Family planning can boost India's per capita GDP 13% by 2031: Study - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Family planning can boost India's per capita GDP 13% by 2031: Study.

If the existing set of policies are implemented to their fullest, India can see a definitive and sustained improvement in metrics such as reduced infant and maternal deaths, according to the study

India’s per capita gross domestic product (GDP) can rise an additional 13% by 2031 if family planning policies are actively prioritised, according to a new study.This can also prevent 2.9 million infant deaths and 1.2 million maternal deaths and save households Rs 77,600 crore (20%) of out-of-pocket health expenditure on childbirth and child hospitalisation, it added.

Currently, family planning gets barely 4% of India’s National Health Mission allocations and this share has been stagnant for several years.
‘Cost of Inaction in Family Planning in India: An Analysis of Health and Economic Implications’ a study by Population Foundation of India, assessed the cost benefit analysis of family planning interventions at the national level and in four populous states--Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. These together make for 37% of the country’s population.
The study showed that India needs to implement the following reproductive health strategies to ensure economic gains:
• Target adolescents and youth;
• Ensure a greater resource envelope for family planning in the health budgets of the Centre and states;
• Adopt a multi-sectoral and community engagement;
• Ensure availability and access to quality reproductive health services;
• Invest in women’s education and job opportunities.
The gains that come through these strategies will be more pronounced in the four populous states, the study estimated.
A push for family planning can also result in cumulative savings of up to Rs 27,000 crore for the National Health Mission budget.
Why family planning is integral for health of women and children
If the existing set of policies are implemented to their fullest, India can see a definitive and sustained improvement in metrics such as reduced infant and maternal deaths, safer abortions, and overall reduction in unplanned pregnancies, according to the study. These will, in turn, result in benefits of magnitude higher than their immediate financial impact.
Globally, access to safe, voluntary family planning is a considered a human right and is central to concepts of gender equality and women’s empowerment. It is also the most effective pathway to unleashing the socio-economic potential of a healthy youth, as proved in this study by Harvard economists David Bloom and David Canning.
A third of east Asia’s economic boom, the study said, can be credited to favorable changes in population size and age structure, centred around smaller family sizes. This "demographic dividend", as per estimates, can see nations such as Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal increase their per-capita income by 47% to 87% by 2050 by satisfying their unmet need for family planning.
Family planning offers returns on investment as high as 120 times in terms of the economic benefits it brings through healthcare, according to this study published by the independent Copenhagen Consensus Center in 2014. In marketing jargon, globally family planning is thus considered a “best buy”.
Family planning can deliver the demographic dividend India seeks
Currently wealthy nations in Europe and the Americas are dealing with the economic impact of a rapidly ageing population but India has the largest cohort of young people the world has ever seen. Adolescents and youth (10-24 years) constitute about 1.82 billion (or 26.3%) of the total population in the world. Against this, India’s young population is 364.6 million (30.1%), as per Census 2011.
India's youth-centric population structure is a powerful asset as it frees up household and state resources that would otherwise be used to support dependent groups. These resources can instead be invested to improve their productivity and to generate economic growth, the study said.
So how does strategic family planning ensure that the young stay productive? It allows them to stay healthy and free of reproductive, sexual and mental health issues and ensures that they stay in school and complete education. It gives them the freedom to enter the job market or start their own enterprise, be more productive at work, increase savings and prioritise spending on things that improve their lives.
It also allows the young to start a family at a time when they can offer the best opportunities for their children.
The gains from increased investment on family planning include budgetary savings to the government, increase in per capita GDP and savings on out-of-pocket expenditure to households, as per a recent study by the Population Foundation of India.
Return On Investment From Savings Achieved Via Family Planning
• Rs 27,000 crore: Cumulative savings to the National Health Mission budget
• Rs 77,600 crore: Households savings from out-of-pocket health expenditure
• Rs 6,000 crore: Maternal health programmes
• Rs 3,000 crore: Immunisation costs
• Rs 300 crore: Child health programmes
• Up to Rs 550 crore: Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram
• Rs 79 crore: Adolescent health programmes
• Rs 4,250 crore: Savings on medical supplies and equipment for maternal, child and adolescent health
More focus needed on related issues--marriage and maternity
As early as 1952, India had launched its own family planning programme, ahead of many nations in this regard. Today, India takes the “cafeteria approach” to family planning which means that it provides multiple choices--eight contraceptive options for men and women at different life stages. These include six spacing methods and two permanent methods. Further, in recent years, the government has pledged to increase investments for family planning: At the 2012 London Summit on family planning, India committed to invest $2 billion and then renewed its commitment for the same in 2017, promising a $3 billion outlay.
Of the funds available for family planning, 80% is directed towards terminal methods of preventing conception, specifically female sterilisation. But family planning investments must also focus on expanding the range of family planning choices for women while addressing inter-linked determinants such as child marriage, age of marriage and adequate spacing between births, according to the study.
For sustained engagement, there is a need to increase the allocation for family planning, especially in states with high total fertility rate. Efforts are required to simultaneously involve community engagement, combining best practices from social and behaviour change initiatives. The budget boost must also be specifically aimed at spacing methods to cater to the needs and preferences of young people.
Both men and women need to be decision makers
A proactive, and results-oriented approach involves more than the public sector's prescriptivism, but a mindset change which openly embraces that both men and women as equal decision makers in a family is needed, according to the Cost of Inaction in Family Planning in India study. This can ensure the 120 times result mentioned earlier.
India has a massive reproductive age population, and simply cannot afford a step-by-step, graduated rollout of policies and aid, the study said. For swift impact, the first line of intervention must be in providing care and access to reproductive health. But the speed and scale of family planning interventions need to be stepped up, beginning with substantial increases in investments to improve access and quality of services, particularly for spacing methods of contraception. (Source: The Business Standard - Republished without any modifications)


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Family planning can boost India's per capita GDP 13% by 2031: Study

Brazil to challenge India's sugar subsidies in WTO consultation - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Brazil to challenge India's sugar subsidies in WTO consultation.

• Brazil argues that Indian subsidies have caused significant impacts on the world sugar market
• India is poised to overtake Brazil's position as the world's largest producer of the commodity
The Brazilian government on Wednesday asked the World Trade Organization to start a consultation regarding India's sugar industry subsidies, which the South American country says is distorting global trade.
Australia also formalized a similar consultation request challenging the Indian government's subsidies, according to a joint statement from Brazil's foreign relations and agriculture ministries.

Brazil argues that Indian subsidies have caused significant impacts on the world sugar market.
According to the Brazilian government's estimates, India's increased supplies could lead to a drop of as much as 25.5 percent in international sugar prices in the 2018/2019 season.
That would cause losses of up to $1.3 billion for Brazilian exporters alone, the ministries said.
India's sugar production has risen significantly in recent years, with the country poised to overtake Brazil's position as the world's largest producer of the commodity.
In October, Reuters revealed that India is expected to ship sugar for the first time in three years as government subsidies made exports lucrative.
Under WTO rules, if the mandatory consultation fails to produce a satisfactory solution within 60 days, the complainants may request adjudication by a panel.(Source:Livemint)


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Brazil to challenge India's sugar subsidies in WTO consultation

ISRO to launch electronic intelligence defence satellite Emisat for DRDO in March - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

ISRO to launch electronic intelligence defence satellite Emisat for DRDO in March.

