ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Coal
Coal India effort to further reduce emission- pilot project to replace diesel with LNG in dumpers
Move likely to reduce diesel use up to 40 per cent; Rs.500 Crore annual saving on fuel anticipated
In order to further reduce carbon footprint, Coal India Ltd , Ministry of Coal has recently initiated the process of retrofitting Liquefied Natural Gas  kits in its dumpers - the big trucks engaged in transportation of coal in mines. CIL, the world’s largest coal miner uses over 4 lakh kilolitres of diesel per annum with an expense of over Rs.3500 crores.
The Company in association with GAIL  Limited and BEML Limited has taken up a pilot project for retrofitting LNG kits in its two 100 tonne dumpers operating at the subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd under an MoU with GAIL and BEML. Once the LNG kit is successfully retrofitted and tested, these dumpers will be able to run on dual fuel system and their operations will be significantly cheaper and cleaner with use of LNG.
CIL has over 2500 dumpers operating in opencast coal mines and the fleet consumes about 65 to 75 per cent of the total diesel used by CIL. LNG is likely to replace diesel use by 30 to 40 per cent and reduce fuel cost by about 15 per cent paving the way for Rs.500 crore savings annually if all heavy earth moving machines including dumpers are retrofitted with LNG kits.
The cost economics of the project will be evaluated after completion of the pilot project and technical study on performance of the dumpers. Pilot project is likely to be completed by the year end. Based on the outcome, CIL will decide about bulk use of LNG in its HEMMs, especially dumpers. CIL is planning to buy HEMMs with only LNG engines if the project becomes a success and this will help reduce its carbon footprint drastically and achieve sustainable goals.
Globally, LNG hybrid operation in high capacity mining dump trucks has been implemented by US, Canada, Mexico, Russia and Ghana.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
FDI Policy on E-Commerce
In order to ensure due compliance of the FDI policy on e-Commerce, Press Note 2  has been issued. It puts in place certain conditions. These conditions include:
- An entity having equity participation by e-commerce marketplace entity or its group companies, or having control on its inventory by e-commerce marketplace entity or its group companies, will not be permitted to sell its products on the platform run by such marketplace entity.
- e-Commerce marketplace entity will not mandate any seller to sell any product exclusively on its platform only.
This Press Note is effective from February 01, 2019.
Representations have been received to defer the implementation of Press Note 2. The FDI policy on e-Commerce, first pronounced through Press Note 2 of 2000, permitted 100% FDI in B2B e-commerce activities. With a view to provide clarity to the extant policy and after extensive stakeholder consultations, guidelines for FDI on the e-commerce were issued vide Press Note 3 . To provide further clarity to FDI policy on e-commerce, Press Note 2  was issued.
Stakeholder consultations on creating a framework for National Policy on e-Commerce with representatives from Government Ministries, Departments, Reserve Bank of India, industry bodies, e-commerce companies, telecom companies, IT companies and payment companies have been held. Issues regarding the e-commerce sector are regularly reviewed by the Government.
The e-commerce sector is expected to keep growing in future because of a number of reasons. The FDI policy on e-commerce has remained unchanged. Better enforcement of this policy will contribute significantly to growth of this sector over medium and long term.
This information was given by the Minister of State of Commerce and Industry, C. R. Chaudhary, in written replies in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
EX-DEFENCE DOCTORS OPD ON E-SANJEEVANI
Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, IAS and Surgeon Vice Admiral Rajat Datta, AVSM, SM, VSM, PHS, Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services  addressed the veterans who have come forward to answer the call of the Nation. They will now be available for “Online Consultation Service by Ex-Defence doctors on e-Sanjeevani OPD” for all citizens of India.
e-Sanjeevani OPD is a Govt of India flagship telemedicine platform developed by the Centre for Development of Advance Computing , Mohali under the aegis of MoHFW, Govt of India and is functioning extremely well. It provides free consultations to any Indian citizen. However, with covid cases surging, the demand for doctors is up while the supply has reduced due to doctors being pulled out for covid ward duties. This is where the defence Veterans are stepping in to help.
The Medical Branch of HQ Integrated Defence Staff is providing telemedicine service for the serving and retired defence personnel and has coordinated with MoHFW and NIC to roll out this Ex-Defence OPD for civilian patients. The Dy Chief IDS Medical has urged all retired fraternity of retired AFMS doctors to join this platform and provide valuable consultation to the citizens of India in this time of crisis when the country is going through the difficult time.
There has been a good response from the retired defence doctors and more are expected to join soon. Subsequently, a separate Nationwide Ex Defence Doctors OPD is envisaged. Their vast experience and expertise will help the larger clientele to obtain consultation from their homes and tide over the crisis.
