India needs to create 8 to 10 million jobs annually: PM's Principal Secretary Mishra
Sambalpur (Odisha), Apr 19 (PTI): Highlighting the need to create 8 to 10 million jobs annually in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Principal Secretary PK Mishra on Saturday urged students to equip themselves with both technical knowledge and practical skills.
Speaking at the 9th convocation ceremony of IIM Sambalpur, Mishra said, "There is a need to create 8 to 10 million jobs annually. The central government has therefore launched initiatives like Digital India and Skill India to meet this goal. You need technical knowledge along with skills."
He also informed the students that India has secured a strong position on the global stage.
Mishra said this is a crucial period not only for students, but also for the country.
"Today, India holds a strong global position, with a growing economy, a young population and strategic partnerships. The country’s increasing influence will help achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat, as envisioned by the Prime Minister," Mishra said.
Mishra said India's digital infrastructure is getting stronger by the day and there are 8,000 million internet users in the country.
"The digital economy is growing. Around 185 million UPI transactions were made in 2024-25," he said, adding that the country has now entered the era of ‘Amrit Kal’.
"Modi has set a goal to make the country prosperous. There is a need for everyone to work together towards building a developed India by 2047," Mishra added.
Encouraging students, Mishra said, "We are grappling with tectonic shifts in geopolitical alignments while simultaneously witnessing technological breakthroughs at an unprecedented pace. Climate and sustainability are central to this conversation. Disruptions in global supply chains, protectionist policies, heightened geopolitical tensions and changing global trade patterns are contributing to this complexity."
"You must take the initiative to shape your own future and focus on achieving many more milestones, building upon the solid foundation you have established today," he said.
Expressing happiness over IIM Sambalpur’s gender ratio — where women make up 60 per cent of MBA students — he encouraged the institute to aim for 80 per cent.
He praised the world-class campus infrastructure and said, "IIM Sambalpur in its decade of existence has earned a reputation for integrating various activities. The institute upholds core values of innovation, integrity and inclusiveness. It has incorporated artificial intelligence into its educational framework, which is a significant initiative. I commend IIM Sambalpur for launching the Master Weavers program for the weavers of Western Odisha; this is a commendable effort and contributes to the regional development."
Padma Shri Arundhati Bhattacharya, chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Sambalpur, and Chairman and CEO, Salesforce India & South Asia, encouraged the graduating students and said, "The world is evolving rapidly and you will face both opportunities and challenges. However, with the knowledge and skills that you have gained, you are well equipped to navigate any obstacle that can come your way."
In the welcome address, Prof Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, highlighted the achievements of the institute over the past decade.
He said, "This year, during the convocation, we celebrate 10 years of IIM Sambalpur’s establishment. This is the first time that we have students from five different programmes — MBA, Executive MBA, MBA for Working Professionals, PhD and PhD for Working Professionals — receiving their respective degrees".
Prof Jaiswal further said, "We are in an advanced stage of being triple crowned IIM including AACSB, EFMD and BGA. We hope to achieve these accreditations within the next two years, positioning us among the few Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) with these prestigious international recognitions."
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Punjab: CBI arrests 3 men in Rs 13-lakh bribery case involving Vigilance dept after midnight chase
New Delhi (PTI): In a late-night raid at the Punjab Vigilance office in Mohali followed by a dramatic chase, the CBI arrested two middlemen and another person in a Rs 13-lakh bribery case involving senior officers of the department, officials said.
The CBI took the action after registering an FIR on a complaint of a Punjab State Tax Officer, who had accused Vikas Goyal and his son Raghav Goyal of demanding illegal gratification of Rs 20 Lakh for securing the closure of a complaint against him in the office of DG (Vigilance), Punjab.
"Further, it was alleged that both the accused were acting as intermediaries for senior Vigilance officials including the Reader to DGP Vigilance, Punjab and were using their influence to assure the complainant that his matter could be settled. O. P. Rana, the reader to DG Vigilance assured him for closure of the complaint once illegal gratification is paid," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.
Prima facie, the investigation reveals active involvement of Rana in the conspiracy, she said.
According to the statement, during negotiations, the accused reduced the demand from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 13 lakh along with one Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 mobile phone for Rana.
After getting confirmation about the bribe exchange, a CBI team raided a place in Chandigarh, where an associate of the accused, Ankit Wadhwa, was arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs 13 lakh and a mobile phone on their behalf, the spokesperson said.
"The bribe amount and mobile phone were recovered during the trap proceedings," the statement read.
As it happened, Raghav Goyal, Vikas Goyal, and Rana ran away after being alerted by their gunmen stationed there to keep a watch.
The CBI team began a hot pursuit and after a dramatic chase, nabbed Raghav, Vikas and apprehended two gunmen near Ambala at the Punjab-Haryana border, the spokesperson said.
"Rana, reader to DGP Vigilance, is still absconding and efforts are being made to arrest him," she said.
Searches at the residential premises of Goyals at Malout and Rana at Chandigarh, led to recovery of Rs 9 lakh in cash and incriminating documents, the spokesperson said.
The CBI investigation exposed an exchange of "sensitive information" relating to pending vigilance matters between Rana and Goyals.
"The wider conspiracy, including possible illegal gratification nexus and the role of other persons, is under investigation. The accused private persons were given police gunmen officially. The role and attachment of Punjab Police gunmen carrying AK-47 rifles with the private accused persons is also being examined," the spokesperson said.
