Ashwini Vaishnaw News

Cabinet led by PM Narendra Modi on Monday announced the launch of Digital Agriculture Mission with an outlay of Rs 2,817 crore, in an attempt to improve farmers' lives through technology. The government has given its nod to a total of seven agriculture projects worth Rs 13,966. «Today, 7 major decisions have been taken in the cabinet meeting for improving the lives of farmers and increasing their income,» Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a media briefing. A major component of this mission is the creation of an Agri Stack, which includes a Farmers Registry, Village Land Maps Registry, and Crop Sown Registry.

Cabinet on Monday gave nod to seven decisions focused on boosting farm-related activities in India, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced, while addressing a press conference. While announcing the key decisions, Vaishnaw said, «Today, Seven major decisions have been taken in the cabinet meeting for improving the lives of farmers and increasing their income...The first is Digital Agriculture Mission. This is being developed on lines of the structure of Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture. A few good pilot projects have been taken up and we have achieved success. On that basis, with a total investment of Rs 20,817 Crores, Digital Agriculture Mission will be set up...» Here are the major decisions taken by Prime Minister Modi-led Cabinet:

India's growth is driven by investment in infrastructure, inclusive development, manufacturing, and simplification of laws, said Ashwini Vaishnaw, union minister for electronics and information technology, information and broadcasting, and railways. When it comes to infrastructure, the government is investing not just in physical and digital assets but social resources as well, he said at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum on Saturday. Medical colleges for example have nearly doubled to 706 in the last 10 years, while the number of premier All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have gone to 22 from seven, he said Vaishnaw. On the manufacturing side of things, a key driver of new jobs, Vaishnaw said the government is focusing on creating new industries through programmes such as production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes. The PLI for mobile phone manufacturing has generated 1.2 million direct and indirect jobs in the past decade, he said. The total production value of mobile phones manufactured in India has risen from $2.3 billion in 2014 to $50 billion in 2024, he said.

Kavach that was developed in the country will now be implemented in a mission mode, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said. The minister stated this in his welcome address before the flagging-off of three Vande Bharat trains by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. Vaishnaw that India has elected the leadership of PM Modi for the third time that is decisive, visionary and forward-looking and its impact is visible in every aspect of life including in Railways. «It always lacked technology and investment and nothing changed for decades,» Vaishnaw said alleging that a technical organisation like the Railways was politicised.

Indian Railways has announced the operation of numerous special trains. The move aims to accommodate the rush during Diwali, Durga Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam, and Chhath Puja.

electronics component ecosystem in India, union minister for electronics & information technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said. Vaishnaw, who is also the minister for railways and information & broadcasting, said more than 99% of all mobile phones used in the country are being made in India. “This year, Apple will be manufacturing its latest model in India,” Vaishnaw said at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum. “The value of electronics manufacturing in India had increased to $105 billion as of 2022-23, up from $29 billion in 2013-14. We are preparing a programme where the component ecosystem can expand in India in the same way as electronics and mobile manufacturing has expanded.”

scheme to help set up a sustainable electronics component ecosystem in India, union minister for electronics and Information Technology, Railways, and Information Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said. Speaking at the inaugural session of the World Leader Forum 2024, Vaishnaw said that more than 99% of all mobile phones used in India were being manufactured domestically. “This year Apple will be manufacturing their latest model in India. The value of electronics manufacturing in India had increased to $105 billion as of 2022-23, up from $29 billion in 2013-14. We are preparing a program where the component ecosystem can now come in the way electronics and mobile manufacturing has come in,” he said.

Ashwini Vaishnaw said during his address at the ET World Leaders Forum event held in Delhi on August 31. There are four pillars of growth, the minister said — investment in public infra, inclusive growth, manufacturing and simplification of laws. Vaishnaw observed that from 2014 to 2024, India constructed 14,985 kms of railway tracks, which is higher than a rich country like France achieved during the same time frame.

Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to hold third batch of ascending e-auctions for 730 channels in 234 new cities under Private FM Radio Phase III Policy. The estimated reserve price has been pegged at Rs 784.87 crore. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said here that the Cabinet also approved a proposal to charge an annual license fee (ALF) of FM channel as four per cent of gross revenue excluding GST. This will be applicable for 234 new cities / towns. The private FM radio roll out in 234 new cities and towns will fulfil the unmet demand for FM radio in these areas which still remain uncovered by private FM radio broadcasting and bring new and local content in mother tongue, an official statement said.

