India's Twin Balance Sheet problem as referred by Economic survey are: overleveraged and distressed companies and the rising NPAs in Public Sector Bank balance sheets. The issue is important because it is holding up private investment in the country and therefore, growth in all sorts of sectors. It has identified most of the issues that prevented many measures introduced by the government - from Sarfaesi Act, to Asset Reconstruction Companies, to Strategic Debt Restructuring and the Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets. But it is the prescription, a Public Sector Asset Reconstruction Agency (PARA), that is disappointing b... Read More...
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has launched five cyber-security tools, as part of its Cyber Swachhta Kendra (CSK), to prevent users from facing threats on the web. These tools are: Bot Removal Tool USB Pratirodh AppSamvid M-Kavach Browser JSGuard Even though all these tools will be provided free of cost, four of these tools, which are meant to guard computers, would only run on Microsoft’s Windows operating system, a move which experts have pegged to be against the government&rs... Read More...
The oxygen content in global oceans has reduced by more than two per cent since 1960, with large variations in oxygen loss in different ocean basins and at different depths. The current study has predicted a decline in the dissolved oxygen inventory of the global ocean of one to seven per cent by the year 2100. Effects Just a little loss of oxygen in coastal waters can lead to a complete change in ecosystems. In fact, such a decline in oxygen content could affect ocean nutrient cycles and the marine habitat. It can have detrimental consequences for fisheries and coastal economies. It must be noted that the only orga... Read More...
Digital lending consists of lending through Web platforms or mobile apps, by leveraging technology for authentication and credit assessment. Digital lending promises to be a respite for the “ordinary Indian” who is starved of institutional credit. Three out of five Indians continue to remain primarily dependent on informal credit. There is a huge unmet credit need (approximately $400 billion plus per year), particularly in the microenterprise and low-income consumer segment. Indians continue to borrow from family and friends, and moneylenders, sometimes at usurious rates, primarily because these loans are more flexible and convenien... Read More...
Economic policy choices are not easy in a country like India. At present, the complication has increased because of the currency swap and deceleration in economic growth. Here are five themes that should guide economic policy. First, the policy should focus on market failures. Free markets work in enhancing prosperity but there are areas where state intervention is needed. However, in India, the state is dominant in sectors where it is not required and lacks capacity in areas where the intervention is actually desired. It often intervenes with no evidence of market failure, which affect... Read More...
An alien species is a species introduced by humans – either intentionally or accidentally - outside of its natural past or present distribution, however not all alien species have negative impacts, and it is estimated that between 5% and 20% of all alien species become problematic. It is these species that are termed ‘invasive alien species’ (IAS). "An invasive alien species (IAS) is a species that is established outside of its natural past or present distribution, whose introduction and/or spread threaten biological diversity” Convention on Biological Diversity. Read More...
Aiming to ensure greater transparency and revolutionise government procurement, government has launched the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). What is GeM? GeM is a completely end to end procurement system for purchase of goods and services of common use by the government buyers. The pilot phase of the GeM has been developed jointly for selective goods and services. The entire process flow designing has been done in house in order to bring greater transparency, speed and efficiency in public procurement. It is completely an end to end online procurement system including payment to suppliers. GeM relieves p... Read More...
The Spice Routes, also known as Maritime Silk Roads, is the name given to the network of sea routes that link the East with the West. They stretch from the west coast of Japan, through the islands of Indonesia, around India to the lands of the Middle East - and from there, across the Mediterranean to Europe. It has a distance of over 15,000 kilometres and, even today, is not an easy journey. From our very earliest history, people have travelled the Spice Routes. These journeys were not undertaken purely in the spirit of ad... Read More...
Government through Central Silk Board (CSB) had implemented a Centrally Sponsored Scheme viz. ‘Catalytic Development Programme’ (CDP) to synergize and disseminate technologies & innovations developed by R&D units of CSB. The objective under the scheme was to incentivize investment among stakeholders to enhance production, productivity and quality of silk. The components under the CDP envisaged: Strengthening and creation of silkworm seed infrastructure, Development of farm and post-cocoon infrastructure and Creation of better marketing facilities to ensure remunerative price ... Read More...
Background The Cabinet had, in 2012 approved the M-SIPS to provide a special incentive package to promote large scale manufacturing in the Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector. The scheme provides subsidy for capital expenditure - 20% for investments in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 25% in non-SEZs. The Scheme was amended in 2015 for scope enhancement and simplification of procedure. The Scheme has attracted investments in the ESDM. T... Read More...
