Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal emphasises mutual funds industry’s role in India’s growth at AMFI Summit 2025

by Banking & FinanceEconomyLatest Updates

The mutual funds industry has played a pivotal role in India’s growth story by encouraging financial literacy and taking innovative financial ideas to the industry and the investors. This was stated by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal during his address as a Chief Guest at the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) Mutual Fund Summit 2025 today in Mumbai.

The Minister further complimented the domestic investors for filling the gap created by the foreign institutional investors (FIIs) post-Covid. “Collective investment methods like SIPs along with domestic investors supported the market. They helped in spreading financial awareness and financial products to every part of the country, he said.

Highlighting the importance of safeguarding the importance of small investors and other key stakeholders, Shri Goyal urged the industry leaders to reflect on ways to minimise volatility in the stock market. Large fund inflows, compulsions of the market to deploy capital, fear among investors on missing out on attractive stocks brought crises among investors during rightsizing. There has been a lot of misinformation flow about the unending ability of the market to go on a one-way street, he noted, and described the unpredictability of the stock market as a wakeup call for the industry and its small investors.

AMFI should also become conscious of its duties by isolating misguided investors from the rest. Companies with mettle have maintained reasonable prices at the stock market during recent turbulence, he noted. He said that duties and responsibilities of the industry towards the market are larger than the profitable returns investors enjoy in the short term. He also added that government spending and private capex are showing signs of comeback.

Elaborating on the responsibilities of the mutual funds industry towards its investors, the Minister urged the participants to be more diligent in cautioning investors from taking risks. He hoped that initiatives as such will spur India’s growth story for the next 22 years. Shri Goyal urged the industry to support and handhold investors, look at financial inclusion as a collective responsibility and take up financial education as its duty.

Shri Goyal asserted that assets under management (AUM) in the mutual funds industry at nearly Rs 70 lakh crore and soon to be Rs 100 lakh crore will dominate the market and domestic investors will determine India’s future not the foreign institutional investors. He also highlighted the need for the industry as wealth creators to have a fair and organised market.

The Energy and Curiosity Here Are Truly Inspiring”: Dr. Brian Greene Visits Taj Mahal

by Mirabilia IconsTourism and Culture

“The passion for science and innovation that I have witnessed in India is unparalleled. The energy and curiosity among students here are truly inspiring,” said Dr. Brian Greene during his visit to the Taj Mahal. Praising India’s distinctive approach to education and scientific research, he emphasized the enthusiasm and ambition of Indian students to make a global impact.

“India is even more beautiful from the ground,” remarked former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, who has observed the country from space. Expressing his admiration for India’s aesthetic appeal, he lauded the exceptional craftsmanship of the Taj Mahal, calling it a testament to India’s rich legacy of engineering and design.

Dr. Brian Greene and Mike Massimino are currently visiting India, immersing themselves in the country’s rich scientific, educational, and cultural heritage. As part of their visit, they explored the iconic Taj Mahal, where they shared their admiration for India’s advancements in science, engineering, and craftsmanship.

Prof. Brian Greene, a renowned theoretical physicist, author, and professor of mathematics and physics at Columbia University, is celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to superstring theory, including the co-discovery of mirror symmetry and the discovery of spatial topology change.

Mike Massimino, a veteran of two NASA space missions, holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and currently serves as a professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University. As the first astronaut to tweet from space, he has played a significant role in space exploration, particularly in the Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions in 2002 and 2009.

Throughout his career, Massimino has been honored with multiple NASA Space Flight Medals, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the American Astronautical Society’s Flight Achievement Award. He currently serves as the Senior Advisor for Space Programs at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City.

Dr. Greene and Mr. Massimino’s visit to the Taj Mahal highlights India’s growing influence in the global scientific community. Their journey serves as a bridge between India’s historical excellence in craftsmanship and its rapidly advancing role in science and innovation on the world stage.

