deposit waste into the system.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Banka Bio's Bio-toilet is its waste management capability. Through the process of anaerobic digestion, it efficiently breaks down the solid waste, reducing it by up to 90% on a dry weight basis. This not only helps in waste management but also has a positive impact on the environment.

Unique Benefits of This Bio-toilet

Moreover, the biogas produced during this digestion process are colorless, odorless, and inflammable. It can be safely released into the atmosphere or, if generated in sufficient volumes, harnessed for various energy-intensive activities such as cooking and heating. This dual benefit of waste reduction and energy generation makes the bio-toilet an excellent choice for sustainable sanitation solutions.

Additionally, Banka Bio's Bio-toilet generates odorless, recycled water rich in nutrients that can be used for gardening or other non-potable water needs. This reusing of water further contributes to environmental sustainability.

One of the standout features of this bio-toilet is its simplicity and versatility. It does not require a septic tank or external sewage treatment infrastructure, making it suitable for deployment in a wide range of conditions. It is also remarkably maintenance-free, with inoculum charging required only once during its lifetime. Routine cleaning does not harm the system or the inoculum.

Banka Bio's Bio-toilet is a cost-effective option because it eliminates the need for expensive conventional energy sources and external sewage treatment facilities. It is simple to install and maintain, and it can be up and running in as little as 12 hours.

Conclusion

Open defecation is a critical issue that affects the health, environment, society, and economy of India. The nation's efforts to achieve ODF status through initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission and Jal Jeevan Mission are commendable. However, challenges such as ensuring quality sanitation services, addressing disparities, monitoring progress, mobilizing resources, and coordinating efforts remain.

The journey towards a cleaner and healthier India is ongoing. With continued commitment, innovation, and collaboration among stakeholders, India has the potential to not only sustain its ODF status but also improve the quality and safety of sanitation services, ultimately leading to a brighter and more prosperous future for all its citizens.

Source Link

[college-buz]

UP: Survey Shows High Dropout Rates Among Girls, Rising Popularity of Private Tuition

The percentage of children in classes 1 to 8 taking paid private tuition in UP increased from 15.9% in 2018 to 23.7% in 2022.

Lucknow: There has been an over 7.9% increase in the proportion of school-going children taking paid tuition classes in Uttar Pradesh in 2022, in comparison to pre-Covid-19 levels, according to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022 launched on Wednesday.

According to the ASER, the overall enrollment to private tuition across the state has increased at all levels despite the prolonged closure of schools. The nationwide survey was resumed after a gap of four years. However, the percentage of children in classes 1 to 8 in Uttar Pradesh taking paid private tuition increased from 15.9% in 2018 to 23.7% in 2022. Nationally, the figure stood at 30.5%.

In UP, the survey was conducted in 2,096 villages across 70 districts and included 91,158 children in the age group of 3–16 from 41,910 households.

While the enrollment of girls in schools improved in 2022, the considerable drop in their percentage at a higher secondary level remained worrisome, according to the survey.

Against the country-wide average of 2%, the percentage of girls in the age group of 11–14 years not enrolled in schools in Uttar Pradesh stood at 4%. However, this number has significantly reduced over time. It was 11.1% in 2006 and 7.4% in 2018, the findings suggested.

On the other hand, following Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh has the second highest number of girls in the 15–16 age group not enrolled in schools. Only three states — MP (17%), UP (15%), and Chhattisgarh (11.2%) — have more than 10% of girls in this age group who are out of school, even when the national average stood at 7.9%.

Sunil Kumar, state coordinator of ASER, told NewsClick that things have changed in the last few decades, but a lot still needs to be done in terms of the percentage of women’s literacy and higher education.

Under the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FNL) mission of the NIPUN Bharat programme launched by the Union education ministry in 2020, the goal is to cover 100% of children from class 3 by 2025. “Going by the findings of ten years, it seems an uphill task to complete the target in three years. UP still needs a big push in the coming two years,” Kumar said.

Discussing dropout rates, Kumar further said, “Uttar Pradesh has the highest dropout rates in the country in terms of girls. The overall percentage of dropout rate is 4% in the age group of 11–14 while it increased to 15% girls in the 15–16 age group. As the age increases, the dropout rate of girls also increases. This is worrisome because it happened even after running the School Chalo Abhiyan campaign aggressively.”

Speaking to NewsClick, Naresh Paras, an Agra-based child rights activist, said he believes there are two reasons behind the dropouts of girls. “First, poverty forces teenage girls to work along with families to make ends meet. The other reason is gender gap; parents don’t allow their daughters to attend a school where the boys’ strength is stronger than girls. Further, in rural areas, girls are levied with the responsibility to take care of her younger siblings.”

Meanwhile, to ensure 100% enrolment in primary and upper primary schools in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ from Shravasti district in April 2022.

“Take every child to school, register them, provide them with facilities like free uniforms, books, bags, shoes, socks and sweaters, etc.,” Adityanath said at the inauguration event. However, there are lakhs of poor students of government primary schools in UP who lack school uniforms, shoes and bags.

Talking about the possibilities of the trend to opt for private tution, the UP coordinator of ASER further said, “The parents do not want to compromise on the quality of education. A number of private schools have been closed during Covid-19. Therefore, either any member of the family is supporting the children or sending them to private tuition for a better education.”

[starfriday]

Virat Kohli announces the launch of WROGN ZERO on Flipkart

- Virat Kohli’s one-of-a-kind weightless clothing collection featuring 100+ styles will be available on Flipkart beginning 27th May

- Focuses on bridging the gap between India and Bharat with easy accessibility and affordability

Bengaluru - May 26, 2023: Ahead of Flipkart’s ‘End of season shopping festival’, which is an anticipated fashion shopping event for millions of customers from across India, Virat Kohli has announced the launch of WROGN ZERO by Virat Kohli on Flipkart. Created in collaboration with the iconic former captain of the Indian National Cricket Team, WROGN ZERO focuses on comfort and affordability to pioneer ultra-light weight clothing embodying Virat’s edgy style and persona. The new collection will encourage youth across India to own their unconventional athleisure style and defy the status-quo. WROGN ZERO will feature 100+ fashion-forward styles in apparel and footwear, starting from Rs. 349 across product categories such as t-shirts, shirts, jeans and shoes. The collection will be live on Flipkart starting 27th May 2023.

According to a recent report by NASSCOM, in India, Gen Z and Millennials constitute over 52% of the overall population. As the largest generational cohort, their consumption patterns are reshaping the fashion industry. Their fashion choices can be encapsulated in one word - that is - comfort, giving way to the trend of ‘casualisation’. Flipkart has witnessed tremendous growth in the casual wear segment over the past year and the launch of WROGN ZERO is expected to fast-track this even further.

Virat Kohli, the legendary cricketer and a style icon, expressed his excitement about the launch of WROGN ZERO on Flipkart, saying, “WROGN ZERO is more my kind of style by being ultra light and easy yet stylish. Who likes to carry that extra weight? Definitely not me! Be it my fashion or my game, it's always about keeping it light and comfortable. I am beyond thrilled to make this collection available in the remotest regions in the country with Flipkart.”

Announcing the launch, Abhishek Maloo, Senior Director, Flipkart Fashion, said, “At Flipkart, we strive to make the best of fashion available to every single customer across India, at the best value. Today’s fashion-conscious shopper has an increased interest in celebrity-led fashion, and Virat being a style icon makes it a winning combination for WROGN ZERO to be launched on our platform just in time for our End of Season Shopping Festival. With a collection that allows youth to elevate their style game within a budget, this launch is aligned with Flipkart’s mission to democratise fashion and address the need for trendy yet affordable clothing, without compromising on quality.”

Speaking about the launch, Vikramaditya Reddy, COO & Co-Founder, WROGN, said, “WROGN ZERO is a capsule collection that offers stylish yet functional fashion supporting every customer to be a trendsetter in their own right. The collection offers a wide range of products inspired by Virat Kohli’s edgy persona while motivating customers to upgrade their wardrobe, with the light-weight clothing and footwear from the WROGN ZERO collection. Launching on India’s leading e-commerce platform, Flipkart will not only allow us to reach our target group but also help in motivating the youth of today to make affordable and comfortable style choices.”

