Pib

Pib

1. 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Sister Nivedita

Sister Nivedita’s original name was Margaret Noble. True to her name, she served India with nobility. She was a pioneer in girls’ education in India and in providing health services to the poor. She was a westerner who embraced India wholeheartedly, and lived and died with the well-being of India and Indians on her mind and in her heart.

Indian culture and spiritualism have attracted people from other countries for centuries. Taxila’s famous university, where among others Kautilya is believed to have taught, is said to have drawn students from Babylon and Greece. Buddhist monks from China and other countries came to Nalanda. Today, the appeal of Yoga and of Vipasanna to people across the world – and the response to International Yoga Day – is another example.

Sister Nivedita was part of this tradition, and came to India and to Swamiji for enlightenment. And yet she was different. She did not come and learn a little and leave. She learnt a lot – and stayed on. She made India her life’s mission. And though born in Ireland, she became an Indian nation builder.

2. India has vindicated Homi Bhabha's Nuclear peace mission: Dr Jitendra Singh

Even though at present almost 60% of power generation in India is from coal and other sources, but in the years to come, green sources of energy, including the nuclear energy will be playing a major contribution.

It is during PM Narendra Modi's regime that an out-of-box decision was taken to enter into joint ventures with other PSUs for setting up new nuclear installations, which would help the Department of Atomic Energy to overcome the constraints of finances. It was also during these three years that the Atomic Energy programme which was confined mostly to southern States of India was brought to the northern States as well and in this endeavor, an atomic plant is already in the process of being set up in Gorakhpur, Haryana near Delhi.

3. Rashtriya Gokul Mission

India is emerging as a leader among the milk-producing nations and added that in 2016-17, 163.7 million tonne milk was produced in the country, which is worth over Rs.4 lakh crore.

India has 30 crore bovines, which is 18% of the total bovine population of the world. The country’s indigenous bovine is the result of traditional and scientific knowledge and hardwork of hundred years. Today, we have 40 breeds of cattle along with Yak and Mithun and 13 breeds of buffaloes.

Along with other components, setting up of Gokul Gram is also included under Rashtriya Gokul Mission. One Gokul Gram will have 500 animals with high genetic quality, out of which 300 will be reproductive animals. The Gokul Grams will rear Lal Sindhi, Sahiwal and Gir breeds along with Bachaur.

4. India and US Hold 11th Trade Policy Forum Meeting in Washington D.C. On October 26TH

The Minister for Commerce and Industry noted that the TPF serves as a robust platform that contributes towards promoting bilateral trade and investment between India and the US. During the meeting, discussions were held on issues related to bilateral trade between the two countries, areas of mutual cooperation, market access in agriculture, non-agricultural goods and services and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

The Minister for Commerce and Industry strongly took up the Indian concern with regard to problems faced by Indian services companies in obtaining H-1B and L-1 visas. He requested the US to ease the movement of skilled professionals, which has over the years contributed towards making US companies more competitive. He also took up the issue of mismatch between U.S. visa and U.S. social security regimes, wherein Indian professionals making social security contributions do not receive their due benefits upon their return to India. He urged the United States to revisit its position and work towards achieving a totalisation agreement.