10. NITI Aayog partners with 6 states to transform Health & Education sectors.
The NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog has announced partnership with three states each to radically transform their Health and Education sectors under its Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital (SATH) initiative.
The shortlisted states for transforming their health sector are Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Karnataka. Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha were selected for transforming their education sector.
NITI Aayog had invited all states and Union Territories to participate in its SATH initiative to transform Health and Education sectors in order to give major push to competitive, cooperative federalism. Under this initiative, a Program Management Unit will now be available in the six chosen States for a period of 30 months to push for efficiency and efficacy in governance structures and service delivery.
It is expected that these three years of focussed attention and support from NITI Aayog will lead to a marked transformation and provide a model for other States to replicate and adapt. It will be three-way partnership between NITI, State Governments and knowledge partner for each of the sectors is part of the SATH initiative of NITI Aayog.
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Selection of States
These six states were chosen after a rigorous competitive process based on comprehensive metrics to determine potential for impact and likelihood of success. States had made presentations for each sector which was assessed by a committee comprising of senior members of NITI Aayog and Human Resources Development and Health ministries. The States had highlighted the initiatives undertaken by them and their willingness to accelerate improvement. On thorough technical evaluation, the chosen States have committed to time-bound, governance reforms in both sectors.
Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital (SATH) initiative
NITI Aayog is working to foster co-operative federalism by ranking states through health, water, education, and agricultural indices. The SATH initiative was launched to go beyond ranking states and to handhold them in improving their social sector indicators.
The vision of SATH initiative is to initiate transformation in the education and health sectors by providing technical support to states from NITI. It aims to identify and build three future ‘role model’ states for health and education sectors.
Under it, NITI will work in close collaboration with state machinery to design a robust roadmap of intervention, develop governance structure, set up monitoring and tracking mechanisms and provide support on a range of institutional measures to achieve the end objectives.
NITI Aayog.
NITI Aayog is the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Union Government, providing both directional and policy inputs. It is essentially an advisory body that seeks to provide critical directional and strategic inputs across spectrum of key elements of policy to the centre.
11. Amazon to offer training, aid to Telangana weavers.
Amazon India has signed an agreement with the Telangana government to promote handlooms on the e-commerce platform.
As part of the agreement, the firm will educate, train and enable weavers and artisans to directly sell their products to its customers in India.Training programme
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“Amazon India and the Department of Handlooms and Textiles will conduct training programmes to help them get ready for sales on a different window. The training programme would also have sessions on computers and Internet,” a statement from the company said.
“We will not only provide an online marketplace for marketing but will also engage with weavers and artisans across the State to train them on making the products more attractive, appealing and marketable online,” the statement added.
12. Bajaj Auto ties up with Triumph to make mid-capacity motorcycles.
Triumph Motorcycles UK and Bajaj Auto India on Tuesday put out a statement announcing their new partnership. In the statement put out by the two companies, it has been specified that this is a global partnership.
The aim of this partnership is to "deliver a range of outstanding mid-capacity motorcycles benefitting from the collective strengths of both companies".
While Triumph will benefit from this partnership by expanding its global reach and entering new higher volume markets, Bajaj will, in return, gain access to Triumph`s motorcycles and technology.
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In the statement put out by the two companies, nothing concrete has been revealed as to how the two companies will collaborate. However, they have mentioned that more information will follow soon.
In the statement, the two companies said:
"Triumph Motorcycles and Bajaj are pleased to announce their global partnership.
The objective of this non-equity partnership is to deliver a range of outstanding mid-capacity motorcycles benefitting from the collective strengths of both companies.
We hope to bring to bear upon global markets the indivudal strengths of the partners including brand position and perception, design and development technology, quality and cost competitiveness and worldwide distribution.
This new global partnership will enable Triumph to significantly expand its global reach by entering new higher volume market segments, especially within the emerging markets across the world.
Bajaj will gain access to the iconic Triumph brand, and its great motorcycles, enabling it to offer a wide range of motorcycles within its domestic market and other international markets.
Triumph and Bajaj are excited by the opportunities of this partnership and the prospect of entering the new market segments, thereby reaching a whole new group of motorcyclists across the world."
13. ONGC plans to invest $150 million in Colombia,Kazakhstan & Bangladesh.
ONGC Videsh, the overseas arm of the state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp, plans to invest $150 million in exploration this fiscal year to drill more wells in Colombia, where it just made a commercial discovery, as well as in Kazakhstan and Bangladesh.