Around 40% of new customers explore Flipkart through fashion today and customers aged between 25-35 contribute to the highest demand observed in fashion segments on Flipkart, with top choices including t-shirts, shirts, jeans and shoes.

About the Flipkart Group

The Flipkart Group is one of India’s leading digital commerce entities and includes group companies Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Flipkart Health+, and Cleartrip.

Started in 2007, Flipkart has enabled millions of consumers, sellers, merchants, and small businesses to be a part of India's digital commerce revolution, with a registered customer base of more than 400 million, offering over 150 million products across 80+ categories. Our efforts to democratise commerce in India, drive access and affordability, delight customers, create lakhs of jobs in the ecosystem, and empower generations of entrepreneurs and MSMEs have inspired us to innovate on many industry firsts. Flipkart is known for pioneering services such as Cash on Delivery, No Cost EMI and easy returns – customer-centric innovations have made online shopping more accessible and affordable for millions of Indians. Together with its group companies, Flipkart is committed to transforming commerce in India through technology.

For more information, please write to media@flipkart.com

[anantradingpvtltd]

Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details) [ad_1] Product Description Superior Coffee Experience For Everyone A fearless, original & revolutionary coffee company serving delicious & healthy products Our Process Here’s how we make our uniquely smooth, delicious and aromatic blends We start with better beans. Our blenders ensure total consistency by insisting on rigorous quality checks throughout the process of picking, sorting, roasting and grinding. We use our special roasting expertise to create a surprisingly smooth taste. All that passion and hard work create an exceptionally smooth cup of coffee that’s flavourful and awakens your soul. Only 100% Arabica Beans Small Batch Roasted. Hand crafted to perfection Velvety Smooth. And never bitter Deeply Flavoured Aromatic Compounds & Rich Body US FDA, FSSAI, GMP, ISO, HACCP Certified & Tested 1 Our Beans 2 Our Roasting 3 Our Quality 4 Our Commitment 5 Our Testing THIS IS NOT INSTANT COFFEE. EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED TO BREW. About the Startup Bharat Sethi Founder & CEO Describe your products in 3 words. Unique, Healthy, Delicious How did you come up with the idea for this product? At Rage Coffee, our only mission is to keep #raging 24/7 with new innovations and products that promise to deliver you the best coffee drinking experience, every single time. Adding to our queue of innovations, our latest launch, Ground Coffee is here to give you the Café Coffee experience that you have been looking for. Missing out on the joy of drinking freshly roasted coffee at your favorite café? Light up a candle, turn down the lights and create the perfect coffee date at home with Rage’s Ground Coffee, available in four aromatic blend variants. Thanks to the wholesome vitamins infused in Rage Coffee, you can now boost your mood, and your health simply by savoring a cup of coffee peacefully at home.

Fall in love with the taste and flavors of premium coffee, with Rage Ground Coffee. What makes your product special? Infused With Plant Vitamins for the perfect caffeine kick 100% arabica beans only Small batch roasted hand crafted to perfection Velvety Smooth and never bitter US FDA, FSSAI, GMP, ISO, HACP Certified & Tested Deeply flavoured aromatic compounds with a rich body What has been the best part of your experience? Seeing the community of Ragers and our customers grow multi fold since our launch. International customers are surprised to find out these products are totally made in India. The biggest joy in all of this has been the blissful experience we are able to drive everyday for hundreds of thousands of our customers. Highest Quality Coffee. Only 100% Arabica Beans Small batch roasted & hand crafted to perfection. Deeply flavoured aromatic compounds with a rich body. Velvety smooth & guaranteed no bitterness. US FDA, FSSAI, GMP, ISO, HACCP Certified & Tested Infused with plant vitamins for the perfect "caffeine kick" [ad_2]

[pradip-burman]

First Ever Delhi based NGO talking on 'Population Control': Mobius Foundation in partnership with Zee Media Group

Mobius Foundation in partnership with WION is taking the vision of the Government of India forward, and launched a one-year-long social initiative called 'Mission Sustainability - Population v/s Planet'. The campaign commenced with a two-hour-long Thought Leadership Conclave on February 20, 2021. The launch was graced by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Amitabh Kanth, CEO, NITI AAYOG.

Expressing his satisfaction at the timely importance of holding the event, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, "More people require more resources, and as the population increases, the earth's resources deplete. The population boom has been affecting the planet and the human race in many adverse ways. People in developing countries like India, feel the impact of environmental problems more acutely." - Quoted (indiaeducationdiary.in)

On this occasion, Amitabh Kanth, CEO, NITI AAYOG said, "'Family Planning' is considered the smartest development investment. For India to realise its sustainable development goals and economic aspirations, it is important to ensure that people have informed access to contraception and quality family planning services."

The launch had visionaries and dignitaries on board from across the country, and from different fields. Mr Rameshwar Prasad Gupta, Sec. Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Dr Madhavan Nair, Sec. Ministry of Earth Science India, Ms Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India (PFI), Ms Shailaja Chandra, Former Secretary to the Government of India and Former Chief Secretary, Delhi, Mr Manu Gaur, President, Taxpayers Association of Bharat (TAXAB), Kartikeya Vikram Sarabhai, Founder and Director, CEE, Prof. Saroj Yadav Dean (Academic) NCERT, K.S. James, Director, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) were part of the launch.

The complete 2-hour launch was divided in two three robust segments, each setting up the contest of the year-long awareness programme. The three segments were:

SESSION 1: POPULATION VS PLANET: SUSTAINING THE BALANCE SESSION 2: POPULATION STABILISATION: THE ROAD MAP SESSION 3: EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

To watch the launch, visit: https://youtu.be/ADEA06gbUv4

There was an exclusive one-on-one fireside chat with the Chairman of Mobius Foundation, Mr. Pradip Burman, where he mentioned that the "Mobius Foundation is focusing on two main objectives EDUCATION and POPULATION STABILISATION and emphasised that two solutions which can be implemented right away are RECYCLING and RENEWABLE ENERGY. If we can attain 100% of these two things, then our problem is solved."

Dr Ram Boojh, CEO, Mobius Foundation along with other panellists shed light on why we should focus on education and awareness around 'Population Stabilisation'. Points brought in focus were 'education leads to lower birth rates and slows population growth. This makes it easier for countries to develop. A more-educated workforce also makes poverty eradication and economic growth easier to achieve. The literacy rate is directly proportional to the fertility rate. Lack of formal education on matters related to population, like family planning, sexual education, reproductive behaviour, cultural and social values, and contraception is missing from the educational structure. This should not be a controversial subject, rather taken to the younger generation and young couples openly.

Mobius Foundation with this campaign is working to put the spotlight back on human population growth. Programme is titled "MISSION SUSTAINABILITY- POPULATION VS. PLANET" for English audience on WION Channel and "संभलना ज़रूरी है - जनसंख्या बनाम प्रकृति" for Hindi and regional audience on Zee News and it's regional network. Under this campaign, topics on how over population is responsible for exerting pressure in these areas or developing these issues are Climate Change, Bio Diversity and Natural Resources, Energy Crisis, Air Pollution, Jobs and Housing, Water Pollution, Depletion of Non-Renewable Resources, Education and Empowerment, Waste Generation, Education, Over Consumption Patterns etc.

About the Mobius Foundation:

The Mobius Foundation is a non-profit organisation, committed to supporting sustainability, empowering technologies, strengthening systems, encouraging healthy behaviour and   focusing on education. The Foundation intends to create sustainable, culturally relevant   solutions, enabling communities to break longstanding practices that are detrimental to human existence. The Mobius Foundation has been working in India since 2015, collaborating with a diverse range of civil society partners and NGO partners to contribute to achieving a sustainable India.

Media Contact: Mobius Foundation info@mobiusfoundation.in 011-49433823 Mobius Foundation

[vickyjoseph]

An intro to Bharat E Waste Recycling Co.

