02.02.18 Nagaland(NPSC) Current Affairs

NORTH-EASTERN STATES

  • Budget brings hope to bamboo-rich northeast

 

  • Bamboo is essentially a type of grass, but its classification as a tree for 90 years prevented the northeast, which grows 67% of India’s bamboo, from exploiting it commercially unlike China, the only country with richer bamboo genetic resources.

 

  • Now Budget 2018 has ignited farm hope for this tree-turned-grass which once fuelled insurgency in the northeastern states. The allocation of ₹1,290 crore for a restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) has raised hopes for a range of bamboo-based industries – from food professing to construction.

 

  • Bamboo is a wonder, multi-utility grass that more than 300 ethnic groups in the northeast have traditionally been using in every stages of life, from birth to death, besides it being a delicacy. Bamboo’s commercial journey began when it was struck off the list of trees by amending the Indian Forest Act last year.

 

  • The Budget provision is one of the best initiatives to promote holistic development of bamboo. But the restructured NBM needs to be more focussed on value-chain management and value-addition of bamboo at community level which will bring more income to the bamboo farmers and bamboo processors.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

·        India Slips to 42nd Place On EIU Democracy Index, Norway Tops

 

  • India slipped to 42nd place on an annual Global Democracy Index according to the data compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). India has moved down from 32nd place last year.
  • The top 5 Countries in the list are

    Norway,

    Iceland,

    Sweden,

    New Zealand and

    Denmark

 

  • The index ranks 165 independent states and two territories on the basis of five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation and political culture.

 

  • The list has been divided into four broad categories- full democracy, flawed democracy, the hybrid regime and authoritarian regime.

 

  • North Korea is ranked the lowest at 167th, while Syria is a notch better at 166th place.

 

 

·        India Joins Ashgabat agreement

 

  • India joined Ashgabat Agreement on the establishment of an International Transport and Transit Corridor between the Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
  • The agreement was signed in 2011, which envisages facilitation of transit and transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.
  • According to the External Affairs Ministry, the accession to the Agreement would diversify India’s connectivity options with Central Asia and have a positive influence on its trade and commercial ties with the region.

 

NATIONAL

 

  • Union Budget 2018: Key takeaways and sector-wise highlights

 

  • Finance Minister Arun Jaitley delivered the current government’s fifth and last full financial budget (Budget 2018 for the fiscal year 2018-19) amid subdued economic growth, challenging fiscal situation and farm distress.

 

Here are the key highlights from the Union Budget 2018:

Economic Health

  • Economy firmly on course to achieve high growth of 8%
  • GDP growth at 6.3% in the second quarter of 2017-18 signals turnaround of the economy
  • Growth in the second half likely to remain between 7.2% to 7.5%

Agriculture and Rural Economy

  • MSP for all unannounced Kharif crops increased to 150%
  • Institutional credit for agri-sector increased to Rs.10 lakh crore in 2017-18
  • Fisheries, aquaculture and animal husbandry corpus at Rs.10,000 crore
  • New scheme Operation Greens with an outlay of Rs 500 Crore
  • Govt to develop and upgrade existing 22,000 rural haats
  • Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund with a corpus of Rs.2000 crore
  • Allocation for Ministry of Food Processing doubled to Rs.1400 crore
  • Loans to Self Help Groups (SHG) of women to increase to Rs.75,000 crore by March 2019.
  • Increased allocation of National Rural Livelihood Mission to Rs 5750 crore
  • Under Ujjwala Scheme distribution of free LPG connections will be given to 8 crore poor women
  • Housing for All by 2022 – more than one crore houses to be built by 2019 in rural areas

Education, Health, and Social Protection

  • Estimated budgetary expenditure on health, education and social protection at Rs.1.38 lakh crore
  • Ekalavya Model Residential School to be set up for tribal children
  • Investments for research & infra in premier educational institutions at Rs.1 lakh crore in next 4 years
  • Allocation on National Social Assistance Programme at Rs. 9975 crore
  • NHPS to cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries)
  • NHPS to provide coverage up to 5 lakh rupees per family per year for hospitalisation
  • Rs 1200 crore for the National Health Policy, 2017 – additional Rs.600 crore for TB patients
  • 24 new Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals

Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) and Employment

  • Major thrust for Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) – allocation at Rs. 3794 crore
  • Target of Rs.3 lakh crore for lending under MUDRA Yojana
  • 70 lakh formal jobs to be created this year
  • Govt to make 12% contribution of new employees in the EPF for all the sectors for 3 years
  • Outlay of Rs.7148 crore for the textile sector
  • Increase budgetary allocation on infrastructure for at Rs.5.97 lakh crore
  • To develop 10 prominent tourist sites into Iconic Tourism destinations
  • 35000 kms road construction in Phase-I at an estimated cost of Rs.5,35,000 crore

Railways

  • Railways Capital Expenditure pegged at Rs.1,48,528 crore
  • 4000 kilometers of electrified railway network slated for commissioning
  • Work on Eastern and Western, dedicated freight corridors
  • Over 3600 km of track renewal targeted in current fiscal
  • Redevelopment of 600 major railway stations
  • Mumbai’s local train network to have 90 kilometers of double line tracks at Rs.11,000 crore cost
  • 150 km of additional suburban network planned for Mumbai
  • Suburban network of 160 km at for Bengaluru metropolis

Air Transport

  • To expand airport capacity more than five times to handle a billion trips a year
  • Regional connectivity – 56 unserved airports and 31 unserved helipads to be connected
  • To establish unified authority for regulating all financial services

Digital Economy

  • NITI Aayog to initiate a national program to direct efforts in artificial intelligence
  • Department of Science & Technology to launch Mission on Cyber-Physical Systems
  • Allocation doubled on Digital India programme to Rs 3073 crore
  • To set up 5 lakh wifi hotspots to provide net-connectivity to five crore rural citizens
  • Rs. 10000 crore for creation and augmentation of telecom infrastructure

Defence

  • Development of two defence industrial production corridors.
  • Allocation of Rs 2.95 lakh crore to defence sector.

Emoluments

  • To revise emoluments to Rs.5 lakh for the President
  • Rs 4 lakhs for the Vice President
  • Rs.3.5 lakh per month to Governor
  • Pay for Members of Parliament – law for automatic revision of emoluments every 5 years
  • 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi- Rs.150 crore for commemoration programme

Fiscal Management

  • Budget Revised Estimates for Expenditure at Rs.21.57 lakh crore
  • Revised Fiscal Deficit estimates at 3.5% of GDP
  • To bring down Central Government’s Debt to GDP ratio to 40%

Jaitley announces ‘world’s largest healthcare programme’

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced two new initiatives under the Ayushman Bharat Programme in the Union Budget 2018.

  • Under the programme, Mr. Jaitley announced a new flagship National Health Protection Scheme, providing a health insurance cover of ₹5 lakh a family per annum.
  • The scheme will cover 10 crore vulnerable families, with approximately 50 crore beneficiaries.
  • Mr. Jaitley also announced the creation of health and wellness centres, which will “bring healthcare closer to home”.
  • These centres, 1.5 lakh in number, will provide free essential drugs and diagnostic services. A sum of Rs. 1200 crore had been allocated for this.

·         Thirty Second Surajkund International Crafts Mela Begins

 

  • The 32nd Surajkund International CraftsMela begun in Faridabad, Haryana.

    The Mela is organized by the Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in collaboration with Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs.

    The 17-day cultural extravaganza will see a spectacular showcase of regional and international crafts, handlooms, traditions along with some mouth-watering multi-cuisine food for the visitors.

    This year Uttar Pradesh is the theme state and Kyrgyzstan is the Partner Nation.

Nagaland Public Finance and fiscal Policy

Nagaland Public Finance and fiscal Policy

Nagaland is one amongst the north-eastern states in India. It’s bordered on its west and north by Assam, on its east by Myanmar (formerly referred to as Burma), on its north by Arunachal Pradesh, and on its south by Manipur.

Nagaland is one of India’s smallest states, with an entire space of 16,579 sq kilometre. The Naga Hills run through this small state that has Saramati as its highest peak at a height of regarding 12,600 ft. Dhansiri, Doyang, Dikhu and Jhanji ar the rivers that flow through this state. The piece of land is mountainous, thickly sylvan, and cut by deep watercourse valleys. There’s a decent type of plant and animal life. Nagaland features a monsoon climate with sometimes high humidity; rain averages between 1800 to 2500 mm (70 to 100 inches) a year.

Nagaland has a legislative assembly with sixty seats. The state sends 2 members to the Indian Parliament: one to the Rajya Sabha and one to the Lok Sabha. There are seven government body districts – Mokokchung, Tuensang, Mon, Wokha, Zunheboto, Phek and Kohima.

