Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid homage to former Prime Minister Morarji Desai on his birth anniversary. In a tweet, Mr Modi said that he is widely respected for his monumental contribution to nation-building and made extensive efforts to make India more prosperous. The Prime Minister said, he always emphasized on probity in public life.

Ministry of Education has launched a Bhasha Certificate Selfie Campaign to encourage cultural diversity and promote multilingualism and to foster the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Bhasha Certificate Selfie initiative aims to promote Bhasha Sangam mobile app, developed by Ministry of Education and MyGov India. Using the app, people can learn 100 sentences of daily use in 22 scheduled Indian languages.

Ministry of Education in a statement said that the initiative, under the aegis of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat will aim to ensure that people acquire basic conversational skills in Indian languages. To achieve this, a target of 75 lakh people acquiring basic conversational skills has been set.

President Ram Nath Kovind said that Lachit Borphukan will remain inspirational for the generations to come. The President emphasised to take efforts to make him households name in the country. Mr. Kovind said this while inaugurating the year-long celebration to mark the 400th birth anniversary of the great Ahom general Lachit Borphukan in Guwahati.

The President launched the birth anniversary celebration of Borphukan by laying the foundation for the re-development of the general’s memorial in Jorhat district. Mr. Kovind also laid the foundation for a memorial of the Alaboi Battle at Dodora in Kamrup district. Remembering the heroic of great Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, the President said that Assam foiled all attacks in medieval period. Mr. Kovind further said that the leaders like Lachit Borphukan and Shivaji will be remembered always. He.said that the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav on the occasion on 75th years of independence is an occasion to know the heroes of the countries by the young generation.

Air India will operate two flights to Romanian capital Bucharest and Hungarian Capital Budapest from Delhi and Mumbai today to evacuate stranded Indians who have reached the Ukraine border by road. With the Ukraine airspace closed for civilian flights, Indian nationals will be boarding the Special Government Chartered Flights to return home.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the post Union Budget webinar of Health Ministry at 10 AM today. The objective of the webinar is to involve stakeholders in taking forward the various initiatives of the Government in the health sector.

In a tweet, Mr Modi said, it is our Government’s endeavour to ensure that the people of India have access to top quality and affordable healthcare. He said, this year’s Budget has many provisions aimed at augmenting health infra.
The Prime Minister’s address will set the tone for the post budget webinars.

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.