ONGC Videsh, which operates the CPO-5 block of Colombia, has made a commercial discovery in its exploration well Mariposa-1, managing director Narendra Verma has said.
The company is now drawing up plans for the development of the Mariposa-1well that has begun a test production of 4,500 barrels per day, he said. The success has also opened opportunity for further exploration in the block.
“To chase this lead, we plan to drill two more wells,” Verma said. ONGC has 70% participating interest in CPO-5 block in which the remaing 30% stake in held by Amerisur Resources of UK. ONGC has participating interest in a total of six blocks in Colombia. This includes a producing block whose current output is 35,000 barrels per day.
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ONGC has also accelerated its exploratory efforts in Kazakhstan and Bangladesh. Drilling has begun in the Kazakhstan block in the Caspian Sea while preparations are on to drill the first well in Bangladesh. “We are hopeful Kazakhstan drilling will end up in success,” Verma said. In all, the exploratory effort would require $150 million of investment this year, Verma said.
ONGC Videsh plans to make a total capital spending of $1 billion in 2017-18 in exploration, development and production across all its projects. ONGC Videsh’s production jumped 40% in 2016-17 mainly on 26% stake acquisition in Russia’s prolific Vankor fields.
The output is expected to rise further 15% in the current fiscal year to 14.35 million tonnes of oil equivalent (mtoe). “We are actively working towards meeting our target of 20 mtoe by 2020,” said Verma. The company has also entered Namibia’s oil and gas sector with a purchase of 30% interest from Tullow Oil in the African country’s three oil blocks.
ONGC Videsh’s investment in the Imperial fields of Russia will likely get some production boost after an associated gas processing plant comes up. The tender for the plant has been awarded and it would be ready in about 18 months, Verma said. This would help push up oil production from the field by 4000 barrels/day from the current 7000 barrels/day.
14. Flipkart Launching `Budding Star Programme` for Staff.
Flipkart is launching a programme under which the ecommerce major will provide financial assistance to employees who wish to participate in national orinternational challenges in any field of interest. Flipsters who have completed six months with the company are eligible for the ‘Budding Star Programme’.
Those shortlisted — based on evaluation by an internal company panel — will get up to `3 lakh in assistance. “We want benefits to be meaningful to employees, and this programme will allow Flipsters to pursue their passion beyond work. It adds to our existing sabbatical policy,” said Satheesh KV, directortotal rewards at Flipkart. “If we need to delight our customers, we need to delight our employees as well.
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The greater the autonomy and flexibility provided, the happier and more productive employees tend to be,” he added. The programme will cover all national and international sports and non-sports competitions recognised by government authorities. But it will not support regional or state-level competitions and leisure or tourist activities.
15. Government to expand Logistics Data Bank project ot South India.
The Union Ministry of Shipping is planning to expand Logistics Data Bank (LDB) project to the country’s southern region. So far, it had covered only only the western logistics corridor.
The LDB project was launched at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), Mumbai in July 2016, making it first port in India to provide this service. Later its operations were expanded to the container terminals at Adani Port Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), Mundra and Adani Hazira Port — both in Gujarat.
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About Logistics Data Bank (LDB) project.
The LDB project was unveiled in July 2016 to make India’s logistics sector more efficient through the use of Information Technology. Under this project, every container in the port facility is attached to a Radio Frequency Identification Tag (RFID) tag and then tracked through RFID readers.
It is being implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Logistics Data Service Ltd. (DLDSL). DLDSL is jointly (50:50) owned by the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) Trust and Japanese IT services major NEC Corporation.
The LDB project covers the entire movement of containers through rail or road till the Inland Container Depot and Container Freight Station. Its service integrates information available with the agencies across the supply chain to provide detailed, real-time information within a single window.
Significance of project
It has helped to cut the overall lead time of container movement as well as reduced transaction costs that consignees and shippers incur. It also has aided importers and exporters in tracking their goods in transit. It is billed as a major ‘ease of doing business’ initiative aimed at boosting India’foreign trade and ensuring greater transparency.
16. Coconut regains `tree` status in Goa as Assembly passes bill.
Goa Legislative Assembly today passed a bill which reclassifies coconut as a `tree`, ensuring legal protection for it.
