· Budget allocation for the Agriculture ministry increased by 13 per cent to Rs 58,080 crore for 2018 -19 fiscal, from Rs 51,576 crore in 2017-18

Farm credit target raised to Rs 11 lakh crore for 2018-19 from Rs 10 lakh crore in 2017-18. It was around Rs 9 Lakh Crore in 2016-17 A corpus of Rs 10,000 crore to create infrastructure in fishery, aquaculture and animal husbandry sectors.

Agri-market infrastructure Fund: A corpus of Rs. 2,000 crore as Agri-market infrastructure fund set up. National Bamboo Mission: Rs 1,290 crore announced to help setting up of small industries and create new employments opportunities in bamboo sector. Tax incentives to promote post-harvest agricultural activities.

Operation Greens: On the lines of Operation Flood with budgetary outlay of Rs. 500 crores. To address the challenge of price volatility of perishable commodities like tomato, onion and potato (TOP) to help farmers and consumers.

Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs): To develop and upgrade existing 22,000 rural haats into GrAMs to take care of the interests of more than 86% small and marginal farmers. These GrAMs, electronically linked to e-NAM will provide farmers facility to make direct sale to consumers and bulk purchasers.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana” launched to modernise supply chain infrastructure in the agricultural sector.

Budget allocation doubled under the Krishi Sampada Yojana to push the Food processing industry · 74.5% hike in budgetary allocation during 2014-19 compared to 2009 to 2014. Up from Rs. 1,21,082 crores to Rs. 2,11,694 crore

Special focus on irrigation with sufficient budget, with the aim of “Per Drop More Crop”. Provision of quality seeds and nutrients based on soil health of each field. Large investments in Warehousing and Cold Chains to prevent post-harvest crop losses.

Promotion of value addition through food processing. Creation of a National Farm Market, removing distortions and e-platform across 585 Stations.

Introduction of a New Crop Insurance Scheme to mitigate risks at an affordable cost.

Promotion of ancillary activities like poultry, beekeeping, and fisheries. Umbrella Scheme, "Green Revolution – Krishonnati Yojana"

11 Schemes/Missions in agriculture sector merged under one Umbrella Scheme, "Green Revolution – Krishonnati Yojana" Objective: To develop the agriculture and allied sector in a holistic and scientific manner to increase the income of farmers by enhancing production, productivity and better returns on produce

MSP & PROCUREMENT Big hike in Minimum Support Price or MSP for Kharif crops, 1.5 times of the production cost.

MSP of Kharif pulses for 2017-18. MSP of Arhar increased from Rs. 5050/- to Rs. 5,450/-per quintal. MSP of Urad increased from Rs. 5,000/- to Rs. 5,400/- per quintal. MSP of Moong increased from Rs 5,225/- to Rs. 5,575/- per quintal

Substantial increase in MSP of Rabi Pulses. MSP of Gram increased from Rs. 4,000/- to Rs. 4400/- per quintal. MSP of lentil (Masoor) increased from Rs. 3,950/- to Rs. 4,250,/- per quintal

Extent of buffer stock of Pulses increased from 1.5 lakh tonnes to 20 lakh tonnes. About 21.28 lakh metric tonne of pulses procured (As on 04.05.2018) Procurement of wheat during Rabi season has touched 308.24 lakh tonne as on 31th August, 2017 compared to 229.30 lakh metric tonnes in 2016-17 and 280.88 lakh metric tonnes in 2015-16.

Pulses production went up by more than 3.5 percent during 2017-18 (as per 2nd Advance estimates) as compared to last year’s production, of 231.3 lakh, which is a record.

Direct Benefit Transfer in Fertilizer Subsidy Pan-India roll out of DBT has been completed by March, 2018. Sale of all subsidised fertilizers through Point of Sale (PoS) devices installed at each retailer shop; beneficiaries to be identified through Aadhaar Card, KCC, Voter Identity Card etc.

