Latest news with #Lokesh
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Business Standard
8 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Cognizant gets 21-acre plot in Andhra for 99 paise to build IT campus
The Andhra Pradesh government will allocate 21.31 acres of land to Cognizant Technology Solutions for a nominal lease price of just 99 paise. As part of the deal, the company is expected to invest ₹1,582.98 crore to set up an information technology (IT) campus in Visakhapatnam. Cognizant aims to create approximately 8,000 jobs in the region over a period of eight years, further boosting the state's IT ecosystem. The company sought 21.31 acres of land at Kapulauppada under the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority. It plans to begin commercial operations by March 2029, with the entire project being 100 per cent self-funded. The deal is part of the state government's approval on Thursday of 19 industrial projects worth ₹28,546 crore, including ₹18,910 crore in investments by the Adani Group. Other major projects include Reliance Consumer Products investing ₹1,622 crore in Orvakal, Chinta Green Energy ₹2,323 crore in Kadapa, and Raymond ₹1,201 crore across various locations. The agreement with Cognizant follows state IT Minister Nara Lokesh's meeting with Cognizant Chief Executive Officer S Ravi Kumar at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, where Lokesh encouraged the company to consider setting up operations in Tier-2 cities like Visakhapatnam, according to Moneycontrol. Similar deal with TCS The decision also comes months after the state struck a similar deal with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Under that agreement, TCS will invest ₹1,370 crore to establish a development centre in the city, generating over 12,000 jobs in return for a 99-paise lease for 21.16 acres of land. 'With continuous follow-ups and discussions between the state government and TCS, (Nara) Lokesh has piloted an allotment of 21.16 acres of land in Vizag to TCS for a total consideration of 99 paise. It is a bold decision to signal to the industry that Andhra Pradesh is serious about attracting IT investments,' a government source told Business Standard at the time. The Cognizant deal is seen as another success for Lokesh, who has played a key role in driving IT growth and attracting global technology companies to the state. The state government has set a target of creating around 2 million jobs and aims to attract investments worth over ₹40 trillion by 2029. It has also announced a special IT and global capability centres policy to attract multinational firms with strong financial incentives.
New Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Minister Nara Lokesh discusses AI in education, invites Tony Blair to join AP governance institute advisory board
VIJAYAWADA: Minister for HRD and IT Nara Lokesh met former British Prime Minister and founder of Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) Tony Blair in New Delhi on Thursday, and discussed issues related to usage of AI tools in the education system and the Andhra Pradesh government. During the meeting held with Lokesh in Mumbai in July last year, Tony Blair promised to extend cooperation for usage of AI tools in the education, and in the activities of the AP State government through his TBI. Later in December, 2024, the AP Education Department signed an MoU with TBI to improve the job opportunities for youth of the State by implementing modern technology in the education sector. As part of the agreement, TBI deployed its tech team, in Vijayawada with focus on reforms in higher education in AP, and the establishment of Global Institute for Good Governance. Lokesh and Blair, during their meeting in New Delhi discussed the progress of the project after the agreement. They also discussed at length the skill development agenda being implemented in the State, skill census, employment opportunities to youth from AP abroad, and the technological support by TBI. On the occasion, Lokesh invited Blair to join the advisory board of the Global Institute for Good Governance. Blair said TBI will partner with the AP government for the conclave of the education Ministers to be held in Visakhapatnam in August.
New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Minister Nara Lokesh urges Centre to help build Sports City in Andhra Pradesh
VIJAYAWADA: Minister for HRD and IT Nara Lokesh urged Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, and Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya to extend support to Andhra Pradesh in the construction of Sports City of global standards in Capital Amaravati. As part of his two-day visit to New Delhi, Lokesh met Mandaviya on Thursday. Informing that the Amaravati Capital works are going on at a brisk pace, he sought the support of the Sports Ministry in the construction of the Sports City. The Andhra Pradesh government is giving top priority to sports. The main objective behind the construction of the Sports City is to provide world class training facilities to athletes to enable them to compete in the sports events at the national and international level, he said. Lokesh also urged the Centre to hand hold the AP government in the development of sports from the village level. He appealed to the Sports Ministry to set up a Centre of Excellence for athletics, archery and weightlifting at Acharya Nagarjuna University, and the Centre of Excellence for Hockey and Shooting at the Kakinada Sports Authority Grounds. The AP government has submitted 39 projects worth Rs 341.57 crore under the Khelo India scheme for the development of sports infrastructure in the State, he said, urging the Centre to clear the proposals at the earliest. He also sought the setting up of the Sports Authority of India regional centre in Tirupati. The Centre should establish Khelo India centres in all the 26 districts in AP to promote sports in a big way, and cooperate for the development of ESI Hospital in the State. The Centre should issue railway concession passes to encourage sportspersons across the country, he said. Responding positively to the appeals of Lokesh, Mandaviya promised to extend the Centre's full cooperation to make Andhra Pradesh a sports hub, besides expanding the ESI hospital services.
