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Tag Wise Current Affairs
Tag: Infrastructure
Shehri Samridhi Utsav launched to extend outreach of Deendayal Antyodaya Mission
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 06 February 2019
GoM favours GST cut on houses under construction
Tags: Infrastructure, Economic Reforms
Published on: 09 February 2019
Cabinet approves Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development Scheme
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 07 February 2019
CCEA approves setting up 12,000 MW grid-connected Solar Power Projects
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 07 February 2019
Government sanctions five projects under Buddhist Circuit
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 12 February 2019
Government launches Light House Projects challenge
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 12 February 2019
Eco Circuit: Pathanamthitta-Gavi-Vagamon-Thekkady project inaugurated in Kerala
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 18 February 2019
Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Jl-VAN Yojana
Tags: Agriculture, Infrastructure
Published on: 02 March 2019
Cabinet approves National Mineral Policy 2019
Tags: Infrastructure, Commerce & Industry
Published on: 01 March 2019
Cabinet approves Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 21 February 2019
CCEA approves Kiru Hydro Electric Project in Jammu and Kashmir
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 08 March 2019
Cabinet approves measures to promote Hydro Power Sector
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 08 March 2019
UDAN: CCEA approves revival of un-served and under-served air strips
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 08 March 2019
World Bank approves $137 million under DRIP to modernise 220 dams in 6 states
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 09 March 2019
India can achieve high penetration of EV by 2030: NITI Aayog Report
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 06 April 2019
FAME II: 50% localisation mandatory to receive Subsidies
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 22 April 2019
France to provide up to 7 lakh Euros for railway station development
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 12 June 2019
NTPC, Power Grid forms National Electricity Distribution Company Limited
Tags: Industries, Infrastructure
Published on: 25 June 2019
MoA signed to set up Centre for Inland & Coastal Maritime Technology at IIT Kharagpur
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 27 June 2019
Government gives two year extension to Polavaram Project
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 27 June 2019
BharatNet: All panchayats to be connected with broadband by March 2020
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 29 June 2019
Eight core sectors grow by 5.1% in May 2019
Tags: Industries, Infrastructure
Published on: 02 July 2019
Cabinet approves leasing out of three airports to Adani
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 04 July 2019
Cabinet approves Phase II of FAME India Scheme
Tags: Infrastructure, Commerce & Industry, Environment
Published on: 01 March 2019
NHAI inks MoU with NIIF for funding highway projects
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 09 July 2019
CCEA approves 2880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 18 July 2019
Elephant bonds for declaring undisclosed income
Tags: Infrastructure, Banking & Financial Sector
Published on: 19 July 2019
1,40,134 Houses sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(Urban)
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 26 July 2019
Government to reduce stake in BPCL, Conor and SCI
Tags: Infrastructure
Published on: 21 November 2019
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'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched Shehri Samridhi Utsav across the country to extend outreach of Deendayal Antyodaya Mission – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) to most vulnerable. It also seeks to showcase MoUHA’s initiatives and facilitate access of Self-Help Group (SHG) members to the other government schemes.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Shehri Samriddhi Utsav</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under it, series of rallies led by women’s’ SHGs will be undertaken to spread awareness about DAY-NULM in urban poor communities.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Job melas and fairs to market products made by women microentrepreneurs will be also organized by states.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">SHG members across cities are being linked to national government schemes viz. Swachchh Bharat Mission (U), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (U), Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, Suraksha Bima Yojana, Jeevan Jyoti Yojana and National Nutrition Mission.</span></span></li>
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<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is Central Sector Scheme launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA) to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It aims at uplifting urban poor by enhancing their sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Its intended beneficiaries are Urban poor viz. street vendors, slum dwellers, homeless, rag pickers, unemployed and differently abled etc.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It extends coverage to all 4041 statutory cities and towns, there by covering almost the entire urban population of the country.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Main highlights of DAY-NULM</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Employment through Skill Training and Placement</strong>: Urban poor are imparted with market-oriented skills through City Livelihood Centers.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under it, expenditure of Rs.15, 000 per person is provided for training of urban poor (It is Rs.18, 000 in North-East and J&K).</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Social Mobilization and Institution Development</strong>: It is done through formation of SHGs for training members and hand holding. It provides initial support of Rs.10, 000 for each group.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Subsidy to urban poor:</strong> It provides interest subsidy of 5% to 7% for setting up individual micro-enterprises with loan of upto Rs.2 lakh and for group enterprises with loan limit of up to Rs.10 lakhs.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Shelters for urban homeless: </strong>It fully funds cost of construction of shelters for urban homeless.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Other means</strong>: It provides development of vendor markets and also promotes skills for vendors through setting up infrastructure. It has special projects for rag picker and differently abled etc.</span></span></li>
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'title' => 'GoM favours GST cut on houses under construction',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Group of Ministers (GoM) has favoured lowering goods and services tax (GST) on under-construction residential properties to 5% from the 12% currently. The seven-member GoM, headed by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel was set up in January 2019 by GST Council to analyse tax rates and issues being faced by real estate sector under GST regime.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Recommendations</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has favoured to reduce GST rate on under-construction residential properties to 5% without input tax credit (ITC) from current effective rate of 12%, after abatement of value of land. It also favoured lowering GST rate for affordable housing at 3% from 8% at present. It will finalise its recommendations and then submit its recommendations to GST Council headed by Union Finance Minister, which will take the final decision on the proposal. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Currently, GST is levied at 12% with ITC on payments made for under construction property or ready to move in flats where the completion certificate has not been issued at the time of sale. The effective pre-GST tax incidence on such housing property was 15-18%.<strong> </strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, GST is not levied on buyers of real estate properties for which completion certificate has been issued at time of sale. There have been complaints that builders are not passing on benefit of without input tax credit to consumers by way of reduction in price of property after rollout of GST.</span></span></p>
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'title' => 'Cabinet approves Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development Scheme ',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved <strong>Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development Scheme</strong> of Prasar Bharti. Under it, public broadcaster will be provided over Rs. 1,054 crores for three-year period till 2020 (from 2017-18 to 2019-20) for strengthening broadcast infrastructure and network development.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development Scheme</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Out of total Rs 1,054.52 crore approved under this scheme, Rs 435.04 crore was approved for continuing schemes of All India Radio (AIR). Rs 619.48 crore for schemes of Doordarshan.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It also has provisions for modernisation of existing equipment/facilities in studios essential to sustain ongoing activities and also for High Definition Television (HDTV) transmitters at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For AIR, it provides for FM expansion at 206 places and envisages digitalisation of studios at 127 places is envisaged. It will benefit 13% additional population of the country to listen AIR programmes.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">10 KW FM transmitters will be set up along Indo-Nepal Border while 10KW FM transmitters will be set up in J&K Border. It will significantly improve Radio and TV coverage along border areas.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Digital Terrestrial Transmitters (DTTs) at 19 locations and Digitization of Studios at 39 locations, DSNG (Digital Satellite News Gathering) Vans will be also set up at 15 locations and Upgradation of Earth Stations at 12 locations also have been approved.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Other Cabinet approvals</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>DD Arun Prabha Channel: </strong>Union Cabinet also approved launch of this channel from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. It will help to fulfil the aspirations of people of North East Region.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>1,50,000 DTH sets</strong>: It will be distributed in different states in the country which will help people in the border, remote, tribal and LWE areas to watch Doordarshan's DTH programmes.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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'title' => 'CCEA approves setting up 12,000 MW grid-connected Solar Power Projects',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved for setting up <strong>12,000 MW</strong> grid-connected <strong>Solar Photovoltaic</strong> (PV) Power Projects by implementing Phase-ll of Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme. It will be implemented by Government Producers with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support of Rs. 8,580 crores for self-use or use by Government or Government entities, both Central and State Governments.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>CPSU Scheme Phase-ll</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under it, <strong>12,000 MW</strong> or more capacity of grid connected solar power projects will be set up by Government Producers in 4 years period (2019-23) as per conditions specified in Government Producer Scheme.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It mandates use of both solar photovoltaic (SPV) cells and modules manufactured domestically as per specifications and testing requirements fixed by Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE).</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Its implementation will result in setting up 12,000 MW or more of grid connected solar PV power projects by Government Producers in 4 years, thereby creating investment of about Rs. 48,000 crores.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Significance </strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will give push to "<strong>Make-in-</strong><strong>lndia</strong>" as it encourages Government Producers to procure solar cells and modules from domestic manufacturers.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will create sufficient demand for domestically produced solar PV cells and modules for next 3 to 4 years.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will provide direct employment in pre-commissioning activities/construction phase and around in operation and maintenance period.</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> In addition, it will create additional employment opportunities for locals by way of involvement in setting up of Solar Power Projects and also in manufacturing of domestically produced PV cells and modules.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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'title' => 'Government sanctions five projects under Buddhist Circuit',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Union Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned five projects under Buddhist Circuit, one of the fifteen thematic circuits for development under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Government is planning to make Buddhist Circuit under this scheme India’s first trans-national tourist circuit. This circuit was initially limited to only to seven major Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, but now it has been expanded to 21 more states.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Five Projects approved are </span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Madhya Pradesh:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif"> Development of circuit in Sanchi-Satna-Rewa-Mandsaur-Dhar.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Uttar Pradesh:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif"> Development of circuit in Kushinagar, Srawasti and Kapilvastu.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Bihar:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif"> Construction of Convention Centre adjacent to Maya Sarovar on western side at Bodhgaya, Bihar.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Gujarat: Development of circuit in Junagadh- Gir-Somnath- Bharuch-Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Andhra Pradesh: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Development of circuit in Shalihundam- Thotlakonda- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda- Amravati-Anupu.</span></span></span></li>
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<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Swadesh Darshan scheme</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">It is one of flagship schemes of Ministry of Tourism launched in 2014 for development of thematic circuits i.e. theme-based tourist circuits across the country in a planned and prioritised manner.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">These tourist circuits are being developed on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">It is 100%centrally funded scheme. It also has provision for leveraging voluntary funding under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Central PSUs and corporate sector.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Total 15 thematic circuits so far have been identified for development under it. They are Buddhist, North-East India, Coastal, Himalayan, Krishna, Desert, Eco, Wildlife, Tribal, Rural, Sufi, Tirtankar, Spiritual, Ramayana and Heritage.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Such theme based tourist circuits are being developed in manner to supports communities, provide employment and fosters social integration without comprising upon environmental concerns and provides unique experiences to tourists.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">The funding of projects under this scheme vary from state to state. It is finalised on basis of detailed project reports prepared by Programme Management Consultant (PMC) which is national level consultant for implementing the scheme.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoUHA) has launched Light House Projects challenge aimed at bring about paradigm shift in housing construction technology sector. It has been launched under Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC- India). </span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Light House Projects challenge</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">It has been launched for States/Union Territories to select six sites across country for constructing lighthouse projects. States/UTs scoring highest marks under it will be awarded lighthouse projects.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Winning six states/UTs which score highest marks across prescribed criteria of this challgene will be awarded lighthouse projects. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">They will receive central assistance to construct these projects as per Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) guidelines.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">It also has provision for Technology Innovation Grant (TIG) for states/ UTs. It will offset impact of any additional cost implication due to use of new technology and also absorb issues related to economies of scale and other related factors. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">The selected states or UTs will then enter into Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) with MoUHA to execute these lighthouse projects in their regions under GHTC-India.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">The selected sites for lighthouse projects will be used as ‘open laboratory’ for live demonstration. It will receive due attention from policymakers, academia, public and private practitioners and media apart from felicitation and recognition in Grand Expo-cum-Conference.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Shortlisted global technology providers under GHTC-India will be invited to plan and construct lighthouse projects within framework of PMAY (U) on pre-selected sites provided by States/UTs.</span></span></span></li>
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'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Ministry of Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has launched PMAY (U) mobile application to bring beneficiaries directly in contact with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">PMAY (U) mobile app</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will allow beneficiaries of PMAY (U) to capture and upload high-resolution photographs and videos of completed houses along with their families. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will also allow the beneficiaries to upload selfies with their house and 30 - 60 seconds video clip where they will share stories of owning a house under PMAY (U). </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">These photos and videos of beneficiary testimonies will be scrutinized at state as well as at central level. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Selected beneficiaries from states/UTs will also be awarded and invited as special guests for anniversary celebration of PMAY (U).</span></span></span></li>
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<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It was launched in June 2015 with aim of addressing housing requirement of urban poor including slum dwellers in India by the year 2022. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objective:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Construct two crore houses across nation by 2022. Houses will be constructed using new and emerging technologies.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Coverage:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It covers entire urban area consisting of 4041 statutory towns with initial focus on 500 Class I cities. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Intended beneficiaries</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> are Poor people (BPL) and People living under Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and LIG (Low income Group) categories in urban establishments of country. It also targets people living under MIG (middle income Group). </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Components:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> (i) In-situ as well as ex-situ slum rehabilitation with participation of private developers, (ii) Affordable housing in partnership with private sector, (iii)Credit linked subsidy for affordable housing to poor and (iv) Subsidy for individuals for construction of house. Government will provide subsidy ranging between 1 lakh to 2.30 lakh to people from above beneficiary categories.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'metatitle' => 'Government launches PMAY (U) mobile app',
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'title' => 'Eco Circuit: Pathanamthitta-Gavi-Vagamon-Thekkady project inaugurated in Kerala ',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Ministry for Tourism inaugurated Eco Circuit: Pathamthitta-Gavi-Vagamon-Thekkady development Project in Kerala under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Eco Circuit is one of the 15 thematic circuits under this scheme.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">This project was approved in December 2015 and major works were carried out under it include </span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Eco Adventure Tourism Park at Vagamon.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Cultural Center at Kadamanitta.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Eco Log Huts at Peerumedu.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Idukki, Approach Roads.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Walking Trails, Rain Shelters at Pine Valley Forest.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Thekkady, Kumily, Moozhiyar Dam Penstock and Kakki Dam.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Swadesh Darshan Scheme</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is one of flagship schemes of Ministry of Tourism launched in 2014.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is aimed at development of thematic circuits in country in planned and preferred manner. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Under it, government is focussing on development of quality infrastructure in country with the aim of providing better experience and facilities to the visitors. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">So far, Tourism Ministry has sanctioned 77 projects worth projects for Rs. 6131.88 crore to 30 States and UTs. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">7 projects under this scheme have been approved in Kerala in recognization of tourism potential of the state.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
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'title' => 'Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Jl-VAN Yojana',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana. It has been launched as tool to create Second Generation (2G) Ethanol capacity in the country and attract investments in this new sector.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objectives</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Provide financial support to Integrated Bioethanol Projects using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstock.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Incentivise 2G ethanol sector and support this nascent industry by creating a suitable ecosystem for setting up commercial projects and increasing R&D in this area.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Supplement targets envisaged by Central Government under Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Features of Scheme</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Under it, 12 Commercial Scale and 10 demonstration scale 2G ethanol Projects will be provided a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support in two phases:</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Phase-I (2018-19 to 2022-23):</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Six commercial projects and five demonstration projects will be supported.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Phase-II (2020-21 to 2023-24):</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Six commercial projects and five demonstration projects will be supported.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Implementation</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be implemented by Centre for High Technology (CHT), a technical body under Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG) with total financial outlay of Rs.1969.50 crore for period from 2019 to 2024.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Projects under it will reviewed by Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of MoP&NG and then will be recommended to Steering Committee of MoP&NG under chairmanship of Secretary, MoP&NG for final approval. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Ethanol produced by scheme beneficiaries will be mandatorily supplied to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to enhance blending percentage under EBP Programme.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Benefits</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Help Central Government to meet vision of reducing import dependence by way of substituting fossil fuels with biofuels.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Help to achieve Green House Gases (CHGs) emissions reduction targets through progressive blending/ substitution of fossil fuels.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Address environment concerns caused due to burning of biomass/crop residues and improve health of citizens.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Improve farmer income by providing them remunerative income for their otherwise waste agriculture residues.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Create rural and urban employment opportunities in 2G Ethanol projects and Biomass supply chain.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Contribute to Swacch Bharat Mission by supporting aggregation of non­food biofuel feedstocks such as waste biomass and urban waste.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Indigenize 2G Biomass to Ethanol technologies.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Background</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Central Government had launched EBP programme in 2003 for undertaking blending of ethanol in Petrol to address environmental concerns due to fossil fuel burning, provide remuneration to farmers, subsidize crude imports and achieve forex savings. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Under it, OMCs are allowed to blend upto 10% of ethanol in Petrol. Presently, EBP is being run in 21 States and 4 UTs of the country. Petroleum Ministry has set target to achieve 10% blending percentage of Ethanol in petrol by 2022.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The National Policy on Biofuel 2018 allows procurement of ethanol produced from molasses and non-food feed stock like celluloses and lignocelluloses material including petrochemical route.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
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'title' => 'Cabinet approves National Mineral Policy 2019',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved National Mineral Policy 2019 (NMP 2019). It replaces National Mineral Policy 2008 (NMP 2008).</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is aimed at bringing about more effective regulation to mining sector as well as more sustainable approach while addressing issues of those affected by mining especially tribals. It gives focus on transparency, better regulations and enforcement, balanced growth and sustainability of mining sector.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">National Mineral Policy (NMP) 2019</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objective:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It aims to have more effective, meaningful and implementable policy that brings in further transparency, better regulation and enforcement, balanced social and economic growth as well as sustainable mining practices.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also aims to attract private investment through incentives while the efforts would be made to maintain a database of mineral resources and tenements under mining tenement systems. </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Key Provisions in NMP 2019 to give boost to mining sector</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Introduces Right of First Refusal for Reconnaissance Permit(RP)/Prospecting License(PL) holders.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Encourages private sector to take up exploration.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposes auctioning of virgin areas for composite RP cum PL cum ML on revenue share basis,</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Encourages merger and acquisition of mining entities.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposes transfers of mining leases and creation of dedicated mineral corridors to boost private sector mining areas.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also includes focus on make in India initiative and Gender sensitivity in terms of the vision.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Key Features of NMP 2019</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Grant status of industry to mining activity to boost financing of mining for private sector and for acquisitions of mineral assets in other countries by private sector</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposes long term import export policy for mineral to help private sector in better planning and stability in business</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposes long term export import policy for mineral sector to provide stability and as an incentive for investing in large scale commercial mining activity.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposes rationalization of reserved areas given to PSUs which have not been used and put these areas to auction, which will give more opportunity to private sector for participation.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Efforts need to be made to harmonize taxes, levies & royalty with world benchmarks to help private sector.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Introduces concept of <strong>Inter-Generational Equity</strong> that deals with well-being not only of present generation but also of the generations to come.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposes to constitute inter-ministerial body to institutionalize mechanism for ensuring sustainable development in mining.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Focusses on use coastal waterways and inland shipping for evacuation and transportation of minerals and encourages dedicated mineral corridors to facilitate the transportation of minerals. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Utilization of district mineral fund for equitable development of project affected persons and areas.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
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'title' => 'Cabinet approves Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The Union Cabinet has approved construction of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) to connect national capital Delhi with <strong>Ghaziabad and Meerut.</strong> It will first rail-based, high-speed regional transit system project to be implemented in India. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">RRTS is rail-based, high-speed regional transit system. It aims to streamline urban transportation system, which is stressed due to intensive developments and increase in number of private vehicles. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It provides people a safe, secure, reliable, fast and comfortable public transport and reduce stress on existing travel infrastructure and industrial activities.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will cover distance of 82.15 kms. (68.03 kms. elevated and 14.12 km. underground). Once operational, it will be fastest, most comfortable and safest mode of commuter transport in Delhi NCR).</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">This project involves integration with other urban transport systems in efficient and effective manner by adopting innovative methods of designing, technology and institutional management.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be implanted by Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) namely National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">NCRTC will be joint ownership of Centre and State Governments with equal contribution, loan from multilateral/bilateral agency through Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Finance Ministry.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Benefits:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It will provide much-needed additional public transport infrastructure to NCR to address issues of congestion, air-pollution and catalyse balanced and sustainable regional development.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will provide high speed mobility and efficient regional connectivity. It will drive balanced socio-economic growth with increased economic activities and improve quality of life of citizens.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'title' => 'CCEA approves Kiru Hydro Electric Project in Jammu and Kashmir',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved for construction of Kiru Hydro Electric (HE) Project of 624 MW capacity (4 X 156 MW) in Jammu & Kashmir. The project is located on River Chenab in Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir. Its foundation stone was laid in February 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Kiru Hydro Electric Project</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It envisages construction of 135 m high concrete gravity Dam above deepest foundation level and underground Power House.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is envisaged as Run of River (RoR) Scheme, designed complying with requirements of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) 1960, with installed capacity 624 MW (4 x 156 MW). </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will provide much needed power in northern grid and shall accelerate process of development of remote areas of J&K.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be constructed by Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (CVPPPL). CVPPPL is joint venture company amongst NHPC, J&K State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) and PTC with shareholding of 49%, 49% and 2% respectively.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is scheduled to be completed in a period of 4 1/2 years and will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs.4287.59 crore (including foreign component).</span></span></span></li>
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'title' => 'Cabinet approves measures to promote Hydro Power Sector ',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved measures to promote hydro power sector in the country. These include declaring Large Hydropower Projects (HPO) as part of non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO)</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Some measures are</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Large Hydropower Projects to be declared as renewable energy source. Earlier, only hydropower projects less than 25MW are categorized as renewable energy.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">HPO will be considered as separate entity within non-solar renewable purchase obligation.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Necessary amendments will be introduced in Tariff Policy and Tariff Regulations to operationalize HPO. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Ministry of Power will notify trajectory of annual HPO targets based on projected capacity addition plans in hydropower sector.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Tariff rationalization measures</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">: It will include providing flexibility to developers to determine tariff by back loading of tariff after increasing project life to 40 years. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Moreover, debt repayment period will be increased to 18 years and escalating tariff of 2% will be introduced.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Budgetary support: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be provided for funding flood moderation component of hydropower projects on case to case basis.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be also provided for funding cost of enabling infrastructure i.e. roads and bridges on case to case basis as per actual. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">In this case, it will bel limited to Rs. 1.5 crore per MW for upto 200 MW projects and Rs. 1.0 crore per MW for above 200 MW projects.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Benefit of these measures</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will aid in providing stable grid considering 160 GW capacity addition by 2022 from infirm sources of power like solar and wind.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will result in overall socio-economic development of Himalayas and North- East Region as most of the hydro power potential is located in these regions.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will provide direct and indirect employment in the power sector and entrepreneurial opportunities in the field of transportation, tourism and other small scale businesses<strong>. </strong></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Background</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">India is endowed with large hydropower potential of 1,45,320 MW of which only about 45,400 MW has been utilized so far. Only about 10,000 MW of hydropower has been added in last decade. Moreover this sector is currently going through challenging phase and share of hydropower in total capacity has declined from 50.36% in 1960s to around 13% in 2018-19.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Hydropower also plays important achieving India’s set target of installing 175GW of renewable energy by 2022 and achieving 40% of total capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 to honour its nationally determined contribution for climate change.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Benefits of Hydropower</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is environment friendly and has ability for quick ramping, black start, reactive absorption etc. during peaking power demand, spinning reserve and grid balancing/ stability. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Hydropower project also provides water security, irrigation and flood moderation benefits and brings socio-economic development of entire region by providing employment opportunities and boosting tourism etc. </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'title' => 'UDAN: CCEA approves revival of un-served and under-served air strips',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved extension of time and scope for revival and development of un-served and under-served air strips of Airports Authority of India (AAI), State Governments, Civil enclaves, CPSUs, helipads and water aerodromes. The revival of these un-served and under-served air strips will be carried out with budgetary support of Union Government under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik).</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Benefits</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will allow small cities and towns to be connected on commencement of operation of flights to under-served and un-served airports.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will also boost economic development of these areas as well as surrounding areas in terms of job creation and related infrastructure development<strong>.</strong></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) Scheme</span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is flagship scheme of Ministry of Civil Aviation to enable air operations on unserved routes, connecting regional areas, to promote balanced regional growth and to make flying affordable for masses.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It was launched in April 2017. It is key component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) which was launched in June 2016.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objectives: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">(i) Facilitate/stimulate regional air connectivity by making it cheap and affordable. (ii) Promote affordability of regional air connectivity is envisioned under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCD) by supporting airline operators through: Concessions and Financial (viability gap funding or VGF) support.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Under it, 24 airports in western region, 17 in northern region, 11 in southern region, 12 in east and six in north-eastern parts of country will be connected. Moreover, around 50 unserved and under-served airports will be also connected.</span></span></span></p>
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'title' => 'World Bank approves $137 million under DRIP to modernise 220 dams in 6 states',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">World Bank </span></span><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">approved </span><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">additional financing of US $137 million (about Rs. 960 crore) for Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) to rehabilitate and modernise over 220 selected large dams in six states. These dams are located in Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Dam Rehabilitation & Improvement Project (DRIP) </span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It aims at improving safety and operational performance of selected existing dams and associated appurtenances in a sustainable manner.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also seeks at strengthening dam safety institutional setup of participating States/ Implementing Agencies.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objectives:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> (i) Rehabilitation of old dams in country experiencing distress and are in need of attention for ensuring their structural safety and operational efficiency. (ii) Strengthening institutional capacity and project management in this area. (iii) Bring greater awareness on dam safety issues and finding novel solutions to address them by pooling best knowledge, technologies and experience available around world.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Implementing agencies:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It is implemented by Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) with assistance from the World Bank. Besides, Central Dam Safety Organisation of Central Water Commission (CWC) is coordinating and supervising body.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Funding:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It is externally-aided project. 80% of its total cost is provided by the World Bank as loan/credit and remaining 20% is borne by States/Central Government.</span></span></span></li>
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'title' => 'NTPC unveils MTN issue to raise $450 million',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">State-run power giant NTPC launched medium term notes (MTN or bond) to raise US $450 million (approx Rs 3,105 crore) as part of its US $6 billion (approx Rs 41,400 crore) MTN programme. The funds raised through this MTN issue will be used for capital expenditure by the company. MTN is also known as bonds in overseas markets. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Key Facts</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The term notes have been issued NTPC in accordance with the applicable guidelines of Reserve Bank of India in relation to external commercial borrowings.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">They carry coupon (rate) of 3.75% per annum payable semi-annually. They are expected to be settled by April 2019. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The notes will mature on April 2024 and all principal and interest payments will be made in US Dollars.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The notes will be listed on Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Ltd, India International Exchange (IFSC) Ltd and NSE IFSC Ltd.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The net proceeds from these notes will be used to finance NTPC’s capital expenditure of ongoing and new power projects, coal mining projects, acquisition of power projects and renovation and modernisation of power stations.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU), operational under Ministry of Power. It was accorded Maharatna status in 2010</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is India’s largest power generator accounting for 25% of total electricity generated in the country.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It was established in 1975 by Central Government. Its headquarters are located in New Delhi.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is engaged in core business of electricity generation and allied activities. It also has ventured into oil and gas exploration and coal mining activities. </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'metatitle' => 'NTPC unveils MTN issue to raise $450 million',
