July 21
Union Government considering Jan-Dec financial year
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government is considering changing the financial year to January-December to coincide with the calendar year.
“The matter of changing financial year is under consideration of the government,” Jaitley said here in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
The matter has been examined recently by a committee constituted by the government under the chairmanship of former Chief Economic Adviser Shankar Acharya. The report of the committee has been received, the Finance Minister said.
Jaitley refused to comment on whether the government was proposing to present the Union Budget in November-December this year to enable the change in financial year.
Fact file: FInancial Year
It was in 1867 that the British had set FY for India to be from April to March to confirm with English practice.
Some of the countries following April to March Financial Year are UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Myanmar, Singapore, South Africa etc.
Most of the countries follows January – December as Financial Year
60pc shortfall of Central funds to Assam
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has observed that there has been a 60 per cent shortfall in release of Central funds to Assam for implementing flood management programme.
In its report tabled in Parliament today, the CAG noted that the Centre was to share Rs 2,043.19 crore with Assam for implementing 141 projects in the State between 2007-08 and 2015-16, but centra Govt has released only Rs 812.22 crore, a shortfall of Rs 1,230.97 crore or 60 per cent.
Further, the state government also did not release 84 per cent of the allocated budget provision. Insufficient flow of funds adversely affected the implementation of schemes.
The CAG also recommended the Union Water Resources Ministry to release adequate funds in a timely manner as per flood management programme (FMP) guidelines and impress upon state governments to release funds to executing agencies in a time-bound manner.
The ministry may also maintain a strict vigilance on utilization of funds by the state government and executing agencies so as to avoid parking and diversion of funds.
The ministry may release/reimburse the funds to the state governments only after ensuring receipt of statements of expenditure, utilisation certificates and other requisite documents.
According to the FMP guidelines, the proportion of Central and state share of funds for flood forecasting a project approved up to July 2013 was 75 per cent to 25 per cent.
For the projects sanctioned after July 2013, the proportion of Central and state share of funds was to be 50 per cent each.
In the case of special category states (Assam and other north-eastern states, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir) the proportion of Central and state share was to be 90 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.
For the projects approved after July 2013, the Central and state share was 70 per cent and 30 per cent respectively in case of special category states.
Bhabesh Ch Goswami new VC of Cotton varsity
Assam Governor and Chancellor of Cotton University Banwarilal Purohit has appointed Prof Bhabesh Chandra Goswami as the Vice Chancellor of Cotton University with effect from the date of taking over charge.
Presently, Prof Bhabesh Chandra Goswami is working as a Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Gauhati University and Director (in-charge), UGC-HRDC, Gauhati University.
July 22
PHE takes tech route to fight arsenic menace
With the number of habitations affected by arsenic and fluoride nearing 4,000, the State’s public health engineering (PHE) department is planning to install solar power pumps and an affordable nano technology-based water purifier developed by IIT Madras to provide safe drinking water in the areas.
122 DPRs (detailed project reports) have been prepared and submitted with the National Water Quality Sub Mission, which was launched by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in March 2016. These 122 projects will cover 1,438 arsenic-affected habitations and they mostly deal with providing safe drinking water from surface water sources. Work is on in another 5,00 habitations.
In almost half of the remaining 1,788 arsenic-affected habitations, the PHE plans to install solar power operated pumps.
The purifier developed by IIT Madras uses iron oxyhydroxide, a nano-structured material, to remove arsenic from drinking water. It functions without electricity or piped water supply. Once the filter reaches its saturation limit it has to be reactivated or recharged with new material.
Till the planned projects are executed, the Niti Aayog has funded a project to provide stopgap arrangements in the highly arsenic-affected 96 habitations.
The PHE is using solar powered deep tube wells in these habitations and work has been completed in around 60 of the projects. The firms installing the solar-powered deep tube wells will have to do the operational maintenance of the devices for three years.
Fact File:
As on date, the number of arsenic-affected habitations stands at 3,726 and fluoride-affected is 155.
Jorhat (with 959 affected habitations) and Baska (with 821 affected habitations) have been the worst hit in terms of high arsenic level in ground water.
