Conservation of Natural Resources

The Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Labour & Employment, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that the Government has enunciated National Mineral Policy, 2008, which seeks that the conservation of mineral shall be construed not in the restrictive sense of abstinence from consumption or preservation for use in the distant future but as a positive concept leading to augmentation of reserve base through improvement in mining methods, beneficiation and utilisation of low grade ores and rejects and recovery of associated minerals. The Government is aiming for an adequate and effective legal and institutional framework mandating zero waste mining as the ultimate goal and a commitment to prevent sub-optimal and unscientific mining. Mineral sectoral value addition through latest technique of beneficiation, calibration, blending, sizing, concentration, pelletisation, purification and general customising of product is being encouraged. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that as regulators, Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and State Government approve the mining plan /scheme of mining for systematic and optimum utilisation/extraction of mineral. He said that as per the provisions of Mineral Conservation and Development Rules 1988, IBM carries out periodical inspections of mines to monitor conservation of minerals, systematic and scientific mining and protection of environment in the leasehold areas of minerals other than minor minerals, coal and atomic minerals. The Minister said that IBM has notified the threshold values of minerals viz. Apatite and Rock Phosphate, Bauxite, Barytes, Chromite, Dolomite, Fluorite, Iron Ore, Limestone, Magnesite, Manganese Ore and Wollastonite and directed the mine owners that all the non-saleable/un-usable minerals/ores above the limit prescribed in the threshold values are required to be stacked separately in the area earmarked for the purpose and maintain a mineral/ore stock indicating the quantity and quality of material stacked. He said that IBM has conducted studies such as process-mineralogy, analytical and physical characterization, analysis of samples from the waste dump, mineral rejects, sub-grade minerals stacks in the direction of zero waste mining. The Minister said that through mineral processing, IBM has upgraded low grade ore/ mineral resources by discarding deleterious constituents thus playing a significant role in conservation of mineral resources by recovering saleable product from them. He said that IBM is actively engaged in Research &Development work and over sixty odd different minerals of various types of consumer industry namely, metallic & non-metallic minerals, industrial minerals, strategic minerals, fertilizer minerals etc, were tested, characterized and beneficiated at IBM’s Laboratories and Pilot Plant. “Iron and Steel Vision 2020” has been published in which issues of beneficiation of low grade ores, fines and slimes, development of agglomeration activities including pelletisation of beneficiated fines, use of pellets in iron making for conservation of limited high grade lumps have been addressed in detail to steer a way to the future.

Towards Qualitative and Affordable Education in the Country

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has taken a number of initiatives including various Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) to enhance access of quality education at affordable rates: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA): To meet the objectives of the RTE Act, 47488 schools, 753733 additional classrooms, 583748 toilets, 40161 drinking water facilities & 7.02 lakh teachers have been sanctioned under the scheme since 2009-10. The progress under the RTE, Act, 2009 indicates that 19.88 crore children have been enrolled in elementary school, with a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 96.5% as per unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 2013-14. The annual average dropout rate has come down from 6.8% (2009-10) to 4.7% (2013-14) at primary level. Rashtriya Madhymik Shiksha Abhiyan was launched in March, 2009 with the objective to universalize access to secondary education and to improve its quality. This programme now subsumes the earlier independent Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) in the Secondary Education sector i.e. ICT @ Schools, Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS), Vocational Education (VE) and Girls Hostel (GH). Under RMSA, till date 10,337 new Secondary educational schools have opened and 34,891 existing schools have been strengthened. Under the ICT @ Schools, around 88,236 schools have been covered to be equipped for computer teaching and computer enabled learning. Under the IEDSS – 5,65,683 children’s have been covered till date. Under the Girls Hostel – 2,160 hostels in which 39,745 girls are residing have approved till date. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 has been enacted which envisages significant reforms in the Elementary Education sector. The Act makes it incumbent on Government to provide free and compulsory education to all children of 6-14 years of age; ensure compulsory admission, attendance and completion of elementary education by every child of the age of six to fourteen years. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken various measures for educational reforms, such as the introduction of a semester system, the regular updating of Curricula and Choice Based Credit Systems (CBSC), etc. The UGC has also issued the Mandatory Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions, Regulations, 2012 whereby all eligible higher Educational institutions are required to get themselves accredited. Apart from strengthening the on-going schemes of the Ministry, the following new initiatives have been included in the Budget 2014-15 -  Setting up of 5 IITs and 5 IIMs  Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya New Teachers Training Program.  Setting up of Virtual Classrooms and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)  Creation of National e-library.  Establishing Lok Nayak Jayaprakash National Centre for excellence in humanities in Madhya Pradesh.  Provision for toilets and drinking water in all the girls’ schools.  Schools Assessment Program.  Simplification of norms for education.

