Speak mother tongue, respect Hindi too: Minister G Kishan Reddy
'It is very important that we all speak in our mother tongues and also respect the other languages of our country. This is also our moral responsibility. The use of Indian languages is crucial for national unity and social harmony. Hence, let us all take a pledge to preserve our mother tongues and move forward together,' Kishan said.
Pawan Kalyan asks people to 'love Hindi'
The Department of Official Language, MHA, organised its golden jubilee celebrations — Dakshin Samvad. Pawan Kalyan called upon the people to 'love Hindi, which is a link language in the country'.
The Andhra Pradesh deputy CM said that people were learning foreign languages but indulging in politics over Hindi.
Pawan Kalyan said that around 31 per cent movies were being dubbed in Hindi. 'We need Hindi for business. Then what is the objection to learning Hindi?' he asked.
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Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Gujarat to create genome database of tribal communities: what's the project, why
In a first in the country, the Gujarat government has announced a genome sequencing project to create a database from 29 tribal groups across 17 districts of the state. The exercise, a local extension of the recently completed Genome India Project (GIP), will be carried out over the next five years. The entire eastern belt of Gujarat, which shares borders with Rajasthan in the north, Madhya Pradesh in the east and Maharashtra in the south, has districts with a predominantly tribal population. The Genome India Project — its report was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January — saw 10,000 genomes from 83 diverse groups processed and stored at the Indian Biological Data Centre. It had around 1,800 samples from Gujarat, which included around 100 samples from tribal communities, not enough to represent them. Thus, the Gujarat Tribal Genome Sequencing Project aims to gain critical insight into the genetic makeup of these tribal groups, which, at 15% of the state's population, consist of approximately 1 crore people. This initiative is also expected to enrich the Central Genome India dataset. The project, approved in the Gujarat budget of 2025-26, will be helmed by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC). Implications of the project Mona Khandhar, Principal Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, said the understanding of genome characteristics will help the government in making more focused programmes. Subject enrollment will take place after a formal launch of the project by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, so that awareness begins before field researchers go to the villages. 'Our field teams will seek help from the local administration, communities, as well as the political leadership. This is why it was important to explain the project to MPs and MLAs. We are also taking help from researchers at Birsa Munda Bhavan and the Tribal Development Department,' said a scientist involved in the project. The project's six-point agenda includes capturing the unique diversity of India's population, improving diagnosis of rare diseases, supporting development of novel drugs, developing precision medical treatments tailored to genetic profiles, building a genomic reference panel for the tribal population, and boosting public health research infrastructure. Many among the tribal communities from Gujarat have excelled in sports. Director of GBRC Prof Chaitanya Joshi said, 'These tribes can be very good in, say, archery, or skills other communities may not have. So what are the genes associated with that? With this project, skill sets associated with genes can be identified.' Health aspect Health problems like malnutrition, anaemia, low BMI, prevalence of genetic diseases like sickle cell anaemia, G6PD deficiency are common in the tribal communities in Gujarat. Scientist and Joint Director at the GBRC Amrutlal K Patel said, 'So far, the medicines developed have been studied on the western population and we haven't explored the Indian genome. Diseases are more prevalent in specific communities and ethnicity also due to the Indian tradition of endogamy, as a result of which genome variations are conserved within castes.' Patel gave an example of how deaths due to organ failure were reported in certain tribes when they crossed 30 years of age. Two years ago, the GBRC researched some patients and their first degree family members, and found this was due to the mutation of the transthyretin (TTR) gene, resulting in the aggregation of protein that reached the organs, causing failure. Some mutations increase the chances of a disease, for instance BRCA1 and 2 genes in breast cancer. These are generally detected after 50 years of age and after tests. 'We can identify these in advance and design a policy that can prevent the prevalence of breast cancer. All these measures decline the disease burden on the community and thus the state government,' a scientist said. The process As part of this project, scientists will collect samples from 4,158 individuals from various tribal communities, including data on their physical measurements and blood biochemistry, and create a 2,000-strong diverse database of tribal genomes. 'We will genotype the samples and remove those that are genetically close to each other. Out of 4,158, we will do SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) type genotyping and take those with the most diverse genetics. 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The analysis After the samples have been collected, they will be stored at GBRC, where haematological and biochemical analysis of blood samples will take place. 'First, when the samples come from the field to the lab in Gandhinagar, they will be given Unique IDs. So those who receive the samples will neither know the gender nor the tribe of the person whose sample they are running through the process. This first round of encryption will be stored in our servers. Then, when it goes into the final process of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), the data will be encrypted for the second time,' said a researcher close to the project. Joshi said Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, which have 22% and 21% tribal population respectively, have shown interest in the project. 'Modalities on whether they want to be a part of it or contribute to it will be decided by the state, but if they approach us, we are ready.'
