Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, the country's stake in providing alternative solutions, ambitions to create core technologies, and inclusive growth will be the three major focus areas throughout its G-20 Presidency.

In sync with the same, the Minister has launched G-20 Digital Innovation Alliance (G-20-DIA) and Stay Safe Online Campaign in New Delhi today.

The Department of Posts has launched an Online request Transfer Portal for Gramin Dak Sevaks. Director General, of Postal Services Alok Sharma, launched the portal through Video Conference. He informed that the entire transfer process, from the stage of seeking applications, approval, and issuing transfer orders, has now been made paperless and simple through this portal.

The Department of Posts has the largest network of Post Offices in the world consisting of more than over one lakh 56 thousand Post Offices across India. The launch of the online request transfer portal is a huge step in bringing transparency and accountability to the governance processes by leveraging technology.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has bowed to Sri Guru Gobind Singh on the sacred occasion of his Parkash Purab and recalled his contribution towards serving humanity. In a tweet, Mr. Modi said that his unparalleled courage will continue to motivate people for years to come.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation projects worth over 7800 crore rupees in West Bengal tomorrow. In the morning, Mr. Modi will reach Howrah Railway Station, where he will flag off Vande Bharat Express connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri. He will also inaugurate Joka-Taratala stretch of Purple Line of Kolkata Metro and lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation various Railway projects.

The Prime Minister will reach INS Netaji Subhas to pay floral tribute at the statue of Netaji Subhas and inaugurate Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee - National Institute of Water and Sanitation. He will also lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation multiple sewerage infrastructure projects for West Bengal under National Mission for Clean Ganga.  

Power Ministry and the Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO, have signed an Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, for implementation of Early Warning System for Vulnerable Hydro Projects and Power Stations. Power Secretary Alok Kumar and DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat signed the MoU in New Delhi today.  It is to work jointly towards developing suitable mitigation measures against avalanches, landslides, glaciers, glacial lakes and other geo-hazards.

Power Ministry has taken the initiative of implementing Early Warning System, EWS, in the Hydro Power Projects, especially in upper reaches of Hilly regions. EWS is an integrated system of hazard monitoring, forecasting and prediction, disaster risk assessment, communication and preparedness for timely action to reduce disaster risks in advance of hazardous events.

Railways is set to modernize its stations under the Amrit Bharat Station scheme. This scheme envisages the development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term vision. The scheme will cater to the introduction of new amenities as well as the upgradation and replacement of existing amenities. According to Railways Ministry, this scheme will also cover the stations where detailed techno-economic feasibility studies have been conducted or are being conducted but the work for the construction of Roof Plazas has not been taken up yet. The Ministry said, the scheme aims to relocate redundant or old buildings in a cost-efficient manner so that space is released for improving passengers' amenities.

Communications and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw have expressed confidence that 80 percent of the country would be covered by 5G services within a span of 24 to 36 months. He said, 5G services will be rolled out by the state-owned telecom operator BSNL by next year.

In an exclusive interview with AIR News, Mr. Vaishnaw said, 5G services have already been started in 50 cities across the country, and every week almost five thousand new sites are being added. He said, 5G services will make a huge difference in the field of education, healthcare, agriculture, and logistics.

Data is today the world’s most valuable resource and is essential for nuanced and effective policymaking. Stating this, Amitabh Kant, India's G-20 Sherpa and former CEO of Niti Aayog, said India in its G20 presidency,  will call for modernisation of data systems and advance principles of transparency to better use of data for development. In an article in a newspaper, he said as India step into techade, data must be accessible to all and we must adopt a multisectoral approach to collecting, integrating and interpreting data.
 
Amitabh Kant said that in the dense forests of Maharashtra, a novel data collection tool is changing the lives of children with malnutrition. However, he said, in the last few years, the Integrated Child Development Services have been able to contain and bring down malnutrition rates with the help of the Poshan Tracker application.

Srinagar, 26 December 2022. The first ever batch of ‘AGNIVEERS’ selected under the Government of India sponsored AGNIPATH scheme from UT of J&K joined Indian Army for training as AGNIVEER General Duty, AGNIVEER Technical, AGNIVEER Clerk/ Storekeeper Technical and AGNIVEER Tradesmen.

Approximately 200 candidates selected after rigorous tests including physical tests, medical tests, written examination and document verification, were despatched from Army Recruiting Office, Srinagar to about 30 training centres of various Regiments of the Indian Army on 24 December 2022.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), a British consultancy, has said India's will become third largest economy by 2035 from the current fifth spot. In its annual World Economic League Table, the Centre for Economics and Business Research said that over the next five years, India's annual rate of GDP growth is expected to average 6.4 percent after which growth is expected to average 6.5 percent in the subsequent nine years.

CEBR also adds that by 2037, world gross domestic product will be doubled as developing economies will catch up with the richer ones. The shifting balance of power will see the East Asia and Pacific region account for over a third of global output by 2037, while Europe's share shrinks to less than a fifth.