Page 5 - Jitendra Singh

New simplified pension application form released for central govt employees

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Friday launched a new simplified pension application form for retiring central government employees. A total of nine different forms have been merged into one form -- Form 6A -- that was launched by the minister through video-conference. Singh said the launch of the simplified form is yet another step by the government to ensure ease of living for citizens and pensioners. The new form will be available in Bhavishya/e-HRMS (portals) for all central government employees who are going to retire in December 2024 and onwards. Bhavishya is an initiative of Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare, which is launched with the goal to ensure payment of all retirement dues and delivery of Pension Payment Order (PPO) to retiring employees on the day of retirement itself. The system provides online tracking of pension sanction and payment process by the individual as well as the administrative authorities for all actions preparatory to grant pension and ...

Amid quota row, Centre asks UPSC to cancel lateral entry advertisement

In a letter to the UPSC, Jitendra Singh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly believes that the process of lateral entry should adhere to the principles of equity and social justice

Space economy receives Rs 1,000 crore venture capital in Union Budget 2024

Union Budget 2024-25: Indian space economy is expected to grow to $44 billion by 2033

Every 3rd Indian affected by fatty liver disease: Minister Jitendra Singh

Union Minister of Science and Technology launches the Indo-French Liver and Metabolic Disease Network to find India-specific interventions for metabolic disorders

PSUs engine of growth, development, says Union Minister Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said the country's public sector undertakings have lived up to the global benchmarks and they are the engine of its growth and development. Addressing an event here, he said "India, today excels in most of the global benchmarks, in some areas it is at par with other big nations, whereas in other areas it is much ahead of them." Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel, praised the public sector undertakings (PSUs) for their consistent contribution to the Indian economy and being the engines of growth and development. The rise of the Indian economy has been possible due to the contribution of the PSUs, he said. The PSUs have lived up to the global benchmarks and standards, the minister said. "It is due to their unparalleled efforts that India has risen in the global innovation index. Today, it is ranked 40 worldwide, ahead of many economies of comparable size, whereas it was at rank 81 in 2014," Singh was quoted as having said in a statem

India to become sixth country to have deep sea mission, says Jitendra Singh

Union Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said India is set to become the sixth country to have its own deep-sea mission. Chairing a meeting to discuss the ministry's 100-day action plan, Singh expressed pride and happiness on the progress of the deep-sea mission and India being among the very few nations to achieve this feat. He asked institutes to focus on achieving a resilient blue economy to empower people dependent on the ocean and its energy for livelihood. Singh said the deep-sea mission is not limited to mineral exploration but development of ocean sciences and exploration of flora and fauna and conservation of marine biodiversity. He lauded the National institute of Ocean Technology's (NIOT) efforts for the development of Matsyayaan 6000, which can dive 6,000 metres deep into the ocean. Taking stock of the progress, he directed officials to complete the first stage of the vessel's harbour trial by September and finish the subsequent ones by 2026. Singh ...

Reforms will continue to increase citizen-centricity: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said good governance reforms undertaken in the last decade will continue to increase citizen-centricity and ensure ease of living for every citizen. Assuming charge as Union Minister of State (MoS) for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions at his North Block office here, he said this third term of the NDA government would be a continuity of the work done over the last 10 years under the previous two dispensations headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi is in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. "Last 10 years have witnessed a series of revolutionary governance reforms happening under the guidance of PM Modi, which were basically inspired by the spirit of 'minimum government, maximum governance' and increasing citizen centricity to bring ease of living for every citizen of the country," Singh told reporters after taking over the charge of the ministry. He later told PTI that many people-friendly measur

Startups grew over 300 times in ten years: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

From just about 350 startups in 2014, their number in India grew over 300 times in the past ten years after Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Sunday. He said the country today has the 3rd largest startup ecosystem globally and is home to the fastest-growing unicorns. "For the first time in the history of independent India, Modi as PM made a painstaking and conscious effort to educate the youth of this country that employment is not confined only to a government job and he has promoted new avenues of livelihood which may be more lucrative than a government job," Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel, told PTI here. From just about 350 startups in the year 2014, startups in India grew over 300 times in ten years after Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister, he said. Singh further said, PM Modi unleashed India's space research by opening up the hitherto conservative and secluded sector. "India has literally reached for th

LS Polls: 1,400 polling stations to have webcasting facilities in Udhampur

A total of 1,472 polling stations out of 2,637 will be equipped with webcasting facilities in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur parliamentary constituency which is going to polls in the first phase on April 19, officials said. More than 16.23 lakh voters will decide the fate of 12 candidates, including Union Minister Jitendra Singh, in the fray from the constituency consisting of 18 assembly segments spanning five districts -- Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Udhampur and Kathua. The constituency, which was reshaped with three assembly constituencies of Reasi district carved out on the recommendations of the delimitation commission, had recorded 70.2 per cent polling in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Encompassing an expansive area of 16,707 square kilometres, the constituency boasts of a diverse electorate comprising 16,23,195 eligible voters. Among them are 8,45,283 male voters, 7,77,899 female voters and 13 third-gender voters, reflecting the inclusivity of the democratic process, they said. To

Parliament passes bill to curb malpractices in competitive examinations

Parliament on Friday passed a landmark bill that aims to curb malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations by including stringent punitive provisions, with Union Minister Jitendra Singh asserting that the bill is meant to deter those who play with the future of the youth. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, passed in Rajya Sabha, has provisions for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine up to Rs 1 crore. The bill was passed through a voice vote in Rajya Sabha on Friday, after amendments proposed by some opposition members were rejected. The bill was passed by Lok Sabha on February 6. Replying to a discussion on the bill in Rajya Sabha, Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, said the youth power of the country is "vital" and made it clear that the bill is meant to deter those who are playing with their future. "We can't allow vital youth power of this country to be surrendered or sacrificed in the hands

