Governance Community

The Rs 2,000 banknotes will no longer be in circulation, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced on Friday, May 19. The Rs 2,000 banknotes will still be accepted as legal tender. The people can also exchange Rs 2,000 notes for notes of other denominations at any bank branch or deposit them into their bank accounts. The RBI said that beginning on May 23, 2023, any bank will allow the exchange of Rs 2,000 banknotes into banknotes of other denominations up to a ceiling of Rs 20,000 at a time in order to maintain operational ease and prevent disruption of routine activities of bank branches. Additionally, starting on May 23, the 19 Regional Offices (ROs) of the RBI with issuing departments will offer the ability to swap Rs 2,000 bank notes up to the maximum of Rs 20,000 at a time. The introduction of the Rs 2,000 denomination banknote in November 2016 was primarily done to quickly satisfy the economy’s need for money following the loss of the legal tender status of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bank notes that were in use at the time. After sufficient supplies of notes in other denominations became available, the goal of launching Rs 2,000 banknotes was achieved. As a result, the printing of Rs 2,000 banknotes was discontinued in 2018–19, according to the RBI. The expected life time of the Rs 2,000 banknotes is about 4-5 years, and 89 percent of them were printed before March 2017. According to the apex bank, the total value of these banknotes in circulation has decreased from Rs 6.73 lakh crore, which represented 37.3% of notes in circulation at their peak on March 31, 2018, to Rs 3.62 lakh crore, which will make up only 10.8% of notes in circulation on March 31, 2023.

Anurag Thakur, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, urged the Indian Information Service (IIS) officers and members of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Wednesday to push the boundaries of public communication and use new technologies in doing so. The Minister was speaking to an audience in New Delhi as he opened the day-long “Chintan Shivir” conclave on “Citizen Centric Communication as a Tool for Good Governance.” According to Thakur, both the media landscape and how information is consumed by individuals are rapidly changing. In order to address those needs, he continued, it is necessary to adapt new information transmission techniques. The minister noted that the Indian Information Service (IIS) is an essential component of the government and that this year’s Chintan Shivir has given the staff members a special opportunity to work together, reflect on their own behaviour, and promptly alter their course. He encouraged the officers to aim towards greater effectiveness through improved resource management, teamwork, collaboration, and information sharing. The minister asked everyone in attendance to set a deadline for themselves and to regularly review and update both the ministry’s and their own organization’s priorities and deliverables. The minister urged the officers to periodically assess their ability to serve the country to the best of their abilities, referring to Karmayogi Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. As the government is focused on the welfare of the impoverished, the minister outlined a clear priority for the ministry’s communication aim and stated that the Antyodaya mantra should direct the officers’ everyday activities. He emphasised how a substantial portion of India lacks access to television and newspapers and lives in the media shadows.

On May 16, 2023 at 10:30 AM via video conference, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will give around 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits. The Prime Minister will also speak to these new hires at the event. There will be 45 Rozgar Mela events across the nation. State governments and UTs supporting this programme, as well as departments of the central government, are all recruiting. The newly hired individuals, chosen from applicants across the nation, will fill a variety of roles and posts, including Gramin Dak Sevaks, Inspector of Posts, Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerk, Junior Clerk-cum-Typist, Junior Accounts Clerk, Track Maintainer, Assistant Section Officer, Lower Division Clerk, Sub Divisional Officer, Tax Assistants, Assistant Enforcement Officer, Inspectors, Nursing Officers, Assistant Security Officers, Fireman, Assistant Accounts officer, Assistant Audit officer, Divisional Accountant, Auditor, Constable, Head Constable, Assistant Commandant, Principal, Trained Graduate Teacher, Assistant Registrar, Assistant Professor, among others. The Rozgar Mela is a step in the direction of fulfilling the Prime Minister’s promise to give employment creation first priority. The Rozgar Mela is anticipated to serve as a catalyst for increased job creation and give young people worthwhile possibilities for empowerment and involvement in national development. The newly appointed individuals will also have the chance to train on their own through Karmayogi Prarambh, an online orientation programme for all new hires in different government departments.

