Notifications & Circulars
Press Information Bureau
30.08.2017
Civil
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Brazil for cooperation in the fields of Zebu Cattle Genomics and Assisted Reproductive Technologies
MANU/PIBU/1123/2017
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Brazil for cooperation in the fields of Zebu Cattle Genomics and Assisted Reproductive Technologies. The MoU was signed in October, 2016. The MoU will strengthen the existing friendly relations between India and Brazil and promote development of Genomics and Assistant Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) in Cattle through joint activities to be implemented through mutually agreed procedures. An implementation committee shall be created with an equal number of representatives of each party for the purpose of regularly determining the activities and developing work plans and subsequently their evaluation. It will be done through joint projects in the fields of Productivity Improvement of cattle and buffaloes, for the purpose of broadening the existing knowledge base on sustainable dairy development and institutional strengthening.
The MoU would promote and facilitate scientific cooperation and setting up of genomic selection programme in Zebu Cattle through (a) application of genomic in Zebu Cattle and their crosses and buffaloes (b) application of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) in cattle and buffaloes (c) capacity building in genomic and assisted reproductive technology (d) Related research and development in Genomics and ART in accordance with the respective laws and regulations of the two countries and is covered under Rule 7 (d) (i) of the Second Schedule of the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961.
Tags : MoU Approval Zebu Cattle Genomics Reproductive Technologies
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Press Information Bureau
30.08.2017
Civil
Cabinet apprised of jointly issue of postage stamps between India and Canada
MANU/PIBU/1124/2017
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was informed today that India and Canada have mutually agreed to jointly issue a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps on India-Canada: Joint Issue on the theme "Diwali". The joint stamps will be released on 21st September, 2017. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed signed between Department of Posts and Canada Post for this joint issue. India and Canada have a longstanding close relationship, based on shared values of democracy, pluralism, equality for all and rule of law. Strong people-to-people contacts and the presence of a large Indian Diaspora in Canada provide a strong foundation for the relationship. In this joint issue, the theme "Diwali" has been selected as it is a cultural theme for both the countries and also considering the large presence of Indian Diaspora in Canada.
Tags : Postage stamps Issuance India Canada
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Press Information Bureau
30.08.2017
Indirect Taxation
Cabinet approves promulgation of the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Ordinance, 2017
MANU/PIBU/1125/2017
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the proposal of the Finance Ministry to promulgate an ordinance to suitably amend the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017. The approval would allow to increase the maximum rate at which the Compensation Cess can be levied from 15% to 25% on:
a) motor vehicles for transport of not more than thirteen persons, including the driver [falling under sub-headings 870210, 8702 20, 8702 30 or 8702 90]; and
b) motor vehicles falling under headings 8703.
The GST Council, in its meeting held in August 2017, taking into consideration the fact that post introduction of GST, the total incidence on motor vehicles [GST+ Compensation Cess] has come down vis-a-vis pre-GST total tax, incidence, and had recommended increase in the maximum rate at which Compensation Cess can be levied on motor vehicles falling under headings 8702 and 8703 from 15% to 25%. The issue regarding the increase in effective rate of Compensation Cess on motor vehicles will be examined by the GST Council in due course.
Tags : Promulgation Approval Compensation States
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Press Information Bureau
30.08.2017
Banking
Status of the Return of SBNs - Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Annual Report 2016-17
MANU/PIBU/1129/2017
The RBI Annual Accounts for 2016-17, at note XI.6.2 Liabilities of Issue Department - Notes Issued in para (ii) mentions -
"Until June 30, 2017, SBNs were received by the Reserve Bank either directly or from bank branches/post offices through the currency chest mechanism. Some of these SBNs are still lying in the currency chests. The value of the SBNs received by the currency chests has been credited to the banks' account on "said to contain basis". Till such time these notes are processed by the Reserve Bank for their numerical accuracy and authenticity, only an estimation of SBNs received back is possible. Subject to future corrections based on verification process when completed, the estimated value of SBNs received as on June 30, 2017 is Rs. 15.28 trillion."
From the reports/data earlier published by RBI, currency in Rs.1,000 and Rs.500 denomination in circulation was at Rs. 15.44 lakh crore. [6857.82 million notes of Rs. 1000 and 17165.06 million notes of Rs.500 amounting separately to Rs. 685782 crore and Rs. 858253 crore]. Taking into consideration, the value of SBNs now reported to have been counted, approximately 98.96% of SBNs in value terms have come back to the RBI after demonetization. In other words, only an estimated Rs. 16000 crore worth of SBNs have not come back to the RBI so far.
The RBI's Annual Report at page 125 under Chapter VIII - Currency Management, in Table VIII.1: informs that Rs. 1,000 denomination banknotes in circulation were only 89 million pieces (value of Rs. 8900 crore) as on 31st March, 2017. If these figures are subtracted from the total figure of Rs. 16000 crore, then it implies that SBNs of Rs. 7100 crore of Rs. 500 denomination have not come back to RBI so far. Therefore, Rs. 1,000 denomination of value of approx. Rs. 8900 crore and Rs. 500 denomination of value approx. Rs. 7100 crore have not come back to RBI.
