--- Press Information Bureau- Pib Notes

GENERALSTUDIESMAINSPAPERII—PARTIIPRESSINFORMATIONBUREAU-PIBNOTES

ThefollowingnotesarethesummaryofthePIB.ThesearetheGovernmentofIndia’sofficialnotificationandhenceareveryimportant.Pleasereadthemwithcautionasthesenoteswillgiveyouagoodinsightaboutthelastoneyear’sgovernmentactivities.Suchthingsandpoliciesofthegovernment,certainrelevantissuesorevenaniotaofunderstandingontheseissuescanbereallyusefulinwritingtheMainsaswellasEssaypaper.Theotherpartsarecomingup.BIBLIOCHEERS..!!!!

PMreviewsPaHaLSchemeforDirectBenefitTransferforLPGSubsidy

Facebook Group: Indian Administrative Service ( Raz Kr)

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ThePrimeMinisterreviewedPaHaL(PratyakshaHastaantaritLaabh),theDirectBenefitTransferSchemeforLPGSubsidy

PaHaL,whichcoversmorethan.9.75croreLPGconsumers,isperhapstheworld’slargestcashtransferprogramascomparedtosimilarprogramsinothercountries,suchasChina,MexicoandBrazil. UnderPaHaL,LPGcylindersaresoldatmarketratesandentitledconsumersgetthesubsidydirectlyintotheirbankaccounts. ThisisdoneeitherthroughanAadhaarlinkageorabankaccountlinkage. PaHaLaimstoreducediversionandeliminateduplicateorbogusLPGconnections.

ThePrimeMinisterconveyedhiscongratulationsfortheschemehavingwitnessedmassiveenrolmentinashortspanoftime.Asondate,9.75croreLPGconsumershavejoinedthescheme.

Thisis66%ofthetotalconsumerbaseof15crore. AnamountofRs.3654crorehasalreadybeentransferredintothebankaccountsofLPGconsumersthrough9.25croretransactions. Themodifiedschemehasputinplacevariousmechanismstosimplifyenrolmentandenhanceconsumerconvenience,andthus,only1.09lakhcomplaintshavebeenreceivedsofar,whichconstituteamere0.1%ofthetransactions.Over85%ofthecomplaintshavebeenresolved.


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Preliminarydatafrom54districtsindicatethatthegrowthofsubsidisedLPGhasreducedsignificantlyaccompaniedbyacorrespondingincreaseinsaleofcommercialLPG. Thisindicatesthattheschemewillenablesubstantivesavingsinsubsidywhichcanthenbedeployedforotherproductivepurposes,withoutreducinganyentitlementsofexistingconsumers. ThesuccessoftheschemeisaresultofanintensiveInformationEducationCampaigncomprisingadvertisingthroughvariousmeans,directreachingouttoconsumers,anddealerlevelcampaigns.

TheMinistryofPetroleumandNaturalGashasundertakenseveralinnovativemeasuressuchasguardianofficersforeachdistrict,deploymentoftechnologybyuseofSMS,andasinglewindowportalwww.mylpg.intoenableconsumerstojointhescheme.

Thisportalisanimportantstepinbringingtransparencyandgivesdetailsofwhoisbenefitingfromsubsidy. ThePrimeMinistersaidthatafterPradhaanMantriJanDhanYojana,thisisthenextbigschemewhichwillsubstantiallybenefittheeconomy. HedirectedthatallstepsshouldbetakentobringtheremainingLPGconsumersintothefoldofPaHaLassoonaspossible.

HewantedAadhaarenrolmentandlinkageswithbankaccountstobeexpedited,takingadvantageofthePradhanMantriJanDhanYojana.ThePrimeMinisterhasalsoaskedforanimpactanalysisoftheprogrammetobeconductedinaprofessionalmanner.

US-IndiaJointStrategicVisionfortheAsia-PacificandIndianOceanRegion


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Astheleadersoftheworld’stwolargestdemocraciesthatbridgetheAsia-PacificandIndianOceanregionandreflectingouragreementthatacloserpartnershipbetweentheUnitedStatesandIndiaisindispensabletopromotingpeace,prosperityandstabilityinthoseregions,wehaveagreedonaJointStrategicVisionfortheregion.

IndiaandtheUnitedStatesareimportantdriversofregionalandglobalgrowth. FromAfricatoEastAsia,wewillbuildonourpartnershiptosupportsustainable,inclusivedevelopment,andincreasedregionalconnectivitybycollaboratingwithotherinterestedpartnerstoaddresspovertyandsupportbroad-basedprosperity. Tosupportregionaleconomicintegration,wewillpromoteacceleratedinfrastructureconnectivityandeconomicdevelopmentinamannerthatlinksSouth,SoutheastandCentralAsia,includingbyenhancingenergytransmissionandencouragingfreetradeandgreaterpeople-to-peoplelinkages.

Regionalprosperitydependsonsecurity.Weaffirmtheimportanceofsafeguardingmaritimesecurityandensuringfreedomofnavigationandoverflightthroughouttheregion,especiallyintheSouthChinaSea.

Wecallonallpartiestoavoidthethreatoruseofforceandpursueresolutionofterritorialandmaritimedisputesthroughallpeacefulmeans,inaccordancewithuniversallyrecognizedprinciplesofinternationallaw,includingtheUnitedNations


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ConventionontheLawoftheSea. Wewillopposeterrorism,piracy,andtheproliferationofweaponsofmassdestructionwithinorfromtheregion.

Wewillalsoworktogethertopromotethesharedvaluesthathavemadeourcountriesgreat,recognizingthatourinterestsinpeace,prosperityandstabilityarewellservedbyourcommoncommitmenttotheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights(UDHR).

WecommittostrengtheningtheEastAsiaSummitonitstenthanniversarytopromoteregionaldialogueonkeypoliticalandsecurityissues,andtoworktogethertostrengthenit. Inordertoachievethisregionalvision,wewilldeveloparoadmapthatleveragesourrespectiveeffortstoincreasetiesamongAsianpowers,enablingbothournationstobetterrespondtodiplomatic,economicandsecuritychallengesintheregion.

Aspartoftheseefforts,theUnitedStateswelcomesIndia'sinterestinjoiningtheAsiaPacificEconomicCooperationforum,astheIndianeconomyisadynamicpartoftheAsianeconomy. Overthenextfiveyears,wewillstrengthenourregionaldialogues,investinmakingtrilateralconsultationswiththirdcountriesintheregionmorerobust,deepenregionalintegration,strengthenregionalforums,exploreadditionalmultilateralopportunitiesforengagement,andpursueareaswherewecanbuildcapacityintheregionthatbolsterlong-termpeaceandprosperityforall.

JointStatementduringthevisitofPresidentofUSAtoIndia–''SharedEffort;ProgressforAll''


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PrimeMinisterNarendraModiandPresidentBarackObamaassessedtheextensivebilateralstrategicandglobalpartnershipbetweentheirtwocountriesandpledgedtocontinuetoenhancecooperationacrossthespectrumofhumanendeavortobettertheircitizens’livesandthatoftheglobalcommunity.

MultifacetedpartnershipbetweentheUnitedStatesandIndiaisrootedinsharedvaluesofdemocracyandstrongeconomicandpeople-to-peopleties,PresidentObamaandPrimeMinisterModielevatedthebilateralrelationshipthroughtheirendorsementofanewIndia-U.S. DelhiDeclarationofFriendship,whichbuildsontheir30SeptemberVisionStatementbyarticulatingtangibleprinciplestoguideongoingeffortstoadvancemutualprosperity,acleanandhealthyenvironment,greatereconomiccooperation,regionalpeace,securityandstabilityforthelargerbenefitofhumankind. Recognizingtheimportantrolethatbothcountriesplayinpromotingpeace,prosperity,stabilityandsecurityintheAsia-PacificandIndianOceanRegion,andnotingthatIndia’s‘ActEastPolicy’andtheUnitedStates’rebalancetoAsiaprovideopportunitiesforIndia,theUnitedStates,and

otherAsia-Pacificcountriestoworkcloselytostrengthenregionalties,theLeadersannouncedaJointStrategicVisiontoguidetheirengagementintheregion.

TheyappreciatedthefocusedactionandaccomplishmentsbybothsidesonthedecisionstakenduringtheSummitinSeptemberandinthisregard,theywelcomed:

The30September2014signingofanimplementingagreementbetweenthe


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NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration(NASA)andIndianSpaceResearchOrganisation(ISRO)toconductthejointNASA-ISROSyntheticApertureRadar(NISAR)mission.

TheconveningoftheDefencePolicyGroupanditssubgroupson28-29October2014topursuestrongerandexpandedbilateraldefencecooperation India’songoingfacilitationofU.S.DepartmentofDefensehumanitarianmissionsinIndia,includingamissioninOctoberandNovember2014,torecovertheremainsoffallenU.S.soldierswhoservedinWorldWarII. ThesigningoftheIndia-U.S.StatementofGuidingPrinciplesonTriangularCooperationforGlobalDevelopmenton3November2014,infurtheranceofbilateraleffortstoadvancesustainabledevelopmentincooperationwithpartnercountriesaroundtheworld.

ThebreakthroughbetweenIndiaandtheUnitedStatesonissuesrelatingtotheimplementationoftheBaliMinisterialDecisionsregardingpublicstockholdingforfoodsecuritypurposes,theWTOTradeFacilitationAgreement,andpostBaliwork.

ConveningoftheU.S.-IndiaJointCommissionMeetingonScienceandTechnologyCooperationinNewDelhion17November2014toreview,exchangeviews,andadvancecooperationindiverseareasofscienceandtechnologyandfosterengagementintechno-entrepreneurshipandinnovationpartnershipformutualbenefit. ConveningoftheIndia-U.S.HigherEducationDialogueinNewDelhion17November2014tofurtherbilateralcooperationinthisfield,strengthenpartnershipsbetweenIndianandU.S.universitiesandcommunitycolleges,improvestudentandscholarmobility,andpromotefacultycollaboration.

ThesigningoftheMoUon18November2014betweenIndianRenewableEnergyDevelopmentAgencyLtd.andtheExport-ImportBankoftheUnitedStates,whichwouldmakeavailableupto$1billioninfinancingtofacilitateexpandedcooperationandenhanceU.S.privatesectorinvestmentinIndiancleanenergyprojects.

SuccessfulhostingofthebilateralIndia-U.S.TechnologySummiton18-19November2014withtheU.S.asapartnercountryforthefirsttime


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ConveningoftheHighTechnologyCooperationGroupon20-21November2014toshapeacooperativeagendaonhightechnologygoods,includingexportcontrol-relatedtradeinhomelandsecuritytechnologies,hightechnologymanufacturingequipmentincludingmachinetools,defencetrade,andfosteringcollaborationinbiotechnology,pharmaceuticals,medicaldevices,andhealth-relatedinformationtechnology

ConveningoftheSmartCitiesConclaveon22November2014organisedbytheU.S.-IndiaBusinessCouncilincooperationwiththeMinistryofUrbanDevelopmentandtheMayorsandCommissionersofAjmer(Rajasthan),Allahabad(UttarPradesh)andVishakhapatnam(AndhraPradesh)

ThedecisionbytheGovernmentofIndiatoconstituteahigh-levelcommitteeforeachofthethreeSmartCitiescomprisingdifferentdepartmentsoftheCentralGovernment,thestategovernments,localgovernments,andrepresentativesoftheU.S.industry. SigningofthreeMoUsbetweentheStateGovernmentsofAndhraPradesh,UttarPradesh,andRajasthanandtheU.S.TradeandDevelopmentAgencyon25January2015 TodevelopVishakhapatnam,Allahabad,andAjmerasSmartCitieswiththeparticipationofU.S.industry,infurtheranceofthecommitmentmadebytheLeadersinSeptember2014.

