Indo-Bulgarian scientific relations would be further strengthened with the signing of an agreement of Friday. So far the two countries have been conducting scientific cooperation through the Indo-Bulgarian Joint Commission. A separate agreement on Science and Technology would help in widening and enlarging the scope of collaboration.

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   The Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley will join the Chief Justice of India Shri Justice A.S. Anand along with other dignitaries like the Governor , the Chief Minister and others at Nanital to inaugurate the country’s 20^th High Court of Uttranchal on November 9, 2000 following the creation of the new State of Uttranchal out of the existing State of Uttar Pradesh in terms of the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000. Shri Justice Ashok A. Desai, a Judge of Allahabad High Court, has already been appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Uttranchal High Court at Nanital.

    Earlier, the Government created the High Court of Uttranchal by a Presidential Notification issued under Sub-Section (2) of Section 26 of the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 with its principal seat at Nanital , to be functional with effect from November 9, 2000, when the new State of Uttranchal comes into existence.

    Still earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a Notification under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 appointing November 9, 2000 as the date from which the new State of Uttranchal would be borne.

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   A high powered British delegation led by the Deputy Head of Global Business Development of London Stock Exchange, Ms. Caroline Goodman called on the Secretary, Department of Company Affairs, Dr. P.L. Sanjeev Reddy and other senior officials here today and discussed the matters of mutual cooperation between the London Stock Exchange and the Department of Company Affairs in the area of protection of the interests of shareholders, investors and others in the listed companies.

    Ms. Goodman informed Dr. Reddy that at present twenty Indian companies were listed in London Stock Exchange. The process of listing Indian companies commenced in 1994 following globalization of Indian economy. She further informed that the London Stock Exchange, which is most modern and stable stock exchange, has entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with National Stock Exchange of India .

    Dr. Reddy informed the British delegation that his Department played major role in the protection of the interest of investors and it would be shortly launching Investors Protection and Education Fund which would cooperate with the London Stock Exchange which has already Protection Compensation Fund as also a Share Aware Programme. Dr. Reddy emphasized the need for forging MOC between his Department and the London Stock Exchange to protect the interest of shareholders and investors. He said that DCA with its Secretary on the Board of Directors of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) happened to be a key player in the protection of investors.

    Both the sides agreed to continue their dialogue further in the area of safeguarding the interest of investors through the integration of e-commerce, e-business and e-corporate governance.

    The discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere and lasted more than an hour.

    A high-level Delegation, both from the Government and Industry, led by the Minister of Communications, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan left for a week-long tour to France, Sweden and Finland today following an invitation by the governments of these countries. The visit aims to position India as an attractive destination for foreign investment made possible by the recent telecom reforms in the communication sector. During the visit, the Minister will interact with his counterparts in the government as well as senior officials and key leaders of industry to explore possibilities of mutual interest and cooperation in the growing telecom sector. The delegation will also avail the opportunity to exchange information about latest developing technologies and trends driving the communication market.

    Shri Krishan Kant, Vice President of India has expressed shock and grief on the passing away of Shri C. Subramaniam, former Union Minister. In a message he has said:

    Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. C.P.Thakur, has announced that his Ministry has asked an export agency to conduct a survey on the assessment of the demand and supply for medicinal plants to be undertaken in 93 districts of the country.

    In his inaugural address at the Conference on "Growth of Ayurveda -Industry's Perspective' here today, Dr. Thakur said that Indian Council of Medical Research has also been asked to conduct a survey on the utilisation of ISM&H medicines. He has urged the All India Ayurveda Congress Manufacturers Association to mount such surveys, without which it will not be possible for the Government to suggest policy level changes in regard to so many inputs that affect the growth of the sector.

    The Minister has called upon the industry to adopt at least one Ayurveda college in the State in which they work, so that Ayurvedic colleges could become much more market oriented through the frequent interaction between the industry and educational institution. Dr. Thakur also urged the industry to chalk out the proposal for drawing similar linkages with the Research Councils. He said that the Department of ISM&H has been asked to prepare a policy to promote the kind of interaction between the Research Councils and Industry.

