The accepted norms in such matters are that wherever there are inaccuracies/deviations from our accepted position viz. Wherever the map(s) reflect the ground position with reference to Line of Control (LOC) such publications may be permitted import after stamping the legend "The external boundaries of India as depicted in the map(s) are neither correct nor authentic". Since it is not possible to insert the above-cited legend on account of the principle of functioning of CD-ROM that nothing can be written/inserted once it is ready for use, the said "1998 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopaedia" in CD-ROM is not being permitted to be imported.
 
 

    The list for the Indian Economic Service contains 12 names including 3 belonging to the Other Backward Classes, 2 belonging to the Scheduled Castes and 1 belonging to the Scheduled Tribe. The list for Indian Statistical Service contains 34 names including 8 belonging to the Other Backward Classes. 1 belonging to Scheduled Caste and 1 belonging to Scheduled Tribe candidates.

    The candidature of Roll No. 003947 in Indian Economic Service and Roll Nos. 005479, 005699, 006891, 006892 and 008655 in Indian Statistical Service are provisional.

    Candidates may obtain any information / clarification regarding their examination / recruitments on working days between 10.00 A.M. to 5.00 P.M. in person or over telephone No. 3385271 from the Facilitation Centre of UPSC near ‘C’ gate.
 
 

    The area allotted to UNI comprises 2024 square meters, Press Association, 1012 square meters , Press Club of India 1012 square meters, Press Council of India 1400 square meters and Joint Director General of Foreign Trade 2000 square meters. The Press Council of India and Joint Director General of Foreign Trade will pay the land cost at Rs.20 lakhs per acre plus two and a half percent as annual ground rent. The rate of land is under revision and the allottees will pay the enhanced land cost when revised subsequently .

    The Chief Architect, Central Public Works Department (CPWD) will prepare the composite building plan, get it cleared from the local body and Delhi Urban Art Commission before starting the actual construction. The cost of plan as well as construction cost will be borne proportionately by all the allottee institutions. The composite building will be constructed within a period of two years from the date of handing over of the land.

    The allottees will be required to pay depreciation cost of the building standing on the land on the basis of the present day cost minus depreciation as calculated by the Chief Architect, CPWD. The allottees will not be permitted to divide the land. They will be provided the proportionate Floor Area Ratio (FAR) or built up space. The allottees will utilise the land only for the purpose for which it has been allotted and not for any other purpose.

    With this allotment Orders, the deck is now clear for construction of a composite building at 9 Rafi Marg which will ultimately accommodate five premier institutions. The question of a composite building on this plot of land was hanging fire for more than a decade.
 
 

• As a part of the ongoing efforts to tune the guidelines on External Commercial Borrowings to the changes in the external financial markets and to provide continued thrust to development of infrastructure and export sectors during FY 1999-2000, the Govt. have decided as follows:

        ECB eligibility under the scheme for exporters will be upto a maximum of USD 200 million ;

(b) Long Term ECB Scheme

    The maximum eligibility for ECB under this window, which would be outside the annual ECB cap, would be as under :-

 
• Upto USD 200 Million for borrowings with average maturity of 8 years.
• Upto USD 400 Million for borrowings with average maturity of 16 years.

    Bonds, Debentures, FRNs and other such instruments will have additional validity period of three months for all the ECB approvals across the board.

(d) Prepayment:

    In addition to prepay ECB through inflow of foreign equity, prepayment of ECBs will be permitted through the following two options :
 

• On permission by the Government, prepayment may be undertaken, within the permitted period, of all ECBs with residual maturity up to one year.

 
OR
•  Prepayment up to 10% of outstanding ECB, to be permitted once during the life of the loan, subject to the company complying with the ECB approval terms. Those companies who have already availed prepayment facility of 20% earlier, however, would not be eligible.

    Validity of permission under the above two options will not be for more than fifteen days.

2. Credit enhanced schemes for structured obligations:

    Following guidelines shall be applicable torupee denominated structured obligations credit enhanced by international banks/international financial institutions/joint-venture partner.

