Indian Electronics Sector Attracts $18 Billion in Investment Proposals
The electronics manufacturing sector has attracted investment proposals worth $18 billion since the Government launched its “Make in India” program last year, said Ajay Kumar, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Communications, who added that the figure is expected to jump in 2016.
India, U.S. Foreign Office Consultation Held
Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken deliberated on a range of key issues of mutual interest as part of the India-U.S. Foreign Office Consultation. Jaishankar and Blinken also reviewed implementation of decisions taken during President Obama’s visit to India in January in addition to reviewing the security scenario in the region.
Report: India Sees 21% Jump in Smart Phone Shipments
One out of every three smart phones shipped to India in the third quarter of 2015 are 4G-enabled, said a report by the International Data Corporation (IDC). According to IDC, 28.3 million smart phones were shipped to India in the third quarter of 2015 – up 21.4 percent from the same period last year. In the third quarter, the 4G-enabled devices have witnessed almost a threefold increase in shipments over the previous quarter in 2015.
Bill Gates Calls on PM Modi
Bill Gates called on the Prime Minister Modi to discuss clean energy initiatives, financial inclusion, sanitation, health and nutrition. Gates was appreciative of the work done in India in the field of renewable energy and emphasized the need to lower the cost of clean energy to reduce the level of hydrocarbons.
Pfizer, IIT Delhi Launch ‘Innovation & IP Program’
Pfizer with IIT Delhi have announced the launch of “The Pfizer IIT-Delhi Innovation and IP Program,” an incubation accelerator initiative open to Indian nationals, individuals and startup companies. The program will provide two years of residential incubation at IIT Delhi, funding, mentoring support from IIT Delhi’s faculty and other services.
Govt. OKs Skill Training to 5 Million
The Government will provide skill training to more than 5 million people through its Skill India program with $1 billion in World Bank assistance. The Skill Training for Employability Leveraging Public Private Partnership project was cleared by the Department of Economic Affairs.
Govt. Has OK’d National Highway Projects Worth $16 Billion in Past 18 Months
Since the new Government came to power in May 2014, a total of 599 highways projects have been sanctioned, covering more than 8,000 miles of national highways and spending more than $16 billion, said Minister of Road Transport and Highways, and Shipping Nitin Gadkari. He added that regular meetings of the infrastructure committee are held for clearing bottlenecks and other projects.
Finance Minister Gets Report on Tax Reform
The Finance Minister received a report on tax reform that the submitting committee characterized as a historic opportunity for India to implement a game-changing tax reform. Domestically, it will help improve governance, strengthen tax institutions, facilitate “Make in India by Making One India,” and impart buoyancy to the tax base.
PM Modi’s Pro-Poor Programs Bear Fruit, LPG Subsidies Set Guinness World Record
After bringing millions of poor people into the banking network through his financial inclusion plan, Prime Minister Modi’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cash transfer plan is providing subsidies for millions more households. It is such a success that the Guinness Book of World Records recognized the LPG subsidies as the largest cash transfer program in the world.
Email is Now Primary Communication For Tax Matters
The Central Board of Direct Taxes said that email is the new mode of communication between tax officials and taxpayers, as part of the Government’s e-initiative to reduce human interface and complaints of harassment and corruption in conducting tax related jobs.
