MSME Ministry Organizes Transformative Workshop on Packaging for Toy and Doll Artisans under PM Vishwakarma Scheme in Varanasi; focuses on strengthening the 'Dolls and Toys' sector

India, April 17 -- The Government of India has issued a release: The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), organized a transformative workshop in Varanasi under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. The workshop focused on strengthening the 'Dolls and Toys' sector, while also delivering a specialized session on modern packaging techniques to support local artisans. The initiative aimed to bridge the gap between traditional craftsma...


  MSME Ministry Signs MoU with NICDC Logistics Data Services to Strengthen Data-Driven Logistics Ecosystem

India, April 17 -- The Government of India has issued a release: The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited (NLDS), a digital and data arm of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), to enhance logistics efficiency and promote data-driven policymaking for the MSME sector. NLDS functions under the guidance and support of the National Industrial Corridor Development...


Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah replies in Lok Sabha to the discussion on the Delimitation Bill, 2026; the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026

India, April 17 -- The Government of India has issued a release: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today replied in the Lok Sabha to the discussion on the Delimitation Bill, 2026; the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that 130 members participated in the discussion, including 56 women members. He said that during the debate, the opposi...


NHA Convenes Two-Day Chintan Shivir in Pune on AB PM-JAY and ABDM to review and accelerate AB PM-JAY and ABDM Implementation

India, April 17 -- The Government of India has issued a release: The National Health Authority (NHA), under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, convened a two-day Chintan Shivir in Pune on the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The Shivir brings together senior officials from the Central and State Governments to undertake a comprehensive review of progress, deliberate on emerging p...


Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying holds an important national meeting/workshop on Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), Artificial Insemination, Vaccination, and Bharat Pashudhan Portal

India, April 17 -- The Government of India has issued a release: A review meeting /workshop on key issues related to Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) of Livestock Sector Reforms, Artificial Insemination (AI), vaccination, and the Bharat Pashudhan Portal was conducted on 17th April 2026 in Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary, DAHD , Government of India, and witnessed active participation from senior officials and digni...


Empowered Committee for Animal Health reviews progress in strengthening animal health systems

India, April 17 -- The Government of India has issued a release: The 10th meeting of the Empowered Committee for Animal Health (ECAH), a think tank on animal health was held on 16th April 2026 in New Delhi under the aegis of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD). The meeting was chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, and vice-chaired by Secretary, DAHD, Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar. Dr Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretar...


CGST Delhi South Commissionerate unearths fraudulent availment of Input Tax Credit (ITC) of over Rs. 8 crore; director of company arrested

India, April 17 -- The Government of India has issued a release: Continuing its enforcement drive against Input Tax Credit (ITC) frauds, the Anti-Evasion Branch of the Central Goods & Services Tax (CGST), Delhi South Commissionerate, has arrested a director of a company dealing in assorted items for fraudulent availment/utilisation of Input Tax Credit (ITC) of more than Rs. 8 crore in violation of Section 16 of the CGST Act, 2017. Intelligence was developed through data-analytics that the taxp...


Major Policy Drive by NBA to Streamline ABS Fund Utilisation; Guidelines for Designated Repositories Revised

India, April 17 -- The Government of India has issued a release: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), in its 77th meeting held on 23rd March 2026 in Chennai, approved a series of measures to strengthen the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, including streamlined procedures for utilisation of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) funds and revised guidelines for designated repositories. The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) amount realised by the NBA must be channelled back t...


10 Cutting-Edge Indian Startups Selected for Cohort II of the IndiaAI Startups Global Acceleration Programme

India, April 17 -- The Government of India has issued a release: In a continued commitment to advancing India's AI capabilities on the world stage, the IndiaAI Mission, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has announced the selection of 10 cutting-edge Indian AI startups for the second cohort of the IndiaAI Startups Global Acceleration Programme, an international initiative developed in partnership with Station F, Paris and HEC Paris. The IndiaAI Startups Globa...


ARMY COMMANDERS' CONFERENCE CONCLUDES IN NEW DELHI

India, April 17 -- The Government of India has issued a release: The biannual Army Commanders' Conference (ACC) which commenced on 13 April 26, culminated on 16 April 26. The conference chaired by Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), was attended by apex military leadership and was addressed by senior functionaries in the government including the Cabinet Secretary, Chief of the Defence Staff, Defence Secretary and Chairman NSAB besides Chief of the Naval Staff. Aligned with the vision of evolving in...