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 701,
'title' => 'India can achieve high penetration of EV by 2030: NITI Aayog Report',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">According to recently published technical report “<em>India’s Electric Mobility Transformation: Progress to Date and Future Opportunities</em>”, India could achieve high penetration of Electric Vehicles (EVs) by 2030 on the back success of FAME II and other measure. The report was jointly published by NITI Aayog and US based Rocky Mountains Institute. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Report Highlights</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Catalytic effect:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> FAME II and other measures could have catalytic effect on overall EV market. If FAME II and other measures in public and private space - are successful, India could realize EV sales penetration of 30% of private cars, 70% of commercial cars, 40% of buses and 80% of two and three-wheelers by 2030.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Focus on PEP:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> To achieve this Government should focus on phased manufacturing plan (PEP) to promote EVs, provide fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for phased manufacturing of EVs and batteries.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Policy Push: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">To drive adaptation of EVs, different government departments should consider bouquet of potential policies such as congestion pricing, low emission/exclusion zones, ZEV credits, parking policies etc. to drive adaptation of EVs. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">846 MT of CO2 Savings: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Significant high level market share of EVs in two, three, and four-wheelers and buses segment under FAME II will help to cumulative savings of 846 million tonnes (MT) of CO2 over total deployed vehicle’s lifetime. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">3.8 billion e-vkt:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Electric buses covered under FAME II will account for 3.8 billion vehicle kilometers travelled (e-vkt) over their lifetime.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">5.4 MT of oil savings: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">EVs eligible under FAME II scheme can save cumulatively 5.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent over their lifetime worth Rs. 17.2 thousand crore. </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">FAME II scheme</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The second phase of Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of Electric and hybrid vehicles (FAME) scheme was notified by Union Cabinet in February 2019.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It aims to further accelerate India’s commitment to clean mobility future and sees the electrification of transportation as primary focus areas.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It intendents to catalyse market for faster adaptation of EVs to ensure durable economic growth and global competitiveness for India’s automotive industry.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Benefits under FAME II goes beyond vehicles eligible FAME I. For more details: About <a href="https://www.studyiq.com/currentaffairs/daily/01-03-2019/fame-india-scheme-phase2" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:#2980b9">FAME II</span></a>. </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'metatitle' => 'India can achieve high penetration of EV by 2030: NITI Aayog',
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(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 814,
'title' => 'FAME II: 50% localisation mandatory to receive Subsidies',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">Government has decided made mandatory for Electric Vehicles (EV) manufacturers in India to locally source at least 50% components in order to receive subsidies and be eligible to bid for government orders under FAME II Scheme. This move is aimed encouraging local manufacturing and detering reliance on imports. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">The incorporation of localisation conditions to avail benefits under the FAME-II Scheme was decided at Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee of National Mission for Transformative Mobility chaired by NITI Aayog chief executive officer (CEO) Amitabh Kant. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">Outcomes of meeting</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">Only companies that meet the 50% localisation threshold will be eligible for incentives and subsidies under FAME II Scheme to boost electric mobility as well as ‘Make in India’ initiative.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">The inter-,ministerial committee also has finalised mission’s approach to make domestic industry competitive at the global level. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">Government will adopt challenge route to select states and entrepreneurs to set up giga factories for large scale manufacturing of cells and batteries in the country.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">Inter-ministerial committee of the national mission for transformative mobility</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">It was constituted following cabinet decision to promote clean and sustainable mobility initiatives in the country. It consists of secretary of nine stakeholder ministries and director general of the Bureau of Indian Standards as its members.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">FAME India (Phase II) Scheme</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It aims at promoting eco-friendly electric and hybrid vehicles in the country. The scheme is being administered by Union Ministry of Heavy Industries.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objective:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Encourage faster adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles by offering upfront Incentive on purchase of EVs and also by way of establishing necessary charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles. It also seeks to address issue of environmental pollution and fuel security. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Features:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It gives emphasis is on electrification of public transportation that includes shared transport.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will give demand incentives on operational expenditure model for electric buses through State/city transport corporation (STUs).</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">In three and four wheelers segment, it will incentives to vehicles used for public transport or registered for commercial purposes. In two wheelers segment, it will focus on private vehicles.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It plans to support 10 Lakhs e-2W, 5 Lakhs e-3W, 55000 4Ws and 7000 Buses.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Encourage advance technologies:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Benefits of incentives under it will be extended to only those vehicles which are fitted with advance battery like Lithium Ion battery and other new battery technologies. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Charging Infrastructure: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also proposes for establishment of charging infrastructure. It seeks seyting up about 2700 charging stations in metros, million plus cities, smart cities and cities of hilly states across the country to ensure availability of at least one charging station in grid of 3 km x 3 km.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also proposes establishment of charging stations on major highways connecting major city clusters. On such highways, charging stations will be established on both sides of road at an interval of about 25 km each.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
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'title' => 'DISCOM debt to return to pre-UDAY levels: CRISIL Â ',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">According to Crisil’s analysis in aggregate external debt of state-owned electricity distribution companies (discoms) is set to increase to pre-Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) levels </span><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">by end of fiscal 2019. It had analyzed</span> <span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">state-owned discoms in 15 states, which account for 85</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of the aggregate losses. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Facts</span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The main reason for increase in debt of discoms is lack of continuous financial support from states due to limited fiscal headroom, lack of prudent tariff hikes and material reduction in aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">As per MoUs signed by States under UDAY Scheme in fiscal 2016, their discoms were to initiate structural reforms by reducing AT&C losses by 900 basis points (bps) to about 15</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> in fiscal 2019 and also implement regular tariff hikes of 5-6</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> per annum. In return sate governments took over three-fourths of discom debt, thus reducing the interest cost burden. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">However since debt takeover by state government, discoms enjoyed the benefit of debt reduction, but conditional structural reforms under UDAY Scheme have been slow. For instance, AT&C losses reduced by only 400 bps by December 2018 from pre-UDAY levels and average tariff increased paltry 3</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> per annum.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Ujjwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY)</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It was launched by Ministry of Power in 2015 for operational and financial turnaround of State owned Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs).</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is aimed at making discoms financially and operationally healthy so they can supply adequate power at affordable rates.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It also envisaged financial turnaround, operational improvement, reduction of cost of generation of power, development of Renewable Energy, energy efficiency & conservation.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Its objective is to reduce interest burden, reduce cost of power, reduce power losses in distribution sector, and improve operational efficiency of DISCOMs.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This was to achieved through four initiatives </span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Improving operational efficiencies of DISCOMs</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Reduction of cost of power; </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Reduction in interest cost of DISCOMs; </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Enforcing financial discipline on DISCOMs through alignment with State finances.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In return of this, state governments were to take over up to 75</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">% of their respective discoms’ debt by issuing sovereign bonds to pay back lenders. Remaining 25</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">% of debt will be issued by discoms in the form of bonds.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The scheme is optional for the states to join. So far, 32 States and UTs have joined this scheme. West Bengal, Odisha, Delhi (UT) and Chandigarh (UT) have not joined it.</span></span></span></span></p>
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'metatitle' => 'DISCOM debt to return to pre-UDAY levels: CRISIL Â ',
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'title' => 'Government launches Swachh Survekshan 2020 League',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched Swachh Survekshan 2020 League in New Delhi. It will be a quarterly cleanliness assessment of cities and towns in India. It will be integrated with Swachh Survekshan 2020, the 5th edition of the annual cleanliness survey of urban India to be conducted between January - February 2020.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Swachh Survekshan 2020 League </span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is aimed at “sustaining the on ground performance of cities along with continuous monitoring of service level performance on cleanliness”.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will be conducted in three quarters and will give equal weightage to every quarter based on cities updating their progress on online MIS and citizens testifying on many parameters through outbound calls.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The purpose of quarterly cleanliness assessment under Swachh Survekshan 2020 League is that many cities slip back once they get a decent ranking on cleanliness levels in annual sanitation survey exercise Swachh Survekshan.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Swachh Survekshan survey</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is a survey to rank cities on several cleanliness parameters so as to build a spirit of competition among cities. It was first rolled out in 2016. It is conducted by an independent third party. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objective:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Encourage large scale citizen participation, ensure sustainability of initiatives taken towards garbage free and open defecation free cities, (ii) Create awareness about the importance of making towns and cities a better place to live in.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Indian Railway Station Development Corporation (IRSDC) has entered into Tripartite Agreement with French National Railways (SNCF) and French Agency AFD to boost capacity building for railway station development program in India.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Facts</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Under this agreement, AFD will provide financial grant up to 7,00,000 EURO, through French National Railways (SNCF)-Hubs and Connexions as Technical Partner to IRSDC.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This grant is meant to support Railway Station Development Program in India and will impose no financial liability on IRSDC or Indian Railways.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This effort will go long way in further strengthening Indo-French cooperation and will help Indian Railways in positioning its stations to world class standards.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">India and France have strong and long standing prosperous partnership in Railway sector. French Railways (SNCF) in past has been associated with Indian Railways in conducting speed upgradation study for Delhi-Chandigarh section and station development of Ludhiana & Ambala stations. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About Indian Railway Station Development Corporation (IRSDC)</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
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<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is special purpose vehicle (SPV) of Central Government incorporated to develop new stations and redevelop existing Indian railway stations. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is a joint venture (JV) between IRCON and RLDA with 51:49 equity shareholding ratio respectively. It was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 in April 2012.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'title' => 'Rivigo launches National Freight Index',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Technology-enabled logistics firm Rivigo has launched National Freight Index (NFI) with aim to bring transparency and boost efficiency in the market. Rivigo is technology enabled logistics company which owns a fleet of over 3,000 trucks.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">NFI seeks to serve as barometer of road freight market in India and is based on Rivigo rate exchange. It gives live spot rate on over 7 million lanes and vehicle type combinations in the country. It seeks to remove existing logistics market structure and inefficiencies due to information asymmetry, which leads to a great loss of value.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">National Freight Index (NFI)</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is aimed at bringing transparency to the road freight market place and transforming the logistics sector. It will enable unrestricted access and sharing of freight rate information.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It offers aggregated picture of both live rates and historical trends of spot price movements in the road freight industry. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is represented in two main forms: (i) in terms of actual freight rates condensed to Rupees per tonne-km and (ii) in terms of relative movement with respect to a base month.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Both the index and exchange are based on Rivigo's machine learning and economics powered pricing algorithms, which are continuously improving on accuracy.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The rates on exchange and index are computed using millions of data points from historical transactions, micro market insights, current market dynamics and other factor.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""><strong>Significance: </strong>Its ultimate purpose of giving fair and precise representation of state of the spot market in the country. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will help to bring transparency in the market and propel the logistics sector towards efficiencies and growth.</span></span></span></span></li>
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'title' => 'NTPC, Power Grid forms National Electricity Distribution Company Limited',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and PowerGrid Corporation of India Limited have signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) to set up National Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCL). With this, NTPC, a leading power generator, and Power Grid, which owns India’s largest power transmission network will foray into consumer electricity supply business.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">National Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCL)</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will be a joint venture (JV) of NTPC and Power Grid on 50:50 equity basis. It will undertake the business for distributing electricity and other related activities in distribution circles of India. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will prove a major gamechanger since NTPC, a leading power generator, and Power Grid, which owns India’s largest power transmission network are entering into consumer electricity supply business. </span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Signifiacne </span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Establishment of NEDCL is considered as another step of Central Government in power distribution reforms. This includes separation of content and carriage businesses in power distribution — i.e the infrastructure builder for power supply and supplier to consumers would be two separate companies. This will bring more competition in the power distribution sector with more than one power supplier. These measures have been suggested in the latest amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003, which is yet to be tabled in Parliament.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is also expected to enhance 3A’s (Availability, Accessibility and Affordability) of the electricity. It will also aid in overhauling the power distribution sector since existing reform scheme UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) could not deliver effectively on its stated objectives.</span></span></span></span></p>
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'title' => 'MoA signed to set up Centre for Inland & Coastal Maritime Technology at IIT Kharagpur',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Ministry of Shipping has signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IIT Kharagpur for setting up Centre for Inland and Coastal Maritime Technology (CICMT) at IIT Kharagpur. It will be first of its kind centre in India focusiing on indigenisation of ship designing, building and testing.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Centre for Inland and Coastal Maritime Technology (CICMT)</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will provide technological support, research, testing and experimentation facility to agencies involved in inland water transport, shipbuilding, ports. etc. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will focus on ship design for coastal and inland waterways, shipbuilding technology and structural design, transport systems & logistics, cryogenic cargo handling.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will also foucus on green/renewable energy harvesting from coastal and inland waters and automation and artificial intelligence (AI) for maritime operations.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Funding:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The cost of this project around Rs 69.20 crore is being funded under the Sagarmala programme. The funding will be for 5 years after which revenues generated from end users will make it sustainable</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Significance:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Its establishment signifies major leap in indigenous innovation and cutting edge technology support to port and maritime sector directly contributing to Sagarmala programme.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is based on close collaboration amongst government, academic institutions and industry to make applied research relevant to day to day ground work in the port and maritime sector.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Benefits:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It will serve as hub for latest technology tools for maritime sector and reduce India’s dependence on foreign institutions. It will also reduce cost of research drastically and result in cost and time savings for work in the port and maritime sector. It will provide much required impetus to development of inland waterways and coastal shipping in the country. It will enable India to become key player in ship modal testing facility as only four other Eurpoean countries (Germany, Netherlands, Russia and Belgium) in the world have this testing facility at present.</span></span></span></span></li>
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'metatitle' => 'Coastal Maritime Technology at IIT Kharagpur',
'metakeyword' => 'Ministry of Shipping has signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IIT Kharagpur for setting up Centre for Inland and Coastal Maritime Technology (CICMT) at IIT Kharagpur',
'metadescription' => 'Ministry of Shipping has signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IIT Kharagpur for setting up Centre for Inland and Coastal Maritime Technology (CICMT) at IIT Kharagpur',
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(int) 24 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
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'title' => 'Government gives two year extension to Polavaram Project',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Chagne (MoEFCC) extended the construction period for the Polavaram Multipurpose Project in Andhra Pradesh by two year.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About Polavaram Project</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is under-construction multi-purpose irrigation project. It envisages construction of Earth-cum-Rock fill dam across river Godavari. This dam’s maximum height is 48 m.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is located in the West Godavari District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. Its reservoir spreads into parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In 2014, Union Government had declared Polavaram project a National project. Later in May 2014 Union Cabinet had constituted Polavaram Project Authority. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">On completion it will irrigate nearly 3 lakh ha of land in Andhra Pradesh, generate hydel power with installed capacity of 960 MW and provide drinking water facilities to 540 enroute villages covering 25 lakh populations in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh.</span></span></span></span></li>
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'title' => 'BharatNet: All panchayats to be connected with broadband by March 2020',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in written reply to Lok Sabha has informed that all panchayats will be provided high speed broadband connections under BharatNet project by March 2020. The Phase II of this project is under implementation, and total of 2 lakh gram panchayats (GPs) are targeted to be completed by March 2020. Government already has connected 1 lakh GPs under phase 1 of BharatNet project.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About BharatNet Project</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is Centre’s flagship rural internet connectivity programme. It is world’s largest rural broadband connectivity programme using underground Optical fibre. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It aims to connect all 2.5 Lakh gram panchayats (GPs) across Indian through optical fibre to provide affordable broadband connectivity of 2 Mbps to 20 Mbps to realise vision of Digital India. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Funding:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It is funded by Universal service Obligation Fund (USOF).</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Implementng agencies:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It is implemented by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), under Mi nistry of Communications. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF):</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It was formed by Central Government to help fund projects to boost connectivity in rural areas. The money for this fund comes through ‘Universal Access Levy,’ charged from telecom operators as percentage of various licenses fees being paid by them.</span></span></span></span></li>
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'title' => 'Eight core sectors grow by 5.1% in May 2019',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">According to data released by Ministry of Commerce, the eight core sector industries recorded a growth of 5.1</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">May 2019 on the back of healthy output in steel and electricity. These eight core sectors had expanded by 4.1</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">in May 2018. During April-May 2019, the cumulative growth of these industries, was 5.7</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">compared to 4.4</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> during the same period last year. The growth rate for index of eight core industries (ICI) for April 2019 also has been revised upward to 6.3</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">from 2.6</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">due to upward revisions in output of coal, crude oil, steel, cement and electricity.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Sector wise Performance (May 2019)</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Crude oil output:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It declined by (-) 6.9</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%.</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">%</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Fertiliser production:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It declined by (-) 1.0%.%</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Coal production: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It recorded growth of 1.8%.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Electricity production: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It recorded 7.2</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> growth (highest in last six months, i.e. since November 2018).</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Refinery products:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It declined by (-) 1.5</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%.</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">%</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Steel Sector:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It record double digit growth of 19.9</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Cement Sector: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It recorded moderate growth of 2.8</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%.</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI)</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is monthly production volume index of eight core industries of the economy. It is considered as lead indicator of monthly industrial performance. Its base year is 2011-12.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It measures individual as well as collective performance of production in selected eight core industries viz. Petroleum Refinery Products, Natural Gas, Coal, Fertilizers, Crude Oil, Steel, Cement and Electricity.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">These eights industries are main industry of the economy i.e. are considered as backbone of all other industries. They have significant impact on general economic activities as well as industrial activities.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Compiled and released by:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Office of Economic Adviser (OEA), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (earlier DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Components and weightages of core sectors:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04), electricity generation (9.85), Steel production (17.92), Coal production (10.33), Crude Oil production (8.98), Natural Gas production (6,88), Cement production (5.37) and Fertilizers production (2.63).</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Note:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Highest weightage is for Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04) and lowest is for Fertilizers production (2.63). These eight core sectors constitute 40.27% of total of the weight of items included Index of Industrial Production (IIP).</span></span></span></span></li>
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'title' => 'Cabinet approves leasing out of three airports to Adani',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved proposal for leasing out of three airports currently operated by Airports Authority of India (AAI) to Adani Enterprise. These three airports are Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) and Mangaluru (Karnataka). </span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The airport leasing proposal for managing six AAI-run airports on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis was approved by Union Government in November 2019 through Public Private Partnership (PPP) on basis of <strong>per-passenger fee bidding (</strong></span></span><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Per-passenger fee model</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""><strong>)</strong>. It had received 32 technical bids from 10 companies.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Adani Enterprises Ltd It had quoted highest bid for these airports, for operation, management and development under PPP for lease period of 50 years as per terms and conditions of the bid documents. Earlier Adani group also had won bids to operate three airports owned by AAI viz. Jaipur (Rajasthan), Guwahati (Assam) and Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) for period of 50 years.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This is Government’s first airport privatisation attempt in 13 years after GVK and GMR groups had won right to manage Mumbai and Delhi (IGI) airports in 2006. Greenfield airports in Hyderabad and Bengaluru were also awarded at the same time.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Impact:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The leasing of these airports under PPP will help to bring efficiency in delivery, expertise, enterprise and professionalism apart from harnessing needed investments in the public sector. This will also result in enhanced revenues to AAI, which may lead to further investment by AAI at Tier II and Tier III cities and economic development in these areas in terms of related infrastructure and job creation.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Per-passenger fee model</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Under this model, airport operator needs to pay fixed charges per passenger on monthly basis to AAI. For instance, if 1 lakh passengers use particular airport in a year, the operator pays charge multiplied by number of passengers for entire year to AAI. This provides an incentive for airport operator to grow revenue as there is no sharing while AAI benefits from growth in passengers. It serves as an alternative to revenue sharing model which has become unviable for airports if there is high revenue sharing with AAI.</span></span></span></span></p>
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'title' => 'Cabinet approves Phase II of FAME India Scheme ',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Cabinet has approved implementation of Phase II of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Scheme (FAME India Phase II) Scheme for promotion of Electric Mobility in the country. It is expanded version of present FAME India I scheme launched in April 2015. It has total outlay of Rs 10000 crores over the period of three years (April 2019 to 2022). </span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">FAME India (Phase II) Scheme</span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It aims at promoting eco-friendly electric and hybrid vehicles in the country. The scheme is being administered by Union Ministry of Heavy Industries.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objective:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Encourage faster adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles by offering upfront Incentive on purchase of EVs and also by way of establishing necessary charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles. It also seeks to address issue of environmental pollution and fuel security. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Features:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It gives emphasis is on electrification of public transportation that includes shared transport.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will give demand incentives on operational expenditure model for electric buses through State/city transport corporation (STUs).</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">In three and four wheelers segment, it will incentives to vehicles used for public transport or registered for commercial purposes. In two wheelers segment, it will focus on private vehicles.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It plans to support 10 Lakhs e-2W, 5 Lakhs e-3W, 55000 4Ws and 7000 Buses.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Encourage advance technologies:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Benefits of incentives under it will be extended to only those vehicles which are fitted with advance battery like Lithium Ion battery and other new battery technologies. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Charging Infrastructure: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also proposes for establishment of charging infrastructure. It seeks seyting up about 2700 charging stations in metros, million plus cities, smart cities and cities of hilly states across the country to ensure availability of at least one charging station in grid of 3 km x 3 km.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also proposes establishment of charging stations on major highways connecting major city clusters. On such highways, charging stations will be established on both sides of road at an interval of about 25 km each.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
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'id' => (int) 1669,
'title' => 'NHAI inks MoU with NIIF for funding highway projects',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed MoU with National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) for funding highway projects. The MoU is related to co-operation in formation of SPVs to execute fund arrangement for large size road projects particularly green field projects to be executed by NHAI in future. It is expected to bring huge amount of investment at economical rate for highway development in India and reduce stress of borrowing on NHAI balance sheet also.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">NHAI is raising finances from various sources for its mega projects, and is not dependent only upon budgetary support. It has adopted several funding models in the past towards this, which have yielded good results. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">NHAI is also looking for innovative alternate source of funding to attract international investors and fund houses who are willing to invest in road projects in India but not very keen to take risk related to the project execution. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This MoU will provide innovative financial models including for the 24,000 km 7.5 lakh crore Bharatmala Pariyojana, thus contribute in a big way in achieving Government’s dream of making India a five trillion dollar economy.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is India’s first sovereign wealth fund which was established by Central Government in February 2015 to give boost to the infrastructure sector in the country mainly through infrastructure investment in commercially viable projects, both Greenfield and Brownfield. It is headquartered in Mumbai.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Targeted corpus</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">: It is of Rs 40,000 crore to be raised over the years — 49% of it will be funded by government and remaining 51% will be raised from domestic and global investors, including international pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, multilateral/bilateral investors. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Governing Council of NIIF:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It is chaired by Finance Minister and act as an advisory council. Moreover, two companies viz. NIIFTL, a trustee of fund and NIIFL, an investment management company of NIIF were incorporated in 2015. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It manages three types of funds mainly</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">: Fund of Funds, Master Fund and Strategic Fund. These funds were set up to make infrastructure investments in India by raising capital from domestic and international institutional investors. It currently manages funds of over US $3.4 billion. These funds have been registered with SEBI as a Category II Alternate Investment Fund.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Investors:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), ICICI Bank, HDFC group, Kotak Mahindra Life and Axis Bank along with the Government of India.</span></span></span></span></p>
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(int) 30 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
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'title' => 'CCEA approves 2880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Dibang Multipurpose Project (MPP) in Arunachal Pradesh. CCEA has approved expenditure on pre-investment activities and various clearances for this project. The project is having all statutory clearances viz., Environment Clearance, Forest Clearance (Stage-l) and Defence Clearance except Forest Clearance (Stage-II) for seeking Investment Sanction from Central Government.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> <strong>About Dibang Multipurpose Project (MPP)</strong></span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will be built on <strong>river Dibang</strong>, in Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh. It will be the <strong>highest dam in India once completed</strong>, with height of 278 metres</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will be <strong>largest ever Hydro Electric Project to be constructed in India</strong>, generating 2880MW (12x240MW) power to produce 11223MU of energy in 90% dependable year. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is envisaged as storage based hydro-electric project with flood moderation as its key objective.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The estimated total cost of project is Rs. 28080 and estimated completion period will be nine years from receipt of Government sanction.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Dam project:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It envisages construction of 278 m high Concrete Gravity Dam (above deepest foundation level), six horseshoe-shaped head race Tunnels of length varying from 300 m to 600 m with 9 m diameter, underground power house and six horseshoe-shaped Tail Race Tunnels of length varying from 320 m to 470 m with 9m diameter.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Power Sharing:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> On completion, Arunachal Pradesh Government will get 12% free power from project (i.e. 1346.76 MU. 1% free power and 112 MUs will be given in Local Area Development Fund). The total value of benefit to Arunachal Pradesh will be Rs 26785 crore over the project life of forty years.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Flood Mitigation:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The construction of Dibang MPP will help to prevent sizeable downstream area from floods. Moreover, after implementation of master plan of Brahmaputra Board for flood moderation of all rivers contributing to Brahmaputra River, of which Dibang MPP is one of component, sizable area will be protected from flooding and help in mitigating perennial damage due to floods in Assam.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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(int) 31 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
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'id' => (int) 1746,
'title' => 'Elephant bonds for declaring undisclosed income',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Government may soon launch Elephant Bonds as part of new amnesty scheme to the income tax defaulters in the country for declaring undisclosed income. This was suggested by high-level government-appointed committee on trade and industry headed by economist Dr. Surjit S. Bhalla. The recommendation of the advisory group regarding undisclosed income seems to be based on the fact that black money exists in domestic sector and it should be utilised in a productive manner.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">What are the elephant bonds?</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">They are proposed sovereign bonds (debt instruments) to be issued for period of 25 years in which people declaring undisclosed income will be bound to invest 50 per cent, similar to an amnesty scheme. These funds will be utilised only for infrastructure projects, both new and old. Thus, these bonds will serve as specialised security product providing funds towards Long Term Infrastructure.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Significance of elephant bonds</span></span></strong> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Such bonds are necessary part of Central Government’s carrot and stick policy. This will allow past tax defaulters to join mainstream without attracting penalties. This will also provide conducive way to increase tax revenue along with increasing the number of taxpayers and beneficiaries in tax base who had not declared their assets previously. It will improve funding for long term infrastructure projects which are critical part in increasing economic growth. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Previous Amnesty schemes</span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">These schemes were aimed at encouraging people to avoid prosecution and declare black money by paying penalty only. </span></span></span></span></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">First:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It was introduced as part of Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income And Assets) And Imposition of Tax Rules, 2015. Under it, window was provided to declare income and assets parked in foreign countries between July 2015 to September 2015.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Income Declaration Scheme (IDS):</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It was second such major initiative launched in May 2016. Under it, people with undisclosed income were given time between June 2016, to September 2016, to declare their income with a tax including penalty of 45% of the total undisclosed income.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Demonisation:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It was announced in November 2016. Government had demonetised high currency notes to fight black money. </span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> under which the government asked people with black money to pay 50% fine of the undisclosed income and deposit an additional 25% in government schemes which would be refunded without interest after four years. This scheme also expired on March 31, 2017.</span></span></span></span></li>
