Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PM FME) Scheme.The schemebeing implemented by MoFPIis a landmark initiative under AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to support Micro Level Food Entrepreneurs, FPOs/SHGs/ Co- operatives. The program has four major components i.e., Support to individual and groups of micro enterprises; Branding and Marketing support; Strengthening institutional support and setting up robust project management frameworks with Tribal Sub plan being one of the important elements.M/oFood Processing Industries(MoFPI) would fund for development by incubation centers in tribal focused districts under PMFME Scheme for common processing and training to tribal entrepreneurs. PMFME Scheme provides for seed capital of up to Rs.40000/- to be given to members of SHGs and others engaged in food processing for working capital and purchase of tools.

M/oTribal Affairs (MoTA) would identify the tribal enterprises and groups (existing/potential to be engaged) in food processing sector including minor forest produce.MoTA through state, district and field level staff would train and build capacity for supporting and handholding of identified beneficiaries to be benefitted under PMFME scheme.TRIFED would provide handholding support to Tribal SHGs and Van Dhan SHG groups and their members in preparation of DPRs, application process, getting necessary technical training, etc. so as to enable them to benefit from various provisions under PMFME scheme including for capital investment. MoFPI and MoTA will review the status and implementation modalities from time to time.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal Ministry for the welfare of tribals. At the same time, there are 37 other Ministries, who have to spend assigned percentage of their budget as per mechanism designed by NITI Aayog, under Tribal sub Plan or Schedule Tribe Component (STC) for welfare of tribals. NITI Aayog and M/o Tribal Affairs have been monitoring STC component of such Ministries regularly as per the mandate given to the MoTA in 2017.The present collaboration between MoFPIand MoTA will go a long way in socio-economic development of STs across the country and strengthen STC mechanism.

• India and Government of France join forces to establish first Centre of Excellence for Power Sector

• Union Minister Shri R K Singh launched the Centre of Excellence virtually, in presence of Mr. Daniel Maitre, French Minister-Counsellor for Economic and Financial Affairs, Head of the Regional Economic Department for India and South Asia

• CoE to provide special training to trainers and assessors; annual capacity 300+ Posted On: 18 DEC 2020 6:02PM by PIB Delhi

In a significant development and in line with the commitment to skill development and vocational training, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, the Ministry of National Education and Youth, Government of the French Republic and Schneider Electric, today announced the inauguration of first Center of Excellence(CoE) for skill development in power sector in the campus of National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) located at Gwal Pahari, Gurugram (Haryana)to create a robust cadre of certified trainers and assessors across the country.

The CoE has high-end modern labs designed keeping in mind the future technology, which will further strengthen India and France's relationship in energy sector. Union Minister of State for Power (I/C), New & Renewable Energy (I/C) and Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Raj Kumar Singh inaugurated the Centre of Excellence virtually today, in presence of guest of honour, Mr. Daniel Maitre, Minister-Counsellor for Economic and Financial Affairs, Head of the Regional Economic Department for India and South Asia.

The establishment of CoE is a result of the MoU signed earlier between MSDE, Ministry of Education-France and Schneider Electric. Further, an operational MoU was signed between National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Schneider Electric India Foundation (SEIF), Power Sector Skill Council (PSSC) and National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) for establishment of the centre, and to undertake high level training and skill development in the field of power and solar.

Inaugurating theCoE, Shri. Raj Kumar Singh, Union Minister of State for Power (I/C), New & Renewable Energy (I/C) and Minister of State for Skill Development said, “India is taking rapid strides to move towards renewable energy to accelerate economic development, improve energy security and energy access while mitigating climate change challenges too.

Our success in achieving all of these demands for a rich pool of workforce in the energy sector to propel India to become one of the top leaders in the world’s renewable energy market. Sustained efforts towards boosting the growth of renewable energy sector will play a significant role in helping us inch closer to fulfill Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. Our partnership with Government of France for instituting the Centre of Excellence is another shining example of cooperation between the countries to achieve their long-terms energy goals.”

The CoE will focus on creating a pool of highly skilled trainers and assessors for further training to increase employability of candidates in the field of Electricity, Automation and Solar Energy Sectors. The centre will design and deliver Training for Trainers, Instructors, Training of Assessors and other high-end program in the power and solar sector.

