crackIAS.com Source : www.thehindu.com Date : 2019-07-11 IAF TO ADOPT ASRAAM MISSILE FOR FIGHTER FLEET Relevant for: Science & Technology | Topic: Defence related developments

The Indian Air Force is looking to adopt a new European visual range air to air missile across its fighter fleet.

The Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile of European missile-maker MBDA has been approved for fitting on Jaguar jets. The IAF was looking to integrating it on the Su-30MKIs and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft as well, defence sources said.

“The ASRAAM has been chosen for the Jaguar and is currently undergoing integration. First firing is expected by year-end,” a defence source said.

It would be the first over-the-wing launched missile in the IAF inventory. All missiles are now fired from under the wing.

The missile was shortlisted through a tender and MBDA is working with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on the integration. After the initial trials, further modifications would be done by HAL. “HAL is in talks with MDBA for integrating the missile on the LCA and the Su-30MKI as well. It will be taken up after the Jaguar integration,” the source added.

ASRAAM is widely used as a Within Visual Range (WVR) air dominance missile with a range of over 25km.

HAL had built about 145 Jaguars for the IAF, of which around 120 are in service, and 80 jets will continue till 2025 to 2030. A plan to get a more powerful engine has been long delayed.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.thehindu.com Date : 2019-07-11 LOK SABHA GIVES NOD TO ARBITRATION BILL Relevant for: Indian Polity | Topic: Indian Constitution - Amendments, Schedules, and Important Articles

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday cleared the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019. The Bill, which replaces an Ordinance promulgated in March this year, provides for the incorporation of the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) for creating an autonomous regime for institutionalised arbitration.

The Bill, moved by Union Law Minister Ravi Shanker Prasad, has a provision to declare the NDIAC as an Institution of National Importance. The Minister said the Centre will be headed by a chairperson, who has been a judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court or an eminent person having special knowledge and experience in the administration of arbitration.

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To know more about Ad free news reading experience and subscription Click Here or PleasecrackIAS.com whitelist our website on your Adblocker END Downloaded from crackIAS.com © Zuccess App by crackIAS.com Source : www.thehindu.com Date : 2019-07-11 NATO ALLY STATUS UNLIKELY NOW Relevant for: International Relations | Topic: India - USA

The U.S. House Committee on Rules voted on Tuesday night to send a watered-down version of an amendment to enhance defence cooperation with India to the full House floor for a vote.

The new India NDAA amendment, a part the House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) FY 2020, replaces a significantly stronger amendment (the “Sherman Amendment”) that sought to place India on a par with the U.S.’s NATO allies by amending the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), a U.S. law that governs the sale of high-end defence equipment to other countries.

Concerns over India’s purchase of the S-400, turf battles between the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees and some State Department opposition are likely to have contributed to the watering down of the amendment. Nevertheless, what passed the Senate and what is being considered by the House, provides some direction to the executive with regard to bolstering India-U.S. defence cooperation, although falling short of the original legislative goal. This comes days after Secretary of State Michael Pompeo travelled to New Delhi to push for stronger U.S.-India ties across the board.

The original House amendment was submitted by Brad Sherman, a California Congressman who is co-Chair of House India Caucus and heads the Asia Pacific subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Despite having bi-partisan support and co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle, the amendment did not make it to the House Rules Committee — a fate similar to the corresponding amendment in the Senate, submitted by Mark Warner (Democrat, Virginia) and John Cornyn (Republican, Texas) which also sought to give India NATO-equivalent status for arms sales.

A source outside Congress who had worked on the legislation said India’s plans to purchase the S-400 Triumf missile shield from Russia made some in the Senate (and House) wary and came in the way of the original amendment making it to the final package in both legislative chambers. This view was supported by at least one person in Congress.

“It’s hard to go after Turkey for the S-400 purchase and allow India a boost in the same Bill,” a Congressional aide, who did not want to be named, told The Hindu . The NDAA Bills (House and Senate versions) limit transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey unless Turkey can provide assurances that it is not accepting delivery of the S-400.

“It’s always disappointing when strong bipartisan legislation on India doesn’t get across the finish line. Policymakers should understand that we need to boost India as a counter to China and that we can’tcrackIAS.com let India’s relationship with Russia get in the way,” Mukesh Aghi, president and CEO of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, told The Hindu . The original AECA amendments also became a casualty of turf-related issues between the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Committee on Armed Services and the corresponding committees in the Senate.

AECA is the statute which authorises the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program through which the U.S. sells arms abroad and the procedure is less complicated if the purchaser is a NATO ally or Japan, South Korea, Israel, Australia or New Zealand.

The Sherman amendment in the House and Warner/Cornyn amendment in the Senate, sought to add India to the list of non-NATO allies listed above. You need to subscribe or sign-up to read Today's Paper articles.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.thehindu.com Date : 2019-07-11 SINGLE TRIBUNAL TO HEAR WATER DISPUTES Relevant for: Indian Polity | Topic: Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure, Dispute Redressal Mechanisms, and the Centre-State Relations

Reality check:A file photo of officials inspecting water level in the Cauvery near its entry point in Tamil Nadu.

The Union Cabinet has approved the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that will help adjudicate disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers and river valleys. A version of this bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2017 but it subsequently lapsed.

The Bill seeks to amend the Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 to streamline the adjudication of inter-State river water disputes.

Adjudication process

A key feature of the bill is the constitution of a single tribunal with different Benches, and the setting of strict timelines for adjudication.

“When any request under the Act is received from any State Government in respect of any water dispute on the inter-State rivers and the Central government is of the opinion that the water dispute cannot be settled by negotiations, the Central Government constitutes a Water Disputes Tribunal for the adjudication of the water dispute,” said a press note.

There are about a dozen tribunals that now exist to resolve disputes among States on sharing water from rivers common to them. The standalone tribunal so envisaged will have a permanent establishment and permanent office space and infrastructure so as to obviate with the need to set up a separate Tribunal for each water dispute, a time consuming process.

The Bill also proposes a Dispute Resolution Committee set up by the Central Government for amicably resolving inter-State water disputes within 18 months. Any dispute that cannot be settled by negotiations would be referred to the tribunal for its adjudication. The dispute so referred to the tribunal shall be assigned by the chairperson of the tribunal to a Bench of the tribunal for adjudication.

The Bill can also affect the composition of the members of various tribunals, and has a provision to have a technical expert as the head of the tribunal. Currently all tribunals are staffed by members of the judiciary, nominated by the Chief Justice. You needcrackIAS.com to subscribe or sign-up to read Today's Paper articles. Already a subscriber? Sign in

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crackIAS.com Source : www.thehindu.com Date : 2019-07-11 A DEMOGRAPHIC WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY: ON POPULATION AND POLICY Relevant for: Geography | Topic: Demography of the World - Demographic Attributes

Last month, the United Nations released the 26th revision of World Population Prospects and forecast that India will overtake China as the most populous country by 2027. The only surprise associated with this forecast is the way it was covered by the media. Is this good news or bad news? Is it news at all?

Is this news? Not really. We have known for a long time that India is destined to be the most populous country in the world. Population projections are developed using existing population and by adjusting for expected births, deaths and migration. For short-term projections, the biggest impact comes from an existing population, particularly women in childbearing ages. Having instituted a one-child policy in 1979, China’s female population in peak reproductive ages (between 15 and 39 years) is estimated at 235 million (2019) compared to 253 million for India. Thus, even if India could institute a policy that reduces its fertility rate to the Chinese level, India will overtake China as the most populous country.

The element of surprise comes from the date by which this momentous event is expected. The UN revises its population projections every two years. In 2015, it was predicted that India would overtake China in 2022, but in the 2019 projections it is 2027. The UN has revised India’s expected population size in 2050 downward from 1,705 million in 2015 projections to 1,639 million in 2019 projections. This is due to faster than expected fertility decline, which is good news by all counts.

Like it or not, India will reign as the most populous country throughout most of the 21st century. Whether we adjust to this demographic destiny in a way that contributes to the long-term welfare of the nation or not depends on how we deal with three critical issues.

First, do we need to adopt stringent population control policies? History tells us that unless the Indian state can and chooses to act with the ruthlessness of China, the government has few weapons in its arsenal. Almost all weapons that can be used in a democratic nation, have already been deployed. These include restriction of maternity leave and other maternity benefits for first two births only and disqualification from panchayat elections for people with more than two children in some States along with minor incentives for sterilisation.

As demographer Judith Blake noted, people have children, not birth rates and few incentives or disincentives are powerful enough to overcome the desire for children. Ground-level research by former Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Nirmala Buch found that individuals who wanted larger families either circumvented the restrictions or went ahead regardless of the consequences.crackIAS.com As one of her informants noted, “The sarpanch’s post is not going to support me during my old age, but my son will. It does not really matter if I lose the post of sarpanch.”

Second, if punitive actions won’t work, we must encourage people to have smaller families voluntarily. There are sharp differences in fertility among different socio-economic groups. Total Fertility Rate (TFR) for the poorest women was 3.2 compared to only 1.5 for the richest quintile in 2015-16. To get to TFR of 1.5, a substantial proportion of the population among the top 40% must stop at one child.

In western societies, low fertility is associated with the conflict that working women face between work and child rearing and the individual’s desire to enjoy a child-free life. Not so for Indian couples. In India, couples with one child do not consume more nor are women in these families more likely to work. My research with demographer Alaka Basu from Cornell University shows that it is a desire to invest in their children’s education and future prospects that seems to drive people to stop at one child. Richer individuals see greater potential for ensuring admission to good colleges and better jobs for their children, inspiring them to limit their family size. Thus, improving education and ensuring that access to good jobs is open to all may also spur even poorer households into having fewer children and investing their hopes in the success of their only daughter or son. Provision of safe and easily accessible contraceptive services will complete this virtuous cycle.

Third, we must change our mindset about how population is incorporated in broader development policies.

Population growth in the north and central parts of India is far greater than that in south India. What should we do about the old policies aimed at not rewarding States that fail to control population growth? These policies include using the 1971 population to allocate seats for the Lok Sabha and for Centre-State allocation under various Finance Commissions. In a departure from this practice, the 15th Finance Commission is expected to use the 2011 Census for making its recommendations. This has led to vociferous protests from the southern States as the feeling is that they are being penalised for better performance in reducing fertility.

There is reason for their concern. Between the 1971 and 2011 Censuses, the population of Kerala grew by 56% compared to about 140% growth for Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. A move to use the 2011 Census for funds allocation will favour the north-central States compared to Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

However, continuing to stay with a 1971 Census-based allocation would be a mistake. Cross- State subsidies come in many forms; Centre-State transfers is but one. Incomes generated by workers in one State may also provide the tax revenues that support residents in another State. The varying pace of onset and end of demographic transition creates intricate links between workers in Haryana today and retirees in Kerala and between future workers in Uttar Pradesh and children in Tamil Nadu.

Demographic dividend provided by the increasing share of working age adults is a temporary phase during which child dependency ratio is falling and old-age dependency ratio is still low. But this opportunity only lasts for 20 to 30 years. For States such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu which experienced fertility decline early, this window of opportunity is already past.

As the United Nations Population Fund estimates, over the next 20 years, the window of opportunity will be open for moderate achievers such as Karnataka, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. As the demographic window of opportunity closes for these States, it will open for Uttar Pradesh,crackIAS.com Bihar and other States that are the last to enter fertility transition. This suggests that workers of Bihar will be supporting the ageing population of Kerala in 20 years.

In order to maximise the demographic dividend, we must invest in the education and health of the workforce, particularly in States whose demographic window of opportunity is still more than a decade away. Staying fixated on the notion that revising State allocation of Central resources based on current population rather than population from 1971 punishes States with successful population policies is shortsighted. This is because current laggards will be the greatest contributors of the future for everyone, particularly for ageing populations of early achievers. Enhancing their productivity will benefit everyone. It is time for India to accept the fact that being the most populous nation is its destiny. It must work towards enhancing the lives of its current and future citizens.

Sonalde Desai is Professor of Sociology, University of Maryland and Professor and Centre Director, NCAER-National Data Innovation Centre. The views expressed are personal

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crackIAS.com Source : www.thehindu.com Date : 2019-07-11 NEHRU AND THE KASHMIR QUANDARY Relevant for: Indian Polity | Topic: Indian Constitution - Features & Significant Provisions related to The Preamble, Union & its Territories and The Citizenship

A measured handshake: Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru with Kashmir’s Maharaja Hari Singh in Srinagar in May 1948. | Photo Credit: HINDU PHOTO ARCHIVE

Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier this month held India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, responsible for the country being deprived of one-third of Kashmir. Except for those who deify Nehru, most others readily agree to the obvious fact that Nehru was not infallible. However, it is ironical Mr. Shah and his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, focus on an area of Nehru’s alleged culpability — his handling of the Kashmir question — on which the latter perhaps deserves their indulgences and empathy.

What must one, then, think of when one thinks of Kashmir? Is it a stolen land? Or a symptom of Hindu-Muslim rivalry? Or a case of cross-border terrorism? Or perhaps a battleground for two nuclear rivals?

Kashmir is all these and much more. However, there are some aspects to the muddle that have been ignored for far too long.

First, given Nehru’s well-known secular credentials, we tend to treat him as less of a Hindu, if not looking at him as an outright anti-Hindu. In reality, on Kashmir, he acted not only as a Hindu determined to protect his co-religionists, but as a Kashmiri Pandit.

Mirwaiz defends Nehru’s Kashmir policy

In 1947, the immediacy of the crisis in Kashmir — the procrastination of Maharaja Hari Singh to join either India or Pakistan and Pakistan’s invasion of the state — dictated that Nehru and the Government of India do everything to prevent the impending genocide of the Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir.

Wouldn’t a secular Nehru have also acted in a similar way? Indeed. But a secular Nehru would have liberated the rest of Kashmir, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), as well. Because India could either claim the whole of Jammu and Kashmir or nothing. Ignore, for the time being, the purported reluctance of Indian Army to proceed further due to the operational constraints that forced Nehru to agree to a ceasefire.

Further, if one were to examine Nehru’s actions in solely communal terms, one wouldn’t be able to visualise a better strategy for the Hindus in the State than the one he chose. It must surely have crackIAS.comcrossed Nehru’s mind that if he liberated PoK, it would create a situation where Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir were further relegated to a minority.

Here, it is not difficult to count the benefits of Nehru’s calibrated inaction. A unified Jammu and Kashmir would have meant that even a brilliant gerrymandering of political topography would not have helped the Kashmiri Hindus. Hence, the BJP’s criticism of Nehru’s actions comes across as ironical.

Prior to 1947, Jammu and Kashmir and Hyderabad State were mirror images of each other: an autocratic ruler from a minority community having put a heavy yoke on the majority population. We are far too willing to accept the gory details of Hyderabad Nizam’s misrule but squeamish in shedding a similar light on Kashmir. This has distorted our understanding of the Kashmir problem in two ways.

