The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) under its Award to Reward initiative, launched the pilot to support women MSMEs to scale up their businesses in the beauty and wellness sector. A baseline study conducted by MicroSave Consulting identified four key sectors with more than 100,000 women MSMEs: beauty & wellness, textile manufacturing,retail trade and food & beverages.
The pilot marked the launch of the inaugural cohort focusing on beauty and wellness sector. This pilot initiative aims to develop process templates by leveraging insights and learnings gathered through the program and upscaling women MSMEs nationwide.
The process will begin with the selection of a cohort based on open application and 25 women will be shortlisted from Delhi NCR based on a specific criteria. The program will empower these women by providing comprehensive training and support, enabling them to scale their salon businesses and achieve greater success in the beauty industry.
WEP, incubated in NITI Aayog in 2018 as an aggregator platform, transitioned into a public-private partnership in 2022. WEP aims to strengthen India’s women entrepreneurship ecosystem to promote women-led development a reality.
As an aggregator platform it provides an opportunity for existing stakeholders to collaborate and converge towards meeting the six ecosystem needs of entrepreneurial growth, namely Access to Finance; Market Linkages; Training and Skilling; Mentoring and Networking and Business Development Services.
Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, jointly inaugurated the power flow from Nepal to Bangladesh, along with Md. Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Government of Bangladesh and Mr. Dipak Khadka, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Government of Nepal through a virtual event,
hosted by the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Government of Nepal. This historic occasion marks the first trilateral power transaction carried out through the Indian grid.
The Government of India had announced its decision to facilitate the first trilateral power transaction from Nepal to Bangladesh,
through Indian grid with an export of upto 40 MW of power during the visit of the former PM of Nepal, Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to India from 31 May to 3 June 2023.
Subsequently, a tripartite power sales agreement between NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam, Nepal Electricity Authority, and Bangladesh Power Development Board was signed on 3 October 2024 in Kathmandu.
The start of this power flow from Nepal to Bangladesh through India is expected to boost sub-regional connectivity in the power sector.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 1st Bodoland Mahotsav in New Delhi. The two-day Mahotsav is a mega event on language, literature, and culture to sustain peace and build a Vibrant Bodo Society.
Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that the Mahotsav aims to integrate the indigenous Bodo people residing not only in Bodoland but also in other parts of Assam, West Bengal, Nepal, and other international border areas of the North East.
The theme for the Mahotsav is ‘Peace and Harmony for Prosperous Bharat’ with a focus on the rich culture, language and education of the Bodo community along with other communities from the Bodoland Territorial Region. It aims to capitalise on the richness of cultural and linguistic heritage, ecological biodiversity and touristic potential of Bodoland.
The Mahotsav is also about celebrating the remarkable journey of recovery and resilience ever since the signing of the Bodo Peace Accord in 2020 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This peace agreement resolved decades of conflict and violence in Bodoland and also catalyzed other peace settlements.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, has launched a nationwide appeal to strengthen the fight against doping in sports, urging athletes, coaches, and the entire sporting community to embrace the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) India's ‘Know Your Medicine (KYM)’ app.
This innovative tool aims to empower athletes with critical information, helping them avoid inadvertent doping and maintain fair play.
The KYM app is part of NADA India’s broader mission to raise anti-doping awareness and education, equipping athletes with essential information to stay clean.
The app allows users to easily verify whether a specific medicine or its ingredients contain any substances listed as prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). By offering this quick and seamless verification, the KYM app helps athletes to stay informed and uphold integrity of sport, fostering a culture of fair and ethical sportsmanship.
Moody's Ratings forecast a 7.2 percent GDP growth for India in 2024, saying the Indian economy is in a sweet spot, but inflation risks may prompt the RBI to retain a relatively tight monetary policy this year.
The retail inflation scaled to a 14-month high of 6.21, breaching the RBI's upper tolerance limit, on a sharp jump in vegetable prices.
Moody's said that despite the near-term uptick, retail inflation should moderate toward the Reserve Bank's target in the coming months as food prices ease amid higher sowing and adequate food grain buffer stocks.
The agency said sporadic food price pressures continue to inject volatility in the disinflation trajectory.
In a first for the Sabarimala pilgrimage, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has introduced a localised weather forecasting system, similar to those for the Amarnath and Char Dham yatras.
IMD officials announced that its regional centre has installed three rain gauges at Sannidhanam, Pamba, and Nilakkal to issue three-day weather forecasts.
These forecasts will soon be upgraded to real-time weather bulletins, known as "nowcasts," said IMD regional director Neetha K Gopal.
The initiative follows a request from the Pathanamthitta district administration, which sought real-time weather updates for Sabarimala due to the region's susceptibility to extreme rainfall.
In March 2024, the General Assembly declared 15 November the International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime, to raise awareness of the threats posed by all forms of transnational organized crime and to enhance international cooperation in this regard.
