Energy Solutions for a Green India: The environment is a precious resource and it is each citizen's responsibility to contribute towards its conservation. This month (19th November to 18th December) is India's National Environment Month. The country also observes the National Energy Conservation Day and National Pollution Control Day during this month. One of the major environmental issues facing the country today is our dependence on coal, oil and natural gas for the production of energy. These fossil fuels are known to be expensive, polluting and limited in quantity.

The Spotlight for December focuses on this issue. It also talks about the Government's activities with regard to energy conservation and the development of alternative sources of renewable energy, to combat this energy crisis. We list out energy conservation tips, renewable energy programmes and systems of alternative energy being promoted by the Government. When adopted by the people, these solutions are the most efficient means to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and ensure a cleaner environment for future generations.

Guidelines for Government Websites: The National Portal of India had recently come out with a set of 'Guidelines for Indian Government Websites'. These Guidelines consist of internationally accepted standards in developing a website, right from conceptualisation and design to maintenance and management. To take this initiative further, a special website was created, to enable users to view these Guidelines online. This website also facilitates online consultation and enables visitors to send in their suggestions on specific sections of the Guidelines. Copies of these guidelines have been circulated to all Government departments and awareness programmes are being conducted to ensure that these guidelines are followed.

National Portal of India: We welcome the new users who have registered with the National Portal of India. You now have access to an online storehouse of Government related information and services, which you would normally have had to visit a Government office for. India.gov.in is a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan and provides a single point access to all Government e-resources. Three major sections of India.gov.in are the Government Section, the Citizen Section and the Overseas Section.

The Government Section provides information about the Constitution, Parliament, Acts, Rules and Schemes of the Government. It also lists the persons holding high offices in India and provides details on how you may reach them. A special corner for Government employees offers facts about recruitment, training, welfare, pension, compensation and so on. The Government section also includes a searchable contact directory, a database of Government websites, latest publications and a lot more.

The Citizen Section consists of comprehensive citizen centric information on everyday topics of special interest to the common citizen. It is divided into modules such as health, agriculture, employment, education, law, tourism, banking and taxes. There is also a special corner for the needs of Senior Citizens. Each segment provides valuable tips on topic centric issues as well as specific information on schemes, facilities, FAQ's and Government hierarchy.

The Overseas Section is specially designed for Indians living abroad and foreign citizens. It works as a useful handbook to people wishing to visit or study in India by providing vital information on passports, visas, travel formalities, embassies, educational courses, travel and so forth. There is also a special corner for Indian Diaspora which lists schemes, awards and events for them as well as answers a list of commonly asked questions.

Log on to India.gov.in for more information about these sections and a whole repository of other features.

Christmas: This festival marks the birth of Lord Jesus of Nazareth. It is celebrated with Midnight Mass, nativity scenes and distribution of traditional sweets. On this day, children await the arrival of Santa Claus and light up colourful Christmas trees, big paper stars and lamps.

New Year: A time for parties and celebration as we welcome the year 2010. Greet your loved ones on this occasion by sending them some of the beautiful e-cards available at india.gov.in.