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(int) 32 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
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'title' => '1,40,134 Houses sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(Urban)',
'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has approved construction of around 1,40,134 more affordable houses for benefit of urban poor from 8 States<strong> </strong>under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). This approval was given in the 45<sup>th</sup> meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee<strong> </strong>held under Chairmanship of DurgaShanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. With this, cumulative number of houses sanctioned under PMAY(U) now is 85,11,574.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) </span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It aims provide houses to all poor in urban areas by 2022, when the Nation completes 75 years of its Independence. It is new version of “Prime Minister’s vision of Housing For All” by 2022.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objective: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">To construct two crore houses across nation during its implementation period from 2015-2022.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Coverage: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It covers entire urban area consisting of 4041 statutory towns with initial focus on 500 Class I cities.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Intended beneficiaries: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Poor people (BPL) and People living under Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low income Group (LIG) categories in urban establishments of country. It also targets people living under middle income Group (MIG).</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Central assistance will be provided to: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and other implementing agencies through States/UTs for (i) in-situ rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers using land as a resource through private participation. (ii) Credit Linked Subsidy. (iii) Affordable Housing in Partnership. (iv) Subsidy for Beneficiary-led individual house construction/enhancement.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Funding: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Credit linked subsidy component of this scheme is implemented as Central Sector Scheme while other three components will be implemented as Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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'metatitle' => '1,40,134 Houses sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)',
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(int) 33 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 2178,
'title' => 'Unicorn companies',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NCR region that comprises the national capital and adjoining cities of Gurugram and Noida now counts more startups and unicorns than Bengaluru and Mumbai.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A recent survey has found out that Delhi-NCR region is home to largest number of startups and also Unicorn companies.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has also mentioned that, as the losses of unicorn companies have incresed, their valuation has also increased.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Unicorn companies</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A <strong>unicorn</strong> is a privately held <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startup_company" title="Startup company">startup company</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valuation_(finance)" title="Valuation (finance)">valued</a> at over $1 billion.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> <strong>Decacorn</strong> is a word used for those companies over $10 billion, while<strong> hectocorn</strong> is the appropriate term for such a company valued over $100 billion.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Challeneges faced by startups and Unicorn</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The lack of affordable co-working spaces, less number and quality of accelerators and incubators, shortage of technical talent, lack of seed and early-stage funding and low corporate participation.</span></span></p>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 2224,
'title' => 'Narmada dam overflows for the first time',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Gujarat’s Narmada dam is set to overflow at its full 138.68-metre height for the first time, after it was completed with the installation of gates in 2017.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Owing to heavy rains in catchment areas of Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh and subsequent release of water from upstream dams, the inflow of water in Sardar Sarovar Dam has been increasing continuously and is on the verge of overflow.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With large amounts of water being released from the Omkareshwar and the Indira Sagar dams in Madhya Pradesh, the dam is receiving heavy inflow.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The rise in water level has prompted authorities to issue an alert for villages along the river's banks in Narmada, Bharuch and Vadodara districts.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Sardar Sarovar Dam</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a gravity dam on the Narmada river located near Navagam, Gujarat . Four Indian states, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra and Rajasthan, receive water and electricity supplied from the dam.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Part of a development scheme is funded by the World Bank through their International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to increase irrigation and produce hydroelectricity, using a loan of US$ 200 million<span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="color:#222222">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'title' => 'Tamil Nadu’s Electric vehicle policy',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Tamil Nadu State Government introduced its first-ever electric vehicle (EV) policy. The Tamil Nadu Electric Vehicle Policy, 2019, provides for various concessions to manufacturers of e-vehicles.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tamil Nadu, known as the Detroit of South India, accounts for 6.4% of the electric vehicles sold in the country as of July 31, 2019. The policy aims to create a cluster of EV manufacturing units in the state.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Policy highlights</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To encourage start-ups in the EV sector, incubation services will be offered in the form of office space, common facilities and mentoring support.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An EV Venture Capital Fund will be created to offer financial support to EV start-ups to enable them to scale up their business.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">EV-related and charging infrastructure manufacturing units will be provided 100% exemption on electricity tax till December 2025.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Units that obtain land by sale or lease shall be entitled to 100% exemption on stamp duty for transactions till December 2022.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The government will provide a higher capital subsidy of 20% of the eligible investment over 20 years in cases where units are engaged in making EV batteries.</span></span></p>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 2537,
'title' => 'Gujarat’s new port policy',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Gujarat government has revised its existing port policy and removed restrictions on 33 private jetties, allowing them to handle third party cargo.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the new move the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), a nodal agency and port sector regulator in the State, is aiming at attracting approximately ?4,000 crore of new investments in port-related infrastructure in the State.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new policy allows the captive jetties to be full-fledged commercial ports across the 1,600-km-long coastline in the State.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the new policy, existing captive jetty holders will be permitted to handle third party cargo more than 50% of the total cargo on their captive jetty by paying landing and shipping fees.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The jetty holders will also be allowed to bring in additional investment for augmenting cargo handling facility and back up areas.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The move is expected to boost infrastructure and attract investment in the port and logistics sector.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Important commercial ports in India</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Deendayal port (Kandla) : Gujarat</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Paradip port: Odisha</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Jawaharlal Nehru Port: Maharashtra </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Mumbai Port: Maharashtra</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Vishakhapatnam Port: Andhra Pradesh</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Chennai Port: Tamil Nadu</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Kolkata Port: West Bengal</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">New Mangaluru Port: Karnataka</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Kochi Port: Kerala</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">New Mormugao Port: Goa</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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(int) 37 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 2624,
'title' => 'BSNL and MTNL to be merged',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In order to revive loss-making telecom PSUs BSNL and MTNL, the government has decided to merge the two ailing firms. The package also includes raising sovereign bonds, monetising assets and voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for employees.</span></span><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As part of the revival package, MTNL will be merged with BSNL. MTNL will act as subsidary of BSNL and will remain unlisted.</span></span><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">BSNL, which was once a Navatna company, has become a sick one, with accumulated losses of more than Rs 90,000 crore.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government also announced that 4G spectrum will be allocated to BSNL and MTNL to make them more competetive.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government is said to invest Rs 29,937 crore in this revival plan with the combined assets of the two companies worth Rs 38,000 crore to be monetized. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The ailing companies will raise a sovereign bond of Rs 15,000 crore for their revival.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Experts believe that the merger, along with the proposed voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) package, can help contain operational costs, but it may not be sufficient to revive the sagging fortunes.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is also believed that the government is trying to provide an honourable exit to the employees and will finally shut down a majority of its operations.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'title' => 'Centre’s package to help housing sector',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has approved a plan to set up a 25,000 crore alternative investment fund (AIF) to revive stalled housing projects, as it seeks to provide relief to distressed homebuyers.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The housing sector is undergoing turmoil especially due to lending crisis that has made funds availability a major problem. The government funds will be used to complete stalled projects.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government will invest 10,000 crore in the fund and the remaining 15,000 crore will come in from State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India and other such institutions.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Incomplete housing projects worth less than 2 crore per unit in Mumbai, 1.5 crore in other metros, including the national capital region (NCR), and 1 crore in other parts of the country will benefit from the move.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The projects need to be registered in RERA (Real Estate Regulation and Development Act) and their net worth should be positive. Even if the project has been declared an NPA or dragged to NCLT but not asked for liquidation will also benefit.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The prospects of the industry have turned worse since the ban on high-value currency notes in November 2016 and the implementation of the goods and services tax in July the following year.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new measure expands the scope of including more projects under the new corpus by allowing projects undergoing insolvency proceedings to benefit from the distressed fund scheme.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The focus on real estate is part of the government’s broader plan to kick-start economic growth, which slowed to a six-year low of 5% in the quarter.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Alternate Investment Funds</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">AIF is a privately pooled investment vehicle that collects funds from sophisticated investors, whether Indian or foreign, for investing them in accordance with a defined policy.</span></span></p>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 2849,
'title' => 'Government to reduce stake in BPCL, Conor and SCI',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has taken decisions to significantly reduce its shareholding, and in some cases cede management control, in a number of public sector enterprises.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has set a disinvestment target of ?1.05 lakh crore for the current financial year. So far, it has managed to collect only ?17,364.26 crore. The government had previously announced its decision to reduce its stake in some public sector companies while retaining management control through the shares in that company held by other PSUs.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government will sell its entire 53.29% stake in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government will also sell its entire 63.75% stake in Shipping Corporation of India and will cede management control to the strategic buyer. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, it will sell its 30.8% stake in the Container Corporation of India and hand over management control to the buyer.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government would also sell its entire 74.23% stake in THDCIL and its 100% stake in North Eastern Electric Power Corporation to NTPC Ltd. Both firms will also see cede management control to NTPC.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is expected that the strategic buyer/acquirer may bring in new management/technology/investment for the growth of these companies and may use innovative methods for their development.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Divestment</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In finance and economics, divestment or divestiture is the reduction of some kind of asset for financial, ethical, or political objectives or sale of an existing business by a firm.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Disinvestment</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Disinvestment means the dilution of stake of the Government in a public enterprise. Strategic disinvestment is transferring the ownership and control of a public sector entity to some other entity.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Strategic disinvestment would imply the sale of a substantial portion of the Government shareholding of a central public sector enterprises (CPSE) of upto 50%, or such higher percentage as the competent authority may determine, along with transfer of management control.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 2936,
'title' => 'Declining air quality impacting real estate',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A study has been conducted to find if declining air quality, especially in larger cities such as Delhi and Mumbai has been having an effect on real estate sector.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Capital region’s air quality has been hovering at ‘severe pollution’ levels. Skymet identified it as the world’s most polluted city recently. It would be logical to assume that severe air pollution<strong> </strong>impacts a region’s overall property market.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A perennial ‘high alert’ throughout the year would have more serious implications on<strong> </strong>real estate<strong>, </strong>but it is a seasonal phenomenon. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Mumbai experiences floods during the monsoons, yet property prices there remain impervious to this annual event. Despite this, investments keep pouring in and its real estate market does not slow down on account of environmental factors.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Pollution is dangerous, but it is also a less obtrusive factor with no immediate destructive implications. Like seasonal flooding, pollution also has the unfortunate tendency of becoming an accepted feature for urban dwellers.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The slowdown in NCR’s residential sales did impact prices and it was largely a function of people’s money getting trapped in delayed or stuck projects, and the predictable loss of buyer trust. The demand for real estate in the region, across segments and sectors is strong and getting stronger.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Integrated townships on well-connected peripheries are steadily gaining relevance and demand. The demand for homes in the congested city centres, which offer the fastest access to workplace hubs, will remain undiminished.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Real estate prices in most Indian cities are not dictated by environmental factors as much as by affordability and their ability to provide employment and connectivity.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Transit infrastructure like Metros can reduce the use of fossil-fuel-driven vehicles, but in most Indian cities, support infrastructure is usually the last factor to be added.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Delhi-NCR’s pollution will not cause less polluted far suburbs and adjoining cities to catch the spill-over demand of people looking for cleaner, healthier residence. These far suburbs and cities will eventually become equally polluted, once they gather enough economic momentum.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 3169,
'title' => 'UDAY scheme on the verge of faltering',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Four years after it was launched, UDAY , the government’s flagship reform to revive electricity distribution companies (discoms) is faltering.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Discom losses, which had progressively reduced in the first couple of years since the scheme’s rollout in November 2015, have rebounded in FY ’19 to nearly double the losses recorded the previous year. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The data points to discoms lagging behind in eliminating the gap between the average cost of supply and realisable revenue (ACS-ARR gap).</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Discoms have also missed the FY ’19 UDAY target to bring down their aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses to 15 per cent.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The primary reason for failure, as is being recognised in policy circles, is the failure of discoms to collect the full cost that they pay for power.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The broad idea is that in the revised scheme, discoms can only remain in the public sector if they get to a situation where their deficit is under control. Or else, states will be asked to implement different models involving the private sector, like the franchise or PPP models.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>UDAY scheme</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ujjwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) is the financial turnaround and revival package for electricity distribution companies of India (DISCOMs) initiated by the Government of India, under <strong>Ministry of Power</strong>, with the intent to find a permanent solution to the financial mess that the power distribution is in. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It allows state governments, which own the DISCOMs, to take over 75 percent of their debt as of September 30, 2015, and pay back lenders by selling bonds.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">DISCOMs are expected to issue bonds for the remaining 25 percent of their debt. The scheme is optional for the states to join. Jharkhand became the first state to come under uday scheme. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The scheme that was aimed as a pointed intervention to the weakest link in electricity value chain, power distribution.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 3236,
'title' => 'Concept for three capitals',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has hinted that Andhra Pradesh could have three decentralised capitals, on the lines of South Africa.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new capital being developed at Amaravati could become the “Legislative Capital”, port city Visakhapatnam the “Executive Capital” and Kurnool the “Judicial Capital”.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Three capitals in South Africa</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Three cities serve as capitals of the country– Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial).</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This arrangement was a result of the Second Boer War (1899-1902) in which Britain annexed the two Afrikaner speaking states, the Orange Free State and the South African Republic (also called Transvaal Republic). </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Cape of Good Hope then remained in the British Empire, becoming self-governing in 1872, and uniting with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa in 1910.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Other multiple capitals </strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In Sri Lanka, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the official capital and seat of national legislature, while Colombo is the de facto seat of national executive and judicial bodies. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Malaysia has its official and royal capital and seat of national legislature at Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya is the administrative centre and seat of national judiciary.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Among Indian states, Maharashtra has two capitals– Mumbai and Nagpur (which holds the winter session of the state assembly). </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Himachal Pradesh has capitals at Shimla and Dharamshala (winter). </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The former state of Jammu & Kashmir had Srinagar and Jammu (winter) as capitals.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Benefits of three capitals</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Economic distribution</strong></span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the capital has been divided then investors will be compelled to invest in the new cities which will help in distribution of wealth across different regions of the country or the state.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Restrict urban migration</strong></span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If well developed cities are available across different regions then there will not be any need for rural population to flock to one part of the country/state for livelihood.</span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Climatic benefits</strong></span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Certain capital cities face extreme climatic conditions which can be avoided if alternate arrangement in form of second capital is available.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ex: Winter and summer capitals in Jammu and Kashmir.</span></span></p>
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'title' => 'The three capital debate',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed The Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Equal Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, paving the way for three capitals for the state.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Amaravati will now be only the legislative capital, while Visakhapatnam will be the executive capital and Kurnool the judicial capital.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government says it is against building one mega capital while neglecting other parts of the state. The government has given several reasons for its “decentralised development” project.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the government, decentralisation was the central theme in recommendations of all major committees that were set up to suggest a suitable location for the capital of Andhra Pradesh.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In December 2010, the Justice B N Srikrishna Committee, set up to look into the demand for a Telangana state, had said Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra were economically the most backward, and the concentration of development efforts in Hyderabad was the key reason for demand of separate states.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A Committee constituted by the government under former IAS officer G N Rao, in its December 2019 report, recommended three capitals for balanced growth, and four regional commissionerates along the lines of Karnataka.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A high-power Committee appointed by the government to study the recommendations of the G N Rao Committee suggested that the state should be demarcated into zones with separate zonal planning and development boards in order to ensure inclusive development, and that infrastructure projects focussed Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra should be prioritised.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Problems involved</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Executive capital Visakhapatnam is 700 km from judicial capital Kurnool, and 400 km from legislative capital Amaravati. The Amaravati-Kurnool distance is 370 km. The time and costs of travel will be significant.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The AP Police are headquartered in Mangalagiri, 14 km from Vijayawada, and senior IPS officers who may be required to visit the Secretariat will have to travel 400 km to Visakhapatnam. Likewise, government officers who may have to appear in the High Court will have to travel 700 km to Kurnool, which does not have an airport.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">All officers and Ministerial staff who may have to be at hand to brief Ministers when the Assembly is in session, will probably have to stay put in Amaravati, leaving behind their other responsibilities in Visakhapatnam.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is widespread feeling in Andhra Pradesh that the three-capitals plan is essentially intended to deny Naidu credit for building a signature capital after his own style.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Varanasi multimodal terminal located on the Ganga has handled only 282 metric tonnes of cargo, as per the government’s response to an RTI query filed by an NGO. Government estimates had pegged the volume of traffic at the Varanasi terminal at 3.55 million metric tonnes by 2020.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The terminal is part of the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) for navigation of cargo which stretches from Haldia in West Bengal to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh under the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Waterway-1</strong>. It is a <strong>1,620-km</strong> stretch.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The commodity of cargo handled on these terminals are fertilizers, edible oil, food products, stone chips, FMCG products, TMT bar and other steel structures.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Even though the terminals are being completed in record time, Inland Waterways Authority of India is not able to utilise the Varanasi terminal built on huge costs, and land acquisition is ongoing for freight village and phase-II of the same.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Jal Vikas Marg Project</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Project entails development of fairway with 3 meters depth between <strong>Varanasi</strong> and <strong>Haldia</strong> (Phase-I) covering a distance of 1380 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 5369 crore with target for completion in six years. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The project entails construction of three multi-modal terminals at <strong>Varanasi</strong>, <strong>Sahibganj</strong> and <strong>Haldia</strong> at a cost of Rs 5,369.18 crore as a joint project between the Union government (Ministry of State for Shipping) and the <strong>World Bank</strong>.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
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'id' => (int) 4015,
'title' => 'Cabinet plan for electronics manufacturing',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In a bid to boost large-scale electronics manufacturing in India, the Union Cabinet approved three schemes, including a production-linked incentive scheme, with a total outlay of almost ?48,000 crore.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The electronics hardware manufacturing industry in India is projected to produce electronic goods worth $104 billion by 2020 from US$32.462 billion in 2013–14.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The three schemes together will enable large-scale electronics manufacturing, a domestic supply chain ecosystem of components and a state-of-the-art infrastructure and common facilities for large anchor units and their supply chain partners.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The schemes are expected to attract new investments worth at least ?50,000 crore in the sector, while generating more than five lakh direct and 15 lakh indirect jobs.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The production-linked incentive scheme aims to attract large investments in mobile phone manufacturing and specified electronic components, including assembly, testing, marking and packaging (ATMP) units.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The scheme will offer an incentive of 4-6% on incremental sales of goods manufactured in India and is expected to create a total of 8 lakh jobs.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Domestic value addition for mobile phones is expected to rise to 35-40% by 2025 from the current 20-25% due to the impetus provided by the scheme.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The scheme, Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC) 2.0, aims at creating quality infrastructure with a minimum area of 200 acres along with industry-specific facilities such as common facility centres, ready-built factory sheds/ plug-and-play facilities.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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(int) 46 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 4453,
'title' => 'Why MSMEs hit by the lockdown?',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Covid-19 pandemic has left its impact on all sectors of the economy but nowhere is the hurt as much as the Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) of India. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has also been reported that just like the first relief package, called the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, which was announced by the government on March 26, the second package, too, would primarily focus on the MSME sector.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Formally, MSMEs are defined in terms of investment in plant and machinery. But this criterion for the definition was long criticised because credible and precise details of investments were not easily available by authorities.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">That is why in February 2018, the Union Cabinet decided to change the criterion to “annual turnover”, which was more in line with the imposition of GST. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the proposed definition, a micro enterprise will be one with an annual turnover less than Rs 5 crore; a small enterprise with turnover between Rs 5 crore and Rs 75 crore; and a medium enterprise with turnover less than Rs 250 crore.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the latest available (2018-19) Annual Report of Department of MSMEs, there are 6.34 crore MSMEs in the country. Around 51 per cent of these are situated in rural India. Together, they employ a little over 11 crore people but 55 per cent of the employment happens in the urban MSMEs.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These numbers suggest that, on average, less than two people are employed per MSME. At one level that gives a picture of how small these really are. But a breakup of all MSMEs into micro, small and medium categories is even more revealing.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The distribution of enterprise by caste further completes the picture. About 66 per cent of all MSMEs are owned by people belonging to the Scheduled Castes (12.5%), the Scheduled Tribes (4.1%) and Other Backward Classes (49.7%). The gender ratio among employees is largely consistent across the board at roughly 80% male and 20% female.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of geographical distribution, seven Indian states alone account for 50 per cent of all MSMEs. These are Uttar Pradesh (14%), West Bengal (14%), Tamil Nadu (8%), Maharashtra (8%), Karnataka (6%), Bihar (5%) and Andhra Pradesh (5%).</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To begin with, most of them are not registered anywhere. A big reason for this is that they are just too small. Even GST has its threshold and most micro enterprises do not qualify.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to a 2018 report by the International Finance Corporation (part of the World Bank), the formal banking system supplies less than one-third (or about Rs 11 lakh crore) of the credit MSME credit need that it can potentially fund.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most of the MSME funding comes from informal sources and this fact is crucial because it explains why the Reserve Bank of India’s efforts to push more liquidity towards the MSMEs has had a limited impact.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The total lockdown has raised a question mark on the existence of many primarily because these are not firms that have too much cash to wait out the crisis. A big hurdle to restarting now is the lack of labour availability.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government can provide tax relief (GST and corporate tax), give swifter refunds, and provide liquidity to rural India (say, through PM-Kisan) to boost demand for MSME products.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">A credit guarantee by the government helps as it assures the bank that its loan will be repaid by the government in case the MSME falters.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 4585,
'title' => 'Government’s investment into power sector',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Part of the package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 13 was a Rs 90,000-crore liquidity injection into power distribution companies (or discoms). </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The move is aimed at helping the discoms clear their dues with gencos (or electricity generation companies), who in turn can clear their outstanding dues with suppliers, such as coal miners, easing some of the working capital woes of Coal India Ltd and contract miners.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The primary trigger is the poor financial condition and revenue collection abilities of most state discoms. This is despite several interventions, including a scheme called UDAY that was launched in 2015 to fix the problems of a sector where the upstream side (electricity generation) was drawing investments even as the downstream (distribution) side was leaking like a sieve.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Electricity is generated at thermal, hydro or renewable energy power plants, which are operated by either state-owned companies such as NTPC Ltd, NHPC Ltd, or private companies (also called Independent power producers or IPPs) such as Tata Power, Adani Power, or renewable companies such as ReNew Power or Greenko.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The generated electricity then moves through a complex transmission grid system comprising electricity substations, transformers, and power lines that connect electricity producers and the end-consumers. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This last mile link is where discoms come in, operated largely by state governments. However, in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata, private entities own the entire distribution business or parts of it.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Discoms essentially purchase power from generation companies through power purchase agreements (PPAs), and then supply it to their consumers (in their area of distribution). The key issue with the power sector currently is the continuing problem of the poor financial situation of state discoms.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This has been affecting their ability to buy power for supply, and the ability to invest in improving the distribution infrastructure. Consequently, this impacts the quality of electricity that consumers receive.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Hence the intervention announced last week seeks to ensure time-bound funding assistance to discoms through PFC and REC, so that they can clear their bills.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
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'title' => 'Tripura’s first international waterway',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tripura got its first ever international waterway as five new protocol routes were announced between India and its eastern neighbour Bangladesh.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sonamura-Daudkandi route on Tripura’s River Gomti and Rajshahi-Dhulian-Rajshahi routes were added to the list of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes signed between India and Bangladesh.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Protocol on Transit and Trade (PTT) through inland waterways was first signed between People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Republic of India in 1972. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Protocol was last renewed in 2015 for five years with a provision for automatic renewal and further five years of long term assurance to stakeholders. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Protocol parameters were revised in the second addendum signed with inclusion of new routes and declaration of a host of new Ports of Call to facilitate trade between both the countries.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the Sonamura-Daudkhandi route is expected to improve connectivity between Tripura, Bangladesh and nearby Indian states, operationalising the Rajshahi-Dhulian route is expected to augment infrastructure in Bangladesh and reduce export cost from India.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The protocol revision also approved five new ports of call between the two nations. These are Dhulian, Maia, Kolaghat, Sonamura and Jogigopha on the Indian side and Rajshahi, Sultanganj, Chilmari, Daudkandi and Bahadurabad on Bangladesh side while two more extended Ports of Call were also included at Tribeli (West Bengal), Badarpur (Assam) on Indian side and Ghorasal, Muktarpur on Bangladesh side.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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(int) 49 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 4886,
'title' => 'India trying to boost oil refining capacity',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">India is set to double its refining capacity for crude oil to 450-500 million tonnes per annum by 2030, according to Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">India’s current refining capacity of 249.9 million tonnes per annum exceeds domestic consumption of petroleum products which was 213.7 million tonnes in the previous fiscal. However, India’s consumption of petroleum products is likely to rise to 335 million tonnes per annum by 2030 and to 472 million tonnes by 2040.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The expansion in refining capacity will come from both brownfield and greenfield projects. The new refinery project in Ratnagiri is one of the key projects in the planned expansion and has received investment from Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s national oil companies.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The remaining 50 per cent is owned by Indian PSUs, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Other key projects include a joint venture between HPCL and the Rajasthan government for a new refinery in Barmer Rajasthan with a refining capacity of 9 million tonnes per annum as well as the major expansion projects in existing refineries in Panipat, Paradip and Koyali.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Experts say many of the projects by the state run oil refiners have been severely delayed in the past because of issues in acquiring the required land as well as in obtaining environmental clearances. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">IOCL’s Paradip refinery was initially expected to begin operations in 2012 but was only able to start operations in 2015 because it faced land acquisition and environmental clearance issues.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'title' => 'India’s domestic crude oil production falls',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">India’s crude oil production fell 7.1% in May 2020 compared to May 2019 on the back of low demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most of India’s crude oil production comes from aging wells that have become less productive over time. A lack of new oil discoveries in India coupled with a long lead time to begin production from discovered wells has led to a steady decline in India’s crude oil production making India increasingly dependent on imports. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The output of these aging wells is declining faster than new wells can come up. Domestic exploration companies are attempting to extend the life of currently operational wells.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There are few private players in the upstream oil sector as there has been a lack of interest in exploration and production in India from major private players, particularly those based abroad. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This is because of long delays in the operationalization of production even after an oil block is allotted due to delays in approvals.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Some of the key approvals which are required to begin production include, environmental clearances and approval by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons after the allottee completes a seismic survey and creates a field development plan.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Existing public and private sector players have asked for reduced levies of oil production including oil cess, royalties, and profit petroleum especially when crude oil prices are below $45/barrel.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government introduced the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) in 2019 to allow companies to carve out blocks that they are interested in and with lower royalties and no oil cess. However, existing players are calling for a relaxation of royalties and oil cess on block allotted under previous policies.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Open Acreage Licensing Programme</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) gives an option to a company looking for exploring hydrocarbons to select the exploration blocks on its own, without waiting for the formal bid round from the Government.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The Government will examine the Expression of Interest and justification. If it is suitable for award, Govt. will call for competitive bids after obtaining necessary environmental and other clearances. </span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