As per RBI's Annual Report at page 127 under Chapter VIII - Counterfeit Notes and Security Printing VIII.9 informs that during 2016-17, 762,072 pieces of counterfeit notes were detected in the banking system, of which 95.7 per cent were detected by commercial banks. Detection of counterfeit notes was 20.4 per cent higher than the previous year. Barring Rs. 100, the detection of counterfeit notes increased across denominations - notably, Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 - during 2016-17. The study done by RBI shows that the rate of FICN detected per million pieces of notes processed at the currency chest level at 7.1 pieces for Rs. 500 denomination and 19.1 pieces for Rs. 1000 denomination, which were higher than the rate of detection at the Reserve Bank (5.5 pieces for Rs. 500 and 12.4 pieces for Rs. 1000). At the Reserve Bank's currency verification and processing system during 20156-16, there were 2.2 pieces of FICNs of Rs. 500 denomination and 5.8 pieces of FICNs of Rs. 1000 denomination for every million pieces of notes processed; which rose to 5.5 pieces and 12.4 pieces respectively during post demonetization period.
Tags : Return SBNs Status
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Ministry of Labour and Employment
29.08.2017
Labour and Industrial
Increase in monthly salary threshold to Rs. 24,000 as wages under Section 1(6) of Payment of Wages Act, 1936
MANU/LABR/0101/2017
S.O.2806(E).--In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (6) of section 1 of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 ( 4 of 1936), the Central Government, on the basis of figures of the Consumer Expenditure Survey published by the National Sample Survey Organization, hereby specifies rupees twenty four thousand per month as the wages under said sub-section (6).
Tags : Increase Monthly salary Threshold
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Press Information Bureau
29.08.2017
Environment
Environment Ministry asks CPCB to issue Directions to Rajasthan SPCB to ensure proper Segregation and Collection of Industrial Effluent and Sewage in Bhiwadi
MANU/PIBU/1094/2017
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to issue directions under Section 18 (1) (b) of the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974 to Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, following the drowning of two children in a pond with industrial effluents and domestic sewage at Village Saeedpur, Dharuhera, in April 2017. Under the Act, CPCB has directed Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) to ensure:
Proper collection, treatment and disposal of effluents and sewage at Bhiwadi Industrial area, including the surrounding villages;
That Bhiwadi Municipal Council (BMC), Rajasthan State Industrial Development & Investment Corporation (RIICO) and Rajasthan Housing Board (RHB) submit time-bound action plans individually/jointly for setting up of sewerage system for proper collection, treatment and disposal of sewage and industrial effluents generated at Bhiwadi and the villages in its vicinity to RSPCB by August 31, 2017.
That RSPCB will examine the action plans submitted at its level and get them modified, if required, by September 15, 2017;
That RSPCB will forward the action plans to CPCB by September 29, 2017;
That the effluents from existing cesspools created due to indiscriminate disposal of untreated/partially treated effluents and sewage will be pumped to the newly-created Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and existing CETP for treatment and such pits shall be kept dry;
CPCB, in turn, will examine the said action plans and will forward the action plans to the Ministry by October 16, 2017, so that facilities are in place by January 31, 2018;
That CPCB will monitor the implementation of the said action plans and submit a monthly progress report, starting from November 30, 2017 till March 31, 2018.
The Union Government, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is providing funds to urban local bodies for proper collection, treatment and disposal of sewage under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) through concerned State Governments Including Government of Rajasthan, in the instance case.
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Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
28.08.2017
Media and Communication
Prevention of Tampering of the Mobile Device Equipment Identification Number, Rules, 2017
MANU/MCOM/0018/2017
G.S.R.1068(E).--In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (k) of sub- section (2) of section 7 read with section 25 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (13 of 1885), the Central Government, hereby, make the following rules to prevent the tampering of Mobile Device Equipment Identification Number, namely:
1. Short title and Commencement.-
(1) These rules may be called the prevention of tampering of the Mobile Device Equipment Identification Number, Rules, 2017.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the official Gazette.
2. Definition.-
In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, -
(a) 'Manufacturer' means a person who has lawfully obtained the right to assign a Mobile Device Equipment Identification Number to a mobile device before the initial sale of the mobile device;
(b) Mobile Device Equipment Identification Number' means a unique -
(i) international mobile equipment identity number (IMEI); or
(ii) electronic serial number (ESN) ; or
(iii) any other number or signal -
that identifies a unique mobile wireless communication device; or for the purposes has the same function and purposes as specified above.
3. Tampering of Mobile Device Equipment Identification Number.-
It shall be unlawful, if a person, except the manufacturer -
(i) intentionally removes, obliterates, change, or alter unique Mobile Device Equipment Identification Number; or
(ii) intentionally use, produce, traffic in, have control or custody of, or possess hardware or software, knowing it has been configured as specified above.
Tags : Tampering Mobile Device Prevention
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Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
28.08.2017
Media and Communication
TRAI releases Consultation Paper on 'Auction of Spectrum in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300-3400 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz bands'
MANU/TRAI/0072/2017
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released a Consultation Paper on 'Auction of Spectrum in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300-3400 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz bands'.
2. Department of Telecommunications through their reference dated 19th April 2017 sought recommendations of the TRAI on applicable reserve price, quantum of spectrum to be auctioned and associated conditions for auction of spectrum in 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300, 2500, 3300-3400 and 3400-3600 MHz Bands. Based on the available information, a consultation paper has been prepared and has been placed on TRAI's website http://www.trai.gov.in/release-publication/consultation.
3. In this consultation paper specific issues have been raised for consideration of stakeholders. The key issues raised are quantum of spectrum to be auctioned, optimal block size, duplexing scheme, spectrum cap, roll-out conditions and methods to be used for valuation and estimation of reserve price of spectrum.
4. Written comments on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper are invited from the stakeholders by 25th September 2017 and counter-comments by 3rd October 2017.
Tags : Consultation Paper Release Spectrum Auction
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