Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Community Radio Station to Start at Gurgaon, Haryana
New Delhi: September 30, 2009
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India has signed a Grant of Permission Agreement with The Restoring Force (TRF) a Gurgaon based voluntary organization. TRF would establish, maintain and operate a Community Radio Station at Gurgaon, Haryana. Letter of Intent had been issued to the organization after recommendations of Inter Ministerial Committee and seeking requisite clearances from various Ministries. The Community Radio Station is expected to be operational within three months as per the agreement. With this, the number of CRS will increase to 55 in the country.
The Restoring Force (TRF) intends to work all over the country, primarily in the field of education. The focus of TRF is to provide clean & healthy environment at schools along with basic facilities to improve the quality of education by modern means of learning and to grant relief and assistance to the needy during natural calamities such as famine, earthquake, flood, fire, persistence, etc and to give donations and other assistance to institutions, establishment or persons engaged in such relief work.
The Ministry encourages setting up of the Community Radio Stations as it promises to provide an opportunity to the local communities to express themselves, share their views and particularly empowerment of women, youth marginalized groups to take part in local self governance and overall socio economic and cultural development in the area. The CRS programs will be based on developmental, agricultural, health, educational, environmental, social welfare, community development issues and other cultural programs.
sbs/rs/dk/kol/13:12 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Guidelines for foreign investment in Commodity Exchanges
New Delhi: September 30, 2009
Government of India had laid the guidelines for foreign investment in Commodity Exchanges vide Press Note 2(2008) dated 12th March 2008. As per the guidelines, a composite ceiling for foreign investment of 49% was allowed with prior Government approval, subject to the condition that investment under the Portfolio Investment Scheme will be limited to 23% and that under the FDI Scheme will be limited to 26%. Further, no foreign investor/entity including persons acting in concert will hold more than 5% of the equity in these companies.
It had been brought to the notice of the Government that some of the existing Commodity Exchanges had foreign investment above the permitted level, as on the date of issue of the said Press Note and, consequently, the Commodity Exchange(s) would be required to divest foreign equity, equal to the amount by which the cap was being exceeded, in accordance with Press Note 2(2008). Commodity Exchanges were permitted to avail of transition/complying/correction time for this purpose, up to 30.06.2009, vide Press Note 8 of 2008 dated 19 August, 2008. This time limit was further extended up to 30.09.2009, vide Press Note 5(2009) dated 14 May, 2009.
Difficulties have been brought to the notice of the government in complying with the provisions of the Press Note within the stipulated time frame. The Government, on consideration and in order to facilitate the existing Commodity Exchanges to comply with the guidelines notified vide Press Note 2(2008), has now decided to allow a further transition / complying/correction time to the existing Commodity exchange(s) beyond 30.09.2009. Accordingly, all such Commodity Exchanges are hereby advised to adhere to the conditions of Press Note 2(2008) by 31.03.2010. This would comprise the last opportunity for such compliance.
All Commodity Exchanges shall furnish a status report informing the foreign investment in the Commodity Exchange as on 30.09.2009, along with details of equity structure, as well as the steps already taken/proposed to be taken with regard to compliance with the guidelines notified vide Press Note 2(2008), to the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Department of Consumer Affairs, Foreign Investment Promotion Board, the Forward Market Commission and SEBI.
Non-compliance of the conditions of Press Note 2(2008) after 31.03.2010 would be a violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.
rj/mrs/dk/kol/13:12 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Railways
Railway revenue earnings up by 9.89 per cent during the period 11th – 20th September 2009
New Delhi: September 30, 2009
The total approximate earnings of Indian Railways on originating basis during the period 11th September – 20th September 2009 were Rs. 2169.88 crore compared to Rs.1974.59 crore during the same period last year, registering an increase of 9.89 per cent.
The total goods earnings have gone up from Rs. 1316.08 crore during 11th September – 20th September 2008 to Rs. 1487.33 crore during 11th September – 20th September 2009, showing an increase of 13.01 per cent. The total passenger revenue earnings during the period 11th to 20th September 2009 were Rs. 601.71 crore compared to Rs. 587.58 crore during the same period last year, reflecting an increase of 2.40 per cent. The revenue earnings from other coaching amounted to Rs. 62.61 crore during this period compared to Rs. 45.14 crore during the same period last year, showing an increase of 38.70 per cent.
The total approximate number of passengers booked during the period 11th to 20th September 2009 were 197.57 million compared to 198.51 million during the same period last year, showing a decrease of 0.47 per cent. In the suburban and non-suburban sectors, the number of passengers booked during 11–20 September 2009 were 106.47 million and 91.10 million compared to 110.90 million and 87.61 million during the same period last year, registering a decrease of 3.99 per cent and an increase of 3.98 per cent respectively.
aks/hk/lk/tr/dk/kol/13:12 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Power
NTPC pays total dividend of Rs.2968.36 crore for 2008-09
New Delhi: September 30, 2009
NTPC Limited has paid a total dividend of Rs.2968.36 crore for the financial year (FY) 2008-09, which amounts to 36% of its paid-up capital. This is the highest ever dividend declared by the Company. The Shareholders of the Company have approved a final dividend of 8%, amounting to Rs.659.63 crore at the 33rd Annual General Meeting held recently.
A cheque amounting to Rs.590.37 crore was presented by Shri R.S.Sharma, CMD, NTPC to Shri H. S. Brahma, Secretary (Power), Govt. of India, being the share of Government of India towards final dividend for the FY 2008-09 in New Delhi. Other senior officials from Ministry of Power and NTPC were present on the occasion.
The Company had earlier paid to Govt. of India an interim dividend of Rs.2066.30 crore in February 2009. Thus, NTPC has made a total dividend payment of Rs.2656.67 crore to the Government of India for the FY 2008-09 as against Rs.2582.87 crore for the last FY 2007-08.
This is the 16th consecutive year that NTPC has paid dividend.
pra/skk/dk/kol/13:13 hrs.
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