CHHATTISGARH

Chhattisgarh could not utilise the supplementary grants of Rs 6,205.99 crores that is 10.26 percent of total expenditure which was termed as unnecessary as per the CAG report on Finance Accounts and Appropriation Accounts of the Government of Chhattisgarh for the year 2016-17. The report states that there were significant savings at the end of year even against the original allocations.

The report tabled by Chief Minister Raman Singh on Friday during monsoon assembly session states that the major investment was made in Power Companies stood at Rs 6,416.05 crore. The total public debt has increased from Rs 26050.15 crore to Rs 30,377.45 crore (2016-17) that is by more than 16 percent.

The report states that the gross Budget provision for expenditure for 2016-17 was Rs 80,202.32 crore and reduction of expenditure (recoveries) of Rs 1,991.29 crore. Against this the actual gross expenditure was Rs 60,470.82 crore and reduction of expenditure was Rs 1,349.92 crores, resulting in net savings of Rs 19,731.50 crore (24.60%) in respect of expenditure and net savings of Rs 641.37 cr in reduction of expenditure.

During the year, the total receipts was Rs 57,968.26 crore while the disbursements were Rs 57,968.26 crores. The tax revenue stood at Rs 37,754.37 crore compared to Rs 32,791.33 crore in 2015-16. The increase is attributed to rise in allocation of share of Union taxes and duties from Rs 15,716.47 crore (2015-16) to Rs 18,809.16 crores for year 2016-17. The state’s own tax revenue also rose to Rs 18,945.21 crore against Rs 17,074.86 crore for year 2015-16.

The State received Rs 10,261.63 crore as Grants in aid from the Central Government compared to Rs 8,061.59 crore in 2015-16, that is, Rs 2,000.04 crore more. The state government incurred Rs 9,470.51 crore towards capital expenditure during 2016-17 against Rs 7,945.01 core in 2015-16. There was a revenue surplus of Rs 5,520.65 crore constituting 1.90 percent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) during 2015-16 also.

The fiscal deficit during 2016-17 was Rs 4,047.27 crore which was 1.39 percent of GSDP and well within the FRBM targets of 3.5 percent of GSDP. In year 2015-16, it was also within the FRBM targets of 3.5 percent of GSDP.

The total public debt has increased from Rs 26050.15 crore to Rs 30,377.45 crore (2016-17) that is by more than 16 percent.

INTERNATIONAL

· Studies found alternate cereals can save water

According to the analysis of U.S. based Earth Institute, Columbia University and Indian School of Business, if alternative cerealssuch as maize, sorghum, and millet are used instead of rice and wheat, the demand for irrigation water can be reduced by 33%. It could also improve nutrient availability to consumers.
India is mandated to provide 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month at subsidized prices of Rs.3/2/1 per kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
The researchers said that this alternative cereal production can help distribute nutrient production across the country and reduce the impact of a single local climate shock to national grain production.

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Cooperatives is observed on the first Saturday of July each year.

Some of the day’s goals are to increase awareness on cooperatives, as well as strengthen and extend partnerships between the international cooperative movement and other supporting organizations including governments.

The theme for the 2018 International Day of Cooperatives (IDC) is “Sustainable consumption and production”.

Nepal and India have decided to jointly promote historically and culturally important tourism circuits like the Ramayana and Buddhist Circuit and adventure tourism.

India will also extend all possible cooperation in the domain of human resource development in tourism.

During a joint meeting of the Nepalese and Indian officials, both the sides also decided to establish an industry-led Indo-Nepal Tourism Forum with the support of the two governments.

· India to develop ‘World’s emptiest airport’ in Sri Lanka

India would operate Sri Lanka’s loss-making Mattala Rajapaksa International Airportin Hambantota, called the ‘world’s emptiest airport’ due to a lack of flights.
This comes in the backdrop of China developing the Hambantota seaport project in Sri Lanka.
The airport, which was named after former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, was built with the capacity to handle one million passengers a year, was officially opened in March 2013.

NATIONAL

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) declared 438 sq.km. of the area around the Mudumalai Tiger Reservein the Nilgiris as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). This is to prohibit construction and commercial mining activities and restrict hotels and resorts near the reserve.
The reserve, comprising the wildlife sanctuary and the national park, extending over an area of 321 sq.km, was declared a tiger habitat in 2007. Besides the tiger habitat, 367 sq. km. is the buffer area for a total of 688 sq. km. reserve area. The reserve is a critical part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve spread over 5,500 sq. km.

The Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri Prakash Javadekar has said that the National Testing Agency (NTA) has started its work and will be conducting various entrance examinations for higher educational Institutions from next academic sessions onwards.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, he said that the NTA will bring qualitative difference in the examination process by its focus on research and scientific test design using services of Experts, Researchers, Statisticians, Psychometricians, Test Item Writers and Education Specialists.

The new system will be student friendly, fair , transparent and flexible, the Minister added.