Birth Defects Claim About 300 Children Under Five Daily In South-East Asia: WHO

by Health and CommunityLatest Updates

Birth defects claim about 300 children under five daily in South-East Asia: WHO
Birth defects claim the lives of approximately 300 children under the age of five every day in the South-East Asia region, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated on Saturday, ahead of World Birth Defects Day.

Observed annually on March 3, World Birth Defects Day aims to raise awareness about prevention programs and improve the quality of care and services for individuals with congenital anomalies, disorders, or conditions.

“Over the past two decades, the contribution of birth defects to under-five mortality in our region has increased from 3.9 percent to 11.5 percent,” said Saima Wazed, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia, in a statement.

“Birth defects are now the third leading cause of death (11 percent) among children under five in our region—affecting approximately 300 children daily. Additionally, they cause severe morbidity, which is often overlooked or underreported,” she added.

The global health body has urged countries to raise awareness about birth defects and strengthen health systems to address the specific health, developmental, and psychosocial needs of affected individuals. This effort must be complemented by actions to prevent, detect, and manage congenital anomalies, Wazed emphasized.

Birth defects have a significant impact on an individual’s quality of life and place a considerable burden on families, communities, society, and healthcare systems.

Wazed noted that while genetics play a major role, many birth defects are preventable through health system interventions.

“Rubella vaccination, early identification and management of sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy, and addressing environmental factors such as exposure to pollutants, lifestyle choices, and socioeconomic conditions that affect pregnant women and fetuses are some key preventive measures,” she said.

Furthermore, Wazed called on countries to “reaffirm investment in women, girls, adolescents, and vulnerable populations.”

In addition to prioritizing birth defects, she stressed the need to enhance the health system’s capacity for early detection and management by introducing and scaling up newborn screening tests for birth defects and other conditions.

“Countries need to invest in establishing or strengthening birth defect surveillance systems, with a particular focus on improving the availability, analysis, and utilization of relevant data for programmatic decision-making,” the Regional Director added.

C-DAC’s HIMASHIELD 2024 grand challenge concludes on national science day at Thiruvananthapuram, showcasing India’s climate mitigation efforts

by Latest UpdatesTechnology

The HIMASHIELD 2024 Grand Challenge, organized by (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology research initiatives, successfully concluded on National Science Day in Thiruvananthapuram. Aimed at fostering innovation in Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) mitigation, the challenge provided a platform for young researchers and innovators to develop indigenous, sustainable solutions to tackle this critical environmental challenge.

This nationwide grand challenge was launched on August 24, 2024 by Shri. S Krishnan IAS, Secretary, MeitY. The initial round of Himashield witnessed the participation of 151 teams. Thirty teams advanced to the next round. A total of seven teams participated in the final round.

The details of the winners are given below:

Winner (Rs 5 lakhs, Trophy & Certificates): GlofsenseTeam consist of Venkatesh R, Naveen Krishnaa S and Nithish T from Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu.

First Runners up (Rs 3 lakhs, Trophy & Certificates): CryoWizardsTeam consist of Sourabh Anand(Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology,Dehradun) and Sunil Mahato, Sudip Banerjee, Nikita Roy Mukherjee(Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra)

Second Runners up (Rs 2 lakhs, Trophy & Certificates): CryoSenseTeam consist of Dr.Ashim Sattar, Dr.Sudipta Saha, Dr.Debajyoti Biswas, Abhinav A, Kattamuri Mohan Krishna, Kartick Cherukuri (IIT Bhuvaneswar)

Distinguished Experts and Officials Preside Over Award Ceremony

The award ceremony was presided over by Ms. Sunita Verma, Scientist G & Group Coordinator, R&D, MeitY. Dr. Kalai Selvan A, Director, C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram, Shri. Arvind Kumar, CCA, MeitY. For awareness creation for the community and to embark Science-day technical talks were offered by Dr. D. D. Ray, Former Outstanding Scientist-H, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre; Shri D. G. Shreshta, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Sikkim and Dr. Manoj Khare, Scientist-G & Group Head, High-Performance Computing – Earth Science Engineering and Geospatial Applications Group, C-DAC Pune.

