Latest news with #V.K.Saraswat
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
NITI Aayog to engage closely with states
New Delhi: The NITI Aayog on Tuesday organised a day's regional workshop to foster structured engagement with states. The workshop held under the State Support Mission (SSM) in Dehradun was organised by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the State Institute for Empowering and Transforming Uttarakhand (SETU) Aayog, which is under the Uttarakhand government. It 'is the first in a series under the Central Sector Scheme to foster structured engagement between NITI Aayog and States/UTs through State Institutions for Transformation (SITs),' NITI Aayog said. The event aimed to bring together States and UTs to share their experience on SSM initiatives and learn from each other. The inaugural session was attended by Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog; Raj Shekhar Joshi, Vice Chairperson, SETU Aayog; Anand Bardhan, Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand; Shatrughna Singh, CEO, SETU Aayog and senior officers from NITI Aayog. They emphasised the crucial role of SITs in the growth of states and steering the state visions. The sessions focussed on the role of SITs in achieving state and national goals and the experts shared key insights on the structure of SITs, guiding principles, and priority areas, highlighting their role in supporting State vision and aligning with national priorities to drive socio-economic transformation. It also featured rich peer-learning with interventions and presentations from senior officers and SIT/planning representatives from Punjab, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh on the status of their SITs, structure and composition, priority areas, etc. Further, the session on data-driven governance highlighted platforms like the NITI for states portal and Viksit Bharat Strategy Room at NITI Aayog for evidence-based decision-making. DG, Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (BIPARD), Gaya, and a senior officer from Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie shared practical examples of integrating data governance into training for policymakers.
Hans India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
NITI Aayog rolls out 6-point road map for big push to medium enterprises
The NITI Aayog on Monday released a report offering a comprehensive six-point road map for transforming India's medium enterprises into future growth engines of the economy. The report highlights that medium enterprises comprise a mere 0.3 per cent of the country's MSMEs but account for 40 per cent of the sector's exports, and outlines targeted interventions to unlock their full potential. The report delves into the structural skew in the MSME sector, which contributes approximately 29 per cent to India's GDP, accounts for 40 per cent of exports, and employs over 60 per cent of the workforce. Despite its critical role, the composition of the sector is disproportionately weighted: 97 per cent of registered MSMEs are micro enterprises, 2.7 per cent are small, and only 0.3 per cent are medium enterprises, the report states. The report underscores key challenges faced by medium enterprises, including constrained access to tailored financial products, limited adoption of advanced technologies, inadequate R&D support, lack of sectoral testing infrastructure, and a mismatch between training programmes and enterprise needs. These limitations hinder their ability to scale and innovate. To address these issues, the report outlines a comprehensive policy framework with targeted interventions across six priority areas. These include introduction of a working capital financing scheme linked to enterprise turnover; a Rs 5 crore credit card facility at market rates; and expedited fund disbursal mechanisms through retail banks, overseen by the Ministry of MSME. Upgradation of existing Technology Centres into sector-specific and regionally-customised India SME 4.0 Competence Centres to promote the adoption of Industry 4.0 solutions. Establishment of a dedicated R&D cell within the Ministry of MSME, leveraging the Self-Reliant India Fund for cluster-based projects of national significance. Development of sector-focussed testing and certification facilities to ease compliance and enhance product quality. Alignment of skilling programmes with enterprise-specific needs by region and sector, and integration of medium enterprise-centric modules into existing Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programmes (ESDP). Creation of a dedicated sub-portal within the Udyam platform featuring scheme discovery tools, compliance support, and AI-based assistance to help enterprises navigate resources effectively. The report emphasises that unlocking the potential of medium enterprises requires a shift toward inclusive policy design and collaborative governance. With strategic support in finance, technology, infrastructure, skilling, and information access, medium enterprises can emerge as the drivers of innovation, employment, and export growth. This transformation is pivotal to realising the vision of 'Viksit Bharat @2047'. The report, titled 'Designing a Policy for Medium Enterprises.' was launched by Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog in the presence of V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog and Arvind Virmani, Member, NITI Aayog.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Strategic independence crucial in critical areas: V.K. Saraswat
Strategic independence in critical sectors is essential to safeguard national sovereignty, V.K. Saraswat, NITI Aayog member and former director, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), said here on Wednesday. Dr. Saraswat was speaking on 'Driving towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat through innovation and Intellectual Property (IP) monetisation' after inaugurating the National Technology Day celebrations at the CSIR-National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST). Strategy autonomy, resilient supply chains, domestic innovation capacity and technological sovereignty are vital aspects, he said. 'Strategic independence is crucial in critical areas where dependence weakens sovereignty or delays development or limits national innovation,' he said. India feels proud that weapons and equipment developed by the Indian scientific community in collaboration with industry partners performed so well during Operation Sindoor, he said. These contributions stand testament to the self-reliance India has achieved through the efforts of the scientific community, he said. Dr. Saraswat said his definition of self-reliance as 'the independence from controls of the international community.' This is vital in all sectors including trade and technology, he said. He defined leadership in science and technology, sustainability and green growth, entrepreneurship and digital economy and youth-led innovation as the foundations of the concept of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat.' Dr. Saraswat called for an IP-embedded governance model that supports the concept of 'Viksit Bharat's' goals for a $5 trillion economy. He underscored the need to shift India's Intellectual Property landscape from 'portfolio to performance.' Despite India's large startup base and innovation potential, low patent filings, weak IP culture in academia and MSMEs, and poor technology transfer from labs to markets hinder progress. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, presided. He highlighted the importance of technologies developed by CSIR-NIIST, emphasising their relevance in addressing pressing societal and industrial needs, including applications in strategic sectors. Five technologies developed by CSIR-NIIST were transferred at the event.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
CSIR-NIIST to organise conclave on intellectual property monetisation and technology transfer in May
As part of its golden jubilee celebrations, the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) is organising 'Conclave on Intellectual Property (IP) Monetisation and Technology Transfer' on May 14. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, will inaugurate the conclave. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, will preside. The conclave is aimed at empowering research organisations and industries to strategically protect IP, assess its commercial potential, and translate IP assets and know-how into marketable products. The event will also explore emerging trends in IP monetisation, including the creation of IP-based Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV), fundraising through share sales, and equity investments of IP in startups. For registration, visit the CSIR-NIIST website or contact R.S. Praveen Raj, senior principal scientist and convenor of the conclave, at 9995632522.
