Gold
Goa sixth state to complete ULB reforms
Goa is now eligible to mobilise additional financial resources of Rs 223 crore through open market borrowings. The DoE has issued permission for the same.
The state joined five other states, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Rajasthan and Telangana, which have completed the ULB reforms. On completion of this set of reforms, these five states have been granted total additional borrowing permission of Rs 10,435 crore. State-wise amount of the additional borrowing permitted is as under:
Make in Steel 2021
24 February
4th Indian Cement Review Conference 2021
17-18 March
The set of reforms stipulated by the DoE to achieve these objectives are:
- The state will notify:
-Floor rates of property tax in ULBs which are in consonance with the prevailing circle rates (ie guideline rates for property transactions).
-Floor rates of user charges in respect of the water supply provision, drainage and sewerage which reflect current costs/past inflation.
2.The state will place a system of periodic increase in floor rates of property tax and user charges in line with price increases.
Given the resources required to meet multiple challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government of India had in May 2020 enhanced the states' borrowing limit by 2% of its gross state domestic product (GSDP).Half of this special dispensation, ie, 1% of GSDP, has been linked to undertaking citizen-centric reforms by the states. The four citizen-centric areas for reforms identified by the DoE were:
-
Implementation of the "One Nation One Ration Card" system
- Ease of doing business reform
- Urban local body utility reforms
- Power sector reforms
Image: The five states have been granted a total additional borrowing permission of Rs 10,435 crore.
Also read: Andhra undertakes power reforms
CONCOR Launches Double-stack Service Between NCR and Varnama
State-run Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has launched double-stack container train services between the National Capital Region (NCR) and Varnama near Baroda. This initiative aims to facilitate customers at Nhava Sheva near Mumbai, home to Jawaharlal Nehru Port (J N Port). On December 21, the first double-stack container train from Khatuwas and Dadri in NCR reached CONCOR’s Gati Shakti Multimodal Cargo Terminal (GCT) at Varnama, situated along the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). The train carried export cargo destined for J N Port, according to a statement from the state..
Less than 10% of Rs 40 Billion State-aid for Shipbuilding Utilised
A government-sanctioned financial assistance program worth Rs 40 billion, intended to support local shipbuilders over a decade starting in April 2016, has seen minimal utilisation, with only Rs 3.85 billion—less than 10 per cent of the total fund—disbursed thus far. With 15 months remaining before the scheme concludes, its uptake has been limited. The financial aid applies to shipbuilding contracts signed between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2026. According to a written response provided by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal to the Rajya Sabha on December ..
Civil Aviation Minister Opens New ATC Tower at Indore Airport
The Minister for Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, inaugurated the new Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower-cum-technical block at Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. During the inauguration, the minister toured the facility, where ATC experts explained various technical aspects of tracking and coordinating flights from the newly constructed tower. In addition to the ATC tower, the airport has also introduced a zero-waste plant. The union minister confirmed that this initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to sustainability. Minister Ki..
