Green
India Mission may converge with MGNREGS, CAMPA
The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) may look for private sector
participation in the Rs 46,000-crore Green India Mission and is set for operational
convergence with other schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Rural
Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and
Planning Authority (CAMPA).
The ambitious project plans to increase the country’s forest cover by
another 10 million hectare area. The fund-starved mission is looking for
approval of Rs 13,000 crore during 12th plan period,
including convergence with MGNREGS, CAMPA and allocation of plan panel
funds. The minist-ry of environment and forests (MoEF) is set to rope in
private players for the agro-forestry part of creating new forest areas as per
the plan. The National Mission for a Green India is one of the eight missions
under “the National Action Plan on Climate Change” that aims to increase forest
and tree cover on 5 million hectare area, improve quality of forest cover or
create new on another 5 million ha area by 2020.
The convergence of GIM with various other projects would help the government to develop the scheme on a cluster basis. The proposal is set to come up for consideration of the expenditure finance committee for approval within a month.
The proposal seeks convergence worth Rs 4,000 crore with MNREGA, Rs 6,000 crore from CAMPA. The Planning Commission has already provided an outlay of Rs 2,000 crore for 12th plan. The mission got Rs 200 crore in 2012-13 from the National Clean Energy Fund for preparatory activities.
As of now, 71 landscapes or clusters across 21 states are identified for the project and the state governments are in the process of identifying more landscapes.
NAVDANYA
The convergence of GIM with various other projects would help the government to develop the scheme on a cluster basis. The proposal is set to come up for consideration of the expenditure finance committee for approval within a month.
The proposal seeks convergence worth Rs 4,000 crore with MNREGA, Rs 6,000 crore from CAMPA. The Planning Commission has already provided an outlay of Rs 2,000 crore for 12th plan. The mission got Rs 200 crore in 2012-13 from the National Clean Energy Fund for preparatory activities.
As of now, 71 landscapes or clusters across 21 states are identified for the project and the state governments are in the process of identifying more landscapes.
NAVDANYA
|
Maternal
mortality ratio comes down to 178
With the maternal mortality ratio
(MMR) — number of women who die of pregnancy-related causes per 1,00,000 live
births — coming down to 178, India is inching forward to meet its global
commitment to reduce the ratio to 109 by year 2015.
The latest MMR figures for
2010-2012, released by the Registrar-General of India suggest that the MMR had
come down to 178 from 212, an annual decline of 5.7 per cent.
While Kerala has the lowest MMR
at 66 as against 81 in 2007-2009 Sample Registration Survey figures, Assam tops
the list in absolute numbers with 328 deaths per 1,00,000 live births, though
the number has declined by 5.6 per cent from the previous figure of 390.
Tamil Nadu, which was at the
second position in the last survey reporting only 97 deaths, has slipped to the
third position with 90 deaths due to the better performance of Maharashtra,
where the number of pregnancy-related deaths has come down to 87 from 104. West
Bengal has managed to bring down maternal mortality from 145 to 117.
“The Millennium Development Goal
now looks achievable. The figures are extremely encouraging and it shows that
we have adopted the right strategies and are investing at the right places,”
said Anuradha Gupta, Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission.
The eight Empowered Action Group
(EAG) States, which traditionally had very bad health indicators, have shown
remarkable achievements. Among these, Rajasthan has shown an annual decline of
16 per cent, with its figures falling from 318 to 255. Bihar/Jharkhand stands
at 219 from 261, while 292 women still die in Uttar Pradesh from
pregnancy-related deaths for every 1,00,000 live births. This figure is 230 in
Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh as against 269 in the 2007-09 survey. Pointing out
that Tamil Nadu was showing stagnation, Ms. Gupta said Karnataka had done well
by bringing down its MMR to 144 from 178 and in Andhra Pradesh it was 110 as
against 134.
“The star performers in that order
are Rajasthan, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra
Pradesh. The lowest decline is in Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Punjab,” Ms.
Gupta said.
The Centre has launched several
schemes under the NRHM for improving reproductive and child health, including
Janani shishu Suraksha Karyakram, free transportation and focussing on
adolescent health, whose full impact would be known only in the coming years.
States have also taken measures to save mothers and infants.
In Bihar, the government has
provided caesarean facilities at 60 places which have helped save lives. Early
detection of complications, provision of ambulances, enlarging the pool of
anaesthetists by training MBBS doctors and providing good residential
facilities for doctors have vastly improved the situation in the State.
Armed
forces use disability programme to reach out in far flung border areas
The Mission Ability beyond Disability, launched in 2005 by Anupama
Singh, an accomplished painter, socialite and wife of former Army Chief General
J. J. Singh, is being used by the armed forces to reach out to persons with
disability (PwD) in far flung border districts of the country. As part of the
mission, camps have been organised for distributing various devices to PwD in
Kargil, the border regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Tamenglong in Manipur, and
Tawang, Seppa and Zero in Arunachal Pradesh. The mission has also held a camp
at the remote Little Andaman Island. The Mission Ability beyond Disability is
being conducted under a collaborative arrangement by ALIMCO (under the Ministry
of Social Justice and Empowerment), the Heritage Foundation, various State
governments, non-governmental organisations and other institutions.
Uttarakhand
Lokayukta Act 2013 to be replaced
The Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill
was drafted under the leadership of former Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) leader B.C. Khanduri in 2011. The Bill got Presidential assent in
September this year. The Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act has to be implemented before
March 1, 2014.
However, the State government has
decided to repeal the Act and replace it with a new Bill. The decision was
taken in a Cabinet meeting. Mr. Bahuguna said: “The Cabinet gave a nod to
repeal the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act 2013 and bring in a new Bill that will be
in conformity with the Centre’s Lokpal Bill.”
The new Lokayukta Bill proposes a
five-member committee with two seats reserved.
“One seat will be reserved for a
female candidate and the other for a candidate from the Scheduled Caste (SC),
Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC), or the minorities,” Mr.
Bahuguna said.
Union Cabinet
Approved The Prevention of Communal Violence Bill 2013
The Union Cabinet on 16 December
approved the Prevention of Communal Violence Bill 2013. The bill aimed to
prevent and tackle the communal violence in the country and punish the
perpetrators of the violence. The Bill has been named as The Prevention of
Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013.
The Bill has the provision of creating an institutional arrangement for speedy
investigation, disposal of cases and for providing relief and rehabilitation to
victims of communal violence. It also seeks imposition of enhanced punishment
on persons involved in communal violence.
Creating
a robust accountability system
In the reworked version, now
named the Prevention of Communal Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations)
Bill, 2013, the Union government has taken on board the criticism heaped on the
earlier draft by the BJP (that it was anti-Hindu) and by State governments
(that it militated against the spirit of federalism). It has dropped the word
“minority”, made the definition of a group affected by communal violence
community-neutral and left the prevention and control of communal violence
essentially to the States, with the Centre only playing a coordinating role.
The Bill may be flawed, but,
surely, pondering over a document that wishes to create a robust accountability
system and seeks to lay down national standards for the entire spectrum of
provisions for victims of communal violence — including rescue, relief,
compensation, rehabilitation, resettlement, restitution, reparation and
recognising the rights of internally displaced persons — cannot be a bad thing,
what with Muzaffarnagar still fresh in our minds.
For a
new avatar of the AICTE
The present pitiable position of
the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) of is its own making. The
AICTE, pre-Independent India’s recommendatory body, was in its 42nd year — in 1987
— vested with statutory powers through an Act of Parliament. The
parliamentary wisdom hoped that the AICTE would discharge its statutory role of
maintaining the standards and coordinated development of technical education in
the country. During the 1970s and a part of the 1980s, a large number of
unrecognised private self-financing/capitation-fee institutions came into
existence in several States and most of them were sub-standard institutions run
on a commercial basis and predominantly concentrated in four States, viz.,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Twenty-six years after
the statutory incarnation of the AICTE, such an imbalance continues to exist
with its stamping approval. The issue of regional imbalance was pointed out but
ignored by the AICTE through a self-appointed committee.
Coupled with regional imbalance
was the resultant negative impact on the national quality of technical
education. This writer pointed out, in The Hindu on April 6, 1993, the
AICTE’s functioning out of a two-bedroom flat with skeleton staff .
Immediately, the MHRD made arrangements for a spacious building and appointment
of necessary personnel in the AICTE. The personnel appointed were either
retired, on deputation as an Advisor or on contract. This ‘triple personnel
avatar’ affected three basic requirements in the functioning of a statutory
body — accountability, transparency and continuity. Very rarely, the AICTE
benefited from the aggregate wisdom of its three top posts — Chairman,
Vice-Chairman and Member Secretary — and there were times when the AICTE was
managed for many months with an official deputed from the Ministry.
