The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. The World Heritage Committee meets annually and is responsible for managing all matters on World Heritage and deciding on sites to be inscribed on the World Heritage list. India is hosting the World Heritage Committee Meeting for the first time. The Prime Minister also took a walkthrough of various exhibitions showcased on the occasion.

Addressing the occasion, the Prime Minister noted the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima and conveyed his best wishes to all citizens. He expressed delight that the World Heritage Committee meeting is commencing on such an auspicious day and India is hosting the event for the first time. The Prime Minister extended a warm welcome to all the dignitaries and guests from around the world, especially the Director General of UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay and expressed confidence that the World Heritage Committee meeting will script new records in history similar to other global meets in India.

Referring to the artifacts returned from abroad the Prime Minister mentioned that more than 350 heritage items have been brought back in recent times. “This return of ancient heritage artifacts is a display of global generosity and respect for history”, the Prime Minister said. He also pointed out the growing research and tourism opportunities in the field as the technology progresses.

Applauding the World Heritage Committee, the Prime Minister said that hosting this program is a matter of pride for India. He highlighted that North East India’s historic Maidam has been nominated to enter UNESCO’s popular World Heritage List. “This is India’s 43rd World Heritage Site and North East India’s first heritage to get the status of Cultural World Heritage,” Shri Modi said, expressing belief that Maidam with its unique cultural significance will become more popular and gain more traction after bagging a place in the list.

The Prime Minister said that the presence of experts from all around the world showcases the scope and capability of the Summit. He emphasized that the organization is being hosted on the land which is one of the oldest living civilizations in the world. Noting that the world holds various centers of heritage, the Prime Minister threw light on India’s ancient eras and said, “India is so ancient that every point of time in the present moment is a reflection of its glorious past.” Referring to the capital of India, New Delhi, the Prime Minister said that it is the center of thousands of years of heritage and one can find heritage and history at every step of the way. He gave the example of the 2000-year-old Iron Pillar which has been rust-resistant and gives a glimpse of India’s metallurgical prowess in the past. “India’s heritage is not merely history, but also science”, he said. He also noted that India’s heritage is witness to the journey of top-notch engineering as he mentioned the 8th century Kedarnath temple situated at an altitude of 3500 meters which remains a challenging place for infrastructure development today due to incessant snowfall during winter. He also touched upon Brihadeeswara Temple in the South of India built by Raja Chola and its marvelous architectural layout and idol.

The Prime Minister also mentioned Dholavira and Lothal in Gujarat. Dholavira, famed for its urban planning and water management systems as ancient as 3000 BC to 1500 BC. Similarly, Lothal had amazing planning for the citadel and lower planning and an elaborate network of streets and drainage.

The Prime Minister asserted “India’s history and sense of history are older and more elaborate than the normal, leading to the need for new perspectives to witness the past with technological developments and new discoveries”. He mentioned findings of Sinauli in Uttar Pradesh, where copper age findings are closer to Vedic Age rather than the Indus Valley Civilization. He talked about the discovery of a 4000-year-old horse-driven chariot. Such discoveries stress that in order to know India, there is a need for prejudice-free new concepts, the Prime Minister said, inviting the gathering to be part of this new stream.

Underlining the significance of heritage, the Prime Minister said, “Heritage is not only history. Rather a shared consciousness of humanity. Whenever we look at historical sites, it lifts our mind from the current geo-political factors.” He encouraged people to use this potential of heritage for the betterment of the world, using them to connect hearts. “It is India’s clarion call to the world to come together to promote each others’ heritage and amplify the spirit of human welfare, encourage tourism and create more job opportunities through the 46th World Heritage Committee meeting,” Shri Modi added.

Recalling a time when heritage was ignored in the pursuit of development, the Prime Minister said today, India’s vision is development as well as heritage- Vikas bhi Virasat bhi. Elaborating on the pride in heritage pledge during the last 10 years, the Prime Minister mentioned unprecedented steps such as Kashi Viswanath Corridor, Shri Ram Mandir, Modern Campus of ancient Nalanda University. “This resolve of India regarding heritage is linked with the feeling of serving the entire humanity. Indian culture talks about us, not just about self”, he added.