Approximately 2.05 lakh retailers sensitized during introductory training sessions.

Success Story of implementation of DBT in Pilot Districts • Implementation of DBT system has streamlined the Fertilizer distribution. Retailers and farmers in all districts reported “Nil Shortage” of urea owing to neem coating.

• There is improved tracking through mFMS Id i.e. Fertilizer companies have on-boarded untraceable retailers and co-operative depots on MFMS system to avoid delay in subsidy payments.

• Overcharging by retailers has reduced as each fertilizer purchase by farmers is supported by a receipt generated through PoS machines indicating both MRP paid by the farmers and the subsidy component paid by the Government on the quanitity of fertilizer purchased by the farmers.

• Cross border sale has also reduced e.g. across border to Nepal and Bangladesh from Kishanganj.

Government makes Neem coating of Urea mandatory-25.5.2015. 100 % of Neem Coating of Indigenous Urea and Imported Urea achieved w.e.f. 1st September, 2015 and 1st December, 2015 respectively Improvement in soil health.

Reduction in usage of plant protection chemicals. Reduction in pest and disease attack. Diversion of highly subsidized urea towards non-agricultural purposes reduced to negligible.

· An increase in yield of paddy, sugarcane, maize, soybean, Tur/Red Gram

During the last three years i.e. 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17, the consumption (Kg/hectare) showing a declining trend - 152.53, 149.61 and 140.84 (estimated) respectively.

This may be due to neem coating of Urea which increases efficacy due to slow release of Nitrogen.

Effective from 1st June, 2015 Promoting energy efficiency in Urea production, maximizing indigenous Urea production and rationalizing the subsidy burden on Govt. of India. Helping domestic urea sector to become globally competitive

Record Production of Urea Highest ever production of 245 LMT of indigenous Urea during 2015-16, almost maintained in 2016-17. Highest ever additional production of 20 LMT of Urea during 2015-16 without adding additional urea production capacity.

The production of urea during the year 2016-17 was 242.01 LMT, which is significantly higher than the production of urea during 2012-13 (225.75LMT) and 2013-14(227.15 LMT)

Special Banking Arrangement to clear fertilizer subsidy dues In order to ensure working capital availability to fertilizer companies, Department of Fertilizers had made provision of Special Banking Arrangements for upto ₹ 7000 crores during 2017-18 through nationalised banks, wherein majority of the interest burden had been borne by the Government.

Introduction of 45 Kg. Urea Bags replacing the existing 50 Kg. Bags: Vide Notification dated 4.9.2017 · CCEA, in its meeting dated 20th February, 2018, approved the MRP of urea as Rs.242 per bag

Reduction in the rates of P&K Fertilizers Reduction in the MRP of DAP, MOP and Complex fertilizers by Rs. 125/, Rs.250/- and Rs. 50/- respectively per 50 kg bag from June 2016. The prices of DAP again reduced by Rs. 65/- per 50 kg during December, 2016.

New Investment Policy- 2012 The Government announced New Investment Policy (NIP)-2012 on 2nd January, 2013 and its amendment on 7th October, 2014 to facilitate fresh investment in urea sector and to make India self-sufficient in the urea sector.

· Matix Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited set up a Coal Bed Methane(CBM) based 1.3 MMTPA Greenfield Ammonia-Urea complex at Panagarh, West Bengal. Commercial production started on 1st October, 2017.

· Chambal Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited to set up a brownfield project with capacity of 1.34 MMTPA at Gadepan, Rajasthan, which is likely to start commercial production in January, 2019.

Rs. 40,000 crores to be invested to revive Defunct Fertilizer Units in Gorakhpur, Sindri, Talcher, Ramagundam and Barauni (New Urea units of 12.7 lakh MT at each location)

RAMAGUNDAM PROJECT is likely to be commissioned by December 2018. SINDRI & GORAKHPUR UNITS OF FCIL AND BARAUNI UNIT OF HFCL likely tobe operational by October 2020 . TALCHER PROJECT likely to start production by 2021.