The policy paralysis at the top
manifested in different ways at all levels. When the AICTE was given statutory
powers, the Ministry of Human Resource Development wrote to State governments
that the AICTE would grant one-time approvals based on inspection of quality,
infrastructure, etc., and that the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) to be
set up by the AICTE would handle issues of withdrawal, renewal, etc. But it did
not happen. Approval by the AICTE continues to be an annual paper exercise and
even the High Court of Madras as early as 1990 deprecated the AICTE on granting
of approvals subject to conditions on “temporary or provisional basis” against
the provisions of the Act. The charitable approval policy of the AICTE also
resulted in another suo motu admission of a writ petition by the
Madras High Court recently, questioning the AICTE’s supportive role in the
mindless mushrooming of engineering colleges.
On the issue of academics and
curriculum, the story is no different. The AICTE published a model curriculum
for the undergraduate engineering programme in the year 2000 which till date
has not been updated. An attempt made by the AICTE to make engineering
education multi-disciplinary by blending Science and Humanities never took off
despite 1,000 man-days having been spent on it. The AICTE did not even have a
copy of its funded research project report on MBA education in India.
The AICTE Act mandated the
organisation to evolve a suitable performance appraisal system for technical
institutions and universities and incorporate norms and mechanisms for
enforcing institutional accountability and formulate schemes for the initial and
in-service training of teachers. It is yet to be accomplished. In the early
1990s, the AICTE made an honest attempt to improve the quality of teaching
faculty through its well-planned Early Faculty Induction Programme (EFIP). This
successful EFIP was killed, however, without the stakeholders having been
consulted, much to the grief of its many beneficiaries. In respect of diploma
education, the AICTE suffers from the “all power, no responsibility” syndrome.
The AICTE chose to retain its power to grant approvals for polytechnics
but all the other responsibilities are discharged by the respective
Directorates of Technical Education or universities.
The AICTE failed miserably to
even provide a model curriculum for diploma education. Professor V.C.
Kulandaiswamy in 2000 rightly recommended that polytechnics, being extensions
of Higher Secondary Schools and sub-university level education, must be left to
State governments through the concerned universities. This was accepted and
delegated to State Level Boards in 2001 but was withdrawn in 2010 because the
delegation was done without proper provisions in the Act. The AICTE never
bothered to fix the issue and continued to enjoy its “power without
responsibility” status.
Prof. Kulandaiswamy rightly added
that “there has been a progressive emasculation of the university system over
the years. It is necessary to examine the desirability of weakening the
universities which are grassroots-level institutions, by the AICTE taking over
certain responsibilities that better remain with the universities. Also, if the
AICTE takes over fully and faithfully all the responsibilities under clause 10
(k) devoting time to approve new institutions, new branches, new additions and
involve itself in unending litigations, it may not be possible for it to fulfil
all other functions under 10 (a) to 10 (v)”.
The AICTE did not realise the
seriousness of the Prof. Kulandaiswamy’s recommendation and sought to continue
with its “Approval Only” motto as if it were the organisation’s only function.
Consequential to the Supreme
Court’s latest order withdrawing the AICTE’s powers of approval, the quality of
technical education is at a crossroads. The proposed remedy that transfers
power from one statutory body to the other, University Grants Commission (UGC)
may become worse than the disease.
Hence, it is suggested that the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) should amend the Act with a five-point formula
(i) allow the AICTE to function
as per the provisions of the Act under Section 10 (k) to grant approvals for
new institutions and or new programmes as a one-time event only and not as an
annual ritual;
(ii) vest affiliating Universities with the
power to enforce the AICTE guidelines/regulations;
(iii) leave diploma-level
educational institution to Universities and State Directorates of Technical
Education;
(iv) direct the organisation to
concentrate on producing competent teachers for technical education and
(v) direct the promotion of
innovations and research in all institutions based on competitive proposals
besides attending to the other provisions of the Act. This five-point formula
needs immediate legislation.
Cabinet
clears constitutional status for Judicial Appointments Commission
The Union Cabinet gave its nod
for conferring constitutional status on the proposed Judicial Appointments
Commission (JAC) for appointment and transfer of judges to the higher
judiciary. The government earlier accepted the report of the Parliamentary
Standing Committee on Law and Justice, which recommended that the structure and
functions of the JAC to replace the present collegium system be governed
by a constitutional provision.
According to the proposal
approved by the Cabinet, while new Article 124 A of the Constitution will
define the composition of the JAC, Article 124 B will define its functions.
“We have made compromises to make
the Bill palatable to all. We have satisfied all demands. The JAC Bill, 2013
with official amendments will be tabled in the Lok Sabha now,” Law Minister
Kapil Sibal told reporters.
The constitutional amendment Bill
has to be passed in Parliament by a two-thirds majority. The JAC Bill
seeks to set up a six-member body under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice
of India for recommending names to the President of individuals with
outstanding legal acumen and impeccable integrity and credibility for judgeship
in the Supreme Court and the High Courts. It would also recommend transfer of
judges of one High Court to another.
The Constitution (120th
Amendment) Bill, 2013, provides for the setting up of a
Judicial Appointments Commission by inserting Article 124 (A) in the
Constitution and amending Articles 124(2), 217(1) and 222(1). The structure and
functions of the proposed commission are provided in the JAC Bill.
The parliamentary panel had said:
“The present process adopted by the collegium of judges is beset with
its own problem of opacity and non-accountability, besides excluding the
Executive entirely in the collaborative and consultative exercise for appointment of judges.
Because of inherent deficiencies in the collegium, as many as 275 judge posts
in various High Courts are lying vacant. This has a direct bearing on the
justice delivery system and thereby affecting the judiciary. The
committee, while suggesting amendments to the Bill, said there should be three
eminent persons in the commission, instead of two as provided for in the
present Bill, and at least one out of them should be an
SC/ST/OBC/woman/minority, preferably by rotation. Considering the responsibility
of the JAC to select 800-odd judges to 24 High Courts, and also the
fact that constitutional and other functionaries are involved at the
State-level in the process of appointment, it suggested State-level
commissions also.
Commodity
exchange boards get more teeth
Tightening corporate governance
norms for commodity exchanges following NSEL scam, the Forward Markets
Commission (FMC), asked their boards to scrutinise all major business
decisions, as also financial powers of CEOs and transactions involving promoters
and top management personnel. The boards of the exchanges would also have to
ensure that appropriate checks and balances are in place with regard to costs
incurred for donations, publicity, media and public relations, legal and other
professional charges, among others.
In a directive issued to six
national exchanges, including MCX, the FMC has stipulated the minimum
requirement for sharing of information relating to functioning of the exchange
with the board of directors. It also directed that the decisions relating to
certain matters should be taken with the approval of the board of directors or
the board committees.
“The board will lay down an
appropriate procedure for delegation of financial powers to Managing
Director/CEO. The expenditure incurred above a particular level need to be
approved by the board or the audit committee,” the FMC said. The regulator said
that prior approval of the board would be required in matter related to
expenditure items such as capital expenditure, agreement/contract giving rise
to recurring obligation for a period of more than three years, and
loan/advances/guarantee/financial commitments.
Matters related to salaries,
bonus, increments and compensation at the level of head of the department/
functional heads of the bourse would need the board approval. A prior approval
of the board is required for “all financial
transactions/loan/guarantees/deposits/financial commitment of any kind with
parties/entities/individuals related directly or indirectly to the
promoters/other shareholders or any party related to the exchange’s directors
or management in any manner.” Following the Rs.5,500-crore payment crisis at
NSEL, the FMC has been taking several measures to ensure accountability and
transparency in the commodity futures market.
New norms- As per new norms, the board of
the exchanges would lay down a policy for disclosure, conflict of interest and
resolution thereof. The board would address all complaints of deviation from
such policy. The exchange will execute, with the approval of the board, the
liability insurance for directors to safeguard the professional liability of
the board members arising from the performance of their duties for the
exchange, the FMC said. The regulator also directed the exchanges to constitute
a committee of the board on risk management.
Bitcoin
exchanges shut shop in India
India’s biggest Bitcoin trading
platform, BuySellBitCo.in, suspended its operations, citing a recent Reserve
Bank of India public advisory that highlighted the risks involved in dealing
with virtual currencies.
