Latest news with #BhupendraPatel
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Certainly our duty to keep roads in good condition': Gujarat CM asks officials to not take media coverage in negative manner
When the Gujarat government has increased the road network in the state, it is certainly its duty to keep those roads in good condition, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Tuesday. The CM made the remark while addressing a public gathering — Sampurnata Abhiyan Samman Samaroh — at Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar where two aspirational districts and 11 aspirational talukas of Gujarat who performed well on different indicators were felicitated. On the occasion, the CM talked about the issue of complaints of damaged roads during monsoon. He said that earlier, there were not many complaints related to conditions of roads since there were very limited roads. But now, the CM said, there is an extensive road network. 'Now, it won't do… that the roads are damaged after people start using them,' he said. The CM asked officials not to take media coverage about bad condition of roads negatively and to move on by repairing those roads. '…now when we have increased the proportion of roads, then it is certainly our duty to keep those roads in good condition,' the CM said. The CM also asked the officials to maintain quality in any work being done by them in the state. The function was also attended by Speaker of Gujarat Assembly Shankar Chaudhary and Additional Secretary and Mission Director of Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme at Niti Aayog Rohit Kumar, among others. The two aspirational districts from Gujarat, which were felicitated on the occasion, include Dahod and Narmada. The 11 aspirational talukas that were felicitated for their performance on the six indicators include Lakhpat, Rapar, Kukarmunda, Nizar, Tharad, Ghoghamba, Sayla, Garbada, Nandod, Santalpur and Subir. Performance of the districts and talukas were assessed on the basis of six indicators on issues like antenatal care, supplementary nutrition for pregnant women, generation of soil health cards, screening for people with diabetes and hypertension, and self-help groups receiving revolving fund. Launched in January 2018, the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) aims to quickly and effectively transform 112 most under-developed districts across the country, according to the website of Niti Aayog. The programme focuses on the strength of each district, identifying low-hanging fruits for immediate improvement and measuring progress by ranking districts on a monthly basis, it added.
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
Gujarat Confidential: A logo contest
In an attempt to encourage people to participate in Gujarat's 75th Foundation Day celebrations in 2035, the state government has launched a logo-design competition on the theme 'Gujarat@75'. The national-level competition is open between July 28 and August 14, during which people can submit a logo based on the theme that should be 'creative' and 'meaningful', on a government portal. The winning logo will get a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, while the top five will get a certificate from the Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel who launched the nomination process on Monday. What's In A Name On Monday, the passengers who booked seats on the Ahmedabad-Okha Vande Bharat Express were in for a surprise when they boarded a Tejas Express train instead, owing to technical problems. It turned out that the train operating on this route, Express No 22925, was actually a Tejas Express, not a Vande Bharat. Similarly, the 22926 Okha-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express, on its return journey beginning at 3:40 am on Tuesday, would also depart Okha railway station with Tejas coaches, said the officials. The railway officials from Western Railway (WR) said that they had received information that there 'were technical problems with the Vande Bharat Express' and that is why senior officials had decided to run a Tejas train by renaming it as Vande Bharat. This replacement configuration was only for a single round trip, and 'is in the same class as a Duronto', said the officials.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Gujarat: BJP MLA denies writing letter on fixed wage policy, alleges misuse
Porbandar BJP MLA Arjun Modhwadia clarified on Monday that he didn't write the letter addressed to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, circulating on social media, written on a letterhead by his name and bearing his signature. The MLA made the clarification on his social media letter talks about the issue of fixed wage policy in the state while asking the government to review the same. In his post, written in Gujarati language on X, Modhwadia stated, 'I have made representations regarding the issues of (government) employees with sensitivity, a number of times. However, the letter being tagged is not written by me. For publicity… the manner in which a campaign is being run with the help of an unauthorised letter… will jeopardize the interests of the employees. The BJP government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is sensitive.' He added, 'Instead of running unnecessary campaigns, only the path of dialogue will be useful.' Modhwadia told The Indian Express that somebody has misused his letterhead and signature in the letter. He, however, said that he is not going to lodge any police complaint in the matter.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
CM Bhupendra Patel has approved an Action Plan for AI implementation to position Gujarat as the nation's leader in AI-enabled governance
