Trips Plus Measures Outside WTO Framework Not Acceptable: Anand Sharma Gives Away Intellectual Property Awards

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Anand Sharma, has reiterated India’s stand that it will not accept any trips plus decision that is taken outside multilateral framework. Speaking after the 3rd Annual Intellectual property Awards, here today, the Minister expressed concern over the growing efforts of certain developed countries to enact Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement (ACTA) which contain TRIPS Plus provisions relating to enforcement of Intellectual Properties. “We believe that certain provisions in this proposed Agreement are violative of TRIPS and we are firmly against such move which fall outside multi-lateral framework of WTO” he added.

India to Host Asia-Pacific Earthquake Response Exercise Next Month

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in association with International Search and Advisory Group (INSARAG) and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) will be hosting the Regional Group Earthquake Response Exercise at Agra, Uttar Pradesh from May 04-06, 2011.

Mineral Production During February 2011

The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector in February 2011 was lower by 7.11% compared to that of the preceding month. However the mineral sector has shown a positive growth of 0.57% during February 2011 as compared to that of the corresponding month of previous year.

Road Traffic Injuries Globally Claim 5 Million lives Every Year

The Union Health Secretary Shri K. Chandramouli today inaugurated a two-day Workshop with stakeholders for developing a Decade Action Plan on Road Safety 2011-2020, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Secretary said that fatal road accidents as also non-fatal but debilitating injuries, caused due to road accidents, lead to no less morbidity, hampering economic development. Secretary said it is only logical thus to avoid loss of life as per a strategic action plan.

Food Minister Launches Negotiable Warehouse Receipt System

NCT: Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Prof. K.V.Thomas launched the Negotiable Warehouse Receipt System (NWRs) here today. Henceforth, farmers can seek the loan from banks against the warehouse receipts issued to them against their storage. These receipts issued by the warehouses registered with the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) would become a fully negotiable instrument backed by a Central legislation. The WDRA was setup by the Government in October 2010 to regulate and development of warehouses in the country.

Rural Managers Must be Committed to Constitutional Ideals to Achieve Inclusive Development, Social Justice, Equality - Vice President

The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said Rural Managers have an important role in expanding the footprint of the organized sector, modernizing marketing systems, improving access to formal credit mechanisms and working to improve transport, veterinary and dairy infrastructure. Delivering convocation address at the “30^th  Convocation of Institute of Rural Management, Anand (Gujarat)” today he has said that they will have to work alongside the government in ensuring that there is a strong supply side response to the enhanced demand so that the gap is met through domestic supply rather than imports, with all the inclusive growth benefits accruing to rural citizens. Other elements such as low productivity of animals, breeding programmes, feed and fodder, and research should also be addressed 

Shri Ansari has said that Rural managers are one important component of professionals, alongside the civil service and the Gram Panchayat officials, who will increasingly have to work through cooperative partnerships to achieve our developmental vision for rural India. Like the civil service, I believe that rural managers must be committed to our constitutional ideals to achieve inclusive development, social justice, equality and the opportunity for the full development of capacities of all our citizens.

India, Mauritius agree to work closely on Trade and Investment

India and Mauritius agreed promote trade and investment. Both the countries keen to enhance cooperation in the field of agriculture and rural development including Information Technology, Science and Technology, Education . Speaking at the state banquet hosted by Mauritius Prime Minister Naveen Chandra Ramgoolam yesterday, the president President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil said that economic activities were a fundamental pillar for strategic partnership between the two countries. Our correspondent covering President’s visit to Mauritius reports that on the third day of her state visit today to the island nation, Mrs. Patil will address the National Assembly of Mauritius and visit Aapravasi ghat, a world heritage site. 

Courtesy : AIR

Facts about Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant - Press Release by Government of India

Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant derived its name From Jaitapur lighthouse which is mentioned in many international maps. Government of India has decided to promote nuclear power at a large scale in view of rapidly rising demand for electricity, limited and depleting fossil resources, environmentally benign and safe nature of nuclear power etc. Accordingly, Government of India accorded its sanction in October 2005 to set up the Nuclear Power Plant at Jaitapur besides three other locations.

Measures to Bring Down Prices of Steel

Steel sector operates in a deregulated environment and in a liberalized market, prices are determined by a multitude of complex factors such as cost of raw materials, production cost, international steel price movement and the demand supply gap in the domestic market. In a deregulated market the role of a Government is limited to that of a facilitator. Nonetheless, the Government keeps a close watch on the price movement of commodities such as steel and takes appropriate fiscal measures whenever necessary, in order to ensure domestic availability and create a level playing field. 

