India & France Sign An Mou to Establish a Marine Biology Institute

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed yesterday in the presence of Prime Ministers of India & France during the visit Shri Narendra Modi to France, for establishing an Institute for frontier Marine Science & Technology Research in the five years.

Under the MOU India’s Department of Biotechnology would  join hands with the Université Pierre Et Marie Curie (UPMC) and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France’s National Centre for Scientific Research- CNRS) to set up a the National Institute of Marine Biology and Biotechnology in India. As a part of this France would contribute expertise in developing high standard marine stations for collaborative research programmes, train manpower, facilitate setting up efficient research infrastructure, facilities & technologies. Indian would bring interest & proficiency in cell & molecular biology & biotechnology. It will also provide Indian researchers access to the French marine stations with extraordinary technical capabilities.

The Institute will carry out fundamental science research with a multidisciplinary approach and will collaboratively address the most important topics in marine biology and marine biotechnology.

India’s several marine zones offer immense resources which can be tapped for biology and biotechnology research. Applications of molecules and bio-materials discovered from marine sources are also numerous. But most of the resources remain poorly charted and relatively untouched. The country can boast of a handful of talented biologists, who can rapidly chart our marine and island diversity, make discoveries and apply them to human and animal welfare. They can be potential leaders in this venture.

The charting of our Island diversity will soon be accomplished in collaboration with ISRO and the deep sea exploration will be done in collaboration with the Earth Sciences Ministry.

This collaboration is expected to address this challenge by upgrading human resources, boosting capacity and sophisticated technology needed to explore high-speed and high-quality Ocean and island- biology at the highest international level.

The French have a chain of the world’s best marine stations (Roskoff, Banyuls and Villefranche) and these are linked to other European marine stations. Harnessing the expertise they have developed in the area, can help speed up the process which would take years to develop independently.

The collaboration will help set up a high-tech hub and two major ‘spokes’ in mainland India. These centres will train a new generation of marine biologists and bio-technologists in the use of the best scientific methods and techniques. In parallel, India will develop its own marine stations while learning from this collaborative hub. The smaller stations will be set up in chosen locations from the Andamans to Kutchand Lakshadweep escalating the development of the country’s own programmes.

#NPCIL and France’s #AREVA Sign Pre-Engineering Agreement for #Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project

NPCIL and France’s AREVA Sign Pre-Engineering Agreement for Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL), a PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, and M/s AREVA of France have entered into a Pre-Engineering Agreement (PEA) on April 10, 2015 in connection with the proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project for setting up of two EPR (Evolutional Pressurised Reactor) rectors of 1650 MWe each to be set up in collaboration with France.

The PEA mainly pertains to assessment of licenseability of the EPR project as per Indian laws, codes, guides, regulations, manuals, practices and general acceptability, as well as an informed understanding of the EPR technology itself.

The PEA will, therefore, facilitate NPCIL to obtain details of the EPR technology, make a detailed safety assessment of the plant and take up the licensing process with Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), as soon as the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project is taken up for implementation.

The PEA will also contribute to explore the most efficient and cost-effective pathways for project implementation, and to maximise the scope of localisation of different components of the power plant, with a view to not only make the project economical, but also enhance India’s domestic capabilities in line with the campaign for “Make in India”.

These preparatory steps are going to be necessary whenever the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project is taken up, thus saving precious time and cost in the implementation of the project.

EPR is an advanced Light Water Reactor (LWR) technology. Understanding the nuances of this technology will also be to our advantage as NPCIL strives to augment its capability in the LWR domain.

The signing of PEA with AREVA is an important reflection of India’s abiding interest in partnering with France in the civil nuclear power sector.

The Department of Atomic Energy also welcomes the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Indian company L&T and M/S AREVA of France on April 10, 2015 for cooperation to maximise localisation for the EPR nuclear reactors in India. The collaboration, through transfer of technology, is expected to facilitate manufacturing in India of many critical components for the proposed Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project, which otherwise either are not accessible to India or would have to be imported. The collaboration is expected to have a multiplier effect in enhancing India’s manufacturing capabilities with cutting edge technology, not only in nuclear power sector, but in other areas as well, such as petrochemicals and infrastructure. The MOU is in accord with the “Make in India” campaign of the Government aimed at enhancing indigenous technological and manufacturing capabilities of Indian industries. 

