Vol 92 3rd September 2015 To 9th September 2015

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News from PIB & Various Sourcs

Following the Acceptance of the Recommendation of the
Justice A.P.Shah Committee by the Government, CBDT
Advises its Field Authorities to keep in Abeyance, for
the Time being, the Pending Assessment Proceedings
in Cases of FIIS/FPIS Involving the Applicability of
Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) on FIIS/FPIS for the
Period Prior to 01.04.2015;
CBDT further Advised them not to Pursue the Recovery of
Outstanding Demands , if any , in such cases
A Committee on Direct Tax Matters chaired by Justice A.P.Shah , was constituted to
examine the issue of applicability of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) on FIIs/FPIs for the
period prior to 01.04.2015. The Committee has submitted its Final Report to the Government on 25.08.2015. The Committee has recommended that Section 115JB of the Income
Tax Act , 1961 (Act) may be amended to clarify the inapplicability of the provisions of
Section 115JB to FIIs/FPIs having no permanent establishment (PE)/place of business in
India. The Government has accepted the said recommendation and it has been decided to
carry-out the appropriate amendment in the Act so as to prescribe that MAT provisions
will not be applicable to FIIs/FPIs not having a place of business / permanent establishment in India, for the period prior to 01.04.2015.
The field authorities are accordingly advised to take into consideration the above
position and keep in abeyance, for the time being, the pending assessment proceedings in
cases of FIIs/FPIs involving the above issue. They are further advised not to pursue the
recovery of outstanding demands, if any, in such cases. An instruction to this effect has
been issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) here yesterday.
President of India to present Gandhi Peace Prize 2014

to ISRO
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee will present the Gandhi Peace Prize
for the year 2014 to Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) tomorrow (September 9,
2015) at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The Gandhi Peace Prize was instituted by the Government of India in 1995 on the
occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. This annual award is given
to individuals and institutions for their contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods.
Agriculture Expert Ramesh Chand appointed as new full

time member of NITI Aayog
The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of agriculture expert Prof Ramesh
Chand as one of the full-time members in the NITI Aayog. He has been a member of a
task force on agriculture development under NITI Aayog which is formulating strategies
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to give a boost to the agriculture sector. Shri Ramesh Chand has also headed a government panel on Minimum Support Price and has been working as Director of National
Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NIAP) in New Delhi since 2010.
The National Institute of Transforming India, NITI Aayog under the Chairmanship
of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been set up in place of place of Planning Commission. It has noted economist Aravind Panagariya as its Vice Chairman while economist
Bibek Debroy and former DRDO Chief VKSaraswat along with agriculture expert Ramesh
Chand now as full time members.
Approval of National Offshore Wind Energy Policy

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its
approval to the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy.
With this approval, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has been
authorized as the Nodal Ministry for use of offshore areas within the Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) of the country and the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) has been
authorized as the Nodal Agency for development of offshore wind energy in the country
and to carry out allocation of offshore wind energy blocks, coordination and allied functions with related ministries and agencies. The approval paves way for offshore wind
energy development including, setting up of offshore wind power projects and research
and development activities, in waters, in or adjacent to the country, up to the seaward
distance of 200 Nautical Miles (EEZ of the country) from the base line.
Preliminary assessments along the 7600 km long Indian coastline have indicated
prospects of development of offshore wind power. With the introduction of the National
Offshore Wind Energy Policy, the Government is attempting to replicate the success of the
onshore wind power development in the offshore wind power development. The policy
will provide a level playing field to all investors/beneficiaries, domestic and international. All the processes would be carried out in a transparent manner by NIWE.
The development would help the country in moving forward towards attaining energy security and achievement of the NAPCC targets.
The scheme would be applicable throughout the country depending upon offshore
wind potential availability.
Background:
Worldwide, wind energy is accepted as one of the most developed, cost-effective
and proven renewable energy technologies to meet increasing electricity demands in a
sustainable manner. While onshore wind energy technologies have reached a stage of
large scale deployment and have become competitive with fossil fuel based electricity
generation, with supportive policy regimes across the world, exploitation of offshore wind
energy is yet to reach a comparable scale. India has achieved significant success in the
onshore wind power development, with over 23 GW of wind energy capacity already
installed and generating power.
Introduction of Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave
its approval for introduction of the Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme, as announced in the
Union Budget 2015-16.
The scheme will help in reducing the demand for physical gold by shifting a part of
the estimated 300 tons of physical bars and coins purchased every year for Investment

into gold bonds. Since most of the demand for gold in India is met through imports, this
scheme will, ultimately help in maintaining the countrys Current Account Deficit within
sustainable limits.
The issuance of the Sovereign Gold Bonds will be within the governments market
borrowing programme for 2015-16 and onwards. The actual amount of issuance will be
determined by RBI, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance. The risk of gold price
changes will be borne by the Gold Reserve Fund that is being created. The benefit to the
Government is in terms of reduction in the cost of borrowing, which will be transferred to
the Gold Reserve Fund.
The salient features of the scheme are:i. Sovereign Gold Bonds will be issued on payment of rupees and denominated in
grams of gold.
ii. Bonds will be issued on behalf of the Government of India by the RBI. Thus, the
Bonds will have a sovereign guarantee.
iii. The issuing agency will need to pay distribution costs and a sales commission to the
intermediate channels, to be reimbursed by Government.
iv. The bond would be restricted for sale to resident Indian entities. The cap on bonds
that may be bought by an entity would be at a suitable level, not more than 500
grams per person per year.
v. The Government will issue bonds with a rate of interest to be decided by the
Government. The rate of interest will take into account the domestic and international
market conditions and may vary from one tranche to another. This rate of interest
will be calculated on the value of the gold at the time of investment. The rate could
be a floating or a fixed rate, as decided.
vi. The bonds will be available both in demat and paper form.
vii. The bonds will be issued in denominations of 5,10,50,100 grams of gold or other
denominations.
viii. The price of gold may be taken from the reference rate, as decided, and the Rupee
equivalent amount may be converted at the RBI Reference rate on issue and
redemption. This rate will be used for issuance, redemption and LTV purpose and
disbursement of loans.
ix. Banks/NBFCs/Post Offices/ National Saving Certificate (NSC) agents and others,
as specified, may collect money / redeem bonds on behalf of the government (for a
fee, the amount would be as decided).
x. The tenor of the bond could be for a minimum of 5 to 7 years, so that it would protect
investors from medium term volatility in gold prices. Since the bond, will be a part
of the sovereign borrowing, these would need to be within the fiscal deficit target for
2015-16 and onwards.
xi. Bonds can be used as collateral for loans. The Loan to Value ratio is to be set equal to
ordinary gold loan mandated by the RBI from time to time.
xii. Bonds to be easily sold and traded on exchanges to allow early exits for investors
who may so desire.
xiii. KYC norms will be the same as that for gold.
xiv. Capital gains tax treatment will be the same as for physical gold for an individual
investor. The Department of Revenue has agreed that amendments to the existing

provisions of the Income Tax Act, for providing indexation benefits to long term
capital gains arising on transfer of bond; and for exemption for capital gains arising
on redemption of SGB will be considered in the next budget (Budget 2016-17).This
will ensure that an investor is indifferent in terms of investing in these bonds and in
physical gold- as far as tax treatment is concerned.
xv. The amount received from the bonds will be used by Gol in lieu of government
borrowing and the notional interest saved on this amount would be credited in an
account Gold Reserve Fund which will be created. Savings in the costs of borrowing
compared with the existing rate on government borrowings, will be deposited in the
Gold Reserve Fund to take care of the risk of increase in gold price that will be borne
by the government. Further, the Gold Reserve Fund will be continuously monitored
for sustainability.
xvi. On maturity, the redemption will be in rupee amount only. The rate of interest on the
bonds will be calculated on the value of the gold at the time of investment. The
principal amount of investment, which is denominated in grams of gold, will be
redeemed at the price of gold at that time. If the price of gold has fallen from the time
that the investment was made, or for any other reason, the depositor will be given an
option to roll over the bond for three or more years.
xvii. The deposit will not be hedged and all risks associated with gold price and currency
will be borne by Gol through the Gold Reserve Fund. The position may be reviewed
in case Gold Reserve Fund becomes unsustainable.
xviii.Upside gains and downside risks will be with the investor and the investors will
need to be aware of the volatility in gold prices.
xix. In order to ensure wide availability, the bond will be marketed through post offices/
banks/NBFCs and by various brokers/agents (including NSC agents) who will be
paid a commission.
Review of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy - to

permit FDI, up to 100 percent, under the automatic
route, in White Label ATM Operations
approval to permit Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), up to 100 percent, under the automatic route, in the activity of White Label ATM (WLA) Operations subject to the following conditions:
i. Any non-bank entity intending to set up WLAs should have a minimum net worth
of Rs. 100 crore as per the latest financial years audited balance sheet, which is to be
maintained at all times.
ii. In case the entity is also engaged in any other 18 Non-Banking Finance Companies
(NBFC) activities, then the foreign investment in the company setting up WLA, shall
also have to comply with minimum capitalization norms for foreign investments in
NBFC activities, as provided in Para 6.2.18.8.2 of the Consolidated FDI Policy Circular
2015.
iii. FDI in the WLAO will be subject to specific criteria and guidelines issued by RBI
vide Circular No. DPSS.CO.PD. No. 2298/02.10.002/2011-2012, as amended from
time to time.
This decision, will ease and expedite foreign investment inflows in the activity and
thus give a fillip to the Governments effort to promote financial inclusion in the country,

