7 May 2015

Approval to operationalization of the Atal Pension Yojna (#APY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (#PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (#PMSBY)

Approval to operationalization of the Atal Pension Yojna (APY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today approved the operationalisation of the Atal Pension Yojna (APY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).

Approval of the Cabinet was given to extend funding support for implementing the APY and apprise the Cabinet on operationalisation of the PMJJBY and the PMSBY. Approval was also given to provide Rs. 50 crore per annum for the next 5 years as the Government contribution for publicity / awareness creation related expenditure for PMJJBY and PMSBY.

Under the APY, subscribers would receive a fixed minimum pension of Rs. 1000 per month, Rs. 2000 per month, Rs. 3000 per month, Rs. 4000 per month, Rs. 5000 per month, at the age of 60 years, depending on their contributions, which itself would vary on the age of joining the APY. The Central Government would also co-contribute 50 percent of the total contribution or Rs. 1000 per annum, whichever is lower, to each eligible subscriber account, for a period of 5 years, that is, from 2015-16 to 2019-20, to those who join the NPS before 31st December, 2015 and who are not members of any statutory social security scheme and who are not Income Tax payers. The pension would also be available to the spouse on the death of the subscriber and thereafter, the pension corpus would be returned to the nominee. The minimum age of joining APY is 18 years and maximum age is 40 years. The benefit of fixed minimum pension would be guaranteed by the Government.

Under PMJJBY, annual life insurance of Rs. 2 lakh would be available on the payment of premium of Rs. 330 per annum by the subscribers. The PMJJBY will be made available to people in the age group of 18 to 50 years having a bank account from where the premium would be collected through the facility of "auto-debit".

Under PMSBY, the risk coverage will be Rs. 2 lakh for accidental death and full disability and Rs. 1 lakh for partial disability. The Scheme will be available to people in the age group 18 to 70 years with a bank account, from where the premium would be collected through the facility of "auto-debit".

Government expenditure is expected to range between Rs. 2,520 crore and Rs. 10,000 crore on account of Government co-contribution to subscribers of the APY over a period of five years. Further, an expenditure of Rs. 2,000 crore for promotional and developmental activities for enrolment and contribution collection under APY and Rs. 250 crore for publicity, awareness building for PMJJBY and PMSBY is envisaged by the Government, over a period of five years.

It is expected that around two crore subscribers would be enrolled during the current financial year under APY.

Background

It was mentioned in the Budget Speech for 2015-16, that a large proportion of India’s population is without insurance of any kind, that is, health, accidental or life. Further, as the young population of India ages, it is also going to be pension and insurance- less. Therefore, Government has decided to work towards creating a universal social security system for all Indians, specially the poor and the under-privileged, to address longevity risks among workers in the unorganised sector and to encourage workers in the unorganised sector to voluntarily save for their retirement. Such workers constitute 88 percent of the total labour force of 47.29 crore according to the 66th Round of NSSO Survey of 2011-12. 

Introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as an eligible financial instrument / structure under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to allow the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as an eligible financial instrument / structure under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999.

The approval is expected to enable foreign investment inflows into the completed rent yielding real estate projects, which is, as of now, prohibited under the FEMA Regulations.

As a result of this decision, entities registered and regulated under the SEBI (REITs) Regulations 2014 will be able to access foreign investments which as of now are prohibited under the FEMA Regulations. The intent of introducing the instrumentality of REITs is to reduce pressure on the banking system to which the real estate sector looks for funds, free up existing funds of Banks and to encourage construction activities. REITs while attracting long term finance from foreign and domestic sources including NRIs would make available fresh equity to the sector.

Background: 

The Finance Minister in his Budget 2014-15 Speech proposed the introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which have been successfully used as an instrument for pooling of investment by several countries for investments in the real estate, with a view to earning income and distributing earnings from its investments to investors, who have contributed to the pooled corpus. SEBI (REITs) have been issued vide SEBI (Real Estate Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014, however, on account of restriction under FEMA Regulations, actual investment has not occurred so far.

Introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as an eligible financial instrument / structure under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to allow the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as an eligible financial instrument / structure under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999.

The approval is expected to enable foreign investment inflows into the completed rent yielding real estate projects, which is, as of now, prohibited under the FEMA Regulations.

As a result of this decision, entities registered and regulated under the SEBI (REITs) Regulations 2014 will be able to access foreign investments which as of now are prohibited under the FEMA Regulations. The intent of introducing the instrumentality of REITs is to reduce pressure on the banking system to which the real estate sector looks for funds, free up existing funds of Banks and to encourage construction activities. REITs while attracting long term finance from foreign and domestic sources including NRIs would make available fresh equity to the sector.

