Ministry of Earth Sciences Hosts National Media Interaction on 'Mission Mausam' The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) held a national-level media interaction on the ambitious Mission Mausam at Prithvi Bhavan, New Delhi. The session was led by Dr. M Ravichandran, Secretary of MoES, alongside Dr. Mritunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and Dr. V.S. Prasad, Head of the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). Approved by the Union Cabinet on September 11, 2024, with a budget of ₹2,000 crores over two years, Mission Mausam aims to transform India into a "Weather-Ready" and "Climate-Smart" nation. The mission focuses on advancing the country's weather and climate observation, modeling, and forecasting capabilities, to provide more accurate and timely services. Key Objectives of Mission Mausam: Develop Cutting-Edge Technologies: Introduce next-generation radars, satellites with advanced instr...
Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Launches 'All India Initiative on Creative Economy (AIICE)'
In a significant move for India's creative industries, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, inaugurated the 'All India Initiative on Creative Economy (AIICE)' today. This initiative, launched by the Indian Chamber of Commerce, aims to bring together India's diverse creative sectors to collaborate and drive forward the nation's creative economy.
During the launch event, Minister Puri praised the Indian Chamber of Commerce for its vision in creating a platform where India's creative industries can unite and address key issues facing the sector. Drawing from his experience with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), he highlighted the global significance of the creative economy. According to UNCTAD's 'Creative Economy Outlook 2024' report, the creative economy generates over $2 trillion annually and supports nearly 50 million jobs worldwide.
Shri Puri pointed out that India's creative industry is a $30 billion powerhouse, employing nearly 8% of the country's workforce. With creative exports growing by 20% last year and generating over $11 billion, he emphasized the sector's tremendous potential for future growth.
The Minister also noted a cultural shift among India's youth, who increasingly view creative careers as both appealing and secure. This shift, he said, is a driving force behind the rise in creative exports. He further acknowledged Bollywood's pivotal role in India's creative economy, calling it one of the nation's most recognized soft power exports.
Addressing a distinguished audience from various creative sectors, Shri Puri underscored India's emergence as the "Content Capital of the World." He shared that in 2023, India had over 100 million content creators, and the country boasts the largest social media user base globally. Several of the fastest-growing social media platforms count India as their largest market.
The Minister highlighted the expansion of creative industries beyond Tier-1 cities, noting that urban spaces across India, including Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, are now flourishing hubs of content creation and creative activity. This democratization of creative opportunities, once concentrated in major cities, is a testament to India's evolving creative landscape.
Shri Puri also emphasized the transformative impact of digitalization on the creative economy. He noted that technological advancements, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), are reshaping the sector in profound ways. For instance, AI is already being used by 41% of news teams for creating illustrative art, 39% for social media content, and 38% for writing and generating articles.
While some creative professionals may view AI as a threat, Shri Puri offered a reassuring perspective. He emphasized that AI represents not just a challenge but a tremendous opportunity to lower costs, expand revenue streams, reach new audiences, and tap into previously inaccessible markets.
However, he also acknowledged the challenges posed by AI, including concerns about misinformation, copyright infringement, intellectual property rights, privacy, and market monopolization. He stressed the need for a robust regulatory framework to address these issues effectively.
"The government is committed to designing and implementing policies that will safeguard intellectual property and ensure competitive markets," he assured the audience.
In his closing remarks, Shri Puri highlighted the importance of ongoing dialogue between industry stakeholders and the government to navigate these challenges and harness the opportunities presented by emerging technologies. He emphasized that AIICE provides the perfect platform for such discussions and expressed optimism about the future of India's creative economy, noting that "the best is yet to come."
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