 
• In the event of default, foreign banks giving guarantee will make payment of defaulted amount of principal and interest after bringing in the equivalent amount of foreign exchange into the country.
• FERA clearance should be obtained from RBI in advance of issuance.
• Prior clearance for rupee bonds/debenture issue from RBI/SEBI should be obtained.
•  In the event of default, the default should be foreign exchange equivalent amount equal to the principal and interest outstanding calculated in rupee terms.
•  The liability of Indian company will always be rupee denominated and the debt servicing may be done in equivalent foreign exchange funds.
• The guarantee fee/commission/charges and other incidental expenses to the Indian company should be in rupee terms only. All-in-cost on this account should not exceed 3% p.a. in rupee terms.
•  In case of the proposals relating to sectors where conditions apply clearances e.g. relating to the assignability of licenses etc., these should be obtained in advance.
•  In case of default, the interest rate could be coupon on the Bond/or 250 bps over prevailing secondary market yield of 5-year GOI security, whichever is higher.

4.     A consolidated brochure on ECB guidelines incorporating above changes would be brought out shortly for the convenience of borrowers and investors.
 
 

• Goa was placed under the President's Rule on the 10^th of February 1999. The State Legislative Assembly was simultaneously dissolved. Both the Houses of Parliament approved this subsequently. Under the constitutional provisions, a new assembly has to meet before 9^th of August 1999.
• The Chief Election Commissioner has visited Goa on 20^th - 21^st March, 1999. During his tour, he had detailed discussions with the Governor, representatives of political parties, members of public, key officials of the Goa government and the election machinery in connection with the preparations for elections to a new State Assembly.
• Immediately after the dissolution of the Assembly, all major parties had asked for early elections. This view was echoed in the Parliament when the Presidential proclamation was approved. The Central Government has separately requested the Commission to complete the process and hold the elections to Legislative Assembly of Goa as early as possible. The Governor of Goa has also indicated to the Chief Election Commissioner during his visit and subsequently that the elections should be held in good time.

 During the recently held consultations with the political parties on the 3^rd of this month, there was unanimity among party representatives to hold elections to Goa Assembly immediately.
• The Commission, after taking into consideration all relevant factors, had decided to hold elections for the Goa Assembly as per the schedule indicated below

• The Commission is sending formal recommendations to this effect to the Governor of Goa separately and the relevant notifications will be issued as per the schedule indicated in due course.
• The Election Commission of India took a historic decision to introduce use of Electronic Voting Machines for the purpose of conduct of elections in a large number of constituencies during November, 1998 in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and the N.C.T. of Delhi when new Assemblies were elected for these states. The experiment was highly successful and the historic step of the Commission was welcomed by one and all. The Commission used the Electronic Voting Machines once again in a large number of constituencies, which went to polls for bye-elections during February 1999.

• The Commission has already initiated preparatory steps for use of Electronic Voting Machines in Goa and the Chief Election Commissioner during his tour inaugurated a demonstration centre for the working of Electronic Voting Machines in Panaji. All the political parties and the public of Goa have welcomed the possibility of use of Electronic Voting Machines for the elections to the State Assembly.
• The Commission on the basis of its experience during the November 1998 State Assembly elections and the bye-elections during February, 1999 and the favourable response from one and all and has now decided to conduct elections for the new State Assembly in Goa entirely with the use of Electronic Voting Machines. This is for the first time that for any State Assembly the entire election process of balloting and counting will be done exclusively using Electronic Voting Machines. This is a unique and historic step taken by the Election Commission in modernising and systemising electoral management and a major milestone in the history of Indian democracy.
• 10. With this announcement, the Model Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates will immediately come into operation.

    Shri Barua has worked in several important positions in Government of Assam as well as in Government of India. At the state level, some of his assignments were Chief Electoral Officer, Commissioner & Secretary, Education Department, Agricultural Production and Rural Development Commissioner, Special Commissioner & Special Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Assam. In Government of India, he worked as Director in the Ministry of Labour and Principal Adviser & Secretary in the Planning Commission.
 
