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100 cr towards Central Government co-contribution in Atal Pension Yojana

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Atal-pension-yojana_indianbureaucracy

Atal Pension Yojana is being implemented through the APY Service Providers comprising of Public Sector Banks, Private Sector Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Cooperative Banks and Department of Post both in urban and rural areas across the country. The total number of subscribers registered under APY as on 30th June 2016 has crossed 30 lakh and every day nearly 5000 new subscribers are added.

The scheme provides for a co-contribution from Government of India for those who have registered before 31/3/2016 with an amount of 50% of the subscribers contribution up-to a maximum of Rs. 1000/- and these subscribers will be eligible for co-contribution for a period of 5 years from 2015-16 to 2019-20. Only those subscribers who are not income tax payers and not part of any other social security schemes are eligible for Government of India co-contribution. Keeping in view the above, Government of India through PFRDA has released co-contribution for the FY 2015-16 for 16.96 lakh eligible subscribers amounting to Rs. 99.57 crores. The Subscribers who have any pending contributions in their APY account till March 2016 won’t be paid with co-contribution. They have been advised by PFRDA to regularize their APY account so as to get Government of India co-contribution in the month of September. Government of India co-contribution is payable only when accounts are regular and the admissible Government of India co-contribution is paid into the Savings Bank account of the Subscribers.

Atal Pension Yojana, provides minimum guaranteed pension ranging between Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 5000/- per month for the subscriber from the age of 60 years. The Same amount of pension is paid to the spouse in case of subscriber’s demise. After the demise of both i.e. Subscriber & Spouse, the nominee would be paid the pension corpus. There is also option for Spouse to continue to contribute in APY account of subscriber for balance period, on premature death of subscriber before 60 years, so that pension can be availed by Spouse. Also, if the actual returns on the pension contributions during the accumulation phase is higher than the assumed returns for the minimum guaranteed pension, such excess returns are passed on to the subscriber, resulting in enhanced scheme benefits.

Vijay Goel reviews preparations of Rio Olympics 2016 at Bangalore SAI NSSC

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Vijay Goel-indianbureaucracy

Vijay Goel, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt. of India visited SAI NSSC Bangalore to review the progress of National Camps for preparing for the RIO Olympics 2016.  He was accompanied by DG, SAI. He interacted with the athletes and enquired about their preparedness.

The minister wished all athletes, including Hockey (Men), Athletes (Walkers, Middle and Long Distance runners and Relay team) and Para Athletes all the best for Olympics/Paralympics.   He also complimented the Staff, Coaches, Sports Scientists and Officers, who did a wonderful job to support the National Campers to make them comfortable by providing all the required facilities and prepare them for the International Competitions as well as for the forthcoming RIO Olympic Games 2016.

National Camps in Athletics started way back in 2014. National Camp in the discipline of Hockey started in 2015 after the relaying of Hockey Synthetic turf and also the discipline of Archery started in the month of May, 2016 for whom the facility was specially created on the lines of ambience expected to be available at the RIO Olympics 2016. National Camps in the discipline of Athletics(Walkers and Middle and Long Distance Runners) and Para Athletes is also being held at this Centre.

The 2nd Synthetic Hockey Turf Blue colour which is having similar specifications of the Turf being used in RIO Olympics was also made available to the National Team by the month of February, 2016.

SAI NSSC Bangalore which is having a well equipped with dedicated staff, Sports Medicine and Sports Scientists to provide required assistance support and counseling to the National Campers preparing for various International Competitions.  Recently SAI Head Office had also placed order  for latest Sports Science equipment for providing better support to the National Campers.  Also due to less number of qualified Sports Scientists SAI head Office has taken the Research Fellows to work in the Sports Science Centres.  10 such Research Fellows are allotted to SAI NSSC Bangalore and all these Research Fellows have joined and started working with the National Camps.

Following National Camps have Been organized  at this centre for Rio  Olympics 2016

i) National Camp in Athletics particularly for Walkers, Middle and Long Distance Runners is held at this Centre and good number of Athletes  from this group have been qualified to take part in the RIO Olympics 2016.  Recently Athletes in the discipline of 4×400 M Relay Men and Women also shifted to this Centre who are also proceeding to RIO Olympics after having a short stint at this Centre.

ii) National Camp in Hockey Sr. Men and Women, Jr. Men and Women are being held at this Centre regularly since last 8 to 9 months.  Hockey Chief Coach and High Performance Director Mr.Roelant Oltmans is satisfied with the playing facilities as well as the other support being provided at this Centre and would like to continue the camps at this Centre.

iii) The National Camp in Archery was also held at this Centre since May, 2016 for whom the facility was created at a very short notice as per the requirements of Archery Association of India to suit the similar conditions prevailing or will be available at RIO Olympic Games 2016.

iv) National Camp for Para Athletes is also being held at this Centre preparing for RIO Olympic Games.

v) The National Camp in Swimming for 02 Swimmers qualified for RIO Olympic Games 2016 is also being held at Basavanagudi Swimming Pool under the jurisdiction of SAI NSSC BANGALORE.