Emphasizing India’s effort to be a partner in global welfare, the Prime Minister mentioned the global embrace of Yoga and  Ayurveda, the scientific heritage of India. He also recalled the theme of the G-20 Summit hosted by India – One World, One Family, One Future. In line with India’s vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ the Prime Minister touched upon the promotion of Millets and initiatives like the International Solar Alliance and Mission LiFE

The Prime Minister reiterated that India considers the preservation of global heritage as its responsibility. That is why, the Prime Minister said, we are cooperating for heritage conservation in the countries of the Global South along with Indian heritage. He mentioned heritage sites like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Cham Temples in Vietnam, and Stupa in Bagan, Myanmar and announced that India will contribute 1 million dollars to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre to be used for capacity building, technical assistance and conservation of world heritage sites. He underlined that this money will be useful for the countries of the Global South. He also informed that a certificate program in World Heritage Management is also being started for young professionals in India. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that India’s cultural and creative industry will become a big factor in global growth.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister urged all foreign guests and dignitaries to explore India and informed them about a tour series for iconic heritage sites for their convenience. He expressed confidence that their experiences in India would make for a memorable trip.

Union Minister for External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, Union Minister for Culture; and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Director General of UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay, and Chairperson of World Heritage Committee, Shri Vishal Sharma were present on the occasion among others.

Background 

India is hosting the World Heritage Committee Meeting for the first time. It takes place from 21 to 31 July 2024, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The World Heritage Committee meets annually and is responsible for managing all matters on World Heritage and deciding on sites to be inscribed on the World Heritage list. During this meeting, proposals for nominating new sites on the World Heritage list, State of Conservation reports of 124 existing World Heritage properties, International Assistance and Utilisation of World Heritage Funds, etc. will be discussed. The meeting will be attended by more than 2000 international and national delegates from more than 150 countries.

Along with the World Heritage Committee Meeting, the World Heritage Young Professionals’ Forum and World Heritage Site Managers’ Forum are also being held on the sidelines.

Further, various exhibitions are also being set up at Bharat Mandapam to showcase India’s culture. The Return of Treasures Exhibition showcases some of the retrieved artefacts brought back to the country. So far, more than 350 artefacts have been brought back. AR & VR technologies are also being used to provide an immersive experience for 3 world heritage sites of India: Rani ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat; Kailasa Temple, Ellora Caves, Maharashtra; and Hoysala Temple, Halebidu, Karnataka. An ‘Incredible India’ exhibition is also being set up to highlight India’s rich cultural heritage, age-old civilization, geographical diversity, and tourism destinations along with modern developments in the field of Information Technology and infrastructure.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a telephone call from the Prime Minister of New Zealand, H.E. Rt. Hon’ble Christopher Luxon.

PM Luxon warmly congratulated PM Modi on his re-election following the general elections in India.

Noting that India-New Zealand ties are anchored in shared democratic values and close people-to-people ties, both leaders reiterated their firm commitment to take bilateral cooperation to new heights in the years to come.

Highlighting the momentum generated by recent high-level contacts between the two sides, they agreed to advance the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in various areas, including trade and economic cooperation, animal husbandry, pharmaceuticals, education, space among others.

PM Modi thanked PM Luxon for looking after the interests of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand. PM Luxon assured of continued efforts towards their security and well-being.

The two leaders agreed to remain in touch.

The Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda launched the 13th edition of the India Chem with the theme “Advantage Bharat: Indian Chemicals and Petrochemicals Paving the Future”, here today in the presence of Ms. Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers. Shri Nadda also launched the brochure for the 13^th edition of IndiaChem. Ms Nivedita Shukla Verma, Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals was also present on the occasion along with senior officials from the Ministry and industry representatives from the chemical and petrochemical sector.

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri J P Nadda expressed appreciation that the event has traveled a long journey and is now ready for its 13th edition to be held in Mumbai in October this year. He also said that the theme of India Chem 2024, “Advantage Bharat: Indian Chemicals and Petrochemicals Paving the Future” aligns well with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a $5 trillion economy by 2025.

