NPAs IN PSBs

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July 22, 2016

The details of Gross Advances, Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) and Gross NPA ratio of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) and Public Sector Banks (PSBs) for last three years are as under:

SCHEDULED COMMERCIAL BANKS (Rs. In crore)
	GROSS ADVANCES	GNPA	GNPA RATIO
FY 2014	61,01,775	2,51,060	4.11%
FY 2015	66,92,522	3,09,408	4.62%
FY 2016	72,86,952	5,41,763	7.43%
PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS (Rs. In crore)
	GROSS ADVANCES	GNPA	GNPA RATIO
FY 2014	45,90,458	2,16,739	4.72%
FY 2015	49,17,228	2,67,065	5.43%
FY 2016	51,16,985	4,76,816	9.32%

Main reasons for increase in NPAs of banks are sluggishness in the domestic growth during the recent past, slowdown in recovery in the global economy and continuing uncertainty in the global markets leading to lower exports of various products like textiles, engineering goods, leather, gems, external factors including the ban in mining projects, delay in clearances affecting Power, Iron & Steel sector, volatility in prices of raw material and the shortage in availability of power have impacted the operations in the Textiles, Iron & steel, Infrastructure sectors, delay in collection of receivables causing a strain on various Infrastructure projects, aggressive lending by banks in past.

The government has taken specific measures to address issues in sectors such as Infrastructure (Power, Roads etc.), Steel and Textiles, where incidence of NPAs is high. The government has also approved establishment of six (6) new Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs), to speed up the recovery of bad loans of the banking sector, in addition to existing thirty three. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has also undertaken steps which include (i) Formation of Joint Lenders’ Forum (JLF) for revitalising stressed assets in the system, (ii) Flexible Structuring for long term project loans to Infrastructure and Core industries, and (iii) Strategic Debt Restructuring (SDR) scheme. (iv) Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A).The Government has recently issued advisory to banks to take action against guarantors in event of default by borrower under relevant sections of SARFAESI Act, Indian Contract Act & RDDB&FI Act, since in the event of default; the liability of the guarantor is co-extensive with the borrower.

Sagar Purvi deployed to study Ocean Parameters

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Saurabh

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July 22, 2016

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The Government of India has deployed the Coastal Research Vessel (CRV) Sagar Purvi to study about ocean parameters along the coastal waters of India.

CRV Sagar Purvi was deployed for implementing various programmes of Ministry of Earth Sciences such as Monitoring of marine pollution levels and conservation and management of coastal resources including coral reef under Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMAPS) Programme, Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management (ICMAM), Swathe bathymetry survey of the Exclusive Economic Zone of India (EEZ) along the coastal waters of India.

The data and samples collected using CRV Sagar Purvi was useful in understanding the marine pollution levels, biological wealth and conservation of coastal resources in the coastal waters of India and for the better understanding of the seabed morphological features and its geo-morphological implications.

Under COMAPS programme the water quality parameters are periodically monitored in sensitive coastal marine areas of India especially for oil spills and thus helping in development of possible prediction of sea water quality in these selected locations to assess the state of marine environment.

Bathymetry charts generated by swathe bathymetry surveys likely serve as a base map for Oceanographic Researchers, Communication purpose, Defence and Navigation sectors. Systematic sediment sampling and its analysis helps to understand the sedimentation history and palaeo-climatic regime of the Indian peninsula.

Provision of Central Government funds for the State of Uttarakhand

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Saurabh

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July 22, 2016

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The Central Government devolves 42% of divisible pool of Central taxes to the States including Uttarakhand as per recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission, which may be used by the States for their various schemes and development. In addition, funds also flow to the States under Central Assistance for State Plan as per the Scheme Guidelines of the respective Ministries for development of the States, including Uttarakhand.

Therefore there is no discrimination towards the people of Uttarakhand by the Central Government.

