Government of India permits 100% FDI in online market places

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, on 29 March 2016 permitted 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) under the automatic route for retail trading, or B2C (business-to-consumer) transactions, in the marketplace model of e-commerce with a view to attract more foreign investments.

India, World Bank sign $1.5 billion loan pact for Swachh Bharat Mission

Government of India and the World Bank has signed a $1.5 billion loan agreement for the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) to support India’s universal sanitation initiative. The pact for the SBM Support Operation Project is to help the government in its efforts to ensure that all citizens in the rural areas have access to improved sanitation with a focus on changing behaviour and eliminating the practice of open defecation by 2019.

Japan to lend Rs.14,000 crore for Indian projects

Government of Japan has committed a loan of JPY 242.2 billion (around Rs.14,251 crore) for various projects across India, including Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and the North East.

  • Official Development Assistance is to be deployed for a transmission system strengthening project in Madhya Pradesh, an integrated sanitation improvement project in Odisha, a dedicated freight corridor project, a road network connectivity improvement project in the North East, and a micro drip irrigation project in Jharkhand, according to a government released.
  • Government of Japan has committed a total of JPY 390 billion in the current financial year which is the highest amount committed in a year.” India and Japan have had mutually beneficial economic development cooperation since 1958.

PM Modi And Belgian PM Charles Michel Launch Asia’s Biggest Telescope

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel have launched Asia’s biggest telescope which was built by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) with the assistance of Belgian. The telescope with a mirror of 3.6 m diameter has been located at a height of 2,500 metres at Devasthal in Nainital district to get a clear view of the sky.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC

The 4th Nuclear Security Summit begins in Washington D.C., Unites States. The Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) is a world summit, aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism around the globe. The first summit was held in Washington, D.C. in 2010.

Bill on partial ban on liquor in Bihar passed

Bihar state Assembly has unanimously passed the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Bill 2016 to enforce the ban on country made liquor from 1 st April this year. The 1915 liquor Bill was amended to incorporate stricter penal provisions, including death penalty for manufacturers and distributors of illicit liquor in the event of a hooch tragedy.

NOTE: Alcohol prohibition in India is in force in the states of Gujarat, Nagaland and parts of Manipur; as well as in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Kerala has been implementing prohibition in a phased manner since 2014.