One, the current angst among the Kashmiri Muslims is explained away as the people’s anti-India sentiments or the machinations of Pakistan. There is truth in both explanations. But they also mislead us into believing that the Kashmir problem started after 1947. The fact is that the cross- border terrorism started much before the Partition of the subcontinent when Muslims in British India used to slip into the princely State of Jammu and Kashmir in solidarity with fellow Muslims, who were getting a raw deal from their ruler. Had we been cognisant of this fact, we would have focussed more on good governance and ensuring basic liberties to the people in Kashmir.

Two, after its accession into India, Jammu and Kashmir was pushed into adopting democracy whereas it never had the institutions, the cultural temperament and the robust civil society so essential for democracy to take roots and flourish. Recall how Hyderabad State (now Telangana) suffered for decades from left-wing extremism which was a counter to its feudal set- up.

Leaving aside a few honourable exceptions like the princely States of Travancore, Baroda and Kolhapur, most areas under native rule prior to Independence proved to be fallow for democracy, whereas British India enjoyed a whiff of rules-based governance.

Understanding the parallels between Hyderabad and Kashmir would give us a whole new way of dealing with the root cause of the problem, rather than just its symptoms. The Maharaja’s delay in choosing between India and Pakistan prompted Pakistan to resort to military intervention. That its troops were dressed up in mufti should not distract us from that fact.

After accepting the Maharaja’s instrument of accession, Nehru’s main task was to secure the safety of Hindus, especially in the Valley. Having accomplished his goal, he had to end the war at a time and place of his choosing. How else could he have achieved it without going to the United Nations?

He was right in his likely assessment that Hindus wouldn’t be safe in Pakistan and Muslims would be better off in India. His assessment was proved right during his time. But the fire-fighting nature of Nehru’s actions in 1947-48 should have been additionally followed up with measures of restoration and rehabilitation, keeping Kashmir’s history and culture in context.

Nehru and India had three policy options at their disposal during the initial years of the problem. They were: a) Use the window of opportunity to relocate Hindus away from the Valley; that would have avoided communal strife though democracy would have taken more time to fructify; b) UshercrackIAS.com in secular and liberal democracy which would take care of the interests of everyone; or c) Put in place an autocratic system that would be managed from New Delhi.

The first option (evacuation) was never attempted as the government thought it was not necessary and the Centre was supposed to be following the second option (democracy) but de facto ended up following the third one (direct rule).

Unfortunately, for Nehru, taking possession of Jammu and Kashmir — minus the ‘one-third’ — was an end in itself but not the beginning of a long process of integration. Further, he had too much confidence in the superiority of India’s liberal polity, which he believed Kashmiris would happily embrace. He also had too much faith in the sense of justice and equanimity of his successors. His faith proved to have been misplaced.

D. Shyam Babu is Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research. Views are personal

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crackIAS.com Source : www.thehindu.com Date : 2019-07-11 A CASE FOR NUTRITION COUNSELLING Relevant for: Developmental Issues | Topic: Rights & Welfare of Children - Schemes & their Performance, Mechanisms, Laws Institutions and Bodies

Autism Heart

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme is one of the world’s largest programmes for early childhood care and development. Now, a new study suggests that nutrition and health counselling delivered under the programme’s auspices is one of the best possible investments that can be made by any government.

This timely, non-partisan report is by India Consensus, a partnership between Tata Trusts and Copenhagen Consensus, which has undertaken a first-of-its-kind analysis of 100 government programmes. These were identified by NITI Aayog for their role in supporting India’s efforts to achieve the Global Goals.

The Global Goals have a dizzying array of 169 targets, such a long list that no country on Earth can achieve all of them. That’s why the unique India Consensus economic analysis approach is vital: it adds new knowledge about costs and benefits. This way, it can be clearer which programmes achieve the most good for every rupee spent.

Researchers have identified twelve programmes that have phenomenal benefits for every rupee spent. Among the top programmes is nutrition and health counselling.

As a behavioural change intervention, nutrition and health counselling is relatively low cost for every person that is reached. It’s important to note that this programme does not provide food, but instead provides information to the mother, making it more likely that the child will receive more and better food. And that in turn leads to lifelong benefits.

Many studies have now demonstrated that these benefits can be large. Improving the nutrition and health outcomes of the children of mothers reached makes this a highly cost-effective intervention.

Two analyses were undertaken in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, looking at a six-year campaign of nutrition counselling and hand-washing. The average cost of counselling sessions for each woman was estimated at 1,177 and 1,250 for Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan respectively. Based on previous studies, it is estimated that counselling leads to a 12% reduction in stunting. This leads to better cognitive skills.

Quantifying the increase in earnings shows that the per unit benefit for Andhra Pradesh and RajasthancrackIAS.com comes to 71,500 and 54,000. What these figures mean is that the investment generates returns to society worth 61 and 43, respectively, for every rupee spent. While the analysis will differ for other States, these results show that nutritional counselling is a phenomenal investment. It’s relevant to note that these figures take into account the challenges of nutrition counselling: it’s a relatively difficult intervention to implement and ensure that every person is reached. But even if India’s implementation problems were worse than other countries studied by researchers, it is unlikely to make the investment less impressive. The takeaway point is that, among all the ways that the Indian government is spending money to achieve Global Goals targets, adding additional resources to nutrition counselling would be a phenomenal investment. The preliminary results of this analysis show that there are many policies that can achieve amazing outcomes. If India were to spend 50,000 crore more on achieving the Global Goals, focussing on the most phenomenal programmes identified so far by India Consensus would create extra benefits for India worth 20 lakh crore — more than the entire Indian public consumption.

With returns like this at stake, there are compelling reasons to look favourably at approaches including nutrition counselling.

Bjorn Lomborg is president of the Copenhagen Consensus Center.

Shireen Vakil heads the Policy and Advocacy unit of the Tata Trusts

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crackIAS.com Source : www.thehindu.com Date : 2019-07-11 TURNING DOWN THE HEAT: ON FOREST RESTORATION Relevant for: Environment | Topic: Environmental Conservation, Sustainable Development, and EIA

During the run-up to the Paris climate change meeting in 2015 (COP-21) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, each country decided the level and kind of effort it would undertake to solve the global problem of climate change. These actions were later referred to as nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

India made a number of promises that would lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, or mitigation, and actions to adapt to living in a warmer world, or adaptation. Many of its described programmes and plans were intended to enable India to move to a climate-friendly sustainable development pathway. Primarily, by 2030, there will be reductions in the emissions intensity of the GDP by about a third and a total of 40% of the installed capacity for electricity will be from non-fossil fuel sources. India also promised an additional carbon sink — a means to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by the year 2030. Trees and other vegetation fix carbon as part of photosynthesis and soil too holds organic carbon from plants and animals. The amount of soil carbon varies with land management practices, farming methods, soil nutrition and temperature.

India has yet to determine how its carbon sink objectives can be met. In a recent study, the Forest Survey of India (FSI) has estimated, along with the costs involved, the opportunities and potential actions for additional forest and tree cover to meet the NDC target. Given that forest and green cover already show a gradual increase in recent years, one might use this increase as part of the contribution towards the NDC. Or one might think of the additional 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent sink as having to be above the background or business-as-usual increase.

Forest cover up by 1%, says Javadekar

The additional increase in carbon sinks, as recommended in this report, is to be achieved by the following ways: restoring impaired and open forests; afforesting wastelands; agro-forestry; through green corridors, plantations along railways, canals, other roads, on railway sidings and rivers; and via urban green spaces. Close to three quarters of the increase (72.3 %) will be by restoring forests and afforestation on wastelands, with a modest rise in total green cover.

The FSI study has three scenarios, representing different levels of increase in forest and tree cover. For example, 50%, 60% or 70% of impaired forests could be restored. The total increase in the carbon sink in these scenarios could be 1.63, 2.51 or 3.39 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalentcrackIAS.com by 2030, at costs varying from about 1.14 to 2.46 lakh crore. These figures show that the policy has to be at least at a medium level of increase to attain the stated NDC targets.

A recent study in Nature by Simon Lewis and colleagues provides insights into what works well with regard to green cover. Locking up the carbon from the atmosphere in trees, ground vegetation and soils is one of the safest ways with which to remove carbon. If done correctly, the green cover increase will provide many other benefits: it will improve water quality, store water in wetlands, prevent soil erosion, protect biodiversity, and potentially provide new jobs. The authors estimate that allowing land to be converted into forests naturally will sequester 42 times the carbon compared to land converted to plantation, or six times for land converted to agroforestry.

Failing the forest

Another study in Science by Jean-François Bastin and colleagues estimates that it is possible to add 0.9 billion hectares of canopy cover worldwide, potentially mitigating up to two-thirds of historical greenhouse gas emissions. This would then prevent or delay the worst impacts from climate change.

Taken together, these studies indicate that while there is enormous potential in mitigating climate change through forest restoration, the amount of carbon stored depends on the type of forest restoration carried out. The most effective way is through natural forest regeneration with appropriate institutions to facilitate the process. Vast monocultures of plantations are being proposed in some countries, including in India, but these hold very little carbon; when they are harvested, carbon is released as the wood is burned.

Besides, some of the trees selected for the plantations may rely on aquifers whose water becomes more and more precious with greater warming. Such forms of green cover, therefore, do not mitigate climate change and also do not improve biodiversity or provide related benefits. India, therefore, needs first to ensure that deforestation is curtailed to the maximum extent. Second, the area allocated to the restoration of impaired and open forests and wastelands in the FSI report should be focussed entirely on natural forests and agroforestry.

While using a carbon lens to view forests has potential dangers, involving local people and planting indigenous tree varieties would also reduce likely difficulties. Instead of plantations, growing food forests managed by local communities would have additional co-benefits. Once natural forests are established, they need to be protected. Protecting and nurturing public lands while preventing their private enclosure is therefore paramount. Active forest management by local people has a long history in India and needs to expand to meet climate, environment and social justice goals.

Sujatha Byravan is a scientist who studies science, technology and development policy

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crackIAS.com Source : www.thehindu.com Date : 2019-07-11 CAUTION NEEDED: ON SUPREME COURT DECISION ON ROHINGYA’S STATUS Relevant for: Security Related Matters | Topic: Role of External State & Non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security incl. Terrorism & illegal Migration

The Supreme Court’s decision to examine the question whether illegal immigrants are entitled to refugee status needs to be welcomed, but with caution. It is debatable whether the Centre is right in claiming that this has emerged as a substantial question of law in the context of the Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar. For, it is fairly obvious that those escaping persecution in their home country are invariably undocumented. It logically follows that those fleeing conditions of war or conflict will have to be treated as refugees first before their cases can be examined in detail, and deemed fit for deportation as illegal entrants. It will be strange if any court holds that no illegal immigrant is entitled to refugee status. That would amount to a perverse denial of the very existence of refugees as a class. What the government is perhaps looking for is a decision holding that it can choose the class of illegal immigrants it wishes to treat as refugees; and that it can deny that status to any section it deems a threat to national security or is likely to strain local resources. The court’s decision to go into the issue, therefore, offers an opportunity to clarify India’s approach to the refugee question, which has generally been favourable to vulnerable entrants, but is stridently hostile to the Rohingya.

India is not a signatory to the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees, 1951, and a Protocol adopted in 1967 on the subject. However, since Independence it has by and large adhered to the larger humanitarian principles underlying these instruments. In this backdrop, it is astonishing that the present regime is determined to deport the Rohingya, in utter disregard of the danger to their lives in Myanmar, and in violation of the principle of non-refoulement, the norm that prohibits states from forcibly returning refugees to conditions that caused them to flee their homes in the first place. It will be amoral and unjust if this most vulnerable group from Myanmar’s Rakhine state, numbering about 40,000 in India now, is denied refugee status. With the Centre taking a stand against treating them as refugees, a positive ruling is needed from the apex court to prevent their forcible deportation. The government’s keenness to deport the Rohingya is rooted in the technicalities of its citizenship law. It defines “illegal immigrant” as any foreigner entering India without valid travel documents, or overstays a permitted period of stay. It rules out giving citizenship by registration to such illegal immigrants. The amendments it proposes to the Citizenship Act do not cover Muslim immigrants and are limited to persecuted Afghan, Bangladeshi and Pakistani minorities. India should work with the world community on the voluntary repatriation of the Rohingya and not besmirch its fine record of humane treatment of refugees by pursuing the deportation option without relent.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 STRINGENT PUNISHMENT FOR SEXUAL CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN Relevant for: Developmental Issues | Topic: Rights & Welfare of Children - Schemes & their Performance, Mechanisms, Laws Institutions and Bodies

Cabinet Stringent Punishment for Sexual Crimes against Children

Death Penalty provisions for Sexual offences against Children

Cabinet approves Amendment in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 6:08PM by PIB Delhi

In a historic decision to protect the children from Sexual offences, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Amendments in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. It will make punishment more stringent for committing sexual crimes against children including death penalty. The amendments also provide for levy of fines and imprisonment to curb child pornography.

Impact

● The amendment is expected to discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent due to strong penal provisions incorporated in the Act. ● It intends to protect the interest of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensures their safety and dignity. ● The amendment is aimed to establish clarity regarding the aspects of child abuse and punishment thereof. Background

The POCSO Act, 2012 was enacted to Protect the Children from Offences of Sexual Assault, Sexual harassment and pornography with due regard for safeguarding the interest and well- being of children. The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age, and regardscrackIAS.com the best interests and welfare of the child as matter of paramount importance at every stage, to ensure the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child. The act is gender neutral.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 CABINET APPROVES THE TRANSGENDER PERSONS (PROTECTION OF RIGHTS) BILL 2019 Relevant for: Developmental Issues | Topic: Rights & Welfare of Women - Schemes & their Performance, Mechanisms, Laws Institutions and Bodies

Cabinet Cabinet approves The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2019

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 6:07PM by PIB Delhi

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal to introduce The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019. The Bill will be introduced in the ensuing Session of Parliament.

The Bill provides a mechanism for their social, economic and educational empowerment.

Impact

The Bill will benefit a large number of transgender persons, mitigate the stigma, discrimination and abuse against this marginalized section and bring them into the mainstream of society. This will lead to inclusiveness and will make the transgender persons productive members of the society.

Background

Transgender community is among one of the most marginalized communities in the country because they don’t fit into the stereotypical categories of gender of ‘men’ or ‘women’. Consequently, they face problems ranging from social exclusion to discrimination, lack of education facilities, unemployment, lack of medical facilities and so on. The Bill shall empower the transgender community socially, educationally and economically. crackIAS.com***** AKT/PK/SH

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 RESOLVING INTER-STATE WATER DISPUTES EFFICIENTLY & AT FASTER PACE Relevant for: Indian Polity | Topic: Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure, Dispute Redressal Mechanisms, and the Centre-State Relations

Cabinet Resolving Inter-State Water Disputes efficiently & at faster pace

Cabinet approves Inter-State River Water disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 6:06PM by PIB Delhi

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved theInter-State River Water disputes(Amendment) Bill, 2019for adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter- State rivers and river valley thereof.

It will further streamline the adjudication of inter-State river water disputes. The Bill seeks to amend the Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 with a view to streamline the adjudication of inter-state river water disputes and make the present institutional architecture robust.

