Releases............pt1

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Finance  

Thirteenth Finance Commission uploads Discussion Papers on its website

INVITES SUGGESTIONS FROM PUBLIC

New Delhi: September 11, 2009

 

The Thirteenth Finance Commission was constituted by the President on 13th November, 2007 to make recommendations on sharing of net proceeds of Central taxes with the States and on various other specified aspects of Centre-State fiscal relations for the period April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2015. As a part of its consultative process, the Commission has started uploading certain 'Discussion Papers' on various topics on its website: http://fincomindia.nic.in under the caption "Our Works". The Commission would welcome views/suggestions from the individuals, institutions, experts and other stakeholders on these documents.

 

kkp/by/gk/dk/kol/16:49 hrs

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Defence

First joint Indo-Kazakhstan Mountaineering Expedition Team summitted Mount Marble Wall Peak in Kazakhstan

New Delhi: September 11, 2009

 

A Mountaineering Expedition Team comprising six members of the Indian Army and eight from Kazakhstan Army successfully scaled Marble Wall Peak, a technically challenging and difficult peak in Kazakhstan.

 

The expedition jointly led by Lt Col SS Shekhawat and Mr Ilinski. The team reached Base Camp on 23 Aug 09 at 3300 meters and established three camps on the mountain by 27 Aug. On 03 Sep , the summit team left for Camp – III, located at a height of 5200 meters, and after nearly 11 hours of grueling climb finally summitted the peak on 04 Sep . The summit was a great challenge, as continuous inclement weather during the ascent and alpine climbing used by the teams (not being practiced in India during expeditions) further increased the degree of difficulty.

 

There has not been any Indian expedition to Marble Wall Peak before this. The Indian Army has undertaken the first joint Indi-Kazakh Army expedition to the mountain in Kazakhstan, a Central Asian Region Country and summitted it, in consonance with its unfettered spirit of scaling at challenging peaks of the world.

 

veerendra/rajendra/dk/kol/16:49 hrs

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution  

Press Note -: Additional special festival allocation of sugar for BPL

New Delhi: September 11, 2009

 

The Central Government has decided to give additional special festival allocation of 2 kg of levy sugar for the month of September or October, 2009 to all families below poverty line (BPL) in the country except in the special category states viz. all North-eastern states (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura), hill states (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand) and Island territories (Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep) where additional special festival allocation will be made to below poverty line and above poverty line families. Accordingly, release orders allocating levy sugar have been issued.

 

mp: sb: cp:sugar (pressnote)11.9.09/dk/kol/16:50 hrs

 

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Mines   

Handique inaugurates Central Geological Programming Board Meeting

New Delhi: September 11, 2009

 

The Union Minister for Mines and Development of North Eastern Region, Shri B. K. Handique has inaugurated the 45th Meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) and Exhibition here today. The exhibition depicts countrywide activities of Geological Survey of India, GSI, its publications, maps, portals and societal contribution.           

 

While delivering the inaugural speech on the occasion, the Minister said that GSI is one of the oldest Scientific Surveys of the world and has glorious past. He hoped that it would preserve its identity in the national and international arena. Shri Handique said that to keep it relevant to the changes in the modern Society, but rapid changes in the 21st Century makes it necessary that GSI equips itself to deliver the needs of the Country. He said that to help GSI for its sustainability, the Government has constituted a High Powered Committee which has since submitted its report; and GSI and the Ministry of Mines are working in tandem to implement the recommendations.

 

Shri Handique said that new technology both for exploration and mining have to be introduced. I understand that hyperspectral remote sensing is one of the latest tools to be used to demarcate areas of mineralization on the ground based on identical alteration characteristics. GSI has entered into collaboration with the Indian Space Agency to initiate ground checking of certain mineral belts through hyperspectral data available with ISRO, the Minister added.

 

The CGPB was established in July, 1966 to co-ordinate activities on geological mapping and mineral prospecting, exploration and exploitation in the country, with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) as the nodal department and the State Geology and Mining Departments and Central Government institutions as the participating members. Subsequently, to complement the activities of the CGPB, State Geological Programming Boards (SGPB) was constituted in the States to co-ordinate geosciences activities within the State and to interface with the CGPB and GSI.

 

The Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Smt Shantha Sheela Nair, officials of NALCO, HCL, IBM, FIMI, MECL and representatives of State Directorates of Geology and Mining, PSU's and various stake holders were also present of the occasion.

*Photographs of the functions are also available on http://pib.nic.in 

 

nsk/ak/dk/kol/16:50 hrs

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Power  

CERC checks price volatility in day-ahead markets

New Delhi: September 11, 2009

 

Exercising its power under the Electricity Act, 2003, CERC issued order today notifying the permissible price band for interstate day-ahead power transactions. The following are the key features of the order:

 

i) The price band is only for interstate day-ahead power market.

ii) The price band would be from 10 paise per unit to Rs.8 per unit.

iii) This would be applicable to power exchanges and also to bilateral markets.

iv) The order would lapse after 45 days.

 

This order has been passed by CERC after conducting a public hearing on 8th September, 2009 and considering the comments/suggestions/objections received from the stakeholders.

 

The move to initiate this regulatory intervention was based on noticing the steep increase in short-term power prices and increased weekly price volatility.

