Indian Economy-News & Updates

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Steel
14-November, 2016 19:55 IST
Working towards innovative and cost-effective R&D solutions for becoming a global hub of centre of excellences in steel industry: Steel Minister

Inaugurates Steel Pavilion at the India International Trade Fair

The Union Minister of Steel, Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh has said that the Steel Ministry is working towards innovative and cost-effective R&D solutions for becoming a global hub of centre of excellences in steel industry. He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Ministry of Steel (MoS) Pavilion at the 36th edition of India International Trade Fair (IITF), here today. The Secretary, Steel, Dr. Aruna Sharma, prominent steel industry members such as ESSAR Steel, FSNL, HSCL, JPC, JSL, JSPL, JSW, KIOCL, MECON, MOIL, MSTC, NMDC, RINL, SAIL and TATA Steel were also present on the occasion.

The Steel Minister said that the entire industry will have to come up with joint strategies to take on the challenges being faced by the industry. He further said that his desire is that public, private sector and ministry will have to prepare themselves to jointly face the challenges coming from abroad. The government of India is focused on manufacturing sector and is implementing aggressive Research and Development projects in diverse realms of Iron & Steel Technology under various categories such as Plant Performance Improvement (PPI), Product Development (PD), Scientific Investigation and Development (SID), Basic Research (BR) and Technical Services (TS), he added.

While mentioning the major efforts are directed towards cost reduction and improvement in quality of Indian steel, in order to develop and deliver high quality steel products that add value to the customer‘s business, across the value chain”, Shri Birender Singh, the Union Minister for Steel, said. India is the 3rd largest manufacturer of steel in the world, and we are constantly working towards innovative and cost-effective R&D solutions, developing and commercializing improved processes and products, continually enhancing the capability with the aim of becoming a global hub of centre of excellences”, he added.

The Secretary, Steel, Dr. Aruna Sharma said that in-line with Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s vision and Government of India’s flagship programme - Digital India, the Indian steel industry has taken a very proactive approach and enabled seamless integration of digital technologies across processes, such as operations research, product development, robotics & mechanical engineering, mining, pelletization, raw material handling, coke oven, sinter plant, blast furnace, long product mill, continuous casting, SMS/BOF, flat product mill, supply chain management, procurement, retail and online sale of steel. The Digital Revolution holds many promises, for the steel sector in India, it has already embedded transparency, efficiency, enhanced quality of Indian steel and most importantly improved safety standards, leading to a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy, she added.

The steel industry is constantly researching on new technologies to enhance the world's strongest and versatile material; currently there are over 2000 grades of steel globally of which 1500 grades are high grade steel. Iron and steel are used widely in the construction of roads, railways, energy, packaging, appliances, transport, infrastructure, buildings & large modern structures, such as stadiums and skyscrapers, bridges, and airports, are supported by a steel skeleton. Other common applications include shipbuilding, pipelines, mining, offshore construction, aerospace, white goods (e.g. washing machines), heavy equipment such as bulldozers, office furniture, steel wool, tools, and armour in the form of personal vests or vehicle armour, Cutlery, Rulers, Surgical instruments, Watches, Guns, Rail passenger vehicles, IT, Tablets, Electronics, Trash Cans etc.

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[Hindustani78]

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi unveiling plaques to mark the foundation stone laying of various railway projects, at Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh on November 14, 2016. The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ram Naik, the Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, the Minister of State for Communications (Independent Charge) and Railways, Shri Manoj Sinha, the Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel and other dignitaries are also seen.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi flagging off the new express train from Ghazipur City to Kolkata (through video conferencing), at Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh on November 14, 2016. The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ram Naik, the Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and the Minister of State for Communications (Independent Charge) and Railways, Shri Manoj Sinha are also seen.