Detection of black money by Government

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Saurabh

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July 22, 2016

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Recognising various limitations under the existing legislation [Income-tax Act, 1961, etc.], the Government enacted a new law – ‘The Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015’ – to specifically and effectively tackle the issue of black money stashed away abroad. This has, inter alia, provided for more stringent provisions of penalties and prosecutions in respect of black money stashed away abroad. Further, under this law, for the first time the offence of wilful attempt to evade tax, etc. in relation to undisclosed foreign income/assets has been made a Scheduled Offence for the purposes of the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). This enables attachment and confiscation of the proceeds of crime of wilful attempt to evade such tax, etc., eventually leading to recovery of such undisclosed foreign income and assets/black money stashed away abroad. The new law came into force w.e.f. 01.07.2015. Thus, the first assessment year (A.Y.) in respect of the new law is A.Y. 2016-17 which began only on 01.04.2016.

However, before the cases involving black money stashed away abroad were subjected to more stringent provisions of the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, a one-time three months’ compliance window closing on 30th September 2015 was provided under the new law wherein 648 declarations involving undisclosed foreign assets worth Rs.4164 crore were made. The amount collected by way of tax and penalty in such cases is about Rs.2476 crore.

Steps to prevent fire at Ammunition Depots

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Saurabh

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July 22, 2016

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Due to delay in procurement / recruitment, the deficiencies of 23 fire fighting trucks and 362 personnel exist in ammunition depots of Indian Army.

Ammunition is stored in permanent accommodation. However, due to operational and other local exigencies, some ammunition is stored in temporary sheds. The only major fire incident in ammunition depot during last three years has occurred in Central Ammunition Depot, Pulgaon on 31st May, 2016. There were 19 fatal and 17 non-fatal casualties, and the total loss of equipment and stores as per preliminary estimation is approximately Rs.7.90 crores. On the basis of the recommendations of Court of Inquiry and subsequent deliberations with all stakeholders, the following has been approved by the Government in order to prevent recurrence of such incidents:-

• Disposal of all defective segregated mines (Anti-Tank Mines 1A ND) for exudation of TNT, held at various locations will be undertaken by Army Headquarters (AHQ).
• Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) will replace or repair the defective ammunition within three months.
o Army Headquarters in consultation with all stakeholders will finalise the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs’) for:
o Disposal of defective ammunition in fixed time frame, and
o Fixing up responsibility for defect and regularisation of loss.
• Department of Defence Production (DDP) in consultation with all stakeholders will prepare a SOP for hand holding of Production Agency by the Designer till production stabilizes.
• Army Headquarters will review the security (including surveillance) and fire safety arrangements at all ammunition depots.

IAF AN-32 plane with 29 aboard missing; Massive search operations on !

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Saurabh

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July 22, 2016

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An AN-32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) with 29 people on board went missing over the Bay of Bengal today ,Defence Ministry sources said. The aircraft was flying from Chennai to Port Blair. Those on board included six crew members.

“The aircraft departed at 8.30 a.m. and was due at Port Blair at 11.30 a.m. The aircraft has not reached. Search operations are on,” a senior IAF official told .According to Coast Guard officials -“We have deployed Coast Guard aircraft and ships to search for the plane,” Officials said it was a “courier flight” with service personnel on board.

A major search and rescue operation has been launched by the Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal.

Navy officials said a P-8I surveillance aircraft, a Dornier and four ships had been deployed in the search and rescue operation.

IndianBureaucracy.com hopes for the best.

Joint dedication of Petrapole Integrated Check Post

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Saurabh

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July 22, 2016

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated the Petrapole Integrated Check Post through video-conferencing. Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee also participated from Kolkata in the video-conference.

Petrapole-Benapole is an important land border crossing for India-Bangladesh trade. More than 50 per cent of the India-Bangladesh trade passes through Petrapole. Trade worth more than Rs. 15000 Crore takes place through the Petrapole ICP, which is more than all the other Indian Land Ports and Land Customs Stations put together. Approximately 15 lakh people and 150,000 trucks cross Petrapole-Benapole every year.