Goa Forward Party, a partner in the Manohar Parrikar-led government, had promised to reclassify coconut.
The previous Laxmikant Parsekar-led government had changed classification of coconut tree to a `palm`.
However, the decision kicked up a controversy as green activists claimed that it would make it easy to cut down coconut trees indiscriminately in the coastal state as it would require no formal permission.
The Assembly, on the last day of Monsoon session today, passed the Goa, Daman and Diu (Preservation of) Trees Act, 1984 to regulate felling of coconut trees and reclassify it as tree.
"Our government has kept the promise," said Agriculture Minister and GFP president Vijai Sardesai.
17. Government Launches Swachh Survekshan Gramin 2017.
The Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has released Swachh Survekshan Gramin 2017, third party survey report to assess the progress Swachh Bharat Mission in rural India.
The survey was undertaken by the Quality Council of India (QCI) between May and June 2017 to take into account status of rural sanitation in all States and UTs. The survey covered 4626 villages across all States and Union territories.
Key Highlights of Swachh Survekshan Gramin.
QCI claims that 62.45% of the households have access to a toilet and 91.29% of the people who had access to a toilet also used it. Over 4.54 crore household toilets have been constructed since the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin. 160 districts, 2,20,104 villages and 5 States declared have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF). Sanitation Coverage has increased from 39% in October 2016 to 66% in August 2017.
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Top performing states:
Northeastern States of Sikkim, Nagaland and Manipur with 95% rural households covered by toilets were top performers. Himalayan States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were also top performers with over 90% toilet coverage of the rural houses.
Performance of Big States:
Almost all rural households in Kerala and Haryana have access to a toilet. In, Gujarat 85% of rural households have access to toilets. Tamil Nadu has 79% rural households access to a toilet.
Worst performing States:
Bihar (30% coverage) and Uttar Pradesh (37%), Jharkhand (37%) were among the worst performers in terms of rural sanitation.
About Quality Council of India (QCI)
QCI was set up in 1997 by Union Government jointly with Indian Industry as an autonomous body. Its mandate is to establish and operate the National Accreditation Structure (NAS) for conformity assessment bodies and providing accreditation in the field of health, education and quality promotion.
It also promotes the adoption of quality standards relating to Food Safety Management Systems (ISO 22000 Series), Quality Management Systems (ISO 14001 Series) and Product Certification and Inspection. It has been assigned task of monitoring and administering the National Quality Campaign and also oversee function of National Information and Enquiry Services.
18. NCERT launches web portal to supply textbooks online.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has launched a web portal for supply of textbooks to schools and individuals.
The web portal of NCERT will enable schools to place orders for their books online. It will also enable individual buyers to place their orders by logging onto the portal and books will be delivered at their doorstep.
The portal will ensure better distribution of textbooks across the country and also address the apprehensions of schools and parents regarding unavailability of NCERT textbooks. It will enable schools to place orders for the session 2018-19 by enabling them to log on to the portal, by entering their respective Boards’ affiliation numbers and other details.
Moreover, schools will also have option of directly procuring textbooks either from their nearest NCERT vendors or from the Regional Production-cum-Distribution Centres (RPDCs) of the NCERT’s located at Kolkata, Guwahati, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru.
The move will help parents save money spent on sourcing expensive books from private publishers, often due to non-availability of NCERT books. NCERT is also exploring the option of having ecommerce vendors such as Flipkart and Amazon host its books and deliver them too to streamline the process further. About National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) The NCERT is an autonomous organisation set up in 1961 by the Union Government as a literary, scientific and charitable Society under the Societies’ Registration Act. Its mandate is to assist and advise the Union and State Governments on policies and programmes for qualitative improvement in school education.
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Its major objectives are to undertake, promote and coordinate research in areas related to school education, prepare and publish model textbooks, supplementary material, organise pre-service and in-service training of teachers etc. It acts as a nodal agency for achieving goals of Universalisation of Elementary Education.
In addition, NCERT is an implementation agency for bilateral cultural exchange programmes with other countries in the field of school education. Textbooks published by NCERT are prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) from classes I to XII.