ISRO will also launch 28 third-party satellites and demonstrate its new technologies like three different orbits with a new variant of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket in March.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan on Wednesday said that the Bengaluru-based space agency is set to launch an electronic intelligence satellite Emisat for the DRDO in March.
Sivan added that ISRO will also launch 28 third-party satellites and demonstrate its new technologies like three different orbits with a new variant of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket in March. He, however, did not give a specific date.
"It is a special mission for us. We will be using a PSLV rocket with four strap-on motors. Further, for the first time we will be trying to orbit the rocket at three different altitudes," K. Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS.
"The main passenger for the PSLV rocket will be the defence intelligence satellite Emisat belonging to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The satellite weighs about 420 kg. The 28 satellites belonging to our customers would cumulatively weigh about 250 kg," Sivan added.
The ISRO chief said that Emisat is an electronic intelligence satellite. It is to be noted that ISRO is also gearing up to launch two more defence satellites in July/August. The space agency will use its new rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) for launching these defence satellites.
It may be recalled a defence imaging satellite Microsat R was launched by ISRO for the DRDO in January.
Providing more details about Emisat, Sivan said that after launching this satellite at an altitude of 763 km, the rocket will be brought down to place the 28 satellites at an altitude of 504 km.
"Following that the rocket will be brought down further to 485 km where the fourth stage will turn into a payload platform carrying three experimental payloads -- one developed by the students of Indian Institute of Space Science and Tecnology, besides ISRO`s own technology demonstrator and a Hamsat," Sivan said.
PSLV is a four-stage engine expendable rocket with alternating solid and liquid fuel. On January 24, the ISRO flew a PSLV with two strap-on motors.


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ISRO to launch electronic intelligence defence satellite Emisat for DRDO in March.

India's foreign direct investment inflows fall amid pre-election uncertainty - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India's foreign direct investment inflows fall amid pre-election uncertainty.

• Protectionism, doubt about vote result deter investors.
• Inbound FDI fell 7% to $33.5 bilion in April-Dec 2018.
The flow of foreign direct investment into India is dropping and may suffer its first full-year decline since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.
The reversal from strong numbers in Modi's initial years in charge may indicate that investors are being deterred by the government's recent protectionist policies and uncertainty about this year's general election result.
Inbound foreign direct investment (FDI) dropped 7% to $33.5 billion in the nine months between April and December 2018, compared with $36 billion in the year-earlier period, according to figures released over the weekend.
Industry experts and some government officials said the investment inflows may remain sluggish for the next few months as investors wait to see who forms the next government after the election, which must be held by early May.
If Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party loses power then there could be a coalition government involving the opposition Congress party and regional parties.
There is also concern among some foreign businesses about the Modi government's increasingly protectionist tilt. That was illustrated by moves at the beginning of this month to tighten rules on the ways that big foreign-controlled online retailers Amazon and Flipkart, which is controlled by giant US retailer Walmart, are allowed to operate.
Walmart last year invested $16 billion in buying 77% of Flipkart. It is unclear how much of that deal is reflected in the latest FDI data.

The FDI figures, which haven't been produced for about six months and have elicited little attention as they were released without fanfare over the weekend, exclude reinvestment of profits by foreign companies already in India as well as new investment through the capital markets.
TOP FDI SOURCES LED BY SINGAPORE
The top sources for the FDI were Singapore, with $13 billion, Mauritius $6 billion, Japan $2.2 billion and Britain with $1.1 billion. Mauritius is often used by Indians living overseas and Indian companies to route money into or out of India.
The growth of FDI inflows has been dropping dramatically since recording a 35% rise in the fiscal year to 31 March, 2016, after Modi came to power. That sharp growth was helped by policies introduced in his first two years in power that promoted foreign investment, as well as by the certainty of having a government with a clear majority in parliament.
Initially, investors were attracted by the launch of a new nationwide sales tax in 2017, a promise (as yet unfulfilled) to bring down the corporate tax to 25%, and incentives to set up factories for domestic and export markets.
India has moved up 53 places in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business survey to 77 in the last two years, and Modi is aiming for a top 50 spot by next year.
But there is a growing feeling, business leaders said, that while countries such as Vietnam are offering tax holidays to investors, India has shifted towards protectionism under political pressure.
"Lack of policy certainty along with upcoming elections are two reasons that the reduction in foreign direct investments can be attributed to," said Sachin Taparia, founder of Local Circles, a network of about 30,000 businesses.
By last fiscal year, ending 31 March, 2018, FDI growth had slowed to just 3%.
"TEMPORARY DIP"
A senior commerce and industry ministry official, who deals with foreign investors, said the fall in investment inflows was temporary and the government expects them to pick up again.
"India has opened up almost all sectors for foreign investors," he said, adding that the government was investing to build infrastructure, particularly roads, ports, railways and power plants, to entice investors.
"Unlike some other countries, we have no plans to offer tax holidays to attract investors," said the official, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to media.
Another government official said India had no plans to give any special treatment to foreign investors, and recent curbs on dubious inflows of funds from tax havens were one of the reasons behind fall in capital inflows.
Some investors, however, said they remain bullish on the world's sixth largest economy.
Blackstone COO Jonathan Gray, who heads the world's largest private equity funds by assets raised, said that India was becoming more attractive to foreign investors under Modi's rule.
This country has lacked infrastructure, not just physical but legal, regulatory, monetary," he said at a conference late last week. "Fortunately, that’s changing.
"There is obviously much more to do: more infrastructure is certainly needed (and) more cohesive and faster regulatory processes. The good news is that this government gets it." (Source: Livemint)


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India's foreign direct investment inflows fall amid pre-election uncertainty.

Mirage 2000 used in air strikes due to high success rate against long range targets - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Mirage 2000 used in air strikes due to high success rate against long range targets.

• The Mirage 2000 is a French multi-role, single-engine fighter jet which is capable of dropping a range of bombs and missiles.
• The Mirage 2000s are fitted with Thales RDY 2 radar which can strike at targets with 100% accuracy.
A fleet of Mirage 2000 deep-penetration fighter jets was chosen for the pre-dawn strike on the biggest terror camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror outfit in Pakistan due to the combat aircraft's capabilities of hitting long-range targets with "pin-point" accuracy and dropping a range of bombs and missiles including laser-guided ones, government sources said.

The JeM had taken responsibility for the February 14 suicide attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
India currently has around three squadrons of Mirage 2000 fighter jets manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation. The squadrons are based in Gwalior.
The Mirage 2000 is a French multi-role, single-engine fighter jet which is capable of dropping a range of bombs and missiles including laser-guided bombs.
The sources said the Mirage 2000 multi-role aircraft was chosen for the strike for its capability to hit targets with "pin-point" accuracy. A number of other assets and platforms of the IAF were also used in the operation, first inside Pakistan after the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
The Mirage 2000s are fitted with Thales RDY 2 radar which can strike at targets with 100% accuracy, said an IAF official on condition of anonymity.
The aircraft was preferred as it is capable of long-range engagement of targets and the assessment was that it can record 100 per cent success rate.
India had inducted the Mirage jets around 30 years back and they are being upgraded at a cost of around ₹20,000 crore.
The sources said India will have a much wider choice of aircraft to carry out precision strikes when Rafale jets are inducted into the IAF as they are capable of hitting targets at longer range. India is procuring 36 Rafale jets at a cost of ₹58,000 crore and the first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in September.
It is not clear whether the fleet of Mirage 2000s flew directly from Gwalior or they took off from other bases to carry out the strike.
In a statement, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said India struck the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot and that a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen action were eliminated.
"This facility at Balakot was headed by Maulana Yosuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghouri, the brother-in-law of Masood Azhar, chief of JeM," he said.
Though there is no official confirmation, sources indicated that Yosuf Azhar was killed in the strike along with 350 other terrorists. He is understood to be involved in the hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in December 1999.
"The Government of India is firmly and resolutely committed to taking all necessary measures to fight the menace of terrorism. Hence this non-military preemptive action was specifically targeted at the JeM camp," said Gokhale.
"The selection of the target was also conditioned by our desire to avoid civilian casualties. The facility is located in thick forest on a hilltop far away from any civilian presence," he added. (Source: Livemint)


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Mirage 2000 used in air strikes due to high success rate against long range targets

Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh adjudged top three states in Water Management - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh adjudged top three states in Water Management.

Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation & Road Transport and Highways & Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari today distributed 82 National Water Awards in 14 categories jointly with Minister of State, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal and Secretary, Shri U.P. Singh at New Delhi.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Gadkari said that India does not have a shortage of water, rather, the management of water is not adequate. He said that a need to institute national level water awards spanning all sectors was strongly felt to encourage people to play their respective roles in conservation of water. Shri Gadkari said that a new vision for entire water resource sector is required and National Water Awards is a good step in this direction.
Listing some of the steps which have been taken for effective management of water in India, Shri Gadkari said that 400 MLD water from Okhla barrage will be treated and will be used for Delhi through Wazirabad barrage. Apart from this, he added, that many projects have been completed under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMSKY). He said that preference is being given to piped irrigation instead of canal irrigation to conserve water and existing canals are also being concretized to avoid wastage of water.
On Clean Ganga Mission, he said that during Kumbh Mela the water was both Nirmal and Aviral and people of India enjoyed the cleanliness. The sighting of dolphins, turtles & birds in Ganga shows that the water quality of the river has improved. While congratulating all the winners and participants, Shri Gadkari sought people’s participation in making the issue of water conservation a public movement. He also acknowledged that groundwater recharge, rejuvenation of water bodies etc. are great challenges.
Minister of State Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal expressed his happiness over National Water Awards which have been resumed after a gap of 12 years and said that this is a very big step to spread awareness about water conservation. While congratulating all the winners, Shri Meghwal urged them to motivate as many people as they can in their respective areas to use water efficiently. He urged the Ministry to hold National Water Awards every year and assured the participants that the next awards will be even better.
In his welcome address, Secretary Shri U.P. Singh said the country is passing through a critical phase as far as water resource is concerned. He said that per capita availability is now one-fourth as compared to Independence and management of water resources is the need-of-the-hour. Talking about the awards he said that around 376 valid entries were received from all over the country and good work should be rewarded. Shri Singh added that as there was a lack of a national level awards covering entire water sector for healthy competition among states, districts and local bodies, the National Water Awards have been instituted. He hoped that more and more people will come forward in future to participate in such events.
In total, the prizes were distributed in 14 categories including best district in six zones (with 3 sub-categories of best district in groundwater recharge, revival of river and creation of water bodies), best state (normal/special), best village panchayat, best municipal corporation, best research/innovation/adaptation of new technology for water conservation, best mass awareness campaign, best TV show for promoting water conservation, best newspaper in Hindi/English/Regional language, best school, best institution for successful campus water usage, best RWA, best organization for religious/recreational & tourism water uses, best industry for industrial water conservation and best water regulatory authority. The prizes include a trophy and citation in all categories. Cash prizes of Rs. 2 lakh, Rs. 1.5 lakh and Rs. 1 lakh for Ist, IInd and IIIrd prize winners respectively were given in some categories.
Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were given first, second and third National Water Awards respectively in best state category. Shri Girish Mahajan, Minister for Medical Education, Water Resources and Command Area Development, Maharashtra government and Shri Ram Shinde, Minister for Water Conservation and Protocol, Maharashtra government received the Award on behalf of the Maharashtra state. The Award for the best water regulatory authority was won by Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority, Pune. A separate category of aspirational district was instituted to focus on water management in these areas.
The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation instituted National Water Awards to emphasize the importance of water resource management in India. The prime objective of these awards is to bring the best efforts being done in water conservation to the national from across the country and encourage all stakeholders including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Gram Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies, Water User Associations, Institutions, Corporate Sector, Individuals etc. to manage their water resources efficiently. (Source:pib)


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Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh adjudged top three states in Water Management.

PM-KISAN: PM Modi launches ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana’ from Gorakhpur, UP - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

PM-KISAN: PM Modi launches ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana’ from Gorakhpur, UP.

Successful Operationalisation of Electronic Transfer of Funds to a Large Number of Farmer Beneficiaries under the Scheme PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) with in a short timeline through Public Finance Management System (PFMS): A Historic Achievement

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched the PM-KISAN Scheme on 24th February 2019 at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh (UP) to electronically transfer the First Installment of Rs 2,021 crore directly into the bank accounts of 1,010,6,880 (One Crore One Lakh Six Thousand Eight Hundred Eighty) Eligible Farmers of 24 States and the Union Territories. Under the Scheme, Rs 6,000 will be given each year to eligible Small and Marginal Farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of up to 2 hectares. The amount will be given in three installments of Rs.2000 each.
The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the Scheme PM-KISAN is being done through the System of Public Finance Management System (PFMS), a web-based payment and MIS IT application of the Government of India administered by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India. DBT process through PFMS ensures digitally authenticated payments, without any manual intervention, directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries in a transparent manner and without any delay. The integration of PFMS with about 273 banks enables validation of bank account details of beneficiaries before making payments directly into their bank accounts. All DBT payments for the Government of India Schemes are being done through PFMS.
For PM-KISAN Scheme, the PFMS team managed the process in the very short time available. The Scheme was announced on 1st February 2019 and by 24th February 2019, the work of Configuration of a Separate Server, Creation of Scheme, Registration of State/UT Agencies, Validation of Bank Accounts of Beneficiaries, Issuance of Payment Orders and Transfer of Funds to Sponsor Banks, NPCI and finally into Beneficiaries’ Accounts was completed in a record time without any slippage. PFMS team was constantly following-up with the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance and 202 banks of beneficiaries, the RBI and NPCI to ensure smooth operationalisation. In the next few weeks, the process of Bank Account Validation and Direct Transfer of First Installment into the bank accounts of all remaining Identified Eligible Beneficiaries (total around 12 crore beneficiaries all across the country) shall be completed. This will be a record Direct Benefit Transfer volume of transactions under any one Scheme of the Government of India.
The successful operationalisation of electronic transfer of funds to a large number of beneficiaries of this magnitude under the Scheme PM-KISAN by PFMS within a very short timeline is a historic achievement of PFMS, which has further reinforced the Digital India initiative of the Government of India.(Source: pib)


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PM-KISAN: PM Modi launches ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana’ from Gorakhpur, UP

Afghanistan Begins Exports to India Through Chabahar Port - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Afghanistan Begins Exports to India Through Chabahar Port.

Afghanistan has started shipping goods to India for the first time through a newly developed Iranian seaport in a bid to improve exports and reduce reliance on routes through its uneasy neighbor, Pakistan.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani traveled Sunday to the western border city of Zaranj to see off the inaugural convoy of 23 trucks loaded with 570 tons of cargo to the Chabahar port in neighboring Iran. The consignment is destined for the Indian port city of Mumbai.
For decades, landlocked Afghanistan has mostly relied on Pakistani land and seaports for international trade. But mutual tensions have in recent years significantly reduced Afghan trade and transit activities through Pakistan.
Addressing the nationally televised ceremony, Ghani credited a “healthy cooperation between India, Iran and Afghanistan” for achieving the milestone. He said the new export route will help improve economic growth in his war-shattered country, saying "Afghanistan is not landlocked anymore."
New Delhi has financed and developed Iran’s Chabahar Port to enable Kabul get direct and easy sea trade access.
India took operational control of a portion of the Iranian port late last year for 18 months and plans to send cargo ships from its ports of Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra every two weeks, according Indian media reports.
The United States last year waived certain anti-Iran sanctions to allow development of Chabahar to support efforts aimed at stabilizing Afghanistan. The waiver has enable India, Iran and Afghanistan to continue their work to establish a new transit and transport corridor linking the three countries to help improve Afghan economy and allow the war-ravaged country to import food and medicines.
India successfully shipped 1.1 million tons of wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar Port in 2017. That year, New Delhi also launched an air corridor with Kabul for bilateral trade.
Indian ambassador to Afghanistan, Vinay Kumar, while addressing Sunday’s ceremony in Zaranj said the air corridor has since helped increased Afghan exports to his country by 40 percent.
China also opened an air corridor with Afghanistan in November and has since imported thousands of tons of Afghan pine nuts, bringing much-need foreign exchange to Kabul. Afghanistan is the largest producer of pine nuts in the world, with an annual output of about 23,000 tons. The increase in exports to China has led to an unusual rise in in prices of pine nuts in Afghanistan, say local traders and consumers.
Pakistan allows Afghanistan to use its seaports for international trade under a bilateral trade and transit agreement. It also allows use of overland routes for Afghan exports to India. However, Islamabad wants improvement in ties with New Delhi before it will allow Indian exports via the same routes back to Afghanistan.