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Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
ACC appointments
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet  has approved the appointment of Dr. P.K. Mishra, currently functioning as Additional Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, as Principal Secretary to Prime Minister with effect from 11th September, 2019. His appointment will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet  has approved the appointment of Shri P.K. Sinha, currently functioning as OSD in the Prime Minister's Office, as Principal Advisor to Prime Minister with effect from 11th September, 2019. His appointment will be coterminus with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Prime Minister's Office
PM expresses grief on demise of Professor Yash Pal
PM expresses grief on demise of Professor Yash Pal
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief on the demise of Indian scientist and educationist Professor Yash Pal.
" Pained by Professor Yash Pal's demise. We have lost a brilliant scientist & academician who made a lasting contribution to Indian education.
Interacted with Professor Yash Pal extensively on many occasions including the National Children’s Science Congress in Gujarat in 2009." the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also shared some pictures of him with Professor Yash Pal from National Children’s Science Congress 2009.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Retirement Age
Presently, there is no proposal to reduce age of retirement on superannuation from 60 years to 58 years.
There are provisions under Fundamental Rules  56, Rule 48 of Central Civil Services   Rules, 1972 and Rule 16  of All India Services  [AIS ] Rules, 1958, according to which the Government has the absolute right to retire Government officials prematurely, on the ground of lack of integrity or ineffectiveness, in public interest, by giving notice of not less than three months in writing or three month’s pay and allowances in lieu of such notice:
 If he is, in Group ‘A’ or Group ‘B’ service or post in a substantive, quasi-permanent or temporary capacity and had entered Government service before attaining the age of 35 years, after he has attained the age of 50 years;
 In any other case after he has attained the age of 55 years.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State  Development of North-Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Cooperation
Monitoring of Cooperative Banks
The management and regulation of Cooperative Societies including Cooperative Banks is an ongoing exercise and initiatives in this direction by the new Ministry of Cooperation are taken as per the Government of India  Rules, 1961, as notified in gazette notification dated 06.07.2021 and as shown below:
1. General Policy in the field of Co-operation and Co-ordination of Co-operation activities in all sectors. Note: - The Ministries concerned are responsible for Co-operatives in the fields.
2. Realization of vision” from cooperation to prosperity”
3. Strengthening of cooperative movement in the country and deepening its reach up to the grassroots.
4. Promotion of cooperative-based economic development model, including the spirit of responsibility among its members to develop the country.
5. Creation of appropriate policy, legal and institutional framework to help cooperatives realize their potential.
6. Matters relating to National Co-operative organization
7. National Co-operative Development Corporation
8. Incorporation, regulation and winding up of Co-operative societies with objects not confined to one State including administration of ‘the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 ’: Provided that the administrative Ministry or Department shall be ‘the Central Government’ for the purpose of exercising powers under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, for Co-operative units functioning under its control.
9. Training of personnel of co-operative departments and co-operative institutions .
This was stated by the Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Finance
Exchange Rate Notification No.13/2022 - Customs 
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962 , and in supersession of the Notification No.10/2022-Customs, dated 17th February, 2022 except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs hereby determines that the rate of exchange of conversion of each of the foreign currencies specified in column  of each of Schedule I and Schedule II annexed hereto, into Indian currency or vice versa, shall, with effect from 4th March, 2022, be the rate mentioned against it in the corresponding entry in column  thereof, for the purpose of the said section, relating to imported and export goods.
SCHEDULE-I
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Sl.
No.
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Foreign Currency
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Rate of exchange of one unit of foreign currency equivalent to Indian rupees
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1.
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Australian Dollar
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56.55
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54.20
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2.
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Bahraini Dinar
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207.50
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194.85
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3.
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Canadian Dollar
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61.05
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58.90
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4.
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Chinese Yuan
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12.20
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11.80
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5.
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Danish Kroner
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11.50
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11.10
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6.
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EURO
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85.70
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82.60
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7.
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Hong Kong Dollar
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9.85
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9.50
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8.
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Kuwaiti Dinar
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258.40
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242.05
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9.
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New Zealand Dollar
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52.70
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50.40
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10.
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Norwegian Kroner
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8.70
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8.40
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11.
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Pound Sterling
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103.35
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99.85
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12.
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Qatari Riyal
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21.40
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20.05
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13.
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Saudi Arabian Riyal
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20.85
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19.60
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14.
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Singapore Dollar
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56.85
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54.90
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15.
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South African Rand
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5.10
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4.80
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16.
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Swedish Kroner
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7.90
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7.65
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17.
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Swiss Franc
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83.90
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80.70
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18.
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Turkish Lira
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5.55
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5.25
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19.