Study finds that Struggling families crave stability in uncertain times

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science indianbureaucracy
science indianbureaucracy

Summary : Over a third of families (more than 2 million households) in the United Kingdom are earning below the minimum income needed for an acceptable living standard. A new study has taken a new look at life on a low income, starting not from the perspective of poverty and hardship but from a more positive description of what it is to participate in society and meet needs.

Over a third of families (more than 2 million households) in the UK are earning below the minimum income needed for an acceptable living standard.

This is among the key findings of a unique study into the life of families unable to afford a minimum household budget, produced by Lough borough University’s Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP) for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF).

The Falling Short study takes a new look at life on a low income, starting not from the perspective of poverty and hardship but from a more positive description of what it is to participate in society and meet your needs. Researchers talked in depth to 30 families with incomes lower than the Minimum Income Standard (MIS). MIS is calculated by CRSP and is used to assess what income households require in order to buy the things that the public consider essential for an acceptable standard of living.

The study shows:

  • Parents generally work hard to make the most of a low income, looking around for deals, juggling money to pay bills and constantly keeping their eye on their spending. This can be highly stressful and time consuming; one mother in the study said she spends two hours a day planning her budget and comparing prices
  • Instability of pay and benefits (in and out of work) make it particularly hard to manage. Those with irregular work and zero hours contracts were particularly frustrated by the lack of stability, which caused fluctuating income from both pay and benefits
  • Uncertainties arise for the growing number of families who rent their homes privately; up from around 10% to nearly a quarter in the past two decades. Parents are worried by the lack of security and the risk that they may have to move, and would much prefer social housing
  • Having support from wider family is a key advantage for some families. Grandparents contribute both to helping look after children and enabling parents to increase earnings from work, avoiding high childcare costs. They are also helping out when there is a crisis or helping fund a holiday, children’s activities or trips out. This could make a big difference to family living standards
  • Families in this study commonly had at least one member with a physical or mental health condition, and this can affect their living standards. It restricts the capacity to earn of someone in ill health themselves or caring for a sick child, as well as bringing substantial extra costs — for example, from additional transport requirements, or because they find it hard to get out and shop around for the best deals.

The study also found that parents are generally willing to go without things to protect their children from the consequences of low income. Some say they cannot remember when they last went out socially as a couple; others that they rarely buy clothes for themselves. In more extreme cases, parents miss meals when money is short so that their children do not go without.

Katherine Hill, Senior Research Associate at CRSP and lead author of the study, said: “Our study shows that parents with too little income are under constant pressure, but that some cope with it better than others. This is partly influenced by personal skills like the ability to budget, but there are many factors that are beyond parents’ control. Things are particularly hard for those without wider family support, for those having to cope with family illness, and for people seeking to clear a long-term debt.

“To make progress in coping with low income, families above all need some stability. In particular, they need a steady income and housing security that allows them to plan for the future. They need to be able to rely on affordable childcare and work arrangements to fit around children, rather than only being able to work where extended family members are available or have their earnings eaten up by childcare costs.

“The UK is entering uncertain times, but if the newly formed government wants to ensure that the worst-off families can improve their lives, they need to help make their work opportunities, housing, childcare and benefits more secure.”

More:Science

 

Ban cash transactions above Rs 3 lakh to curb black money recommends SIT

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FICCI
FICCI_logo_indianbureaucracy

The Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) has recommended a ban on cash transactions above Rs. 3 lakh and a cap on cash holding at Rs. 15 lakh, even as it acknowledged that the current restrictions on cash transactions above Rs. 20,000 in the form of tax deduction/ penalty are impracticable and have little effect.

“It is suggested that there should be a positive provision under the Income Tax Act that any transaction involving more than Rs. 3 lakh shall be invalid and illegal and would be a punishable offence, if amount is not paid by account payee cheque or account payee bank draft or use of electronic clearing system through a bank account,” the SIT said in its fifth report submitted in the court.

