Page 3 - Pinarayi Vijayan

Emerging technology hub will be set up at Rs 350 crore, says Kerala CM

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday announced the launch of an Emerging Technology Hub in the state capital by the Kerala Startup Mission. The hub, being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 350 crore will focus on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) across key sectors including agriculture, healthcare, defence, and renewable energy. Responding to a calling attention motion by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) legislator Manjalamkuzhi Ali in the Assembly, he added that this hub, being set up on a three-acre site in Technocity, Thiruvananthapuram. Vijayan added that the state government is formulating a draft Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy to include AI-driven software development, database creation, innovation centres, skill development initiatives, and support for AI startups. "In the recent state budget, the government announced key initiatives to support startups in the AI sector," he said. As part of this effort, a deep-tech ecosystem will be developed, including the

'North will make us secondary citizens': Revanth Reddy on delimitation row

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin held a meeting on delimitation in Chennai on Saturday, opposing a population-based approach; next meeting to take place in Hyderabad

Will fight until delimitation is conducted fairly: Stalin at first JAC meet

The JAC expressed deep concern over the lack of transparency and clarity in the impending delimitation exercise without any consultation with various stakeholders

Delimitation meet: Stalin backs legal fight, Pinarayi, Revanth share views

In the first Joint Action Committee meeting of states hosted by the Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK over the proposed delimitation of Parliamentary seats by the Centre, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday made it clear that the fight is likely to be taken forward to the legal realm as well. In the meeting, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the delimitation of LS seats was hanging like the "sword of Damocles," and alleged the BJP government was going ahead on the issue without any consultation. He said "This sudden move is not driven by Constitutional principles or democratic imperatives," but by narrow political interests. Delimitation, if done after Census will lead to an increase in seats for northern states, a reduction for southern states. Such a cut in seats for the south and, an increase for the north will suit the BJP as it holds greater influence in the north. Addressing the meeting here, CM Stalin, favoured setting up an expert panel to draw up the political and legal ..

PM Modi welcomes 'trailblazer, icon' Sunita Williams on return to Earth

Astronauts Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Barry 'Butch' Willmore have finally returned to Earth after their nine-month-long journey at the International Space Station

Kerala CSR scam: 1,343 cases registered, 6 persons nabbed, says CM Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said that scamsters collected Rs 281.43 crore from 48,386 people by promising scooters at half the price using CSR funds, but gave vehicles only to 16,348 people as per 386 cases registered into the CSR fund scam in which investigation began. Responding to a query raised by CPI(M) MLA Murali Perunelly on the status of probe into the CSR scam, Vijayan told Assembly that the police have registered 1,343 cases related to the scam till March 12. Of these, 665 cases have been handed over to the Superintendent of Crime Branch, Ernakulam, leading the special investigation team under the supervision of ADGP (Crimes), CM said. The CM was referring to the case where thousands of people were allegedly cheated by falsely promising two-wheelers and laptops at half price using CSR funds. The Chief Minister added that several crucial documents were seized from the prime accused, whose bank accounts have been frozen. The police have arrested six ..

Kerala's central tax share has halved from 10th to 15th FC: Vijayan

He tells that the Centre has double standards in dealing with borrowings of certain agencies in the state and those at the Centre as sovereign debt

Drug menace: Congress demands disbanding of SFI, targets Pinarayi Vijayan

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday alleged that SFI is mainly responsible for the widespread drug distribution and consumption in colleges and hostels in Kerala and CM Vijayan is "encouraging" them. He also demanded the disbanding of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student organisation of ruling CPI(M). The Congress's sharp reaction came in the wake of police seizing two kilograms of ganja from the men's hostel of a Government Polytechnic College in Kalamassery in Kochi on Thursday night and arresting two students. CPI(M) strongly rejected the charges saying that there is an agenda to eliminate SFI. The incident triggered a blame game among student outfit leaders, including those from the Kerala Students Union (KSU) and the SFI, over the alleged involvement of their activists in the crime. The Congress leadership has been alleging that SFI leaders were involved in the ganja seizure case and the left outfit is playing a key role in the spread of drug