 

[anant_s]

Konkan Railway to begin Electrification

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
15-November, 2016 17:00 IST
NHAI initiates DPRS for Logistic Efficiency Enhancement Programme (LEEP) under Bharatmala Pariyojna

Under a programme entitled ‘Logistic Efficiency Enhancement Programme’ (LEEP) aimed to enhance the freight transportation in India through improving cost, time, tracking and transferability of consignments through infrastructure, procedural and Information Technology (IT) interventions, Consultants are being tasked to carry out critical examination of existing logistic infrastructure and destination of freight movement in the country, and 44 freight corridors (Economic Corridors), Inter corridors and feeder routes to reduce cost and time of freight movement. These are proposed to be developed by taking an end-to-end corridor view, rather than stretch-by-stretch road construction view to ensure consistent infrastructure along the corridor, as per discussion between NHAI and Government.

As a first step towards this task, preparation of Detailed Project Reports is being undertaken by NHAI. In the first phase, DPRs of identified 15000 km is proposed to be prepared. In LOT1, NHAI has invited bids for preparation of DPRs for 15,000 km of length in the country. Bids have been invited in 45 packages of about 300 Km length each.

In order to drastically reduce the time taken for conducting surveys, it has been decided to use latest technologies such as LiDAR, Satellite mapping and Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) in preparation of DPRs. This will also help to make data collection comprehensive with accurate measure points and increase the safety for project personnel.

…

 

[Hindustani78]

The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh visiting after inaugurating the “Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Ministry Pavilion”, at the 36th India International Trade Fair (IITF-2016), at Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi on November 15, 2016.

The Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Kalraj Mishra visiting after inaugurating the “MSME EXPO-2016 Pavilion”, during the 36th India International Trade Fair (IITF-2016), at Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi on November 15, 2016.

 

[Hindustani78]

Touch of class:A weaver from UP making carpets on his khaddi loom in Adilabad.- Photo: S. Harpal Singh
The community from UP makes beautiful carpets, doormats out of discarded clothes

The ancient tradition of making something useful out of useless things continues, at least in some corners of India, and it can be seen in the work of a group of Muslim weavers from Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh who are camping in Adilabad town at present. These weavers specialise in making durries or carpets and doormats out of any kind of discarded clothes which are as attractive as those that are produced on power or handlooms.

For making a 3x6 ft durrie, about 1-kg of cloth is consumed and the quantum increases as the size of the product increases. For a carpet of the size of 8x10 ft, the weavers charge Rs.1,300, the highest they do within their range which starts at Rs.150. The door mats cost about Rs. 30 each towards labour charges but the weavers make a pack of five for Rs. 150. The quantum of cloth required is quite meagre.

 

[Hindustani78]

New facility Pralhad Joshi, MP, and Jagadish Shettar, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, using the newly launched escalator at the Hubballi Railway Station on Monday.— Photo: Kiran Bakale

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/x/status/798526295084658688

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com...ober-trade-deficit-expands/article9349487.ece

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...eficit-at-10-billion/articleshow/55438414.cms

 

[Hindustani78]

Plantation programme to be implemented in all 30 factories of KSCDC
The People’s Cashew Plantation programme, at the initiative of the State government and the public sector Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC), took shape on Tuesday at the 13-acre Kottiyam factory complex of the KSCDC complex near here with the planting of 1,000 high-yielding cashew saplings that will start bearing fruit from the third year.

KSCDC Chairman S. Jayamohan, who inaugurated the programme, said it is being implemented at the Kottiyam factory complex with the help of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme workers attached to Ithikkara block panchayat and Mayyana grama panchayat.

Permission for obtaining these workers for the scheme was obtained following talks with Minister for Local Administration K.T. Jaleel.

Mr. Jayamohan said that as part of taking forward the programme, one lakh cashew saplings have been produced and readied for distribution from the factory complex.

He said that since the Kottiyam factory complex comprises 13 acres, most of the land there will be utilised for the cashew nursery required to promote the programme.

Cashew plantations are being promoted in the State by the government because the cashew industry is now almost completely dependent upon import of raw cashew.

Because of heavy competition in the international raw nut markets, the price of raw nuts continues to soar coupled with shortage of the commodity.