The closure of BuySellBitCo.in,
which sees about 12 million rupees of Bitcoin transactions every month, spooked
other operators and users—with a number of other trading platforms such as
INBRTC suspending services indefinitely. A substantial number of Indian Bitcoin
users also started selling the digital currency in late-evening trades,
according to price index Coin Market Cap, with most of them worrying over the
potential fluctuation in global prices.
The central bank had, issued a
notice, warning the public of the risks involved with virtual currencies while
claiming that it could be used for money laundering and funding anti-terrorism
activities. It stopped short, however, of issuing a ban or any other
restrictions. Bitcoin and other virtual currencies have begun to gain
widespread acceptance in India, despite poor Internet penetration and a natural
scepticism to assets not backed by tangible entities such as land.
According to a senior banking
official, most exchanges and Bitcoin ‘mining’ start-ups are reading the RBI’s
advisory as a precursor to a possible clampdown, especially as the central bank
has reportedly refused to talk with several exchanges and companies regarding
regulation. While countries such as China have banned financial companies from
Bitcoin transactions, various U.S government agencies have said that Bitcoins
offer legitimate benefits. Some India Bitcoin companies, whether they are
trading platforms or mining start-ups, however, are currently on the fence
regarding continuing operations.
New Directors General of NSG and
CISF Appointed
The competent authority in the
Central Government has approved the following:
(i) Shri J.N.Choudhury, IPS(AM:78) as Director General, National Security Guard (NSG) with effect from the date of his joining the post and till his superannuation on 31.05.2015, or until further orders, whichever event takes place earlier.
(ii) Shri Arvind Ranjan, IPS (KL:77), DG, NSG as Director General in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) from the date of taking over the charge of the post and till the date of his superannuation on 30.04.2015 or until further orders, whichever event takes place earlier. He will continue to hold the charge of the post of DG, NSG in addition to DG,CISF till joining of new incumbent or till further orders.
(i) Shri J.N.Choudhury, IPS(AM:78) as Director General, National Security Guard (NSG) with effect from the date of his joining the post and till his superannuation on 31.05.2015, or until further orders, whichever event takes place earlier.
(ii) Shri Arvind Ranjan, IPS (KL:77), DG, NSG as Director General in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) from the date of taking over the charge of the post and till the date of his superannuation on 30.04.2015 or until further orders, whichever event takes place earlier. He will continue to hold the charge of the post of DG, NSG in addition to DG,CISF till joining of new incumbent or till further orders.
Jn NURM Projects overview 2012-13
Cities
have now become the engines of growth. The story of future growth of the
country will be written in urban areas. In such a scenario, the cities will
have to undergo a major makeover. Urban planning, urban renewal and urban
development assume unparalleled significance in this context.
It
was towards this end that a massive programme of urban renewal, Jawahar
Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM), was taken
up in 2005 for a period of seven years envisaging an investment of more than Rs
1,00,000 cr with a central share of nearly Rs 66,00,000 cr. It has mainly two
components:-
1. UIG :
Urban Infrastructure & Governance for select 65 Mission Cities
2. UIDSSMT:
Urban Infrastructure Development for Small & Medium Towns
These
programmes include projects in transport and basic services like water supply,
sewerage, drainage and solid waste management.
The Mission has completed its normal tenure on 31-3-2012. Government has
extended the mission for a period of two years i.e. up to 31-3-2014 for
completion of ongoing reforms and projects.
New
projects are also being sanctioned in the transition phase, 28 new projects
were sanctioned during the transition phase March 2012 –March 2014 (as on Nov
2013) under UIG while 174 projects were sanctioned for UIDSSMT for
the same period.
Out
of 539 UIG projects sanctioned in Phase-1 (March 2005-March 2012), 217 have
been physically completed till Nov 30, 2013. Similarly, till Nov 30, 2013, 322
projects are in various stages of completion with nearly Rs 46, 000 cr worth of
physical works having been implemented. And out of 806 UIDSSMT projects
sanctioned in phase-1, 413 have been physically completed till Nov 30, 2013.
Similarly, till Nov 30, 2013, 393 projects are in various stages of completion
with nearly Rs 11, 000 cr worth of physical works having been
implemented.
Jn NURM & Reforms
One
of the main aims of JnNURM is to help in urban renewal but in a manner which is
sustainable in the long run. Therefore, insistence on state and urban level
reforms is an essential component of the programme. A total of 23 reforms were
mandated.
The
level of reforms has now touched 78% (upto Oct. 31, 2013) from a level of only
9% in pre- JnNURM period. At present, the number of states/UTs showing more
than 85% reforms stand at 11, 12 States/UTs have carried out between 70-85%
required reforms, while 8 of them have shown upto 50% reforms. High performance
on reforms states include Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, UP, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh among
others. Some of the states showing less than 50 % reforms are of
North-Eastern Region.
Capacity
Building
Evaluation
exercises undertaken of JnNURM Phase-1 by various appointed committees and
agencies have unanimously pointed to the large capacity gap plaguing urban
local bodies as the primary impediment to speedy implementation of projects and
reforms. Accordingly, it was decided that ULBs shall be empowered by building
capacities in terms of human resources, infrastructure, procedures and systems
to effectively deliver basic services to the citizen. So, funds are being
sanctioned under JnNURM for capacity building from the current year onwards. 19
proposals of capacity building were received, out of which 13 proposals worth
Rs 627 cr have been approved as on Oct, 2013.
Achievements and Initiatives of
the Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises for the year 2013
The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector is a vibrant sector
which nurtures entrepreneurial talent besides providing employment to millions
of people across the country. The sector contributes significantly to
balanced and inclusive growth of the economy through mobilization of capital
and entrepreneurial skills. MSMEs are important for helping the
country achieve 8% plus growth of the economy with enhanced equity in
distribution of income and therefore, are considered as engine of growth in the
economic development of the country. For the promotion and development of this
sector, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has been
implementing various programmes and schemes. The major achievements so far,
during 2013-14 are as follows:
Procurement Policy
The Government of India notified Public Procurement Policy for MSEs, vide
Order dated 23.3.2012 (effective from 1st April, 2012), for goods produced and
services rendered by Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs). The policy mandates
that all the Central Ministries / Departments / CPSUs shall procure minimum of
20% of their annual value of goods / services required by them from Micro and
Small Enterprises. Further, policy has earmarked a sub-target of 4%
procurement out of this 20% from MSEs owned by SC / ST Entrepreneurs.
The policy has been circulated to all the
Central Ministries / Departments / CPSUs for successful and effective
implementation and the policy along with other related documents is available
on the office website. All the Chief Ministers of State Governments have also
been requested by the then Minister for MSME, to formulate similar policy for
Micro and Small Enterprises in their States as per the provisions in MSMED Act,
2006. Queries / doubts raised by the Ministries / Departments /
CPSUs for implementation of the policy are clarified from time to time.
According to available data, 32 CPSUs have made procurement, more than 20% from
MSEs in 2012-13.
For developing MSEs Vendors, all the Ministries / Departments / CPSUs have been
requested to organize Vendor Development Programmes (VDP) and buyer-seller
meets between MSE- suppliers and government- procuring agencies. In 2012-13, 51
CPSUs organised 299 VDPs for MSEs. The Office of Development Commissioner
(MSME) through its field offices i.e. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises –
Development Institutes has planned for the year 2013-14 to organize over 50
National Vendor Development Programmes and 350 State Vendor Development
Programmes throughout the country in order to develop MSE vendors with a budget
allocation of Rs 5.00 crore for 2013-14.
MSE- Cluster Development
Programme
The Ministry of MSME has adopted the cluster approach for holistic development
of micro and small enterprises in a cost effective manner. Soft
Interventions(such as diagnostic study, capacity building, marketing
development, export promotion, skill development, technology upgradation,
organizing workshops , seminars, training, study visits, exposure visits, etc.)
, Hard intervention (setting up of common Facility Centres) and infrastructure
upgradation(create/ upgrade infrastructural facilities in the existing
industrial/ clusters of MSEs).
A total of 848 interventions in various clusters spread over 28 States and one
UTs in country have so far been taken under the programme for Diagnostic
study, soft and hard interventions. The efforts under the scheme are
focused on covering of more and more clusters from all States / UTs. So far
sanctions of Rs. 18.30 crore have been issued till 30th November, 2013 during
the current financial year under MSE-CDP. To ensure transparency and speedy
implementation of MSE-CDP, online application system has been started from 1st
April 2012.