Kerala Governor backs CM Vijayan in presenting state's demands to Centre

The Governor further emphasised that everyone should work together to achieve their goals 'without politicising' the issues

Kerala has emerged as most investment-friendly state in country: CM Vijayan

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has highlighted the ruling CPI(M)'s policies on attracting investments, saying the party's vision has made Kerala the most investment-friendly state in the country. Speaking at a public meeting as part of the four-day CPI(M) state conference on Sunday, Vijayan emphasised the need for resource mobilisation to drive Kerala's progress. "Some are spreading propaganda that the CPI(M) is planning something detrimental to the state," he said. Clarifying the party's stance, he said, "We welcome any capital that does not harm the interests of the country. However, we will not accept investments with conditions that are harmful to our interests. Kerala should attract such investments." He claimed that Kerala has emerged as the number one state in investment-friendliness, a fact acknowledged across the country. "As part of this, various companies are bringing investments to our state, as witnessed at the recently held Invest Kerala Global Summit. In the first

Kerala Assembly urges Centre to withdraw deep-sea mining proposal

The Kerala assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution urging the central government to withdraw its move to allow deep-sea mineral mining off the coast of the state. The resolution moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was passed amidst the opposition UDF MLAs protesting in front of the Speaker's dais accusing him of acting as an "agent" of the ruling front. The UDF MLAs were protesting for not allowing the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan to complete his speech before walking out as their demand to adjourn the business of the house to discuss ASHA workers' protest was not accepted. Due to this protest, the deep-sea mining resolution was passed without discussion. The Kerala government has already made it clear that the Centre's move to initiate deep-sea mining along the state's coast cannot be allowed at any cost and the concern of the state's fishermen community in this regard has already been conveyed to the union government. Both the criteria in the

Occurrence of crimes against women in Kerala is concerning: CM Vijayan

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said while crimes against women have come down in the state due to government interventions, their occurrence even now in a progressive society like that of Kerala was a matter of serious concern. Vijayan, after inaugurating the International Women's Day celebrations organised here by the Kerala Women's Commission (KWC), said that everyone needs to work together to ensure there are no crimes against women in the state. He further said that despite the southern state's history of empowering women, many of them were still not confident to come out in public spaces. "As a result, they are unable to make use of the various opportunities that are available to them nowadays. This needs to change," the CM said. He said that the KWC has been able to bring about notable changes in relation to women empowerment in society in the last three decades and expressed hope that its activities will continue to do so in future. The CM also said that Kerala

Kerala exploring ways to generate revenues without burdening people: CM

Kerala is always exploring ways to improve its finances by generating revenues without burdening the people, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said and asserted that the state's journey is quite exciting. Against the backdrop of persisting differences with the BJP-led Centre on various issues, including lower devolution of central funds and inadequate relief measures for Wayanad rehabilitation works, Vijayan took a swipe at the central government saying "Kerala is being left in the lurch even during disasters". In an interview to PTI, the strongman of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) also said the state wants to attract more investments. The two-day Investor Kerala Global Summit (IKGS), which concluded on February 22, attracted expressions of interest for investments worth Rs 1.53 lakh crore, with the government emphasising that all steps are taken to ensure that there are no cobwebs of procedural delays and red tapism. "We are always exploring ways to improve our finances,

Kerala CM assures all possible support to investors coming to state

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said that all possible support will be ensured to investors coming to the southern state. The CM gave the assurance during a round table meeting attended by 31 prominent investors of the country to discuss the prospects of the IT sector at the Invest Kerala Global Summit, according to a government statement. At the meeting, Vijayan said that the government attaches great importance to investments in the IT sector which does not require land and natural resources and was, therefore, suitable for a densely populated state like Kerala. The CM, in a post on social media platform X, referred to his meeting with the IT leaders and said that he was looking forward to "fruitful partnerships that drive growth and progress". "Interacted with IT leaders at the Invest Kerala Global Summit's Roundtable, reaffirming our commitment to making Kerala a top destination for technology investments. "With a skilled workforce, world-class IT parks, and