Union Cabinet has approved the development of 12 new industrial smart cities under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the projects, worth ₹28,602 crore, aim to transform India's industrial landscape. 12 new industrial smart cities: Here are the cities names

Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), set to provide an assured pension to 23 lakh eligible central government employees, will bring an additional financial burden of Rs 6,250 crore per year to the exchequer. The UPS, effective from April 1, 2025, will increase the government's contribution from the current 14 percent to 18.5 percent, reported PTI, quoting Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Despite the government's increased contribution, employees' contribution will remain unchanged at 10 percent of their basic salary. Additionally, employees retiring before March 31, 2025, under the National Pension System (NPS), will receive an arrear of Rs 800 crore if they opt for UPS. The scheme ensures a minimum pension of Rs 10,000 per month for those with at least 10 years of service. Moreover, it provides an assured family pension in the event of a pensioner's demise, with a provision for dearness relief linked to the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW).

Sabarmati Express derailed between Kanpur and Bhimsen stations in Uttar Pradesh early Saturday morning. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. Seven trains have been cancelled, and three diverted due to the incident. Emergency services, including buses and a MEMU train, were arranged to transport passengers to Kanpur. This comes at a time when India is seeing an increasing number of train mishaps that have killed hundreds over the last one year. However in this case, no injuries or fatalities were reported so far. «No injury to any person has been reported as of now. We are trying to find details regarding the number of coaches derailed,» stated a Railway Board official.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved airport projects at Bagdgora in West Bengal and Bihta in Bihar for an estimate cost of Rs 1549 crore and Rs 1413 crore respectively. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that Bagdgora Airport's project also includes construction of an apron capable of accommodating 10 parking bays suitable for A-321-type aircraft while the Bihar project includes the construction of an apron capable of accommodating 10 parking bays suitable for A-321/B-737-800/A-320 type aircraft. The Bagdogra project will feature a new terminal building spanning 70,390 sqm, designed to handle 10 million passengers annually and 3,000 peak hour passengers, as per the government.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 78th Independence Day, he highlighted his government's efforts towards environment protection in various fields with a focus on rail operations. «We are aiming to achieve net zero emission by 2030 in Railways,» said the prime minister.

creamy layer in the reservation for SCs and STs in the Constitution given by B R Ambedkar. The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, held a detailed discussion on the Supreme Court judgement on the sub-categorisation of reservation for SCs and STs as granted in the Constitution. «It is the well thought view of the Union Cabinet that the NDA government is firmly committed to the provisions in the Constitution given by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar,» Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters here. He said there was a detailed discussion in the Union Cabinet meeting on a recent Supreme Court judgement that made certain suggestions on the reservation for the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).

government on Friday made it clear that it is not going to introduce any provision of creamy layer in the SC and ST reservation, days after the Supreme Court had said that states have the power to sub-classify SC/STs and observed that they can also identify the creamy layer, even from the SC/STs, excluding them from the benefits. The Cabinet held wide discussions on the SC's order, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters after the meeting today. Today, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, wide discussions were held on this issue, Vaishnaw said. "...the well-thought opinion of the Cabinet is that the NDA government is committed and dedicated towards the provisions of the Constitution prepared by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. And as per the Constitution, there is no provision of creamy layer in SC and ST reservation. Cabinet's well-thought through decision is that the SC and ST reservation should be according to Baba Saheb's Constitution," Vaishnaw said.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday informed the Rajya Sabha that there have been cases where passengers tried to secure accommodation under the emergency quota using fake authority letters purporting to be from high dignitaries and railway officials. He made this statement in response to inquiries from Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan about the misuse of the emergency quota by touts. «Some instances of attempts to get accommodation released out of emergency quota on the authority of fake letter heads of high dignitaries and some railway officers have come to notice,» Vaishnaw said in his written reply. «With a view to prevent malpractices and to confirm genuineness of requests, checks are conducted from time to time. Also, instructions are issued at regular intervals to prevent unscrupulous elements from misusing the system,» he added. According to the railway minister, approximately 36 per cent of the berths or seats earmarked under emergency quota were utilised on an average during the financial year 2023-24.

train services, including 100 Vande Bharat services, have been introduced in the Indian Railways network from 2019-2020 to 2023-2024, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday. The railway minister's written response came after BJP MP Neeraj Shekhar sought to know the number of new trains proposed to be run during 2024-25 and new trains like Vande Bharat, Rajdhani and other trains started in the last five years with year-wise and zone-wise details.

N Biren Singh had discussion about the situation in the state with Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, focuses on balancing increased spending on jobs and rural development with transferring more funds to states, while narrowing the fiscal deficit. However, it offered limited new announcements for the Railways, mentioned only once in the Finance Minister's 83-minute speech.

World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit in November alongside the International Film Festival of India in Goa, with I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw promising to strengthen the ecosystem for the protection of intellectual property rights in the media and entertainment sector. Vaishnaw and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant made the announcement of the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Goa from November 20-24 and described it as a visionary initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India seeks to make a mark in the media and entertainment sector. «IP rights hold huge value in the media and entertainment sector. We will be strengthening the ecosystem for protecting IP rights,» Vaishnaw, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, said in his address at the curtain raiser event for WAVES. Vaishnaw said the government was also exploring ways to make available low-cost funds to the media and entertainment sector with learnings from the venture capital model.