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Afghanistan Begins Exports to India Through Chabahar Port

President promulgates four Ordinances - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

President promulgates four Ordinances.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance, 2019; The Companies (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019; The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019; The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019.

The President of India on the 21st February, 2019 has promulgated the following four Ordinances, namely:––
1. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance, 2019 (Ord. 4 of 2019).
2. The Indian Medical Council (AmendmentThe Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019 has been promulgated to give continued effect to the work already done by the Board of Governors (BOG) as per the provisions of earlier Ordinance. This Ordinance, inter alia, enables the Board of Governors appointed in supersession of the Medical Council of India (MCI) to continue to exercise the powers of MCI for a period of two years or till the Council is reconstituted, whichever is ear
3. The Companies (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019 (Ord. 6 of 2019).
4. The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019 (Ord. 7 of 2019).

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance, 2019 has been promulgated to give continued effect to the provisions brought in by the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2019. This Ordinance, inter alia, declares the practice of triple talaq to be void and illegal and also to make it an offence punishable with imprisonment up to three years and fine.
The Ordinance will protect the rights of married Muslim women and deter the practice of divorce by triple talaq (i.e., talaq –e –biddat). It also provide for payment of subsistence allowance and custody of minor children.
In pursuance of the Government’s objective of providing Ease of Doing Business to Law abiding corporate while simultaneously strengthening the corporate governance and compliance framework enshrined in the Companies Act, 2013, the Companies (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019 has been promulgated with a view, to empower the Central Government to allow certain companies to have a different financial year instead of as determined by the Tribunal. This Ordinance, inter alia, addresses the need to impose civil liability for technical and procedural defaults of a minor nature and to plug the corporate governance and enforcement frame work, through the following: (i) re-categorisation of 16 minor offences as civil defaults which will de-clog special courts; (ii) transfer of certain routine functions such as permitting conversion of a public company into a private company from NCLT to the Central Government; (iii) making non-maintenance of registered office and non-reporting of commencement of business as grounds for striking of from register of companies; and (iv) breach of ceiling on Directorships being made a ground for disqualification; (vi) Enhancing the pecuniary jurisdiction of Regional Director’s for compounding offences under the Companies Act with a view to unburdening the NCLT of routine functions etc.
The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019 has been promulgated to have a central legislation to tackle the menace of illicit deposits taking activities in the country. Presently, non-banking entities are allowed to raise deposits from the public under the provisions of various statutes enacted by the Central Government and State Governments. However, the regulatory frame work for deposit taking activity in the country is not seamless. Despite such diverse regulatory frame work, schemes and arrangements leading to unauthorised collection of money and deposits fraudulently by inducing public to invest in uncertain schemes promising high returns or other benefits are still operating in the society.
This Ordinance, therefore, ensures a comprehensive ban on unregulated deposit taking activity and for its effective enforcement. It aims to prevent such unregulated deposit schemes or arrangements at their inception and at the same time makes soliciting, inviting or accepting deposits pursuant to an unregulated deposited scheme as a punishable offence. The said Ordinance also seeks to put in place a mechanism by which the depositors can be repaid without delay by attaching the assets of the defaulting establishments. (Source:pib)


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President promulgates four Ordinances.

Indus Waters Treaty 1960 : Present Status of Development in India - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Indus Waters Treaty 1960 : Present Status of Development in India.

The Indus system comprises of main Indus River, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The basin is mainly shared by India and Pakistan with a small share for China and Afghanistan.

Under the Indus Waters Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all thewaters of three rivers, namely Ravi,Sutlej and Beas ( Eastern Rivers)averaging around 33 million acre feet ( MAF) were allocated to India for exclusive use.The waters of Western rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab averaging to around 135 MAF were allocated to Pakistan except for specified domestic , non-consumptive and agricultural use permitted to India as provided in the Treaty.

India has also been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run of the river(RoR) projects on the Western Rivers which, subject to specific criteria for design and operation is unrestricted.

PRESENT STATUS OF DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

To utilize the waters of the Eastern rivers which have been allocated to India for exclusive use, India has constructed Bhakra Dam on Satluj, Pong and Pandoh Dam on Beas and Thein (Ranjitsagar) on Ravi. These storage works, together with other works like Beas-Sutlej Link, Madhopur-Beas Link, Indira Gandhi Nahar Project etc has helped India utilize nearly entire share (95 %) of waters of Eastern rivers.However, about 2 MAF of water annually from Ravi is reported to be still flowing unutilized to Pakistan below Madhopur. To stop the flow of these waters that belong to India for its utilization in India, following steps have been taken:

1. Resumption of Construction of Shahpurkandi project: This project will help in utilizing the waters coming out from powerhouse of Thein dam to irrigate 37000 hectares of land in J&K and Punjab and generate 206 MW of power. The project was scheduled to be completed by September 2016. However, following a dispute between the state of J&K and Punjab, the work on the project had been suspended since 30.08.2014. Consequent upon agreement reached on 8 September 2018 between J&K and Punjab . The cost of the project is . 2715.70 Crore. Government of India vide order dated 19 December 2018 has approved the Central Assistance of Rs. 485.38 crore towards balance cost of works of irrigated component of the project. The construction work has now resumed by Govt of Punjab under monitoring of Govt of India.

2. Construction of Ujh multipurpose project: This project will create a storage of about 781 million cu m of water on river Ujh , a tributary of Ravi for irrigation and power generation in India itselfand provide a total irrigation benefits of 31,380 ha in Kathua, Hiranagar and Samba district of J&K apart from providing water for the district Kathua of J&K. The DPR of the project has beentechnically approved for the total estimated cost of Rs.5850 crore (July, 2017) . This project is a National Project and the Central Assistance of Rs. 4892.47 crore on works portion of irrigation component as well as the special grant is under consideration. The implementation of the project will be 6 years from beginning of the implementation.

3. The 2nd Ravi Beas link below Ujh:This project is being planned to tap excess water flowing down to Pakistan through river Ravi, even after construction of Thein Dam, by constructing a barrage across river Ravi for diverting water through a tunnel link to Beas basin. The project is expected to utilize about 0.58 MAF of surplus waters below Ujhdam by diverting the same to Beas basin for benefits of other co-basin states. Govt. of India declared this project as National Project .

The above three projects will help India to utilize its entire share of waters given under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960.

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Indus Waters Treaty 1960 : Present Status of Development in India

On its maiden flight, India's SSLV will carry two defence satellites - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

On its maiden flight, India's SSLV will carry two defence satellites.