Background: 

The Finance Minister in his Budget 2014-15 Speech proposed the introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which have been successfully used as an instrument for pooling of investment by several countries for investments in the real estate, with a view to earning income and distributing earnings from its investments to investors, who have contributed to the pooled corpus. SEBI (REITs) have been issued vide SEBI (Real Estate Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014, however, on account of restriction under FEMA Regulations, actual investment has not occurred so far.

#NationalSmartGridMission

National Smart Grid Mission
Government has approved the National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) -an institutional mechanism for planning, monitoring and implementation of policies and programs related to Smart Grid activities. This was stated by Sh. Piyush Goyal, Minister of state for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (IC) in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. The total outlay for NSGM activities for 12th Plan is Rs 980 crore with a budgetary support of Rs 338 crore.

NSGM has three tier structure:

• At the apex level, NSGM has a Governing Council headed by the Minister of Power. Members of the Governing Council are Secretary level officers of concerned Ministries and departments. Role of Governing Council is to approve all policies and programme for smart grid implementation.

• At the second level, the NSGM has an Empowered Committee headed by Secretary (Power). Members of the Empowered Committee are Joint Secretary level officers of concerned Ministries and departments. Role of Empowered Committee is to provide policy input to Governing Council and approve, monitor, review specific smart grid projects, guidelines / procedures etc.

• In a supportive role, NSGM has a Technical Committee headed by Chairperson (CEA). Members of the Technical Committee are Director level officers of concerned Ministries & departments, representatives from industries and academia. Role of Technical Committee is to support the Empowered Committee on technical aspect, standards development, technology selection guidelines etc.

• For day-to-day operations, NSGM has a NSGM Project Management Unit (NPMU) headed by the Director NPMU. Director NPMU is a Member of the Governing Council and Empowered Committee, and Member Secretary of Technical Committee. NPMU is the implementing agency for operationalizing the Smart Grid activities in the country under the guidance of Governing Council and Empowered Committee.

• Grant up-to 30% of the project cost is available from NSGM budget. For selected components such as training & capacity building, consumer engagement etc, 100% grant is available.

Corresponding to the NSGM, State Level Mission chaired by the Power Secretary of the State has also been proposed. Support for training & capacity building to State Level Project Monitoring Units (SLPMUs) for smart grid activities is provided by NSGM.

The Minister further stated that The major activities envisaged under NSGM are development of smart grid, development of micro grids, consumer engagements and training & capacity building etc. NSGM entails implementation of a smart electrical grid based on state-of-the art technology in the fields of automation, communication and IT systems that can monitor and control power flows from points of generation to points of consumption, the Minister added. 

Prototype ‪#‎FastBreederReactor‬ of 500 MWe targeted to produce power in FY 2015-16

Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor of 500 MWe targeted to produce power in FY 2015-16
In addition to projects already under construction, financial sanction has been accorded for construction of two indigenous reactors i.e. Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana Units 1&2 (GHAVP 1&2) (2X700 MW) by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) at            Gorakhpur, Haryana and two reactors at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu          [Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Units 3&4 (KKNPP –3&4)] to be built in technical co-operation with the Russian Federation. Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), another Public Sector Undertaking of the Department of Atomic Energy will be constructing two more Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR 1&2) of 600 MWe capacity each at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.
The amount allocated in the last three years for the above three projects are given below:
Name of the Project
Amount Allocated (RE) in Rs. crore
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
GHAVP-1&2, Gorakhpur Haryana
530
80
177
KKNPP-3&4, Kudankulam Tamil Nadu
800
450
209
FBR-1&2, Kalpakkam Tamil Nadu
Nil
27.60
Nil

Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor of 500 MWe is presently under advanced     stage of commissioning and is targeted to produce power in FY 2015-16.

Share of the #nuclearpowergeneration in the total electricity production in the country in 2014-15 was of the order of 3.6%


There  are  21  nuclear  power  reactors  in  the  country  with  a  total installed capacity of 5780 MW. Of these, one reactor, Rajasthan Atomic Power Station Unit 1 (RAPS – 1) (100 MW) at Rawatbhata, Rajasthan is currently under extended shutdown for techno-economic assessment for continued operation.
The Kudankulam Unit – 2 is presently under commissioning. The unit is expected to be commissioned in 2015-16.
There are five reactors which are presently under various stages of construction with a total capacity of 3300 MW. The details of these reactors are as tabulated below:
Project
Location
Capacity
(MW)
Anticipated
 Completion
Dates
Kakrapar Atomic Power  Project
Units 3&4 (KAPP 3&4)
Kakrapar,
Gujarat
2 X 700
2017-18
 Rajasthan Atomic Power Project
Units 7&8 (RAPP 7&8)
Rawatbhata,
Rajasthan
2 X 700
2018-19
Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor
(PFBR)
Kalpakkam,
Tamil Nadu
500
2015-16