Impact:

Constitution of a single tribunal with different benches along with fixation of strict timelines for adjudication will result expeditious resolution of disputes relating to inter-state rivers.The amendments in the Bill will speed up the adjudication of water disputes referred to it.

When any request under the Act is received from any State Government in respect of any water dispute on the inter-State rivers and the Central government is of the opinion that the water dispute cannot be settled by negotiations, the Central Government constitutes a Water Disputes Tribunal for the adjudication of the water dispute.

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END Downloaded from crackIAS.com © Zuccess App by crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 CABINET APPROVES THE BANNING OF UNREGULATED DEPOSIT SCHEMES BILL, 2019 Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues relating to Growth & Development - Capital Market & SEBI

Cabinet Cabinet approves the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019

Bill to be introduced in ensuing session of Parliament

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 6:04PM by PIB Delhi

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019. It will replace the banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019.

The banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019 will replace the Ordinance promulgated on 21st February, 2019, which will otherwise cease to operate after six weeks after reassembly of Parliament.

Impact

The Bill will help tackle the menace of illicit deposit taking activities in the country, which at present are exploiting regulatory gaps and lack of strict administrative measures to dupe poor and gullible people of their hard-earned savings.

Background

The banning of Unregulated Deposit Scheme Bill, 2018 was considered by the Lok Sabha in its sitting held on 13th February, 2019 and after discussion, the same was passed, as amended through the proposed official amendments, as the banning of Unregulated Deposit Scheme Bill, 2019. However, before the same could be considered and passed in the Rajya Sabha, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on the same day.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 CABINET APPROVES CODE ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, HEALTH AND WORKING CONDITIONS BILL, 2019 Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues relating to Growth & Development - Industry & Services Sector incl. MSMEs and PSUs

Cabinet Cabinet approves Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill, 2019

13 Central Labour Laws brought in ambit of New Code

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 6:04PM by PIB Delhi

In the spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas’ and ‘Sabka Vishwas’, the NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been continuously working for the benefit of people from various walks of life. With this objective, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved for introduction of the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill, 2019 in the Parliament. This proposal would enhance the coverage of the safety, health and working conditions provisions manifold as compared to the present scenario. The decision will enhance the coverage of the safety, health and working conditions provisions manifold as compared to the present scenario.

The New Code has been drafted after amalgamation, simplification and rationalisation of the relevant provisions of the 13 Central Labour Acts:

● The Factories Act, 1948; ● The Mines Act, 1952; The Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Act, 1986; ● The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996; ● The Plantations Labour Act, 1951; ● The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970; ● The Inter-State Migrant workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979; ● ThecrackIAS.com Working Journalist and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service and Misc. Provision) Act, 1955; ● The Working Journalist (Fixation of rates of wages) Act, 1958; ● The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961; ● Sales Promotion Employees (Condition of Service) Act, 1976; ● The Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966; and ● The Cine Workers and Cinema Theatre Workers Act, 1981. After the enactment of the Code, all these Acts being subsumed in the Code will be repealed.

Benefits

● Safety, Health, welfare and improved Working Conditions are pre-requisite for well-being of the worker and also for economic growth of the country as healthy workforce of the country would be more productive and occurrence of less accidents and unforeseen incidents would be economically beneficial to the employers also. With the ultimate aim of extending the safety and healthy working conditions to all workforce of the country, the Code enhances the ambit of provisions of safety, health, welfare and working conditions from existing about 9 major sectors to all establishments having 10 or more employees. *****

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 CABINET APPROVES GRANT OF ORGANIZED GROUP ‘A’ STATUS TO INDIAN RAILWAY PROTECTION FORCE (RPF) SERVICE Relevant for: Security Related Matters | Topic: Various Security Forces & Agencies and their mandate

Cabinet Cabinet approves Grant of Organized Group ‘A’ Status to Indian Railway Protection Force (RPF) Service

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 5:47PM by PIB Delhi

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Grant of Organised Group 'A' status to Indian Railway Protection Force (RPF) and consequential benefits of Non- Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU) with effect from 01-01-2006 and Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG) @ 30% of Senior Duty Post (SDP) with effect from 06.06.2000, as per Department of Personnel and Training guidelines dated 24.04.2009 and 06.06.2000 respectively and subsequent instructions thereon.

Major Impact

Grant of status of Organized Group 'A' service to RPF will end stagnation, improve career progression of the officers and keep up their motivational level. Eligible officers of RPF will get benefitted.

Background

High Court of Delhi vide its order dated 4-12-2012 had directed Railways to grant Group 'A' Service status to RPF. Same was upheld by Hon'ble Supreme Court of India on 5-2-2019. Accordingly, Railway Board had proposed for grant of Organised Group 'A' Service status to RPF.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 BOOST TO RURAL ROAD CONNECTIVITY Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Infrastructure: Roads

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Boost to Rural Road Connectivity

1,25,000 Km Road Length to be Consolidated

Estimated Cost Rs 80,250 Crore

Cabinet approves Launch of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-lll (PMGSY-III)

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 5:47PM by PIB Delhi

In a major boost to rural road connectivity across the country, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the launch of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-lll (PMGSY-III). It involves consolidation of Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.

Under the PMGSY-III Scheme, it is proposed to consolidate 1,25,000 Km road length in the States.The Scheme will also include Through Routes and Major Rural Links that connect habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.

Impact

● This would facilitate easy and faster movement to and from Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. ● Roads constructed under PMGSY would also be maintained properly. Financial Implications

● It will entail an estimated cost of Rs 80,250 crore (Central Share-Rs. 53,800 crore, State Share- Rs 26,450 crore).

● ThecrackIAS.com funds would be shared in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and State for all States except for 8 North Eastern and 3 Himalayan States (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand) for which it is 90:10. Implementation

● Project period: 2019-20 to 2024-25. ● Selection of candidate roads based on the sum total of the marks obtained by particular road on the basis of parameters of population served, market, educational and medical facilities, etc. ● Construction of bridges upto 150 m in plain areas and 200 m in Himalayan and NE States proposed, as against the existing provisions of 75 m and 100 m in plain areas and Himalayan and NE States respectively. ● The States shall be asked to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) before launching of PMGSY-III in the concerned State for providing adequate funds for maintenance of roads constructed under PMGSY post 5-year construction maintenance period. Progress under PMGSY

A total of 5,99,090 Km road length has been constructed under the scheme since inception till April, 2019 (inclusive of PMGSY-I, PMGSY-II and RCPLWEA Scheme.

Background

PMGSY-III scheme was announced by the Finance Minister in Budget Speech for the year 2018-19.

The CCEA in its meeting held on 9th August, 2018 approved continuation of PMGSY-I & II beyond 12th Five Year Plan and covering of balance eligible habitations under PMGSY-I by March 2019, PMGSY-II, and habitations under identified LWE blocks (100-249 population) by March 2020.

PMGSY-I

PMGSY was launched in December, 2000 with an objective to provide single all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitation of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-East, hill, tribal and desert areas as per Census, 2001) for overall socio- economic development of the areas. 97% of the eligible and feasible habitations have already been connected by all-weather road.

Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Area (RCPLWEA)

Government launched Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism affected Areas in the year 2016 as a separate vertical under PMGSY to provide all-weather road connectivity with necessary culverts and cross-drainage structures in 44 districts (35 are worst LWE affected districts and 09 are adjoining districts), which are critical from security and communication point of view. Under the Scheme, 5,066 Km road length has been sanctioned.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 FACILITIES FOR DIVYANGJAN PASSENGERS IN INDIAN RAILWAYS Relevant for: Developmental Issues | Topic: Rights & Welfare of Persons with Disability including Mentally Ill People - Schemes & their Performance, Mechanisms, Laws Institutions and Bodies

Ministry of Railways Facilities for Divyangjan Passengers in Indian Railways

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 5:00PM by PIB Delhi

Indian Railways has more than 8700 stations and it has always been the endeavour of the Railways to provide adequate amenities to passengers at Railway Stations, including those for differently abled passengers (Divyangjan) which is a continuous process. Provision of facilities for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) are to be provided at all stations over Indian Railways based on the needs of travelling public and availability of funds. In order to provide better accessibility to Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Short Term Facilities and Long Terms facilities have been planned at all stations, beginning with Non Suburban Group ‘NSG 1’, ‘NSG 2’, ‘NSG 3’ & ‘NSG 4’ (erstwhile ‘A-1’, ‘A’ & ‘B’) category stations. The details of Railway stations provided with Short-Term Facilities so far for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) under all categories of stations over Indian Railways are as under:-

Approximate Facility for Persons with Disabilities S.No. number of stations, (Divyangjan) where facility provided 1 Standard ramp for barrier free entry 2670 2 Earmarking at least two parking lots 1604 Non-slippery walk-way from parking lot 3 1557 to station building 4 Signages of appropriate visibility 1607 At least one drinking water tap suitable 5 for use by Persons with Disabilities 2184 (Divyangjan) 6 At least one toilet (on the ground floor) 2757 7crackIAS.comMay I help you booth 1322

Long-Term Facilities are to be provided for Divyangjan at ‘NSG-1’ to ‘NSG-4’ categories of stations, which are as follows:-

Approximate Facility for Persons with S..No. number of stations, Disabilities (Divyangjan) where facility provided Engraving on edges of 1 1939 platforms Provision of facility for inter- 2 1288 platform transfer

Further, in order to facilitate easy movement of elderly, sick and differently abled passengers and for smooth access to platforms of major railway stations and for ease of movement, escalators/lifts are being provided as part of ‘Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan’. So far, 669 escalators at 240 stations and 493 lifts at 214 stations have been provided.

All General Managers of Zonal Railways have been instructed to provide Special Training Modules on Soft Skills as a part of Initial/Refresher/Special Courses to all frontline staff directly dealing with customers wherein greater thrust has been given towards customer satisfaction and the need to focus on customer as principal client.

All commercial frontline staffs are given special training on passenger amenities wherein training on special facilities provided for Physically Challenged persons and provision of wheel chair are given.

● Zonal Railways have been instructed to provide one wheelchair per platform and in case of island platforms, one wheel chair per two platforms at all A-1 and A category stations. ● Yatri Mitra Sewa has also been introduced at major railway stations for enabling passengers to book wheel chairs services cum porter services free of cost through NGOs, Charitable trust, PSUs etc under CSR and responsibility of providing this facility has been entrusted with IRCTC. In case of lack of response from NGOs, Charitable trust, PSUs etc., this service may be arranged on payment basis through a service provider or on its own. ● Passenger can book e-wheelchairs on line through IRCTC portal www.irctc.co.in. The facilitycrackIAS.com is presently, available at 22 stations i.e. Ahmedabad, Agra Cantt., Vadodara, Varanasi, Bhusawal, Vijayawada, Kanpur Central, Mumbai CST, Mumbai Central, Howrah, Indore, Jhansi, Jaipur, Lucknow Jn., Lucknow, New Delhi, Nagpur, Pathankot Cantt., Pune, Bengaluru City, Secunderabad and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. ● Passengers can book cab/coach & porter service online through IRCTC portal www.irctc.co.in. The facility is available at Chandigarh, Gaya, Guntur, Howrah, Jaipur, Lucknow, Lucknow Jn., Madurai, New Delhi, Delhi Jn., Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi Safdarjung, Anand Vihar, Delhi Cantt., Delhi Sarai Rohilla, Tirupati and Vijaywada. ● Powers have been delegated to DRMs to decide the provision of Battery Operated Vehicles (BOVs) at station on merit – whether free of cost through commercial publicity route or through ‘user pays’ route. ● At the Divisional level, Chief Travelling Ticket Inspectors/In-charges (CTTI/ICs), Station Managers (SMRs) and concerned Commercial Inspectors are directed to perform duty as a disability Inspector for providing assistance to Persons with Disabilities.

This information was given by the Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 NUCLEAR INSURANCE POOL Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Infrastructure: Energy incl. Renewable & Non-renewable

Department of Atomic Energy Nuclear Insurance Pool

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 4:59PM by PIB Delhi

The Government has created an Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) on 12th June, 2015. M/s. General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC-Re), along with several other Indian Insurance Companies, have launched the Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) with a capacity of 1500 crore to provide insurance to cover the liability as prescribed under Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010. This has addressed issues related to Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act and had facilitated commencement of work in setting up new nuclear power projects.

The present nuclear power capacity is 6780 MW comprising of 22 reactors. There are 9 reactors with a capacity of 6700 MW (including 500 MW PFBR being implemented by BHAVINI) under construction. The Government in 2017 has also accorded administrative approval and financial sanction of 12 nuclear power plants totaling to a capacity of 9000 MW. On their progressive completion, the installed nuclear capacity is expected to reach 8180 MW by 2020 and 22480 MW by 2031.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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crackIAS.comEND Downloaded from crackIAS.com © Zuccess App by crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 REGISTRATION OF SCAN MACHINES IN HOSPITALS Relevant for: Developmental Issues | Topic: Health & Sanitation and related issues

Department of Atomic Energy Registration of Scan Machines in Hospitals

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 4:58PM by PIB Delhi

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is the regulatory authority for issuing Licenses/Registration for X-ray facilities from radiation safety view point. AERB is aware that in spite of its continuous regulatory efforts, there may be some X-ray centres that are using X-ray units without obtaining mandatory approval from AERB. At present, 69,030 diagnostic X-ray equipment are licensed by AERB through its online system namely e-licensing of radiation applications (e-LORA) as on June 2019.

AERB is continuously putting all regulatory efforts to bring diagnostic X-ray equipment, in the country, under its regulatory ambit by increasing awareness in close coordination with Ministry of Health, States/Union Territories through the respective district Law Enforcement Authorities and District Health Authorities and through AERB's Regional Regulatory Centres.

AERB issues licence to operate only equipment that have obtained Type (design) approval from AERB. The Type approval process involves physical verification of every model of X-ray equipment and ensures in-built design safety for protection of patient and radiation worker. As part of its online registration process, in the first stage, AERB verifies institution details through review of legal documents such as institution PAN CARD and certification of State/ Local Authorities issued for the institution.

AERB has already comprehensively reviewed the regulatory requirements and incorporated in AERB Safety Code {AERB/RF-MED/ SC-3 (Rev.2), 2016}, based on which the process of registration was implemented in the e-LORA online system. AERB continuously reviews its regulatory mechanism based on feedback obtained from the stakeholders, international requirements etc., of licensing and revises its licensing process without compromising the radiation safety.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. crackIAS.com**** BB/NK/SS

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 PRICE STABILISATION FUND Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues relating to Growth & Development - Foreign Capital, Foreign Trade & BOP

Ministry of Commerce & Industry Price Stabilisation Fund

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 4:54PM by PIB Delhi

In view of the fluctuating nature of international prices in plantation crops and the dependence of growers on the export markets, Government launched and implemented the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) Scheme from 1st April, 2003 to 30th September, 2013 to provide financial relief to small growers of coffee, tea, rubber and tobacco having land holdings up to four hectares. This financial relief was provided when prices of these commodities fell below the price spectrum band. Every year, a uniform price spectrum band for all four commodities was announced by the High Powered Committee (HPC) constituted by the Department of Commerce with a range of + 20 % to - 20 % of moving average of the previous seven years international prices of the crops.