The Indian space agency will fly two small defence satellites in July/August on its new rocket --now known as Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) - said a top official of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

"We are planning to fly two defence satellites, each weighing about 120 kg in our new rocket SSLV this July or August. The rocket design recently underwent a detailed integrated technical review," K. Sivan, ISRO Chairman, told IANS on Wednesday.
He said the total weight of the payload that will be carried by the SSLV on its maiden flight will be about 500 kg. While the two satellites would weight about 120 kg each, there will be adaptors and others that would weigh about 300 kg.
The total weight of the rocket will be 110 tonne, Sivan said.
Queried about the need for a second commercial arm - first one is Antrix Corporation - Sivan said: "We want to give a big push for production of SSLV. We expect the demand for SSLV to be about two/three rockets per month. We also want to increase the production of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)."
Sivan said the increase in production is sought to be achieved partnering with the private sector.
He said Antrix Corporation is mainly into transponder leasing and other activities.
On Tuesday, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for setting up of a new company under the Department of Space (DoS), to commercially exploit the research and development work carried out by ISRO and its constituent units.
The following areas/avenues provide opportunities for commercial exploitation of ISRO programmes:
Small satellite technology transfer to industry, wherein the new company shall take licence from DoS/ISRO and sub-license to industries; manufacture of small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV) in collaboration with the private sector.
Besides, productionisation of PSLV through industry; productionisation and marketing of space-based products and services, including launch and applications; transfer of technology developed by ISRO Centres and constituent units of DoS.
Also marketing of some spin-off technologies and products, both in India and abroad; and any other subject which Government of India deems fit.
When asked about the technologies that the ISRO can transfer, Sivan said: "We have developed technologies in materials, chemicals and others. These can be transferred so that people can benefit."
Sivan said the capital for the proposed company will not be large and its name is yet to be finalized.(Source: defencenews.in)


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On its maiden flight, India's SSLV will carry two defence satellites.

France backs India's efforts to list JeM chief Masood Azhar as global terrorist - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

France backs India's efforts to list JeM chief Masood Azhar as global terrorist.

• With France backing India, it puts China, which has repeatedly blocked Azhar’s proscription at the UN, on notice
• At the forthcoming meeting of the Financial Action Task Force in Paris, France will lobby to retain Pakistan on the “grey list”
France is leading Western efforts to collar Pakistan-based terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar whose group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack that killed at least 40 Indian security personnel. France will move a proposal at the UN in a “couple of days" to designate Azhar a global terrorist, a foreign diplomat familiar with the development said on Tuesday.

Besides this, at the forthcoming meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris, France will lobby to retain Pakistan on the “grey list," the diplomat said. The FATF is an inter-governmental body that sets standards and promotes effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.
“At the UN, France will lead a proposal to put Masood Azhar on the terrorist list... It will happen in a couple of days," the diplomat said. The French decision figured in discussions between Philippe Etienne, diplomatic advisor to the French President Emmanuel Macron and India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval by telephone on Tuesday.
France’s backing of India puts China, which has repeatedly blocked Azhar’s proscription at the UN, on notice. Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale had met China’s ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui on Friday to seek Beijing’s cooperation on the matter. News of the French move comes as Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who during a visit to Pakistan on Monday backed Islamabad’s record on fighting terrorism, arrived in New Delhi on a two-day visit on Tuesday. This, along with a reference to Pakistani moves to promote regional peace in the Pakistan-Saudi joint statement, has discomfited India.
But when he landed in New Delhi, the crown prince was received at the airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signalling India would not stick to protocol in its interaction with an important Gulf partner that New Delhi would like to co-opt in its fight against terrorism.
New Delhi had earlier conveyed to the Saudi side that MBS’s India visit immediately on the heels of the Pakistan leg would not be welcome. This prompted the crown prince to go back home and come to India after a day. (Source: Livemint)


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France backs India's efforts to list JeM chief Masood Azhar as global terrorist.

Cabinet approves launch Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Cabinet approves launch Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved launch of Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan with the objective of providing financial and water security to farmers.

The proposed scheme consists of three components:
Component-A:
10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants.
Component-B:
Installation of 17.50 lakh standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps.
Component-C:
Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid-connected Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps.
All three components combined, the scheme aims to add a solar capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022. The total central financial support provided under the scheme would be Rs. 34,422 crore.
The Component-A and Component-C will be implemented on pilot mode for 1000 MW capacity and one lakh grid connected agriculture pumps respectively and thereafter, will be scale-up on success of pilot run. Component-B will be implemented in full-fledged manner.
Under Component A, Renewable power plants of capacity 500 KW to 2 MW will be setup by individual farmers/ cooperatives/panchayats /farmer producer organisations (FPO) on their barren or cultivable lands. The power generated will be purchased by the DISCOMs at Feed in tariffs determined by respective SERC. The scheme will open a stable and continuous source of income to the rural land owners. Performance Based Incentives @ Rs. 0.40 per unit for five years to be provided to DISCOMs.
Under Component B, individual farmers will be supported to install standalone solar pumps of capacity up to 7.5 HP. Solar PV capacity in kW equal to the pump capacity in HP is allowed under the scheme.
Under Component C of the scheme, individual farmers will be supported to solarise pumps of capacity up to 7.5 HP. Solar PV capacity up to two times of pump capacity in kW is allowed under the scheme. The farmer will be able to use the generated energy to meet the irrigation needs and the excess available energy will be sold to DISCOM. This will help to create an avenue for extra income to the farmers, and for the States to meet their RPO targets.
For both Component-B and Component-C, central financial assistance (CFA) of 30% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower, will be provided. The State Government will give a subsidy of 30%; and the remaining 40% will be provided by the farmer. Bank finance may be made available for meeting 30% of the cost. The remaining 10% will be provided by the farmer. Higher CFA of 50% will be provided for North Eastern States, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and A&N Islands.
The Scheme will have substantial environmental impact in terms of savings of CO2 emissions. All three components of the Scheme combined together are likely to result in saving of about 27 million tonnes of CO2 emission per annum. Further, Component-B of the Scheme on standalone solar pumps may result in saving of 1.2 billion liters of diesel per annum and associated savings in the foreign exchange due to reduction of import of crude oil.
The scheme has direct employment potential. Besides increasing self-employment the proposal is likely to generate employment opportunity equivalent to 6.31 lakh job years for skilled and unskilled workers. (Source:pib)


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Cabinet approves launch Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan.

Angel tax relief for startups: Funding cap for exemption raised to Rs 25 cr - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Angel tax relief for startups: Funding cap for exemption raised to Rs 25 cr.

The angel tax is levied on start-ups that have received an equity infusion in excess of the fair valuation, with the premium being paid by the investors as their income

Bowing to sustained pressure from start-ups and venture capital funds over the so-called angel tax, the government on Tuesday eased tax norms for new businesses in a bid to boost investment and job creation.
The angel tax is levied on start-ups that have received equity infusion in excess of the fair valuation, with the premium being paid by investors as their income. It was introduced in the 2012-13 Budget by the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to curb money laundering .
The government has allowed start-ups that have raised capital up to Rs 25 crore to claim tax benefits, as against Rs 10 crore earlier. It has also announced a slew of waivers and a definition tweak in line with demands from the sector. Exemptions have been allowed for investments by non-resident Indians and alternative investment funds (AIFs) as well as for the infusion of capital into start-ups in the form of equity stake in a listed company, according to the latest norms issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
An entity will now be considered a start-up for 10 years from its date of incorporation and registration as compared to seven years earlier, which will allow it to avail tax benefits for a longer period. The change in definition will also see firms with up to Rs 100-crore annual turnover to be considered a start-up as compared to Rs 25 crore earlier.
Industry experts claimed that considering the uproar from the start-up community on the alleged levy of angel tax by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on certain start-ups, the recent reforms were announced by the DPIIT to enable start-ups to get exemptions on investments under Section 56(2)(viib) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
“At present, an investor needs to have an average returned income of Rs 50 lakh for the financial year preceding the date of tax filings for availing the benefits of angel tax exemptions. This may be raised further,” a DPIIT official said.

