Daily PIB Highlights (12-09-2025)

Topic 1: NIFT Patna & ABFRL MoU to Empower Jeevika Didis in Bihar

GS Paper 2: Governance | GS Paper 3: Inclusive Growth & Employment

Context: National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Patna, under the Ministry of Textiles, signed an MoU with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) in the presence of Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh. The collaboration seeks to empower rural women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) – Jeevika Didis by providing industry-linked skill training and formal employment opportunities in Bihar’s textile sector.

Key Highlights:

• • Skill Development: Training in garment manufacturing, quality control, and machinery operation at NIFT Patna.
  • Employment Linkage: Direct job opportunities for Jeevika Didis at ABFRL’s upcoming manufacturing unit in Begusarai district.
  • Scale: Immediate outreach to 3.5 lakh women in Begusarai, with expansion to adjoining districts in the future.
  • Jeevika Programme: Implemented by Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS) with GoI & World Bank support; mobilized 1.4 crore rural women into SHGs.
  • Academia–Industry Synergy: Connects NIFT’s academic expertise with ABFRL’s modern production needs.

Strategic Significance:

• • Strengthens women empowerment by ensuring financial independence, dignity, and decision-making power for rural women.
  • Boosts industrial development in Bihar, creating a structured pathway from training to livelihoods.
  • Serves as a replicable model for skill–employment partnerships across India.
  • Aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, linking local collectives to the mainstream industrial economy.

Conclusion:

The MoU represents a landmark step in inclusive growth, combining government support, academic expertise, and industry leadership. By linking skill training with assured employment, it provides a scalable and sustainable model for women-led development in India’s textile sector.

Topic 2: India–Iceland Partnership for Sustainable Blue Growth & Zero-Waste Fisheries

GS Paper 2: International Relations | GS Paper 3: Economy & Environment (Blue Economy, Fisheries)

Context: A high-level Indian delegation led by Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries (MoFAH&D), visited Reykjavík, Iceland (10–12 Sept 2025) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture. The visit emphasized collaboration on zero-waste fisheries, technology transfer, and cluster development under India’s Blue Economy vision.

Key Highlights:

• • High-Level Meetings:
    • Discussions with Iceland Ocean Cluster (IOC) on fisheries & aquaculture cluster development in India with zero-waste models.
    • Engagement with Icelandic companies BRIM, Hampiðjan, and food-biotech R&D firm MATIS on sustainable marine practices, processing, traceability, and certification.
    • Meeting with Iceland’s Minister of Industries, Ms. Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, during Icelandic Fishing Expo 2025.
  • Areas of Cooperation Identified:
    • Zero-Waste Fisheries and value addition in seafood processing.
    • Deep-sea fishing technologies, vessels with onboard processing, and advanced vessel monitoring systems (VMS).
    • Trout farming in hilly states & tuna fisheries in Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep.
    • Capacity building in deep-sea fishing & adoption of Iceland’s sustainable models.
  • India’s Presentation:
    • National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) showcased India’s cluster-based development model under PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana).
    • So far, 34 fisheries & aquaculture clusters have been notified across India (e.g., tuna cluster in A&N Islands, ornamental fisheries in Tamil Nadu, scampi in Odisha, coldwater fisheries in Himachal & J&K, etc.).

Strategic Significance:

• • Blue Economy Boost: Leverages Iceland’s technological leadership for India’s vast fisheries sector.
  • Zero-Waste Model: Supports sustainable utilization of marine resources with 100% fish utilization (Iceland’s hallmark).
  • Employment & Livelihoods: Strengthens India’s PMMSY clusters, benefiting fishers, SHGs, FFPOs, and cooperatives.
  • Global Cooperation: Enhances Indo-Iceland ties in ocean economy, aligning with India’s commitment to sustainable growth, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and climate resilience.

Conclusion:

The Indo-Iceland collaboration marks a new chapter in Blue Economy diplomacy, combining Iceland’s zero-waste expertise with India’s production capacity.

Topic 3: National Conference of Committee on Empowerment of Women – Tirupati (14–15 Sept 2025)

GS Paper 2: Parliament & Governance | GS Paper 2: Women Empowerment | GS Paper 3: Science & Technology

Context: Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla will inaugurate the National Conference of the Committee on Empowerment of Women of Parliament and State/UT Legislatures in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh (14–15 September 2025). The conference brings together delegates from Parliament and State/UT legislatures to deliberate on women’s empowerment in the context of emerging technologies.

Key Highlights:

• • Theme: “Empowering Women to Face Challenges of Emerging Technologies.”
  • Agenda Topics:
    • Women Led Development for Viksit Bharat @2047
    • Sub-themes:

1. Gender Responsive Budgeting

2. Empowering Women in Emerging Technologies

• • Deliberations to Cover:
    • Opportunities & risks of AI, ML, Blockchain, Robotics, Quantum Computing, Biotechnology, and Cybersecurity.
    • Strategies for bridging the gender digital divide.
    • Increasing women’s participation in STEM fields.
    • Ensuring digital safety and fostering women entrepreneurship & innovation.
  • Special Sessions: Exhibition and Souvenir release; Valedictory session addressed by senior leaders on 15 Sept 2025.

Strategic Significance:

• • Marks the first such national-level conference of Committees on Empowerment of Women.
  • Places women at the center of India’s digital transformation and future technology-driven economy.
  • Reinforces the role of legislatures in mainstreaming gender equality through policy instruments like Gender Responsive Budgeting.
  • Aligns with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, ensuring that women are not only participants but also leaders in technology and innovation.

Conclusion:

The Tirupati Conference underlines Parliament’s commitment to Women-Led Development as a cornerstone of India’s journey towards a Developed Bharat by 2047.