He added that the year 2024 is an important year as the 13^th edition of IndiaChem is going to be held on 17^th-19^th October in Mumbai. Shri J P Nadda expressed hope that “with focus on import, Research & Development and manpower training this sector will contribute its share in realizing the dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047”.

Shri J P Nadda said that the Government is committed to the growth of the industry and has initiated numerous structural reforms to support industrial development in general, and to strengthen the chemical sector in particular, and stated that this sector is a top priority for the Government. He also assured the industry representatives that the government will come up with policy interventions required to strengthen the sector. Shri J P Nadda also stated that “the Ministry will initiate policy measures to achieve the outcomes that will come out of the deliberation that will take place in Mumbai”.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion Ms. Anupriya Patel said that the chemical and petrochemical sector plays a crucial role in the economic development of key sectors such as automotive, construction, electronics, healthcare, textiles, and FMCGs. She highlighted the increasing contribution of the chemical sector in economic development as well as the opportunities for future development. She stated that  “India is the 2nd largest exporter of chemical dyes and dyestuff as well as agrochemicals in the world. It also contributes about 3% of global chemical sales”.

Ms. Anupriya Patel stated that “since its beginning India Chem has contributed to the growth of the sector by bringing more investment ”. She said that our industry has immense potential for investment and employment generation. She added that “with a clear focus on investment-friendly reforms, the removal of policy bottlenecks is a top priority for the Government”. She urged all the participants to make best use of the opportunity to learn, network, and explore new possibilities.

India Chem 2024, the flagship event of the Department, is one of the largest composite events of the industry in the Asia-Pacific comprising an International Exhibition and Conference. The India Chem exhibition aims to showcase the huge potential of the Indian chemical industry as well as its different industry segments (including chemicals, petrochemicals, agrochemicals etc.) and to provide a platform for groundbreaking discussions, visionary ideas, and strategic collaborations amongst industry representatives. The Indian chemical industry is currently valued at USD 220 billion and is expected to reach USD 300 billion by 2030 and USD 1 trillion by 2040. This industry remains an active hub of opportunities, even in an environment of global uncertainty.

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has added 19.50 lakh net members in the month of May 2024. The addition during the month is the highest since the first payroll data was issued in April 2018.

Further, the year-over-year analysis shows a growth of 19.62% in net member additions compared to May 2023. This surge in membership can be attributed to numerous factors, including increased employment opportunities, a growing awareness of employee benefits, and the effectiveness of EPFO’s outreach programs.

The data indicates that around 9.85 lakh new members have enrolled during May 2024. There is an increase of 10.96% in the new members from the previous month of April 2024 and 11.5% increase from the previous year May 2023.

A noticeable aspect of the data is the dominance of the 18-25 age group, constituting a significant 58.37% of the total new members added in May 2024. This is in consonance with the earlier trend which indicates that most individuals joining the organized workforce are youth, primarily first-time job seekers.

In addition, the net payroll data for the age group 18-25 for May 2024 is the highest since the first payroll data was published.

The payroll data highlights that approximately 14.09 lakh members exited and subsequently re-joined EPFO. This figure depicts year-over-year growth of 23.47% compared to May 2023. These members switched their jobs and re-joined the establishments covered under the ambit of EPFO and opted to transfer their accumulations instead of applying for final settlement thus, safeguarding long-term financial well-being and extending their social security protection.

Gender-wise analysis of payroll data unveils that out of the new members added during the month, around 2.48 lakh are new female members. This figure exhibits year over year growth of 12.15% compared to May 2023. Also, the net female member addition during the month stood at around 3.69 lakh reflecting year over year growth of 17.24% compared to May 2023. The surge in female member additions is indicative of a broader shift towards a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

State-wise analysis of payroll data denotes that net member addition is highest in the five states/ UTs of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Haryana. These states constitute around 58.24% of net member addition, adding a total of 11.36 lakh net members during the month. Of all the states, Maharashtra is leading by adding 18.87% of net members during the month.

Month-on-month comparison of industry-wise data displays significant growth in the members working in establishments engaged in the industries viz. Expert services, Building and construction industry, Garments making, Textiles, Elec, mech or gen engg products, Engineers – engg. Contractors, Trading – commercial establishments, Beedi making, Electronic media companies in private sector etc. Of the total net membership, around 42.33% addition is from expert services (consisting of manpower suppliers, normal contractors, security services, miscellaneous activities etc.).

