One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) Awareness Drive in Jammu and Kashmir

 Jammu, November 2, 2023 – Shri Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, addressed beneficiaries and emphasised the importance of raising awareness for the One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC) initiative during an awareness drive workshop in Jammu & Kashmir.

The awareness drive workshop took place at Udyog Bhawan, Rail Head Complex, Jammu, on November 2, 2023, , and was aimed at enlightening beneficiaries about the benefits of ONORC, a transformative scheme designed to ensure seamless access to ration entitlements across the nation.
Other dignitaries who attended the workshop included Shri Zubair Ahmed (Secretary, Dept of FCS(CA, J&K), Sh. Ramesh Kumar (Divisional Commissioner, J&K), Sh. Abdul Rashid War (Labour Commissioner, J&K), Ms. Rifat Kohli (Director, Dept of FCS&CA, Jammu) and other senior officials. About 120 beneficiaries and FPS dealers attended the workshop. The event was broadcast live over DFPD’s official YouTube page.

Shri Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, DFPD GoI, addressing beneficiaries in the ONORC workshop conducted in Udyog Bhawan, Jammu

During his address, the Secretary, DFPD, emphasised the motto, “Aap jahan, aapka ration waha”, highlighting the key principle of ONORC. This initiative allows beneficiaries to avail their entitled ration from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice, no matter where they are in the country.

He also highlighted the remarkable success of the ONORC program, revealing that over 2.5 crore transactions are recorded nationwide every month. In Jammu & Kashmir alone, since the inception of ONORC, 18 lakh transactions have been recorded to date, underscoring a strong start for the initiative.

Addressing concerns among FPS dealers that they may face a shortage of ration while serving beneficiaries from other regions, he clarified that FPS dealers can easily request additional quotas of ration using their Electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) devices. This ensures a smooth and uninterrupted supply of ration to beneficiaries.

In addition to these efforts, he highlighted other significant initiatives and schemes of the Department, including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and rice fortification initiative. These initiatives collectively aim to achieve the food and nutritional security of over 80 crore beneficiaries across the nation.

Furthermore, he reiterated that the State Governments can now utilise funds from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) funds to create Model FPSs. These model shops will serve as examples of efficiency and modernization, setting a benchmark for other FPSs in the region.

At the conclusion of the event, Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, DFPD, also handed over bags of fortified rice to beneficiaries attending the event.

(Left) Shri Sanjeev Chopra handing over bags of fortified rice to a beneficiary; (Right) A bag of fortified rice.

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III International Convention on Sustainable Trade and Standards’

 Quality Council of India (QCI), an autonomous organization of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry hosted the International Convention on Sustainable Trade and Standards (ICSTS) in New Delhi today. ICSTS, a two-day event, has been organized by the India National Platform on Private Sustainability Standards and hosted by QCI in collaboration with the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS).

The event witnessed a bilateral Agreement between QCI and African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) to strengthen trade relations and harmonize standards, enhancing the global trade landscape. Benchmarking of IndG.AP. by the GLOBAL G.A.P. through the National Technical Working Group (NTWG) mechanism and creation of National Interpretation Guidelines (NIG) also took place at the ICSTS, which is expected to benefit around 12,000 farmers. Continuing with the engagement, India has inked agreements with Brazil, Mexico and now the African Regional Standards Organisation for cooperation on Voluntary Sustainability Standards.

The digitalization initiative of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative would align with its commitment to foster the e-commerce revolution, making trade more accessible and efficient in the digital age, support the IEC / ISO standards about material, product properties, calculation methods, formats of declarations, ensure Confidentiality and trustworthiness, facilitate Peer-to-peer communication decentralized architecture for full data sovereignty of all partners. ONDC identified QCI to assess Digital Readiness of entities to understand their readiness to seamlessly onboard on the Seller App in the ONDC Network.

The event witnessed presence of the esteemed dignitaries including Shri Jaxay Shah, Chairperson, QCI; Dr Harsha Vardhana Singh, Chair, India PSS Platform & Former DDG, World Trade Organization (WTO); Shri Rajesh Maheshwari, Secretary General, QCI; Dr Virpi Stucki, Chief, Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade, UNIDO; Mr Charles Gachahi, Eco Mark Africa, CACO and COCO Coordinator (ARSO); and Mr Santiago Fernandez De Cordoba, Chief, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) VSS Program among others.

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Coal Sector Achieves Impressive 16.1 % Growth in September among Eight Core Industries

 As per the index of eight Core Industries for the month of September 2023 released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industries, the index of coal sector has showcased impressive growth of 16.1% reaching 148.1 points compared to 127.5 points during the same period last year. This is the highest growth in last 14 months except for August 2023.

The latest data indicates that the Combined Index of eight Core Industries has shown noteworthy increase of 8.1% (Provisional) in September 2023, compared to the same period in the previous year.

The Index measures the combined and individual production performance of eight core industries, viz. cement, coal, crude oil, electricity, fertilizers, natural gas, refinery products, and steel.

The significant growth in the coal sector is attributed to a substantial upswing in coal production during September 2023, which reached an impressive 67.27 MT, surpassing the figure of 58.04 MT during the corresponding period of the previous year, representing a remarkable increase of 15.91%. The Coal Industry registered a growth of 9.1% in Apr’2023 which rose to 16.1% in Sept’2023, showcasing consistent and sustained growth.

