CA January 24, & 25

CBI ARRESTED FORMER IDBI BANK CHAIRMAN & OTHERS IN MALLYA LOAN DEFAULT CASE

The CBI has arrested a former chairman and three other ex-officials of IDBI Bank along with four former executives of Kingfisher airlines in connection with the Vijay Mallya loan default case.

BHARAT PARV BEING ORGANIZED AT RED FORT FROM JAN 26TH TO 31ST

The Bharat Parv is being organized at Red Fort in New Delhi from 26th to 31st of this month as part of the Republic Day Celebrations. The objective of the event is to generate a patriotic mood, promote the rich cultural diversity of the country, ensure wider participation of the general public and popularise the idea of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

CABINET APPROVES INTEREST WAIVER ON CROP LOANS FROM CO-OP BANKS

Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval for interest waiver for the two months of November and December last year for farmers accessing short term crop loans from Cooperative Banks.

The decision also provides for interest subsidy to National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development, NABARD on additional refinance by NABARD to cooperative banks. Farmers across the country availing short term crop loans from Cooperative Banks will be benefited by this.

CMS COMMITTEE SUBMITS INTERIM REPORT TO PM MODI

Chief Ministers’ Committee on demonetization will submit its interim report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi this evening. The committee headed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was constituted to prepare a roadmap for transition to digital economy.

Before submitting its report to Mr. Modi, the panel is holding meeting with its members in NITI Aayog. Yesterday, Mr. Naidu had said it will be an interim report, and after studying it and based on the suggestions, the panel will later submit a final report.

SC ASKS GOVT, BCCI TO SUGGEST NAMES OF ADMINISTRATORS

The Supreme Court today asked the Centre and BCCI to suggest names for appointment in the committee of administrators to run the apex cricket body. A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra also allowed BCCI to suggest three names after following the due process to represent it at the ICC meeting due in the first week of next month.

Union Cabinet approves transfer of 11.35 acres of land to AAI

The Union Cabinet has given its approval to transfer 11.35 acres of land to Airports Authority of India, AAI by way of exchanging equivalent land of AAI at Anisabad in Patna.

The proposed land at Patna Airport will be used for expansion of the airport and construction of new terminal building along-with other associated infrastructures. The State Government has also agreed in principle for transfer of the land.

INDIA, UAE SIGN 14 AGREEMENTS

India and the UAE today inked 14 agreements in various areas including in defence, maritime transport, comprehensive strategic partnership, shipping, agriculture and allied sector, trade, oil storage and management, energy efficiency, road transport and highways and prevention and combating human trafficking.

The agreements were signed after delegation level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

In his press statement, Prime Minister Modi invited UAE to become India’s partner in infrastructure projects. He said India is encouraging and facilitating the trade between the two sides. He said energy partnership between India and UAE is crucial.

He said, India and UAE share similar concerns over terrorism and radicalization. He said the two countries feel that their growing engagement in countering violence and extremism is necessary for securing the societies.

Speaking about India UAE ties in the economy, the Prime Minister said India regards UAE as an important partner in India’s growth story. He said closer ties between India and the UAE are of importance, not just for both countries, but for the entire neighbourhood.

A special tete-a-tete before delegation level talks was held between the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister earlier this morning. The Crown Prince was accorded ceremonial reception at the forecourts of the Rashtrapati Bhawan this morning.

The visiting dignitary, who is the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, arrived in the national capital yesterday on a three-day visit. He will witness Republic Day Parade tomorrow as a chief guest. This is the second visit of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to India since February last year.

The two countries are among each other’s top trading partners with a well-balanced bilateral trade of about 50 billion dollars in 2015-16. UAE is among the top investors in India in terms of foreign direct investments.

20 PERSONS SELECTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS PADMA SHRI

Twenty persons have been selected for the prestigious Padma Shri including Paralympic gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu and Olympian gymnast Dipa Karmakar.

Recipients of the award include Kalaripayattu exponent Meenakshi Amma, volunteer fire fighter Bipin Ganatra, AIDS crusader Suniti Solomon, social activist Anuradha Koirala, and sanitation pioneer Dr Mapuskar.

Other awardees include captain of Indian Blind Cricket team Shekhar Naik, 91 year old gynaecologist who treat people for free Dr Bhakti Yadav, and Odishi folk singer Jitendra Haripal.

The awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.

NATIONAL VOTERS’ DAY BEING OBSERVED

The Election Commission of India will celebrate the 7th National Voters’ Day across the country today for enhanced participation of citizens in the electoral process. The National level function will be held in New Delhi. President Pranab Mukherjee will give away awards for best electoral practices to District Collectors, Superintendents of Police and other functionaries involved in election management. Mr Mukherjee will administer Voters Day Pledge to participants. Voter identity cards will also be distributed to newly eligible young voters on the occasion.

25th January is also the foundation day of the Election Commission, which came into being on this day in 1950. The Commission’s objective through National Voters’ Day is to increase enrollment of voters, especially of the newly eligible ones. The Day is also utilized to spread awareness among voters regarding effective participation in the electoral process.

HEAD POST OFFICES TO BE UTILISED AS POST OFFICE PSKS FOR PASSPORT RELATED SERVICES

The External Affairs Ministry and the Department of Posts have agreed to utilise Head Post Offices in various states as the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra for delivering passport related services to the people. Briefing media in New Delhi yesterday, Minister of state for External Affairs, General (Retd.) V K Singh said this is being done in order to extend passport services to the citizens on a larger scale and to ensure wider area coverage. He said the pilot projects will be inaugurated today at Head Post Offices of Mysuru in Karnataka and Dahod in Gujarat.

Applicants, who apply for their passports online through the passport portal, can now schedule an appointment and then visit the designated Post Office Passport Seva Kendra to complete the formalities. He also said the government intends to scale up this programme by opening Post Office Passport Seva Kendras in all the head post offices in a phased manner once the pilot projects are operationalised successfully. Singh spoke in the presence of Minister of State for Telecommunication Manoj Sinha. This is the first time the External Affairs Ministry will share the powers it has under the Passport Act with another Ministry.

NO EXTENSION BEYOND 31ST JANUARY, 2017 TO SWITCH OFF ANALOG SIGNALS IN PHASE III URBAN AREAS

Information and Broadcasting Ministry has advised cable subscribers in Phase III urban areas to obtain Set Top Boxes immediately. Subscribers without set top boxes will not be able to watch TV services through Cable TV Networks after 31st January this year.

In a statement, the Ministry said no extension will be granted beyond 31st of this month to switch off analog signals in Phase III urban areas. Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories have been requested to ensure that the Authorized Officer get acquainted with their powers and specified rules to enforce them against defaulters if they continue to carry analog signal in Phase III urban areas after the stipulated time.

The Ministry has issued instructions to all the broadcasters, multi system operators and local cable operators to ensure that no analog signals are transmitted over the cable networks in Phase III urban areas after 31st of this month.

EC ASKS POLITICAL PARTIES NOT TO USE PICTURES OF PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT &GOVERNORS IN ELECTION POSTERS

The Election Commission has asked political parties and leaders not to use the pictures of President, Vice President and State Governors in their election posters. In a letter to the leaders of political parties, the poll body has asked them to advise their candidates and leaders to desist from such acts in their election campaigns.

The Commission said, President, Vice-President and Governors are Constitutional Authorities are completely apolitical and they should not be associated with any poll campaign. The direction came after recent letter by the President’s Secretariat to poll panel about the reports of use of photographs of President Pranab Mukherjee by political parties in Punjab Assembly elections

BONDA COUPLE NIRANJAN WADEKA, HUNDADI WADEKA INVITED TO WITNESS REPUBLIC DAY PARADE

Bonda couple Niranjan Wadeka and Hundadi Wadeka from Khambesi village in Bissam Cuttack block of Rayagada district are among the 40 tribals invited to witness the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. The couple will stay in New Delhi till February 2 and will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Teen Murti Bhavan after witnessing the grand parade.

They will also meet President Pranab Mukherjee and vice-president Hamid Ansari. It is worth recaling that Bonda couple Dhabalu Sisa and his wife Samari from Bandiguda under Mudulipada gram panchayat of Malkangiri district was invited last year for the Republic day parade.