A survey conducted by the Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (IVCA) — a lobby group representing investors — has shown that over 2,000 start-ups have received notices from the tax department.
“Two types of tax notices were sent -- notices initiating assessment and raising demand. The new notification will not cover those notices where tax demand has already been raised, which were barely 100. We have asked officials to not enforce the recovery of demand,” CBDT member Akhilesh Ranjan said.
“The exclusion of certain investments from the computation of Rs 25 crore ensures that such eligible start-ups have a broader base of domestic investors from whom investment may be sought without having to worry about the risk of paying angel tax. Another critical change involves the filing of a self-certified declaration by such eligible start-ups with the DPIIT, as against seeking approval from the CBDT,” said Atul Pandey, partner at Khaitan & Co.
According to the new norms, any motor vehicle, aircraft, yacht or any other mode of transport the actual cost of which exceeds Rs 10 lakh would bring a start-up in the tax net. Industry experts believe that this move has been made to prevent any sort of money laundering. “This will not have any impact on real start-ups. It is to prevent people from opening shell companies and showing expensive buys to launder money as office expenses,” Saurabh Srivastava, chairman, Indian Angel Network. Also, if any company invests in a building or land, apart from the one being used by it, would not get any exemptions.
Venture capital firms complain that the new rules do little to help them since only start-ups approved by the DPIIT would be eligible.
‘Gone beyond angel tax issues’
DPIIT Secretary Ramesh Abhishek said, “We have gone far beyond angel tax issues. Angel investors generally put in around Rs 3, 4 or 5 crore. The new Rs 25 crore limit is much more than that and will cover all investments by promoters, their friends, relatives and batchmates. Also, all investments made by listed companies into start-ups are without any limit. Their investment will not be considered part of the Rs 25 crore. This will encourage more Indian investments and Indian ownership.”
Experts believe that while increasing the company turnover threshold from Rs 25 crore to Rs 100 crore would help larger start-ups, many of these reliefs would require amendments in the Income Tax Act and the start-ups may have to wait till that time.
“No relief is proposed in respect of Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. So start-ups will continue to carry the onus to establish the genuineness of the source of the investment made by investors, failing which the sums received on share application can be taxed by the department,” said S Vasudevan, partner, Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Attorneys. (Source: The Business Standard)


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Angel tax relief for startups: Funding cap for exemption raised to Rs 25 cr.

India, Saudi Arabia to launch Strategic Partnership Council - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India, Saudi Arabia to launch Strategic Partnership Council.

India and Saudi Arabia will launch a mechanism for coordinated decisions regarding strategically important issues, sources said on Monday. The announcement came a day before the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman arrives here as part of his tour of Asia, where he chose Pakistan as his first destination.

“India and Saudi Arabia have a strong independent strategic partnership and it will be further strengthened with the launching of the Strategic Partnership Council that will cover critical areas of mutual interest,” said a source. The Ministry of External Affairs, NITI Aayog and other government agencies are expected to be the constituent units of this council.
The visit has acquired greater attention here as Prince Mohammed Bin Salman declared himself an “ambassador of Pakistan” during his Islamabad visit. The Prince is coming to India on his first state visit.
One of the Saudi investments in Pakistan’s Gwadar port has also drawn attention here as it is a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, of which India disapproves. Regarding the investment, the official said stakeholders in this case are aware of India’s objections.
The Pakistan visit by Prince Mohammed brought investment of $20 billion, even as India had begun to campaign for international isolation of the country after the Pulwama attack. But the official said Pakistan should be worried about its economic condition. “Saudi investment to India is not a bailout for the Indian economy,” said the official, contrasting the coming India-Saudi agreements with the Gulf country’s investment in Pakistan.
The official said Saudi Arabia has displayed greater appreciation of India’s concerns regarding cross-border terrorism as recently seen in the Pulwama attack. “The Saudi understanding of terrorism has evolved and they have a far better understanding of terrorism in Kashmir. They are aware of the bilateral nature of the issue,” said the official.(Source: The Hindu)


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India, Saudi Arabia to launch Strategic Partnership Council.

After Kerala, Punjab and Gujarat to get PMRU - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

After Kerala, Punjab and Gujarat to get PMRU.

It will monitor prices of medicines and ensure their availability

After Kerala, it is now the turn of Punjab and Gujarat to have Price Monitoring & Research Unit (PMRU), set up by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) in collaboration with the Department of Health and State Drug Controller.

The government has announced that more States are in the process of setting PMRUs.
Earlier this year, Kerala became the first State to set up a price monitoring and research unit to track violation of prices of essential drugs and medical devices under the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO). PMRU is aimed at monitoring the notified prices of medicines, detection of violation of the provisions of DPCO (revised from time to time), pricing compliance and ensuring availability of medicines, among other objectives.
The units will function under the direct supervision of the State drug controller, explained a senior official. He said the PMRU scheme had been in the pipeline for quite some time and the draft scheme was ready way back in 2015. According to the draft, “in the first year, 90 per cent of the non-recurring expenses and six months’ advance for recurring expenses would be released as first instalment to those States or UTs that desire to set up the PMRUs.”
Meanwhile, for the purpose of staffing and providing the required infrastructure to the PMRU, it has been proposed to categorise States/ UTs into three categories: States/ UTs having population of more than 3% of total population, States/ UTs having population of less than 3% but more than 1% of the total population; and those having a population of less than 1% of the total population, said the senior official.
He said each PMRU would have to get the audit done annually. Release of further grants would depend upon the performance, actual expenditure and production of utilisation certificate of funds received (duly signed by SDC in the format prescribed by the Government of India for this purpose) in the previous year. (Source: The Hindu)


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Union Home Minister to launch various women safety initiatives - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Union Home Minister to launch various women safety initiatives.

Emergency Response Support System to be launched in 16 States/UTs and Mumbai Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) and Safe City Implementation Monitoring Portal also to be launched.

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh will launch various initiatives for women safety here tomorrow. These initiatives will include launch of Emergency Response Support System in 16 states/UTs and Mumbai city, Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) and Safe City Implementation Monitoring Portal. The 16 states/UTs are Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, UP, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman, Dadar Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, J&K.