Adani lines up Rs 30K cr investment in Kerala for port, airport expansion

Gadkari assures Rs 3 trillion worth of road projects in state during current tenure of central government

Major changes underway to make Kerala a investment hub: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Highlighting the growth potential in the state, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said changes happening in the state are substantial and efforts are on to ensure an investor-friendly architecture. Inaugurating the Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS) here, he said every nerve will be strained and no stone will be left unturned to make the state an investment destination. "We take criticisms in our stride and try to understand what remains to be done in our march forward in making Kerala an investment destination," he emphasised. Vijayan is heading the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government for the second straight term. "Major strides have been made in simplifying the procedures," the chief minister said and stressed that the changes are not incremental but are substantial. The government considers itself as a facilitator and catalyst for investments, the chief minister said and added that serious steps are also being taken to transform the higher education sector. A

UGC draft regulations aimed at sidelining states from higher ed: Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that the draft UGC regulations of 2025 not only diminish the role of state governments in higher education, but in reality sideline them. The CM said that under the draft regulations, the states have no role in appointment of vice chancellors (VCs) and assistant professors in state-established universities and termed them as "undemocratic and excessive". He was speaking after inaugurating a National Convention here on the draft University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations of 2025 which was attended by ministers from the neighbouring states of Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He said that powers for appointing VCs have been given to Chancellors, who are the Governors appointed by the Centre, and therefore there was scope for politically motivated selections which would be harmful for the higher education sector in the country. He claimed that "gubernatorial excesses" were experienced by many opposition-ruled states, ...

Kerala to request extension for Rs 529.50 cr loan for Wayanad rehab

Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Tuesday said the state government would approach the Centre to request an extension for utilising its conditional loan of Rs 529.50 crore allocated for Wayanad rehabilitation. The state government had already termed the union government's stipulation to utilise the amount by March 31, as a "huge practical problem." Addressing reporters here, the FM said the Centre's directive to spend the loan amount within one and half months has triggered widespread criticism. It is normal to seek an extension of time in such a circumstance. Balagopal further said the state government is making all efforts to speed up necessary procedures and a high level meeting has already been convened in this regard. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is also making direct interventions to augment things, he said. "We are making efforts to complete requisite things on one side. We will also try to get an extension of time (to utilise the loan amount) on the other ...

Wayanad rehabilitation: No assistance from the Centre yet, says Kerala CM

The Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that while no assistance has come from the Centre till date for rehabilitation of survivors of Wayanad landslide, Rs 712.98 received in the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund will be used for helping the survivors. Vijayan said that the state had initially demanded a sum of Rs 2,221 crore for the landslide rehabilitation from the Centre, but as per the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report, more is expected. "As the Union Government declared Wayanad landslide as a 'disaster of severe nature' MPs from across the country can contribute up to a sum of Rs 1 crore and I have already written to all MPs in the country seeking help," he added. The CM was replying to a query raised by UDF MLA Kurukkoli Moideen during the question hour in the Legislative Assembly, on the amount received for the Wayanad package. Vijayan assured that the funds received in the CMDRF will be utilised for the benefit of the disaster survivors a

Kerala Assembly passes resolution seeking withdrawal of UGC guidelines 2025

The Kerala assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the central government to withdraw the draft UGC guidelines and issue a revised version. The resolution was moved in the House by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who said that the assembly was of the clear opinion that the draft UGC norms do not reflect the spirit of the Constitution. The CM said that universities in the various states function according to the laws passed by the respective state legislatures as they have the power to establish and supervise the universities. The central government only has the power to coordinate and fix standards for higher education and research institutions, he said. By ignoring these facts and without holding discussions with all the stakeholders, the Centre issued the draft guidelines which completely exclude the opinions of the state governments, including on the appointment of Vice Chancellors, and therefore, they are "incompatible with the federal system and democracy",