“Limits on cash transactions would discourage white-collared criminals or hardened criminals from money laundering and dealing in unaccounted/black money. This would also discourage corruption to some extent,” the SIT said.

Arguing for a cash-holding limit, the team said, “Law should provide that if any cash amount more than the prescribed limit is found, the same shall vest in the Union of India.” These stringent provisions, the team said, would have its own impact on “Income Declaration Scheme (IDS)” for disclosure of unaccounted money launched from June 1, 2016.

The SIT suggested that the government amend existing laws or enact a new law, for regulating the possession and transportation of cash, particularly putting a limitation on cash holdings for private use, and including provisions for confiscation of cash held beyond prescribed limits.

We want people to clean up their books: FM

Technology is a great facilitator for the taxman, finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Thursday, adding that the human contact between the taxman and the taxpayers is increasingly getting reduced.

“There is real time information and finding out details is not going to be very difficult. We want people to clean up their books,” he said, referring to the Income Declaration Scheme, 2016.

“I can only tell you that the technology for the taxman is a great facilitator. And therefore, in years to come with every passing day, for the taxman to detect violations is going to be relatively easier. Hopefully, if GST gets implemented, every stage of a business transaction is going to be recorded. And therefore, income generating out of that would have to be accountable,” the finance minister said at an event organised by FICCI.

However, Jaitley came across a lacklustre response when he had announced the first scheme, after the NDA government came to power in May 2014, to bring back black money stashed abroad — the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015. Just Rs. 4,147 crore was declared during the 90-day black money compliance window. Of this, the government could mop up Rs. 2,400 crore as taxes. “One of the objectives behind the 2015 Black Money Law was to offer an opportunity to assessees to comply…”

TRI-NETRA proposal for Locomotives for enhancing Vision of Locomotive Pilots

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Ministry of Railways
Ministry of Railways

Ministry of Railways, Railway Board has initiated a proposal to install TRI-NETRA systems on locomotives for enhancing the vision of Locomotive Pilots in inclement weather. TRI-NETRA stands for – Terrain imaging for diesel dRivers INfra-red, Enhanced optical & Radar Assisted system.

TRI-NETRA system shall be made up of high-resolution optical video camera, high sensitivity infra-red video camera and additionally a radar-based terrain mapping system. These three components of the system shall act as three eyes (Tri-Netra) of the Locomotive Pilot.

TRI-NETRA is designed to “see” the terrain ahead of the running locomotive during inclement weather by combining the images captured by the three sub-systems and to create a composite video image which shall be displayed in front of the Loco Pilot on a computer monitor.

During fog, heavy rain and also during night, the locomotive pilots face serious challenges in looking out ahead to spot any obstruction on the track such as vehicles which get stuck while crossing the track or trees or boulders which have fallen across the track etc. Because of the heavy momentum of the running train, the train driver has to always adjust the speed of the train such that he or she can stop the train on visually

seeing the obstruction. In fair weather and in daytime, this is not a problem since train driver has a clear view of the track ahead. But in poor visibility, he has to reduce the speed suitably so that the brakes can be applied in time to stop the train without hitting the obstructions.

This is where TRI-NETRA will come into picture and give the locomotive pilot a clear view of the track ahead in bad visibility conditions so that he can apply brakes well in time. Conversely, he can speed up the train even in poor visibility if the TRI-NETRA system shows that the track ahead is clear of obstruction. The system shall also map the terrain ahead so that the driver knows when he is approaching a station or a signal.

The concept of TRI-NETRA was developed by Development Cell under the guidance of Member Mechanical, Railway Board while brainstorming on how to use the technology employed by fighter aircrafts to see through clouds and operate in pitch darkness and the technology used by naval ships in mapping the ocean floor and navigating in the night. Such an “assisted vision” system is not available readily in any of the advanced railway systems but the manufacturers and technology partners who develop components of such systems for defence are very excited with the concept. “Such systems have not been used for peacetime applications and we are excited that Indian Railways have thrown such a challenge at us” said one of the foreign specialists who develops such systems for fighter aircrafts. There has been very enthusiastic response to this Expression of Interest (EoI) published by Railway Board and number of companies from Israel, Finland, USA and Austria have expressed interest in developing such a system.

Yogeshwar Dutt gets support to Rio Olympics from SAIL

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YOGESHWAR_DUTT_indianbureaucracy_SAIL

Hon’ble Minister for Steel, Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh conferred the SAIL logo on Rio Olympics Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, in New Delhi on July 15, 2016. Chairman SAIL, Mr. P.K. Singh was also present on the occasion.