New Ammonia-urea complex to be set up at M/s Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited at Namrup with a capacity of 8.646 LMT per annum. Production of about 25 million MT is expected to increase to 28 million MT in the year 2019-20 and to about 34 million MT in the year 2021-22.

Model Fertilizer Retails Shops across the country Against the target of 2000 Model Fertilizer Retail Shops to be opened in next 3 years from 2016-19 for abundant availability of Urea, 2044 model fertilizer retail shops made operational till 19th March 2018.

City Compost Scheme Policy for Promotion of City Compost was notified on 10.02.2016 which provides Market Development Assistance (MDA) of Rs. 1500/MT on sales of City Compost. · Due to consistent efforts of the Department, the sales of City Compost during 2017-18 has increased to 1.64 LMT and an amount of Rs. 7.26 Crores of Market Development Assistance (MDA) has been released.

National Common Agriculture Market Scheme launched by PM on 14.4.2016 Farmers will be able to get better price of their crop through E-Nam. 585 Mandis across 16 States & 2 UTs are live on e-NAM.

More than 98.4 lakh farmers are registered on this platform. 182.75 lakh tones of farm commodities worth Rs. 46025 crore has een transacted on e-NAM platform (as on 08.05.2018).

Scheme launched to reduce fertilizers usage and expenses. 10.70 crore Soil Health Cards distributed in Phase-I during 2015-17. 3.5 crore soil Health Cards distributed in phase -2 during 2017-18.

Under Soil Health Management Scheme, Rs. 243.82 crores released to the States during 2014-17 against Rs.27.76 crores during 2011-14 Under Soil Health Cards Scheme, Rs.401.65 crores released to the states during 2014-17.

9243 Soil Testing Laboratories including 8752 Mini Labs sanctioned to the States between 2014-17 against 15 during 2011-14.

Funds amounting to ₹ 925.36 lakh have been released to ICAR under RKVY Scheme, for setting up 1076 new Mini labs and 100% coverage of all 648 KVKs.

Scheme for setting up village level soil testing labs Labs by local entrepreneurs approved.

Har Khet ko Paani: Cabinet approves plan to ensure irrigation for every agricultural land on 1 July 2015.

Rs. 50,000 crores to be invested in five years to achieve ‘Water to Every Field / Har Khet Ko Paani’

Budget of Rs. 1550 crores during 2015-16 for Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna Per Drop More Crop increased to Rs.4000 crores in 2018-19 Long Term Irrigation Fund Augmented by 100% to Rs 40,000 Crore for completion of 99 priority projects.

Dedicated Micro Irrigation fund with a sum of Rs. 5000 crores bring set up for the achievement of the goal of “per drop – more crop”.

Under ‘Per Drop More Crop’ for micro irrigation 28.82 lakh hectares brought under micro irrigation from 2014-18 (As on 09.05.2018 ).

Centre to work with the state governments to facilitate farmers for installing solar water pumps to irrigate their fields.

· To provide insurance at lowest premium rate to farmers with added benefits.

· Launched on 13th January 2016. Nearly 21% hike in budget 2018-19 to Rs. 21,000 crore from Rs.10701 crore in 2017-18

· Biggest financial support till date by the Central Government in crop insurance.

· Plan to increase crop insurance coverage from 20% to 50% by 2018-19.

· Implemented by 23 States during Kharif 2016; 405.81 lakh farmers covered and 379.06 lakh hectares insured over the sum insured of Rs. 1, 31, 56578 lakh.

· During Rabi 2017-18, under Rabi and Kahrif crops,167 lakh farmers provided protective coverage 192.68 lakh hectare for the semi insured of Rs. 69,95614 lakh under the scheme.

Direct subsidy to sugarcane farmers- Amount released directly to farmers’ Account.

Outstanding amount due to farmers brought down. Financial assistance @ of Rs. 5.50 per quintal of cane crushed in sugar season 2017-18 to help sugar mills to clear cane dues of farmers.