Presently, of the reactors with total capacity of 5680 MW in operation, reactors with a capacity of 3280 MW are fuelled by imported fuel and are operated at rated capacity. The remaining reactors with a capacity of 2400 MW are fuelled by indigenous fuel which are being operated close to the rated capacity, matching the fuel supply.
The share of the nuclear power generation in the total electricity production in the country in the financial year 2014-15 was of the order of 3.6% (including 2242 Million Units power generation from Kudankulam Unit-1 prior to its commercial operation).

4 May 2015

India tops list of drone-importing nations

A decision by India’s National Disaster Response Force to usedrones to help Nepal map the scale of devastation caused by last week’s earthquake—more than 7,000 people have died—indicates how India has enthusiastically taken to these pilotless aircraft.
With 22.5% of the world’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imports, between 1985 and 2014, India ranks first among drone-importing nations, followed by United Kingdom and France.
UAVs, or drones as they are commonly known, are pilotless aerial vehicles used for reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence gathering and aerial combat missions.
The advantage of UAVs is that they come at a fraction of the cost of manned aircraft with no risk to human lives.
The data here relate to drone/UAV transfers (imports/exports) between countries. There are also drones that have been indigenously developed, so the actual number of UAVs possessed by each nation may be different.
A total of 1,574 UAV transfers have taken place across the world between 1985 and 2014. Of these, 16 are armed UAVs, according to data provided by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an independent global conflict-research institute.

Transfers Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, 1985–2014
Category1985-901990-941995-992000-042005-092010-14
UAV185164192272317428
Armed UAV----511
Total UAV185164192272322439
Percentage of total transfers of major weapons0.050.090.040.110.270.34
Source: SIPRI; Note: The ‘percentage of total transfers of major weapons’ shows the percentage accounted for by deliveries of UAVs of the total volume of actual deliveries of all major weapons. Percentages are based on the volumes measured in SIPRI trend-indicator values (TIVs). Figures have been rounded.
UAV trade recorded an increase of 137% between 1985 and 2014. The period between 1985 and 1990 saw sales of 185 UAVs globally, which increased to 439 between 2010 and 2014.
The last decade also registered sales of 16 armed UAVs.

Top Recipients, 1985 to 2014
Recipient1985-891990-941995-992000-042005-092010-14Total share (1985-2014)
India--14.656.839.613.222.5
United Kingdom----23.233.920.5
France-60.318.96.743.79.8
Egypt65.521.4-0.7-0.77.4
Italy---9.41.29.85.2
Source: SIPRI; Note: Figures show the shares (in percentage) of the volume of actual deliveries of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in each 5-year period, and the total share for the period 1985-2014. Percentages are based on the volumes measured in SIPRI trend-indicator values (TIVs).
Drones criss-cross the world
India’s first UAV delivery came from Israel in 1998.
The UK, on the other hand, imported its first UAV in 1972 from Canada.
Japan was the first country in the world to import a UAV, it got one from the USA in 1968.
India’s UAV imports, have almost all been from Israel, according to SIPRI data. Of 176 UAVs, 108 are Searcher UAVs and 68 are Heron UAVs.
Israel is the leading exporter of drones, accounting for 60.7% between 1985 and 2014.
Top Suppliers, 1985 to 2014
Supplier1985-891990-941995-992000-042005-092010-14Total share 1985-2014
Israel8.518.355.969.179.665.960.7
USA66.521.415.913.212.827.423.9
Canada-60.331---6.4
Soviet Union25.1-n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.1.9
France--7.37.910.71.6
Source: SIPRI; Note: Figures show the shares (in percentage) of the volume of actual deliveries of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in each 5-year period, and the total share for the period 1985-2014. Percentages are based on the volumes measured in SIPRI trend-indicator values (TIVs).
USA, with a 23.9% share of UAV exports, ranks second, followed by Canada (6.4%).
Israel, the leading exporter, has shipped 783 drones since 1980.