TheconveningoftheTradePolicyForumattheMinisteriallevelon24-25November2014,inwhichIndiaandtheUnitedStatesagreedtoworktowardsresolvingcommercialimpedimentsinbothmarkets,tohelprealizethepotentialofbilateraltradeingoodsandservices,andtopromoteinvestmentandmanufacturing.

ConveningoftheIndia-U.S.PoliticalMilitaryDialogueon4December2014toexchangeperspectivesonbilateralstrategicandregionalissues ConveningthesixthroundoftheIndia-U.S.-Japantrilateraldiscussionson20December2014todeepenregionalengagementandtodiscusswaystoimplementprojectsontheground ThelaunchoftheInfrastructureCollaborationPlatforminNewDelhion13January2015topromoteenhancedmarketaccessandfinancingtoincreaseU.S.


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industryparticipationinthegrowthanddevelopmentofsectorsthatsupportIndianinfrastructure

The12-15January2015expertexchangeonCounter-ImprovisedExplosiveDevice(C-IED)strategiesandtechnologiesandcompletionofaJointStatementofIntentandaworkplanforaprogrammeofbilateralC-IEDcooperation ThesigningofaframeworkonandinaugurationoftheIndia-U.S.InvestmentInitiativeinWashingtonon12-15January2015tojointlycooperateonfacilitatingcapitalmarketdevelopmentconducivetofinancinginvestment; CreatinganenvironmentthatencouragesinvestmentinvarioussectorsinIndia;andworkingtoovercomeanyobstaclestosuchinvestment.

TheconveningoftheInformationandCommunicationsTechnology(ICT)WorkingGroupinWashingtonon14-15January2015andthe23JanuarysigningoftheJointDeclarationofIntenttoadvanceimplementationoftheDigitalIndiaprogrammeandfurtherbilateralcommercialICTcooperation.

LaunchingofaKnowledgePartnershipindefencestudiesexpressingashareddesiretopursuecollaborativeactivitiesbetweentheUnitedStatesandIndianNationalDefenceUniversities SigningoftheStatementofCooperationforSupervisoryCooperationandExchangeofSupervisoryInformationbetweentheReserveBankofIndiaandFederalDepositInsuranceCorporation(FDIC),FederalReserveSystem,andOfficeoftheComptrollerofCurrency(OCC). ConveningofIndianandU.S.CEOswhoarecommittedtodeepeningbilateraleconomictiesbyidentifyingcurrentimpedimentstotradeandinvestmentandworkingwiththetwogovernmenttofindsolutions;andidentifyingemergingsectorswherepublic-privatepartnershipcanunlocknewcollaborationsbetweenourtwopeoples.

The13January2015signingoftheMoUbetweentheUnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopment(USAID)andtheMinistryofUrbanDevelopmenttoenableUSAIDtoshareexpertise,bestpractices,innovationandtechnologiesinsupportofIndia'seffortstostrengthenwater,sanitationandhygiene(WASH)inurbanareas


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India’srecentintroductionofvisa-on-arrivalforU.S.citizensandtheconveningofthefirsttechnicaldiscussionstoadvanceIndia’smembershipintheUnitedStates’GlobalEntryProgram,initiativesaimedateasingtravelbetweenIndiaandtheUnitedStatestofurtherstrengthenpeople-to-peopleties. CooperationonscientificresearchcollaborationontheIndianMonsoonRainfallcurrentlyunderwayaboardtheU.S.researchvesselJOIDESResolutionintheBayofBengal. TheconclusionofthefirstoftwoprojectannexesbetweentheIndianDepartmentofAtomicEnergy–DepartmentofScienceandTechnologyandtheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy,whichwillenablediscoverysciencecooperationinparticleacceleratorandhighenergyphysics.

The22JanuarysigningoftheMoUbetweentheU.S.DepartmentofTreasuryandIndia’sMinistryofFinancetoenhancecooperationtocombatmoneylaunderingandthefinancingofterrorism.

TheCompletionofanMoUbetweentheIndianMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare,DepartmentofBiotechnology,IndianCouncilofMedicalResearch,AllIndianInstituteofMedicalSciences,andtheU.SNationalInstituteofHealthandNationalCancerInstitute. The23JanuarysigningoftheJointDeclarationofIntentbetweenUSAIDandtheMinistryofHumanResourceDevelopmentfortechnicalsupporttotheIndianInstitutesofTechnology(IITs),startingwithIITGandhinagar,tostrengthenresearchandentrepreneurshipcapabilities. Therecentfinalizationofthe2015FrameworkfortheU.S.-IndiaDefenseRelationship,whichwillguideandexpandthebilateraldefenceandstrategicpartnershipoverthenexttenyears.

The22JanuarysigningoftheIndia-U.S.Research,Development,TestingandEvaluation(RDT&E)Agreementtofacilitatecooperationindefenceresearchanddevelopment.

ContinuingbilateralengagementontheDefenceTechnologyandTradeInitiative(DTTI),includingthe22January2015agreementinprincipletopursueco-productionandco-developmentoffourpathfinderprojects,formaworkinggrouptoexploreaircraftcarriertechnologysharinganddesign,andexplorepossible


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cooperationondevelopmentofjetenginetechnology.

Thetwoleaderspledgedtotranslatetheircommitmentof"ChaleinSaathSaath”:"ForwardTogetherWeGo"ofSeptemberintoactionthrough"SanjhaPrayaas;SabKaVikaas":"SharedEffort;ProgressForAll".

EconomicGrowth

Agreedtocontinuetostrengthentheirbroad-basedpartnershipfordevelopmentthroughstrongertrade,technology,manufacturing,andinvestmentlinkagesbetweenthetwocountriesandtriangularcooperationwithpartnercountries,andthatcontinuedeffortstomaintainlaborstandardsasperdomesticlawandagreedinternationalnormswillmaketheselinkagesmoredurable. ThetwosidesalsocommittedtocontinuingtocooperateonthefinalizationofthePost-BaliWorkProgrammeinthespiritoftheDohamandate. Affirmedtheirsharedcommitmenttofacilitatingincreasedbilateralinvestmentflowsandfosteringanopenandpredictableclimateforinvestment. WelcomedthefifthannualU.S.-IndiaEconomicandFinancialPartnershipDialogueinFebruary,inwhichthecountrieswilldeepentheirdialogueonmacroeconomicpolicy,financialsectorregulationanddevelopment,infrastructureinvestment,taxpolicy,andeffortstocombatmoneylaunderingandterroristfinancing.

TheLeaderscommittedtoexploreareasofcollaborationinskilldevelopmentrangingfromestablishingqualityassurancesystemsforskillingcertificationstandards,settingupofskilldevelopmentcentres,nurturingandpromotingsocialentrepreneurshipandstrengtheningtheinnovationandentrepreneurshipecosystem.

AgreedtocollaborateintheimplementationofIndia'sambitiousDigitalIndiaprogrammeandexpandcommercialcooperation,includingbyencouraginginvestmentengagementintheInformationandCommunicationTechnology(ICT)sector. EnhancingengagementonIntellectualPropertyRights(IPR)in2015undertheHighLevelWorkingGrouponIntellectualProperty,tothemutualbenefitofboththecountries.


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AcknowledgingthepotentialfortechnologicalcooperationintherailsectorinaugmentingandoptimizingIndia'srailinfrastructure,theLeadersagreedtofacilitateU.S.TradeandDevelopmentAgencyandIndianRailwaystechnicalcooperationthatwillassistIndianRailways’effortstomodifyitsleasingandpublic-privatepartnershipframeworkstoattractprivatesectorfunding.

Robustpublic-privateU.S.-Indiacivilaviationpartnershipandagreedtocontinueworkingtogethertoidentifyemergingtechnologiesandbuildalargercommercialengagementagendathroughkeyeventssuchasthe2015U.S.-IndiaAviationSummitanddemonstrationofadvancedU.S.technologies. Reaffirmingtheircommitmenttosafetyandsecurityofcivilaviation PresidentObamaandPrimeMinisterModialsopledgedtocollaboratethroughIndia'sGlobalInitiativeofAcademicNetworks(GIAN),tofacilitateshort-termteachingandresearchprogramsbyupto1000visitingU.S.academicsinIndianuniversities.

Emphasizedtheimportanceofstrengtheninginternationalfinancialinstitutions,includingtheInternationalMonetaryFund. ThePresidentalsoaffirmedhiscommitmenttoenhancingIndia'svoiceandvoteininternationalFinancialInstitutionsandensuringthatresourcesaremadeavailableandusedcreativelythroughmultilateraldevelopmentbanksforinfrastructurefinancing. PrimeMinisterModiappreciatedtheeffortsoftheU.S.TreasuryforcooperatingwiththeMinistryofFinanceontheTaskForceonResolutionCorporationsetupinpursuanceoftherecommendationsoftheFinancialSectorLegislativeReformsCommission.

HighTechnology,SpaceandHealthCooperation

Reaffirmedtheircommitmenttoensurethatpartnershipsinscience,technologyandinnovationareacrucialcomponentoftheoverallbilateralengagementinthe21stcentury. Theyalsoreaffirmedtheirsupportfortherolethatscience,technologyandinnovationpartnershipscanplayinaddressingpressingchallengesinareassuchasfood,water,energy,climate,andhealthanddevelopinginnovativesolutionsthatare


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affordable,accessibleandadaptable,meettheneedsofthepeopleofthetwocountriesandbenefittheglobalcommunity. AgreedtocontinueU.S.-IndiacollaborationinhydrologyandwaterstudiesandmonsoonmodellingandnotedtheneedtoexpeditiouslyworktowardslaunchinganIndo-U.S.ClimateFellowshiptofacilitatehumancapacitybuilding. Reaffirmedtheimportanceofongoingeffortstostrengthenwomen'sparticipationinscience,technology,engineering,andmaththroughnetworkingandmentoringprograms. TooknoteofongoingU.S.-Indiaspacecooperation,includingthefirstface-to-facemeetingoftheISRO-NASAMarsWorkingGroupinBangalore,inwhichthetwosideswillconsideropportunitiesforenhancedcooperationinMarsexploration, IncludingpotentialcoordinatedobservationsandanalysisbetweenISRO’sMarsOrbiterMissionandNASA’sMarsAtmosphereandVolatileEvolutioNmission(MAVEN). ReaffirmedtheircommitmenttotheGlobalHealthSecurityAgenda(GHSA)andannouncedspecificactionsathomeandabroadtopreventthespreadofinfectiousdiseases,includingaCDC-MinistryofHealthEbolaandGHSApreparednesstraining,expansionoftheIndiaEpidemicIntelligenceService,anddevelopmentofaroadmaptoachievetheobjectivesoftheGHSAwithinthreeyears.