India creates around 2 million tonnes (MT) of e-waste per year but only 0.036 MT was processed in 2016-17 and things are not looking good for far. The waste stream as expected reached 48.5 MT in 2018 and is anticipated to quadruple if nothing changes over the years to come. The use of the best technology for waste management without compromising on safety is the need of the hour. A company that is commercially viable for the clients, is Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) certified, providing manpower facility for material movement, offering loading and transport facility till recycling is done; and also providing battery recycling is something to look forward to.

 The Solution: Bharat E Waste Recycling Co.

Bharat E Waste Recycling Co. provides a comprehensive e waste recycling service that is both ethical and compliant with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Our cutting-edge recycling technology assures that all processing and resource recovery takes place in India.

 We are a small e waste recycling company in India but an important element of the global waste management sector. We achieved this by bringing together our partners, industry thought leaders and regulators. Our mission is to become a well-known firm among other end-to-end e trash recycling companies around the country. It makes no difference whether it's e-waste management or garbage of any type.

 With over a decade of experience, our trained team, infrastructure, and problem-solving mentality have made us a trusted and formidable partner for any corporation searching for an e-waste recycling company in India and junk management across the country. If you are looking for an e-waste recycling company in Mumbai or the rest of India, our services include e-waste management, building demolition services, construction scrap management, office and hardware dismantling, cable electric wire scrap management, old machinery scrap management, and general waste management.

 How can we help?

Our goal is to become a well-known name in the business of end-to-end e-waste management firms. We proceed with prudence while keeping these three aims in mind - delivering "Value For Money" to clients, being ecologically mindful, and improving "The Human Being At Large."  The most important thing is we give 100% payment in advance to our clients while buying scrap from them.

 Our more than a decade of experience, well-trained team, on-site infrastructure, and problem-solving attitude have made us a formidable partner for any firm looking for e waste management companies in Mumbai and other scrap management services. Our services include:

E Waste Management

Building Demolition Services

Construction Scrap Management

Office and Warehouse Dismantling

Cable Electric Wire Scrap Management

Old Machinery Scrap Management

General Waste Management

Battery Recycling Services & Battery Scrap     Buying

 Conclusion

We passionately believe in the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" method of utilising natural resources and urge individuals and companies to adopt this concept by improving the value of their electronics and electrical inventory and offering environmentally responsible disposal options.

 The demand for a planned waste recycling facility is increasing since it is built using cutting-edge technology and equipment purchased from reputable vendors.

  Post fabrication, we inspect these waste recycling facilities to verify that they meet widely recognised quality requirements. We believe in the notion of "Swachh Bharat" and are on track to ensuring that we complete our objectives. To know more about our services, visit our website today!

[ziqitzahealthcare]

Ziqitza Limited : India’s Position In The Race For A Vaccine

 The Coronavirus vaccine is the word that has been on the mind of every individual across the planet as total infections are rising to 30 million and total deaths towards one million. As indicated by past research and history, scientists have predicted a safe vaccine will release in November of the year 2034.

But the past doesn’t necessarily dictate the future. Technological advances and much more awareness in the general public may result in a safe and working vaccine being delivered much, much earlier. There are many candidates for the Coronavirus vaccine that are springing up from around the globe and an Indian vaccine is one of the top contenders.

The reason why there is a humungous pressure on Indian researchers to develop a vaccine is that the daily infection cases are rising. Recently, India recorded the highest number of cases in a day (90 thousand) amongst all countries and the death toll is rising tremendously. Hospitals were already overworked and are even more so in the pandemic

Emergency services have been affected a lot. That’s why Ziqitza Healthcare ltd an emergency response and patient transfer service provider for public and corporate at large has been working round the clock to serve as many people affected by pandemic.  Ziqitza has managed over 1 million calls across several states in concordance with the Coronavirus and has handled close to 1 lakh COVID patients in its state of the art ambulances. All of this has been achieved in the last six months and Ziqitza Healthcare ltd was awarded the gold award under the category of COVID social impact business in the 4th CSR Health Awards 2020. Read more about Ziqitza here.

However, only good emergency services can’t bring down Corona on its own, doctors need to be equipped with a powerful but safe vaccine. So what is India’s position in the race for a Coronavirus vaccine?

Well, there are 3 vaccine contenders that can come out on top which are namely:

1.    Bharat Biotech

2.    Zydus Cadila Ltd

3.    The Serum Institute Of India

The Bharat Biotech vaccine is indigenously developed and is in phase I and phase II human clinical trials.

The Zydus Cadila Ltd vaccine has been developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and this vaccine is also in phase I and II human clinical trials.

The third vaccine that is being tested by The Serum Institute Of India developed by Oxford University has been cleared for phase II and phase III human clinical trials. The institute based in Pune and founded by Cyrus Poonawalla is the largest producer of vaccines by dose and had started the trials but stopped due to an unexplained illness in a patient on whom the vaccine was being tested. This is the drug that is the top contender in the world to become the Coronavirus vaccine.

So far we have mentioned a lot about vaccines and the companies behind them and for which phase have they been cleared for, but what do these different phases mean?

Phase I

Phase I of any vaccine trial starts with the drug being administered on a very small group of people. The average timeline for phase I trials is about 3 months. If sufficiently positive results are shown by the vaccine, it is approved for phase II. The dosage that is given for phase I is a sub-therapeutic dose.

Phase II

The phase I approved vaccine is then tested out on a larger scale of about 100-300 people. This is to test out the effects of the vaccine in a not-so-concentrated population.

A vaccine must have 3 things that work for it- no adverse or common reactions in a substantial population of the patients, how safe it is, and of course does it work against the disease or not.

That’s why in phase II, the candidate vaccine is tested for these 3 qualities:

●     Reactogenicity

●     Immunogenicity

●     Safety

When cleared for all of the above points, the vaccine then moves to a large scale testing i.e phase III.

Although phase II takes up a lot of time, this period has been shortened due to the adverse effect that the Coronavirus is having on everything. The Oxford University vaccine took 3 months to get approved and the Moderna vaccine was cleared for trials in just 63 days.

Phase III

If a vaccine has entered phase III, it has established that it can work under controlled conditions and has some beneficial effects. Despite all of that, a vaccine needs to be tested on a large scale level to figure out its effects on a large population.

In phase III up to 3 thousand people are monitored on the drug and its effects are noted. Phase III is mainly performed to determine the safety and therapeutic effect of the vaccine. That’s why the dosage is given as a therapeutic dose.

These three phases are what mainly determine the efficacy of the vaccine and whether it will be sent for mass production for the public or not. There is also a phase IV where the after-effects of the vaccine upon releasing to the general public are noted.

Rest assured due to many Indian vaccines being in upper phases and one being in phase III, if a vaccine is developed in the coming months then the government has promised that it will reach every household of India. Poonawalla’s company has stated that they are capable of making 100 million doses per cycle and will ensure no shortage is faced.

All we can do now is sit tight and do as much as we can to make things easier for our researchers and try to curb the spread of the virus.

Ziqitza believes that we should make every effort to stop the spread of the virus until the vaccine is fully developed, so we have launched an additional 77 ambulances for the 108 emergency helpline in Punjab in public private partnership with the state government. Ziqitza Healthcare will be responsible for operating the CDC (control and dispatch center) in Punjab and all ambulances will be equipped with GPS so that they are easier to locate and dispatch towards the site of the emergency.

These services provided by Ziqitza Limited under the NHM (National Health Mission) will be free not only for Punjab but also for the other states that Ziqitza Healthcare operates in like Odisha, Madhya Pradesh. Overall in the 16 states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Sikkim, NCR and many more. Ziqitza operate over 3,000 ambulances and will continue to expand its services across more states. Till date it has served over 25 million people in India.

If you liked this blog, check out more of us at Ziqitza Limited here.

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15-05-2020 Current affairs & Daily News Analysis

Haryana: National Institute of Technology-Kurukshetra implements ERP ‘SAMARTH’ NIT Kurukshetra has implemented Enterprises Resource Planning (ERP), SAMARTH to enhance productivity through better information management and automating the process in the institute.