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'id' => (int) 4853,
'title' => 'India’s first gas exchange',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">India’s first gas exchange, the Indian Gas Exchange (<strong>IGX</strong>), has been launched. The exchange is expected to facilitate transparent price discovery in natural gas, and facilitate the growth of the share of natural gas in India’s energy basket.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The IGX is a digital trading platform that will allow buyers and sellers of natural gas to trade both in the spot market and in the forward market for imported natural gas across three hubs —Dahej and Hazira in Gujarat, and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) will be regassified and sold to buyers through the exchange, removing the requirement for buyers and sellers to find each other.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The exchange also allows much shorter contracts – for delivery on the next day, and up to a month – while ordinarily contracts for natural gas supply are as long as six months to a year. This will allow buyers and sellers greater flexibility.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The price of domestically produced natural gas is decided by the government. It will not be sold on the gas exchange. However, a new domestic gas policy is on the cards.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Domestic production of gas has been falling over the past two fiscals as current sources of natural gas have become less productive. Domestically produced natural gas currently accounts for less than half the country’s natural gas consumption.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">LNG imports are set to become a larger proportion of domestic gas consumption as India moves to increase the proportion of natural gas in the energy basket from 6.2% in 2018 to 15% by 2030.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Currently, the pipeline infrastructure necessary for the transportation of natural gas is controlled by the companies that own the network.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An independent system operator for natural gas pipelines would help ensure transparent allocation of pipeline usage, and build confidence in the minds of buyers and sellers about neutrality in the allocation of pipeline capacity.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Experts have also called for natural gas to be included in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime to avoid buyers having to deal with different levies such as VAT across states, when purchasing natural gas from the exchange.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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(int) 52 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 5111,
'title' => 'Unified Gas Price system',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government is aiming to cut down the cost of transportation of natural gas by setting a fixed tariff for the transportation of natural gas for longer distances to boost gas consumption.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The proposal is part of a larger effort by it to boost the share of natural gas in India’s energy basket from around 6 percent currently to 25 percent by 2030.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has also published a discussion paper on moving from a system where buyers of gas are charged for every pipeline they use in the system to a single charge across a pipeline network.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tariffs for transportation of gas are set by the PNGRB separately for each pipeline based on the assumptions of volume of gas transported on the pipeline and its operating life aimed at providing the operator a pre-tax return of 18%. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tariffs for pipeline usage are divided into zones of 300km, with the tariff increasing for zones further away from the point where gas is injected. Further, if a buyer needs multiple pipelines even from the same operator, that transport tariff would increase. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These tariffs increase the cost for buyers of gas further away from the point of injection of natural gas. All of India’s imported natural gas arrives at terminals on the west coast leading to costs for buyers increasing, the further east they are located.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government is proposing a unified price system with one price for those transporting gas nearby within 300 km and one price for those transporting gas beyond 300km. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The move would fix tariff prices within an integrated pipeline network in the country preventing buyers from having to pay charges for the use of multiple pipelines.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cost of gas transportation for oil marketing companies such as Indian Oil corporation and fertiliser plants that are closer to the points of gas injection may go up if the government lowers rates for transportation of gas to areas farther away from points of supply.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The government is also expecting that as India boosts gas imports, it will be able to negotiate better prices on gas imports.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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(int) 53 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 5373,
'title' => 'Tabletop runways',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Air India Express-operated aircraft from Dubai overshot Kozhikode airport’s tabletop runway and fell 35 feet down a slope, resulting in the aircraft splitting into two. Kozhikode’s runway is surrounded by deep gorges on both sides.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Air India Express flight with 190 people on board is the first major accident since the 2010 crash at Mangaluru airport.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tabletop airport is an airport located and built on top of a plateau or hilly surface, with one or both ends of the runway overlooking a drop. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The airports in the country which would count as “tabletops”, are namely Lengpui (Mizoram), Shimla and Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), Pakyong (Sikkim), Mangaluru (Karnataka), Kozhikode and Kannur (both Kerala).</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tabletop runways are generally constructed by chopping off the top of a hill, and are often thought of as tricky for landings because of the lack of any margin for overshooting the runway. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Landing aircraft on tabletop runways, which are located on top of a hill or a plateau with deep gorges running down their sides, is a stiff ask in poor weather conditions.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Aqua planning (drainage of water) and rubber deposits at tabletop airports are huge safety threats as these can lead to poor braking and aircraft overshooting the runway.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Airports have a safety feature called Runway End Safety Area (RESA) of 240 metres, as mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization, which limit the consequences when aeroplanes overrun the end of a runway. Both are Instrument Landing System (ILS) CAT 1-enabled.</span></span></p>
</li>
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(int) 54 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 5481,
'title' => 'Gujarat approves tall buildings',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has approved construction of buildings of 70 floors or more in five major cities of the state.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The state government has decided to amend the Common GDCR (general development control regulations) to allow construction of high-rise structures of 70 or more floors in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Gandhinagar.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government does not intend to change the entire skyline in these cities. The main intent is to attract some iconic buildings in these cities.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Another reason cited by officials is that urban land is getting scarce and that horizontal development of cities need more land, which is getting expensive by the day.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The limit was 45 m during 2001 (Kutch earthquake) and then raised to 70 m (22-23 floors) in 2017. The new policy allows builders to go as high they wish, provided a road at least 30 m wide adjoins the plot and they have an airport no-objection certificate.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Skyscrapers can come up in zones that have an FSI (Floor Space Index) more than 1.2. The changes permit a total FSI up to 5.4.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the government has said tall buildings will help bring down the cost of housing, builders say construction will be costlier. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The primary costs in constructing a tall building are foundation and labour. The higher the floors, the more the cost.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In most cities, where land rates are very high, skyscrapers are in demand. Other factors like scenic views and pollution play a role.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar are not far from the Cambay fault, and buildings in seismically active Kutch are not allowed more than one floor. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CGDCR mandates that proposed tall buildings will have to follow the National Building Code which lays down design guidelines for construction in seismically active zones.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bureau of Indian Standards has special clauses for tall structures, including details like wind load and earthquake resistance. Foundation and structural requirements too are crucial. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Tall structures have to consider the horizontal load, how it will behave in an earthquake and the wind load, and the static load, which is the building’s own weight and occupancy load.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 5493,
'title' => 'Thiruvananthapuram Airport takeover',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre has decided to lease out the operation, management and development of the airport to Adani Enterprises for a period of 50 years, which has been opposed by State government.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre decided to lease out six airports in the country — Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangaluru and Guwahati — through public-private partnership (PPP) to Adani Enterprises after the company emerged the highest bidder in a global competitive bidding process.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru that have been leased out on a PPP basis have witnessed creation of world-class infrastructure in addition to helping Airports Authority of India (AAI) in enhancing its revenues.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Kerala’s reservations date back to 2003, when it requested the Centre to include the state government whenever a decision to induct the private sector for managing the Thiruvananthapuram airport was taken. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre has said that after various discussions and recommendations of an Empowered Group of Secretaries it was decided that the State would participate in the bidding process for the airport through a special purpose vehicle (SPV). </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Kerala SPV was also given the right of first refusal (RoFR), or a provision to match the winning bid, if its quote fell within 10 per cent range of the top bidder. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, according to the Centre, KSIDC’s bid was 19.64 per cent lower than Adani Enterprises’ making it ineligible to exercise the RoFR provision.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While both the High Court and the apex court did not grant a stay on the privatisation process. The Supreme Court remitted the matter back to the HC, which is yet to give its final decision.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The centre has said that if the petitioners succeed and outcome of litigation leads to annulment or cancellation of bidding process, then Adani will handover the possession of airport back to AAI, which will be entitled to refund of the amount paid and additional investments made in the assets.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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'title' => 'Tripura- Bangladesh waterways',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The inland waterways protocol route between Tripura and Bangladesh was made operational when Tripura received a barge with a consignment of cement from Munshiganj in the neighbouring country.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The route connecting Sonamura, about 60 km from Agartala in the Indian side, and Daudkandi of Chittagong in Bangladesh was included in the list of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes agreed up on May 20 this year.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Currently, the state exports a handful of goods and materials worth Rs 30 crore to Bangladesh annually, but imports good worth Rs 645 crore. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This huge trade deficit is due to abnormally high import duty apparatus in Bangladesh and the absence of many commodities abundant in the state in the list of goods allowed for export as well as port restrictions.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The forthcoming Agartala-Akhaura rail project, Indo-Bangla bridge over River Feni, and a second Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Sabroom are also aimed at taking up the quantum of trade between the two sides.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Since the waterway project’s trade volume would be low, there isn’t massive local employment to count upon either. Most importantly, the river route would not stay operational throughout the year.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) and local authorities held a series of visits and studied the feasibility of launching inland waterways connectivity on River <strong>Gomati</strong>. The river connects with Meghna in Bangladesh.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The plan includes dredging the riverbed to make way for small ship and boats from Sonamura till Ashuganj river port in Bangladesh, 60 km away. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A terminal building was also planned to be built for customs check of imported goods. As the permanent jetty for loading and unloading of goods was taking too much time, Tripura built a temporary floating jetty.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>River Gomti</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">River Gomati is the <strong>largest</strong> and <strong>longest</strong> river of Tripura with cumulative length of 180 km. It is also considered a sacred river and devotees converge along its banks at Tirthmukh every Makar Sankranti.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Gomati is also a regulated river. Due to the high altitude of in its upper catchment and Dumbur dam built in 1974 as part of the Gumti hydro-electric power project, the river erodes a lot of sand and rocky particles in its upper segment. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The flow slows down a lot after it reaches the plains and at Maharani barrage in Gomati district. Gomati riverbed remains navigable for less than four months a year, that too only during monsoon days. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">For rest of the year, scanty rainfall in the hills results in low volume while accumulating sediments raise the average riverbed, rendering Gomati even shallower.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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(int) 57 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 5630,
'title' => 'Air Suvidha portal',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Air Suvidha portal is offering a contactless service to international fliers who have a connecting flight from Delhi to other states.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the protocol for institutional quarantine of international passengers varies from state to state, all international passengers arriving in India can use the Air Suvidha portal to fill self-declaration and exemption forms. Those who are exempted can skip institutional quarantine and head home.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Air Suvidha is touted as a contactless solution for international passengers travelling to India. If approved, it will exempt the passenger from institutional quarantine. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">All international passengers need to fill in the self-declaration forms on the portal. Previously, it would be filled at the airport prior to departure. This step was taken to do away with the unnecessary physical contact.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Only certain passengers can apply for exemption. They include people who have a Covid-19 negative RT PCR test report, pregnant women, those who have suffered a death in the family, those suffering from a serious illness and parents accompanied by children below the age of 10.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These passengers can apply for exemption by providing documents such as a copy of passport along with a medical certificate (in case of serious illness or pregnancy) or RT PCR test results.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The form can be filled 72 hours before departure. In case the test results take longer, the passenger can attach a proof of the test and then show the negative test results upon arrival.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After applying on the portal, self reporting forms are forwarded to the Airport Health Organisation (APHO). The passenger can expect a document in their email.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">In case, the application is rejected, the passenger has to undergo institutional quarantine as per state norms. Transfer passengers who have been exempted can continue their journey.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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(int) 58 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
'keyword' => 'infrastructure',
'id' => (int) 5640,
'title' => 'Green- blue policy',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is holding public consultations for the preparation of the Master Plan for Delhi 2041, a vision document for the city’s development over the next two decades.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There are several features in the draft policy but the focus on water bodies and the land around it, which is referred to as the “Green-Blue policy”, promises to give the city a new shape.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">‘Blue’ infrastructure refers to water bodies like rivers, canals, ponds, wetlands, floodplains, and water treatment facilities; while ‘Green’ stands for trees, lawns, hedgerows, parks, fields, and forests.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The concept refers to urban planning where water bodies and land are interdependent, and grow with the help of each other while offering environmental and social benefits.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the first stage, the DDA plans to deal with the multiplicity of agencies, which because of the special nature of the state, has plagued it for several years.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">DDA wants first map out the issues of jurisdiction, work being done by different agencies on drains, and the areas around them. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Thereafter, a comprehensive policy will be drawn up, which would then act as the common direction for all agencies.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Delhi has around 50 big drains (blue areas) managed by different agencies, and due to their poor condition and encroachment, the land around (green areas) has also been affected.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">DDA, along with other agencies, will integrate them and remove all sources of pollution by checking the outfall of untreated wastewater as well as removal of existing pollutants. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A mix of mechanised and natural systems may be adopted, and dumping of solid wastes in any of these sites will be strictly prohibited by local bodies, through the imposition of penalties.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is also a plan to develop spaces for yoga, active sports, open air exhibitions, museums and information centres, open air theatres, cycling and walking facilities, arboretums, greenhouses, community vegetable gardens, facilities for boating, restaurant etc.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Land around these drains, carrying stormwater, will be declared as special buffer projects. A network of connected green spaces would be developed in the form of green mobility circuits of pedestrian and cycling paths.</span></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
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(int) 59 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {
'tag' => 'Infrastructure',
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'id' => (int) 5421,
'title' => 'Delhi’s electric vehicle policy',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Delhi Electric Vehicles Policy was notified on August 7, over eight months after the state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister approved it. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Delhi is among the world’s most polluted cities, with its air quality turning particularly hazardous with the onset of winter.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The gaseous pollutants from vehicular emissions are joined by soot-laden smoke from the fields of Punjab and Haryana where farmers set alight farm residue after harvesting. The bursting of firecrackers during Diwali also aggravates the problem.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The policy has been notified for a period of three years, following which it can be renewed in the present form or after suitable amendments.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The policy aims to make Delhi the Electric Vehicle (EV) capital of India. It has set an ambitious target of ensuring that by 2024, EVs account for 25% of all new vehicle registrations in the national capital.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Vehicles are the second largest and the most consistent source of pollution, contributing to about 25% of pollutants PM10 and PM2.5.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Supreme Court-monitored Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority had also pointed out that industrial and vehicular pollution account for the greatest share of Nitrate particles formed from nitrogen oxides and sulphate particles formed from sulphur dioxides in the city.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Within the next one year, the Delhi government aims to induct at least 35,000 EVs across segments and the five-year plan envisages induction of 5 lakh EVs. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Over their lifetime, these EVs are estimated to avoid approximately Rs 6,000 crores in oil and liquid natural gas imports and 4.8 million tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions, which is equivalent to avoiding CO2 emissions from nearly 1 lakh petrol cars over their lifetime. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">They will also help avoid about 159 tonnes of PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter) tailpipe emissions.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The policy is incentive-driven, which the government believes will encourage people to buy new EVs, scrap cars running on petrol and diesel. It has provisions for low-interest loans for battery-run commercial vehicles like buses and trucks. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The policy lays a particular emphasis in the category of two-wheelers, autos, and goods carriers and will, for the first time, allow ride-hailing services such as Ola and Uber and last-mile delivery platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy to operate battery-driven bikes.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The policy recommends changes in building bye-laws so that all new homes and workplaces are ‘EV ready’ with 20% of all vehicle holding capacity/parking equipped with charging points. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The purchase of charging points will also be incentivised to the tune of Rs 6,000 per charging point for the first 30,000 such points.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The policy refers to the ‘feebate concept’, which refers to the concept under which inefficient polluting vehicles incur a surcharge, while efficient ones receive a rebate.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It seeks to create an EV fund made up of pollution cess on, additional road tax on petrol and diesel vehicles, “especially luxury cars”, congestion fee on rides taken using cab aggregators (except those running on batteries). </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Every month, 50 per cent of the amount collected in that fund will be transferred to the EV fund. And if the government still falls short of money, the Supreme Court’s assistance will be sought in using the Environment Compensation Charge fund, made up of tax imposed on commercial vehicles entering Delhi.</span></span></p>
</li>
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'title' => 'Offshore oil rigs during Covid-19',
'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Offshore oil installations have continued to operate through government lockdowns, with workers at Indian oil-producing companies extending stays offshore.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There are fresh concerns, with 31 employees out of 91 at an ONGC offshore facility near Mumbai testing positive for Covid-19 this week.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">International oil majors such as British petroleum have extended rotations for workers as well as reduced occupancy in rooms at offshore sites to allow for social distancing and to protect their employees.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">ONGC is also following strict standard operating procedures which are enforced by marshals both offshore and even at their offices onshore.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Some ONGC workers had worked offshore for 60 days against the norm of 14 days and the company was trying to reduce occupancy in rooms at offshore sites as much as possible.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It was not possible to maintain social distancing during some repair and maintenance operations at offshore oil installations as people need to be in close contact in line with safety protocols. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">ONGC had previously shut operations at two rigs in Mumbai offshore after 54 employees tested positive for Covid-19, including one employee who died due to the disease.</span></span></p>
</li>
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<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">When an employee complains about symptoms, doctors are sent to offshore platforms to conduct testing.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Any employee who contracts the virus would be brought back onshore and given the best medical treatment available, as the company had tie ups with hospitals in the area.</span></span></p>
</li>
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<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NHAI plans to issue InvITs in order to monetise their upcoming projects. The cabinet had approved the setting up of InvITs in 2019.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The issue will enable NHAI to monetise its completed National Highways that have a toll collection track record of at least one year.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NHAI’s InvIT will be a Trust established by NHAI under the Indian Trust Act, 1882, and SEBI regulations. The InvIT Trust will be formed the objective of investment primarily in infrastructure projects.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Structured like mutual funds, they have a trustee, sponsor(s), investment manager, and project manager. While the trustee (certified by Sebi) has the responsibility of inspecting the performance of an InvIT, sponsor(s) are promoters of the company that set up the InvIT. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NHAI reserves the right to levy toll on identified highways and it will help the company raise funds for more road development across the country.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Infrastructure investment trusts</strong> are institutions similar to mutual funds, which pool investment from various categories of investors and invest them into completed and revenue-generating infrastructure projects, thereby creating returns for the investor. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The capital market regulator notified the Sebi (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014 on September 26, 2014, and these trusts are likely to help facilitate investment in the infrastructure sector.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the investment manager is entrusted with the task of supervising the assets and investments of the InvIT, the project manager is responsible for the execution of the project.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The fund raised can be invested in the project SPVs by way of an issue of debt. The trust can utilise it to repay their loans or even for prepayment of certain unsecured loans and advances availed by such project SPVs from the sponsor, the project manager, and certain members of the sponsor group.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the significant amount of funding required in the infrastructure sector and a gap in availability of long-term funds, this structure helps close that gap by enabling fund raising from capital markets.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">InvITs enable investors to buy a small portion of the units being sold by the fund depending upon their risk appetite.</span></span></p>
</li>
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<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NHAI plans to issue InvITs in order to monetise their upcoming projects. The cabinet had approved the setting up of InvITs in 2019.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The issue will enable NHAI to monetise its completed National Highways that have a toll collection track record of at least one year.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p>
<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">NHAI’s InvIT will be a Trust established by NHAI under the Indian Trust Act, 1882, and SEBI regulations. The InvIT Trust will be formed the objective of investment primarily in infrastructure projects.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Structured like mutual funds, they have a trustee, sponsor(s), investment manager, and project manager. While the trustee (certified by Sebi) has the responsibility of inspecting the performance of an InvIT, sponsor(s) are promoters of the company that set up the InvIT. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NHAI reserves the right to levy toll on identified highways and it will help the company raise funds for more road development across the country.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Infrastructure investment trusts</strong> are institutions similar to mutual funds, which pool investment from various categories of investors and invest them into completed and revenue-generating infrastructure projects, thereby creating returns for the investor. </span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The capital market regulator notified the Sebi (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014 on September 26, 2014, and these trusts are likely to help facilitate investment in the infrastructure sector.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the investment manager is entrusted with the task of supervising the assets and investments of the InvIT, the project manager is responsible for the execution of the project.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The fund raised can be invested in the project SPVs by way of an issue of debt. The trust can utilise it to repay their loans or even for prepayment of certain unsecured loans and advances availed by such project SPVs from the sponsor, the project manager, and certain members of the sponsor group.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the significant amount of funding required in the infrastructure sector and a gap in availability of long-term funds, this structure helps close that gap by enabling fund raising from capital markets.</span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">InvITs enable investors to buy a small portion of the units being sold by the fund depending upon their risk appetite.</span></span></p>
</li>
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Deendayal Antyodaya Mission', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched Shehri Samridhi Utsav across the country to extend outreach of Deendayal Antyodaya Mission – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) to most vulnerable. It also seeks to showcase MoUHA’s initiatives and facilitate access of Self-Help Group (SHG) members to the other government schemes.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Shehri Samriddhi Utsav</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under it, series of rallies led by women’s’ SHGs will be undertaken to spread awareness about DAY-NULM in urban poor communities.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Job melas and fairs to market products made by women microentrepreneurs will be also organized by states.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">SHG members across cities are being linked to national government schemes viz. Swachchh Bharat Mission (U), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (U), Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, Suraksha Bima Yojana, Jeevan Jyoti Yojana and National Nutrition Mission.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is Central Sector Scheme launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA) to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor</span></span></li> </ul> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It aims at uplifting urban poor by enhancing their sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Its intended beneficiaries are Urban poor viz. street vendors, slum dwellers, homeless, rag pickers, unemployed and differently abled etc.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It extends coverage to all 4041 statutory cities and towns, there by covering almost the entire urban population of the country.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Main highlights of DAY-NULM</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Employment through Skill Training and Placement</strong>: Urban poor are imparted with market-oriented skills through City Livelihood Centers.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under it, expenditure of Rs.15, 000 per person is provided for training of urban poor (It is Rs.18, 000 in North-East and J&K).</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Social Mobilization and Institution Development</strong>: It is done through formation of SHGs for training members and hand holding. 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The seven-member GoM, headed by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel was set up in January 2019 by GST Council to analyse tax rates and issues being faced by real estate sector under GST regime.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Recommendations</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has favoured to reduce GST rate on under-construction residential properties to 5% without input tax credit (ITC) from current effective rate of 12%, after abatement of value of land. It also favoured lowering GST rate for affordable housing at 3% from 8% at present. It will finalise its recommendations and then submit its recommendations to GST Council headed by Union Finance Minister, which will take the final decision on the proposal. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Currently, GST is levied at 12% with ITC on payments made for under construction property or ready to move in flats where the completion certificate has not been issued at the time of sale. The effective pre-GST tax incidence on such housing property was 15-18%.<strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, GST is not levied on buyers of real estate properties for which completion certificate has been issued at time of sale. There have been complaints that builders are not passing on benefit of without input tax credit to consumers by way of reduction in price of property after rollout of GST.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'gom-gst-cut-on-houses-under-construction', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/be99/65xcdw570yn32hg6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/be99/65xcdw570yn32hg6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'GoM favours GST cut on houses under construction', 'metakeyword' => 'In Economy Current Affairs, Group of Ministers, GST, Real Estate Sector, ', 'metadescription' => 'Group of Ministers (GoM) has favoured lowering goods and services tax (GST) on under-construction residential properties to 5% from the 12% currently', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/qlu2bb3x71xc3ku/9FEB_GOM.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 2 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 92, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development Scheme ', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved <strong>Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development Scheme</strong> of Prasar Bharti. Under it, public broadcaster will be provided over Rs. 1,054 crores for three-year period till 2020 (from 2017-18 to 2019-20) for strengthening broadcast infrastructure and network development.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development Scheme</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Out of total Rs 1,054.52 crore approved under this scheme, Rs 435.04 crore was approved for continuing schemes of All India Radio (AIR). Rs 619.48 crore for schemes of Doordarshan.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It also has provisions for modernisation of existing equipment/facilities in studios essential to sustain ongoing activities and also for High Definition Television (HDTV) transmitters at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For AIR, it provides for FM expansion at 206 places and envisages digitalisation of studios at 127 places is envisaged. It will benefit 13% additional population of the country to listen AIR programmes.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">10 KW FM transmitters will be set up along Indo-Nepal Border while 10KW FM transmitters will be set up in J&K Border. It will significantly improve Radio and TV coverage along border areas.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Digital Terrestrial Transmitters (DTTs) at 19 locations and Digitization of Studios at 39 locations, DSNG (Digital Satellite News Gathering) Vans will be also set up at 15 locations and Upgradation of Earth Stations at 12 locations also have been approved.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Other Cabinet approvals</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>DD Arun Prabha Channel: </strong>Union Cabinet also approved launch of this channel from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. It will help to fulfil the aspirations of people of North East Region.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>1,50,000 DTH sets</strong>: It will be distributed in different states in the country which will help people in the border, remote, tribal and LWE areas to watch Doordarshan's DTH programmes.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'broadcasting-infrastructure-and-nds', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8431/6pd9ybsx5xgfsnc6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8431/6pd9ybsx5xgfsnc6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development Scheme', 'metakeyword' => 'National Current Affairs, Cabinet Decisions, Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development Scheme, Prasar Bharti', 'metadescription' => 'CCEA chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development Scheme of Prasar Bharti', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/g4zcg0f210zp7gc/2.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 90, 'title' => 'CCEA approves setting up 12,000 MW grid-connected Solar Power Projects', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved for setting up <strong>12,000 MW</strong> grid-connected <strong>Solar Photovoltaic</strong> (PV) Power Projects by implementing Phase-ll of Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme. It will be implemented by Government Producers with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support of Rs. 8,580 crores for self-use or use by Government or Government entities, both Central and State Governments.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>CPSU Scheme Phase-ll</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Under it, <strong>12,000 MW</strong> or more capacity of grid connected solar power projects will be set up by Government Producers in 4 years period (2019-23) as per conditions specified in Government Producer Scheme.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It mandates use of both solar photovoltaic (SPV) cells and modules manufactured domestically as per specifications and testing requirements fixed by Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE).</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Its implementation will result in setting up 12,000 MW or more of grid connected solar PV power projects by Government Producers in 4 years, thereby creating investment of about Rs. 48,000 crores.</span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Significance </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will give push to "<strong>Make-in-</strong><strong>lndia</strong>" as it encourages Government Producers to procure solar cells and modules from domestic manufacturers.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will create sufficient demand for domestically produced solar PV cells and modules for next 3 to 4 years.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It will provide direct employment in pre-commissioning activities/construction phase and around in operation and maintenance period.</span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> In addition, it will create additional employment opportunities for locals by way of involvement in setting up of Solar Power Projects and also in manufacturing of domestically produced PV cells and modules.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'govt-approves-setting-up-12000-mw-solar-power', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8896/tciz7a37c65i6fb6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8896/tciz7a37c65i6fb6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Govt approves setting up 12000 MW Solar Power Projects | Study IQ', 'metakeyword' => 'National Current Affairs, Cabinet Decisions, 12,000 MW Solar Power Projects, CPSU Scheme, Phase ll, Renewable energy', 'metadescription' => 'Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved for setting up 12,000 MW grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Projects', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/75r113eeqid5kyz/3.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 128, 'title' => 'Government sanctions five projects under Buddhist Circuit', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Union Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned five projects under Buddhist Circuit, one of the fifteen thematic circuits for development under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Government is planning to make Buddhist Circuit under this scheme India’s first trans-national tourist circuit. This circuit was initially limited to only to seven major Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, but now it has been expanded to 21 more states.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Five Projects approved are </span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Madhya Pradesh:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif"> Development of circuit in Sanchi-Satna-Rewa-Mandsaur-Dhar.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Uttar Pradesh:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif"> Development of circuit in Kushinagar, Srawasti and Kapilvastu.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Bihar:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif"> Construction of Convention Centre adjacent to Maya Sarovar on western side at Bodhgaya, Bihar.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Gujarat: Development of circuit in Junagadh- Gir-Somnath- Bharuch-Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Andhra Pradesh: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Development of circuit in Shalihundam- Thotlakonda- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda- Amravati-Anupu.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Swadesh Darshan scheme</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">It is one of flagship schemes of Ministry of Tourism launched in 2014 for development of thematic circuits i.e. theme-based tourist circuits across the country in a planned and prioritised manner.