The state is found between the 93°20′ E and 95°15′ E Longitudes and 25°6′ and 27°4′ N Latitudes. The total space lined by the state is 16,579 sq. kilometer. Nagaland was declared the sixteenth state of the country of India on 1 December 1963. Before this, Nagaland accustomed could be a union territory. The other attention-grabbing knowledge concerning Nagaland is that it homes as many as sixteen entirely completely different ethnic groups. These groups of people have their own separate cultural identities that embrace customs, dresses and languages. Nearly ninety make the most the population of Nagaland is devout Christians. The state collectively options considerable Hindu individuals. Kohima, the capital town of the state, options a variety of websites that ought to be visited by the tourists as a result of it will facilitate them in getting an insight of the rich history place. The name ‘Kohima’ has been derived from the name of a plant referred to as ‘Kew Hi’ that thrives inside the mountainous region. Kohima could be a fascinating place, endued with scores of natural beauty.Nagaland Public Finance and fiscal Policy

PUBLIC FINANCE

With a slender tax base, the State depends on central transfers for its finances since Statehood. Post the fourteenth finance commission recommendations; the State total receipt throughout 2016-2017 (B.E) is anticipated to extend by 15 per cent. Consequently, the State’s business enterprise deficit is calculable to fall inside the 3 per cent business enterprise deficit target as set underneath Nagaland business enterprise Responsibility & Budget Management Act. But a problem of concern is that the State’s total liability that is calculable to stay at 43.77 per cent of GSDP as against the Medium Term economic policy Statement target of 32.15 per cent in 2016-17. Total Receipts of the State

The full receipts of the authorities comprise of the revenue receipts and also the capital receipts. Throughout 2016-17 (B.E) the full receipts of the authorities is calculable to grow by 15 per cent raising the full receipt to Rs.13,870.98 crore from Rs.12,060.99 crore in 2015-16 (R.E). Element wise, throughout 2016-17 (B.E) the share of revenue receipts and capital receipts within the total receipts was seventy 6.19 per cent and 23.81 per cent severally.

State tax income receipt contains of State’s own tax income receipts and share of central tax transfers. State own tax income includes receipts from land revenue, stamp duties and registration, sales tax/VAT, skilled tax, tax on cars, State excise etc. Among the various classes of State’s own taxes; VAT, skilled tax and tax on vehicles contribute the most quantity to State own tax income. Throughout 2016-17 (B.E) the full quantity of tax income is calculable to extend to Rs. 3531.62 crore from Rs. 2985.93 crore in 2015-16 (R.E). As share of total revenue receipts, total tax income account for 33.20 per cent throughout 2015-16 (R.E) and 34.42 per cent throughout 2016-17 (B.E).

The non-tax revenue contains of interest receipts, revenue from administration, State lottery, power, facility, housing, forestry and life and road transport. Within the State, underneath non tax income, the main contribution comes from Power Department. Throughout 2016-17 (B.E) the full non-tax revenue is calculable to extend to Rs. 261.59 crore from Rs. 237.82 crore in 2015-16 (R.E).

State’s own revenue (including tax and non-tax) receipts (SORR) that was Rs. 536.83 crore throughout 2011-12 raised to Rs. 659.22 crore throughout 2014-15. Throughout 2016-17(B.E) the SORR is calculable to additional increase to Rs.776.90 crore. As against absolutely the increase in SORR, the percentage share of the State’s own revenue receipts (i,e. tax and non-tax revenue) to total revenue receipts swayback from 9.61 per cent in 2011-12 to 7.35 per cent in 2016-17 (B.E).

Nagaland gross fiscal deficit soared from Rs 1 Billion in 1991-92 to Rs 11.6 Billion within the fiscal year (FY) 2015-2016 as per the info discharged by reserve bank of India (RBI) on Saturday.

According to the reference book of Statistics of run 1st released in 2016, the number is that the highest business enterprise deficit in sixteen years of Nagaland state since 1991 and State had just one surplus fiscal year in 2003-04.

However, as per the advance budget estimate, the business enterprise deficit is anticipated to decrease to Rs 5.4 billion (Rs 5,400 billion) in FY 2016-17. Overall, the second edition of RBI’s applied math publication titled ‘Handbook of Statistics on States 2016-17’ rumored a hike within the gross business enterprise deficit of all the states of India, surging from a Rs 187.9 billion in FY 1991 to Rs 4,495.2 billion in FY a 2016.

The State with the very best deficit was Rajasthan at Rs 673.5 billion followed by Uttar Pradesh at Rs 643.2 billion. The Gross fiscal Deficit (GFD) shows the surplus of total expenditure together with loans internet of recovery over revenue receipts (including external grants) and non-debt capital receipts.