National Manufacturing
Competitiveness Programme
The National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (NMCP) for the MSMEs, aims
at enhancing the competitiveness of enterprise in this sector. There are
various components of the NMCP, which have been approved and are available for
MSMEs. These are:-
· Lean
Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme (LMCS) for MSMEs
· Design
Clinics Scheme for design expertise to MSMEs manufacturing sector
· Marketing
Assistance and Technology Upgradation Scheme for MSMEs
· Enabling
manufacturing sector to be competitive through Quality Management Standards
(QMS) and Quality Technology Tools
(QTS).
· Technology
of Quality Upgradation Support for MSMEs
· Promotion
of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in MSME sector.
· Building
Awareness on Intellectual Rights for MSMEs
· Scheme
for Providing Support for “Entrepreneurial and Managerial Developments of SMEs
through Incubators”.
Prime Minister’s Employment
Generation Programme (PMEGP)
A national level credit linked subsidy scheme, namely, ‘Prime Minister’s
Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)’was introduced in August 2008 by
merging erstwhile PMRY and REGP schemes of this Ministry during the four
terminal years of XI plan (2008-09 to 2011-12) for generating an estimated
37.38 lakh additional employment opportunities. An outlay of Rs. 8060 crore
including Rs. 7800 crore as margin money subsidy for PMEGP in the XII Plan has
been approved by the Planning Commission. Since inception in 2008-09 to
2012-13, 2.21 lakh units have been assisted with margin money subsidy of Rs.
4147.95 crore to create employment for an estimated 20.34 lakh persons in the
country. Under this programme, financial assistance is provided for setting up
of micro enterprises each costing upto Rs.10 lakh in service sector and Rs.25
lakh in manufacturing sector. The assistance is provided in the form of subsidy
upto 25 per cent (35 per cent for Special category including weaker sections)
of the project cost in rural areas while it is 15 per cent (25 per cent for
Special category including weaker sections) for urban areas. For 2013-14 an
outlay of Rs 1418.28 crore has been earmarked for the scheme. The Guidelines of
the schemes are available on the website of the Ministry of MSME.
Skill Development
Skill Development has been taken up as a high priority area by the Ministry
through various measures like enhancing the training capabilities of the Tool
Rooms, MSME Development Institutes and other organizations under Ministry of
MSME. The range of training programme is enormous, covering grass root level
programmes related to traditional rural industries/activities to high-end, high
tech programmes on CNC machines and other high end technologies. The agencies
under the Ministry of MSME conducted programmes for skill development for
nearly 5.51 lakh tarinees during the year 2012-13 and the target set for
2013-14 is 6.5 lakh persons. The Ministry of MSME provides all such
trainings for SCs/STs free of cost. Special programmes are organized through
MSME-DIs for weaker sections of the society viz., SC/STs, women and physically
handicapped free of cost besides providing a monthly stipend of Rs. 125/- per
week per candidate during the entire period of training.
Credit Guarantee Scheme
The Government is implementing the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and
Small Enterprises with the objective of facilitating flow of credit to the
MSEs, particularly to micro enterprises by providing guarantee cover for loans
upto Rs.100 lakh without collateral / third party guarantees. For making the
scheme more attractive to both lenders as well as borrowers, several
modifications have been undertaken which, inter alia, include: (a) enhancement
in the loan limit to Rs.100 lakh; (b) enhancement of guarantee cover from 75%
to 85% for loans upto Rs. 5 lakh; (c) enhancement of guarantee cover from 75%
to 80% for MSEs owned/operated by women and for loans in North Eastern Region
(NER); (d) reduction in one-time guarantee fee from 1.5% to 1% and annual service
charges from 0.75% to 0.5% for loans upto Rs. 5 lakh and (e) reduction in
one-time guarantee fee for NER 1.5% to 0.75% etc.
As on 30th November,
2013, cumulatively, 13,13,751 proposals have been approved for guarantee cover
for a total sanctioned loan amount of Rs. 64452.61 crore.
Credit Linked Capital Subsidy
(CLCS) Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises
The scheme was launched in October-2000 and revised from 29.9.2005. The
revised scheme aims at facilitating technology up-gradation of Micro and Small
Enterprises (MSEs) by providing 15% capital subsidy (limited to maximum Rs. 15
lakhs) for purchase of Plant & Machinery. Maximum limit of eligible loan
for calculation of subsidy under the scheme is Rs. 100/- lakhs.
Presently, 48 well established and improved technologies/sub sectors have been
approved under the Scheme.
The CLCS Scheme is implemented through 10 nodal banks/agencies including SIDBI,
NABARD.
Marketing Assistance Scheme
The main objectives of Marketing Assistance Scheme are to enhance the marketing competitiveness of the micro, small and medium enterprises to provide them a platform for interaction with the individual / institutional buyers, to update them with prevalent market scenario and to provide them a forum for redressing their problems. The National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC), a public sector undertaking under the administrative control of this Ministry, acts as a facilitator to promote marketing efforts and enhance the competency of the MSMEs for capturing the new market opportunities by way of organizing / participating in various domestic & international exhibitions/trade fairs, buyers-seller meets, intensive campaigns/seminars and other marketing promotion activities.
The main objectives of Marketing Assistance Scheme are to enhance the marketing competitiveness of the micro, small and medium enterprises to provide them a platform for interaction with the individual / institutional buyers, to update them with prevalent market scenario and to provide them a forum for redressing their problems. The National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC), a public sector undertaking under the administrative control of this Ministry, acts as a facilitator to promote marketing efforts and enhance the competency of the MSMEs for capturing the new market opportunities by way of organizing / participating in various domestic & international exhibitions/trade fairs, buyers-seller meets, intensive campaigns/seminars and other marketing promotion activities.
An
amount of Rs.19.25 crore has been allocated in the Budget estimates for 2013-14
for this activity which is targeted to support participation in
international and domestic exhibitions/trade fairs and buyer-seller meets and
marketing campaigns.
Performance and Credit Rating Scheme
The National Small Industries
Corporation Ltd. (NSIC), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of MSME
has been implementing “Performance & Credit Rating Scheme” for micro and
small enterprises (MSEs) on behalf of the Government. The scheme is being
operated through seven accredited rating agencies i.e. CRISIL, SMERA, ONICRA,
CARE, FITCH, ICRA and M/s Brickworks. The scheme is aimed to create awareness
amongst micro, small & medium enterprises about the strengths and weakness
of their existing operations and to provide them an opportunity to enhance
their organizational strengths and credit worthiness. The rating under the
scheme serves as a trusted third party opinion on the capabilities and creditworthiness
of the micro, small & medium enterprises. An independent rating by an
accredited rating agency has a good acceptance from the Banks/Financial
Institutions, Customers/Buyers and Vendors. Under this Scheme, rating fee to be
paid by the micro, small & medium enterprises is subsidized for the first
year only and that is subject to maximum of 75% of the fee or Rs. 40000/-,
whichever is less.
BE for
2013-14 is Rs. 70.00 crore and it is targeted to support rating of 20000 MSEs
during the year.
International Cooperation Scheme
International Cooperation(IC) Scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of
MSME since 1996. Technology infusion and /or upgradation of Indian micro, small
and medium enterprises (MSMEs), their modernization and promotion of their
exports are the important objectives of the scheme.
The Scheme encompasses the following activities:
(i) Deputation of MSME
business delegations to other countries for exploring new areas of technology
infusion/upgradation, facilitating joint ventures, improving market of MSMEs
products, foreign collaborations, etc.
(ii) Participation
by Indian MSMEs in international exhibitions, trade fairs and buyer-seller
meets in foreign countries as well as in India, in which there is international
participation.
(iii) Holding international
conferences and seminars on topics and themes of interest to the MSMEs.
BE for 2013-14 is Rs.
5.00 crore and it is expected that 400 entrepreneurs would be facilitated to participate in 40 international events.
Assistance to Training Institutions
Under the scheme assistance is provided to existing and new training
Institutions for establishment of Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI)
and strengthening of their training infrastructure on a matching basis.
Ministry provides assistance on a matching basis, not exceeding 50
percent of the project cost or Rs. 150 lakh whichever is less (90 percent
or Rs. 270 lakh of the project cost whichever is less, for State level EDIs in
Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands) excluding
cost of land and working capital. The balance 50 percent of the matching
contribution (10 percent for State level EDIs in Union Territories of Andaman
& Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands) should come from the concerned
Institute, State/UT Government, public funded institution(s), NGOs/Trusts/
Banks/Companies/ Societies/ Voluntary organizations etc.
