Sarita, Shiva, Devendro win in China
•In Sports
•December 6, 2015
Asian
Games bronze-medallist L Sarita Devi (60kg) returned to competitive boxing
after her one-year ban with a resounding victory in the opening contest of the
training-cum-competition assignment in the city of Qian’an, China. Sarita, who
served a one-year ban for her emotional outburst at the Asian Games after a
controversial semifinal loss, defeated Mongolia’s Sowoderden 3-0. The Indian
boxers put up a strong show on the opening day of competitions against teams
from hosts China, Mongolia, Thailand and Korea.
World
Championships bronze-medallist Shiva Thapa (56kg) beat Thailoand’s Yuttapong
Thong Dee 3-0, while Commonwealth Games silver-medallist L Devendro Singh
(49kg) notched up a Technical Knockout against China’s Yang Yufeng in the third
round of his bout. Another Commonwealth Games silver-medallist Mandeep Jangra
(69kg) thrashed Thailand’s Nick Fisher 3-0. Asian Championships silver-winner
Vikas Krishan(75kg), on the other hand, got the better of another Thai Kh Mr
Aphisit 3-0.
Also
winning their opening bouts were Kuldeep Singh (81kg), Amritpreet Singh (91kg),
Narender (+91kg). Gaurav Bidhuri (52kg), Manish Kaushik (60kg) lost their
respective bouts along with Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Pinki Jangra
(51kg).
Railways has undertaken PPP projects worth Rs 14,000 crore
•In
Indian Affairs
•December
6, 2015
Railways
have undertaken more than 20 projects worth Rs 14,000 crore during the 12th
Five year Plan, including those for laying new lines, doubling the existing
ones, enhancing port connectivity and electrifying its network under PPP model.
While seven PPP projects worth Rs 5693 crore are under implementation as part
of joint venture model, as many others involving an expenditure of Rs 2236
crore are being implemented under customer funded model. Three PPP projects
worth Rs 3016 crore are being executed through the annuity route and
in-principle approval has been accorded to six others worth Rs 3078 crore.
Background:-
•
Indian Railway has proposed Rs 8.56 lakh crore
investment plan for the next five years and the national transporter expects to
execute a sizable chunk of projects through Public-Private Partnership and in
collaboration with states.
•
There are about 16 state governments which have
given their in-principle approval for formation of special purpose vehicles
(SPVs) to implement rail projects in their respective states.
•
Recently Odisha signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with Railways to form a SPV for implementation of rail projects in the
state.
•
The participatory policy for rail connectivity was
launched in 2012 which has five models including non-government railway model,
joint venture model, build operate and transfer model, capacity augmentation
with funding provided by customers model and capacity augmentation through
annuity model.
•
During 2002 and 2014, eight port connectivity
projects worth about Rs 3153 crore were implemented. These covered the linking
of Mundra Port and Pipavav-Surendranagar, Hassan- Mangalore,
Gandhidham-Palanpur and Bharauch-Dahej gauge conversion projects. These
projects have added about 1030 km of rail lines.
•
Besides, railways have offered 400 stations to be
redeveloped with private participation for improving passenger amenities
inviting open bids from interested parties
Prime Minister releases commemorative coins on Ambedkar Jayanti
•In
Indian Affairs
•December 6, 2015
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on November 6 released two commemorative coins of Rs 125
and Rs 10 denomination as part of the 125th birth anniversary year celebrations
of B R Ambedkar. The coins were issued on his death anniversary, which is being
observed as “Mahaparinirvan Divas of Babasaheb Ambedkar”. Addressing a
gathering at his residence, the Prime Minister said that there were only a few
individuals who remain alive in public consciousness, even 60 years after their
death.He said the more one recalls Ambedkar’s thoughts, in the context of
issues currently faced by India, “the more we come to respect his vision and
his approach to inclusiveness”.
Background:-
•
The Prime Minister said that while his contributions
towards social justice have been recognised, his economic thoughts and vision
are still not fully understood, and these need to be appreciated.
•
Modi said Ambedkar and the Constitution of India
should always be discussed and talked about in this country, and the observance
of Constitution Day on November 26, was a step in that direction.
•
He appreciated Ambedkar’s vision on subjects such as
women empowerment, India’s federal structure, finance and education, a press
release issued by Prime Minister’s Office said. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot were present on
the occasion.
•
Earlier in the day, Modi paid floral tribute at the
Dalit mascot’s statue in Parliament House lawns. “Remembering Dr Babasaheb
Ambedkar on his Punya Tithi,” he posted on Twitter along with a photograph
showing him and Ambedkar’s statue.
Canada sends first consignment of uranium to India
•In
Foreign Relations
•December 6, 2015
Canada
has sent the first uranium consignment of 250 tonnes to India for its nuclear
power reactors, over two years after the civil nuclear deal signed between the
two countries came into force. In April, Cameco signed a uranium supply
contract with India after the nuclear cooperation agreement between Canada and
India came into force in September 2013. According to the Canadian government,
the contract to supply 7.1 million pounds of uranium concentrate (about 2,730
tonnes uranium) to India’s Department of Atomic Energy was worth around
Canadian Dollars 350 million ($262 million).