About HIMASHIELD 2024 grand challenge

HIMASHIELD 2024 is a grand challenge dedicated to tackling the growing threat of Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) caused by climate change-induced glacier melting. Organized to foster innovation, the challenge provides a platform for researchers, engineers, and innovators to develop cutting-edge solutions for monitoring and managing glacier lakes, designing early warning systems, and implementing effective engineering measures to mitigate flood risks. The goal is to create practical, scalable, and indigenous solutions that can safeguard vulnerable communities, protect critical infrastructure, and enhance disaster resilience. Through this challenge participants are invited to register their teams through the official HIMASHIELD website and submit proposals detailing their innovative systems, capabilities, and societal impact. Entries are evaluated based on innovation, technical feasibility, and real-world applicability. HIMASHIELD 2024 is an opportunity for visionary thinkers to push the boundaries of climate resilience and contribute to a safer, more sustainable future.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, chairs high-level review meeting on the security situation of Manipur in New Delhi

by Health and CommunityLatest Updates

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, chaired a high-level review meeting on the security situation of Manipur in New Delhi today.

The meeting was attended by the Governor of Manipur, Union Home Secretary, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Army Commander of the Eastern Command, Directors General of Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Assam Rifles, Security Advisor, Manipur and senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Army and Manipur administration.

During the meeting, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that the Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, remains fully committed to restoring lasting peace in Manipur and is providing all necessary assistance in this regard.

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah directed that free movement to be ensured for people on all roads in Manipur from March 8, 2025. He also directed that strict action should be taken against anyone attempting to create obstructions.

Shri Amit Shah directed that the fencing work on both sides of the designated entry points along Manipur’s international border should be completed at the earliest. He said that to make Manipur drug-free, the entire network involved in the drug trade should be dismantled.

On PM’s call Ayush Labs Open Doors: Young Minds Step into the World of Science & Innovation under the ‘One Day as a Scientist’ initiative

by Health and CommunityLatest Updates

In response to the call made by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his Mann Ki Baat address, institutions under the Ministry of Ayush have actively engaged young students in the ‘One Day as a Scientist’ initiative. The program has provided aspiring minds with an immersive experience in scientific research, offering them firsthand exposure to laboratory work, advanced equipment, and the integration of traditional medicine with modern scientific advancements.

Prime Minister, addressing the nation via his monthly radio programme, encouraged students to visit research laboratories, planetaria, space centres, and science institutions to nurture their curiosity and foster a scientific temperament. Inspired by this vision, Ayush institutions welcomed students to their research facilities, allowing them to interact with scientists, explore cutting-edge technology, and understand the vast potential of Ayush systems in mainstream healthcare.

As part of the initiative, students from Amity University, Jaipur, visited the National Institute of Ayurveda (Deemed to be University), Jaipur, on February 19, 2025. Under the guidance of Prof. C.R. Yadav (Dean Research & HOD), Dr. Mahendra Prasad, Dr. Sarika Yadav, Dr. Bhanu Pratap Singh, and Dr. Rashmi Prakash Gurao, the students explored the Kriya Sharir department’s advanced equipment and machinery, with a special focus on the respiratory system. They had the opportunity to witness the working of state-of-the-art devices like the Body Plethysmograph, CPET, and the 3D VR lab. The students expressed keen interest in the innovative technology, recognising its potential in advancing healthcare research.

Similarly, on February 28, 2025, students of Dr. Gururaju Government Homeopathy Medical College, Gudivada, visited the research laboratory of Regional Research Institute (H), Gudivada, under the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), in celebration of National Science Day. The laboratory staff provided students with a detailed demonstration of laboratory equipment and research methodologies used in homoeopathy. The session was presided over by Dr. Kishan Banoth, AD(H) Incharge, RRI(H), Gudivada, who emphasised the importance of scientific inquiry in traditional medicine.

