India

Davos, Jan 24 (IANS) Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday highlighted India’s balanced approach to economic development with both manufacturing and services driving the nation’s growth in his speech at the World Economic Forum.

Addressing global leaders and captains of industry here, the minister said: "It cannot be manufacturing or services; it has to be manufacturing and services as both these sectors are integral to India’s economic trajectory."

He emphasised India's transformation from focusing solely on import substitution to adopting a “Make in India, Make for the World” approach.

With 99 per cent of mobile phones used domestically now manufactured in India, the growth strategy has shifted towards export-led growth across sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and garments, he said.

Vaishnaw highlighted India’s ascent in the semiconductor and AI sectors, stating that “most semiconductor industry leaders believe today that India will soon join the top three destinations for semiconductors".

Emphasising why global companies are increasingly gravitating towards India, the Union Minister highlighted the nation’s “unique advantage” rooted in trust, abundant talent, and exceptional design capabilities.

He credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for creating an environment of global trust, attracting companies to shift not just supply chains but also value chains to India.

"With nearly 2,000 Global Capability Centers (GCCs) working on advanced designs, India is poised to be a major player in global manufacturing," he remarked.

With artificial intelligence (AI) in the services sector poised to play a prominent role in shaping India's future, driving innovation and creating opportunities, the Union Minister also highlighted the need for laying special emphasis on training the talent pool in AI.

He emphasised India's potential to become the "use case capital" of the world, creating innovative applications for industries globally. He noted that while AI models are becoming increasingly commoditised, the focus should shift to developing use cases, applications, and solutions that cater to global industries.

"Experts believe that India has the potential to lead the world in AI services, just as it has successfully done in the IT services sector," the minister remarked, underlining India's capability to shape the future of AI on a global scale.

Vaishnaw underscored the government's focus on skilling to prepare India's workforce for emerging technologies, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI).

"We have set an ambitious target to equip at least 1 million people with AI tools and skills, enabling them to create use cases and applications that the world needs," the minister stated.

He highlighted similar large-scale initiatives in other sectors, such as setting up 5G labs in 100 universities to prepare students for the telecom industry and providing advanced EDA tools in 240 universities to train students in semiconductor design.

By aligning course curricula with industry requirements, the government is ensuring a skilled workforce at every level of the value chain, with results already becoming visible across industries, he added.

--IANS

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Chandigarh, Jan 24 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday said the government would provide government jobs to 200,000 youths on merit in five years.

“Over the past decade our government has provided government jobs to 1.71 lakh youths. Along with offering government jobs, the government has also implemented various schemes to help the youth set up their own businesses,” CM Nayab Singh Saini said.

Speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Indira Gandhi National College in Ladwa in Kurukshetra district, the CM announced a grant of Rs 21 lakh for the college.

Congratulating professors, students and the management of the institution on completing 51 years, he said over its 50-year journey the institution has played a crucial role in shaping thousands of students into skilled and responsible citizens.

“Colleges like IGN play a vital role in achieving the vision of a developed Haryana. Educational institutions are the backbone of the state's and country’s progress,” he said.

The CM said Prime Minister Narendra Modi implemented the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to provide more employment opportunities to the youth.

The policy has been adopted by Kurukshetra University and allows students to pursue education from kindergarten to postgraduate levels under one roof. It also aims to provide students with essential skills.

To promote higher education, the state government has opened 79 government colleges, 32 of which are exclusively for girls.

“Now, there is a government college within a 20-km radius across the state. Besides, 13 new universities have also been established in the state,” he said.

The CM said 1.71 lakh youths have been provided government jobs on the basis of merit without a “parchi” and “kharchi” (a system wherein jobs could be given without corruption) and plans to give 2 lakh more jobs in the next five years.

To support youth in pursuing education and employment abroad, a foreign cooperation department has been established.

Free passports have been issued to 35,000 youth directly in colleges.

Haryana's youth have excelled not only in sports but also in various other fields, making the state proud on a global level, he said.

--IANS

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Shimla, Jan 24 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday decided to extend the special relief package introduced for disaster-affected families in 2023 to those impacted by the fire incident in Tandi village in Kullu district.