Knowledge Based Information” To Farmers: Technology Based Initiatives in #Agriculture Sector

The Government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme “National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A)” in the entire country. This centrally sponsored Mission Mode Project (MMP) was introduced during the last quarter of the 11th Plan Period from 2010-11 in 07 selected States (Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh) in Phase-I of this Project and have now been extended to cover all the remaining 22 States and 07 UTs during the current Plan Period starting from 2014-15.  The  Programme aims to achieve rapid development of agriculture in India through ICT enabled multiple delivery  channels such as Internet, Government Offices, Touch Screen Kiosks, Krishi Vigyan  Kendras , Kisan Call Centres,  Agri-Clinics, Common Service Centers, Mobile Phones (Broadcast, IVRS, interactive messaging using unstructured Supplementary Service Data and Voice Recognition for ensuring timely access to agriculture related information for the farmers of the country.  A number of applications in agriculture and allied sector have been developed under the project for providing integrated ICT based services to farmers.

Knowledge based information is being provided to farmers through a number of web and mobile based applications including the Farmers’ Portal (www.farmer.gov.in) (in beta version at present), mKisan Portal (www.mkisan.gov.in) and Kisan Call Centres (KCC). These Portals are facilitating knowledge based information and advisories to farmers through an integrated web portal and mobile based platforms respectively.

Details of the activities in these applications include:

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Interventions:

Department of Agriculture & Cooperation has developed 80 portals, applications and websites (primarily in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre) covering both the headquarters and its field offices/ directorates. The important portals include SEEDNET, DACNET, AGMARKNET (prices and arrivals in Mandis), RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana), ATMA, NHM (National Horticulture Mission), INTRADAC, NFSM (National Food Security Mission) and APY (Acreage, Productivity and Yield). 

SMS Portal/mKisan Portal

Officers, Scientists and Experts from all over the country are using  this Portal for disseminating information on various agricultural activities, giving topical & seasonal advisories and providing services through SMSs to farmers in their local languages.  SMSs classified into three categories, viz. information, services and advisories.  The content may include information about the Schemes, Advisories from Experts, Market Prices, Weather Reports, Soil Test Reports etc.  The farmers registered for receiving SMS messages have been grouped    based    on the   State, District, Block and the Crops/Activities selected by respective farmers.   The SMS Portal provides a platform for integration of service delivery under different sectors viz. Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. 

Mobile based services for farmers and other stakeholders being delivered through organisations, Departments and offices of Central & State Govts. down to the Block level (including State Agriculture Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Agro-Meteorological Field Units) have been brought together under a single umbrella viz. mKisan portal of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. The URL is www.mkisan.gov.in.  mKisan Portal subsumes all mobile based initiatives in the field of Agriculture & allied   sectors.

Interactive Voice Response System, Unstructured Supplementary Services of Data or USSD (which is essentially Interactive SMS and can facilitate data entry and query on Web Portals without internet), Mobile Apps and Services.

Kisan Call Centres            

Kisan Call Centres have been functioning since 21 January, 2004 and working in 14 different locations covering almost all the states.   All KCC locations are accessible by dialing single toll free number 1800-180-1551 from 6.00 AM to 10.00 PM on all 7 days a week nationwide.  With the improvement in the quality of KCC services due to state of the art infrastructure and new technological features such as Voice Media Gateway, Dedicated Internet Bandwidth, Provision of Voice Mail during call waiting period and SMS to farmers (conveying gist of advisories given), number of calls flowing in to the Kisan Call Centres has increased.

Strengthening of IT Apparatus in Agriculture and Cooperation in the States and Union Territories    of which one  of the component is AGRISNET.

Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India is implementing a Central Sector Plan Scheme “Strengthening/ Promoting Agricultural Informatics & Communications” of which one  of the component is AGRISNET. The objective of AGRISNET  is to provide improved services to the farming community through use of   Information & Communication Technology(ICT). 

As has been informed in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 20^th March 2015 by Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Mohanbhai Kundaria, information on natural calamities, weather forecast and agromet advisories is being disseminated to farmers  through multiple delivery channels including mKisan Portal(through SMSs), Kisan Call Centres (KCCs)  of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and Gramin Krishi Mausam of the India Meteorological Department.

Information relating to the  natural calamities  are being provided to district level under a number of initiatives taken by the Ministry and the India Meteorological Department (IMD):

Weather based Information regarding natural calamities disseminated to farmers under different programmes.

