14-Oct-2022: India participates at the 6th East Asia Summit Education Minister’s Meeting
India participates at the 6th East Asia Summit Education Minister’s Meeting held today in Hanoi, Vietnam. Ms. Neeta Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Ministry of Education virtually addressed the gathering and informed about the key initiatives of National Education Policy 2020 and India’s collaborative efforts in education and research with partner EAS countries.
While addressing, she said that NEP 2020 encourages a holistic, flexible & multidisciplinary approach to education as envisioned by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and it is based on foundational pillars of access, equality, quality, affordability & accountability & is aligned with SDG 2030 goals.
She also mentioned the recently-launched PM SHRI scheme under which more than 14,500 schools will be developed across India with all components of NEP 2020 as exemplar schools. These schools will offer mentorship to other schools in their vicinity. She said that online, open & multi-modal learning has been promoted vigorously under our PM- eVidya and also mentioned various e-learning platforms like DIKSHA, SWAYAM MOOCS platform, Virtual Labs, e-PG Pathshala and National Digital Library, and many others.
Smt Neeta Prasad underlined that NEP 2020 focuses on the internationalization of education and building collaborations with other countries. She added that India greatly values educational cooperation with EAS countries. She also emphasised India's commitment to working with EAS member countries.
1-Oct-2021: Union Education Minister addresses 5th East Asia Summit Education Ministers’ Meeting
‘India is building global competencies to fulfill 21st century aspirations’, said Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education and Skill Development at 5th East Asia Summit (EAS) Education Ministers Meeting. Shri Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for Education and senior officials of the Ministry also attended the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pradhan reaffirmed India’s commitment foster long-term and mutually beneficial educational cooperation in sync with the complementarities outlined in the Manila Action Plan.
The Minister shared the objectives of India’s National Education Policy, including universalization of education, ensuring equity, quality, affordability & flexibility, technology-based learning and several others which uphold the principles of the Manila Action Plan on Education.
Shri Pradhan spoke about the multi-modal digital interventions, like PM-eVidya, Swayam, Diksha, etc. which ensured continuity of learning during the pandemic and also on the continuous efforts to ramp up the digital infrastructure to facilitate on demand learning and bridge the digital divide.
The Minister said that in line with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India remains committed to forge meaningful partnerships in making education and skills more inclusive, affordable, equitable, vibrant and aspirational.
Shri Pradhan also reaffirmed India’s support to strengthening research and academic collaborations, including in TVET, promoting student & academic exchanges for fulfilling aspirations of the students.
27-Sep-2022: Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh addresses 10th BRICS meet, calls for joint fight against common challenges
Addressing the 10th BRICS meet of Science & Technology Ministers through virtual mode today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh called for joint fight against common challenges.
In his opening remarks, he said that Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) countries face many similar challenges such as ensuring food, affordable healthcare and energy access for its people, and addressing environmental problems like climate change, biodiversity loss etc.
The Minister also underlined the importance of Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) in bringing together our researchers to tackle new and emerging challenges.
Mr. Wang Zhigang, Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology, China, Dr. Bonginkosi Emmanuel Nzimande, Minister, Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, South Africa, Mr. Paulo Alvim, Minister, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Brazil, Mr. Valery Falkov, Minister, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Russia took part in the 10th BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting along with senior officials and scientists.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, in order to resolve these challenges, it is imperative for us to join hands to innovate affordable scientific solutions. He pointed out that there are several areas where the lives of our people are directly benefited from our mutual cooperation like the establishment of a vaccine R&D centre, BRICS Network University, establishment of shared satellite constellation, mutual recognition of pharma products, etc.
The Minister said, BRICS Young Scientist Conclave, BRICS Youth Summits, BRICS Sports, and increase in exchanges amongst our scientific organizations, researchers and civil society have also strengthened our people-to-people contact.
