Urjit Patel: Misc recommendations
- Create standing deposit facility (similar to MSF.)
- Reduce SLR rate as per basel III framework. (Nachiket Committee said remove SLR completely).
- Government’s cash and Debt management function should be under a separate Government body. (and not with RBI)
- Government should not give directives to public sector banks on interest rates.
- Exchange rates related. (QE, Tapering.)
- Fixed income financial products (e.g. various maturity plans, Non-convertible debentures, small savings scheme etc.): = for TDS and tax benefits, treat them similar to bank deposits. That’d motivate people to save into them rather than in gold.
Cabinet Approves Amendment to Rights of Persons with
Disabilities Bill 2014
The Cabinet on 6
February, 2014 approved the proposal of the Department of Disability Affairs to
incorporate amendments in the proposed Rights of the Persons with Disabilities
Bill, 2014, which are:-
- Definition of person with
disability in terms of interaction with barriers also;
- Definition of low
vision will be notified by the Government;
- No person with
disability will be discriminated on
grounds of disability;
- Recognizing legal
capacity of person with disability, limited guardianship would be the norm, to
enable the person with disability to take joint
decision with legal guardian;
- Person with
disability would also have the right to appeal against the decision of
appointment of legal guardian;
- Disability Certificate to be valid across the country;
- Educational
institutions funded and recognized will have to provide inclusive education for children with disability;
- The appropriate
Governments to constitute to expert committee
with representation of persons with disabilities for identification of posts
for Government employment for persons with disabilities;
- Review period shortened from 5 years to 3 years
in case of identified posts;
- 5 per cent vacancies reserved for persons with
disabilities will be computed against the total number of vacancies in the
cadre strength;
- For greater
coverage and employability in Government sector, the appropriate Governments to
prescribe relaxation for upper age limit for employment of PwDs;
Malnutrition
The
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted during the U.N. Millennium Summit,
2000 by 189 countries including India consists of eight goals which are sought
to be achieved during the period 1990 to 2015.
The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) -1 is regarding
Eradication of Extreme Poverty and Hunger, which have 2 targets namely, (i) Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the
percentage of population below the National Poverty Line and (ii) Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the
proportion of people who suffer from hunger. The
indicator for measuring target two is the prevalence of underweight children
under three years of age. Thus from the estimated 52% in 1990, the
proportion of underweight children below 3 years is required to be reduced to
26% by 2015.
The
Government of India has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition in
the country and is implementing several schemes/programmes of different
Ministries/Departments through States Government/UT Administrations including
Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The schemes/programmes include the Integrated
Child Development Services (ICDS), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM),
Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM), Rajiv Gandhi Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent
Girls (RGSEAG) namely SABLA, Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY)
as direct targeted interventions. Besides, indirect Multi-sectoral
interventions include Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), National
Horticulture Mission, National Food Security Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, National Rural
Drinking Water Programme.
The
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme was launched with the
objectives (i) to improve the nutritional
and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years;(ii) to lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social
development of the child; (iii) to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout;
(iv) to achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst
the various departments to promote child development; and (v) to enhance the capability of the mother to
look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the child through proper
nutrition and health education. In order to achieve these objectives, a package
of six services
namely (i) supplementary nutrition (SNP),
(ii) immunization,
(iii) health check-up,
(iv) referral services,
(v) pre-school non-formal
education and vi)
nutrition & health education are provided. Three of the six services namely Immunization, Health Check-up and
Referral Services are delivered through Public Health Infrastructure under the
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Surakshayojana
The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims at correcting regional imbalances
in the availability of affordable/reliable
tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in
the country. It envisages setting up of AIIMS-like institutes and upgradation of existing Government
Medical Colleges/ Institutions in various parts of the country.
“Nirbhaya Fund” Scheme for Women Safety in Public Road
Transport
Detailed framework
for operationalision of scheme under “Nirbhaya Fund” for Security for women and
girl child in public road transport in the country is under process. The
proposal was approved by the Union Cabinet in January 2014. The proposal
include setting up of a unified
system at the National Level (National Vehicle Security and Tracking System)
and State level (City Command and Control Centre) for GPS tracking of
the location of, emergency buttons in and video recording of incidents in
public transport vehicles. In the first phase, 32 cities of 13 States in the
country with a population of 1
million or more will be covered.
The project is to be implemented within a
period of two years. Once the scheme is made operational in major million plus
cities, ensuring safe, reliable and comfortable public passenger bus service
across the country will be made possible.