The scheme was based on the principle of contributions from the growers and the Government depending on normal/boom/distress periods, with a provision for withdrawal by the growers during the distress period. The Price Stabilization Fund Trust (PSFT) was set up by the Department of Commerce and NABARD to implement the PSF Scheme. The grower members were required to deposit Rs. 500 (non-refundable) towards entry fee, which would form part of the PSF Corpus. If the price falls within the band, the year would be declared as normal year and growers as well as PSFT would deposit Rs. 500 each in the PSF saving account of grower opened for the purpose of the scheme in the Nationalized banks. If the price goes above the upper band, the year would be declared as boom yearand only the grower would deposit Rs. 1000 in the account and if the price falls below lower band, the year would be declared as distress year and only PSFT would deposit Rs. 1000 in the growers’ accounts. In distress year, each eligible grower was allowed to withdraw Rs.1000 from the respective account. The scheme was closed on 30/9/2013. Therefore,no fund was allocated and utilized under the scheme during the last three years.

A corpus fund was set up in the year 2003 with the Government of India’s contribution of Rs. 432.88 crore and growers’ contribution of Rs. 2.67 crore (Total Rs. 435.55 crore) to implement the PSF scheme. The PSFT, set up in September, 2003 for a period of ten years was implementing the PSF scheme and operating the PSF Corpus Fund. As per the provisions of the scheme, interest earned on the Corpus was utilized for implementing the scheme, keeping the corpus fund vested in the Public Account of Government of India intact. The PSF Trust has been crackIAS.comre-registered for a period of 10 years commencing from 11/9/2013. As per the guidelines of the PSF, interest is calculated at the end of each financial year and transferred to the Reserve Fund –PSFT.

The PSF scheme was not successful. The scheme was reviewed in October, 2012 with a view to rectify the deficiencies in the scheme. As a result, a draft modified PSF Scheme was prepared and discussed in the meeting held on 4/6/2014 under the chairmanship of Expenditure Secretary. In the meeting, it was decided that the available corpus with the Price Stabilization Fund Trust may be utilized by the Department of Commerce to implement a modified insurance premium subvention scheme for insuring the growers. Accordingly, the Department of Commerce approved a pilot scheme in the name of Revenue Insurance Scheme for Plantation Crops (RISPC) to protect small growers of tea, coffee, rubber & cardamom from the twin risks of weather and prices for implementing in nine districts of seven States by the commodity boards through selected insurance companies. However, the scheme did not elicit desired response from the target groups and insurance companies.

The Indian Institute of Plantation Management Bengaluru evaluated the scheme and recommended crop specific insurance schemesfor Coffee, Tea, Cardamom and Tobacco so that the needs of each crop could be met. The commodity boards have been advised to formulate suitable schemes as recommended by the evaluation study. The finalization and approval of the modified scheme is dependent upon the submission of suitable schemes addressing the deficiencies of the earlier scheme.

This information was given by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 PROMOTION OF AGRO EXPORTS Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Transport & Marketing of agricultural produce

Ministry of Commerce & Industry Promotion of Agro Exports

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 4:53PM by PIB Delhi

Promoting agricultural exports is a continuous process. To promote the agricultural exports, the Government has introduced a comprehensive Agriculture Export Policy with the following vision:

“Harness export potential of Indian agriculture, through suitable policy instruments, to make India a global power in agriculture, and raise farmers’ income.”

Inter-alia, the objectives of the Agriculture Export policy are as under:

i. To diversify our export basket, destinations and boost high value and value added agricultural exports, including focus on perishables. ii. To promote novel, indigenous, organic, ethnic, traditional and non-traditional Agri products exports. iii. To provide an institutional mechanism for pursuing market access, tackling barriers and dealing with sanitary and phytosanitary issues. iv. To strive to double India’s share in world agri exports by integrating with global value chains. v. Enable farmers to get benefit of export opportunities in overseas market.

The Government has also brought out a new Central Sector Scheme – ‘Transport and Marketing Assistance for Specified Agriculture Products’ - for providing assistance for the international component of freight, to mitigate the freight disadvantage for the export of agriculture products, and marketing of agricultural products.

The Department of Commerce also has several schemes to promote exports, including exports of agricultural products, viz. Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES), Market Access Initiatives (MAI) Scheme, Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) etc. In addition, assistance to the exporters of agricultural products is also available under the Export Promotion Schemes of Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Tobacco Board, Tea Board, Coffee Board,crackIAS.com Rubber Board and Spices Board. This information was given by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, PiyushGoyal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 PRODUCTION OF NATURAL RUBBER Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Major Crops, Cropping Patterns and various Agricultural Revolutions

Ministry of Commerce & Industry Production of Natural Rubber

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 4:52PM by PIB Delhi

The total production of Natural Rubber (NR) during 2018-19 is provisionally estimated at 648000 tonnes. The production of NR during April-May 2019 is provisionally estimated at 74000 tonnes.

The Natural Rubber prices have been at relatively low levels during the past few years in domestic and international markets. However, the rubber prices started increasing during the recent weeks and the average price for the RSS4 grade in June, 2019 was 150.29 per kg. The Natural Rubber prices are determined by market forces and a range of factors which inter-alia include trends in economic growth in major consuming countries, oil/synthetic rubber prices, weather conditions and developments in future markets.

The domestic NR market generally follows the trend in world market with occasional divergences due to region specific and seasonal factors. No quantitative restrictions can be imposed on the import of NR under WTO commitments. The domestic NR price is sensitive to import of NR. Therefore, to regulate the import of NR, the Government has increased the duty on import of dry rubber from “20% or Rs. 30 per kg whichever is lower” to “25% or Rs. 30 per kg whichever is lower” from 30.4.2015.

The Government has also reduced the period of utilization of imported dry rubber in January 2015 under advance licensing scheme from 18 months to 6 months. The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has imposed port restriction on the import of Natural Rubber by restricting the port of entry to Chennai and NhavaSheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port) since 20th January, 2016.

State-wise production of NR upto 2018-19 is given below:

State-wise production of NR (Tonne) State 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 (P) 2018-19 (P) KeralacrackIAS.com438630 540400 540775 490460 Tamil Nadu 19495 21140 21110 21500 Traditional 458125 561540 561885 511960 Total Tripura 44245 50985 50500 53050 Assam 14560 19970 23300 24300 Meghalaya 7360 8950 9050 9100 Nagaland 3020 4320 4820 4930 Manipur 1660 2090 1790 1850 Mizoram 595 742 742 750 Arunachal 360 478 428 450 Pradesh North East 71800 87535 90630 94430 Total Karnataka 29400 38800 38300 38200 A&N Islands 240 240 240 275 Goa 640 645 575 625 Maharashtra 925 1185 1185 1250 Odisha 315 400 450 480 West Bengal 325 335 335 380 Andhra 230 320 400 400 Pradesh Others Total 32075 41925 41485 41610 Non Traditional 103875 129460 132115 136040 Total Grand Total 562000 691000 694000 648000

Source: Rubber Board

P: Provisional

This information was given by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, PiyushGoyal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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crackIAS.com END Downloaded from crackIAS.com © Zuccess App by crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 E-CIGARETTES Relevant for: Developmental Issues | Topic: Health & Sanitation and related issues

Ministry of Commerce & Industry E-CIGARETTES

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 4:47PM by PIB Delhi

As per a report of WHO, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems [ENDS] [also known as e- cigarettes] heat a solution to create an aerosol which frequently contains flavourants, usually dissolved into Propylene Glycol or/and Glycerin. ENDS aerosol contains nicotine, the addictive component of tobacco products. In addition to dependence, nicotine can have adverse effects on the development of the foetus during pregnancy and may contribute to cardiovascular disease.

The WHO report further says that although nicotine itself is not a carcinogen, it may function as a tumour promoter and seems to be involved in the biology of malignant disease, as well as of neurodegeneration. Foetal and adolescent nicotine exposure may have long-term consequences for brain development, potentially leading to learning and anxiety disorders. The evidence is sufficient to warn children and adolescents, pregnant women, and women of reproductive age against ENDS use and nicotine.

E-cigarette has not been separately classified under import policy and is being imported under different HS Codes. Import of e-cigarette, its Accessories and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), for the last three years and current year is as under:

Item Value in USD Description 2019-20 e-Cigarettes, its 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19* (Upto 30th accessories April, 2019 and ENDS 38126.34 70171.45 83483.54 Nil

* Figures pertaining to the financial years 2018-19 are Provisional. crackIAS.com As per WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2017, the Governments of thirty countries, including Mauritius, Australia, Singapore, Korea [Democratic People’s Republic], Sri Lanka, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Bahrain, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates have already banned Electronic Nicotine Delivery System in their countries.

Ban on import is not possible unless there is a legal ban on domestic production, distribution and consumption. Considering that health is a state subject, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, has issued an advisory on 28.8.2018 to all States and Union Territories to ensure that any Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems including e-Cigarettes, Heat-Not-Burn Devices, Vape, e-Sheesha, e-Nicotine Flavoured Hookah, and the like devices that enable nicotine delivery are not sold [including online sale], manufactured, distributed, traded, imported and advertised in their jurisdictions, except for the purpose and in the manner and to the extent, as may be approved under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Governments of Punjab, Karnataka, Mizoram, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan and Meghalaya have prohibited the manufacture, distribution, import and sale of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems.

This information was given by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, PiyushGoyal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 TEA GARDENS Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Major Crops, Cropping Patterns and various Agricultural Revolutions

Ministry of Commerce & Industry Tea Gardens

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 4:47PM by PIB Delhi

At present, there are 1585 number of established tea gardens in the country. The names of the companies operating the tea gardens as per the Baseline Survey conducted in the year 2015 by the Tea Board is given in Annexure-1. The details of total number of permanent /temporary workers state-wise as per the Baseline Survey conducted by the Tea Board in 2015 for the organized sector in the country is given in the following Table:

S.No State Permanent Temporary Total 1 Assam 400352 284302 684654 2 West Bengal 241144 96172 337316 3 Tripura 7953 5304 13257 4 Arunachal Pradesh 141 487 628 5 Sikkim 397 0 397 6 Meghalaya 19 125 144 7 Bihar 20 40 60 8 Himachal Pradesh 55 508 563 9 Mizoram 15 50 65 10 Uttarakhand 668 948 1616 11 Tamil Nadu 39311 10099 49410 12 Kerala 33534 7239 40773 13 Karnataka 2638 421 3059 All India 726247 405695 1131942 Source: Tea Board

At present, 11 tea gardens are closed in the country. The main reasons for closure of these gardens are attributed to poor yield of the estates, ageing bush profile and high vacancy percentage in tea area, negligible uprooting / replanting of age old tea bushes for years, poor garden management practices, falling quality and price realizations, overall lack of development perspective,crackIAS.com highly debt oriented funding strategy and ownership disputes. The details indicating state-wise closed tea estates (T.E) and number of workers affected are given below:

Sl. No. of Workers affected Name of the T.E State/UT No. Permanent Temporary Dheklapara T.E 200 1 West Bengal 604 (Approx.) Bundapani T.E 2 West Bengal 1215 68

Dharanipur T.E 450 3 West Bengal 357 (Approx.) Redbank T.E 700 4 West Bengal 888 (Approx.) 150 5 Surendranagar T.E West Bengal 301 (Approx.) 6 Madhu T.E West Bengal 947 - 7. Panighata West Bengal 787 - 8 Manabarrie West Bengal 452 101 M/s Peermade Tea Co. Ltd.- 9. 220 - Peermade&Lonetree T.E. Kerala M/s MMJ Plantations- 10. Kerala Kottamala&Bonami T.E 375 - 11 Bonaccord Kerala 220 - Total = 6366 1669

Source: Tea Board

The following steps have been taken by the Government for revival of the closed tea estates in the country:

(i) The Dheklapara Tea Estate was officially liquidated by the Calcutta High Court. The garden was put up for e-auction by the Calcutta High Court (Official Liquidator) on 11th May, 2012, but no prospective buyer was available. The West Bengal Govt. has cancelled land lease in respect of Bundapani, Redbank, Dharanipur, Surendranagarand Madhu tea estates and taken possession of the land to find out new entrepreneur.

(ii) A committee headed by the District Magistrates in North Bengal districts regularly monitors the welfare measures and different schemes introduced by the State government in the tea gardens.

(iii) The Government of Kerala has constituted Plantation Workers’ Relief Fund in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, Waynad and Idukki. The fund is utilized for the relief activities such as nutritious food, study materials, note books, school bags and umbrellas to the children of workersin the closed gardens of the State. Medical camps crackIAS.comare being organised and financial assistance extended for the medical treatment of deadly diseases to the labourers.

The Tea Board under the Tea Development & Promotion Scheme is extending financial assistance to the small growers for uprooting and replanting, rejuvenation, pruning, irrigation, assistance to Self Help Groups (SHGs), field mechanization, assistance to Farmers’ Producers Organizations (FPOs), annual award for SHGs & FPOs, setting up of new factories by FPOs, setting up mini factories, workshop/training, development & promotion of organic farming and organic conversion.

Assistance provided by the Tea Board under the Tea Development & Promotion Scheme during the last three years and current year for the benefit of small tea growers is given below:

States Years (Rs. In Lakh) 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-2020 Assam 446.2 328.32 885.54 105.00 Tripura 17.33 29.24 133.93 0.23 Arunachal Pradesh 0.61 0.95 0.87 0.00 Nagaland 0.43 0.10 14.74 0.00 Meghalaya 0.5 0.72 6.22 0.00 Mizoram 9.67 98.60 19.43 0.00 Tamil Nadu 179.94 295.21 104.76 29.71 Kerala 74.54 406.44 117.91 2.81 Karnataka 0.00 0.13 0.00 0.00 West Bengal 48.16 55.61 578.51 30.44 Bihar 0.77 0.00 0.16 0.00 Himachal Pradesh 24.78 97.64 85.62 6.71 Uttarakhand 2.78 87.4 97.51 6.08 Total = 805.71 1400.36 2045.20 180.98

Source: Tea Board

District Green Leaf Price Monitoring Committee (DGLPMC) has been notified in all tea growing districts of India under the chairmanship of District Collector/Deputy Commissioner to ensure remunerative prices for green leaf to the small teas growers. The committee notifies Minimum Benchmark Price (MBP) every month by taking into consideration the average sale price of made tea for the previous month for all the factories located in the district.

The Tea Board was set up under section 4 of the Tea Act, 1953. The Tea Board comprises of a Chairman and 31 members appointed by the Government of India, including the representatives of the major tea growing States, representatives of the Parliament and members representing different sections of the tea industry.

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The Head office of the Tea Board is located in Kolkata, West Bengal and there are two Zonal Offices, one each at Guwahati and Coonoor. The Tea Board functions as an apex body concerned with overall development of the tea industry in India by providing necessary assistance for research and developmental activities aimed at increasing production, productivity and quality; facilitation of trade and promotion of exports so as to ensure maximum returns to the producers including small growers, safeguarding the interests of the workers and the consumers.

