Press Information Bureau

04.04.2019

Civil

Health Ministry forms a Solidarity Human Chain; reaffirms commitment towards Universal Health Care

MANU/PIBU/0480/2019

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare along with World Health Organization (WHO) today formed a Solidarity Human Chain as part of the World Health Day celebrations to reaffirm their commitment to bridging gaps and working collaboratively towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The theme of World Health Day 2019 is Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere. Speaking at the function, Ms. Preeti Sudan, Secretary (Health) stated that this event emphasizes our commitment to ensure all people and communities have access to quality healthcare services, where and when they are required, without suffering financial hardship. At the event, Ms. Preeti Sudan also administered the solidarity pledge to work towards making universal health care available to everyone, everywhere.

Shri Manoj Jhalani (AS&MD), Dr S. Venkatesh, DGHS, Dr. Henk Bekedam, WHO Representative India along with other senior officers of the Ministry and representatives from WHO were also present at the function.

Secretary (Health) further stated that Ayushman Bharat has two components - Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) for Primary Health Care and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) for secondary and tertiary care. These components are linked to address the major challenges of ensuring continuum of care, two-way referral system and gate keeping.

Ms. Preeti Sudan said that the government is committed to strengthening 1,50,000 health facilities as Health and Wellness Centres which will deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care closer to where people live in the rural and urban areas. "As of today, more than 17,000 HWCs are operational across the country and are providing services for non-communicable diseases in addition to existing services for reproductive and child health, communicable diseases etc," Ms. Preeti Sudan elaborated.

Speaking at the event, World Health Organization Representative to India Dr. Henk Bekedam said, "A well-equipped primary health care delivery system is the key to achieving universal health coverage. This will require bringing quality care closer to people; strengthening peripheral health centres with linkages to secondary and tertiary care; and equipping primary health care providers to effectively deliver a package of preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services. Let's join hands to work on this."

April 7 of each year marks the celebration of World Health Day. This year's World Health Day will focus on equity and solidarity. From its inception at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950, the celebration has aimed to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization. Over the past 50 years this has brought to light important health issues such as mental health, maternal and child care, and climate change. The celebration is marked by activities which extend beyond the day itself and serves as an opportunity to focus worldwide attention on these important aspects of global health.

Tags : Human Chain Health Care Formation

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Securities and Exchange Board of India

03.04.2019

Capital Market

Extension of time lime for implementation of Phase I of Unified Payments Interface with Application Supported by Block Amount

MANU/SSMD/0015/2019

1. This refers to SEBI circular SEBI/HO/CFD/DIL2/CIR/P/2018/138 dated November 1, 2018, vide which SEBI had introduced the use of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as a payment mechanism with Application Supported by Block Amount (ASBA) for applications in public issues by retail individual investors through intermediaries (Syndicate members, Registered Stock Brokers, Registrar and Transfer agent and Depository Participants), with effect from January 1, 2019. Implementation of the same was to be carried out in a phased manner to ensure gradual transition to UPI with ASBA.

2. Based on the representations received from the various market intermediaries like Self Certified Syndicate Banks (SCSBs), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Association of Investment Bankers of India (AIBI), to extend the timeline for implementation of Phase I of the aforesaid Circular and in order to ensure that the transition to UPI in ASBA is smooth for all the stakeholders, it has been decided to extend the timeline for implementation of Phase I of the aforesaid Circular by 3 months i.e. till June 30, 2019. The implementation of Phase II and III shall continue unchanged as per the aforesaid Circular from the date of completion of Phase I as above.

3. All entities involved in the process are advised to take necessary steps to ensure compliance with this circular.

4. The aforesaid Circular dated November 1, 2018, shall stand modified to the extent stated under this Circular.

5. This circular is being issued in exercise of the powers under section 11 read with section 11A of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.

6. This circular is available on SEBI website. under the categories "Legal Framework" and "Issues and Listing".

Tags : Public Issue Equity Shares Convertibles Process

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Ministry of Commerce and Industry

03.04.2019

Customs

Amendments in the Handbook of Procedure consequent to the introduction of a procedure thereby doing away with the physical copy of MEIS/SEIS scrips issued with EDI ports

MANU/DGFT/0051/2019

In exercise of powers conferred under paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy (2015-2020), the Director General of Foreign Trade hereby adds the following provisions in the para 3.08 in the Handbook of Procedures, 2015-20, as amended from time to time.