The major impact of
the scheme will include mapping
of routes of the public vehicles; tracking of vehicles on the route; highlighting of violations through visual and
text signals; panic button
alert to transport and police through visual, text and voice; permit,
registration and license cancellation based criteria for enforcement and
providing safety and security
to women and girl child in distress in minimum response time. Video
recording in Public Transport vehicles with large seating capacity will be used
as evidence. This will act a preventive measure for probable offenders.
IUCN Red List of Birds
According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
red list of birds, the information contained in the IUCN Red list version
2013.2indicatesthat 15 species of birds from India are critically endangered.
Details of
bird species reported from India which are listed as Critically Endangered in
IUCN Red List version 2013.
|
No
|
Common Name
|
|
1
|
Baer's
Pochard
|
|
2
|
Forest
Owlet
|
|
3
|
Great
Indian Bustard
|
|
4
|
Bengal
Florican
|
|
5
|
Siberian
Crane
|
|
6
|
Spoon-billed
Sandpiper
|
|
7
|
Sociable
Lapwing
|
|
8
|
Jerdon's
Courser
|
|
9
|
White
backed Vulture
|
|
10
|
Red-headed
Vulture
|
|
11
|
White-bellied
Heron
|
|
12
|
Slender-billed
Vulture
|
|
13
|
Indian
Vulture
|
|
14
|
Himalayan
Quail
|
|
15
|
Pink-headed
Duck
|
The major reasons for decline in the population of birds are: loss, modification, fragmentation
and degradation of habitat, environmental contaminants, poaching, land use
changes particularly conversion of large areas to intensive crop cultivation,
changes in cropping pattern due to various reasons including implementation of
irrigation schemes, increased pesticide usage and livestock-grazing, high
levels of disturbance, developmental activities like mining and hydel projects.
Threats posed by infrastructure development, such as collisions with vehicles,
power-lines and wind turbines, further exacerbate the situation.
the steps taken by
Government for conservation of remaining habitats in wet lands, grass lands and
forests and river line across the country and species dependent on them are
given below.
1. Financial and Technical assistance is provided to State/Union Territory Governments for
protection and Management of Protected Areas as well as other forests under
Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
2. India is signatory to several major
international conventions relating to conservation and management of wildlife,
including endangered species of birds. These are, Convention on
Biological Diversity, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Convention on the Conservation of
Migratory Species of Wild Animals
3. The Central Government has enacted the Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972 for protection of
wildlife including birds. The Act, inter alia, provides
for creation
of Protected Areas for protection of wild
life and also provides for punishment for hunting of specified fauna including birds specified in the schedules I to IV
thereof. Important habitats of birds have been notified as Protected Areas
under the Act
4. Wetland (Conservation and Management)Rules
2010 have been framed for protection of
wetlands, in the States, which are habitats of birds. The Centrally Sponsored
Scheme of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-System also provides assistance to the States for management of wet
lands including Ramsar sites in the
country.
5. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been established for control of illegal trade in
wildlife, including endangered species of birds and their parts and products.
6. Research and monitoring activities
on birds are promoted by the Government through reputed research organizations.
Wildlife Institute of India, Bombay Natural History society and Salim Ali Centre
for Ornithology and Natural History are
some of the research organizations undertaking research on conservation of
birds.
7. The Indian Government has banned the veterinary use of
diclofenac drug that has caused rapid
population decline of Gyps vulture across the Indian Subcontinent. Conservation
Breeding Programmes to conserve these vulture species have been initiated at Pinjore (Haryana),
Buxa (West Bengal) and Rani, Guwahati (Assam)
by the Bombay Natural History Society.
scheme of
Infrastructure Development for Food Processing: Mega Food Parks
The
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved modifications in the Mega
Food Park Scheme guidelines of infrastructure development for food processing.
These modifications are envisaged to streamline the implementation of the
scheme while retaining its basic nature.
Each Mega
Food Park is expected to generate the following outcomes:
i.
Expected to benefit 6000 farmers / producers
directly and about 25,000 farmers
indirectly.
ii.
Estimated investment in each project will
be about Rs. 100 crore in common facilities and will leverage an additional
investment of about Rs. 250 crore.
iii.
Expected annual turnover of each park will be
Rs. 500 crore.
iv.
In each project, about 30 food processing
units are expected to be setup.