The above payroll data is provisional since the data generation is a continuous exercise, as updating employee record is a continuous process. The previous data gets updated every month. From the month of April-2018, EPFO has been releasing payroll data covering the period September 2017 onwards. In monthly payroll data, the count of members joining EPFO for the first time through Aadhaar validated Universal Account Number (UAN), existing members exiting from coverage of EPFO and those who exited but re-joined as members, is taken to arrive at net monthly payroll.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi met Dr R Balasubramaniam today and signed a copy of his book ‘Power Within: The Leadership Legacy of Narendra Modi’. The book captures Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership journey and interprets it through Western and Indic lenses, amalgamating them to provide a roadmap for those who aspire to a life of public service.

Replying to a post on X by Dr R Balasubramaniam, the Prime Minister wrote:

“It was a delight to meet Dr R Balasubramaniam earlier today. Also signed a copy of his book. My best wishes to him for his future endeavours.”

“For India to become the global leader in drugs regulation to match our global reputation of ‘Pharmacy of the World’, we need to have world class regulatory framework matching our scale of operations and international expectations”. This was stated by Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda, as he reviewed the regulation of drugs, cosmetics and medical devices, here today. Union Health Secretary Shri Apurva Chandra, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi and senior officers of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and Union Health Ministry were present at the high level review meeting.

Highlighting the global position of India as the leading producer and exporter of drugs, Shri J P Nadda stressed on CDSCO to draw a roadmap with timelines of achieving global standards in its mandated activities. He stated that the upscaling needs to be systems-based focusing on highest standards of uniformity, technical upgradation and futuristic approach. For export of drugs and pharmaceuticals, the system should be designed for proper intervention to maintain the quality of drugs being exported, he emphasized.

Shri Nadda underscored the importance of transparency in the working of CDSCO. He stated that “In order to achieve global standards, our focus needs to be on transparency of procedures at CDCSO and within the drugs and medical devices industry”. Both the Drugs Regulatory body and the industry should work on highest principles of transparency to ensure that the products manufactured and sold by India meet the highest indices of global quality standards, he said.

The Union Health Minister stated that it is important for CDSCO to be in continuous dialogue with the drugs and medical devices industry to understand their issues and support them to fulfill the quality expectations and standards of CDSCO. “Our focus should be on developing mechanisms that ensure easy of doing business for the drugs industry within the regulatory requirements. For this, CDSCO needs to be a user-friendly organization with state-of-the-art facilities matching global standards”, he stated.

On the topic of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in drugs manufacturing and the issues faced by the small scale industries to meet quality standards, the Union Health Minister “Let us understand the issues faced by MSME sector and support them to strengthen their capacity and quality of products on the one hand, and encourage them to meet the regulatory requirements on the other.”

Shri Nadda was briefed about the mandated activities of CDSCO, its achievements, future plans and various issues and challenges faced by CDSCO. The Minister was also updated on the progress of the Scheme for strengthening state drug regulatory system with a budget of Rs.850 crores which was launched in 2016 during his earlier tenure.

The Union Minister was briefed on the roles and responsibilities of the central and state drugs regulatory bodies, and some of the challenges faced in alignment between them. Noting that the States are integral part of our regulatory value chain, Shri Nadda underscored the importance of working in tandem with the States so as to enhance their skills and capacities, and also encourage them to align with quality standards of the Central Government. “This is especially important in view of upgradation of Good Manufacturing Practices to global level embarked upon by CDSCO”, he added.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, attended the G7 Trade Ministers’ meeting held at Villa San Giovanni, Reggio Calabria, Italy. The meeting served as a pivotal platform for discussions on enhancing global trade relations and economic cooperation. On the sidelines of the meeting, Shri Goyal engaged in several high-level bilateral meetings with his international counterparts, reflecting India’s commitment to fostering stronger economic partnerships globally.