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">These tourist circuits are being developed on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">It is 100%centrally funded scheme. It also has provision for leveraging voluntary funding under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Central PSUs and corporate sector.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Total 15 thematic circuits so far have been identified for development under it. They are Buddhist, North-East India, Coastal, Himalayan, Krishna, Desert, Eco, Wildlife, Tribal, Rural, Sufi, Tirtankar, Spiritual, Ramayana and Heritage.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Such theme based tourist circuits are being developed in manner to supports communities, provide employment and fosters social integration without comprising upon environmental concerns and provides unique experiences to tourists.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">The funding of projects under this scheme vary from state to state. It is finalised on basis of detailed project reports prepared by Programme Management Consultant (PMC) which is national level consultant for implementing the scheme.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'five-projects-under-buddhist-circuit', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/98d9/4xc96ldmnr5i61b6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/98d9/4xc96ldmnr5i61b6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Government sanctions five projects under Buddhist Circuit', 'metakeyword' => 'In Government Schemes Current Affairs, Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned five projects under Buddhist Circuit, one of the fifteen thematic circuits for development under Swadesh Darshan Scheme', 'metadescription' => 'Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned five projects under Buddhist Circuit, one of the fifteen thematic circuits for development under Swadesh Darshan Scheme', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/6hwq72n571i1pwf/12feb_Government_sanctions.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 125, 'title' => 'Government launches Light House Projects challenge', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoUHA) has launched Light House Projects challenge aimed at bring about paradigm shift in housing construction technology sector. It has been launched under Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC- India). </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Light House Projects challenge</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">It has been launched for States/Union Territories to select six sites across country for constructing lighthouse projects. States/UTs scoring highest marks under it will be awarded lighthouse projects.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Winning six states/UTs which score highest marks across prescribed criteria of this challgene will be awarded lighthouse projects. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">They will receive central assistance to construct these projects as per Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) guidelines.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">It also has provision for Technology Innovation Grant (TIG) for states/ UTs. It will offset impact of any additional cost implication due to use of new technology and also absorb issues related to economies of scale and other related factors. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">The selected states or UTs will then enter into Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) with MoUHA to execute these lighthouse projects in their regions under GHTC-India.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">The selected sites for lighthouse projects will be used as ‘open laboratory’ for live demonstration. It will receive due attention from policymakers, academia, public and private practitioners and media apart from felicitation and recognition in Grand Expo-cum-Conference.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"quicksand",serif">Shortlisted global technology providers under GHTC-India will be invited to plan and construct lighthouse projects within framework of PMAY (U) on pre-selected sites provided by States/UTs.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'light-house-projects-challenge', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'Govt launches Light House Projects challenge', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Government launches Light House Projects challenge', 'metadescription' => 'Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched Light House Projects challenge ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/a2gs18q27vqbi8v/12feb_Government_launches.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 185, 'title' => 'Government launches PMAY (U) mobile app', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Ministry of Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has launched PMAY (U) mobile application to bring beneficiaries directly in contact with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">PMAY (U) mobile app</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will allow beneficiaries of PMAY (U) to capture and upload high-resolution photographs and videos of completed houses along with their families. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will also allow the beneficiaries to upload selfies with their house and 30 - 60 seconds video clip where they will share stories of owning a house under PMAY (U). </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">These photos and videos of beneficiary testimonies will be scrutinized at state as well as at central level. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Selected beneficiaries from states/UTs will also be awarded and invited as special guests for anniversary celebration of PMAY (U).</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It was launched in June 2015 with aim of addressing housing requirement of urban poor including slum dwellers in India by the year 2022. </span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objective:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Construct two crore houses across nation by 2022. Houses will be constructed using new and emerging technologies.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Coverage:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It covers entire urban area consisting of 4041 statutory towns with initial focus on 500 Class I cities. </span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Intended beneficiaries</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> are Poor people (BPL) and People living under Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and LIG (Low income Group) categories in urban establishments of country. It also targets people living under MIG (middle income Group). </span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Components:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> (i) In-situ as well as ex-situ slum rehabilitation with participation of private developers, (ii) Affordable housing in partnership with private sector, (iii)Credit linked subsidy for affordable housing to poor and (iv) Subsidy for individuals for construction of house. Government will provide subsidy ranging between 1 lakh to 2.30 lakh to people from above beneficiary categories.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'govt-launches-PMAY-U-mobile-app', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/30c8/un15ue5lcxuyt9h6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/30c8/un15ue5lcxuyt9h6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Government launches PMAY (U) mobile app', 'metakeyword' => 'In Government Schemes, Ministry of Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, PMAY (U) mobile application, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)', 'metadescription' => 'Ministry of Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has launched PMAY (U) mobile application to bring beneficiaries directly in contact with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/p9ygqf9p9l152h6/15feb_Government_launches_PMAY_%2528U%2529.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 192, 'title' => 'Eco Circuit: Pathanamthitta-Gavi-Vagamon-Thekkady project inaugurated in Kerala ', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Ministry for Tourism inaugurated Eco Circuit: Pathamthitta-Gavi-Vagamon-Thekkady development Project in Kerala under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Eco Circuit is one of the 15 thematic circuits under this scheme.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">This project was approved in December 2015 and major works were carried out under it include </span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Eco Adventure Tourism Park at Vagamon.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Cultural Center at Kadamanitta.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Eco Log Huts at Peerumedu.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Idukki, Approach Roads.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Walking Trails, Rain Shelters at Pine Valley Forest.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Thekkady, Kumily, Moozhiyar Dam Penstock and Kakki Dam.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Swadesh Darshan Scheme</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is one of flagship schemes of Ministry of Tourism launched in 2014.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is aimed at development of thematic circuits in country in planned and preferred manner. </span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Under it, government is focussing on development of quality infrastructure in country with the aim of providing better experience and facilities to the visitors. </span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">So far, Tourism Ministry has sanctioned 77 projects worth projects for Rs. 6131.88 crore to 30 States and UTs. </span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">7 projects under this scheme have been approved in Kerala in recognization of tourism potential of the state.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'eco-circui-projec-inaugurated-kerala ', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ddbd/51aton1t9b1kuh06g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ddbd/51aton1t9b1kuh06g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Eco Circuit Project inaugurated in Kerala | State Current Affairs', 'metakeyword' => 'In Government Schemes Current Affairs, Ministry for Tourism inaugurated Eco Circuit: Pathamthitta-Gavi-Vagamon-Thekkady development Project in Kerala under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. ', 'metadescription' => 'Ministry for Tourism inaugurated Eco Circuit: Pathamthitta-Gavi-Vagamon-Thekkady development Project in Kerala under Swadesh Darshan Scheme ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/8w5358wzwnwlibm/18feb_Eco_Circuit.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 308, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Jl-VAN Yojana', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana. It has been launched as tool to create Second Generation (2G) Ethanol capacity in the country and attract investments in this new sector.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objectives</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Provide financial support to Integrated Bioethanol Projects using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstock.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Incentivise 2G ethanol sector and support this nascent industry by creating a suitable ecosystem for setting up commercial projects and increasing R&D in this area.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Supplement targets envisaged by Central Government under Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Features of Scheme</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Under it, 12 Commercial Scale and 10 demonstration scale 2G ethanol Projects will be provided a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support in two phases:</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Phase-I (2018-19 to 2022-23):</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Six commercial projects and five demonstration projects will be supported.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Phase-II (2020-21 to 2023-24):</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Six commercial projects and five demonstration projects will be supported.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Implementation</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be implemented by Centre for High Technology (CHT), a technical body under Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG) with total financial outlay of Rs.1969.50 crore for period from 2019 to 2024.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Projects under it will reviewed by Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of MoP&NG and then will be recommended to Steering Committee of MoP&NG under chairmanship of Secretary, MoP&NG for final approval. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Ethanol produced by scheme beneficiaries will be mandatorily supplied to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to enhance blending percentage under EBP Programme.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Benefits</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Help Central Government to meet vision of reducing import dependence by way of substituting fossil fuels with biofuels.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Help to achieve Green House Gases (CHGs) emissions reduction targets through progressive blending/ substitution of fossil fuels.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Address environment concerns caused due to burning of biomass/crop residues and improve health of citizens.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Improve farmer income by providing them remunerative income for their otherwise waste agriculture residues.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Create rural and urban employment opportunities in 2G Ethanol projects and Biomass supply chain.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Contribute to Swacch Bharat Mission by supporting aggregation of non­food biofuel feedstocks such as waste biomass and urban waste.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Indigenize 2G Biomass to Ethanol technologies.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Background</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Central Government had launched EBP programme in 2003 for undertaking blending of ethanol in Petrol to address environmental concerns due to fossil fuel burning, provide remuneration to farmers, subsidize crude imports and achieve forex savings. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Under it, OMCs are allowed to blend upto 10% of ethanol in Petrol. Presently, EBP is being run in 21 States and 4 UTs of the country. Petroleum Ministry has set target to achieve 10% blending percentage of Ethanol in petrol by 2022.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The National Policy on Biofuel 2018 allows procurement of ethanol produced from molasses and non-food feed stock like celluloses and lignocelluloses material including petrochemical route.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ccea-pradhan-mantri-ji-van-yojana', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9028/62xocba9lnxr56a6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9028/62xocba9lnxr56a6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Jl-VAN Yojana | Current Affair GK', 'metakeyword' => 'In Government Schemes Current Affairs, CCEA, Cabinet Decisions, Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran, Ethanol Blending Programme ', 'metadescription' => 'CCEA chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana. ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/7c139exzh3mpo72/2mar_Cabinet_approves_Pradhan.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 295, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves National Mineral Policy 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved National Mineral Policy 2019 (NMP 2019). It replaces National Mineral Policy 2008 (NMP 2008).</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is aimed at bringing about more effective regulation to mining sector as well as more sustainable approach while addressing issues of those affected by mining especially tribals. It gives focus on transparency, better regulations and enforcement, balanced growth and sustainability of mining sector.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">National Mineral Policy (NMP) 2019</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objective:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It aims to have more effective, meaningful and implementable policy that brings in further transparency, better regulation and enforcement, balanced social and economic growth as well as sustainable mining practices.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also aims to attract private investment through incentives while the efforts would be made to maintain a database of mineral resources and tenements under mining tenement systems. </span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Key Provisions in NMP 2019 to give boost to mining sector</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Introduces Right of First Refusal for Reconnaissance Permit(RP)/Prospecting License(PL) holders.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Encourages private sector to take up exploration.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposes auctioning of virgin areas for composite RP cum PL cum ML on revenue share basis,</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Encourages merger and acquisition of mining entities.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposes transfers of mining leases and creation of dedicated mineral corridors to boost private sector mining areas.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also includes focus on make in India initiative and Gender sensitivity in terms of the vision.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Key Features of NMP 2019</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Grant status of industry to mining activity to boost financing of mining for private sector and for acquisitions of mineral assets in other countries by private sector</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposes long term import export policy for mineral to help private sector in better planning and stability in business</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposes long term export import policy for mineral sector to provide stability and as an incentive for investing in large scale commercial mining activity.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposes rationalization of reserved areas given to PSUs which have not been used and put these areas to auction, which will give more opportunity to private sector for participation.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Efforts need to be made to harmonize taxes, levies & royalty with world benchmarks to help private sector.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Introduces concept of <strong>Inter-Generational Equity</strong> that deals with well-being not only of present generation but also of the generations to come.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Proposes to constitute inter-ministerial body to institutionalize mechanism for ensuring sustainable development in mining.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Focusses on use coastal waterways and inland shipping for evacuation and transportation of minerals and encourages dedicated mineral corridors to facilitate the transportation of minerals. </span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Utilization of district mineral fund for equitable development of project affected persons and areas.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'national-mineral-policy-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e868/5kbtzl2zi1h3g6j6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e868/5kbtzl2zi1h3g6j6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves National Mineral Policy 2019 | Current Affairs', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Cabinet,approves, National Mineral Policy 2019, NMP 2019, replaces, National Mineral Policy 2008, Mining Sector, ', 'metadescription' => 'Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved National Mineral Policy 2019 (NMP 2019). It replaces National Mineral Policy 2008 (NMP 2008).', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/8pi6krn4uk7xnru/1Mar_Cabinet_approves_National.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 223, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The Union Cabinet has approved construction of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) to connect national capital Delhi with <strong>Ghaziabad and Meerut.</strong> It will first rail-based, high-speed regional transit system project to be implemented in India. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">RRTS is rail-based, high-speed regional transit system. It aims to streamline urban transportation system, which is stressed due to intensive developments and increase in number of private vehicles. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It provides people a safe, secure, reliable, fast and comfortable public transport and reduce stress on existing travel infrastructure and industrial activities.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will cover distance of 82.15 kms. (68.03 kms. elevated and 14.12 km. underground). Once operational, it will be fastest, most comfortable and safest mode of commuter transport in Delhi NCR).</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">This project involves integration with other urban transport systems in efficient and effective manner by adopting innovative methods of designing, technology and institutional management.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be implanted by Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) namely National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">NCRTC will be joint ownership of Centre and State Governments with equal contribution, loan from multilateral/bilateral agency through Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Finance Ministry.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Benefits:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It will provide much-needed additional public transport infrastructure to NCR to address issues of congestion, air-pollution and catalyse balanced and sustainable regional development.</span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will provide high speed mobility and efficient regional connectivity. It will drive balanced socio-economic growth with increased economic activities and improve quality of life of citizens.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cabinet-delhi-ghaziabad-meerut-rrts', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b7ee/gry7tfbgx1v8z556g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b7ee/gry7tfbgx1v8z556g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid System', 'metakeyword' => 'In Economy Current Affairs, Union Cabinet has approved construction of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), Delhi with Ghaziabad and Meerut', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet has approved construction of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) to connect national capital Delhi with Ghaziabad and Meerut. First rail-based, ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/jr2u1yapn9ljb8n/21feb_Cabinet_approves_Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 393, 'title' => 'CCEA approves Kiru Hydro Electric Project in Jammu and Kashmir', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved for construction of Kiru Hydro Electric (HE) Project of 624 MW capacity (4 X 156 MW) in Jammu & Kashmir. The project is located on River Chenab in Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir. Its foundation stone was laid in February 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Kiru Hydro Electric Project</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It envisages construction of 135 m high concrete gravity Dam above deepest foundation level and underground Power House.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is envisaged as Run of River (RoR) Scheme, designed complying with requirements of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) 1960, with installed capacity 624 MW (4 x 156 MW). </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will provide much needed power in northern grid and shall accelerate process of development of remote areas of J&K.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be constructed by Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (CVPPPL). CVPPPL is joint venture company amongst NHPC, J&K State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) and PTC with shareholding of 49%, 49% and 2% respectively.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is scheduled to be completed in a period of 4 1/2 years and will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs.4287.59 crore (including foreign component).</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'kiru-hydro-electric-project-jammu-kashmir', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d614/ryxtby896p3vfav6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d614/ryxtby896p3vfav6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'CCEA approves Kiru Hydro Electric Project in Jammu and Kashmir', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, CCEA, approves,r construction, Kiru Hydro Electric (HE) Project of 624 MW capacity (4 X 156 MW) in Jammu & Kashmir', 'metadescription' => 'CCEA) has approved for construction of Kiru Hydro Electric (HE) Project of 624 MW capacity (4 X 156 MW) in Jammu & Kashmir', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/b3u45fpdvbkj7vn/8Mar_CCEA_approves_Kiru_Hydro_Electric_Project.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 391, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves measures to promote Hydro Power Sector ', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved measures to promote hydro power sector in the country. These include declaring Large Hydropower Projects (HPO) as part of non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO)</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Some measures are</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Large Hydropower Projects to be declared as renewable energy source. Earlier, only hydropower projects less than 25MW are categorized as renewable energy.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">HPO will be considered as separate entity within non-solar renewable purchase obligation.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Necessary amendments will be introduced in Tariff Policy and Tariff Regulations to operationalize HPO. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Ministry of Power will notify trajectory of annual HPO targets based on projected capacity addition plans in hydropower sector.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Tariff rationalization measures</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">: It will include providing flexibility to developers to determine tariff by back loading of tariff after increasing project life to 40 years. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Moreover, debt repayment period will be increased to 18 years and escalating tariff of 2% will be introduced.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Budgetary support: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be provided for funding flood moderation component of hydropower projects on case to case basis.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will be also provided for funding cost of enabling infrastructure i.e. roads and bridges on case to case basis as per actual. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">In this case, it will bel limited to Rs. 1.5 crore per MW for upto 200 MW projects and Rs. 1.0 crore per MW for above 200 MW projects.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Benefit of these measures</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will aid in providing stable grid considering 160 GW capacity addition by 2022 from infirm sources of power like solar and wind.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will result in overall socio-economic development of Himalayas and North- East Region as most of the hydro power potential is located in these regions.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will provide direct and indirect employment in the power sector and entrepreneurial opportunities in the field of transportation, tourism and other small scale businesses<strong>. </strong></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Background</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">India is endowed with large hydropower potential of 1,45,320 MW of which only about 45,400 MW has been utilized so far. Only about 10,000 MW of hydropower has been added in last decade. Moreover this sector is currently going through challenging phase and share of hydropower in total capacity has declined from 50.36% in 1960s to around 13% in 2018-19.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Hydropower also plays important achieving India’s set target of installing 175GW of renewable energy by 2022 and achieving 40% of total capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 to honour its nationally determined contribution for climate change.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Benefits of Hydropower</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is environment friendly and has ability for quick ramping, black start, reactive absorption etc. during peaking power demand, spinning reserve and grid balancing/ stability. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Hydropower project also provides water security, irrigation and flood moderation benefits and brings socio-economic development of entire region by providing employment opportunities and boosting tourism etc. </span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cabinet-approves-measures-promote-hydro-power-sector ', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fdf7/11r4vmsblu8a6os6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fdf7/11r4vmsblu8a6os6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves measures to promote Hydro Power Sector ', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, Cabinet approves measures to promote Hydro Power Sector, Renewable Energy, Tariff rationalization measures, Budgetary support', 'metadescription' => 'Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved measures to promote hydro power sector in the country. ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/6nzjybupb0s9y9u/8Mar_Cabinet_approves_measures_to_promote.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 394, 'title' => 'UDAN: CCEA approves revival of un-served and under-served air strips', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved extension of time and scope for revival and development of un-served and under-served air strips of Airports Authority of India (AAI), State Governments, Civil enclaves, CPSUs, helipads and water aerodromes. The revival of these un-served and under-served air strips will be carried out with budgetary support of Union Government under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik).</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Benefits</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will allow small cities and towns to be connected on commencement of operation of flights to under-served and un-served airports.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will also boost economic development of these areas as well as surrounding areas in terms of job creation and related infrastructure development<strong>.</strong></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) Scheme</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is flagship scheme of Ministry of Civil Aviation to enable air operations on unserved routes, connecting regional areas, to promote balanced regional growth and to make flying affordable for masses.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It was launched in April 2017. It is key component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) which was launched in June 2016.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objectives: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">(i) Facilitate/stimulate regional air connectivity by making it cheap and affordable. (ii) Promote affordability of regional air connectivity is envisioned under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCD) by supporting airline operators through: Concessions and Financial (viability gap funding or VGF) support.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Under it, 24 airports in western region, 17 in northern region, 11 in southern region, 12 in east and six in north-eastern parts of country will be connected. Moreover, around 50 unserved and under-served airports will be also connected.</span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ccea-approves-revival-un-served-under-served-air-strips', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8753/l8he3c8ihl9ctmb6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8753/l8he3c8ihl9ctmb6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'CCEA approves revival of un-served and under-served air strips', 'metakeyword' => 'In Government Schemes Current Affairs, CCEA, approves, extension, time and scope, revival, development, un-served, under-served air strips', 'metadescription' => 'CCEA has approved extension of time and scope for revival and development of un-served and under-served air strips', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/z5wzi3dmd5bci1s/8Mar_UDAN.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 402, 'title' => 'World Bank approves $137 million under DRIP to modernise 220 dams in 6 states', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">World Bank </span></span><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">approved </span><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">additional financing of US $137 million (about Rs. 960 crore) for Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) to rehabilitate and modernise over 220 selected large dams in six states. These dams are located in Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Dam Rehabilitation & Improvement Project (DRIP) </span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It aims at improving safety and operational performance of selected existing dams and associated appurtenances in a sustainable manner.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also seeks at strengthening dam safety institutional setup of participating States/ Implementing Agencies.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objectives:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> (i) Rehabilitation of old dams in country experiencing distress and are in need of attention for ensuring their structural safety and operational efficiency. (ii) Strengthening institutional capacity and project management in this area. (iii) Bring greater awareness on dam safety issues and finding novel solutions to address them by pooling best knowledge, technologies and experience available around world.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Implementing agencies:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It is implemented by Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) with assistance from the World Bank. Besides, Central Dam Safety Organisation of Central Water Commission (CWC) is coordinating and supervising body.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Funding:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It is externally-aided project. 80% of its total cost is provided by the World Bank as loan/credit and remaining 20% is borne by States/Central Government.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'dam-rehabilitation-and-improvement-project', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0b29/a7lznxx5veycfan6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/0b29/a7lznxx5veycfan6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'WB provides $137 million to modernise 220 dams in 6 states', 'metakeyword' => 'In National Current Affairs, World Bank, additional financing of US $137 million (about Rs. 960 crore) for Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)', 'metadescription' => 'World Bank approved additional financing of US $137 million (about Rs. 960 crore) for Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/b4dxun9odvkzk4c/9Mar_World_Bank_approves_%2524137_million.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 565, 'title' => 'NTPC unveils MTN issue to raise $450 million', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">State-run power giant NTPC launched medium term notes (MTN or bond) to raise US $450 million (approx Rs 3,105 crore) as part of its US $6 billion (approx Rs 41,400 crore) MTN programme. The funds raised through this MTN issue will be used for capital expenditure by the company. MTN is also known as bonds in overseas markets. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Key Facts</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The term notes have been issued NTPC in accordance with the applicable guidelines of Reserve Bank of India in relation to external commercial borrowings.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">They carry coupon (rate) of 3.75% per annum payable semi-annually. They are expected to be settled by April 2019. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The notes will mature on April 2024 and all principal and interest payments will be made in US Dollars.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The notes will be listed on Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Ltd, India International Exchange (IFSC) Ltd and NSE IFSC Ltd.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The net proceeds from these notes will be used to finance NTPC’s capital expenditure of ongoing and new power projects, coal mining projects, acquisition of power projects and renovation and modernisation of power stations.</span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU), operational under Ministry of Power. It was accorded Maharatna status in 2010</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is India’s largest power generator accounting for 25% of total electricity generated in the country.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It was established in 1975 by Central Government. Its headquarters are located in New Delhi.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It is engaged in core business of electricity generation and allied activities. It also has ventured into oil and gas exploration and coal mining activities. </span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'ntpc-unveils-mtn-issue-to-raise-45-million', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/bf96/y53v9vaad6uat3s6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/bf96/y53v9vaad6uat3s6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'NTPC unveils MTN issue to raise $450 million', 'metakeyword' => 'In Business and Economy Current Affairs, NTPC, launches, medium term notes,MTN, bond, raise,450 million,6 billion MTN programme', 'metadescription' => 'NTPC launched medium term notes (MTN or bond) issue to raise US $450 million (approx Rs 3,105 crore) as part of its US $6 billion (approx Rs 41,400 crore) MTN programme', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/rd54ueb161gldzy/NTPC_unveils_MTN_issue.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 701, 'title' => 'India can achieve high penetration of EV by 2030: NITI Aayog Report', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">According to recently published technical report “<em>India’s Electric Mobility Transformation: Progress to Date and Future Opportunities</em>”, India could achieve high penetration of Electric Vehicles (EVs) by 2030 on the back success of FAME II and other measure. The report was jointly published by NITI Aayog and US based Rocky Mountains Institute. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Report Highlights</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Catalytic effect:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> FAME II and other measures could have catalytic effect on overall EV market. If FAME II and other measures in public and private space - are successful, India could realize EV sales penetration of 30% of private cars, 70% of commercial cars, 40% of buses and 80% of two and three-wheelers by 2030.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Focus on PEP:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> To achieve this Government should focus on phased manufacturing plan (PEP) to promote EVs, provide fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for phased manufacturing of EVs and batteries.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Policy Push: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">To drive adaptation of EVs, different government departments should consider bouquet of potential policies such as congestion pricing, low emission/exclusion zones, ZEV credits, parking policies etc. to drive adaptation of EVs. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">846 MT of CO2 Savings: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Significant high level market share of EVs in two, three, and four-wheelers and buses segment under FAME II will help to cumulative savings of 846 million tonnes (MT) of CO2 over total deployed vehicle’s lifetime. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">3.8 billion e-vkt:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Electric buses covered under FAME II will account for 3.8 billion vehicle kilometers travelled (e-vkt) over their lifetime.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">5.4 MT of oil savings: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">EVs eligible under FAME II scheme can save cumulatively 5.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent over their lifetime worth Rs. 17.2 thousand crore. </span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">FAME II scheme</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">The second phase of Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of Electric and hybrid vehicles (FAME) scheme was notified by Union Cabinet in February 2019.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It aims to further accelerate India’s commitment to clean mobility future and sees the electrification of transportation as primary focus areas.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It intendents to catalyse market for faster adaptation of EVs to ensure durable economic growth and global competitiveness for India’s automotive industry.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Benefits under FAME II goes beyond vehicles eligible FAME I. For more details: About <a href="https://www.studyiq.com/currentaffairs/daily/01-03-2019/fame-india-scheme-phase2" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:#2980b9">FAME II</span></a>. </span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'india-can-achieve-high-penetration-evs-2030', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/134a/e98y54bzovjejat6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/134a/e98y54bzovjejat6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'India can achieve high penetration of EV by 2030: NITI Aayog', 'metakeyword' => 'India can achieve high penetration of EV by 2030: NITI Aayog', 'metadescription' => 'India can achieve high penetration of EV by 2030: NITI Aayog, According to recently published technical report “India’s Electric Mobility Transformation: Progress to Date and Future Opportunitiesâ€', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/8wyzfuzjwjnuwgh/India_can_achieve.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 814, 'title' => 'FAME II: 50% localisation mandatory to receive Subsidies', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">Government has decided made mandatory for Electric Vehicles (EV) manufacturers in India to locally source at least 50% components in order to receive subsidies and be eligible to bid for government orders under FAME II Scheme. This move is aimed encouraging local manufacturing and detering reliance on imports. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">The incorporation of localisation conditions to avail benefits under the FAME-II Scheme was decided at Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee of National Mission for Transformative Mobility chaired by NITI Aayog chief executive officer (CEO) Amitabh Kant. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">Outcomes of meeting</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">Only companies that meet the 50% localisation threshold will be eligible for incentives and subsidies under FAME II Scheme to boost electric mobility as well as ‘Make in India’ initiative.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">The inter-,ministerial committee also has finalised mission’s approach to make domestic industry competitive at the global level. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">Government will adopt challenge route to select states and entrepreneurs to set up giga factories for large scale manufacturing of cells and batteries in the country.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">Inter-ministerial committee of the national mission for transformative mobility</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"><span style="color:black">It was constituted following cabinet decision to promote clean and sustainable mobility initiatives in the country. It consists of secretary of nine stakeholder ministries and director general of the Bureau of Indian Standards as its members.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">FAME India (Phase II) Scheme</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It aims at promoting eco-friendly electric and hybrid vehicles in the country. The scheme is being administered by Union Ministry of Heavy Industries.