ü  Weather based information on natural calamities like drought etc. is one of the identified services under NeGP-A pertains to “Providing information on Forecasted Weather” and aims at providing disaggregated District level information in each agro-ecological sub-region on forecasted weather and agro-met advisories through multiple service delivery channels to the farmers (including SMS) .

ü  Weather related advisory service to farmers under Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) is being implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra and India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ministry of Earth Services (MoES), Govt. of India.

ü  Development of need based content on weather information and advisories to farmers has been initiated by IMD, Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra and GIZ, New Delhi under the  project on “Climate Change Knowledge Network – Indian Agriculture (CCKN-IA)”.

ü  Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC) regularly (on monthly basis) carries out drought assessment at District/sub-district level using satellite based remote sensing data, rainfall data and ground information with respect to sowing progression, irrigation percentage, under the National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System (NADAMS) programme etc. These assessments are communicated to concerned Departments in States including Maharashtra and are also available online on MNCFC website (www.ncfc.gov.in). 

ü  IMD in consultation with SAUs, State Department of Agriculture (including Maharashtra) carries out monitoring of drought and other calamities at district level based on the observed rainfall and other parameters like Aridity Index, Standardised Precipitation Index, NDVI etc.

Under the National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System (NADAMS) programme, the Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC) carries out drought assessment at District/sub-district level using satellite based remote sensing data, rainfall data and ground information with respect to sowing progression, irrigation percentage, etc. These assessments are communicated to concerned Departments in States and are also available online on MNCFC website (www.ncfc.gov.in). 

Right to #Legal Aid; A Constitutional Commitment

 As political philosopher; Charles de Montesquieu said that; "In the state of nature...all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law." The protection of law to poor, illiterate and weak is important to ensure equal justice. Legal aid is one of the means to ensure that the opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any person by reason of poverty, illiteracy, etc.

                Legal aid is free legal assistance to the poor and weaker sections of the society with the object to enable them to exercise the rights given to them by law. Justice P.N.Bhagwati has rightly said that "the poor and the illiterate should be able to approach the Courts and their ignorance and poverty should not be an impediment in the way of their obtaining Justice from the Courts." 

                The Constitution of India gives much emphasis on the constitutionalism and rule of law. In India the rule of law is regarded as a part of the basic structure of the Constitution and also of natural justice. The rule of natural justice says that individuals should not penalized by decisions affecting their rights or legitimate expectations unless they have been given prior notice of the cases against them, a fair opportunity to answer them, and the opportunity to present their own cases.

                The preamble of the Constitution secures to its citizen, social, economic and political justice.  Article 14 of the Constitution makes it clear that the State shall not deny to any person equality before law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India. The aim of Article 14 is to ensure equal justice. The guarantee of equal justice is meaningless if the poor or illiterate or weak persons cannot enforce their rights because of their poverty or illiteracy or weakness. 

                       Articles 38 and 39, of the Constitution of India lay down clear mandate in this regard.  According to Article 38 (1) the State shall strive to promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting as effectively as it may a social order in which justice, social, economic or political, shall inform all the institutions of the national life.

                        Article 39-A directs the State to ensure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.

                     Right to free legal aid or free legal service is an essential fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution. It forms the basis of reasonable, fair and just liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which says, “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law”.

                       In State of Maharashtra v. Manubhai Pragaji Vashi, The Supreme Court has made it quite clear that it is now well established that the failure to provide free legal aid to an accused at the cost of the State unless refused by the accused, would vitiate the trial. In M.H Hoskot v. State Of Maharashtra, Justice KrishnaIyer observed that providing free legal aid is the State's duty and not Government's charity.               

             The Code of criminal Procedure and the Code of Civil Procedure also contain provisions in relation to the free legal aid. Section 304 of the Criminal Procedure Code provides that where in a trial before the Court of Session, the accused is not represented by a pleader and where it appears to the Court that the accused has not sufficient means to engage a pleader; the Court shall assign a pleader for his defence at the expense of the State. Section 304 makes it clear that the State is under an obligation to provide legal assistance to a person charged with offence triable before the Court of Session.  It enables the State Government to direct that these provisions shall apply in relation to any class of trials before other courts in the State.

                   Order 33 of the Civil Procedure Code provides in respect of the suit by indigent person.  On the application to sue as indigent person is being granted the plaintiff shall not be liable to pay court fee and in case he is not represented by a pleader, the Court may, if the circumstances of the case so requires, assign a pleader to him.  This benefit has now been extended to the dependant also.