The Ministry of Coal has played a pivotal role in driving this growth through various strategic initiatives. These initiatives include the amendment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2021, allowing captive mines to sell coal or lignite, augmenting domestic production through the auction-based regime for commercial coal mining, engaging Mine Developer cum Operators (MDOs) to ramp up domestic coal output and the reopening of discontinued mines on a revenue-sharing model to boost coal production.

The remarkable growth of the coal sector and its contribution to the overall growth of the eight core industries are a testament to the continuous efforts and initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Coal. These efforts align with the vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and contribute to the nation’s progress towards self-sufficiency and energy security.

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5th Edition of ICC Sustainability Conclave 2023

 The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Indian Chemical Council (ICC) organizing the two days Conclave with the theme of “Integrating Sustainability & Business Strategy for the Chemical Industry- Addressing Challenges and Opportunities”.

Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers and New and Renewable Energy, Shri Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister for Industries, Energy, and MSME, Government of Odisha Shri Pratap Keshari Deb, Secretary Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ms Nivedita Shukla Verma and senior officials of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Officials from ICC and champions of the Industries were present on the occasion.

Addressing the event, Shri Bhagwanth Khuba said that Chemical and Petrochemical Industry holds a pivotal position in our economy serving as a backbone for numerous sectors offering a diverse range of over 80000 commercial products. While the government has commendably taken steps to reduce our reliance on imports, enhance infrastructure, and improve the business environment, it is imperative that we infuse a strong focus on chemical sustainability into this narrative of growth. With our Industry posed to grow from its current value of approximately USD 215 bn to an estimated USD 300 bn by 2025, it is crucial that this growth is accompanied by an unwavering commitment to sustainable development.

Shri Khuba further stated that he envisions the chemical sector growing sustainably, reducing carbon emissions, and making a positive contribution to the environment. He also expresses hope that the industry maintains its growth and continues to be a significant contributor to the Indian economy.

On this occasion, Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ms Nivedita Shukla Verma said that with the objective of Make in India and Make for the World, Govt of India with its ‘whole of government’ approach is making all-out efforts to promote manufacturing in all the sectors. She further stated that our department is actively engaged in the promotion of the chemicals industry and enhancing the ease of doing business whenever required.  As we aim to provide a secure and reliable industrial ecosystem in the world, the chemical sector in India holds immense potential for expansion. With its natural advantages, India is an attractive place for investment and this is borne out by the fact that about 90% of the growth has been recorded in FDI in the chemical sector in 2021-22.

This is a major initiative of the Indian Chemical Industry for encouraging sustainability in the management of the entire life cycle of chemicals. Environment Resource Management (ERM), a globally renowned entity in the sector, is the Knowledge Partner for the Conclave.

ICC Sustainability Conclave holds immense significance in light of India’s international commitments to address climate change, decrease carbon footprints, increase renewable energy utilization, and encourage sustainable corporate practices. The two-day event will bring together senior representatives from Indian and Global companies, government officers, multilateral organizations, chemical industry bodies, and academic experts to discuss trending issues and opportunities, including ESG strategies, de-carbonization, net-zero transition, digital transformation, green growth, cleaner energy, safety promotion, and product stewardship beyond regulations.

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Workshop on Customised Debt-Financing for Commercial Coal Mining & MDOs

 REC Limited, has organised a workshop on ‘Customised Debt-Financing for Commercial Mining & MDOs’ recently in New Delhi. The workshop witnessed participation by Shri Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Shri M Nagaraju, Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority, Ministry of Coal, Shri Vivek Kumar Dewangan, Chairman and Managing Director, REC Ltd. along with other senior functionaries from the coal industry and government.

The workshop commenced with a warm welcome by Shri Vivek Kumar Dewangan. In his opening remarks, Shri Dewangan expressed that REC is willing to be a partner in the growth journey of mining industry in the country.

 

During the keynote address, Shri Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary Coal, has urged banks and non-banking financial companies to find appropriate solutions while working on the proposals placed before them regarding credit availability for commercial coal mines. He reiterated that coal mining is a good and profitable long-term business with assured returns starting from 3-4 years of the allocation of the coal mines. Shri Meena appreciated the initiative of REC and its commitment to strike a balance between sustainable development and financial viability of the mining sector in compliance with the ESG norms and willingness to be a partner in the growth journey of the mining industry. He also highlighted the necessity of efficiently closing coal mines once they reach the end of their operational life and rejuvenate such exhausted mines for sustainable endeavours like Pumped Storage facilities, Solar Parks etc. The Secretary reassured the commitment to sustainable methods of mining and informed that Coal Ministry is taking various steps to increase production from the Under Ground mines. He emphasised that the coal sector is in the growth phase and  collective efforts should be made to reduce coal import by increasing production to meet growing domestic demand.

 

Shri M. Nagaraju, Additional Secretary and Nominated Authority (Coal) stated that the Ministry is taking various measures to meet the coal demand and have auctioned 91 coal mines for commercial use in the last four years. He informed that the financing of one coal mine has already been completed and funding for two coal mine funding projects are at advanced stages of evaluation. Provisions have also been made in the Agreements to protect the interests of the lenders. The sector is becoming robust and responsible and urged REC to consider investing in the coal mining sector and provide financing to the coal mines which will help in faster operationalisation of the same.

Participants of the workshop were informed that the per capita power consumption in the country is 1/3rd of the world average and is going to substantially increase. Most of this will be contributed by coal-based thermal power plants.