Ninety three habitations in Dhubri are affected by fluoride. Sources, however, said the actual number could be more with fresh tests confirming arsenic and fluoride in other areas as well.
India to host 2017 Global Conference on Cyber Space
India will host Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS) 2017, the world’s largest conference on cyber space and related issues in New Delhi in November 2017. This is for the first time GCCS is taking place outside Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations. It will be the fifth edition the conference. The theme for the GCCS 2017 is ‘Cyber4All: An Inclusive, Sustainable, Developmental, Safe and Secure Cyberspace‘.
Government launches Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana for senior citizens
The Union Finance Ministry has launched Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY), a pension scheme exclusively for senior citizens aged 60 years and above. Under this scheme, senior citizens will get a guaranteed interest of 8% for 10 years depending upon the investment made by them.
July 23
Rs 71,941-cr undisclosed income in 3 yrs
Massive searches, seizures and surveys by the Income Tax (IT) department over the last three years have led to the detection of around Rs 71,941 crore of “undisclosed income”, the Centre has told the Supreme Court.
It gave the details of the unaccounted income for three years from April 1, 2014 to February 28 this year. The affidavit said that during the period, searches were undertaken by the IT department in over 2,027 groups “which led to the admission of undisclosed income of more than Rs 36,051 crore”.
“This is in addition to the seizure of undisclosed assets worth Rs 2,890 crore,” it said. Similarly between April 1, 2014 to February 28 this year, the IT department conducted more than 15,000 surveys which led to “the detection of undisclosed income of more than Rs 33,000 crore.”
Highlighting the achievements of the demonetisation period, the affidavit said in about two months from November 9 last year, “significantly large number of enforcement actions were undertaken by the IT Department”. “They included 1,100 searches and surveys and more than 5,100 verifications. The total seizure through these actions was of about Rs 610 crore, including cash of Rs 513 crore. The cash seizure included seizures in new currency of more than Rs 110 crore. The total undisclosed income admitted was more than Rs 5,400 crore,” it said.
The Finance Ministry, which refused more grace period for depositing scrapped notes, said the Ministry of Home Affairs in its July 11 communication has reported that as per intelligence agencies, there were reports of large scale misuse of the window for exchange of the demonetised notes.
State to host Handloom Day function
For the first time, Assam will play host to the National Handloom Day celebrations on August 7, as the Central government looks to accord due recognition to the Northeast by showcasing its rich art and craft culture.
The glittering ceremony will display handloom products crafted by artisans from the seven northeastern states through a fashion show and an exhibition.
A film made by director Muzaffar Ali showing the distinct handloom products from the region bearing Geographical Indication status will also be screened at the event, in the presence of Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, among others.
The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) under the Union Textiles Ministry is coordinating the event.
However, this time around, the Sant Kabir and National awards will not be presented to handloom workers, as the government has decided to club them with the Shilp Guru awards for handicraft artisans, which will be presented together at a function in the national capital New Delhi.
Fact File:
The Union Government had declared 7 August as the National Handloom Day in July 2015 with the objective to generate awareness about importance of India’s handloom industry.
The date August 7 was chosen to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on this date in 1905 in the Calcutta Town hall to protest against partition of Bengal by the British Government. The movement had aimed at reviving domestic products and production processes.
The first National Handloom Day was inaugurated on 7 August 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centenary Hall of Madras University in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He also had unveiled ‘India Handloom’ brand.
Government to launch Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana
The Union Ministry of Rural Development will launch Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY), a sub-scheme under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). AGEY aims to provide an alternative source of livelihood to members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) by facilitating them to operate public transport services in backward rural areas.
July 24
Sela tunnels to cut down distance to China border
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will construct two tunnels through 4170-metre-high Sela Pass in Arunachal Pradesh, which would cut down the distance to China border through Tawang by 10 km.
“The tunnels would cut down at least an hour of travel time between the Army’s 4 Corps headquarters at Tezpur and Tawang. Moreover, the tunnels would ensure that NH 13 and especially the 171 km stretch between Bomdila and Tawang, remains accessible in all weather conditions,” a BRO release said here today.
