New Delhi | October 2026: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Government of India, addressed the 121st  Annual Session of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in New Delhi, highlighting that this moment is a celebration of PHDCCI as a century old institution and a witness to the journey of India, pre-independence to present.

Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised that India’s highest priority must be to transform itself from a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere into a creator, developer and manufacturer of advanced technologies.

Hon’ble Dr. Jitendra Singh said “PHDCCI serves as an important medium to accelerate and promote government initiatives and called for strong and early entry of industry in government projects”

Highlighting the growing importance of indigenous research, innovation and industrial capabilities, the Minister underscored the need for stronger and earlier linkages between the Government, scientific institutions, startups and private industry. He stressed that India’s ambition must extend beyond operating sophisticated technologies to designing, developing, manufacturing and commercializing them domestically.

The expansion of India’s space startup ecosystem provides an important example of this transition. Government data indicate that the number of space startups increased from one in 2014 to more than 400 by February 2026. This development illustrates the potential of policy reform, institutional support and private-sector participation to build new technology-intensive industries, he said.

Dr. Singh applauded the role of PHDCCI in creating an ecosystem for collaboration between Government and Industry to create next generation technology.

He emphasized that the objective should be to build enterprises capable of creating globally competitive technologies, rather than limiting entrepreneurship to the adoption or adaptation of existing products. This requires access to research infrastructure, patient capital, testing facilities, skilled talent and predictable pathways from laboratory research to commercial deployment.

The Minister highlighted the National Quantum Mission (NQM), approved in April 2023 with an outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore over eight years, as an important example of India’s commitment to frontier technology development.

The Mission focuses on four major areas: quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrology, and quantum materials and devices. Four thematic hubs have been established to coordinate research, infrastructure development, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration, he said.

The progress underscores the importance of coordination between Government, research institutions and industry in translating scientific objectives into technological outcomes. The Minister’s emphasis on synergy is particularly relevant to ensuring that research advances move beyond demonstrations towards scalable, reliable and commercially deployable systems.

The expansion of private participation in nuclear-related research and nuclear medicine can create opportunities in advanced diagnostics, oncology research, medical technologies and specialised equipment. Closer collaboration between public research institutions, healthcare providers, biotechnology companies and domestic manufacturers can also support the development of indigenous products and reduce critical import dependencies.

The Minister highlighted biotechnology as another important area for technology-led economic transformation. India’s BioE3 Policy—Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment—provides a framework for strengthening high-performance biomanufacturing and developing bio-based products.
The policy promotes collaboration among academia, startups, industry and research institutions across areas including bio-based chemicals, biopolymers, precision biotherapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture and other emerging applications.

India’s space programme demonstrates how sustained public investment and expanding private-sector participation can create new industrial capabilities. The growth of the space startup ecosystem, alongside the development of indigenous launch vehicles, satellite systems and space applications, reflects the potential for domestic technology creation.

Greater integration between biotechnology research, genetic research, nuclear medicine and pharmaceutical manufacturing can support the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Early participation by private companies can help identify commercial requirements, strengthen clinical and manufacturing capabilities, and accelerate the translation of research into products, he added.

Setting the context and felicitating the Guest, Shri Rajeev Juneja, President, PHDCCI, said that Hon’ble Dr. Jitendra’s journey represents his commitment to science and technology. He emphasized PHDCCI’s proud 121 year old legacy with MSMEs being at its heart. He mentioned that making India a creator of technology, connecting entrepreneurship with science and technology and better public health care are the main areas where Hon’ble Dr. Jitendra’s guidance has been crucial.

Shri Sanjay Singhania, Vice President delivered the Vote of thanks.  Shri Anil Gupta, Senior Vice President and Dr Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI shared the Dais with Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), along with President and Vice President, PHDCCI.

●   It follows the Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ 27 May 2026 amendment allowing companies to meet CSR obligations by subscribing to ZCZP instruments issued by SSE-listed non-profits.

●       Proceeds will strengthen career counselling, skilling, employer partnerships and long-term livelihood tracking in Pune.