Hans India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Lokesh seeks Centre's help to make Amaravati sports hub
New Delhi: Education, IT, and electronics minister Nara Lokesh requested Union minister for youth affairs and sports, labour and employment Mansukh Mandaviya to provide support for the construction of an international-standard Sports City in Amaravati. Lokesh met Mansukh in New Delhi on Thursday. During the meeting, Lokesh stated that the capital construction works in Amaravati are progressing rapidly and sought cooperation for the Sports City project. He emphasised that the Andhra Pradesh government prioritises sports development. The primary objective of the Sports City is to provide world-class training and facilities, and to support athletes in various sports disciplines on national and international platforms. Lokesh urged the Union minister to help transform Andhra Pradesh into a sports hub. He also requested support for sports development from the school and village level across the state. Lokesh further requested the establishment of Centres of Excellence under the Union sports ministry including for athletics, archery, and weightlifting at Nagarjuna University near Guntur, for Hockey and Shooting at the Kakinada district Sports Authority grounds. He also urged for the swift approval of the 39 projects under the Khelo India scheme, submitted by the AP government with a proposed cost of Rs 341.57 crore, for the development of sports infrastructure. Lokesh also requested the establishment of a Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centre in Tirupati and an Athletics and Wrestling State Level Centre in Tirupati as part of Khelo India. He further asked for the setup of district-level Khelo India Centers in all 26 districts of the state. Additionally, Lokesh appealed for the issuance of Railway Sports Concession Passes to encourage sportspersons nationwide and sought cooperation for the development of ESI Hospitals in AP. In response, Union minister Mandaviya assured full cooperation in making AP a sports hub and promised to further expand the services of ESI Hospitals. Later, Lokesh presented Union minister with a book on his 'Yuva Galam' padayatra undertaken before elections. Earlier, Lokesh met UK former Prime Minister Tony Blair. It may be noted that Tony Blair institute of Global Change (TBI) signed an MoU with AP on introducing reforms in education sector and using AI tools in education sector. When Lokesh invited Blair to act as advisor for Global Institute for Good Governance advisory board, he said his TBI will partner with AP government during education ministers meet in Visakhkapatnam in August. •Urges Union sports minister Mandaviya to support construction of Sports City •Wants setting up of Centres of Excellence under the Union sports ministry, including for athletics, archery, and weightlifting at Nagarjuna University, for Hockey and Shooting at the Kakinada Sports Authority grounds
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Nara Lokesh seeks Central government's support for Andhra Pradesh educational reforms
VIJAYAWADA: HRD, IT, and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi on Wednesday and presented a comprehensive outline of the far-reaching reforms being implemented in Andhra Pradesh's education sector. He also met Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and reiterated the long-pending demand for a High Court bench in Kurnool. During his meeting with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Lokesh stated that the new coalition government is committed to structural reforms aimed at establishing the AP Model of Education. 'Under the flagship Learning Excellence in Andhra Pradesh (LEAP) initiative, the state is setting up 9,600 model primary schools, one in each Assembly constituency. The government is implementing a 'One Class – One Teacher' policy and has already upgraded 700 upper primary schools to high schools. A star rating system has been introduced to evaluate schools based on academic and infrastructural parameters,' he said. Lokesh also highlighted the successful and apolitical implementation of the Teacher Transfer Act based on seniority, the establishment of 80 new PM SHRI schools and 79 hostels under the PM Janman scheme, and the sanctioning of Rs 186 crore for STEM and computer labs. Efforts are also underway to open 125 autism schools with central support. A state-wide mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) is scheduled for July 5, and Lokesh invited Union Minister Pradhan to attend.
