National
Unified Portal of Central Bureau of Narcotics Launched
⇒ Revenue Secretary Shri Sanjay Malhotra launched the Unified Portal of the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) on 11 April 2023.
The CBN has taken measures to strengthen the vision of Digital India in the period of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ by developing and unleashing the unified portal as one step solution for user industry to facilitate the licensing and ExIM authorizations issued by the Bureau.
Key Points:
- The unified portal of Central Bureau of Narcotics will instill the efficiency, transparency and accountability in department users with twin objective to cater the need of pharma and chemical industry for synergistic growth of the drugs & pharma sector and boosting economy for “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat” and ensure availability of the “essential narcotic drugs” and medicines to the patients & their attendant families.
- The launch of Unified portal of Central Bureau of Narcotics will prove as a stepping stone in ease of doing business of NDPS and Controlled substances in the country with transparent and better compliance.
- This portal is calibrated to have database integration & ingestion with other government services including Bharat Kosh, GST, PAN- NSDL validation, e-Sanchit, and UIDAI facilitating single point services for obtaining the licenses from CBN.
- The applicants may file applications from anywhere & anytime 24*7 basis eliminating the need of physical interaction and can raise queries with the department which shall be responded through portal.
- This will leverage drastic reduction in ‘processing-time’ and conserving the resources of the trade for other fruitful business activities.
About CBN:
- Central Bureau of Narcotics is a central government organization dealing with the international trade of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances, and Precursor Chemicals under the ambit of various United Nations Conventions and the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985.
- These substances bear dual potential as strong medicinal, scientific, and industrial use as well as a diversion for illicit use creating the substances for abuse.
- Therefore, there is a need for striking a fine balance between the availability of these substances to the people and maintaining compliance with the law in this regard.
- These challenges envisioned the Bureau to conceptualize the use of a Digital platform as an effective tool to synergize and sustain balance between facilitation and compliance management.
Solar Energy Corporation of India gets 'Miniratna Category-I' status
⇒ Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has been accorded the status of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) on 10th April, 2023.
- A communication to this effect has been issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt of India.
About SECI:
- Incorporated in the year 2011, SECI is the primary implementing agency of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt of India for Renewable Energy schemes/projects towards fulfillment of India’s international commitments.
- Till date, SECI has awarded Renewable Energy (RE) project capacities of over 56 GW. SECI is also active in setting up of projects through its own investments as well as for other public sector entities as Project Management Consultant (PMC). SECI enjoys highest credit rating of AAA by ICRA.
A HELP Program launched in Uttarakhand
⇒ The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Mr. Pushkar Singh Dhami launched ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme in the State of Uttarakhand in April 2023.
Addressing the gathering at Survey of India Auditorium Dehradun, Mr. Pushkar Singh Dhami, said that women have played a pivotal role in formulation and holistic development of livestock sector especially in Uttarakhand. “Implementation of various schemes being run by state and central government is not possible without active participation of women.
Key Points:
- Under this program trained A-HELPs will give their vital contribution in preventing various infectious diseases of animals, artificial insemination under Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), tagging of animals and animal insurance.
- The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has launched the novel initiative through an MoU signed between DAHD and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) under the Department of Rural Development (DoRD), Govt of India.
- The primary responsibility of an A-HELP worker is to address the healthcare needs of the livestock population in a village.
- The programme was successfully piloted in State of Madhya Pradesh and J&K (UT).
- The event had more than 500 participants including Progressive farmers and Pashu Sakhis.
International
India-France Business Summit, commemorating 25 years of India-France Friendship
⇒ Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal along with Mr Olivier Becht, Minister delegate of Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Government of France, co-chaired the India France Business Summit, commemorating 25 years of India-France Friendship, on 11 April 2023.
- The Summit focused on themes including building a green future, emerging technologies, defence cooperation and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific regions.
The Union Minister also met with French business leaders across various sectors and attended a CEOs roundtable.
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles Shri Piyush Goyal mentioned that there is a huge delta of opportunities in India during his address at the India – France Business Summit and CEOs Roundtable in Paris, France.
Organised by:
The Embassy of India, Paris, France, in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Mouvement des entreprises de France (MEDEF) and the Indo French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI), organised the India – France Business Summit and CEOs Roundtable.
India – France Business Summit Sessions:
Sessions were held on ‘Building a green future’; Critical and Emerging Technologies: The New Strategic Frontier; ‘Defence Cooperation: Securing a Shared Future Through Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and France and India: Springboard to Europe and Indo-Pacific.
CEOs Roundtable:
More than 50 CEOs from Indian and French companies participated at the CEOs Roundtable. Sectors such as agriculture, tourism, defence, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, aerospace were represented at the Roundtable.
Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal met the Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Government of France, Mr. Olivier Becht as part of his visit to France.
- The Ministers discussed their respective state of the economy where Mr. Becht highlighted that France has had the lowest inflation rate of 5.2% in the Euro Zone, which is half of the average of other EU countries; the unemployment stood at 7% and GDP growth in 2022 finished at 2.6%; expected growth is 0.6-1% for this year.
- Shri Goyal mentioned that the Indian economy is stable. India is used to double-digit inflation and now we are 6 – 6.5%. from double-digit, he said. He shared that this year growth has been at 6.8% of GDP and a growth of 13% at nominal rates.
- The Ministers discussed priority areas related to India – EU FTA negotiations where issues related to Market Access were deliberated.
- Shri Goyal further highlighted that India is looking to buy 2000 Commercial Aircrafts in the next 10 years and there is a huge opportunity to make commercial aircraft in India to meet domestic and International demand.
- The Ministers also discussed mutual topics of interest at the World Trade Organisation.
5th India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue (HAD)
⇒ The 5th India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue (HAD) was held in New Delhi on 12 April 2023.
The Indian delegation was led by Union Home Secretary, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla and the UK delegation was led by Permanent Secretary, Home Office, Sir Matthew Rycroft.
Discussion:
- During the meeting both sides reviewed the ongoing cooperation and identified further steps that can be taken to explore opportunities and synergies in advancing cooperation in counter-terrorism, cyber security & global supply chains, drug trafficking, migration, extradition, anti-India activities in UK including Pro-Khalistan Extremism among other issues.
- The Indian side specifically conveyed its concerns on the misuse of UK’s asylum status by the Pro-Khalistani elements to aid and abet terrorist activities in India and requested better cooperation with UK and increased monitoring of UK based Pro-Khalistan Extremists and take appropriate proactive action. India’s concerns over the breach of security of Indian High Commission were also emphasized.
- The meeting concluded with both sides expressing satisfaction with the ongoing partnership and agreeing to deepen bilateral engagement and maintain the momentum for enhanced security cooperation between the two countries.