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Delhi air quality turns ‘severe’

air pollution in asia pacific region
File Photo

New Delhi (NVI): The overall air quality in the national capital today entered in the “severe” category after remaining in the “very poor” category for the past seven days.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR),the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 410 which falls in the ‘severe’ category.

The AQI in Chandini Chowk was in the “severe” category with PM2.5 of 438, followed by Delhi University, Dhirpur recorded PM 2.5 count of 481 and 463 respectively which also falls in the “severe” category.

While, the AQI in PUSA, Lodhi Road and Mathura Road recorded PM2.5 count of PM2.5 of 370, 391 and 398 respectively which falls in the “very poor” category.

While the neighbouring Noida recorded a PM2.5 of 447 which also falls in the ‘severe’ category.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered “good”, 51-100 “satisfactory”, 101-200 “moderate”, 201-300 “poor”, 301-400 “very poor” and 401-500 “severe”. An AQI above 500 falls in the “severe plus” category.

NEET 2020: Offline submission of forms allowed in Kashmir

Srinagar (NVI) : With internet remaining suspended in Kashmir, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has allowed offline submission of application forms for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET 2020 for aspirants based in the Valley.
The offline mode of application is in addition to the existing online submission of application forms for the examination, which is being facilitated at various centres set up in all districts across Kashmir, according to a spokesman of Jammu and Kashmir government.
The offline submission of application forms for the examination can be made at the nodal centre established at the Delhi Public School Srinagar at Athwajan.
The hard copies of forms will be available at the said centre.
The form can also be downloaded from the NTA website ntaneet.nic.in.
The aspirants can also get hard copies of the form from the DC Office Srinagar.
It is notable that the last date for submission of application for NEET 2020 examination for Kashmir aspirants is January 1, 2020.
The examination is scheduled to be held on May 3, 2020.

Citizenship bill passed by Parliament

New Delhi(NVI): A bill to grant citizenship to minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan was cleared by Parliament today.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was approved by the Rajya Sabha with 125 votes in favour and 105 against it, two days after the Lok Sabha passed it.
The upper house of Parliament gave it approval to the controversial legislation after rejecting a motion to send the bill to a Select Committee.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while hailing the development, said it was a “landmark day for India and its ethos of compassion and brotherhood”.
He said the legislation will alleviate sufferings of many who faced persecution for years.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, on the other hand, said it was a “dark day” in constitutional history of India.

Ensuring rights of every child needs a peoples’ movement says UNICEF

New Delhi (NVI): Marking 70 years of partnership with India to support child rights UNICEF hosted an open day at its headquarter here today. Over 500 students from schools and universities attended the event that showcased the work of UNICEF and its partners.

UNICEF in India today celebrated 70 years of service for children in the country. On the occasion, UNICEF organised games and interactive marketplace showcasing child rights and the work of UNICEF with partners across the country.

Children from the Nine is Mine child rights campaign performed an original rap song based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Grammy Award winning Indian composer and music producer Ricky Kej, who is also a UNICEF celebrity advocate, launched the special ‘Wake up! For Every Child’ song video to mark the anniversary.

Kej composed the lyrics of the ‘Wake up! For Every Child’ song through a crowd-sourcing activity involving more than 40 child advocates from across India.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, UNICEF Representative in India said that it is wonderful to open our doors to friends old and new today, especially to school children as well as our former staff who dedicated so much of their lives to the cause of children in India, to our partners in Government, civil society and our generous donors and development partners.

“The children here today remind us all of our shared mission to ensure that every girl and every boy in India can survive, thrive and grow into responsible citizens,” said Haque, as she welcomed the guests.

UNICEF began work in India on 10 May 1949 with just three staff members, providing equipment and technical assistance to set up of India’s first penicillin plant at Pimpri.

Today, UNICEF staff work with partners providing technical assistance and advocating for child rights and services from New Delhi and in 16 States.

 

Cabinet approves Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved the proposal to make amendments in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (code) through the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019.