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objective:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Encourage faster adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles by offering upfront Incentive on purchase of EVs and also by way of establishing necessary charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles. It also seeks to address issue of environmental pollution and fuel security. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Features:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It gives emphasis is on electrification of public transportation that includes shared transport.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will give demand incentives on operational expenditure model for electric buses through State/city transport corporation (STUs).</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">In three and four wheelers segment, it will incentives to vehicles used for public transport or registered for commercial purposes. In two wheelers segment, it will focus on private vehicles.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It plans to support 10 Lakhs e-2W, 5 Lakhs e-3W, 55000 4Ws and 7000 Buses.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Encourage advance technologies:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Benefits of incentives under it will be extended to only those vehicles which are fitted with advance battery like Lithium Ion battery and other new battery technologies. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Charging Infrastructure: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also proposes for establishment of charging infrastructure. It seeks seyting up about 2700 charging stations in metros, million plus cities, smart cities and cities of hilly states across the country to ensure availability of at least one charging station in grid of 3 km x 3 km.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also proposes establishment of charging stations on major highways connecting major city clusters. On such highways, charging stations will be established on both sides of road at an interval of about 25 km each.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'fame2-localisation-mandatory-receive-subsidies', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/cc80/7xs2srz2y25acul6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/cc80/7xs2srz2y25acul6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'FAME II: 50% localisation mandatory to receive Subsidies', 'metakeyword' => 'Government has decided made mandatory for Electric Vehicles (EV) manufacturers in India to locally source at least 50% components', 'metadescription' => 'Government has decided made mandatory for Electric Vehicles (EV) manufacturers in India to locally source at least 50% components', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/6122gdz609v8obh/FAME_II.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1039, 'title' => 'DISCOM debt to return to pre-UDAY levels: CRISIL  ', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">According to Crisil’s analysis in aggregate external debt of state-owned electricity distribution companies (discoms) is set to increase to pre-Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) levels </span><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">by end of fiscal 2019. It had analyzed</span> <span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">state-owned discoms in 15 states, which account for 85</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> of the aggregate losses. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Facts</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The main reason for increase in debt of discoms is lack of continuous financial support from states due to limited fiscal headroom, lack of prudent tariff hikes and material reduction in aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">As per MoUs signed by States under UDAY Scheme in fiscal 2016, their discoms were to initiate structural reforms by reducing AT&C losses by 900 basis points (bps) to about 15</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> in fiscal 2019 and also implement regular tariff hikes of 5-6</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> per annum. In return sate governments took over three-fourths of discom debt, thus reducing the interest cost burden. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">However since debt takeover by state government, discoms enjoyed the benefit of debt reduction, but conditional structural reforms under UDAY Scheme have been slow. For instance, AT&C losses reduced by only 400 bps by December 2018 from pre-UDAY levels and average tariff increased paltry 3</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> per annum.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Ujjwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It was launched by Ministry of Power in 2015 for operational and financial turnaround of State owned Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs).</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is aimed at making discoms financially and operationally healthy so they can supply adequate power at affordable rates.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It also envisaged financial turnaround, operational improvement, reduction of cost of generation of power, development of Renewable Energy, energy efficiency & conservation.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Its objective is to reduce interest burden, reduce cost of power, reduce power losses in distribution sector, and improve operational efficiency of DISCOMs.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This was to achieved through four initiatives </span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Improving operational efficiencies of DISCOMs</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Reduction of cost of power; </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Reduction in interest cost of DISCOMs; </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Enforcing financial discipline on DISCOMs through alignment with State finances.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In return of this, state governments were to take over up to 75</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">% of their respective discoms’ debt by issuing sovereign bonds to pay back lenders. Remaining 25</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">% of debt will be issued by discoms in the form of bonds.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The scheme is optional for the states to join. So far, 32 States and UTs have joined this scheme. West Bengal, Odisha, Delhi (UT) and Chandigarh (UT) have not joined it.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'discom-debt-return-pre-uday-levels', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e7e5/ue3tn9zo4k4i9p66g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e7e5/ue3tn9zo4k4i9p66g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'DISCOM debt to return to pre-UDAY levels: CRISIL  ', 'metakeyword' => 'In Economy Current Affairs, Crisil Analysis,aggregate external debt, state-owned electricity discoms, increase, pre, Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana levels', 'metadescription' => 'In Economy Current Affairs, Crisil Analysis,aggregate external debt, state-owned electricity discoms, increase, pre, Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana levels', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/2158agnzi1tj293/DISCOM_debt.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1378, 'title' => 'Government launches Swachh Survekshan 2020 League', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched Swachh Survekshan 2020 League in New Delhi. It will be a quarterly cleanliness assessment of cities and towns in India. It will be integrated with Swachh Survekshan 2020, the 5th edition of the annual cleanliness survey of urban India to be conducted between January - February 2020.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Swachh Survekshan 2020 League </span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is aimed at “sustaining the on ground performance of cities along with continuous monitoring of service level performance on cleanliness”.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will be conducted in three quarters and will give equal weightage to every quarter based on cities updating their progress on online MIS and citizens testifying on many parameters through outbound calls.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The purpose of quarterly cleanliness assessment under Swachh Survekshan 2020 League is that many cities slip back once they get a decent ranking on cleanliness levels in annual sanitation survey exercise Swachh Survekshan.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Swachh Survekshan survey</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is a survey to rank cities on several cleanliness parameters so as to build a spirit of competition among cities. It was first rolled out in 2016. It is conducted by an independent third party. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objective:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Encourage large scale citizen participation, ensure sustainability of initiatives taken towards garbage free and open defecation free cities, (ii) Create awareness about the importance of making towns and cities a better place to live in.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'govt-launches-swachh-survekshan-2020-league', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/599a/q66css0zta8lxn46g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/599a/q66css0zta8lxn46g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Government launches Swachh Survekshan 2020 League', 'metakeyword' => 'Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched Swachh Survekshan 2020 League in New Delhi. It will be a quarterly cleanliness assessment of cities and towns in India', 'metadescription' => 'Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched Swachh Survekshan 2020 League in New Delhi. It will be a quarterly cleanliness assessment of cities and towns in India', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/3jqht97fqjv3bwk/Government_launches.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 20 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1428, 'title' => 'France to provide up to 7 lakh Euros for railway station development', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Indian Railway Station Development Corporation (IRSDC) has entered into Tripartite Agreement with French National Railways (SNCF) and French Agency AFD to boost capacity building for railway station development program in India.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Facts</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Under this agreement, AFD will provide financial grant up to 7,00,000 EURO, through French National Railways (SNCF)-Hubs and Connexions as Technical Partner to IRSDC.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This grant is meant to support Railway Station Development Program in India and will impose no financial liability on IRSDC or Indian Railways.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This effort will go long way in further strengthening Indo-French cooperation and will help Indian Railways in positioning its stations to world class standards.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">India and France have strong and long standing prosperous partnership in Railway sector. French Railways (SNCF) in past has been associated with Indian Railways in conducting speed upgradation study for Delhi-Chandigarh section and station development of Ludhiana & Ambala stations. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About Indian Railway Station Development Corporation (IRSDC)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is special purpose vehicle (SPV) of Central Government incorporated to develop new stations and redevelop existing Indian railway stations. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is a joint venture (JV) between IRCON and RLDA with 51:49 equity shareholding ratio respectively. It was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 in April 2012.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'france-7-lakh-euros-railway-station-development', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e0c1/ccr8lme1b3w7pck6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e0c1/ccr8lme1b3w7pck6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'France to provide up to aid for railway station development', 'metakeyword' => 'IRSDC has entered into Tripartite Agreement with French National Railways (SNCF) and French Agency AFD to boost capacity building for railway station development program in India', 'metadescription' => 'IRSDC has entered into Tripartite Agreement with French National Railways (SNCF) and French Agency AFD to boost capacity building for railway station development program in India', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/h4edhbheoyvf4wy/France_to_provide.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 21 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1503, 'title' => 'Rivigo launches National Freight Index', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Technology-enabled logistics firm Rivigo has launched National Freight Index (NFI) with aim to bring transparency and boost efficiency in the market. Rivigo is technology enabled logistics company which owns a fleet of over 3,000 trucks.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">NFI seeks to serve as barometer of road freight market in India and is based on Rivigo rate exchange. It gives live spot rate on over 7 million lanes and vehicle type combinations in the country. It seeks to remove existing logistics market structure and inefficiencies due to information asymmetry, which leads to a great loss of value.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">National Freight Index (NFI)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is aimed at bringing transparency to the road freight market place and transforming the logistics sector. It will enable unrestricted access and sharing of freight rate information.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It offers aggregated picture of both live rates and historical trends of spot price movements in the road freight industry. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is represented in two main forms: (i) in terms of actual freight rates condensed to Rupees per tonne-km and (ii) in terms of relative movement with respect to a base month.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Both the index and exchange are based on Rivigo's machine learning and economics powered pricing algorithms, which are continuously improving on accuracy.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The rates on exchange and index are computed using millions of data points from historical transactions, micro market insights, current market dynamics and other factor.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""><strong>Significance: </strong>Its ultimate purpose of giving fair and precise representation of state of the spot market in the country. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will help to bring transparency in the market and propel the logistics sector towards efficiencies and growth.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'rivigo-launches-national-freight-index', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b142/ewcuw3pc4fbud1d6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b142/ewcuw3pc4fbud1d6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Rivigo launches National Freight Index', 'metakeyword' => 'Technology-enabled logistics firm Rivigo has launched National Freight Index (NFI) with aim to bring transparency and boost efficiency in the market. ', 'metadescription' => 'Technology-enabled logistics firm Rivigo has launched National Freight Index (NFI) with aim to bring transparency and boost efficiency in the market. ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/nmbs2fy0ne1xu49/Rivigo_launches.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 22 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1523, 'title' => 'NTPC, Power Grid forms National Electricity Distribution Company Limited', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and PowerGrid Corporation of India Limited have signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) to set up National Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCL). With this, NTPC, a leading power generator, and Power Grid, which owns India’s largest power transmission network will foray into consumer electricity supply business.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">National Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCL)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will be a joint venture (JV) of NTPC and Power Grid on 50:50 equity basis. It will undertake the business for distributing electricity and other related activities in distribution circles of India. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will prove a major gamechanger since NTPC, a leading power generator, and Power Grid, which owns India’s largest power transmission network are entering into consumer electricity supply business. </span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Signifiacne </span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Establishment of NEDCL is considered as another step of Central Government in power distribution reforms. This includes separation of content and carriage businesses in power distribution — i.e the infrastructure builder for power supply and supplier to consumers would be two separate companies. This will bring more competition in the power distribution sector with more than one power supplier. These measures have been suggested in the latest amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003, which is yet to be tabled in Parliament.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is also expected to enhance 3A’s (Availability, Accessibility and Affordability) of the electricity. It will also aid in overhauling the power distribution sector since existing reform scheme UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) could not deliver effectively on its stated objectives.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'national-electricity-distribution-company-limited', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d60d/cx5uyhhdadap8lp6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d60d/cx5uyhhdadap8lp6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'NTPC, Power Grid forms National Electricity Distribution Company', 'metakeyword' => 'NTPC) and PowerGrid Corporation of India Limited have signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) to set up National Electricity Distribution Company Limited', 'metadescription' => 'NTPC) and PowerGrid Corporation of India Limited have signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) to set up National Electricity Distribution Company Limited', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/0ao951n0bghag04/NPTC%2C_Power_Grid_forms.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 23 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1544, 'title' => 'MoA signed to set up Centre for Inland & Coastal Maritime Technology at IIT Kharagpur', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Ministry of Shipping has signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IIT Kharagpur for setting up Centre for Inland and Coastal Maritime Technology (CICMT) at IIT Kharagpur. It will be first of its kind centre in India focusiing on indigenisation of ship designing, building and testing.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Centre for Inland and Coastal Maritime Technology (CICMT)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will provide technological support, research, testing and experimentation facility to agencies involved in inland water transport, shipbuilding, ports. etc. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will focus on ship design for coastal and inland waterways, shipbuilding technology and structural design, transport systems & logistics, cryogenic cargo handling.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will also foucus on green/renewable energy harvesting from coastal and inland waters and automation and artificial intelligence (AI) for maritime operations.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Funding:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The cost of this project around Rs 69.20 crore is being funded under the Sagarmala programme. The funding will be for 5 years after which revenues generated from end users will make it sustainable</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Significance:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Its establishment signifies major leap in indigenous innovation and cutting edge technology support to port and maritime sector directly contributing to Sagarmala programme.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is based on close collaboration amongst government, academic institutions and industry to make applied research relevant to day to day ground work in the port and maritime sector.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Benefits:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It will serve as hub for latest technology tools for maritime sector and reduce India’s dependence on foreign institutions. It will also reduce cost of research drastically and result in cost and time savings for work in the port and maritime sector. It will provide much required impetus to development of inland waterways and coastal shipping in the country. It will enable India to become key player in ship modal testing facility as only four other Eurpoean countries (Germany, Netherlands, Russia and Belgium) in the world have this testing facility at present.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cicmt-iit-kharagpur', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3dfd/focesjde99gy8o56g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3dfd/focesjde99gy8o56g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Coastal Maritime Technology at IIT Kharagpur', 'metakeyword' => 'Ministry of Shipping has signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IIT Kharagpur for setting up Centre for Inland and Coastal Maritime Technology (CICMT) at IIT Kharagpur', 'metadescription' => 'Ministry of Shipping has signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IIT Kharagpur for setting up Centre for Inland and Coastal Maritime Technology (CICMT) at IIT Kharagpur', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/rec6jracu81kkq2/MoA_signed_to_set_up_Centre.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 24 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1547, 'title' => 'Government gives two year extension to Polavaram Project', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Chagne (MoEFCC) extended the construction period for the Polavaram Multipurpose Project in Andhra Pradesh by two year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About Polavaram Project</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is under-construction multi-purpose irrigation project. It envisages construction of Earth-cum-Rock fill dam across river Godavari. This dam’s maximum height is 48 m.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is located in the West Godavari District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. Its reservoir spreads into parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">In 2014, Union Government had declared Polavaram project a National project. Later in May 2014 Union Cabinet had constituted Polavaram Project Authority. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">On completion it will irrigate nearly 3 lakh ha of land in Andhra Pradesh, generate hydel power with installed capacity of 960 MW and provide drinking water facilities to 540 enroute villages covering 25 lakh populations in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => '2-year-extension-polavaram-project', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2f3f/4v3romh68ametep6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2f3f/4v3romh68ametep6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Government gives two year extension to Polavaram Project', 'metakeyword' => 'Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Chagne (MoEFCC) extended the construction period for the Polavaram Multipurpose Project in Andhra Pradesh by two year ', 'metadescription' => 'Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Chagne (MoEFCC) extended the construction period for the Polavaram Multipurpose Project in Andhra Pradesh by two year ', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 25 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1579, 'title' => 'BharatNet: All panchayats to be connected with broadband by March 2020', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in written reply to Lok Sabha has informed that all panchayats will be provided high speed broadband connections under BharatNet project by March 2020. The Phase II of this project is under implementation, and total of 2 lakh gram panchayats (GPs) are targeted to be completed by March 2020. Government already has connected 1 lakh GPs under phase 1 of BharatNet project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About BharatNet Project</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is Centre’s flagship rural internet connectivity programme. It is world’s largest rural broadband connectivity programme using underground Optical fibre. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It aims to connect all 2.5 Lakh gram panchayats (GPs) across Indian through optical fibre to provide affordable broadband connectivity of 2 Mbps to 20 Mbps to realise vision of Digital India. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Funding:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It is funded by Universal service Obligation Fund (USOF).</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Implementng agencies:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It is implemented by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), under Mi nistry of Communications. </span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF):</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It was formed by Central Government to help fund projects to boost connectivity in rural areas. The money for this fund comes through ‘Universal Access Levy,’ charged from telecom operators as percentage of various licenses fees being paid by them.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'bharatnet-project-all-panchayats-to-be-connected', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c088/edvj5kh6jhd9ifg6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c088/edvj5kh6jhd9ifg6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'BharatNet: All panchayats to be connected', 'metakeyword' => ' all panchayats will be provided high speed broadband connections under BharatNet project by March 2020', 'metadescription' => ' all panchayats will be provided high speed broadband connections under BharatNet project by March 2020', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/rrfvi0d314gfj7v/BharatNet.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 26 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1620, 'title' => 'Eight core sectors grow by 5.1% in May 2019', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">According to data released by Ministry of Commerce, the eight core sector industries recorded a growth of 5.1</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">May 2019 on the back of healthy output in steel and electricity. These eight core sectors had expanded by 4.1</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">in May 2018. During April-May 2019, the cumulative growth of these industries, was 5.7</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">compared to 4.4</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> during the same period last year. The growth rate for index of eight core industries (ICI) for April 2019 also has been revised upward to 6.3</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">from 2.6</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">% </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">due to upward revisions in output of coal, crude oil, steel, cement and electricity.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Sector wise Performance (May 2019)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Crude oil output:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It declined by (-) 6.9</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%.</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">%</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Fertiliser production:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It declined by (-) 1.0%.%</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Coal production: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It recorded growth of 1.8%.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Electricity production: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It recorded 7.2</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> growth (highest in last six months, i.e. since November 2018).</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Refinery products:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It declined by (-) 1.5</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%.</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">%</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Steel Sector:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It record double digit growth of 19.9</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Cement Sector: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It recorded moderate growth of 2.8</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">%.</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is monthly production volume index of eight core industries of the economy. It is considered as lead indicator of monthly industrial performance. Its base year is 2011-12.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It measures individual as well as collective performance of production in selected eight core industries viz. Petroleum Refinery Products, Natural Gas, Coal, Fertilizers, Crude Oil, Steel, Cement and Electricity.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">These eights industries are main industry of the economy i.e. are considered as backbone of all other industries. They have significant impact on general economic activities as well as industrial activities.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Compiled and released by:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Office of Economic Adviser (OEA), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (earlier DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Components and weightages of core sectors:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04), electricity generation (9.85), Steel production (17.92), Coal production (10.33), Crude Oil production (8.98), Natural Gas production (6,88), Cement production (5.37) and Fertilizers production (2.63).</span></span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Note:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Highest weightage is for Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04) and lowest is for Fertilizers production (2.63). These eight core sectors constitute 40.27% of total of the weight of items included Index of Industrial Production (IIP).</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => '8-core-sectors-grow-may-2019', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/db9c/ufnyu2bpyzz2dee6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/db9c/ufnyu2bpyzz2dee6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Eight core sectors grow by 5.1% in May 2019', 'metakeyword' => 'Eight core sector industries recorded a growth of 5.1% May 2019 on the back of healthy output in steel and electricity', 'metadescription' => 'Eight core sector industries recorded a growth of 5.1% May 2019 on the back of healthy output in steel and electricity', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/n2y1k5vaxvg4wmz/Eight_core_sectors_grow.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 27 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1640, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves leasing out of three airports to Adani', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved proposal for leasing out of three airports currently operated by Airports Authority of India (AAI) to Adani Enterprise. These three airports are Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) and Mangaluru (Karnataka). </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The airport leasing proposal for managing six AAI-run airports on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis was approved by Union Government in November 2019 through Public Private Partnership (PPP) on basis of <strong>per-passenger fee bidding (</strong></span></span><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Per-passenger fee model</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""><strong>)</strong>. It had received 32 technical bids from 10 companies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Adani Enterprises Ltd It had quoted highest bid for these airports, for operation, management and development under PPP for lease period of 50 years as per terms and conditions of the bid documents. Earlier Adani group also had won bids to operate three airports owned by AAI viz. Jaipur (Rajasthan), Guwahati (Assam) and Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) for period of 50 years.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This is Government’s first airport privatisation attempt in 13 years after GVK and GMR groups had won right to manage Mumbai and Delhi (IGI) airports in 2006. Greenfield airports in Hyderabad and Bengaluru were also awarded at the same time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Impact:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The leasing of these airports under PPP will help to bring efficiency in delivery, expertise, enterprise and professionalism apart from harnessing needed investments in the public sector. This will also result in enhanced revenues to AAI, which may lead to further investment by AAI at Tier II and Tier III cities and economic development in these areas in terms of related infrastructure and job creation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Per-passenger fee model</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Under this model, airport operator needs to pay fixed charges per passenger on monthly basis to AAI. For instance, if 1 lakh passengers use particular airport in a year, the operator pays charge multiplied by number of passengers for entire year to AAI. This provides an incentive for airport operator to grow revenue as there is no sharing while AAI benefits from growth in passengers. It serves as an alternative to revenue sharing model which has become unviable for airports if there is high revenue sharing with AAI.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cabinet-approves-leasing-three-airports-adani', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fb39/btn9xxg4gjqt2nj6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fb39/btn9xxg4gjqt2nj6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves leasing out of three airports to Adani', 'metakeyword' => 'Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved proposal for leasing out of three airports currently operated by Airports Authority of India (AAI) to Adani Enterprise', 'metadescription' => 'Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved proposal for leasing out of three airports currently operated by Airports Authority of India (AAI) to Adani Enterprise', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/zgg8ab8454cfc8o/Cabinet_approves_leasing.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 28 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 299, 'title' => 'Cabinet approves Phase II of FAME India Scheme ', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Union Cabinet has approved implementation of Phase II of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Scheme (FAME India Phase II) Scheme for promotion of Electric Mobility in the country. It is expanded version of present FAME India I scheme launched in April 2015. It has total outlay of Rs 10000 crores over the period of three years (April 2019 to 2022). </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">FAME India (Phase II) Scheme</span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It aims at promoting eco-friendly electric and hybrid vehicles in the country. The scheme is being administered by Union Ministry of Heavy Industries.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Objective:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Encourage faster adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles by offering upfront Incentive on purchase of EVs and also by way of establishing necessary charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles. It also seeks to address issue of environmental pollution and fuel security. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Features:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> It gives emphasis is on electrification of public transportation that includes shared transport.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It will give demand incentives on operational expenditure model for electric buses through State/city transport corporation (STUs).</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">In three and four wheelers segment, it will incentives to vehicles used for public transport or registered for commercial purposes. In two wheelers segment, it will focus on private vehicles.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It plans to support 10 Lakhs e-2W, 5 Lakhs e-3W, 55000 4Ws and 7000 Buses.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Encourage advance technologies:</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif"> Benefits of incentives under it will be extended to only those vehicles which are fitted with advance battery like Lithium Ion battery and other new battery technologies. </span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">Charging Infrastructure: </span></strong><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also proposes for establishment of charging infrastructure. It seeks seyting up about 2700 charging stations in metros, million plus cities, smart cities and cities of hilly states across the country to ensure availability of at least one charging station in grid of 3 km x 3 km.</span></span></span></li> <li style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand",serif">It also proposes establishment of charging stations on major highways connecting major city clusters. On such highways, charging stations will be established on both sides of road at an interval of about 25 km each.</span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'fame-india-scheme-phase2', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d7b1/rfoj66pyccq3zql6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d7b1/rfoj66pyccq3zql6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet approves Phase II of FAME India Scheme', 'metakeyword' => 'In Government Schemes Current Affairs, Cabinet, Phase II, FAME India Scheme,Electric Mobility, Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles', 'metadescription' => 'Cabinet has approved implementation of Phase II of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Scheme (FAME India Phase II) Scheme for promotion of Electric Mobility in the country.', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/y6g1ocam5m2tqmc/1Mar_Cabinet_approves_Phase_II.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 29 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1669, 'title' => 'NHAI inks MoU with NIIF for funding highway projects', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed MoU with National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) for funding highway projects. The MoU is related to co-operation in formation of SPVs to execute fund arrangement for large size road projects particularly green field projects to be executed by NHAI in future. It is expected to bring huge amount of investment at economical rate for highway development in India and reduce stress of borrowing on NHAI balance sheet also.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Background</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">NHAI is raising finances from various sources for its mega projects, and is not dependent only upon budgetary support. It has adopted several funding models in the past towards this, which have yielded good results. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">NHAI is also looking for innovative alternate source of funding to attract international investors and fund houses who are willing to invest in road projects in India but not very keen to take risk related to the project execution. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">This MoU will provide innovative financial models including for the 24,000 km 7.5 lakh crore Bharatmala Pariyojana, thus contribute in a big way in achieving Government’s dream of making India a five trillion dollar economy.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is India’s first sovereign wealth fund which was established by Central Government in February 2015 to give boost to the infrastructure sector in the country mainly through infrastructure investment in commercially viable projects, both Greenfield and Brownfield. It is headquartered in Mumbai.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Targeted corpus</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">: It is of Rs 40,000 crore to be raised over the years — 49% of it will be funded by government and remaining 51% will be raised from domestic and global investors, including international pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, multilateral/bilateral investors. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Governing Council of NIIF:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It is chaired by Finance Minister and act as an advisory council. Moreover, two companies viz. NIIFTL, a trustee of fund and NIIFL, an investment management company of NIIF were incorporated in 2015. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It manages three types of funds mainly</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">: Fund of Funds, Master Fund and Strategic Fund. These funds were set up to make infrastructure investments in India by raising capital from domestic and international institutional investors. It currently manages funds of over US $3.4 billion. These funds have been registered with SEBI as a Category II Alternate Investment Fund.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Key Investors:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), ICICI Bank, HDFC group, Kotak Mahindra Life and Axis Bank along with the Government of India.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'nhai-mou-niif-funding-highway-projects', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f8e8/3fyndojo115b2ny6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f8e8/3fyndojo115b2ny6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'NHAI inks MoU with NIIF for funding highway projects', 'metakeyword' => 'National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed MoU with National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) for funding highway projects', 'metadescription' => 'National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed MoU with National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) for funding highway projects', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/bphp8le342291gh/NHAI_inks_MoU_with_NIIF_for.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 30 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1733, 'title' => 'CCEA approves 2880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Dibang Multipurpose Project (MPP) in Arunachal Pradesh. CCEA has approved expenditure on pre-investment activities and various clearances for this project. The project is having all statutory clearances viz., Environment Clearance, Forest Clearance (Stage-l) and Defence Clearance except Forest Clearance (Stage-II) for seeking Investment Sanction from Central Government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> <strong>About Dibang Multipurpose Project (MPP)</strong></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will be built on <strong>river Dibang</strong>, in Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh. It will be the <strong>highest dam in India once completed</strong>, with height of 278 metres</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It will be <strong>largest ever Hydro Electric Project to be constructed in India</strong>, generating 2880MW (12x240MW) power to produce 11223MU of energy in 90% dependable year. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It is envisaged as storage based hydro-electric project with flood moderation as its key objective.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">The estimated total cost of project is Rs. 28080 and estimated completion period will be nine years from receipt of Government sanction.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Dam project:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It envisages construction of 278 m high Concrete Gravity Dam (above deepest foundation level), six horseshoe-shaped head race Tunnels of length varying from 300 m to 600 m with 9 m diameter, underground power house and six horseshoe-shaped Tail Race Tunnels of length varying from 320 m to 470 m with 9m diameter.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Power Sharing:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> On completion, Arunachal Pradesh Government will get 12% free power from project (i.e. 1346.76 MU. 1% free power and 112 MUs will be given in Local Area Development Fund). The total value of benefit to Arunachal Pradesh will be Rs 26785 crore over the project life of forty years.