Current Affairs - 10 August 2020
1-Industry welcomes Defence Ministry's move to stop import of 101 defence items in phased manner
Indian industry has welcomed the defence ministry’s move to stop import of 101 defence items in a phased manner. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday announced to put 101 items on import embargo to boost indigenisation of defence production.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) director general Chandrajit Bannerjee welcomed the curbs and the announcement that 52,000 crore rupees will be earmarked for procurement from domestic manufacturers. He said, defence minister's announcement for negative import list of defence systems and platforms marks the launch of a 'new glide path' for AtmaNirbhar Bharat.
FICCI has described it a great leap forward for Atmanirbhar Bharat program in defence production. FICCI’s defence committee head SP Shukla said earmarking of 52,000 crore rupees for domestic capital procurement fulfils a request by the industry chamber to provide long-term visibility on defence procurement plans. Chairman and managing director of Bharat Forge Baba Kalyani said the announcement is a strategic step that will propel the Atmanirbhar Bharat narrative and bolster Indian defence equipment manufacturing industry.
He said the growth of the domestic industry especially the MSME sector, will lead to self-reliance, reduced expenditure on imports, saving of foreign currency, creating job opportunities, revival of consumption and ultimately getting us closer to the common goal of 5 trillion economy.
2-PM launches Rs 1 lakh cr agriculture infrastructure fund; Also releases 6th installment of PM-Kisan scheme
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched one lakh crore rupees agriculture infrastructure fund to give a leg up to post-harvest management and marketing of agricultural produce. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi said the scheme will provide better warehousing and cold storage facilities for farmers. He said new jobs will be created as food processing and post-harvest facilities are set up in rural areas.
Prime Minister said, the scheme will enable startups to scale up their operations and India to build a global presence in organic and fortified food. The fund was launched with 1,128 crore rupees of new loans disbursed to more than 2,200 cooperative societies. During the event, the Prime Minister also transferred 17,100 crore rupees to more than 8.5 crore farmers under the PM-Kisan direct income assistance scheme.
Under the infrastructure scheme banks and financial institutions will provide one lakh crore in loans to cooperative societies, farmer producer companies, self-help groups, entrepreneurs, startups and infrastructure providers. The objective is to provide medium to long-term debt financing for setting up of post-harvest infrastructure and community assets for marketing of farm produce.
3-Defence minister Rajnath Singh to launch Atmanirbhar Bharat Saptah today
Defence minister Rajnath Singh will launch the Atmanirbhar Bharat Saptah this afternoon. The move is aimed at promoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a self-reliant India with increased local manufacturing.
Earlier yesterday, Mr Singh announced that India will stop the import of 101 weapons and military platforms like transport aircraft, light combat helicopters, conventional submarines, cruise missiles among others on a staggered basis till 2024.
The move is meant to give an impetus to domestic defence production. Defence minister said that the defence ministry is now ready for a big push to encourage indigenous defence manufacturing in line with Prime Minister Modi’s clarion call for an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
4-Indian Army gifts 10 ventilators to Nepali Army
The Indian Army on Sunday gifted 10 ventilators to the Nepali Army to support its efforts to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed 75 lives in the Himalayan nation.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed over the ventilators to Nepal Army chief Purna Chnadra Thapa during a ceremony at Nepali Army Headquarters on Sunday, the Indian mission said in a statement.
The ventilators are designed for a broad range of applications to include advanced invasive or non-invasive respiratory support. Further, due to their compact nature, they are portable and handy in transportation of patients requiring intensive care, the statement said.
The Indian Army has a long record of extending support to Nepali Army as a first responder for humanitarian assistance and relief.
The gifting of ventilators is part of this continued humanitarian cooperation between the two armies,it added.