About: SAMARTH, an e-Governance platform, is an Open Standard Open Source Architecture Automation Engine for Universities and Higher Educational Institutions. It caters to faculty, students and staff at a University/Higher Educational Institutions. It has been developed under National Mission of Education in Information and Communication Technology Scheme (NMEICT) of Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD). This initiative will enhance the productivity through better information management in the institutes by seamless access to information, and its utilization for various purposes.  Source : PIB ( Education ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Govt introduces Interest subvention on Working Capital Loans for Dairy sector Union Government has introduced a new scheme of Interest Subvention on Working Capital Loans for Dairy sector for supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organizations engaged in dairy activities for implementation during 2020-21.

About: Interest subvention will be given to Cooperatives and Farmer owned milk producer companies on working capital loan taken from banks and financial institutions between 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021 for conversion of milk into conserved commodities and other milk products. The scheme has made provisions for providing interest subvention of 2% per annum, with an additional incentive of 2% per annum interest subvention to be given in case of prompt and timely repayment/interest servicing. The modified scheme envisages a budgetary provision of 100 crore rupees earmarked for the component Interest Subvention on Working Capital Loans for Dairy sector during 2020-21. The scheme will be implemented by this Department of Animal Husbandry through National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Anand. Benefits: The scheme will help in providing stable market access to milk producers. This will help to ease out the working capital crisis for handling surplus milk and enable timely payment to the farmers.  Source : All India Radio ( Economy ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Patent filed for low cost Personal Protective Equipment by Navy In a major step towards rapid mass production of the Medical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) developed by the Indian Navy, a patent has been successfully filed by the Intellectual Property Facilitation Cell (IPFC) of Ministry of Defence, in association with National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), of Ministry of Science & Technology.

About: The low cost PPE has been developed by a Doctor of Indian Navy, posted at the recently created Innovation Cell at Institute of Naval Medicine (INM), Mumbai. The PPE developed by the Navy is made of a special fabric which affords high level of protection along with high ‘breathability’ as against other PPEs. The team of Innovators from Navy is working in close coordination with IPFC which was set up under Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti (which was launched in 2018).  Source : DD News ( Science & Technology ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy FM Nirmala Sitharaman announces second tranche of economic stimulus for farmers, migrant workers, traders under Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan Union Finance Minister announced short-term and long-term measures under Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India Movement) for supporting the poor, including migrants, farmers, tiny businesses and street vendors.

Measures announced: Free food grains will be supplied to all Migrant labourers for 2 months i.e. May and June, 2020. Technology system to be used enable Migrants to access PDS (Ration) from any Fair Price Shops in India so as to achieve 100% National portability by March, 2021 under One Nation one Ration Card scheme. Central Government will launch a scheme for migrant workers and urban poor to provide ease of living at affordable rent. Government of India will provide Interest subvention of 2% for prompt payees for a period of 12 months to MUDRA Shishu loanees, who have loans below Rs 50,000.The current portfolio of MUDRA Shishu loans is around Rs 1.62 Lakh crore. A special scheme will be launched within a month to facilitate easy access to credit to Street vendors. 50 lakh street vendors will be benefitted under this scheme and credit of Rs. 5,000 crore would flow to them. Rs 70,000 crore boost is given to housing sector and middle income group (MIG) through extension of Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme for MIG under PMAY(Urban) up to March 2021. 6,000 crore of funds under Compensatory Afforestation Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA) will be used for Afforestation and Plantation works, including in urban areas. This will create job opportunities. NABARD will extend additional re-finance support of Rs 30,000 crore for meeting crop loan requirement of Rural Cooperative Banks and RRBs. This refinance will be front-loaded and available on tap. A special drive to be conducted to provide concessional credit to PM-KISAN beneficiaries through Kisan Credit Cards. Fisherman and Animal Husbandry Farmers will also be included. This will inject additional liquidity of Rs 2 lakh crore in the farm sector.  Source : LiveMint ( Economy ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy COBAS 6800 Union Health Minister dedicated the COBAS 6800 testing machine to the nation.

About: COBAS 6800 is for performing real time PCR testing COVID-19. COBAS 6800 can also detect other pathogens like Viral Hepatitis B & C, HIV, MTb (both rifampicin and isoniazide resistance), Papilloma, CMV, Chlamydia, Neiserreia etc. COBAS 6800 will provide quality, high-volume testing with a high throughput of test around 1200 samples in 24 hours. It will largely increase the testing capacity with reduction in pendency. This is the first such testing machine that has been procured by the Government for testing of COVID-19 cases and is installed at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi. As the machine requires a minimum BSL2+ containment level for testing, it cannot be placed at just any facility.  Source : PIB ( Health ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES 2020 The International Day of Families 2020 is being observed on 15th of May with the theme “Families in Development: Copenhagen & Beijing+25.”

About: Objective of the day: To promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting them. Day of observance: 15th of May every year. History: The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993.  Important Info : This year is the 25th anniversary of Copenhagen Declaration and Beijing Platform for Action.At the World Summit for Social Development held at Copenhagen in 1995, Governments reached a new consensus on the need to put people at the centre of development and adopted the Copenhagen Declaration.The Beijing Declaration was a resolution adopted by the UN at the end of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing. The resolution adopted to promulgate a set of principles concerning the equality of men and women.  Source : United Nations ( Social Issues ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy ‘Integrated Battle Groups will soon be operational’ Army chief Gen. Manoj Naravane announced that the Army’s new concept of agile Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) as part of the overall force transformation will be operationalised very soon.

About: The IBGs are brigade sized agile self-sufficient combat formations which, can swiftly launch strikes against adversary. They will be able to mobilise within 12-48 hours based on the location. Each IBG would be tailor made based on Threat, Terrain and Task and resources will be allotted based on the three Ts. The Army has extensively “test bedded” the IBGs to fine-tune the concept.  Source : The Hindu ( Defence & Security ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) canteens to sell only indigenous products Union Home Ministry has decided that all the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) canteens will now sell only indigenous products. This will be applicable to all CAPF canteens across the country from 1st June 2020. With this decision, 50 lakh family members of about 10 lakh CAPF personnel will use indigenous products.

About: Article 355 of the Constitution of India assigns the Central Government the responsibility of protecting every part of India from external aggression and internal disturbances. Under items 1 to 2A of List I (Union List) of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, the deployment of naval, military & air forces; and any other armed forces of Union are vested in the Central Government. To fulfil its constitutional responsibilities, the Central Government has raised seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). These areFour Border Guarding Forces (BFGs): Assam Rifles (AR), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Border Security Force (BSF). Three Non-Border Guarding CAPFs used for internal security: Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and National Security Guard (NSG).  Source : All India Radio ( Defence & Security ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (NDMA) In the wake of the gas leak at a factory in Visakhapatnam, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued detailed guidelines for restarting industries after the lockdown and the precautions to be taken for the safety of the plants as well as the workers.

About NDMA: Parent body: Ministry of Home Affairs. Primary Objective: To coordinate response to natural or man-made disasters and for capacity-building in disaster resiliency and crisis response. Origin: NDMA was established through the Disaster Management Act enacted in 2005. HQ: Delhi.  Organisation setup: The Prime Minister is the ex-officio chairperson of the NDMA, who chairs a 9-member board. The day-to-day management of the agency is overseen by the office of the Vice Chair.  Important Info : Functions: It is responsible for framing policies, laying down guidelines and best-practices and coordinating with the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) to ensure a holistic and distributed approach to disaster management.It collaborates with the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy to impart training to administration and police officers in planning and incident response.It monitors and develops guidelines for the local Firefighting Services across the country.It collaborates with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in developing emergency health and ambulance services.  Source : Economic Times ( Disaster Management ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy DIBANG MULTIPURPOSE PROJECT The Forest Advisory Committee, the apex body of the Environment Ministry tasked with deciding whether forest land can be diverted for industrial projects, has once again deferred its decision on Dibang project in Arunachal Pradesh. The project has been delayed for over six years because it required diverting 1,165 hectares of forest in a region of rich biodiversity.

About: Location: The Project is located on river Dibang, in Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh. Power Generation: The project shall generate 2880MW (12x240MW) power to produce 11223MU of energy in a 90% dependable year. This is the largest ever Hydro Electric Project to be constructed in India. Type of dam: The project envisages construction of a Concrete Gravity Dam. Height: The dam is 278 metres high and will be the highest dam in India once completed.  Source : The Hindu ( Geography ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Top IAS Academy in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Daily Current affairs and News Analysis Best IAS Coaching institutes in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Contact Vignan IAS Academy Enroll For IAS Foundation Course from Best IFS Academy in Bangalore Read the full article

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Aspiring For an Engineering Degree, Then Be Ready For Civil Engineering!!