Shri Chaudhary Birendra Singh, while felicitating the Olympic going athlete said, “It is a matter of great pride that the largest contingent of Indian athletes is participating in the Rio Olympics this time. Yogeshwar is an athlete in whom we all have lot of trust and hope. I assure all help to Yogeshwar Dutta and give my best wishes to the entire Rio contingent. SAIL has decided to support Yogeshwar for the Rio Olympics. We will continue to provide him our support even after the Olympics and will again felicitate him after he wins a medal in the games.”

A few days ago Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had wished the Indian Olympic contingent the very best.

IndianBureaucracy.com wishes the very best for Rio Olympics.

Alok Tandon appointed Additional Secretary- Cabinet Secretariat, GOI

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Alok Tandon-indianbureaucracy

Shri Alok Tandon IAS (Uttar Pradesh 1986) presently posted as  Joint Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, has been appointed  as Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, in place of  Shri Jai Priye Prakash IAS.

IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri Tandon the very best.

Jayashree Mukherjee appointed Additional Secretary- I&B Ministry, GOI

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IAS
IAS

Ms. Jayashree Mukherjee IAS (Maharashtra 1986) presently  posted in her cadre as Principal Secretary, Minority Development Department, Mumbai City, has been   appointed  as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting vice  Shri Jitendra Shankar Mathur IAS.

IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Ms. Mukherjee the very best.

U K Singh appointed Additional Secretary- Dept of Agriculture, GOI

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Utpal Kumar Singh IAS
Utpal Kumar Singh IAS

Shri Utpal Kumar Singh IAS (Uttarakhand 1986) presently posted as  Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,in place of   Shri Avinash K Srivastava lAS (UP 1982).

IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri Singh the very best.

Vast Scope of Development of Beekeeping in Bihar: Radha Mohan Singh

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Radha Mohan Singh-indianbureacracy
Radha Mohan Singh-indianbureacracy

The scope of agriculture is very vast. Our farmers not only grow food grains in the field but they are contributing very much in the development of the country by doing other work associated with farming and getting employment. Beekeeping is one of them. It is a very attractive rural agriculture/horticulture based activities. It neither requires technology nor capital investment or comprehensive infrastructure. Our farmers, agricultural workers can increase their income alone and by forming groups also. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh said this on the occasion of inauguration of two days seminar of ‘Integrated Beekeeping Development’ in Piprakothi, Motihari in Bihar today on awareness, promotion and technology transfer in beekeeping.

The seminar was organised by National Bee Keeping Board (NBB), Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. Union Minister has said that we have learnt bee keeping from our tradition. It is a traditional industry of forest areas and many tribal and other persons know the original art of honey collection. We have to help them by scientific management. We have to link it with employment. He said that bee keeping has so many benefits: (a) To provide self employment to rural and forest based population (b) Production of honey, pollen, wax, venom and royal jelly; (c) To provide employment to rural educated youths in collection, processing and marketing of bee products; (d) To increase the yield by cross pollination of several agriculture and horticulture crops and to improve their quality. The Government is trying its best for this.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that we not only get honey from honey bees but there are so many species of honey bees in India which are very helpful in giving pollination support for increasing yield of agriculture and horticulture corps. In many developed countries honey bees are used for pollination in agriculture and horticulture crops in a very large number for increasing per acre productivity for the last three four decades. The agriculture scientists of America and Europe have estimated that the yield of crops has increased manifold due to bee pollination. In many of the crops, yield has increased manifold by cross pollination of honey bees e.g. 159.8% in Mustard, 20 to 3400% in Sunflower, 24-33150% in Burseme, 180 to 6950% in Apple, 10,000% in Lichi, 471 to more than 900% in Orange, 70 to more than 140% in Guava, upto 30% in Pulses like Arhar etc. According to National Bee Board, 12 main crops are unfertile themselves and they require bee pollination and for this atleast 2000 lakh bee colonies are required. Recently about 25 lakh bee colonies are reared by more than 2.00 lakh beekeepers and the estimated annual production of honey is about 90,000 metric tonne.

Thus we see that bee keeping has double benefits. On the one hand our agriculture yield is increasing and we are getting bee products on the other hand. Besides honey, we get wax, venom, royal jelly, propolis etc. from bee keeping which are used in medicine and cosmetics. These products are in great demand in national and international markets.

