Finally, the International Monetary Fund has made country quota reforms agreed by the G20 in 2010 a reality. The chief objector to the changes, the U.S. Congress, dropped its intransigence in December and allowed the multilateral lender to adopt a country quota distribution that better reflects the power balance of emerging markets in the global economy. With this structural shift, …
Centre focuses on ailing healthcare
Concerned about spiralling prices of medicines to treat diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, Centre’s Department of Pharmaceuticals plans to offer 439 life-saving medicines, including cancer and cardiovascular drugs, as well as 250 medical devices like stents and implants at 40-50% discounted prices. The drugs and devices will be made available through the Jan Aushadhi stores opened across …
Centre makes it mandatory for power firms to buy from solid waste plants
Central government has made it mandatory for all power distribution companies to buy electricity from power plants fuelled by solid waste. This entitlement comes from the recent amendment of the Electricity Regulatory Act (2013). As State governments will have to build plants that can produce energy from solid waste, the ministry offered to cover “20 per cent” of the cost …
National Framework for Malaria Elimination
Health Minister has launched the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-2030, which outlines India’s strategy for elimination of the disease by 2030. Objectives of NFME: to reduce incidence of malaria to less than 1 case per 1000 population in all States/UTs by 2024 to maintain malaria-free status of the country by 2030 In the short-term, by end of 2016, …
Ethanol blending of Petrol
Oil Marketing companies have already invited bids for 120 crore litre of Ethanol for blending in petrol for sugar year 2015-16 which would be 5% (approx) of the country’s total petrol consumption. It will not only help in value addition for the farmer’s produce but will also reduce foreign exchange expenditure. Added benefits of blended petrol would be in the …