This is in keeping with India’s bid for faster access to the Tibet frontier through the tough terrain of the state in the Eastern Himalayas.
RS Rao, the commander of the 42 Border Road Task Force under BRO’s Project Vartak has initiated formal requisition to West Kameng Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sonal Swaroop for acquisition of land for construction of Sela Tunnel, the release said.
The project constitutes widening of existing single lane road to NH double lane specifications from Baisaki and then taking off a greenfield alignment of length 12.37 km.
It also includes construction of two tunnels of length 475 metres and 1790 meters each through Sela-Chabrela ridge meeting the existing Balipara-Chaudur-Tawang road on Nurarang side, it said.
“Sela tunnel will add to the tourist potential of Tawang and attract more tourists making Tawang a more popular destination in North East region,” it added.
Ram Nath Kovind takes over as India’s 14th President
Ram Nath Kovind took over as India’s 14th President today, on a day of ceremony and regalia during which he underscored that the key to India’s success was its diversity.
The 71-year-old, who took over the highest Constitutional post in the country from Pranab Mukherjee, is the first BJP leader and the second Dalit in the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Stressing on access and opportunities for the “last person and the last girl-child from an under-privileged family”, he said, “We have achieved a lot as a nation, but the effort to do more, to do better and to do faster should be relentless. This is especially so as we approach the 75th year of our independence in 2022.”
The former Bihar Governor, described variously as low profile and unassuming, said the country needs to sculpt a robust, high growth economy, an educated, ethical and shared community, and an egalitarian society, as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi and BJP ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay.
Fact File:
- The President of the Republic of India is the head of state of India and the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces.
- The President is indirectly elected by an electoral college comprising the Parliament of India (both houses) and the Legislative Assemblies of each of India’s states and territories, who themselves are all directly elected.
- The office-holder serves for a term of five years; there are no term limits.
- The oath of the President is taken in the presence of the Chief Justice of India, and in their absence, by the most senior judge of the Supreme Court of India.
- Although the Article 53 of the Constitution of India states that the President can exercise his powers directly or by subordinate authority, with few exceptions, all of the executive powers vested in the President are, in practice, exercised by the Prime Minister with the help of the Council of Ministers.
- The President is bound by convention to act on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- The President resides in an estate known as the Rashtrapati Bhavan situated in Raisina Hillin New Delhi.
Space pioneer UR Rao passes away
Renowned space scientist and former ISRO Chairman U R Rao, who was the brain behind India’s first satellite Aryabhata and guided the country’s key space programmes, died due to age-related ailments.
From India’s humble space programme Aryabhata in 1975 to its missions to the Moon (Chandrayan-1) and Mars (Mangalyan) and the proposed Aditya solar mission, Rao was involved in all ISRO’s key programmes till date in one capacity or the other.
He is credited with playing a pivotal role in establishing satellite technology that saw the launch of a wide array of satellites, including Bhaskara, APPLE, Rohini, INSAT-1 and INSAT-2 series of multipurpose communication and meteorological satellites, IRS-1A, IRS-1B , IRS-1C and 1D remote sensing satellites.
Rao began his career as a cosmic ray scientist, under the late Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, widely regarded as the father of India’s space programme.
After working as a Faculty Member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Assistant Professor at University of Texas at Dallas where he carried out investigations as a prime experimenter on a number of pioneer and explorer spacecrafts, Rao returned to India in 1966 as Professor at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.
Rao was currently serving as chairman of the governing council of the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad and the chancellor of the Indian institute of Science and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram.
He served as the chairman of ISRO for 10 years from 1984 to 1994.
After taking charge as chairman of the space commission and secretary, department of space in 1984, he accelerated the development of rocket technology which led to the successful launch of ASLV rocket and the operational PSLV launch vehicle, which can launch 2.0 ton class of satellites into polar orbit, his profile on the space agency’s website said.
He also initiated the development of the Geo Stationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the development of cryogenic technology in 1991.
Rao was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1976 and Padma Vibhushan in 2017 for his contribution to Indian space technology.