Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday conferred the International Gandhi Award for Leprosy, 2021 to Dr. Bhushan Kumar of Chandigarh and Sahyog Kushtha Yagna Trust, Gujarat at a function in New Delhi. The annual award was instituted by Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Naidu lauded the efforts of the recipients and said that both Dr. Bhushan Kumar and Sahyog Kushtha Yagna Trust have been working diligently to raise awareness about leprosy and in providing care to those afflicted with it.  

The Vice President also called for intensified efforts for early detection of leprosy cases, equitable access to appropriate treatment and integrated leprosy services. Mr. Naidu urged the people and civil society organizations to join the campaign to eradicate leprosy. He said, there should be social mobilization in support of this noble cause. He also wanted Gram Sabhas to include leprosy eradication in their programmes.

The grateful nation paid homage and tributes to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh massacre on the 103rd Anniversary on Wednesday through different special programmes organised across the country. At Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab, a special function was held to pay homage to the martyrs who lost their lives in the massacre during the English rule on 13th April 1919. BJP General Secretary and party in-Charge of Punjab Affairs Dushyant Gautam, BJP leader Shweta Malik, Congress Member Parliament Gurjit Aujla, former Deputy Chief Minister Om Parkash Soni, former Punjab Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla along with other political leaders, families of martyrs, social organisations and large number of people participated and paid respects to the martyrs.

The homage programme started this afternoon with playing of hooter. Two minutes' silence was observed in the memory of martyrs. The contingent of Punjab Police saluted the martyrs by reversing their arms. The Punjab Police band also played patriotic tunes to pay homage.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday released guidelines for pursuing two academic programmes simultaneously.  According to the guidelines, the student can pursue two full-time academic programmes simultaneously in physical mode provided that class timings for one programme do not overlap with another. A student can also pursue two academic programmes, one in full-time physical mode and another in Distance Learning or Online mode simultaneously. The degree or diploma programmes under Online mode will be pursued with only such higher education institutions which are recognized by UGC or the Central Government for running such programmes. The UGC said, no retrospective benefit can be claimed by the students who have already done two academic programmes simultaneously prior to the notification of these guidelines.

Keeping in view the objectives envisaged in the National Education Policy, the guidelines aimed at recognizing, identifying, and fostering the unique capabilities of each student, by sensitizing teachers as well as parents to promote each student’s holistic development in both academic and non-academic spheres. It also has the objective that there should be no hard separations between arts and sciences, curricular and extra-curricular activities, vocational and academic streams in order to eliminate harmful hierarchies among and silos between different areas of learning.  

The nation pays homage to the Chief Architect of Indian Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar on his 131st birth anniversary today. Several functions have been organised throughout the country to mark the occasion. Floral tributes will be paid at Babasaheb's Statue in the Parliament House Complex this morning.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar donned many hats, being social reformer, economist, politician, who dedicated his life for the people. Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar worked steadfast throughout his life to end social and caste discrimination against the marginalised sections of the society. From a humble beginning, he went on to become the first law and justice minister of independent India. He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour the Bharat Ratna in 1990 posthumously.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya at 11 AM today. The Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya is built at Delhi's Teen Murti Estate and covers the lives and contributions of all the 14 former Prime Ministers of the country.
 
Guided by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya is a tribute to honour the contributions of all the former Prime Ministers.
 
It is an inclusive endeavour aimed at sensitizing and inspiring the younger generation about the leadership, vision and achievements of all Prime Ministers of the country.

Mahavir Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the 24th and the last Jain Tirthankar Bhagwan Mahavir is being celebrated across the country today. Mahavir Jayanti is considered to be one of the most auspicious events for the Jain community and holds a lot of importance in their religious life.
 
President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu have greeted the people on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. In his message, the President said that Lord Mahavira showed the path of spiritual liberation by observing the vows of non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, chastity and non-possession. 

Mr Kovind said that Lord Mahavira taught renunciation and restraint, love and compassion and modesty and righteousness as the basis to lead a balanced human life. Mr. Kovind asked the people to take a pledge to work towards promoting non-violence and eradicating all kinds of social evils in the society. 

The festivals of Baisakhi, Vishu, Rongali Bihu, Naba Barsha, Vaisakhadi and Puthandu-Pirappu are being celebrated in different parts of the country today.
 
President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu have greeted the citizens on the occasion. In his message,  Mr. Kovind said, these festivals celebrated all across the country reflect India's diversity and also emphasis unity. He added that the festivals are occasions of enjoyment for the farmer community who work tirelessly for the betterment and progress of the nation.

The President said, people should resolve to work together for peace, prosperity and happiness, and spread the message of unity and fraternity for the progress of the nation on this occasion. 

Ministry of Health and Family welfare is celebrating 4th anniversary of launch of Health and Wellness Centres.

In an exclusive interview with All India Radio News, Heath Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that Health and Wellness Centres aim to provide comprehensive primary healthcare including promotive, preventive and curative care.

The Health Secretary further informed that Health and Wellness Centres will also provide tele-consultation services to the citizens.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya on 14th April, 2022 at around 11 AM.

The Sangrahalaya, being inaugurated during the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, tells the story of India after Independence through the lives and contributions of its Prime Ministers.

Guided by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honour the contribution of all the Prime Ministers of India towards nation building, the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya is a tribute to every Prime Minister of India since Independence, irrespective of their ideology or tenure in office. It is an inclusive endeavour led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed at sensitizing and inspiring the younger generation about the leadership, vision and achievements of all our Prime Ministers.

Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today announced setting up of Single Window Portal for benefit of pensioners and superannuated elder citizens. He said, the portal will not only enable constant contact with pensioners but will also regularly receive inputs, suggestions, and grievances for a prompt response.

The Minister was addressing the 32nd Meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies for Review and Rationalisation of Pension Rules 2021. He said, several revolutionary changes were brought in pension rules for bringing Ease of Living to the common man in 2014. He said, the objective of Common Pension Portal is to create a single window digital mechanism for pensioners to raise their grievances and get the same resolved without approaching different authorities in person. Dr. Jitendra Singh informed that since the launch of Doorstep Service for submission of Digital Life Certificate, more than three lakh eight thousand Life Certificates through India Post Payments Bank have been done.