Accreditation – A Reliable Source of Quality of an Institute in the Country

At present, there are 676 universities and 37204 colleges in the country as per data provided by the UGC. Accreditation is the only reliable source of quality of an institute. As per information provided by UGC, 274 Universities and 7070 Colleges have been accredited by the NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). The UGC has also introduced the Colleges with Potential for Excellence (CPE) Scheme. As on date, 221 colleges are enjoying the CPE status under the Scheme whereas 10 colleges out of them have been awarded the status of ‘College of Excellence’. At present, there are 184 Private Universities and 17803 private colleges in the country. UGC has reported that it has supported 20 private institutions, including private deemed to be universities, with an amount of Rs.5843.45 lakhs during 2011-12 and Rs.6548.39 lakhs during 2012-13. The information regarding mobilization of funds by these institutions is not maintained centrally. As per All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2011-12 (provisional), 285 lakh students were enrolled in all higher educational institutions. As per AISHE report, 143.5 lakhs student were enrolled in private higher educational institutions during academic year 2011-12. As per the All India Survey on Higher Education 2011-12 (provisional) the percentage of enrolment (out of the total enrolment) of SC students is 12.2% and that of ST students is 4.5%.

Ensuring Universalization of Elementary and Secondary Education

The updated information provided by the States/UTs reveals that 17.24 lakh children in 6-14 years age group are out of school as in 2014. States having the most out of school children are, Rajasthan (2.98 lakh), Jharkhand (2.44 lakh), Bihar (1.81 lakh), Karnataka (1.81 lakh), Haryana (0.92 lakh) and Assam (0.88 lakh). An amount of Rs.339.97 crore has been sanctioned to States/UTs under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme, for providing special training centres for such children to impart flexible bridge courses, to enable them to mainstream into schools, subsequently. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) are programmes launched by the Central Government for ensuring universalisation of elementary and secondary education respectively. As a result of these schemes, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is 101.36% at primary level, 89.33% at upper primary level and 76.64% at secondary level as per UDISE 2013-14. Under these programmes, there is provision for a biannual Joint Review Mission (JRM), by independent experts from the field of education and education related areas, including external aid partners, to review the programmes. Both the programmes are also audited annually by chartered accountants and also undergo statutory audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Corrective action on the lacunae pointed out, is undertaken and the compliance report reviewed by the next round of audit.

BHEL signs MoU for setting up an Ultra Mega Solar Power Project at Sambhar in Rajasthan

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), Sambhar Salts Limited (SSL), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), Sutlej JalVidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) and Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 29th January 2014 for formation of a Joint Venture Company (JVC) for setting up of a Ultra Mega Solar Power Project (UMSPP) with a cumulative capacity of 4,000 MW in phases at Sambhar in Rajasthan on build, own and operate basis. The planned first phase implementation of the UMSPP at Sambhar is of 1,000 MW, and the balance 3,000 MW in subsequent phases. This is an initiative of Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Industries (HI&PE), Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Ministry of Power (MoP).

Eligibility Criteria for Grant of Maharatna, Navratna and Miniratna Status to CPSEs ,for IAS PRE

The eligibility criteria laid down by the Government for grant of Maharatna, Navratna and Miniratna status to Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) are following: Criteria for grant of Maharatna status :-             The CPSEs fulfilling the following criteria are eligible to be considered for grant of Maharatna status. (i)     Having Navratna status. (ii)   Listed on Indian stock exchange with minimum prescribed public shareholding under SEBI regulations. (iii) Average annual turnover of more than Rs. 25,000 crore, during the last 3 years. (iv) Average annual net worth of more than Rs. 15,000 crore, during the last 3 years. (v)   Average annual net profit after tax of more than Rs. 5,000 crore, during the last 3 years. (vi) Should have significant global presence/international operations. Criteria for grant of Navratna status :-             The Miniratna Category – I and Schedule ‘A’ CPSEs, which have obtained ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ rating under the Memorandum of Understanding system in three of the last five years, and have composite score of 60 or above in the six selected performance parameters, namely,  (i) net profit to net worth, (ii) manpower cost to total cost of production/services, (iii) profit before depreciation, interest and taxes to capital employed, (iv) profit before interest and taxes to turnover, (v) earning per share and  (vi) inter-sectoral performance. Criteria for grant of Miniratna status :-             The CPSEs which have made profits in the last three years continuously and have positive net worth are eligible to be considered for grant of Miniratna status.             Presently, there are 7 Maharatna, 16 Navratna and 71 Miniratna CPSEs.

Site Clearance for Dholera Airport Project

Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Shri G.M. Siddeshwara informed the Lok Sabha today that the Government has accorded site clearance for the Greenfield international airport project at Dholera at Ahmedabad in Gujarat being developed by the Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board in 2014.  Further, the Taj International Greenfield airport project proposed at Hirangoan, Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh is presently under the preliminary scrutiny of the Government.  AAI has recently upgraded Bhopal, Indore and Raipur airports to international standards and the Government has initiated the process of declaring these airports as international airports.  Further, the Government of India has granted in-principle approval for development of the Greenfield airport projects as international airports with estimated project costs (approx.) as under: State                 Airport                  Rs. in Crore) Goa                  Mopa                               3000 Kerala               Kannur                           1800 Maharashtra      Navi Mumbai                14500 Maharashtra      Shirdi                             300 Uttar Pradesh    Kushinagar                    355