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 Recently Government has taken various steps to boost domestic investments in India. These include Promoting FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) and improve Ease of Doing Business, Make in India initiative, National Infrastructure Pipeline, Reduction in Corporate Tax, easing liquidity problems of NBFCs (Non Banking Financial Companies) and Banks, trade policy measures, constitution of Investment and Project Development Cells, One District One Product (ODOP), and PLI (Production Linked Incentive) Scheme for 14 key sectors etc. Government of India has also taken up various Industrial Corridor Projects as part of National Industrial Corridor Programme which is aimed at development of greenfield industrial nodes/regions which can compete with the best manufacturing and investment destinations in the world.

The time taken for completion of a project depends on factors like type of project, number of stakeholders, statutory clearances, various other issues related to project etc.

In order to minimize delays and for timely completion of projects, the Government has institutionalized a monitoring mechanism called Project Monitoring Group (PMG) for various infrastructure and industrial projects above Rs. 500 Crore.  The PMG reviews such projects and resolve issues related to various central ministries as well as State Government.  Private Companies can also upload their issues on this portal and get their issues resolved.  As per available information, out of total 1805 Projects on the PMG Portal, 442 Projects under implementation have reported issues.  Further, 421 projects have been commissioned after resolution of issues. 

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) also has 32 greenfield industrial nodes across 11 Industrial Corridors in the country.  National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) as well as DPIIT monitors these project on regular basis. 

The Government has also developed PM GatiShakti National Master Plan which is supported by a digital platform to enable synchronized planning for providing multi-modal infrastructure connectivity to various economic zones, including industrial parks and clusters.

 International Journal of Research (IJR) is an international scholarly refereed research journal which aims to promote the theory and practice of engineering management, innovation, technology, management science, technology forecasting, and management engineering consulting. But the topics are not limited to these. We welcomes the submission of manuscripts that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence. The current issue of the journal is available online at https://ijrjournal.com/index.php/ijr

Send papers for publication to editor@pen2print.org 

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 Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (HarMedh Par Ped) Scheme was launched in 2016-17 to encourage tree plantation on farm land along with crops/ cropping system to help the farmers get additional income and make their farming systems more climate resilient and adaptive. Presently, the scheme is being implemented in 23 States/UTs including Maharashtra. Under the scheme, assistance to farmers is given through State Govt. for nursery development, boundary plantation and block plantation of prominent tree species to promote, inter-alia, fruit bearing trees, tree borne oilseeds, medicinal & aromatic plants, silk & lac rearing host plants in addition to timber species, so that farmers get early returns.

 The National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), a central sector scheme launched on 21st January, 2015 and wasimplemented in 12 cities of Ajmer (Rajasthan), Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Amritsar (Punjab), Badami (Karnataka), Dwarka (Gujarat), Gaya (Bihar), Kancheepuram and Velankanni (Tamil Nadu), Mathuraand Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Puri (Odisha), and Warangal (Telangana). The mission has ended on 31st March, 2019 andno new projects/cities were taken up after 31st March, 2019.

Under the HRIDAY Scheme, funds were not allocated to the cities year wise but for the entire Mission period and directly released to the cities. City-wise details of the number of projects implemented, funds allocated,released and utilized under HRIDAY scheme are given below.

Number of projects implemented, funds allocated, released and utilized under HRIDAY scheme

(₹ in Crore)

The implementation of the projects was monitored through regular review meetings, video-conferencing with the concerned State Governments/City official along with site visits.

 the Republic of India and the United Kingdom concluded the first round of talks for an India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Both sides acknowledge the importance of ensuring this first round – held virtually over 2 weeks - could proceed despite the challenges presented by the COVID pandemic.

During this round, technical experts from both sides came together for discussions in 32 separate sessions covering 26 policy areas including: Trade in Goods, Trade in Services including Financial Services & Telecommunications, Investment, Intellectual Property, Customs and Trade Facilitation, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade, Competition, Gender, Government Procurement, SMEs, Sustainability, Transparency, Trade and Development, Geographical Indicators and Digital.

The negotiations were productive and reflected our shared ambition to secure a comprehensive deal to boost trade between the 5th and 6th largest economies in the world. The positive discussions in round one have laid the groundwork for the UK and India to make positive and efficient progress.

The second round of negotiations is due to take place on 7-18 March 2022. Both teams maintain a shared ambition to conclude negotiations by the end of 2022 – as part of both sides’ efforts to secure a comprehensive agreement, Chief Negotiators will continue to consider the benefits of an Interim Agreement.

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 Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya today launched NIPER Research Portal along with Shri Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers in presence of Dr V. K Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Research Portal has been created with the aim to disseminate the information about all the NIPERs and their research activities, patents filed and Publication information at one place so that a industry and other stakeholders know about them.