                 A separate legislation, The Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 has been enacted to constitute the Legal Service Authorities to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities and to organise Lok Adalats to secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice. The Legal Services Authorities Act establishes statutory legal services authorities at the National, State and District level.  It makes provisions in relation to Lok Adalat.  The main object of the Lok Adalat is to provide quick justice at less expense. 

                 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also under Article14 (3)(d) guarantees to everyone: “Right to be tried in his presence, and to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing; to be informed, if he does not have legal assistance, of this right; and to have legal assistance assigned to him, in any case where the interests of justice so require, and without payment by him in any such case if he does not have sufficient means to pay for it”

                   In a democracy, where rule of law is supreme; it is essential to ensure that even the weakest amongst the weak, poorest among the poor, in the country does not suffer injustice arising out of any abrasive action on the part of State or private person. As a way forward there is need to ensure capacity building for legal aid movemement. This requires strengthening the skills of stakeholders of legal aid; law teachers, lawyers, law students, volunteers such as aaganwadi workers, Members of local panchayat etc to act as intermediates between rural people and legal service institutions. In state of Maharashtra v. Manubhai Pragaji Pragaji vashi, the Supreme Court has highlighted the necessity for capacity building and held that in order to provide the "free legal aid" it is necessary to have well-trained lawyers in the country. This is only possible if there are adequate number of law colleges with necessary infrastructure, good teachers and staff.

             The major drawback of legal aid movement in India is the lack of legal awareness. People are not aware of rights and protection available under the law. It needs to be realized that the promotion of awareness regarding legal aid is not the exclusive duty of the Legal fraternity. It is equally the concern and responsibility of the society at large. Constitutional commitment for legal aid can only be cherished if society comes forward to care for its vulnerable population.

Statement delivered by the PM after the Signing of Agreements in Paris

Text of the Press Statement delivered by the PM after the Signing of Agreements in Paris

His Excellency President Hollande एवं उपस्थित मीडिया के सभी प्रतिनिधि,

आज यहां फ्रांस आकर मुझे बहुत खुशी हुई है। मैं राष्‍ट्रपति जी का और फ्रांस की जनता का मेरे स्‍वागत और सम्‍मान के लिए हार्दिक अभिनंदन करता हूं। यूरोप की मेरी यह पहली यात्रा है। लेकिन पहली यात्रा मैं फ्रांस से शुरू कर रहा हूं। यह इस बात का प्रतीक है कि भारत और फ्रांस के संबंध कितने गहरे हैं, कितने पुराने हैं, कितने महत्‍वपूर्ण हैं और भविष्‍य में इनका क्या महत्‍व है। फ्रांस भारत के सबसे घनिष्‍ठ मित्रों और विश्‍वसनीय Partners में से एक है। जैसा कि राष्‍ट्रपति जी ने बताया कि हम कई बातों में साझी परंपराओं को ले करके आगे बढ़ रहे हैं। अच्‍छे समय और चुनौती भरे समय में दोनों में फ्रांस भारत के साथ खड़ा रहा है। फ्रांस सदैव भारत के प्रति संवेदनशील रहा है और अंतर्राष्‍ट्रीय मंच पर फ्रांस ने खुलेआम भारत का साथ दिया है और भारत का समर्थन किया है। हम दो बड़े लोकतंत्र देश हैं। हमारे मूल्‍य एक जैसे हैं हमारे हित कई मायने में एक दूसरे के साथ जुड़े हुए हैं, एक दूसरे के पूरक हैं। हमारे संबंध व्‍यापक हैं, जमीन से आसमान तक, सागर से अंतरिक्ष तक और अब साइबर क्षेत्र में भी हम सहयोग कर रहे हैं। आज ऐसा कोई क्षेत्र नहीं है जिसमें फ्रांस और भारत की साझेदारी न हो। आज मेरी और राष्‍ट्रपति ओलौन्द की बहुत अच्‍छी बातचीत हुई। हमारे रक्षा क्षेत्र के संबंध पुराने और गहन हैं। Defense Equipment और Technology में फ्रांस हमेशा एक भरोसेमंद Supplier रहा है। Fighter Jet से लेकर Submarines तक हमारे सहयोग उत्‍तम रहे हैं। भारत में Fighter Air Craft की Critical operational necessity को ध्‍यान में रखते हुए मैंने राष्‍ट्रपति जी से 36 Rafael Jets Flyaway Condition में जल्‍द से जल्‍द दोनों सरकारों के समझौतों के माध्‍यम से खरीदने की बात की है। हम दोनों ने निर्णय किया है कि भारत के लिए यह अलग प्रक्रिया में दिए गए that the terms and conditions would be modified for this purpose, साथ ही साथ राष्‍ट्रपति जी ने Defense क्षेत्र में Make In India का पूरा समर्थन किया है और Make In India सिर्फ Project नहीं बल्कि एक Ambition के रूप में आपने उसकी सराहना की है।

