TAMILNADU

Centre Approves Rs 453 Crore Loan To Tamil Nadu For Building Fishing Harbours

The central government approved a Rs 453-crore loan at a subsidized interest rate of five percent to the Tamil Nadu government for setting up three fishing harbors. The funds released from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) has a corpus of Rs 7,522 crore. An agreement signed between the Union fisheries ministry. Tamil Nadu government and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in the presence of Fishery Minister Giriraj Singh.

Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Mizoram, Assam, and Kerala have submitted proposals seeking a total loan of Rs 2,751 crores.

The loan is given for a tenure of 12 years, and there would be a moratorium of two years on repayment of principal. The Centre is providing interest subvention of 3 percent on loan released from the FIDF.

Under the FIDF, Nabard will provide the fund to the tune of about Rs 2,600 crore through state governments for developing only public infrastructures like the fishing harbour, fish landing centers, modernized state fish seed farms, fish markets, disease diagnostic labs, and aquatic quarantine facilities.

The FIDF to private sector players given through commercial banks. So far, the Centre has not received any proposals from individual players.

The Tamil Nadu government submitted a proposal a loan of Rs 836.80 crore form this fund. Andhra Pradesh government found Rs 1,295 crore, Telangana Rs 265 crore, Jammu and Kashmir Rs 104.96 crore, Maharashtra Rs 99 crore, Assam Rs 21.65 crore, Kerala Rs 19.42 crore and Mizoram Rs 8.57 crore.
The senior officials from the ministry as well as from Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Harayana, and Jammu and Kashmir governments were present at the event.

INTERNATIONAL

International Astronomical Union names new star as ‘Sharjah’

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) announced the names of the newly discovered stars and planets, where the name “Sharjah” was chosen for a star with “Barjeel” being the name of one of its planets.

The announcement was made during a press conference of the IAU in the French capital, Paris, celebrating the centennial of the union.

During the announcement, the organisers lauded the efforts and contributions of the Emirate of Sharjah to the global scientific community.

Afghanistan recognizes Indian Pharmacopoeia

The National Department of Regulation of Medicines and Health Products of the Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan organized the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP). Afghanistan became the first country to recognize IP pursuant to the efforts of the Department of Commerce, and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. It will also be used based on the requirement as reputable pharmacopoeia in the laboratory of medicines and health products quality.

IP is an officially recognized book of standards as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules 1945 thereunder

It specifies the standards of drugs manufactured and marketed in India in terms of their purity, identity, and strength

It ensures the quality of medicinal products, the legal and scientific standards that are provided by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC)

NATIONAL

Upgraded version of Pinaka guided rocket system, QR-SAM successfully test fired

India had successfully test-fired two missiles from Chandipur in Odisha.

The upgraded version of Pinaka guided rocket system was test-fired from the DRDO’s Proof and Experimental Establishment firing test range while the all-weather tracked-chassis Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QR-SAM) tested from a mobile launcher at a launch complex of the Integrated Test Range.

The indigenously developed Pinaka and QR-SAM weapon system test achieved the desired accuracy by hitting the intended target with a high degree of precision and met all mission objectives.

Pinaka system has a maximum range of 75 km for Mark-II variant and can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in less than 45 seconds.

NITI Aayog to draft roadmap to achieve the population stabilization

NITI Aayog, the policy think tank of the Indian Government, organized a national consultation titled “Realising the vision of population stabilization: leaving no one behind” on 20 December 2019 at NITI Bhavan, New Delhi. It plans to draft a roadmap to achieve population stabilization.

The consultative meeting is organized by NITI Aayog in partnership with Population Foundation of India (PFI).

The recommendations from the meeting will contribute to a NITI Aayog working paper. It will help in achieving India’s vision of attaining population stabilization.

It suggested ideas to address existing socio-cultural barriers towards contraception by investing extensively in innovative behaviour-change communication strategies.

It recommended strengthening the quality of care, including counselling services, managing side effects, and family planning support.

Railway Ministry signed MoU with Birmingham University to establish Centre of Excellence

The National Rail Transport Institute (NRTI) signed an MoU with the University of Birmingham in New Delhi. The aim is to set up the first Centre of Excellence for Next-Generation Transportation Systems in Railways.

As per the MoU, it will provide proprietary data, spare equipment, professional expertise, and other available resources directly or through the Centralised Training Institutes and research organizations.
The centre will invite partnerships from other industry and academic organizations in the future.

It is India’s first and only transportation university. It functions under the Ministry of Railways.

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