Page 7 - NIS English 01-15 March, 2025

PETROL AND DIESEL ARE

NOW AVAILABLE AT PACS

The government has allowed Primary
Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to operate
retail petrol and diesel outlets as well as LPG
distribution in a bid to expand its role in the
cooperative sector. In this regard, the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued revised
guidelines. for the selection of regular and rural
retail shop dealers. In this context, 286 PACS from
25 states and union territories submitted online
applications for setting up petrol and diesel
outlets, out of which the oil marketing company
has selected 26 PACS.These committees have
been linked to more than 20 activities so far Union Home and Cooperatives Minister Amit Shah,
because of the bylaws enacted to make PACS while chairing a meeting of the Parliamentary
viable. Now they have started providing other Advisory Committee on The Cooperatives Ministry
services, including common service centers, Jan expressed confidence that soon PACS will also be
Aushadhi Kendras, booking of railway tickets. able to sell airline tickets.

PM SURYA GHAR: MORE THAN INDIA WILL BECOME THE

8.46 LAKH FAMILIES BENEFITED GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT HUB

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is the world's largest India will become the centre of global
domestic rooftop solar energy scheme. It has successfully entertainment. The Government of India is
completed a year empowering India’s solar revolution. constantly working on creativity and new genres.
The scheme is to provide free electricity to households by Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the
facilitating rooftop solar panels. As of January 27, 2025, advisory board of the World Audio Visual and
8.46 lakh households have benefited from rooftop solar Entertainment Summit (WAVES), which brings
installation under the scheme. The top five states with the together the world of entertainment, creativity, and
highest number of families benefiting from the scheme are culture. In the meeting, dignitaries from various
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Rajasthan. sectors not only reiterated their support but also
By March 2027, the scheme is targeted to be expanded to shared valuable suggestions on how to further
10 million households. our efforts to make India a global entertainment
hub. The highlight of Waves is the Create in India
NSDC TO EXPAND THE FIELD OF Challenge, for which over 70,000 participants
SKILL DEVELOPMENT have submitted applications. Key events include
the Animation Film Making Competition, Trailer
Creation Competition, Waves 2025 introducing
The central government under the leadership of Prime AI-powered solutions to combat misinformation in
Minister Narendra Modi has been constantly focusing live broadcast, the ‘Reel Making’ Challenge, Waves
on skill development. In this context, the National Skill Comics Creator Championship, and many more.
Development Corporation (NSDC) has recently decided Thousands participated in these events from
to expand skill development opportunities across countries around the world.
the country. 50 new Future Skills Centres and 10 NSDC
International Academies are planned to be established to
advance skill development and training programs. More
than 300 programs will be run covering 12 key emerging
technologies as per the need of the industry. It aims
to train more than 2 lakh people and prepare training
infrastructure in 2.70 lakh square metres.