Textiles Secretary inaugurates National Level Special Handloom Expo

“Woolen of India”, a National Level Special Handloom Expo was inaugurated today by Dr. S.K. Panda, Secretary (Textiles). The exhibition-cum sale is being held at the newly renovated and upgraded Handloom Haat, Janpath (known earlier as Handloom Marketing Complex).

The exhibition will showcase and offer for sale ‘India Handloom’ branded premium handloom products, in addition to wide range of handloom and handicraft products. It will be open from 30th December, 2015 to 12th January, 2016, from 11 AM to 8 PM.

Handloom Haat is one of three venues identified by the Ministry of Textiles, where year-round exhibitions will now be held. The other two are Craft Museum and Handloom Pavilion in Pragati Maidan. Considering the popularity of Dilli Haat, the Government of India has decided to develop the three venues for promotion of handlooms and handicrafts.

Handloom Haat is now open to public, with many new features. Parking facility is available for more than 150 vehicles, with provision of adequate number of CCTV cameras to ensure safety of visitors. Street food such as chaat, prepared in hygienic conditions, is also available at the Haat. A restaurant is also expected to start functioning soon. Handloom and handicraft products of good quality are available in the showrooms.

Shri Alok Kumar, Development Commissioner (Handlooms); Dr. K. Gopal, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) and other distinguished guests were also present at the inaugural function.

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Cabinet approves Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme for Textiles industry

Amended scheme to boost ‘Make in India’ in textile sector: to generate investment of one lakh crore rupees and create over 30 lakh jobs

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the introduction of "Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS)" in place of the existing Revised Restructured Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (RR-TUFS),for technology upgradation of the textiles industry, with effect from the date of notification of the scheme.

The new scheme specifically targets:

a. Employment generation and export by encouraging apparel and garment industry, which will provide employment to women in particular and increase India’s share inglobal exports.

b. Promotion of Technical Textiles, a sunrise sector, for export and employment

c. Promoting conversion of existing looms to better technology looms for improvement in quality and productivity

d. Encouraging better quality in processing industry and checking need for import of fabrics by the garment sector.

The amended scheme would give a boost to “Make in India” in the textiles sector; it is expected to attract investment to the tune of one lakh crore rupees, and create over 30 lakh jobs.

A budget provision of Rs.17,822 crore has been approved, of which Rs. 12,671 crore is for committed liabilities under the ongoing scheme, and Rs. 5,151 crore is for new cases under ATUFS.

All cases pending with the Office of Textile Commissioner which are complete in all respects, shall be provided assistance under the ongoing scheme and the new scheme will be given prospective effect.

Office of Textile Commissioner (TXC) is being reorganised; its offices shall be set up in each state. Officers of the TXC shall be closely associated with entrepreneurs for setting up the industry, including processing proposals under the new scheme, verifying assets created jointly with the bankers and maintaining close liaison with the State Government agencies.

The implementation of the scheme would be executed and monitored online under iTUFS, launched in April, 2015.

Under the new scheme, there will be two broad categories:

i. Apparel, Garment and Technical Textiles, where 15 percent subsidy would be provided on capital investment, subject to a ceiling of 30 crore rupees for entrepreneurs over a period of five years.

ii. Remaining sub-sectors would be eligible for subsidy at a rate of 10 percent, subject to a ceiling of Rs.20 crore on similar lines.

Background

The Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme was introduced by the Government in 1999to facilitate new and appropriate technology for making the textile industry globally competitive and to reduce the capital cost for the textile industry. A sum of Rs. 21,347 crore has been provided as assistance to the industry during 1999 – 2015. It has led to investments worth Rs. 2,71,480 crore, and created job opportunities for nearly 48 lakh people.

The scheme was earlier amended for continuation during the 12^th Plan. A sum of Rs.11,952 crore was provided for attracting investment of Rs. 1,51,000 crore during the period 2012-2017. Out of this, Rs. 9,290 crore was meant for committed liabilities and Rs. 2,662 crore for new investment. The amount provided for new investment has been exhausted and therefore the Ministry of Finance was approached for enhancing the allocation.The amendments in the scheme are expected to plug the loopholes in the earlier scheme and improve Ease of Doing Business. It will also give a boost to employment generation and exports in the textile sector in a big way.

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AYUSH30-December, 2015 14:57 IST

Renewal of MoU between India and Canada in Higher Education

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Canada for cooperation in Higher Education.