Representatives of allocated coal blocks and the MDO’s of the coal mines participated in the workshop lauded the initiatives taken by Ministry of Coal and REC in supporting the coal sector towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

 

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Gender equality is quintessence to any equality

 The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today emphasized that gender equality is quintessence to any equality and there can be no equality in society if there is no gender equality. He also said that this gender equality has to be in substance, not in form; and its manifestation has to be a ground reality.

The Vice President made these remarks while delivering the Platinum Jubilee Address of Miranda House on the topic – “Role of Women in Indian Parliament”. In his speech, Shri Dhankhar highlighted that “the role of women in parliament is enormous, and that their presence by itself will surcharge the atmosphere in legislatures.”

Recognizing that women will be able to bring on the table their experiences worth the life they live through and the challenges they face, Shri Dhankhar asserted that “this would certainly help the governance in evolution of policies that would lead to the resolution of larger issues.”

Describing the passing of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as an epochal development in history, VP said that “this is a great development which will ensure that Bharat@2047, when the nation celebrates the centenary of its independence, we’ll be on peak.” Mentioning that he selected 17 women parliamentarians to lead the Upper House when Rajya Sabha discussed the women reservation bill, VP called upon the girl students to never allow themselves to be on the back bench or the back foot. “The world belongs to you; the world has to be shaped by you. Today, Indian women are occupying the position of power in global institutions, making all of us very proud,” he added.

Referring to the election of the highest number of women parliamentarians in Lok Sabha in 2019 General Elections, Shri Dhankhar credited this success to various women empowerment initiatives by the Prime Minister over last years. Noting that the phenomenon of ‘Sarpanch Pati’ is largely gone, he said that now no one dares to occupy a seat meant for women representatives.

The Vice President noted that it is the women, who sacrifice a lot for their families, society, children & elders, and asserted that “giving justice to your gender is automatic justice to my gender.” He further added that, “This is because your gender exemplifies virtuosity, sublimity, & service. God has gifted you faculties that give you an opportunity to help others.”

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, who said “As long as women in India do not take part in public life, there can be no salvation for the country,” the Vice President said that today the dream of our Bapu is coming true.

Mentioning various initiatives by the government for women empowerment in recent years, Shri Dhankhar noted that “Girls are in combat positions in defense forces. Girls are getting admission to Sainik Schools now. You are the change, you are catalyzing the change.”

Talking about the Swachh Bharat Mission, he said that when the Prime Minister calls for toilets in every home, the focus is women, her dignity & her respect. Similarly, if gas connections are given to needy households, it’s again the women who benefit most as she is the one who manages the kitchen & suffers tears in her eyes due to smoke. He also cited the example of Har Ghar Jal & Mudra schemes which are helping the cause of women empowerment in a big way. “Our Amrit Kaal, on account of the vision, passion, and mission of our Prime Minister has become our Gaurav Kaal,” he added.

Expressing happiness over India becoming the world’s fifth largest economy, VP said that the Indian economy’s rise is principally driven by women. He said that Bharat is on rise and this rise is unstoppable.

The Vice President said that some people are not able to digest India’s growth story, and called upon the students to reply to such elements. Your silence will not be in national interest, he asserted and asked them to be “proud citizens of Bharat and take pride in our Bharatiyata.” Repeating the PM’s call for ‘vocal for local’, VP emphasized the importance of economic nationalism in the country’s development and underscored that items like Diya, candle, kites, toys and curtains should not be imported.

Prof. Yogesh Singh, Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi, Prof. Balram Pani, Dean of Colleges, University of Delhi, Prof. Rajni Abbi, Chairperson, Governing Body, Miranda House & Proctor, University of Delhi, Prof. Bijayalaxmi Nanda, Principal, Miranda House, faculty members, students and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

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Government e-Marketplace (GeM) witnesses remarkable growth in Service Procurement

 Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has achieved significant milestones in the procurement of services over the past few years. GeM, India’s leading online platform for government procurement, witnessed an extraordinary increase in the transaction value, reinforcing its commitment to streamlining the procurement process and fostering efficiency and transparency in government purchases.

GeM’s robust growth in service procurement has been nothing short of remarkable. Over the last two to three years, the transaction value has surged from approximately INR 8,505 crore in FY 20-21 to an impressive INR 65, 957 crore in FY 22-23. The services sector has exhibited a staggering increase in the overall contribution to GeM Gross Merchandise Value or the total order value transacted through the platform, having jumped from 23% in FY 21-22 to nearly 47% in the current financial year. GeM has set a forward-looking target of surpassing INR 1.50 lakh crore in the current fiscal year.

This unprecedented success can be attributed to the active involvement of top Government buyers from various sectors. Leading Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) such as Coal India Limited, NTPC Limited, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited have actively leveraged GeM for their service procurement needs. Furthermore, a multitude of states and union territories, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, have embraced GeM as their go-to platform for services procurement. 

GeM offers a diverse range of services across multiple categories such as:

Manpower Outsourcing Services: With approximately 40,000 contracts placed for hiring manpower services in FY 22-23, the total contract value exceeded INR 14,000 crore.

Vehicle Hiring Services: A staggering 30,000 contracts were placed for hiring vehicle services in FY 22-23, with a total contract value exceeding INR 2,900 crore.

Handling, Transport & Other Mining Services: Major subsidiaries of Coal India Ltd. and NTPC Ltd. have placed numerous orders, with substantial order values. Approx. 175 Orders were placed by subsidiaries of Coal India Ltd. With total order value of INR 24, 558 Cr. for handling, transport & other Mining activities.