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Flood Mitigation:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> The construction of Dibang MPP will help to prevent sizeable downstream area from floods. Moreover, after implementation of master plan of Brahmaputra Board for flood moderation of all rivers contributing to Brahmaputra River, of which Dibang MPP is one of component, sizable area will be protected from flooding and help in mitigating perennial damage due to floods in Assam.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => '2880-mw-dibang-multipurpose-project-arunachal-pradesh', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b7ab/padbyc46nsstz196g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b7ab/padbyc46nsstz196g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'CCEA approves 2880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project', 'metakeyword' => 'Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Dibang Multipurpose Project (MPP) in Arunachal Pradesh', 'metadescription' => 'Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Dibang Multipurpose Project (MPP) in Arunachal Pradesh', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/bhbk98kok3wbh5i/CCEA_approves_2880_MW_Dibang.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 31 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1746, 'title' => 'Elephant bonds for declaring undisclosed income', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Government may soon launch Elephant Bonds as part of new amnesty scheme to the income tax defaulters in the country for declaring undisclosed income. This was suggested by high-level government-appointed committee on trade and industry headed by economist Dr. Surjit S. Bhalla. The recommendation of the advisory group regarding undisclosed income seems to be based on the fact that black money exists in domestic sector and it should be utilised in a productive manner.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">What are the elephant bonds?</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">They are proposed sovereign bonds (debt instruments) to be issued for period of 25 years in which people declaring undisclosed income will be bound to invest 50 per cent, similar to an amnesty scheme. These funds will be utilised only for infrastructure projects, both new and old. Thus, these bonds will serve as specialised security product providing funds towards Long Term Infrastructure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Significance of elephant bonds</span></span></strong> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Such bonds are necessary part of Central Government’s carrot and stick policy. This will allow past tax defaulters to join mainstream without attracting penalties. This will also provide conducive way to increase tax revenue along with increasing the number of taxpayers and beneficiaries in tax base who had not declared their assets previously. It will improve funding for long term infrastructure projects which are critical part in increasing economic growth. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Previous Amnesty schemes</span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">These schemes were aimed at encouraging people to avoid prosecution and declare black money by paying penalty only. </span></span></span></span></p> <ol> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">First:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It was introduced as part of Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income And Assets) And Imposition of Tax Rules, 2015. Under it, window was provided to declare income and assets parked in foreign countries between July 2015 to September 2015.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Income Declaration Scheme (IDS):</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It was second such major initiative launched in May 2016. Under it, people with undisclosed income were given time between June 2016, to September 2016, to declare their income with a tax including penalty of 45% of the total undisclosed income.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Demonisation:</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> It was announced in November 2016. Government had demonetised high currency notes to fight black money. </span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana</span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif""> under which the government asked people with black money to pay 50% fine of the undisclosed income and deposit an additional 25% in government schemes which would be refunded without interest after four years. This scheme also expired on March 31, 2017.</span></span></span></span></li> </ol> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'elephant-bonds-for-declaring-undisclosed-income', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/09af/e0plqvxbggl6mj76g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/09af/e0plqvxbggl6mj76g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Elephant bonds for declaring undisclosed income', 'metakeyword' => 'Government may soon launch Elephant Bonds as part of new amnesty scheme to the income tax defaulters in the country for declaring undisclosed income', 'metadescription' => 'Government may soon launch Elephant Bonds as part of new amnesty scheme to the income tax defaulters in the country for declaring undisclosed income', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/2ueepck68778w5o/Elephant_bonds_for_declaring_undisclosed_income.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 32 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 1789, 'title' => '1,40,134 Houses sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(Urban)', 'description' => '<p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has approved construction of around 1,40,134 more affordable houses for benefit of urban poor from 8 States<strong> </strong>under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). This approval was given in the 45<sup>th</sup> meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee<strong> </strong>held under Chairmanship of DurgaShanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. With this, cumulative number of houses sanctioned under PMAY(U) now is 85,11,574.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:0in; margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) </span></span></strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It aims provide houses to all poor in urban areas by 2022, when the Nation completes 75 years of its Independence. It is new version of “Prime Minister’s vision of Housing For All” by 2022.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Objective: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">To construct two crore houses across nation during its implementation period from 2015-2022.</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Coverage: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">It covers entire urban area consisting of 4041 statutory towns with initial focus on 500 Class I cities.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Intended beneficiaries: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Poor people (BPL) and People living under Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low income Group (LIG) categories in urban establishments of country. It also targets people living under middle income Group (MIG).</span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Central assistance will be provided to: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and other implementing agencies through States/UTs for (i) in-situ rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers using land as a resource through private participation. (ii) Credit Linked Subsidy. (iii) Affordable Housing in Partnership. (iv) Subsidy for Beneficiary-led individual house construction/enhancement.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Funding: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Quicksand","serif"">Credit linked subsidy component of this scheme is implemented as Central Sector Scheme while other three components will be implemented as Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).</span></span></span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'pradhan-mantri-awas-yojana-urban', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2626/022pkpn96lvpx1r6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2626/022pkpn96lvpx1r6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => '1,40,134 Houses sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)', 'metakeyword' => 'Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has approved construction of around 1,40,134 more affordable houses for benefit of urban poor from 8 States under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).', 'metadescription' => 'Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has approved construction of around 1,40,134 more affordable houses for benefit of urban poor from 8 States under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).', 'author' => 'Nikhil Paigude', 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/5xl2ue9qvrdz88q/1%2C40%2C134_Houses_sanctioned_under.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 33 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 2178, 'title' => 'Unicorn companies', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The NCR region that comprises the national capital and adjoining cities of Gurugram and Noida now counts more startups and unicorns than Bengaluru and Mumbai.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A recent survey has found out that Delhi-NCR region is home to largest number of startups and also Unicorn companies.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has also mentioned that, as the losses of unicorn companies have incresed, their valuation has also increased.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Unicorn companies</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A <strong>unicorn</strong> is a privately held <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startup_company" title="Startup company">startup company</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valuation_(finance)" title="Valuation (finance)">valued</a> at over $1 billion.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> <strong>Decacorn</strong> is a word used for those companies over $10 billion, while<strong> hectocorn</strong> is the appropriate term for such a company valued over $100 billion.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Challeneges faced by startups and Unicorn</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The lack of affordable co-working spaces, less number and quality of accelerators and incubators, shortage of technical talent, lack of seed and early-stage funding and low corporate participation.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'unicorn-companies', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c3ba/4ah79fqpg4ruj846g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/c3ba/4ah79fqpg4ruj846g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Unicorn companies', 'metakeyword' => 'The lack of affordable co-working spaces, less ', 'metadescription' => 'The lack of affordable co-working spaces, less number and quality of accelerators and incubators, shortage of technical talent, lack of seed and early-stage ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/hymcltgotv6cr12/Unicorn_companies.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 34 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 2224, 'title' => 'Narmada dam overflows for the first time', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Gujarat’s Narmada dam is set to overflow at its full 138.68-metre height for the first time, after it was completed with the installation of gates in 2017.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Owing to heavy rains in catchment areas of Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh and subsequent release of water from upstream dams, the inflow of water in Sardar Sarovar Dam has been increasing continuously and is on the verge of overflow.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With large amounts of water being released from the Omkareshwar and the Indira Sagar dams in Madhya Pradesh, the dam is receiving heavy inflow.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The rise in water level has prompted authorities to issue an alert for villages along the river's banks in Narmada, Bharuch and Vadodara districts.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Sardar Sarovar Dam</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a gravity dam on the Narmada river located near Navagam, Gujarat . Four Indian states, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra and Rajasthan, receive water and electricity supplied from the dam.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Part of a development scheme is funded by the World Bank through their International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to increase irrigation and produce hydroelectricity, using a loan of US$ 200 million<span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="color:#222222">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'narmada-dam-overflows-for-the-first-time', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f02d/sh55plhqqkz293s6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/f02d/sh55plhqqkz293s6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Narmada dam overflows for the first time', 'metakeyword' => 'Owing to heavy rains in catchment areas of Narmada', 'metadescription' => 'Owing to heavy rains in catchment areas of Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh and subsequent release of water from upstream dams, the inflow of water in Sardar Sarovar Dam has been', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/027l0xaxp3jw2na/Narmada_dam_overflows_for_the_first_time.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 35 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 2293, 'title' => 'Tamil Nadu’s Electric vehicle policy', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Tamil Nadu State Government introduced its first-ever electric vehicle (EV) policy. The Tamil Nadu Electric Vehicle Policy, 2019, provides for various concessions to manufacturers of e-vehicles.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tamil Nadu, known as the Detroit of South India, accounts for 6.4% of the electric vehicles sold in the country as of July 31, 2019. The policy aims to create a cluster of EV manufacturing units in the state.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Policy highlights</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To encourage start-ups in the EV sector, incubation services will be offered in the form of office space, common facilities and mentoring support.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An EV Venture Capital Fund will be created to offer financial support to EV start-ups to enable them to scale up their business.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">EV-related and charging infrastructure manufacturing units will be provided 100% exemption on electricity tax till December 2025.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Units that obtain land by sale or lease shall be entitled to 100% exemption on stamp duty for transactions till December 2022.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The government will provide a higher capital subsidy of 20% of the eligible investment over 20 years in cases where units are engaged in making EV batteries.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'tamil-nadus-electric-vehicle-policy', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9be9/0zn72845d2i39f66g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9be9/0zn72845d2i39f66g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Tamil Nadu’s Electric vehicle policy', 'metakeyword' => 'concessions to manufacturers of e-vehicles.', 'metadescription' => 'The Tamil Nadu State Government introduced its first-ever electric vehicle (EV) policy. The Tamil Nadu Electric Vehicle Policy, 2019, provides for various ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/0repdukozdzztfs/Tamil_Nadu%C6s_Electric_vehicle_policy.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 36 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 2537, 'title' => 'Gujarat’s new port policy', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Gujarat government has revised its existing port policy and removed restrictions on 33 private jetties, allowing them to handle third party cargo.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the new move the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), a nodal agency and port sector regulator in the State, is aiming at attracting approximately ?4,000 crore of new investments in port-related infrastructure in the State.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new policy allows the captive jetties to be full-fledged commercial ports across the 1,600-km-long coastline in the State.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the new policy, existing captive jetty holders will be permitted to handle third party cargo more than 50% of the total cargo on their captive jetty by paying landing and shipping fees.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The jetty holders will also be allowed to bring in additional investment for augmenting cargo handling facility and back up areas.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The move is expected to boost infrastructure and attract investment in the port and logistics sector.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Important commercial ports in India</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Deendayal port (Kandla) : Gujarat</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Paradip port: Odisha</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Jawaharlal Nehru Port: Maharashtra </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Mumbai Port: Maharashtra</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Vishakhapatnam Port: Andhra Pradesh</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Chennai Port: Tamil Nadu</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Kolkata Port: West Bengal</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">New Mangaluru Port: Karnataka</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Kochi Port: Kerala</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">New Mormugao Port: Goa</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'gujarat-new-port-policy', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ae55/ui047p3rlvtiui86g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/ae55/ui047p3rlvtiui86g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Gujarat’s new port policy', 'metakeyword' => 'Gujarat’s new port policy', 'metadescription' => 'The Gujarat government has revised its existing port policy and removed restrictions on 33 private jetties, allowing them to handle third party cargo.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/d9ei6wjn1dd1eye/Gujarat%C6s_new_port_policy.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 37 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 2624, 'title' => 'BSNL and MTNL to be merged', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In order to revive loss-making telecom PSUs BSNL and MTNL, the government has decided to merge the two ailing firms. The package also includes raising sovereign bonds, monetising assets and voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for employees.</span></span><br /> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As part of the revival package, MTNL will be merged with BSNL. MTNL will act as subsidary of BSNL and will remain unlisted.</span></span><br /> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">BSNL, which was once a Navatna company, has become a sick one, with accumulated losses of more than Rs 90,000 crore.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government also announced that 4G spectrum will be allocated to BSNL and MTNL to make them more competetive.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government is said to invest Rs 29,937 crore in this revival plan with the combined assets of the two companies worth Rs 38,000 crore to be monetized. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The ailing companies will raise a sovereign bond of Rs 15,000 crore for their revival.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Experts believe that the merger, along with the proposed voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) package, can help contain operational costs, but it may not be sufficient to revive the sagging fortunes.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is also believed that the government is trying to provide an honourable exit to the employees and will finally shut down a majority of its operations.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'bsnl-and-mtnl-to-be-merged', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/de3d/li33u4kj1425l586g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/de3d/li33u4kj1425l586g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'BSNL and MTNL to be merged', 'metakeyword' => 'BSNL and MTNL to be merged', 'metadescription' => 'In order to revive loss-making telecom PSUs BSNL and MTNL, the government has decided to merge the two ailing firms.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/uznvh32kep9xzeg/BSNL_and_MTNL_to_be_merged.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 38 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 2709, 'title' => 'Centre’s package to help housing sector', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has approved a plan to set up a 25,000 crore alternative investment fund (AIF) to revive stalled housing projects, as it seeks to provide relief to distressed homebuyers.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The housing sector is undergoing turmoil especially due to lending crisis that has made funds availability a major problem. The government funds will be used to complete stalled projects.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government will invest 10,000 crore in the fund and the remaining 15,000 crore will come in from State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India and other such institutions.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Incomplete housing projects worth less than 2 crore per unit in Mumbai, 1.5 crore in other metros, including the national capital region (NCR), and 1 crore in other parts of the country will benefit from the move.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The projects need to be registered in RERA (Real Estate Regulation and Development Act) and their net worth should be positive. Even if the project has been declared an NPA or dragged to NCLT but not asked for liquidation will also benefit.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The prospects of the industry have turned worse since the ban on high-value currency notes in November 2016 and the implementation of the goods and services tax in July the following year.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new measure expands the scope of including more projects under the new corpus by allowing projects undergoing insolvency proceedings to benefit from the distressed fund scheme.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The focus on real estate is part of the government’s broader plan to kick-start economic growth, which slowed to a six-year low of 5% in the quarter.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Alternate Investment Funds</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">AIF is a privately pooled investment vehicle that collects funds from sophisticated investors, whether Indian or foreign, for investing them in accordance with a defined policy.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'centre-package-to-help-housing-sector', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8ddd/idrlc9ktmlrho6p6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/8ddd/idrlc9ktmlrho6p6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Centre’s package to help housing sector', 'metakeyword' => 'Centre’s package to help housing sector', 'metadescription' => 'The government has approved a plan to set up a 25,000 crore alternative investment fund (AIF) to revive stalled housing projects, as it seeks to provide relief', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/8w7puax06rp9kn6/Centre%C6s_package_to_help_housing_sector.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 39 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 2849, 'title' => 'Government to reduce stake in BPCL, Conor and SCI', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Union Cabinet has taken decisions to significantly reduce its shareholding, and in some cases cede management control, in a number of public sector enterprises.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government has set a disinvestment target of ?1.05 lakh crore for the current financial year. So far, it has managed to collect only ?17,364.26 crore. The government had previously announced its decision to reduce its stake in some public sector companies while retaining management control through the shares in that company held by other PSUs.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government will sell its entire 53.29% stake in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government will also sell its entire 63.75% stake in Shipping Corporation of India and will cede management control to the strategic buyer. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Similarly, it will sell its 30.8% stake in the Container Corporation of India and hand over management control to the buyer.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government would also sell its entire 74.23% stake in THDCIL and its 100% stake in North Eastern Electric Power Corporation to NTPC Ltd. Both firms will also see cede management control to NTPC.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It is expected that the strategic buyer/acquirer may bring in new management/technology/investment for the growth of these companies and may use innovative methods for their development.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Divestment</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In finance and economics, divestment or divestiture is the reduction of some kind of asset for financial, ethical, or political objectives or sale of an existing business by a firm.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Disinvestment</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Disinvestment means the dilution of stake of the Government in a public enterprise. Strategic disinvestment is transferring the ownership and control of a public sector entity to some other entity.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Strategic disinvestment would imply the sale of a substantial portion of the Government shareholding of a central public sector enterprises (CPSE) of upto 50%, or such higher percentage as the competent authority may determine, along with transfer of management control.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'government-to-reduce-stake-in-bpcl-conor-and-sci', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d090/m99ftcoe53cogmg6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d090/m99ftcoe53cogmg6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Government to reduce stake in BPCL, Conor and SCI', 'metakeyword' => 'Government to reduce stake in BPCL, Conor and SCI', 'metadescription' => 'The Union Cabinet has taken decisions to significantly reduce its shareholding, and in some cases cede management control, in a number of public sector enterprises.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/hd139sd62qfwpd3/Government_to_reduce_stake_in_BPCL%2C_Conor_and_SCI.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 40 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 2936, 'title' => 'Declining air quality impacting real estate', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A study has been conducted to find if declining air quality, especially in larger cities such as Delhi and Mumbai has been having an effect on real estate sector.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Capital region’s air quality has been hovering at ‘severe pollution’ levels. Skymet identified it as the world’s most polluted city recently. It would be logical to assume that severe air pollution<strong> </strong>impacts a region’s overall property market.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A perennial ‘high alert’ throughout the year would have more serious implications on<strong> </strong>real estate<strong>, </strong>but it is a seasonal phenomenon. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Mumbai experiences floods during the monsoons, yet property prices there remain impervious to this annual event. Despite this, investments keep pouring in and its real estate market does not slow down on account of environmental factors.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Pollution is dangerous, but it is also a less obtrusive factor with no immediate destructive implications. Like seasonal flooding, pollution also has the unfortunate tendency of becoming an accepted feature for urban dwellers.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The slowdown in NCR’s residential sales did impact prices and it was largely a function of people’s money getting trapped in delayed or stuck projects, and the predictable loss of buyer trust. The demand for real estate in the region, across segments and sectors is strong and getting stronger.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Integrated townships on well-connected peripheries are steadily gaining relevance and demand. The demand for homes in the congested city centres, which offer the fastest access to workplace hubs, will remain undiminished.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Real estate prices in most Indian cities are not dictated by environmental factors as much as by affordability and their ability to provide employment and connectivity.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Transit infrastructure like Metros can reduce the use of fossil-fuel-driven vehicles, but in most Indian cities, support infrastructure is usually the last factor to be added.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Delhi-NCR’s pollution will not cause less polluted far suburbs and adjoining cities to catch the spill-over demand of people looking for cleaner, healthier residence. These far suburbs and cities will eventually become equally polluted, once they gather enough economic momentum.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'declining-air-quality-impacting-real-estate', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4af2/bvk5ij7bxljyhee6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4af2/bvk5ij7bxljyhee6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Declining air quality impacting real estate', 'metakeyword' => 'Declining air quality impacting real estate', 'metadescription' => 'A study has been conducted to find if declining air quality, especially in larger cities such as Delhi and Mumbai has been having an effect on real estate sector.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/d0uutu1ufjmtq07/Declining_air_quality_impacting_real_estate.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 41 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 3169, 'title' => 'UDAY scheme on the verge of faltering', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Four years after it was launched, UDAY , the government’s flagship reform to revive electricity distribution companies (discoms) is faltering.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Discom losses, which had progressively reduced in the first couple of years since the scheme’s rollout in November 2015, have rebounded in FY ’19 to nearly double the losses recorded the previous year. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The data points to discoms lagging behind in eliminating the gap between the average cost of supply and realisable revenue (ACS-ARR gap).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Discoms have also missed the FY ’19 UDAY target to bring down their aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses to 15 per cent.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The primary reason for failure, as is being recognised in policy circles, is the failure of discoms to collect the full cost that they pay for power.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The broad idea is that in the revised scheme, discoms can only remain in the public sector if they get to a situation where their deficit is under control. Or else, states will be asked to implement different models involving the private sector, like the franchise or PPP models.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>UDAY scheme</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ujjwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) is the financial turnaround and revival package for electricity distribution companies of India (DISCOMs) initiated by the Government of India, under <strong>Ministry of Power</strong>, with the intent to find a permanent solution to the financial mess that the power distribution is in. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It allows state governments, which own the DISCOMs, to take over 75 percent of their debt as of September 30, 2015, and pay back lenders by selling bonds.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">DISCOMs are expected to issue bonds for the remaining 25 percent of their debt. The scheme is optional for the states to join. Jharkhand became the first state to come under uday scheme. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The scheme that was aimed as a pointed intervention to the weakest link in electricity value chain, power distribution.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'uday-scheme-on-the-verge-of-faltering', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9f9b/xkcuzc1gii95yoo6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/9f9b/xkcuzc1gii95yoo6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'UDAY scheme on the verge of faltering', 'metakeyword' => 'UDAY scheme on the verge of faltering', 'metadescription' => 'Four years after it was launched, UDAY , the government’s flagship reform to revive electricity distribution companies (discoms) is faltering.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/oc5qqrejxballes/UDAY_scheme_on_the_verge_of_faltering.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 42 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 3236, 'title' => 'Concept for three capitals', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has hinted that Andhra Pradesh could have three decentralised capitals, on the lines of South Africa.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The new capital being developed at Amaravati could become the “Legislative Capital”, port city Visakhapatnam the “Executive Capital” and Kurnool the “Judicial Capital”.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Three capitals in South Africa</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Three cities serve as capitals of the country– Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This arrangement was a result of the Second Boer War (1899-1902) in which Britain annexed the two Afrikaner speaking states, the Orange Free State and the South African Republic (also called Transvaal Republic). </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Cape of Good Hope then remained in the British Empire, becoming self-governing in 1872, and uniting with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa in 1910.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Other multiple capitals </strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In Sri Lanka, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the official capital and seat of national legislature, while Colombo is the de facto seat of national executive and judicial bodies. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Malaysia has its official and royal capital and seat of national legislature at Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya is the administrative centre and seat of national judiciary.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Among Indian states, Maharashtra has two capitals– Mumbai and Nagpur (which holds the winter session of the state assembly). </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Himachal Pradesh has capitals at Shimla and Dharamshala (winter). </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The former state of Jammu & Kashmir had Srinagar and Jammu (winter) as capitals.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Benefits of three capitals</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Economic distribution</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If the capital has been divided then investors will be compelled to invest in the new cities which will help in distribution of wealth across different regions of the country or the state.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Restrict urban migration</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If well developed cities are available across different regions then there will not be any need for rural population to flock to one part of the country/state for livelihood.</span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Climatic benefits</strong></span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Certain capital cities face extreme climatic conditions which can be avoided if alternate arrangement in form of second capital is available.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ex: Winter and summer capitals in Jammu and Kashmir.</span></span></p> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'concept-for-three-capitals', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e459/4albgfysu8ff8ky6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e459/4albgfysu8ff8ky6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Concept for three capitals', 'metakeyword' => 'Concept for three capitals', 'metadescription' => 'Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has hinted that Andhra Pradesh could have three decentralised capitals, on the lines of South Africa.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/feza4z4xrg98gyy/Concept_for_three_capitals.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 43 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 3448, 'title' => 'The three capital debate', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed The Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Equal Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, paving the way for three capitals for the state.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Amaravati will now be only the legislative capital, while Visakhapatnam will be the executive capital and Kurnool the judicial capital.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government says it is against building one mega capital while neglecting other parts of the state. The government has given several reasons for its “decentralised development” project.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the government, decentralisation was the central theme in recommendations of all major committees that were set up to suggest a suitable location for the capital of Andhra Pradesh.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In December 2010, the Justice B N Srikrishna Committee, set up to look into the demand for a Telangana state, had said Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra were economically the most backward, and the concentration of development efforts in Hyderabad was the key reason for demand of separate states.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A Committee constituted by the government under former IAS officer G N Rao, in its December 2019 report, recommended three capitals for balanced growth, and four regional commissionerates along the lines of Karnataka.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A high-power Committee appointed by the government to study the recommendations of the G N Rao Committee suggested that the state should be demarcated into zones with separate zonal planning and development boards in order to ensure inclusive development, and that infrastructure projects focussed Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra should be prioritised.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Problems involved</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Executive capital Visakhapatnam is 700 km from judicial capital Kurnool, and 400 km from legislative capital Amaravati. The Amaravati-Kurnool distance is 370 km. The time and costs of travel will be significant.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The AP Police are headquartered in Mangalagiri, 14 km from Vijayawada, and senior IPS officers who may be required to visit the Secretariat will have to travel 400 km to Visakhapatnam. Likewise, government officers who may have to appear in the High Court will have to travel 700 km to Kurnool, which does not have an airport.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">All officers and Ministerial staff who may have to be at hand to brief Ministers when the Assembly is in session, will probably have to stay put in Amaravati, leaving behind their other responsibilities in Visakhapatnam.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is widespread feeling in Andhra Pradesh that the three-capitals plan is essentially intended to deny Naidu credit for building a signature capital after his own style.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'the-three-capital-debate', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4a34/el25g0mw13nziu56g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4a34/el25g0mw13nziu56g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'The three capital debate', 'metakeyword' => 'The three capital debate', 'metadescription' => 'The Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed The Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Equal Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, paving the way for three capitals', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/mdhgfs7behsgka5/The_three_capital_debate.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 44 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 3828, 'title' => 'Varanasi port lags in cargo handling', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Varanasi multimodal terminal located on the Ganga has handled only 282 metric tonnes of cargo, as per the government’s response to an RTI query filed by an NGO. Government estimates had pegged the volume of traffic at the Varanasi terminal at 3.55 million metric tonnes by 2020.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The terminal is part of the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) for navigation of cargo which stretches from Haldia in West Bengal to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh under the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Waterway-1</strong>. It is a <strong>1,620-km</strong> stretch.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0in"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The commodity of cargo handled on these terminals are fertilizers, edible oil, food products, stone chips, FMCG products, TMT bar and other steel structures.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Even though the terminals are being completed in record time, Inland Waterways Authority of India is not able to utilise the Varanasi terminal built on huge costs, and land acquisition is ongoing for freight village and phase-II of the same.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Jal Vikas Marg Project</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Project entails development of fairway with 3 meters depth between <strong>Varanasi</strong> and <strong>Haldia</strong> (Phase-I) covering a distance of 1380 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 5369 crore with target for completion in six years. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The project entails construction of three multi-modal terminals at <strong>Varanasi</strong>, <strong>Sahibganj</strong> and <strong>Haldia</strong> at a cost of Rs 5,369.18 crore as a joint project between the Union government (Ministry of State for Shipping) and the <strong>World Bank</strong>.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'varanasi-port-lags-in-cargo-handling', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e2a6/b4gkkk1cf3rxasl6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e2a6/b4gkkk1cf3rxasl6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Varanasi port lags in cargo handling', 'metakeyword' => 'Varanasi port lags in cargo handling', 'metadescription' => 'The Varanasi multimodal terminal located on the Ganga has handled only 282 metric tonnes of cargo, as per the government’s response to an RTI query filed by an NGO. Government', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/opcv5r60lgz6hac/Varanasi_port_lags_in_cargo_handling.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 45 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 4015, 'title' => 'Cabinet plan for electronics manufacturing', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In a bid to boost large-scale electronics manufacturing in India, the Union Cabinet approved three schemes, including a production-linked incentive scheme, with a total outlay of almost ?48,000 crore.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The electronics hardware manufacturing industry in India is projected to produce electronic goods worth $104 billion by 2020 from US$32.462 billion in 2013–14.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The three schemes together will enable large-scale electronics manufacturing, a domestic supply chain ecosystem of components and a state-of-the-art infrastructure and common facilities for large anchor units and their supply chain partners.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The schemes are expected to attract new investments worth at least ?50,000 crore in the sector, while generating more than five lakh direct and 15 lakh indirect jobs.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The production-linked incentive scheme aims to attract large investments in mobile phone manufacturing and specified electronic components, including assembly, testing, marking and packaging (ATMP) units.