 

    If a candidate does not receive either a rejection letter or an Admission Certificate by 7^th May, 1999, he should immediately get in touch with the FACILITATION CENTRE of the Commission either personally or on Telephone No.3385271 or 3383991 Ext. 4560. In case the candidate is unable to contact Commission’s office personally or on telephone, he may write immediately to the Under Secretary (CSP), U.P.S.C., Dholpur Housed, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110011 indicating the following particulars:

• Name of Examination viz. CS(P) Exam. 1999:
• Name of the candidate (IN BLOCK LETTERS) (exactly as written in application):
• Registration number of application, if received
• Date of Birth:
• Father’ Name:

    Immediately after taking over, Shri Kamal Pande speaking to the press said that he will live upto the expectations. Later on, Shri Pande convened a meeting of senior officers in the Home Ministry and Directors General of Para Military Forces.

    Shri Pande has also served as Consultant to Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC). He prepared a report on Industrial Promotion in the South Pacific Icelands. A report on techno-economic evolutions was also prepared by him. He has held various important posts both in U.P. government and at the Centre especially in the economic Ministries. Some of his important assignments were Joint Development Commissioner, Small Scale Industry; Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser, Ministry of Food and Chairman, National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority, Department of Chemical and Petro-Chemicals.
 
 

    He said that Customer Care Institute has started its functioning of training front-line staff of Indian Railways and there is a good feedback from the field. Referring to the menace of touts and the Railway Minister’s commitment in the Parliament to root out this problem, Chairman stressed the need for an increased and concerted effort against touts by Commercial Department, Vigilance Department, RPF and GRP. He said that Customer Care Manual and the module for the staff will also help improve the existing redressal systems. He emphasised for taking regular measures for system improvement. Shri Agarwal also pointed out that safety continues to be the thrust areas where all necessary systems and instructions should be followed. He said issues like cleanliness, supply of good bed rolls, quality drinking water and watering of coaches should be attended to with proper system management. He said some special video films were also being prepared on various subjects like maintenance, repair and cleanliness which will be shown to concerned staff for imparting training to ensure better and effective functioning.

    Members of the Board also addressed the gathering.
 
 

    The special goods trains, each capable of carrying load equivalent to one hundred trucks have been running regularly between Vijayawada and Delhi for the last one month. 20 special trains, carrying about 15000 tonnes of mangoes have already arrived in Delhi Mandi at Naya Azadpur. Another 50 trains of mangoes are programmed to arrive by the end of the mango season. The large scale and unprecedented movement of mangoes have been facilitated by Indian Railways by switching over from low-capacity parcel vans to high-capacity freight wagons. Each train consists of 40 BCN wagons. This has flooded the North Indian fruit markets with sufficient supplies of mangoes resulting into decline in market rates. ‘The king of fruits’ and the ‘delight of millions’ will now be easily available to commoners.
 
 

    Dr Jatiya said the National Institute of Labour has tied up with a number of National and State level institutes like Indira Gandhi Open University to broadbase its research activities. He informed the gathering that the Institute has decided to build up an archieves of Indian Labour and compiled a comprehensive volume on labour history. He also complemented the Institute for having initiated research studies on themes like informal sector employment, operation of welfare funds etc as a follow up of National Agenda for Governance.
 
 

    Projects under the TUFS, availing term loan from Primary Lending Institutions would be provided refinance assistance and interest reimbursement on the same terms and conditions as applicable under its Direct Assistance Scheme. Small Scale Industries (SSI) Units graduating out of the sector after implementation of the scheme would also be covered. Full details in this regard can be obtained from the respective Primary Lending Institutions (PIL), comprising State Financial Corporations, State Industrial Development Corporations, Scheduled Commercial Banks, State Co-operative Banks and Scheduled Urban Co-operative Banks.

Mode of Assistance

• By way of rupee term loan.

• The project outlay for coverage under the refinance assistance shall not exceed Rs.100 lakh.

