The meeting of G20 Development Working Group (DWG) will begin today in Mumbai under the India's Presidency. India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said India’s vision for the Development Working Group’s meeting will be to share India’s Human-Centric Sustainable Development Goal’s Story and Citizen centric governance. He said, during this meeting India will focus on utilising power of digital technology and data as key enabler.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a programme commemorating Sri Aurobindo’s 150th birth anniversary today through video conferencing. The programme will be held in Kamban Kalai Sangam, Puducherry, under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. During the Programme, Mr Modi will release a commemorative coin and postal stamp in honour of Sri Aurobindo. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

Sri Aurobindo, born on 15th August 1872, was a visionary who made lasting contributions to India's freedom struggle. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - an endeavour to celebrate the glorious history of India's people, culture and achievements on the occasion of 75 years of independence - is commemorating Sri Aurobindo’s 150th birth anniversary by organising year-long activities and programmes across the country.

Parliament has passed the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 with Rajya Sabha approving it yesterday. Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill. The Bill seeks to amend the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. It promotes energy efficiency and conservation.

The Bill empowers the Centre to specify a carbon credit trading scheme. The legislation also stipulates that designated consumers may be required to meet a proportion of their energy needs from non-fossil sources. The Energy Conservation Code for buildings will apply to office and residential buildings with a connected load of 100 kilowatt or above.

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will hold the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) on Monday across 197 locations in 25 states and Union Territories.

The Ministry in a statement said that several local businesses have been invited to be a part of the mela to provide local youth the opportunity to shape their careers through apprenticeship training.

The event will witness the participation of various companies from different sectors. Participating companies will have the chance to meet potential apprentices on a single platform and choose applicants on the spot.

Former vice president Venkaiah Naidu has been conferred with the 25th  Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi National Eminence Award (SIES). Other awardees in various categories included the Governor of Kerala Arif Mohammed Khan, eminent industrialist Ratan Tata, renowned cardiologist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr Marthanda Varma Sankaran Valianathan, Scientific Advisor to the Government of India Ajay Sood and famous Harikatha artiste Vishakha Hari. The awards are given in the fields of public leadership, community leadership, science and technology, and social thinkers who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Mopa International Airport in Goa, which has been named after former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. The new airport, which is about 35 km from capital city Panaji, can handle 44 lakh passengers annually. Its capacity can be raised to over 3 crore passengers per year after expansion plans in the future.

The new airport is capable of handling large aircraft such as the Airbus A380. It also has rapid exit taxiways and six cross taxiways for quicker aircraft movement. The Manohar International Airport, situated near Mopa village in North Goa, has been built at a cost of 2,870 crore rupees. The commercial flights from the new airport will start from January 5. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister said, the new airport will further boost tourism in Goa.

Delhi metro honoured with the prestigious certificate of commendation by the Japanese embassy

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has been honoured with a Certificate of Commendation by the Japanese Embassy in India, in recognition of its distinguished contribution to the enhancement of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and India.
Vikas Kumar, Managing Director, Delhi Metro has received the Certificate of Commendation from His Excellency, SUZUKI Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to India at a ceremony organised today at the Japanese Embassy, New Delhi.

Union Minister of State for Culture Meenakshi Lekhi inaugurated a light and sound show at Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya in New Delhi yesterday. The first episode of the show presented the journey of the nation's space programme since independence. The 30-minute long episode depicted how the country has secured a prominent place globally on space technology.

Briefing media, Ms Lekhi said, the world must recognise India's history of scientific mindset and our next generation also should be familiar with it.

Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has said that the central government has brought various reforms and ensured that fertilizers are made available at affordable prices to farmers. He said this while inaugurating the Fertiliser Association of India Annual Seminar 2022 in New Delhi on Wednesday. Dr Mandaviya said, one of the important components for ensuring food security is fertilizers.

The Minister said, the world today faces severe challenges in the rising costs and availability of fertilizers. Dr Mandaviya said, the government has increased the amount of fertilizer subsidy from 10 Billion US dollars for the pre-pandemic year 2019-20 to almost 27 Billion US dollars in the current year. By 2025, India will become self-sufficient in urea, he added.

The National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Delhi Zoo) celebrated “International Cheetah Day” and “Wildlife Conservation Day” in collaboration with Central Zoo Authority.

The purpose behind the celebration of “International Cheetah Day” and “Wildlife Conservation Day” is to spread awareness among present generation about the Wildlife Conservation.