The
Infrastructure Development Scheme for Mega Food Parks aims at providing modern
infrastructure facilities for food processing industries along the value chain
from farm to market. According to the Scheme, ownership and management of the
Mega Food Park vests with a
SPV in which organized
retailers, processors, service providers etc may be the equity holders or there
may be an anchor investor along with its ancillaries, associated companies and
other stakeholders. Farmer organisations were encouraged to participate
in the SPV. In case, Government/Government
agencies become shareholders in the SPV, their equity has been
restricted to a maximum 26
percent to ensure the private character of the SPV. The modification
aims at changing the nature of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). The criteria
of maximum 26 percent equity by the State Govt./ State Govt. entities/
Co-operatives has been removed.
Criteria for Declaring Classical Language
the criteria evolved by Government to determine
declaration of a language as a Classical language is as under:-
(i)
High antiquity of its early
texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years;
(ii)
A body of ancient literature/texts, which
is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers;
(iii)
The literary tradition be original and
not borrowed from another speech community;
(iv)
The classical language and literature
being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the
classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.
Drugs and the Golden
Triangle: Renewed Concerns for Northeast India
India has been
working on plans of building economic corridors in Northeast India’s
neighborhood to boost foreign trade and to give the economy the much needed
leap forward. Execution of these plans is crucial to achieve the goals of
India's Look-East policy.
Northeast India can
develop, prosper and eventually overcome its troubles by engaging eastern
foreign neighbours. Especially with the recent agreement on the Bangladesh,
China, India, Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor blueprint, India can access
markets in China's west and southwest, through the Northeastern borders.
Yunnan, the neighbouring province in China is the network hub for trade and
connectivity with the rest of the country. Equally important for
Northeast India is the regional connectivity under the sub-regional and
regional cooperation such as ASEAN, SAARC, and the Greater Mekong Sub-region
Cooperation (GMS). That said, a word of caution is appropriate to understand
the ugly behemoth of narcotics trafficking intertwined with ethnic insurgencies
in the neighbouring Golden Triangle. Huge quantities of illicit narcotics can
easily ride the new access routes of greater connectivity and can blow up
already existing issues of secured human health and wellbeing of society.
India’s security
strategy for the economic corridors and connectivity will have to entail water
tight anti-drugs control measures and mechanisms to snuff out the possibilities
of surges in narcotics trafficking that may result from better connectivity and
established networks of peoples across the region.
Bordering Myanmar to
the east are the four Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and
Nagaland. Each state’s data from the National AIDS Control Organisation reports
show high numbers of HIV-related diseases and volumes of drug trafficking.
Narcotics and contraband firearms are regularly trafficked across the unmanned
border as the routes of western Myanmar are controlled by India’s north-east
insurgents.
Illicit drug trade
along the Golden Triangle has serious implications for Northeast India. First,
opening up to Southeast Asia carries a double edged sword. On one hand, it
promises development and investments. On the other hand, it invites the danger
of rapid flow of illicit drugs and arms. Second, without effective drug control
mechanisms that guarantee that illicit trade is kept to the minimum, the
adverse consequences of illicit drugs on Northeast society could leave long
term negative effects. Third, India should establish institutional mechanisms
with China, Myanmar and Thailand to counter-illicit trafficking. Finally, there
must be a long term Indian strategy to limit drugs trafficking, address the
social impact of drug addiction, spread the word about the ill effects of drug
abuse in schools, and established efficient rehabilitation centres in the HIV
and drug zones in Northeast India. There is perhaps no other way to address the
life threatening effects of drug addiction and HIV, currently destroying youths
in Northeast India especially Manipur.
Now let’s check two
auctions: Spectrum and NELP-X. Both Need a mile
long separate articles. Here I’m only covering the overview
[Auction] Spectrum 2014
|
Frequency
|
What?
|
|
~100Mhz
|
FM radio stations.
|
|
800Mhz
|
Not auctioned this
time. TRAI and Government yet to sort out its pricing formula.
|
|
900 Mhz
|
Being auctioned in
Feb 2014. only for three circle= Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Airtel, Vodafone
already own this spectrum but their license expiring soon, government is not
renewing it. Companies went to TDSAT and SC, but did not get relief. Hence
they’re again bidding for this 900Mhz spectrum.
|
|
1800 Mhz
|
|
|
1900-2100 Mhz
|
|
|
2300 Mhz
|
|
- In spectrum game, higher the number = more data can transferred per second.