The MoU will help to intensify existing partnerships between India and Canada in the field of Higher Education.

Background:

A Memorandum of Understanding between India and Canada concerning cooperation in Higher Education was signed in June, 2010 for a period of five years. As per terms of the MoU, at the end of the five years, the MoU was to be renewed for a possible renewal for a further five year period. Recognizing the immense potential of collaboration between Higher Education Institutions of Canada and India and to further develop the existing bilateral relations in the field of Higher Education and Research, it has been proposed to further strengthen the educational ties between India and Canada by renewing the MoU.

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Ex-post facto approval for signing of MoU among BRICS countries on BRICS Network University

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its ex-post facto approval for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among BRICS countries on BRICS Network University. The negotiations were held on this during the 3rd BRICS Education Ministers meeting and Senior Officials meeting in November, 2015 at Mosco, Russia.

The MoU will help in developing pro-active cooperation among the BRICS nations for the purpose of enhancement of scientific research, higher education, information exchange, analysis and implementation of best practices, joint research programmes, and mobility of students, researchers and educators.

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A BIG BOOST FOR SOLAR ROOFTOPS IN INDIA

Cabinet approves Rs.5000 crore for promotion of Solar Rooftops in the country

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the scaling up of budget from Rs, 600 crore to Rs. 5,000 crore for implementation of Grid Connected Rooftops systems over a period of five years upto 2019-20 under National Solar Mission (NSM). This will support Installation of 4200 MW Solar Rooftop systems in the country in next five years.

The capital subsidy of 30% will be provided for general category States/UTs and 70% for special category States i.e., North-Eastern States including Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, There will be no subsidy for commercial and industrial establishments In the private sector since they are eligible for other benefits such as accelerated depreciation, custom duty concessions, excise duty exemptions and tax holiday etc,

This capacity of 4200 MWp will come up through the residential, Government, Social and institutional sector (hospitals, educational institutions etc.). Industrial & commercial sector will be encouraged for installations without subsidy. This will create the market, build the confidence of the consumers and will enable the balance capacity through market mode to achieve the target of 40,000 MWp by 2022.

The Government has revised the target of National Solar Mission (NSM) from 20,000 MWp to 1,00,000 MWp by 2022. Out of the 40,000 MWp is to come through grid connected solar rooftop systems. This approval will boost the installations in a big way and will act as a catalyst to achieve the goal of 40,000 MWp.

Background:

A large potential is available for generating solar power using unutilized space on rooftops in buildings. Solar power generated by each individual household, industrial, Institutional, commercial or any other type of buildings can be used to partly fulfil the requirement of the building occupants and surplus, if any, can be fed into the grid. So Tar, 26 States have notified their regulations to provide Net Metering/Gross metering facilities to support solar rooftops installations.

Today it is possible to generate solar power from the solar rooftop systems at about Rs.6.50/kWh. This is cheaper than the diesel gen-sets based electricity generation. It is also cheaper than the cost at which most DISCOMs would make power available to the industrial, commercial and high-end domestic consumers.

With the new initiative, India will emerge as a major country utilizing the roof space for solar rooftop systems on such a. large scale: This 40 GW will result in abatement of about 60 million tonnes of CO2 per year and will help to fulfil the commitment of India towards its contribution in mitigating the effect of Climate Change.

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Cabinet approves formation of Joint Venture Companies with various State Governments for rail infrastructure projects

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the formation of Joint Venture Companies with various State Governments to mobilize resources for undertaking various rail infrastructure projects in the States. The initial paid up capital of Ministry of Railways would be limited to Rs. 50 crore for each State.

The details of Joint Venture are as follows:-

1. Joint Venture Companies would be formed with equity participation of Ministry of Railways and concerned State Government(s).

2. Each Joint Venture would have an initial paid up Capital of Rs. 100crore based on the quantum of projects to be undertaken. Further infusion of fund/equity for the purpose of the projects shall be done after approval of the project and its funding at the level of appropriate competent authority.

3. Joint Venture can also form project specific SPVs with equity holding by other stakeholders like Banks, ports, public sector undertakings, mining companies, etc.

This would ensure greater participation of State Governments in implementation of railway projects both in terms of financial participation as well as decision making process. This will also facilitate in faster statutory approvals and land acquisition.Besides travelling people, various cement, steel, power plants etc. would get the necessary rail link for transportation of their raw material and finished products.

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