Dwelling on the main session theme on “Strengthening BRICS STI Cooperation”, Dr Jitendra Singh said, BRICS countries must deepen cooperation in the areas like Health, Agriculture, Water, Renewable Energy, biotechnology, Electric mobility, ICT, AI, Robotics and Environment. He said, the network of BRICS countries can collaborate to develop joint S&T solutions, commercialized to fit their local economies.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, India would support BRICS efforts in developing innovative and inclusive solutions, including digital and technological tools to promote sustainable development and facilitate affordable and equitable access to global public goods for all. The Minister pointed out that in time to come, BRICS shall hold global importance for being the most populated marketplace, driven by the knowledge economy and underlined that BRICS countries can collaborate to develop joint S&T solutions suited to local economies.
Referring to India’s efforts and march in STI area, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has always emphasized that ultimate aim of all scientific endeavour is to bring “Ease of Living” for common man; and a “science-based development”. He said, India is moving along the mantra of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, and Jai Anusandhan,’ which essentially believes in coordination of various sectors to make India a global centre of research and innovation.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, in the last eight years, Government R&D expenditure has almost doubled. In this year's budget, Rupees 14,800 Crore has been allocated for Ministry of Science and Technology. A budget of ₹5,000 crore has been allocated for the creation of a National Research Foundation (NRF). He said, as a result of increased investment, India has reached 3rd position in scientific publication as per NSF database and the country has featured within the top 50 innovative economies globally (at 46th rank), as per Global Innovation Index (GII). It has also reached 3rd Position in terms of number of PhDs, in size of Higher Education System; as well as in terms of number of Start-ups, the Minister added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to disrupt our world and India, being the fastest growing economy with the second largest population in the world, has a significant stake in the AI revolution. Recognizing this, we have established 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) in the country. International collaboration is embedded in it and we welcome researchers from foreign countries for collaborative research and sharing of knowhow, the Minister emphasised.
In the closing session, where BRICS STI Declaration 2022 was adopted, Dr Jitendra Singh said, advancing BRICS innovation enterprises, developing next generation BRICS scientific leadership and enabling resource sharing should be our guiding strategy of BRICS STI partnership. He said, BRICS countries may explore opportunities of technology transfer & mechanism thereof and adaptation of intra-BRICS technologies among member nations.
He said, “The BRICS Innovation Action Plan 2022-23” adopted would help sharing best practices and networking among BRICS Innovation ecosystem and innovation actors. India looks forward to deepen the BRICS collaboration in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Dr Jitendra Singh thanked China for hosting 2022 BRICS Summit successfully and organising a series of high-level sectoral meetings including the 10th Meeting of BRICS S&T Ministers and 12th Meeting of Senior officials.
18-Jan-2022: Activities of 2022 discussed at BRICS STI Steering Committee: India to host 5 events
India will host five events in 2022, namely BRICS Startups Forum meeting, Working Groups meetings on Energy; Biotechnology & Biomedicine; ICT & High-Performance Computing; STIEP (Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Partnership) Working Group Meeting and the launching of BRICS innovation Launchpad as a microsite( Knowledge Hub), as per discussions at the 15th meeting of the BRICS Science Technology Innovation (STI) Steering Committee on 17th January 2022.
The Calendar of BRICS STI activities and expected deliverables were discussed at the meeting organized virtually. India has successfully handed over the BRICS Chairmanship to China from January 2022. The theme for BRICS 2022 is “Foster High-Quality BRICS Partnership Usher in a New Era for Global Development”. A series of sectoral events and meetings, including Minister level and BRICS Summit, will be organized during the year.
The BRICS STI Steering Committee meeting was attended by representatives from BRICS scientific ministries, foreign Missions. From the Indian side, meeting was led by Shri Sanjeev Kumar Varshney, Advisor & Head International Cooperation, Department of Science and Technology.
During the meeting organized virtually, the Chinese side presented broad outline of activities to be carried out during the whole year. It mainly includes thematic meetings, BRICS Young Scientist Conclave, Senior official, and Ministerial level meetings. A total of 25 events have been planned, of which India will host a total of five. DPIIT is the main executing agency for BRICS startups Forum and creation of innovation Knowledge Hub. The BRICS Young Scientist Conclave will be held in September 2022 in a virtual format, and thematic focus may be Carbon peak neutralization; Biomedicine, Artificial Intelligence, Material Science; Modern Agriculture.