- 2300Mhz=superfast= ideal for 4G internet.
- Mukesh bhai already owns this. But he tries to sell only 4G connection (without voice/phone call function)=> hard to get customers throughout India.
- Therefore, Mukesh Ambani interested in buying 1800 Mhz (=good for simple voice/calling services). Then he can first sell phone numbers for such cheap voice calling plans, and try to lure customers to upgrade to 4G connection – especially in metro cities.
|
Players
|
what
|
|
TRAI
|
Recommends policy,
and dispute resolution.
|
|
SMRA
|
|
|
Bidders
|
8 companies:
Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Reliance Jio (Mukesh), Reliance
Communications (Anil), Aircel, Tata Teleservices, Telewings (Uninor)
|
|
Kapil Sibbal
|
|
Reserve price
- In auction, it means “we’ll not sell below this price.” (for example: you put “used iphone4″ on ebay.in and declare its reserve price Rs.14k.)
- The reserve prices for 2014′s auction are as following
|
800 Mhz
|
Not auctioned
because Government and TRAI are yet to fix its reserve price.
|
|
900 Mhz Delhi
|
360 Cr. Per
Mhz
|
|
900 Mhz Mumbai
|
328 cr. Per Mhz
|
|
900 Mhz Kolkata
|
125 cr. Per Mhz
|
|
1800 Mhz (all
India)
|
1765 cr. Per Mhz
|
- Absolute numbers not important, but you can see 1800 Mhz spectrum is kept more expensive than 900 Mhz. why? Obviously because it can transfer more data per second.
- If all the spectrum was sold @this reserve prices (meaning no company bids higher price than above), then government would have earned 48000 crores.
- But companies bid higher amounts in auction (because every company wants pan-India presence). Result: government will earn more than 55000 crores from this auction.
- Good news for UPA, because they can launch a few more schemes named after “you know who”, using this ca$h, before EC’s model code of conduct comes in force.
- Bad news for we the customers, because companies will soon raise mobile/2g/3g prices to recover their investment.
Payment for the spectrum?
- Auction Winner Company will have to arrange cash by itself.
- They can also pay it in installments (with interest rate)
- They are allowed to borrow as much as USD 750 million (>4500 crore rupees) from abroad every year to make these “installment” payments.
|
2010
|
CAG reveals 2G
scam. 1.76 lakh crores.
|
|
2012
|
Supreme court
cancels 122 spectrum licenses given to companies.
|
|
2014, Feb
|
Spectrum auction
for 900 Mhz and 1800 Mhz
|
[Auction] NELP X (10) delayed
New Exploration
Licensing Policy (NELP) X
- As per the Constitution of India, Union government owns all the hydrocarbon resources in India (both offshore and inland)
- Hence only union can ‘auction’ the exploration rights to private companies.
- This is done by New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP). Total nine rounds since 1999.
- 2014: NELP X will be done under the Uniform Licensing Policy regime=> explorers can hunt for all kinds of resources: oil, gas, coal-bed methane or shale. Without have to get separate license for each work.
NELP-10 is delayed because:
- upcoming general elections. Planning commission advised the oil ministry to postpone.
- Ministries have different opinions about how to earn revenue from this?
|
Committee
|
Recommendation on
revenue sharing
|
Good/bad?
|
|
Kelkar
|
The contractor
will first recover his investment by selling the oil/gas. Then he will start
sharing part of the profit with government.
|
Difficulty.
Because contractor will always try to show high cost, to delay sharing
revenue with government.
|
|
Rangarajan
|
Production linked
system. Contractor need to start sharing profit with government as per
productions immediately. It doesn’t matter when his ‘investment’ is
recovered’.
|
More transparent.
And NELP-X will be done in this method.
|
Related topic:
Mines-mineral development Bill 2011
- Will not be introduced in Lok Sabha this time (Budget 2014 session)
- Private companies are opposed to it because bill requires them to share profit with the local people/communities. (In case of coal companies- have to share ~26% of the profit)
Microfinance: RBI changes loan rate formula
- 2010: high interest rates charged by microfinance companies. Many poor in Andhra commit suicide because of Microfinance loan-recovery agents.
- 2011: RBI creates new category under NBFC: “NBFC-MFI”
- Then RBI order that MFI cannot have more than 12% profit margin on their loan products.