Promoters’ Contribution
Minimum

• 20% of the cost of the project.

• 2:1 for the company/firm/concern as a whole.

• Assistance under the scheme will be need-based. SIDBI would provide 100% refinance in respect of rupee term loans provided by the PLI under the scheme.

• Rate of Interest

 

S.No.	Amount of assistance inRespect of projects/activities eligible for  assistance under the scheme	Interest on Term  Loan % p.a. (excluding  interest tax	Interest on  Refinance% p.a.
1.	Upto Rs.2 lakh	Not exceeding PLR of PLI	10.5
2.	Over Rs. 2 lakh	As may bedecided by PLI	12

• Security

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

    Exclusive charge over assets purchased out of the loan. First/second charge on existing fixed assets and other collateral security, as may be deemed necessary.
 

• Period of Repayment

    The unit should arrange with its bankers for need-based working capital/additional working capital facility.

Procedural aspects

• It will be the responsibility of eligible PLIs to make necessary assessment, both as to the need for modernisation as also the quantum of financial assistance required. The eligible institutions should superscribe the refinance application "Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme for Textile Industries" to specifically indicate that the proposal is related to TUFS.
• Proposals covered under the Automatic Refinance Scheme shall be accompanied by a separate statement indicating that they relate to TUFS. The PLIs shall specifically mention in the statement that the proposals listed are for technology upgradation/modernisation of the respective industrial units and that the proposals meet the parameters contained in the Government of India Resolution and guidelines on TUFS to the extent applicable to SSI units.
• The scheme would be in operation for a period of five years from April 1, 1999 to March 31, 2004. Proposals sanctioned till the last date of the duration of the programme period will be eligible for interest reimbursement which would continue to be available till the loan is repaid as per the normal repayment period of loan.

• All PLIs availing refinance from SIDBI will be eligible for operating this scheme. Interest reimbursement shall be available to PLIs in respect of only those cases where refinance is also claimed from SIDBI by them.
• Both new and existing industrial concerns in the SSI sector will be eligible for interest reimbursement of five percentage points on the interest payments made by them on the loan outstanding to the PLIs in respect of loans sanctioned to them on or after April 1, 1999. The units will be eligible for interest reimbursement from the date of disbursement of loan by the PLIs during the period of loan as specified in the Letter of Intent and/or as may be specified in the loan document.
• The units which are in default in payment of principal/interest will not be eligible for the interest reimbursement.
• The PLIs shall be required to lodge their claim for reimbursement from SIDBI on a consolidated basis once a quarter. SIDBI will settle the same within a reasonable period of time upon receipt of relative interest reimbursement amount from Government of India. Till such time, the interest incentive is received from the Government of India, commercial lending rates of PLI shall be applicable.
• The credit risk under the scheme will not be borne by SIDBI. PLIs will make their own commercial judgement while appraising the project. The credit decision of the PLIs will be final.
• The decision of SIDBI as regards coverage of projects for extension of refinance under the scheme shall be final.

    Of the 2464 companies registered during the month of February, 1999, 2457 companies were limited by shares which include one govt. public ltd. company (GUJRAT INFORMATICS LTD) having authorized capital of Rs. 10 crore, 6 companies were registered as guarantee companies and one company with unlimited liability. The total authorised capital of the companies limited by shares put together amounted to Rs. 561.8 Crore. 2456 Non-Government companies limited by shares registered during the month under review consist of 169 public limited companies with an authorised capital of Rs. 141.8 Crore and 2287 private limited companies with an authorised capital of Rs. 410.0 Crore. The following Table indicates the position:

Category of                 Govt./                  Pub./                 No. of                 Auth. Capital
Companies                 non-Govt.             Pvt.                   Cos.                     (Rs. in ‘000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cos. Ltd. by                 Govt.                 Public                     1                         100000
Shares                                                   Private                     0                             0
                                     Non-Govt.       Public                     169                     1418420
                                                             Private                   2287                   4099920

Guarantee                     Govt.                Public                        0                             0
Companies                                            Private                       0                             0

                                    Non-Govt.         Public                       4                             0

Private                                                                                   2                             0

Unlimited cos.                                                                         1                             500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

T O T A L                                                                             2464                     5618840
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The highest number of companies registered during the month were reported from the state of Maharashtra (598) followed by the Union Territory of Delhi (442). The state of Andhra Pradesh with 217, Tamilnadu with 216, West Bengal with 159 and Gujarat with 156 also reported comparatively large number of companies registered during the month. These 6 states together accounted for nearly 72 percent of the total number of companies registered during the month.