During discussions with Antonio Tajani, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, both the Ministers agreed to enhance bilateral trade and investments, industrial co-production, and cooperation in clean technologies. Minister Goyal congratulated Mr. Tajani for hosting a productive G7 Trade Ministers’ meeting.

Discussions with Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission focused on promoting India-EU trade and economic collaborations, including ongoing FTA negotiations. Both sides explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation in various areas of mutual interest.

Shri Goyal in talks with New Zealand’s Trade Minister, Mr. Todd McClay explored opportunities to enhance bilateral trade and investment ties for mutual growth. The discussions aimed at giving further impetus to the existing strong trade relationship between India and New Zealand.

Shri Goyal congratulated Mr. Jonathan Reynolds, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade on his appointment and discussed deepening bilateral economic relations. The conversation included plans to take forward the discussions on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the UK.

Shri Goyal in conversation with Dr. Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs & Climate Action, Germany discussed opportunities to elevate the growing Indo-German trade and economic partnership. The discussions focused on the upcoming Inter-Governmental Consultations and the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Businesses in Delhi.

These bilateral engagements are expected to pave the way for significant advancements in India’s trade relations with key international partners.

Shri Goyal’s participation in the G7 Trade Ministers’ meeting underscores India’s proactive approach in engaging with global economies to foster trade and economic cooperation.

During this session, Shri Goyal thanked Mr. Antonio Tajani for the invitation and highlighted the importance of analyzing global supply chains’ robustness in times of crisis, referencing the Covid-19 pandemic, Ukraine-Russia conflict, and Red Sea crisis.

He emphasized the efforts of various countries to build resilient supply chains under platforms like the G20 Generic Framework for Mapping GVCs, the 14 Member IPEF association, Trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI), and India-EU TTC.

He discussed India’s initiatives with strategic partners such as the US, GCC countries, and the EU, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) to strengthen supply chains, and highlighted India’s domestic measures to enhance multimodal connectivity for a seamless supply chain integrated with markets, distribution systems, and logistics.

The minister proposed collaboration among trusted partners to reinforce global supply chains in critical areas such as critical minerals, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and green energy; and advocated public-private partnerships, investments in critical infrastructure, innovation, and consistent regulatory frameworks across G7 countries and partner nations.

He addressed the impact of the 3 Cs – Covid, Conflicts, and Climate change – on global value chains, emphasizing the necessity for robust partnerships and cooperation. He also introduced the concept of the 3 Fs – fragmented, fragile, and fraught with uncertainties – characterizing the current global context and urged for greater alignment of investment, trade, environment, and energy policies to fortify global supply chains.

He emphasized the need for resilient supply chains that endure beyond the current generation.

Addressing the 2^nd “Healthcare Summit” of “American Chamber of India” (AMCHAM) at Hotel Taj here, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised the use of latest technology  for accessible, affordable healthcare.

The Minister also described  India among the top 6 Bio-manufacturers of the world with one of the most cost-effective and efficacy-based Bio-manufacturing as well as cost-effective healthcare destination.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said in his opening remarks, “I would like to extend my gratitude to AMCHAM for organizing this pivotal healthcare summit and inviting me to articulate the Government’s vision for healthcare in India.” He expressed his happiness at being a part of the fraternity gathering and discussing the subject of health, which is his area of interest.

Incidentally, the Minister is  himself a renowned endocrinologist with a three-decade long career in medicine. He pressed on the new burden of metabolic disorders and the challenges it posed with a wide spectrum of diseases and an increased life span bringing novel diseases.

The Minister appreciated the theme of the summit, i.e., ‘Accelerating Innovative and Accessible Healthcare: Technology Transformation.’ He said the theme is quite relevant to India’s contemporary health issues and government efforts to ensure affordable healthcare f toor all.

Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored that summits of this nature are instrumental in convening key stakeholders-healthcare professionals, technology experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to deliberate on fortifying the U.S.-India partnership in healthcare.

Speaking on the transformation in healthcare brought about in recent times, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision for a healthy India with the elimination of communicable diseases and reduction in non-communicable diseases, developing health indices and making steady progress.” He said, “India carried out the world’s largest vaccination drive in COVID pandemic; this reaffirms that Modi Govt. 3.0 firmly believes that accessible healthcare is a right for every citizen.