· Promoting organic farming; Scheme launched in 2015-16 with an allocation of Rs. 300 Crore. Outlay increased to Rs. 360 crores in 2018-19.

· 11,891 clusters covering 2.2lakhs hectare area under Organic Farming being covered during 2015-18.

· Organic value chain for North Eastern States: Rs. 400 crores allocated for 2015-18; Rs. 225.95 crores released during 2015-17.

Blue Revolution Scheme: A revolution in the Fisheries sector; Restructured the scheme by merging all the ongoing schemes under an umbrella of Blue Revolution

Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries’ with an outlay of Rs.3000 crore for 5 years

Budgetary provision for Blue Revolution increased by 113% to Rs.643crores in 2018-19 as compared to Rs. 302 crores in 2017-18.

Fish production increased from 186.12 lakh tonnes during 2012-14 to 209.59 tonnes during 2014-16

Average 48.35 lakh fishermen insured annually. Annual insurance premium of fishermen reduced from Rs. 29 to Rs. 20.34 as a result of which majority of the fishermen have got insurance done

Insurance cover increased to Rs. 2 lakhs from Rs. 1 lakh for accidental death and permanent disability

ANIMAL REARING AND DAIRY Budgetary provision for White Revolution increased by 36% to Rs.2220 crores in 2018-19 as compared to Rs. 1634 crores in 2017-18. Annual Average Milk Production increased from 146.3 million tonnes in 2011-14 to163.7 million tonnes during 2014-17 which shows almost 12% enhancement.

New initiative under National Program for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development to conserve and develop indigenous bovine breeds; launched in December 2014 with an allocation of Rs 500 crores

20 Gokul Grams are being established and 41 Bull Mother Farms modernized. 24X7 KISAN CHANNEL A 24X7 dedicated Kisan TV Channel for farmers.

Relief to farmers in distress to be given in case of 33% and more damage to the crop; earlier it was for 50% and more damage.

Scale of assistance towards Input Subsidy for Crop increased by 51% for rainfed areas,50% for irrigated areas and 50% for perennial areas. Amount of relief under various heads increased by 1.5 times.

For food grains damaged due to excessive rainfall, full minimum support price to be paid

Families of the deceased persons to be given an assistance of Rs.4 lakhs, up from Rs.2.5 lakhs

Provision to State Disaster Relief Fund, SDRF has seen a jump of 82% for the 5-year period 2015-20, as compared to the 5-year period between 2010-15. It went up to Rs. 61,220 crores from Rs. 33,580.93 crore

Under the Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS) Short Term Crop loans upto Rs.3 lakh are extended to prompt payee farmers at a sub vented interest rate of 4.1% per annum for a period up to one year for those who repay promptly.

The ISS also provides for post-harvest loans for up to 6 months at the same rate of interest as Short Term Crop loans to Kisan Credit Card holding Small and Marginal Farmers

Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme to provide adequate and timely credit support from the banking system under a single window to the farmers for their cultivation and other needs.

Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) promoted by banks to bring small, marginal, tenant farmers, oral lessees, etc. taking up farm activities, off-farm activities and non-farm activities, into the fold of institutional credit.

24.53 lakh Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) have been provided Rs. 26,848.13 crore loan by banks across the country as on 31st March, 2017. Further in 2017-18 up to September 2017, 0.89 lakh JLGs were also provided loan Rs. 1,081.54 crores

The sixth edition of IBSAMAR, a joint Multi – National Maritime Exercise between the Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies, is being held at Simons Town, South Africa from 01 – 13 Oct 18. The last edition of IBSAMAR (IBSAMAR V) was conducted off Goa, from 19 – 26 Feb 16.

The aim of the exercise is to undertake collective training for participating navies, building interoperability and mutual understanding as well as sharing of best practices.

The Indian Navy is represented in IBSAMAR VI by Guided Missile Frigate Tarkash, Guided Missile Destroyer Kolkata, Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I, Seaking and Chetak helicopters as well as a MARCOS contingent.