To provide effective deterrence against the offence of rape, the Government has enacted the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018. And for effective implementation of the Act the measures to strengthen investigation and prosecution machinery and to instil a sense of security amongst women, Government is launching these initiatives.
Emergency Response Support System (ERSS)
The Union Home Minister will launch the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS). The ERSS is a pan-India single number (112) based response system for persons in distress. A citizen may use the following methods to access the emergency services:
a. Dial 112 from phone
b. Press power button on smart phone 3 time quickly to activate panic call to ERC.
c. In case of feature phone, long press of “5” or “9” key on the phone will activate the panic call.
d. Log onto ERSS website for the State and lodge emergency
e. Email SOS alert to State ERC
f. Use 112 India Mobile App, which is available free on Google Playstore and Apple store.
Under this system, all the states have to set up a dedicated Emergency Response Centre (ERC). It will have a team of trained Call-takers and Dispatchers to handle emergency requests relating to assistance from Police, Fire & Rescue, Health and other emergency services. Police can view all events after an Emergency call is made at the ERC. The ERCs are connected to District Command Centres (DCC) and the Emergency Response Vehicles, and assistance/response to victims are facilitated through them. ERSS is designed to be a common protocol managed by each State/UT. ERSS also provides a 112 India mobile App for making distress calls by any person. For Women and children, 112 India App provides a special SHOUT feature which alerts registered volunteers in the vicinity of victim for immediate assistance. The Central Government is funding Rs.321.69 crore to the States/UTs for ERSS as part of Nirbhaya scheme project. The service has already been launched in Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO)
Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh will also launch the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) on the occasion. The ITSSO is meant for Law Enforcement Agencies in the country. The Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) is an online module available to law enforcement agencies at all levels- National, State, District and Police Station that allows State to undertake real-time monitoring and management for completion of investigation in rape cases in 2 months. It leverages the existing CCTNS data base, which covers nearly 15000 police stations in the country. ITSSO would greatly strengthen States ability for analytics and prognosis for timely investigation and prosecution in rape cases.
The Criminal Law Amendment in April 2018 prescribes stringent penal provisions including death penalty for rape of a girl below the age of 12 years. For swift administration of justice in such cases, the Act also inter-alia mandates completion of investigation and trials within 2 months. To enhance women safety in the country, Government has formulated a multi-pronged action plan and initiated a series of measures. ITSSO is one of such measures developed by MHA towards Smart Policing.
Safe City Implementation Monitoring (SCIM) portal
In order to instil sense of security in women in metro cities, Government has identified eight cities for implementation of Safe City projects in first phase at a cost of Rs.2,919 crore. The cities are Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow & Mumbai. The projects are funded under Nirbhaya Fund scheme. The projects have been prepared jointly by Municipal bodies and City Police and reflect integrated action for safety of women. Safe City projects involves creation of on-ground assets, resources & behaviour change programs for safety of women. The projects will supplement existing assets and meet citizen demands for safe eco-system for women in these cities.
Important features of the Safe City projects include:
a. Identification of crime Hot-spots in each city.
b. Saturating such Hot-spots with increased CCTV surveillance.
c. Automated Number Plate Reading (ANPR) and drone-based surveillance also being deployed in few cities as per requirement.
d. Setting up women police out-posts for facilitating ease of access by any aggrieved woman to report incidence or seek assistance.
e. Patrols by Women police in vulnerable areas.
f. Setting up Women Help Desks in Police Stations with facility for trained Counsellors.
g. Augmentation of existing women support centers like Asha Jyoti Kendra or Bharosa centers etc.
h. Implementing Safety measures in buses, including Cameras.
a. Improving Street Lighting in identified Hot Spot areas.
j. Setting up Toilets for women.
k. Undertaking social awareness programmes on women safety and gender sensitivity
All the above measures would be coordinated through an Integrated Smart Control Room in the city. In order to facilitate States to monitor and manage the Safe City projects and avoid duplication on ground, an online Safe City Implementation Monitoring (SCIM) portal has been developed by MHA. SCIM will facilitate online tracking of deployment of assets and infrastructure created under the Safe City projects. SCIM facilitates an evidence based online monitoring system. Details on assets and infrastructure are captured along with latitude and longitude using GPS for greater transparency. SCIM also creates a digital repository of assets, infrastructure and social outreach programs, as well as best practices achieved in each City.
During the event, the Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh will also make an announcement of a special project under Nirbhaya Fund for strengthening DNA analysis capacities in the State Forensic Science Laboratories of four States of Tamil Nadu (Chennai and Madurai), Uttar Pradesh ( Lucknow and Agra), West Bengal (Kolkata) and Maharashtra ( Mumbai) during the event. (Source: pib)


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Union Home Minister to launch various women safety initiatives.

RBI approves 28,000 crore interim dividend to the government - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

RBI approves 28,000 crore interim dividend to the government.

• RBI board approves ₹28,000 crore ($4 billion) as interim dividend
• This is the second straight year that RBI has announced an advance payment to the Narendra Modi government
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday approved an early transfer of a part of its profit to the government, which is desperate for cash to fund populist pledges ahead of a national election.

The RBI board, approved ₹28,000 crore ($4 billion) as interim dividend, according to a statement. This is the second straight year that the RBI has announced an advance payment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
In approving the measure, RBI is emulating Turkey’s central bank that came to the aid of its government before municipal elections in March seen as a referendum on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rule. The RBI dividend will help Modi’s government partly bridge a budget gap and could be key to funding an income support programme for farmers ahead of a national vote due by May.
The government needs cash after allocating ₹20,000 crore toward the first installment of the $10.5 billion programme by 31 March. The cash support—handing about 120 million farmers with up to 2 hectares (4.9 acres) three payments of₹2,000 per year—was Modi’s last attempt at reversing fortunes after his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost control of three key states in regional elections in December.
The transfer is “based on a limited audit review and after applying the extant economic capital framework," the central bank said in a statement. The central bank’s financial year runs from July to June.
The government has, in all, budgeted ₹74,140 crore in dividends from RBI and public sector banks in the year ending 31 March and has penciled in ₹82,910 crore for the next year.
Public standoff
The demand on RBI for more dividends and to part with a greater share of its capital has been a contentious issue between the central bank and the government. It resulted in a public standoff last year and is seen as one of the reasons for the abrupt exit of then governor Urjit Patel.
The finance ministry has asked the central bank to transfer about ₹27,000 crore of surplus capital withheld by it in the previous two financial years. Separately, finance ministry officials estimate RBI has at least ₹3.6 trillion more capital than it needs, which they say can be used to help bolster weak Indian banks.
However, a recent study by the Centre for Advanced Financial Research and Learning, a Mumbai-based think tank, showed the central bank has insufficient capital, and much less a surplus to hand over to the government. (Source: livemint)


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RBI approves 28,000 crore interim dividend to the government.

Iran to promote Chabahar as curbs will hit main port - Global meet on February 26 to project potential - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Iran to promote Chabahar as curbs will hit main port - Global meet on February 26 to project potential.

Global meet on February 26 to project potential.

With U.S. sanctions threatening Iran’s main port of Bandar Abbas, the Iranian government is planning to promote the Chabahar port being developed by India in a major conference on February 26, highlighting the potential of the Indian Ocean port beyond India-Afghan trade alone.

India is sending an official delegation to the event led by the Shipping Ministry, where about 200 guests from 35 countries have been invited, officials said.

The event will also bring into focus a tightrope India must walk, with the U.S. tensions with Iran on one side, in order to achieve the triple aims of trade with Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan and posing a counter to the China-Pakistan developed Gwadar port nearby.

Focal point

“The government of Iran wants to build Chabahar as the focal point with the entire coastline of 1,000 kilometres to be developed for oil refineries, petrochemical and steel factories, and other projects,” the newly appointed Iranian Ambassador to India Ali Chegeni told.

The potential for inland trade, according to Mr. Chegeni, goes well beyond the present plan of trade from India-Afghanistan via Chabahar, as he revealed the government’s plans to connect ‘via Turkmenistan to Central Asia, via Turkey to Europe, and via Iraq to Syria and the Mediterranean’ countries. “Once the railroad from Chabahar connects to Zahedan, many more opportunities will open up,” he said.

MoU signed

India has committed to building the 500-kilometre $1.6 billion railway from Chabahar to Zahedan, which are both in the Sistan-Baluchistan province, and an MoU worth $2 billion was signed by the Railway Ministry last February during Iran President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to India.

In addition, Iran is planning a second airport near Chabahar and the development of a free trade zone, while energy infrastructure of a gas pipeline has been already built up to 200 km of Chabahar.

Asked about the impact of sanctions, re-imposed in November 2018, Mr. Chegeni pointed out that the advantage of Chabahar was that it had received a waiver from the U.S.

“Firstly, there is a U.S. waiver for Chabahar, and it is not time-bound. In any case, we don’t care about sanctions from third parties. This is our country and our business, and we continue to do our best to develop it,” Mr. Chegeni said. “That is why Chabahar won’t be affected by these sanctions. There is now a real interest from Central Asia, countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan are all contacting us despite all the restrictions, and India is continuing to develop [Chabahar port],” he added.

MEA officials dealing with the Chabahar project are advising some caution in the plans, given that the U.S. waiver for Chabahar was given by the Trump administration to facilitate trade to Afghanistan.

“This exception relates to reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan. These activities are vital for the ongoing support of Afghanistan’s growth and humanitarian relief,” the State Department spokesman had said, announcing the waiver on November 7 last year.

As a result, India is hoping that the February 26 event does not turn into a confrontation between the U.S. and Iran, said a senior official of the MEA. “We want all countries, including the U.S. to understand the value of the Chabahar facility not just for trade with Afghanistan, but for soft aid and humanitarian relief for Iranians,” the official said.

Trilateral cooperation

India, Iran and Afghanistan have also stepped up work on trilateral cooperation to facilitate trade through Chabahar, after India sent a trial shipment of 100 MT of wheat to Kabul via the port last year. Since the port was officially opened on December 3, more than 135 containers have been processed at the Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantri terminals, MEA officials said.

