Shri Giriraj Singh, Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj will inaugurate the one-day National Workshop virtually on Role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on 9thJanuary 2024 at New Delhi. The workshop is being organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) India.

The objective of the workshop is to discuss the role of Elected Representatives of PRIs in mitigating and addressing the issues related to GBV and spread awareness among the State Panchayati Raj Department, NIRD&PR, SIRD&PRs, Panchayati Raj Training Institutions and Panchayats. The workshop covers the sensitive issues like Child Marriage, Human Trafficking, Sexual Abuse, Domestic Violence etc. The Workshop aims to deepen understanding and enhance collective efforts in addressing gender-based violence (GBV). By covering key areas related to GBV, participants will gain insights into prevention strategies, support mechanisms, and the importance of fostering a culture of respect and equality.

In the midst of India's bold commitment to a green future comes the unveiling of the book 'Modi: Energising a Green Future'.

The book was officially launched today by Union Minister Bhupender Singh Yadav.

Published by Pentagon Press in association with the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, 'Modi: Energising a Green Future' is a compendium of insights contributed by distinguished decision-makers and eminent experts from India and abroad.

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its nod to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC).

The agreement, which was inked on November 1, 2023, in Port Louis, Mauritius, lays the groundwork for the joint development of a small satellite.

The MoU is set to establish a robust framework for cooperation, leveraging the MRIC’s Ground Station and involving the participation of Indian industries in the development of some of the satellite's subsystems. This partnership is expected to not only enhance industrial capabilities but also generate employment opportunities within India.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has placed the Aditya-L1 spacecraft in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point (L1).

India’s maiden solar mission Aditya-L1 reached the L1 point on January 6, 127 days after it was launched on September 2, 2023.

After a 1.5-million km journey the spacecraft was placed in a halo orbit around L1 following a firing manoeuvre which was carried out by ISRO scientists and engineers at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru.

The Rockefeller Foundation president and former head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Dr Rajiv Shah has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Shah has been appointed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as a 'Class C' director on the New York Fed Board of Directors for a three-year term ending December 31, 2026.

Class C directors on the New York Fed's Board of Directors represent the interests of the public, a statement said here Friday.

Shah has led the prominent philanthropic organisation The Rockefeller Foundation since 2017.

In a significant diplomatic move, Union Minister of Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, Smriti Zubin Irani, is set to visit Saudi Arabia from January 7th to 8th, 2024. Accompanying her on this crucial mission is Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, V. Muraleedharan.

The visit kicks off on January 7th with Minister Irani leading a delegation for the signing and exchange of the bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 in Jeddah. This occasion will also feature a bilateral meeting between Minister Irani and the Minister of Haj and Umrah Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah. Discussions will revolve around mutual interests, focusing on issues related to the forthcoming Haj in 2024. The delegation will also engage with the Indian business community and the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia, fostering stronger ties.On January 8th, Minister Irani is slated to attend the opening ceremony of the 3rd Edition of the ‘Haj and Umrah Conference’ in Jeddah, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah Affairs.

The Indo-Saudi partnership, which has deepened in recent years, will be further strengthened during this visit, marked by sustained engagement across various sectors. The strategic significance of the Haj pilgrimage is highlighted, emphasizing its role as a vital dimension in the relationship between the two nations.

Tamil Nadu has signed investment pacts worth more than $4.39 billion with firms such as Apple suppliers Tata Electronics and Pegatron, as well as auto major Hyundai Motors, it said on Sunday during the state's Investor Summit.

Apple is counting on India as the next big driver of its growth as the tech giant looks to diversify some production away from China, with Pegatron working towards a second factory in the country where Tata Group last year began to assemble iPhones.

Tata Electronics, a part of the Indian conglomerate, committed to invest Rs 120.8 billion for mobile phone assembly operations, the state government said during the signing of the agreements.

To enhance the understanding of the Earth and its vital signs, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved the “PRITHVI VIgyan (PRITHVI)” scheme.

This overarching initiative, with an allocation of Rs 4,797 crore for the period 2021-26, aims to significantly enhance research, modelling, and service delivery across crucial areas like weather, climate, oceans, and the polar regions.

The government stated that PRITHVI stands for “Promoting Research in Earth Systems Science, Technology, & Human Resource Development,” and includes five existing sub-schemes i.e. ACROSS (Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services) that focuses on long-term observations and advanced modelling systems for weather and climate predictions, O-SMART (Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Resources and Technology which targets sustainable exploration and utilization of marine resources, utilizing cutting-edge technology, PACER (Polar Science and Cryosphere Research) which aims to explore the mysteries of the Earth’s poles and glacial regions, contributing to a deeper understanding of global climate changes, SAGE (Seismology and Geosciences) aiming to strengthen earthquake monitoring and research on the Earth’s solid components and REACHOUT (Research, Education, Training, and Outreach) which fosters talent development and ensures effective translation of research into services directly benefiting society. 

India’s first health food street, Prasadam, was launched on Sunday by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in the city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. The food street at Neelkanth Van, Mahakal Lok in Ujjain, will be the first of 100 food streets that will come up in as many districts across the country. Housing the world-famous Mahakal Temple, Ujjain is also the home city of MP’s new Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

Mandaviya, who opened the food street, along with the Chief Minister, stated that the launch marks a significant stride in the country’s journey towards healthy eating habits. “Prasadam will connect common citizens in every corner of the country with pure and safe local and traditional food,” Mandaviya said.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) Sub-Zonal Office and Central Drug Testing Laboratory in Madhya Pradesh's Indore on Sunday.

"Monitoring the quality of medicines through the CDSCO Sub-Zonal Office will ensure access to high-quality medicines to the citizens and provide ease of doing business for the stakeholders of pharmaceutical industries of Madhya Pradesh," Mandaviya said.

Mandaviya also laid the foundation stone of six new facilities at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal and inaugurated a slew of facilities in Madhya Pradesh.