22 July 2016

NDMC ink MoU with NEERI to develop sewage treatment plants

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has signed a MoU with National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to develop 12 sewage treatment plants (STP). NEERI will provide its expertise in this field and the treatment plants to help NDMC to irrigate its parks in a bid to develop green areas and revamp big and small parks. The 12 STP projects of NDMC will also help increase the green cover in NDMC areas and curb dust pollution. 

Key Facts

•  In the first phase, 12 STPs will be installed across in NDMC areas. Each plant will have a capacity of treating sewage water ranging from 50,000-1 lakh litres. 
• All these plants will be connected to all parks of NDMC which will help the horticulture department to maintain the parks. 
• These plants will be also installed at schools also and after reviewing the first phase, it will expand it to other areas as well. 
• Besides, under the same project barren lands that have no use under NDMC areas will be developed into green areas. Advertisem

Lok Sabha passes Bill for new NIT in Andhra Pradesh

The Lok Sabha has passed the National Institute of Technology, Science, Education and Research (Amendment) (NITSER) Bill, 2016. The bill seeks to establish a National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Andhra Pradesh as an institute of national importance under the NITSER Act, 2007 with an effect from August 2015.

Key Facts 

• The NIT in Andhra Pradesh has been established in lines with the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. 
• The Reorganisation Act, 2014 provides for a NIT for the state after its bifurcation as the existing NIT went to Telangana.
•  Union Government has allocated 40 crore rupees in the current financial year for the establishment of the new NIT.
•  Besides an outlay of 226 crore rupees has been made for the institute over the next three years.

7 Indian companies on 2016 Fortune 500 list

Seven Indian companies have made it to the latest Fortune 500 list of the world’s biggest corporations in terms of revenue. Fortune 500 list is an annual ranking of the world’s wealthiest companies, compiled and published by the American business magazine Fortune and published globally by Time Inc. In it companies are ranked by total revenues for their respective fiscal year which has ended on or before March 31, 2015. Revenue figures of companies mainly include their consolidated subsidiaries, reported revenues from the discontinued operations and excluding excise taxes. 

Key Facts

• 7 Indian companies are: Indian Oil Corporation (161st), Reliance Industries (215th), Tata Motors (226th), State Bank of India (232nd), Bharat Petroleum (358th), Hindustan Petroleum (367th) and Rajesh Exports (423rd). 

• Global top 10 companies: Walmart (1st), State Grid (2nd), China National Petroleum (3rd), Sinopec Group (4th), Royal Dutch Shell (5th), Exxon Mobil (6th), Volkswagen (7th), Toyota Motor (8th), Apple (9th) and BP (10th).
•  The world’s 500 largest companies generated collectively generated 27.6 trillion dollars in revenues and 1.5 trillion dollars in profits in 2015. 
• Together, 2016 Fortune Global 500 companies employ 67 million people worldwide and are represented by 33 countries

Ajay Bhushan Pandey appointed as CEO of UIDAI

Senior IAS officer Ajay Bhushan Pandey was appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). His appointment was confirmed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ajay Bhushan Pandey is a 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Maharashtra cadre. Prior to this appointment he was serving as Director General of the UIDAI since August 2015. 

About Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) 

UIDAI is nodal statutory organization behind the Aadhaar, a 12 digit unique number. It was founded under the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime in 2009. Former Infosys CEO Nandan Nilekani was its chairman from 2009 to 2014. It was granted statutory status by Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. Aadhaar is linked with an individual’s demographic and biometric information, which serves as an authentication tool throughout India. Using Aadhaar, Union and State Governments are trying to link many of their major development and subsidy schemes to reduce leakages and duplication.