"3.08

(c) However, for all MEIS/SEIS scrips issued on or after 10.04.2019 (except for MEIS/SEIS issued with port of registration as one of the Non EDI or SEZ ports), Telegraphic Release Advice (TRA) facility from EDI ports to non EDI and SEZ ports would not be available."

Effect of this Public Notice: TRA facility for scrips issued from all ports (except SEZ and non EDI ports) has been withdrawn for MEIS/SEIS scrips issued on or after 10.04.2019.

Tags : Amendments Handbook Procedure

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Ministry of Commerce and Industry

03.04.2019

Commercial

Imports of Maize (feed grade) under the TRQ Scheme for 2018-19

MANU/DGFT/0052/2019

Government has received many representations from Poultry sector, highlighting an un-precedent shortage of feed grade maize (for poultry industry) mainly because of draughts, pest attack and significant reduction in cultivable areas as in Bihar and requesting allowing imports of Maize (corn) feed grade under 0% TRQ.

2. As all corns are classified under the same HS Code) [Exim Code 10059000] wherein the BCD is 60%, import of feed grade maize becomes cost prohibitive. Secondly, import under TRQ (5 lakh MT) is temporarily under suspension due to an order of Hon'ble High Court of Hyderabad vide its Order dated 31/12/2014 with reference to WP No. 43494 of 2014 in WP No. 34771 of 2014. The Poultry industry has requested to separately classify feed grade maize from the pop - corn grade maize and allow its import under TRQ. The process of separate classification has been initiated.

3. By end February, 2019 no application was received by DGFT under para 2.62 of HBP, 2015-20. Keeping in view the urgency, the feed grade maize is proposed to be imported under TRQ with the following relaxations/conditions:

(a) Import of 1 lakh MT of feed-grade Maize (corn) under TRQ is allowed.

(b) Applications invited from STEs for import of feed-grade Maize (corn) under the TRQ scheme @ 15% Customs duty and meant only for Actual Users. Import for trading purpose is not allowed.

(c) Date of submission of application from STEs is extended up to 30.4.2019 in relaxation of the provision of Para 2.62 (i) of HBP, 2015-2020.

4. This issues with the approval of Competent authority.

Tags : Imports Maize TRQ Scheme

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Ministry of Finance 

03.04.2019

Service

Interest rate of deposits made under the Special Deposit Scheme for Non-Government Provident, Superannuation and Gratuity Funds

MANU/EAFF/0019/2019

It is hereby notified that the deposits made under the Special Deposit Scheme for Non-Government Provident, Superannuation and Gratuity Funds, announced in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) Notification No. F.16(1)-PD/75 dated 30th June, 1975, shall with effect from 1st April, 2019 to 30th June, 2019 bear interest at 8.0% (Eight percent). This rate will be in force w.e.f. 1st April, 2019.

Tags : Deposits Interest rate Scheme

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Reserve Bank of India

01.04.2019

Banking

Disclosure in the "Notes to Accounts" to the Financial Statements - Divergence in the asset classification and provisioning

MANU/RMIC/0039/2019

Please refer to our circular DBR.BP.BC.No.63/21.04.018/2016-17 dated April 18, 2017, on the captioned subject, requiring disclosures by banks where divergences from prudential norms on income recognition, asset classification and provisioning exceed certain thresholds.

2. It is observed that some banks, on account of low or negative net profit after tax, are required to disclose divergences even where the additional provisioning assessed by RBI is small, which is contrary to the regulatory intent that only material divergences should be disclosed. Therefore, it has been decided that henceforth, banks should disclose divergences, if either or both of the following conditions are satisfied:

a. the additional provisioning for NPAs assessed by RBI exceeds 10 per cent of the reported profit before provisions and contingencies for the reference period, and

b. the additional Gross NPAs identified by RBI exceed 15 per cent of the published incremental Gross NPAs for the reference period.

3. All other instructions of our aforementioned circular dated April 18, 2017 would remain unchanged.

Tags : Disclosure Financial Statements Asset classification

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