In the past most of the raw nuts which the cashew industry of the State required was produced in the State and other neighbouring States. But as the industry began to grow, cashew plantations in the State began getting replaced with other plantation crops and processors depended on some of the African countries and Vietnam for imports.

Biggest exporter

In due time, Vietnam began cashew processing and emerged as the biggest exporter of cashew kernels in the international market. Many other States in the country also started processing cashew and all this contributed to the demand for raw nuts from the producing countries. This situation contributed towards threatening the cashew industry of the State.

Mr. Jayamohan said that the plantation programme will be implemented in the compounds of all the 30 factories of the KSCDC.

As of now, production in the State is able to meet less than 10 per cent of the State’s demand.

The aim of the programme is to meet 50 per cent of the demand in five years, he said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Steel
16-November, 2016 15:45 IST
Contribution of Steel Sector to India's GDP

Indian Steel Sector’s contribution to overall Gross Domestic Product of the country is nearly 2% during 2015-16.

The total exposure of steel industry is about Rs. 3.13 lakh crore out of which Gross Non Performing Assets is about Rs. 1.15 lakh crore. This works out to 36.94% of total loan outstanding as on March, 2016

At the instance of Government, RBI has also recently reduced the overall policy rates which are expected to get translated into reduction in actual lending rates. The RBI accorded a flexible refinancing repayment option, popularly known as 5:25 scheme for long-term infrastructure projects, including steel where total exposure of the bank is above Rs. 500 crores. RBI has also brought in Strategic Debt Restructuring scheme to help debt ridden companies including steel companies. Further, in June 2016, RBI brought in another scheme called Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets, also known as S4A scheme, with the same objective. The Government has taken a slew of measures to strengthen the positioning of the steel industry in the domestic market. They include imposition of antidumping and safeguard duties on a range of steel products with the objective of eliminating/reducing low priced unfairly treaded steel from countries such as China which negatively impacted profitability of the domestic steel producers and simultaneous loss of market share. The Government has initiated simultaneously wide ranging investment plans in infrastructure which is expected to increase the demand for steel.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Mines Sh. Vishnu Deo Sai in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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The latest status regarding total capacity of production of steel its import, demand and supply in the country are given below: -


Period - Crude steel-capacity (mt) - Total Finished Steel(non-alloy + alloy) (mt) -
Production for sale - Import - Demand

2015-16 - 121.97 - 90.98 - 11.71 - 80.45
Source: JPC/ERU; mt=million tonnes; real consumption

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Commerce & Industry
16-November, 2016 18:12 IST
Assistance to Tamil Nadu for Purchase of Turmeric Boilers

Government through the Spices Board provides assistance to the turmeric growers for installing turmeric polishers under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture [MIDH]. As per the scheme, 35% of the actual cost of the turmeric polisher subject to a maximum of Rs. 87,500/- is provided as subsidy to SC, ST, small, marginal & Women farmers and Rs.62500/- as subsidy to other farmers in the major turmeric growing states including Tamil Nadu. During 2016-17, out of Rs.10.80 lakhs allotted for Turmeric Polisher under MIDH to Spices Board, an amount of Rs.2.62 lakhs has been allotted to Tamil Nadu.

Government through Spices Board also implements the scheme “Export Oriented Production, Export Development & Promotion of Spices”, under which inter alia assistance is provided to the turmeric growers for installing turmeric boilers at the rate of 50% of the actual cost of the turmeric boilers, subject to a maximum of Rs.1.50 lakhs. During 2016-17, no financial assistance has been provided to the farmers in the turmeric growing areas of Tamil Nadu as of now.

This information was given by the Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Railways
16-November, 2016 16:49 IST
Bio Toilets in Trains

About 48000 bio-toilets have been installed by Indian Railways (IR) in trains’ coaches till 31.10.2016. It is targeted to fit bio-toilets in the entire fleet of coaches Indian Railways (IR) by the year 2021-22. The additional cost of providing bio-toilets in one coach (4 bio-toilets) is ₹4 lakhs approximately and for those old coaches, which require replacement of structural members for fitment of bio-toilets, the additional cost is approximately ₹15.64 lakhs per coach. Bio-toilets, based on the indigenous design and technology developed in association with Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), are being installed in coaches by Indian Railways.

