Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today paid tributes to great nationalist, freedom fighter and social reformer Veer Savarkar on his death anniversary. In a tweet, Mr Naidu said, he was a crusader against social evils like caste discrimination and untouchability. The Vice President said, his sacrifices for the freedom of our motherland will always be remembered.

The Indo-Oman exercise 2022, Eastern Bridge-VI was successfully conducted at Air Force Station Jodhpur from 21st to 25th of this month. Royal Air Force of Oman RAFO participated with Indian Air Force lAF in the exercise which was aimed at providing operational exposure and undertaking mutual exchange of best practices, towards enhancing operational capabilities of both the Air Forces.
Indian Air Force said, senior officers from both sides who visited Air Force Station Jodhpur during this exercise included RAFO's Director General Operations and IAF South Western Air Command's Senior Air Staff Officer. They discussed further prospects of mutual co-operation. Indian Air Force said, the exercise provided an opportunity for fruitful interaction between IAF and RAFO elements through mutual exchange of experience and operational knowledge. It also provided avenues of cultural exchanges between the personnel of both countries.

New Delhi [India], February 24 (ANI): Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday launched the “ICMR/DHR Policy on Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Medical Professionals, scientists and technologists at Medical, Dental, Para-Medical Institutes and said that the time has come for India to demonstrate its strength through research and innovative initiatives in the health sector.

Addressing the event, Mandaviya said, “It is time that India also demonstrates its strength and mettle through research, entrepreneurship and innovative initiatives in the health sector, including medical devices. Under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has taken several notable steps towards self-reliance and self-sustenance, especially in vaccine development during the pandemic period.”

Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh launched Ombudsperson App for Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. Addressing the launching event the Minister said that the Ombudsperson App is a step towards e-governance, this will be helpful in ensuring transparency and accountability.

Expressing concern over the appointments of Ombudspersons, Giriraj Sigh said that the appointment of Ombudsperson has not yet been made in many districts. It has also come to notice that persons belonging to political parties were appointed.

The Minister also requested all the States/UTs to cooperate with the central government in making MNREGA more transparent by using the Ombudsperson App.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that more than seven hundred Agri Startups have been created in the country in the last three to four years. Mr Modi said, in merely six years agriculture budget has been increased manifold. He said, Agriculture loans for farmers were also increased by two and half times in the last seven years. Addressing a webinar on positive impact of Union Budget 2022 in Agriculture sector through video conferencing, the Prime Minister elaborated on the seven ways in which the Budget proposes to make agriculture modern and smart.

He said, the target of the government is to undertake natural farming on mission mode within five Kilometres on both the banks of the Ganges. Modern technology in agriculture and horticulture will be made available to the farmers. Mr. Modi said, in the budget, emphasis has been laid on strengthening Mission Oil Palm to reduce the import of edible oil. Prime Minister said, new logistics arrangements will be made through PM Gati-Shakti's plan for the transportation of agricultural products.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh today launched Ombudsperson App for MNREGA. This app will facilitate hassle free reporting, categorization of grievances and disposal of complaints by Ombudsperson. The app will also ensure tracking and timely passing of awards by Ombudsperson.  

Appreciating the initiative, Mr. Singh said, this app will ensure transparency and accountability in the ecosystem of MNREGA. He said, several technological and digital initiatives have been taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the developmental schemes more efficient. He expressed concern over the non appointment of Ombudsperson in some districts. He stressed that accountability of Ombudsperson must be ensured to make the MNREGA scheme more transparent.

Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya will inaugurate a seminar- Industry Connect 2022, Industry and Academia Synergy in New Delhi today. The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals in association with Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry is organizing this seminar. During the seminar, two technical sessions will be organized on various issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin last night. President Putin briefed Prime Minister Modi about the recent developments regarding Ukraine. In a release, Prime Minister's Office said, the Prime Minister reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue. The Prime Minister appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue.

Prime Minister Modi also sensitized the Russian President about India's concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return to India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a webinar titled Aatmanirbharta in Defence - Call to Action today. The objective of the webinar is to involve all the stakeholders in taking forward the various initiatives of the Government in the defence sector. Defence Ministry is organising the post-budget webinar on the announcements made in the Union budget 2022-23.

AIR correspondent reports that The webinar will have panel discussions with eminent speakers and experts from the Ministry of Defence, defence industry, startups and academia. The valedictory session will be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The webinar will have breakout sessions on the four themes, Progressive increase in the capital procurement budget for domestic industry Opportunities and Challenges, Developing All round Defence Research and Development ecosystem in the country, Special Purpose Vehicles by Industries with DRDO and other organisations and meet wide-ranging testing and certification requirements - Setting up an independent nodal umbrella body. The sessions are planned in a manner to allow for ample interaction with stakeholders, with a view to evolve a participative approach for time-bound implementation of announcements. 

The National War Memorial is celebrating its third anniversary today. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari and Vice Chief of Indian Army Lieutenant General Manoj Pande laid wreaths at the memorial to mark the occasion. Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar also laid a wreath and paid homage to the fallen Bravehearts of the Nation.

Today Inter-Services Band along with students’ band of VSPK International School, Rohini, New Delhi will enthral the audience at the memorial.