It recognized the importance of the prevention of and fight against transnational organized crime for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime is applicable to all forms of serious crime of transnational nature committed by organized criminal groups
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the Flight Tests of Guided Pinaka Weapon System as part of Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) Validation Trials. The flight tests have been conducted in three phases at different field firing ranges.
During these tests, the PSQR parameters viz., ranging, accuracy, consistency and rate of fire for multiple target engagement in a salvo mode have been assessed by extensive testing of rockets. Twelve (12) rockets from each production agency from two in-service Pinaka launchers upgraded by the launcher production agencies have been tested.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled several development projects in Bihar's Jamui, highlighting the government's commitment to tribal welfare with plans to improve infrastructure, provide training, and create employment opportunities for youth, all aimed at the holistic development of tribal communities.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled development projects worth Rs 6,640 crore on the occasion of the commencement of the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, in Jamui.
Prime Minister Modi also released a commemorative coin and postage stamp at the event.
Healthcare Initiatives: The launch of 23 Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) under PM-JANMAN and 30 additional MMUs under Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) will significantly enhance healthcare accessibility in remote tribal areas.
Educational Empowerment: The inauguration of 10 Eklavya Model Residential Schools and 300 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and improving livelihoods.
Tribal Heritage Preservation: The PM inaugurate two Tribal Freedom Fighters' Museums and two Tribal Research Institutes to document and preserve the rich history of India’s tribal communities.
Infrastructure and Connectivity: Foundation stones for 500 km of new roads and 100 Multi-Purpose Centres (MPCs) under PM-JANMAN will help improve connectivity and serve as community hubs in tribal areas.
Housing and Infrastructure Expansion: The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation for 25,000 new houses under PM-JANMAN and 1.16 lakh houses under DAJGUA,
along with 66 hostels under PM-JANMAN and 304 hostels under DAJGUA, ensuring better living conditions for tribal students and families.
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas aims to unite government leaders, tribal communities, and civil society, fostering a shared vision for the empowerment and upliftment of tribal populations.
The 58th Executive Committee meeting of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) approved various vital projects. The meeting was chaired by Shri Rajeev Kumar Mital, Director-General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga. These projects aim to take significant steps towards the conservation of the Ganga River and its aquatic life.
A vital project for assessing the Environmental flow of the Chambal, Son, Damodar and Tons rivers approved by the Executive Committee. With an estimated budget of Rs. 11 crore, the objective of this project is not only to evaluate the environmental flow of these rivers but also to prepare hydrological and hydrodynamic models that allow scientific evaluation of flow systems.
An ambitious project has been approved for conservation of the Ganga River Dolphin. The project titled 'Advancing Rescue System for the Protection of Stranded Ganges River Dolphins' has an estimated budget of Rs.1 crore. It aims to develop a specialized rescue vehicle, the ‘Dolphin Ambulance’, to assist dolphins in distress.
Additionally, the project will focus on raising awareness for dolphin conservation and community capacity building through training.
An innovative and highly significant project for the Conservation of endangered turtles in the Ganga basin in Uttar Pradesh has also been approved.
The objective of this initiative is not only to rehabilitate endangered turtle species but also to reintroduce three highly threatened species, alongside establishing a Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool at the National Chambal Sanctuary. This project is estimated to cost Rs. 78.09 lakh.
The rehabilitation of the 50 MLD STP (Million litre per day Septage Treatment Plant) at Keorapukur in Kolkata has been approved with a revised budget of Rs. 114.27 crore, up from the initial Rs. 67.06 crore. This critical project is a major step towards improving water purification processes in Kolkata and ensuring strict adherence to environmental standards.
The project includes provision for 15 years of operation and maintenance, ensuring its long-term success.
In Bardhaman, West Bengal, a significant step has been taken with the revised approval of the Integrated Septage Treatment Plant project. This project has now been sanctioned with a revised budget of Rs. 10.35 crore, up from the previous Rs. 6.46 crore.
Under this project, a 50 KLD (Kilo litre per day) capacity FSTP (Faecal sludge treatment plant) will be constructed, which includes not only the establishment of the plant but also provisions for its operation and maintenance for five years.
During the meeting, a proposal for the third season of the travelogue series "Rag-Rag Mein Ganga - Ek Jeevan Dhara" was approved.
The season will focus on ecological balance, protection of aquatic life,eco-tourism, cultural heritage, and promoting active community involvement.Spanning 16 episodes in Hindi, this series will showcase the incredible journey of Ganga’s rejuvenation, including the conservation of rare aquatic creatures like Ganga dolphin and gharial,and the protection of natural resources.
This series, produced at a cost of approximately Rs. 6.25 crore will be an effort to showcase India’s invaluable heritage associated with the Ganga River on a global platform. Viewers across the nation will be able to watch the series on Doordarshan.