The assistance would be for
creation of infrastructure. The land will have to be provided by the State
Government or any other institution or by the applicant. Financial assistance
would be for construction of building, purchase of training aids/equipments,
office equipments, computers and for providing other support services e.g.
libraries/data bases etc. The costs of land, construction of staff quarters
etc. would not qualify for calculation of matching grant from the Central
Government. All the proposals under this scheme are required to be recommended
by and routed through the concerned State/UT Government.
A
new component of training has been added under this scheme, i.e.
assistance would be provided under the scheme to following Training
Institutions, for conducting Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDPs) and
Entrepreneurship cum Skill Development Programmes (ESDPs) and Training of
Trainers (ToTs) programmes in the areas of Entrepreneurship and/or Skill
Development:
· National
level EDIs (including branches),
· Training
Institutions established by Partner Institutions (PIs) of national level EDIs,
· Training/Incubation
centers of NSIC,
· Training
cum Incubation Centers (TICs) set up by Franchisees of NSIC
· Other
Training institutions with proven professional competency, capacity and experience,
approved under the scheme.
Entrepreneurship Skill Development (ESDP) training would normally be of 100 to
300 hours (1 to 3 months). Entrepreneurship Development (EDP) training would be
of 72 hours (2 weeks) and Trainer’s Training for 300 hours.
BE for
2013-14 is Rs. 102 crore and it is targeted to provide financial assistance to
2 existing/new EDIs and to train 1,05,000 persons.
Udyami Helpline
A ‘Udyami Helpline’ (a Call Centre for MSMEs) with toll-free number
1800-180-6763 is in operation to provide information, support, guidance and
assistance to first generation entrepreneurs as well as other existing
entrepreneurs to guide them regarding various promotional schemes of the
Government, procedural formalities required for setting up and running of the
enterprise and help them in accessing Bank credit etc. The Udyami Helpline has
become a useful tool for entrepreneurs and general public to gather information
about various schemes of the Ministry.
Achievements of the Ministry of
Mines During 2013
Geological Survey of India (GSI)
GSI added
another feather in its cap by acquiring “Research Vessel Samudra Ratnakar”- an
all weather ocean going ship designed to meet the fast-growing challenges of
the modern geo-scientific oceanographic research. This research vessel, a
state-of-the-art acquisition of GSI, was dedicated to the nation at Kandla
Port, Gujarat on 12th October,
2013 by Shri Dinsha Patel, Minister of Mines. This vessel, equipped with 27
major high-end instruments needed for geological, geophysical and geochemical
explorations in the offshore areas with modern on-board laboratories is
designed to carry out sea-bed mapping, mineral exploration and research
activities in the deep waters.
The 3rd meeting of the Geoscience Advisory
Council, the highest policy-planning forum to advise the Ministry of Mines and
the Geological Survey of India in the matters of Earth Sciences was held under
the Chairmanship of Shri Dinsha Patel, Minister of Mines at Vigyan Bhawan
Annexe, New Delhi on 27 February 2013. Referring to the importance of
mineral wealth vis-à-vis natural resources, the Minister requested the
scientific community to suggest new areas and techniques for locating new and
big mineral deposits. He also wished the experts to guide in locating new
aquifers of clean water, free of toxic salts, for fulfilling the ever rising
need of water for drinking and irrigation purposes for the prosperity of common
citizens.
During FS 2013-14 GSI has significantly augmented
resource base of gold, basemetal, iron ore, manganese, phosphorite, limestone,
gypsum, molybdenum and bauxite in the states of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Odisha,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Haryana.
As a follow-up to the decision taken by
Technical Advisory Committee for Landslide Mitigation and Management, GSI – the
Nodal Agency for Landslide Studies in India has conducted two Regional
Workshops on Landslide Disaster management in June and November 2013 at Shimla
and Shillong, respectively.
Assessing and Exploiting the
Mineral Wealth in the Northeastern Region
In
the strive for augmenting mineral resources of North Eastern Region, the 8th
Meeting to review the Progress of Ongoing Mineral Development Projects (OMDP)
in the North-Eastern Region was held on 21st November 2013 at Shillong, Meghalaya
under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Mines), which was attended by
representatives from Ministry of Mines, North-Eastern Council (NEC), Geological
Survey of India (GSI), Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Mineral Exploration
Corporation Limited (MECL) and Directorate of Geology and Mining of the
North-Eastern States. Some important decisions taken in the meeting include,
providing portable XRF units to State DGMs by GSI, notifying GSI’s training
programmes well in advance so that the state representatives can attend the
courses without hindrance to their own programmes, etc.
Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)
Mineral Production/ Trade
The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic minerals) during
2013-14 has been estimated at Rs. 227176 crores. During 2013-14,
estimated value for fuel minerals account for Rs. 155646 crores or 68.51% of
mineral production. The value of production of metallic minerals stood at
Rs. 37213 crores or 16.39% of the total value of production and non-metallic
minerals including minor minerals contributed to Rs. 34317 crores or 15.10% of
the total value. The provisional value of minerals and ores exported during the
year 2012-13 (provisional) was ` Rs. 159747 crores whereas the value of import
was Rs. 1124137 crores.
Achievements of IBM in 2013-14
(up to November, 2013)
For promotion of conservation and scientific development of mineral resources
and ensuring protection of mines environment in mining areas, IBM carried out
1, 508 inspections of mines for enforcement of provisions of MCDR 1988 and
examination of MP/ MS, approved 111 Mining Plans and 449 Schemes of Mining. For
upgradation and utilization of low grade and sub grade ores and minerals, IBM
carried out 36 ore dressing investigations, 25, 723 chemical analyses, 1, 613
mineralogical studies. As a part of consultancy services on charge and
promotional basis to mining industry on mining, geological and environmental
aspects, IBM completed 3 Mining Research Assignments & 4 Technical
Consultancy Assignments are in progress and conducted 12 training courses for
IBM and Industry personnel.
Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL)
Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) has earned Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 355.64 crore for the
financial year 2012-13 which is highest ever since inception. The company has
paid Rs. 83.27 crore as dividend to the Government of
India for the year 2012-13. Ore production in 2012-13 at 3.66 million tonnes is
highest in last 13 years.
The CCEA in its meeting held on 14.09.2012 has inter alia approved the
disinvestment of 9.59% paid up equity (8,87,28,406 shares) of HCL out of Government of
India holdings of 99.59%. The issue of HCL was opened on 23.11.2012 and 5,16,04,148 equity
shares of the company (approximately 5.58% of the paid up equity capital) were
sold through Stack Exchange mechanism. Subsequently, in the second tranche, the
issue of sale of shares of HCL opened on 03.07.2013 and 3,71,19,152 equity shares of the company were sold
through the Stock Exchange Mechanism, aggregating approximately 4.01% of the
paid up equity share capital of the company and an amount of ` 259.55 crore
approximately has been transferred to the account of Government of India
Exchequer. At present the Government of India is holding 90% of the total paid
up equity capital in HCL.
The Company has rolled out mine expansion plan to increase production to 12.4
million tonnes by financial year 2017-18. The plan envisages of Malanjkhand,
Khetri, Kolihan and Surda Mines; re-opening of Rakha and Kendadih Mines; &
development of new mines namely Banwas and Chapri-Sidheswar.
Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd
(MECL)
MECL is a premier Public Sector Enterprise responsible
for exploration of all major minerals like coal, lignite, iron-ore, copper,
zinc, limestone etc., developmental mining in various remote parts of the
country. Generally, exploration/developmental mining projects of MECL are
located in remote areas.
Highlights of Achievements during
2013 (Upto November, 2013)
MECL has submitted 30 numbers of Geological reports and added 2522.15 million
tonnes of mineral reserves in National Mineral Inventory.
MECL has paid Rs. 4.13 Crore as dividend to the Govt. of
India for the year 2012-13. This is happening after a gap of 33 years.
MECL
has been conferred with ‘MINI RATNA (Category-II)’ status on 25th October,
2013.
Amalgamation
of State Farms Corporation of India Limited with National Seeds Corporation
Limited
The Union Cabinet today approved
the proposal of the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture to
amalgamate State Farms Corporation of India (SFCI) with National Seeds
Corporation (NSC), both wholly owned (100% share) Public Sector Undertakings
under this Department. The amalgamated entity will serve the interest of the
farmers and the changing requirements of the Indian agricultural sector in a
more effective way.
The proposed amalgamation of SFCI with NSC would help Ministry in achieving its goal to provide quality, affordable seeds to every farmer even in the remotest parts of the country. This effort will ensure last mile availability of seeds at economical price for a large number of subsistence farmers in India.