National Bee Board (NBB) is putting on constant efforts for the development of bee keeping in the country. It makes the people aware and has done many work for the increase of the capacity of the bee keepers. The main aim of the NBB are nucleus stock production, capacity building and training of bee producers and bee keepers, to make holistic development of scientific bee keeping in India by popularising state of art technologies relating to processing and quality control of bee products.

The Minister said that if we talk of Bihar, it has huge capacity of bee keeping in Bihar. Keeping this capacity in view National Bee Board, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India while taking decision have given a project of about Rs. 2 crores for establishment of Integrated Bee Keeping Development Centre (IBDC) in Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Piprakothi, Motihari with the cooperation of Rajendra Agriculture University, Samastipur for promotion of scientific bee keeping in the state. Everything will be provided for scientific bee keeping in the centre situated in Piprakothi i.e. production, storage, processing, marketing unit of manufacturing equipments, increase in the number of mother bees, identification of the diseases of honey bees and clinical laboratories. For collection of honey and other products and for maintaining the quality, centres will be opened. This centre will promote bee keeping from scientific methods in Bihar and this centre will prove itself helpful in giving much incentives and benefits to bee keepers and farmers.

Anshu Prakash appointed Additional Secretary- Dept of Heavy Industry, GOI

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Anshu Prakash-indianbureaucracy

Shri Anshu Prakash IAS (AGMUT 1986) presently posted as  Joint Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has been appointed  as Additional Secretary, Department of Heavy Industry, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of India,in place of Shri Ambuj Sharma, IAS (TN:1983)on completion of his tenure.

IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri Prakash the very best.

CII CEOs delegation to visit Indonesia from 18-19 July 2016

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CII Logo
CII Logo

Dr Naushad Forbes, President, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will lead a high profile delegation of Indian CEOs to Jakarta, Indonesia from 18 -19 July, 2016. The 2-day visit aims to enhance economic engagement between the two countries considering the huge potential which still remains untapped and new opportunities that have emerged. The visit is also a follow up on the discussions held during the visit of H.E. Mr. Ignasius Jonan, Minister of Transportation of Indonesia to India in February 2016 for Make in India Week.

Ambassador of India to Indonesia and Timor Leste H.E. Ms. Nengcha Lhouvum said that the leaders of both countries have strategic visions and that the visit is timely to enhance the economic engagement.

With a bilateral trade of US$ 15.9 billion in 2015-16, Indonesia has emerged as the largest trading partner of India in the ASEAN region. “There is considerable potential for expanding trade between the two countries in the areas of automotive components, automobiles, engineering products, IT, pharmaceuticals, bio-technology and healthcare sectors”, stated Dr Naushad Forbes,President of CII.

The overall investment scenario in Indonesia is very encouraging. It is an attractive destination for Indian investment in the region. There are about 50 Indian investments / Joint Ventures in Indonesia with significant investments in infrastructure, power, textiles, steel, automotive, mining machinery, banking and consumer goods sectors. “This visit comes at a very opportune time. Both India and Indonesia are striving to make major socio-economic transformation through new economic initiatives. Indonesia as the largest economy in ASEAN can lend critical traction to India’s Act East Policy”, said Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII.

The CII delegation includes Indian industry members keen to expand their local presence and others who are interested in establishing a local presence, including in some cases in manufacturing.

During the two day visit, the delegation will call on Indonesian Minister of Trade, Minister of Industry, Minister of Transportation, Cabinet Secretary, Deputy Chairman BKPM and have interactions with Chairmen and members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Indonesia and the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo). The visit will also include Business Meeting with the Jakarta Government and will have sectoral presentations on specific sectors like Waste Water Treatment and Management, Renewable Energy, IT etc. With Governor of Jakarta as the Chief Guest, the Business Meeting will provide a platform for Indian industry to understand specific areas for collaboration.

Speaking on the opportunity he sees in Indonesia, Mr Adi Godrej, Past President CII and Chairman, Godrej Group, said, “Indonesia is our largest international business and a key part of our growth strategy at Godrej. We believe that it holds tremendous potential. We have made significant investments by acquiring the Megasari Group with its category-leading Hit, Stella and Mitu brands. Today, we employ 5,000 Indonesian team members and are growing our presence to make this our ASEAN base. Indonesia has one of the fastest growing consumer markets in the world, with a young population. We believe that this will provide tremendous opportunities for both driving penetration and increasing consumption in our core categories.”

IndianBureaucracy.com wishes the very best.