The Petrapole ICP will provide better facilities for effective and efficient discharge of functions such as security, immigration, customs, quarantine, etc. while also providing support facilities for smooth cross-border movement of persons, goods and transport.

Petrapole ICP will be the second ICP on the India-Bangladesh border after the Agartala ICP at the Agartala (India)-Akhaura (Bangladesh) land border. It will also be the biggest land port in South Asia.

It is expected that the capacity will double with the commissioning of the Petrapole ICP and the local business community will benefit immensely from reduced transaction time and costs. The commissioning of the Petrapole ICP will also serve to foster greater economic integration and connectivity between India and Bangladesh.

IndianBureaucracy.com wishes the very best.

Public health benefits of e-cigarette use tend to outweigh the harms

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Saurabh

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July 22, 2016

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Summary:A modelling study by top tobacco control experts finds that e-cigarettes are likely to provide public health benefits based on “conservative estimates” of the likely uptake of vaping and smoking by adolescents and young adults. If used instead of smoking, e-cigarettes provide the potential to reduce harm and improve public health, says the lead author.

A modelling study by top tobacco control experts finds that e-cigarettes are likely to provide public health benefits based on “conservative estimates” of the likely uptake of vaping and smoking by adolescents and young adults.

The study, published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research, suggests that “recent claims by some scientists that e-cigarettes are likely to act as a gateway to the use of tobacco products are overstated,” says the study’s lead author, population scientist David Levy, PhD, a professor of oncology at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

If used instead of smoking, e-cigarettes provide the potential to reduce harm and improve public health, Levy says. But they also have the potential to increase harm if youth who would not have otherwise smoked become cigarette smokers as a direct consequence of first trying e-cigarettes — the so-called “gateway” hypothesis that has gained flavor by some, he says.

“Our study indicates that, considering a broad range of reasonable scenarios, e-cigarettes are likely to reduce cigarette smoking and not lead to offsetting increases in harm from the use of e-cigarettes and more deadly cigarettes,” Levy says. “When we consider the plausible positive and negative aspects of e-cigarette use, we find that vaping is likely to have a net positive public health impact.”

The team that developed the model — researchers from the U.S., Australia and Canada — projected a reduction of 21 percent in smoking-attributable deaths and 20 percent in life years lost as a result of use of e-cigarettes in people born in 1997 or after, compared to what would have happened if e-cigarettes were not an option.

“Our model is consistent with recent evidence that, while e-cigarette use has markedly increased, cigarette smoking among youth and young adults has fallen dramatically,” Levy says.

Levy supports the recent decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban use of e-cigarettes to youth younger than 18 “because we still want to discourage use of all nicotine and cigarette products,” he says.

Levy also says that, despite their estimates of an overall public health benefit from e-cigarettes, youth use of these products needs to be continuously monitored, since use patterns are likely to change as the product and awareness about the product changes.

While supporting prudent FDA regulation of e-cigarettes, Levy says he is concerned that regulating e-cigarettes in the same manner as cigarettes will pose a burden to smaller companies who will not have the resources necessary to gain marketing approval for their products. “Over regulation of e-cigarettes might actually stifle the development and marketing of safer products that could more effectively displace cigarettes,” he says.

More:Science

Setting up of Ripening Chambers for the Benefit of Farmers and Entrepreneurs

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Saurabh

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July 22, 2016

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Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for holistic development of horticulture in the country including creation of post harvest management infrastructure to reduce losses of perishable horticulture produce. Post harvest management component includes establishment of setting up of pack house, pre-cooling, primary processing, cold chain, refrigerated transport, ripening chambers etc.

These components are demand & entrepreneur driven for which credit linked back ended subsidy is available through respective State Horticulture Missions. An entrepreneur can avail assistance for establishment of ripening chamber @ 35% of admissible project cost in general areas and @ 50% in hilly and schedule area as credit linked and back ended subsidy. The admissible cost for ripening chamber is Rs. 1.00 lakh per MT limited to maximum of 300 MT capacity. State wise assistance sanctioned under MIDH for establishment of ripening chambers is given below in table.