The amalgamation of SFCI with NSC is expected to leverage their combined assets and capital for increased production of quality seeds for the farmers. With the present growth rates, profitability and synergy, the combined turnover would increase from Rs.1180 crore to Rs. 2046 crore by the year 2017 and Rs. 3112 crore by the year 2020. The merged entity is expected to occupy the prime position in the Indian seed industry by year 2020.
The proposed amalgamation of SFCI with NSC would help Ministry in achieving its goal to provide quality, affordable seeds to every farmer even in the remotest parts of the country. This effort will ensure last mile availability of seeds at economical price for a large number of subsistence farmers in India.
The amalgamation of SFCI with NSC is expected to leverage their combined assets and capital for increased production of quality seeds for the farmers. With the present growth rates, profitability and synergy, the combined turnover would increase from Rs.1180 crore to Rs. 2046 crore by the year 2017 and Rs. 3112 crore by the year 2020. The merged entity is expected to occupy the prime position in the Indian seed industry by year 2020.
Establishment
of National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Jhajjar Campus of AIIMS, New Delhi in
Haryana State
The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal for setting up of National Cancer Institute at a cost of Rs.2035 crore. NCI will be set up in the Jhajjar campus of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi located in Badhsa village, Jhajjar, Haryana. The project is estimated to be completed in 45 months.
This is a landmark step in the arena of cancer research in the country and shall lessen the deficit of tertiary cancer care in the Northern region. Cancer is emerging as a major public health concern in India, where every year 11 lakhs new cases are diagnosed, with a mortality rate of 5.5 lakhs per year. There has been a lag of cancer treatment facilities in India, compared to WHO standard; which requires one radiotherapy machine per million population. India at present has 0.41 machines per million population. Hence, setting up of this institute will herald a new chapter in the government initiative against cancer.
NCI will operate on the lines of NCI, USA and DKFZ, Germany as a nodal center for indigenous research, promotive, preventive and curative aspects of care and human resource development. This institute is aimed to plan, conduct and coordinate research on cancers which are more specific to India; like tobacco related cancers, cancer of the uterine cervix, gall bladder cancer and liver cancers. The focus will be on understanding, analyzing the cause and genesis of the above cancers. This will further translate the knowledge gained to develop feasible strategies to improve cancer care services by improvement in detection, diagnosis, treatment and quality of life of patients.
Indian-American Appointed Texas Secretary of State
The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal for setting up of National Cancer Institute at a cost of Rs.2035 crore. NCI will be set up in the Jhajjar campus of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi located in Badhsa village, Jhajjar, Haryana. The project is estimated to be completed in 45 months.
This is a landmark step in the arena of cancer research in the country and shall lessen the deficit of tertiary cancer care in the Northern region. Cancer is emerging as a major public health concern in India, where every year 11 lakhs new cases are diagnosed, with a mortality rate of 5.5 lakhs per year. There has been a lag of cancer treatment facilities in India, compared to WHO standard; which requires one radiotherapy machine per million population. India at present has 0.41 machines per million population. Hence, setting up of this institute will herald a new chapter in the government initiative against cancer.
NCI will operate on the lines of NCI, USA and DKFZ, Germany as a nodal center for indigenous research, promotive, preventive and curative aspects of care and human resource development. This institute is aimed to plan, conduct and coordinate research on cancers which are more specific to India; like tobacco related cancers, cancer of the uterine cervix, gall bladder cancer and liver cancers. The focus will be on understanding, analyzing the cause and genesis of the above cancers. This will further translate the knowledge gained to develop feasible strategies to improve cancer care services by improvement in detection, diagnosis, treatment and quality of life of patients.
Indian-American Appointed Texas Secretary of State
Attorney Nandita Berry has been
appointed as the Secretary of State for Texas by governor Rick Perry, making
her the first Indian-American to occupy this top position in the Southern
State.In this position, effective January 7 onwards, Berry will serve as the
state’s chief elections officer, the governor’s liaison on border and Mexican
affairs, and Texas’ chief protocol officer for state and international matters.
Jayanthi
Natarajan Resigns as Environment Minister
Jayanthi Natarajan resigned as
the minister of state for environment and forest from the Council of Ministers
(COM) on 21 December .The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister,
accepted the resignation of Jayanthi Natarajan from the Council of
Ministers.The Prime Minister advised the President of India that M. Veerappa
Moily, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas shall be given additional charge
of the work of Ministry of Environment & Forests.
Indian
Scientists Developed Insulin Pill For Diabetics
The Indian Scientists, National
Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) developed insulin
pill for diabetics.The Scientists developed a long-sought insulin pill that
could spare millions of diabetics and soughed a way the delivery of insulin
therapy from a jab to a pill.The experiments with rats, the pill lowered blood
glucose levels almost as much as injected insulin and the effects of the pill
lasted longer than injected insulin.The body’s digestive enzymes in the body
are so good at breaking down food also break down insulin before it can get to
work. In addition, insulin does not get easily absorbed through the gut into
bloodstream. To solve these problem researchers from National Institute of
Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Punjab combined two approaches
to shield insulin from the digestive enzymes and then get it into the blood.The
team of researchers Ashish Kumar Agrawal, Harshad Harde, Kaushik Thanki and
Sanyog Jain, packaged insulin in tiny sacs made of lipids or fats called
liposome.Then wrapped the liposomes in layers of protective molecules called
polyelectrolytes.To get absorbed and to transport the layersome across the
intestinal wall into the blood stream they attached folic acid and a kind of
vitamin B.
Election
Commission Recognized Aam Aadmi Party As State Party
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) got
recognition as a recognised state party and reserved symbol of broom in Delhi
from the Election Commission on the basis of its performance in the
just-concluded Delhi Assembly polls. The recognition to AAP, which is in the
process of deciding on whether to form its government in Delhi with Congress
support, came last evening after it fulfilled the laid criterion in this
regard. As per laid norms, a party may be recognised by the Election Commission
if it wins at least three per cent seats, subject to a minimum of three seats
and at least six per cent of total valid votes. Aam Aadmi Party won 28 seats in
the recently concluded Assembly polls in Delhi.
Cabinet Approved Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN
The Cabinet on 19 December
approved free trade agreement between India and the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Agreement of Trade in Services and Agreement was
signed under the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation (CECA) between and the
ASEAN. The CECA between India and ASEAN was signed in 2003. The Cabinet
approved the Agreement on Trade Goods under the CECA with the ASEAN in 2009.
Lok Sabha Passed The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011
Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011
was passed by the Lok Sabha on 18 December . Earlier, the Bill was passed by
the Rajya Sabha on 17 December after some amendments. The most prominent of a
clutch of anti-graft legislations on the anvil, the Lokpal bill seeks to
establish a Lokpal at the central level and asks states to establish Lokayuktas
within a year’s time from the date of notification of the law. The format of
the Lokayukta will be left to the state assemblies to decide.
Puneet
Kumar is new Secretary General of AEPC
Puneet Kumar, a Kerela cadre IAS officer has been appointed as the Secretary General of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). Apparel Export Promotion Council is the apex body for apparel exports in the country. The post was vacant since April 2012. Amarendra Sahoo was the last secretary general.He is a 1993 batch officer and a graduate in mechanical engineering .He has worked in different capacities in departments like revenue, technical education, excise and agriculture in Kerala.
South India’s First High Altitude Cricket Stadium Inaugurated In Kerala
Puneet Kumar, a Kerela cadre IAS officer has been appointed as the Secretary General of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). Apparel Export Promotion Council is the apex body for apparel exports in the country. The post was vacant since April 2012. Amarendra Sahoo was the last secretary general.He is a 1993 batch officer and a graduate in mechanical engineering .He has worked in different capacities in departments like revenue, technical education, excise and agriculture in Kerala.
South India’s First High Altitude Cricket Stadium Inaugurated In Kerala
Kerala Governor Nikhil Kumar
inaugurated south India’s first high altitude cricket stadium at Krishnagiri in
Wynad district of Kerala on 17 December. This is the second cricket ground in
India after Dharamsala stadium to be located as such height.The stadium spreads
over 4.4 hectares area and is situated at about 2800 feet above the sea level.
The Kerala Cricket Association had invested 6.5 crore rupees for construction
of the stadium.
Andy
Murray Crowned BBC ‘ Sports Personality of the Year ‘
UK Tennis star Andy Murray, the
first British tennis player to win the Wimbledon in 77 years, was awarded with
the ‘ BBC Sports Personality of the Year ’. Wales and Lions rugby star Leigh
Halfpenny was awarded with the runner-up trophy and champion jockey Tony McCoy
finished third in the same list.
