Capital spending shows pick-up – (Economics)
- When Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley lands in the U.S., he will be able to present a healthy picture of India’s growth to investors. The Union government’s Plan capital expenditure is showing a robust pick-up, show data from the Controller-General of Accounts.
- It is up to Rs. 52,612 crore in the first five months of the current fiscal, till August, 38 per cent higher than the Rs. 38,112 crore spent in the corresponding period last year.
ICRISAT introduces finger millet as mandate crop – (Environment)
- Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.], which figured among the six small millets in research portfolio of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), has now been formally made its mandate crop.
- This is an important recognition for a crop which has been an integral part of the ICRISAT’s research portfolio.
Khan panel report comes as a big blow to FTII students – (Indian Polity)
- The three-member Central government delegation led by S.M. Khan, Registrar of Newspapers of India, to study the problems bedevilling the strike-hit Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has accused students and faculty members of creating a corrosive climate of “populism” which resulted in the ongoing strike over the controversial appointment of BJP leader Gajendra Chauhan as FTII chairman.
Oxygen from Silicon Valley – (Indian polity)
- Excessive red-tapism in India is forcing young, promising entrepreneurs to shift to countries with business-friendly regimes and regulations. But there is cautious optimism that things will improve now, with the Narendra Modi government giving a boost to the Startup India initiative.
Merkel, hailed as Europe’s moral symbol, coming tonight – (International Relation)
- As she begins her visit to India on Sunday night, there will be a special symbolism to German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s first engagement, the traditional wreath laying at India’s apostle of peace Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial, Rajghat. That’s because Ms. Merkel is being considered the frontrunner in the race for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, due to be announced on October 9.
- The award comes a year after the Nobel Committee announced the first Indian and Pakistani winners: Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai. Confirming that her name is among the strongest of 273 nominations this year, the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) said in a release that Ms. Merkel was on the top of their list “for her response to the refugee crisis”.
36 Rafales not enough, says IAF chief – (Defence)
- The 36 Rafale fighters that India is buying from France are not enough to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha has said, adding that at least six more squadrons of similar fighters would be needed.
Cold War is back: peace activist – (International Relation)
- Mathias Rust, the iconic peace activist from Germany, has advised India to maintain neutrality in political issues involving Russia and the European Union member-states.
- His observations have come in view of the growing military tension between the U.S.-EU block and Russia which, he says, has triggered the Second Cold War in Europe.
India’s climate action targets achievable: expert – (Environment)
- It is one thing to set ambitious goals, but quite another thing to achieve them. But India’s climate action goals unveiled here officially on Friday are not only ambitious but also achievable, experts note.
- Economist Kirit Parikh, who led one of the committees formed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to come up with modelling studies and calculations for framing India’s INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) said that the main targets — up to 35 per cent cut in emissions intensity of the GDP and 40 per cent non-fossil fuel energy share by 2030 — were both realisable.
Reserve Bank of India’s surprise rate cut puts its long-term credibility at risk – (Economics)
- The Indian financial markets rose handsomely on the very positive news of a ‘surprise’ 50 basis points cut in the policy rate by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday. Among others, the price of 10-year government security moved higher, with its yield falling by about 17 basis points over the following 48 hours.
- In financial markets, as in life, surprises are rare, by definition. Major central banks, with the exception of the People’s Bank of China, perhaps, tweak their policy rates by 25 basis points at one go on most occasions.