A joint team of scientists from Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO and Indian Institute of Technology IIT Delhi, for the first time in the country successfully demonstrated Quantum Key Distribution link between Prayagraj and Vindhyachal in Uttar Pradesh, a distance of more than 100 kilometres.

This technological breakthrough was achieved over a commercial-grade optical fibre already available in field. With this success, the country has demonstrated indigenous technology of secure key transfer for bootstrapping military-grade communication security key hierarchy. The performance parameters have been measured and have been found to be repetitively within the reported international standards at sifted key rates of up to 10 Kilohertz. This technology will enable security agencies to plan a suitable quantum communication network with indigenous technology backbone.

Ministry of External Affairs celebrated Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav today by inaugurating projects reflecting Buddhist linkages with ASEAN and East Asian countries. Minister of State for External Affairs Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh joined the celebrations.

The dignitaries unveiled books of Jataka Tales translated into Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese languages. A comprehensive video of e-ITEC courses offered by the Ministry on Buddhist teachings was shown during the event. The Minister inaugurated the interactive Coffee Table E-Book on Buddhist linkages with ASEAN and East Asian countries.

The digital exhibition titled " Bodhicitta: Interweaving Buddhist Art Traditions from India Across Asia” curated by National Museum was displayed. The Ministry presented an Interactive Template for use by Missions for orientation visits by school or college students to Cultural centers or Missions for a better understanding of India's Buddhist linkages.

New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI/NewsVoir): Recognizing the contribution of farmers towards strengthening the entire ecosystem of organic farming, Organic India Private Limited (“Organic India”), in association with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival felicitated the top 5 organic farmers with Dharti Mitr Awards while celebrating the grandeur of Indian Cinema and commemorating 75 years of Independence (Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav).

As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a week-long commemoration event titled Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate was launched today. The event which will continue till 28th of February was inaugurated digitally by Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh and Union Minister of Culture G Kishan Reddy at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The event is being held simultaneously at 75 locations across the country. The week-long event will display the country’s scientific legacy and technology prowess that has helped find solutions to defence, space, health, agriculture, astronomy, and other sectors. The event is being held in various Indian languages, including Kashmiri, Dogri, Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telegu, Odia, Bengali, Assamese, Nepali, Maithili, and Manipur, and will include the screening of 75 films.

Speaking on the occasion, Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said, in the last seven years, the Narendra Modi government has taken several steps to promote science and innovations in the country. He said, the penetration of science and technology is being seen in every sector as it is the basis of development.Dr. Singh said, science has become an important tool for bringing ease of living in people's life and meeting future challenges.

Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry under its SANKALP programme has brought an initiative to fund a stipend for one thousand apprentices across Central Ministries for one year. The initiative has been developed so that the youth of the country benefit by learning hands-on skills by way of domain-specific apprenticeship opportunities. After one year of engagement, the Ministries are expected to continue these positions utilizing their own funds.  National Skill Development Corporation has been entrusted with the overall responsibility of coordination for the project.

AIR correspondent reports government has laid great emphasis on apprenticeship promotion and seeks to mainstream apprenticeship across Central, State, and Private organizations.  

The Centre has approved the continuation of the Central Sector National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) over the 15th Finance Commission cycle for a period of five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. It has been approved with a financial outlay of one thousand 827 crore rupees with minor modifications in eligibility criteria such as increasing income ceiling from 1.5 lakh rupees per annum to 3.5 lakh rupees per annum and revising the renewal criteria under the scheme. Ministry of Education in a statement said that it is proposed to disburse scholarships to 14.76 lakh students. The objective of the scheme is to award scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop-out at class 8th and encourage them to continue their education at the secondary stage.

The Ministry said, one lakh fresh scholarships of 12 thousand rupees per student are awarded to the selected students of class 9th   every year and their continuation or renewal in classes 10th  to 12th  for study in  State Government, Government-aided and Local body schools under the scheme. Students are selected for award of scholarships through an examination conducted by the State and Union Territory  Governments.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is participating in ‘Vigyan Sarvatra Pujyate’ being held across the country on the occasion of 75th year of India’s Independence, ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. ‘Vigyan Sarvatra Pujayate’ is a pan-India programme to showcase science, technology, and innovation from every part of the country from 22nd February to 28th February.

The DRDO is also organizing exhibitions on the theme ‘Amrit Mahotsav Science Showcase: Roadmap to 2047’ in 16 cities throughout the country. The cities where these science and technology mega expositions are being held by DRDO include Agra, A Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jodhpur, Leh, Mumbai, and Visakhapatnam. Participation of DRDO in the ‘Mahotsav’ is an opportunity to highlight the work being done by R&D organizations and showcasing ideas and technology efforts on the road to 2047.

The Women and Child Development Ministry has extended the PM Cares for Children Scheme till the end of this month. Earlier the scheme was valid till the 31st of December, 2021.

All States and Union Territories have been asked to identify and register the eligible children on the portal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced comprehensive support for children who have lost both their parents due to COVID 19 pandemic last year.

Any Citizen can inform the administration regarding a child eligible for support under this scheme through the portal.

Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh will launch Rural Connectivity GIS Data in Public Domain at 12 PM on 22nd February, 2022 in India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched in the year 2000, with an objective to provide all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitations throughout the nation. Later on upgradation and consolidation of through routes and major rural links was also included as its objective to give fillip to the rural economy.

Since inception, 7.83 lakh Km roads have been sanctioned and 6.90 lakh Km have been constructed with an expenditure of Rs. 2.69 lakh crores.

New Delhi [India], February 21 (ANI): India batter VR Vanitha, who played six ODIs and 16 T20Is, announced her retirement from all forms of cricket on Monday.

The 31-year-old cricketer also thanked skipper Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami and family members for “encouraging” her from time to time.
“19 years ago, when I started playing cricket, I was just a little girl who loved sport. Even to this day, my love for cricket remains the same. What’s changing is direction. My heart says continue playing, my body says stop and I’ve decided to listen to the latter. Time is ripe to hang my boots,” Vanitha said in a statement.