India attracts total FDI inflow of 22.53 billion during April to June

Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, in a letter written to Chief Secretary of the Maharashtra and other states, has requested to avail benefit of Market Intervention Scheme-MIS for the benefit of farmers affected by the falling prices of tomatoes and potatoes. The letter said the union government has implemented Market Intervention Scheme -MIS in order to provide remunerative price to farmers for those agricultural and horticultural commodities including tomatoes and potatoes which are perishable in nature and are not covered under Minimum Support Price mechanism. The letter said as per the scheme guidelines for implementation of MIS, there should be at least a 10 percent increase of production or a 10 percent decrease in the ruling market prices over the previous normal year. It said the scheme is implemented at the request of State which is ready to bear 50 percent of the loss, if any, incurred in its implementation.

-Under the National Health Mission programme, the Maharashtra Government has made a huge provision of 1,367.66 crore rupees to build infrastructure and other allied necessary support systems to make preparations for effectively tackling a feared third wave of COVID-19. Out of this, the Centre would provide 820.77 crore rupees and the state’s share is 547.18 crore rupees. Minister of State for Public Health Rajendra Patil-Yadravkar informed that funds are being allocated for development and betterment of skilled and unskilled manpower, essential medicines, machinery, kits required for COVID testing, establishment of Intensive Care Unit for infants and newborns, abundant availability of oxygen, provision of oxygen beds as well as telemedicine facilities. He said, 32-bed Intensive Care Units are being set up in 21 hospitals affiliated to District Hospitals and Medical Colleges in the state for infants and newborns. Besides, 42-bed Intensive Care Units for infants and children will be set up at 36 places, including CPR Hospital in Kolhapur and Indira Gandhi Hospital in Ichalkaranji. In addition to these, six-bed Intensive Care Unit will be set up at the Primary Health Centre level and a 20-bed Intensive Care Unit is also being set up at the health centres.

-In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) conducted an anti- encroachment drive  on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) from Jakhani to Chenani in the jurisdiction of Udhampur district. During the drive, a total of 28 illegal structures comprising 13 permanent and 15 temporary structures along the National Highway have been demolished on the spot. In order to assist the NHAI, Udhampur District Administration had deployed Magistrates with Police assistance to prevent law and order situation. NHAI official said that the anti-encroachment drive will continue till all the illegal structures are removed. Necessary instructions were issued to all the stakeholders to desist from encroachments failing which strict action will be initiated against the defaulters.

-Measures taken by the Government on the fronts of Foreign Direct Investment FDI policy reforms, investment facilitation and ease of doing business have resulted in increased FDI inflow into the country. India has attracted total FDI inflow of 22.53 billion dollars during April to June, this year which is 90 per cent higher as compared to first three months of 2020-21 which was 11.84 billion dollars. FDI equity inflow grew by 168 per cent in the first three months of Financial Year 2021-22 which is 17.57 billion dollars compared to the year ago period which was 6.56 billion dollars. Commerce and Industry Ministry said, Automobile Industry has emerged as the top sector during the first three months of Financial Year 2021-22 with 27 per cent share of the total FDI Equity inflow followed by Computer Software and Hardware 17 per cent and Services Sector 11 per cent. Under the sector Automobile Industry, majority of FDI Equity inflow 88 per cent was reported in the state of Karnataka during the first three months of the current financial year.

-In Uttarakhand due to the continuous rain for the last two days, many national highways, as well as many other rural roads, are closed in the mountainous region. The work of opening the roads by the administration is going on. National Highway 9 in Champawat district remained blocked for the fifth day on Saturday. Along with this, the rural roads are closed. On the other hand, the Haldwani National Highway in Nainital has also been damaged due to heavy rains. Traffic has been completely affected due to the collapse of the road. The Meteorological Department The IMD has issued an alert of heavy rain for many districts of the state for the next two days. Especially in Dehradun, Pauri, Nainital, Udhamsinghnagar, Bageshwar, Almora, Champawat and Pithoragarh, there is a possibility of excessive rainfall.