NITI Aayog collaborated with
IDFC for Enterprise Survey of Manufacturing Firms
>>
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog announced that it
collaborated with the IDFC Bank Ltd to conduct an enterprise survey of
manufacturing firms.
>>
Objective of this Survey is to assess the business regulatory environment in
each State and Union Territories (UTs) and identify policy and regulatory
hurdles faced by businesses in the States/UTs.
Key
Features:
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It will include start-ups across all States and UTs.
>>
It will complement the governments Make in India initiative by taking stock of
issues faced and providing impetus for State-level reforms that will make it
easier to do business in India.
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It will suggest measures needed to foster competitive and cooperative
federalism.
SBT launches online platform
for KSEB bill payments
>>
State Bank of Travancore (SBT) has teamed up with the Kerala State Electricity
Board (KSEB) to provide customers of the state utility online facility for
remittance of electricity charges.
>>
Jeevandas Narayan, Managing Director, SBT, and M Shivasankar, Chairman, KSEB,
jointly announced the launch of the facility at a function here.
>>
The online system facilitates immediate credit of remittance through the SBT
internet banking platform free of any additional charges.
>>
This will enable consumers to pay their monthly bills without going to the KSEB
offices. They will get confirmation of the remittance from the bank as well as
KSEB.
>>
The facility will be helpful for NRIs abroad who need not entertain worries of
disconnection due to default of bill payment, the spokesman added.
‘Balamrutam’ programme caught
in bifurcation tangle
>>
Bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh has resulted in ‘Balamrutam’, a child nourishment
programme, being put on the backburner.
>>
The worst sufferers are children in the 6 months – 6 years age group in
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, as many as 26.61 lakh children are affected by
this.
>>
Under this scheme, children enrolled with Anganwadis were given Balamrutam — a
mixture of rice, wheat, red gram, millets and milk powder.
SC questions Centre on
welfare schemes for drought-hit states
>>
The SC asked the Centre to come clean on the state of implementation of its
welfare schemes in 12 drought-hit States across the country.
>>
It has asked whether the schemes like MGNREGA, National Food Security and
mid-day meal are implemented properly.
>>
Court has asked Union to reach out to affected States and discuss criteria for
declaration of drought and steps taken to alleviate hunger in these States.
Exim Bank inks MoU with AP
Govt for promoting exports
>>
Exim Bank of India and the Government of Andhra Pradesh have entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for promotion of exports from the state.
>>
The MoU was signed by Yaduvendra Mathur, Chairman and Managing Director of the
bank, and Shamsher Singh Rawat, Secretary and Commissioner for Industrial
Promotion, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
>>
Exim Bank seeks to support exporters having operations in Andhra Pradesh in
achieving higher exports by facilitation of market linkages through its market
advisory services, which will assist in identifying suitable partners.
Anuradha Roy won 2016 DSC
Prize for Sleeping on Jupiter
>>
Anuradha Roy’s novel Sleeping on Jupiter has won the Indian author the
DSC prize for South Asian literature.
>>
Worth $50,000 (£35,000), the DSC prize goes to the best work in South Asian
fiction writing, and is open to any author who has based their work on the
region and its people.
France declares economic
emergency
>>
French President Francois Hollande has declared a state of economic emergency
to redefine France’s economic and social model.
>>
Under the ambit emergency, government has proposed series of economic measures
to boost long-stagnant economic growth and reduce chronic unemployment.
>>
Proposed economic measures are Training half a million jobless workers, greater
use of apprenticeships and aiding companies for hiring young workers.
YouTube returns to Pakistan
>>
After over three years of being told to ‘Surf Safely’, Internet users in the
country were able to access the popular video-sharing website, YouTube,
following orders from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) that the
website be unblocked.
>>
However, digital rights groups and other stakeholders, who had originally
opposed the blocking of the website, still have concerns over the deal – struck
between the government and Google – which may empower the former to censor
content on the website.
>>
YouTube was blocked in September 2012, after a blasphemous film, ‘Innocence of
Muslims’, triggered global protests. The government of Pakistan initially tried
to restrict access to the clip inside Pakistan, but ended up having to block
the entire website because Google refused to restrict access to the video on
the website itself.
Britain to offer language
classes for female Muslim migrants
>>
British Prime Minister David Cameron said Muslim women must improve their
English to integrate better into British society, and suggested some migrants
could be deported if they fail to speak the language.
>>
The 20-million pound ($28.5 million) fund will help tens of thousands of women
facing social isolation and discrimination and emphasise that Britain has
expectations for those who want to live in the country.
>>
Around 1,90,000 Muslim women in England speak little or no English.
Tata Motors appoints former
Airbus official Guenter Butschek as CEO & MD
>>
Tata Motors has appointed former top official of Airbus Guenter Butschek (55)
as its Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director. Mr. Butschek will lead
all operations of Tata Motors in India and in international markets including
South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and South Africa.
>>
Mr. Butschek joins Tata Motors after his last assignment at Airbus Group where
he served as Chief Operating Officer at Airbus and Member of the Group
Executive Committee. Prior to Airbus, he worked at German auto giant Daimler AG
for more than 25 years in international automotive management.