Highlights of the day: Budget session to be extended by a day till Feb 10

Updates: From CM Dhami tabling the UCC Bill in the Uttarakhand assembly to the devastating wildfires in Chile, catch all the latest updates from around the world here

LS passes bill to tackle malpractices, irregularities in competitive exams

A bill, which seeks to deal sternly with malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations with provisions for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine up to Rs 1 crore, was passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Piloting The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, Union minister Jitendra Singh said its provisions are meant to safeguard the interest of meritorious students and candidates. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha after rejecting amendments proposed by the opposition members. Singh said the government "will not allow meritorious (candidates) to be sacrificed at the alter of organised crimes". He added that the students and candidates do not fall in the purview of this bill and there will ne no harm to job aspirants. The move comes against the backdrop of cancellation of a series of competitive tests such as the teacher recruitment exam in Rajasthan, Common Eligibility Test (CET) for Group-D posts in Haryana, recruitment exam for junior cle

From women's participation to women-led development: Jitendra Singh

"...Indian women have graduated from the role of participation to the role of leadership and women's participation has evolved into women-led development," Singh said in a press conference on Tuesday

Viksit Bharat Sankalp has transformed govt work culture: Jitendra Singh

Earlier people had to go to government offices to get their work done but now the government has come to citizens' doorsteps, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Monday at a Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra event. The yatra, launched in November last year, is being undertaken across the country with an aim to attain saturation of flagship government schemes by ensuring that their benefits reach all targeted beneficiaries in a time-bound manner. "Through the 50-day yatra, there has been a change in mindset and social culture," Singh said. Earlier people had to go to government departments and officials to get their work done and seek delivery of services. This has been changed as it is now the government that has come to the doorsteps of citizens to serve them directly, he said at the event in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. "This has transformed the existing work culture," Singh said while speaking about the Viksit Bharat Sankalp initiative at Bhorthain panchayat in the ...

Gaganyaan mission: Isro to carry out final launch in 2025, says MoS Singh

Stating that 2024 is "very important" for the 'Gaganyaan', Singh said that multiple tests will be carried out to achieve the objectives of the mission

Good Governance Day: Govt launches new features on Mission Karmayogi portal

The Centre will launch curated training programmes for government employees on Good Governance Day on Monday, an official statement said. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is going to celebrate Good Governance Day on December 25, the statement issued on Sunday said. Singh, the Union Minister of State for Personnel, will launch three new features on the iGOT (integrated government online training) Karmayogi platform: My iGOT, blended programmes, and curated programmes, it said. My iGOT delivers targeted training courses on the home page of individual officers that directly address the unique capacity-building needs of the officer as identified in the capacity-building plan for their ministries/departments thereby facilitating a highly personalised, focused and targeted capacity-building experience, it said. More than 28 lakh users have onboarded the platform till now with about 830 high-quality e-learning courses being made available on the platform, said the statement

Rise in tourist footfall in Kashmir shows improved security: Minister

Nearly two crore tourist footfall in Kashmir this year speak for the improved security situation in the Valley, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Saturday and asserted that security agencies are taking necessary measures to counter terrorist activities. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Kathua district, he said it was not right to say that the security situation was deteriorating. About the ambush by terrorists who targeted two Army vehicles, killing five soldiers and injuring two, in Poonch district on Thursday, Singh said, "We cannot ignore these types of incidents and the agencies concerned are taking necessary measures to counter these." "About two crore tourists visited Kashmir this year... the number speaks for itself about the improved security situation in the Valley. The tourists visit any place only after making sure that it is safe for them and their families," the minister said. On the Supreme Court verdict on December 11 upholding the abrogatio

Centre received 194,500 public grievances so far this year: Jitendra Singh

The Centre received 19.45 lakh public grievances between January and November this year on the Centralised Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. The CPGRAMS is a web-based portal where citizens can file their grievances pertaining to the ministries and departments of government of India or states/UTs. "CPGRAMS receives about 20 lakh grievances on average every year from the public. In the year 2023, CPGRAMS portal has received 19.45 lakh citizen grievances (up to November 30) and about 19.60 lakh grievances, including backlog grievances, have been disposed of," Union Minister Jitendra Singh said in a written reply. He said the government has formulated a 10-step reform to ensure effective redressal of public grievances. This includes enhancing the capacity of CPGRAMS with the help next generation AI-enabled technology, breaking language barriers by making CPGRAMS available in all scheduled languages, establishment of da

Udhampur has been in top 3 in PMGSY scheme, says Union Min Jitendra Singh

We are working at a fast pace to ensure that the message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches every village and every person," he added

India considering development of SMRs to fulfil clean energy transition

India is considering steps for the development of small modular reactors to fulfil its commitment to clean energy transition, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Singh said small modular reactors (SMRs), with their unique features of modularity, scalability, small footprint and improved safety, present themselves as an attractive option for repurposing of retiring coal-based thermal power station sites. "In order to move away from fossil fuel consumption, SMRs can be installed and operated for repurposing the ageing fossil fuel-based power plants," said Singh, who is the Union Minister of State in the PMO and also oversees the functioning of the Department of Atomic Energy. Singh said there is a thrust the world over for a strategy to use nuclear power that can reduce the reliance on fossil fuels over the coming years. He said deploying SMRs across the country, especially in locations not suitabl