including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. It is expected that consequent to ease
of investing in India, adequate investments would be available in WLA Operations. This
would help in the governments objective of enhancing ATM networks in semi-urban and
rural areas (mainly in Tier III to VI areas).
Participation of foreign investors in the sector will contribute to furthering financial
inclusion.
Background:
One of the main objectives of the Government is to achieve financial inclusion in the
country. In this regard, ATMs have been leveraged for delivery of a wide variety of banking services to customers such as the facility of accessing their accounts for dispensing
cash and to carry out other financial and non-financial transactions without the need for
actually visiting their bank branch. While, there has been year-on-year growth in the
number of ATMs, yet their deployment has been predominantly in Tier I & II centres. To
expand the reach of ATMs in Tier III to VI centres, non-banks entities were also allowed to
set up ATMs, and such ATMs are known as White Label ATMs.
Till date foreign investment in White Label ATM Operations (WLAO), was being
allowed only through government approval route. This required some processing time
and projects were consequently delayed, dissuading investors from investing in such critical areas.
Constitution of 21st Law Commission of India for a

period of three years
approval on the Constitution of the 21st Law Commission of India, for a period of three
years w.e.f. 1st September. 2015 to 31st August, 2018.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
The 21st Law Commission will consist of:a full-time Chairperson;

four full-time Members (including a Member-Secretary);
Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex off do Member;
Secretary, Legislative Department as ex offcio Member; and
not more than five part-time Members.
The Law Commission shall, on a reference made to it by the Central Government or

suo-motu, undertake research in law and review of existing laws in India for making
reforms therein and enacting new legislations. It shall also undertake studies and research for bringing reforms in the justice delivery systems for elimination of delay in
procedures, speedy disposal of cases, reduction in cost of litigation etc.
The other functions of the Law Commission shall, inter-alia, include:a) identification of laws which are no longer relevant and recommending for the repeal
of obsolete and unnecessary enactments;
b) suggesting enactment of new legislations as may be necessary to implement the
Directive Principles and to attain the objectives set out in the Preamble of the
Constitution;
c) considering and conveying to the Government its views on any subject relating to
law and judicial administration that may be specifically referred to it by the
Government through Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs);

d) considering the requests for providing research to any foreign countries as may be
referred to it by the Government through Ministry of Law & Justice (Department of
Legal Affairs);
e) preparing and submitting to the Central Government, from time to time, reports on
all issues, matters, studies and research undertaken by it and recommending in such
reports for effective measures to be taken by the Union or any State; and
f) performing such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Central Government
from time to time.
Before concretizing its recommendations, the Commission will consult the nodal
Ministry/Departments and such, other stakeholders as the Commission may deem necessary for the purpose.
Background
The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body constituted by the Government of lndia from time to time. The Commission was originally constituted in 1955 and
is re-constituted every three years. The tenure of the 20th Law Commission was upto 31st
August, 2015.
The various Law Commissions have been able to make important contribution towards the progressive development and codification of laws of the country. Law Commissions have so far submitted 262 reports.
Preferential Treatment by India to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Trade in
Services in the WTO
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today gave
its approval for notification of Preferential Treatment by India to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Trade in Services in the WTO.
of:
India will notify preferential treatment to the LDCs in Trade in Services in respect
1. Article XVI of the GATS (Market Access);

2. Technical Assistance and capacity building; and
3. Waiver of visa fees for LDC applicants applying for Indian Business and Employment
visas.
The preferences will be bound with validity for 15 years

from the date of notification by India.
A generous offer in Trade in Services by India should win the country goodwill of
LDCs. India has already made a very generous offer to LDCs in the area of Trade in
Goods in the form of a Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTF) scheme. An equally generous
offer in Trade in Services will help India preserve and consolidate its leadership position
on LDC issues. Further, given the development dimension of the Doha Round of the
WTO, it is important that India makes liberal offers to LDCs in Trade in Services also.
Moreover, several of the LDCs are located in South Asia while majority are in Africa with
whom India maintains special relations.
Indias preferential treatment to the LDCs in Trade in Services would involve a cost
of Rs. 6.5 crore annually on account of waiver of visa fees and Rs. 2.5 to 3 crore, per
annum, for providing training in management and technical consultancy courses to LDC

applicants. As regards offers under Article XVI of the GATS (Market Access) is concerned,
there are no direct financial implications.
Background:
As per the WTO mandate, decisions of the WTO Ministerial Conferences and requests made by the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), developed country and developing country members of the WTO, in a position to do so, were to voluntarily consider
providing LDCs preferential treatment in Trade in Services.

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National News
India has added 52 million Internet users in first six
months
India has added 52 million Internet users in first six months of the year, taking the
total user base to 352 million as on June 30, 2015, industry body IAMAI today said.
Interestingly, 213 million (over 60%) users accessed the worldwide web through
mobile devices.
The number of Internet users has grown over 26% from 278 million in October 2014.
The number of mobile Internet users has also grown about 40% from 159 million
users in October last year.
The Internet in India took more than a decade to move from 10 million to 100 million
and 3 years from 100 to 200 million. However, it took only a year to move from 200 to
300 million users. Clearly, Internet is mainstream in India today, it said.
Another blow for Greenpeace India

Stating that Greenpeace India has continued to violate FCRA norms, the Ministry
of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the registration of the NGO under the Foreign
Contribution Regulation Act.
In an affidavit filed before the Delhi High Court Thursday, the MHA said the decision
to cancel the FCRA registration was taken at a meeting Wednesday. The MHA had
earlier said Greenpeace India mixed foreign and domestic funds and had not
disclosed the movement of funds properly.
Responding to the MHA affidavit, Greenpeace India issued a statement that it would
continue its campaign despite the governments onslaught against the
communitys right to dissent.
In April this year, the MHA suspended registration of the NGO saying it had violated
norms by opening five accounts to use foreign donations without informing the
authorities concerned. On MHA directions, the IDBI, ICICI and Yes Bank had frozen
the NGOs accounts.
Greenpeace India then moved an application challenging the arbitrary decision of
the MHA and was granted relief on May 27 by the court which allowed it to use two
of its accounts for receiving and utilising fresh domestic donations for day-to-day
functioning.
It also allowed the NGO to liquidate its fixed deposits, saying these and fresh
donations should be used for its aims and objectives, and in accordance with law.
The NGO moved an application seeking an order directing respondents 1 (MHA)
and 2 (IDBI) to remit/transfer 148,608 Euros, that was blocked by the incidental
measures impugned in the writ petition, transferred by Stichting Greenpeace Council
(Greenpeace International) to petitioners (Greenpeace India) FCRA account
HC allows permanent commission for women in Navy

In a major relief for women naval officers, Delhi High Court on Friday allowed a
bunch of pleas seeking permanent commission for them in the force, saying "sexist
bias and service bias" would not be allowed to block progress of women.

The court, while granting their plea, said the "women are here to stay" and since
they "work shoulder to shoulder" with their male counterparts, it would "frown
upon any endeavour to restrain the progress of women".
While the Army and Air Force allow permanent commission for women, the Navy
has limited women officers only to short service commission of 14 years.
A bench of justices Kailash Gambhir and Najmi Waziri also allowed the women
naval officers' plea seeking retirement benefits like pension.
Women naval officers were not eligible for pension as it required 20 years of service.
The order came on the plea of several naval women officers, both retired and serving,
from the logistics, education and air traffic control departments of the Navy.
The women naval officers in their pleas in the high court had sought similar rights as
their counterparts in the other two wings of the armed forces.
They had also alleged gender discrimination, saying while women officers were
only entitled to short service commission, men were entitled to both short service as
well as permanent commissions
Government to modernize Nehru Museum

The National Implementation Committee constituted by the government has
recommended plans for modernization of the Nehru Museum in New Delhi as part
of the 125th Birth Anniversary of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
The recommendations were made with a view to spread the Nehru's ideas and
awareness about freedom struggle and history of modern India.
"There will be a special focus on the governance of India under Jawaharlal Nehru as
the first Prime Minister of India which has been largely left out in the present
exhibition," a statement from Nehru Museum said.
The modernization plan includes the Teen Murti Bhavan, home of Nehru as the
prime minister.
Govt find new way to resolve call drops

The Department of Telecom may go slow for auction of spectrum next year if operators
do not invest in infrastructure to make optimum use of available airwaves and
improve quality of services, sources said.
According to official sources, the DoT is of the view that despite auctioning the largest
amount of spectrum earlier this year, operators are not investing in infrastructure, as
required, which is leading to call drop problem.
The DoT had planned to conduct the auction early next year but is now reconsidering
on the timeframe.
The DoT has already written to sectoral regulator TRAI for seeking reserve price of
various bands including 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100 and 2300 MHz that can be used for
2G, 3G and 4G services.
The government expects a revenue Rs 42,865.62 crore from communication services
in 2015-16, which include proceeds from spectrum auction and other charges levied
by the DoT.
An audit by DoT recently found out lack of investment in infrastructure along with
operators putting more equipment for 4G services than for 2G or GSM as the main
reasons for call drops.