Insurance Services: GeM has also expanded its large portfolio of services offerings to include Insurance services. This service offering is particularly beneficial as GeM mandates all IRDA-approved Insurance Companies to directly sell insurance cover sans intermediaries like brokers and agents. Recently, Government of Gujarat placed an order for Group Mediclaim Insurance worth ₹ 2302 Crore under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to provide health insurance cover to nearly 62 lakh families.

IT Services: Several key organisations and ministries have harnessed GeM for IT services for procuring complex IT services including core banking solutions and digital healthcare solutions.

Local Chemist Empanelment: Orders worth approximately INR 1038 crore have been placed by Central Government Health Schemes (CGHS) after empanelling Chemists at various medical centres across the country.

Medical Services: Contracts for hiring healthcare manpower placed for more than INR 1100 Cr. till date. Other medical services including Healthcare Sanitation Services, Ambulace services, Heathcare Kitchen and dietary services etc, are available on GeM.

GeM actively supports the implementation of various government schemes, including the Jal Jeevan Mission, Mission Karmayogi, Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, and Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 Scheme by creating suitable services to facilitate implementation of these schemes.

GeM has facilitated unique service orders such as:

Hiring of Chartered Aircrafts: The Ministry of Defence hired 830 Chartered Aircrafts for multiple routes, including Leh, Shrinagar, Andaman & Nicobar to & from flights, with an order value of approximately INR 142 crore.

Air International Logistics Service: Munitions India Ltd., under the Ministry of Defence, hired an agency for the international logistics of approximately 24,000 kg of IMO Class-I Dangerous Goods from Sweden Airport to India, with an order value of approximately INR 3 crore.

Drone as a Service: Survey of India and Coal India Ltd. have harnessed Drone as a Service (DaaS) for various applications, such as surveying and aerial mapping.

Many other unique service offerings have also been facilitated by GeM under the service categories like leasing of High Value Medical Equipment, Market research/Survey, Examination Service, Cyber security services, Hiring of AV/VR Services for events etc.

GeM continues to drive high-value service bids in areas such as:

Hiring, Operation And Management Of ATM: Bids have been published for the supply, installation, operation, and management of thousands of ATMs by State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, and Bank of Baroda, with estimated bid values reaching several crores. For instance, Bid published for supply, installation, operation & Management of 13,500 ATMs for 7 years by SBI worth INR ~7000 Cr.

Energy Audit Service: The Ministry of Railways has issued an Energy Efficiency Policy for sustainable buildings, energy efficiency in equipment and appliances, power quality restoration, capacity building, and awareness. Several bids have been published for the Investment Grade Energy Audit of buildings.

GIS Survey – Drone Mapping: Survey of India, under the Ministry of Science & Technology, has published a bid for hiring an agency for GIS mapping, covering an extensive area of approx. 30000 sqkm using drone images for Haryana State.

Also, there are multiple ongoing High value bids in the service categories like Warehousing Service, IT Services, Hiring of Vessels, Handling, Transport & other Mining Services.

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AI Safety Summit 2023’ in the UK

 On the first day of the ‘AI Safety Summit 2023’ at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire in United Kingdom (UK), Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, addressed the inaugural plenary session. He emphasized India’s perspective on Artificial Intelligence, emphasizing our nation’s commitment to AI with a strong focus on safety, trust, and accountability.

“We have maintained that international collaborations, such as these, are extremely important, as we move forward in shaping the future of technology in an era where it is presenting some of the most exciting opportunities ever for mankind. Our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has argued for several years that the future of technology, whether it involves innovation, partnerships, or the institutional framework for regulating technology and innovation for the benefit of all mankind, should be driven by a coalition of nations rather than just one or two countries. He believes that the institutional framework should be less episodic and much more sustained with strategic clarity,” the Minister said.

Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar apprised his international counterparts that India has effectively embraced technology under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, propelling the nation into a thriving digital economy, transforming the lives of its citizens. He emphasized that this transformation has ushered in tremendous opportunities, and will continue to do so through AI.

“Artificial Intelligence, as we see it, is a kinetic enabler of India’s already accelerating and expanding digital economy, growth and Governance. AI represents big opportunities for us, and we have our minds clear of what needs to be done to mitigate any potential downsides associated with AI or any emerging technology. We approach AI with a prism on openness, safety, trust, and accountability. As a government, we have learned that by allowing innovation to get ahead of regulation, we open ourselves to the toxicity and misinformation represented by social media on the internet today. It is clear that this is not the path we should chart for the coming years in terms of AI. AI should be utilized only for the good, only for the progress, and prosperity of all our citizens across all countries,” the Minister further added.

The ‘AI Safety Summit 2023’ has assembled representatives from around the world, including governments, prominent AI corporations, civil society organizations, and research experts. Its objectives are deliberating the risks associated with AI, particularly at the cutting edge of its development and exploring strategies for their mitigation through globally coordinated efforts.

This two-day summit has brought together Ministers and representatives from various countries, including the UK, US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, South Korea, among others.

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Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement Matters (GCCEM)

 The three-day long Global Conference on Cooperation in Enforcement Matters (GCCEM) inaugurated by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman on 30th October, 2023 concluded, in New Delhi, today, with a resolve to reinforce the cooperation among the Customs administrations, International organisations and Law Enforcement Agencies in fight against cross border crimes. In her inaugural address, the Union Finance Minister had stressed on the need to disrupt illicit trade, catch hold of the masterminds and break the network of syndicates with emphasis on increased coordination and cooperation among agencies.