This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 16 November 2016, Wednesday.

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Ministry of Railways
16-November, 2016 16:51 IST
Development of Railway Lines in North Eastern States

For development of Railway lines network in North Eastern States, 20 major Railway projects consisting of 13 new lines, 2 gauge conversions and 5 doublings having aggregate length of 2624 km at a cost of `52030 crore have been taken up. An expenditure of `21336 crore has been incurred on these projects upto March, 2016. An outlay of `5040 crore has been provided for 2016-17 for these projects and residual liabilities of some completed projects.

Completion of projects depends on many factors such as availability of funds, land acquisition, forestry and wildlife clearances, shifting of services, construction of road over and road under bridges by road maintaining agencies etc. As many of these factors are not within the control of Railways, it is not feasible to fix timelines for all the projects. However, Railways have taken various measures to expedite completion of projects including substantial increase in allocation of funds, prioritization of projects, delegation of powers at field level, inviting the State Governments to participate with Railways for resource mobilization for projects, nomination of nodal officers for improved co-ordination with the State Governments etc.

This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 16 November 2016, Wednesday.

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[Shravan#22580]

Konkan Railway to begin Electrification

View attachment 352060


View attachment 352061

Thats cool




And also for those who thought Me dead, Im alive

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Agriculture
17-November, 2016 14:10 IST
Cooperatives can Play a Very Important Role in Creating Job Opportunities in Rural Areas: Radha Mohan Singh

Cooperatives Largest Movement in India: Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister

The Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh has said that cooperatives can play a paramount role in creating employment opportunities in rural areas. .Cooperatives related to dairy have proved this while creating employment opportunities in plenty. Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that cooperatives have made themselves prominent in every walk of life and through the vast network of cooperatives about 100 million people have benefitted with opportunities of employment throughout the world. The Minister of Agriculture was speaking at a conference of the 12th International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) - Asia Pacific Regional Assembly and 9th Cooperative Forum. Shri Singh warmly welcomed almost 250 foreign delegates coming from Asia Pacific region to participate in the conference and expressed hope that this conference will prove a milestone to strengthen the cooperatives in Asia – Pacific Region..

The Minister added that the Government of India has launched a number of schemes of paramount importance under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. Shri Singh said that cooperatives can play a vital role in implementing schemes such as Toilets in Schools, Jan Dhan Yojana, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Make in India, Soil Health Card because it has large network spread in the remotest areas as well as in villages. The Minister further said that government has put a strong thrust on the creation of employment opportunities related to skills. As nearly 65% population of the country is below 38. Keeping in view this sort of scenario the cooperatives can play a very important role in creating the opportunities of employment as well as access to rural areas.

Shri Singh opined that ICA Asia Pacific Regional Assembly has sustained development for all, which is very much consistent with present perspective. This corresponds to the sustainable development agenda 2030 of the United Nations which has put a special thrust on reaching the target of sustainable development comprised of poverty abolition, health services, employment creation and check on climate change.

Shri Radha Mohan Singh further said that there are more than 6 lakh cooperatives in the country. The membership of them has gone up as the 2491.20 million. These cooperatives have made the cooperative movement as the largest movement in the world. These cooperatives are working in the regime of fertilizers delivery, sugar production, handlooms as well as retail sector. The cooperatives sector imparts self employment to 17.80 million people and cooperatives related to fisheries, labour, handlooms and gender cooperatives have played very important role in bringing improvement in social economic condition of the weaker sections of the society. The cooperatives related to dairy sector have made the country self dependent by realizing “White Revolution”. Housing cooperatives have provided facilities of accommodation to the weaker section of the society at reasonable price.

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[Hindustani78]

The CMD, National Seed Corporation, Shri Vinod Kumar Gaur presenting a dividend Cheque to the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh, in New Delhi on November 17, 2016. The Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri S.K. Pattanayak is also seen.