Welfare needs of plantation workers, including tea, are addressed through the provisions of the Plantation Labour Act which are implemented by the tea estates under the supervision of the state governments. In addition, the Tea Board also undertakes several welfare activities which are supplemental in nature. Such activities aimed at Human Resource Development (HRD) consists of measures for improving the health and hygiene of workers, education of wards of workers and imparting training for improvement of skills.

Funds provided under the Human Resource Development (HRD) during the last three years and the current year are given in the following table:

Total (Rs. in Year crores) 2016-17 4.65 2017-18 5.22 2018-19 2.45 2019-20 (Upto30-6-2019) 0.45 Provisional Total 12.77

Source: Tea Board

For the overall development of the tea industry, including tea growers, the Government of India, through Tea Board is implementing the Tea Development & Promotion Scheme. Different nodal officers of the Tea Board are responsible implementation of the different components of the Scheme. The Deputy Chairman, Tea Board periodically reviews the progress of implementation of the Scheme. All the services for implementation of the various components of the scheme are provided through online e-governance mechanism and all payments are made through e- payment mode i.e. RTGS/NEFT.

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Annexure-1

List of Tea Companies

S.NO. COMPANY NAME 34 GONESHBARI TEA CO. PVT.LTD. 1 SIANG TEA & INDUSTRIES PVT LTD 35 JALLAN GOLAGHAT TEA CO PVT LTD 2 IRRINGMARA TEA CO (1951) LTD 36 GOBINDAPORE TEA CO. PVT LTD 3 SUBLIME AGRO LIMITED 37 BARAK VALLEY CEMENT LTD. 4 DOYAPORE TEA INDUSTRIES (P) LTD. 38 GOPAL KRISHNA TEA CO. PVT. LTD. 5 HASHMUKH.R.PATEL SRI HARISH. R. PATEL. 39 BURAGOHAIN AGRO ASSOCIATES THE ASSAM TEA & TEASEED PLANTATIONS M.K.JOKAI AGRI PLANTATIONS PRIVATE 6 40 (P) LTD. LIMITED 7 THE GROB TEA CO. LTD. 41 DHUNSERI PETROCHEM & TEA LIMITED 8 GILLANDERS ARBUTHNOT & CO. LTD. 42 HARISHPUR TEA CO. PVT. LTD. 9 KANOI PLANTATIONS PVT. LTD. 43 MARUDHAR TEA CO. PVT. LTD. 10 ETHELWOLD ESTATE PRIVATE LIMITED 44 HANUMAN TEXNIT & INDUSTRIES LTD CHOUDHURY TEA & AGRO INDUSTRIES PVT 11 45 STEWART HOLL(INDIA) LTD LTD JALLAN FURKATING TEA COMPANY (PVT) 12 46 RUKMINI TEA INDISTRIES (P) LTD LTD. APEEJAY TEA SURRENDRA CORPORATE 13 B & A LTD. 47 SERVICE PVT. LTD. 14 BANSHIDHAR SEWBHAGOVAN & CO 48 KPC PLANTATIONS PVT LTD 15 GANGABARI TEA CO. PVT. LTD 49 ANDREW YULE & COMPANY LIMITED 16 THE BARAK TEA CMPANY LTD 50 HIAJULI TEA COMPANY LIMITED 17 DHUNSERI TEA & INDUSTRIES LIMITED 51 HOOGRAJULI (ASSAM) TEA CO. LTD. 18 THE AHMED TEA CO PVT LTD 52 GOODRICKE GROUP LIMITED NANDLALL & SONS TEWA INDUSTRIES 19 MCLEOD RUSSEL INDIA LIMITED 53 (P) LTD. 20 ROSSEL TEA LIMITED 54 JAINCO TEA (P) LTD 21 MOHEEMA LTD 55 JOONKTOLLEE TEA & INDUSTRIES LTD. AMALGAMATED PLANTATIONS PRIVATE 22 56 JALANNAGAR TEA ESTATE (P) LTD LIMITED 23 ASSAM COMPANY INDIA LIMITED 57 SPBP TEA PLANTATION LTD. 24 THE BORMAHJAN TEA CO.(1936) LTD. 58 BHUMYA TEA CO. PVT. LTD. SONTONZA CONSTRUCTION & 25 AMRAWATI TEA CO. PVT. LTD. 59 CARRIERS PVT. LTD. 26 RYDAK SYNDICATE LIMITED 60 THE ALL INDIA TEA & TRADING CO LTD 27 THE CHAMONG TEA CO LTD 61 SHREE JAGADAMBA CO PVT. LTD BIJOY KRISHNA SADHAN ASHRAM TRUST 28 62 KHEMANI TEA COMPANY PVT. LTD. BOARD 29 VISHNU TEA & INDUSTRIES PVT LTD 63 KUYKIS LTD. 30 crackIAS.comBAGASA PLANTATION PVT LTD 64 ASSAM TEA CORPORATION LIMITED 31 WARREN TEA LIMITED 65 SURMA TEA & AGRO INDUSTRIES 32 RUNGAMATTEE TEA & INDUSTRIES LTD 66 SONAI RIVER TEA CO. LTD. 33 M K SHAH EXPORTS LIMITED 67 DHELAKHAT TEA CO. LTD 68 DHONESWARI WOOD PRODUCTS LTD 102 NIDHI PACKERSPVT LTD NORTHERN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN 69 103 RUKONG TEA ESTATE PVT LTD CHURCH 70 MODINAGAR TEA CO. (P) LTD 104 THE JOREHAUT GROUP LIMITED 71 LUXMI TEA CO.LTD. 105 RUTTONPORE PLANTATIONS PVT.LTD. 72 MUKTABARI TEA ESTATES PVY. LTD. 106 SAROJINI TEA CO. (P) LTD.

73 BOCHAPATHAR TEA ESTATE PRIVATE LTD. 107 SALONAH TEA ESTATE (P) LTD. 74 NAHORBARI TEA COMPANY PVT. LTD. 108 SAPOI TEA COMPANY LIMITED 75 NAWKA TEA PLANTATIONS 109 SANKAR TEA CO PVT LTD 76 NAHORJAN TEA CO. (PVT) LTD 110 SENGAJAN TEA CO. PVT. LTD. 77 NARSINGPORE TEA CO LTD 111 BASANTIPUR TEA CO LTD 78 NARAYANPUR TEA CO.(P) LTD. 112 SECONEE T.E PVT. LTD 79 NAMBURNADI TEA CO. LTD. 113 MAUD TEA & SEED CO. LTD. 80 MADARKHAT TEA CO PVT LTD 114 KAMAL TEA INDUSTRIES LTD. 81 SADASIVA TEA CO PVT LTD 115 ASSAM DAIRY FARM 82 KYANG TEA SEED CO. LTD. 116 TONGANI TEA CO LTD 83 BORNEWRIA TEA CO. PVT. LTD. 117 TOCKLAI EXPERIMENTAL STATION 84 NEW MANAS TEA ESTATES PVT LTD 118 MONABARI TEA CO. LTD. 85 NOORBARI TEA CO. PVT. LTD. 119 TONGANAGAON TEA CO PVT LTD 86 PORAPKAR DEALERS PVT.LTD 120 TULIP TEA CO. LTD. 87 PADAM PLANTATIONS PVT LTD 121 H.P.BARUA TEA ESTATES (P)LTD. 88 MANTRI TEA COMPANY PRIVATE LTD 122 KATILCHERRA KHANDSARI SUGAR MILLS 89 BENGAL TEA & FABRICS LTD. 123 UMABARI TEA CO. PVT. LTD. 90 PANBARI TEA COMPANY LIMITED 124 CACHAR NATIVE GOINT STOCK CO.LTD 91 PULSAR COMMERCE PRIVATE LTD 125 KHETAN KRISHI FARM 92 HANUMAN PLANTATION LIMITED 126 MOKALBARI KANOI TEA ESTATE (P) LTD 93 JOREHAUT GROUP LIMITED 127 MADHUTING TEA PVT LTD 94 MADHUPUR TEA ESTATE PVT.LTD. 128 AGARWALLA AGRICULTURAL CO (P) LTD 95 THENGALBARI ESTATES PVT LTD 129 BIJULI TEA PVT. LTD. 96 RANGSALI TEA COMPANY PVT. LTD. 130 KAKADONGA T.E.S. PVT LTD 97 RABBANIA TEA CO(P) LTD 131 KAMALPUR (ASSAM) T.E. (P) LTD. 98 RAJARAMPORE TEA& INDUSTRIES (P) LTD. 132 GUPTU & CO (P) LTD 99 BEMOLAPUR TEA COMPANY PVT LTD 133 GROB TEA CO LTD 100 PRITHUNAGAR TEA CO. (P) LTD. 134 KALYANI TEA CO LTD 101 PURANIMATI PLANTATION PRIVATE LTD 135 FARMEX TEA CO. PVT. LTD.

136 KOOMBER TEA CO. PVT LTD 170 A SHAH AND S SHAH SHRI RAM TEA COMPANY PRIVATE 137 crackIAS.com 171 SHREE KRISHNA TEA CO PVT LTD LIMITED 138 BUNI DOOARS TEA CO. LTD 172 AMBICA TEA ESTATE 139 KOLKATA TEA COMPANY 173 BAJRANGPUR TEA CO. (P) LTD 140 KOLONY TEA ESTATE PVT LTD 174 GOUR NITYA TEA CO INDUS. LTD 141 ENVER PLANTATIONS PVT. LTD. 175 BAGRODIA CHAI PVT.LTD. DARSHANLAL ANAND PRAKASH & SONS 142 176 JALAN CHARITY TRUST PVT LTD KRISHNAKALI TEA ESTATE UNIT OF 143 177 SINGHI INDUSTRIES PVT LTD RADHARANI T.E. 144 LALLAMUKH TEA CO. PVT. LTD 178 BANWARIPUR T.E.

145 HATIGARH ASSOCIATES

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 FDI IN MULTI - BRAND RETAIL Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues relating to Growth & Development - Foreign Capital, Foreign Trade & BOP

Ministry of Commerce & Industry FDI in Multi - Brand Retail

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 4:40PM by PIB Delhi

India has received FDI in multi-brand retail from one foreign company of United Kingdom. State/UT-wise data of FDI inflow is not centrally maintained.

There is no proposal under consideration of the Government to increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi brand retail sector in the country.

The retail market sector depends on a number of factors, including FDI. However, FDI is largely a matter of private business decisions. FDI inflows depend on a host of factors such as availability of natural resource, market size, infrastructure, general investment climate as well as macro-economic stability and investment decision of foreign investors.

Under the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy, the details of norms for undertaking multi- brand retail trading in the country is given below:

FDI Policy in Multi Brand Retail Trading

% of Equity/ Sector/Activity Entry Route FDI Cap Multi Brand Retail Trading 51% Government

1. FDI in multi brand retail trading, in all products, will be permitted, subject to the following conditions: (i) Fresh agricultural produce, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, grains, pulses, fresh poultry,fishery and meat products, may be unbranded. crackIAS.com(ii) Minimum amount to be brought in, as FDI, by the foreign investor, would be USD 100 million.

(iii) At least 50% of total FDI brought in the first tranche of USD 100 million, shall be invested in 'back-end infrastructure' within three years, where ‘back-end infrastructure’ will include capital expenditure on all activities, excluding that on front-end units; for instance, back-end infrastructure will include investment made towards processing, manufacturing, distribution, design improvement, quality control, packaging, logistics, storage, ware-house and agriculture market produce infrastructure. Expenditure on land cost and rentals, if any, will not be counted for purposes of backend infrastructure. Subsequent investment in backend infrastructure would be made by the MBRT retailer as needed, depending upon its business requirements.

(iv) At least 30% of the value of procurement of manufactured/processed products purchased shall be sourced from Indian micro, small and medium industries, which have a total investment in plant & machinery not exceeding USD 2.00 million. This valuation refers to the value at the time of installation, without providing for depreciation. The ‘small industry’ status would be reckoned only at the time of first engagement with the retailer, and such industry shall continue to qualify as a ‘small industry’ for this purpose, even if it outgrows the said investment of USD 2.00 million during the course of its relationship with the said retailer. Sourcing from agricultural co-operatives and farmers’ co-operatives would also be considered in this category. The procurement requirement would have to be met, in the first instance, as an average of five years’ total value of the manufactured/processed products purchased, beginning 1st April of the year during which the first tranche of FDI is received. Thereafter, it would have to be met on an annual basis.

(v) Self-certification by the company, to ensure compliance of the conditions at serial nos. (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, which could be cross-checked, as and when required. Accordingly, the investors shall maintain accounts, duly certified by statutory auditors.

(vi) Retail sales outlets may be set up only in cities with a population of more than 10 lakh as per 2011 Census or any other cities as per the decision of the respective State Governments, and may also cover an area of 10 kms around the municipal/urban agglomeration limits of such cities; retail locations will be restricted to conforming areas as per the Master/Zonal Plans of the concerned cities and provision will be made for requisite facilities such as transport connectivity and parking.

(vii) Government will have the first right to procurement of agricultural products.

viii. The above policy is an enabling policy only and the State Governments/Union Territories would be free to take their own decisions in regard to implementation of the policy. Therefore, retail sales outlets may be set up in those States/Union Territories which have agreed, or agree in future, to allow FDI in MBRT under this policy. The list of States/Union Territories which have conveyed their agreement is at (2) below. Such agreement, in future, to permit establishment of retail outlets under this policy, would be conveyed to the Government of India through the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion and additions would be made to the list at (2) below accordingly. The establishment of the crackIAS.comretail sales outlets will be in compliance of applicable State/Union Territory laws/ regulations, such as the Shops and Establishments Act etc. ix. Retail trading, in any form, by means of e-commerce, would not be permissible, for companies with FDI, engaged in the activity of multi-brand retail trading.

This information was given by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 GROWTH IN MANUFACTURING SECTOR Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues relating to Growth & Development - Industry & Services Sector incl. MSMEs and PSUs

Ministry of Commerce & Industry Growth in Manufacturing Sector

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 4:38PM by PIB Delhi

The growth of India’s Manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the year 2005-06 at constant (2011-12) prices is given below:

Growth rate (in per cent) of Manufacturing GVA and GDP at constant (2011-12) prices Year Growth rate of Manufacturing Growth rate of GDP 2005-06 9.3 7.9 2006-07 17.8 8.1 2007-08 7.0 7.7 2008-09 4.7 3.1 2009-10 11.0 7.9 2010-11 7.7 8.5 2011-12 3.1 5.2 2012-13 5.5 5.5 2013-14 5.0 6.4 2014-15 7.9 7.4 2015-16 13.1 8.0 2016-17 7.9 8.2 2017-18 5.9 7.2 2018-19 6.9 6.8

Source: National Statistical Office. crackIAS.com The figures for the years 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 are provisional

As per the latest available estimates of GDP by National Statistical Office, the share of GVA of manufacturing sector in GDP at constant prices at 2011-12 for the last three years is given below:

Share (in per cent) of Manufacturing GVA in GDP at constant prices (2011-12) 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 Share of manufacturi 16.7 16.5 16.5 ng

Source: National Statistical Office.