Under the relief package, affected families will receive Rs 7 lakh for completely damaged houses, Rs 1,00,000 for partially damaged houses, and Rs 50,000 for the loss of cowsheds.

Also, a monthly house rental assistance of Rs 5,000 will be provided to the affected families till June 30.

The Cabinet has also decided to study cannabis cultivation on a pilot basis. It decided that the study would be jointly undertaken by Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Krishi Vishvavidyalaya in Palampur and Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture, Nauni, an official statement said.

The study will evaluate and recommend the future roadmap in this matter.

Additionally, the Agriculture Department was designated as the nodal department for this initiative.

The Cabinet also approved the procurement of state-of-art machinery and equipment for robotic surgery at Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialties (AIMSS) in Chamiyana in Shimla, and Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda in Kangra at a cost of Rs 56 crore on analogy of AIIMS, New Delhi.

The Cabinet approved an amendment to the previous order of the Forest Department, allowing the extraction of ‘berberis roots’ (kashmal) with a cut-off date of February 15.

Additionally, forest produce extracted from open spaces prior to January 4 will be permitted for transportation till February 15 in accordance with the provisions of the HP Forest Produce Transit (Land Routes) Rules, 2013.

It approved the establishment of a ropeway between the Kullu bus stand and the Peej paragliding point to provide tourists with a smooth and safe transportation facility.

The Cabinet decided to fill the nine posts of Block Development Officers in the Department of Rural Development.

Additionally, it decided to reorganise the PWD National Highway Circle in Shahpur by creating two new divisions at Nankhadi and Kholighat, as well as the Kharahan section.

The Cabinet sanctioned the procurement of 24 air-conditioned super luxury buses for state-run Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) to enhance its service.

It also approved 100 motorbikes to field offices of the State Taxes and Excise Department to ensure better enforcement and surprise checks.

--IANS

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Gurugram, Jan 24 (IANS) A crime branch team of the Gurugram Police arrested five dreaded criminals after an encounter from Golf Course Extension Road on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, officials said.

The accused were in the city to commit theft, police said on Friday.

According to the police, they received information regarding four to five youths coming towards Golf Course Extension Road with illegal weapons, riding in a CNG auto-rickshaw to commit a crime.

Based on the information, a police team blocked the Golf Course Extension Road from Village Ghata to Faridabad Road. After some time, an auto rickshaw without a number plate was seen coming towards the police checkpoint. When the police team signalled the CNG auto rickshaw driver to stop the vehicle, the driver tried to escape by increasing the speed of the auto-rickshaw hitting the barricade and police vehicle.

"Five persons got down from the auto-rickshaw and started firing at the police team and ran towards the forest. During this, one bullet hit the bulletproof jacket of the in-charge of Crime Branch Sector-39, and one bullet hit the window of the police car," Inspector Vishwa Gaurav, In-Charge of Crime Branch Sector-39, said.

The police team also warned the accused and asked them to surrender but they kept firing on the police party. In retaliatory firing, one bullet hit each of the two accused in the legs. Both the accused fell on the ground after being shot and were controlled by the police teams, and three other accused were apprehended from the auto-rickshaw.

The accused were identified as Hoshiyar Khan (22), Biladin alias Billa (22), both residents of Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Shahrukh (23), Mohammad Naseem (23) and Salim alias Shami (22), a resident of Nuh. The police team took further action and admitted the accused, Hoshiyar Khan and Biladin alias Billa, who were injured due to bullet injuries, to the hospital for treatment.

In connection with the incident, a case was registered against the accused under the relevant sections at Police Station Sector-56, Gurugram. During the encounter, a total of eight rounds were fired, out of which four were fired by the accused and four by the police. The police team recovered the auto-rickshaw used by the accused to commit the crime, two country-made pistols, one pistol, five live cartridges and eight empty shell cartridges.

During the interrogation, the accused revealed that they had also committed one other incident of theft in Gurugram. From the perusal of the criminal records of the accused, it was found that accused Biladin has five cases registered against him in Uttar Pradesh for theft and under Uttar Pradesh Gangster Act and accused Hoshiyar Khan has four cases registered against him in Uttar Pradesh for theft and under Uttar Pradesh Gangster Act.