19. Vijaya Bank opens self-employment training institute in Indore.
Vijaya Bank has disbursed loan sanction letters to beneficiaries who were trained at the Vijaya Bank Self Employment Training Institute (VIBSETI) in Bhenslay Village, Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
VIBSETI trains youth for starting their own enterprises. Kishore Sansi, Managing Director and CEO, Vijaya Bank, inaugurated the new premises recently. The event was attended by Nishant Warwade, District Collector, Indore; Kirti Khurasiya, Additional Collector and CEO, ZP, Indore; Sathish Ballal, General Manager, Vijaya Bank Head Office; Girish C Dalakoti, Regional Head, Vijaya Bank, Bhopal Regional Office, and others.
The bank has sponsored three VIBSETIs at Mandya and Haveri in Karnataka and Indore in Madhya Pradesh, where free residential training is provided to low-income groups/ rural youth. So far, more than 50,000 candidates have been trained, 70 per cent of whom have set up their own micro enterprises.
20. Kerala and Haryana Top Sanitation Survey.
The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation on Tuesday released the findings of the survey of 1.4 lakh rural households, undertaken by the Quality Council of India (QCI) between May and June this year.The survey, covering 4626 villages across all States and Union territories, claimed that 62.45% of the households had access to a toilet.
The survey also pointed that 91.29% of the people who had access to a toilet also used it, indicating a change in sanitation behaviour.
Northeastern States of Sikkim, Manipur and Nagaland were top performers with 95% rural households covered by toilets. And so were the Himalayan States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand with over 90% toilet coverage of the rural houses.
Interestingly, BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and NDA-ruled Bihar were among the worst performers in terms of rural sanitation. In Bihar, only 30% of the rural household had access to toilets while Uttar Pradesh was marginally better at 37% . Another BJP-ruled State, Jharkhand, too scored the same as U.P.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s home State fared better in terms of rural sanitation as 85% of rural households had access to toilets.
Apart from Kerala, Tamil Nadu was the other performer as 79% rural households had access to a toilet. However, neighbouring Puducherry scored poorly with just 43% .“Look, it is not even six months since we have come to power in Uttar Pradesh but the way the
Chief Minister has taken up the issue of cleanliness and sanitation, I am sure in the days to come both Uttar Pradesh and Bihar will see improvement,” asserted Narendra Singh Tomar, the
Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, when asked why some BJP-ruled States did not score high despite Prime Minister Modi’s emphasis on Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission.
To instil a competitive spirit at the ground level, Mr. Tomar announced that his ministry would now start ranking all districts in terms of sanitation coverage and solid and liquid waste management. The results would be announced on October 2 when Swachh Bharat Mission completes three years but the rankings of the districts would be based on the data that the ministry collects between July and September.In the run up to the 70th Independence Day, the Ministry has drawn up a plan to celebrate a “Freedom from Open Defecation Week.”`
Mr. Tomar also announced that on Saturday he and his colleague, Uma Bharti, will travel to Allahabad to declare 24 villages by the banks of the Ganges — also called Ganga grams — as model Ganga villages. From Uttar Pradesh, 10 model Ganga villages have been chosen while Bihar has four Ganga villages. Bengal, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand are the other States that figure in the list of model villages. The Minister reiterated that 77 Central Ministries had a sum of 12,000 crore for the Swachh Bharat campaign and every Ministry should pitch in. “I think this provision of every Ministry having its own fund is a milestone. After all, the campaign isn’t about one Ministry but the entire country and society,” Mr. Tomar said.
21. Gujarat first state to implement coal utilisation between power units.
Setting a precedent, the Gujarat government has issued a tender for power developers to receive cheap coal marked for the state in return for selling coal-based power at less than Rs 2.82 a unit.
Through the auction, Gujarat will transfer the coal allocated to power generating stations owned by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation (GSECL) to more fuel-efficient private power plants.
The reverse auction would be held in September for procuring 1,000 megawatt (Mw) of power. The successful power plant would be selling electricity to the state from October 1 to June 30, 2018, said officials in the Ministry of Power.
They said the average landed cost of coal for the seven thermal power units of GSECL was Rs 4,812 a tonne, of which half is accounted as transportation cost. GSECL has allocation from the Korba coalfield in Chhattisgarh and Korea Rewa coalfield in Madhya Pradesh.
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The move is in line with the initiatives of the central government to ensure fuel availability to stressed power plants. The aim is to reduce the cost of fuel for financially ailing distribution companies and ensure effective distribution of domestic coal.