Capacity building of field staff and farmers is one of the major components of MIDH. State Horticulture Missions are organising regular training programmes and workshops on Post-harvest Management (PHM) including ripening chambers for the benefit of farmers and entrepreneurs. Further, National Centre for Cold-chain Development (NCCD), an autonomous organization under Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare is holding workshops and training programmes in various parts of the country for ripening chamber operators and farmers for awareness and technical information for establishment and running of ripening chambers.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Sudarshan Bhagat in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question.

State wise financial assistance sanctioned for establishment of ripening chambers under MIDH (NHM & NHB) till March 2016

(Rs. In Lakh)

State	No. of Projects	Assistance sanctioned
Andhra Pradesh	45	695.16
Assam	1	25.60
Chhattisgarh	1	19.36
Goa	2	31.00
Gujarat	52	1344.69
Haryana	11	542.32
Himachal Pradesh	2	31.22
Jammu & Kashmir	2	47.11
Jharkhand	1	12.50
Karnataka	40	457.83
Madhya Pradesh	5	171.06
Maharashtra	73	1628.62
Orissa	4	62.00
Punjab	17	669.12
Rajasthan	25	643.07
Tamil Nadu	14	340.27
Telangana	20	496.88
Uttar Pradesh	34	1008.77
Uttarakhand	1	24.00
West Bengal	1	30.00
Total	351	8280.58

Steps under Swachh Bharat Campaign being taken in Zoos & Protected Areas

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Saurabh

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July 22, 2016

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swachh bharat

As part of the effort of the Government to accelerate efforts to achieve total sanitation and cleanliness by 2^ndOctober 2019 under the Swachh Bharat Mission, Swachh Bharat Fortnight is being organised theme-wise by different Ministries. Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Ajay Narayan Jha and Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, Shri Parameswaran Iyer, outlined the steps and initiatives on Swacch Bharat Mission during Swacchhta Pakhwada (fortnight) from June 1-15. Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, also made a Powerpoint presentation on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jha said that in order to focus its efforts on reaching out to the community and the citizens, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change decided to organise its theme campaign of Swachhta in National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves and Zoos, where lakhs of visitors, especially youth and children come. The Protected Areas (PAs) are spread over approximately 1.61 lakh sq. km and about 32 lakh visitors come annually to the Tiger Reserves alone. Delhi Zoo has about 25 lakh visitors annually. Though cleanliness is a standard management practice for PAs and MoEF&CC extends assistance to States on this aspect also, as per the Action Plans proposed by the States, the campaigns were designed to focus on sensitising the visitors and tourists on issues such as solid waste management, prevention of littering and overall cleanliness of the park and surrounding areas.

All the Principal Chief Conservators of Forest, Chief Wildlife Wardens, Director of Delhi Zoo, Central Zoo Authority, Wildlife Institute of India, National Tiger Conservation Authority, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and other agencies associated with the Wildlife Wing of the Ministry were involved in the campaign. Further, in order to extend the scope of Swachhta Campaign to include waste management concepts and recent regulations, a specific mandate of this Ministry, special drives were launched in 10 select Protected Areas^** to sensitise the visitors on the regulatory regime for waste management. In particular, segregation, transportation and processing of wet waste at source as well as segregation of bio-degradable waste from other type of wastes were demonstrated.

The special drives were carried out with the assistance of experts from the State Pollution Control Boards, Municipalities and other civic agencies. During the course of these campaigns, several new ideas, suggestions and operating procedures were collected. These will be standardised into Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for management of littering and solid waste management in and around the National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Protected Areas and Zoos.

The Ministry has decided to sustain the Swachhta Campaign throughout the year to make it into a regular feature of management of various National Parks, etc. and spread the message of Swachh Bharat through the lakhs of visitors who come to these places.

The next Pakhwada for the Ministry will be in the month of August, in which eco-clubs and youth will also be involved in the campaign for pollution free environment.