"The accused, Hoshiyar Khan and Biladin alias Billa are undergoing treatment. After being discharged from the hospital, the accused will be arrested as per rules in the above-mentioned cases and will be thoroughly interrogated," he said.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Jan 24 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to Kannada actor Darshan, his partner Pavithra Gowda and five others in connection with the appeal petition filed by the Karnataka government challenging an order that granted bail in connection with a sensational fan murder case.

The bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan issued a notice seeking responses from seven accused in the case, including Darshan and Pavithra Gowda. The court has directed them to file a response within four weeks.

Siddarth Luthra, the counsel for Darshan, argued that the Karnataka High Court has completely "white-washed" the entire case.

Commenting on the appeal filed by the Karnataka Police challenging the granting of bail to Kannada superstar Darshan in connection with the sensational fan murder case that is coming up before the Supreme Court on Friday, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated that the police department has done its work.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, while answering a question in this regard, Parameshwara said: "We have done our work. The police have submitted relevant documents and materials to the Supreme Court through the advocate."

"We will see what would be the verdict in the Supreme Court over the petition by the Karnataka Police and then contemplate future action," he maintained.

Advocate Anil C. Nishani has filed the plea on behalf of the Karnataka government.

Darshan has been maintaining a low profile after obtaining bail.

While granting bail, the court asked him and other accused in the case to appear before it every month.

The counsel for Darshan had argued while obtaining medical bail that if the surgery was not conducted, the actor would suffer a stroke. However, till date, there is no news of surgery being conducted on Darshan after he came out of prison.

However, the court had granted him regular bail later.

Darshan, Pavithra, and 15 others were arrested on June 11, 2024 on charges of kidnapping and brutally murdering Renukaswamy, a fan from Chitradurga.

Renukaswamy had allegedly sent derogatory and obscene messages to Pavithra Gowda, angry over the fact that Darshan maintained a relationship with her despite being married.

Darshan was released from prison on October 30, 2024 after spending 131 days in custody.

Pavithra Gowda, the prime accused in the case is known as Darshan's longtime companion.

Sources close to Darshan revealed that Pavithra Gowda competed with Darshan's wife, Vijayalaxmi, over jewellery and luxury cars.

She allegedly pressurised Darshan to make public appearances with her after he had been seen with his wife.

Pavithra and Vijayalaxmi also had public spats via social media posts, which led Darshan's fans to take sides.

Renukaswamy, who supported Vijayalaxmi, criticised Pavithra, which ultimately led to his brutal death, according to police findings.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice on a plea seeking directions to conduct re-election for the two vacant seats of Central Councillors in Kirori Mal College Student Union 2024-2025 with immediate effect.

A Bench of Justice Sachin Datta issued the notice and sought responses of Delhi University, its Chief Election Officer, Kirori Mal College (KMC) and other respondents in the matter.

Daksha Bhardwaj, a B.A. Sanskrit (Hons.) student, who contested for the post of President in the Kirori Mal College Student Union Election of 2024-2025, contended that by not conducting re-election on vacant seats, the college and varsity administration is not only violating the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines but also subjecting the students to a “grave injustice”.

The petition highlighted that the college authorities declared the election of two Central Councillors as null and void on November 25, and since then these two posts have been vacant and the college administration is not following the Lyngdoh Committee Recommendation which mandates re-election on vacant seats.

“It has been 48 days till now from the date of declaration of the election of the two Central Councillors as null and void, and since then the administration has failed to conduct fresh elections as per the rules,” said the petition, filed through advocate Ashu Bidhuri.

It added that as per the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, in the event of the office of any major post of office bearer falling vacant within two months of elections, re-elections should be conducted; otherwise, the Vice President may be promoted to the post of President, and Joint Secretary to the post of Secretary, as the case may be.

Further, it said that the post of Central Councillor is important in the student union as the Central Councillor is a part of the central council for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU).

“The actions of the administration are completely arbitrary in nature and against the principle of natural justice. This is a clear violation of traditions and practices that are being followed in other colleges of Delhi University or DUSU elections. [T]he petitioner has raised his grievance at the appropriate stage and before the appropriate authorities and there is complete failure on their part to comply with the directions of Lyngdoh Committee recommendations,” stated the petition.