Students from Captain Jailal Academic School, Lohat, Gurugram, Badli, Jhajjar, Haryana, visited the Central Research Institute for Yoga & Naturopathy (CRIYN), Jhajjar, for an insightful and immersive experience in Ayush research. The visit provided young minds with a unique opportunity to explore the scientific principles behind yoga and naturopathy, interact with researchers, and witness firsthand how traditional healing practices are being studied through modern scientific methodologies.

The theme for National Science Day 2025, ‘Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science and Innovation for Viksit Bharat’, perfectly aligns with the spirit of this initiative. These visits not only ignited the students’ passion for research but also strengthened India’s vision of developing future leaders in science and innovation.

Students who participated in these visits expressed excitement and appreciation for the opportunity. Many were inspired by the dedication of scientists and researchers working in the Ayush sector and expressed a desire to explore careers in traditional medicine research. Faculty members and institutional representatives also lauded the initiative, noting how such interactions provide students with a deeper understanding of scientific processes and career pathways in healthcare and innovation.

By facilitating these visits, the Ministry of Ayush has reinforced its commitment to fostering scientific temperament and curiosity among young minds. Encouraged by the positive response, the Ministry looks forward to expanding similar initiatives, bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and modern scientific exploration.

Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers and Health & Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurates the week long celebrations of Jan Aushadhi Diwas, 2025

by Health and CommunityLatest Updates

Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers and Health & Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated the weeklong celebrations of Jan Aushadhi Diwas, 2025 by flagging off the Rath (Chariot) and 10 other vehicles carrying the information about Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana from Nirman Bhawan today. Union Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Ms. Anupriya Patel and Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Shri Amit Agrawal were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering during the flag off ceremony Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda urged the citizens of the country to participate in these programs for wider awareness about this noble project of the Government so that a Jan-Andolan is created for Jan-Aushadhi.

Ms. Anupriya Patel also addressed the gathering and gave a brief about seven days week long programs to be held across the country for celebration of 7th Jan Aushadhi Diwas.

At the initiative of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the 7th of March is celebrated every year as “Jan Aushadhi Diwas” with a view to enhance awareness about the scheme and promote generic medicines. As in earlier years, week-long events have been planned at various locations across the country from the 1st to the 7th of March 2025. The vehicles that have been flagged off today will disseminate the information about PMBJP in the National Capital Region (NCR).

With an objective of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India. Under this scheme, dedicated outlets known as Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) are opened to provide generic medicines.

As on 28.02.2025, 15000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) have been opened across the country. Product basket of PMBJP comprises 2047 drugs and 300 surgical equipment which are sold at retail shops at 50% to 80% cheaper than branded medicines.

Under PMBJP, the government has set a target to open 25000 JAKs by 31st March, 2027 across the country. The target of opening 15000 JAKs by March, 2025 has already been achieved by PMBI on 31.01.2025.

In order to cover large category of medicines, 29 Major Therapeutic Groups like Antibiotics & Anti-infectives, Anti-Cancer, Anti-Diabetics, Cardiovascular Drugs, Analgesics and Antipyretic, Anti-Allergic, Gastro-Intestinal Agents, Vitamins & Minerals, Food supplements/Nutraceuticals, Topical Medicines etc have been covered in PMBJP basket. Further, 300 Surgical Equipment & Consumable like Masks, Orthopedic Rehabilitation Products, Surgical Dressings, Syringes & Needles, Sanitary Napkins, Sutures, Diapers, Rubber Gloves, Oximeter, Rapid Antigen Test Kit, etc have also been covered under PMBJP basket.

In the financial year i.e., 2023-24, PMBJP has made sales of Rs. 1470 Crore (at MRP) which has led to savings of approximately Rs. 7350 Cr. to the citizens. In the current financial year i.e., 2024-25, PMBJP has made sales of Rs. 1760 Crore (at MRP) till 28.02.2025. In the last 10 years, the no. of Kendras have increased by 180 times and the sales have also increased more than 200 times. In all, during the past 10 years, total savings of approximately Rs. 30,000 crores for the citizens have been possible due to this noble scheme.