Shivraj
Singh Chouhan Sworn In As The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who led
BJP to its third straight victory in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election, was
sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh on 14 December 2013. The
Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Ram Naresh Yadav administered the oath of office
and secrecy to him in Jamboori Maidan of Bhopal.He has sworn in as the Chief
Minister for the third consecutive time.Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the 18th and
current Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
Vasundhara
Raje Sworn In As Chief Minister of Rajasthan
BJP leader Vasundhara Raje , who
led BJP to a landslide victory in Rajasthan Assembly polls, was sworn in as the
Chief Minister of Rajasthan for the second time.Vasundhara Raje was
administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Margaret Alva during a
grand swearing-in ceremony inside the Assembly building premises in Jaipur on
13 December. Vasundhara Raje is elected from Jhalrapatan (Jhalawar)
constituency. She is the 22nd Chief Minister of Rajasthan state.
India Won Women’s
Kabaddi World Cup 2013
India has won the women’s Kabaddi World
Cup championship for the third time in a row, defeating New Zealand 49-21 in
the summit clash in Jalandhar, Punjab on 12 December. Indian women’s team has
won 2011, 2012, and 2013 editions of World cups.
Supreme
Court Judgement On Homosexuality
India’s Supreme Court on 11
December upheld the constitutional validity of Section 377 of the Indian
Penal Code making gay sex an offence punishable with upto life imprisonment.A
bench of justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya set aside the Delhi High
Court’s verdict which had in 2009 decriminalised gay sex among consenting
adults in private.The Supreme Court bench allowed the appeals filed by various
social and religious organisations challenging the Delhi high court verdict on
the ground that gay sex is against the cultural and religious values of the
country.The Supreme Court ruled that there is no constitutional infirmity in
section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, IPC which makes gay sex an offence
punishable with upto life imprisonment.With the apex court verdict, the
operation of penal provision against gay sex has come into force. The bench
stated Parliament is authorised to delete section 377 of IPC but till the time
this penal provision is there, the court cannot legalise this kind of sexual
relationship.The court passed the order on a batch of petitions of anti-gay
right activists and social and religious organisations against the Delhi High
Court’s verdict decriminalising gay sex.The Delhi High Court had on 2 July 2009
decriminalised gay sex as provided in Section 377 of the IPC and had ruled that
sex between two consenting adults in private would not be an offence
Scientist Created ‘Robotic Sperm’ To Help With Fertilisation and Drug Delivery
Scientists have created the
first ever “sperm-based biobots” by trapping single sperm cells inside metal
nanotubes and remotely controlling their direction using magnets.The resulting
biobot (a ‘biological robot’, referring to a bacterium or cell which has been
programmed to behave in a certain way) could be put to a range of uses,
including delivering drugs to a specific target in the body or fertilising an
egg.The experiments have been led by Oliver Schmidt at the Institute for
Integrative Nanosciences in Dresden, Germany. Schmidt and his team created
magnetic nanotubes 50 microns long by 5 to 8 microns in diameter and dropped
these into a fluid containing bull sperm.
Mysore
Prince Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar Died
The last King of the erstwhile
Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar died in Bangalore on
10 December.Maharaja Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar Bahadur also known as
Srikanta Wadeyar was the last prince of Mysore Kingdom under Wodeyar
dynasty.Wodeyar Dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Mysore between 1399 and
1950.Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar was born in 1953. He was the only son
of Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodiyar, the last ruling Maharaja of Mysore and
his second wife Maharani Tripura Sundari Ammani Avaru.He succeeded his father
as the head of the Wodeyar dynasty in 1974.He was elected as a Member of
Parliament representing the Mysore Parliamentary Constituency four times as a
candidate of Indian National Congress.Wodeyar was also a Fashion Designer and
promoted Mysore Silk Sarees under his brand name called “Royal Silk of Mysore”.
Human
Rights Day was observed on 10th December
Human Rights Day was observed
10th December across the world to bring to light the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. 2013 Theme of the day is “20 Years Working for Your
Rights”. The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights
Day in 1950, to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for
all peoples and all nations. The United Nations General Assembly in December
1993 created the mandate of High Commissioner for the promotion and protection
of all human rights. This year, the office of the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights marks 20 years since its establishment.
December
9th Observed as a International Anti-Corruption Day
International Anti-Corruption
Day is observed on 9th December across the world to raise awareness about the
menace of Corruption and what people can do to fight it. The theme for the year
2013 is “Act against Corruption Today”. The day is observed on 9th December
each year to raise awareness about the corruption. The UN General Assembly by
resolution of 58/4 of 31 October 2003 designated 9 December as International
Anti-Corruption Day. This decision aimed to raise people’s awareness of
corruption and of the role of the United Nations Convention against Corruption
in combating and preventing it.
Wipro Chairman Azim Premji Gets ET Lifetime Achievement Award 2013
Wipro Chairman Azim Premji has
won the Economic Times Lifetime Achievement Award 2013 for his role in creating
India’s third-largest software exporter and also for the impressive scale of
his philanthropy.Azim H Premji is an Indian business tycoon and philanthropist
who is the chairman of Wipro Limited, guiding the company through four decades
of diversification and growth to emerge as one of the Indian leaders in the
software industry. According to Forbes, he is currently the fourth wealthiest
Indian, and the 91st richest in the world, with a personal wealth of $17.2
billion in 2013.The 2013 ET Awards for Corporate Excellence were given in
Mumbai on 9 December 2013. The ET Awards were decided by a jury headed by Anshu
Jain, co-CEO of Deutsche Bank.
Venezuela’s Alyz Henrich Won Miss Earth 2013 Title
Alyz Henrich of Venezuela has
been crowned Miss Earth 2013 at the Versailles Palace, Philippines on 7
December. She was crowned with the pageant of Miss World by Tereza Fajksova,
the Miss Earth 2012 from Czech Republic. This was the 13th edition of the
annual Miss Earth.The runners-up are Miss Austria, who was crowned Miss Air,
Miss Thailand won the Miss Water title and Miss Fire went to Miss Korea.This is
the second time the title has been given to a beauty from Venezuela. Alexandra
Braun had won the pageant in 2005.
Oxford Researchers Developed New Malaria Vaccine
In a major scientific
development, scientists at Oxford University have developed a new malaria
vaccine which can guard against the deadly mosquito-borne disease.The vaccine
has shown promising results in the first clinical trial in which some of the
adult volunteers were completely protected against malaria.It’s the first time
that a vaccine has been shown to have a protective effect through a
sufficiently high immune response involving cells called CD8 T cells. It is CD8
immune cells that are seen to vanguard a protective response against malaria in
similar studies in mice.
Ministerial
Panel Recommended Bailout Package To Sugar Industry
An informal group of ministers,
headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, has on 6 December recommended a
number of incentives to the sugar industry .The bailout includes 7200 crore
rupees at 12 percent interest rate to sugar mills by the banks to pay off the
arrears of the sugarcane growers. The 12 percent interest on the financial
support on the loan will be paid by Government of India (GoI) and Sugar
Development Fund (SDF). The GoI will pay 5 percent of the loan, while the 7
percent will be paid by the SDF. This makes the loan amount free of interest
for the sugar mills. The ministerial panel was constituted by the Prime
Minister. The panel has also recommended loan recasting for the mills as per
the Reserve Bank norms, incentives for production for the raw sugar of up to 4
million tonnes and to set up the buffer stock besides doubling ethanol-blending
in petrol to 10 percent. The government will set up an inter-departmental
committee to implement the proposal of ethanol blending. Ethanol is derived by
processing sugarcane.The panel has ruled out an immediate hike in sugar import
duty. The sugar industry at present is facing a financial crisis due to higher
cost of production and fall in the prices of sugar. This has led to 3400 crore
rupees cane arrears from 2012-13 during the marketing year that ended in
September 2013.
Football
World Cup Winner’s Prize Money Rises To $35 million
The 2014 World Cup champions
will receive $35 million in prize money, world football’s governing body FIFA
announced in Salvador on 6 December 2013.The value represents a 17 per cent
increase in the prize money handed to Spain for winning the 2010 tournament in
South Africa.FIFA will award the second placed side $25 million while the third
will receive $22 million.Each of the tournament’s 32 teams will receive $1.5
million before the tournament begins to help cover their preparation
costs.Brazil will host 2014 Football World Cup tournment.