    The Minister has disclosed that his Ministry is in the process of filling up of the post of Additional Drug Controller of Indian System of Medicine. The Government has taken up the completion of the work of the pharmacopoeial standards on priority.

    Secretary, ISM&H, Smt. Shailaja Chandra, in her speech said that seven Ayurvedic drugs have been included in the RCH kits in the seven States under the World Bank funded Rs.5000 crore project. These kits will be distributed to the expectant and lactating mothers through the five lakh Anganwadi centres. She added that it is distressing to note that pharmacopoea laboratory for Indian system medicines at Ghaziabad has tested only 383 samples for ISM medicines during the last five years, even though there are more than 10,000 manufacturers of ISM drugs in the country.

    This day-long conference is organised by All India Ayurvedic Congress Manufacturers Association.

   The Government proposes to set up District Consumer Information Centre in each district with assistance from the Consumer Welfare Fund. These centres will be set up in a phased manner and managed by the Zilla Parishads or reputed voluntary consumer organisations. The Department of Consumer Affairs has written to the Chief Ministers of all States about the scheme requesting them to identify suitable voluntary organisations or Zilla Parishads for setting up such centres in order to give an impetus to the consumer movement in all parts of the country. This was stated here today by Shri Shanta Kumar, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution while inaugurating the 20^th Meeting of the Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC), the apex body for promoting and protecting the welfare of consumers.

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URGENT NEED TO MODERNISE PATENT OFFICES: DR. RAMAN SINGH

   Dr. Raman Singh, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, while underlining the urgent need for modernising the patent offices in the country, today stated that the Government had taken several initiatives to develop an advanced and modern patents regime which would be both cost effective and user friendly. Delivering his inaugural address at the opening session of the ‘WIPO Forum on the Impact of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) in Developing Countries’ here today, the Minister said that a major modernisation project was underway and it was expected that this would enable all the patent offices in the country to significantly improve their functioning. The Minister also stated that a large number of applications for patents were expected to enter through the PCT route which, he hoped, would bring with them new opportunities for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in setting up of local industries. The three-day (November8-10) Forum is being organised by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry in association with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The Forum aims at providing an opportunity to study the role and relevance of the patent system, including the PCT, in enhancing international competitiveness and also giving an overview of the PCT system for world-wide filing of patent applications. The inaugural session was attended by Shri P. Mankad, Secretary, DIPP; Mr. Gary Smith, Director, Office of PCT,WIPO; and Shri Arun Bharat Ram, President, CII.

    Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued Public Notice No 38 dated 01/11/2000 notifying the Standard Input Output Norms for 38 new export items. Of these 38 new norms, 7 norms relate to the Chemicals & Allied Products, 26 norms to Engineering products, 1 norm to Food products, 2 norms to Plastic products, and 2 norms to Textile product groups. Besides, amendments/corrections in the existing norms for 34 export products have also been notified.

    The Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar stressed the need for evolving a more effective Policy for allocation of natural gas in the country. This he said is needed in view of the large gap between the supply and demand of natural gas in the country and the prospects of LNG import materialising only in 2003-2004. There is an availability of about 65 million standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD) of gas as against the allocation of about 115 MMSCMD. The Minister, who was reviewing the progress of various Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) projects, here today, felt that any apprehensions in allocation of gas should be dispelled by putting in place well laid down policy guidelines.

    Expressing satisfaction over the implementation of various projects by GAIL, Shri Gangwar said that there was need to increase the availability of gas in the country so that the gap between current supply and demand is reduced. The Minister pointed out that evacuation of surplus gas from Tripura should be pursued vigorously. This will not only ensure utilisation of this vital resource but also ensure supplies in the deficient-supply areas of Eastern India.