- 2014: Rajan comes up with new formula for MFI-loan rates
First get two
figures
- Cost of fund (i.e. how much did it cost to the MFI, to arrange that loan money) + margin (12%)
- Average base rate of five largest commercial banks (like SBI,ICICI etCc) multiplied with 2.75%
Now find minimum
between (a, b)
That’ll be the
Maximum interest rate, an MFI can charge on her borrower.
System will be
effective from FY14 (i.e. 1st April, 2014.)
Housing Start Up Index (HSUI)
- Housing sector contributes ~10% GDP, critical indicator of macro-economic growth for banking (loans), labour, steel, cement, and paint business.
- Housing start up index = Joint initiative by RBI + national building organization.
- To measure housing growth in various cities of India. It found that
- Housing declined in big cities like Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore
- But picked up growth in small cities like Dehradun, Bhopal and Hubli.
- It’ll help both public and private sector to design their economic activities accordingly.
- We are not the first country to develop HSUI.
- Six countries already using it: Canada, US, Japan, France, Australia and New Zealand
Mobile Banking: new Committee
RBI’s Committee on
Mobile Banking (Chairman =B.
Sambamurthy)
Main Recommendations
- >85 crore mobile subscribers in India=mobile banking is an great tool for financial inclusion.
- All mobile phone operators should load a single mobile banking app in all mobile phones.
- Government should order mobile mfg. companies to pre-install mobile banking app. In their phones.
- customers should not be required to visit the bank branch to register his mobile for mobile-banking Usage
O.R.V. Samudra Ratnakar
Geological Survey of
India (GSI) has procured an Oceanographic Research Vessel (ORV) named R.V.
Samudra Ratnakar. O.R.V. Samudra
Ratnakar is a multi-disciplinary research vessel with state-of-the-art
equipments for undertaking sea bed geological, geophysical and geochemical
mapping and exploration of offshore mineral resources within Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) of India and beyond. The data generated will create a national
database in field of geological oceanography and offshore mineral resources.
NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY
The objectives and
priority areas of NYP,2014 are given in the table below:-
|
Sl. No.
|
Objectives
|
Priority
Areas
|
|
1.
|
Create a
productive work force that can make a sustainable contribution to India’s
economic development
|
1. Education
|
|
|
|
2. Employment
& Skill Development
|
|
|
|
3.
Entrepreneurship
|
|
2.
|
Develop a strong
and healthy generation equipped to take on future challenges
|
4. Health
and healthy lifestyle
|
|
|
|
5. Sports
|
|
3.
|
Instil social
values and promote community service to build national ownership
|
6. Promotion of
social values
|
|
|
|
7. Community
engagement
|
|
4.
|
Facilitate
participation and civic engagement at levels of governance
|
8. Participation
in politics and governance
|
|
|
|
9. Youth
engagement
|
|
5.
|
Support youth at
risk and create equitable opportunity for all disadvantaged and marginalised
youth.
|
10. Inclusion
|
|
|
|
11. Social
Justice.
|
Programmes for Development
of Minorities
The details of the
welfare schemes for minorities being implemented by the Ministry of Minority
Affairs are -
- Multi sectoral Development Programme (MsDP):
Multi sectoral Development Programme aims at improving the socio-economic
condition of minorities and providing basic amenities to them for improving the
quality of life of the people and reducing imbalance in the identified minority
concentration areas. Construction of project related to education is one of the
main activities which has been given priority under the programme.
- Pre-matric Scholarship Scheme:-Under this
Scheme, scholarships are awarded to minority students up to class X, who have
secured not less than 50% marks in the previous final examination and the
annual income of their parents/ guardian from all sources does not exceed Rs.
1.00 lakh. 30% of the scholarships are earmarked for girl students.
- Post-matric Scholarship Scheme:- Under this
Scheme, scholarships are awarded to minority students from class XI onwards who
have secured not less than 50% marks or equivalent grade in the previous final
examination and the annual income of whose parents/ guardian from all sources
does not exceed Rs.2.00 lakh. 30% of the scholarships are earmarked for girl
students.
- Maulana Azad National Fellowship For Minority Students:-The
objective of the Fellowship is to provide integrated five year fellowships in
the form of financial assistance to minority students to pursue higher studies
such as M.Phil and Ph.D. The Fellowship covers all Universities/Institutions
recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). 30% of the scholarships
are earmarked for girl students.
