The Ninth Edition of India – Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise SLINEX (Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise) is scheduled at Visakhapatnam from 07 Mar to 10 Mar 2022. The exercise is being conducted in two phases; the Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam on 07-08 Mar 22 followed by the Sea Phase on 09-10 Mar 22 in the Bay of Bengal.

Sri Lanka Navy will be represented by SLNS Sayurala, an advanced offshore patrol vessel and the Indian Navy by INS Kirch, a guided missile corvette. Other participants from the Indian Navy include INS Jyoti, a Fleet support tanker, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Seeking and Chetak Helicopters and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The previous edition of SLINEX was conducted off Trincomalee in October 2020.

SLINEX aims to enhance inter-operability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies. The Harbour Phase would include professional, cultural, sporting and social exchanges. Exercises during Sea Phase will include surface and anti-air weapon firing exercises, seamanship evolutions, aviation operations including cross deck flying, advanced tactical manoeuvres and special forces operations at sea. These will further enhance the high degree of inter-operability already existing between the two navies.

SLINEX exemplifies the deep maritime engagement between India and Sri Lanka and has grown in scope over the years to strengthen mutual cooperation, in consonance with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and Hon’ble PMs vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2022, Union Minister for MSME, Shri Narayan Rane along with Minister of State for MSME, Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma launched a Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women -“SAMARTH“ at New Delhi in the presence of Secretary (MSME), AS&DC (MSME), Chairman (KVIC), Senior Officials of the Ministry and women entrepreneurs.

Congratulating women at the Event, Shri Narayan Rane said that the MSME sector offers a plethora of opportunities for women and the Ministry of MSME, through its schemes and initiatives, is continuously making efforts to develop entrepreneurship culture among women by offering several additional benefits for women in the schemes implemented by the Ministry. Shri Narayan Rane announced a Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women -“SAMARTH” being implemented by the Ministry to provide them with an opportunity to be self-reliant and independent by undertaking self-employment opportunities.

Shri Bhanu Pratap said that the Ministry of MSME envisions greater participation of women in the MSME sector and therefore will work hard to promote entrepreneurship. Women today are creating exceptional and ground-breaking accomplishments in every sphere of life and are optimistic about what the future holds for them. With the increased supportive initiatives by the government, we together can usher in a new era in India`s future.

Under the Samarth initiative of the Ministry, the following benefits will be available to aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs:

20% Seats in free Skill Development Programs organized under skill development schemes of the Ministry will be allocated for Women. More than 7500 women will be benefitted.
20% of MSME Business Delegations sent to domestic & international exhibitions under the schemes for Marketing Assistance implemented by Ministry will be dedicated to women owned MSMEs.
20% Discount on annual processing fee on NSIC’s Commercial Schemes
Special Drive for registration of women-owned MSMEs under Udyam Registration
Through this initiative, the Ministry of MSME is focusing on providing Skill Development and Market Development Assistance to women and more than 7500 women candidates from rural and sub-urban areas will be trained in the FY 2022-23. Besides, thousands of women will be getting marketing opportunities to showcase their products in domestic and international exhibitions.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment is celebrating Iconic Week from 7th to 13th March 2022, as a part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. On this occasion, Dr Shashank Goel, Additional Secretary/Director General of Employment, Ministry of Labour and Employment launched an e-Book touching upon the journey of NCS so far, on 07.03.2022 at Shram Shakti Bhawan, New Delhi. During the launch, he said that the scope of the NCS Portal is continuously expanding to provide more and more services to the youth since the launch of the Project by Hon’ble Prime Minister on the 20th July 2015.

The e-Book of National Career Services is an effort to condense the various stakeholder activities involved in the project and provides a snapshot of the Journey of the National Career Service, key achievements and glimpses of success stories since the inception of the NCS portal.

Under the NCS Project, so far more than 94 lakh vacancies have been mobilised on the NCS Portal. Besides, more than 2 lakh Jobseekers have got jobs through job fairs organised under the NCS Project.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment is implementing the National Career Service (NCS) Project as a Mission Mode Project for the transformation of the National Employment Service to provide a variety of employment-related services like job matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses, internships etc. All the services available in the portal (https://www.ncs.gov.in ) are free of cost for all stakeholders including jobseekers, employers, training providers and placement organizations. The Career contents for more than 3600 occupations is available on NCS Portal for counselling purpose.