Explore How RTX AI PCs and Workstations Supercharge AI Development at NVIDIA GTC 2025

by Mirabilia IconsTechnology

 

Generative AI is redefining computing, unlocking new ways to build, train and optimize AI models on PCs and workstations. From content creation and large and small language models to software development, AI-powered PCs and workstations are transforming workflows and enhancing productivity.

At GTC 2025, running March 17–21 in the San Jose Convention Center, experts from across the AI ecosystem will share insights on deploying AI locally, optimizing models and harnessing cutting-edge hardware and software to enhance AI workloads — highlighting key advancements in RTX AI PCs and workstations.

Develop and Deploy on RTX
RTX GPUs are built with specialized AI hardware called Tensor Cores that provide the compute performance needed to run the latest and most demanding AI models. These high-performance GPUs can help build digital humans, chatbots, AI-generated podcasts and more.

With more than 100 million GeForce RTX and NVIDIA RTX™ GPUs users, developers have a large audience to target when new AI apps and features are deployed. In the session “Build Digital Humans, Chatbots, and AI-Generated Podcasts for RTX PCs and Workstations,” Annamalai Chockalingam, senior product manager at NVIDIA, will showcase the end-to-end suite of tools developers can use to streamline development and deploy incredibly fast AI-enabled applications.

Model Behavior
Large language models (LLMs) can be used for an abundance of use cases — and scale to tackle complex tasks like writing code or translating Japanese into Greek. But since they’re typically trained with a wide spectrum of knowledge for broad applications, they may not be the right fit for specific tasks, like nonplayer character dialog generation in a video game. In contrast, small language models balance need with reduced size, maintaining accuracy while running locally on more devices.

In the session “Watch Your Language: Create Small Language Models That Run On-Device,” Oluwatobi Olabiyi, senior engineering manager at NVIDIA, will present tools and techniques that developers and enthusiasts can use to generate, curate and distill a dataset — then train a small language model that can perform tasks designed for it.

Maximizing AI Performance on Windows Workstations
Optimizing AI inference and model execution on Windows-based workstations requires strategic software and hardware tuning due to diverse hardware configurations and software environments. The session “Optimizing AI Workloads on Windows Workstations: Strategies and Best Practices,” will explore best practices for AI optimization, including model quantization, inference pipeline enhancements and hardware-aware tuning.

A team of NVIDIA software engineers will also cover hardware-aware optimizations for ONNX Runtime, NVIDIA TensorRT and llama.cpp, helping developers maximize AI efficiency across GPUs, CPUs and NPUs.

Advancing Local AI Development
Building, testing and deploying AI models on local infrastructure ensures security and performance even without a connection to cloud-based services. Accelerated with NVIDIA RTX GPUs, Z by HP’s AI solutions provide the tools needed to develop AI on premises while maintaining control over data and IP

Dell Pro Max and NVIDIA: Unleashing the Future of AI Development: This session introduces Dell Pro Max PCs, performance laptops and desktops for professionals, powered by NVIDIA RTX GPUs. Discover how this powerful duo can help jumpstart AI initiatives and transform the way AI developers, data scientists, creators and power users innovate.
Develop and Observe Gen AI On-Prem With Z by HP GenAI Lab and AI Studio: This session demonstrates how Z by HP solutions simplify local model training and deployment, harnessing models in the NVIDIA NGC catalog and Galileo evaluation technology to refine generative AI projects securely and efficiently.
Supercharge Gen AI Development With Z by HP GenAI Lab and AI Studio: This session explores how Z by HP’s GenAI Lab and AI Studio enable on-premises LLM development while maintaining complete data security and control. Learn how these tools streamline the entire AI lifecycle, from experimentation to deployment, while integrating models available in the NVIDIA NGC catalog for collaboration and workflow efficiency.
Developers and enthusiasts can get started with AI development on RTX AI PCs and workstations using NVIDIA NIM microservices. Rolling out today, the initial public beta release includes the Llama 3.1 LLM, NVIDIA Riva Parakeet for automatic speech recognition (ASR), and YOLOX for computer vision.