- Merit-cum Means based Scholarship: The
Merit-cum Means based Scholarship Scheme provides financial assistance to the
poor and meritorious minority students pursuing professional studies at
graduate and post-graduate levels. 30% of the scholarships are earmarked for
girl students.
- Free Coaching and Allied Scheme: Under this
scheme candidates belonging to the minority community are provided financial
assistance for coaching in Government and the private sector institutes for
imparting coaching/training for Competitive Exams, Information Technology and
other employment oriented courses. 30% of the scholarships are earmarked for
girl students.
- Equity contribution
to National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC):
Under this scheme, Government contributes equity capital to NMDFC for
implementation of its schemes at concessional rates of interest which are viz.
micro financing scheme, term loan, educational loans, skill development and
Mahila Samridhi Yojana etc.
- Computerization of records of State Wakf Boards:
In order to streamline record keeping of the waqf lands, introduce transparency
& social audit, to computerize the various functions/processes of the Waqf
Boards and to develop a single web based centralized application,
computerization of the records of the State Waqf Boards is carried out with the
help of Central financial assistance.
- Nai Roshni:- A scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women has
been launched with the objective to empower and instill confidence in women, by
providing knowledge, tools and techniques to interact with Government systems,
banks, and intermediaries at all levels so that they are emboldened to move out
of the confines of home and assume leadership roles.
- Skill Development Initiative- The Ministry has
formulated a new scheme in 2013-14 for skill development of minorities under
the brand name “Seekho Aur Kamao (Learn and
Earn)”. The scheme aims at upgrading the skills of minority youths in
various Modular Employable Skills (MES)
including Traditional trades depending upon their educational
qualification, aptitude and capability, present economic trends and industry
readiness. The scheme aims at 75% employment
including 50% in organized sector to the youths trained in MES.
- Jiyo Parsi- Jiyo Parsi is a new scheme for
containing population decline of Parsis in India, that has been launched during
the current year 2013-14 with the objective to reverse the declining trend of
Parsi population by adopting a scientific protocol and structured interventions
to stabilize their population and increase the population of Parsis in India.
Ministry extends financial assistance for outreach programme/ advocacy and
fertility treatment as per scheme guidelines. The scheme is implemented with
assistance from Parzor Foundation with the help of Bombay Parsi Punchayet
(BPP).
- Support for Minority students clearing Prelims
conducted by Union Public Service Commissions, Staff Selection Commission,
State Public Service Commissions. The objective of the scheme is to
provide financial support to the minority candidates clearing prelims conducted
by Union Public Service Commissions, Staff Selection Commission, State Public
Service Commissions to adequately equip them to compete for appointment to
Civil Services in the Union and the State Governments and to increase the
representation of the minority in the Civil Services by giving direct financial
support to candidates clearing Preliminary Examination.
- Padho Pardesh-scheme of interest subsidy on
educational loans for overseas studies for the students belonging to the
Minority communities. This is a Central Sector Scheme to provide
Interest Subsidy to Meritorious Students belonging to economically weaker
sections of notified Minority Communities so as to provide them better
opportunities for higher education abroad and enhance their employability to
pursue study in courses approved in the Scheme.
Further Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for
Welfare of Minorities is an overarching programme which covers various schemes
of concerned Ministries/Departments either by earmarking15%
of physical targets/financial outlays for the minorities or by specific
monitoring of flow of benefits/funds to areas with substantial minority
population.
It’s time to tap the real
potential of the Railways
The new government
must set the ball rolling by constituting an independent Rail Tariff Authority
for fixing passenger and freight rates based on rational principles. Average
passenger fares in India are currently just over a fourth of freight charges, unlike
in Korea or China where commuters pay more than movers of cargo by rail. It may
seem counter-intuitive, but doing away with cross-subsidisation of passenger
fares by freight will benefit ordinary people. Most people travel only
occasionally by train, whereas high freight costs have a cascading impact
across all items of common consumption and daily use.
Rationalisation of
fares is also necessary in order to raise resources. The Railways’ plan spend
for this fiscal is estimated at ₹59,359 crore or not even $10 billion. Compare
this with China’s $90-100 billion annual investment in rail infrastructure since
2009, which played a key role in combating slowdown pressures following the
global financial crisis. Similarly, the Railways can provide an economic fillip
in India.