Mint
16 minutes ago
- Mint
PM Modi to visit UK, Maldives from July 23 to 26; bilateral talks and Independence Day celebrations in focus
The Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday, 20 July 2025, announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United Kingdom and the Maldives between 23 and 26 July 2025, according to the official statement. During the first phase of the travel itinerary, PM Modi, at the invitation of the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will pay an official visit to the United Kingdom from 23 to 24 July 2025, marking the Indian PM's fourth visit to Britain. According to the official announcement, PM Modi will hold talks on the entire India-UK bilateral relations and also hold discussions regarding the views on issues of regional and global importance. PM Modi is also expected to visit and meet King Charles III during his visit to the UK. India and the United Kingdom are both expected to review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education and people-to-people ties. The President of the Republic of Maldives, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, has officially extended an invitation to PM Narendra Modi to visit the island nation as their 'Guest of Honour' for the 60th anniversary of the Independence of Maldives on July 26, 2025. The second part of PM Modi's travel itinerary will involve him visiting the Maldives from 25 to 26 July 2025, marking the Prime Minister's third visit to the island nation. PM Modi and President Muizzu will both hold discussions on issues of mutual interest and also account on the progress of the implementation of the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a 'Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership.' This mission was adopted during President Muizzu's visit to India in October 2024, which reflects India's attachment to its maritime neighbour, the Maldives. The Maldives 'continues to hold a special place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Vision MAHASAGAR. The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to further deepen and strengthen the close bilateral relationship,' said the Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday, in an official statement.
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Local rare-earth production to take time, govt support needed for EV sector: Kinetic Green CEO
Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Founder and CEO of Kinetic Green , has called for government intervention in the rare-earth materials issue, stating that while the Indian electric vehicle (EV) sector has managed to cope in the short term, it will face significant challenges ahead, as "it's not easy to change your product design and supply chain." Kinetic Green founder emphasised that it could take at least two to three years for the players in the automobile sector to localise the supply chain or adopt alternative technologies. "It will impact the industry if it's not solved because it's not easy to change your product design and supply chain. The EV sector is scrambling somehow to manage for the short run. But I think there has to be a government-to-government solution very soon in the medium term. Because it will take two to three years to try to localise the supply chain or change the technology altogether. So I think it's important that this is resolved," Sulajja Firodia Motwsaid during the unveiling event of the company's electric Luxury Golf & Lifestyle Cart in partnership with Tonino Lamborghini SpA of Italy. She further added, "We faced a similar situation in COVID on semiconductors; if you remember, the government did follow through and resolve it. I'm hopeful that something will emerge from this." She added that until the issue is solved, the company is working on developing alternative technologies to mitigate the adverse impact of such restrictions arising from global geopolitical moves. "But in the meantime, we are finding alternatives so that the business can continue, but it's not ideal to do that, and also maybe not everybody can. So it (restrictions on rare-earth material by China) will impact the sector," she added. The central government has earmarked ₹1,345 crore to incentivise rare earth magnets production in India. For context, early this April, China announced a decision to implement export controls on certain rare earth-related items, pushing a supply shortage across the world, including India. Meanwhile, India is in touch with the Chinese side, seeking predictability in the supply of rare earth metals -- which had been put under the export controls regime by the Xi administration. China's overwhelming control of global rare earth processing - commanding over 90 per cent of the world's magnet production capacity - has created significant vulnerabilities for industries worldwide. These materials are critical across multiple sectors, including automobiles, home appliances, and clean energy China, there are only a few alternative suppliers of critical minerals. The Union Cabinet in January 2025 approved the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with an expenditure of Rs 16,300 crore and an expected investment of Rs 18,000 crore by Public Sector Undertakings. Recently, Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy said the central government is actively encouraging private companies to mine and explore critical minerals overseas and bring them back into the country to serve the needs of the domestic industry. Speaking on the incentives to the industry, Motwani said, "The government has to continue supporting the adoption of EVs. Once we come to, today we are at about 7-8 per cent EV. Once we come to 25-30 per cent EV, then we'll have critical mass on supply chain, on scale, and on ecosystem. "We have begun well, but we are far from done. The government must continue supporting the adoption of electric vehicles," she added. She further noted the resistance from traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) players who have vested interests in maintaining the status quo. "There is a large counterforce from existing ICE manufacturers who naturally want to protect their investments and may not wish to see EVs succeed. However, it's encouraging that the government remains focused. Schemes like EMPS and the PM-eBus Sewa, lower GST rates, ecosystem support, and a strong Make-in-India push should continue to drive demand and adoption," Kinetic Green founder asserted.