The government
of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan yesterday said the shipment consists
of uranium mined and milled at Cameo’s McArthur River and Key Lake operations
in northern Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall said, “India has just
received its first shipment of Saskatchewan uranium under the Canada-India
nuclear cooperation agreement, and today we mark the economic milestone for our
uranium mining industry and our province.”
India
currently has 21 power reactors in operation, with another six under
construction and scheduled to start up over the next four years. The country
plans to increase its nuclear generating capacity from the current 5800 MWe to
27,500 MWe by 2032.
Government imposes anti-dumping duty on kitchenware products
•In
Indian Affairs
•December 6, 2015
Finance
Ministry has imposed an anti-dumping duty of up to $1,732.11 per tonne on
import of ‘melamine tableware and kitchenware products’ like dinner sets and
mugs from China, Thailand and Vietnam with an aim to protect domestic industry
from cheap shipments. The anti-dumping duty in the range of $582.85 – 1732.11
per tonne will remain in effect for five years, a Central Board of Excise and
Customs (CBEC) said. The CBEC in the Finance Ministry imposed the duty after
considering the final findings of the Directorate General of Anti Dumping and
Allied Duties (DGAD) in the Commerce Ministry.
Background:-
•
Earlier, acting on complaint of Hamilton Housewares,
the DGAD conducted a probe into imports and made the case for the duty.
•
The DGAD had said that levy was “required to offset
dumping and injury” to domestic producers.
•
It recommended imposition of “definitive”
anti-dumping duty “so as to remove the injury to the domestic industry”.
•
Melamine tableware and kitchenware products come in
a number of different dimension and shapes called by different names such as
dinner set, plates, bowls, tray, mugs, spoon, coaster, cup and saucer.
•
Imports of the melamine products from the three
countries taken together increased from 361 tonne in 2010-11 to 1,050 tonne in
2013-14.
•
Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to check if
their domestic industries have been hurt because of a surge in cheap imports.
•
As a counter measure, they impose duties within the
multilateral regime of the WTO.
•
Anti-dumping measures are taken to ensure fair trade
and provide a level playing field to domestic industry. It is not a measure to
restrict imports or cause an unjustified increase in the cost of products.
Andhra Pradesh first state to join discom revival scheme UDAY
• In Indian Affairs
• December 6, 2015
Andhra
Pradesh has become the first state in the country to join the Centre’s scheme
for revival of debt stressed power distribution companies after the state gave
in-principle nod to the Power Ministry for joining UDAY. Though many other
states including Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Haryana have evinced the
interest in joining the scheme, Andhra Pradesh is the first state to officially
communicate its intend to avail benefits under UDAY.
According
to a power ministry statement, Andhra Pradesh has conveyed in-principle
approval to the ministry for joining UDAY Scheme (Ujwal Discom Assurance
Yojana). The scheme is optional and operationalised through signing of MoU
between state governments, state discoms and Centre.
When
the scheme was approved by the Union Government last month, Goyal had said that
discoms in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Haryana are the biggest
loss-making in the country. Besides, 6-7 other state utilities are stressed. A
senior official said the states cannot officially join the scheme without
approval of their respective State Cabinets headed by the chief minister as it
take a little while to understand the contours of such programme.
HR govt to celebrate ‘Gita Jayanti’ festival from Dec 19
•In
Indian Affairs
•December 6, 2015
The
Haryana Government has decided to celebrate ‘Gita Jayanti Mahotsava’ throughout
the state from December 19 to 21. A district level celebration committee has
been constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners concerned.
Additional Deputy Commissioners would be the Vice-Chairman and City Magistrate
would be the member secretary of the committee. Similarly, SDM (Concerned),
Vice-Chancellor or Registrar, District Information, Public Relations Officer,
District Education Officer along with other officials of various state
departments would be the members of the committee.
At
least 20 members would be nominated by Deputy Commissioner which includes
people from all walks of life and eminent NGOs and organisation especially
engaged in the promotion of holy Bhagvad Gita, the release said.
A sum
of Rs 10 lakh would be provided to each district by the Information, Public
Relations and Culture Affairs department for setting up of exhibition, tentage,
craft work, boarding and lodging of artist, refreshment and other related
miscellaneous expenses.
Indo-Pak NSAs meet in Bangkok
•In
International Affairs
•December 6, 2015
In a
sudden breakthrough, National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan held
talks in Bangkok on December 6. On a wide scope of bilateral ties including
terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir, and agreed to take forward the “constructive”
engagement. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart
Nasir Janjua also discussed peace and security and other issues including
tranquility along the LoC.
Background:-
•
Pursuant to the meeting of the Prime Ministers of
India and Pakistan in Paris, the NSAs, accompanied by the Foreign Secretaries.
•
Discussions were held in a candid, cordial and
constructive atmosphere. They were guided by the vision of the two leaders for
a peaceful stable and prosperous South Asia. Discussions covered peace and
security, terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir, and other issues, including tranquility
along the LoC.
•
It was agreed to carry forward the constructive
engagement. The meeting is a major breakthrough given that the two sides had
engaged in mutual blame game earlier in September this year resulting in
cancellation of the NSA-level talks and stalling the interaction process as was
agreed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz
Sharif in July in Russian city of Ufa.
•
The two Prime Ministers had a brief but close chat
on November 30 in Paris where they had gone to attend the climate summit.
•
The Bangkok meeting also paves the way for a visit
by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Islamabad this week to attend a
multilateral conference on Afghanistan.
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