INDIA REJECTED INVESTMENT AGREEMENT AT WTO

India rejected an informal attempt of EU and Canada to work towards a global investment agreement at World Trade Organisation (WTO)

Proposed agreement incorporates a contentious Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism

It permits companies to drag governments to international arbitration without exhausting the local remedies

Allows them to claim huge amounts as compensation citing losses they suffered due to reasons

India stated only after all local options have been exhausted for settling disputes between a corporate and a government, then the issues can be taken up in international arbitration tribunals

NEPAL LAUNCHES 10-YR-PLAN TO CUT VEGETABLE IMPORTS FROM INDIA

Nepal government launched a 10-year-plan to cut dependence on vegetable imports from India

Vegetable imports from India have continued to increase

Imports vegetables worth 55 billion rupees every year from India

Potatoes worth 370 million rupees was imported annually

Western region seeing a rise in commercial vegetable farming

CHINA DEVELOPS WORLD’S BIGGEST SOLAR PARK

China built world’s biggest solar park named Longyangxia dam solar park

Developed in western Province of Qinghai

Built at a cost of about 6bn yuan (£721.3m)

Capacity to produce a massive 850MW of power

To become the super powerful occupier of green energy

If this happens, China will produce 110GW of solar power and 210GW of wind power by 2020

DUBAI AIRPORT REMAINS THE BUSIEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD

Dubai International Airport remained the world’s busiest airport for international passengers in 2016

Overtook London’s Heathrow in 2014

Annual traffic rising 7.2% to 8.36 crore passengers

Adding 11 new destinations by local airlines for passengers

AIRASIA INDIA OFFERS 50% DISCOUNT ON ROUND TRIPS

Budget passenger carrier AirAsia India has started a discount offer of 50 per cent on the return leg of round trips booked via its website and mobile-based application (App).

“The discount is available on airasia.com and the AirAsia mobile App from January 23 to 29, 2017 for travel between February 1 and April 30, 2017,” the airline said in a statement on Tuesday.

SBI LIFE INSURANCE TARGETS RS 1 LAKH CRORE IN ASSETS & MANAGEMENT BUSINESS BY EARLY NEXT YEAR

SBI Life Insurance aims to achieve a growth of Rs one lakh crore in its assets and management business towards the end of this year or early next year, a top company official said.

“Our assets and management (business) has grown nicely, though it has not yet achieved its target of Rs one lakh crore. It is around Rs 95,000 crore. Towards the end of this year or early next year, we would like to achieve the target of Rs one lakh crore – that will be a big landmark,” company Executive Director Sanjeev Pujari said here.

He stated this at the launch of SBI Life – Smart Bachat, a traditional, participating, limited premium payment term, endowment plan designed to keep the obligation of paying premium over a long term at bay.

Pujari, who also spoke to reporters, said the company has been the market leader for the last two years as far as new business is concerned and it has grown around 53 per cent till December this year.

NORTH EASTERN CARRYING CORP BAGS RS 400 CRORE TATA STEEL CONTRACT

Logistic firm North Eastern Carrying Corporation today announced that it has bagged a contract worth Rs 400 crore from Tata Steel for transportation of raw materials.

North Eastern Carrying Corporation has been awarded a contract worth Rs 400 crore from Tata Steel for transportation of their raw materials and mining products from Joda and Sukinda mines situated in Odisha, the company said in a BSE filing.

“Transportation and allied services related to mining, is an extremely challenging and specialised task, which includes mechanised operations, highly skilled manpower, liasoning with various departments. NECC’s vast experience in such kind of operational execution has helped the organisation to bag the contract,” the company said.

BASF PLANS TO LAUNCH 5 RICE CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS IN INDIA

German conglomerate BASF has introduced crop protection solutions for rice in India as it seeks to increase its share in the country and Asia-Pacific’s crop protection market, said a top official in Hyderabad.

The company will introduce five products this year including two fungicides and two herbicides, which will be launched in the first quarter of 2017 while another molecule will be launched in the later part of this year.

Rice is the staple food In India which is also the second largest producer in the world after China with an annual production of over 100 million tons.

CABINET APPROVES LAND SWAP BETWEEN BIHAR GOVT, AAI FOR PATNA AIRPORT

The government today cleared swapping of land between Bihar government and Airports Authority of India for the expansion and development of Patna airport, which handles traffic more than three times of its existing capacity.

Union Cabinet, which met here under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved transfer of 11.35 acres of (Bihar government) land to AAI by way of exchanging equivalent area of AAI’s land at Anisabad, an official release said today.

