Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Summit RAISE 2020 - ‘Responsible AI for Social Empowerment 2020 today. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and NITI Aayog are organizing the Mega Virtual Summit on Artificial Intelligence from today to 9th of October. The summit will discuss cross-sector subjects like ‘Leveraging AI for Pandemic Preparedness’, the Impetus that Innovation Places on Digitisation’, Inclusive AI and Partnerships for Successful Innovation.  

In the spirit of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', Prime Minister Modi plans to leverage AI for inclusive development, representing the country's 'AI for All' strategy. Directed by the Prime Minister’s vision, India will soon stand out in the international community not just as a leader in the Artificial Intelligence field, but also as a model to show the world how to responsibly direct AI for social empowerment.

The summit will be a global meeting of minds to exchange ideas and chart a course for using AI for social transformation, inclusion and empowerment in areas like Healthcare, Agriculture, Education and Smart Mobility, among other sectors. During the summit, delegates and experts in research, policy and innovation on Artificial Intelligence will join from across the globe.

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat yesterday launched a 100-day campaign to provide potable piped water supply in Schools and Anganwadi Centres. This mission was envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29th of last month, while releasing the ‘Margdarshika’ for Gram Panchayats and Paani Samitis for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission. The Prime Minister had appealed to the States to make best use of this campaign to ensure provision of potable piped water supply in these public institutions.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission States and Union Territories are to  ensure that during the campaign, Gram Sabhas are convened at the earliest to pass a resolution for providing safe water in all schools, anganwadi centres and other public institutions in the village in the next 100 days. These facilities will be operated and maintained by the Gram Panchayat and its sub-committee. The Ministry said this is a befitting tribute to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 151st birth anniversary. Jal Jeevan Mission aims at the universal coverage of provision of tap water connection to every rural home by 2024. Under the mission, special focus is on women and children.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the world’s longest highway tunnel, Atal tunnel at Rohtang in Himachal Pradesh today. The tunnel is built with ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas at an altitude of 10,000 feet from the Mean Sea Level. The 9.02 Km long tunnel connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year. Earlier the valley was cut off for about six months each year due to heavy snowfall.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also be present on the occasion. During his day-long visit, the Prime Minister will address two public gatherings, besides inspection of the escape egress tunnel. Our correspondent reports that the state government has made arrangements to broadcast the live telecast of the programme so that it can reach every part of the state.

Since morning, a large number of people have started arriving in their traditional attire to see and listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A lot of enthusiasm can be seen among the locals about the inauguration of the tunnel. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in view of the Prime Minister's visit. He will arrive at the south portal of the tunnel at Manali around 10 am where he will unveil the plaque to mark the inauguration of Atal Tunnel. He will also drive through the Atal tunnel to Sishu the north portal of the tunnel in Lahaul-Spiti from where he will flag off the HRTC bus from the north to south portal through the tunnel towards Manali. During his short stay, the Prime Minister will address two public gatherings, one at Solang at Manali in Kullu district and another at Sishu in Lahaul-Spiti.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have congratulated scientists and engineers for successful test flight of BrahMos surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile featuring indigenous booster and airframe section along with many other 'Made in India' sub-systems.
 
The Prime Minister has said that Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile has achieved yet another milestone with successful test launch.
 
In a tweet, Mr Modi said that Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile has achieved yet another milestone with successful test launch showcasing enhanced operational capabilities and additional indigenous technologies.  
 
Home Minister Amit Shah also said that this state of the art weapon was a testimony of India's defence potential.
 
Mr. Shah said India is extremely proud of DRDO for successfully testing the indigenously developed extended range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
 
This state of the art weapon is a testimony of India's defence potential and Prime Minister Narendra Modiji's resolve towards an Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.

Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan has launched CSIR technologies for rural development.
 
This is a joint initiative of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi and Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA).
 
The event was organized through online platform on the occasion of CSIR-NISTADS 40th Foundation Day in the National Capital on Wednesday.
 