Civil Engineering is the key to many of the issues affecting our lives today. Civil engineers solve problems, design, build and maintain our living and working spaces. You might design a new stadium, work on a local by-pass or railway line, assess a damaged structure, provide immediate and safe drinking water, or manage a multi-million construction project. Amongst all branches of engineering, the application of civil engineering is the broadest and the most visible. Demand for civil engineers is rising around the globe due to extensive implementation of various constructional and infrastructural projects.

In fact, the entire infrastructural framework of a modern nation is the creation of civil engineers. Civil engineering is about the design and planning, construction, supervision, quality control and maintenance of physical structures, such as buildings, roads, bridges, dams, canals, sea ports, power plants and airports. Their role is central to ensuring the safe, timely and well-resourced completion of projects in many areas, including highway construction, waste management, coastal development and geotechnical engineering. Consulting civil engineers liaise with clients to plan, manage, design and supervise the construction of projects.

World recognizes a country as developed or otherwise on the investment done by the country in infrastructure development and gauged by the consumption of cement and steel alone. The demands for civil infrastructure in a developed and developing world are always on the rise. In a report on Global Infrastructure development by Center for Strategic and International Studies, it has been clearly stated that one billion people live more than two kilometers away from all-weather roads making it difficult or impossible for many to reach doctors, schools or markets, making Infrastructure development a large global need. China, The United States, Japan and other developed nations have launched Infrastructure Investment Institutions to support builders to complement global infrastructure deficit. For developing country like India, Infrastructure has also been a major sector that propels overall development of the country’s economy. The Secretariat for Infrastructure in the Planning Commission is involved in initiating policies that would ensure time-bound creation of world class infrastructure in the country. The major focus of this section has been on power, bridges, dams, roads and smart infrastructure development. Figure 1 shows the annual average as percentage of GDP spending on Infrastructure by various countries.

(Source: Report on Global Infrastructure development, CSIS) Government of India has also unfolded its dream through a document released by NITI Ayog focusing on above stated areas and nation is looking forward to Civil Engineers to lead the way. The total investment in the area of Infrastructure by Government and allied organizations keep growing in each budget as seen in Figure 2.

Thus Indian scenario is no different and trend is similar to the to that of developed countries World History also shows that the scope of Civil Engineering is ever increasing and there were small time disruptions due to Economy or other technologies creating hysteria in the marketplace. As long as society is looking for comfortable living there is no dearth of scope neither for projects nor for employment in this branch. When Government is spending 50% of its resources on the developmental sustainable activities serviced by Civil Engineers and no demand for civil Engineering sound ridiculous isn’t it?. Most of the successful managers are from the civil engineering background and are better managers leading the team of engineers belonging all streams. The Government report is self-explanatory and an indicator for an aspirant of engineering education pointing market trend. 

India has the second largest urban population in the world and by 2050; around 50% of India’s population i.e., 814 million is expected to live in urban areas. Given this scenario, the present infrastructure and amenities in cities and towns are not adequate to address the expanding urbanization process. With time, the infrastructure sector has become the biggest focus area of the Government of India. The Government has launched Rs 103 trillion infrastructure projects and projects worth Rs 1.70 trillion in transport infrastructure for accelerating highways construction. The Government has taken up several active initiatives to enhance public transport system including the Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRTS) approved for 11 cities under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The transportation system under this scheme will be equipped with Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and Metro Rail Projects. The Sagarmala Programme under the Ministry of Shipping is another flagship programme to promote port-led development in the country by exploiting India's 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and its strategic location on key international maritime trade routes. 

Under Union Budget 2019-20, Rs 4,41,704.8 crore (US$ 63.20 billion) was allocated to the sector. The Smart Cities Mission launched on 25th June 2016, is a major urban renewal program launched by the Government under Ministry of Urban Development to develop and upgrade living conditions and infrastructure in selected 100 cities all over the country. Also, to aid the mission, central government has promised Rs. 48,000 crores over five years i.e. on an average Rs. 100 crore per city per year. Matching the center’s contribution, an equal amount will also be spent by the State government as well. Apart from this Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Project aims to transform urban living conditions through infrastructure upgradation in 500 selected cities and towns in India. To people’s amazement the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) targets to achieve 100 per cent scientific management of municipal solid waste in 4041 statutory towns/ cities in the country by 2021. Further Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) or Housing for All by 2022 brings opportunity for Civil Engineering graduates to contribute in promoting slum rehabilitation and affordable housing for weaker section of the society by their acquired skill sets. These moves not only aims to provide quality living to society but also to stimulate job prospectus for Civil Engineers. In the days to come Civil Engineering is the winner as it is a part of the system developing society and others are complementary to running the system. It is this confidence among Civil Engineers that is driving them and make them builders, Entrepreneurs and Consultants and not to depend on anybody for employment as there is always exist opportunity for them. The Success rate among peers is an indicator and Civil Engineering as a profession always thrived in corporate or in individual run organizations making a mark on society. By continuously developing and upgrading the services and facilities of the public, it not only gives the Engineer a sense of responsibility towards humanity but brings forth a sense of satisfaction that the work carried out by the Civil Engineer contributes significantly to the wellbeing of the society.

People do ask about the challenges that are on the horizon for the profession. But to answer them, there are no challenges as such, and one should see them as opportunities to leverage as cendible skill set and dare. Civil engineers can also work at national, state and municipal levels of the government. They can also start their own business. Opportunities abound in varying aspects of engineering like Bioengineering, Coastal Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Water Resources Engineering and other emerging thrust areas like GIS and Remote Sensing technologies. The most popular industries for getting employed are construction, engineering design, residential construction, heavy civil construction. In India, things are looking up in the infrastructure sector. There is also great employment prospects for civil engineers in government and public sectors like the railways, municipal bodies, the Defense Forces, National Highway Authority of India, government development authorities like the DDA and government housing authority, PSU’s like RITES, BHEL, NBCC, IRS etc.., and Corporates like L&T, AFCONS, GAMANS, RAHEJA and many more posing no limit for Civil Engineers.

Engineers working for mega structures are already impressed by the spirit of innovation that has been brought about in the industry. With the advent of new technologies in the discipline, Civil Engineers are going to ride on the crest of the unstoppable wave that is digitalization. The showcased new products and solutions, these state of the art technologies provide to the community of Civil Engineers, does not limit to GNSS surveying, 3D Modelling and printing, GIS, Building information modelling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence but much more. BIM which is mostly associated with design and preconstruction, benefits every phase of the project life-cycle by allowing projects to be built virtually before they are constructed physically, eliminating many of the inefficiencies and problems that arise during the construction process. Use of 3D printing or additive manufacturing at construction sites aides in reduction of costs and waste, faster construction speed, reduction of accidents, complex architectural shapes, and more. Construction giants have realized the potential of 3D technologies to create new and innovative projects futuristically. The breakneck pace of innovation has become more vibrant by leveraging virtual and augmented reality technologies in and out for any successful construction projects. AR helps architects and engineers to place a 3D model of the proposed design on an existing space, providing an augmented view of the overall architectural plan to the client. The virtual model of what a project will look like upon completion helps clients and potential prospects visualize architectural plans better. Not only this, AR and VR in construction promises a complete and comprehensive understanding of the Project.

As brought out in this article, Civil Engineering as the right choice to all those who are aspiring to become Engineers. Civil Engineering offers an excellent opportunity in current scenario and the trends suggest longest known discipline of Engineering will keep growing and go on providing education and opportunity to serve society. This engineering branch playing a vital role, bears the responsibility to combat pollution and climate change globally.