DEMONETISATION, CASHLESS ECONOMY IN RAJASTHAN SCHOOL SYLLABUS

Teach them when they are young so believes the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education as it has decided to include a chapter on demonetisation and cashless economy in the Class XII textbook of economics.

Looking at the present scenerio in which government is pushing for cashless economy, the board has decided to include a chapter on demonetisation and cashless economy in the text book of economics of Class XII,” Meghna Chaudhary, Secretary of the board, told PTI today.

JAMES HOGAN TO STEP DOWN AS ETIHAD CEO

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ CEO who steered the airline to become one of the most formidable of global carriers will step down in the second half of 2017.

Etihad’s board and Hogan “first initiated the transition process last year with the formation in May of the Etihad Aviation Group, a diversified global aviation and travel organisation,” said the Abu Dhabi-based carrier in a release.

“In just ten years, he has overseen the growth of the company from a 22 plane regional carrier into a 120 aircraft global airline and aviation group, with seven airline equity partnerships which together serve more than 120 million guests every year,” said Etihad Aviation Group chairman H.E. Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei.

PHARMA INDUSTRY WANTS BUDGET TO OFFER TAX CLARITY

he pharmaceutical industry has asked the government to bring in more clarity in terms of tax structure and provide incentives on research and development (R&D) as part of its budget wish-list.

The industry players also want the government to provide a road map towards bringing down corporate income tax down to 25 per cent.

The Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA), a body comprising mostly home-grown pharma firms, said all excisable goods used for R&D purposes should be exempted from central excise duty.

EXPERTS URGES GREATER SUBSIDY ON PURCHASE OF SOLAR PRODUCTS

Experts in the field of solar conservation have urged Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to increase subsidies on purchase of solar products in the 2017-18 Union Budget to give a boost to beneficiaries.

Members of global NGO Solar Cooker International (SCI) Janak Palta McGilligan and city-based Deepak Gadhia, in a letter to the finance minister, have requested that greater subsidy to be given on the purchase of solar cookers and solar dryers to beneficiaries, who are mostly women and farmers, which will enable them earn more income through its use.

Padma Shree recipient McGilligan and Gadhia, a member of International Solar Energy Society (ISES), observed that the government’s scheme of giving new LPG connection to BPL families is not going to solve energy related problems as LPG fuel is going to be available only for a limited period.

“Energy is largely fuel wood, animal dung, or crop residues, all of which emit smoke, pollute atmosphere, and are detrimental to health and safety of family members, particularly women,” the letter said.

HENKEL APPOINTS BARUN BHARADWAJ AS TRANSPORT & METAL BIZ HEAD

HenkelBSE 1.20 % Adhesives Technologies India, a fully owned subsidiary of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, has appointed Barun Bharadwaj, as the Business Director of its transport and metal strategic business unit in India.

He has replaced Manish Dave who has now moved to Henkel, North America, a company statement issued here said.

In this role, Barun will be spearheading Henkel India’s transport and metal business, which comprises adhesives, acoustics and structural, cleaners and lubricants, metal coil, sealing and coating and surface treatment steering units, it added.

HOUSING FINANCE ECONOMICS TO FACE ROADBLOCKS DUE TO FALLING BANK INTEREST RATES: IND-RA

The large-ticket housing loan segment (primarily ticket size above INR5 million) is likely to face disruption, as housing finance companies (HFCs) would be forced to realign their strategies in view of a sharp reduction in lending rates by banks, says India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra).

“This may affect business growth for HFCs, on account of increased competitiveness of banks. This could act as a double blow for HFCs already reeling from the slowdown in core housing loan portfolio growth. About 20% of the housing portfolio of large HFCs could be higher than Rs 5 million in ticket size,” said Prakash Agarwal director and co-head financial institutions India Ratings and Research.

The competition between HFCs would have implications for profitability, especially in view of limited manoeuvrability of such companies with regard to the expansion of leverage or high-yield non-core portfolio. Moreover, playing on the yield curve (short-term borrowing to save on tenor premium while lending largely remains long-term) would expose HFCs to liquidity and refining risks.

NARENDRA MODI’S ELECTRICITY PUSH FAILS TO LIGHT RURAL INDIA

“Neighbours rushed to help douse the fire, but we couldn’t save anyone,” Vidhate, 45, said of the blaze four years ago, which he blames on an overturned kerosene lamp. “My children were burned alive before my eyes.”

