Ministry of Commerce & Industry
12-February, 2018 11:44 IST
National Productivity Council
The National Productivity Council is observing National Productivity Day today, and National Productivity Week till 18th February. It is the 60th Anniversary of the National Productivity Council and is being celebrated as Diamond Jubilee Year. "Industry 4.0 Leapfrog Opportunity for India " has been selected as the theme for the National Productivity Week -2018.
Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution as it is called, is emerging globally as a powerful force and is being called as the next industrial revolution. It is characterized by the increasing digitization and interconnection of products, value chains and business models. Industry. Industry 4.0 would mean the convergence of real and virtual worlds-the next phase in bringing together conventional and modern technologies in manufacturing. This will result in the "Smart Factory", which is characterized by versatility, resource efficiency, ergonomic design and direct integration with business partners.
The first industrial revolution was triggered by water and steam power to move from human labour to mechanical manufacturing. The second industrial revolution built on electric power to create mass production. The third used electronic and information technology to automate manufacturing. The fourth is the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies.
Manufacturing today is cutting edge and requires a high level of skill. Today, the global manufacturing sector is undergoing a structural transformation. Though India banks heavily on its Service Sector for growth, the Manufacturing Sector needs to fuel the high growth in India. Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, launched the 'Make in India' program to place India on the world map as a manufacturing hub. The Manufacturing Sector especially MSMEs play a pivotal role in the Indian economy and provide the largest share of employment after agriculture. In order to converge the aims of growth with employment it is important to increase the share of manufacturing in the country's Gross Domestic Product from 16% to 25% by 2022 and to create 100 million additional jobs by 2022.
Over its 59 years of existence, NPC has built extensive experience in problem solving right from the shop floor level to strategic and policy issues at the macro level. With nearly 140 full time consultants on its roll possessing a wide repertoire of skill/ expertise and a network of 13 regional offices at all major State capitals/industrial centres, NPC has the requisite professional strength as well as country wide presence.
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Ministry of Science & Technology
12-February, 2018 17:53 IST
“Budget gives big boost to investment in Science and Technology for brighter future”
It is heartening to note that the recent budget announcements have once again reiterated the Present Government’s intent and resolve to give full support to Science and Technology endeavours for the cause of national development.
Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences cover a very large canvas of R&D from deep oceans to mysteries of universe. The range personnel in these Ministries/ Departments encompasses grassroots innovators to top class of scientists. Their activities impact right from a farmer in a remote corner of the country to sophisticated industries such as aerospace.
To cater to such a large audience, it is necessary that adequate investments are made in scientific research, innovation and technology development. Present Government has consciously provided higher allocations for Science, Technology and Innovation promotion.
Budget allocation for Department of Science and Technology during last 5 years was Rs.19764 cr, which is a whopping 90% increase over the preceding 5 years (2009-10 to 2013-14). Similarly, there was an increase of 65% for Department of Biotechnology; almost 43% increase for Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; and 26% increase for Ministry of Earth Sciences during the last 5 years. The upward trend continued for budget allocation for 2018-19.
During the last 3-4 years our activities of Ministries of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences have been realigned and now there is a judicious mix of fundamental science and application science. This year’s budget announcement on Mission for Cyber-Physical-Systems is one such example of application science. Mission projects on Super computing; Aroma; Sickle cell anemia; and Biopharma are some illustrative examples of application and solution science initiatives. The list of such initiatives is very large.
Innovation and start-up activities have received a big support during this period. Business incubation facilities have almost been doubled. During 2018-19 itself, 15 new Biotechnology Incubators and 15-20 new Technology Business Incubators will be established to incubate start-ups. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) alone would support 3000 additional start-ups next year.
CSIR, amongst 100 top organisations in the world, spearheads the industry relevant research. The R&D efforts of CSIR are aligned to the needs of the domestic industry and the social needs of the nation. They cater to the initiatives such as Make in India; Swachch Bharat; Clean Ganga; Swastha Bharat; Smart Cities; Smart Villages; Clean, efficient, affordable and renewable energy technology solutions; and Innovate in India etc. in a significant way.
Any S&T intervention which facilitates farmers and farming activities to improve crop productivity makes a huge impact on rural economy. Agrometeorological advisories to farmers is one such mechanism which benefits them in their day to day farming operations. During 2018-19, these advisories will reach 50 million farmers from the present 24 million. ‘Biotech Kisan’ is another such initiative which is assisting farmers in 15 agro-climatic zones. Similarly, thousands of farmers are getting benefitted under Aroma Mission for cultivation of aromatic plants.
Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay Vigyan Gram Sankul Pariyojana for integrated development of cluster of villages in Uttarakhand through S&T interventions utilising local resources and local skills to provide opportunities of better livelihood at the local level is another example of a project targeted to benefit the common man.
Development of clean energy options and providing water related solutions and demonstration and deployment of other successful technology solutions will be pursued vigorously during the next financial year.
The way the present Government has made investments in Science and Technology endeavours and the new thrust given to several new initiatives which directly benefit the common man by the Ministry of S&T and Earth Sciences would translate such measures into prosperity and general welfare of the masses.
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The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan addressing the press conference on the subject of increased budgetary allocations to the Science & Technology sector, in New Delhi on February 12, 2018. The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma and the DG, CSIR, Dr. Girish Sahni are also seen.
The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan addressing the press conference on the subject of increased budgetary allocations to the Science & Technology sector, in New Delhi on February 12, 2018. The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma and the DG, CSIR, Dr. Girish Sahni are also seen.
The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh addressing a press conference, organised by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, in New Delhi on February 10, 2018. The Secretary, DoPT, Shri Ajay Mittal and the Secretary, DARPG & Secretary, Pension & Pensioners' Welfare, Shri K.V. Eapen are also seen.
The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh addressing a press conference, organised by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, in New Delhi on February 10, 2018. The Secretary, DoPT, Shri Ajay Mittal and the Secretary, DARPG & Secretary, Pension & Pensioners' Welfare, Shri K.V. Eapen are also seen.
The Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Ram Kripal Yadav inaugurating the International Training Programme on Financing Small Enterprises for Rural Development, at NIRD&PR, Rajendra Nagar, in Hyderabad on February 12, 2018.
The Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Ram Kripal Yadav addressing the International Training Programme on Financing Small Enterprises for Rural Development, at NIRD&PR, Rajendra Nagar, in Hyderabad on February 12, 2018.
The Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Ram Kripal Yadav in a group photograph with the delegates, at the International Training Programme on Financing Small Enterprises for Rural Development, at NIRD&PR, Rajendra Nagar, in Hyderabad on February 12, 2018.
The Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Ram Kripal Yadav inaugurated the 3KW Solar Power Generation Unit, at NIRD&PR, Rajendra Nagar, in Hyderabad on February 12, 2018.
The Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Ram Kripal Yadav reviewing the various training activates, at NIRD&PR, Rajendra Nagar, in Hyderabad on February 12, 2018.
The Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Ram Kripal Yadav reviewing the various training activates, at NIRD&PR, Rajendra Nagar, in Hyderabad on February 12, 2018.
The Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Ram Kripal Yadav taking review meeting with official of Department of Rural Development, Resources, Revenue and Social welfare of Government of Telangana, at Telangana state institute of Panchayati raj and Rural Development, in Hyderabad on February 12, 2018. The Minister for Panchayati raj and Rural Development, Telangana, Shri Jupally Krishna Rao is also seen.