World Hindi Conference in Bhopal

The three-day World Hindi Conference in Bhopal is going to be a mega event; at
least the preparations afoot suggest so.
But the ministry of external affairs and the state government are tight-lipped about
the budget of the conference that will be inaugurated on September 10 by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
There is dynamism in the budget process. Funds would be no constraint for such a
programme, said minister of state for external affairs, Gen (retired) VK Singh.
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation and district administration, which has been
carrying out various beautification works across the city, told HT that most of the
works were being carried out in anticipation that the budget would be sanctioned.
Some officials hinted that the ministry of external affairs had decided upon a budget
of Rs 20 crore for the event.
But the expenses are expected to go much beyond the mark and the state government
is expected to bear the budget above this limit, said the official, not wishing to be
named.


International News
China commemorating Japan's World War II defeat
Tanks, missiles and troops in lock-step filed past Beijing's iconic Tiananmen Square
in a massive parade Thursday commemorating Japan's World War II defeat 70 years
ago and underlining President Xi Jinping's determination to make China the preeminent Asian power.
To underline China's position that its rise is peaceful and poses no threat to neighbors,
Xi pledged to cut 300,000 troops from the 2.3 million strong People's Liberation Army,
the world's largest standing military. Helicopters zoomed overhead in an array
forming the number
Xi kicked off the proceedings with a speech at the iconic Tiananmen Gate in the heart
of Beijing, flanked by Chinese leaders and foreign dignitaries, including Russian
leader Vladimir Putin, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and U.N. Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon.
The spectacle involved more than 12,000 troops, 500 pieces of military hardware and
200 aircraft of various types, representing what military officials say is the Chinese
military's most cutting-edge technology.
The parade is part of commemorations packaged to bolster the ruling Communist
Party's self-declared role as the driving force behind Japan's defeat 70 years ago and
savior of the nation, though historians say the rival Nationalists did most of the
fighting. The events also minimize the role of the U.S., Britain and others.
Guatemala,s internal crisis

An arrest warrant has been issued for Guatemalan President Otto Prez Molina, the
Attorney General's Office said Wednesday.
The development came a day after the nation's congress voted to strip Prez Molina
of his immunity. The move paved the way for his possible prosecution as part of a
corruption investigation that has shaken his government and sparked protests calling
for his resignation.
The President is prohibited from leaving the country, Attorney General Thelma Aldana
told CNN en Espaol.
According to the Attorney General's Office and a U.N. investigating commission,
Prez Molina and a group of close aides within his administration received bribes in
exchange for lowering taxes for
England set to accept more migrants

David Cameron is expected to announce plans later to increase the number of refugees
being allowed into the UK.
No specific figure has been agreed, but Mr Cameron has previously said the UK
would continue to take in "thousands".
The extra refugees are expected to come from UN camps bordering Syria, and not
from among people already in Europe.
The PM, who has faced growing pressure to do more to address the crisis, is likely to
make an announcement in Spain after talks with fellow leaders.

He is meeting his Portuguese and Spanish counterparts for talks that had been
intended to focus on his desire for EU reform, but which will be overshadowed by
the migrant crisis.
He still thinks opening up Europe's borders and agreeing quotas will not solve the
refugee crisis. In fact, he thinks it would make it worse by increasing pull factors and
encouraging people traffickers.
But, as the crisis gets worse and the public and political pressure grows, the prime
minister does now accept that Britain has a moral duty to do more.
Seeking asylum in the UK

25,771 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year ending June 2015
41%(11,600) were granted asylum
14% of applicants were from Eritrea
9% were from Pakistan
8.5% were from Syria
2,168 applications were from unaccompanied children
Germany allots refugee funds, speeds up asylum

procedures
The German government earmarked additional 3 billion ($3.35 billion) for federal
states and municipalities to help cope with this year's record influx of refugees, said
a joint statement by the ruling coalition issued on Monday.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that there was no need to hike
taxes to cope with the migrants' influx.
Leaders from Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition also agreed at a
marathon high-level meeting on other measures such as speeding up asylum
procedures and facilitating the construction of asylum shelters.
The government is also planning to free up an additional 3 billion to fund its own
expenses, such as paying benefits for asylum seekers, the joint statement said.
Germany expects a record influx of 800,000 migrants and refugees this year, by far
the most in the European Union. In August alone, more than 100,000 asylum seekers
were registered in Europe's largest economy
North-South Korea agree to family reunions

North and South Korea have agreed to host family reunions for families separated
by the Korean War, according to media reports.
The reunions for 100 separated families will be held Oct. 20-26 at Mount Kumgang,
a resort on the North's east coast., South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported
Tuesday.
They will be the first reunions since February 2014 and only the second in the past
five years.
The BBC reported that the talks were being held by Red Cross officials from both
sides.
The two countries remain technically at war as the Korean War only ended in an
armistice.

The discussions come after tense weeks on the Korean peninsula, which included
exchanges of fire at the border and the evacuation of thousands of South Koreans
from the border region.
Tensions began when a border landmine injured two South Korean soldiers. South
Korea responded by broadcasting propaganda messages into the North.
The two sides reached an agreement to defuse the situation after marathon talks, the
BBC reported.
Shinzo Abe Re-elected as Leader of Ruling Party

Japans governing Liberal Democratic Party re-elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
as its president on Tuesday after his potential rival, Seiko Noda, failed to achieve
enough support from lawmakers to contest the post. Mr. Abe will remain party leader
for a second three-year term.
Mr. Abe also pledged to push forward with his plan to permit Japans military to be
dispatched to conflicts abroad, which has been banned for 70 years under the pacifist
Constitution.
Legislation allowing that change is expected to be enacted next week, despite rare
large-scale protests across the country.
Denmark: launches anti-migrant ad campaign

The Danish immigration ministry has placed adverts in leading Lebanese newspapers
to discourage refugeesfrom heading to Denmark.
They warn that benefits have been cut by up to 50% for asylum seekers. 20,000 refugees
are expected in Denmark this year, compared to 14,000 in 2014.
Lebanon, with a population of four million, is sheltering 1.1 million people.
The situation in Denmark

Hundreds have crossed from Germany into Denmark over the last few days.
Many want to travel on to Sweden and so try to avoid being registered in Denmark.
Danish rules on accepting refugees are seen as stricter than many other European
nations.
UPDATE 1-China monthly copper imports flat in August

China's copper imports were flat in August from the previous month despite weak
international prices, hit by slowing growth in the world's No.2 economy.
Imports of anode, refined copper, copper alloys and semi-finished copper products
stood at 350,000 tonnes in August, little changed from July and June, data from the
General Administration of Customs showed on Tuesday.
The inflows rose 2.9 percent from a year ago. In the first 8 months of this year, arrivals
stood at 2.94 million tonnes, down 8.1 percent from the same period last year, after
many importers cut term shipments for 2015 on worries over the slowing domestic
economy.
He said the demand for fresh arrivals would rise as the supply of bonded copper
stocks was drying out, which could push up imports in September.
Copper touched a six-year low of $4,855 a tonne last month.
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Business and Economy

Centre,s u-turn now auction 69 state-owned oil, gas
fields
The 69 small and marginal fields holding 89 million tonne of oil and gas resources,
worth Rs 70,000 crore at current rates, will be given to explorers offering the maximum
revenue from hydrocarbon produced to the government.
Bidders will be asked to quote the revenue they will share with the government at
low and high end of price and production band to capture windfall of steep rise in
prices as well as quantum jump in production.
The government will allow companies to sell oil as well as natural gas produced
from these fields at market price and with no restriction on who they sell the produce
to.
While oil is priced at global benchmark currently, a complex international hub based
formula determines gas price, which is roughly half of the rate at which India imports
gas.
This model was criticised by CAG which said it encouraged companies to keep raising
cost so as to postpone higher share of profits to the government.
Import of ammonium nitrate in loose form banned

In a major relief to domestic manufacturers and security agencies, the Ministry of
Home Affairs is learnt to have asked the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion
(DIPP) not to allow bulk import of ammonium nitrate (AN) in loose form because it
poses a threat to the national security.
As per the directive, the chemical has to be imported in bagged form only,
irrespective of the quantity in each bag, and the consignment has to be packed at the
point of origin.
With this, the August notification of the Ministry of Shipping that allowed a south
Indian port to facilitate bulk import in any form has become null and void.
The green signal for bulk import in any form was interpreted as import in a loose
form. A possible indiscriminate import raised security concerns as ammonium nitrate
is an extremely dangerous explosive substance.
What had prompted the Shipping Ministry to grant the relaxation is not known.
Domestic manufacturers such as Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd., Gujarat State
Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd. and Deepak Fertilisers & Petrochemicals Corporation
Ltd., which together have an installed capacity of 770,000 MT of ammonium nitrate,
had raised objections as cheaper imports would have severely affected their business.
Besides, they had invested in bar-coding of ammonium nitrate bags, IT infrastructure
and tracking devices to comply with the guidelines for ensuring that even a small
quantity does not fall into the wrong hands.
The chemical is so dangerous that the Home Ministry, in its latest order, has made it
mandatory for vehicles transporting it to have two armed guards with the GPS system.
India consumes 700,000 MT of ammonium nitrate, a raw material for making civil
explosives for mining and infrastructure.
Since imports are 15-20 per cent cheaper, explosive manufacturers who supply to
mining and infrastructure companies have been lobbying for bulk import, especially
in loose form.

India & the world

Australia, India step up defence ties
AUSTRALIA and India are stepping up defence ties, holding a joint naval exercise
every two years and launching new partnerships in defence science, peacekeeping
and countering terrorist bombs.
IN a joint communique, Defence Minister Kevin Andrews and his Indian counterpart
Manohar Parrikar said they wanted to broaden and deepen the defence relationship.
Given common interest in the Indian Ocean and its importance to regional and global
trade, maritime security would remain a central component of the bilateral defence
relationship, the ministers said following Mr Andrews' visit to India this week.
India's GVK wins court fight over Australian coal mine

Green groups lost a fight to stop billionaire Gina Rinehart and India's GVK from
building a giant coal minein Australia, as a court on Friday dismissed an appeal
against the state of Queensland's environmental approval for the project.
Conservation group Coast and Country, originally working for three farmers, had
sought to have the state environmental approval for GVK-Hancock's 30 million tonnes
a year Alpha mine overturned based on the impact it would have on water supply
and climate change.
The state Land Court last year ruled that the mine should be approved with strict
water management conditions or rejected.
But the green group appealed that decision to the Supreme Court saying the Land
Court did not have the right to issue two alternative recommendations and should
have rejected the mine outright.
The Queensland Supreme Court dismissed the appeal on Friday.
The ruling eliminated one hurdle for the $10 billion Alpha mine, rail and port project,
which has effectively been put on ice until it obtains a mining permit and overcomes
a lack of funding due to a slump in coal prices.
India cant compete with China on INDCs

As the world eagerly awaits Indias climate action, there is absolute clarity that the
countrys intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) will not be similar
to that of China.
The inter-governmental consultations on framing up the INDCs have shown that
India is nowhere close to China on energy generation and consumption -- drivers for
deciding a nations climate action.
Chinas installed energy capacity is five times that of India; every household in China
has access to electricity unlike 56% households in India and just a quarter of
households in China use biomass for cooking as compared to 85% of rural homes in
India.
When it comes to emissions, more than one-fourth of global emissions were by China
as compared to just 6% for India in 2014. Indias per capita emissions are one-third of
Chinas.

These are some facts that energy ministries -- power, coal and new and renewable
energy (RE) -- have conveyed to the environment ministry during consultation for
firming up Indias INDCs. They have also highlighted why coal-based thermal power
plants were necessary for India to continue high economic growth trajectory in the
next 15 years or so.
Documents accessed by Hindustan Times show these ministries have strongly voiced
their opposition towards any attempt to match China on INDCs as it could have
implications on the countrys economic growth.
Former Planning Commission member Kirit Parikh too has strongly advocated against
pushing renewable beyond a certain threshold to match Chinas ambitious RE goal.
China has committed to generate 20% of its energy needs from renewable sources by
2030, reduce carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 60-65 per cent by 2030
from 2005 levels and limit power generation from thermal power plants.
Something similar could be disastrous for India, which is expected to submit its
INDCs in September to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) after getting Cabinets nod.
Chinas installed energy capacity is five times that of India, every household in China
has access to electricity unlike 56% households in India and just a quarter of
households in China use biomass for cooking as compared to 85% of rural homes in
India.
When it comes to emissions, more than one-fourth of global emissions were by China
as compared to just 6% for India in 2014. Indias per capita emissions are one-third of
Chinas.


Sports
Pujara,Sharma break into top 20 of ICC Test rankings
Pacer Ishant Sharma broke into the bowlers' top-20, while Cheteshwar Pujara entered
the top-20 of batsmen's list as Indian cricketers gained significantly in the latest ICC
Test rankings following their first series triumph in Sri Lanka in 22 years.
"Cheteshwar Pujara has broken into the top 20 of the ICC Player Rankings for Test
Batsmen for the first time in his career following the conclusion of the Colombo Test,
which India won by 117 runs to clinch the series 2-1," the ICC said in a statement.a
The 27-year-old batsman carried his bat in the first innings and returned unbeaten
on 145 not out, his seventh career century, which was the cornerstone of India's first
innings score of 312.
For this performance, Pujara has been rewarded with a jump of four places, which
puts him in 20th position.
Pujara is now the second India batsman to feature in the top 20, but following Virat
Kohli's drop to 11th (down by one place), the fifth-ranked side has no batsman inside
the top 10.
Rohit Sharma has moved up two places to 48th, Ravichandran Ashwin has gained
five places and is now in 50th spot, while Amit Mishra, who scored 59 in the first
innings and featured in a 104 runs eighth wicket partnership with Pujara, has vaulted
56 places to 91st.
India rise a spot to 155th in FIFA rankings

India have jumped a place to the 155th spot in the global football rankings released
on Thursday.
According to the rankings released by world football governing body FIFA, India
fared marginally better as they moved up a place from their previous 156th position.
India dropped 15 places to the 156th spot earlier in July following two consecutive
defeats in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
India will face Iran in a World Cup qualifier in Bengaluru on September 8.
The team, coached by Stephen Constantine, was held goalless by Nepal in a practice
match in Pune on August 31.
Copa America runners-up Argentina continued to top the list, which they attained
in July, ahead of second-placed Belgium and world champions Germany, who are
third.
Colombia and five-time world champions Brazil round off the top five list, in the
fourth and fifth places, respectively. Portugal are sixth in the rankings, ahead of
seventh-placed Romania and Chile.
Haryana government grants Vijender permission to turn

professional
Vijender Singhs bout with the Haryana government over chasing his professional
boxing dreams is over.

The Beijing Olympics bronze medallist can go ahead with his plans with the Haryana
government finally approving his leave application to train in England to compete
in the professional circuit.
Vijender, a Deputy Superintendent in Haryana Police, had in July sought a years
extraordinary leave (from August 2015) to train and compete.
The government didnt give its approval, which whipped up a controversy. However,
it gave its approval a couple of days ago.
Around 15 athletes from Haryana Police figure in various professional leagues,
including the pro-kabaddi league.
Anirban Lahiri becomes first Indian to qualify for

Presidents Cup team
Anirban Lahiri added another feather to his cap by becoming the first Indian to
qualify for the prestigious Presidents Cup.
Lahiri, World No.40, came through as one of the automatic qualifications for the
International Team, which will take on United States in the biennial Presidents Cup
in Korea.
In the International Team standings, the deadline for which ended on Monday, Lahiri
finished seventh to make the team.
Also becoming the first from his country to make the team was Thailands Thongchai
Jaidee, who was ninth
At one stage, Lahiri had fell out of the Top-10, but his fifth place finish at the PGA
Championships hauled him back into the zone.

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Science & Tech

Enzyme responsible for protection against asthma and
allergy identified
The reason why children who grow up on dairy farms are less likely to suffer from
allergies and asthma has been unravelled by a study.
Using mice and human samples, a team of scientists found that high-level exposure
to bits of bacteria (endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) found in farm dust initially
triggers an inflammatory response in the lungs of the animals but eventually goes
on to protect them from asthma. The results of the study were published today in the
journal Science.
Martijn J. Schuijs, the first author of the paper from the VIB Inflammation Research
Center, Ghent, Belgium, and others tried to establish whether exposure to
environmental endotoxin offered the protective effect against asthma in mice and
also study the mechanism of protection.
To do this, they exposed mice to low dose of endotoxin every day for two weeks
before challenging them with dust mites. While the mice exposed to endotoxins did
not develop allergic features, the mice in the control group did.
India,s initiative to save the vulture

In a major step, the Union Ministry of Health has banned multi-dose vials of human
formulations of diclofenac, a painkilling drug that is responsible for the death of
vultures in large numbers, reducing them to a critically endangered species in India
and other Asian countries.
The ban has come into force with immediate effect.
The painkiller was banned from veterinary use in India in 2006 because of its lethal
effects on vultures, which feed on carcasses of treated cattle and buffaloes.
But since then human formulations of the drug have been illegally used to treat
animals.
The ban restricts diclofenac production to human formulations in a single 3ml dose,
according to a note from Bird Life International, a global partnership of independent
organisations working together for nature and people across more than 120 countries
worldwide.
In India it partners with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
Veterinary diclofenac caused a decline in the populations of three species of South
Asias Gyps vulture: white-rumped, long-billed and slender-billed vultures.
Oriental white-backed vultures declined by more than 99.9 per cent between 1992
and 2007, a loss of tens of millions.
After years of campaigning by conservationists, the governments of Bangladesh,
India, Nepal and Pakistan banned veterinary formulations of diclofenac between
2006 and 2010.
In India vulture population declined from over four crore to about a lakh in 2007.
Recently, experts recorded a slowing of the Gyps vulture decline as a result of the
bans.

However, human formulations of diclofenac are still widely available and illegally
used to treat livestock, the carcasses of which are the main food source for vultures
in South Asia, the note said.
Rapid TB tests could reduce mortality: New study

Three new tests for more rapidly diagnosing drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis
(TB) could help make treatments more effective and reduce mortality,according to a
study conducted in three countries including India.
Drug-resistant forms of TB are much harder and more expensive to treat and represent
a major threat to global public health, experts say. "Our study shows that TB testing
that once took two to three months can now be done in as little as a day," said coauthor Richard Garfein, professor at the University of California, San Diego School
of Medicine.
TB remains one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, causing (or contributing
to) an estimated 1.5 million deaths in 2013, according to the World Health
Organisation.TB is also the leading killer of people who have HIV, researchers said.
For the study, sputum (a mixture of saliva and mucus coughed up from the lungs)
from 1,128 study participants at TB clinics in India, Moldova and South Africa were
examined using three rapid tests for detecting drug-resistant forms of TB.
Two of these tests use molecular techniques to look for genetic mutations in the
pathogen's DNA that confer resistance to antibiotics.
The third test employs a low-cost and easy-to-use version of the standard bacterial
culture technique, making it suitable for resource-limited community clinics and
hospitals.
An estimated 95% of TB deaths globally occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Results from the rapid tests were then compared to the reference standard technique
for detecting resistance to seven of the most important anti-TB drugs.
These comparisons showed that all three rapid assays accurately identified resistance
to first- and second-line oral antibiotic treatments (isoniazid, rifampin, moxifloxacin
and ofloxacin). They were less accurate but still very good at detecting resistance to
injectable antibiotics (amikacin and capreomycin) typically administered to those
with multi-drug resistant TB, researchers said.
The rapid tests performed poorly in detecting resistance to only one drug, the
injectable antibiotic kanamycin, which is also used to treat multi-drug resistant TB.
The study also documented the time it took to obtain results. The molecular techniques
showed themselves to be superior, with a mean time of 1.1 days for both DNA testing
methods; 14.3 days for the rapid culture method; and 24.7 days for the reference
standard test.


Selected Articles from various

Newspaper & Magazines
A pernicious law
The Union governments contention in the Supreme Court that the provisions in the
Indian Penal Code on criminal defamation do not have a chilling effect on free speech
will disappoint proponents of fundamental freedoms. The zeal to retain a law that the
state can use to stifle criticism is at the heart of the governments position. It also goes
against democratic opinion in many jurisdictions that treats defamation essentially as a
civil wrong, and not something to be remedied by the use of the states coercive police
powers. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, the Human
Rights Committee of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other
international bodies have called upon states to abolish criminal defamation, recognising
that it intimidates citizens and dissuades them from exposing wrongdoing. The grounds
cited by the Centre now to justify the continuance of Sections 499 and 500 of the IPC,
which deal with defamation and prescribe a maximum jail term of two years, are specious: that in India, citizens are unlikely to have enough liquidity to pay damages for civil
defamation; that online defamation in the Internet age can be effectively countered only
by making it a criminal offence, and that the law is part of the states compelling interest to protect the dignity and reputation of citizens. What it fails to see is that the main
feature of criminal defamation is its potential for harassment. It is a tool that can be easily
invoked and that enables allegedly defamed persons to drag anyone to courts across the
country.
Criminal defamation has a pernicious effect on society: for instance, the state uses it
as a means to coerce the media and political opponents into adopting self-censorship and
unwarranted self-restraint; groups or sections claiming to have been hurt or insulted,
abuse the process by initiating multiple proceedings in different places; and, more importantly, the protracted process itself is a punishment. Further, magistrates tend to mechanically summon defendants without first assessing whether the allegedly offending content comes within one of the many exceptions to defamation found in the statute. Criminal defamation should not be allowed to be an instrument in the hands of the state, especially when the Code of Criminal Procedure gives public servants an unfair advantage by
allowing the states prosecutors to stand in for them when they claim to have been defamed by the media or political opponents. Thanks to past verdicts of the Supreme Court,
the government and its organs can no more file civil suits seeking damages for defamation, yet the pernicious law of criminal defamation is invoked to stifle free speech. Even
as the court deliberates the matter, the government ought to reconsider its stand and
come out against the criminal defamation law.
Manipurs dilemma
The fear of every state with a predominant indigenous population was summed up
thus by the Naga leader A.Z. Phizo: Nagaland cannot accept the Indian excess population [as] our country is too small. Many of the recent exclusivist outbursts in the northeastern States, including in Manipur, can be attributed to such a fear of losing ancestral
land to outsiders. Manipurs crisis intensified four months ago when its Congress-majority Legislative Assembly passed the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenant and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015. It was opposed widely, including by womens and students

groups, and even by a section of the ruling party. Eventually the Opposition became more
united in demanding the withdrawal of the Bill, which failed to address their key concern
of protecting the land rights of the original inhabitants. On July 14, the Bill was withdrawn by the Manipur government in a nod to the protesters demands. The united Opposition rather underscored the long-standing demand for the imposition of an Inner
Line Permit system, as in a few other northeastern States. The ILP regime, introduced by
the British to protect tribal populations from encroachment into their areas, but later used
to advance commercial interests, involves a system akin to the issue of visas to Indian
citizens to enter a State of the Union.
The dilemma of the Indian state over the ILP is understandable. Can the Union afford to introduce a quasi-visa to its citizens to enter one State from another State? The
question could be complex for a central party that advocates the removal of all speedbreakers when it comes to citizens access to travel and work in her own country. The
dilemma of Manipur is perhaps even more severe. The 2001 Census indicated the size of
the migrant community was nearly as much as that of the dominant ethnic Meiteis, thus
bolstering the demand from Manipurs erudite civil society to impose curbs on inward
movement. But there has also been out-migration of the indigenous people. The demand
is sought to be substantiated by citing many examples that indicate how Manipuris are
losing land to extractive non-Manipuri industries.
The leasing out of one-sixth of the total area of Manipur for oil exploration and
drilling to international oil majors, unthinkable in the other States, is one of many such
examples. In this backdrop, a half-baked Bill was passed, that exacerbated the insecurity.
The demand, though, is more legitimately a consequence of the hill-valley divide in the
State and the congestion in the valley rather than any huge influx of outsiders. The situation is thus complex but not out-of-control. But the State should ensure that alien-investor-driven development does not disrobe its people. After all, they are supposed to benefit from the growth generated out of its own domestic resources.
India, and the Talibans changing dynamics

The first officially acknowledged dialogue between the Taliban and the Afghan government took place in Murree, Pakistan, on July 7. Among those attending were representatives of Pakistan, China and the U.S. This comes eight months after Afghan President
Ashraf Ghanis meeting with Gen. Raheel Sharif and the subsequent assurance that Pakistan would help convince the Taliban to negotiate. The major outcome, according to Pakistani media sources, is that the next round of talks is provisionally planned for August 15
and 16 in Doha, Qatar. Another projected win was the reported endorsement by Taliban
leader Mullah Omar on the Taliban website. Since Omar hasnt been seen in public for
years now, the authenticity of this approval is suspect. The Murree talks were significant
in that they highlighted a shift in the stance of Talibans Qatar office, which has now
emerged as its official voice. While not formally repudiating the talks, the Qatar office
made a convoluted pronouncement indicating that future negotiations needed its imprimatur for any chance of success. This suggests that Murree was a preliminary round of
talks about talks, and is borne out by the announcement of the Doha round.
The Taliban is no longer the monolith that it was and many streams have emerged in
the movement. None of them are watertight compartments, allowing individuals and
factions to flow from one to another. Each has several factions that may or may not have
problems with each other. There are problems between the Talibans political leader, Akhtar
Mohammad Mansour, considered close to the ISI, who favours negotiation, and Abdul
Qayum Zakir, Talibans military commander and former Guantanamo Bay detainee, who

is opposed to any talks. Zakir insists that the Afghan government lacks legitimacy and it
was the U.S., the occupying power, which was in control. Zakirs position has been reinforced after the Afghan government signed the Bilateral Security Agreement with the
U.S., and he will oppose talks over the presence of foreign troops.
Yet another line of thought is the one that is open to talks, provided it is held on their
terms. This means two things: one, they are not comfortable with Pakistan leading the
talks and two, they see escalation in violence as a means to get to a vantage point before
discussions begin. It is averse to a ceasefire, as that would allow the beleaguered unity
government to consolidate its control. This led to the rejection of the Afghan Ulemas call
for a Ramzan ceasefire. A third group is not openly supportive of talks, as this could drive
some extreme elements into joining movements like the Daesh, but it also wants some
form of normalcy and will not oppose talks.
With pressure mounting on Pakistan, it had thrown its weight behind the latest round
of talks in Murree. Given the mounting international criticism that it had misled the Ashraf
Ghani government, it had to display its earnestness and influence over the Taliban by
mediating talks on its soil.
India has been on the sidelines because of its limited relationship with the Taliban.
Though India has never recognised the Taliban, what often goes unnoticed is that there
was limited interaction even during the Kandahar hijacking. An Indian delegation was
allowed in without visas and the External Affairs Minister entered into talks with representatives of a government it did not recognise. The point person for all of this was Taliban
foreign minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil. However, times are changing. The perception
that talks with at least some of the Talibani elements might bring an end to the imbroglio
is gaining ground in Afghanistan. This, coupled with the existence of several lines of
thought in Taliban, allows India to reconsider its position on Afghanistan. Considering
the social capital that India has built in Afghanistan, India might, at an appropriate moment and in consultation with the Afghan government and other stakeholders, consider
opening a channel to factions associated with Talibans Qatar office. Diplomacy is often
about picking the lesser evil to serve the national interest.
Breaking the ice and avoiding a refreeze

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is discovering, somewhat to his discomfiture,
managing relations with Pakistan is one thing but managing expectations about IndiaPakistan relations is a different cup of tea, because the two often adopt divergent trajectories. Every Indian Prime Minister, from Jawaharlal Nehru onwards, has had to deal with
this challenge. However, it has only become infinitely more difficult today with the Indian media (and its Pakistani counterpart) seeking to convert every summit encounter
into a limited-overs cricket match. A diplomatic negotiation only succeeds if the outcome
is perceived by both sides as a win-win situation but this requires long-term planning
and careful management. If either side makes it a zero sum game by firing up expectations for a quick victory, the dialogue quickly flounders.
The five follow-on steps identified in the Joint Statement are precise and modest
the National Security Advisers (NSA) are to discuss all issues connected to terrorism; meetings between the chiefs of the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers and
Directors-General of Military Operations; releasing fishermen in each others custody;
facilitating religious tourism; and an agreement to discuss ways and means to expedite
the Mumbai 26/11 attack trial, including additional information like providing [Mumbai
attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvis] voice samples. Finally, Mr. Modi also acClick Here to Buy 1 Year Subscription - "Only PDF"

cepted Mr. Sharifs invitation to visit Pakistan in 2016 for the South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit. From all accounts, the meeting between the two
Prime Ministers developed positively. Mr. Modi had realised that not engaging Pakistan
was proving unhelpful. Having abruptly called off the Foreign Secretary-level talks last
August meant that he had to find a way to get a dialogue going. The SAARC summit in
Kathmandu last November came too soon after the cancellation of talks and the tit-for-tat
shelling across the Line of Control (LoC). After Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankars
exploratory visit to Pakistan early this year and a couple of phone exchanges, the decks
were cleared. However, the old format could not be restored because it would signal
business as usual. The media and the Opposition would describe Mr. Modis policy as
flip-flop or even worse, a climbdown under (god forbid) U.S. pressure! So, the resumed
dialogue had to have its focus on tackling the menace of terrorism and for this, Indias
NSA Ajit Doval would be the most suitable person. Other issues such as religious tourism
and the release of fishermen were humanitarian issues and would resonate well. Mr.
Modi had emphasised the importance of regional diplomacy and even as he notched
up successful visits to Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, he realised that resuming a dialogue with Pakistan, and where he could set the agenda, was necessary for ensuring Indias leadership in the region and image as a responsible major power.
The Pakistani response was predictable. It pointed out that diplomatic phrases like
all outstanding issues and terrorism in all its forms included Kashmir and state sponsored terrorism. India had sought the meeting (a victory for Pakistan), Mr. Modi had
committed to visit Pakistan for the SAARC summit (a victory for Pakistan), and additional information was to be provided by India regarding the 2008 Mumbai attacks (a
victory for Pakistan). However, the genie refused to go back into the bottle and the Pakistan Army was unhappy. Eventually, three days later, Pakistans Foreign Policy and Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz took the stage to make it clear that the outcome at Ufa did not
mark the beginning of a new dialogue process, and that Kashmir tops the list of outstanding issues. For good measure, he added that Pakistan would continue to provide moral,
diplomatic and political support to its Kashmiri brethren, the NSAs would discuss Indian
interference in Pakistan particularly in Balochistan, additional information would also
cover progress on the investigations into the Samjhauta Express bombings in 2007, and
there was no commitment on providing Lakhvis voice samples. The Pakistani High
Commissioners Iftar with Hurriyat leaders that had been postponed was resurrected as
an Eid Milan event and recent LoC firings have again raised tensions. The chest-thumping protagonists on either side examined in terms of protocol how many steps Mr. Modi
and Mr. Sharif each walked to greet the other. The Ufa moment had become an ouch
moment for both sides. Instead of a win-win, both sides retired hurt and sulking.
Neighbourhood diplomacy for a large country like India needs a lighter touch, and
far more attention to managing expectations than has been in evidence during the last 12
months. We also need to understand that as the larger power, the Indian media resonates
loudly in the region, often reflecting an insensitivity which generates a backlash. Mr.
Modis media team has yet to understand this. There will be more engagements with
Pakistan, and at different levels, but New Delhi will have to change its tone to ensure that
well-crafted diplomatic initiatives do not get reduced to a farce. From Mr. Narasimha Rao
onwards, I have personally witnessed how he and his successors and their senior colleagues, used to keep key political leaders, including the Opposition, fully briefed; in
parallel, senior officials used to provide background briefings to retired officials and foreign policy commentators so that expectations could be managed in terms of media projection. This ensured that both the pace and the outcome of the dialogue was kept under
control, with an eye to the domestic political environment while taking into account the
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larger games being played on the geopolitical canvas. After last August, Mr. Modi understood the need for a dialogue with Pakistan. Hopefully, after Ufa, he will also understand
the need to manage it in a more productive manner.
Stimulated economy, sluggish investments

While there are signs that economic growth is reviving, the concern is that investments are not as forthcoming as expected. During the last year or so, the government has
put in place a comprehensive set of measures to restore investor sentiments, ranging across
the tax regime, ease of doing business, Foreign Direct Investment limits, and administrative and environmental clearances. A number of large-scale initiatives have been introduced to act as magnets for investments, including Make in India, the Smart City mission,
and Clean Energy. Interest rates, too, are on the downtrend with strong expectations of
further rate cuts, and the macroeconomic environment has turned benign, despite moderation in global growth and trade. According to CIIs Investment Tracker for May 2015,
business confidence stands at the highest levels in the last three years, buoyed by proactive reforms and positive macroeconomic scenario. There has been visibly strong improvement in the project pipeline new project announcements almost doubled in 2014-15 as
compared to the previous year and the value of projects completed went up from Rs 3.28
lakh crore to Rs 3.56 lakh crore. At the same time, the value of stalled projects came down
from Rs 3.63 lakh crore to Rs 2.44 lakh crore. As a measure of global confidence in India,
FDI inflows went up from $25.3 billion to $31.9 billion in 2014-15 and Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) put in $40.9 billion into Indian companies as compared to $5 billion
in 2013-14. The investment data is further substantiated by definitive signs of improvement in capital goods production.
There are several reasons for slow investment pick-up. Before the global financial
crisis, companies had built up high production capacities in anticipation of continued
demand. However, demand remains muted in the country following three years of high
inflation. Additionally, delays in land acquisition and environmental clearances have led
to a bloated pipeline of stranded and delayed projects. In turn, this has resulted in stressed
bank assets so that banks are inhibited from undertaking additional loan burden for new
projects. Further, the high interest rates have been a big deterrent to new investments as
projects are rendered unviable. Low profitability of corporates also reduces available resources. The elevated level of stalled projects has meant subdued demand down the value
chain. A still-vulnerable global economic environment has not contributed to the overall
investment scenario in India, especially as exports are contracting. Policy action for reviving investments, growth and employment must be continued at an accelerated pace. To
begin with, there is need to drastically reduce interest rates at one go by 1.5 percentage
points. This would both incentivise consumers to purchase durables and make project
investments more attractive.
Infrastructure projects require continued attention and Prime Minister Narendra
Modis monthly interaction under Pragati would help speed up infrastructure construction. Budget funds allocated for infrastructure need to be speedily implemented, including for programmes such as Smart Cities and Digital India. A National Asset Management Company may be considered to take non-performing assets off banks balance sheets,
which would unlock lending for investments. The financial sector should shift from a
bank-dominated system to a diversified regime with multiple financing options, particularly for long-term funding. The 4 Rs Regulation, Risk Allocation, Renegotiation and
Resourcing need to be addressed to revive projects. Given that 101 projects worth Rs.
25,399 crore are stuck in disputes with the National Highways Authority of India, a stronger dispute resolution mechanism in the infrastructure sector would help unblock funds.

On ease of doing business, there is need to shift from a sequential to a simultaneous
approval system. Low-risk industries may be exempted from certain clearances, while
provision of utilities to new factories should be streamlined. Certain rules and sections of
the new Companies Act impose additional burdens and need to be reviewed carefully.
The NITI Aayog could be designated as the coordination centre for central ministries and
States on administrative procedures. Special attention is required for credit access for
small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and we recommend that 15 per cent of priority
sector lending should be earmarked for SMEs. Ease of doing business needs to be tackled
for SMEs through single windows, self-certifications and e-governance. Regarding manufacturing, certain focus industries in labour-intensive and advanced sectors should be
championed, including automotives, defence, and textiles. In particular, incentives for
Research and Development and Information, Communication Technology and Electronics manufacturing would help reduce imports. A Make in India Technology Venture can
be set up as a special purpose vehicle under public-private partnership to invest Rs 1 lakh
crore in building a knowledge economy. The Digital India vision requires simplification
of procurement process and a joint government-industry task force to address challenges.
Start-ups should be supported through a suitable scheme.The government has taken many
positive steps for a progressive tax policy. Dispute resolution mechanisms, arbitration
and conciliation can further help in efficient and time-bound clearance of funds in dispute.
An unsound recommendation
A big let-down amid an otherwise progressive narrative in the Department of Telecommunications recent report on net neutrality is its recommendation to bring voice
over internet protocol-based (VoIP) domestic calling services, including applications such
as WhatsApp, under licensing. The suggestion is that such services be regulated through
exercise of licensing powers available under section 4 of the Indian Telegraph Act to ensure a level playing field. This does not straightaway mean such calls will be chargeable.
The more obvious implication is that such applications cant operate without the
governments permission, which might be granted only on the fulfilment of certain conditions or the payment of a fee, or both. The DoTs report is by no means final and binding. Still, the stated logic behind such a suggestion is open to question. The report says
telecom companies may become reluctant to invest in expansion of broadband infrastructure in an environment where apps that provide similar calling services eat into
their revenues. Dont telecom companies benefit from the apps that ride on whatever
services they provide? Doesnt more app usage mean more data consumed, which in turn
mean more revenues for telecom companies?
The recommendation could be flawed on multiple grounds. One, there is a good
chance that if the suggestion is implemented the consumer might be worse off for it. But
before that, there is a big question mark over whether differentiating a domestic VoIP call
from an international one is possible at all. Bar this recommendation, the report does
seem to largely reflect a nuanced understanding of the complexities of todays internet
world.
This is true even of its references to zero-rating schemes, under which the user is
offered data or access to some sites free of cost. True, critics have taken the report to task
for not recommending a ban on them. But there are novel zero-rating schemes where the
user is given free data and not a pre-selected bouquet of sites, as Facebooks internet.org
does (the report doesnt seem to be in favour of this).Its heartening that the report repeatedly pitches for net neutrality, the principle of data equality that is important to ensure

the internet remains a level-playing field. At the same time, it shows pragmatism in saying that enforcing net neutrality principle is a new idea and may throw up many questions and problems as we go along, and that this may require a process of oversight. The
report is laced with quotes, including this one from Archibald Putt: Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those
who manage what they do not understand. It is to be hoped India doesnt live up to this.
India and its Neighbours: Renewed Thrusts, New

Directions
The emergence of a strong and stable Government in New Delhi following the Parliamentary elections held in 2014 sent the right signals to international community, including its neighbourhood that the time was ripe to take India seriously. Reflecting his
personal commitment to international affairs, the PM travelled during the past one year
to as many as nineteen countries, besides hosting several important leaders in New Delhi.
In the process, he met and interacted with almost all important world leaders either in
bilateral, regional or in multilateral format.
It is abundantly clear by now from Governments diplomatic pursuits that
Neighbourhood First figures high on the list of the new Governments foreign policy
priorities. The first initiative to reach out to the neighbours was taken even before Mr
Modi formally took over as Prime Minister. An invitation was sent out to all Heads of
State and Government of SAARC Members to attend the swearing in ceremony of Prime
Minister on 26th May last year. The invitation, aptly described as a masterstroke as well as
a bold step, sent a loud and clear message that the new political dispensation in India
attached great importance to its relations with its neighbours in South Asia and in the
integration of the region. The presence at the ceremony of all Heads of State and Government from the region confirmed the desire on their part to reciprocate Indias gesture. The
occasion provided an excellent opportunity to establish initial contacts; these were followed up through exchange of visits or meetings on the side lines of regional and international conferences. PMs overseas destinations during the first year of tenure included
four (Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) out of seven Member States of the South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and China. The political, security
and strategic circumstances are such that it may take some time before visits to remaining
three SAARC Member States (Afghanistan, Pakistan and Maldives) could be scheduled.
Meanwhile, the Afghan President visited India in April this year and the PM met his
Pakistani and Maldivian counterparts in New Delhi at the time of his swearing in. In
short, in course of one year, PM has met all leaders in the immediate neighbourhood at
least once and in some cases even more than once.
Indias vision for the region was unveiled at SAARC Summit in Kathmandu (26th
November, 2014) by the PM who said For India, our vision for the region rests on five
pillars: trade, investment, assistance, cooperation in every area, contact between our people,
and all through seamless connectivity. In an implied reference to those who were obstructing the progress, he said that there was a new awakening and the bonds between
the SAARC member countries were bound to flow; he added: this may happen either
through SAARC or outside it, amongst all members of SAARC or between some of them.
Relations with Bangladesh have seen phases of ups and downs, despite widespread
acknowledgement of and appreciation for the role India played during the Bangladesh
War of Liberation in 1971. Whereas the Awami League Party led by Sheikh Hasina is
considered soft towards India, the political forces represented by Bangladesh National

Party (BNP) led by Begum Khalida Zia, and Bangladesh Jamaat-E-Islami are known to
have taken a hard line towards India. In recent years, Bangladesh was ruled either by
BNP or Awami League Government which in turn influenced the progress or stagnation
in relations. From time to time, the irritants in our relations with Bangladesh have arisen
out of the anti-India activities by the Indian insurgents from the Bangladesh soil, illegal
migration from Bangladesh to India, causing social tensions in North East, smuggling
across the unsettled borders, sharing of water from common rivers, particularly Teesta
etc.
The manner in which the PM mobillsed the opinion at the Centre and in the States
facilitating unanimous passage of the 100th Constitution Amendment Bill paving the way
for the ratification of the Agreement of 1974 and its Protocol of 2011 in the two Houses of
Parliament is commendable. The LBA not only settles the 4096km of boundary between
the two countries and gives a new identity to over 50000 persons, living in Indian /
Bangladesh Enclaves ,it has several other positive tall outs as well, the most important
being the effective border management to check activities of insurgents, human trafficking, illegal migration, smuggling etc,
For past several years: Afghanistan has been going through difficult times. The current situation in Afghanistan remains a source of serious concern for India as it impinges
upon its security interests. NATO forces are in draw down mode. The recent political
transition in Afghanistan was not very smooth. India can ill-afford the return of Taliban.
The emergence of a regime in Afghanistan which is a proxy of Pakistan and dominated by
fundamentalists would also not be in the interests of India. Soon after assuming the charge
in September last year, the new President, of Afghanistan, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani,
gave enough reasons to create an-impression that India figured low in the list of his foreign policy priorities. His visit to India (April 28-29, 2015) came several months after
assumption of charge; in between he visited two other countries in the region namely
China and Pakistan, besides UK and Saudi Arabia.
As if to allay fears in .this regard, an implied reference was incorporated in the Joint
Statement of 28th April,2015 which stated inter alia that peace, prosperity and security in
the region was indivisible, and their mutually respectful relations are not at expense of
other nations or group of nations. In the same Statement, the Afghan President reiterated Afghanistans perspective on the foundational nature of Afghanistans ties with India, and the fact that India figured in four of the five circles of Afghanistans foreign
policy priorities.
Afghanistan
India moved closer to complete its ongoing flagship projects in Afghanistan like the Salma Dam
in Herat province in Parliament Building in Kabul and Restoration of Stor Palace in Kabul and
Doshi-Charikar substations project.
India gifted three multi-role Cheetal helicopters to Afghanistan in April 2015.
Announced support to the Habibia School in Kabul over the next 10 years.
Contributed to the Afghan Red Crescent Societys Programme to treat Child Congenital Heart
disease over the next 5 years.
Supported the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (lGICH) in Kabul over the next 5 years.
Extension of the 1000 scholarships per year scheme by another 5 years till 2022.
India and Afghanistan pledge to work closely with Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran
to make Chabahar Port a reality and a viable gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Pakistan