National Rail Plan set to become the template of planning for future development

National Rail Plan has been developed to plan infrastructural capacity enhancement along with strategies to increase modal share of the Railways & Business

The objective of the Plan is to create capacity ahead of demand by 2030, which in turn would cater to growth in demand right up to 2050

As part of the National Rail Plan, Vision 2024 has been launched for accelerated implementation of certain critical projects by 2024 Future projects for implementation beyond 2024 in both track and signalling have been identified with clear cut timelines for implementation

Three Dedicated Freight Corridors, namely East Coast, East-West & North-South identified along with timelines. PETS survey already underway

Several new High Speed Rail Corridors have also been identified. Survey on Delhi-Varanasi High Speed Rail already under way Posted On: 18 DEC 2020 4:27PM by PIB Delhi

In an endeavour to address the inadequacies of capacity constraints and improve its modal share in total freight eco system of the country, Indian Railways has come up with Draft National Rail Plan.

A long term strategic plan called the National Rail Plan has been developed to plan infrastructural capacity enhancement along with strategies to increase modal share of the Railways. The National Rail Plan will be a common platform for all future infrastructural, business and financial planning of the Railways. This plan is being circulated among various Ministries for their views now. Railways aim to finalise the Final plan by January 2021.

The objective of the Plan is: • To create capacity ahead of demand by 2030, which in turn would cater to growth in demand right up to 2050 and also increase the modal share of Railways from 27% currently to 45% in freight by 2030 as part of a national commitment to reduce Carbon emission and to continue to sustain it. Net Zero Carbon emission by 2030.

• To assess the actual demand in freight and passenger sectors, a yearlong survey was conducted over hundred representative locations by survey teams spread all over the country. • Forecast growth of traffic in both freight and passenger year on year up to 2030 and on a decadal basis up to 2050.

• Formulate strategies based on both operational capacities and commercial policy initiatives to increase modal share of the Railways in freight to 45% by 2030. • Reduce transit time of freight substantially by increasing average speed of freight trains from present 22Kmph to 50Kmph.

• Reduce overall cost of Rail transportation by nearly 30% and pass on the benefits to the customers. • Map the growth in demand on the Indian Railway route map and simulate the capacity behaviour of the network in future.

• Based on above simulation identify infrastructural bottlenecks that would arise in future with growth in demand. • Select projects along with appropriate technology in both track work, signalling and rolling stock to mitigate these bottlenecks well in advance.

As part of the National Rail Plan, Vision 2024 has been launched for accelerated implementation of certain critical projects by 2024 such as 100% electrification, multitracking of congested routes, upgradation of speed to 160 kmph on Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai routes, upgradation of speed to 130kmph on all other Golden Quadrilateral-Golden Diagonal (GQ/GD) routes and elimination of all Level Crossings on all GQ/GD route.

• Future projects for implementation beyond 2024 in both track and signalling have been identified with clear cut timelines for implementation. • Three Dedicated Freight Corridors, namely East Coast, East-West & North-South identified along with timelines. PETS survey already underway.

• Several new High Speed Rail Corridors have also been identified. Survey on Delhi-Varanasi High Speed Rail already under way. • Assess rolling stock requirement for passenger traffic as well as wagon requirement for freight.

• Assess Locomotive requirement to meet twin objectives of 100% electrification (Green Energy) by December 2023 and also the increasing traffic right up to 2030 and beyond up to 2050.

• Assess the total investment in capital that would be required along with a periodical break up.

• Identify new streams of finance and models for financing including those based on PPP. •

For successful implementation of the National Rail Plan ,the Railways will be looking to engage with Private Sector, PSUs,State Governments and Original Equipment Manufacturers(OEM)/Industries.

• Sustained involvement of the Private Sector in areas like operations and ownership of rolling stock, development of freight and passenger terminals, development/operations of track infrastructure etc.

In effect the National Rail Plan envisages an initial surge in capital investment right up to 2030 to create capacity ahead of demand and increase the modal share of the Railways in freight by 45%.

Post 2030 , the revenue surplus generated would be adequate to finance future capital investment and also take the burden of debt service ratio of the capital already invested. Exchequer funding of Rail projects would not be required.