by rakesh | Jan 12, 2010 | Business
1. New Products under Focus Product Scheme (FPS):
1.1 112 new products added under FPS at 8 digit level, eligible for benefits @ 2% of FOB value of exports to all markets.
Major sectors include Engineering, Electronics, Rubber, Chemicals, Plastics, Carton boxes and Egg powder.
1.2 113 new products at 8 digit level given higher benefits @ 5% of FOB value of exports under Special FPS on exports to all markets.
Major sectors include Hand Tools, parts of agriculture & horticulture machinery, sewing machines and parts, liquid pumps, nuts, bolts, washers, screws, staplers, and parts of machinery for soldering, brazing and welding.
2. New Products and New Markets under Market Linked Focus Product Scheme (MLFPS):
2.1 1837 new products added under MLFPS at 8 digit level, eligible for benefits @ 2% of FOB value of exports to specified markets.
Major sectors include Machine Tools, Earth moving equipments, Transmission towers, Electrical and Power Equipments, Steel Tubes, pipes and galvanized sheets, Compressors, Iron and Steel Structures, Auto components, Three wheelers and cotton woven fabrics. (Chemicals have been included for providing benefit for a limited period of 6 months).
2.2 Two new major markets viz. China and Japan added under MLFPS.
3. New products under Vishesh Krishi and Gram Udyog Yojana (VKGUY):
Sesame seeds and minor coconut products added under VKGUY scheme, eligible for benefits @ 5% of FOB value of exports to all markets.
4. New market added under Focus market Scheme (FMS):
Timor Leste added as new FMS country, eligible for benefits @ 3% of FOB value of exports of all products.
5. Support under Market Access Initiative (MAI) scheme, for setting up of Warehouse in Latin America by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts.
6. Issues taken up with Ministry of Finance ( on which MoF is still to take a final view)
6.1 To allow reduced rate of interest for Dollar credit at LIBOR plus 1% (instead of LIBOR plus 3.5%).
6.2 Continuation of Interest Subvention of 2% provided to labour incentive sectors viz. Textiles (including handlooms), Handicrafts, Carpets, Leather, Gems & Jewellery, Marine products and SMEs.
6.2 Providing interest subvention of 2% to some additional sectors viz. specified Engineering sectors and Chemicals.
6.3 To request RBI to instruct commercial banks for non-crystallization of overdue export proceeds for a period of 6months from due date (instead of 1 month at present) in respect of two sectors viz. Carpets and handicrafts.
[size=xx-small][Source: PIB][/size]
by rakesh | Jan 12, 2010 | Travellers look
All travel related services will now be available under one roof to the people of Delhi. Delhi Postal Circle Signed here today a MoU with Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., a company engaged in the business of organizing travel arrangements, to provide all travel related services through Select Post Offices. The MoU was signed by Chief Post Master General, Delhi, Shri Gopinath and Managing Director of Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. Shri Madhavan Menon. Dedicating the five Travel and Foreign Exchange Bureaux to the people of Delhi, the Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology Shri A.Raja said that the launch of these services in Post Offices is a path-breaking initiative taken by Delhi Circle. The Minister said, this enterprise brings together the strengths of India Post, the largest postal network in the world and Thomas Cook, one of the most recognized and internationally known Companies in the travel and foreign exchange sector, the world over. This would be a meaningful value- addition to the portfolio of services offered by the Department of Post as it is based on the perception and recognition of a felt need for provision of this kind of service. On the other hand, it would enable Thomas Cook to widen their reach by leveraging the India Post network, the Minister added.
In the first phase, five dedicated post offices for these services are Connaught Place’ A’ Block, Karol Bagh Post Office, Greater Kailash Part-II Post Office, Chanakya Puri Post Office and Vasant Vihar Post Office. The services to be provided by Thomas Cook at these Post Offices include: Sale & Purchase of Foreign Exchange in all major currencies, Travelers’ Cheques, Foreign Currency Drafts, Wire Transfers, Cash advances against International Credit Cards, Leisure travel packages for both inbound and outbound travel, Travel Insurance, VISA, Passport service and Domestic and International Air Tickets.
The era of globalization and liberalization has brought about extensive travel opportunities requiring an integrated travel and forex solution. Delhi being one of the most prominent commercial and tourist hubs of the country is particularly well-suited for the launch of this service. With the Commonwealth games being hosted by Delhi in October this year, a huge influx of tourists from all parts of the world is expected and this tie up will cater to the needs of the floating population in a befitting manner.
Congratulating the Chief Postmaster General Delhi Circle and his team for putting together this collaboration and Thomas Cook India Ltd for recognizing the tremendous potential therein, the Minister said that if the model worked out by Delhi Circle as parts of this venture succeed then the same can perhaps be rolled out in other parts of the country. Secretary Department of Post Smt. Radhika Doraiswami and Chairman Thomas Cook India Heinrich Ludger Hemberg were also present on the occasion.