Reiterating the vision of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan and Jai Anusandhaan, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said that Research & Development is one of the crucial pillars for a country's economy. He said that we need to harness this energy of aspirations of all stakeholders and create a holistic ecosystem. Our expertise in generics can also be further expanded to other sectors, he added.

Pointing towards the importance of healthy competition both in Industry and Academia, the Union Minister noted that competition and demand is a necessity of research and innovation as this promotes quality ideas and solutions for our citizens. He stressed that Research and Innovation is a necessity for the sustained growth of pharmaceuticals sector.

The Minister stated that the country already has young talent and human resources, but we need to channelize them effectively through Industry-Academia cooperation. To enhance this industry–Academia collaboration, the Department of Pharmaceuticals has created this Research Portal to capture the research activities of all seven NIPERs, he informed. He said that that the platform inaugurated today would help us in promoting this synergy and would be a boon for our industries, especially the MSME sector.

Shri  Bhagwanth Khuba said India is the third-largest pharmaceutical manufacturing country and our vaccine development story is an example of effective cooperation among stakeholders.  He said that the platform will track the research and tasks of all NIPERS. He further said that the Government is committed to promote research and innovation and this portal is a step in that direction.

Dr VK Paul recollected the key role played by NIPERs in India's health ecosystem. He requested the government to streamline the funding pipeline and expedite the budgets allocated. He urged the industry to provide support like the NIPERs research fund for priority areas. He also encouraged NIPERs to create a vibrant scientific community by engaging with stakeholders and mobilizing ideas of the young generation, promoting academic autonomy and delivering on their research goals.

Accentuating the importance of NIPER’s Research Program, which focuses on the needs of the hour, the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ms S. Aparna said that the importance of Research and Innovation has never been more important and more apparent than in the last two years of the global pandemic. We have seen the need for new drugs, re-purposed drugs, safer drugs, more efficacious drugs and the most affordable drugs to help mankind, she added.  Shri highlighted that the portal will promote research work that is more relevant to the current evolving need of the sector and the requirements of the patient community.

The purpose of this portal is to authenticate availability of the research work that is ongoing. It will help other researchers and especially the industry to get in touch with the relevant organization so that they can work together and make the research more purposeful and meaningful. For long, research institutes have been working in silos or isolation. The research portal will try to bring together research institutions spread across different departments within government and also these institutions with industries. The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers also requested all relevant research institutions like the Department of Biotechnology, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of AYUSH, ICMR etc., and even DRDO, where a lot of pharmaceuticals sector-related research takes place to join this portal.

Kindly click the link below to see the portal:

http://nipermis.pharmaceuticals.gov.in/

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 Indian Railways has been providing training to applicants in designated trades under the provisions of the Apprentices Act since August 1963. These applicants are taken as apprentices based on their academic qualification without any competition or selection. Though the railways were obligated to provide only training to such candidates, those who completed their training were being engaged as Substitutes against level 1 posts, since 2004.

• Substitutes are temporary appointees who can be engaged to meet any exigencies and operational requirements. While such appointees are given benefits, due to temporary railway servants, they are not entitled to be absorbed in permanent employment without undergoing due process.
• In view of the ongoing transformation of Indian Railways and with a view to bringing fairness, transparency and objectivity in all railway recruitments, the railways centralized the process for all recruitments to level 1 in 2017, which would henceforth be conducted through a common nationwide computer based test (CBT)
• The Apprentices Act was amended in 2014 whereby section 22 of the Act provided that an employer shall formulate a policy for recruiting apprentices trained in its establishment. Pursuant to such amendment, Indian Railways made a provision to give preference to apprentices trained in railway establishments in open market recruitment to level 1 posts, to the extent of 20% of the posts advertised.
• While these apprentices appear for written test along with other candidates, they are given preference in appointment over others, subject to obtaining minimum qualifying marks and meeting and medical standards.
• Accordingly, 12504 Level 1 posts out of 63202 advertised vide CEN 02/2018 were earmarked for such candidates in the first common recruitment held in 2018. Similarly, 20734 Level-1 posts, out of 103769 posts advertised under CEN RRC 01/2019 have been earmarked for these apprentices. Recruitment for this notification is to be held.
• These apprentices are demanding for appointment in the railways without undergoing the prescribed recruitment process, namely written test and physical efficiency test that all other candidates are required to undergo as per extant rules. This demand is not feasible for acceptance as it is violative of Constitutional provisions and Apex Court judgment in matters of public employment whereby any employment cannot be provided except through a procedure involving fair selection.