The figures for the years 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 are provisional

The Government has been continuously taking steps to boost manufacturing and spur economic growth. It aims at creating a conducive environment by streamlining the existing regulations and processes and eliminating unnecessary requirements and procedures. ‘Make in India’ programme aims at making India a global hub for manufacturing, research and innovation and an integral part of the global supply chain. Several steps to boost domestic manufacturing are being taken as part of schemes such as ‘Startup India’, ‘Ease of Doing Business’, Modified Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme, Business Reform Action Plan and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy and procedures have been simplified and liberalized progressively.

This information was given by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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END Downloaded from crackIAS.com crackIAS.com© Zuccess App by crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 SOCIAL WELFARE SCHEMES IN THE COUNTRY Relevant for: Developmental Issues | Topic: Rights & Welfare of STs, SCs, and OBCs - Schemes & their Performance, Mechanisms, Laws Institutions and Bodies

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Social Welfare Schemes in the Country

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 4:17PM by PIB Delhi

The schemes of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment are meant for the weaker sections of society, including women. While in some schemes percentage of funds or seats are earmarked for women, some women specific initiatives are as under:

i. The three Corporations under the administrative control of the Ministry have schemes of Mahila Kisan Yojana, Mahila Samriddi Yojana, New Swarnima Yojana and Mahila Adhikarita Yojana. ii. Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens has a component for 50 elderly senior citizen women under the scheme of Senior Citizen Homes.

SCHEMES BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

S. Programme/Schemes No. Schemes for Scheduled Caste (SC) 1. Pre Matric Scholarship for SCs 2. Post Matric Scholarship for SCs 3. Free Coaching for SCs and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) 4. Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana Strengthening of machinery for Enforcement of Protection of Civil Right Act 1955 and 5. Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 6. Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna for Boys 7. Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna for Girls 8. Assistance to Voluntary Organisations. for SCs 9. Pre-matric Scholarships for the children of those engaged in unclean occupation 10. Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan 11. National Fellowship for SCs 12. Self Employment Scheme of Liberation & Rehabilitation of Scavengers 13. NationalcrackIAS.com Overseas Scholarship for SCs 14. Top Class Education for SCs 15. Assistance to Scheduled Castes Development Corporations (SCDCs) 16. National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation 17. National Safai Karmachari Finance and Development Corporation 18. Venture Capital Funds for SCs 19. Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for SCs Schemes for Backward Classes (OBCs)

20. Pre-Matric Scholarship for OBCs students 21. Post-Matric Scholarship for OBCs students 22. Construction of Hostel for OBC Boys and Girls Dr. Ambedkar Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loan for Overseas Studies 23. for OBCs/EBCs 24. Assistance for Skill Development of OBCs/EBCs/DNTs 25. National Fellowship for OBCs 26. Dr. Ambedkar Post-Matric Scholarship for EBC students Scheme for Development of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-nomadic Tribes (DNTs) 27. (Scholarship of Pre+Post Matric+ Nanaji Deshmukh Hostel) 28. National Backward Classes Development Corporation

Schemes for Senior Citizen and Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

29. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojna Scheme for prevention of Alcoholism and 30. Substance (Drugs) Abuse. Scheme for the Persons with Disabilities

Assistance to Disabled Persons for 31. purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) Scheme 32. Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Rattan Lal Kataria in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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END Downloaded from crackIAS.com crackIAS.com© Zuccess App by crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 STEPS TAKEN TO STOP TERROR FINANCING Relevant for: Security Related Matters | Topic: Role of External State & Non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security incl. Terrorism & illegal Migration

Ministry of Home Affairs Steps Taken to Stop Terror Financing

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 3:46PM by PIB Delhi

The Government has taken various steps to combat terror financing in the country, which inter alia, include:- i) Strengthening of the provisions in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 to combat terror financing. ii) A Terror Funding and Fake Currency Cell (TFFC) has been constituted in National Investigation Agency (NIA) to conduct focused investigation of terror funding and fake currency cases. iii) Since Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) network is one of the channels of terror financing in India, FICN Coordination Group (FCORD) is been formed by the MHA to share intelligence/information among security agencies of the states/centre to counter the problem of circulation of fake currency notes.

These measures have helped in checking terror financing.

The withdrawal of legal tender status of Specified Bank Notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination led to instant extinguishment of high quality fake Indian currency notes of these denominations. Since illegally held cash forms a large chunk of terrorist funding, most of the cash held with the terrorists turned worthless.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha today.

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END Downloaded from crackIAS.com © Zuccess App by crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 OVERHAULING THE BUREAUCRACY Relevant for: Indian Polity | Topic: Provisions related to UPSC, State PSCs and Civil Services in India, and their Role in Democracy

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Overhauling the Bureaucracy

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 3:37PM by PIB Delhi

In keeping with the principle of ‘Reform, Perform and Transform’, the Government has taken several measures to reform bureaucracy. Issue of provisional appointment orders on receipt of duly filled attestation form and self declaration by candidates pending police verification of character and antecedents, streamlining the system of posting at senior levels with due regard to integrity and merit, strengthening performance appraisal system of civil servants, strengthening of vigilance system, amendment of All India Services (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules to provide for specific ‘timeline’ for completing enquiry against officers of All India Service(AIS) in a time bound manner and adequate safeguard against arbitrary suspension of All India Service (AIS) officers, discontinuation of interviews for lower level posts, removing dead-wood from bureaucracy (i.e. those found ineffective and non-performing are to be compulsorily retired), are some of the reforms made in the recent past.

Some prominent persons have been appointed earlier also on lateral entry basis to man specific assignments from time to time. This includes among others, appointment of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Shri Vijay Kelkar, ShriBimalJalan, Shri Shankar Acharya, ShriRakesh Mohan, ShriArvindVirmani, ShriArvindPanagariya, ShriArvind Subramanian, ShriVaidya Rajesh Kotecha, ShriParameswaranIyer, Shri Ram VinayShahi, Shri R. Ramanan and Dr. SekharBonu. No adverse effect on the morale of the civil servants has resulted from lateral recruitments.

NITI Ayog in its three year Action Agenda 2017-18 to 2019-20 has also highlighted that it is essential that specialists be inducted in to the system through lateral entry on fixed term contract. The Sectoral Group of Secretaries (SGoS) submitted a report in February, 2017 in which it has inter alia been observed that there is shortage of officers at the Joint Secretary/Director/Deputy Secretary Level, due to reduction in recruitment in the Service during 1995-2002. Based on the recommendation of SGoS, Government has decided to undertake lateral recruitment of ten Joint Secretaries on contract basis in order to achieve the twin objectives of bringing in fresh talent as well as augment the availability of manpower.

The entry in Government run educational cadre at Assistant/Associate/Professor is open to allcrackIAS.com individuals who are fulfilling the required eligibility criteria independent of whether the person is currently within the educational institution or not.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in LokSabha today.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 LAUNCH OF PHASE-II OF DBT IN FERTILIZER SUBSIDY Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues related to direct & indirect Farm Subsidies and MSP

Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Launch of Phase-II of DBT in Fertilizer Subsidy

Posted On: 10 JUL 2019 12:59PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda launched the Phase- II of the Direct Benefit Transfer of Fertilizer Subsidy (DBT 2.0), here today. Minister of State for Shipping (IC) and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya also graced the occasion. The Department of Fertilizers (DoF) has implemented the Phase-I of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system in fertilizer subsidy pan-India in Fertilizers w.e.f. March 2018.

Talking about Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Less Government, More Governance, Shri Gowda said that only by bringing transparency in administration can the Government bring a positive change in lives of the people. DBT in fertilizer subsidy is such a step in the direction of bringing ease of living in the lives of farmers through use of modern technology and plugging leakages, pilferages and black marketing, the Minister added.

The new initiatives of DBT 2.0 are as under:

● DBT Dashboards: In order to facilitate accurate information gathering and decision- making w.r.t. the position of requirement/supply/availability of various fertilizers at National, State and District levels, the DoF has developed various dashboards. These dashboards provide various reports regarding the Fertilizer Stock position at ports, plants, in States, at District levels; Proportionate requirement for the season and availability of stocks at various levels; Top 20 buyers; Frequent buyers; Retailers not selling fertilizers etc. The reports would facilitate real-time monitoring of the availability and sale of fertilizers within each State/UT. Public can access the dashboards by clicking the e-urvarak website of DoF (www.urvarak.nic.in). ● PoS 3.0 Software: The Multi-lingual facility would provide Aadhar virtual ID option for registration, login and sale activity in DBT software. It would also have a provision for area-specific, crop-specific recommendations based on Soil Health Card (SHC) data. Further, it would capture sale to farmers, mixture manufacturers, planter association separately. ● Desktop PoS Version: Keeping in view the various operational challenges viz. limited PoS vendors,crackIAS.com rush of sales due to peak season etc. the department has developed a multilingual desktop version of PoS software as an alternative or added facility to PoS devices. Retailers with laptops and computer systems can use high-speed broadband service for fertilizer sales. The Desktop software is more robust and secure as the application is developed and handled directly from the central HQ team at DoF. Addressing the gathering, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya laid stress on e-governance as a platform to achieve good governance in the country. Talking about the new initiatives under DBT 2.0, the Minister said that these by implementation of second phase of DBT, the system would become more transparent and the penetration of fertilizer subsidy would further be increased in the country. Phase-I DBT system in Fertilizers (DBT 1.0) envisaged the release of 100% subsidy on various fertilizer grades to the fertilizer companies on the basis of actual sales made by the retailer to the beneficiaries. The Phase-II of DBT will explore the feasibility of direct cash transfer to farmer’s accounts. An expert committee under NITI Aayog has been constituted on 28.09.2017 as per the request of the DoF, to suggest a model for the implementation of phase-2.

A Project Monitoring Cell was set up at DoF to oversee implementation of DBT exclusively. 24 State Coordinators have been appointed across all States to monitor the on-going DBT activities.

Implementation of the DBT Scheme requires deployment of PoS devices at every retailer shop, training of retailers for operating PoS device. Across the country, Lead Fertilizer Supplier (LFS) have conducted 8943 training sessions till date. 2.24 Lakh PoS devices have been deployed across all States. 670.99 Lakh Metric tonnes Fertilizers have been sold through PoS devices till June 2019.

To address network connectivity issues, DoF has come up with various options as under:

● PoS devices were provided with multiple connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, LAN, PSTN, SIM, etc. ● A network survey/assessment can be conducted at retail shops, to identify the telecom service providers having good connectivity in that area. ● Simple measures such as attaching an antenna to the PoS device can give better signal reception. To address peak season sales, a single retailer can install more than one PoS device at the retail point. There is a provision to use maximum up to 5 PoS devices at a single retail point under DBT system.

Further, a dedicated 15-member Multi-lingual Help Desk has been set up to provide quick response to the queries of wide range of stakeholders across the country as a preparatory to DBT implementation. The helpdesk will operate from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm on all working days including Saturdays. The toll free number of the helpdesk is 1800115501. Further, WhatsApp is being used extensively for quick response to grievances of various stakeholders.

To address the issues of malfunctioning PoS devices, separate toll free lines have been provided by PoS vendors viz., Visiontek, Analogics and Oasys. Dedicated manpower/vendor support system has been provided by the PoS vendors across all States. Further, DBT State Coordinators have been appointed by DoF in every State/UT to monitor the implementation of DBT and for quick resolution of hardware/software problems.

Dignitaries on the dais included Secretary, Fertilizers, Shri Chhabilendra Roul, Additional Secretary,crackIAS.com Fertilizers, Shri Dharam Pal. The gathering comprised of the who’s who of fertilizer sector including CMDs of Fertilizer Cos., along with senior officers of DoF.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 RISE IN NPAS OF PSBS Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues relating to Growth & Development - Banking, NPAs and RBI

Ministry of Finance Rise in NPAs of PSBs

Posted On: 09 JUL 2019 8:19PM by PIB Delhi

As per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data on domestic operations, aggregate gross advances of PSBs increased from Rs. 16,96,051 crore as on 31.3.2008 to Rs. 45,90,570 crore as on 31.3.2014. As per RBI inputs, the primary reasons for spurt in stressed assets have been observed to be, inter-alia, aggressive lending practices, wilful default/loan frauds/corruption in some cases, and economic slowdown. Asset Quality Review (AQR) initiated in 2015 for clean and fully provisioned bank balance-sheets revealed high incidence of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). As a result of AQR and subsequent transparent recognition by banks, stressed accounts were reclassified as NPAs and expected losses on stressed loans, not provided for earlier under flexibility given to restructured loans, were provided for. Primarily as a result of transparent recognition of stressed assets as NPAs, gross NPAs of PSBs, as per RBI data on domestic operations, rose from Rs. 2,67,065 crore as on 31.3.2015, to Rs. 8,45,475 crore as on 31.3.2018, and as a result of Government’s 4R’s strategy of recognition, resolution, recapitalisation and reforms, have since declined by Rs. 1,35,366 crore to Rs. 7,10,109 crore as on 31.3.2019 (provisional data as reported by RBI on 2.7.2019).

Government adopted the comprehensive 4R’s strategy consisting of recognition of NPAs transparently, resolution and recovering value from stressed accounts, recapitalising Public Sector Banks (PSBs), and reforms in PSBs and financial ecosystem to ensure a responsible and clean system. Steps taken under these strategies to expedite and enable resolution of NPAs of PSBs, and to improve the condition of banks include, inter-alia, the following:

i. Change in credit culture was effected, with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) fundamentally changing the creditor-borrower relationship, taking away control of the defaulting company from promoters/owners and debarring wilful defaulters from the resolution process and debarring them from raising funds from the market. ii. Over the last four financial years, PSBs were recapitalised to the extent of Rs. 3.12 lakh crore, with infusion of Rs. 2.46 lakh crore by the Government and mobilisation of over Rs. 0.66 lakh crore by PSBs themselves. iii. Key reforms were instituted in PSBs as part of PSBs Reforms Agenda, include the following: iv.crackIAS.comBoard-approved Loan Policies of PSBs now mandate tying up necessary clearances/approvals and linkages before disbursement, scrutiny of group balance-sheet and ring-fencing of cash flows, non-fund and tail risk appraisal in project financing. v. Use of third-party data sources for comprehensive due diligence across data sources has been instituted, thus mitigating risk on account of misrepresentation and fraud. vi. Monitoring has been strictly segregated from sanctioning roles in high-value loans, and specialised monitoring agencies combining financial and domain knowledge have been deployed for effective monitoring of loans above Rs. 250 crore. vii. To ensure timely and better realisation in one-time settlements (OTSs), online end-to-end OTS platforms have been set up. Enabled by the above steps, financial gains from cleaning of the banking system are now amply visible. Gross NPAs of PSBs, as per RBI data on domestic operations, have reduced over the last financial year (provisional data) by Rs. 1,35,366 crore, and as per RBI data on global operations, PSBs have recovered an amount of Rs. 3,09,568 crore over the last four financial years, including a record recovery of Rs. 1,21,076 crore in the last financial year (provisional data).