Coutesy : PIB

Urban Poor - Administrative Reforms Commission Recommendations

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), in its sixth Report has recommended that “an exhaustive survey to identify the urban poor should be carried out within one year. The parameters to be used for such identification should be simple and easily comprehensible, allowing objective measurement without the use of discretion. The identification should be based on a door to door survey with the survey teams including at least one person from the area Sabha concerned. The urban poor so identified may be issued multi-utility identity cards for availing benefits under all poverty alleviation programmes”. No State-wise recommendation has been made by the ARC.

US Firm Signs Pact to Acquire DRDO’S Technology for Explosive Detection Kit

NCT: A USA based firm Crowe & Company, LLC has entered into a licensing agreement with DRDO to acquire the technology of Explosive Detection Kit developed by the High Energy Material Research Lab (HEMRL), Pune, one of the constituent laboratories of DRDO. An MoU to the effect was signed by Dr. Subhananda Rao, Director HEMRL on behalf of DRDO, and Ms. Faye Crowe, President, Crowe & Company, LLC, USA here today.

HEMRL has developed the kit for quick detection and identification of explosives that can detect and identify explosives based on any combination of nitro esters, nitramines, trinitrotoluene (TNT), dynamite or black powder. The testing requires only 3 to 5 mg of suspected sample and only 3 or 4 drops of reagents. The explosive detection kit comes packed in a box the size of a vanity case and in miniature vials that can be kept in shirt pockets. It contains reagents capable of detecting explosives, even in extremely small, trace quantities.

Museum at Lalitgiri

The Buddhist relics found during an excavation at Lalitgiri in Orissa are proposed to be housed in a museum. The Excavated Buddhist Site, Lalitgiri was notified as Centrally Protected in the year 1937. The site has been extensively excavated by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) during the year 1985-1992. The remains of a massive Stupa including a relic caskets consisting of four containers made of Khondalite, Steatite, Silver and Gold containing corporal remains have been recovered during the excavation, besides other important structure and archeological remains.

Pension Scheme for Artists

It is known as the “Scheme of Financial Assistance to Persons Distinguished in Letters, Arts and Such Other Walks of Life Who May be in Indigent Circumstances and Their Dependents”.The funds under the Scheme are not allocated State wise. Total allocation of funds for last four years are as under:

Revenue Earned from Monuments

The details of revenue earned by way of entrance tickets on centrally protected ticketed monuments in Agra during the last four years is at Annexure. The revenue so earned is deposited in the Consolidated Fund of Government of India. The conservation, preservation and maintenance of monuments declared as of national importance are very specialized works requiring indepth-knowledge and experience in the field and hence these works are undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India through in-house expertise available rather than any private sector. The conservation, preservation and maintenance of the monuments has no overlap with enhancement of income generation.

Rice Procurement Crosses 260 lakh tonne

Rice procurement in the Kharif Marketing season 2010-11 has crossed the mark of 260 lakh tonne. According to statistics 260,00,246 tonne rice has been procured by the various government agencies by April 25, 2011. Punjab has led the States by procuring 123,06,128 tonne of rice followed by Chhatisgarh – 51,13,958 tonne and Haryana with 24,82,253 tonne of rice. Wheat procurement during the rabi marketing season of 2011-12 is also picking up so far 111,76,856 tonne as on 25.4.2012.

Courtesy : PIB

India Looks to Narrow Trade Deficit with China Governor of Sichuan Province Calls on Anand Sharma

While staying concerned over the huge trade deficit with China, The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Anand Sharma expressed optimism that recently unveiled 12th Five Year Plan for 2012-14 of China, with a strong slant for a domestic consumer driven economy will give enormous opportunity for Indian exporters to access China’s huge consumer market in the coming years. The trade deficit for India for 2010 stood at USD 20.02 billion, more than USD 15.87 billion trade deficit in year 2009 with China which is an export driven economy. He met the Mr Jiang Jufeng, Governor of Sichuan Province of China, a province with which India’s trade relations date back to 444 B.C.

Committee Studying Effects of Endodulfan being asked to Expedite Report.

An all party delegation from Kerala met the Prime Minister on Friday, 22 April, 2011 urging him to impose a nationwide ban on the use of Endosulfan, an organic insecticide used in agricultural operations. Shri Oommen Chandy, leader of the opposition in the Kerala Assembly and Shri Ramesh Chennithala, President KPCC met the Prime Minister today about the same issue. Explaining the ill effects of the Endosulfan, members of the delegation stated that the use of this insecticide had led to serious health hazards in Kasargod district of Kerala. They urged the Central Government to take up this issue in the Stocholm Convention for a worldwide ban on the use of this insecticide.

