A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday to enable Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and provide services offered by Common Service Centres, CSCs.

The MoU was signed between the Ministry of Cooperation, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, NABARD and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited in New Delhi. 

Union Home Minister and Minister of  Cooperation  Amit Shah described this agreement as a win-win situation for all. He mentioned that this will not only help fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of ‘Sahkar Se Samridhi’   but also strengthen both cooperatives and farmers.  He said,  this will help in advancing the concept of Common Service Centres to the smallest unit of the country very easily.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for 2023-24 in Parliament yesterday. Attractive incentives and rebates in the new income tax regime, a steep hike in capital investments, and the biggest ever outlay in railways were the three big takeaways of Budget.

In her Speech, Ms Sitharaman also proposed to use Permanent Account Number (PAN) card as as a common identifier for all digital systems of government agencies.

The first G20 Employment Working Group meeting will commence at Jodhpur in Rajasthan this afternoon. More than 80 delegates from 19 countries, European Union and 9 guest countries along with regional and International organisations have reached Jodhpur to participate in the three-day meeting. AIR correspondent reports that elaborate arrangements have been made to welcome the delegates. 

Former Law Minister and senior advocate Shanti Bhushan passed away on Tuesday. He was 97. 

He always stood for truth both as a Law Minister in the Morarji Desai Cabinet between 1977 and 1979 and as a senior advocate who fought alongside his son and noted civil rights lawyer, Prashant Bhushan, for judicial accountability and transparency. 

In his memoir ‘Courting Destiny’, Mr. Bhushan quotes the cricketing legend Don Bradman to say that one can successfully combine the values of dignity, integrity, courage and modesty with pride, ambition and competitiveness.

Minister of Tourism G. Kishan Reddy launched the Visit India Year - 2023 initiative and also unveiled its logo in New Delhi yesterday, kicking off the year of grand plans and activities for promoting tourism in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the launch of the Visit India Year 2023 logo is taking place in this important year as India is heading G20. He said, more than one lakh foreign delegates will visit India this year and they will be showcased the entire gamut of India's culture, including monuments and festivals. 

Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt gave away awards and prizes related to the Republic Day 2023 in New Delhi on 31st Jan 2023. 

The tableau of Uttrakhand, based on the theme ‘Manaskhand’, was given away the best tableau award among the 17 states or union territories tableaux. Tableau of Maharashtra displaying ‘Sade Tin Shaktipithe and Nari Shakti’ was given the second best and Tableau of Uttar Pradesh showcasing the theme ‘Ayodhya Deepotsav’ got the third best tableau award. The tableau of Ministry of Tribal Affairs based on ‘Eklavya Model Residential Schools’ was given the Best Tableau award among Ministries or Departments. The tableau of Central Public Works Department with the theme 'Biodiversity Conservation', bagged the special prize, along with Vande Bharatam’ Dance Group.

The first G-20 education working group will begin with a seminar on the role of Digital technology in education chaired by K. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary of Higher Education at IIT Madras today. Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of the host institution will speak on the use of digital technologies in the seminar today. Digital Education initiatives and enabling digital technologies are to be showcased for three days during the event.

AIR correspondent reports that the rich green campus of IIT Madras has been decked up to host the education working group of G20. Security has been tightened in the city and flying drones in sensitive areas have been banned till the 3rd of February.

President Droupadi Murmu will address the 31st Foundation Day of the National Commission for Women (NCW) in New Delhi today.

The theme of the programme is ‘Sashakt Nari Sashakt Bharat’ aimed at acknowledging and celebrating the stories of women who have excelled and paved their journey to leave a mark.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani and MoS, WCD, Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai will also grace the occasion. The National Commissions, State Commissions for Women, Embassies, dignitaries from the legal fraternity, other departments and NGOs will be a part of the event.

The first International Financial Structure Working Group meeting under the G-20 Indian Presidency was inaugurated in Chandigarh today by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Food Processing Industries Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras. On this occasion, the Union Agriculture Minister said, India is developing rapidly due to science and innovation, as both are closely related to the future of India.

The theme of India's G-20 chairmanship, "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" or 'One Earth, One Family, One Future', underlines the message of equitable development and a shared future for all. India's endeavour will be to facilitate constructive dialogue, share knowledge and work together towards the collective aspiration for a secure, peaceful and prosperous world.

President Droupadi Murmu today graced the opening of the Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan - Udyan Utsav. The Gardens will open for the general public on the 31st of January and will remain open till the 26th of March, except on Mondays which are maintenance days. Among several other attractions, the visitors will be able to see specially cultivated Tulips of twelve unique varieties which are expected to bloom in phases. This time the Gardens will be open for about two months.
 
On the occasion of the celebrations of 75 years of Independence as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the President has given a common name to the Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens as Amrit Udyan.