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UAE Dirham
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21.30
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20.00
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20.
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US Dollar
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76.65
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74.95
SCHEDULE-II
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Sl.
No.
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Foreign Currency
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Rate of exchange of 100 units of foreign currency equivalent to Indian rupees
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1.
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Japanese Yen
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66.70
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64.35
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2.
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Korean Won
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6.50
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6.10
Cabinet
PM-KISAN Scheme extension to include all eligible farmer families irrespective of the size of land holdings
Historic decision during the first Cabinet meeting- PM-KISAN Yojana extended to all farmers
PM Modi fulfils a major promise to farmers
Now, 14.5 crore farmers to benefit from the scheme
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved that the ambit of the Pradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi  would be comprehensively extended. With this decision, all land holding eligible farmer families  would avail of the benefits under this scheme.
More beneficiaries, greater progress:
The revised Scheme is expected to cover around 2 crore more farmers, increasing the coverage of PM-KISAN to around 14.5 crore beneficiaries, with an estimated expenditure by Central Government of Rs. 87,217.50 crores for year 2019-20.
Speed, scale and a major promise delivered:
Today’s Cabinet decision pertaining to expanding the ambit PM-KISAN marks the fulfilment of a major promise made by the Prime Minister to the people of India in the run-up to the 2019 Parliamentary elections. The BJP manifesto too mentioned this major policy decision.
It may also be noted that certain operational issues like lack of updated land records in Jharkhand and lack of Aadhaar penetration in states of Assam, Meghalaya and J&K have also been resolved.
PM-KISAN: A path-breaking support incentive for farmers:
The genesis of the PM-KISAN Yojana dates back to the interim Budget for the year 2019-2020.
The key element of PM-KISAN is income support of Rs. 6000/- to the small and marginal landholder farmer families with cultivable land holding upto 2 hectare across the country. 
The amount is being released in three 4-monthly instalments of Rs.2000/- each over the year, to be credited into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries held in destination banks through Direct Benefit Transfer mode.
The scheme was launched in a record time of 3 weeks, on 24th February at a huge programme in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh where the first rounds of instalments was paid to several farmers.
So far, 1st instalment to 3.11 crore beneficiaries and 2nd instalment to 2.66 crore beneficiaries have been credited directly to the bank accounts of the farmer families.
Serving India’s Annadatas with renewed vigour:
Time and again, PM Narendra Modi has spoken with great reverence for India’s farmers. He has described India’s farmers as our Annadatas who undertake great efforts to feed 1.3 billion Indians.
Between 2014 to 2019, numerous measures were taken to empower the hardworking farmer. This includes increase in the Minimum Support Prices  for 22 crops, Soil Health Cards, PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana, PM KisanSampada Yojana, e-NAM for better markets and more. These steps have made agriculture more prosperous and ensured greater productivity for farmers. They will go a long way in fulfilling the Prime Minister’s dream of doubling farmer incomes by 2022, when India marks 75 years of freedom.
President's Secretariat
Foreign Minister of Algeria calls on the President
Mr AbdelkaderMessahel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Algeria, called on the President of India, Shri Ram NathKovind, at RashtrapatiBhavan today .
Welcoming Mr Messahel to India, the President said that India and Algeriaenjoy traditionally warm and historic relations. There has been regular exchange of high-level visits between the two countries. He noted that India and Algeria are cooperating in several strategic areas including space, defence and civil nuclear energy.
The President said that in the recent past, several countries in the Arab world have made investments in refineries, pipelines and related infrastructure in India. Algeria being the sixth largest exporter of gas and the 13th largest producer of petroleum products should consider similar investments, particularly in oil reserves, refineries and LNG terminals. Such investments would be in mutual interest.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Exports of Electronic Goods sees a jump of 88% since 2013-14
Government’s initiatives give a boost to domestic manufacturing of quality and globally competitive products
India’s export of electronic goods rose by almost 88% from USD 6600 Million in 2013-14 to USD 12,400 Million in 2021-22. Mobile phones, IT hardware , consumer electronics , industrial electronics and auto electronics are key exports in this sector.
The National Policy on Electronics 2019  aims to position India as a global hub for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing  by encouraging and driving capabilities in the country for developing core components and creating an enabling environment for the industry to compete globally. Four schemes namely the Production Linked Incentive Scheme  for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing, Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors , Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters Scheme  the Production Linked Incentive Scheme  for IT Hardware have been introduced to give boost to the electronics sector and establish the necessary ecosystem.
India has been seeing consistent growth in exports. It may be noted that India’s merchandise export in January 2022 increased by 23.69% to USD 34.06 billion over USD 27.54 billion in January 2021; recording an increase of 31.75% over USD 25.85 billion in January 2020.