The technical sessions covered wider issues faced world over with focus on post COVID-19 Pandemic smuggling landscape and emerging trends. Dedicated sessions on combating narcotics related cross-border crimes drew attention to new technologies, innovative means and evolving sourcing and distribution methods adopted by smuggling syndicates.

The other technical sessions also covered best practices in combating of tobacco smuggling which has become global phenomenon involving organised criminal syndicates. With a view to protect flora, fauna and heritage of regions and countries, ideas were exchanged during the sessions to counter the smuggling of natural resources including Red Sanders. The challenge to handle the rising volumes on e-commerce and postal / express consignments due to the unique nature of e-commerce, anonymity with a very low-cost and low-risk alternative to smugglers were discussed elaborately. Discussions focussed on practises adopted by the regulators to establish linkage between money laundering and cross-border smuggling of contrabands including precious metals and gems.

They underlined steps taken by the administrations, viz. capacity building, augmenting resources and building inter-agency cooperation within countries and outside. Steps that the administrations and organisations can take to combat the infiltrations in supply chains by identifying the red flags and building comprehensive strategy to address the threat were also discussed at length.

The participants including the Customs officers were urged to use the mechanism available for seeking international cooperation for pursuing transnational and organised crimes. The modalities of various Customs conventions, resolutions, CMAAs, WCO agreements as well as Interpol assistance, use of CENcomm, a global customs communication network of countries, to exchange information on Customs offences for benefit of all Member countries and update about ongoing WCO projects including Program Global Shield, AIRCOP, JAITF and CCP Sea and Air were highlighted.

The participants unanimously agreed on the significance of timely sharing of actionable intelligence that relies on building a strong network among the Customs administrations and International organisations. The need to leverage the existing bilateral and multilateral engagement mechanisms, subject to respective domestic laws, for supporting greater collaboration and engagement towards enforcement against said crimes was emphasised.

The Principal Director General, DRI, while summarising the takeaways of the GCCEM, 2023, also expressed that ‘Network’ by exchange of information and investigative assistance will strengthen the enforcement actions and is the only lasting measure for fighting the ‘transnational criminal network’.

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GST revenue collection for October 2023 is second highest ever

 The gross GST revenue collected in the month of October, 2023 is ₹ 1,72,003 crore out of which ₹ 30,062 crore is CGST, ₹ 38,171 crore is SGST, ₹ 91,315 crore (including ₹ 42,127 crore collected on import of goods) is IGST and ₹ 12,456 crore (including ₹ 1,294 crore collected on import of goods) is cess.

The government has settled ₹ 42,873 crore to CGST and ₹ 36,614 crore to SGST from IGST. The total revenue of Centre and the States in the month of October, 2023 after regular settlement is ₹72,934 crore for CGST and ₹ 74,785 crore for SGST.

The gross GST revenue for the month of October, 2023 is 13% higher than that in the same month last year. During the month, revenue from domestic transactions (including import of services) is also 13% higher than the revenues from these sources during the same month last year. The average gross monthly GST collection in the FY 2023-24 now stands at Rs. 1.66 lakh crore and is 11% per cent more than that in the same period in the previous financial year.

The chart below shows trends in monthly gross GST revenues during the current year. The table below shows the state-wise figures of post settlement GST revenue of each State till the month of October 2023.

Chart: Trends in GST Collection

 

Table: SGST & SGST portion of IGST settled to States/UTs

April-October (Rs. in crore)

 

Pre-Settlement SGST

Post-Settlement SGST[1]

