PIB Press Releases


		9th May, 2003


		Ministry of Science & Technology GSAT-2 orbit raising maneuver successful The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after successfully carrying out the second experimental flight of GSLV-D2 and placing GSAT-2 in geo-synchronous transfer orbit (GTO) last evening, ........................... Ministry of Defence ASTRA missile successfully test fired The first ballistic flight of ASTRA air-to-air missile was undertaken successfully from Interim Test Range, Balasore in Orissa today at 1215 hrs. ........................... Ministry of Defence Conference of the General Managers of the Ordnance Factories A two day Conference of the General Managers of the Ordnance Factories will be held here on May 12 and 13, 2003. ........................... Ministry of Defence Crashes of MIG fighter aircraft Following is the full text of the Defence Minister's reply given in Lok Sabha yesterday to the Calling Attention notice of Shri Jagmeet Singh Brar ........................... Ministry of Commerce & Industry Procedure for import of items under Tariff Rate Quota - Press note The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a Public Notice No. 7 dated 9th May, 2003 outlining the procedural modalities ........................... Ministry of Commerce & Industry Exports of potatoes from India Steps taken by the government for promotion of export of potato include, inter-alia, the following: ........................... Ministry of Commerce & Industry Trade agreement with Bosnia The government has signed an Agreement on April, 2002, on Trade and Economic Cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina for promotion of trade and economic cooperation between two countries. ........................... Ministry of Commerce & Industry Construction of Dry Ports Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and Container Freight Stations (CFS), which are alternatively known as Dry Ports, ........................... Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Ram Naik leads Indian delegation to Iran to further cooperation in Hydrocarbons Sector Shri Ram Naik, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, is leaving India on 11th May leading a High Level Delegation to further deepen the cooperation between India and Iran in the various areas of hydrocarbons sector. ........................... Ministry of Tribal Affairs Under-utilization of funds by NGOs in Jammu & Kashmir An amount of Rs. 1,12,80,541/- was released to one organisation, the Buddhist Youth Association, Zanskar of Kargil District in Jammu & Kashmir for the maintenance and running ........................... Ministry of Tribal Affairs Separate National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation formed The National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) was set up on 10th April, 2001 as a Government Company under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 ........................... Ministry of Human Resource Development Mid-Day Meal Scheme As per the National Programe of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (popularly known as Mid-Day Meal Scheme), children studying at primary level in Government, ........................... Ministry of Human Resource Development Quality education To give access to quality education imparted in IITs and IIMs to majority of students all over the country using modern technologies including VSAT the Government has taken up a National Programme for Technology Enhanced Learning (NP-TEL) in the country. ........................... Ministry of Human Resource Development Less funds for basic education During the Ninth Plan Period, Rs. 14, 523 crores have been spent on basic education. An allocation of Rs. 28,750 crores has been provided for the Tenth Five Year Plan ........................... Ministry of Human Resource Development Encouragement for pure science There has been a slight decline in enrolment in Science subjects at undergraduate level, according to information furnished by the University Grants Commission (UGC). ........................... Ministry of Human Resource Development NRIs to invest on education and health The NRIs/PIOs contribution in the education sector in India is estimated at USD 10-12 million a year. ........................... Ministry of Human Resource Development India offers wide-ranging assistance in the field of education to Eritrea India today offered assistance to Eritrea in a wide range of fields relating to education. ........................... Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment RCI to develop database of NGOs A database of NGOs in the country would be developed irrespective of weather they receive grant -in-aid from the government or not. ........................... Ministry of Rural Development 4912 projects proposals approved under Swajaldhara Tha National Scheme Sanction Committee has approved 4912 project proposals under 'Swajaldhara Scheme' pertaining to 15 States and one Union Territory. ........................... Ministry of Agriculture Promotion of oil-seeds based bio-diesel The Government is contemplating an action plan to launch a pilot project in different states to promote bio-diesel as alternative fuel. ........................... Ministry of Agriculture Production of oilseeds The production of oilseeds in the country during 2002-03 has been estimated at 155.7 lakh tonnes against 204.6 lakh tonnes in the previous year. ........................... Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment 11.5 lakh benefinciaries belonging to weaker sections provided soft loans More than 11.5 Lakh beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Castes, OBCs, minorities and the disabled have been provided soft loans at a concessional rate worth 2,439 crore rupees. ........................... Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers Assam Gas Cracker Project The Government is keen to support the implementation of the Assam Gas Cracker Project. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs. 3600 crore. ........................... Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Shri M. Kannappan stresses need for R&D Shri M. Kannappan, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Non-conventional Energy Sources has urged the State governments to intensify resource studies ........................... Ministry of Steel SAIL produces 11.8 million tonnes iron ore in 2002-03 The mines under Raw Material Division (RMD) of the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL), Calcutta have shown a growth of 44 per cent in production of Iron Ore during 2002-03 as compared to 1989-90. ........................... Ministry of Steel NMDC plan for value added products National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Indian Rare Earth Ltd. (IREL) plan to jointly produce value-added products. ........................... Ministry of Railways Revival of Nowgong-Moirabari-Silghat section There are persistent demands for restoration of Haibargaon-Mairabari and Senchoa-Silghat Metre Gauge rail lines with Broad Gauge in the North Eastern Region. ........................... Ministry of Railways Rail linking of Jaisalmer and Barmer A survey for construction of rail line between Jaisalmer and Barmer (170 km) in Rajasthan has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 22.95 lakh. ........................... Ministry of Railways Fastest train between Mumbai and Goa The Ministry of Railways is considering introduction of a train between Mumbai and Goa at the maximum speed of 150 kilometre per hour. ........................... Ministry of Railways Concession against vacant seat to senior citizens The senior citizen concession is granted, in Mail/Express fares of all classes including unreserved classes and fares of Rajdhani/ Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains, at the booking/reservation counters only. ........................... Ministry of Railways Transportation of fodder to Gujarat by Railways Railway rakes are provided as per the indents registered with the Railways. ........................... Ministry of Railways Mobile Science Exhibition by Railways A proposal from the Department of Science and Technology has been received for running a "Mobile Scientific Exhibition" in the country. ........................... Ministry of Railways Expenditure on commemoration of 150 years of Railways The cumulative expenditure incurred by Indian Railways an year long celebrations of 150 glorious years of Railways in India was Rs. 790.27 lakhs comprising all Zonal Railways. ...........................