Sri
Lanka To Set Up 8 Economic Zones Across Country
Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment
has announced on 5 December plans to start eight export processing and
industrial zones across the country.These economic zones will begin operations
in 2014.As per the Investment Promotion Minister of Sri Lanka, Lakshman Yapa
Abeywardana these zones will attract foreign investment and will provide
economic development to the rural areas. The largest of the eight zones will be
in Vavuniya in the North, which will revive the economic activities after the
civil war.The three of the economic zones will be at Hambantota in the south.
The Government of Sri Lanka has invested heavily to develop the region as a
commercial and industrial hub.
India To Host Under-17 FIFA World Cup In 2017
India was chosen as the host
country for Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017 by the FIFA executive committee in
its meeting at Salvador de Bahia in Brazil on 5 December 2013.By virtue of
being the host country, India will take part in the 24-nation tournament for
the first time in its history. This will be the biggest ever football
tournament in the country as this is the first FIFA event in the country’s
history.The tournament comprises 24 teams and it will be held in six cities
across India Including New Delhi. The Union cabinet has sanctioned the 125 crore
rupees for infrastructure development.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela Died
Former South African President
Nelson Mandela, who served 27 years in prison for anti-apartheid activities and
led his continent into a new era, has died on 5 November in his house at
Johannesburg. He was of 95 years old. Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in the
village of Mvezo in Umtatu, then a part of South Africa’s Cape Province.Given
the forename Rolihlahla, a Xhosa term colloquially meaning “troublemaker”, in
later years he became known by his clan name, Madiba. He was the first black
South African to hold the office of President from 1994 to 1999, and the first
elected in a fully representative multiracial election.He joined the African
National Congress in 1943. In 1964, he was charged with sabotage, sentenced to
life.He was freed from the prison in 1990 .Mandela has received more than two
hundred and fifty awards over four decades. In 1981, a panel of International
Judges, Vienna, Austria, chose him for the Bruno Kreisky Award for merit in the
field of human rights .He was the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He
was the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He was the recipient of Bharat
Ratna and Mahatma Gandhi peace award.The United Nations General Assembly
proclaimed 18 July, Mandela’s birthday, as Mandela Day, for his contribution to
the anti-apartheid struggle.
Scientists
Discovered ‘Super Gene’ That Boost Rice Yields
A group of international
scientists from Japan and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in
Manila , has discovered a rice gene named ” Spike ” that can increase the
production of indica rice varieties, which includes basmati, by up to 36% .
Most of the rice produced in Southern Asia, including India and Thailand, is
indica rice. The use of Spike in rice breeding could contribute to food
security in indica-growing regions such as South and Southeast Asia.
World
AIDS Day Observed On 1 December
World AIDS Day was observed on 1
December 2013 across the globe to raise awareness about the HIV/ AIDS. The
theme for the year 2013 is: Getting to Zero.HIV/AIDS remains a major global
issue, having claimed more than 36 million lives so far since the discovery of
the virus more than 20 years ago. According to the World Health Organisation,
there were approximately 35.3 million people living with HIV in 2012. Since the
inception of World AIDS Day in 1988, it has been observed on 1st December every
year with different themes. The theme for this year is “Getting to Zero”- means
zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.
Department
of Posts launched ‘Express Parcel’ and ‘Business Parcel’ Services
The Department of Posts,
Ministry of Communications & IT, on 2 December launched an Express Parcel
service and Business Parcel Services for speedy delivery of parcels across the
country. The services were launched by Smt. P. Gopinath, Secretary, Department
of Posts, at a function organized at New Delhi G.P.O. Express Parcel is a
premium parcel service for retail as well as bulk customers. It offered time
bound, safe and secure home delivery of parcels. To have minimal transit time
these parcels will be given airlift wherever needed.Bulk customers would also
have an economical option of surface transported ‘Business Parcel’. These two
new parcel services aim to promote the e-commerce market in India by offering
reliable and cost efficient delivery solutions. Whereas ‘Express Parcel’ is an
air mail service providing guaranteed time bound delivery of parcels, ‘Business
Parcel’ will provide fast, secure and cost efficient transmission of parcels
through surface. These services will have ‘Cash on Delivery’ facility which has
become a pre-requisite today for e-commerce parcels.
India
Successfully Test Fired Nuclear Capable ‘ Prithvi -2 ‘ Missile
India has successfully test
fired its surface to surface ballistic missile Prithvi-ll from Chandipur in the
Balesore district of Odisha on 3 December.The last user trial of Prithvi-II was
successfully carried out from the same base on 7th and 8th October 2013.It was
Inducted into India’s Strategic Forces Command in 2003, the Prithvi II missile
is the first missile to be developed by DRDO under India’s Integrated Guided
Missile Development Programme.
‘E-Inclusion: IT Training for
Rural Sc/St/Women Beneficiaries’ Project Launched
The
Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), Ministry of
Communications & Information Technology, launched the ‘E-Inclusion: IT
Training for Rural SC/ ST/ Women Beneficiaries’ Project here today. Shri Kapil
Sibal, Minister of Communication & IT, formally launched the Project by
releasing the Handbook titled ‘E-Literacy: Towards Empowering Rural India’
containing profiles of 50 beneficiaries who have successfully undertaken the basic
IT training programme under the E-Inclusion project. Shri Sibal also
felicitated ten beneficiaries by distributing certificates to them on the
successful completion of the programme. Around 100 beneficiaries, which
included young boys, girls and women, including the Village Level Entrepreneurs
(VLEs) attended the event from the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh,
Odisha and West Bengal.
The Project is part of the Government of India’s initiative under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) for creating a transparent and accountable governance model for enabling service delivery at the doorstep of citizens. To achieve this mission, DeitY has setup over 100,000 Common Services Centers (CSCs) on a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model. CSCs are the front-end delivery points for government, private and social sector services to the citizens of India.
Shri Kapil Sibal mentioned that Digital Literacy is an enabler for empowering communities and providing them real freedom. The Government initiative for making one person in every family e-Literate is a step in that direction. This is in fact a revolution for enabling citizen’s participation in nation building. By making the girls and boys in rural India to become digitally literate, the Government is achieving the objective of empowering and enabling them to acquire information, knowledge and skills. This would also help in enhancing the employability of these young men and women. Besides this, this will go a long way in bridging the digital divide. He suggested that in this task we should also involve States, industry associations such as NASSCOM, NGOs and other stakeholders. He also mentioned various government projects that are in the pipeline like the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), Aakash 4.0, etc. He was hopeful that NOFN will enable delivery of health, education, agriculture and other services in a seamless manner at the doorsteps of the citizens.
Shri J. Satyanarayana, Secretary, DeitY, on this occasion mentioned that India stands at third position globally in the field of ICT. He spoke about the various dimensions of E-Inclusion – Digital Literacy, Financial Inclusion, E-Governance, E-Livelihoods and how to mainstream physically disabled into the digital movement. He stated that Government is actively considering to provide e-Literacy to 10,00,000 (10 lakh) men and women living in rural India at a cost of Rs. 100 crore. The CSCs will be utilized to achieve this target. This would cover one block in every State and one individual in every family will be made e-Literate.
The Project is part of the Government of India’s initiative under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) for creating a transparent and accountable governance model for enabling service delivery at the doorstep of citizens. To achieve this mission, DeitY has setup over 100,000 Common Services Centers (CSCs) on a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model. CSCs are the front-end delivery points for government, private and social sector services to the citizens of India.
Shri Kapil Sibal mentioned that Digital Literacy is an enabler for empowering communities and providing them real freedom. The Government initiative for making one person in every family e-Literate is a step in that direction. This is in fact a revolution for enabling citizen’s participation in nation building. By making the girls and boys in rural India to become digitally literate, the Government is achieving the objective of empowering and enabling them to acquire information, knowledge and skills. This would also help in enhancing the employability of these young men and women. Besides this, this will go a long way in bridging the digital divide. He suggested that in this task we should also involve States, industry associations such as NASSCOM, NGOs and other stakeholders. He also mentioned various government projects that are in the pipeline like the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), Aakash 4.0, etc. He was hopeful that NOFN will enable delivery of health, education, agriculture and other services in a seamless manner at the doorsteps of the citizens.
Shri J. Satyanarayana, Secretary, DeitY, on this occasion mentioned that India stands at third position globally in the field of ICT. He spoke about the various dimensions of E-Inclusion – Digital Literacy, Financial Inclusion, E-Governance, E-Livelihoods and how to mainstream physically disabled into the digital movement. He stated that Government is actively considering to provide e-Literacy to 10,00,000 (10 lakh) men and women living in rural India at a cost of Rs. 100 crore. The CSCs will be utilized to achieve this target. This would cover one block in every State and one individual in every family will be made e-Literate.
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