भारत और फ्रांस की कं‍पनियां मिलकर भारत में रक्षा उपकरण बनाएंगी और साथ ही साथ रक्षा तकनीकों का विकास भी करेंगी। इस संदर्भ में आज मेरी फ्रांस की डिफेंस कंपनियों से काफी विस्‍तार से बातें हुई हैं। आज हम भारत और फ्रांस की रक्षा साझेदारी को एक नए स्‍तर पर ले गए हैं। Nuclear Power के क्षेत्र में फ्रांस भारत के प्रमुख साझेदारों में से एक है। मुझे खुशी है कि जैतापुर में Six Nuclear plant बनाने पर हमने प्रगति की है। बिजली बनाने की कीमत को कम करने के संदर्भ में और अधिक तकनीकी क्षमता और Study करने के लिए दोनों पक्षों ने आज समझौता किया है। विशेषकर आज AREVA और L & T के बीच भारत में Forgings बनाने के लिए समझौता हुआ है और मैं मानता हूं कि यह समझौता बहुत ही महत्‍वपूर्ण है। Make In India का यह उत्‍तम उदाहरण होगा और भारत को Advanced Technology के क्षेत्र में एक नई जगह मिलेगी।

International Export Control Regime में सदस्‍यता के लिए भारत फ्रांस के ठोस समर्थन के लिए बहुत आभारी है। अंतरिक्ष सहयोग में भारत और फ्रांस ने 50 वर्ष पूर्ण किए हैं। मुझे खुशी है कि आज राष्‍ट्रपति जी और मैंने भारत और फ्रांस का एक संयुक्‍त Postal Stamp जारी किया है। हमने साथ मिलकर Satellite के निर्माण और Launch में सहयोग को आगे बढ़ाने का निर्णय लिया है। भारत के मंगलयान मिशन के बाद हम अब मिल करके Planetary Exploration में भी सहयोग करेंगे। आज भारत में विश्‍व में सबसे तेज गति से आर्थिक वृद्धि हो रही है। भारत के विकास में फ्रांस बड़ा योगदान दे सकता है और उसका यहां पर भी आर्थिक लाभ होगा। आज सुबह मैं Infrastructure के क्षेत्र में फ्रांस की Industries से मिला था। राष्‍ट्रपति और मैं अभी CEO Forum से भी मिलें। मेरा विश्‍वास बढ़ा है कि फ्रांस की कंपनियां भारत में निवेश बढ़ाएंगी। भारत के Railway Infrastructure के नवीनीकरण में भी हम सहयोग करेंगे। मेरी सरकार की अन्‍य पहलें जैसे Skill Development, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Smart Cities, Digital India क्षेत्रों में हम फ्रांस के साथ मिलकर आगे बढ़ेंगे। Science and technology हमारे संबंधों का अहम स्‍तम्‍भ है। आज दो महत्‍वपूर्ण समझौते हुए हैं। मैं Ocean Economy का Sustainable विकास यानी कि Blue Revolution पर बहुत बल देता हूं। इस संदर्भ में आज Marine Biology के क्षेत्र में समझौते का विशेष स्‍वागत करता हूं। मुझे बहुत खुशी है कि फ्रांस हमारे साथ मिलकर Urban Heritage और Tourism Promotion में आगे बढ़ेगा। इस क्षेत्र में फ्रांस की क्षमता से सभी परिचित हैं। मुझे राष्‍ट्रपति जी को यह बताते हुए बहुत प्रसन्‍नता हुई कि फ्रांस के नागरिकों को Electronic Travel Authorization के माध्‍यम से आसानी से भारत आने की सुविधा दी जाएगी, जो संबंधों को तो बनाते हैं साथ ही Tourism के लिए भी सरलता पैदा करते हैं। आज हमने समझौता किया है कि दोनों देशों में पढ़ाई के बाद हमारे छात्र देश में और समय रहकर Professional Training कर सकते हैं। जिससे उनको रोजगार मिलने की क्षमता बढ़ेगी। आज विश्‍व में एक चुनौतीपूर्ण माहौल है। कई क्षेत्रों में उथल-पुथल हो रही है। जिससे सभी प्रभावित हैं। बदलती दुनिया में स्थिरता के बारे में कई अनिश्चित प्रश्‍न हैं।