As per RBI data on domestic operations, the gross NPAs of PSBs, as on 30.6.2014, 31.3.2017, and 31.3.2019 (provisional data) were Rs. 2,24,542 crore, Rs. 6,41,057 crore and Rs. 7,10,109 crore respectively, which amounts to an increase of 10.77% over the last three financial years. RBI has apprised that the details of NPAs of PSBs as on 30.6.2019 are not available. Bank-wise details are at Annex.

Note: Figures cited above for PSBs for 31.3.2019 exclude those for IDBI Bank Limited, which was recategorised as a private sector bank by RBI with effect from 21.1.2019.

This was stated by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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Annex

Gross NPA of Public Sector Banks

GNPA % age increase between Bank As on As on As on 30.6.2 31.3.2 31.3.2 31.3.2017 014 017 019 and Asset Quality Review crackIAS.com31.3.2019 (AQR) initiated in 2015 for 20,52 28,69 clean and fully provisioned Allahabad Bank 7,599 39.85% 0 8 bank balance-sheets revealed high incidence of 17,67 28,97 Andhra Bank 6,827 63.97% Non-Performing Assets 0 4 (NPAs). As a result of AQR 10,64 34,93 40,38 and subsequent transparent Bank of Baroda 15.61% 1 5 8 recognition by PSBs, stressed accounts were 11,16 42,72 51,16 Bank of India 19.76% reclassified as NPAs and 0 4 7 expected losses on 17,18 15,32 Bank of Maharashtra 3,761 (-)10.85% 9 4 31,80 36,16 Canara Bank 7,905 13.72% 1 5 11,44 27,25 32,35 Central Bank of India 18.73% 9 1 6 17,04 20,72 Corporation Bank 5,470 21.58% 5 4 12,61 12,76 Dena Bank 3,169 1.18% 9 8 10,76 38,22 IDBI Bank Limited - - 2 3 stressed loans, not provided for earlier under 13,15 Indian Bank 4,415 9,588 37.21% flexibility given to 6 restructured loans, were 32,52 32,41 Indian Overseas Bank 8,781 (-)0.33% provided for. All such 1 6 schemes for restructuring Oriental Bank of 22,85 21,71 stressed loans were 5,983 (-)5.00% Commerce 9 7 withdrawn. Primarily as a result of transparent Punjab and Sind Bank 3,010 6,298 8,606 36.65% recognition of stressed 19,33 53,12 76,72 assets as NPAs, the gross Punjab National Bank 44.43% 5 1 4 NPAs of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) increased. 56,83 1,05,5 1,70,8 State Bank of India (SBI) 61.83% Enabled by Government’s 0 49 13 4R’s strategy, as per RBI State Bank of Bikaner and 10,67 2,331 data on domestic Jaipur 7 operations, PSBs have 18,21 recovered Rs. 3,09,568 State Bank of Hyderabad 6,174 2 crore over the last four Merge financial years, including State Bank of Mysore 2,490 9,915 d Merged record recovery of Rs. 17,84 with with SBI 1,21,076 crore during 2018- State Bank of Patiala 3,375 7 SBI 19 (provisional data as reported by RBI on State Bank of Travancore 3,282 8,817 2.7.2019). Bharatiya Mahila Bank 0 55 Limited 15,66 22,34 Syndicate Bank 4,742 42.70% 2 8 crackIAS.com21,69 29,23 UCO Bank 5,982 34.72% 9 3 30,92 47,55 Union Bank of India 9,902 53.76% 8 4 10,95 12,05 United Bank of India 7,097 10.06% 2 3 Vijaya Bank 2,069 6,382 8,923 39.82% Source: RBI (domestic operations) Note: IDBI Bank Limited was recategorised as a private sector bank by RBI with effect from 21.1.2019

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 HEALTH OF LIVESTOCK AND ANIMALS Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Economics of Animal-Rearing incl. White, Blue & Pink Revolutions

Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Health of Livestock and Animals

Posted On: 09 JUL 2019 6:40PM by PIB Delhi

For promotion of health of livestock and animals, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying implements a Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Livestock Health & Disease Control” (LH&DC), which envisages control & containment of economically important animal diseases by providing central financial assistance to the States. Under this scheme, vaccination is carried out for control of diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Brucellosis, Anthrax, Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS), Black Quarter (BQ), Classical Swine Fever, Ranikhet disease, etc. This scheme also provides for establishment & strengthening of veterinary hospitals and dispensaries for veterinary services. Training of veterinarians and para- veterinarians is conducted for latest techniques, technology and advancement in treatments.

To prevent the ingress of exotic animal diseases into the country through imported Livestock and Livestock Products, this Department has setup 6 (six) Animal Quarantine and Certification Services Centers (AQCS) in the country at New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

This Department provides financial assistance for strengthening of the 5 (five) Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (RDDLs) at Jalandhar, Banglore, Kolkata, Pune, Guwahati and a Centre for Animal Disease Research & Diagnosis (CADRAD) of IVRI Izatnagar to enhance disease diagnostic facilities in the country.

In view of economic importance of Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis, the National Animal Disease Control Programme for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis (NADCP) has been approved by Cabinet on 31.05.2019 as a new Central Sector Scheme with a total outlay of Rs.13,343.00 crore for five years (2019-24). An amount of Rs.2682.84 crore is proposed for Financial Year 2019-20. It has following components:

I. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Control Programme - It envisages 100% vaccination coverage of cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs at six-months interval in the entire country. Further, animals would be identified using unique animal identification ear tags. The programme also includes de-worming of the targeted population of livestock twice a year. II. BrucellosiscrackIAS.com Control Programme: It envisages 100% vaccination coverage of female cattle and buffalo calves (4-8 months of age) once in a life time.

This information was given in a written reply by the Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Sanjeev Balyan in Lok Sabha today.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 NPAS WRITTEN OFF BY PSBS Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues relating to Growth & Development - Banking, NPAs and RBI

Ministry of Finance NPAs Written Off By PSBs

Posted On: 09 JUL 2019 8:26PM by PIB Delhi

As per inputs received from Public Sector Banks (PSBs), valuation reports are obtained from banks’ empanelled valuers and banks do not follow a practice of obtaining valuation reports from practising member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

As per inputs received from PSBs, till 31.3.2019, resolution plans have been approved in 68 cases by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). The total resolution amount approved in these cases was Rs. 65,320 crore. Provision held by PSBs in these cases was Rs. 33,556 crore as on 31.3.2019. PSBs provided for an additional amount of Rs. 21,727 crore, which amounts to 18.02% of the principal outstanding in these accounts.

As per inputs received from PSBs, as on 31.3.2019, FIRs have been filed against 3,154 wilful defaulters.

To strengthen PSBs, Government has implemented a comprehensive 4R’s strategy consisting of recognition of NPAs transparently, resolution and recovering value from stressed accounts, recapitalising PSBs, and reforms in PSBs and financial ecosystem to ensure a responsible and clean system. Steps taken under these strategies include, inter-alia, the following:

1. Change in credit culture was effected, with the IBC fundamentally changing the creditor- borrower relationship, taking away control of the defaulting company from promoters/owners and debarring wilful defaulters from the resolution process and debarring them from raising funds from the market. 2. Over the last four financial years, PSBs were recapitalised to the extent of Rs. 3.12 lakh crore, with infusion of Rs. 2.46 lakh crore by the Government and mobilisation of over Rs. 0.66 lakh crore by PSBs themselves. 3. Key reforms were instituted in PSBs as part of PSBs Reforms Agenda, which include, inter-alia, the following: crackIAS.com 1. Board-approved Loan Policies of PSBs now mandate tying up necessary clearances/approvals and linkages before disbursement, scrutiny of group balance-sheet and ring-fencing of cash flows, non-fund and tail risk appraisal in project financing. 2. Use of third-party data sources for comprehensive due diligence across data sources has been instituted, thus mitigating risk on account of misrepresentation and fraud. 3. Monitoring has been strictly segregated from sanctioning roles in high-value loans, and specialised monitoring agencies combining financial and domain knowledge have been deployed for effective monitoring of loans above Rs. 250 crore. 4. To ensure timely and better realisation in one-time settlements (OTSs), online end-to-end OTS platforms have been set up. Gains to PSBs are amply visible in their growing financial strength. As per RBI data on global operations (including provisional data for March 2019, as reported on 2.7.2019), gross NPAs of PSBs have reduced over the last financial year by Rs. 1,06,032 crore, record recovery of Rs. 3,09,568 crore has been effected over the last four financial years (excluding recovery in IDBI Bank Limited made during 2018-19), and domestic credit growth has risen to 10.20% during financial year 2018-19.

Growing strength of PSBs is also evident from the fact that all PSBs meet minimum regulatory capital requirement, 6 PSBs are now out of PCA restrictions, balance-sheets of PSBs have been cleaned up through transparent recognition of NPAs and their provision coverage ratio is at its highest level in seven years, and asset quality has improved sharply.

Note: NPA Figures cited above for PSBs include those for IDBI Bank Limited, which was recategorised as a private sector bank by RBI with effect from 21.1.2019.

This was stated by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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END Downloaded from crackIAS.com © Zuccess App by crackIAS.com crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 WAIVING OFF LOANS OF FARMERS IN DROUGHT PRONE AREAS Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues relating to Growth & Development - Banking, NPAs and RBI

Ministry of Finance Waiving off Loans of Farmers in Drought Prone Areas

Posted On: 09 JUL 2019 8:25PM by PIB Delhi

State-wise details of agriculture credit disbursement as reported by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) during the year 2018-19 (provisional) is given in Annexure.

There is no proposal under consideration of the Union Government to waive off loans of farmers. However, to reduce the debt burden of farmers, the following major initiatives have been taken:

· With a view to ensure availability of agriculture credit at a reduced interest rate of 7% p.a. to the farmers, the Government of India in the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare (DAC&FW) implements an interest subvention scheme for short term crop loans up to Rs. 3.00 lakh. The scheme provides interest subvention of 2% per annum to Banks on use of their own resources. Besides, additional 3% incentive is given to the farmers for prompt repayment of the loan, thereby reducing the effective rate of interest to 4%.

· Under the aforesaid interest subvention scheme, to provide relief to farmers affected by natural calamities, the interest subvention (2%) on crop loan continues to be available to banks for the first year on the restructured amount. Such restructured loans may, however, attract normal rate of interest from the second year onwards as per the policy laid down by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

· In order to provide relief to the farmers affected due to severe natural calamities, the Government in DAC&FW has decided that interest subvention of 2% per annum will be made available to banks for first three years/entire period (subject to a maximum of five years) on the restructured loan amount, and in all such cases the benefit of prompt repayment incentive at 3% per annum shall also be provided to the affected farmers. The grant of such benefits in cases of severe natural calamities shall, however, be decided by a High Level Committee (HLC) based on the recommendation of Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) and Sub Committee of National Executive Committee (SC-NEC).

crackIAS.com· Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued directions for Relief Measures to be provided by respective lending institutions in areas affected by natural calamities which, inter alia, include restructuring/rescheduling of existing crop loans and term loans, extending fresh loans, relaxed security and margin norms, moratorium, etc. These directions have been so designed that the moment calamity is declared by the concerned District Authorities, they are automatically set in motion without any intervention, thus saving precious time. The benchmark for initiating relief measures by banks has been reduced from 50% to 33% crop loss in line with the National Disaster Management Framework. Banks have been advised not to insist for additional collateral security for restructured loans. · Loan to distressed farmers indebted to non-institutional lenders is an eligible category of farm credit under the Priority Sector Lending (PSL) as per directions issued by RBI.

· To enhance coverage of small and marginal farmers in the formal credit system, RBI has decided to raise the limit for collateral-free agriculture loans from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 1.6 lakh.

· The requirement of ‘no due’ certificate has also been dispensed with for small loans upto Rs.50,000/- to small and marginal farmers, share croppers and the like and, instead, only a self-declaration from the borrower is required.

· To bring small, marginal, tenant farmers, oral lessees, etc. into the fold of institutional credit, Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) have been promoted by banks.

· Pradhan Mantri KIsan SAmman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme has been implemented to provide an assured income support to all farmers, irrespective of the size of their land holdings subject to the exclusion factor. Under this scheme direct income support @ of Rs. 6,000 per year will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers, in three equal installments of Rs.2,000 each.

· Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) provides a comprehensive insurance cover against failure of insured crops due to non-preventable natural risks, thus providing financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/ damage arising out of unforeseen events; stabilizing the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming; and encouraging them to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices.

This was stated by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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Annexure AgriculturecrackIAS.com Credit Disbursemsent ( Number of Accounts in lakh and Amount in Rs.Crore) 2018-19 (Provisional) Number of S.No States Amount Disbursed Accounts 1 DELHI 0.26 24,422.02 2 HARYANA 31.54 63,126.07 HIMACHAL 3 10.31 9,017.77 PRADESH JAMMU & 4 9.53 13,117.12 KASHMIR 5 PUNJAB 34.35 76,858.90 6 RAJASTHAN 77.65 83,266.87 7 CHANDIGARH UT 0.37 1,991.19 ARUNACHAL 8 0.05 54.54 PRADESH 9 ASSAM 8.90 6,940.52 10 MANIPUR 0.22 247.94 11 MEGHALAYA 0.30 196.87 12 MIZORAM 0.11 362.69 13 NAGALAND 0.38 209.40 14 SIKKIM 0.12 156.44 15 TRIPURA 3.82 2,643.64 16 A & N ISLAND 0.10 128.87 17 BIHAR 43.19 32,152.73 18 JHARKHAND 8.88 3,960.07 19 ODISHA 58.92 27,346.75 20 WEST BENGAL 60.60 45,941.20 21 CHHATTISGARH 17.75 10,328.50 22 MADHYA PRADESH 82.34 62,112.81 23 UTTARAKHAND 7.04 10,273.97 24 UTTAR PRADESH 102.19 88,647.09 25 GOA 0.62 1,330.58 26 GUJARAT 39.31 66,558.40 27 MAHARASHTRA 63.01 86,809.11 28 D & N HAVELI UT 0.02 62.19 29 DAMAN & DIU UT 0.01 43.86 30 ANDHRA PRADESH 126.04 124,499.76 31 TELANGANA 49.02 57,606.06 32 KARNATAKA 86.29 72,880.18 crackIAS.com33 KERALA 84.47 90,632.36 34 PUDUCHERRY 3.68 2,782.38 35 TAMILNADU 221.88 188,050.45 36 LAKSHADWEEP UT 0.00 2.92 TOTAL 1233.30 1,254,762.20

Source: NABARD

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN BANKS DUE TO FRAUDS AND NPAS Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues relating to Growth & Development - Banking, NPAs and RBI

Ministry of Finance Financial Problems in Banks Due to Frauds and NPAs

Posted On: 09 JUL 2019 8:24PM by PIB Delhi

As per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data on global operations, aggregate gross advances of nationalised banks increased from Rs. 11,33,137 crore as on 31.3.2008 to Rs. 34,03,717 crore as on 31.3.2014. As per RBI inputs, the primary reasons for spurt in stressed assets have been observed to be, inter-alia, aggressive lending practices, wilful default/loan frauds/corruption in some cases, and economic slowdown. Asset Quality Review (AQR) initiated in 2015 for clean and fully provisioned bank balance-sheets revealed high incidence of NPAs. As a result of AQR and subsequent transparent recognition by banks, stressed accounts were reclassified as NPAs and expected losses on stressed loans, not provided for earlier under flexibility given to restructured loans, were provided for. Further, all such schemes for restructuring stressed loans were withdrawn. Primarily as a result of transparent recognition of stressed assets as NPAs, gross NPAs of nationalised banks, as per RBI data on global operations, rose from Rs. 1,92,809 crore as on 31.3.2015, to Rs. 4,62,114 crore as on 31.3.2017, and to Rs. 6,16,586 crore as on 31.3.2018, and as a result of Government’s 4R’s strategy of recognition, resolution, recapitalisation and reforms, have since declined by Rs. 49,795 crore to Rs. 5,66,791 crore as on 31.3.2019 (provisional data). The details of gross NPAs for financial year 2019-20 upto May is not available as data is collated only on a quarterly basis.