With no electricity, the one-room mud shelter on a farm 240 kilometers (150 miles) east of Mumbai had only the lamp for light — common in India, where power remains unaffordable, inadequate or simply non-existent for 240 million people. If their hut had been connected to the power grid, Vidhate believes it may never have caught fire, killing Aakash, 15, Manisha, 13, and 11-year-old Vikas, he said.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to bring reliable power to all citizens during the campaign that propelled him into office in 2014, the same year the World Bank pegged India as home to the world’s largest un-electrified population. While his government has made progress meeting its 2019 deadline, many families are still missing out, holding back some of India’s poorest, most-vulnerable citizens and preventing the country from achieving its development ambitions.

NO EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR PHASE III CABLE TV DIGITIZATION

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry today said that no extension beyond 31st January will be given to switch off analog signals for Phase III of Cable TV Digitisation drive.

In a statement released here, the ministry said those who have not yet taken Set Top Boxes (STBs), are advised to obtain the same from the MSO/Cable Operators in their areas immediately, failing which they would not be able to watch TV services through Cable TV Networks after next Tuesday.

“It is brought to the notice of all concerned that Ministry of I&B would not grant any extension beyond 31 st January, 2017 to switch off analog signals in Phase III urban areas,” the ministry said in a statement released here.

TATA STEEL AIMS 20% REVENUE FROM SERVICE, SOLUTIONS BUSINESS

Steel major Tata SteelBSE 1.01 % is betting big on services and solutions business and aiming around 20 per cent of company’s revenue from it in next few years.

“We are optimistic and aiming at 20 per cent of revenue from services and solutions. Currently, we are at around Rs 700 crore. We are gradually expanding solution products targeting end-users,” Tata Steel sources told PTI.

The company is already in several solution products based on steel including doors, windows, modular housing, toilets and water ATMs etc.

It is also foraying into furniture space and its products would have wood or wood-like finish but blend steel structure, they said.

BUDGET 2017: GOVERNMENT SHOULD BRING IN SIMPLIFICATION OF TAX LAWS

With all eyes on GST launch, 2017 will turn out to be a historic year for indirect taxes. Recently Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that July 1, 2017 would be a “more realistic date” to roll out GST. No doubt, this will change the whole taxation system and will make the task of estimating and filing taxes much easier.

Though there are certain issues between centre and state government over processes and implementation, I hope government will redress such issues in the upcoming union budget.

The government needs to bring in simplification of tax laws. Moreover, the need of the hour is to widen the scope of taxation. We see big corporate houses as prime targets for paying taxes but at the same time we forget that a large number of taxpayers are either evading tax net or not paying appropriate taxes. Contributing to economy is everyone’s responsibility and I think each and every citizen need to be responsible towards paying their taxes

BUDGET 2017: ANNOUNCE SPECIAL SOPS FOR MSME SECTOR

This is an important budget for the country which is likely to have major impact on businesses, common man, and corporate alike. With demonetisation, the Government took a clear and bold step at strengthening India’s economy in the long run, and we hope to see a similar valor in the upcoming budget announcements too. Demonetisation, has brought in a few opportunities particularly in terms of assimilating the informal sector into formal folds, and that needs to be tapped in.

I hope that this year budget will have special sops for the MSME sector as they are not only one of the largest job providers, but also form the backbone of the food processing sector in India. Appropriate tax incentives have to be provided to uplift the dampen spirits of the sector and ensure sustainable growth in the medium term. We also need an atmosphere where consumption is boosted as it will lead to better profitability and efficiency for the food processing industries.

CENTRE GOVT TO UTILISE GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY FOR SMART CITIES

The Centre would extensively utilise geospatial technology in realising its vision for betterment of human civilisation, Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Monday.

Inaugurating the Geospatial World Forum at International Convention Centre here, the Union Minister said, “We are living in a new age, with new aspirations, new innovations and new inventions.

We are moving towards a smart future. Indian geospatial industry is expected to become a $20 billion market by 2025, growing at a cumulative annual rate of 12-15 per cent. The estimated annual budget of government agencies for GIS services today stands at $3 billion.”

Venkaiah Naidu further said the Centre had also launched several flagship programmes that would make use of geospatial technologies. These included the much-coveted Smart Cities programme, skill development, Digital India, Start-Up India and .

