Out of the 1,568 central sector infrastructure projects being monitored by the government, as many as 721 (46%) were delayed. This was informed by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to the Parliament.   Details – The top three sectors with maximum number of delayed projects are – Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of… Continue reading Delay in infrastructure projects

Recently published External Sector Report 2022 by IMF has said that the RBI’s intervention in the currency market should be limited to addressing disorderly market conditions. Produced annually since 2012, External Sector Report analyses global external developments and provides multilaterally consistent assessments of external positions of the world’s largest economies.   Key highlights of the… Continue reading External Sector Report 2022

With the lumpy skin disease spreading fast among bovines in western and northern Rajasthan, cattle-rearers in the State are suffering heavy losses. The infection has spread to about 25,000 cattle in the last couple of months and resulted in the death of more than 1,200 animals.   About the ‘Lumpy skin disease’ – Lumpy skin… Continue reading Lumpy Skin Disease

The Kerala government has expressed its opposition to a new set of proposed amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.   About the MMDR Act – It is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted in 1957, which forms the basic framework of regulating the mining sector in India and mandates… Continue reading MMDR Act

A bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha seeking to convert the National Rail and Transportation University, a deemed-to-be-university, into Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, an autonomous central university.   About the PM-Gati Shakti framework – The Prime Minister Gati Shakti – National Master Plan was announced in 2021 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is essentially… Continue reading Bill for Gati Shakti University

The Eleventh Agricultural Census (2021-22) was launched in the country by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.   What is agricultural census? Agriculture Census is conducted every 5 years, which is being undertaken now after delay due to corona pandemic. The field work of agricultural census will start in August 2022. Agricultural Census… Continue reading Eleventh Agricultural Census

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is planning to replace the 80-year-old Coffee Act with the new Coffee (Promotion and Development Bill), 2022, which has been listed for the Monsoon Session of Parliament.   Background – The Coffee Act, 1942 was first introduced during World War II, in order to protect the struggling Indian coffee… Continue reading Coffee Promotion Board Act, 1922

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved additional investment of USD 1,600 million (about Rs. 12,000 crore) by Bharat Petroleum Resources Ltd. (BPRL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) for development of BM-SEAL-11 Concession Project in Brazil.   Details – The start of production from BM-SEAL-11 project is expected… Continue reading BM-SEAL 11

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing Suryamitra Skill Development Programme through National Institute of Solar Energy, Gurugram since Financial Year 2015-16.   Details – Objective is to train youth of age above 18 years as solar PV technicians for installation, operation and maintenance of solar power projects. Up to June 2022, a total… Continue reading Suryamitra Skill Development Programme

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch India’s first bullion exchange — the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) — at Gujarat’s GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City), India’s maiden International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.   Background – The bullion exchange, which was announced in the 2020 Union Budget, has not only… Continue reading India International Bullion Exchange