Prof. H B Raghavendra Vice-Chancellor The NorthCap University

References:

1.      http://mohua.gov.in/cms/schemes-or-programmes.php [Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs] (Last visited on 24-03-2020)

2.      https://www.india.gov.in/topics/infrastructure (Last visited on 24-03-2020)

3.      https://www.indianeconomy.net/splclassroom/major-urban-infrastructure-development-programmes-in-india/ (Last visited on 24-03-2020)

4.      https://niti.gov.in/indias-housing-conundrum (Last visited on 24-03-2020)

5.      Choudhary, Lokesh. (2019), “Civil Engineering: A paradigm Shift”, Shiksha.com.

6.      CSIS. (2019), “Global Infrastructure development”.

[onlineandyou]

Homefoodi rolls out its Mobile App for Authentic home-made food 'Homefoodi Chef App'

Homefoodi, a Noida based e-commerce start-up launches its Mobile App for Authentic home-made food made by Chefs in their Homes. With a mission of “Ghar-Ghar Start-Up”, the company aims to create India’s biggest self-employment opportunity for women by offering a platform to earn from home being a Home Chef. With the launch, the company intends to evangelizing a Healthy and Fit India by offering Healthy and Hygienic Home Food. Homefoodi Chef App is now available on Google Play Store and all Home Chefs in Noida can join. Customers can start ordering from Home Chefs this Diwali, starting 27th October. Vimla Batham, President of State Women Commission, UP graced her presence for the launch of Homefoodi App. On this occasion she quoted “Homefoodi is a great platform for every woman who is passionate about cooking to become an entrepreneur from home and reach out to the world to showcase their culinary skills.” Currently, Homefoodi will be going live with over 100 chefs across Noida and plans to scale to over 1 lakh chefs across the country in the coming years. Every home chef on Homefoodi has a long history of patronizing age-old recipes and cuisines carried over from generations. Every chef has been handpicked for their exceptional Culinary Skills and highest standards of Hygiene and Cleanliness. Homefoodi is empowering every Chef to create their own unique identity, get countless customers and earn from home. The home chefs on Homefoodi come from various states of the country, thereby creating a culture of diversity and uniting everyone with home food. The company has 2 Mobile Applications- A Chef App and a Customer App.As a practice, Homefoodi team visits every home chef to check for food quality, hygiene and cleanliness of their kitchen before on-boarding any chef. All home chefs on Homefoodi are 100% FSSAI registered. After extensive research across Metro cities covering over 2000 chefs done by OTB Strategy, the Chef App was designed taking into consideration the challenges and expectations by them. Thus, was created an App that gives freedom to a chef to decide their menu, the pricing, ordering time, maximum order quantity that they can provide and delivery/take-away time slots. Homefoodi App has a very unique feature that allows chefs to receive orders for today as well as for the future. At Homefodi, all the home chefs are committed to zero use of single-use plastic thus contributing and promoting 100% recyclable packaging material. Homefoodi is an initiative whereby helping “Ghar Ki Lakshmi” transforming into “Bharat Ki Lakshmi” while revolutionizing the culture of eating. As an age-old custom, all home chefs have been delighting their family, friends and loved ones over the decades with their culinary skills and are now ready to serve the country. Now customers can relish mouthwatering recipes that have been applauded by everyone over the ages. It’s time to get Healthier, Happier and more connected with the savoured delicacies. Speaking on the launch, Narendra Singh Dahiya, Founder & Director, Homefoodi said, “We have a mission of Ghar Ghar Start-Up and we want to create India’s Biggest self-employment opportunity for women by offering a platform to contribute towards Nation Building. Homefoodi is an initiative that is aimed towards women empowerment, endorsing Ghar Ki Lakshmi ab banegi Bharat Ki Lakshmi.” Homefoodi is starting its operation in Noida and will be scaling to the Top 10 Cities very soon. The Homefoodi application is available on Android currently and will be available on IOS shortly. Dr. Mona Dahiya – Co-Founder & Director, Homefoodi, commented, “Consumers can now reconnect to their favourite cuisines by exploring home chefs with exceptional culinary skills. We welcome all Home Chefs to join us and help create a Fit and Healthy India by offering Healthy and Hygienic home food.” Read the full article

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Budget 2019: Allocation for Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry up by 12%, to Rs 48,000 crores

The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry’s budgetary provisions were pegged at Rs 48,000 crores in the Union Budget 2019-20, a hike of nearly 12% from 2018-19. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), an ambitious programme of the Modi government, has been given Rs 6,853.26 crores, as against Rs 6,505 crores in 2018-19. Similarly, there has been an increase of nearly 25%, in the allocation to metro projects across the country.

“Under the PMAY-U, over 81 lakh houses, with an investment of about Rs 4.83 lakh crores, have been sanctioned, of which construction of about 47 lakh houses has started,” finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. ���Over 26 lakh houses have been completed, of which nearly 24 lakh houses have been delivered to the beneficiaries,” she said.

A sum of Rs 17,713.93 crores has been allocated towards metro rail projects across India in the Budget, against Rs 14,864.60 crores in 2018-19. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been given Rs 414.70 crores, as against Rs 50 crores in 2018-19.

The government has also set aside Rs 19,152 crores for the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), as against the previous financial year’s budgetary allocation of Rs 15,600 crores.

The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, which aims at ensuring robust sewage networks, water supply and other infrastructure to improve the quality of life in urban areas, has been given Rs 7,300 crores. The allocation was Rs 6,400 crores in 2018-19. The Smart Cities Mission, under which the government has selected 100 cities, has been granted Rs 6,450 crores, as against Rs 6,169 crores in the 2018-19 financial year. Allocation to another flagship programme of the government, Swachh Bharat Mission, has been increased to Rs 2,650 crores, from Rs 2,500 crores in the previous financial year.

Interim Budget 2019: Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry gets a 17 per cent hike, to Rs 48,000 crores

The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has received a 17 per cent hike in budgetary provisions in the interim budget 2019, which will include a 25 per cent increase in allocation for metro projects and a five per cent hike towards the PMAY scheme.

February 4, 2019: With an increase of nearly 25 per cent in allocation towards metro projects across the country, the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry’s budgetary provisions have been pegged at Rs 48,000 crores in the union budget, a hike of 17 per cent over 2018-19. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), an ambitious programme of the Modi government, has been given Rs 6,853.26 crores, as against Rs 6,505 crores in union budget 2018-19.

“A total of 1.53 crore houses have been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana,” finance minister Piyush Goyal said while, presenting interim budget for 2019-20 in the Parliament.

The ministry has been allocated Rs 17,713.93 crores, for executing metro projects across the country, which was Rs 14,264.60 crores in the previous budget. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been given grants of Rs 414.70 crores, as against Rs 50 crores in 2018-19. The government has set aside Rs 19,152 crores for Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) as against the previous budget’s allocation of Rs 15,000 crores.

The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, which is aimed at ensuring robust sewage networks, water supply and other infrastructures to improve the quality of life of people in urban areas, was given Rs 7,300 crores, which was Rs 6,000 crores in the current fiscal. The Smart Cities Mission, under which the government has selected 100 cities, has been given Rs 6,600 crores, as against Rs 6,169 crores in the last budget.

Allocation to another flagship programme of the government, Swachh Bharat Mission has been increased to Rs 2,750 crores from Rs 2,500 crores in the current financial year. The Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) scheme has been given Rs 500 crores in the interim budget, as against Rs 310 crores in the 2018-19 union budget.