समुद्री, साइबर और अंतरिक्ष सुरक्षा सभी के लिए चिंता का कारण है। आतंक फैल रहा है और नए-नए स्‍वरूप ले रहा है। विश्‍व के अनेक क्षेत्रों और शहरों में इस चुनौती का सामना किया जा रहा है। चाहे पेरिस हो या मुंबई, भारत और फ्रांस ने एक-दूसरे के दर्द को सहा है और समझा है। इस वैश्विक चुनौती के लिए व्‍यापक वैश्विक Strategy की आवश्‍यकता है। इसमें हर देश का यह दायित्‍व है कि आतंक के विरोध लड़ाई में पूरा समर्थन दें और आतंक समूहों को पनाह लेने न दें और आतंकवादियों को जल्‍द से जल्‍द सजा दें। भारत और फ्रांस इन चुनौतियों को कई मायने में एक तरह से देखते हैं और इस कारण हम अपने सुरक्षा सहयोग को और घनिष्‍ठ करेंगे। इस संदर्भ में हम Indian Ocean के बारे में विचारों का आदान-प्रदान करेंगे। UN Security Council के Reforms हम दोनों का संयुक्‍त दायित्‍व है। भारत की Security Council की Permanent Membership के लिए समर्थन के लिए मैं फ्रांस का बहुत आभारी हूं| मुझे पूरा विश्‍वास है कि इस वर्ष के अंत में पेरिस में होने वाले Cop-21 सम्‍मेलन में फ्रांस के नेतृत्‍व में विश्‍व के लिए एक नया Roadmap बनेगा। भारत और फ्रांस मिलकर Climate Change और ऊर्जा के ‍विषयों पर अपना सहयोग आगे बढ़ाएंगे। अंत में, मैं फिर से राष्‍ट्रपति जी को धन्‍यवाद देता हूं | मुझे विश्‍वास है कि हमारी Strategic Partnership आज एक नई ऊंचाई पर पहुंची है जो दोनों देशों के नागरिकों के भविष्‍य को उज्ज्वल करने में और विश्‍व में शांति, सुरक्षा और समृद्धि को साकार करने में योगदान देगी। 

100 Days of #NITIAayog

NITI completes 100 days on 11^th April, 2015. The last three months have been tremendous for the institution: from its inception as a ‘Think Tank’ of the Government – a directional and policy dynamo to taking steps in liaising with States while fostering the spirit of cooperative federalism. Here are some highlights from this preliminary journey towards transforming India:

1) The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi made appointments to the NITI Aayog, with Dr.Arvind Panagariya as the Vice Chairman, and Shri Bibek Debroy and Dr. V.K. Saraswat as Full-Time Members. The Vice Chairman and Members took charge of their offices here. Ms. Sindhushree Khullar was appointed as NITI Aayog's Chief Executive Officer.

2) The Prime Minister interacted with eminent economists on 6^th February, 2015, for formulation of the Union Budget and discussion on the state of the economy, in his first visit to the NITI Aayog.

3) The Prime Minister chaired the first Governing Council Meeting of the NITI Aayog on 8^th February, 2015 with Chief Ministers of States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories to work with the Centre to forge a model of cooperative federalism, whereby the Centre and States – TEAM INDIA – can come together to chart a common course for progress and prosperity.

4) A meeting for reviewing progress in Infrastructure sectors for 2014-15 was held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister on 9^th February, 2015. CEO, NITI Aayog made a presentation on the performance of infrastructure sectors in 2014-15 for the period of 10 months from April, 2014 to January, 2015.  The sectors covered were related to Physical Connectivity (Airports, Ports and Inland Waterways, Railways and Highways), Digital Connectivity (Telecom) and Energy (Power, Coal, Renewables and Gas).  In order to prevent cost and time overruns of important infrastructure projects, the Governing Council of NITI Aayog has requested States to create appropriate institutional mechanisms to address issues which cause delay in execution of the project. This is being further monitored by NITI.