In his address, Dr Harsh Vardhan congratulated CSIR-NISTADS on their 40th Foundation Day, and said that they have been involved in exploring continuously the interface between Science, Technology and Society and have played an important role in science policy research in CSIR and at National Level.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC 4) during the iDEX event, featuring the initiatives aimed at expanding the horizons of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) ecosystem in New Delhi today. Mr Singh also launched the iDEX4Fauji initiative and Product Management Approach (PMA) guidelines during the event.

iDEX4Fauji is a first of its kind initiative, launched to support innovations identified by members of the Indian Armed Forces and will bolster frugal innovation ideas from soldiers and field formations.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr  Singh said, the iDEX initiative stands out as one of the most effective and well-executed defence Startupecosystem created in the  country. He said, it would be a decisive step towards achieving self-reliance in the spirit of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat campaign.

The Defence Minister said, for the first time, an atmosphere has been created in the country when different stakeholders have been brought together to push for innovations in the defence sector. He said,  in order to further strengthen defence system and make it self- reliant the participation of private sector is also crucial.

Government has continued to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP) from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes.
 
Ministry of Agriculture said, based on the proposal from the States, approval has been accorded for procurement of over 14 Lakh Metric Tonnes of Pulses and Oilseeds  for the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Haryana.
 
It said, for other States and Union Territories, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposal for Kharif Pulses and Oilseeds.

Inaugurating six mega projects in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured farmers about continuity of guaranteed Minimum Support Price and government procurements of agri produce.
 
The Prime Minister said major reforms have been brought to empower farmers, workers, youth and women of the country. He criticized the opposition for launching agitation against the reforms in labour and farm sectors.

Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan on Monday inaugurated the vaccine portal for Covid-19 to create awareness among masses.

Portal will disseminate vaccine related information regarding Indian efforts towards vaccine development against COVID-19. Currently 3 vaccines are undergoing clinical trials in India for COVID-19.

The Health Minister also launched the ICMR history timeline depicting 108 year journey of the Council which displays key milestones and captures policy and program interventions by ICMR. Minister also released a NIN History Book on its 100 year Journey. The Minister also launched Real Time data collection Program “Mapping of Nutrition and Health Status' which will collect data on dietary intake through crowd sourcing approach.

In addition, a first of its kind ICMR-NIN web portal also has been developed to collect data which will be useful in the present complicated by COVID-19 pandemic. Health Minister also released Report ‘What India Eats’ to know the main dietary patterns in India which is important for nutrition and health policy makers to understand distributions in diets within populations.

Senior Indian Administrative Service Officer Dr P. D. Vaghela has been appointed as the Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India- TRAI.
 
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his appointment. He will replace R.S. Sharma. Mr Vaghela will hold the post for a period of three years or until he attains the age of 65 years.
 
Mr Vaghela, a 1986-batch officer of Gujarat Cadre, is currently Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate six mega projects in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission today through video conference.
 
The projects include construction of a 68 million litres per day or MLD Sewage Treatment Plant, upgradation of the existing 27 MLD at Jagjeetpur and construction of an 18 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at Sarai, in Haridwar.
 
The inauguration of 68 MLD Jagjeetpur project also marks completion of the first sewage treatment project taken up on hybrid annuity mode of Public Private Partnership.
Mr. Modi will also inaugurate a 26 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at Lakkadghat in Rishikesh.
 
The Haridwar-Rishikesh zone contributes about 80 per cent waste water load into the River Ganga. These plants will play a significant role in keeping the River Ganga clean.
In Muni ki Reti town, the 7.5 MLD Plant in Chandreshwar Nagar will be the first four-storied Sewage Treatment Plant in the country where the limitation of land availability was converted into an opportunity.  
Mr Modi will also inaugurate a five MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at Chorpani and two plants with capacities of one  MLD and 0.01 MLD at Badrinath.
In all, 30 projects  are now complete in Uttarakhand for taking care of pollution from 17 towns near river Ganga. This is a landmark achievement.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate “Ganga Avalokan”, the first museum on Ganga dedicated to showcase the culture, biodiversity and rejuvenation activities done in Ganga river. The museum is located at Chandi Ghat, Haridwar.
A book, ‘Rowing down the Ganges’, co-published by National Mission for Clean Ganga and Wildlife Institute of India will be launched at the event.