The amendments aim to remove certain difficulties being faced during insolvency resolution process to realise the objects of the code and to further ease doing of business.

The Amendment Bill seeks to insert new section 32A in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code).

Besides, amendments in sections 5(12), 5(15), 7, 11, 14, 16(1), 21(2), 23(1), 29A, 227, 239, 240 were also approved.

The approved amendments are aimed at removing bottlenecks, streamlining of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) and protection of the last mile funding to boost investment in financially distressed sectors.

Also, additional thresholds is introduced for the financial creditors represented by an authorized representative due to large numbers in order to prevent frivolous triggering of CIRP.

Cabinet approves revision in funding pattern of Delhi Metro’s Priority Corridors

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved for the revision in the funding pattern of three approved priority corridors of Delhi Metro Phase-IV projects.

Three priority corridors of Delhi Metro phase-IV —  (i) Aerocity to Tughlakabad (ii) RK Ashram to Janakpuri (West) and (iii) Mukundpur to Maujpur — project were approved by the Government of India in March this year at a completion cost of Rs. 24,948.65 crore.

The Cabinet, is in pursuance of the amendments to Metro Rail Policy, 2017 applicable only for Delhi, in compliance to the Supreme Court order, has approved the sharing of land cost in the ratio of 50:50 between Government of India (GoI) and Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD).

The total cost of the project which is Rs. 24,948.65 crore remains unchanged.

The contribution from GoI increases from the existing Rs 4,154.20 crore to Rs 4,643.638 crore resulting in a net increase of Rs. 489.438 crore.

The amount of external loan from bilateral/multilateral agencies which DMRC has to repay increases from the existing Rs 11,462.60 crore to Rs12,930.914 crore with a net increase of Rs. 1,468.314 crore.

 

Cabinet approves revision of PMDP for Horticulture in J&K, Ladakh

New Delhi (NVI):The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved to extend the timeline for implementation of Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) by three years and revision of PM’s Development Package for Horticulture in UTs of J&K and Ladakh

CCEA approved to extend the timeline for implementation of PMDP approved in 2016 beyond March 31, 2019 by 3 years that is up to March 31, 2022 with provision of further extension of time by a maximum period of 12 months, if required, with approval of Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

It also has approved for revision or re-appropriation of earlier approved components of PMDP for development of Horticulture in the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), within the approved outlay of Rs 500 crore between UTs of J&K and Ladakh with the provision of further revision, if required, with the approval of Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare within the overall financial limit of Rs 500 crore.

Revalidation of unspent amount of Rs. 59.07 crore remaining with undivided State of Jammu & Kashmir including Ladakh.

The action plan under PMDP has therefore been modified within the approved outlay of Rs. 500 crore earmarking Rs. 39.67 crore for UT of Ladakh and Rs. 460.33 crore for UT of Jammu & Kashmir.

The implementation of PMDP in the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Region, is expected to generate an estimated 44 lakh mandays employment and will also result in employment in allied sectors such as grading and packing units, Cold Atmosphere (CA)/Cold storage units and transportation sector etc.

As the high density plantation involves technology and regular upkeep of orchards, therefore, it will also result in overall wage enhancement in the horticulture sector due to the increase in the farmers’ income as a result of the increase in productivity.

Cabinet approves Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved the ‘Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme’ for the purchase of high-rated pooled assets from financially sound Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) by Public Sector Banks.

The decision behind the proposed government guarantee support and resultant pool buyouts is aimed to help address NBFCs/HFCs resolve their temporary liquidity or cash flow mismatch issues.

The scheme will enable NBFCs/HFCs to continue contributing to credit creation and providing last mile lending to borrowers, thereby spurring economic growth.

The Government of India (GoI) will offer ‘Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme’, as approved by the Union Cabinet, to PSBs for purchasing high-rated pooled assets from financially sound NBFCs and HFCs.