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, aligning with India's commitment to global AI leadership, Gujarat has developed an Action Plan for the Implementation of Artificial Intelligence. The Action Plan will serve as a time-bound blueprint to equip the state government with advanced AI capabilities. AI Implementation Roadmap – Focused on six key pillars: Data, Digital Infrastructure, Capacity Building, Research and Development, Startup Facilitation, and 'Safe and Trusted AI'. The goal is to train over 2.5 lakh individuals, including students, MSMEs, and government officials, in AI, ML, and related domains. Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel has approved the Action Plan for Implementation of Artificial Intelligence 2025-2030 to facilitate smart decision-making, citizen-focused schemes, efficient service delivery, and effective welfare programs through the application of Artificial Intelligence. Aligning with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision to position India as a global leader in digital empowerment and technology sectoral progress through extensive AI adoption, Gujarat has launched this Action Plan. This action plan of Gujarat has been announced in alignment with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision to leveraging widespread use of AI for digital empowerment and preparing India to lead the world in the technological sector. At the annual Chintan Shibir in Somnath in November 2024, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel declared that Gujarat will leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its administrative framework and government departments to lead in technology-driven governance and socio-economic progress, in line with the vision of Viksit Gujarat@2047. To realize this vision and embed AI in governance, healthcare, education, agriculture, fintech, and other critical sectors across the state, a 10-member expert AI Taskforce Committee has been established. The CM has approved the Action Plan for Implementation of A.I. 2025-2030, based on the Taskforce's recommendations. Prepared under the guidance of the CM, this Action Plan will serve as a time-bound blueprint to equip the state government with advanced AI capabilities. Furthermore, it will foster a robust, innovative AI ecosystem that ensures seamless service delivery, improved citizen welfare, and enhanced quality of life with prosperity. To ensure the structured and timely implementation of the action plan, the state will establish a dedicated AI and Deep Tech Mission. This mission will function as a specialized institutional mechanism, leading the design, implementation, and innovation of AI strategies and emerging technologies within the state government. Additionally, it will strengthen a robust ecosystem by fostering collaboration among startups, academic research, and industries. The mission will focus on skilling, reskilling, and upskilling the workforce in AI and related technologies. ------------------
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Gujarat approves action plan for Artificial Intelligence implementation in governance
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has approved the Action Plan for Implementation of Artificial Intelligence [AI] (2025–2030), setting the stage for the integration of AI into Gujarat's governance framework over the next five years. The plan aims to improve service delivery, strengthen administrative processes, and apply AI tools in sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and finance. This move aligns with the broader goals of Viksit Gujarat@2047 and the national mission of Viksit Bharat@2047, officials said. Prepared by the Department of Science and Technology based on recommendations from a 10-member AI Taskforce Committee, the plan will serve as a roadmap to equip government departments with AI systems and capabilities. It also supports the Centre's broader objective, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to expand the use of artificial intelligence in public policy, administration, and digital infrastructure. The State's action plan focuses on six major areas: building a secure and regulation-compliant data ecosystem; expanding GPU and cloud-based digital infrastructure, including setting up AI factories in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities; training 2.5 lakh individuals—students, MSMEs, and government officials—in AI, machine learning, and related technologies; promoting research and partnerships between academia and industry for building practical government-use AI models; supporting DeepTech startups with incubation, mentorship, and funding; and ensuring safe and responsible AI through audit systems, guidelines, and risk protocols. Implementation will be carried out in phases, starting with the creation of a State-level AI data repository, setting up AI development facilities, and launching pilot projects in selected departments. To oversee the entire effort, the Government will establish a dedicated AI and Deep Tech Mission. This institutional mechanism will lead the design, planning, and monitoring of AI projects while facilitating collaboration between academic institutions, industry players, and startups. Gujarat has already taken steps to strengthen its AI foundation, including the launch of an AI Centre of Excellence at GIFT City, the organisation of AI training programmes for public officials, and the issuance of an Expression of Interest for developing Indian language-based AI models. The state has also conducted an AI Innovation Challenge to encourage practical solutions.