5th October 2026, Mumbai: Lighthouse Communities Foundation (LCF), a non-profit that helps underserved youth build livelihoods, is set to list on the Bombay Stock Exchange’s Social Stock Exchange (SSE), with its public issue recently openeded on 30th September and closes on 14th October 2026. The issue will raise funds through Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) instruments to expand its Lighthouse programme in Pune. The SSE is a SEBI-regulated platform for eligible non-profits, and the listing builds on a programme that has enabled more than 50,000 youth to access livelihood opportunities.

The timing is significant. On 27 May 2026, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs amended India’s CSR rules so that companies can fulfil their CSR obligations through subscriptions to ZCZP instruments issued by SSE-listed non-profits. For corporates with ESG commitments and measurable impact goals, this creates a direct, regulated route to organisations that can show results at scale. Lighthouse can.

For the past decade, LCF has worked to give young people from underserved communities the guidance, confidence and skills to build careers they choose for themselves. Lighthouse begins before any training does. Every young person is first helped to understand their aspirations, strengths and the realities of the job market, so they can make informed livelihood choices. They then choose from 80 vocational courses delivered through 100+ partner organisations, across fields such as manufacturing, BFSI, fashion design, fitness and nutrition, beautician certification, electrician training, accounting and hospitality.

The model runs on a public-private partnership, with state and local governments providing infrastructure and corporate partners funding operations. Today, Lighthouse operates 51 centres across six states: Delhi, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. Women account for nearly 60% of programme enrolments, 77% of placed youth are still employed a year after placement, and two-thirds of graduates find their own job leads after the programme. These are ten years of documented outcomes, not projections, which is exactly what the SSE’s social audit and impact reporting framework is designed to surface and verify.

The need is just as large. India has 367 million young people aged 15 to 29, according to the State of Working India 2026, and the Economic Survey 2025-26 found that 91.94% of adolescents aged 14 to 18 had no exposure to skilling.

Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, Founder & Chairman, LCF said, “India’s demographic dividend can only be realised if young people are equipped not just with skills, but with the confidence, guidance, and opportunities to make informed livelihood choices. The Social Stock Exchange listing strengthens our ability to build that ecosystem while holding ourselves to the highest standards of transparency and accountability.

The listing is not a fundraising event. It is a transparency commitment, an invitation to institutional donors, impact investors, and CSR partners to examine exactly what we do, how we do it, and what it produces.”

Proceeds from the ZCZP instruments issued through the listing will support the expansion of Lighthouse’s programmes in Pune, strengthening career counselling, skilling, employer partnerships, and long-term livelihood tracking.

This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today.

Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is operating Tejas Express train on the New Delhi-Lucknow sector w.e.f. 04.10.2019. During the period 04.10.2019 to 31.10.2019, IRCTC has earned an approximate amount of ₹ 7.73 lakh, as operational earning, by operation of the said Tejas Express.

Indian Railways offers various kinds of train services to cater to the need of a diverse set of passengers. Trains like Gatimaan Express, Vande Bharat Express, etc. are provided with augmented facilities and are popular among the premium segment. Trains like Rajdhani Express, Duronto Express, Shatabdi Express etc. offer fully reserved accommodation and facilitate the long distance and inter-city passengers.

Further, other Mail Express trains and Antyodaya train are operated for the benefit of general passengers including those travelling on unreserved tickets. The fare of Sleeper and Second Class is highly subsidised and as a part of its Social Service Obligation, fare concessions are offered to various categories like Senior citizens, freedom fighters, Students, Divyangjans etc. even in the reserved classes.

Consequently, on an average, Indian Railways recovers only 57% of cost of travel. The scope and scale of trains operated over Indian Railways, which carries about 23 million passengers on a daily basis cannot currently be compared with the New Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express being operated by IRCTC, in which fare is generally higher as compared to similar services on Indian Railways and no concession is admissible. However, systemic improvements over Indian Railways is a continuous and an ongoing process.

This press release is based on information given by the Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today