ZUCKERBERG CHARITY BUYS AI STARTUP TO BATTLE DISEASE

A charitable foundation backed by Mark Zuckerberg and his wife has said it has bought a Canadian artificial intelligence startup as part of a mission to eradicate disease.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative did not disclose financial terms of the deal to acquire Toronto-based Meta, which uses AI to quickly read and comprehend scientific papers and then provide insights to researchers.

Meta capabilities will be unified in a tool made available for free to scientists.

“We are very excited about what lies ahead,” Meta co-founder and chief executive Sam Molyneux said in a statement.

Zuckerberg and his doctor wife, Priscilla Chan, in September pledged $3 billion over the next decade to help banish or manage all disease, pouring some of the Facebook founder’s fortune into innovative research.

“This is a big goal,” Zuckerberg said at a San Francisco event announcing the effort of the philanthropic entity established by the couple in 2015.

“But we spent the last few years speaking with experts who think it is possible, so we dug in.”

In the field of biomedicine alone, thousands of research papers are published daily, initiative science president Cori Bargmann and chief technology officer Brian Pinkerton said in a post on the charity’s Facebook page.

SCIENTISTS HAVE INVENTED A TOOL THAT LETS SMARTPHONES ANALYZE DNA, AND IT COULD USHER IN A NEW ERA OF HEALTHCARE

The discovery that all life is underpinned by a genetic code has changed our understanding of everything in biology. And, yet, given that DNA is thousands of times smaller than a human hair, most of the applications that involve its use have remained restricted to sophisticated labs.

No longer. Over the past decade, miniaturization of computers and lab equipment has made high-tech tools portable. The latest such advancement is the stuff of science fiction: a group of scientists in the US and Sweden have developed a DNA-analyzing kit that can run on a smartphone.

To understand how it works, consider the example of tuberculosis. When a patient in, say, rural India is diagnosed with the disease, a doctor without access to a sophisticated lab will typically give the patient drugs from the first line of treatment. However, one in four patients won’t respond to this treatment, because the bug they’ve caught is resistant to these drugs.

Without a test to determine which strain the patient is suffering from in advance, the doctor has to wait for weeks till she finds out that the patient has the drug-resistant infection, and then prescribe a different medication. In that period, the patient would have already spread the infectious and hard-to-treat disease to many more people around him.

A portable DNA analyzer could fix this problem. To create one, Mats Nilsson of Stockholm University and his colleagues took a sample of human tissue and analyzed it with a specially designed attachment connected to a Nokia Lumia 1020 smartphone.

TELANGANA SECURES 2ND POSITION IN SOLAR POWER MISSION

The Government of Telangana on Tuesday received three awards in two categories for effectively implementing the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission during the year 2014-15.

The State occupied second position in the country with regard to implementation of the mission. On behalf of the State government, additional chief secretary and other officials received the awards.

Under the mission, the State has set up 676 solar energy panels in Ranga Reddy district and 355 in Medak. Telangana is promoting solar energy in the State by giving subsidy to solar power producers.

FOUR LIGHT COMBAT TEJAS AIRCRAFT TO FLYPAST ON REPUBLIC DAY

Republic Day Fly-past will be a memorable day for the people all across the country for they will be witnessing for the first time the indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘TEJAS’ flying past along the Rajpath.

Sources informed ANI that this time four LCA TEJAS are going to be part of the Republic Day flypast to be performed by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

“Four Aircraft are going to be part of the flypast on this republic day. While three will be flying the ‘Vic’ formation the fourth will be kept airborne as a stand-by,” a senior officer involved in the preparations told ANI.

This is after a long gap of 22 years that an indigenously developed aircraft will become part of the fleet of the 35 aircraft performing flypast on Republic Day. Talking about TEJAS’ participation in the Republic Day Flypast, Air Commodore Rajiva Ranjan, Principal Director, Air Defence and Weapons System had earlier SAID, “First time after a gap of almost 20 to 22 years you are going to see an indigenous fighter aircraft after a long break. Earlier we have flown the Maruts.”

TEJAS has been inducted in 45 Squadron christened as the ‘Flying Daggers’ currently based at Bangalore. TEJAS is the first fly-by-wire fighter aircraft designed, developed and manufactured in India. The Aeronautical development Agency (ADA) has designed and developed and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has produced it.