In May last year, the Union Cabinet approved a proposal for allowing flexibility in utilisation of domestic coal among power generating stations. Under the new policy, the coal requirement of a state would be clubbed and assigned to the respective state or state-nominated agencies. The state would then award coal linkage based on need, efficiency and cost of electricity to power plants in its territory.
graph The policy also allowed coal swaps from inefficient plants to efficient ones, and from those situated away from coal mines to the pit-head, to minimise cost of coal transportation thus. leading to reduction in cost of power.
For central-owned power plants, coal linkages of individual central generating stations (CGS) would be clubbed and assigned to the company owning the CGS, to enable more efficient coal utilisation amongst end-use generating stations. For use of coal in state or central generating plants, the deciding criteria shall be plant efficiency, coal transportation cost, transmission charge and overall cost of power.
Privately owned independent power plants would have to bid for the coal linkage. The basis of bidding would be the location of source of coal, quantity of coal, quantum of power and delivery point for the receipt of power, which they would have to indicate upfront.
22. NGT bans use of non-biodegradable plastic bags in Delhi.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed an interim ban on use of non-biodegradable plastic bags which are less than 50 microns in the entire national capital Delhi.
It also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on anyone found in possession of non-biodegradable plastic bags less than 50 microns, which is the thickness of a human hair.
NGT order
NGT ordered Delhi government to seize entire stock of the banned plastic bags within a week. Besides, it asked Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Delhi
Government to file an affidavit on steps taken to implement the ban. It also imposed an environment compensation of Rs. 10,000 on vegetable vendors and slaughter houses for throwing garbage in public places.Plastic waste Non-biodegradable plastic waste has been identified as one of the major source of environmental pollution as they don’t decay naturally. These bags have zero reusable value. Besides choking drains, water-bodies and adding to the load of the already-exhausted landfill sites, there are also cases of cattle eating and dying after choking on plastic bags.
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According to plastic bag manufacturers, the market share of thin plastic bags (less than 50 microns) is not more than 25%. Mostly the banned bags are made by unregistered units which find many takers because of their cheaper products.
Most of the garbage bags used at homes are above 50 microns. Their use and manufacturing is already banned under the Plastic Management Handling Rules, 2016. The NGT in 2017 had banned the use of disposable plastic in Delhi and NCR with effect from January 1, 2017 and directed the city government to take steps to reduce dumped waste.
23. Lok Sabha passes State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2017.
The Lok Sabha has passed the State Banks (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2017. The bill seeks to repeal the two Acts namely State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959, and State Bank of Hyderabad Act, 1956.
It also seeks to amend the State Bank of India (SBI) Act, 1955 to remove references to subsidiary banks and powers of SBI to act as an agent of the RBI for subsidiary banks.
Repealing of SBI (Subsidiary Banks) Act and State Bank of Hyderabad Act:
These two acts have established the State Bank of Bikaner, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Hyderabad and State Bank of Travancore. These banks were subsidiaries of the SB). This repealing of two acts is consequent to the decision of the Union Cabinet February 2017 to approve merger of five subsidiary banks of SBI were merged with it.
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Amendments to the SBI Act:
The Bill removes references related to subsidiary banks from the parent Act. These references include the definition of a subsidiary bank and powers of SBI to act as an agent of the RBI for subsidiary banks.
Background
The Union Cabinet had approved the merger of five associate banks along with Bharatiya Mahila Bank with SBI. The five banks were State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur,
State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Patiala. After the acquisition by SBI, the subsidiaries banks have ceased to exist and, therefore, it was necessary to repeal the two Acts. The merger had made State Bank of India one of the 50 biggest banks of the world. The main motive behind the merger was to increase the capital base of the bank to enable it to disburse more loans.
24. Second National Deworming Day is observed on 10 August.
The National Deworming Day is observed on February 10 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and its main objective is to deworm children between the ages of (1-19) at schools and anganwadi centres.
This year for the first time, the Ministry has decided to give the deworming tablets to the private schools children also.
The government of India had launched the initiative in 2015, making it one of the largest single-day public health initiatives in India.
Necessity of deworming children:
Worm infections can cause anemia, malnourishment, impaired mental and physical development; and may cause a serious threat to children`s health, education, and productivity. According to a study, the infected children cannot concentrate on their studies and they find very hard to put up their daily activities.
