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In a move to find a political solution to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, the state government has proposed to the Centre that it is ready to grant greater autonomy to the existing hill councils in the state but will not compromise with the territorial integrity of the state.
Since the onset of the conflict, the Kuki community has been demanding separate administration alleging the state government’s complicity in the targeted annihilation of the community.
Separate administration, in whatever form the Kukis are demanding, is not acceptable to the government or the rest of the population in the state.
However, we are ready to address the concerns of the hill tribes. We have proposed that the autonomy of the hill councils can be increased giving them greater freedom and control in the administration of hill regions. We hope Kukis will accept the offer and end the conflict.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been holding talks with representative groups from both Meitei and Kuki communities to find a solution to the ongoing conflict.
More than a dozen such sessions have been held since the conflict began with Union Home Minister Amit Shah himself engaging in some of these.
Moon landing point shivshakti, Chandrayaan – 2 spot Tiranga: PM (Page no. 3)
(GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the point where the Vikram lander touched down on the lunar surface would be named “Shiv Shakti”.
He also announced that the point where the Chandrayaan-2 lander left its footprint on the Moon would be known as “Tiranga Point”.
In his address to ISRO scientists after landing in Bengaluru from his visit to South Africa and Greece on Saturday morning, the Prime Minister linked the name with “Naari Shakti”, the power of Indian women, so many of whom, he underlined, had made enormous contributions to the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
The lander module of the mission landed at a spot close to the 70 degree South parallel of the Moon, the closest to the lunar south pole than any mission has ever reached.
The lander and the rover, which landed at the dawn of a new lunar day, are scheduled to carry out a series of scientific experiments for the duration of the day, which is equivalent to 14 Earth days.
Govt & Politics
G20 culture meet ends with consensus on heritage (Page no. 7)
(GS Paper 2, International Organisation)
The G20 Culture Ministerial Meeting concluded with an outcome document that recognised the significance of repatriation of cultural property to their countries and communities.
The “Kashi Culture Pathway” document recognised threats to cultural heritage and cultural resources — “including looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property, the intentional or collateral destruction of cultural heritage and sites, desecration of relics and shrines, illicit excavations, forgery and the misappropriation of cultural heritage”.
The document said such acts may result in the loss of irreplaceable cultural assets and the disruption of socio-cultural practices, potentially impacting peoples and communities, including cultural, human, economic and social rights.
The culture ministers from G20 countries present at the meeting, along with delegates from guest countries and international organisations, expressed concern over illicit trafficking of cultural property “through the rise of the online market and other digital and social platforms”, and added that this may require specific regulation.
Express Network
Bhutan looking at a slice of India’s growth pie (Page no. 10)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering is ready to offer investment incentives to global companies with an arm in India if they extend their business to Bhutan as well.
Tshering said with a lot of investments coming to India, “Bhutan could look at business not just with the Indian government, but with any company in the world that has an arm of investment in India.”
Tshering said, “We might be able to offer some unique advantages, maybe in terms of tax, maybe in terms of manpower, maybe in terms of specific skills, so that companies can have a chapter in Bhutan too.”
On asked if Bhutan was open to manufacturing hubs, he said: “Yes, but not in the conventional style. We will never be able to mass produce; we will have to focus on key, highly-valuable, low-volume businesses and manufacturing that will require less hands but highly skilled ones.
This can mostly be in areas like digital and IT services, science and technology.” He said his country was ready to explore financial services as well.
India and China are global manufacturers, and for us to compete with these two giants will be a mistake. We have to find a window that will give an investor or unit some advantage. Like, say, substantial tax benefits, or other similar benefits,” he said.
Bhutan’s economy is heavily reliant on tourism, but the levy of a hefty sustainable development fee of $200 per person per day for foreigners post-pandemic has been a hurdle in getting tourists back to the mountainous country. The Bhutan government announced a 50% cut in this fee to $100 per person per day. Indians have to pay Rs 1,200 per person per day.
Economy
Govt considering inclusion of EVs in priority sector to help funding access (Page no. 15)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
The government in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is considering a proposal to include electric vehicles (EVs) in the priority-sector lending (PSL) category, a senior finance ministry official said.
We have received a representation to include EVs in the priority sector lending. We will look at reworking the priority sector lending requirements for banks.
It has to be discussed with the RBI. This will be a detailed examination. An entire review will need to be done for priority sector lending. Many sectors are demanding to get added in PSL.
Non-conventional energy sources including green hydrogen, green ammonia, and some other new renewables are likely to be considered for inclusion under priority-sector lending norms along with electric vehicles.
As per RBI guidelines, it is mandatory for banks to extend 40 per cent of their adjusted net bank credit to the priority sector.
At present, seven sectors agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), export credit, education, housing, social infrastructure, and renewable energy are considered for priority-sector lending.
Under the renewables sector as of now, bank loans up to a limit of Rs 30 crore to borrowers for purposes like solar based power generators, biomass-based power generators, wind mills, micro-hydel plants and for non-conventional energy based public utilities such as street lighting systems and remote village electrification are eligible for priority sector classification. For individual households, the loan limit is Rs 10 lakh per borrower.
EU awaiting India’s response on dispute settlement mechanism (Page no. 15)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
The European Union said it is awaiting India's response to its proposal for setting up of a dedicated dispute settlement mechanism under the bilateral investment protection pact that is being negotiated along with an ambitious free trade agreement (FTA) by the two sides.
The EU's Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis told a small group of journalists that both sides are engaged in "intensive" negotiations on the proposed FTA and that "progress" has been made on various issues.
But at the same time the top EU official, currently on a visit to India, noted that there is "still a lot of work ahead of us".
Asked when the FTA can be sealed, he said the main focus has been on "substance over deadlines".
To a question, Dombrovskis said there is no direct impact of New Delhi's trade ties with Moscow on the India-EU trade negotiations, adding: "In a sense, we do not see new topics emerging which could be obstacles for the FTA in this context."
Dombrovskis also allayed New Delhi's concerns over its proposed carbon tax on imports of high-carbon goods like steel, iron ore and described it as "non-discriminatory" measure aimed at protecting the planet.
Over four months back, the European Union announced its decision to impose the carbon tax on imports on imports of steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers and electricity as part of its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
India, US discuss ways to promote trade, investments (Page no. 15)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai discussed ways to promote trade and investments between the two countries.
In a message on social media network X (formerly known as Twitter), Goyal said he held a bilateral meeting with the US counterpart Tai.
Discussed key bilateral issues of mutual interest and explored ways to give further impetus to the growing India-US partnership through enhanced trade and investments.
An official has recently said that both countries are looking at ending their last trade dispute related to poultry in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Besides they are also looking at enhancing the partnership by permitting companies in both countries to participate in each others' government procurement.
In July, India and the US mutually resolved six trade disputes pending at the WTO, in line with the commitment made by the two countries during the US visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June.