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Source: https://housing.com/news/budget-housing-and-urban-affairs-ministry-gets-a-17-per-cent-hike-to-rs-48000-crores/

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Highlights Of Interim Budget 2019-20

Highlights Of Interim Budget 2019-20  The key highlights of the Interim Budget 2019-20 presented by the Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs, Railways & Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal in Parliament today are as follows: New Announcements Farmers ·         12 crore small and marginal farmers to be provided with assured yearly income of Rs. 6000 per annum under PM-KISAN o   Outlay of Rs. 75,000 crore for FY 2019-20 with additional Rs. 20,000 crore in RE 2018-19 ·         Outlay for Rashtriya Gokul mission increased to Rs 750 crore ·         Rashtriya Kamdhenu Ayog  to be setup for sustainable genetic up-gradation of the Cow resources ·         New separate Department of Fisheries for welfare of 1.5 crore fishermen ·         2% interest subvention to Farmers for Animal husbandry and Fisheries activities; additional 3% in case of timely repayment. ·         Interest subvention of 2% during disaster will now be provided for the entire period of reschedulement of loan Labour ·         Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan scheme to ensure fixed monthly pension to 10 crore unorganized sector workers o   Rs 3000 per month after 60 years of age with an affordable contribution of only Rs 100/55 per month Health ·         22nd AIIMS to be setup in Haryana MGNREGA ·         Rs. 60, 000 crore allocation for MGNREGA in BE 2019-20 Direct Tax proposals ·         Income upto Rs. 5 lakh exempted from Income Tax ·         More than Rs. 23,000 crore tax relief to 3 crore middle class taxpayers ·         Standard Deduction to be raised to Rs. 50,000 from Rs. 40,000 ·         TDS threshold to be raised from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 40,000 on interest earned on bank/post office deposits ·         Existing rates of income tax to continue ·         Tax exempted on notional rent on a second self-occupied house ·         Housing and real estate sector to get boost- o   TDS threshold for deduction of tax on rent to be increased from Rs. 1,80,000 to Rs. 2,40,000 o   Benefit of rollover of capital gains increased from investment in one residential house to two residential houses for capital gains up to Rs. 2 crore. o   Tax benefits for affordable housing extended till 31st March, 2020 under Section 80-IBA of Income Tax Act o   Tax exemption period on notional rent, on unsold inventories, extended from one year to two years Fiscal Programme ·         Fiscal deficit pegged at 3.4% of GDP for 2019-20 ·         Target of 3% of fiscal deficit to be achieved by 2020-21. ·         Fiscal deficit brought down to 3.4% in 2018-19 RE from almost 6% seven years ago ·         Total expenditure increased by over 13% to Rs.27,84,200 crore in 2019-20 BE ·         Capital Expenditure for 2019-20 BE estimated at Rs. 3,36,292 crore ·         Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) allocation increased to Rs. 3,27,679 crore in BE 2019-20 ·         National Education Mission allocation increased by about 20% to Rs. 38,572 crore in BE 2019-20 ·         Allocation for Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) increased by over 18% to Rs. 27,584 crore in BE 2019-20 ·         Substantial increase in allocation for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes - o   Allocation for SCs increased by 35.6% - from Rs. 56,619 crore in BE 2018-19 to Rs. 76,801 crore in BE for 2019-20 o   Allocation for the STs increased by 28% - from 39,135 crore in BE 2018-19 to Rs. 50,086 crore in 2019-20 BE ·         Government confident of achieving the disinvestment target of 80,000 crore ·         Focus now on debt consolidation along with fiscal deficit consolidation programme Poor and Backward Classes ·         “First right on the resources of country is that of the poor”: FM ·         25% additional seats in educational institutions to meet the 10% reservation for the poor ·         Targeted expenditure to bridge urban-rural divide & to improve quality of life in villages ·         All willing households to be provided electricity connections by March 2019 North East ·         Allocation to be increased by 21% to Rs. 58,166 crore in 2019-20 BE over 2018-19 BE ·         Arunachal Pradesh came on the air map recently ·         Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram came on India’s rail map for the first time ·         Container cargo movement through improved navigation capacity of the Brahmaputra Vulnerable sections ·         A new committee under NITI Ayog to identify all the remaining De-notified nomadic and semi-Nomadic tribes. ·         New Welfare development Board under Ministry of social justice and empowerment for development and welfare of De-notified nomadic and semi nomadic tribes Defence ·         Defence budget to cross Rs 3,00,000 crore for the first time ever Railways ·         Capital support of Rs.64,587 crore proposed in 2019-20 (BE) from the budget ·         Overall capital expenditure programme to be of Rs. 1,58,658 crore ·         Operating Ratio expected to improve from 98.4% in 2017-18                                                                              to 96.2% in 2018-19 (RE) and                                                                              to 95% in 2019- 20 (BE) Entertainment Industry ·         Indian filmmakers  to get access to Single window clearance as well for ease of shooting films ·         Regulatory provisions to rely more on self-declaration ·         To introduce anti-camcording provisions in the Cinematograph Act to control piracy MSME and Traders ·         2% interest subvention on an incremental loan of  Rs 1 crore for GST registered SMEs ·         Atleast 3% of the 25% sourcing for the Government undertakings will be from women owned SMEs ·         Renewed Focus on Internal trade ; DIPP renamed to Department for Promotion of Industries and Internal trade Digital Villages ·         The Government to make 1 lakh villages into Digital Villages over next five years Other Announcement(s) ·         New National Artificial Intelligence portal to support National Program on Artificial Intelligence Achievements during 2014-19 State of the Economy ·         India universally recognized as a bright spot of the global economy during last five years ·         “Country witnessed its best phase of macro-economic stability during 2014-19”, says FM ·         India is now the 6th largest economy in the world from being the 11thlargest in 2013-14 ·         Annual average GDP growth during 2014-19 higher than any government since 1991 ·         Government has broken inflation’s back from backbreaking inflation during 2009-14: FM ·         Average inflation down to 4.6%, lower than during any other Government ·         Inflation in December 2018 down to 2.19% only ·         Fiscal deficit down to 3.4% in 2018-19 RE from the high of almost 6% seven years ago ·         CAD likely to be only 2.5% of GDP this year against a high of 5.6% six years ago ·         India attracted massive amount of FDI, worth $239 billion, during the last 5 years ·          “India is solidly back on track and marching towards growth and prosperity”, says FM ·         India becomes the fastest growing major economy in the world ·         Double-digit inflation contained and fiscal balance restored ·         Liberalization of FDI policy, allowing most FDI to come through the automatic route Farmers ·         Assured MSP of minimum 50% to all 22 crops ·         Interest subvention doubled in last 5 years ·         Soil Health card, Neem coated Urea game changer in farm sector Labor ·         Employment opportunities expanded ; EPFO membership increased by 2 crore ·         Minimum income for every category of workers increased by 42% in last 5 years Poor and Backward Classes ·         10% reservation for the poor  in educational institutions and government jobs ·         Free electricity connection to every household under Saubhagya Yojana ·         World’s largest healthcare programme, Ayushman Bharat, for nearly 50 crore people ·         Aspirational Districts Programme for development in 115 most backward districts ·         Rs. 1,70,000 crore spent during 2018-19 for cheaper food grains to poor and middle class ·         143 crore LED bulbs provided in mission mode with the cooperation of private sector ·         Poor & middle class are saving Rs. 50, 000 crore p.a. in electricity bills due to LED bulbs ·         10 lakh patients benefited from free treatment under Ayushman Bharat ·         Jan Aushadhi Kendras providing medicines at affordable prices to poor and middle class ·         14 out of 21 AIIIMS operating presently have been announced since 2014 ·         Government tripled rural roads’ construction under the PMGSY ·         15.80 lakh habitations out of 17.84 lakh connected with pucca roads ·         Rs. 19,000 crore for PMGSY in BE 2019-20 against Rs. 15,500 crore in RE 2018-19 ·         1.53 crore houses built under PM Awas Yojana during the 2014-18 Women development to women led development ·         6 crore free LPG gas connections provided under Ujjwala Yojna ; All 8 crore by next year ·         70% of MUDRA Loan availed by Women ·         Maternity leave extended to 26 weeks ·         Financial support for pregnant women under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Youth ·         Over one crore youth trained under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikash Yojana ·         Self-employment boost through MUDRA, STAND-UP and START-UP India MSME and Traders ·         Up-to Rs 1 crore loans can be availed in less than an hour ·         25%-28% is the average savings due to GeM (Government e-Market place) Income Tax ·         Tax collections nearly doubled in five years- from Rs. 6.38 Lakh crore in 2013-14 to almost Rs. 12 lakh crore this year ·         80% growth in tax base- from 3.79 crore to 6.85 crore in five years ·         Tax administration streamlined- Last year, 99.54% of the income-tax returns accepted as were filed ·         Technology intensive project approved to improve assessee friendliness –In two years, returns to be processed in 24 hours and refunds issued simultaneously ·         Earlier benefits given to middle class- o   Basic exemption limit increased from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 2.5 lakh o   Tax rate reduced from 10% to 5% for the tax slab of Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh o   Standard deduction of Rs. 40,000 introduced for the salaried class o   Deduction of savings under section 80C increased from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 1.5 lakh o   Deduction of interest for self-occupied house property raised from Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh ·         Special benefits and incentives already given to small businesses and startups- o   Overall compliance processes simplified. o   Threshold for presumptive taxation of business raised from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 2 crore o   Benefit of presumptive taxation extended for the first time to small professionals fixing threshold limit at Rs. 50 lakh o   Presumptive profit rate reduced from 8% to 6% to promote a less cash economy o   Tax rate for about 99% companies reduced to 25% GST ·         GST made India a common market ·         GST led to increased tax base, higher collections and ease of trade ·         Inter-state movements now faster, more efficient, and hassle free ·         Responsive and sensitive reduction of tax rates - Most items of daily use now in the 0% or 5% tax slab ·         Relieving the businesses and service providers- o   Exemptions from GST for small businesses doubled from Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 40 lakh o   Small businesses having turnover up to Rs. 1.5 crore pay only 1% flat rate and file one annual return only o   Small service providers with turnover upto Rs.50 lakhs can opt for composition scheme and pay GST at 6% instead of 18% o   Soon, businesses comprising over 90% of GST payers to be allowed to file quarterly return ·         Encouraging GST revenue trends - The average monthly tax collection in the current year is Rs. 97,100 crore per month as compared to Rs. 89,700 crore per month in the first year Infrastructure ·         Civil Aviation – UDAN Scheme o   Number of Operational Airports crossed 100 o   Latest: Pakyong airport in Sikkim o   Domestic Passenger traffic doubled in last 5 years ·         Roads o   India is the fastest highway developer in the world o   27 kms of highways built each day o   Stuck projects completed - Eastern Peripheral Highway around Delhi                                                   - Bogibeel rail-cum-road bridge in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh ·         Waterways o   Flagship programme of Sagarmala along the coastal areas o   For first time, container freight movement started on Kolkata to Varanasi inland waterways ·         Railways o   ‘Safest year’ for railways in its history o   All Unmanned Level Crossings on broad gauge network eliminated. o   Semi high-speed "Vande Bharat Express" introduced - first indigenously developed and manufactured Climate Change ·         International Solar Alliance o   To promote renewable energy o   First treaty based international inter-governmental organisation headquartered in India o   Installed solar generation capacity grown over ten times in last five years o   Now creating lakhs of new age jobs Digital India Revolution ·         More than 3 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) exist to deliver services to the citizens ·         India now leading the world in the consumption of mobile data ·         Monthly consumption of mobile data increased by over 50 times in the last five years ·         Under Make in India, mobile and parts manufacturing companies increased from 2 to more than 268 providing huge job opportunities Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) and Direct Benefit Transfer ·         In the last five years, nearly 34 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts opened ·         Aadhaar now near universally implemented ·         Ensure the poor and middle class receive the benefits of Government schemes directly in their bank accounts by eliminating middlemen Customs and trading across borders ·         Customs duties on 36 capital goods abolished ·         Digitization of import and export transactions ·         RFID technology to improve logistics Steps against corruption ·         Government walked the talk on corruption and ushered in a new era of transparency: FM ·         RERA and Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act have brought transparency in real estate ·         The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 to help confiscate economic offenders ·         Government conducted transparent auction of natural resources such as coal & spectrum Drive against Black money ·         Undisclosed income of about Rs 1,30,000 crore brought under tax through initiatives like Black money Law,  Fugitive Criminal offenders Act, Demonetisation etc. ·         Benami assets worth Rs 6,900 crore have been attached ·         18% growth in Direct tax Banking Reforms and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) ·         The IBC has institutionalized a resolution-friendly mechanism ·         Government has stopped the culture of “phone banking”: FM ·         Government adopted 4Rs approach of recognition, resolution, re-capitalization & reforms ·         Government has implemented measures to ensure ‘Clean Banking’ ·         Government has already recovered Rs. 3 lakh crore in favor of banks and creditors ·         Government has invested Rs. 2.6 lakh crore for recapitalization of public sector banks Cleanliness ·         Government launched Swachh Bharat Mission as a tribute to 150 years of Gandhi Ji ·         FM thanks 130 crore Indians for translating Swachh Bharat into a national revolution ·         India has achieved 98% rural sanitation coverage  5.45 lakh villages have been declared "Open Defecation Free” Defence ·         OROP under implementation in full spirit with Rs 35,000 crore already disbursed ·         Military pay service hiked Other achievements ·         Government put a stop to questionable practices of hiding high NPAs ·         Swachh Bharat Mission as the world’s largest behavioral change movement Key message in the Interim Budget 2019-20 ·         Moving towards realizing a ‘New India’ by 2022 - o   Clean and healthy India with universal access to toilets, water and electricity to all o   An India where Farmers’ income would have doubled o   Ample opportunities to youth and women to fulfil their dreams o   An India free from terrorism, communalism, casteism, corruption and nepotism Vision for the next Decade ·         Foundation for India’s growth and development laid in the past 5 years ·         Poised to become a Five Trillion Dollar Economy in the next five years ·         Aspire to become a Ten Trillion Dollar Economy in the next 8 years thereafter Ten dimensions of Vision for India of 2030 India would be a modern, technology driven, high growth, equitable and transparent society 1.      To build physical as well as social infrastructure and to provide ease of living 2.      To create a Digital India, digitize government processes with leaders from youth 3.      Making India pollution free by leading transport revolution with Electric Vehicles and focus on Renewables 4.      Expanding rural industrialisation using modern digital technologies to generate massive employment 5.      Clean Rivers, safe drinking water to all Indians and efficient use of water through micro-irrigation 6.      Besides scaling up of Sagarmala, Coastline and Ocean waters powering India’s development and growth 7.      Aim at our space programme – Gaganyaan, India becoming the launch-pad of satellites for the World and placing an Indian astronaut into space by 2022 8.      Making India self-sufficient in food, exporting to the world to meet their food needs and producing food in the most organic way 9.      A healthy India via Ayushman Bharat with women having equal rights and concern for their safety and empowerment 10.  Transforming India into a Minimum Government Maximum Governance nation with pro-active and responsible bureaucracy ***** Read the full article