State/UT

2022-23

2023-24

Growth

2022-23

2023-24

Growth

Jammu and Kashmir

1,318

1,762

34%

4,299

4,817

12%

Himachal Pradesh

1,341

1,546

15%

3,368

3,302

-2%

Punjab

4,457

4,903

10%

11,378

13,115

15%

Chandigarh

351

389

11%

1,227

1,342

9%

Uttarakhand

2,805

3,139

12%

4,513

4,890

8%

Haryana

10,657

11,637

9%

18,291

20,358

11%

Delhi

8,000

9,064

13%

16,796

18,598

11%

Rajasthan

8,832

9,859

12%

19,922

22,571

13%

Uttar Pradesh

15,848

18,880

19%

38,731

42,482

10%

Bihar

4,110

4,731

15%

13,768

15,173

10%

Sikkim

179

297

66%

489

629

29%

Arunachal Pradesh

282

378

34%

932

1,155

24%

Nagaland

125

177

42%

564

619

10%

Manipur

166

210

27%

812

659

-19%

Mizoram

105

168

60%

488

573

18%

Tripura

242

299

23%

847

928

9%

Meghalaya

265

353

33%

841

988

17%

Assam

2,987

3,428

15%

7,237

8,470

17%

West Bengal

12,682

13,799

9%

22,998

24,607

7%

Jharkhand

4,329

5,152

19%

6,466

7,128

10%

Odisha

8,265

9,374

13%

11,031

12,723

15%

Chhattisgarh

4,285

4,773

11%

6,421

7,656

19%

Madhya Pradesh

6,062

7,384

22%

15,418

18,100

17%

Gujarat

21,644

24,005

11%

32,943

36,322

10%

Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

381

372

-3%

709

606

-15%

Maharashtra

48,870

58,057

19%

74,612

84,712

14%

Karnataka

20,165

23,400

16%

37,924

42,657

12%

Goa

1,111

1,307

18%

2,024

2,299

14%

Lakshadweep

6

16

162%

18

66

259%

Kerala

7,016

8,082

15%

17,450

18,370

5%

Tamil Nadu

20,836

23,661

14%

34,334

37,476

9%

Puducherry

271

288

6%

695

833

20%

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

112

125

12%

287

311

8%

Telangana

9,538

11,377

19%

21,301

23,478

10%

Andhra Pradesh

7,347

8,128

11%

16,441

18,488

12%

Ladakh

81

121

49%

311

377

21%

Other Territory

97

140

44%

281

685

144%

Grand Total

2,35,167

2,70,777

15%

4,46,167

4,97,562

12%

 

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Aquaculture crop insurance to all eligible fishers

 Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying organized a Meeting on Aquaculture Crop Insurance scheme for Shrimp and Fish today to discuss and understand technical challenges in the implementation of Aquaculture Crop Insurance scheme for Shrimp and Fish farming under the ongoing Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) scheme.

Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi chaired the meeting and the meeting was attended by both Joint Secretaries of DoF; CE, NFDB; Senior officials from insurance companies, Department of Finance Services (DFS),Central Institute of Brackish water Aquaculture (CIBA) and State/UT government officials.

Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi highlighted the need for identifying the gaps and concerted efforts from all stake holders to reach the benefits of Aquaculture crop insurance to all eligible fishers.  He also stressed on understanding the concept of insurance amongst the stakeholders and suggested that training sessions on Best Management Practices should be undertaken to mandate the strategic plan for implementing the Insurance scheme.

Dr. L. Murthy, C.E. NFDB highlighted that NFDB is implementing the pilot scale insurance scheme for shrimp and freshwater fish in flood prone areas of Andhra Pradesh and other parts of the country and briefly gave an overview of the same.

Joint Secretary, (Marine Fisheries), Ms Neetu Prasad in her address, suggested to setting up governing structure in line with Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) will be an important aspect to consider.

Joint Secretary inland fisheries, Shri Sagar Mehra presented a brief on a pilot project on Aquaculture Crop Insurance for both fish crop and Shrimp Crop under PMMSY and highlighted the Best Management Practices being adopted in the aquaculture Shrimp Farming. He also informed that aquaculture production is continuously increasing therefore it is very essential to manage risk faced by the marginalised farmers by providing them with insurance for their crops. He also brought out various challenges being faced by the fishers or taking insurance.

The officers from insurance companies, DFS, State fisheries departments, CIBA and NFDB actively participated in the meeting and gave their insightful suggestion/feedback for implementing the scheme for saturation.

Towards the end, open discussion was held with the various agencies, clarifications were sought from the distinguished agencies on practical and on-the-ground issues and possible actions and development of new insurance products.

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Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying

 The Department of Fisheries has successfully completed the Special Campaign 3.0 on 31st October, 2023 with the active participation and support of the employees along with an unwavering commitment to improve the working experiences enhancing cleanliness and achieving the set target.

During the Special Campaign 3.0, Secretary (Fisheries), Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi   and JS, DoF, Shri Sagar Mehra visited the offices of DoF located at Chander Lok building, New Delhi.

Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and its autonomous bodies like Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) and National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) and subordinate Institutes like National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training (NIFPHATT), Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET), Fishery Survey of India (FSI) and Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fisheries (CICEF) actively participated in the month long nationwide Special Campaign 3.0 with an aims at improving overall cleanliness of Government Offices and enhancing public experiences of common public with the Government Offices.

 

          Fishery Survey of India                                                               

Fishery Survey of India

                        CIFNET                     

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CIFNET                                                                                  NFDB NIFPHATT        

Setting the tone of the Campaign Department of Fisheries organized a Shramdan event on 01st October, 2023 at the campus of National Federation of Fishers Cooperatives Ltd (FISHCOPFED), wherein all the staff members and officers of Department including Secretary and both the Joint Secretaries participated in the Swachchata event with full enthusiasm. About 200 persons participated in the programme and cleaned the garbage/scraps piled up around the office and the market place. The month long campaign achieved success in achieving target related to the identified pendencies including references from MPs, Parliamentary assurances, State Government, Public Grievances, PMO, Public grievance appeals etc. keeping special focus on Record Management, cleanliness campaign, space recovery and scrap disposal.

 

     

During Shramdan event as a part of Special Campaign 3.0, Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary (Fisheries), GoI,  at FISHCOPFED

    

 During the special campaign 3.0, Secretary, DARPG visited at Department of Fisheries office located at Chanderlok Building, New Delhi.

The Department achieved 100% disposal of all identified Public Grievances, Public Appeals and Parliamentary Assurances. Further, 3200 physical files have been reviewed and more than 2500 files have been weeded out. 45,890 Square feet space have been freed and revenue of around Rs. 18,62,324 have been earned through scrap disposal. The campaign has been successfully covered all the 37 identified sites across our autonomous and sub-ordinate offices including the Department. The Senior Officers have closely monitored the campaign to achieve its target.