Consumption de-growth
That the ongoing
economic slowdown has its roots in a collapse of investments is well
established now. The best indicator of this is production of capital goods, which has registered
a negative year-on-year growth in 23 of the 30 months between July 2011
and December 2013. But no less striking is the way consumption has been
affected. The index of industrial production (IIP) figures for December reveals
a negative growth in consumer
durables — TVs, mobiles, cars, bikes, fans, ACs, refrigerators, ceramic
tiles and carpets — for the thirteenth successive month in a row. Since the
average growth for consumer non-durables from July 2012 to December 2013 also
works out to just 4.7 per cent, we can conclude that the overall slowdown in
consumption spending is more than one-and-a-half years old.
The most obvious
cause of weak consumption is
inflation, which undermines the ability of people to save and consume.
National income statistics bear this out: household savings, both financial and in physical
assets, have fallen from 25.2
to 21.9 per cent of GDP between 2009-10 and 2012-13. Once savings are
eroded in the face of persistent inflation, the effects are bound to be felt on
consumption. Within consumption goods, durables are the immediate casualty because in many
cases their purchases can be put off — which is not so with toilet soaps or
cooking oil, where the only option is to go for cheaper brands.
Wendy Doniger’s book, The
Hindus: An Alternative History
Origin of Indian
hate speech law Section 295A: In 1860 AD, Muslims were upset against Rajpal
publications for publishing a book. Publisher Mahasha Rajpal was arrested and
later acquitted because there was no hate speech law. Publisher was killed by
Muslim fundamentalist. British enacted section 295A to appease Muslims. The law
puts publisher on the hook not author. History of Section 295As application:
Since 1947AD, India's Nehruvian socialist establishment has routinely invoked
Section 295A to ban stuff offensive to Muslims (e.g. Satanic Verses,
Lajja, stop demolition of illegal mosque, varun gandhi speech, cartoon), and
Christians (e.g. Da Vinci Code, Jesus Portrait in Vadodara).
The first, and
arguably fundamental, mistake in this regard was the decision by Rajiv Gandhi's
government in 1989 to ban Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses on the grounds
that it offended 'Muslim sentiment' (India, in fact, banned Rushdie's book even
before Iranians and Pakistanis had done so). At the time, historian Dharma Kumar
wrote that the ban was "a sign of the government's weakness. In a secular
state blasphemy should not in itself be a cognizable offence; the President of
India is not the defender of any nor of all faiths".
Rajiv Gandhi's
pusillanimous act emboldened the bigots of all religions (and regions). In
Maharashtra, chauvinists took aim at James Laine, whose scholarly study of
Shivaji they deemed not deferential or reverential enough. They forced the
state government to ban the book.
India is a democracy, but its
reputation as a bastion of liberal values is dimming by the day. The
argumentative Indian is being replaced by the offended Indian, the tolerant
Indian by the intolerant mob, the reflective citizen by the hurt communal mobiliser,
the courageous Indian by the cowardly thug who needs the state to protect it
against every argument, the pious Indian by the ultimate blasphemer who thinks
he needs to protect the gods rather than the gods being there to protect him.
Whether this is a tiny minority or represents the majority is beside the point.
The point is that the assault on free expression is winning.
The Government has
approved a new Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy-2013 to suit the
present condition.
The STI Policy seeks
to:
(i) Enhance India's
global share of scientific
publications from the present 3.5% to 7.0%;
(ii) Establish world class infrastructure
for Research and Development (R&D) in some select areas;
(iii) Make careers in science, research
and innovation attractive enough for talented and bright minds;
(iv) Create an
environment for enhanced private
sector participation in R&D, technology and innovation;
(v) Seed S&T
based high risk Innovation;
(vi) Participate in
international R&D projects that are high end science.
The Policy seeks to
establish a strong and viable Science, Research and Innovation System for High
Technology-led path for India.
India has made
significant growth in the field of science and technology during the last five
years. There has been a continuous increase in investment in R&D in the
country. India ranks 9th globally in terms of scientific
publications output as per the latest UNESCO Science Report-2010.
Creation of centres
of excellence and facilities in emerging and frontline areas in academic and
national institutes, induction of new and attractive fellowships such as Innovation in Science Pursuit for
Inspired Research (INSPIRE) and establishment of National Science and
Engineering Research Board (SERB) have also given a boost to R&D.