Formation of EDF was conceived in the National Policy on Electronics -2012. Later on in 2015, EDF was set up along with the “Digital India” agenda. As part of the "Digital India" agenda of the Government, and to develop the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector so as to achieve “Net Zero Imports” by 2020 and to look at India as their next destination to cater to the domestic Indian demand as well as act as an exports hub in the ESDM sector. It is with this objective that an Electronic Development Fund (... Read More...
SANKALP and STRIVE Schemes SANKALP (Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion Programme) will be launched in 2017-18. It will be at a cost of INR 4,000 crore. SANKALP will provide market relevant training to 3.5 crores youth. Next phase will be Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE). It will be launched in 2017-18 at a cost of INR 2,200 crore. STRIVE will focus to improve on the quality and the market relevance of vocational training provided in ITIs. It will strengthen the apprenticeship programme through industry-cluster approach. Read More...
RIS is a combination of tracking and meteorological equipment with specialized software designed to optimize traffic and transport processes in inland navigation. The system enables swift electronic data transfer between mobile vessels and shore (base stations) through advance and real-time exchange of information so as to ensure navigation safety in inland waterways. It also provides virtual navigational aids to guide the vessel during navigation. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has taken up installation of RIS initially in National Waterway-1 (NW-1) on river Ganga, in three phases, viz. Haldia-Farakka, Farakka-Patna, and Pat... Read More...
China’s growing power and influence and its mounting military assertiveness are causing concern not only to India, but also to most other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. Strategic Partnerships to meet the Challenge China’s brazen violation of international norms in recent years, particularly its construction of military facilities on reclaimed islands in the South China Sea, and its growing military power, including maritime power, pose a growing strategic challenge to India and its strategic partners. China senses the emergence of a security vacuum in the Indo-Pacific region and is rushing to f... Read More...
What is DAY? Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India in 2011. The Mission aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services. NRLM has set out with an agenda to cover 7 Crore rural poor households, across 600 districts, 6000 blocks, 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats and 6 lakh villages in the country through self-managed Self Help Groups (SHGs). In addition, the poor would b... Read More...
Draft guidelines outlining stringent regulations intended to enhance accountability of lakhs of NGOs and voluntary organisations receiving nearly Rs 1,000 crore of government grants every year were submitted by the Centre to the Supreme Court. Organisations wanting to get government funds must register afresh online with Niti Aayog's `NGO-Darpan' portal giving details of past work, fund utilisation, yearly audit reports and key persons managing the NGO or VO. Government would have the right to initiate criminal prosecution and blacklist an NGO for not meeting the... Read More...
In the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, held in 2010, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, adopted a revised and updated Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, for the 2011-2020 period. This plan provides an overarching framework on biodiversity, not only for the biodiversity-related conventions, but for the entire United Nations system and all other partners engaged in biodiversity management and policy development. Parties agreed to translate this overarching international framework into revised and updated national biodiversity strategies and action plans within two years.... Read More...
About IEA The International Energy Agency (IEA) is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. The IEA was initially dedicated to responding to physical disruptions in the supply of oil, as well as serving as an information source on statistics about the international oil market and other energy sectors. India IEA relation India joined the ranks of the IEA’s membership on March 30, 2017, albeit as a “Member by Associate”, it was seen inevitable, as one can... Read More...
Micro Units Development Refinance Agency (MUDRA) Bank is a refinance institution for micro-finance institutions. As on date, MUDRA is conceived not only as a refinance institution and but also as a regulator for the micro finance institutions (MFIs). The MUDRA Bank is primarily be responsible for – 1) Laying down policy guidelines for micro/small enterprise financing business 2) Registration, Regulation, Accreditation /rating of MFI entities 3) Laying down responsible financing practices to ward off indebtedness and ensure proper client protection principles and methods of recovery 4) Development of standardized... Read More...
The Great Indian Bustard is a bustard found in India and the adjoining regions of Pakistan. A large bird with a horizontal body and long bare legs, giving it an ostrich like appearance, this bird is among the heaviest of the flying birds. Once common on the dry plains of the Indian subcontinent, as few as 250 individuals were estimated in 2011 to survive and the species is critically endangered by hunting and loss of its habitat, which consists of large expanses of dry grassland and scrub. These birds are often found associated in the same habitat as blackbuck. It is protected under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 of India. In India, the bird was historically f... Read More...