^**Ten Protected Areas taken up for Special Drive:-

No.	Name of the PA	State
1.	Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary	Andhra Pradesh
2.	Gir Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park	Gujarat
3.	Kanha Tiger Reserve	Madhya Pradesh
4.	Tadoba – Andhari Tiger Reserve	Maharashtra
5.	Flamingo Sanctuary	Maharashtra
6.	Nagarhole Tiger Reserve	Karnataka
7.	Periyar Tiger Reserve	Kerala
8.	Sariska Tiger Reserve	Rajasthan
9.	Mudumalai Tiger Reserve	Tamil Nadu
10.	Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve	Uttarakhand

The Ministry carried out various activities relating to Swachhta such as weeding of files, cleaning of office premises and establishments under them. Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change inaugurated the campaign on 1^st June 2016. The Swachhta Pledge was administered to the officers and staff. The Ministry has also started a system to make it a zero waste building. Waste generated inside the premises is separated at source and deposited in different bins. ‘Chintan’, an NGO working in the field, collects it for disposal. Compost, which will be generated in the process, will be obtained by the Ministry for its garden and surroundings. A campaign through puppet show, stickers and posters has also been launched to make it a plastic-free building.

Improving Quality of Medical Education

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Saurabh

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July 22, 2016

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The Medical Council of India (MCI) is the statutory body responsible for establishing and maintaining high standards in medical education. For this purpose MCI causes the assessment of every medical college on a year to year basis. Further a common Entrance Test namely National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has been introduced from this year, for admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

IndianBureaucracy.com wishes the very best.

Allocation of Defence Budget for Modernisation

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Saurabh

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July 22, 2016

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Ministry of Defence

Around 31% of the total allocation from defence services Budget estimates has been allocated for modernisation i.e. Capital Acquisition of Armed Forces.

Internal Audit of defence expenditure is routinely conducted by the Defence Accounts Department (DAD). Reports of this Internal Audit are shared with the concerned Services/ Agencies. Responses received are examined and Internal audit conclusions arrived at, thereafter necessary action is taken as and when required.

Government constantly reviews the security scenario and accordingly decides to induct appropriate defence equipment to keep the Armed Forces in a state of readiness to meet any eventualities and remaining equipped with modern weapon systems. Modernization of Armed Forces is a continuous process based on threat perception, operational challenges, technological changes and available resources. The procurement of defence equipment under the ‘Capital’ head is made as per Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) which contains timelines for completion of procurement process. There has been a thrust on indigenous manufacture of defence equipment through the collaborative efforts of Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO), Defence Public Undertakings, Ordnance Factory Board and the Private Sector.

Pendencies in procurement cases can occur due to several reasons, such as insufficient and limited vendor base, non- conformity of offers to the Request for Proposals (RFP) conditions, field trials, complexities in contract negotiations, stakeholder consultations, lead time for indigenization etc.

During the last three financial years (i.e. from 2013-14 to 2015-16), 150 contracts have been signed with Indian public sector vendors, Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Indian Private sector vendors for Capital Procurement of Defence Equipment such as Ships, Frigates, Missiles, Rockets, Simulators, Tanks, Aircrafts, Helicopters and Radars for the Armed Forces.

IndianBureaucracyPRO

Indian Bureaucracy

NPAs IN PSBs

Sagar Purvi deployed to study Ocean Parameters

Provision of Central Government funds for the State of Uttarakhand

Detection of black money by Government

Steps to prevent fire at Ammunition Depots

IAF AN-32 plane with 29 aboard missing; Massive search operations on !

Joint dedication of Petrapole Integrated Check Post

Public health benefits of e-cigarette use tend to outweigh the harms

Setting up of Ripening Chambers for the Benefit of Farmers and Entrepreneurs

Steps under Swachh Bharat Campaign being taken in Zoos & Protected Areas

Improving Quality of Medical Education

Allocation of Defence Budget for Modernisation

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