RS takes up Marine Aids to Navigation Bill for consideration

Government on Monday announced the launch of National Logistics Excellence Awards to turn the spotlight on the logistics sector. The Awards will give due recognition to various players involved in the logistics supply chain. The awards are in two categories, the first group includes logistics infrastructure and service providers and second one is for various user industries.There was wide scale appreciation from user industries for giving the due recognition to various players involved in the logistics supply chain. The awards will highlight best practices including consolidation, process standardisation, technological upgrade, digital transformations, and sustainable practices.

-Government has said financial support was provided to nearly nine private industries for the development of vaccines for COVID-19. Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply in Lok Sabha that the Department of Biotechnology has provided financial support to public research institutes and industry for COVID-19 Vaccine Development.An amount of 489 crore rupees has been allocated and an amount of 148 crore rupees has been disbursed. He added that in the Union Budget 2021-22, an outlay of 35 thousand crore rupees has been made towards COVID-19 vaccination.

-Uttar Pradesh government informed on Monday to Supreme Court that it has decided to completely cancel the Kanwar Yatra this year, and all Kanwar Sangh’s have agreed to this in view of COVID-19.The stand of the UP government came two days after the Supreme Court gave an ultimatum to reconsider its decision to allow Kanwar Yatra amid the pandemic.In today’s hearing, Senior Advocate CS Vaidyanathan appearing for Uttar Pradesh informed Supreme Court that it is the second year that the yatra has been cancelled due to the pandemic. It may be recalled that Delhi and Uttarakhand have already cancelled the ”Kanwar Yatra”.

-A total of 104 startups from different sectors have currently onboarded on the Startup India Showcase Platform. Startup India Showcase is an online discovery platform for the most promising startups of the country. These innovations span across various cutting-edge sectors such as Fintech, EntrepriseTech, Social Impact, HealthTech, EdTech, among others. Ecosystem stakeholders have evaluated, nurtured, and supported these startups. These startups are solving critical problems and have shown exceptional innovation in their respective sectors. Each startup has a profile page with detailed pitch about their product, innovation, and USP in forms of Videos and PDF links. This provides unique visibility to them in front of the entire startup ecosystem. The startups act as the flagbearers of good quality of Indian startups.

-The Rajya Sabha on Monday took up the Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021 for consideration and passing.The Bill seeks to provide a framework for the development, maintenance, and management of aids to navigation in India.The Bill defines aid to navigation as a device, system, or service, external to the vessels designed and operated to enhance the safety and efficiency of navigation of vessels and vessel traffic. A vessel includes a ship, boat, sailing vessel, fishing vessel, submersible, and mobile offshore drilling units.It also proposes to impart training and certification to operator of aids to navigation, development of its historical, educational and cultural value. Its objective is also to ensure compliance with the obligation under the maritime treaties and international instruments to which India is a party. While moving the bill amidst noisy scene, Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted the importance of the legislation. Subhash Singh of BJD, Banda Prakash of TRS, K Ravindra Kumar of TDP and G K Wasan of Tamil Maanila Congress briefly spoke on the bill. The discussion remained inconclusive.