ANDHRA PRADESH

Andhra Pradesh govt sanctions final fee for shelved project DPR

The state government on Tuesday sanctioned the remaining 55% professional fee, i.e., Rs 38,94,000, as a final payment to Master & Associates, Architects, Interior Designers & Project Management Consultants, Mumbai.

The firm was appointed in 2017 as the consultant for preparation of detailed project reports and detailed cost estimates for refurbishment and conversion of INS Viraat into a multipurpose tourism destination with a hotel-cum-convention centre and naval maritime museum.

However, the project was shelved due to various reasons. The state government already paid Rs 31.86 lakh out of the Rs 70.8 lakh professional fee (including 18% GST) and has sanctioned the remaining amount.

The state government showed keen interest to turn INS Viraat into a major tourist hub by placing it in Visakhapatnam or some other coastal city. But due to various reasons, the project has not made any headway. INS Viraat, the second Centaur-class aircraft carrier in service which spent 30 years in the Indian Navy and 27 years in the Royal Navy, was decommissioned in March 2017. A private organisation purchased the ship for Rs 35 crore and started dismantling it.

The state government showed a keen interest to turn INS Viraat into a major tourist hub by placing it in Visakhapatnam or some other coastal city.

INTERNATIONAL

India-Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation

The Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation between India and Italy held its 21st session.

Highlights:

♦ The India-Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation held its 21st session virtually.

♦ Both sides held extensive discussions on bilateral trade and investment, as well as economic cooperation in the fields of food processing, textiles, leather, railways, start-ups, and the promotion of SMEs, all of which play an important role in economic growth and job creation.

♦ Bilateral market access issues and non-tariff barriers were also discussed in order to facilitate trade and investment.

LEAF Coalition Announced

At the Leaders Summit on Climate 2021, the LEAF (Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance) Coalition was announced. It will be one of the most significant public-private partnerships in the history of tropical forest conservation. It intends to raise at least USD 1 billion in funding for countries that are committed to protecting their tropical forests.

About LEAF Coalition:

♦ It is a collaboration of the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway.

♦ To participate, a country must meet certain predetermined conditions imposed by the Coalition.

♦ LEAF will employ the results-based financing model.

♦ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation:

♦ REDD+ seeks to mitigate climate change by incentivizing forest conservation.

♦ It monetizes the value of carbon locked up in most developing countries’ tropical forests, propelling these countries to help mitigate climate change.

♦ The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established REDD+.

NATIONAL

STI-Led BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan

The BRICS countries have agreed to India’s proposed BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan (2021-24), led by STI.

Highlights:

♦ India proposed the Action Plan at the 12th Meeting of the BRICS S&T Steering Committee.

♦ India has proposed plans to promote the sharing of experiences in mutual innovation ecosystems and networks of innovators and entrepreneurs.

♦ The BRICS Science, Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Partnership (STIEP) Working Group would work out the specifics of the Action Plan.

♦ In July 2021, the Department of Science and Technology of India hosted the twelfth meeting of the BRICS Science and Technology Steering Committee. BRICS science ministries and agencies participated in the meeting.

♦ In addition, all countries agreed on the thematic areas proposed by India for the Sixth BRICS Conference of Young Scientists to be held in Bangalore from September 13 to 16, 2021.

♦ The conclave will cover three topics: healthcare, energy solutions, and cyber-physical systems (CPS) and their applications.

DPE is now Under Finance Ministry

The Government of India has determined to carry Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) beneath the finance ministry. DPE was beforehand underneath the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. It has been added beneath the finance minister in a bid to ease coordination involving future disinvestment plans. The Finance ministry now contains six departments, after the inclusion of DPE.

Other five departments are:
♦ Department of Economic Affairs,
♦ Department of Expenditure,
♦ Department of Revenue,
♦ Department of Investment & Public Asset Management and
♦ Department of Financial Services.

GoI Organised a Webinar on Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, organised a webinar on ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat – Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.’

About ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ programme:

♦ On the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 140th birth anniversary, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the initiative “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” on October 31, 2015.

♦ It is carried out under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Education.

♦ The scheme was established to celebrate India’s cultural vibrancy while also establishing a strong mechanism to instil nationalism and cultural awareness among our country’s citizens.

♦ Through the concept of state/UT pairing, it aims to improve interaction and mutual understanding between people from different states/UTs.

♦ Several initiatives have been launched as part of the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme.

♦ Thus, the scheme strengthens sentimental bonds between people from different states and fosters a sense of ‘One Nation’ among all citizens of the country.

About Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav:

♦ It is a series of activities organized by the Indian government to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.

♦ In the spirit of Jan-Bhagidari, it will be celebrated as a Jan-Utsav.

♦ It is based on five pillars, namely free struggle, 75-year-old ideas, 75-year-old achievements, 75-year-old actions and 75-year-old determination, as a guiding force for progress, inspired by dreams and duties.

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