    Shri Gangwar asked GAIL to expedite the signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Uttar Pradesh for laying down infrastructure and for supply of gas in the State and also to implement city gas supply systems in various urban centres of UP. The Minister added that he would further discuss this matter with the present UP Chief Minister, Shri Raj Nath Singh, so that natural gas supply in the State is expanded. The GAIL has already held various rounds of discussions with the UP State Industrial Development Corporation. Shri Gangwar had earlier held a meeting with the then U.P. Chief Minister Shri Ram Prakash Gupta. GAIL has prepared detailed feasibility report on city gas supply systems in the cities of Lucknow and Bareilly. A gas station will be set up at Mathura. The city gas supply system of Delhi will be extended to Noida by the Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), a joint venture of company of GAIL, BPCL & Government of NCT of Delhi.

    Currently GAIL is in the process of commissioning world's largest LPG pipeline from Jamnagar in Gujarat to Loni in UP, expansion of gas distribution network in Krishna -Godavari Basin and in Cauvery Basin. It is also pursuing joint ventures for development of city gas supply system in Delhi and Mumbai IGL. It has petrochemical processing complex in Auria (U.P), Gandhar in Gujarat and LPG processing facilities at various places.

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BRAZILIAN DELEGATION CALLS ON THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

    A high level Brazilian delegation led by Mr. Esperido Amin, Governor of Santa Catarina, Brazil called on the Minister of State for Rural Development, Prof. Rita Verma here today. Welcoming the delegation, the Minister said that there is much in common between India and Brazil. She stressed the need for sharing of experience and exploration of further steps towards mutual cooperation in rural development areas.

    The basic purpose of the visit of the delegation is to gather data on rural development programmes, drinking water supply and organic farming.

    The delegation evinced keen interest in various rural development programmes being implemented in India, drinking water supply, social sector programmes for rural poor etc. The senior officials of the Ministry explained to the delegation about various schemes and programmes being implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development. The delegation appreciated the progress of these programmes.

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PRESS COMMUNIQUE

    In exercise of the powers conferred by section 27(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, hereby directs that Shri Justice Prakash Chandra Verma and Shri Justice Mahesh Chand Jain, Judges of the Allahabad High Court, in that order of seniority, shall, as from the 9^th day of November, 2000, cease to be the Judges of the Allahabad High Court and become the Judges of the new High Court of Uttaranchal.

   In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Shri Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta, Judge of the Calcutta High Court, as a Judge of the Patna High Court with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.

    The meeting of the Consultative Committee of Parliament attached to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will be held at Kovalam, near Trivandrum, in Kerala on 12^th November, 2000 under the chairmanship of Dr. C.P.Thakur, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare.

    The agenda for the meeting is promotion and propagation of Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri A.Raja will also be attending the meeting.

    S/ Shri D.Venugopal, Virender Kumar, Chandra Bhushan Singh, Dr. R.C.Dome, Bal Krishana Chauhan, Dr. M.Jagannath, Iqbal Ahmed Saradgi, Sunder Lal Tiwari and Smt. Nishaben Chaudhary from Lok Sabha and Dr. Y.Radhakrishna Murthy, Smt. Bimba Raikar, Dr. M.N.Das, Shri M.M.Agarwal and Dr. (Smt.) P.Selvie Das from Rajya Sabha will be attending the Consultative Committee meeting.

    Prior to the meeting, the Committee Members led by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. C.P.Thakur will visit Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal to see various Panchkarma procedures in the nursing home there, Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturing Unit, the Medicinal Plant Garden, Ayurvedic College and Government Ayurvedic Mental Hospital on 11^th November.

    On 12^th November the Committee Members will visit Hindustan Latex Limited Poojappram , Trivandrum. Meeting of the Consultative Committee will be held at Hotel Ashok Beach Resort, Kovalam, under the chairmanship of Dr. C.P.Thakur. Health Ministers of the four Southern States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and Pondicherry Health Minister will also be attending the meeting.