The Commanding Officers of the IN Ships called on the Chief of Fleet Staff of the SA Navy as well as a few other senior officers and the Magistrate and the Commissioner of Simon's Town. A reception was hosted onboard the Brazilian naval ship BNS Barraso in the evening.

The exercise includes both harbour and sea phases with various navigation and seamanship evolutions, surface weapons firing, force protection exercises, antipiracy exercise, anti-air and anti-submarine exercise as well as flying operations.

Apart from professional activities, sports and social engagements are also planned.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will receive the United Nations' highest environmental honour, the ‘UNEP Champions of the Earth’ award at a special ceremony in Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, New Delhi on October 3.

The award announced on 26th September, on the sidelines of 73rd UN General Assembly at New York City, will be presented by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The Prime Minister will also address the gathering.

Prime Minister Modi has been selected in the leadership category for his pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and for his unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.

The annual ‘Champions of the Earth’ prize is awarded to outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions have had a positive impact on the environment.

Eastern Zonal Council The Council reviewed progress of unresolved items of the last meeting relating to Phulbari Dam under the Agreement of 1978 between Bihar and West Bengal, release of central share under post-matric and pre-matric scholarship schemes for SCs/STs/OBCs, scheme for modernization of state police forces among others.

Zonal councils: Zonal councils have been established by the Parliament to promote interstate cooperation and coordination. They are statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act 1956 and not constitutional bodies. They are only deliberative and advisory bodies.

There are 5 five Zonal councils namely: The Northern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, National Capital Territory of Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh. The Central Zonal Council, comprising the States of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The Eastern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, and West Bengal.

The Western Zonal Council, comprising the States of Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. The Southern Zonal Council, comprising the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The North Eastern States i.e. (i) Assam (ii) Arunachal Pradesh (iii) Manipur (iv) Tripura (v) Mizoram (vi) Meghalaya (vii) Sikkim and (viii) Nagaland are not included in the Zonal Councils and their special problems are looked after by the North Eastern Council, set up under the North Eastern Council Act, 1972.

Composition: Chairman – The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils. Vice Chairman – The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time. Members- Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the States and two members from Union Territories included in the zone.

Advisers- One person nominated by the Planning Commission (which has been replaced by NITI Ayog now) for each of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries and another officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States included in the Zone. Union Ministers are also invited to participate in the meetings of Zonal Councils depending upon necessity.

The main objectives of setting up of Zonal Councils are: Bringing out national integration. Arresting the growth of acute State consciousness, regionalism, linguism and particularistic tendencies. Enabling the Centre and the States to co-operate and exchange ideas and experiences.

Establishing a climate of co-operation amongst the States for successful and speedy execution of development projects.

About the Bill: The legislation aims to give protection to good samaritans and ensure immediate medical assistance for road accident victims within the ‘golden hour’ and encourage people to offer first aid to victims without fear of harassment in the hands of police and investigations.

Under the new law, the Karnataka government will provide financial help to good samaritans who help victims in a timely manner, they will be exempted from repeated attendance in courts and police stations, in case attendance is mandatory, expenses of such “running around to courts and police stations” will be taken care through the proposed ‘Good Samaritan Fund’.

After admitting the accident victim to the hospital, the good samaritan can leave immediately, all government as well as private hospitals are bound to give first aid to the accident victims.

Significance: With this, Karnataka has become the first state to give legal protection to good samaritans through a legislation amidst the rising incidents of accidental deaths in India, which saw 1,50,785 people getting killed in road accidents in 2016. In medical terms, the ‘golden hour’ is the first hour after a traumatic injury when emergency treatment is very crucial.

Need for legal protection: There were 4,80,652 road accidents in the country in 2016 in which 1,50,785 people were killed. In 2015, there were 5,01,423 road accidents in the country in which 1,46,133 people were killed. There is no central law to protect the good samaritans. However, the Union Surface Transport Ministry had issued a set of guidelines in 2015 following a Supreme Court order to protect the good samaritans.