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The scheme will offer an incentive of 4-6% on incremental sales of goods manufactured in India and is expected to create a total of 8 lakh jobs.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Domestic value addition for mobile phones is expected to rise to 35-40% by 2025 from the current 20-25% due to the impetus provided by the scheme.</span></span></p> </li> <li><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The scheme, Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC) 2.0, aims at creating quality infrastructure with a minimum area of 200 acres along with industry-specific facilities such as common facility centres, ready-built factory sheds/ plug-and-play facilities.</span></span></li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'cabinet-plan-for-electronics-manufacturing', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2187/kdu5s9941kzi4ry6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2187/kdu5s9941kzi4ry6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Cabinet plan for electronics manufacturing', 'metakeyword' => 'Cabinet plan for electronics manufacturing', 'metadescription' => 'In a bid to boost large-scale electronics manufacturing in India, the Union Cabinet approved three schemes, including a production-linked incentive scheme', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/itx5996vyvl7g19/2.Cabinet_plan_for_electronics_manufacturing.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 46 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 4453, 'title' => 'Why MSMEs hit by the lockdown?', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Covid-19 pandemic has left its impact on all sectors of the economy but nowhere is the hurt as much as the Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) of India. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">It has also been reported that just like the first relief package, called the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, which was announced by the government on March 26, the second package, too, would primarily focus on the MSME sector.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Formally, MSMEs are defined in terms of investment in plant and machinery. But this criterion for the definition was long criticised because credible and precise details of investments were not easily available by authorities.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">That is why in February 2018, the Union Cabinet decided to change the criterion to “annual turnover”, which was more in line with the imposition of GST. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the proposed definition, a micro enterprise will be one with an annual turnover less than Rs 5 crore; a small enterprise with turnover between Rs 5 crore and Rs 75 crore; and a medium enterprise with turnover less than Rs 250 crore.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to the latest available (2018-19) Annual Report of Department of MSMEs, there are 6.34 crore MSMEs in the country. Around 51 per cent of these are situated in rural India. Together, they employ a little over 11 crore people but 55 per cent of the employment happens in the urban MSMEs.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These numbers suggest that, on average, less than two people are employed per MSME. At one level that gives a picture of how small these really are. But a breakup of all MSMEs into micro, small and medium categories is even more revealing.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The distribution of enterprise by caste further completes the picture. About 66 per cent of all MSMEs are owned by people belonging to the Scheduled Castes (12.5%), the Scheduled Tribes (4.1%) and Other Backward Classes (49.7%). The gender ratio among employees is largely consistent across the board at roughly 80% male and 20% female.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In terms of geographical distribution, seven Indian states alone account for 50 per cent of all MSMEs. These are Uttar Pradesh (14%), West Bengal (14%), Tamil Nadu (8%), Maharashtra (8%), Karnataka (6%), Bihar (5%) and Andhra Pradesh (5%).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To begin with, most of them are not registered anywhere. A big reason for this is that they are just too small. Even GST has its threshold and most micro enterprises do not qualify.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">According to a 2018 report by the International Finance Corporation (part of the World Bank), the formal banking system supplies less than one-third (or about Rs 11 lakh crore) of the credit MSME credit need that it can potentially fund.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most of the MSME funding comes from informal sources and this fact is crucial because it explains why the Reserve Bank of India’s efforts to push more liquidity towards the MSMEs has had a limited impact.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The total lockdown has raised a question mark on the existence of many primarily because these are not firms that have too much cash to wait out the crisis. A big hurdle to restarting now is the lack of labour availability.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government can provide tax relief (GST and corporate tax), give swifter refunds, and provide liquidity to rural India (say, through PM-Kisan) to boost demand for MSME products.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">A credit guarantee by the government helps as it assures the bank that its loan will be repaid by the government in case the MSME falters.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'why-msmes-hit-by-the-lockdown', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e767/cbusijhtnbdgygd6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e767/cbusijhtnbdgygd6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Why MSMEs hit by the lockdown', 'metakeyword' => 'Why MSMEs hit by the lockdown', 'metadescription' => 'The Covid-19 pandemic has left its impact on all sectors of the economy but nowhere is the hurt as much as the Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) of India.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/3yczvv54xtkcl1e/1.Why_MSMEs_hit_by_the_lockdown.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 47 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 4585, 'title' => 'Government’s investment into power sector', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Part of the package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 13 was a Rs 90,000-crore liquidity injection into power distribution companies (or discoms). </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The move is aimed at helping the discoms clear their dues with gencos (or electricity generation companies), who in turn can clear their outstanding dues with suppliers, such as coal miners, easing some of the working capital woes of Coal India Ltd and contract miners.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The primary trigger is the poor financial condition and revenue collection abilities of most state discoms. This is despite several interventions, including a scheme called UDAY that was launched in 2015 to fix the problems of a sector where the upstream side (electricity generation) was drawing investments even as the downstream (distribution) side was leaking like a sieve.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Electricity is generated at thermal, hydro or renewable energy power plants, which are operated by either state-owned companies such as NTPC Ltd, NHPC Ltd, or private companies (also called Independent power producers or IPPs) such as Tata Power, Adani Power, or renewable companies such as ReNew Power or Greenko.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The generated electricity then moves through a complex transmission grid system comprising electricity substations, transformers, and power lines that connect electricity producers and the end-consumers. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This last mile link is where discoms come in, operated largely by state governments. However, in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata, private entities own the entire distribution business or parts of it.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Discoms essentially purchase power from generation companies through power purchase agreements (PPAs), and then supply it to their consumers (in their area of distribution). The key issue with the power sector currently is the continuing problem of the poor financial situation of state discoms.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This has been affecting their ability to buy power for supply, and the ability to invest in improving the distribution infrastructure. Consequently, this impacts the quality of electricity that consumers receive.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Hence the intervention announced last week seeks to ensure time-bound funding assistance to discoms through PFC and REC, so that they can clear their bills.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'governments-investment-into-power-sector', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b59a/zocsnigif6cwydo6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/b59a/zocsnigif6cwydo6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Government’s investment into power sector', 'metakeyword' => 'Government’s investment into power sector', 'metadescription' => 'Part of the package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 13 was a Rs 90,000-crore liquidity injection into power distribution companies', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/l0jxa6lfr8ada4t/3.Government%25E2%2580%2599s_investment_into_power_sector.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 48 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 4623, 'title' => 'Tripura’s first international waterway', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tripura got its first ever international waterway as five new protocol routes were announced between India and its eastern neighbour Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sonamura-Daudkandi route on Tripura’s River Gomti and Rajshahi-Dhulian-Rajshahi routes were added to the list of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes signed between India and Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Protocol on Transit and Trade (PTT) through inland waterways was first signed between People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Republic of India in 1972. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Protocol was last renewed in 2015 for five years with a provision for automatic renewal and further five years of long term assurance to stakeholders. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Protocol parameters were revised in the second addendum signed with inclusion of new routes and declaration of a host of new Ports of Call to facilitate trade between both the countries.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the Sonamura-Daudkhandi route is expected to improve connectivity between Tripura, Bangladesh and nearby Indian states, operationalising the Rajshahi-Dhulian route is expected to augment infrastructure in Bangladesh and reduce export cost from India.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The protocol revision also approved five new ports of call between the two nations. These are Dhulian, Maia, Kolaghat, Sonamura and Jogigopha on the Indian side and Rajshahi, Sultanganj, Chilmari, Daudkandi and Bahadurabad on Bangladesh side while two more extended Ports of Call were also included at Tribeli (West Bengal), Badarpur (Assam) on Indian side and Ghorasal, Muktarpur on Bangladesh side.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'tripuras-first-international-waterway', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d777/1b9sh8020nthdxv6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/d777/1b9sh8020nthdxv6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Tripura’s first international waterway', 'metakeyword' => 'Tripura’s first international waterway', 'metadescription' => 'Tripura got its first ever international waterway as five new protocol routes were announced between India and its eastern neighbour Bangladesh.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/redaehqedhb4mkg/1.Tripura%25E2%2580%2599s_first_international_waterway.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 49 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 4886, 'title' => 'India trying to boost oil refining capacity', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">India is set to double its refining capacity for crude oil to 450-500 million tonnes per annum by 2030, according to Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">India’s current refining capacity of 249.9 million tonnes per annum exceeds domestic consumption of petroleum products which was 213.7 million tonnes in the previous fiscal. However, India’s consumption of petroleum products is likely to rise to 335 million tonnes per annum by 2030 and to 472 million tonnes by 2040.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The expansion in refining capacity will come from both brownfield and greenfield projects. The new refinery project in Ratnagiri is one of the key projects in the planned expansion and has received investment from Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s national oil companies.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The remaining 50 per cent is owned by Indian PSUs, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Other key projects include a joint venture between HPCL and the Rajasthan government for a new refinery in Barmer Rajasthan with a refining capacity of 9 million tonnes per annum as well as the major expansion projects in existing refineries in Panipat, Paradip and Koyali.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Experts say many of the projects by the state run oil refiners have been severely delayed in the past because of issues in acquiring the required land as well as in obtaining environmental clearances. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">IOCL’s Paradip refinery was initially expected to begin operations in 2012 but was only able to start operations in 2015 because it faced land acquisition and environmental clearance issues.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'india-trying-to-boost-oil-refining-capacity', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/192a/599nywuhvpmub0i6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/192a/599nywuhvpmub0i6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'India trying to boost oil refining capacity', 'metakeyword' => 'India trying to boost oil refining capacity', 'metadescription' => 'India is set to double its refining capacity for crude oil to 450-500 million tonnes per annum by 2030, according to Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/774khf7nxadyxf9/4.India_trying.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 50 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 4953, 'title' => 'India’s domestic crude oil production falls', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">India’s crude oil production fell 7.1% in May 2020 compared to May 2019 on the back of low demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Most of India’s crude oil production comes from aging wells that have become less productive over time. A lack of new oil discoveries in India coupled with a long lead time to begin production from discovered wells has led to a steady decline in India’s crude oil production making India increasingly dependent on imports. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The output of these aging wells is declining faster than new wells can come up. Domestic exploration companies are attempting to extend the life of currently operational wells.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There are few private players in the upstream oil sector as there has been a lack of interest in exploration and production in India from major private players, particularly those based abroad. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This is because of long delays in the operationalization of production even after an oil block is allotted due to delays in approvals.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Some of the key approvals which are required to begin production include, environmental clearances and approval by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons after the allottee completes a seismic survey and creates a field development plan.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Existing public and private sector players have asked for reduced levies of oil production including oil cess, royalties, and profit petroleum especially when crude oil prices are below $45/barrel.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government introduced the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) in 2019 to allow companies to carve out blocks that they are interested in and with lower royalties and no oil cess. However, existing players are calling for a relaxation of royalties and oil cess on block allotted under previous policies.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Open Acreage Licensing Programme</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) gives an option to a company looking for exploring hydrocarbons to select the exploration blocks on its own, without waiting for the formal bid round from the Government.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The Government will examine the Expression of Interest and justification. If it is suitable for award, Govt. will call for competitive bids after obtaining necessary environmental and other clearances. </span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'indias-domestic-crude-oil-production-falls', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/72f2/8bmtso1bl2asedp6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/72f2/8bmtso1bl2asedp6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'India’s domestic crude oil production falls', 'metakeyword' => 'India’s domestic crude oil production falls', 'metadescription' => 'India’s crude oil production fell 7.1% in May 2020 compared to May 2019 on the back of low demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic.', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/5uzf66dkaxmn3kt/1.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 51 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 4853, 'title' => 'India’s first gas exchange', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">India’s first gas exchange, the Indian Gas Exchange (<strong>IGX</strong>), has been launched. The exchange is expected to facilitate transparent price discovery in natural gas, and facilitate the growth of the share of natural gas in India’s energy basket.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The IGX is a digital trading platform that will allow buyers and sellers of natural gas to trade both in the spot market and in the forward market for imported natural gas across three hubs —Dahej and Hazira in Gujarat, and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) will be regassified and sold to buyers through the exchange, removing the requirement for buyers and sellers to find each other.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The exchange also allows much shorter contracts – for delivery on the next day, and up to a month – while ordinarily contracts for natural gas supply are as long as six months to a year. This will allow buyers and sellers greater flexibility.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The price of domestically produced natural gas is decided by the government. It will not be sold on the gas exchange. However, a new domestic gas policy is on the cards.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Domestic production of gas has been falling over the past two fiscals as current sources of natural gas have become less productive. Domestically produced natural gas currently accounts for less than half the country’s natural gas consumption.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">LNG imports are set to become a larger proportion of domestic gas consumption as India moves to increase the proportion of natural gas in the energy basket from 6.2% in 2018 to 15% by 2030.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Currently, the pipeline infrastructure necessary for the transportation of natural gas is controlled by the companies that own the network.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">An independent system operator for natural gas pipelines would help ensure transparent allocation of pipeline usage, and build confidence in the minds of buyers and sellers about neutrality in the allocation of pipeline capacity.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Experts have also called for natural gas to be included in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime to avoid buyers having to deal with different levies such as VAT across states, when purchasing natural gas from the exchange.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'indias-first-gas-exchange', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/acc2/2n2ws8xupitom1g6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/acc2/2n2ws8xupitom1g6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'India’s first gas exchange', 'metakeyword' => 'India’s first gas exchange', 'metadescription' => 'India’s first gas exchange, the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX), has been launched. The exchange is expected to facilitate transparent price discovery in natural gas,', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/mrk3kmb31t83zc5/1.India%25E2%2580%2599s_first_gas_exchange.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 52 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 5111, 'title' => 'Unified Gas Price system', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government is aiming to cut down the cost of transportation of natural gas by setting a fixed tariff for the transportation of natural gas for longer distances to boost gas consumption.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> The proposal is part of a larger effort by it to boost the share of natural gas in India’s energy basket from around 6 percent currently to 25 percent by 2030.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has also published a discussion paper on moving from a system where buyers of gas are charged for every pipeline they use in the system to a single charge across a pipeline network.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tariffs for transportation of gas are set by the PNGRB separately for each pipeline based on the assumptions of volume of gas transported on the pipeline and its operating life aimed at providing the operator a pre-tax return of 18%. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tariffs for pipeline usage are divided into zones of 300km, with the tariff increasing for zones further away from the point where gas is injected. Further, if a buyer needs multiple pipelines even from the same operator, that transport tariff would increase. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These tariffs increase the cost for buyers of gas further away from the point of injection of natural gas. All of India’s imported natural gas arrives at terminals on the west coast leading to costs for buyers increasing, the further east they are located.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government is proposing a unified price system with one price for those transporting gas nearby within 300 km and one price for those transporting gas beyond 300km. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The move would fix tariff prices within an integrated pipeline network in the country preventing buyers from having to pay charges for the use of multiple pipelines.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cost of gas transportation for oil marketing companies such as Indian Oil corporation and fertiliser plants that are closer to the points of gas injection may go up if the government lowers rates for transportation of gas to areas farther away from points of supply.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The government is also expecting that as India boosts gas imports, it will be able to negotiate better prices on gas imports.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'unified-gas-price-system', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e913/77gvuoca5word6q6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e913/77gvuoca5word6q6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Unified Gas Price system', 'metakeyword' => 'Unified Gas Price system', 'metadescription' => 'The government is aiming to cut down the cost of transportation of natural gas by setting a fixed tariff for the transportation of natural gas for longer distances', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/l3rt2a4bhluzf44/1.Unified_Gas_Price_system.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 53 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 5373, 'title' => 'Tabletop runways', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Air India Express-operated aircraft from Dubai overshot Kozhikode airport’s tabletop runway and fell 35 feet down a slope, resulting in the aircraft splitting into two. Kozhikode’s runway is surrounded by deep gorges on both sides.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Air India Express flight with 190 people on board is the first major accident since the 2010 crash at Mangaluru airport.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tabletop airport is an airport located and built on top of a plateau or hilly surface, with one or both ends of the runway overlooking a drop. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The airports in the country which would count as “tabletops”, are namely Lengpui (Mizoram), Shimla and Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), Pakyong (Sikkim), Mangaluru (Karnataka), Kozhikode and Kannur (both Kerala).</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tabletop runways are generally constructed by chopping off the top of a hill, and are often thought of as tricky for landings because of the lack of any margin for overshooting the runway. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Landing aircraft on tabletop runways, which are located on top of a hill or a plateau with deep gorges running down their sides, is a stiff ask in poor weather conditions.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Aqua planning (drainage of water) and rubber deposits at tabletop airports are huge safety threats as these can lead to poor braking and aircraft overshooting the runway.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Airports have a safety feature called Runway End Safety Area (RESA) of 240 metres, as mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization, which limit the consequences when aeroplanes overrun the end of a runway. Both are Instrument Landing System (ILS) CAT 1-enabled.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'tabletop-runways', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4e63/r4j3t1fxvrdufp26g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/4e63/r4j3t1fxvrdufp26g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Tabletop runways', 'metakeyword' => 'Tabletop runways', 'metadescription' => 'The Air India Express-operated aircraft from Dubai overshot Kozhikode airport’s tabletop runway and fell 35 feet down a slope, resulting in the aircraft splitting', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/file/jl07gvxh639qs6w/3.Tabletop+runways.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 54 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 5481, 'title' => 'Gujarat approves tall buildings', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has approved construction of buildings of 70 floors or more in five major cities of the state.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The state government has decided to amend the Common GDCR (general development control regulations) to allow construction of high-rise structures of 70 or more floors in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Gandhinagar.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The government does not intend to change the entire skyline in these cities. The main intent is to attract some iconic buildings in these cities.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Another reason cited by officials is that urban land is getting scarce and that horizontal development of cities need more land, which is getting expensive by the day.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The limit was 45 m during 2001 (Kutch earthquake) and then raised to 70 m (22-23 floors) in 2017. The new policy allows builders to go as high they wish, provided a road at least 30 m wide adjoins the plot and they have an airport no-objection certificate.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Skyscrapers can come up in zones that have an FSI (Floor Space Index) more than 1.2. The changes permit a total FSI up to 5.4.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the government has said tall buildings will help bring down the cost of housing, builders say construction will be costlier. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The primary costs in constructing a tall building are foundation and labour. The higher the floors, the more the cost.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In most cities, where land rates are very high, skyscrapers are in demand. Other factors like scenic views and pollution play a role.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar are not far from the Cambay fault, and buildings in seismically active Kutch are not allowed more than one floor. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The CGDCR mandates that proposed tall buildings will have to follow the National Building Code which lays down design guidelines for construction in seismically active zones.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Bureau of Indian Standards has special clauses for tall structures, including details like wind load and earthquake resistance. Foundation and structural requirements too are crucial. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Tall structures have to consider the horizontal load, how it will behave in an earthquake and the wind load, and the static load, which is the building’s own weight and occupancy load.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'gujarat-approves-tall-buildings', 'image' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2bc5/ymhjc9dkw6ksyyb6g.jpg', 'fbimage' => 'https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2bc5/ymhjc9dkw6ksyyb6g.jpg', 'metatitle' => 'Gujarat approves tall buildings', 'metakeyword' => 'Gujarat approves tall buildings', 'metadescription' => 'The state government has decided to amend the Common GDCR (general development control regulations) to allow construction of high-rise structures of 70', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => 'http://www.mediafire.com/file/b5ulkdt2ugknl0h/3.Gujarat+approves+tall+buildings.pdf/file', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 55 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 5493, 'title' => 'Thiruvananthapuram Airport takeover', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre has decided to lease out the operation, management and development of the airport to Adani Enterprises for a period of 50 years, which has been opposed by State government.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre decided to lease out six airports in the country — Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangaluru and Guwahati — through public-private partnership (PPP) to Adani Enterprises after the company emerged the highest bidder in a global competitive bidding process.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru that have been leased out on a PPP basis have witnessed creation of world-class infrastructure in addition to helping Airports Authority of India (AAI) in enhancing its revenues.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Kerala’s reservations date back to 2003, when it requested the Centre to include the state government whenever a decision to induct the private sector for managing the Thiruvananthapuram airport was taken. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Centre has said that after various discussions and recommendations of an Empowered Group of Secretaries it was decided that the State would participate in the bidding process for the airport through a special purpose vehicle (SPV). </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Kerala SPV was also given the right of first refusal (RoFR), or a provision to match the winning bid, if its quote fell within 10 per cent range of the top bidder. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">However, according to the Centre, KSIDC’s bid was 19.64 per cent lower than Adani Enterprises’ making it ineligible to exercise the RoFR provision.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While both the High Court and the apex court did not grant a stay on the privatisation process. The Supreme Court remitted the matter back to the HC, which is yet to give its final decision.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The centre has said that if the petitioners succeed and outcome of litigation leads to annulment or cancellation of bidding process, then Adani will handover the possession of airport back to AAI, which will be entitled to refund of the amount paid and additional investments made in the assets.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'thiruvananthapuram-airport-takeover', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'Thiruvananthapuram Airport takeover', 'metakeyword' => 'Thiruvananthapuram Airport takeover', 'metadescription' => 'The Centre has decided to lease out the operation, management and development of the airport to Adani Enterprises for a period of 50 years, which has been', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 56 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 5619, 'title' => 'Tripura- Bangladesh waterways', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The inland waterways protocol route between Tripura and Bangladesh was made operational when Tripura received a barge with a consignment of cement from Munshiganj in the neighbouring country.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The route connecting Sonamura, about 60 km from Agartala in the Indian side, and Daudkandi of Chittagong in Bangladesh was included in the list of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes agreed up on May 20 this year.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Currently, the state exports a handful of goods and materials worth Rs 30 crore to Bangladesh annually, but imports good worth Rs 645 crore. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This huge trade deficit is due to abnormally high import duty apparatus in Bangladesh and the absence of many commodities abundant in the state in the list of goods allowed for export as well as port restrictions.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The forthcoming Agartala-Akhaura rail project, Indo-Bangla bridge over River Feni, and a second Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Sabroom are also aimed at taking up the quantum of trade between the two sides.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Since the waterway project’s trade volume would be low, there isn’t massive local employment to count upon either. Most importantly, the river route would not stay operational throughout the year.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) and local authorities held a series of visits and studied the feasibility of launching inland waterways connectivity on River <strong>Gomati</strong>. The river connects with Meghna in Bangladesh.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The plan includes dredging the riverbed to make way for small ship and boats from Sonamura till Ashuganj river port in Bangladesh, 60 km away. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A terminal building was also planned to be built for customs check of imported goods. As the permanent jetty for loading and unloading of goods was taking too much time, Tripura built a temporary floating jetty.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>River Gomti</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">River Gomati is the <strong>largest</strong> and <strong>longest</strong> river of Tripura with cumulative length of 180 km. It is also considered a sacred river and devotees converge along its banks at Tirthmukh every Makar Sankranti.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Gomati is also a regulated river. Due to the high altitude of in its upper catchment and Dumbur dam built in 1974 as part of the Gumti hydro-electric power project, the river erodes a lot of sand and rocky particles in its upper segment. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The flow slows down a lot after it reaches the plains and at Maharani barrage in Gomati district. Gomati riverbed remains navigable for less than four months a year, that too only during monsoon days. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">For rest of the year, scanty rainfall in the hills results in low volume while accumulating sediments raise the average riverbed, rendering Gomati even shallower.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'tripura-bangladesh-waterways', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'Tripura- Bangladesh waterways', 'metakeyword' => 'Tripura- Bangladesh waterways', 'metadescription' => 'The inland waterways protocol route between Tripura and Bangladesh was made operational when Tripura received a barge with a consignment of cement', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 57 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 5630, 'title' => 'Air Suvidha portal', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Air Suvidha portal is offering a contactless service to international fliers who have a connecting flight from Delhi to other states.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">While the protocol for institutional quarantine of international passengers varies from state to state, all international passengers arriving in India can use the Air Suvidha portal to fill self-declaration and exemption forms. Those who are exempted can skip institutional quarantine and head home.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Air Suvidha is touted as a contactless solution for international passengers travelling to India. If approved, it will exempt the passenger from institutional quarantine. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">All international passengers need to fill in the self-declaration forms on the portal. Previously, it would be filled at the airport prior to departure. This step was taken to do away with the unnecessary physical contact.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Only certain passengers can apply for exemption. They include people who have a Covid-19 negative RT PCR test report, pregnant women, those who have suffered a death in the family, those suffering from a serious illness and parents accompanied by children below the age of 10.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">These passengers can apply for exemption by providing documents such as a copy of passport along with a medical certificate (in case of serious illness or pregnancy) or RT PCR test results.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The form can be filled 72 hours before departure. In case the test results take longer, the passenger can attach a proof of the test and then show the negative test results upon arrival.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">After applying on the portal, self reporting forms are forwarded to the Airport Health Organisation (APHO). The passenger can expect a document in their email.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">In case, the application is rejected, the passenger has to undergo institutional quarantine as per state norms. Transfer passengers who have been exempted can continue their journey.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'air-suvidha-portal', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'Air Suvidha portal', 'metakeyword' => 'Air Suvidha portal', 'metadescription' => 'While the protocol for institutional quarantine of international passengers varies from state to state, all international passengers arriving in India can use the Air', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 58 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 5640, 'title' => 'Green- blue policy', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is holding public consultations for the preparation of the Master Plan for Delhi 2041, a vision document for the city’s development over the next two decades.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There are several features in the draft policy but the focus on water bodies and the land around it, which is referred to as the “Green-Blue policy”, promises to give the city a new shape.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">‘Blue’ infrastructure refers to water bodies like rivers, canals, ponds, wetlands, floodplains, and water treatment facilities; while ‘Green’ stands for trees, lawns, hedgerows, parks, fields, and forests.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The concept refers to urban planning where water bodies and land are interdependent, and grow with the help of each other while offering environmental and social benefits.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the first stage, the DDA plans to deal with the multiplicity of agencies, which because of the special nature of the state, has plagued it for several years.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">DDA wants first map out the issues of jurisdiction, work being done by different agencies on drains, and the areas around them. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Thereafter, a comprehensive policy will be drawn up, which would then act as the common direction for all agencies.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Delhi has around 50 big drains (blue areas) managed by different agencies, and due to their poor condition and encroachment, the land around (green areas) has also been affected.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">DDA, along with other agencies, will integrate them and remove all sources of pollution by checking the outfall of untreated wastewater as well as removal of existing pollutants. </span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">A mix of mechanised and natural systems may be adopted, and dumping of solid wastes in any of these sites will be strictly prohibited by local bodies, through the imposition of penalties.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">There is also a plan to develop spaces for yoga, active sports, open air exhibitions, museums and information centres, open air theatres, cycling and walking facilities, arboretums, greenhouses, community vegetable gardens, facilities for boating, restaurant etc.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Land around these drains, carrying stormwater, will be declared as special buffer projects. A network of connected green spaces would be developed in the form of green mobility circuits of pedestrian and cycling paths.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> ', 'created_date' => object(Cake\I18n\FrozenDate) {}, 'posturl' => 'green-blue-policy', 'image' => '', 'fbimage' => '', 'metatitle' => 'Green- blue policy', 'metakeyword' => 'Green- blue policy', 'metadescription' => 'The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is holding public consultations for the preparation of the Master Plan for Delhi 2041, a vision document for the city’s ', 'author' => null, 'downlaodpdf' => '', '[new]' => false, '[accessible]' => [ [maximum depth reached] ], '[dirty]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[original]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[virtual]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[errors]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[invalid]' => [[maximum depth reached]], '[repository]' => 'currentaffairs' }, (int) 59 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) { 'tag' => 'Infrastructure', 'keyword' => 'infrastructure', 'id' => (int) 5421, 'title' => 'Delhi’s electric vehicle policy', 'description' => '<p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Issue</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Delhi Electric Vehicles Policy was notified on August 7, over eight months after the state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister approved it. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Background</strong></span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Delhi is among the world’s most polluted cities, with its air quality turning particularly hazardous with the onset of winter.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"> </p> <p style="margin-right:0cm"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong>Details</strong></span></span></p> <ul> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The gaseous pollutants from vehicular emissions are joined by soot-laden smoke from the fields of Punjab and Haryana where farmers set alight farm residue after harvesting. The bursting of firecrackers during Diwali also aggravates the problem.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The policy has been notified for a period of three years, following which it can be renewed in the present form or after suitable amendments.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The policy aims to make Delhi the Electric Vehicle (EV) capital of India. It has set an ambitious target of ensuring that by 2024, EVs account for 25% of all new vehicle registrations in the national capital.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Vehicles are the second largest and the most consistent source of pollution, contributing to about 25% of pollutants PM10 and PM2.5.</span></span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The Supreme Court-monitored Environment