DRDO OUTLINES FUTURE MBT REQUIREMENTS

Requirements for the main armament, power pack, and mission systems have been revealed by the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Speaking at the International Armored Vehicles 2017 conference in London, Dr U. Solomon of the DRDO’s Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) highlighted some of the new requirements for the MBT design, which is intended to replace the Indian Army’s fleet of T-72M1 ‘Ajeya’ MBTs and is scheduled to enter service from the early 2020s.

Previously identified as having a requirement for a 120 mm main gun, the MBT is now set to be armed with a 125 mm gun, third-generation anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW), and an air-defense machine gun. It is planned that the main gun will have the capacity to fire guided munitions, with these understood to be Israel Aerospace Industries’ Laser Homing Attack or Laser Homing Anti-Tan (LAHAT) missile. Other ammunition will include programmable air burst munitions and armor-piercing, fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) natures.

The turret design will be unmanned, with the three-person crew seated in suspended seats below the turret – a configuration that is intended to enhance protection against underbelly blasts from mines or improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

PSLV TO LAUNCH AUSTRALIAN SATELLITE IN SECOND QUARTER OF 2017

ASX listed Sky and Space Global has moved to the final phase of preparations for the launch of its trial “3 Diamonds” nano-satellites as the company advances with its narrow-band telecommunication network based on the miniature satellite devices.

Perth-based Sky and Space Global said on Monday that it had completed construction of all hardware and operating systems on the project ahead of their planned launch on board the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in the second quarter of 2017.

The build was finished on schedule at the facilities of EU satellite maker GomSpace, in Denmark, company management said this week.

In a market update, Sky and Space said each of the three prototype nano-satellites would now undergo detailed evaluation from communications device manufacturer Ayecka Communications ahead of the launch. Testing of their voice, instant messaging and data transfer capabilities would be completed within a week, management said.

Once final testing is complete, the company plans to transport the nano-satellites to the launch site at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, in the lead up to the trial mission.

UKRAINE TARGETS INDIAN CONTRACTS WORTH BILLIONS

Ukraine wants to expand its footprint in the Indian defense sector, eyeing projects worth at least $10 billion and projecting itself as a cheaper alternative to service the country’s Soviet-era arms and equipment.

Ukrainian aircraft maker Antonov and Indian private-sector firm Reliance Defense and Aerospace (RDA) plan to jointly bid for the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA), which will be co-developed and co-produced with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The two companies signed an agreement to bid for the project, but HAL is yet to release an RfP to get things moving. The opportunity for Ukraine to take part in the $6 billion project arose after the Indo-Russian MTA project failed to take off.

Though the exact number of aircraft to be built in India is not yet known, industry sources project a requirement for more than 300 planes in military and civil configurations.

Government and industry sources said Ukraine is making a pitch to upgrade the Indian Army’s BMP-2/2K IFVs in partnership with RDA. The Indian firm and Ukraine’s SpetsTechnoExport are cooperating to bid for this $2 billion program to upgrade more than 1,500 BMP-2s.

Another business opportunity is supplying anti-tank missiles for Arjun Mk II tanks being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). SpetsTechnoExport has partnered with Indian firm Punj Lloyd and submitted a proposal to the DRDO.

GEN RAWAT MAKES FIRST TRIP TO SIACHEN, VALLEY AS ARMY CHIEF; REVIEWS SITUATION

In his first visit to Siachen, Leh and the Valley since taking charge, Rawat paid his respects to the soldiers killed in action at the Siachen war memorial. He was accompanied by Northern Army Commander Lieutenant, General D Anbu, an army spokesman said, adding he paid “tributes to the martyrs by laying a wreath” and later interacted with troops at the Siachen base camp.

“Thereafter, the Army Chief moved to Leh where he was briefed on the overall security situation and operational preparedness by the Corps Commander. During his interaction, he appreciated the commitment, dedication, sacrifice and professionalism of all officers and men posted to the region and called up on them to continue to uphold the core values of the Indian Army,” the army spokesman said.

Rawat also visited Srinagar, Kashmir’s summer capital, where he was briefed about the prevailing security scenario in Kashmir. Rawat was informed about the measures placed to integrate all government agencies for efficient intelligence generation and successful conduct of operations.