Total UAV Exports, 1950 to 2014
SupplierTotal UAVs delivered to all recipients
Israel*783
Canada450
USA413
France82
Austria80
Italy*62
Germany40
Iran35
South Africa*26
China23
Source: SIPRI; * Israel, Italy and South Africa have also delivered UAVs to unidentified recipients (Israel delivered 4 to 2 unidentified countries in 2003; Italy 5 to 1 unidentified country in 2014; South Africa 5 to 1 unidentified country in 2010).
Armed UAVs were exported for the first time in 2007, when USA delivered two MQ-9 Reapers to the UK. The MQ-9 was used by the UK forces in Afghanistan.
China became the second-largest exporter of armed UAVs in 2014, when it delivered five drones to Nigeria, which deployed UAVs against Boko Haram, a terrorist outfit.
Drone attacks have been criticised around the world for accidentally killing civilians while hunting suspected terrorists.
More than 2,400 people (273 civilians) have been killed in 390 drone attacks in 5 years (2009-14) under the Obama administration, according to a report by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
As use grows, armed drones are coming
The use of drones/UAVs in India is mainly confined to surveillance and reconnaissance, unlike the USA, which uses armed drones in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen, according to Sameer Patil, associate fellow on national security, ethnic conflict & terrorism studies at Gateway House and former assistant director at the National Security Council Secretariat in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Drones used along the Indo-Pak border are simpler than the ones used on the Chinese border in Ladakh, where they require long endurance and high-altitude capability, Patil said.
UAV squadrons in India mainly operate with Herons and Searcher MK IIs from Israel. However, there are also some UAVs/drones that have been indigenously developed or are under development. Here’s a look at some of them:



India’s Eyes in the Sky


Netra: An autonomous UAV developed jointly by ideaForge Technologies and Defence Research and Development Organisation. Can take off and land vertically, like a helicopter. It can also fly and return to base on its own. Currently used by Indian armed and paramilitary forces.


Source: ideaForge

The National Disaster Response Force used the Netra drone during the 2013 Uttarakhand floods to identify survivors and assess damage. It was also deployed during the Bhuj floods in 2013 by the Gujarat government.

Nishant : Used for day/night reconnaissance, target tracking and extraction of target coordinates, artillery fire correction and damage assessment. Nishant is being inducted into the Indian army, with 4 UAV units.

PanchiWheeled-version of Nishant. Capable of taking-off and landing from small airstrips. First flight in December 2014.

Rustom IAll-weather, medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV. It will operate at medium-to-long ranges and gather near real-time high-quality imagery and radio signals. It will perform a range of military missions.

Rustom IIBeing designed to operate at up to 30,000 ft for 24 hours at a stretch.

AuraA combat drone capable of flying at 30,000 feet and launching missiles, bombs and guided missiles.

LakshyaRemotely operated and used as a target to train gun and missile crew and air-defence pilots for the three services.

3 May 2015

Govt plans mega launch of insurance, pension schemes

Govt plans mega launch of insurance, pension schemes
On the lines of Jan Dhan mega rollout, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch on May 9 social security insurance and pension schemes in Kolkata, while other ministers will unveil them in different cities.
"There would be simultaneous functions across various states with participations from chief ministers and cabinet ministers. It would be like Jan Dhan scheme launch so that we have maximum awareness in minimum time," Department of Financial Services Secretary Hasmukh Adhia told PTI.
"The enrolment for insurance and pension schemes would begin after Prime Minister launches them. However, the insurance cover would be enforced from June 1," he said.
As it will be linked to bank accounts, the premium would get auto debited, Adhia said.
These schemes, to be launched by Modi, are aimed at providing affordable universal access to essential social security protection in a convenient manner linked to auto- debit facility from the bank account of a subscriber, as per a Finance Ministry statement.
These schemes were announced in the Budget by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on February 28.
The two insurance schemes -- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) -- will provide insurance cover in case of death as well as death/disability due to an accident. The pension scheme, Atal Pension Yojana (APY), will address old age income security needs.
PMSBY will offer a renewable one year accidental death-cum -disability cover of Rs 2 lakh for partial/permanent disability to all savings bank account holders in the age group of 18-70 years for a premium of Rs 12 per annum per subscriber.
The scheme would be administered through Public Sector General Insurance Companies or other General Insurance companies willing to offer the product on similar terms on the choice of the bank concerned, it added.
PMJJBY on the other hand will offer a renewable one year life cover of Rs 2 lakh to all savings bank account holders in the age group of 18-50 years, covering death due to any reason, for a premium of Rs 330 per annum per subscriber.
The scheme would be offered or administered through LIC or other Life Insurance companies willing to offer the product on similar terms on the choice of the bank concerned.
The pension scheme will focus on the unorganised sector and provide subscribers a fixed minimum pension of Rs 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 or Rs 5,000 per month starting at the age of 60 years, depending on the contribution option exercised on entering at an age between 18 and 40 years.
The period of contribution by any subscriber under APY would be 20 years or more. The fixed minimum pension would be guaranteed by the government.

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