The rise in fiscal deficit is additionally indicative of 2 deteriorating state of affairs within the economy growing revenue deficit moreover outstanding liabilities.

With the enactment of a fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM) Act, 2005 at the centre, the Twelfth Finance Commission (XII FC) suggested that every State enact a fiscal responsibility legislation prescribing specific annual targets with a read to eliminate the Revenue Deficit by 2008-09 and scale back financial Deficit supported a path for reduction of borrowings and guarantees. The State of Nagaland enacted Nagaland financial Responsibility and Budget Management (NFRBM) Act in 2005. The targets prescribed in NFRBM Act and projections created by government in its Medium Term fiscal policy Statement (MTFPS), targets planned within the Budget, Fourteenth Finance Commission (XIV FC) targets for the State vis-a-vis achievements throughout the year 2014-15

Nagaland gross fiscal deficit soared from Rs 1 Billion in 1991-92 to Rs 11.6 Billion within the fiscal year (FY) 2015-2016 as per the information discharged by reserve bank of India (RBI) on Saturday.

According to RBI, the reference work of Statistics initial discharged in 2016, it’s the best fiscal deficit in 16 years of Nagaland state since 1991 and State had only 1 surplus fiscal year in 2003-04.

However, as per the advance budget estimate, the financial deficit is predicted to decrease to Rs 5.4 billion in FY2016-17. Overall, the second edition of RBI’s statistical publication titled ‘Handbook of Statistics on States 2016-17’ according a hike within the gross fiscal deficit of all the states of India, surging from a Rs 187.9 billion in FY 1991 to Rs 4,495.2 billion in FY2016.

The State with the best deficit was Rajasthan at Rs 673.5 billion followed by Uttar Pradesh at Rs 643.2 billion. The Gross fiscal Deficit (GFD) shows the surplus of total expenditure together with loans internet of recovery over revenue receipts (including external grants) and non-debt capital receipts.

The rise in financial deficit is additionally indicative of 2 deteriorating state of affairs within the economy growing revenue deficit moreover outstanding liabilities. (UNI)

In Nagaland’s 2015-16 budget, one amongst the best contributors to the state’s increase in revenue on the capital account are internal debt. The inner debt of the state is predicted to extend by quite 55th from the revised estimates of 2014-15. The government is predicted to lift the aforesaid quantity from enhanced market borrowings to the tune of Rs. 480 crores and ways that and suggests that advances from the tally to the tune of Rs. 626 crores of rupees. The exaggerated borrowings can presumably place a pressure on the debt service burden within the future. However, the increased GSDP, to the tune of quite terrorist organization, is predicted to cut back the consolidated debt as a printed of GSDP to 35.4% from 4.5%. Thus the importance of economic process once more props its head within the budget numbers. To confirm that the amount of debt square measure property within the end of the day there’s a requirement to confirm that the divisor, particularly GSDP should increase moreover. The fiscal deficit is predicted to be 4.91% of the GSDP. Reduction in financial deficit that has been envisaged by the XIV Finance Commission to sub third levels would require our state to renew its target revenue generation. For this purpose it’s necessary that we glance at newer sources of tax income. It’s going to be pertinent to say the expertise of Mizoram that gathered over Rs.7.23 crores at intervals an area of underneath three months. The enacting of the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition & management Act, 2014 when a. associate degree sophisticated dialogue on the difficulty of prohibition in our state should be conducted so it’ll provide some respite to the cash stripped Nagaland government.

The main feature of our revenue performance is that the increase of quite two hundredth in own tax income compared to RE 2014-15 and budgeted at Rs. 434.46 crores. Together with this increase there has been a decrease in non-tax revenue by 27th and is budgeted to be at Rs. 360.48. The revenue deficit is budgeted to be 125th of GSDP.

Another feature that’s noteworthy is that the slow however steady increase in interest payments created by our government. It exaggerated from the particular figure of Rs. 450.6cr in 2013-14 to the budgeted to Rs. 661.42cr in 2015-16. As mentioned earlier it’s vital that there’s a combined effort to cut back the interest burden on the govt. in an exceedingly comprehensive manner. No budget discussion in Nagaland is complete while not a reference or an examination of the position or otherwise of the role competes by central transfers. It’s been budgeted that there’ll be a rise (compared to RE 2014-15) within the transfers from the centre to Rs. 8227 cr. this is often simply over 37.0% of the anticipated increase in GSDP.

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