28-Mar-2023: National Council for Cooperative Training
National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT), an autonomous society under the Ministry of Cooperation, has been mandated, inter-alia, to formulate overall policies and plans relating to training, assess the needs of training for personnel, design and organize training programs, establish and manage training institutes and also conduct research studies in the cooperative sector.
NCCT also conducts collaborative programs with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority, Securities and Exchange Board of India, Directorate General Resettlement, etc. in the cooperative sector.
Since its inception in 1974, NCCT has conducted a total of 52,423 training and member education programs and trained about 14.9 lakh personnel till 2021-22.
15-Mar-2023: Lithium Deposits Found - GSI to Carry out More Exploration in J&K
Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of Ministry of Mines, carried out a G3 stage mineral exploration project during Field Season 2020-21 and 2021-22 in Salal-Haimna areas of Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir and estimated an inferred resource (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore and the report has been handed over to the Government of Union Territory of J&K.
GSI proposes to carry out more exploration activities in J&K for identifying lithium resources. The estimated value of lithium in J&K will be estimated on completion of further exploration.
- GSI generates baseline geoscience data through mapping, e.g. geological, geochemical, geophysical which is pre-requisite for identifying the potential area for systematic mineral exploration. Based on the mapping data, GSI carries out systematic mineral exploration activities for various major mineral commodities including lithium.
- In part of Jammu & Kashmir, as a follow up of lithium exploration in Salal Haimna areas of Reasi district, GSI has taken up another reconnaissance G4 stage exploration programme on lithium and associated mineral in Panasa – Dugga – Baldhanun – Chakar - Sangarmarg (Saro-da-Bas) area of Reasi district during current field season 2022-23 and the work is in progress.
- Based on the mapping outcome more exploration programme on various mineral commodities including lithium will be taken up in future in different parts of the country including Jammu & Kashmir.
Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Mineral Exploration & Consultancy Limited (MECL) have taken up a number of exploration projects of lithium and will take up more projects in future. Ministry of Mines provides 100% funding from National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) to State Governments and private exploration agencies, if they take up lithium exploration projects.
15-Mar-2023: APEDA entrusted to promote Indian millets in international market
The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been entrusted with the task of promoting Indian millets in the international market, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel said in reply to a parliamentary question today. The following steps, inter-alia, are being taken to meet the export demand during International Year of Millets 2023:
- APEDA has published e-catalogues for 30 major millet importing countries and for 21 millet-producing Indian states. The e-catalogues have information on individual country profile; Indian millets and millet value-added basket; millet production scenario, India's export of millets; international standards of millets; and contact list of exporters, startups, FPOs, importers, and Indian missions in the country.
- APEDA has identified three knowledge partners - Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR); Centre of Excellence on Millets — University of Agriculture Sciences, Bengaluru; and Yes Bank. These knowledge partners collaborate for preparation of content for publication of millet promotion material; identification of participants for the millet-promotion events to be organized by Indian Missions abroad; and millets value chain development.
- APEDA has planned promotion of Indian millets across international trade fairs and hold B2B (business-to-business) meetings for the year 2023.
- A millet-specific web portal has also been launched. The portal contains information about millets, their health benefits, production and export statistics, millet exporters’ directory, and other relevant information.
- APEDA has been conducting capacity-building programs throughout the country to facilitate export of millet and millet products. Start-ups on millets are being mobilized for export promotion of value-added products such as Ready to Eat (RTE) and Ready to Serve (RTS) categories, including noodles, pasta, breakfast cereal mix, biscuits, cookies, snacks, sweets, and other millet-based products.
- A knowledge book titled "Superfood Millets: A USD 2 Billion Export Opportunity for India" has been published by APEDA, in association with a knowledge partner. This book will help the prospective exporters of millets.
- An e-platform for Virtual Trade Fairs (VTFs) has been created specifically for millets. This platform is designed to invite buyers and visitors from across the globe to interact with exhibitors showcasing millet-based products.
- APEDA has stepped into brand building of Indian millets; ‘Shree Anna’ to promote the consumption of millets and to create a niche market for Indian millets across the globe. Various sampling and tasting campaigns are being organized at significant destinations. Millets and millet-products are being promoted using cutting-edge comprehensive campaigns; encompassing social media, and digital branding.
In order to reorient APEDA and enable it to effectively pursue market access, provide commercial intelligence, promote quality and adherence to standards in agriculture exports, and handle Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) issues, the Government has approved restructuring of APEDA. Creation of 20 new posts has been approved under the restructuring plan. The restructuring plan also enables APEDA to hire Subject Matter Experts in various fields for a specific purpose and time.