India and US have agreed to launch a Strategic Trade Dialogue. It was decided during the meeting of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in New Delhi yesterday.

The India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue will be led by Foreign Secretary from Ministry of External Affairs of India and Under Secretary, Bureau of Industry and Security in US Department of Commerce.

The Strategic Trade Dialogue will address export controls, explore ways of enhancing high-technology commerce and facilitate technology transfer between the two countries.

Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has settled over 35 hundred maternity benefit claims amounting to nine crore 30 lakh rupees during the week-long activities dedicated to celebrate International Women’s Day.

They recently also introduced the facility of claiming maternity benefits online for Insured Women under ESI scheme.

In tune with this year's theme for Women's Day, DigitAll: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality, week-long series of activities including seminar on gender sensitization, settlements of pending bills related to maternity benefit claims and special health screening for women were also organised by the ESIC.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has lauded the launch of Bengaluru South's 100th Jan Aushadhi Kendra, NaMo Free Dialysis Centre and four Mobile Health Clinics.

Responding to a tweet by its MP Tejasvi Surya, the Prime Minister called it to be a notable feat for the Bengaluru.

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar said that the world trusts India today and this earned trust has garnered India the title of Pharmacy of the World. She was speaking at an event Pharma Anveshan-2023 on the occasion of National Pharmacy Education Day in New Delhi today.

Stressing on the manufacturing of high-quality medicines in the country, the Minister said, it is important to ensure that the drugs manufactured in the country and consumed by international consumers are of high quality and comply with standard global manufacturing protocols. She highlighted the need to work on need-based medicine manufacturing and suggested pharmacy institutes to create awareness about drugs, their usage, the importance of hygiene and community disease prevention. She said, it is the need of the hour to adopt a focused approach to impart the best pharmacy education in the country. On this occasion, Dr. Pawar launched One Stop-Non-Stop digital job portal of Pharmacy Council of India.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today launched the Mission ‘Har Payment Digital’ on the occasion of Digital Payments Awareness Week (DPAW) 2023. This is part of RBI’s endeavour to make every person in India a user of digital payments. DPAW 2023 will be observed from the 6th to 12th of March, 2023. The campaign theme is “Digital Payment Apnao, Auron ko bhi Sikhao” (Adopt digital payments and Also teach others).

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said, “Har Payment Digital” is aimed at reinforcing the ease and convenience of digital payments and facilitating onboarding of new consumers into the digital fold. Various campaigns highlighting the digital payment channels available are being planned by the banks and non-bank payment system operators. This will further encourage and support the adoption of digital payments in the country, He added.  He informed that payment systems in India have witnessed over one thousand crore transactions every month since December 2022.

The first edition of the Naval Commanders' Conference 2023 began onboard India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant today.

The conference serves as a platform for Naval Commanders to discuss important security issues at the military-strategic level as well as to interact with senior government functionaries through an institutionalised forum.

The first phase of the Commanders' Conference is being held at sea, and for the first-time, onboard  INS Vikrant. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Naval Commanders onboard INS Vikrant on the opening day today.

The maiden Joint Military Exercise FRINJEX-23 between Indian Army and French Army will be conducted at Pangode Military Station, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala today and tomorrow.

For the first time, both the armies are engaging in this format with each contingent comprising a Company Group each from the Thiruvananthapuram-based Indian Army troops and French 6th Light Armoured Brigade.

The exercise is aimed at enhancing inter-operability, coordination and cooperation between both forces at tactical level. 

The Ministry of Ayush has invited applications or nominations for Prime Minister’s Awards for Yoga 2023. The award recognises exemplary contribution of individuals towards the development and promotion of Yoga both at national and international level.

Two national awards will be given to entities of Indian origin and two International awards will be given to entities of Indian or foreign origin.

Winners will be announced on the 21st of June this year on the occasion of 9th International Day of Yoga.  

India and Mexico on Saturday signed an MoU on research, technology and innovation collaborations in New Delhi. It will specifically focus on several key technology areas including Aerospace, Electronics, Earth and Ocean Sciences and Water, Mining, Minerals, Clean Energy, Biotech and Healthcare. Terming both the countries as Privileged Partners, Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh assured  Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard that India with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and sister Organizations will provide tangible results in the three priority areas of Water, Lithium and Vaccines flagged by the Mexican side.

In his address, Mr Ebrard expressed his gratitude to India for sending COVID Vaccines during the peak of the pandemic. 

Government will soon launch the Seed Traceability System to ensure the availability of good quality seeds to farmers. This will curb the pilferage in the seed trade sector. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh stated this while addressing the two-day Indian Seed Congress organized by the National Seed Association of India in New Delhi today. He said, central government is giving utmost importance to the interests of farmers.

The Minister said, India is in the leading position in agriculture, but in oilseeds and cotton area, country is yet to be self-sufficient. He said, stakeholders of the seeds sector should contribute to make the country Aatma Nirbhar by reducing imports. He said, in this direction, the seeds Industry needs to prepare a roadmap and implement it.