Government has implemented a comprehensive 4R’s strategy consisting of recognition of NPAs transparently, resolution and recovering value from stressed accounts, recapitalising Public Sector Banks (PSBs), and reforms in PSBs and financial ecosystem to reduce NPAs and strengthen PSBs. Steps taken under this strategy include, inter-alia, the following:

i. Change in credit culture was effected, with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) fundamentally changing the creditor-borrower relationship, taking away control of the defaulting company from promoters/owners and debarring wilful defaulters from the resolution process and debarring them from raising funds from the market. ii. Over the last four financial years, PSBs were recapitalised to the extent of Rs. 3.12 lakh crore, with infusion of Rs. 2.46 lakh crore by the Government and mobilisation of over Rs. 0.66crackIAS.com lakh crore by PSBs themselves. iii. Key reforms were instituted in PSBs as part of PSBs Reforms Agenda, include the following:

1. Board-approved Loan Policies of PSBs now mandate tying up necessary clearances/approvals and linkages before disbursement, scrutiny of group balance-sheet and ring-fencing of cash flows, non-fund and tail risk appraisal in project financing. 2. Use of third-party data sources for comprehensive due diligence across data sources has been instituted, thus mitigating risk on account of misrepresentation and fraud. 3. Monitoring has been strictly segregated from sanctioning roles in high-value loans, and specialised monitoring agencies combining financial and domain knowledge have been deployed for effective monitoring of loans above Rs. 250 crore. 4. To ensure timely and better realisation in one-time settlements (OTSs), online end-to-end OTS platforms have been set up. Enabled by the above steps, financial gains from cleaning of the banking system are now amply visible. Gross NPAs of nationalised banks, as per RBI data on global operations (including provisional data for March 2019, as reported on 2.7.2019), have reduced over the last financial year by Rs. 49,795 crore, and recovery of Rs. 2,19,407 crore has been effected by these banks over the last four financial years, including a record recovery of Rs. 86,013 crore in the last financial year.

Government has taken comprehensive steps to reduce the incidence of frauds in banks. The steps taken include, inter-alia, the following:

1. Government has issued “Framework for timely detection, reporting, investigation etc. relating to large value bank frauds” to Public Sector Banks (PSBs), for systemic and comprehensive checking of legacy stock of their non-performing assets (NPAs), which provides, inter-alia, that—

i. all accounts exceeding Rs. 50 crore, if classified as NPAs, be examined by banks from the angle of possible fraud, and a report placed before the bank’s Committee for Review of NPAs on the findings of this investigation; ii. examination be initiated for wilful default immediately upon reporting fraud to RBI; and iii. report on the borrower be sought from the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau in case an account turns NPA.

2. Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 has been enacted to deter economic offenders from evading the process of Indian law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts. The act provides for attachment of property of a fugitive economic offender, confiscation of such offender’s property and disentitlement of the offender from defending any civil claim. 3. PSBs have been advised to obtain certified copy of the passport of the promoters/directors and other authorised signatories of companies availing loan facilities of more than Rs. 50 crore and, decide on publishing photographs of wilful defaulters, in terms of RBI’s instructions and as per their Board-approved policy and to strictly ensure rotational transfer of officials/employees. The heads of PSBs have also been empowered to issue requests for issue of Look Out Circulars (LOCs). 4. crackIAS.comFor enforcement of auditing standards and ensuring the quality of audits, Government has established the National Financial Reporting Authority as an independent regulator. 5. Instructions/advisories have been issued by Government to PSBs to decide on publishing photographs of wilful defaulters, in terms of RBI’s instructions and as per their Board- approved policy, and to obtain certified copy of the passport of the promoters/directors and other authorised signatories of companies availing loan facilities of more than Rs. 50 crore. 6. In order to bring transparency and accountability in the larger financial system, bank accounts of 3.38 lakh inoperative companies were frozen over the last two financial years. The impact of the above steps is reflected in Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Financial Stability Report (FSR) of June 2019. As per FSR, systemic and comprehensive checking of legacy stock of NPAs of PSBs for frauds has helped unearth frauds perpetrated over a number of years, which is getting reflected in increased number of reported incidents of frauds in recent years compared to previous years. Further, details of the amount involved in frauds of Rs. 1 lakh and above that occurred during the last three financial years (FYs), reported by nationalised banks to RBI, as per inputs received from RBI, are as under:

Amount FY of Numb involved occurrence er (in crore Rs.) 2016-17 22,844 1,141 2017-18 6,522 833 2018-19 5,030 404

The details of bank frauds of Rs. 1 lakh and above for financial year 2019-20 up to May are not available as data is collated only on a quarterly basis.

This was stated by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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Ministry of Finance Waiving off Charges on NEFT and RTGS

Posted On: 09 JUL 2019 8:23PM by PIB Delhi

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) vide its circular on ‘National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) systems – Waiver of charges’ dated 11.06.2019, has decided that with effect from July 1, 2019, processing charges and time varying charges levied on banks by RBI for outward transactions undertaken using the RTGS system, as also the processing charges levied by RBI for transactions processed in NEFT system would be waived by the Reserve Bank.

The banks are also advised by RBI to pass on the benefits to their customers for undertaking transactions using RTGS and NEFT systems. This waiver of processing and time varying charges by RBI on banks will reduce the cost of RTGS and NEFT transactions and will give fillip to digital fund movement.

There is an increase in NEFT and RTGS transactions during the last three years as illustrated in the table given below (in crore) :

Year RTGS (Customer + Interbank) NEFT 2016-17 10.78 162.21 2017-18 12.44 194.64 2018-19 13.66 231.89

Source: RBI

As apprised by RBI, total number of online transactions including Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), Electronic Clearing Service (ECS), National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), National Automated Clearing House (NACH), Unified Payment Interface (UPI) (including Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) and Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)), Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs), Credit Cards at Point of Sale (PoS) and online, Debit Cards at Point of Sale (PoS) and online (in crore) since 2016-17 is as follows:

crackIAS.comYear Total Transactions (in crore) 2016-17 977.94 2017-18 1471.19 2018-19 2338.44

This was stated by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 MINIMUM KYC WALLETS FOR LOW VALUE TRANSACTIONS Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues relating to Growth & Development - Banking, NPAs and RBI

Ministry of Finance Minimum KYC Wallets for Low Value Transactions

Posted On: 09 JUL 2019 8:22PM by PIB Delhi

As apprised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India has initiated incentive schemes such as BHIM cash-back scheme for individuals, BHIM incentive scheme for merchants, BHIM Aadhaar merchant incentive scheme for promotion and wider adoption of digital payment.

Further, MeitY vide their gazette notification No. 6(19)/2017-DPD-1 dated 27th December, 2017 has notified the reimbursement of MDR charges on Debit cards/ BHIM- UPI and BHIM Aadhaar Pay transactions of value upto Rs. 2000 for two years effective from 1st Jan, 2018, in order to promote and enable acceptance of UPI based payments at the small and micro merchants.

Also Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as the regulator of Payment and Settlement Systems in the country, sets the necessary regulatory framework, generally, through a consultative process, to ensure that different types of payment systems thrive in the country to meet the payment needs of different segments of society. The regulatory framework has also encouraged enhanced participation of non-bank entities in the payments domain. Details of the various payment systems catering to the financial needs of society are at Annex - I.

As apprised by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), they have issued ‘Master Direction on Issuance and Operation of Prepaid Payment Instruments (Master Direction on PPIs) dated October 11, 2017 (updated as on February 25, 2019). Accordingly para 9.1 (i) of this Master Direction, the PPIs is allowed for a period of 18 months by accepting minimum details of PPI holder.crackIAS.com KYC of such PPIs need to be completed within this period, else no further loading is allowed. However, the balance is allowed to be utilised for purchase of goods and services.

This was stated by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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Annex - I

Details of the various payment systems S.No. catering to the financial needs of society National Financial Switch (NFS) for ATM 1 transactions Cheque Truncation System (CTS) for 2 image-based cheque clearing 3 Express Cheque Clearing System (ECCS) Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) for 24 4 x 7 payments Cards for physical and e-commerce 5 transactions Aadhaar Enabled Payments System (AEPS) for Aadhaar authenticated 6 payments predominantly at Business Correspondents. National Automated Clearing House 7 (NACH) for bulk and repetitive payments and receipts. Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) 8 for DBT payments. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for mobile 9 payments; National Unified USSD Platform (NUUP) for mobile payments. BHIM-Aadhaar Pay – for mobile payments 10 for merchant transactions. Bharat Bill Payments System (BBPS) – for 11 pan-India bill payments. National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) – 12 for toll payments. National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) – for funds transfer across all computerised 13 branches of banks (member / sub-member crackIAS.comof NEFT) across the country. Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system – for transfer of money from one 14 bank account to another on a "real time" and on "gross" basis. Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) – for facilitating purchase of goods and services, 15 including funds transfer, against the value stored on such instruments. White Label ATMs (WLAs) – to bridge the 16 gap in ATM infrastructure particularly in rural and semi urban areas. Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) – for facilitating the financing of 17 trade receivables of MSMEs through multiple financiers.

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crackIAS.com Source : www.pib.nic.in Date : 2019-07-11 BANK REFORMS TO CHECK FRAUDS Relevant for: Indian Economy | Topic: Issues relating to Growth & Development - Banking, NPAs and RBI

Ministry of Finance Bank Reforms to Check Frauds

Posted On: 09 JUL 2019 8:21PM by PIB Delhi

Occurrence of frauds was enabled by laxity in the financial system, and the underlying causes have been systematically dealt with by the Government through comprehensive steps for reduction in occurrence of frauds, and their proactive checking and timely detection. The steps taken in this regard include, inter-alia, the following:

1. Government has issued “Framework for timely detection, reporting, investigation etc. relating to large value bank frauds” to Public Sector Banks (PSBs), for systemic and comprehensive checking of legacy stock of their non-performing assets (NPAs), which provides, inter-alia, that— 2. all accounts exceeding Rs. 50 crore, if classified as NPAs, be examined by banks from the angle of possible fraud, and a report placed before the bank’s Committee for Review of NPAs on the findings of this investigation; 3. examination be initiated for wilful default immediately upon reporting fraud to RBI; and 4. report on the borrower be sought from the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau in case an account turns NPA. 5. Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 has been enacted to deter economic offenders from evading the process of Indian law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts. The act provides for attachment of property of a fugitive economic offender, confiscation of such offender’s property and disentitlement of the offender from defending any civil claim. 6. PSBs have been advised to obtain certified copy of the passport of the promoters/directors and other authorised signatories of companies availing loan facilities of more than Rs. 50 crore and, decide on publishing photographs of wilful defaulters, in terms of Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s instructions and as per their Board-approved policy and to strictly ensure rotational transfer of officials/employees. The heads of PSBs have also been empowered to issue requests for issue of Look Out Circulars. 7. For enforcement of auditing standards and ensuring the quality of audits, Government has established the National Financial Reporting Authority as an independent regulator. 8. crackIAS.comInstructions/advisories have been issued by Government to PSBs to decide on publishing photographs of wilful defaulters, in terms of RBI’s instructions and as per their Board- approved policy, and to obtain certified copy of the passport of the promoters/directors and other authorised signatories of companies availing loan facilities of more than Rs. 50 crore. 9. In order to bring transparency and accountability in the larger financial system, bank accounts of 3.38 lakh inoperative companies were frozen over the last two financial years. The impact of the above steps is reflected in RBI’s Financial Stability Report (FSR) of June 2019. As per FSR, systemic and comprehensive checking of legacy stock of NPAs of PSBs for frauds has helped unearth frauds perpetrated over a number of years, which is getting reflected in increased number of reported incidents of frauds in recent years compared to previous years. The details of frauds of Rs. 1 lakh and above that occurred during the last three financial years (FYs), reported by PSBs to RBI, as per inputs received from RBI, are as under:

Amount FY of Number of involved occurrence cases (in crore Rs.) 2016-17 1,745 24,291 2017-18 1,545 6,916 2018-19 739 5,149 Bank-wise details are at Annex.

Note: Figures cited above for PSBs include those for IDBI Bank Limited, which was recategorised as a private sector bank by RBI with effect from 21.1.2019.

This was stated by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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Annex

Details of frauds (Based on date of occurrence - Amount Involved Rs. 1 lakh and above) for Public Sector Banks

Amounts in crore Rs.

FY FY FY Bank Name 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 Allahabad Bank 63 11 12 Comprehensive measures AndhracrackIAS.com Bank 36 37 11 have been taken to Bank of Baroda 140 84 32 prevent frauds including directions to banks to Bank of India 95 99 52 examine all NPA accounts Bank of Maharashtra 34 32 38 above Rs. 50 crore from Canara Bank 48 50 24 the angle of possible fraud, initiation of criminal Central Bank of India 59 56 45 proceedings, enactment Corporation Bank 52 12 5 of Fugitive Economic Offenders Act 2018, Dena Bank 24 11 3 IDBI Bank Limited 91 94 99 Indian Bank 70 47 20 Indian Overseas Bank 53 34 30 creation of Central Fraud Oriental Bank of Commerce 42 24 8 Registry, empowering Punjab and Sind Bank 22 3 0 Bank Heads to request for issue of Look Out Punjab National Bank 101 108 33 Circular, establishment of State Bank of India 469 618 236 National Financial State Bank of Bikaner and Reporting Authority, 5 Jaipur Straight through processing between Core State Bank of Hyderabad 6 Merged Merged Banking System and with with State Bank of Mysore 12 SWIFT, advice to banks to SBI SBI obtain certified copy of State Bank of Patiala 6 passport of promoters State Bank of Travancore 15 /directors of companies Syndicate Bank 127 78 27 availing loan exceeding Rs. 50 crore etc. UCO Bank 31 41 27 Union Bank of India 83 69 15 United Bank of India 29 15 20 Vijaya Bank 32 22 2 Source: RBI

Note: IDBI Bank Limited was recategorised as a private sector bank by RBI with effect from 21.1.2019.

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