India’s merchandise export in 2021-22  rose by 46.53% to USD 335.44 billion over USD 228.9 billion in 2020-21 ; marking an increase of 27.0% over USD 264.13 billion in 2019-20 .
The government has been taking up a number of proactive steps to boost exports. Anexport monitoring desk has been set up to help remove impediments, constraints and bottlenecks faced by the export sector, especially during the pandemic.
Various Acts under the Department of Commerce are being reviewed to remove redundancies and outdated provisions. Several bilateral trade agreements are being pursued with great vigor. The government is committed towards developing each district in India as an export hub through initiatives such as One District One Product . Support is also being extended to exporters through various exporters-oriented schemes. Efforts are being made to reducing compliance burden through rationalization and decriminalization and several initiatives are being undertaken to improve the ease of doing business.
An IT based platform for providing exporters licensing and addressing their grievances is in the works. The Government is also working on enhancing value of branding of Indian exports to improve India’s global standing as a reliable supplier and proactive steps are being undertaken to align the nation with the global value chain.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Silting in Rivers
Erosion, movement and deposition of sediment in a river are natural regulating functions of a river. Rivers tend to maintain a balance between the silt load carried & silt load deposited, maintaining a river regime. Soil erosion caused by heavy floods is a matter of concern as it leads to several associated problems like changes in river course, causing loss of land, damages to the embankments, etc.
Flood management including erosion control falls within the purview of the States. Flood management and anti-erosion schemes are formulated and implemented by concerned State Governments as per their priority. The Union Government supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical guidance and also promotional financial assistance for management of floods in critical areas. The Government of India has been making continuous efforts to assist the State Governments in effective flood management and erosion control. Morphological Studies by various IIT and NIIT have been carried out for major rivers like Ganga, Sharda, Rapti, Kosi, Bagmati, Subansari, Krishna, Mahanadi Mahanada, etc. These Studies aid in finding the vulnerable spots for bank erosion/deposition, aggradations/ degradation etc.During XI Plan Government of India had launched Flood Management Programme  for providing Central Assistance to States for works related to flood management and erosion control which continued during XII Plan and thereafter, as a component of "Flood Management and Border Areas Programme"  for the period from 2017-18 and extended to December, 2021. Central Assistance to the tune of Rs.6447.76 Crores has been provided to States/ Union Territories up to March 2021 under FMP component of this Programme.
This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, ShriBishweswarTuduin a written reply in LokSabha today.
Ministry of Education
Schemes for gifted and talented children
The Government of India under National Talent Search,awards 2000 scholarships in the country to the talented students. Government also launched Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme- ‘DHRUV’ on 10th October, 2019 at ISRO, Bengaluru with active participation & consultation of State Governments to mentor and nurture talented children to enrichtheir skills and knowledge so that they can realize their full potential and contribute to society. Under this Programme students of Science group and of Performing Arts group were selected from class 9 to 12 by an Advisory Committee headed by the PrincipalScientific Advisor in consultation with the Department of Science and Technology, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog and National Council for Education Research and Training , Centre for Cultural Resources and Training  and Sangeet Natak Akademi, Ministry of Culture.
The information was given by the Minister of State for Education, Smt. Annpurna Devi in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department conducts searches on a Pune & Thane based unicorn start-up group
Income Tax Department conducted a Search & Seizure operation on a Pune & Thane based unicorn start-up group, primarily engaged in the business of wholesale and retail of construction material, on 09.03.2022. The group has Pan-India presence having annual turnover exceeding Rs. 6,000 crore. A total of 23 premises were covered in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, in the search operation.
A large number of incriminating evidences in the form of hard copy documents and digital data have been found & seized during the search operations. These evidences revealed that the group has booked bogus purchases, made huge unaccounted cash expenditure and obtained accommodation entries, aggregating to the tune of over Rs. 400 crore. These evidences were confronted to the Directors of the group, who admitted under oath this modus operandi, disclosed additional income of more than Rs. 224 crore in various assessment years, and consequently offered to pay their due tax liability.
The search action also revealed that the group had obtained huge foreign funding via the Mauritius route, by issuing shares at exorbitantly high premium.
During the search operation, a complex hawala network of some Mumbai and Thane based shell companies, was also unearthed. These shell companies exist on paper, and were created only for the purpose of providing accommodation entries. Preliminary analysis has revealed that the total quantum of accommodation entries provided by these shell entities exceeds Rs. 1,500 crore.
So far, unaccounted cash of Rs. 1 crore and jewellery of the value of Rs. 22 lakh have been seized.
Further investigations are under progress.