China has proposed to host the 10th BRICS S&T Ministerial meeting and Senior Official Meeting in September 2022. The meeting theme would promote Open, Inclusive, and Shared Science, Technology, and Innovation. At the sideline of the Ministerial meeting, an exhibition will be organized showcasing outcomes of successful projects supported under the BRICS Framework Programme( 2015-2022).
The meeting also discussed the finalization of BRICS Calendar of scientific events and programs. It was agreed that by the end of this month, all countries will notify the specific dates, venue, and format of meeting. India tentatively indicated willingness to host the STIEP working group meeting on 23rd – 24th March 2022 and BRICS Startups Forum Meeting in May/June 2022.
19-Sep-2022: Shri G. Kishan Reddy addresses the Tourism Ministers’ meeting of the BRICS member countries virtually today
The Tourism Ministers meeting of the BRICS member countries was held virtually today on 19th September and was attended by Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER. China took Presidency of the BRICS Council in 2022 from India. Today Ministers’ meeting was after two levels of Senior officers meet held virtual on August and September.
The Tourism Ministers’ of the other countries viz Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa participated in Meeting and adopted the Comminique on the theme Green Growth, Sustainable Development and Resilient Recovery. During India’s chairship of BRICS in 2021 key emphasis was put on sustainability, shift to renewable resources, job creation, encouraging green and sustainable tourism practices for accelerating tourism recovery. Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Tourism Minister stated that India had launched the BRICS alliance for Green Tourism during BRICS chairship of India last year. It promotes measures which can shape a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive tourism sector. It can accelerate the recovery and development of tourism on sustainable lines. India also attaches great importance to implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to promoting sustainable development in the tourism sector to address the challenges in environmental protection and climate change.
The Ministry’s approach is to focus on post COVID growth and development of tourism sector and priority areas like Cultural Tourism, Adventure tourism, MICE, Medical, Wellness Tourism and Rural Tourism for which the following major initiatives have been identified :-
- Green Growth and sustainable development
- Digital Tourism
- Destination Management
- Tourism and Hospitality Skill Development & MSME Development
This will also be reflected in India’s SCO Presidency and G20 Presidency in 2022-23.
13-Jul-2021: Minister for Tourism Shri G. Kishan Reddy chairs the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ meeting today
Minister for Tourism Shri G. Kishan Reddy chaired the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ meeting on 13 July, 2021, as part of India’s BRICS chairmanship. The Ministers of all the member countries viz. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa participated in the meeting.
India organized the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting as an effective means to promote tourism cooperation among BRICS countries. The meeting reviewed the intra BRICS Tourism cooperation. The significant aspect of the meeting was the adoption of the Ministers’ Communique, an outcome document on cooperation and promotion of tourism between the BRICS countries. The Ministers’ Communique recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely endangered public health and has presented immense challenges to the implementation of sustainable development goals.
Tourism Minister Shri G Kishan Reddy stressed on the importance of the BRICS member States to have a good understanding of each other’s tourism products and offerings so as to encourage further growth of tourist inflow between the BRICS member countries. Shri Reddy also mentioned that the common tourism products in BRICS countries such as heritage & culture tourism, nature, wildlife, Eco tourism etc., present an opportunity for greater cooperation and exchange of information and best practices.
Further, to promote tourism for the future, it was recognized that BRICS alliance for Green Tourism can accelerate the recovery and development of tourism on sustainable lines. Some of the key elements of the BRICS alliance for green tourism are mainstreaming sustainability into the tourism sector policies, conservation efforts, sustainable development goals, shift towards renewable source of energy, conservation efforts for green tourism which will encourage investment in nature based solutions and supporting the fragile eco systems.
The BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting also highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation in tourism in the areas of promoting responsible and sustainable tourism, investment in tourism infrastructure, close interaction between tourism enterprises and human resource development. The Ministers resolved to work together to realise the full potential of BRICS countries through cooperation in the tourism sector.