e-Voting to be tested in Telangana on Oct 20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had a telephonic conversation with British Counterpart Boris Johnson.The two leaders reviewed the progress in bilateral relations since their virtual summit earlier this year and expressed satisfaction at the steps already initiated under the Roadmap 2030 adopted during the virtual summit.They also reviewed the progress of the Enhanced Trade Partnership and agreed on the potential of rapidly expanding trade and investment linkages between both countries.The leaders had extensive discussion on issues related to Climate Change, in the context of the forthcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCC COP-26 meeting in Glasgow in early November this year. Modi conveyed India's commitment to Climate Action, as seen in its ambitious target for expansion of renewable energy and the recently announced National Hydrogen Mission.The leaders also exchanged views on regional developments, especially the situation in Afghanistan.  In this context, they agreed on the need to develop a common international perspective on issues regarding extremism and terrorism, as well as Human Rights and rights of women and minorities. 

-Ministry of Power has mandated electricity distribution companies to undertake energy accounting on a periodic basis. The regulation in this regard was issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency with the approval of the Ministry of Power, under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.The notification stipulates quarterly energy accounting by DISCOMs through a certified Energy Manager within 60 days.There will also be an Annual energy audit by an independent Accredited Energy Auditor. Both these reports will be published in the public domain. Energy accounting reports will provide detailed information about electricity consumption by different categories of consumers and the transmission and distribution losses in various areas. It will identify areas of high losses and theft and enable corrective action. This measure will also enable the fixation of responsibility on officers for losses and theft. The data will enable DISCOMS to take appropriate measures for reducing their electricity losses. The DISCOMs will be able to plan for suitable infrastructure up-gradation as well as demand-side management efforts in an ef fective manner. Power Ministry said, the initiative will further contribute towards India’s climate actions in meeting the Paris Agreement Goals.

-The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty upon two firms for bid-rigging in tender floated by Gas Authority of India Limited, GAIL.  These two firms are  PMP Infratech Pvt. Ltd. and Rati Engineering. The CCI found them indulging in concerted practices leading to bid-rigging of the tender floated in 2017-18 for the restoration of the well site located in Ahmedabad and Anand areas of Gujarat. Based on the investigation, CCI found that the two firms were in regular touch with each other regarding the tender floated by GAIL and even after the submission of their bids.The CCI imposed a monetary penalty of  25 lakh rupees on PMP Infratech Pvt. Ltd., and 2.5 lakh rupees on Rati Engineering, and one lakh rupees and 50 thousand rupees on their respective individuals who managed and controlled the firms, besides passing a cease-and-desist order.

-Telangana State Election Commission and the state IT department have taken up a pilot project to test electronic voting in the limits of Kahmmam Municipality limits on 20th of this month. For the first time in the country, e-voting is being tested in Khammam.  For this, electors have been urged to enroll themselves on the e-vote mobile app, which can be downloaded easily from the google play store. Khammam Municipal Commissioner Adarsh Surabhi has informed that registration of electors will continue till the 18th of this month and mock polling will be held through a dummy ballot on the 20th. He said electors can cast their vote through smartphones, without going to polling stations and can be useful especially to Divyangs, senior citizens, officials on polling duty and others.  After downloading a mobile app, one needs to register themselves with the help of a Voter ID card, Adhar and other details and they cast their vote with the help of OTP during the polling.

-The Nominated Authority in the Coal Ministry had launched the second attempt of the auction for 11 coal mines earmarked for sale of coal last month. Four mines under the Tranche 12 of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act and Seven mines under the Tranche 2 of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. These were the mines that were offered in the first attempt launched on 25th March this year and had fetched single bids. Ministry of Coal on Monday organized a pre-bid conference for prospective bidders. Presentations were made on terms and conditions of auction, technical details of mines and National Coal Index by SBI Capital Markets Limited, Central Mine Planning and Design Institute, and DDG.Coal Ministry said, the auction shall be held online through a transparent two-stage process, on the basis of percentage revenue share. Key features of the auction process include the introduction of the National Coal Index, ease in participation with no restriction for prior coal mining experience, full flexibility in coal utilization, optimized payment structures, efficiency promotion through incentives for early production and use of clean coal technology.