“Gone are the days when people used to visit other developed nations to access medical facilities; now India has become a hub and is the most sought-after destination for medical tourism and among the frontline nations in preventive healthcare.” According to the Science and Technology Minister, in the last decade, healthcare has been a priority sector for the government. He recalled the achievements such as the Ayushman Card which ensured cashless medical treatment to the citizens. The Digital healthcare mission, PM Jan Aaushadi and its integration with other medical streams such as Ayush.

Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that technology plays a crucial role in ensuring equitable access to healthcare. Technology is revolutionizing the healthcare sector, and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) tools can significantly enhance our capabilities by leveraging technology, we can enhance efficiency, reduce wait times, and improve overall healthcare delivery. Sharing his experience with Telemedicine, the minister shared how it has transformed healthcare and made services accessible even to the remotest villages in Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the increased cooperation in the public and private sectors. It is important to understand that public health is not just the responsibility of the government; private participation is equally important and we as a society as a whole have to take steps in the right direction. The Minister said opening up of the Space sector had ushered a private investment of more than Rs 1,000 crore within a few months and boosted the Startup numbers from one startup in 2022 to 200 plus startups currently and having global capacity.

The Minister also recalled the efforts of the Department of Biotechnology and their achievements for fostering research and development in translational health sciences. He said the Bio- manufacturing and bio-foundry has grown 10 times from $13 billion in 2014 to $130 billion in 2024.

Highlighting the vitality of the pharmaceutical sector the minister said, “India supplies four out of every ten prescriptions filled in the U.S, highlighting our pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities.” Going further he highlighted that partnership between India and the United States is critical.

Ms. Ranjana Khanna Director General, CEO AMCHAM; Mr Som Satsangi, Chairman, AMCHAM & Sr Vice President and MD, India Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India; Mr. Madan Krishnan, Vice President and Managing Director India Subcontinent, Boston Scientific and Mr Chaitanya Sarawate, Managing Director Wipro GE Healthcare also participated in the Summit.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya held an insightful interaction with the National Youth Awardees and National Service Scheme (NSS) Awardees in New Delhi today. The session aimed to celebrate the achievements of these young leaders and discuss strategies to enhance the MY Bharat platform, ensuring it becomes more accessible and beneficial to the youth of India.

Dr. Mandaviya commenced the interaction by acknowledging the extraordinary contributions of the awardees, who hail from different States across India and have made significant impacts in diverse areas such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Climate Change, Urban Planning, Youth Empowerment, Drug Abuse prevention, among others. He emphasized the importance of recognizing and nurturing young talent to build a robust future for the nation.

Addressing the participants, Dr, Mandaviya said, “The youth of India are our future decision-makers, and I am excited about our collective journey towards empowering them”.

A significant part of the discussion focused on innovative and collaborative ideas for constructive youth engagement on the MY Bharat platform. Dr. Mandaviya invited suggestions from the awardees on how to make the platform more interactive, informative, and engaging. The awardees proposed ideas such as incorporating more digital tools, making it a one stop solution for all youth-related initiatives, and creating mentorship and internship programs to guide aspiring young leaders.

Dr. Mandaviya encouraged continuous dialogue between the youth and the Ministry to ensure that the needs and aspirations of young Indians are adequately addressed.

Dr. Mandaviya reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering the youth through various schemes and programs. The interaction concluded with a collective vision to make the MY Bharat platform a cornerstone for youth engagement and development. Dr. Mandaviya expressed his optimism about the future and his belief in the transformative power of the youth in driving India towards progress and innovation.

The interaction was also attended by Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs and senior officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today congratulated Shri K P Sharma Oli on being appointed as the Prime Minister of Nepal. He expressed hope to work closely to further strengthen the deep bonds of friendship and expand the mutually beneficial cooperation between India and Nepal.

Shri Modi in a post on X wrote:

“Congratulations @kpsharmaoli on your appointment as the Prime Minister of Nepal. Look forward to working closely to further strengthen the deep bonds of friendship between our two countries and to further expand our mutually beneficial cooperation for the progress and prosperity of our peoples. @PM_nepal_”