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Necessity of deworming programme in India:
According to WHO, India has the highest burden of Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) in the world, with 220 million children aged 1-14 estimated to be at risk of worm infections. Almost 7 in 10 children between 6 month and 5 years are anaemic, with even higher rates of anaemia in rural areas, the 2006 National Family Health Survey reported.
Deworming tablet and its side effects:
Children at the age of (1-2) are given half a tablet of albendazole (400mg), and above the age of 2 are given 1 full tablet of albendazole (400mg) to chew.
Albendazole is very safe and has very few side effects and it occurs with mild side effects like nausea and diarrhea and pass quickly
Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STHs):
According to WHO, Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) or parasitic worms are among the most common infections worldwide. It lives in human intestines and consume nutrients meant for the human body. They produce thousands of eggs each day, which are passed in faeces and spread to others in areas used for public toilet.
Expert`s View on National Deworming Day:
Dr. Munish Raizada, a board certified pediatrician from Chicago lauded the efforts of Govt of India for launching a National Deworming Day (NDD) in 2015. He said even though India carries the highest burden of worm infestation, a national combat program coupled with health education, proper hygiene and precautions would result in drastic reduction in this disease burden. Raizada cautioned, however, that the cycle of parasitic infections cannot be broken with drugs alone. Proper hand washing and sanitation play an important role in preventing such diseases.
25. Parliament passes Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
Parliament has passed the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 with the Rajya Sabha approving it. The Lok Sabha has already passed it. The bill will replace the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 promulgated by President in May 2017.
The bill seeks to amend the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to insert provisions for handling cases related to stressed assets or non-performing assets (NPAs) are loans defaulted by borrower in repayment or the loan which has been restructured by changing the repayment schedule.
Key Features of the Bill
Initiating insolvency proceedings:
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It will enable the Central government to authorize the RBI to direct banking companies to resolve specific stressed assets by initiating insolvency resolution proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
Issuing directions on stressed assets:
It empowers RBI to issue directions to banks for resolution of stressed assets from time to time.
Committee to Advise banks:
It enables RBI to specify committees or authorities to advise banks on resolution of stressed assets. RBI will appoint or approve members on such committees.
Applicability to State Bank of India (SBI):
It inserts provision to make above provisions applicable to the SBI and its subsidiaries and also Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).
Need for Amendment
NPAs in the banks stand at Rs. 6.41 lakh crore in the public sector banks while total stressed assets are at Rs. 8.02 lakh crore. It has resulted in choking the banking system. So it had become necessary for the RBI to intervene in order to take urgent measures for their speedy resolution. Government is also expanding infrastructures in Debt Recovery Tribunal, National Company Law Tribunal to deal with stressed assets.
26. National Mission for Clean Ganga approves 10 projects.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved ten projects in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal to the tune of about Rs. 2,033 crore.
These projects were approved in the 5th meeting of the Executive Committee of NMCG. Eight of the ten projects pertain to sewage infrastructure and treatment, one each to ghat development and Ganga Knowledge Centre.
Approved Projects
In Bihar, three major sewage infrastructure projects were approved in Barh, Kankarbagh and Digha. These projects will create additional sewage treatment capacity in Kankarbagh and Barh.
In West Bengal, three projects were approved. Out of these two pertain to sewage infrastructure while the third one is for ghat development. In Uttar Pradesh, sewage infrastructure work in Chunar, district Mirzapur, has also been approved at an estimated cost of around 28 crore rupees.
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Project to establish Ganga Monitoring Centres (GMCs) was also approved in five riparian Ganga states. The objective of GMCs is to establish efficient monitoring of wholesomeness of river including flow levels, pollution levels, point and non-point sources of pollution, among other parameters. Two pilot demonstrative projects of treatment of drains using bioremediation method were also approved.
About National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
NMCG is the implementation wing of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga (referred as National Ganga Council). It was established in 2011 as a registered society under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
It has a two tier management structure and comprises of Governing Council and Executive Committee. Both of them are headed by Director General (DG), NMCG. Executive Committee is authorized to approve projects under mission up to Rs.1000 crore.
Similar to structure at national level, State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs) acts as implementing arm of State Ganga Committees. This structure attempts to bring all stakeholders on one platform to take a holistic approach towards the task of Ganga cleaning and rejuvenation.