The 2nd edition of Awards for Excellence in District Skill Development Planning, DSDP was organised in New Delhi today where the top 30 districts were awarded for their innovative best practices in skill development in the region. Rajkot in Gujarat, Cachar in Assam and Satara in Maharashtra ranked top three among all participating districts. District Collectors, District Magistrates and other representatives from across 30 states attended the award ceremony and shared their ideas and experiences and presented the skill development work done at the grassroots level in their districts.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan asked the District Collectors, District Magistrates and other officials to carry out demand-mapping of the skilled workforce and drive awareness about skill development initiatives at the local level. He said, District Collectors should further the entire continuum of skill development and work towards strengthening the skill development ecosystem through innovative planning at the district level.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur today released the Volume-IV of selected speeches of President Ram Nath Kovind named 'Loktantra Ke Swar' and 'Republican Ethics' at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre.

In his address, Mr Pradhan said, the compilation of speeches by President Ram Nath Kovind in his 4th year in office is a good barometer for the state of the nation. He highlighted that this book captures President’s thoughts on varied topics such as public service, ethics, education, aspirations of the youth, contemporary global issues. The Minister said, the book will enrich public discourse and serve as guiding light towards taking India forward in the 'Amrit Kaal'. He also suggested that the educational institutions should engage students in discussions and debates on the relevant topics elucidated by President in his speeches.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Manish Narwal and Rubina Francis for winning a Gold in the 10-metre Air Pistol Mixed event at Chateauroux 2022. In a tweet, Mr Modi said, the nation is proud of them. He conveyed best wishes to them for their upcoming endeavours.

Congratulating both, Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said, it’s raining world records for India. He said, Manish Narwal and Rubina Francis won GOLD in P6- 10-metre Air Pistol Mixed team while setting a new World Record in qualification stage with a score of 565 at Chateauroux 2022 World Cup.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Biotech Startup Expo - 2022 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi tomorrow and address the gathering.

The Biotech Startup Expo - 2022 is a two-day event to be held on 9th and 10th of this month. It is being organised by the Department of Biotechnology and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council BIRAC.

It is being held to mark completion of ten years of setting up of BIRAC. The theme of the Expo is ‘Biotech Startup Innovations: Towards AatmaNirbhar Bharat’.

The Expo will act as a platform to connect entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, scientists, researchers, bio-incubators, manufacturers, regulators, government officials, etc.

India Meteorological Department, IMD has issued an orange alert for some of the Northern parts of the country over the heatwave condition which is likely to continue till 8th of this month. 

Talking to AIR News, Senior scientist in IMD, R K Jenamani has said that north Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Bundelkhand region will experience heatwave conditions where the temperature will vary between 44 degrees Celcius to 47 degrees Celsius. Mr Jenamani said,  people have been advised to take all precautions while venturing out like covering the body with cotton cloths and drinking plenty of water.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will launch Single Nodal Agency Dashboard today during the Iconic Week Celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav of Ministry of Finance in New Delhi today. The Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ Iconic Week celebrations were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday.

The Single Nodal Agency Dashboard forms part of a major public financial management reform that was initiated in 2021 with regards to the manner in which funds for Centrally Sponsored Schemes are released, disbursed and monitored. This revised procedure, now referred to as the SNA model, requires each State to identify and designate a Single Nodal Agency for every scheme. All funds for that State in a particular scheme will be credited in this bank account, and all expenses will be made by all other Implementing Agencies involved from this account.

India successfully tested the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Agni-4 yesterday. The successful training launch of Agni-4, was carried out from APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. The Defence Ministry said, the test was part of routine user training launches carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command. The launch validated all operational parameters as also the reliability of the system. The Ministry said, the successful test reaffirms country's policy of having a credible minimum deterrence capability.

Indian Railways has increased the limit of online booking of tickets through IRCTC website and app. The Railways Ministry said, it has decided to increase the limit of booking maximum six tickets in a month to twelve tickets by a user ID which is not Aadhaar-linked. The Ministry has also increased the limit of booking maximum twelve tickets in a month to 24 tickets by a user ID which is Aadhaar-linked.

AIR correspondent reports that at present, maximum six tickets in a month can be booked online on IRCTC website by a user ID which is not Aadhaar-linked and maximum 12 tickets in a month by a user ID which is Aadhaar-linked.

Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the National Tribal Research Institute in New Delhi today. The inaugural event will be part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebration by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. NTRI will be a premier national level institute and become the nerve-centre of tribal concerns, issues and matters in academic, executive and legislative fields.  

It will collaborate and network with reputed research institutes, universities, organizations as well as academic bodies and resource centres. It wil monitor projects of Tribal Research Institutes, Centres of Excellence and set up norms for improvement in the quality of research and training.

Its other activities would be to provide policy inputs to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs as well as State Welfare Departments, design studies and programmes that improve or support socio-economic aspects of tribal lifestyles. Minister of Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju and other Union Ministers will grace the occasion.

New Delhi. An Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team of mountaineers scaled the Mount Abi Gamin peak (24,131 feet) on 2 June, 2022. The team reached the base camp on 4 June, 2022. This ITBP Northern Frontier mountaineering expedition was launched on 9 May, 2022 from Dehradun.

The team was led by Deputy Commandant Kuldeep Kumar of the 2nd Battalion ITBP. As many as 14 members of the team and 4 High Altitude Sherpas scaled the peak today on 2 June, 2022 at 1230 hrs.

Abi Gamin is located in the central Himalayas at the culminating point of the Zaskar Range. It is situated on the watershed of the upper Alaknanda and Dhauli rivers between the famous Mana and Niti passes on the Indo-Tibetan border.