 

The order mentions that the Commission is equally conscious of its statutory obligation to ensure reasonable return for the investors in the sector and assures that their long term interests, future investment plans and reasonable rate of return are among the other considerations kept in mind while arriving at the above mentioned caps. Further, Commission has made it clear that the price caps are being imposed only for day-ahead transactions and that too for a short period of 45 days.

 

The order is available on the website of the Commission. (http://www.cercind.gov.in)

 

pra/skk/dk/kol/16:51 hrs

 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

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Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation  

Press Note :- Subject: Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production and Use-based Index (Base 1993-94=100) for the month of July, 2009.

New Delhi: September 11, 2009

 

The Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with base 1993-94 for the month of July 2009 have been released by the Central Statistical Organisation of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The General Index stands at 289.7, which is 6.8% higher as compared to the level in the month of July 2008. The cumulative growth for the period April-July 2009-10 stands at 4.6% over the corresponding period of the pervious year.

2. The Indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for the month of July 2009 stand at 177.4, 311.5, and 235.4 respectively, with the corresponding growth rates of 9.9%, 6.8% and 4.2% as compared to July 2008. The cumulative growth during April-July, 2009-10 over the corresponding period of 2008-09 in the three sectors have been 7.5%, 4.3% and 5.6% respectively, which moved the overall growth in the General Index to 4.6%.

3. In terms of industries, as many as fifteen (15) out of the seventeen (17) industry groups (as per 2-digit NIC-1987) have shown positive growth during the month of July 2009 as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. The industry group 'Wool, Silk and Man-made Fibre Textiles' have shown the highest growth of 30.4%, followed by 15.2% in 'Leather and Leather & Fur Products' and 12.7% in 'Rubber, Plastic, Petroleum and Coal Products'. On the other hand, the industry group 'Jute and Other Vegetable Fibre Textiles (except cotton)' have shown a negative growth of 23.9% followed by 0.4% in 'Cotton Textiles'.

4. As per Use-based classification, the Sectoral growth rates in July 2009 over July 2008 are 4.8% in Basic goods, 2.0% in Capital goods and 9.0% in Intermediate goods. The Consumer durables and Consumer non-durables have recorded growth of 19.8% and 5.0% respectively, with the overall growth in Consumer goods being 8.8%.

5. Alongwith the Quick Estimates of IIP for July 2009, the indices for June 2009 have undergone the first revision and those for April 2009 have undergone the second (final) revision in the light of the updated data received from the source agencies. (It may be noted that revised indices (first revision) in respect of May 2009 have already been released in August 2009 and these indices shall undergo final (second) revision in October 2009).

6. Statements giving Quick Estimates of the Index of Industrial Production at Sectoral, 2-digit level of National Industrial Classification (NIC)-1987 and by Use-based classification for the month of July 2009, along with the growth rates over the corresponding month of previous year, including the cumulative indices and growth rates, are enclosed.

 

Note: -

This Press release information is also available at the Website of the Ministry - http://www.mospi.nic.in

STATEMENT I: INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION - SECTORAL is attached……..

2. The release of the index for August 2009 will be on Monday, 12 October 2009. Ministry of Finance  

pra/skk/dk/kol/16:51 hrs

 

 

STATEMENT I: INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION - SECTORAL
(Base : 1993-94=100)
Month	Mining		|	Manufacturing		|	Electricity		|	General
	(104.73)		|	(793.58)		|	(101.69)		|	(1000.00)
	2008-2009	2009-2010	|	2008-2009	2009-2010	|	2008-2009	2009-2010	|	2008-2009	2009-2010
Apr	171.1	176.9	|	285.0	286.1	|	218.2	233.6	|	266.3	269.3
May	177.4	183.2	|	293.1	299.1	|	230.1	237.6	|	274.6	280.7
Jun	158.8	181.3	|	290.4	313.1	|	217.1	234.4	|	269.2	291.3
Jul*	161.4	177.4	|	291.6	311.5	|	225.9	235.4	|	271.3	289.7
Aug	160.4		|	284.0		|	221.6		|	264.7
Sep	162.9		|	298.4		|	219.3		|	276.2
Oct	175.1		|	278.6		|	231.2		|	262.9
Nov	175.4		|	286.3		|	216.4		|	267.6
Dec	188.1		|	304.5		|	223.1		|	284.0
Jan	188.1		|	304.8		|	227.9		|	284.8
Feb	183.2		|	297.4		|	212.7		|	276.8
Mar	209.8		|	326.9		|	241.3		|	305.9
Average			|			|			|
			|			|			|
Apr-Jul	167.2	179.7	|	290.0	302.5	|	222.8	235.3	|	270.4	282.8
			|			|			|
Growth over the corresponding period of previous year						|			|
			|			|			|
Jul	2.8	9.9	|	6.9	6.8	|	4.5	4.2	|	6.4	6.8
			|			|			|
Apr-Jul	3.7	7.5	|	6.0	4.3	|	2.6	5.6	|	5.6	4.6
			|			|			|
* Indices for Jul 2009 are Quick Estimates.
NOTE : Indices for the months of Apr'2009 and Jun'2009 incorporate updated production data.