National AIDS Control Programme-Phase IV
NACP-IV aims to
accelerate the process of epidemic reversal and
further strengthen the epidemic response in India through a cautious and well
defined integration process over the five-year period, 2012- 2017. It consolidates the gains of NACP III.
two new steps to boost AIDS treatment efforts in the country:
·
The eligibility for receiving ART
has been revised from CD4 level of 350 to 500. This step will ensure that HIV positive persons are
initiated on treatment at an early stage and while enhancing their longevity and productivity, it
will contribute to preventing new infections as well.
·
The second major decision is the introduction of Third Line ART for all those who fail on second line
ART under the programme.
Reducing stigma and discrimination
against HIV infected and affected persons and families will be another high
focus area for the coming years. HIV/AIDS Bill has been tabled in Rajya Sabha, once the bill is
passed it will provide a very robust framework under which the rights of PLHIV
are fully protected and they lead a life without stigma
and discrimination. It is not merely a medical problem but a
societal one.
Secrecy kills efforts to kill AIDS.
Some of the new initiatives under NACP IV include differential strategies for
districts based on data triangulation with due weightage to
vulnerabilities, Female Condom Programme, Multi Drug Regimen , establishment of
Metro Blood Banks and Plasma Fractionation Centre, etc.
NACP IV has brought a
human face. It has important aspect of community participation and its financial portfolio
is larger in size than the plan allocation. NACP IV has secured the
future of community for next five years as there will be no shortage of funds.
trade facilitation agreement
WTO trade
facilitation negotiation, which was initiated in the year 2004 and concluded in
the year 2013 at the aforesaid Ninth Ministerial Conference. The Agreement
contains a set of disciplines that would help improve border trade procedures
involved in import, export and transit of goods, and also bring further
transparency in trade administration. For instance, the Agreement provides for
– publication of relevant trade related information such as laws, rules and
procedures; simplification of formalities and documentation; special
facilitation of perishable goods; adoption of risk management system for
customs control etc. These measures would reduce transaction costs and bring greater predictability to traders
both for agricultural and industrial goods. Moreover, the implementation of
these measures by our trading partners would facilitate our exports into those
markets.
Drugs Prices Control
All medicines specified in the National List
of Essential Medicine 2011 (NLEM) have been included in the first schedule of
DPCO, 2013 and brought under price control. There are 614 formulations
specified in the first schedule of DPCO, 2013 covering 27 therapeutic groups
including medicines used in the treatment of Cancer, Tuberculosis, Diabetes,
Cardiac disease, vaccines etc. Significant reduction in prices have been
effected on the medicines notified under DPCO, 2013 as compared to the highest
price prevailed prior to the announcement of DPCO, 2013. The National
Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has notified the ceiling prices in
respect of 404 medicines till last month under the Drugs Prices Control Order (DPCO),
2013. Prices of 112 drugs have reduced over 40% after the enforcement of DPCO,
2013.
AMASR Act, 1958
The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites & Remains 1958
(Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 was enacted by the Parliament of
India to protect/preserve and
conserve the centrally protected monuments and sites declared as of
national importance. Under the provisions of the said Act, 100 meters area from
protected limit of centrally protected monument/site has been declared as prohibited area for new
constructions and beyond this, 200 meters area has been declared as Regulated Area for the said purposes.
Repair/renovation of the existing structures in prohibited areas and new
constructions in regulated areas are permissible on obtaining permission from
National Monument Authority/Competent Authority meant for such purpose.
In search of a second White
Revolution
India has retained
its leadership as the world’s largest milk producer for the last 15 years. This
has been made possible by Operation Flood — which ushered in the White
Revolution in India. Production estimates stand at 132.43 million tonnes for
2012-13, accounting for approximately 17 per cent of global milk production.
Unlike the other major milk producing countries, the growth story in India was
driven largely by small scale farmers.
Eighty per cent of
Indian cattle is owned by farmers with a herd size of up to four animals. But a
number of factors impact the sustenance of these traditional small farms, such
as the subsidiary nature of dairying as an activity, stagnant yields, rising
feed/fodder costs and a shift in rural areas towards other vocations.
Parallel to the
supply side challenges, India is slated to witness a boom in dairy demand of
over 6 per cent annually. However, the average annual growth in supply is only
a little over 4 per cent per annum. The demand-supply interplay effect is
evident in steadily rising milk prices in the recent past. We clearly need a
Second White Revolution. One of the most effective means to bridge the
demand-supply gap is an innovative approach to commercial dairy farming models
so that they are sustainable, inclusive and scalable.
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