PIB Press Releases


		7th March, 2003


		Ministry of Commerce & Industry India reiterates strong commitment towards BIMST-EC free trade area India has reiterated its strong commitment towards proposed Free Trade Area (FTA) in BIMST-EC Region (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand-Economic cooperation). ....................... Ministry of Railways Target for model railway stations With a view to providing upgraded passenger amenities at stations, 295 stations have so far been selected as model stations. ....................... Ministry of Railways Signalling system during fog Even through existing signalling system has limitations during foggy weather, instructions exist for train passing staff for steps to be taken during foggy weather to run the trains safety. ...................... Ministry of Railways Privatization of ticket reservation system In order to facilitate Rail reservation and to improve customer service, Passenger Reservation System (PRS) terminals have been allotted to three Rail Travellers Service Agents (RTSAs) on an experimental basis in Mumbai area of Central Railway. ...................... Ministry of Railways Doordarshan and TV channels on trains The Government (Ministry of Railways) have not drafted any scheme to provide telephones, Doordarshan or Television Channels in trains. ...................... Ministry of Railways Doubling of Patna-Gaya rail line Doubling of Patna-Gaya section has been taken up on phases. ...................... Ministry of Railways Target for Bogibeel bridge construction Approximately 11.19 hectares of patta land required for Rail line on South Bank has been acquired and handed over by the State Government of Assam. ....................... Ministry of Rural Development Annasaheb Patil calls for integrated Land Resource Management Policy Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Annasaheb M.K. Patil said that his Ministry has undertaken the initiatives for formulation of National Policy on Land Resource Management for better land care........................ Ministry of Steel Steps to improve worth of SAIL Adverse market conditions, surplus capacity in the domestic and international market, subdued economic activities, fall in domestic and global prices of steel, social costs, increase in input prices and high manpower cost have contributed to the fall in the net worth of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)........................ Ministry of Steel Mining by KIOCL Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) has made a total investment of Rs. 1500 crores at Kudremukh and Manglore facilities........................ Ministry of Chemicals & fertilizers Chemical Fertilizer Projects in Public Sector The annual installed capacity and percentage of production capacity utilization in nutrient terms in fertilizer manufacturing units of PSUs, under the administrative control of Department of Fertilizers are as given below:........................ Ministry of Law and Justice Delimitation Commission The Delimitation Commission has been constituted on July 12,2002 under the provisions of the Delimitation Act, 2002 with Shri Justice Kuldip Singh, a retired Judge of the Supreme Court........................ Ministry of Law and Justice Appointment of notary public The Government has clarified that no inordinate delay is being caused in taking action on the applications for appointment of notary public........................ Ministry of Civil Aviation India hands over Airbus to Afghanistan India today handed over a Airbus A-300 B4 aircraft to Afghan Ariana Airlines in the presence of the visiting President of Afghanistan Mr. Hamid Karzai and the Civil Aviation Minister Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain........................ Ministry of Environment & Forests Ten most polluted cities in the country Delhi is among the ten most polluted cities identified in the country The others being Ahmedabad, Agra, Faridabad, Jharia, Jodhpur Kanpur, Lucknow, Patna, and Varanasi........................ Ministry of Agriculture Pilot projects to promote bio-diesel use The Union Agriculture Ministry will soon come out with an Action Plan to launch pilot projects in different areas of the country to promote use of bio-diesel as an alternative fuel........................ Ministry of Commerce & Industry India signs bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement with Afghanistan India and Afghanistan have signed a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) which provides for free movement of specified goods as agreed between the two countries through the reduction of tariffs........................ Ministry of Science & Technology Digital weather broadcasts to the rescue of fishermen/seafarers The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has begun satellite-based digital weather broadcast services to the rescue of our fishermen and seafarers........................ UPSC Final results of Combined Defence Services Examination (I) 2002 declared The Union Public Service Commission have declared the final results of the Combined Defence Services Examination (I) 2002 for admission to the Officers' Training Academy, Chennai (Madras) for 77th Short Service Commission Course, commencing in May, 2003........................ Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment National Commission for Safai Karamcharis presents Fifth Annual Report to Government The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis has called for structural changes and reorientation of the schemes to ensure maximum benefit to safai karamcharis........................ Ministry of Defence Defence Industry Partnership in Human Resource Management Shri Vijai Kapoor, Lt Governor of Delhi had suggested that the Armed Forces personnel should be allowed to go to corporate sector for a period of four to five years to get the necessary management and technical experience. ........................ Ministry of Food Processing Industries Aahar' 2003 begins on March 9 The 18th International Exhibition for Food, Food Processing, Hotel and Restaurant Equipment and Supply-Aahar 2003-will be inaugurated on March 9, 2003 at Pragati Maidan, (Hall No,.14&18) by Shri N.T. Shanmugam, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries......................... Ministry of Commerce & Industry Impact of US-Iraq war on trade balance International prices of oil have increased recently, inter-alia, due to rising tension between US and Iraq......................... Ministry of Commerce & Industry Representations for ban on meat export Representations from organisations like Maharaja Kumarapal Jeevodaya Trust, Chennai, Jain Social Group, Akola, Maharashtra and Animal Rights International, New Delhi have been received for imposing ban on export of meat......................... Ministry of Commerce & Industry Indo-Thailand Free Trade Agreement on the anvil A Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) has been set up for drafting a Framework Agreement of India-Thailand Free Trade Area (FTA)......................... Ministry of Commerce & Industry Trade pacts with South East Asian Region The government has initiated proposals for having Trade Agreements with the following countries in South East Asian and Latin American Regions:......................... Ministry of Defence Defence Industry Partnership in Human Resource Management Shri Vijai Kapoor, Lt Governor of Delhi had suggested that the Armed Forces personnel should be allowed to go to corporate sector for a period of four to five years to get the necessary management and technical experience......................... Ministry of Human Resource Development Financial independence of women imperative for their empowerment - Speaker The financial independence of women is essential for their empowerment. Towards fulfilling this end, every state must set up financial corporations to help women set up their own enterprises, whether small or big. Besides, banks can also have some exclusive schemes targeting women entrepreneurs......................... Ministry of Human Resource Development Fresh initiative by CBSE for Examination Reform The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken some major steps towards examination reform......................... Ministry of Human Resource Development Rise in plan outlay for higher education An outlay of Rs. 4176.50 crore has been approved during the X Five Year Plan for universities and higher education sector......................... Ministry of Human Resource Development 45 new KVs to be opened in 2003-04 Forty-five new Kendriya Vidyalayas are to be opened in the current year in various States and Union Territories......................... Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Per-Capita consumption of foodgrains It is estimated that the average per capita consumption of foodgrains was 12.45 kg. per month in 1999-2000......................... Ministry of Tribal Affairs National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Recognising that the problems and issues concerning Scheduled Tribes differ from those of the Scheduled Castes the Government has decided to set up a National Commission for Scheduled Tribes......................... Ministry of Tribal Affairs Facilities to the tribals of Andaman and Nicobar Islands The Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements various schemes/programmes for the welfare and development of tribals in all the States/UTs, including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands......................... Ministry of Textiles Catalytic Development Programme for development of Sericulture The Ministry of Textiles had received 2023 applications till December 2002 for Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS)......................... Ministry of Textiles Rs. 4203 crore disbursed under Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme Catalytic Development Programme for development of Sericulture Rs. 4203 crore disbursed under Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme ......................... Ministry of Information and Broadcasting AIR services upgradation in Bihar The Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has announced that Patna FM station of All India Radio (AIR) is being upgraded from 6 KW to 10 KW ......................... Ministry of Information and Broadcasting IBM appeals for implementation of CAS The Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has appealed to the broadcasters, MSOs and the cable operators to work together and arrive at workable system to make the Conditional Access System (CAS) successful and ensure that it is implemented in four metros by July 14, 2003 ......................... Ministry of Finance and Company Affairs Pattern of investment by Non-Government Provident Funds, Superannuation Funds and Gratuity Funds amendend The Government has amended the guidelines regarding the pattern of investment to be followed by Non-Government Provident Funds, Superannuation Funds and Gratuity Funds. .........................