There have been many instances when people get busy in clicking photos or making videos of the victims, instead of providing the accident victims medical help. With the new law, there will be clear message that good samaritans will not be harassed in any manner.

Karnataka is one of the top five states which saw a large number of people getting killed in road accidents in 2016 and 2015.

South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation Road Connectivity lnvestment Program, approved in 2014, aims to expand about 500 kilometers of roads in lndia’s North Bengal and North-Eastern Region that will enable efficient and safe transport within lndia and regionally with other SASEC member countries.

The Program is an important initiative in Regional Connectivity aimed at increasing domestic and regional trade through North Bengal-North East Region International Trade corridor by upgrading key roads.

Significance of the project: The Project will upgrade about 65 kilometers of lmphal-Moreh Section of National Highway in Manipur, construction of about 1.5 km of an international bridge between lndia and Nepal, and completion of about 103 km of a State Highway in Manipur between lmphal and Tamenglong under Project-I.

The Project will reduce transaction costs along the targeted cross-border corridors substantially, creating economies of scale and commercial prosperity.

Background: Manipur being a landlocked state with almost 90% of the area under difficult terrain presently has only road transport as a means of mass transport system within the state. Hence development of the road infrastructure is of paramount importance to improve connectivity and progress of the State and to ensure that the administrative set up reaches the isolated and remote habitats.

About SASEC: The SASEC programme of ADB was formed in 2001 in response to the request of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal to assist in facilitating economic cooperation among them. Sri Lanka and Maldives joined the sub-regional group in 2014.

As a project-based partnership, SASEC programme has been helping enhance cross-border connectivity, facilitate faster and more efficient trade and promote cross-border power trade.

The Manila, Philippines-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) serves as the Secretariat for the SASEC member countries.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has requested the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the State Governments to include this as an agenda in the upcoming Gram Sabhas, especially for the one scheduled on 2nd October 2018, in connection with Gandhi Jayanti.

This is as part of the awareness initiatives taken up at various levels by the Govt and Insurance Companies to create awareness about the Scheme and mobilise farmers to insure their crops.

About PMFBY: In April, 2016, the government of India had launched Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) after rolling back the earlier insurance schemes viz. National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS), Weather-based Crop Insurance scheme and Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS).

Premium: It envisages a uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for Kharif crops, and 1.5% for Rabi crops. The premium for annual commercial and horticultural crops will be 5%.

The scheme is mandatory for farmers who have taken institutional loans from banks. It’s optional for farmers who have not taken institutional credit.

Objectives: Providing financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of unforeseen events. Stabilizing the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming. Encouraging farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices.

Ensuring flow of credit to the agriculture sector which contributes to food security, crop diversification and enhancing growth and competitiveness of agriculture sector besides protecting farmers from production risks.

Significance: Initially, 110 e-bids were received for 55 blocks on offer with participation from 9 companies, singly or in consortium. Finally, contracts have been signed for all 55 blocks with 6 companies.

This will add a huge accretion of 59,282 sq.km to the exploration area. This is about 65% of the area presently under exploration in the country. This will lead to significant increase in E&P activities in India and in long run discoveries from these field may significantly boost domestic production.

Background: The bid round-I of OALP was launched in January 2018 under the liberalized Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP). It is for the first time that bidding in the E&P sector in India was for blocks that had been selected by bidders themselves with government playing a facilitator role.

Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP): The OALP, a part of the government’s Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), gives exploration companies the option to select the exploration blocks on their own, without having to wait for the formal bid round from the Government. The company then submits an application to the government, which puts that block up for bid. The new policy will open up 2.8 million square kilometres of sedimentary basins for exploration and eventual production.

About Hydrocarbon Exploration & Licensing Policy (HELP): The Hydrocarbon Exploration & Licensing Policy (HELP) opens up India’ entire sedimentary basin for investment from domestic and foreign players under a simplified, transparent and investor -friendly fiscal and administrative regime.

