Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Bihar and West Bengal on 22nd August to lay the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple development projects worth over ₹18,000 crore. PM in Bihar At Gaya, Bihar (11 AM), the Prime Minister will launch projects worth ₹13,000 crore, flag off two new trains, and address the public. Key highlights include: Connectivity: Inauguration of the 8.15 km Aunta–Simaria bridge on River Ganga (₹1,870 crore) and the four-lane Bakhtiyarpur–Mokama section of NH-31 (₹1,900 crore). Power: Launch of Buxar Thermal Power Plant (660×1 MW) worth ₹6,880 crore. Healthcare: Inauguration of Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research…
Author: Aruna Sharma
The NAVYA (Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls) initiative, jointly launched by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) in June 2025, aims to empower adolescent girls (AGs) aged 16–18 years in aspirational districts. The program focuses on equipping girls with market-relevant skills to achieve socio-economic independence and bridge the gap between education and livelihood. Objectives of NAVYA The initiative is designed to: Provide demand-driven vocational training aligned with both traditional and non-traditional sectors. Facilitate holistic development through modules on health, nutrition, hygiene, financial literacy, life skills,…
The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), launched in August 2016, is a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening apprenticeship training across India. The scheme is currently in its second phase, NAPS-2, under which the Government provides partial stipend support up to 25% of the prescribed stipend, subject to a maximum of ₹1,500 per apprentice per month. This financial assistance is transferred directly to apprentices’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, ensuring transparency and efficiency. Recent Reforms and Enhancements To make apprenticeship more attractive, recent reforms have introduced a 36% stipend hike, raising the range from ₹5,000–9,000 to ₹6,800–12,300,…
Under the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill and up-skill training through a wide network of centres and institutes across the country. Training is provided under key schemes such as: Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) The initiative aims to make India’s youth future-ready by equipping them with industry-relevant skills, including in backward and tribal regions. Training in Yoga and Wellness Under PMKVY, courses like Yoga Instructor, Yoga Trainer, and…
Heavy to very heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Himachal Pradesh, triggering landslides and uprooting trees, leading to the closure of 332 roads, including two national highways, for vehicular movement, officials said on Tuesday. In the state capital Shimla, three to four vehicles were damaged after trees were uprooted. Several trees fell in the Tutikandi area, while another damaged the roof of a building in Vikas Nagar, officials added. In Khalini, six labourers had a narrow escape when a tree collapsed on their makeshift shelter.
उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ ने कहा कि प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी के नेतृत्व और मार्गदर्शन में प्रदेश देश की सबसे बड़ी अर्थव्यवस्था बनने की दिशा में तेजी से आगे बढ़ रहा है। पिछले साढ़े सात वर्षों में राज्य ने विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में अभूतपूर्व, सतत और समावेशी विकास किया है। राज्य सरकार ने श्रमिकों, युवाओं, महिलाओं और उद्यमियों के उत्थान के लिए व्यापक प्रयास किए हैं। मुख्यमंत्री ने बताया कि प्रदेश के इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर में अभूतपूर्व परिवर्तन आया है। अनेक राष्ट्रीय एवं अंतरराष्ट्रीय संस्थाओं ने इन कार्यों की सराहना की है। विधानमंडल सत्र का शुभारंभ मुख्यमंत्री ने यह वक्तव्य उत्तर प्रदेश…
Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), the Ministry of Rural Development is implementing two key Centrally Sponsored Schemes to promote skill development and employment among rural poor youth — DeenDayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) and Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI). These initiatives aim to equip youth with employable skills, encourage entrepreneurship, and contribute to poverty eradication across the country. DeenDayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY):This placement-linked skill development programme targets rural poor youth aged 15–35 years, providing them with market-relevant skills to secure jobs with regular monthly wages at or above minimum wage…
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued a comprehensive clarification on concerns raised about the impact of 20% Ethanol Blended Petrol (E20) on vehicle mileage and lifespan, reaffirming its environmental, economic, and performance benefits. The ministry emphasised that biofuels and natural gas are “bridge fuels” — enabling a non-disruptive transition toward India’s Net Zero target by 2070. A NITI Aayog study has shown that greenhouse gas emissions from sugarcane- and maize-based ethanol are 65% and 50% lower, respectively, than those from petrol. Beyond emission cuts, ethanol blending has transformed rural economies by eliminating sugarcane arrears, improving maize cultivation…
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved four additional semiconductor manufacturing projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), marking a major step toward strengthening the nation’s chip-making ecosystem. With these new approvals, India now has 10 sanctioned semiconductor projects across six states, with total planned investments of approximately ₹1.60 lakh crore. The four latest projects—proposed by SiCSem, Continental Device India Pvt. Ltd. (CDIL), 3D Glass Solutions Inc., and Advanced System in Package (ASIP) Technologies—together involve an investment of ₹4,600 crore and will directly employ over 2,000 skilled professionals, while also creating a host of indirect…
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved Phase-1B of the Lucknow Metro Rail Project in Uttar Pradesh. The new corridor will span 11.165 km with 12 stations — seven underground and five elevated. Once operational, Lucknow’s active metro network will extend to 34 km. Key Benefits and Impact Enhanced Connectivity:Phase-1B will connect the oldest and most densely populated parts of Lucknow, currently underserved by public transport. The corridor will link: Major commercial hubs such as Aminabad, Yahiyaganj, Pandeyganj, and Chowk King George’s Medical University and other critical healthcare facilities Tourist landmarks like Bara Imambara, Chota…