Officials from India, Iran and Afghanistan also opened the office of the India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), and India has subsequently taken over the logistics and cargo handling services of the port. Iranian bank Pasargard is expected to begin operations at a branch in Mumbai to handle transactions along with the UCO bank branch in Teheran, while the Afghan Ghazanfar Bank is in the final phase of clearances to set up a branch in Chabahar, said officials.

The push for Chabahar, which allows India to bypass Pakistan for trade to Afghanistan is likely to be speeded up, as the government looks at all diplomatic options to “isolate Pakistan” post the Pulwama attack. On February 13, 27 border soldiers of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) were killed in a similar suicide car bombing in the Sistan Baluchistan province that borders Pakistan. The group identified as responsible, Jaish-e-Adl (JA), also runs bases in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province. (Source: The Hindu)

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Iran to promote Chabahar as curbs will hit main port - Global meet on February 26 to project potential.

Govt eases green clearance norms for captive power plants - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Govt eases green clearance norms for captive power plants.

• The exemption to industries having potential for heat recovery has been given to promote energy conservation
• This exemption was so far given to thermal power plants using waste heat boilers without any auxiliary fuel
The Centre has exempted industries like steel, cement and metal from mandatory prior environment clearance for setting up a new or expanding the existing captive power plant employing waste heat recovery boilers (WHRB) without using any auxiliary fuel.

The exemption to industries having potential for heat recovery has been given to promote energy conservation and reduce green house gas emissions, according to an order.
This exemption was so far given to thermal power plants using waste heat boilers without any auxiliary fuel.
Prior environment clearance will not be required for setting up of new or expansion of captive power plants employing WHRB without using any auxiliary fuel, in the existing cement plants, integrated steel plants, metallurgical industries and other industries having potential for heat recovery, the order said.
The objective was to promote energy conservation, reduce green house emissions and, in larger interest of the environment including climate change, it added.
The Union Environment Ministry has amended the norms and issued a fresh order following several representations from the industry, according to the order. (Source: Livemint)


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Govt eases green clearance norms for captive power plants.

Why the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme will be hard to implement - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Why the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme will be hard to implement.

What does the scheme offer?

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, announced in the Budget earlier this month, aims to give ₹6,000 a year to 12 crore farmer families who own up to two hectares of cultivable land.

What are the challenges?
The number of beneficiaries comes from the number of land holdings of two hectares or less, according to the last agricultural land census. However, the guidelines say a single family may hold multiple land parcels, which will be pooled to determine their eligibility for the benefit. Similarly, even landholdings bigger than two hectares, if owned by multiple families, will make them eligible for the scheme. For example, if five brothers jointly own a single 10 hectare holding, each of them will be eligible for the scheme. However, if the members of a single family unit each own three one-hectare holdings, they will not be eligible. “This is a mess,” says Vikas Rawal, a professor at JNU’s Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, who specialises in agriculture economics. He says it will be difficult to use existing land records to determine beneficiaries. “Land records are held individually. How do you know which family holds how much land?” For the purposes of this scheme, family units are being defined as a husband, wife and minor children. Local administrations are more familiar with the unit of the household — which is used by most other government surveys and schemes — defined as a group living together and eating meals from a common kitchen.
What is the status of land records?
States have been implementing the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme for more than a decade. While several States claim to have completed computerisation of their land records, others have not even begun the process. However, digitisation does not mean the data have been updated. Experts say many land records are updated only when the land is sold and only if the transaction is legally registered. Inherited land may still be registered in a parent or grandparent’s name. Multiple government departments hold the documents required to establish land ownership — the Registration Department maintains sale deeds, but maps are kept by the Survey Department, while the Revenue Department keeps property tax receipts. Verifying ownership claims is thus a daunting task. States have been asked to overhaul their land databases immediately in preparation for the scheme, which aims to pay out its first instalment of ₹2,000 by March 31, before the Lok Sabha election.
What happened in Telangana?
However, the example of Telangana shows this may be an unrealistic time line. Despite an advanced state of progress in digitisation, the State took over three months to update its databases before implementing its own farmer income support scheme before its Assembly election last year. Since its payout was given per acre owned, rather than per family unit, it was a simpler process to identify beneficiaries on the basis of land records. Yet, researchers say almost 10 lakh beneficiaries — of a total 54 lakh — were left out of the initial instalment, as the State scrambled to update records.
What about community farmers?
The scheme notes that land ownership rights are community-based in many northeastern States and promises that an alternative method of beneficiary identification will be developed. However, many Adivasi communities in other States also cultivate land without individual rights, and may be left out of the scheme, although they are among the most vulnerable. Tenant farmers are also not included in the scheme, as they do not own the land they cultivate. With tenancy being as high as 60% in some areas, this could lead to resentment if absentee landlords receive benefits under the scheme.
Is payment infrastructure in place?
The government intends to pay beneficiaries through a direct transfer to their bank accounts. From the second instalment, Aadhaar numbers will be compulsory to access benefits. Previous welfare schemes requiring Aadhaar verification have faced significant hurdles in some rural areas. (Source: The Hindu)


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Why the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme will be hard to implement.

What is National Security Act? - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

What is National Security Act?.

What is it?

On February 8, the Congress-led government in Madhya Pradesh invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against three men accused of killing a cow near Kharkhali village. This and a spate of recent cases, in which different State governments have invoked the stringent provisions of the NSA to detain citizens for questionable offences, have brought the focus back on the potential abuse of the controversial law. Put simply, the NSA empowers the Centre or a State government to detain a person to prevent him from acting in any manner prejudicial to national security. The government can also detain a person to prevent him from disrupting public order or for maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community. The maximum period for which one may be detained is 12 months. But the term can be extended if the government finds fresh evidence.

How did it come about?
Preventive detention laws in India date back to early days of the colonial era when the Bengal Regulation III of 1818 was enacted to empower the government to arrest anyone for defence or maintenance of public order without giving the person recourse to judicial proceedings. A century later, the British government enacted the Rowlatt Acts of 1919 that allowed confinement of a suspect without trial. Post-independence India got its first preventive detention rule when the government of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru enacted the Preventive Detention Act of 1950. The NSA is a close iteration of the 1950 Act. After the Preventive Detention Act expired on December 31, 1969, the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, brought in the controversial Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) in 1971 giving similar powers to the government. Though the MISA was repealed in 1977 after the Janata Party came to power, the successive government, led by Mrs. Gandhi, brought in the NSA.
Why does it matter?
In the normal course, if a person is arrested, he or she is guaranteed certain basic rights. These include the right to be informed of the reason for the arrest. Section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.PC) mandates that the person arrested has to be informed of the grounds of arrest, and the right to bail. Sections 56 and 76 of the Cr. PC also provides that a person has to be produced before a court within 24 hours of arrest. Additionally, Article 22(1) of the Constitution says an arrested person cannot be denied the right to consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice. But none of these rights are available to a person detained under the NSA. A person could be kept in the dark about the reasons for his arrest for up to five days, and in exceptional circumstances not later than 10 days. Even when providing the grounds for arrest, the government can withhold information which it considers to be against public interest to disclose. The arrested person is also not entitled to the aid of any legal practitioner in any matter connected with the proceedings before an advisory board, which is constituted by the government for dealing with NSA cases.
What lies ahead?
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which collects and analyses crime data in the country, does not include cases under the NSA in its data as no FIRs are registered. Hence, no figures are available for the exact number of detentions under the NSA. In January, the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh arrested three persons under the NSA in connection with an alleged cow-slaughter incident in Bulandshahr. In December last year, a Manipur journalist, who had posted an alleged offensive Facebook post on the Chief Minister, was detained for 12 months under the NSA. Experts say these cases point to the fact that governments sometimes use it as an extra-judicial power. It is time to reconsider the law, they argue, because in four decades of its existence, the NSA has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. (Source: The Hindu)


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What is National Security Act?.