While this was Rawat’s first visit to the Valley as army chief, he did visit the state earlier this month, taking a tour of the Udhampur-based Northern Command in Jammu province.

General Rawat earlier served in Kashmir in various capacities including commanding the Dagger Division in 2011–2012 and an RR Sector in Sopore – Bandipora in 2006-2007.

DRDO’S 70-KM-LONG PINAKA MULTI-ROCKET LAUNCHER IS THE LATEST BOOST TO INDIAN ARMY’S ARMORY

The Indian Army has a new weapon to flaunt, with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) having developed a multiple rocket launcher – Pinaka for it with a range of 70kms.

Pinaka rockets will be bought for an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore for 22 regiments of multi-barrel rockets launchers.

INDIA EYES DEFENCE EQUIPMENT DEALS WITH UAE

India is not just interested in enhancing trade with the UAE, but is also looking at selling defense equipment during the visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to the country.

The Brahmos missile, which was jointly developed between India and Russia, could be offered to the UAE later, Indian External Affairs Ministry officials said.

“There have been talks on the Brahmos missiles, but India will immediately offer only the equipment for which it holds IPR rights,” confirmed ministry secretary Amar Sinha.

INDIA, FRANCE SIGN PACT ON MARITIME INFORMATION SHARING IN INDIAN OCEAN REGION

India and France has signed White Shipping agreement to enable information sharing on maritime traffic and maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) amid China’s expanding naval forays in the area where India wants to establish itself as the net security provider.

The agreement was signed on January 19 here when the two sides held their second dialogue on maritime cooperation for the Indian Ocean Region.

The White Shipping Agreement will be implemented over the next few months enabling Navies of India and France to coordinate their roles in stabilizing Indo-Pacific region, persons familiar with the developments indicated. It will enhance Indo-French maritime security cooperation in the region.

PAKISTAN CONDUCTS FIRST FLIGHT TEST OF NUCLEAR-CAPABLE ‘ABABEEL’ MISSILE

Pakistan has successfully conducted first flight test of surface-to-surface nuclear-capable missile ‘Ababeel’, said Pakistan military.

The missile is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead up to 2,200 kms, which brings many Indian cities within its striking range.

Ababeel is capable of delivering multiple warheads using Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a statement.

“The test flight was aimed at validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system.

SINGER KAILASH KHER, CHEF SANJEEV KAPOOR, VIRAT KOHLI AMONG 2017 PADMA AWARD WINNERS

The Centre on Wednesday announced the list of Padma awardees which included names of chef Sanjeev Kapoor, singers Kailash Kher and Anuradha Paudwal.

Cricketer Virat kohli, wrestler Sakshi Malik and gymnast Dipa Karmakar are also being felicitated with Padma awards this year.

The government had begun inviting nominations for the awards in May last year and received around 5,000 entries, from which 500 names were shortlisted in December.

PADMA SHRI AWARDS: DIPA KARMAKAR TO BE HONOURED FOR RIO EXCELLENCE

Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar will be conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award later this year for her performance in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Karmakar, who finished fourth and missed a medal by a whisker, has been rewarded for her efforts as an athlete at the international level.

Hailing from the remote state of Trpura, Dipa won a billion hearts as she finished fourth in Artistic Gymnastics at the 2016 Rio Olympics – best-ever performance by an Indian gymnast in the
Olympics history.

What makes her feat extraordinary is that she is only the 5th woman in the history of gymnastics to land the extremely dangerous Produnova Vault.

PUDUCHERRY CEO TO BE PRESENTED ‘BEST STATE AWARD FOR SVEEP

Chief Electoral Officer of Puducherry Dr V Candavelou has been selected by the Election Commission of India for being presented with the best state award for SVEEP (Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation).

A release from the Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Puducherry L Kumar said today that President Pranab Mukherjee will present the award to the CEO on celebration of ‘National Voters Day’ on January 25 at New Delhi.

It said the President would also present the award for ‘Best Electoral Practices for security management’ to A K Gawas, Senior Superintendent of Police Puducherry and ‘Special Category award for Information Technology initiatives’ to V Gopi Swaminathan, Technical Director of National Informatics Centre (NIC) Puducherry, that day.

The EC presents the national awards each year to Election Management Officers recognising their best electoral practices, during celebration of NVD in New Delhi.