The new policy aims to provide Investors a ready access to huge amount of seismic data available in National Data Repository (NDR), flexibility to carve out exploration acreages through an open acreage licensing process and increased operational autonomy through a new revenue sharing model.

The National Data Repository (NDR) manifested through an open acreage licensing (OAL) process will be a key facilitator by providing seamless access to India’s entire E&P data process through a digital medium to all investors with the objective of harnessing the potential of India’s large basinal area.

Way ahead: Open Acreage Licensing Policy and the National Data Repository together are a significant and welcome step towards opening up the hydrocarbon exploration and production industry in India. By placing greater discretion in the hands of explorers and operators, the Licensing Policy attempts to address a major drawback in the New Exploration Licensing Policy, which forced energy explorers to bid for blocks chosen by the government. Such initiatives help India attract enough investment to meet the government’s objective of reducing oil imports by 10% by 2022.

There’s a compelling opportunity for gas, which India must seize to reduce import dependency and shift to a lower carbon trajectory. HELP is more about gas than oil. While the overall thrust is positive, concerns regarding the contractual regime and gas pricing formula remain, and will need to be addressed.

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) What is LLP? LLP is an alternative corporate business form that gives the benefits of limited liability of a company and the flexibility of a partnership. The LLP can continue its existence irrespective of changes in partners. It is capable of entering into contracts and holding property in its own name.

The LLP is a separate legal entity, is liable to the full extent of its assets but liability of the partners is limited to their agreed contribution in the LLP. Further, no partner is liable on account of the independent or un-authorized actions of other partners, thus individual partners are shielded from joint liability created by another partner’s wrongful business decisions or misconduct.

Mutual rights and dutiesof the partners within a LLP are governed by an agreement between the partners or between the partners and the LLP as the case may be. The LLP, however, is not relieved of the liability for its other obligations as a separate entity. Since LLP contains elements of both ‘a corporate structure’ as well as ‘a partnership firm structure’ LLP is called a hybrid between a company and a partnership.

LLP form is a form of business model which: Is organized and operates on the basis of an agreement. Provides flexibility without imposing detailed legal and procedural requirements.

Enables professional/technical expertise and initiative to combine with financial risk taking capacity in an innovative and efficient manner.

World Habitat Day: The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The Day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.

2018 theme: Municipal Solid Waste Management. The focus of this year’s World Habitat Day celebrations is taking action to address the municipal solid waste management challenge. This year’s theme is Municipal Solid Waste Management with a slogan Waste-wise cities.

Background: The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.

World Habitat Day was established in 1985 by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/202, and was first celebrated in 1986.

Niwari is 52nd district of MP: Niwari will become the 52nd district of Madhya Pradesh, with effect from October 1. A proposal to this effect was cleared by the state Cabinet recently.

The second edition of Exercise Aviaindra, a Biennial Air Force level exercise between Indian and the Russian Federation, was held recently in Russia.

The aim of the exercise was to formulate and validate use of airpower in anti-terrorist operation in a bilateral scenario. It also includes simulator training. The exercise included briefing on Aerospace safety and anti-terrorist air operations.

What are they? They are National Awards for Senior Citizens. They were recently presented by the President to eminent senior citizens and institutions in recognition of their service towards the cause of elderly persons, especially indigent senior citizens.

Vayoshreshtha Samman is a Scheme of National Awards instituted by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (D/o Social Justice & Empowerment) initially in 2005 and was upgraded to the status of National Awards in 2013, for institutions involved in rendering distinguished service for the cause of elderly persons especially indigent senior citizens and to eminent citizens in recognition of their service/achievements.

Ministries of Social Justice & Empowerment, Health and Rural Development are running such useful schemes for the welfare of elderly persons.

The awards are presented on 1st of October every year pursuant to the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly to observe the year 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons.