Draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020
- Recently, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has formulated a draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020 (DPEPP 2020).
- It aims to provide impetus to self-reliance in defence manufacturing under Atmanirbhar Bharat Package.
- The policy aims to achieve a turnover of Rs 1,75,000 Cr (US$ 25Bn) including export of Rs 35,000 Cr (US$ 5 Billion) in Aerospace and Defence goods and services by 2025.
- The Policy brings out multiple strategies under the following focus areas:
- Procurement Reforms
- Indigenization & Support to MSMEs/Startups
- Optimize Resource Allocation
- Investment Promotion, FDI & Ease of Doing Business
- Innovation and R&D
- DPSUs and OFB
- Quality Assurance & Testing Infrastructure
- Export Promotion
Meghnaghat Combined-Cycle Power plant
- A combined-cycle power plant is a relatively more efficient way of producing electricity.
- It uses both a gas and a steam turbine together to produce up to 50 % more electricity from the same fuel than a traditional simple-cycle plant.
- It will reduce the share of environmentally harmful and expensive fuels like coal and oil.
- Recently, Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $ 200 million financing deal with the Reliance Bangladesh LNG and Power Limited (RBLPL).
- The deal aims to build and operate a 718-megawatt combined-cycle gas-fired power plant in Bangladesh.
- The plant is proposed to be located on land allotted by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), in Meghnaghat, Narayanganj District near Dhaka.
Integrated Market Surveillance System
- Market surveillance is the prevention and investigation of abusive, manipulative or illegal trading practices in the securities markets.
- It helps to ensure orderly markets, where buyers and sellers are willing to participate because they feel confident in the fairness and accuracy of transactions.
- Without market surveillance, a market could become disorderly, which would discourage investment and inhibit economic growth.
- Market surveillance can be provided by the private sector and the public sector.
- In India Financial Markets Regulation Department (FMRD) undertakes surveillance of financial markets regulated by the RBI.
- RBI has shortlisted few private vendors for implementation of Integrated Market Surveillance System.
FDI in Commercial Coal Mining
- Union government clarified process on FDI in commercial coal mining.
- Any country that shares land borders with India, which wishes to invest in commercial coal mining will be allowed only after government approval.
- A citizen of Pakistan or an entity incorporated in Pakistan can invest only under the government route in sectors/activities other than defence, space, atomic energy, and sectors/activities prohibited for foreign investment.
- While the central government auctions coal blocks, state governments need to handle local issues efficiently and with sensitivity.
Ebrahim Alkazi
- Recently Ebrahim Alkazi, the longest-serving director of the National School of Drama passed away.
- Ebrahim Alkazi is remembered as the father of Indian theatre.
- He revolutionized Indian theatre.
- He was the first person to bring regional language plays to NSD.
- He was the first recipient of Roopwedh Pratishtan's the Tanvir Award (2004) for lifetime contribution to the theatre.
- He received the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
- He received Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship for lifetime contribution to theatre.
Source: PIB, Economic Times, News on Air, the Hindu
