Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a national effort to protect and augment India’s water resources on the lines of the Swachh Bharat programme. He has made 3 requests and urged all Indians to take collective action to conserve water. The three requests are: a) making water conservation a mass movement like Swachh Bharat programme, b)… Continue reading PM Modi calls for Swachh-like water conservation mission
Author: ForumIAS
In cities, recycle, reuse to be Jal Shakti Abhiyan’s mantra
The first phase of Jal Shakti Abhiyan has started from 1st July. It will run till 15th September 2019. Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a time-bound, mission mode, water conservation and irrigation efficiency campaign for water security in India. It aims at making water conservation and promotion of irrigation efficiency a ‘jan andolan’ (public campaign) through… Continue reading In cities, recycle, reuse to be Jal Shakti Abhiyan’s mantra
82% shortfall in specialists puts healthcare on sick bed
According to data from the Health Ministry, the gap between required and available specialists in health centres, is in the range of 80-99%. Further, there is a wide regional disparity in gap in demand and supply of nurses and pharmacists. For example: UTs and smaller states have a surplus. However, states like Bihar, Himachal Pradesh,… Continue reading 82% shortfall in specialists puts healthcare on sick bed
Abu Dhabi to host first ISA’s joint security exercise ISALEX19 beginning today
Abu Dhabi is hosting International Security Alliance(ISAs) first joint security exercise named ISALEX19. Representatives of 50 law enforcement agencies from the member countries in the International Security Alliance(ISA) will be taking part in the first joint security exercise. The exercise will simulate a real-life security threat in a virtual context to test the readiness of… Continue reading Abu Dhabi to host first ISA’s joint security exercise ISALEX19 beginning today
Centre to celebrate two years of GST
To mark two years of GST implementation on 1st July 2019,the Finance Ministry has unveiled a new return filing mechanism besides a host of other reforms to simplify the indirect tax system. The finance minister has also said that GST has led to (a)Simplified Tax Structure (b)Easy Compliance (c)Seamless flow of tax credit and (d)creation… Continue reading Centre to celebrate two years of GST
Procedural concerns in focus as GST enters third year
The Goods and Services Tax(GST) has completed two years on July 1,2019. The introduction of GST was a game changer for the Indian economy as it has replaced multi-layered,complex indirect tax structure with a simple ,transparent and technology-driven tax regime. During the last two years,the government has brought in various changes both on the quantum… Continue reading Procedural concerns in focus as GST enters third year
Budget may unveil a national warehousing grid to plug key gaps, Maharashtra model
The Centre is likely to announce a scheme for an integrated warehousing network in the Budget,2019. The aim of the scheme will be to operationalise a national warehousing grid’ to effectively integrate the highly fragmented warehousing market in India. The scheme is likely to be similar to Maharashtra where the government has kicked off a… Continue reading Budget may unveil a national warehousing grid to plug key gaps, Maharashtra model
India protects drug, agri biz at RCEP
India and other developing countries have succeeded in withdrawing the three harmful provisions concerning pharmaceuticals and agriculture which were part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement. The provisions were taken off the negotiating table after India argued against the provisions of patent term extensions and data exclusivity. These provisions would have… Continue reading India protects drug, agri biz at RCEP
K. Natarajan takes over as Director-General of Coast Guard
The government has appointed K. Natarajan as the Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard(ICG). The Indian Coast Guard is a multi-mission organization entrusted with superintendence and policing of India’s maritime areas including the Exclusive Economic Zone. ICG was formally established in 1978 by the Coast Guard Act,1978 as an independent Armed force of India.It operates… Continue reading K. Natarajan takes over as Director-General of Coast Guard
Need to reduce centrally sponsored schemes to improve spending: N K Singh
The Fifteenth Finance Commission Chairman N K Singh has said the number of centrally sponsored schemes currently exceeds 150 that needs to be reduced for better spending as revenue buoyancy in indirect taxes remains weak. Centrally Sponsored Schemes(CSS) are schemes that are implemented by state governments of India but are largely funded by the Central… Continue reading Need to reduce centrally sponsored schemes to improve spending: N K Singh