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Ministry of Heavy Industries

 Drawing inspiration from Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision and mission to institutionalize Swachhata and minimize pendency in Government, Ministry of Heavy Industries launched a Special Campaign 3.0 from 2nd October to 31st October 2023 with special impetus on disposal of pendency, better space management and making the environment clean and green.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries has successfully completed its Special Campaign 3.0 on Swachhta, which was conducted within the Ministry and across its Central Public Sector Enterprises and Autonomous Bodies located in various parts of the country. The campaign started with a preparatory phase from September 15th, 2023 to identify targets to be taken up for cleaning during the campaign period.

During the campaign, special focus was given to space management and enhancement of workplace experience in offices. Since the beginning of the preparatory phase of the Special Campaign, the Ministry along with its CPSEs and ABs identified cleanliness sites across the country. Around 20 Lakh Sq.ft. area was anticipated to be freed and more than 76,600 physical files were identified for review.  Daily progress was monitored by a dedicated team and uploaded on the SCPDM portal hosted by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.

Secretary MHI, Shri Kamran Rizvi  paid many surprise visits to divisions of MHI as a part of ongoing Special Campaign 3.0. He appreciated the efforts of the officials and encouraged them to channel their best efforts to maintain the cleanliness at workplace.

Along with the cleanliness, various activities to promote a healthy lifestyle, were also undertaken by the CPSEs and ABs under MHI:

(“Women Hygiene Seminar” organized in Tea Garden at AYCL, Assam)

(Distribution of Sanitary Pads and Iron Tablets among local girls for spreading awareness on personal Hygiene at AYCL, Assam)

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(Blood donation camp organized under special cleanliness campaign 3.0 at ICAT Manesar)

 

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(Medical camp organized in HMT building for all employees of HMT and GST)

 

 

(Message of cleanliness given by making rangoli in the administrative office of NEPA Limited)

All Central Public Sector Enterprises and Autonomous Bodies enthusiastically participated in the campaign and celebrated it as a cleanliness festival at 781 campaign sites. This year a remarkable 21 Lakh Sq.ft. space has been freed after disposal of scrap and other redundant material. 78,155 physical files were reviewed and 21,256 physical files have been weeded out during the campaign. 41,776 Electronic files have also been closed. Total revenue generated from the disposal of scrap is more than Rs. 4.66 Crores.

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EPFO celebrates 71st Foundation Day

 Union Minister for Labour & Employment, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the 71st Foundation Day of EPFO held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today through virtual mode. He congratulated everyone on the occasion. Shri Rameshwar Teli, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Smt. Arti Ahuja, Secretary Labour & Employment and Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Central P F Commissioner, Dr. Rajendra Kumar, Director General, ESIC were also present.

Shri Bhupender Yadav expressed happiness over the way EPFO has grown in the years gone by and the way it is managing its huge corpus of savings of the members. He also praised ‘Nidhi Aapke Nikat,’ an outreach program conducted by every EPFO office at the district level on the 27th of each month. The Union Minister also stated that EPFO had extended the Act’s provisions to the working class of Jammu and Kashmir, effective from October 31, 2019.

Shri Yadav further exhorted EPFO to become a hassle free and technology driven Organization. He expressed satisfaction that EPFO is giving 8.15% interest this year and has already credited interest in more than 24 crore accounts.

Shri Rameswar Teli congratulated everyone on the occasion of 71st Foundation Day of EPFO.  He praised the initiatives taken by EPFO to take service delivery close to the members & elderly pensioners in the North Eastern States through the Special State Offices in Imphal, Itanagar, Aizawl, Dimapur and Gangtok.

  1. this occasion the Minister of State Shri Rameshwar Teli inaugurated an exhibition named “Amrit Kaal – Behtar Kal“, displaying the 71 years of EPFO history including chatbot and revamped MIS 3.0. A documentary film on journey of 71 years of the organization titled Achievements of EPFO was also played on the occasion highlighting the organization’s achievements over the seven decades.

 

Marking this event, the Minister of State unveiled the second edition of State Profile Booklet 2023, Establishment e-Report and Compendium of 50 Landmark Judgments and manual on Communication Framework Document, Audit Manual, Recovery Manual and Exemption Manual.

The Minister of State laid the Foundation Stone of the Regional Office building, Behrampore, Odisha in virtual mode.  He  inaugurated the Regional Office building in Tumkur, Karnataka in virtual mode. Shri G. S. Basavaraj, Hon’ble MP and Shri G.B. Jyothi Ganesh, Hon’ble MLA, Tumkur were present at site. The Minister of State also inaugurated the new Head Office Building in Kidawai Nagar, New Delhi in virtual mode.

A film on Mission Karmayogi@EPFO Training & Capacity Building was played displaying the eventful journey of training of officials of EPFO.

 

The function also marked the distribution of awards to various offices and establishments: –

  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Best Regional Office (Large) – RO COIMBATORE
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Best Regional Office (Small) – RO Rajahmahendravaram
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Best District Office – DO ALIGARH
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Best Remote Office – RO GUWAHATI
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Best Zonal Office- ZO HUBLI (KARNATAKA- GOA)
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Best Office in Grievance Management – RO AHMEDABAD
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Best Office in Pro-Active Settlement – RO KOLLAM
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Best Performance in Jeevan Pramaan – RO VATWA
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Best NAN 2.0 Campaign – RO JAMMU
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Swachhata Award 2023 – RO BHOPAL
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Best Innovation – RO NOIDA
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Best Tech Intervention – Technical Team of NDC
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 in for Best Achievement in Capacity Building – PDNASS Induction Training Team
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Best Exempted Trust – M/s ZENSAR TECH LTD (PUPUN000398)
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Outstanding Sports Achievements – ZO Chennai & Puducherry
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Sportsperson of the Year – Female – Ms. Radhika Gupta, SSSA, RO Kandivali East
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Sportsperson of the Year – Male – Shri Clement Augustine, SSSA, RO Kottayam
  • Bhavishya Nidhi Award 2023 for Sportsperson of the Year – Male – Shri P. Shiva Kumar, SSSA, RO Chennai North