It added that the petitioner is facing major problems due to illegal acts done by the authorities, constraining him to approach the Delhi High Court and beseech it to issue necessary directions that will impel them to comply and perform their statutory obligations.

Further, it said, “Elections to any office/body are required to be free, fair, and transparent. Elections lie at the core of democracy. The authority entrusted by law to hold/conduct such elections is to be completely independent of any extraneous influence/consideration.”

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS) Predicting a landslide win with at least 60 seats for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party President Hanuman Beniwal on Friday urged Jat voters to back Arvind Kejriwal.

The Jat leader from Rajasthan said the RLP decided to back the AAP as Kejriwal’s party is fighting the Centre to get reservation for Jats in the city. “The AAP is going to win as many as 60 votes in Delhi as all the poor are going to vote for it," he said, adding that the people are frustrated with both BJP and the Congress and want a third alternative to these two parties.

"A victory for the AAP in Delhi will send a strong message against attempts being made in the country to trample democracy,” Beniwal told IANS.

Beniwal said he met the former Delhi chief minister after the AAP leader sought support from his party to counter the BJP in the February 5 Delhi elections.

Beniwal also hit out at the Agnipath scheme for military recruitment.

"The BJP has ignored Jats in Haryana and Rajasthan and demoralised Jat farmers and jawans against joining the military through the Agniveer scheme,” he said.

The MP from Rajasthan’s Nagaur said the AAP is a natural ally as its policy is aimed at the welfare of the poor and challenging the high-handedness of the Central government.

He alleged there is a grave threat to democracy in the country as Opposition leaders are being harassed through ED raids.

Beniwal, who exited the NDA in 2020, said he and hundreds of his supporters will campaign in Delhi in the coming days.

The MP from Rajasthan also accused the BJP and the Congress of making a secret pact in Delhi to beat the AAP. The two parties also made a pact in Rajasthan.

Claiming that the Congress wants to finish AAP in Delhi, Beniwal said: "The Congress is not going to win even a single seat in Delhi."

The Jat leader also accused Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of destroying the INDIA bloc.

"Today there is nothing called INDIA bloc. We demand that Rahul Gandhi should be removed from the alliance,” he said.

Voting for the 70-member Delhi Assembly will take place on February 5 and the result will be declared on February 8. In the outgoing Assembly, the AAP has 62 seats and the BJP has eight.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS) In a move to facilitate early access for Republic Day celebrations, Delhi Metro will kickstart its services at 3:00 a.m. on January 26. This will help people travel smoothly to Kartavya Path to witness the grand Republic Day ceremony.

Anuj Dayal, Principal Executive Director (Corporate Communications) of DMRC, shared the information, saying, "To ensure a seamless journey, trains will run at intervals of 30 minutes until 6:00 a.m., after which the regular timetable will be in place for the day."

Passengers have been encouraged to plan their trips early and take advantage of the early Metro services to avoid last-minute rushes and delays.

As India celebrates the 76th Republic Day, this national occasion not only marks the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950 but also pays tribute to the sacrifices of freedom fighters.

The theme for this year’s R-Day celebration, 'Swarnim Bharat – Virasat aur Vikas' (Golden India – Heritage and Development), highlights the country’s rich cultural heritage and its ongoing journey of progress.

Notably, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will be the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations, marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Indonesia.

Republic Day is a celebration of India’s democracy, unity in diversity, and the enduring spirit of Independence, as well as a tribute to the sacrifices made for the country’s freedom and republic status.

Republic Day holds deep significance on multiple fronts. Primarily, it underscores India’s dedication to constitutional values, reflecting the nation's commitment to democratic ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. It also serves as a celebration of India's rich cultural heritage, with cultural performances and tableaux showcasing the country’s diverse traditions.

Another key aspect of the national holiday is its focus on promoting national unity. The celebrations highlight the strength found in India’s diversity, emphasising how the nation thrives by embracing differences. Republic Day also honours the courage and sacrifices of the leaders and freedom fighters who played a pivotal role in securing India’s Independence and establishing the republic.

--IANS

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Jammu, Jan 24 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Lieutenant Governor (LG), Manoj Sinha on Friday inaugurated the 'BRICS Youth Council Entrepreneurship Run-up Event' at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Jammu.

In his address, LG Sinha congratulated the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the Global Counter Terrorism Council (GCTC), IIM Jammu and all other associate departments for providing a dynamic platform for innovators, aspiring entrepreneurs, youth leaders to showcase innovative business ideas and entrepreneurial initiatives.

The LG highlighted the transformative initiatives of the government through the Department of Industries & Commerce that have redefined the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and are empowering the youth of the UT.

“In the past few years J&K's industrial ecosystem has witnessed an unprecedented surge, supporting the culture of innovation, research & development and scientific advancements. I want to see our youth among top-notch entrepreneurs of the country, contributing to its growth”, the LG said.

Sinha said the sincere efforts and policy interventions of the government have made J&K a vibrant startup hub.

He also shared the key initiatives including Mission Yuva to develop a business support ecosystem for the enterprising youth of J&K.

Sinha said reforms were being made in the education sector with a dedicated focus on skilling the youth in the technology of Industry 4.0.

“We continue to focus on policies to promote incubation centres and to provide better resources and support to set up new startups. I want our youth to dream, dedicate and develop a dynamic J&K and propel its growth trajectory to new heights”, he said.

LG Sinha further emphasised on the need to bridge the academia-industry disconnect to meet future challenges.

He said human resources should be equipped with the skills required by the market and industries.

He said the youth entrepreneurship mission today is important not only for India but the entire world and the countries from both Global North and Global South are looking at their massive demographic dividend to meet the biggest developmental challenges of the 21st century.

Speaking on the industrial revolution taking place in the UT of J&K, the LG said the result of the Central Sector Industrial Development Scheme is now visible.

He also emphasised the role of educational institutions and youth in developing India as a knowledge economy and realising the vision of a Viksit Bharat.

Professor. B.S. Sahay, Director IIM Jammu shared the vision of IIM Jammu to develop the youth as business leaders and entrepreneurs.

A detailed presentation highlighting the key objectives of Mission Yuva was also presented on the occasion.

--IANS

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Kochi, Jan 24 (IANS) Highlighting major challenges to human health amid a series of issues, including climate change and anti-microbial resistance, Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organisation (WHO), on Friday said that most of the emerging viral threats are zoonotic infections transmitted from animals to humans.

She was speaking after the launch of various initiatives undertaken as part of a major research project on water quality assessment of Vembanad Lake and waterborne infectious diseases at ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

Swaminathan, who is also the former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), emphasised the critical role of integrated research, including data from weather, climate, health, and environmental sources, to predict and prevent future outbreaks.

Most of the health threats today originate from environmental factors, she said and hence suggested establishing an Environmental Health Regulatory Agency in India. Swaminathan further pointed to dietary risks as the number one health threat in the country.

"Half of Indians cannot afford a nutritionally sufficient healthy diet," she added.

Kerala and Tamil Nadu are experiencing a concerning rise in obesity and non-communicable diseases, alongside persistent issues like malnutrition, anaemia, and micronutrient deficiencies, all stemming from unhealthy dietary habits, added the top scientist.

Emphasising the potential of marine resources as a healthy diet component to improve nutrition, she said: "We are yet to fully utilise these resources to address critical dietary issues.

She underscored the devastating impact of climate change, saying that India is one of the most vulnerable countries to this challenge.

"Almost the entire population of the country is being exposed to at least one of the climate hazards such as floods, droughts, cyclones, and extreme heat. Heat is most dangerous to both physical and mental health. The weakest section of the society bears the brunt of these hazards," she said.

"During COVID-19, I believe nobody anticipated the development of vaccines within a year. It was a remarkable achievement facilitated by unprecedented collaboration and data sharing among research institutions and scientists. During my time at the WHO, I witnessed first-hand this extraordinary level of networking and data sharing. Scientists prioritised the rapid dissemination of findings over individual publication which paid off ultimately," said Swaminathan.

Referring to the challenge of information flooding, she said that in the digital age, misinformation is fast spreading across social media platforms which can hinder scientific progress and public health efforts.

"This was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when everybody disguised as ‘experts’ and offered advice to the people," she said.

--IANS

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