Relations between India and Pakistan have remained less than normal ever since the
partition of the country in 1947. The two countries have fought wars in 1948, 1965, 1971
and later there was Kargil in 1999. The war of terror against India from across the border
continues unabated. Sporadic efforts have been made towards normalization of relations
but each time it has been a case of back to square one.
Relations with Pakistan were at their lowest ebb when the new Government took
charge. The invitation to Heads of State/Government of SAARC countries, including
Pakistan, to attend the PMs sweating-in ceremony in May last year opened up an opportunity for breaking the ice. After initial hesitation, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharrif of Pakistan did come for the event and the two sides agreed to resume the dialogue at the level of
Foreign Secretaries.
Governments decision to send Foreign Secretary to Pakistan (3rd March, 2015) as
part of so-described SAARC Yatra, and some media reports on possible resumption of
cricketing ties with Pakistan has led the critics to question Indias Pakistan policy. In this
context, the External Affairs Ministers statement at the media conference in New Delhi
on 31st May 2015 is noteworthy. She denied there was any flip flop in Indias Pakistan
policy adding that right from the beginning her Government had decided on three parameters for dialogue which have been repeatedly conveyed to Pakistan and have been
scrupulously adhered to by India without any deviation; the first principle is that all
issues must be resolved through peaceful dialogue ;secondly, the dialogue will be between India and Pakistan and no third country will be involved and finally, the discussion and dialogue will be in a peaceful atmosphere and through Shim1a Agreement and
Lahore Declaration.
Sri Lanka
After the liquidation of the LTTE in 2009, India had adopted a multi-pronged approach towards Sri Lanka; this policy had several components: (i) to impress upon the Sri
Lankan Government to abide by its commitments towards Sri Lankan Tamils particularly
meaningful devolution of powers and the implementation of the 13th Amendment in a
time bound manner; (ii) reiteration of assurances from time to time to Sri Lankan Tamils
that it would make every effort to ensure that the 13th amendment was not diluted and the
future for the community was marked by equality, justice and self-respect; (iii) investment into the reconstruction of Northern Sri Lanka badly affected by prolonged civil war;
(iv) accommodate the demands of the Tamil leadership in India to the extent feasible but
ultimately exercise the prerogative of the Centre in the formulation of foreign policy taking broader national interests into account rather than being pushed by narrow regional
priorities; (v) to monitoring carefully the Chinese overtures in Sri Lanka and check the
latters drift towards China. (vi) address the fishermens issue.
Sri lanka
India pledges a fresh LOC of up to $318 million for projects in the railway sector in Sri Lanka.
A Currency Swap Agreement of USD 1.5 billion which was earlier $400 million, to help keep the
Sri Lankan rupee stable.
Signing of the landmark Civil Nuclear Agreement.
Setting up of a Joint Task Force in the area of ocean economy.
Flagging of the inaugural Talaimannar- Madu road train service by Indian PM on the North
Western railway line upgraded by IRCON.
Handing over homes at Jaffna (part of the flagship housing project where India is aiding in
construction of 50,000 houses).


Sri Lankans to benefit from Tourist Visa on Arrival Electronic Travel Authorisation.
PMs visit to Anuradhapura to offer prayers at the sacred Sri Mahabodhi tree which is said to
have grown from a sapling of the original Bodhi tree brought to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC
by Sanghamitra.
President Pranab Mukherjee released a special commemorative stamp on Sri Lankan Buddhist
monk Anagarika Oharmapala.
Decision on developing a Ramayana Trail in Sri Lanka and a Buddhist Circuit in India.
Foundation stone of the Jaffna Cultural Centre laid.
Assistance by India for the construction of Rabindranath Tagore Auditorium at Ruhuna University
in Matara.
Collaboration between Indian and Sri Lankan petroleum firms to make Trincomalee a regional
energy hub.
Nepal
For a variety of reasons, a certain degree of stagnation in relations with Nepal can be
said to have set in during the past years. Nationalist elements in Nepal have been demanding the revision of India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950, which forms
the bedrock of the special relations that exist between India and Nepal. Under the provisions of this Treaty, the Nepalese citizens have enjoyed unparalleled advantages in India,
availing facilities and opportunities at par with the Indian citizens. The Treaty has allowed Nepal to overcome the disadvantages of being a land-locked country. Vested interests in Nepal have managed to block India- Nepal hydro-power cooperation on the IndiaBhutan model, as a result of which, Nepal remains a net importer of electricity despite
enormous hydro- power resources and the bordering States In India continue to bear the
brunt of floods in Nepal.
At the same time, there are complaints in Nepal of inordinate delays in the implementation of projects promised by India. Moreover, for over a decade now, Nepal has
remained engaged in a difficult phase of political transition; it has witnessed the abolition
of Monarchy, rise and decline of Maoist insurgency, the return of Maoists to mainstream,
birth of decmocracy, and now it is in the process of writing a new Constitution for the
country.
The visit of the Prime Minister to Nepal in August last year was historic in more than
one sense. It was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in seventeen years. PM undertook this visit within less than three months of assuming his charge. The visit was preceded by the meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission, headed for the first time in
twenty three years by the Foreign Ministers of two countries. The PM was the only foreigner extended the privilege of addressing Nepals Constituent Assembly and Legislature Parliament.
In conclusion, one year of extensive and energetic diplomacy in South Asia has been
productive in several ways: it has reduced considerably the trust deficit, enhanced faith
in Indias capability to deliver on its promises, further consolidated the existing relations,
reset relations in certain cases, addressed the current challenges and set the agenda for
long-term engagement, reiterated forcefully the need for peaceful coexistence as prerequisite for development and prosperity and integration of the region, including economic
integration, through land, maritime and air connectivity. A subtle message has gone around
that in areas where there are difficulties for all members to work together, let the bilateral
or sub-regional format be adopted so that the willing members could join hands and
move forward. The need now is for a time-bound follow up to consolidate gains made so
far, diligently deliver on the promises and assurance, and effectively address the unresolved matters.

Landmark Motor Vehicles Agreement among Four SAARC

Countries Signed
India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh signed a landmark Motor Vehicles Agreement
(MYA) for the Regulation of Passenger, Personnel and Cargo Vehicular Traffic among the
four South Asian neighbours in Thimpu, Bhutan on June 15, 2015. The MY A agreement
between sub-grouping of four SAARC nations, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal
(BBIN) will pave the way for a seamless movement of people and goods across their
borders for the benefit and integration of the region and its economic development.
The Motor Vehicles Agreement is the Over arching frame work to fulfill our commitment to enhance regional connectivity. This will need to be followed through with
formulation of the required protocols and procedures in the shortest time possible to realize the ultimate objective of free movement of people and goods in the region. This would
further need to be supplemented through building and upgrading roads, railways and
waterways infrastructure, energy Grids, communications and air links to ensure smooth
cross border flow of goods, services, capital, technology and people. Taken together, this
provides enormous opportunity for integration and development of our region. said Sh.
Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highway and Shipping.
Mentioning about the initiative to strengthen connectivity of the sub-region to ASEAN,
the Minister said, In this regard a major breakthrough has been achieved between IndiaMyanmar and Thailand. Three nations have agreed to develop a similar framework motor vehicle agreement on the lines of draft SAARC Motor vehicle agreement.
Taking note of the finding that transforming transport corridors into economic corridors could potentially increase intra-regional trade within South Asia by almost 60 percent and with the rest of the world by over 30 percent, a joint statement read, We acknowledge that apart from physical infrastructure, the development of economic corridors within and between our countries requires the implementation of policy and regulatory measures, including the BBIN MYA, which will help address the nonphysical impediments to the seamless movement of goods vehicles and people between our four
countries.
ABBIN Friendship Motor Rally is planned to be held in October 2015 to highlight
the sub-regional connectivity and the scope and opportunities for greater people-to-people
contact and trade under the BBIN initiative.
Mission Indradhanush
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched Mission Indradhanush,
depicting seven colours of the rainbow, to fully immunise more than 891akh children
who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated; those that have not been covered
during the rounds of routine immunisation for various reasons. They will be fully
immunised against seven life-threatening but vaccine prevent-able diseases which include diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis-B.
In addition, vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis and Haemophilus influenza type B
will be provided in selected districts/states of the country. Pregnant women will also be
immunised against tetanus.
The first round of the first phase started from 7 April 2015-World health Day- in 201
high focus districts in 28 states and carried for more than a week. This will be followed by
three rounds of more than a week in the months of April, May June and July 2015, starting
from 7th of each month. The 201 high focus districts account for nearly 50% of all unvacClick Here to Buy 1 Year Subscription - "Only PDF"

cinated or partially vaccinated children in the country. Of these, 82 districts are in just
four states of UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and account for nearly 25% of all
unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children of the country.
Within the districts, the Mission will focus on 4,00,000 high risk settlements identified as pockets with low coverage due to geographic, demographic, ethnic and other
operational challenges. These include nomads and migrant labour working on roads,
construction sites, riverbed mining areas, brick kilns, and those living in remote and inaccessible geographical areas and urban slums, and the underserved and hard to reach
populations dwelling in forested and tribal areas.
Total of 297 districts will be targeted in the second phase to commence from September 2015. Achievements in the first round of first phase (7-16 April 20 15)
2.1 lakh sessions held

54.4lakh antigens administered
5.8lakh pregnant women immunised
2.5lakh pregnant women fully immunised
20.81akh children immunised
55% of these are from Uttar Pradesh
For approx. 20%, this was their first contact
Approx. 24% belong of <2 years of age
4.7lakh children fully immunised
The preparation and learning during the implementation of the first round have led
to health systems strengthening in terms of drawing up detailed micro plans; designing
sturdy framework for stringent monitoring and evaluation of the immunisation rounds
in the states (more than 3600 state and central level monitors have been deputed); training
of nearly 91akh frontline workers; identification and analysis of limiting factors in different states leading to creating effective structures to mitigate them.
The children immunized under Mission Indradhanush are in addition to the children who are immunized under the Universal lmmunisation Programme.

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