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Spotify signs content deals with aawaz.com, private FM channels

New Post has been published on https://apzweb.com/spotify-signs-content-deals-with-aawaz-com-private-fm-channels/

Spotify signs content deals with aawaz.com, private FM channels

MUMBAI: Swedish audio streaming service Spotify has signed exclusive content deals with aawaz.com, an Indian podcasts and spoken-word audio network, and private FM channels Radio City and Big FM.

Spotify has also launched 12 new podcasts after the response it received for the first three Spotify Original podcasts that the company had launched in December last year.

“We’ve continuously analysed what users are listening to, and gradually commissioned original podcasts that our local users relate to, and want to engage with. Much of this content is non-fiction, but we are also open to fiction,” said Amarjit Batra, managing director, Spotify India.

The global deal with aawaz.com will allow Spotify users access to 48 different audio originals, podcasts and audio shows from the Hindi repertoire of aawaz amounting to 700 episodes and a total of 100 hours across genres including comedy, stories, horror, spiritual, lifestyle, and entertainment.

“We are elated to partner with Spotify through this global licensing arrangement that brings the best of aawaz to Indians and Indian diaspora around the world,” said Sreeraman Thiagarajan, cofounder and CEO, aawaz.com.

The 12 new podcasts include ‘Special Mission with Gul Panag’, ‘Maha Bharat with Dhruv Rathee’, ‘Zindagi Unplugged’, ‘Our Last Week with Anuvab & Kunaal’ and ‘Off Script with Salil’, with a total of over 200 episodes.

“Creating high quality podcasts is a relatively new phenomenon in India, and at Spotify, we are keen to work with committed creators and production houses to bring relevant, local content for not only listeners in India, but also for our millions of users across 78 other markets,” Batra added.

Spotify claims to have over one million podcast titles on the platform.

(Disclaimer: Spotify competes with Gaana.com, a Times Internet company, which also owns this website)

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