[size=xx-small][Source: PIB][/size]
by rakesh | Jan 11, 2010 | India News
The people living in slums are subject to inadequate access to basic amenities like drinking water, sanitation and health facilities. The Government has launched Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) since December 3, 2005 to address the issues of provision of housing and basic civic amenities like clean drinking water, sanitation and health facilities to urban poor/slum dwellers, in addition to city-wide infrastructure facilities. The Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) programme under JNNURM addresses housing and civic amenities in 65 Mission cities. Similar problems of Non-Mission cities are addressed through the scheme of Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP). The Mission period is 2005-2012.
[size=xx-small][font=Verdana][Source: PIB][/font][/size]
by rakesh | Jan 8, 2010 | Science & Technology
|
S. NO.
|
Name of the Project
|
Location
|
State
|
Anticipated Capital cost (figure
in crore)
|
When expected to be completed
(year)
|
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
(c)
|
(d)
|
(e)
|
(f)
|
|
01
|
Regional
Science Centre
|
Raipur
|
Chhatisgarh
|
6.50
|
2010
|
|
02
|
Regional
Science Centre
|
Ranchi
|
Jharkhand
|
6.50
|
2010
|
|
03
|
Regional
Science Centre
|
Dharwad
|
Karnataka
|
6.50
|
2011
|
|
04
|
Regional
Science Centre
|
Coimbatore
|
Tamil Nadu
|
6.50
|
2011
|
|
05
|
Regional
Science Centre
|
Jaipur
|
Rajasthan
|
6.50
|
2011
|
|
06
|
Regional
Science Centre
|
Pilikula, Mangalore
|
Karnataka
|
6.50
|
2011
|
|
07
|
Regional
Science Centre
|
Pimpri Chinchwad
|
Maharashtra
|
8.50
|
2012
|
|
08
|
Sub-Regional
Science Centre
|
Solapur
|
Maharashtra
|
2.00
|
Completed
|
|
09
|
Sub-Regional
Science Centre
|
Jorhat
|
Assam
|
3.00
|
2013
|
[size=xx-small][Source: PIB][/size]
by rakesh | Jan 8, 2010 | Entertainment
Addressing a Press Conference in Mumbai on Friday, Mr.Kuldeep Sinha, Chief Producer, Films Division and Festival Director said “MIFF, which began in 1990 has come a long way to be rated as one of the world’s best and largest documentary film festival being manned by film makers. It is now gained recognition on par with renowned International Film Festivals like Leipzig, Berlin, Oberhausen, Krakow, Tampere etc.”
Beginning this edition of the festival, the International and Indian Competition Sections have been merged into one Competition Section. Mr.Sinha said, “Indian documentary producers have now achieved high level of creative as well as technical excellence, to compete with the best in the world’. He said the award money has been enhances in each category and the total award money now stands at Rs 22.75 lakhs. The best short film / documentary (upto 30 minutes) will be awarded a Golden Conch and Rs 3,00,000 cash prize. Another Golden Conch and Rs 3,00,000 award will be given to the best film/ documentary over 30 minutes duration. There also awards for best animation film, fiction film and student’s film. Government of Maharashtra’s Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari will give a Trophy and Rs 1,00,000 for best debut film of a director.
“Dr. V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award” will be awarded to an Indian film maker for his/her contribution to documentary film movement.
Apart from Competition Section, there will be screening of Retrospectives and Special packages, Spectrum India, Seminars and Open Forum during M.I.F.F.-2010. In Retrospectives & Special Packages, Jury’s retrospectives, Women packages, Oscar nominated films, films on immigration issues, environment, global warming, Cinema legends and icons of Indian Freedom Movement and in Country Focus, films from Bhutan, and Argentina as well as Student’s package from L.V. Prasad Institute, Chennai, SRFTII, Kolkata, and NID, Ahmedabad, films from North East India, treasure from NFAI, Puppet Films etc. and lots more are being showcased.
National Film Archives of India, Pune will also stage a unique show of pre-cinema projection technique called ‘Shambharik Kharolika’ or the magic lantern.
This year M.I.F.F. has received a record 864 entries from 37 countries. The Selection Committee consisting of eminent film makers, journalists and critics had previewed the films, the total duration of which crosses more than 400 hours. 64 films have been selected in Competition Section and 43 films have been selected in Non-Competition Section. The list of films selected in competition and non-competition sections have been placed on the website www.miffindia.in and the Directors concerned whose films have been selected for final screening have been informed.
[size=xx-small][Source: PIB][/size]
