Gujarat Affairs
Industries seek policy push in Gujarat budget for infrastructure boost
As theGujaratgovernment gears up to present its budget on March 3, manufacturing as well as <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Services-sector”>services sector representatives have high hopes pinned for major policy boost and development to give the Industry a much-needed push. With Covid-19 cases receding and the third wave leaving a little impact, the industrial recovery continued to remain on track.
Consequently, industries across Gujarat want the states budget to focus on a greater policy boost to accelerate the pace of recovery.
Rajkot is a hub of engineering manufacturing units and as manufacturers are poised for expansion, representatives have sought that more GIDCs must be set up so that new businesses can build base. Paresh Vasani, president, Rajkot Engineering Association, said, More GIDCs must come up so that new players get land at a concessional rate to undertake expansion of existing businesses and even fresh greenfield investments.
With several IT and hardware component manufacturing companies mushrooming in Rajkot, the industry players have also been seeking that the State Government announces the establishment of an IT park. The government has also identified three locations around Rajkot for that park. However, they are waiting for the official announcement.
Slow recovery in demand since the pandemic coupled with a steep rise in raw material costs has plagued the textile manufacturers across Gujarat, impacting their profitability and denting their revenues.
Industries, therefore, have sought policy support to help accelerate recovery and Growth. Chintan Thaker, chairman, Assocham, Gujarat, said, Gujarat Textile Policy-2019 should be replaced with a policy in line with Gujarat Textile Policy-2012. The previous policy led to a capital infusion of more than Rs 30,000 crore.
The new policy has lesser incentives. At a time when the industry needs a push for revival, the government must consider revising the textile policy.
Surats man-made fibre industry on the other hand is also seeking that a dedicated textile park is set up under Mega Integrated Textile Re- gion and Apparel (MITRA) Parks.
Surat is one of the main contenders to get a MITRA park for which multiple proposals were made by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI).
Cost of new projects to go up by 20% in Gujarat
State governments order to immediatelydouble jantri rateswill impact upcoming projects the most, say realty experts.
Amount of paid FSI and NA premium will be doubled which will raise a question on the viability of a project. On the other hand, redevelopment deals of various societies will also be put on hold due to non-viability following increase in FSI rates. Experts believe the new projects will be costlier by 20% while the commercial segment will be hit the most.
Increase injantri rateswill affect redevelopment projects as well. Double jantri will make redevelopment agreement cost double for builders which is 5% of jantri rates.
National and International Affairs
Free medical camp marks National Safety Day celebrations
A free Health camp was conducted for the workers and supervisory staff involved in the works related to the water conveyor system under the Kaleshwaram lift Irrigation project at Namapur village in Pegadapalli mandal of Jagtial district.
According to a press release, the free health camp was conducted by the executing agency concerned on the occasion of the National Safety Day.
More than 300 persons availed the free Services offered by a team of doctors at the medical camp.
NCB to hire experts, firms to help in probe into drug crimes
The Control Bureau (NCB) will hire experts and firms dealing with financial data analysis and forensic audit to augment its probe in sophisticated drug crimes that involve use of the dark web, cryptocurrencies and deals concealed through layered transactions.
The NCB has issued a notice for empanelment of consultancy agencies which would be required to help it in “unearthing the chain of transactions for drug Money and provide effective guidance in financial investigation matters.”
The experts will also assist NCB sleuths in conducting forensic audits, scrutiny of reports and documents and analysing bank statements, and property transactions to unearth the illegal income of an accused, associates and family members.
NariShakti Varta
UNICEF YuWaah facilitated the NaariShakti conversation, on STEM and Financial Literacy for Young Women. STEM refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
The event was part of the Ministry of Women and Child Developments Iconic Week celebrating International Womens Day under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Union Minister for Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani participated in the event.
YuWaah is a UNICEF-initiated multi-stakeholder global platform. It aims to prepare young people to transition from Education and Learning to productive work and active .
New intitatives for plastic waste :Sambhav and Svavlamban
Sambhav and Svavlamban initiatives were launched by Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs),Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, at the International Summit on Plastics Recycling and Waste Management.
The Sambhav and Svavlamban initiatives and the summit will have multiple benefits i.e. formalizing the informal waste sector, job creation in the MSME sector, and reduction in plastic waste.
These initiatives aim to encourage young entrepreneurs, especially from the aspirational districts of India.
India, US hold 19th military cooperation meeting to boost defence engagements
The two-day-long 19th military cooperation meeting between India and the US has ended in Agra in Uttar Pradesh, the DEFENCE Ministry stated.
The India-US military cooperation group is a forum established to progress defence cooperation between the countries through regular talks at the strategic and operational levels between Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff and the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Defence Ministry mentioned.
China hikes military spending by 7.1%, announces 5.5% GDP target
China announced a 7.1% hike in its DEFENCE spending as well as an annual GDP Growth target of around 5.5% for the coming year.
Chinas Premier and second-ranked leader Li Keqiang announced the GDP target at the opening of the week-long session of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) or Parliament, which approves policies for the coming year.
A draft budget, which the NPC will approve, said defence spending would be hiked by 7.1% to 1.45 trillion Yuan or around $ 230 billion. The military budget was hiked by 6.8% last year when it crossed the $200 billion mark for the first time. Indias military spending this year was announced as around $70 billion, a 4.4% hike from the previous year, although a greater share of Indias defence spending goes towards imports and pensions.
No permission needed to develop infra on forest areas: Green Min to Rlys
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change has clarified that the railways does not need to seek permission to develop Infrastructure on its land in forest areas, after its contradictory orders on the issue created confusion in many states.
This paves the way for the national transporter to execute infrastructure projects even in sensitive forest areas without seeking permission from the Centre.
DGCA nod for HALs new plane Hindustan 228-201
In a boost to aviation sector, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) has approved a new variant of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s aircraft ‘Hindustan 228-201 LW.’
Giving details of the nod, the public sector aerospace conglomerate said on Monday, this variant has maximum take-off weight of 5,695 kg with 19 passenger capability. With this modification, the aircraft would fall in the Sub 5,700 kg aircraft category, the Hal said.
E-Sanjeevani app’s 10 cr reach reflects power of India’s digital revolution
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the contribution made by E-Sanjeevani app towards treating 10 crore patients by way of tele and video consultations as he spoke on various issues including Swachh Bharat Mission, Tribeni Kumbh Mahotsav, and Ustad Bismillah Khan Youth Award.
The Prime Minister said the country has seen that in the time of Corona, E-Sanjeevani played a pivotal role in giving contact less treatment to the virus affected patients.
Centre directs States to expedite energy efficiency activities in mission mode
The Centre and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) have directed state governments to expedite energy efficiency activities on a mission mode.
In accordance with the Government of Indias policy to increase energy efficiency and substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by achieving the countrys <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change targets (Panchamrit), the Union Ministry of Power-led BEE has emphasized the need for all state designated agencies to engage deeply in the energy efficiency movement on a mission mode.
1D Wormhole Corrosion : New Form Of Corrosion
This type of corrosion is characterized by a wormhole-like 1D morphology that can serve as a mass-flow pathway.
The discovery of this type of corrosion is significant for the understanding of material degradation mechanisms in molten salt environments, particularly in relation to next-generation nuclear power Plants that use molten salts as coolants.
The 1D wormhole corrosion is a highly localized form of penetrating corrosion that occurs in a nickel-chromium Alloy when exposed to molten fluoride salt.
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