Statement by the Prime Minister in Parliament on his visit to Italy, France and Egypt

Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s statement in Parliament on his visit to Italy and to France and Egy

Amendments to H-1B visa procedure

According to NASSCOM, the H-1B visa restrictions may not affect employees of

Military infrastructure along LAC by China

The Government is aware that China is developing infrastructure in border regions opposite India in the Tibet and Xinjiang Autonomous Regions.

Result of written part of NDA & Naval Academy Exam (I) 2009 announced

The Union Public Service Commission has announced the results of written part of the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I) 2009 held by the UPSC in April 2009.

Knowledge kiosks in Panchayats

Government would extend the benefits of information and communication technology (ICT) to the rural people through the

32454 Villagers benefitted by Rural Business Hubs

Over 32000 villagers from 15 States have been benefitted under the Rural Business Hub Scheme run by the

Press Note - AUCTION FOR SALE OF GOVT STOCKS

Government of India have announced the sale (re-issue) of “6.49 percent Government Stock 2015” for a notified amount of Rs. 6,000 crore (nominal) through a price based auction.

Self-Employment Schemes by PSBS

Banks provide financial assistance under following Centrally Sponsored Schemes aiming to provide gainful employment in rural and urban areas of the country.

Housing loan to rural people

The need for grant of housing loan by banks to rural poor in the country and difficulties faced by them in accessing such loans is raised in different fora from time to time.

Credit Card frauds

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a Master Circular on credit card operations by banks whereby the

Banking at grassroots level

Financial inclusion & improvement of delivery of financial services is an important agenda of the Government.

Merger of SBI and its subsidiary banks

Government has not given direction to any specific bank to consider proposal for merger/amalgamation with a particular bank.

16 FDI proposals approved

Based on the recommendations of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in its meeting held on July 10, 2009, Government has approved 16 Proposals of Foreign Direct Investment amounting to Rs. 891.71 Crore approximately.

Target for indigenous steel production

National Steel Policy 2005 has projected India’s steel production capacity at 110 million tonnes by 2019-20. However,

Eastern dedicated freight corridor

The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor from Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankuni near Kolkata covering a length of 1806 kilometers is expected to cost, as per present estimates, approximately Rs. 22,196 crore.

Railways take steps to improve operating ratio

The highest operating ratio achieved during last decade since 1999-2000 was 98.34 per cent in 2000-01 and the lowest operating ratio achieved was 75.94 per cent in 2007-08.

Requirement of locomotives during XI Plan

The project requirement of diesel and electric locomotives is 1800 nos. each by the end of eleventh plan. The capacity of both Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW),

WI-FI Internet Service in Trains

The facility of internet services by using wi-fi system was demonstrated on trial basis in Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express train from 11th to 24th January,

Further progress in kharif sowing

There is further progress in kharif sowing as per data received from States. The cropped areas this year and last year for major kharif crops are as follows:

National Agricultural Insurance Scheme covers 13.45 crore farmers so far

Since inception of National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) in Rabi 1999-2000 to Rabi 2008-09,

Strong Agriculture R&D base in India

India has positioned herself well in as far as agricultural research and development is concerned.

Government closely monitoring monsoon kharif sowing

The Government is closely monitoring the monsoon situation on day to day basis. The States have also been advised to identify the pockets of distress,

Renewable energy sources

The schemes/ programmes being implemented to increase generation of power from renewable energy sources include mainly the following:

Development of solar city

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing a programme on ‘Development of Solar Cities’.

Report of Draft Coastal Management Zone submitted to Moef today

The fishermen and their families will be protected and this will cover about 10 million people.

Update on Influenza A [H1N1]

World Health Organization has reported 94,512 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection from 135 countries as on 6th July 2009. There have been 429 deaths.

Monitoring of Infrastructure Projects

Out of the 88 projects relating to water supply, sewerage, electrification and road for

Housing to Jhuggi-Jhonpari Dwellers

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has intimated that about 7351 Jhuggi Dwellers have been rehabilitated from various JJ Clusters at Savda Ghevra, Bawana and Narela during the last three years,

PRESS NOTE - Schedule for bye-elections to fill the casual vacancies in the Legislative Assemblies of Karnataka- reg.

The Election Commission had announced the schedule for filling some of the vacancies of Tamil Nadu,

Shortfall of trained manpower in tourism sector

The Minister of Tourism Kumari Selja has said, there is shortfall of

Steps taken to achieve self sufficiency in edible oils

The Government has taken various steps to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oils and increase the production of

Steps taken by government to prevent foodgrain losses in FCI godowns

Government has taken following steps to prevent foodgrain losses in FCI godowns.

“Actual wheat procurement exceeds estimates in last 3 years”

Under the existing policy of foodgrains procurement, FCI and State Agencies procure wheat conforming to the

Government’s initiative for streamlining TPDS

To streamline working of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Government has initiated a series of measures such as:

Uniform Prices for identical medicines

Under the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 (DPCO, 1995) the prices of 74 bulk drugs,

Availability of Fertilizers

Decision to develop and notify a particular station as a rake point is taken on the basis of traffic potential, operational feasibility and availability of funds.

Unemployment allowances under NREGS

Section 7(1) of NREG Act, 2005 provides for payment of unemployment allowance by the State Government to

Mineral production during April 2009

The mineral production from mining and quarrying sector in April 2009 was lower by 15.85% compared to that of the

Shortage of Houses

According to the estimates made by the Technical Group constituted by the Ministry for assessment of

Tribes India showroom inaugurated at Dilli Haat

The Chief Minister of Delhi Smt. Sheila Dixit and the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Kanti Lal Bhuria inaugurated the TRIBES INDIA showroom at ‘Dilli Haat’ here this evening.

Development of forest villages

The number of proposals received, fund released and utilization of fund etc. during the each of last three years and the current year is in the Table given below. The funding of the development of forest villages is made under the budget head of Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan (SCA to TSP).

Central share in the scheme for tribals

Prior to 1.4.2008, the Central share in the funding of the schemes of Establishment of

Budgetary allocation for development of Tribals

The details of budgetary allocation and expenditure of Ministry of Tribal Affairs during the last three years and allocation for the current year are given below:

Clusters for Development and expansion of SMES

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is encouraging the development and promotion of Micro,

State Commissions for Children

Ministry of Women and Child Development has been requesting the State Governments and the

Restructuring of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh

In order to provide loan to self-help groups of women and other women entrepreneurs,

Measures to check malnutrition among children

The Ministry of Women & Child Development is addressing the problem of

Results of the common proficiency tests of the institute of chartered accountants of India ( ICAI ) declared

Today, the results of Common Proficiency Test (Paper Pencil mode) held on 28th June, 2009 and Common Proficiency Tests (Online mode) held in March,

IMD activities for Solar Eclipse on 22nd July

A total Solar Eclipse of longest duration in the 21st century will occur in the morning of Wednesday, 22nd July, 2009.

India to launch the biggest PPP programme in the world: Kamal Nath

The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Kamal Nath dispelling the apprehensions and fears of the investors said that the land acquisitions would not be a stumbling block for them to invest In India.