NIM microservices are optimized, prepackaged models for generative AI. They span modalities important for PC development, and are easy to download and connect to via industry-standard application programming interfaces.

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Sarbananda Sonowal unveils ₹4,800 crore plan to transform Assam’s Inland Waterways at Advantage Assam 2.0

by EconomyLatest Updates

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal announced an investment of more than ₹4,800 crore to transform the inland waterways sector of Assam at the Advantage Assam 2.0 in Guwahati, today. The investment is to enable the immense potential that the complex and dynamic waterways system of the state has to offer to propel the growth and development of the region towards realising the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat, Shri Sonowal asserted at the session on Assam’s Roads, Railway and Riverine Tourism on the second day of the investment summit.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister said, “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the country is cruising ahead towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat. Assam along with the Northeast plays an integral part in propelling this journey to realise the vision of Modi ji. Inland Waterways plays a crucial role in this scheme of things as the visionary Modi ji planned its revival since 2014 from near obscurity and neglect of the past. With its rich inter web of riverine system in the region, especially in Assam with Brahmaputra (NW2) and Barak (NW16), the inland waterways aims at rejuvenating its ageless role as the main conduit of trade and commerce. Globally considered as futuristic, the inland waterways provides an opportunity to opt for a more economic, efficient and environment friendly mode of transporting cargo and passengers. With the launch of schemes like ‘Jalvahak’, the Modi government has been incentivising the businesses to switch to inland waterways, thereby, improving the economies of scale, decongesting the railways and roadways and enabling a conducive ecosystem that is vital for pivotal role Assam is set to play towards India’s ascendency to become world’s biggest and an Atmanirbhar economy by 2047.”

 

At the summit, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal announced allocation of ₹1,500 crore for a planned transition into Green Vessels by 2030 under the ‘Harit Nauka’ scheme. An amount of more than ₹1,500 crore has been earmarked to facilitate cruise tourism and enhance cargo handling capacity by 2027-28 in NW2 and NW16. This includes construction of jetties with on shore facilities at Silghat, Bishwanath ghat, Neamati Ghat and Guijan along with construction of a new building for Regional Office, MSDC, Guest house and office space for ITAT at Fancy Bazar in Guwahati. An amount of ₹375 crore is pegged for development of Phase II of Ship Repair Facility at Pandu. In order to maintain fairway, the government has entrusted Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) to ensure assured draft of 2.5 meters from Bangladesh Border to Pandu in NW-2 till 2026-27. An amount of ₹191 crore has been earmarked for this, Shri Sonowal stated.

Adding further, he said, “Advantage Assam has always served as a catalyst for the region’s economic revival, providing businesses with a strategic platform to expand their trade and investment opportunities. With the immense support that Assam has received from our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we remain firmly committed to the holistic development of the economy of Assam and the Northeast. Among the various ongoing projects to enable inland waterways of Assam, we are also planning to transform the conventional vessels into Green Vessels under Harit Nauka scheme. This affirms the commitment of our government towards sustainable development, a milestone set by our dynamic leader Narendra Modi ji. Given the immense potential of riverine tourism in the state, we are developing an ecosystem including infrastructure and fairway for smooth, regular and viable operations. You may be happy to know that the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI), with its rich experience of dredging at the sea, has been entrusted with dredging the NW2, for the first time on any river in India.”

 

The Union Minister also announced the development of Water Metro Service in Guwahati and Dhubri for an estimated investment of ₹315 crore. Based on the success of Kochi Metro Service, the feasibility study is being conducted for this. Shri Sarbananda Sonowal also announced deployment of two Electric Catamarans being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). A world class cruise terminal will also be built in Guwahati with an estimated investment of ₹100 crore.

