HIMACHAL PRADESH
Finance panel okays Rs 11,431 cr for Himachal Pradesh
The favourable recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, granting Rs 11,431 crore as the annual revenue deficit grant for 2020-21, to Himachal have come as a major relief, considering the grim financial health of the state.
In the commission report, Himachal will receive the highest revenue deficit grant in the country after Kerala which will be given Rs 15,323 crore.
The projected annual growth rate of comparable GSDP for Himachal has been put at 10.3 per cent for 2020-21 as compared to 9.3 per cent for 2019-20. A grant of Rs 207 crore will also be made for urban local bodies.
The commission has also restored the budgetary allocation to zila parishads and block development committees (BDC), which had been stopped by the previous Finance Commission. During the last five years, the direct budgetary allocation was being made only to panchayats.
There has also been a hike of almost 40 per cent in the disaster relief fund being provided by the Centre. Sources in the government said this would rake in an additional amount of almost Rs 450 crore to Himachal.
Forest cover was used as a criterion in the devolution formula for the first time by the 14th commission on the grounds that while the forest cover maintained by states provide ecological benefits, it also imposes opportunity costs that need to be compensated.
INTERNATIONAL
Russia S-400 missiles air defence systems to be delivered to India by 2025
Russia started production of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems for India. The five units will be delivered to India by 2025.
The S-400 air defence missile systems are among the best in the world. This will significantly bolster India’s air defence mechanism. In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal to buy the air defence missile systems.The S-400, an upgraded version of the S-300 previously been available to the Russian defence forces.
It is manufactured by Almaz-Antey and has been in service in Russia since 2007.The Triumf interceptor-based missile system can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km. S-400 is known as Russia most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.The US imposed sanctions on Russia under the stringent Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
PM Modi, Nepali PM KP Sharma Oli to inaugurates ICP Biratnagar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepali counterpart K P Sharma Oli inaugurated Integrated Check Post (ICP) Biratnagar.
ICP Biratnagar has been built on 260 acres of land at a cost of around 140 crore rupees.
It has the facilities for immigration clearance of foreign passengers, export and import cargo handling.
It is designed to handle around 500 trucks per day.
India and Nepal share over 1,850 kilometre- long border which is characterized by a unique and long tradition of free movement of people.
Jogbani-Biratnagar international trade point is one of the important trade points between the two countries.
Biratnagar is also the third-largest Revenue Collecting Customs Office of Nepal.
Presently, over 65 percent of Nepal’s trade is with India and also over 65 percent of Nepal’s exports are to India.
NATIONAL
India prepares for Corona Virus-Steps of Health Ministry
India monitoring the happenings in China and other countries after two died and 41 were confirmed to be infected with Coronavirus.
India is preparing from WHO (World Health Organization) that the infections of the virus are linked to the seafood market. International travelers from China examined thoroughly using thermal scanners. These are currently being done at Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata.
India is one of the world’s largest seafood producers and top exporter of fish and fish products to the major developed markets of the world such as US, Europe, South East Asia, Japan, and the Middle East. The sector contributes 1.1% of India’s GDP and 5.2% of the share of agriculture’s GDP of India. India’s buoyant seafood industry emerged as the largest group in agricultural exports of the country.
The government initiatives and policy support, The Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA), forecasts that India will achieve an export target of USD 10 billion by 2022.
Cabinet approves Model MoU for recognition of Certificates of Competency of seafarers
The Union Cabinet approved the Model Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for unilateral and bilateral recognition of Certificates, pursuant to Regulation 1/10 of International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers, 1978. It will be signed between the Directorate General of Shipping, GoI and its counterparts in foreign countries after the approval of Minister-in-charge of Shipping and the Minister of External Affairs (MEA).
The MoU will facilitate unilateral recognition by another country of the certificates issued by the Directorate General of Shipping to Indian seafarers. It will not seek similar recognition by India of the certificates issued by that country.
Under this MoU, Indian Seafarers will be eligible to be placed on ships under the flag of that country for employment
It will lead to increased employment opportunities.
Indian Navy signed MoU for offshore Data with GSI
Indian Navy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Geological Survey of India (GSI).
The MoU aims to ensure the sharing of seabed sediment data, products and expertise for Naval Application in Meteorology and Oceanography.
GSI’s Marine and Coastal survey Division based at Mangaluru has mapped most of India’s 2.1 Million sq. km Exclusive Economic Zone and has a vast repository of offshore data.