The amount of overall guarantee, as agreed by Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), will be limited to the first loss of up to 10 per cent of the fair value of assets being purchased by the banks under the scheme or Rs 10,000 crore, whichever is lower.

The scheme would cover NBFCs / HFCs that may have slipped into SMA-0 category during the one year period prior to 1.8.2018, and asset pools rated “BBB+” or higher.

Also, the window for one-time partial credit guarantee offered by Gol will remain open till June 30, 2020 or till such date by which Rs 1,00,000 crore assets get purchased by the banks, whichever is earlier.

As per the decision the Finance Minister is delegated with the power to  to extend the validity of the Scheme by up to three months taking into account its progress.

Govt provides assistance to displaced Kashmiri, Bru families: Reddy

New Delhi (NVI): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy informed the Rajya Sabha today that 5,248 displaced Kashmiri families living in migrant camps in Jammu and 5,407 Bru families living in relief camps in Tripura are being provided assistance by the Ministry.

In a written reply to a question regarding assistance to internally displaced people in the country Kishan Reddy said that these displaced Kashmiri families have been housed in concrete multi-storied structures and free electricity and water supply is provided in the camps.

“Other facilities like 10+2 level schools, hospitals or medical facilities, and community halls have also been provided in almost all camps and scholarship, employment, assistance to agriculturists or horticulturists, banking support etc are also provided to the camp-dwellers,”Reddy said.

Minister remarked that under the Prime Minister’s Development Package, 2015 (PMDP-2015) the Government approved a scheme for grant of one-time financial assistance of Rs 5.5 lakhs per family to run small business, undertake farming, livestock etc.

The Minister noted that in order to accommodate displaced persons, the Government has also approved construction of 6,000 transit accommodations at a cost of Rs 920 crores for 3000 Kashmiri migrants employed under Pradhan Mantri Reconstruction Package-2008 (PMRP- 2008) and for 3000 additional migrants under PMDP-2015.

Minister also informed that under the Security Related Expenditure (Relief & Rehabilitation) the expenditure incurred by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir is reimbursed by Central Government to provide cash relief to Kashmiri migrants and Jammu Migrants at the rate of Rs 3250 per person with the ceiling of Rs 13,000/- per family per month. Also, basic dry ration to the needy Kashmiri migrants at the rate of 9 Kg of rice and 2 Kg of atta per person and 1 Kg of sugar per family per month.

He added that cash relief is also provided to Kashmiri migrants settled in Delhi -NCR at the rate of Rs 13,000/- per family per month with the support of Government of NCT of Delhi.

Reddy informed the house that under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Package-2008 (PMRP-2008), 3,000 State Government jobs have been created for the Kashmiri migrants, out of which 2905 posts have been filled till date.

“Further, under PMDP-2015, the Government has approved creation of 3,000 additional State Government jobs for the Kashmiri migrants at a cost of Rs. 1,080 crores,” he informed

“Out of this, appointment orders in respect of 528 candidates have been issued and consequently 254 have been placed. 5% seats are reserved course-wise for wards of Kashmiri migrants in colleges in Delhi University,” he further informed

On the issue of Brus, Reddy said that an agreement was signed on July 3, 2018 between Government of India, Government of Mizoram, Government of Tripura and Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) for repatriation of all 5407 Bru Families. A total of 1950 families have been repatriated to Mizoram till November 30, 2019.

7,000 visitors watched PSLVC48 launch live

Sriharikota: (NVI): For over 7,000 visitors who witnessed the launch of PSLVC48 live from the viewers gallery in Sriharikota it was a ‘dream come true’ experience.

Today, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its latest spy satellite RISAT-2BR1 along with nine foreign satellites.

ISRO tweeted the photos of the visitors who had gathered at the viewers galley in Sriharikota to witness the launch.

“It was a dream come true for over 7,000 visitors who witnessed the launch of #PSLVC48 live from the Viewers gallery in Sriharikota,” ISRO tweeted along with the photos of the visitors.


The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on its 50th mission placed all 10 satellites on board in their designated orbits.

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