In Dibrugarh, an estimated ₹120 crore has been earmarked for development of Regional Centre of Excellence (RCOE). Adding further to the capital development along the NW2, Riverine Lighthouses will be built at FIVE places — Bogibeel, Biswanath, Nimati, Pandu and Silghat — at an estimated cost of ₹100 crore. In addition, a sum of ₹150 crore has been earmarked for fairway development with LAD of 2.5 meters between Pandu and Bogibeel. TWO Cutter Section Dredger units will also be purchased for Brahmaputra (NW2).

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency for the riverine transportation including national waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), is implementing projects worth ₹1,010 crore along river Brahmaputra (NW2) and river Barak (NW16) in Assam. Among the major projects, the ship repair facility is being built at Panda with an investment of ₹208 crore while an alternate road from Pandu to NH27 is being built at an investment of ₹180 crore. New Inland Waterways Terminal (IWT) at Bogibeel as well as at Jogighopa —- with more than ₹66 crore and ₹82 crore of investment —- are being developed on Brahmaputra to ‘enable possibilities meet opportunities’, Shri Sonowal added.

An investment of more than ₹646 crore has been earmarked to construct riverine infrastructure across Brahmaputra under the Sagarmala Scheme, the flagship programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. For Barak River, the Union Minister announced procurement of Survey Vessel, procurement of THREE Amphibian Dredgers, construction of Crane Pontoon and Gangway for proving Floating Terminal facilities in Karimganj, construction of Steel Pontoon and Gangway for providing Floating Terminal facilities at Badarpur among other projects.

At this session, the Union Minister was joined by the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma; Minister of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary, Fishery and PWRD, Govt of Assam, Krishnendu Paul; Chairman of IWAI, Vijay Kumar; High Commissioner of Singapore, His Excellency Simon Wong among other officials and corporate leaders from infra, railways and marine sector.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal joins Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis for key distribution ceremony of 15 self-redeveloped housing societies in North Mumbai

by Banking & FinanceLatest Updates

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, distributed keys for the 15 self-redeveloped housing societies in North Mumbai on 25 February 2025. Addressing the gathering, the Minister assured that the Central Government would extend full support to the Maharashtra Government’s initiatives in urban redevelopment and infrastructure development.

Shri Goyal conveyed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s message, stating that the government remains committed to providing pucca houses to the homeless and those currently living in kachha houses in the same locality. He highlighted that this initiative aims to secure the future of families, ensuring a stable home for children and future generations.

Speaking on the development in North Mumbai, Shri Goyal mentioned that the region has been witnessing significant infrastructure advancements in recent times. He noted that the construction of a 1000-bed hospital near the Magathane metro station is progressing swiftly, and another 1000-bed hospital is planned for construction in West Kandivali, which will enhance healthcare access and services in the region.

The Minister applauded Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for leading major infrastructural projects, including the extension of the Coastal Road (Worli-Bandra) to Versova and the proposed coastal road connecting the new airport via the Atal Sethu. He stated that these projects would play a pivotal role in reducing congestion and improving connectivity in Mumbai.

Shri Goyal also commended the Maharashtra Government’s efforts in addressing critical civic issues. He pointed out that the persistent problem of road damage during monsoon seasons is being tackled through the extensive use of cement-concrete roads. Additionally, he acknowledged that the issue of untreated sewage water polluting water bodies is being effectively managed, with over ₹26,000 crore allocated to ensure proper sewage treatment before its release into the ocean.

The Minister urged stakeholders to actively participate in and create awareness about self-redevelopment projects in their respective areas. He expressed hope that such initiatives would provide North Mumbai with a new direction, fostering development and ensuring a secure future for its residents.

Concluding his remarks, Shri Goyal emphasized that the event marked a significant step towards self-reliance in urban development, reinforcing the government’s vision of making housing accessible and sustainable for all.