    The analysis of new registration by broad Industrial Classification during the month brings out that the highest number of companies were registered under the Industrial Classification "Manufacturing" (924). The other important Classification under which the companies were registered were "Financing, Insurance, Real estate and Business services" (522) and "Wholesale and Retail trade, Restaurants & Hotels" (360). In "Manufacturing" the largest group was manufacture of "Machinery and Transport Equipment" (326).

    264 Non-Government companies (each with authorized capital of Rs. 50 lakhs or above) were registered during the month of Feb. 1999 as compared to 205 such companies registered in the previous month and 226 companies registered in Feb. 1998.

    38 companies having paid up capital of Rs. 14.12 lakhs ceased functioning during Feb. 1999. Of these 2 were Public Limited companies and 36 were Private Limited companies. These companies were reported to have ceased functioning during Feb. 1999 either by going into liquidation or their names having been struck off under section 560 of the Companies Act. The number of companies which ceased to work in the previous month was 49 having no paid up capital. The companies which ceased functioning during Feb. 98 numbered 62 having paid up capital of Rs. 183.63 lakhs.

    Of the 38 companies which reported to have ceased functioning during the month under review, 21 companies belonged to state of Kerala, 11 to the state of Assam and 1 each to the state of Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram. Of the companies which ceased functioning 17 fall in the group of Manufacturing, 8 in the group of Wholesale & Retail Trade and Restaurants and 8 in the group of financing, 2 in the group of minning & Quarring and 4 in the other groups.

Guarantee Companies:

    6 guarantee companies were registered during the month under review comprising 2 each in the state of Maharashtra, and Union Territory of Delhi and one each in the state of West Bengal and Gujarat.

Companies with Unlimited Liability:

    One company (Kumaran Systems) with unlimited liability with authorised capital of Rs. 5 lakhs has been registered in the state of Tamilnadu during the month under review.

    Total number of companies at work as on 28.2.1999 is indicated below:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Category of             Govt./                     Public/Private                     *Number of companies
Companies             Non-Govt.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Companies             Govt.                         Public                                             626
Limited                                                    Private                                             608
by shares                Non-Govt.                Public                                             70207
                                                               Private                                             437747
                                                                                                           ------------------------
                                                                                                                Sub-Total 509188
                                                                                                            ------------------------

Guarantee             Govt. Cos.                                                 4 )                         2718
Companies            Non-Govt. Cos.                                  2714 )
Cos. With
Unlimited
liabilities                                                                                                                425
                                                                                                              ------------------------
                                                                                                                    TOTAL 5,12,331
                                                                                                            ---------------------------
*Provisional
 
 

    The envelope is available at all Circle Stamp Depots and Philatelic Bureaux.
 
 

    Indian Railways, in its drive to augment the capacity of existing popular trains, has added three coaches each to Tamil Nadu Express 2622/2621; and G.T.Express 2615/1616. The additional coaches include one AC II tier, one AC III tier and one AC Sleeper Class coach. In this way, both the trains will now run with 24 coaches attached to them. Coming up in this year of passenger, this additional facility will become available at Chennai from today onwards while it will be available on both directions from May 7,1999 onwards.
 
 

    Shri Dasgupta has earlier held senior positions with the Ministries of Industry and Health & Family Welfare. He was on deputation to the World Bank and worked as Management Advisor, Ministry of Health, Government of Uganda. He also worked as Additional secretary and Project Director, National Aids Control Organisation, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.