29-Jul-2022: 50 million EXIM containers handled under Logistic Data Bank project
NLDSL-NICDC Logistics Data Bank’s LDB Project has achieved a milestone of handling 50 million EXIM containers since its inception six years ago.
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal congratulated the entire team of NLDSL for achieving the milestone.
Sh. Amrit Lal Meena, Chairman NLDSL, said that NLDSL is striving to make the LDB project a hallmark of Logistic development in India in line with the objectives of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiative.
LDB was conceived as one of the smart community projects between India and Japan during the initial stages of planning of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor project. LDB handles 100% per cent of India’s EXIM container volume. It uses RFID technology through Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and Cloud-based solution to provide real-time tracking of EXIM container movement in India.
The LDB system has contributed in improving India’s rank in the benchmarking tool of the World Bank i.e. Logistics Performance Index (LPI) and Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) to help countries identify the challenges and opportunities in trade logistics. LDB has led to improve the key components of logistics which include customs performance, infrastructure quality, logistics service quality, consignments tracking and tracing, timeliness of shipments and Trading Across Border (TAB) which is primarily the relevant parameter for cross-border trade.
Currently, LDB Pan India coverage integrates17 Ports (comprising 27 port terminals) (Port IT systems), 170 CFSs & ICDs (RFID Infrastructure), 60 Toll Plazas (RFID Infrastructure), 03 ICPs (RFID Infrastructure), 09 SEZs (RFID Infrastructure) and 5800 railway stations (Freight Operations Information System- FOIS).
LDB Project has been leveraged to develop Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP). The ULIP has been conceptualized with the vision of “PM GatiShakti” which aims at breaking individual silos, promote integration among various Ministries/Departments and create a single window thus bringing efficiency and transparency in the logistics industry and thus making India cost competitive and ‘Atmanirbhar’ in the logistics sector. ULIP has been integrated with 27 systems of seven different ministries through 102 APIs, covering more than 1600 fields successfully.
28-Jul-2022: Steps by Government to enhance the domestic manufacturing of Solar module
The Government has taken a number of steps to enhance the domestic production of important components such as solar cells, modules and solar inverters, namely:
- Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) Scheme of Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology: The scheme mainly provides subsidy for capital expenditure – 20% for investments in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 25% in non-SEZs. The Scheme was open to receive applications till 31st December, 2018. The Scheme inter-alia covered solar PV cells, solar PV modules, EVA, back sheet and solar glass.
- Preference to ‘Make in India’ in Public Procurement in Renewable Energy Sector: Through implementation of ‘Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order’, procurement and use of domestically manufactured solar PV modules and domestically manufactured solar inverters has been mandated for Govt. / Govt. entities.
- Domestic Content Requirement (DCR): Under some of the current schemes of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), namely CPSU Scheme Phase-II, PM-KUSUM and Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II, wherein government subsidy is given, it has been mandated to source solar PV cells and modules from domestic sources.
- Imposition of Basic Customs Duty on import of solar PV cells & modules: The Government has imposed Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on import of solar PV cells and modules with effect from 01.04.2022.
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules: MNRE is implementing the Production Linked Incentive Scheme ‘National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules’, with an outlay of Rs. 4,500 crore for supporting setting up of integrated manufacturing units of high efficiency solar PV modules by providing Production Linked Incentive (PLI) on sales of such solar PV modules. Letters of Award have been issued to the eligible successful bidders to the extent of funds allocated (i.e. the present scheme outlay of Rs. 4,500 crore). An additional outlay of Rs. 19,500 crore was announced in the Budget 2022-23 on 1st February 2022.
- To promote the Indian renewable energy manufacturing ecosystem in India, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a CPSE under MNRE, has a loan scheme for setting up manufacturing facilities.
The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing a scheme “Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development (RE-RTD) Programme” to enable indigenous technology development and manufacture for wide spread applications of new and renewable energy. This scheme covers research and development in the area of solar module manufacturing. Under the scheme, upto 100% financial support to Government / non-profit research organizations and upto 50-70% to Industry, Start-ups, Private Institutes, Entrepreneurs and Manufacturing units, is provided.
27-Jul-2022: Cabinet approves a project for saturation of 4G mobile services in uncovered villages at a total cost of Rs. 26,316 Cr
Digital inclusion and connectivity for all is an integral part of ‘Antyodaya’ vision of the Government. Last year Government approved a project for providing 4G mobile services in 7,287 uncovered villages in 44 aspirational districts across 5 states.
In his Independence Day address in 2021, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave a call for saturation of government schemes. The Union Cabinet today approved a project for saturation of 4G mobile services in uncovered villages across the country at a total cost of Rs. 26,316 Cr.
The project will provide 4G mobile services in 24,680 uncovered villages in remote and difficult areas. The project has a provision to include 20% additional villages on account of rehabilitation, new-settlements, withdrawal of services by existing operators etc. In addition, 6,279 villages having only 2G/3G connectivity shall be upgraded to 4G.
The project will be executed by BSNL using Atmanirbhar Bharat’s 4G technology stack and will be funded through Universal Service Obligation Fund. The project cost of Rs. 26,316 Cr includes capex and 5 year opex.
BSNL is already in process of deployment of Atmanirbhar 4G technology stack, which will be deployed in this project as well.
The project is a significant step towards the vision of the Government to provide mobile connectivity in rural areas. This project will promote delivery of various e-governance services, banking services, tele-medicine, tele-education etc. through mobile broadband and generate employment in rural areas.