Committedtomulti-sectoralactionscounteringtheemergenceandspreadofantimicrobialresistance(AMR),andcooperationintrainingofhealthworkersinpreparednessforinfectiousdiseasethreats

Agreedtofocusscienceandtechnologypartnershipsoncounteringantibioticresistantbacteriaandpromotingtheavailability,efficacyandqualityoftherapeutics Welcomedfurtherprogressinpromotingbilateralcooperationoncancerresearch,prevention,control,andmanagementandagreedtocontinuetostrengthentheengagementbetweentheCDCandIndia’sNationalCentreforDiseaseControl.

WelcomedtheupcomingcompletionofanEnvironmentalHealth,OccupationalHealthandInjuryPreventionandControlMoUbetweentheU.S.CentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionandtheIndianCouncilforMedicalResearchtofurthercollaborativeeffortstoimprovethehealthandwelfareofbothcountries’citizens


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AgreedtoexpandtheIndia-U.S.HealthInitiativeintoaHealthcareDialoguewithrelevantstakeholderstofurtherstrengthenbilateralcollaborationinhealthsectorsincludingthroughcapacitybuildinginitiativesandbyexploringnewareas,includingaffordablehealthcare,costsavingmechanisms,distributionbarriers,patentquality,healthservicesinformationtechnology,andcomplementaryandtraditionalmedicine. AgreedtoacceleratejointleadershipoftheglobalCalltoActiontoendpreventabledeathsamongmothersandchildrenthroughathirdmeetingofthe24participatingcountriesinIndiainJune2015. Theyalsolaudedthehighlysuccessfulcollaborationonalocallyproducedvaccineagainstrotaviruswhichwillsavethelivesofanestimated80,000childreneachyearinIndiaalone,andpledgedtostrengthenthecooperationinhealthresearchandcapacitybuildingthroughanewphaseoftheIndia-U.S.VaccineActionProgramme.

DefenceandHomelandSecurityCooperation

Welcomedtheeffortsmadebybothsidestoexpandbilateraldefencecooperationinareasofmutualinterestandreaffirmedtheircommitmenttocontinuetoworktowardsdeepeningthebilateraldefencerelationship. EmphasizedtheongoingimportanceoftheDefenceTechnologyandTradeInitiative(DTTI)indevelopingnewareasoftechnologycooperationinthedefencesectorincludingthroughco-developmentandco-productionandthePrimeMinisterwelcomedtheU.S.DefenseDepartment’sestablishmentofadedicatedrapidreactionteamfocusedexclusivelyonadvancingDTTI. TheLeadersexpressedconfidencethatcontinuedDTTIcollaborationwillyieldadditionaljointprojectsinthenearfuture. WelcomedthePrimeMinister'sinitiativestoliberalizetheForeignDirectInvestmentPolicyregimeinthedefencesectorandtheLeadersagreedtocooperateonIndia'seffortstoestablishadefenceindustrialbaseinIndia,includingthroughinitiativeslike'MakeinIndia.'

Theyagreedthatthenaviesofbothsideswouldcontinuediscussionstoidentifyspecificareasforexpandingmaritimecooperation.TheyalsoreiteratedtheircommitmenttoupgradingtheirbilateralnavalexerciseMALABAR.


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Thetwosidesalsonotedthegrowingcooperationbetweentheirlawenforcementagencies,particularlyintheareasofextraditionandmutuallegalassistance,tocountertransnationalcriminalthreatssuchasterrorism,narcotics,trafficking,financialandeconomicfraud,cybercrime,andtransnationalorganizedcrimeandpledgedtoenhancesuchcooperationfurther. TheLeadersreaffirmedtheneedforjointandconcertedeffortstodisruptentitiessuchasLashkar-e-Tayyiba,Jaish-e-Mohammad,DCompanyandtheHaqqaniNetwork,andagreedtocontinueongoingeffortsthroughtheHomelandSecurityDialogueaswellasthenextroundoftheU.S.-IndiaJointWorkingGrouponCounterTerrorisminlate2015todevelopactionableelementsofbilateralengagement. ThetwosidesnotedtherecentU.S.sanctionsagainstthreeDCompanyaffiliates.

AgreedtocontinuetoworktowardanagreementtoshareinformationonknownandsuspectedterroristsTheyalsoagreedtoenterdiscussionstodeepencollaborationonUNterroristdesignations,andreiteratedtheircallforPakistantobringtheperpetratorsoftheNovember2008terroristattackinMumbaitojustice.

CleanEnergyGoalandCooperation

Emphasizedthecriticalimportanceofexpandingcleanenergyresearch,development,manufacturinganddeployment,whichincreasesenergyaccessandreducesgreenhousegasemissions. AnnouncedactionstoadvanceIndia'stransitiontolowcarboneconomy. IndiaintendstoincreasetheshareofuseofrenewableinelectricitygenerationconsistentwithitsintendedgoaltoincreaseIndia'ssolartargetto100gigawattsby2022. TheUnitedStatesintendstosupportIndia'sgoalbyenhancingcooperationoncleanenergyandclimatechange,toinclude:

i.ExpandingPartnershiptoAdvanceCleanEnergyResearch(PACE-R):ArenewedcommitmenttoPACE-R,includingextendingfundingforthreeexistingresearchtracksofsolarenergy,buildingenergyefficiency,andbiofuelsforanadditionalfiveyearsandlaunchinganewtrackonsmartgridandgridstorage.


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ii.ExpandingPartnershiptoAdvanceCleanEnergyDeployment(PACE-D):BoththecountriesintendedtoexpandourcurrentPartnershiptoAdvanceCleanEnergyDeployment(PACE-D)throughincreasedbilateralengagementsandfurtherjointinitiativestoexpandcooperationinsupportofIndia’sambitioustargetsinrenewableenergy.

iii.AcceleratingCleanEnergyFinance:PrimeMinisterModiemphasizedIndia'songoingeffortstocreateamarketenvironmentthatwillpromotetradeandinvestmentinthissector.PresidentObamawelcomedIndia'sambitioussolarenergygoalsandencouragedIndiatocontinueitseffortstoincreasetradeandprivateinvestmentinthissector.

iv.LaunchingAirQualityCooperation:ImplementingEPA’sAIRNow-InternationalProgramandmegacitiespartnerships,focusedondisseminatinginformationtohelptheurbandwellerstoreducetheirexposuretoharmfullevelsofairpollution,andenableurbanpolicyplannerstoimplementcorrectivestrategiesforimprovingAmbientAirQualityinthecitieskeepinginviewhealthandclimatechangeco-benefitsofthesestrategies.

v.InitiatingClimateResilienceToolDevelopment:JointlyundertakingapartnershiponclimateresiliencethatwillworktodownscaleinternationalclimatemodelsfortheIndiansub-continenttomuchhigherresolutionthancurrentlyavailable,assessclimaterisksatthesub-nationallevel,workwithlocaltechnicalinstitutesoncapacitybuilding,vi.DemonstratingCleanEnergyandClimateInitiativesontheGround:Additionalpilotprogramsandothercollaborativeprojectsintheareasofspacecooling,super-efficientappliances,renewableenergystorage,andsmartgrids.

vii.ConcludingMOUonEnergySecurity,CleanEnergyandClimateChange:BothcountriesconcludednegotiationsonafiveyearMOUtocarrythisworkforward,tobesignedasearlyaspossibleatamutuallyagreedupondate.

ClimateChange

TheUnitedStatesofAmericaandtheRepublicofIndiarecognizethatglobalclimatechangeisaprofoundthreattohumanityandtotheimperativesofsustainable


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development,growthandtheeradicationofpoverty. StressedtheimportanceofworkingtogetherandwithothercountriestoconcludeanambitiousclimateagreementinParisin2015. Tothisend,theyplantocooperatecloselyoverthenextyeartoachieveasuccessfulagreementinParis. ThePresidentandPrimeMinisterreaffirmedtheirpriorunderstandingfromSeptember2014concerningthephasedownofHFCsandagreedtocooperateonmakingconcreteprogressintheMontrealProtocolthisyear.

GlobalIssuesandRegionalConsultations

Agreedtoexpandtheireffortstoassistotherdevelopingcountriesandaddressglobaldevelopmentchallengesforthebenefitofthewiderregionandtheworldandtheylaudedongoingtriangularassistance,whichmayinvolveU.S.-Indiacollaborationtoaddressdevelopmentchallengesinthirdcountriesinareasincludinghealth,energy,foodsecurity,disastermanagement,andwomen’sempowerment. Thetwosidesnotedthatthiscollaboration,whichisactivewithAfghanistan,EastandWestAfrica,maybeexpandedtoadditionalthirdcountries.

Furtherunderscoringtheimportanceofimplementinginfrastructureprojectstoenhanceconnectivityandenablefreerflowofcommerceandenergyintheregion,theLeadersagreedtodevelopadditionalareasinwhichbothsidescouldworktogether,includingonIndia'sinitiativestoenhanceitsconnectivitywiththeSouthandSouthEastAsianregion.

StressedtheimportanceoftheeconomicandtransportconnectivitybetweenCentralandSouthAsiaandtheneedtopromoteasecure,stable,andprosperousAfghanistanaspartofasecure,stable,andprosperousregion. ReaffirmingtheimportanceoftheirstrategicpartnershipswithAfghanistan,theLeadersassertedtheimportanceofasustainable,inclusive,sovereign,anddemocraticpoliticalorderinAfghanistanandtheyagreedtoconvenefurtherhigh-levelconsultationsonAfghanistaninthenearfuture.

Welcomedtheroleoftheleaders-ledEastAsiaSummit(EAS)processinpromotingopen,balancedandinclusivesecurityarchitectureintheregion Theysupportednegotiationsonafissilematerialcut-offTreatyonthebasisofthe


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ShannonMandateintheConferenceonDisarmament. AsactiveparticipantsintheNuclearSecuritySummitprocess,theUnitedStatesandIndiawelcomedprogresstowardsreducingtheriskofterroristsacquiringnuclearweaponsorrelatedmaterials,andnotedtheirsharedcommitmenttoimprovingnuclearsecuritynationallyandglobally. Welcomedthehostingofthe2016NuclearSecuritySummitbytheUnitedStates.

Inafurtherefforttostrengthenglobalnonproliferationandexportcontrolregimes,thePresidentandthePrimeMinistercommittedtocontinuetoworktowardsIndia’sphasedentryintotheNuclearSuppliersGroup(NSG)

TheMissileTechnologyControlRegime(MTCR),theWassenaarArrangement,andtheAustraliaGroup. ThePresidentreaffirmedtheUnitedStates’positionthatIndiameetsMTCRrequirementsandisreadyforNSGmembershipandthatitsupportsIndia’searlyapplicationandeventualmembershipinallfourregimes. ExpressedconcernovertheDemocraticPeople’sRepublicofKorea’s(DPRK)nuclearandballisticmissileprogrammes,includingitsuraniumenrichmentactivity. TheyurgedtheDPRKtotakeconcretestepstowarddenuclearization,aswellastocomplyfullywithitsinternationalobligations,includingrelevantUNSecurityCouncilResolutions,andtofulfillitscommitmentsunderthe2005JointStatementoftheSix-Partytalks.

WelcomedrecentprogressandnotedthecriticalityofIrantakingstepstoverifiablyassuretheinternationalcommunityoftheexclusivelypeacefulnatureofitsnuclearprogramme,andagreedthatthisisanhistoricopportunityforIrantoresolveoutstandingconcernsrelatedtoitsnuclearprogramme.

AffirmedhissupportforareformedUNSecurityCouncilwithIndiaasapermanentmember,andbothleaderscommittedtoensuringthattheSecurityCouncilcontinuestoplayaneffectiveroleinmaintaininginternationalpeaceandsecurityasenvisionedintheUnitedNationsCharter Theyalsocommittedtoacceleratetheirpeacekeepingcapacity-buildingeffortsinthirdcountries.


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PMreviewspreparationsfor"HousingforAll""HousingforAll"by2022

TheprogrammewasmentionedinthePresident’sAddresstoParliamentinJune2014wherehesaid“Bythetimethenationcompletes75yearsofitsIndependence,everyfamilywillhaveapuccahousewithwaterconnection,toiletfacilities,24x7electricitysupplyandaccess.” Forthispurpose,govt.intendstoextendadditionaltaxincentiveonhomeloanstoencouragepeople,especiallytheyoung,toownhouses. SettingupaMissiononLowCostAffordableHousingwhichwillbeanchoredintheNationalHousingBank.Schemeswillbeevolvedtoincentivizethedevelopmentoflowcostaffordablehousing.”

TheMinistryofHousing&UrbanPovertyAlleviationrecrafteditsprogrammeinalignmentwiththedecisionsinthemeetingandpresentedthefinaldesignoftheprogrammetothePrimeMinister.

Theprogrammeproposestobuild2crorehousesacrossthenationby2022. Thiswouldcoverbothslumhousingandaffordablehousingforweakersections.


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Itwillcoverurbanpoorlivinginslums,urbanhomelessandnewmigrantstourbanareasinsearchofshelter. Itwouldcovermetros,smalltownsandallurbanareas.

Theprogrammewouldbeginwithabaselinesurveytoassessthedemandforsuchhousingandidentifyresourcerequirements.Thehousesthatneedtobebuiltareover6lakhsinDelhi,16lakhsinMumbai,4lakhsinChennaiand4lakhsinKolkata.Thesefiguresmaygoupafterthedemandassessmentiscompleted.

TheProgrammeinvolvesanurbanreformcomponenttogeneratetheresourcesandcapacitiesforurbanhousing,asetofguidelines,anelementofgovernmentsupportandasignificantcontributionfrombeneficiaries,inadditiontobankfinancing. AlargeportionoftheprogrammeistobefinancedinaPPPmodebyleveraginglandandotherresourcesinurbanareas. Alargenumberofprocessimprovementsandpolicychangesarealsoinherentintheprogramme.

ThePrimeMinisterdirectedallconcerneddepartmentstoimmediatelyfinalisetheprogrammeandfinalisethefinancingmodelsforalternatesetsofhousingrequirements. Emphasizedtheneedtoensurethatthereisnocompromiseinqualityduringtheroll-outofthisambitiousprogramme.

Hefurtherdirectedthatsafetyconcernsofspecificareas,suchascoastalzones,eco-sensitivezonesanddisaster-proneareasbefactoredintotheplanningprocessincities. Existingsuccessstoriesandinnovativetechnologiesmustbecarefullystudiedsothatthebestpracticescanbeadoptedduringtheimplementationofthescheme.

ThefirstpriorityunderthenewschemeshouldbeontownsandcitiesalongthebanksoftheRiverGangaanditstributaries.

ImportantPointsfromPM’saddressatEconomicTimesGlobalBusinessSummit


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TheNewAgeIndiahasalsobegunitstransition;fromawinterofsubduedachievementlasting3to4years,toanewspringthatbeckons.

Thecountryhadfallenintodeepdespair,withtwoback-to-backyearsofbelow5%growth,andgovernanceatrockbottom. Aseriesofscams,fromtelecomtocoalhadparalysedtheeconomy. WedeviatedfromthedreamofIndiaasalandofopportunity. Nolongercanweaffordtheflightofcapitalandlabour,forlackofopportunity.

Wehavetorepairthedamagethathashappened.Restoringgrowthmomentumwillbeanuphilltask.Itwilltakehardwork,sustainedcommitmentandstrongadministrativeaction.Butwecanovercomethemoodofdespair. Andwemust.Itisinthiscontextthatallthestepswehavetakenmustbeseen. TotranslatethisvisionintotherealityofaNewAgeIndia,wemustbeclearaboutoureconomicgoalsandobjectives.

Thegovernmentmustnurtureaneco-system: Wheretheeconomyisprimedforgrowth;andgrowthpromotesall-rounddevelopment; Wheredevelopmentisemployment-generating;andemploymentisenabledbyskills;


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Whereskillsaresyncedwithproduction;andproductionisbenchmarkedtoquality; Wherequalitymeetsglobalstandards;andmeetingglobalstandardsdrivesprosperity.Mostimportantly,thisprosperityisforthewelfareofall.

Wearecommittedtoachievingthefiscaldeficittargetannouncedinthebudget.Wehaveworkedsystematicallyinthisdirection. ManyofyoupractiseKaizeninyourcompanies.Reducingwastagemeanscuttingexcessandpreventingmisuse.Thisrequiresself-discipline. ThatiswhywehavetheExpenditureManagementCommissiontosuggestcutsinwastefulexpenditure.Thisway,wewillmaketheRupeemoreproductive,anddelivermaximumbangforthebuck.

Second,thepetroleumsectorhasseenmajorreforms Dieselpriceshavebeenderegulated. Thishasopenedupspaceforprivateplayerstoenterintopetroleumretail. Gaspriceshavebeenlinkedtointernationalprices. Thiswillbringanewwaveofinvestment. Itwillincreasesupplies.Itwillresolveproblemsinthekeypowersector. Today,India’scookinggassubsidyistheworld’slargestCashTransferProgramme.

Over80millionhouseholdsreceivesubsidydirectlyascashintotheirbankaccounts.Thisisone-thirdofallhouseholdsinthecountry.Thiswillcompletelyeliminateleakage. Buildingonthis,weplantointroducedirectcashtransfersinotherbenefitschemes.

Third,inflationhasbeencontrolledthroughfirmmeasures

Whilefallingoilpriceshelped,evennon-oilinflationisataverylowlevel. Foodinflationhascomedownfromover15%ayearagoto3.1%lastmonth. ThissetthestageforRBItoreduceinterestrates,andpushgrowthinastablemanner.

Fourth,theconsensuswearrivedwithStatesforamendingtheConstitutiontoimplementGSTisamajorbreakthrough

Fifth,thepoorhavebeenincludedinthefinancialsystem


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Inashortspanof4months,over100millionnewbankaccountshavebeenopenedunderthePradhanMantriJanDhanYojana. Foracountryofoursize,thiswasanimmensechallenge. Butwithwill,determinationandthefullsupportofeverybanker,wearetodayanearly100%bankedcountry. Soon,allaccountswillbelinkedwithAadhaar.Bankinghabitswillbecomecommonacrossthecountry.

Thisnowopensimmensepossibilitiesforthefuture.

People’ssavingswillrise. Theywillinvestinnewfinancialinstruments.1.2billionpeoplecanhopeforpensionsandinsurance. Asthenationprogresses,thesebankaccountswilldrivedemandandgrowth.

Sixth,theenergysectorhasbeenreformed

Coalblocksarenowallocatedtransparentlythroughauctions. Mininglawshavebeenchangedtofacilitateefficientmining. SimilarreformsareonthewayinthePowersector. WehaverevivedlongpendingprojectsinNepalandBhutan,withthecooperationoftheirgovernments. Stepsarebeingtakentodeliver24x7PowerforAll,usingeverypossiblesource,includingrenewableenergy.

Seventh,Indiaisbeingmadeanattractivedestinationforinvestment

FDIcapshavebeenraisedinInsuranceandRealestate. FDIandprivateinvestmentarebeingpromotedinDefenceandRailways. TheLandAcquisitionActhasbeenamendedtosmoothentheprocessandspeedupmatters. Thiswillgiveathrusttoinfrastructureandmanufacturing,whileprotectingthecompensationtofarmers.


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Eighth,infrastructureisbeinggivenaboost Greaterinvestmentisplannedinrailwaysandroads. Newapproachesandinstrumentsarebeingputinplacetounlocktheirpotential.

Ninth,transparencyandefficiencyingovernance,andinstitutionalreformsareessentialelementsforrapidgrowth

These,alongwithapositiveregulatoryframework,taxstability,andeaseofdoingbusiness,arebeingpushedaheadattopspeed. PublicSectorBankstheywillhavetotalautonomyintakingbusinessdecisions,withoutanyinterferencefromGovernmentonloansandtheiroperations. LaunchamassiveNationalProgramforPDSComputerisation. TheentirePDSsupplychain,fromtheFCIgodowntotherationshopandconsumerwillbecomputerised. Technologywilldrivewelfareandefficientfooddelivery.

Amajorinstitutionalreformisthemoveawayfrommerelyplanning,totransformingIndia.

ThesettingupoftheNationalInstitutionforTransformingIndia,NITIAayog,isastepinthisdirection. Thiswilltakethecountryforwardonthepathofcooperativefederalism,andwhenIsayco-operativefederalismwithacompetitivezeal. Countryrequiresco-operativecompetitivefederalism. Theremustbecompetitionbetweenstates;theremustbecompetitionbetweenstatesandcentre. TheNITIAayogisourMantraforcreatingtrustandpartnershipbetweentheCentreandStates.

Reformsarenotanendinitself.Reformsmusthaveaconcreteobjective.Theobjectivemustbetoimprovethewelfareofthepeople.Approachesmaybemany.Butthegoalisone.

Reformsmaynotbeapparenttooneandallatfirstsight. Butsmallactscandrivereforms.


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Whatappearsminorcanactuallybevitalandfundamental. Further,thereisnocontradictionbetweendoingbigticketsitemsanddoingsmallthings.

Oneapproachistohavenewpolicies,programmes,largeprojectsandpathbreakingchanges.Anotherapproachistofocusonthesmallthingsthatmatter,createapeople’smovementandgeneratemassmomentum,whichthendrivesdevelopment.Weneedtofollowbothpaths.

ThenewAIIMSwearesettingupwillimprovepublichealthinthesamewayasourpromiseofHealthAssurance. HealthAssuranceisnotascheme. ItisaboutensuringthateveryRupeespentonhealthiswellspent;thateverycitizenhasaccesstoproperhealthcare. Similarly,whenwedoSwachhBharat,ithasmultipleimpacts.Itisnotjustafadoraslogan. Itchangespeople’smindsets.Itchangesourlifestyle. Swachhatabecomesahabit.Wastemanagementgenerateseconomicactivity.ItcancreatelakhsofSwachhataentrepreneurs. Thenationgetsidentifiedwithcleanliness.Andofcourse,ithasahugeimpactonhealth.Afterall,diarrhoeaandotherdiseasescannotbedefeatedwithoutSwachhata!

PeoplemustunderstandtheCleanGangaprogram,asaneconomicactivityalso.TheGangeticplainsaccountfor40%ofourpopulation.

Theyhaveoveronehundredtowns,andthousandsofvillages.ImprovingGangawilldevelopnewinfrastructure. Itwillpromotetourism.Itwillcreateamoderneconomyhelpingmillionsofpeople. Inaddition,itpreservestheenvironment!

WhatisMaximumGovernance,MinimumGovernment?


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Itmeansgovernmenthasnobusinesstobeinbusiness. Therearemanypartsoftheeconomywheretheprivatesectorwilldobetteranddeliverbetter. In20yearsofliberalisation,wehavenotchangedacommandandcontrolmindset. Wethinkitisokayforgovernmenttomeddleintheworkingoffirms.Thismustchange. Butthisisnotacallforanarchy.

First,weneedtofocusgovernmentuponthethingsthatarerequiredoftheState.Second,weneedtoachievecompetenceingovernmentsothattheStatedeliversonthethingsitsetsouttodo.

WhydoweneedtheState?Thereare5maincomponents: Thefirstispublicgoodssuchasdefence,police,andjudiciaryetc. Thesecondisexternalitieswhichhurtothers,suchaspollution.Forthis,weneedaregulatorysystem.

Thethirdismarketpower;wheremonopoliesneedcontrols. Thefourthisinformationgaps;whereyouneedsomeonetoensurethatmedicinesaregenuineandsoon.

Last,weneedawelldesignedwelfareandsubsidymechanismtoensurethatthebottomofsocietyisprotectedfromdeprivation.

Thisspeciallyincludeseducationandhealthcare.


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Improvementingovernanceisacontinuousprocess. Wearemakingchangeswhereveracts,rulesandproceduresarenotintunewithneeds.

Wearecuttingdownonmultipleclearancesthatchokeinvestment.

Ourcomplextaxsystemiscryingforreform,whichwehaveinitiated Atthesametime,weneedtotakecareofthepoor,deprivedandleftbehindsectionsofsociety. Subsidiesareneededforthem. Irepeatsubsidiesareneeded. Whatweneedisawell-targetedsystemofsubsidydelivery. Weneedtocutsubsidyleakages,notsubsidiesthemselves. Wastage,asIsaidearlier,mustberemovedinsubsidies.

Thetargetgroupshouldbeclearlyidentifiedandthesubsidiesshouldbewelldelivered.Theultimateobjectiveofsubsidiesshouldbetoempowerthepoor,tobreakthecycleofpoverty,andbecomefoot-soldiersinourwaronpoverty. Economicdevelopmentcannottakeanationforwardonitsown. Developmenthasmanydimensions. Whileononehandweneedhigherincomes,wealsoneedasocietywhichiscohesive. Whichbalancesthestressandstrainofamoderneconomy.

Historyiswitnesstotheriseandfallofnations.Evennow,manycountrieshavebecomerichinaneconomicsense,butarepoorinasocialsense.Theirfamilysystems,valuesystems,socialnetworksandotherelementswhichholdasocietytogetherhavebroken.

PMlaunches:SchemeforLEDbulbdistributionunderdomesticefficientlightingprogramme


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NationalProgrammeforLED-basedHomeandStreetLighting PrimeMinisterNarendraModidescribedtheLEDbulbasa“PrakashPath”–“waytolight,”ashelaunchedaschemeforLEDbulbdistributionunderthedomesticefficientlightingprogrammeinDelhi;andaNationalProgrammeforLED-basedHomeandStreetLighting. CalledformakingenergyconservationthroughthespreadofLEDbulbs,apeople’smovement.

Itismuchmoreeconomicaltoconservepower,thantoproducepower. Itismuchmoredifficulttoconservepower,thantoproducepower,becausewhileoneproducingentitycanproducealargequantityofpower,itrequirestheactiveparticipationofcroresofpeopletoconservethatamountofpower. Therefore,hecalledforgeneratingawarenessamongpeopleforthesame. Calledforextensiveinvolvementofcelebritiesandeminentcitizensintheseprogrammes,whocouldmotivatepeopletoadoptLEDbulbs.

Theseprogrammeslaunchedalsorepresentachallengetomanufacturers,torisetotheoccasion,andproduceLEDbulbswithoutanycompromiseonquality. Suggestinginnovativewaystogenerateawarenessandspreadthemessageofenergy


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efficiency,giftssuchasdiariesandcalendarsonNewYearshouldbereplacedbygiftsofLEDs. CompaniescoulddistributeLEDbulbsalongwithdividendpayments Calledforsettingdistrictlevelgoals,andtoprioritizethisschemeinalltownswithpopulationaboveonelakh.TheinitiativeispartoftheGovernment’seffortstospreadthemessageofenergyefficiencyinthecountry. LEDbulbshaveaverylonglife,almost50timesmorethanordinarybulbs,and8-10timesthatofCFLs,andthereforeprovidebothenergyandcostsavingsinthemediumterm. Launchedaweb-basedsystemtoenableconsumersinDelhitoregisterrequestsforprocuringLEDbulbsunderDomesticEfficientLightingProgramme”(DELP).

LEDbulbsshallbedistributedinaphasedmannerfromMarch2015onwards.TheentireprojectofinstallingLEDbulbsfordomesticandstreet-lightingin100citiesistargetedforcompletionbyMarch2016.

InDelhi,LEDbulbswillbeprovidedtoalldomesticconsumersataninitialpaymentofRs.10eachandrecoveryofRs.10eachfor12monthsfromtheirelectricitybill. Hence,thecostforanLEDbulbtodomesticconsumerwillbeRs130throughthisprogrammeduetobulkprocurement,comparedtothecurrentopenmarketretailpriceintherangeofRs.350-600forLEDbulbs.

TheestimatedannualsavingsforhouseholdsinDelhiperLEDbulbwillbeRs.162.TheLEDbulbswillhaveawarrantyof3years.

GovernmentestablishesNITIAayog(NationalInstitutionforTransformingIndia)toreplacePlanningCommission


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NITIAayogwillseektoprovideacriticaldirectionalandstrategicinputintothedevelopmentprocess NITIAayogwillseektoprovideacriticaldirectionalandstrategicinputintothedevelopmentprocess. Thecentre-to-stateone-wayflowofpolicy,thatwasthehallmarkofthePlanningCommissionera,isnowsoughttobereplacedbyagenuineandcontinuingpartnershipofstates. NITIAayogwillemergeasa"think-tank"thatwillprovideGovernmentsatthecentralandstatelevelswithrelevantstrategicandtechnicaladviceacrossthespectrumofkeyelementsofpolicy.

TheNITIAayogwillalsoseektoputanendtoslowandtardyimplementationofpolicy,byfosteringbetterInter-MinistrycoordinationandbetterCentre-Statecoordination.

Itwillhelpevolveasharedvisionofnationaldevelopmentpriorities,andfostercooperativefederalism,recognizingthatstrongstatesmakeastrongnation. TheNITIAayogwilldevelopmechanismstoformulatecredibleplanstothevillagelevelandaggregatetheseprogressivelyathigherlevelsofgovernment. Itwillensurespecialattentiontothesectionsofsocietythatmaybeatriskofnotbenefittingadequatelyfromeconomicprogress. TheNITIAayogwillcreateaknowledge,innovationandentrepreneurialsupportsystemthroughacollaborativecommunityofnationalandinternationalexperts,practitionersandpartners. Itwillofferaplatformforresolutionofinter-sectoralandinter-departmentalissuesin


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ordertoacceleratetheimplementationofthedevelopmentagenda. Inaddition,theNITIAayogwillmonitorandevaluatetheimplementationofprogrammes,andfocusontechnologyupgradationandcapacitybuilding.


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Throughtheabove,theNITIAayogwillaimtoaccomplishthefollowingobjectivesandopportunities:

AnadministrationparadigminwhichtheGovernmentisan"enabler"ratherthana"provideroffirstandlastresort."Progressfrom"foodsecurity"tofocusonamixofagriculturalproduction,aswellasactualreturnsthatfarmersgetfromtheirproduce.EnsurethatIndiaisanactiveplayerinthedebatesanddeliberationsontheglobalcommons.Ensurethattheeconomicallyvibrantmiddle-classremainsengaged,anditspotentialisfullyrealized.LeverageIndia'spoolofentrepreneurial,scientificandintellectualhumancapital.


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Incorporatethesignificantgeo-economicandgeo-politicalstrengthoftheNon-ResidentIndianCommunity.Useurbanizationasanopportunitytocreateawholesomeandsecurehabitatthroughtheuseofmoderntechnology.Usetechnologytoreduceopacityandpotentialformisadventuresingovernance.

TheNITIAayogaimstoenableIndiatobetterfacecomplexchallenges,throughthefollowing:

LeveragingofIndia'sdemographicdividend,andrealizationofthepotentialofyouth,menandwomen,througheducation,skilldevelopment,eliminationofgenderbias,andemploymentEliminationofpoverty,andthechanceforeveryIndiantolivealifeofdignityandself-respectReddressalofinequalitiesbasedongenderbias,casteandeconomicdisparitiesIntegratevillagesinstitutionallyintothedevelopmentprocessPolicysupporttomorethan50millionsmallbusinesses,whichareamajorsourceofemploymentcreationSafeguardingofourenvironmentalandecologicalassets

SigningofMoUbetweenIndiaandOmaninthefieldoftourism


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ApprovaltoenterintoaMemorandumofUnderstanding(MoU)forstrengtheningcooperationinthefieldoftourism,betweentheMinistryofTourism,GovernmentofIndiaandtheMinistryofTourism,GovernmentoftheSultanateofOman

ThemainobjectivesoftheMemorandumofUnderstanding,amongstotherthings,are:

a.Toexpandbilateralcooperationinthetourismsector.b.Toexchangeinformationanddatarelatedtotourism.c.Toencouragecooperationbetweentourismstakeholdersincludinghotelsandtouroperators.d.ToestablishexchangeprogrammeforcooperationinHumanResourceDevelopment.e.Toinvestinthetourismandhospitalitysectors,f.Toexchangevisitsoftouroperators/media/opinionmakersforpromotionoftwowaytourism.g.Toexchangeexperiencesintheareasofpromotion,marketing,destinationdevelopmentandmanagement.h.Toparticipateintravelfairs/exhibitionsineachother'scountryand,i.Topromotesafe,honourableandsustainabletourism.

IndiaandOmanhaveenjoyedastronghistoricalandlongeconomicandpoliticalrelationship. TheSultanateofOmanisastrategicpartnerforIndiaintheGulfregionandanimportantinterlocutorinthebilateral,ArabGulfCooperationCouncil,theArabLeagueandtheIndianOceanRimAssociationcontexts. Thetwocountriesarelinkedbygeography,historyandculture. Bothcountriesalsoenjoywarmandcordialrelations,whichcanbeascribedtohistoricalmaritimetradelinkages,intimacyoftheRoyalfamilywithIndiaandtheseminalroleoftheIndianexpatriatecommunityinthebuildingofOman.

Background: InrecentyearsOmanhasemergedasanimportanttourismsourcemarketforIndiaintheWestAsianregion.


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During2013,Indiareceived62,252visitorsfromOman. SimilarlyIndiahasemergedasoneoftheimportantsourcemarketforOmaninthefieldoftourism. Consideringthemutualbenefits,bothIndiaandOmanwouldliketocreateaninstitutionalmechanismforenhancingcooperationinthissector.

ThesigningoftheMoUwillfurtherstrengthenandfurtherdeveloptheestablishedrelationshipbetweentheMinistryofTourism,GovernmentoftheRepublicofIndiaandtheMinistryofTourism,GovernmentofOmanforstrengtheningcooperationinthefieldoftourismonreciprocalbasis.

MakeinNortheast'initiative

Govt.hasannounced“MakeinNortheast”initiativebeginningwithacomprehensivetourismplanfortheregion. AnnouncedthedecisiontoappointaBrandAmbassadorwhocouldpersonifytheheritageandidentityofNortheastandatthesametime,inspiretherestofthecountrymento“lookeast”and“acteast” “MakeinNortheast”initiative,inspiredbyPrimeMinister,ShriNarendraModi’s“MakeinIndia”concept,willinthelongrunseektopromoteexclusiveNortheastexpertiseinareasliketeaprocessing,organicfarming,foodprocessing,andexploitationofwindpowerthroughwindmills,AYUSH,wellnesstherapieslikespas,etc.


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AdetailedBrochureforinvestorswillalsobepreparedandreleasedacrossthecountrytoencourageinvestmentinNortheast

InordertodevelopNortheastasadestinationforinvestors,holidayseekersandtourists MegacircuitandmegadestinationprojectsofTourismMinistryintheareawillalsobepursued. MinistrywillsoonorganizeaneventinMumbaiforinteractionwithrepresentativesoffilmindustryinordertobringawarenessaboutthevastpotentialforlocationshootinginNortheastwhichcanbedonewithmuchgreatereaseandcosteffectivenesswithouttravellingabroad. Itisstrange,heobserved,thattheonlyfilmmakerfromMumbaiwhohad,withcommitment,focusedondepictingNortheastthroughcinemawasLateDevAnandandtherefore,thegloryofvisualsfromNortheastlocationsneedstobereintroducedtothepresentgenerationoffilmmakersaswell.

Oneoftheimportantobjectivesof“MakeinNortheast”willbenotonlytogeneraterevenueforNortheastbutalsotocreatejobopportunitiestopreventtheexodusofyouthwhichispresentlytakingplacefromtheregiontotherestofthecountry.

MinistryforDevelopmentofNorth-EastRegionannouncesa4-dayNortheastfestival


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Afour-daymegaNortheastfestivalwillbeheldatPragatiMaidan,NewDelhifrom9thto12thAprilandwillpossiblybethefirstofitskind,aimedatshowcasingthevastresourceandpotentialoftheeightNortheasternStates. ThefestivalfocusingonNortheastwillcompriseexhibitions,displays,traditionalNortheastcuisines,exclusivestallsofbooks,artpiecesandphotographs, ArchivecollectionsbasedonfreedomstruggleinNortheast,screeningoffilmsinvariousNortheasternlanguagesandawidevarietyofculturalprogrammes.

Inordertomakethefestivalprofessionallyoriented,aseriesofBusinesssummitsanddiscussionsoninvestmentopportunitiesinNortheastwillalsobeheldatwhichentrepreneursfromNortheastaswellasfromotherpartsofthecountrywillhaveanopportunitytointeractwitheachother.

HopetoachieveUS$15bnbilateraltradetargetby2020:VietnameseDy.PM


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2ndMeetingoftheIndia-VietnamJointSub-CommissiononTradeheldinHanoi Atthemeeting,bothsidesreviewedtheprogressmadesincethefirstmeetinganddiscussedmeasurestoenhancecooperationintextiles,pharmaceuticals,agri-trade,investment,servicesandsoon. ThediscussionsfocusedonimplementingdecisionstakenduringPrimeMinisterofVietnamHEMr.NguyenTanDung’svisittoIndiainOctober2014whereinbothPrimeMinistersagreedtoenhanceeconomicandtradecooperationasastrategicobjective.

Thereisgreatpotentialfortradeandinvestmentcooperationintextiles,agriculture,pharmaceuticals,leather,energyandoilandgas,andinvitedIndiancompaniestoinvestinVietnam. TheJointSub-CommissiononTradewasestablishedin2013betweenIndiaandVietnamwithanobjectivetoboostbilateraltradeandeconomiccooperation.ThefirstmeetingwasheldinNovember2013inNewDelhi.

KeyHighlightsofNirmalaSitharaman’sBilateralEngagementsonSidelinesofPartnershipSummit2015


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InameetingwithH.E.Y.B.Dato’SriMustapaMohamed,MinisterofInternationalTradeandIndustryofMalaysia,theMinistersexchangedviewsontheRegionalComprehensiveEconomicPartnership(RCEP)negotiations,Malaysia’sincreasinginvestmentinIndiaandtheIndia-MalaysiaComprehensiveEconomicPartnershipAgreement.

Theydiscussedbilateraltraderelationsandexpressedhopethatthiswouldcontinuetogrow.

SpokeofthenextIndia-AfricaForumSummit(IAFS). TheIndianMinisteralsoreferredtotrainingprogrammesofferedbyIndiaundertheIndianTechnicalandEconomicCooperation(ITEC)Programme. TheIndianMinistermetH.E.Mr.TofailAhmed,MinisterofCommerce,Bangladesh. Theyhadafrankandfriendlydiscussiononseveralissuesincludingbilateraltrade,therenewaloftheTradeAgreementbetweenthetwocountriesandopeningofBorderHaats,transitarrangements,India’sDutyFreeTariffPreferenceSchemeforLDCsandtradeinfrastructure.

Smt.SitharamanalsohadameetingwithMs.GaoYan,Vice-MinisterintheMinistryofCommerceofChina.Smt.SitharamanspokeoftheimportantroleofthetwocountriesinmanyinternationalforumssuchastheWTOandBRICS.

Whileexpressingsatisfactionattheremarkableexpansionofbilateraltradebetweenthetwocountries,whichstoodatUSD65.90bnin2013-14,theMinisterexpressedconcernatthegrowingtradedeficitwhichwasUSD36bninthesameperiod. Indiahasglobalcompetitiveadvantageinnicheengineeringproducts,pharmaceuticals,cottontextiles,homefurnishingsetc.


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HowevertheseproductshavealimitedpresenceintheChinesemarketduetovariousissuesrelatedtotariffbarriers,regulatoryandothercomplexitieswhichimpedeIndia’sexports. Indiaalsohasconcernsregardingmarketaccessforagriculturalandpharmaceuticalproducts. Also,IndianentitiesfaceseveralregulatoryhurdlesandothercomplexdomesticcertificationrequirementstobidforgovernmenttendersandgovernmentsponsoredITprojects.

Smt.SitharamanmetH.E.Mr.AndrewRobbAO,MP,Australia’sMinisterforTradeandInvestment.

TheyhadaproductivediscussionontakingtheIndia-AustraliaCECAnegotiationsforwardinacreativeandconstructivemanner. OntheissueofmarketaccessforAustraliangoods,bothagriculturalandindustrial,MinisterRobbsaidthattheywerelookingatthepremiumendoftheIndianmarketandwouldnotbecompetingwithdomesticproduction,giventhesizeoftheIndianmarket,andthehighcostsofproductioncoupledwithfarlowerlevelsofproductioninAustralia. TheIndiansidesaidthatthereisconsiderablepotentialforAustraliatoscaleuptheirinvestmentinIndiaverysubstantially,inareasincludingcoldchain,bio-techprojects,marinesector,engineeringandmanufacturingsectorsapartfromminingandenergyrelatedprojects.

Smt.NirmalaSitharamanalsomettheDirectorGeneral(DG)oftheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO)andrepresentativesofOECD,theConfederationofBritishIndustryandtheUKIndiaBusinessCouncil

TheMinisteremphasisedthatthatthereshouldbenodifferentiationmadeamongstdevelopingcountriesasregardscommitmentstobeundertakenorinthematterofspecialanddifferentialtreatmentfordevelopingcountries.

TheMinisteralsosaidthattheDohamandateshouldnotbere-opened;northereanycherrypickingofissuesfromtheDohaDevelopmentAgendaorintroductionofnewissuesthatonlyservedthecommercialinterestsofafewdevelopedcountries.

Apermanentsolutionontheissueofpublicstockholdingforfoodsecurity


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purposeswascriticalandshouldbeaddressedonpriority.

TherepresentativefromOECDexpressedsupporttotheMakeinIndiainitiativelaunchedbytheGovernmentofIndiaandofferedtheservicesofOECDattheCentralandStateleveltopromotethisagenda.

WTOshouldbemoreresponsivetoneedsofdevelopingandleast-developedcountries

WTOTradeFacilitationAgreementtoboostSouth-Southtradebyreducingtradecostsby15percent:WTODirectorGeneral TheMinisterofStateforCommerce&Industry(IndependentCharge),Smt.NirmalaSitharamanhasappreciatedthegoodworkofWorldTradeOrganization(WTO)instemmingprotectionismandurgedittobemoreresponsivetotheneedsofdevelopingandleast-developedcountries.

Smt.Sitharamanexpressedconcernthatsomecountrieshavestartedtoequateonlyfreetradewithdevelopment.

Fewdevelopingcountrieshaveimprovedtheirshareofglobaltrade. LeastDevelopedCountries(LDCs),accordingtoheronlyaccountedfor1%ofglobal


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trade. Inordertosustaingrowth,jobcreationandinclusivedevelopmentmustbeemphasised.

Developmentencompassesotherthingsbesidestradeincludingtheburdentofeedover32percentofIndia’spoorwholiveunderabjectpoverty-aconcernthattheWTOrecognised.

TheMinisterurgedthemembersoftheWTOtoshowthesameurgencyonfoodstockholdingastheTradeFacilitationAgreement(TFA)undertheBaliPackage. DevelopmentisatthecentreoftheDohaDevelopmentAgenda(DDA),andmanyissuesofimportancefordevelopingcountriessuchassubsidiesandnon-tariffbarriersthatarenotpartoffreetradeagreementscanbeaddressedthroughtheWTO. “Tradenegotiationsneedtorefocusonmultilateralagreementswhichrecognisethelegitimateconcernsofthedevelopingcountries”.

Mr.RobertoAzevedo,DirectorGeneral,WorldTradeOrganisation(WTO)saidthattheBaliPackagewilldeliveronthedevelopmentfrontbyenhancingdevelopingcountries’abilitytointegrateintotheworldeconomy.

Mr.AzevedonotedthatthebenefitsofTFAwillbevisibletoIndianindustryascompetitivenessandexportswillreceiveaboostoncemembersratifytheagreement. TheTFAwillbringdowntradecostsby15percentandbolstersouth-southtrade. TheremainingissuesundertheDDAwillneedtoberefocusedbeforetheMinisterialConferenceinNigeriaattheendoftheyear. Developmenthasbeenmadeapriorityasthedevelopmentdimensioniscrucialinbalancingtheglobaltradingsystem.

WTOprovidesdevelopingandleast-developedcountriesaseatintherule-makingtableastheyarenotincludedinthecurrentregionalandmega-regionaltradeagreements.

CurtainRaiser–BeatingRetreatCeremony2015


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ThisyeartheIndiantuneswillbetheflavourofthe‘BeatingtheRetreat’ceremony TheceremonyattheVijayChowkonJanuary29theveryyearmarkstheculminationofthefour-day-longRepublicDaycelebrations. Thisyear,15MilitaryBands,18PipesandDrumsBandsfromRegimentalCentresandBattalionsareparticipatinginBeatingtheRetreatCeremony. BesidesoneeachofIndianNavyandIndianAirForcebandwillalsoformpartoftheevent.

‘BeatingtheRetreat’hasemergedasaneventofnationalpridewhentheColoursandStandardsareparaded.

Theceremonytracesitsoriginstotheearly1950swhenMajorRobertsoftheIndianArmyindigenouslydevelopedtheuniqueceremonyofdisplaybythemassedbands. ‘BeatingRetreat’marksacenturiesoldmilitarytradition,whenthetroopsceasedfighting,sheathedtheirarmsandwithdrewfromthebattlefieldandreturnedtothecampsatsunsetatthesoundingoftheRetreat.ColoursandStandardsarecasedandflagslowered. Theceremonycreatesanostalgiaforthetimesgoneby.

PresidentlaunchesPulsePolioProgrammefor2015


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Sustainedhardworkandsupportofvolunteersandpartnersfor‘PolioFreeIndia’ Around174millionchildrenoflessthanfiveyearsacrossthecountrywillbegivenpoliodropsaspartofthedriveofGovernmentofIndiatosustainpolioeradicationfromthecountry. TheHealthMinisterstatedthattherehasbeennocaseofwildpoliosince13January2011.

IndiawascertifiedPolioFreelastyear,andispartofthe11countriesofSouth-EastAsiaRegionofWHO(alongwithBangladesh,Bhutan,DemocraticPeople'sRepublicofKorea,Indonesia,Maldives,Myanmar,Nepal,SriLanka,ThailandandTimor-Leste)whicharepoliofree.

AffirmingthatIndiaislookingforwardtoplayingamajorroleintheimplementationof“Polioendgamestrategy”,theMinisterinformedaboutintroductionofinactivatedpoliovaccineinroutineimmunizationprogramandaswitchfromtrivalentOPVtobivalentOPVsixmonthslaterinasynchronizedmannerglobally.

Theeffortstokeepthecountrypoliofreearebeingsustained.


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Beingmindfuloftheriskofimportationfromothercountriesincludingtheneighbourhood,immunityagainstpolioinfectionismaintainedthroughNationalandSubNationalPolioroundsalongwithsustainedhighqualitypoliosurveillance. AtraveladvisoryhasalsobeenissuedasperWHOguidelinestovaccinatealltravellerswhoaretravellingbetweenIndiaandeightpolio-infectedcountriescomprisingPakistan,Afghanistan,Nigeria,Cameroon,Syria,Ethiopia,Somalia&Kenya. Moreover,EmergencyPreparednessandResponsePlan(EPRP)hasbeenputinplaceunderwhichRapidResponseTeams(RRT)havebeenformedinallStates/UTstorespondurgentlytoanyimportations.

Needtodevelopframeworkforholistichealthcare,insteadofmerelysick-care

TheUnionMinisterforHealth&FamilyWelfareShriJPNaddaemphasisedontheneedtodevelopaframeworkforholistichealthcareandwellbeing,ratherthanmerelysick-care. Thereisachallengeofmanpowerinthehealthcaresectorandthereisafocusonquantity,qualityisequallyimportantandshouldnotbelostsightof. Stressedontheneedfordevelopingclinicalskillsinthedoctors. Betterclinicalskillsareamustforqualityhealthcare Duetothepressureofproducingmoredoctors,theclinicalskillstendtogetignored. Themedicaleducationframeworkshouldattendtothiscriticalrequirement Thereisaneedtorevivethatconceptagain

Researchandinnovationneedtobepeople-centricAnyresearchinthefieldofmedicine,whetheritbeintheareaofmedicalequipmentsanddevices,drugsoreveninbestpracticesandsystemschange,needstohavepeopleatitscentre.

Innovationcanbecompleteandmeaningfulonlywhenitbenefitsthelastpersonin


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thedeliverychain,andthosewhoaremostvulnerableandneedy. TheHealthMinisterstatedthatthereneedstobebalancebetweenmedicalneedsandcommercialneeds. Technologicalinnovationsevenwhentheydonothavecommercialviabilityneedtobepursuedifthesebenefithumanityatlarge. Adistinctionneedstobemadebetweentechnologythatservescommercialendsandonethatbenefitsmankind.

Indiawithitspredominantruralpopulationneedsinnovationsnotonlyinmedicaltechnologytomakedrugsaffordableandeasilyaccessible,butalsoinimprovedsystemsthatprovideefficienthealthservicestothelastpersoninthedeliverychain. CitingtheexampleoftherecentlylaunchedMissionIndradhanush,suchsystemshavebeendevisedwiththeaidoftechnologythatwillensurethatthepartiallycoveredanduncoveredareasforuniversalimmunizationofchildrenagainstsevenvaccinepreventablediseases,arefullycovered.

“Wehaveidentified201highfocusdistrictsinthecountryinthefirstphaseswhichhavenearly50%ofallunvaccinatedorpartiallyvaccinatedchildren.Thesedistrictswillbetargetedbyintensiveeffortstoimprovetheroutineimmunizationcoverage. Emphasizedontheneedtohaveintegratedresearchwherealltheresearchorganizationsoperateintandemandworkonsolutionstohealthproblemschallengingthecountryinunison. Moreover,itneedstobeensuredthattheresearchispeoplecentricandbenefitstheneedy

HealthMinisterreviewspreparednessonH1N1Influenza


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Directsforensuringadequatestockofmedicinesandequipmentwithhospitals StatedthattheseasonalinfluenzacasesarereportedeveryyearbetweenJan-Marchanddeclineimmediatelyafterthewinterseasonisover. TheboutofH1N1duringthisperiodisthatofseasonalinfluenza Whilethereisnocausetopanic,thecentralandstategovernmentsshouldbewellprepared. DirectedthecentralandstatesgovernmenttostockuponemergencyrequirementsofmedicineOseltamivir,eventhoughthecentreandstateshaveprocuredthesamefortheirrespectiveuse.

Stateshavingadequatequantityofpersonalprotectiveequipmentforhealthcareworkers,asalsodiagnosticfacilitiesrequiredfortestingH1N1samplesshouldbeensured

TheHealthMinisterhasadvisedthattheIntegratedDiseaseSurveillanceProgramme(IDSP)networkshouldcontinuecomprehensiveandpromptreportingsothatthedistricts/statesrequiringmoreattentioncanbeidentified. Advisedthatthegeneralpublicshouldtakethenecessaryprecautionsuchascoveringonesmouthduringcoughingandsneezing,washingone’shandsandavoidcomingintouchwithanyonewhoisexhibitingsymptomsoftheseasonalflu

ImportantpointsfromBRICSInternationalYouthForum


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BRICSInternationalYouthForumbeingisorganizedforthefirsttime. Youthhavealwaysbeenthepowerhouseofnewinnovations,aspirationsandsocialchangeinanysociety. Theyconstitutethemostenergeticandvibrantsegmentofthesociety.

Indiaisoneoftheyoungestcountriesintheworldwithitsover500millionyouthpopulationbetweentheagegroupof13to35yearsandshallremainsotillatleast2050duetoitsdemographicadvantage.

Howeveritremainsoneofthebiggestchallengesbeforethecountrytoutilisethisresourceandchannelizeitgainfullyinaffirmativeaction. Thereisthereforeaneedforyouthinvolvementandparticipationinthesocio-economic,culturalandpoliticalenvironmentofacountry,initsdevelopmentprogrammes,aswellasactivitiesbasedontheyouth’sspecificneeds,desiresandaspirations. ThisdemographicadvantageasayoungnationhasalotofhiddenpotentialforIndia.

BRICSInternationalYouthForum(BIYF)wasestablishedtodiscusstheprospectsofyouthcooperationinthepolitical,economic,humanitarianandculturalcooperationbetweentheBRICScountries.

RealitiesofthemodernworldencourageBRICScountriestoestablishanongoing


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dialoguebetweencommunitiesatalllevelsandeffectiveexchangeofviewsandexperiences. ThisisduetothefactthattheseverityofproblemsrequiresinternationalcoordinationandconsolidationofjointactionswithinBRICSnationsandneedsthesearchfornewmechanismsofcooperationandintegration. Thereisaneedfordecisiveactionandbroadinvolvementofyoungpeople,whicharekeyfactor,enablingurgentaddressofthemostpressingchallengesatgloballevel.

IndianCEOsandentrepreneursknowthathighdomesticgrowthandarisinginternationalprofileisattainable.

BRICSInternationalYouthForumisallsettoaddthatpositivetailwindtoCorporateIndia'ssailandglobalgoodwillenhancedbyourhonourablePrimeMinisterinrecenttimes. ‘HumanCapital’isthestrengthofmembercountries. TheRoleofyouthinshapinginnovativeeconomicsisaprimaryfocusareaofdevelopmenttomakethemdecisionmakersofthesociety. NextGenerationProgramsneedmanyroundtablediscussions,exchanges,trainingsessionsandworkshops.

TheBRICSmembersarealldevelopingornewlyindustrialisedcountries,buttheyaredistinguishedbytheirlarge,fast-growingeconomiesandsignificantinfluenceonregionalandglobalaffairs;allfiveareG-20members.

Asof2014,thefiveBRICScountriesrepresentalmost3billionpeoplewhichis40%oftheworldpopulation. Asof2014,theBRICSnationsrepresented18percentoftheworldeconomy.

ExternalAffairsandOverseasIndianAffairsMinister'sAddressattheInauguralSessionofPravasiBharatiyaDivas2015


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PravasiBharatiyaDivas2015

IMPORTANTPOINTS

ItisaptthatthisyearPBDisbeingheldinGujarat,markingthe100thAnniversaryofthereturnofMahatmaGandhitoIndiafromSouthAfrica. BapujigaveshapeandcharactertoIndia'sfreedomstruggle. Hedemonstratedthepowerofnon-violence,byprecipitatingthedisintegrationofthemightiestempireintheworldatthattime. HealsofoughtagainstindentureshipandtheexploitationofIndiansaroundtheglobe. ItisafittingtributetoBaputhatwehavewithustodayHon’bleDonaldRamotar,PresidentofGuyana,astheChiefGuest. Ourwarmandfriendlyrelationsareembeddedinhistorical,culturalandtraditionallinks. Wehavejustcommissionedwell-knownsculptorandPadmaShriawardee,BimanDas,tobuildamonumentdedicatedtothearrivalofIndianindenturedlabourersinGuyana.

ItwasattendedbyVicePrimeMinisterofMauritius,Hon’bleMr.ShowkatallySoodhun.

ThehistoricalandcivilizationalconnectionofMauritiuswithIndiaissodeep


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thattheytakeprideincallingthecountry"ChhotaBharat”. ThePIOsinMauritiuscelebratethearrivalofIndianindenturedlabourersas'AapravasiDivas

GandhijivisitedMauritiusin1901andasatributetohimtheNationalDayofMauritiusiscelebratedonMarch12,whichisthedateoflaunchoftheDandiSaltSatyagraha.

OwingtothestrongDiasporatiesandthegreatprideinoursharedancestralheritage,MauritiushasbeenanactiveparticipantinthePravasiBharatiyaDivas(PBD)sinceitsinceptionin2003.

Thetermdiaspora,inancientGreek,refersto"ascatteringorsowingofseeds". ThepresenceofIndiansabroadcanbeattestedtofromthedaysofremoteantiquity. Ourclassicaltextsdescribethelongjourneysthatsaintsandmonksundertookforthespreadofknowledge,peaceandlove. Thiswasfollowedbyseveralwavesofoutwardmigrationovercenturies,fromthemedievalperiodtothecolonialandthenthepost-independenceera,resultingindiversecommunitiesofpeopleofIndianorigininvariouspartsoftheworld. Thepresent-daytravelofIndiansasprofessionals,labourers,tradersandentrepreneurstotherestoftheworldisacontinuingsagaofIndianMigration Ourcommonbond,however,continuestobethemothertree–India.

TheIndiandiasporatodayconstitutesanimportant,andinsomerespectsunique,forceinworldculture.

Inthepastcoupleofdecades,ithasgrownintoanenergeticandconfidentcommunityofover25millionthathasgivenIndiaapresenceinmanypartsoftheworld. However,itisnotaone-wayinteractionthatbenefitsonlyoneside.

ItpleasesallIndianswhentheOverseasIndiancommunityisrespectedforitsworkculture,discipline,successfulintegrationwiththelocalcommunityandforitsoutstandingcontributionsintheircountriesofresidence.

Asuccessful,prosperousandpoliticallyinfluentialdiasporaisanassettoIndia,muchasastrongandself-reliantIndiawouldbeasourceofstrengthandinspirationforthediaspora.


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Thissynergyactsasavibrantbridgebetweenusandsustainsourrelationship. TheGovernmentofIndiaisdeterminedtoworkcloselywiththediasporatoleverageeachother’sstrengthstomutualbenefit. ThePrimeMinisterhimselfhastakentheleadinreachingouttotheOverseasIndiancommunityandengagingyou.

Wewelcomeentrepreneurs,investorsandprofessionalsfromthediasporatopartakeinourendeavourtodevelopthemotherlandandrestoreittoitspastglory.

PravasiBharatiyaDivas2015and3C's

ExhortsGlobalIndianYouthtoCome&Connect,CelebrateandContributetobuildEkBharatShresthaBharat

ThefirstCisConnect

Today,anestimated25millionpeopleofIndianoriginandnon-residentIndiansliveandworkoutsideIndia. ThePravasiBhartiyaDiwasisessentiallyaplatformtoconnectthisIndiandiasporawiththemotherlandandinvolvethediasporainthedevelopmentandadvancement


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ofIndia. WiththisPBDwemark100yearsofthereturnofthegreatest‘PravasiBharatiya’,ShriMohandasKaramchandGandhi,whoarrivedbackinIndiafromSouthAfricaonJanuary9,1915 Today,Indiaisseenasarisingpower,andappreciatedacrosstheworldforthewayithasconvergedstrongdemocraticinstitutionswithrapiddevelopment. ThebiggestassetofthisnewIndiaisitsyouth.

EventhoughIndiaisanoldcivilization,todayitisalsooneoftheyoungestcountriesintheworld,withmorethan50percentofourpopulationbeingundertheageof25,whichmeansthatsoononefifthoftheworld’sworkingagepopulationwillbeinIndia. TheYouthPBDseekstoconnectthenewgenerationofIndianswhoareconfident,aspirationalandtranscendtheoldboundariesofcasteandclass

ThesecondCisCelebrate WewanttheyoungPravasistotakeprideinthehistoryandcivilizationalheritageofIndiawhichistheirculturalinheritance.MKGandhicamebacktoIndiaahundredyearsagoandbroughtaboutmomentouschangestothisland,whichmadehimaMahatma. GandhithoughtthatitwasnecessaryforhimtogettoknowIndiabetterbeforehelaunchedhimselfintothenationalfreedommovement. Hewentaroundthecountryontrains,alwaystravelinginthirdclass,tobeamongthepeople,andobservedmanythingsaboutthecountry. ThisvoyageofdiscoveryopenedhiseyestothetruefaceofIndiaanditsproblems,whichhethensetouttosolve.

ToknowmoreaboutIndia,itstraditions,anditsartandculture,asessionon‘BharatkoJano’willtellyouthatzeroandthedecimalsystemwereIndia’sgifttotheworld.

Thevalueof‘Pi’wasfirstcalculatedbyBudhayanainthesixthcentury.Theworld’sfirstuniversitywasestablishedinTakshilain700BC. TheearliestschoolofmedicineknowntohumanswasAyurvedawhichwasconsolidatedbyCharaka,thefatherofmedicine,some2,500yearsago.


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Ideassuchasnon-violence,toleranceandrespectfordiversityanddifferenceareenshrinedinourwayoflifeandhaveshowntheworldthewaytolivewithpeaceandharmony.

Insecondplenarysessioncalled‘BharatkoMano’tellsyouthabouttheremarkablestridesthatmodernIndiahastaken,especiallyinthefieldsofscienceandtechnology. Thenationwhichgavetheworldtheconceptofzero,hasalsomasteredthenuclearcycle,sentexpeditionstoAntarcticaandevenunmannedmissionstothemoonandMars. InfactISRO’sMarsOrbiterMission‘Mangalyaan’wasrecentlynamedamongthebestinventionsof2014byTIMEmagazine. Thespacecraft,whichtookjustfouryearsfromfeasibilitystudytoarrivalinMarsorbit,costapproximately25milliondollars,lessthanthebudgetfortheHollywoodfilm‘Gravity’.IndiaalsobecamethefirstnationtoreachMarsorbitinitsveryfirstattempt.

India’ssoftpowerhasalsobeenspreadingaroundtheworld.TheintensityofIndia’sinternationalengagementhasalsoincreasedmanifoldwhichcanbeseenfromthecalendarofhighlevelvisitsbothtoandfromIndia.

Thereisalsoaclearfocusoninfrastructure.Severalstepshavebeentakentoenhancefinancingofinfrastructure,andwehavemovedtowardsamoretransparentpolicyonnaturalresources.

Giventheenormousrequirementsforinfrastructuredevelopmentoverthenextfewyears,foreigninvestmentisgoingtobeextremelyimportant.

AndthethirdC–Contribute

WewantthePravasis,tocontributetothedevelopmentofIndia. WewantyoutoparticipateinthevisionthatPrimeMinisterModihasforIndia’sfuture. WehavelaunchedseveralprogrammesthathavethepotentialtotransformIndia. TheJanDhanYojana,theworld’slargestprogrammeoffinancialinclusion,hasjustcrossedthe100millionmarkand98.4percentofhouseholdsinIndianowhavebankaccounts. TheSwachhBharatcampaignforcleanlinesshasbecomeamassmovement.


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Thisisanissuethataffectsnotonlypeople’shealthbutisalsoanattackonsocialillslikeuntouchabilityandmanualscavenging. The‘MakeinIndia’programmesignalsourcommitmenttotransformingIndiaintothemanufacturinghuboftheworld. The‘DigitalIndia’initiativeaimsatdeliveringgovernmentserviceselectronicallyby2018. Itwillencompassnotonlye-governance,butalsobroadbandforall,IT-enablededucationandtelemedicine. Wehavealreadyrolledoutbiometricattendanceingovernmentofficesasapracticalexampleofthisinitiative. TheSmartCitiesprogrammeaimstobuild100smartcitiesinIndiawhichwillbewell-planned,technologicallyintegratedandenvironment-friendly.

TheGovernmenthasbeenworkinginmissionmodetoimplementalltheseprogrammes

MinisterofMSMEtoinaugurateRapidIncubationCentreinRwanda

MinisterofMSMEShriKalrajMishrawillbevisitingRwandatoinauguratethe


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RapidIncubationCentreinthefieldsoffoodprocessing,lightengineeringandvocationaltradesestablishedbyNSICunderIndiaAfricaForumSummit(IAFS-II). Rwanda'seconomyisbasedmostlyonsubsistenceagricultureanditsmanufacturingsectorisdominatedbytheproductionofimportsubstitutesforinternalconsumption. TheGovernmentofRwandaisintheprocessofestablishingsmallenterprisesinthecountryandlookstowardsIndiaforcooperationinthedevelopmentofMSMEsinthatcountry. ThevisitwillprovideaninsightintothestructureofMicro,Small&MediumenterprisesinRwandaandwillhelpstrengthenareasofcooperationatpolicylevelinthissector.

AstheprocessofindustrializationexpandsfurtherinSouthAfrica,itfindsgreatersynergywithIndianMSMEsparticularlyinentrepreneurshipdevelopmentandtechnologicalincubationinSouthAfrica. Inthisreference,NSIC,anenterprisewiththeMinistryofMSME,issigninganMoUofCooperationwithBlackBusinessCouncil(BBC)ofSouthAfricafordevelopingyouthownedenterprisesinSouthAfrica. TheMoUisscheduledtobesignedinthepresenceofMinisterofMSME,duringhisvisittoSouthAfrica. TheMoU,besidescooperationinMSMEsector,alsofocusesonBBC’seffortstoeconomicallyempowerthemarginilisedgroupinSouthAfricathroughNSIC’sRapidIncubationProgramm. NSIChasbeenrequestedbyBBCtoestablishfivesuchRapidIncubationCentresinSouthAfrica.ThepresenceoftheMinisterofMSME,duringthesigningceremonybetweentwoorganizationswillfurtherstrengthenthecommitmentofcooperationwithSouthAfricaindevelopingMSMEsinthecountryandthus,beapartnerineconomictransformationofSouthAfrica.

ThevisitwillalsoprovideanopportunitytofurtherrenewNSIC’scooperationwithSmallEnterpriseDevelopmentAgency(SEDA)undertheMinistryofSmallBusiness,GovernmentofSouthAfrica. NSIC’sCooperationwithSEDAhasbeeninstrumentalnotonlyinenhancingcooperationinthefieldofMSMEsinSouthAfricabutalsoplaysanimportantroleintri-nationscooperationunderIndia,BrazilandSouthAfrica(IBSA)Forum.


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