Union HRD Minister Chairs first Meeting of National Mission of RMSA

NCT: The first Meeting of the National Mission of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) was held under the Chairmanship of Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) here today. The National Mission is the apex body to take decisions on implementation, monitoring and evaluation of RMSA so as to implement the programme efficiently and effectively. The Mission is chaired by Minister of Human Resource Development and consists of Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy as Vice-chairperson, Secretary of the Planning Commission, Secretaries of 8 other Ministries/ Departments, Director, NCERT, Vice-Chancellor, NUEPA, Chairman, CBSE and Secretaries of School Education of all States and Union Territories. The Department of School Education & Literacy made a presentation on the current scenario of secondary education in the country and the role of RMSA in universalisation of secondary education.

Union HRD Minister Reviews Implementation of RTE

NCT: Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource Development reviewed the implementation of the RTE (Right To Education) Act, 2009 at a meeting with State Education Secretaries here today. Also present in the meeting were Dr. D Purendeswari, MoS for HRD, Smt. Anshu Vaish, Secretary, Dept. of School Education and Literacy and other senior officials. During the meeting among the matters discussed was the need for a grievance redressal mechanism for the RTE. It was pointed out that the RTE Act makes local authorities the grievance redressal agencies and the SCPCRs the appellate bodies at the State level. In this context it is necessary to establish the modalities through which child rights under the RTE Act are protected and violations can be dealt with. 

Sports Minister Visits Stadia to Oversee Registration Process Under “Come and Play Scheme” - 924 Applications Received on First Day

Shri Ajay Makan, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports, visited stadia of Sports Authority of India (SAI) here today to oversee the registration of public under “Come and Play Scheme”. The registration process under the scheme started today in all the stadia, namely, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Pool Complex, Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, K.D. Jadhav Wrestling Stadium and Cycling Velodrome.

CBI files supplementary chargesheet in 2G case

A special court on Monday summoned Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's daughter and DMK MP Kanimozhi and four others as accused in its first supplementary chargesheet in the 2G spectrum case taking the total number of accused to 13. The court issued summons also to Kalaignar TV Managing Director Sharad Kumar, Karim Morani, Director of Cineyug Media and Entertainment (Pvt) Ltd, who are named as accused, for May 6. 

Clarifications on the Report on Tapping of Telephones

There have been a number of articles on the Cabinet Secretary’s report regarding tapping of telephones which appeared in some section of the media. It is important that the correct factual position is presented to the media.

The provisions for authorization of interception are contained in Section 5(2) of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 read with Rule 419(A) of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951 as well as Section 69 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 read with Information Technology (Directions for Interception or Monitoring or Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009.

Interception of telephones without public emergency or public safety at stake is illegal: Cabinet Secy

The Cabinet Secretary Mr. K. M. Chandrasekhar has said that interception of telephones without public emergency or public safety at stake is not in accordance with law. He said this has also been interpreted by the Supreme Court while dealing with several such cases.

Govt sets up nine member panel in black money cases

A high power committee comprising heads of various probe agencies and specialised departments has been constituted to monitor the investigation and steps taken to bring back black money stashed in foreign banks. The 9 member committee, which will immediately start functioning, consists of Revenue Secretary, Deputy Governor of RBI, Directors of CBI, Intelligence Bureau (IB), Enforcement Directorate, Chairman of CBDT, Director General of Revenue Intelligence, Director General of DGNC Director of Foreign Intelligence Office (FIO) and Joint Secretary of Foreign Trade.

Kalmadi arrested in CWG scam, suspended by Cong

Sacked CWG Organising Committee Chief Suresh Kalmadi has been arrested by CBI on charges of cheating, conspiracy and corruption in connection with awarding some Games contracts and the ruling Congress wasted no time in suspending the Lok Sabha MP. Six months after the end of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games that was mired in controversies and scams, the CBI finally closed in on 66-year-old Kalmadi, the CWG's public face, arresting him for allegedly awarding illegal contracts to a Swiss firm for Timing-Scoring-Result (TSR) system for the Games causing a loss of Rs 95 crore to the exchequer.

Inflation hurting the growth process - Continuing uncertainty about energy and commodity prices may vitiate the investment climate

Inflation is a subject for discussion in the last several months. Even though taming rising inflation and inflationary pressures are concerns of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), inadequate fiscal measures would derail the goals of the central bank. It is for sure that the forthcoming Annual Policy 2011-12, which would be announced by the RBI in the first week of May, would seriously discuss the issue of inflation.