 

Ms. Arti Ahuja, Secretary, Labour & Employment, expressed her happiness on the occasion and congratulated the winners of the awards. She appreciated the outreach activities carried out by organization under Nidhi Aapke Nikat . She urged EPFO to further deepen acceptability, accessibility and transparency in coordination with other verticals of Ministry of Labour & Employment so as to benefit from each other’s capabilities and resources under the convergence program of Government. She said manuals unveiled today will help in standardization of the procedures and bring uniformity within the Organisation.

Mrs. Neelam Shami Rao, Central Provident Fund Commissioner, EPFO welcomed all the dignitaries who attended the 71st Foundation Day of EPFO and congratulated everyone on the occasion.

The 234th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees, EPF was also held on 31st Oct in New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Vice-Chairmanship of Shri Rameshwar Teli, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Petroleum & Natural Gas and Co-Chairmanship of Smt. Arti Ahuja, Secretary Labour & Employment and the Member Secretary Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Central P F Commissioner.

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During the meeting, the following decisions were taken: –

  1. The Board approved the 70th Annual report on the functioning of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for the year 2022-23 and recommended it to the government for placing before the parliament.
  2. The Board approved the Proposal for Surrender of exemption of 13 establishments and proposal for Cancellation of Exemption of 06 establishments under Section 17 (4) of EPF & MP Act, 1952, to Appropriate Government.
  3. The Board took note on various HR issues of EPFO.
  4. The Board approved the Amendments to the Recruitment Rules of Technical Cadres for Programmer, Assistant Director (IS), Deputy Director (IS), Joint Director (IS) and Director (IS) of Information Services Divisions creating scope for deputation, recruitment and promotion.
  5. The Board approved process of obtaining Joint Requests under Paragraph 26(6) of EPF Scheme 1952.
  6. The Board approved Project Report & Operationalisation of Next-Gen Security Operation Centre.
  7. The Board approved the Communication Framework Document which will help in efficient and timely dissemination of information within EPFO and with its stakeholders.
  8. The Board approved the Draft Audit Manual which will help to standardize audit procedures, provide a training resource for employees, facilitate decision-making, and to consolidate audit information in EPFO.          
  9. The Board approved the Draft Recovery Manual which will help to standardize recovery procedures, serve as a training resource, provide a reference for decision-making, and to consolidate recovery information.
  10. The Board approved the Draft Exemption Manual which will help in streamlining the procedures, training and consolidating the information and decided on many other items.

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Special Campaign 3.0 undertaken by Ministry of MSME in a befitting manner

   With a view to institutionalizing Swachhata and minimizing pendency in the Government, Special Campaign 3.0 was launched by the Ministry of MSME, on 2nd October, 2023, with a special focus on improving overall cleanliness of its offices, spread all over the country, by removing redundant and obsolete scrap material and for clearing pendencies in PMO/VIP references, Public Grievances and Appeals, Parliament Assurances etc. During the preparatory phase (from 15.09.23 to 30.09.23), the Ministry of MSME, set targets under various parameters, after consulting its subordinate offices / organisations and participated in the Special Campaign 3.0 with full zeal and enthusiasm. The Special Campaign 3.0 in the Ministry has been successfully completed on 31st October, 2023, by achieving   100% targets in 10 out of 11 parameters set for the Campaign.

     The Ministry of MSME also identified all the pendencies relating to VIP References, PMO References, MP References, State Government References, Cabinet References, Public Grievance/Appeals, for their appropriate disposal. In the matter of pendency disposal, all the State Government References, PMO references, Parliament assurances, Cabinet references were appropriately liquidated   leading to full attainment of the set targets and more than 95% of targeted MP references have also been cleared under the Campaign.  Besides this, 548 cleanliness campaigns have been organized by the Ministry and its organisations.

    Shri Narayan Rane, Union Minister for MSME flagged off the Special Campaign 3.0 by participating in ‘Swachhata Sewa’ at Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Central Office, Mumbai.

  

     Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Union MoS for MSME participated in Swachhata/cleanliness drives at Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialization (MGIRI), Wardha, Maharashtra, an institution of Ministry of MSME, with the prime objective of cleaning the office premises, better space management and making the environment clean and green.

The Divisions of the Ministry participated actively in Special Campaign 3.0. A token of appreciation was awarded to the leading Divisions in the Swachhata Campaign, within the Ministry.

 

During the campaign, a special attention was accorded to overall improvement of the working environment in the offices and also to ensure improved work experience for the officers and officials. As on 31.10.2023, with the valuable contributions made by all the its sub-ordinate office & organisations i.e. DC Office, KVIC, NSIC, Coir Board, Ni-MSME and MGIRI, the Ministry of MSME attained remarkable achievements.   23911 physical files were reviewed and 4998 files were weeded out.  Files and scrap disposal have earned a revenue of Rs. 50,47,593/-. Total space freed for official use stands at 17,664 Sq. Feet.

The Ministry of MSME stands committed to carrying forward the initiatives undertaken as part of Special Campaign 3.0.

*****