5) Prime Minister constituted three Sub Groups of Chief Ministers on the following themes: Rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Skill Development, and Swachh Bharat.

6) The Union Budget 2015 announced the setting up of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Self-Employment and Talent Utilization (SETU) and Unified National Agriculture Market under the NITI Aayog. The Union Budget also has a provision for providing special assistance by specific intervention through NITI.

7) The first meeting of Sub Group on rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, convened by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, was held in the NITI Aayog on 27^thMarch, 2015.

8) In pursuance of the decision taken in the Governing Council Meeting, two Task Forces have been formed in order to tackle the crucial subjects of Agriculture Development and Elimination of Poverty under the leadership of Dr. Arvind Panagariya. The initial meetings for both Task Forces have been held. In addition, every state will constitute Task Forces on these subjects.

9) NITI Aayog has initiated the process of undertaking the mid–term appraisal of the Twelfth Plan. This opportunity is also being used to weave in the national development agenda discussed in the meeting of the Governing Council for its suitable implementation in the remaining two years of the Twelfth Plan. 

10) As NITI’s first initiative, the report “India’s Renewable Electricity Roadmap 2030—Toward Accelerated Renewable Electricity Deployment” was released at the Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet & Expo (RE-INVEST 2015) on 15^th February, 2015.

11) Pioneering the change in Government Buildings, NITI Aayog was awarded a five star rating by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). NITI Aayog has retrofitted its electrical appliances to achieve the highest energy efficiency rating for commercial buildings.

12) The erstwhile Planning Commission won the Web Ratna Gold Award under the Open Data Champion category. NITI will continue promoting initiatives like Open Government Data Platform India.

13) An e-book on the NITI Aayog was launched. The book is available on the following link: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/pdfdisplay.aspx?docid=404   

14) A delegation of the National Planning Commission of Nepal, Dr. Ziad Bahaa-Eldin, former Dy. Prime Minister of the Republic of Egypt and Mr. Anthony Foxx, the Secretary of Transportation for the United States of America, are among the distinguished guests who have visited the NITI Aayog in the last 100 days.

15) A pilot was successfully completed for universal enrollment of children aged 0-6 years by concurrent Birth Registration and Aadhar Enrollment in Haryana between 23^rdFebruary and 6^th March, 2015. NITI Aayog participated in this exercise along with other ministries and departments.

16) Every week, employees of NITI Aayog devote time by performing Shram Daan and Samay Daan towards the Swachh Bharat Mission and maintain cleanliness around the premises of the institution.

UNESCO report lauds India’s progress

India has made remarkable strides towards ensuring education for all, a new global monitoring report shows. While access is now close to universal, the quality of education remains a major challenge, it says.

In April 2000, the governments of 164 countries adopted the Dakar Framework to deliver Education For All commitments by 2015. On 9 April 2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) published the Education For All Global Monitoring Report to evaluate the progress of countries on these goals.

India is likely to reach the EFA’s first goal of 80 per cent enrolment in pre-primary education by 2015, has already reached the second goal of universal primary enrolment, and will fall just short of universal youth literacy by 2015, the report said. The one measurable goal India will not reach is to reduce its adult illiteracy rate by half (it has reduced it by 26 per cent). The country’s major success has been in reaching gender parity for primary and lower secondary enrolment, the only country in South and West Asia to do so. It has also made progress towards improving the quality of education, but major gaps remain.

According to the report, nearly half of all countries have achieved universal pre-primary, primary and lower secondary enrolment. Only 25 per cent of the countries have reduced by half their levels of adult illiteracy, and women continue to make up two-thirds of the illiterate. Two-thirds of the countries have also achieved gender parity at the primary level, but less than half at the secondary level.

“Overall, not even the target of universal primary education was reached, let alone the more ambitious EFA goals, and the most disadvantaged continue to be the last to benefit. But there have been achievements that should not be underestimated. The world has advanced by 2015 beyond where it would have been if the trends of the 1990s had persisted,” the report says. “A lesson re-emerging over the past 15 years is that while technical solutions are important, gaining political influence and traction is of even greater significance,” it notes.

However, major challenges remain. The efficiency of public spending in India comes in for criticism, as does the expansion of contract teaching jobs in public schools.

Most crucially, the “Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) said that while India’s education system succeeded in enrolling many more children, there were wide disparities in students’ achievement of basic skills across the States, a finding validated in the official National Achievement Survey of grade 3 students,” the report says.