The BJP has “not been able to make a mark,” Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai conceded, as the Congress was winning or leading in 136 of the state’s 224 assembly seats, comfortably exceeding the magic number of 113. According to the most recent trends on the Election Commission website, the BJP is leading in 64. The JD-S, which hoped to be the kingmaker, was leading in 20 seats. “Once the results come we will do a detailed analysis. As a national party, we will not only analyse but also see what deficiencies and gaps were left at various levels. We take this result in our stride,” stated Basavaraj Bommai. Exit polls had indicated that it would be a close contest, with the Congress emerging as the single-largest party but lacking sufficient support to surpass the 113-seat mark. According to the state’s chief election officer, Karnataka voted in a single phase and had 73.19 percent voter turnout. One of the main causes of the right-wing party’s defeat in the Karnataka assembly election in 2023, according to CM Bommai, was that the Congress began its election preparation much earlier than the BJP. “I take responsibility for this debacle. There are multiple reasons for this. We will find out all the reasons and strengthen the party once again for Parliament elections,” he told reporters. A party must win 113 seats in the 224-seat Karnataka assembly in order to form the government. Who the Congress chooses as their candidate for chief minister will now be the center of attention. Both DK Shivakumar, President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), and senior leader Siddaramaiah are eyeing the position. Rahul Gandhi of the Congress congratulated the people of Karnataka, where his party appears to have won a landslide win and would likely form the next government. At the Congress office in New Delhi, he said to the ecstatic party members that “the market of hate has been shut, and shops of love have opened.” According to him, “the power of poor people” won in the elections in Karnataka. This will happen again in other states as well. He continued, assuring that the party will keep the five promises it made during the first cabinet meeting of its government. “The Congress has fought for the issues of the poor,” he said.  

The day of the results has arrived following intense election campaigning and record voter turnout in Karnataka. As counting begins today, all eyes are on the JDS, BJP, and Congress. Congress has jumped out to an early lead in the polls, but BJP is not far behind. The election was peacefully concluded on May 10 with a record voter turnout of 73.19%, higher than the previous record of 72.36%. The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Indian National Congress (INC), and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) fought it out in the election on three different sides. The counting will take place in 36 different centres throughout the state. By noon, it should become evident what the outcome will be. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party won 104 seats in the 2018 assembly elections, making it the single-largest party. The Congress came in second with 78 seats, and the Janata Dal (Secular) came in third with 37 seats. This time around, 2,615 candidates ran for election in the 224 Assembly constituencies. Notably, four exit polls gave the Congress party a full majority in Karnataka, and some predicted a hung assembly that would favour the party. A few exit polls also indicated that the BJP is leading in the race to form the government. According to ECI, the Congress leads in 85 seats, the BJP in 62 seats, and the JDS in 18. Leading in two seats are independents.

The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued an advisory to all mobile phone manufacturers in India, requesting that they make sure that the FM radio receiver function is not disabled in phones sold in the country. This is done in order to clear up any confusion regarding compliance standards regarding the government-backed digital information network, the FM radio. The advisory comes only weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 91, 100-watt FM transmitters to improve radio connectivity throughout the country. The new phone manufacturers who do not already offer the FM radio feature have also been instructed by the Union government to add it to the mobile handsets that will be sold in India. All mobile phone manufacturers and brands are to get an advisory, according to a directive from the Union government to the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAID). The advisory was issued in response to concerns that certain cell phone makers were omitting the FM radio from their newest models. All phones in the past, including smartphones, have an FM radio built in. The Union governance has insisted that the FM broadcast is a dependable communication system, especially during natural disasters when it acts as an essential link between local government and the general people. Using FM broadcast is also thought to be the most efficient way to spread early warnings and encourage people to take precautions for their own safety. The Centre has also stressed the significance of the huge FM transmitter network and FM radio that are accessible in India, which were crucial in that nation’s attempts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The network of transmitters with All India Radio has expanded from 524 to 615, covering 73.5 percent of the country’s population. The recently launched FM Transmitters are located in 91 places throughout 84 districts in 20 states. A proposal to place 63 additional FM transmitters across the nation has also been approved by the Centre in addition to the aforementioned. The Centre asserts that the expansion of FM services in rural areas is due to the extensive reach of FM radio service and the accessibility of mobile phones with FM receivers.  

India is prepared to upend the current technological order by showcasing its cutting-edge digital infrastructure, which has just become a major economic driver. The Union government reportedly requested international technology experts to evaluate India’s telecom stack in accordance with global standards at the recently concluded G7 Digital and Tech Ministers’ Meeting held in Japan. India highlighted the accomplishments of its major digital programs, including Aadhaar, UPI, and Cowin, at the G7 summit under the direction of Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Vaishnaw asserted during the conference that the surge of digitization sparked by the Digital India programme has not only assisted in building a robust digital infrastructure throughout the nation but has also aided in its widespread acceptance. The Union minister said on Thursday that India is emerging as a technology powerhouse and is garnering global attention for its growth journey in technological development. He expressed his satisfaction over the increased interest the world has in the Indian technology industry. According to Vaishnaw, India’s success may be due to initiatives like Digital India and Make in India, as well as to its advancements in creating domestic 4G and 5G telecom stack and digital public infrastructure. According to Vaishnaw, there is a lot of interest in finding out more about India’s telecom infrastructure and 5G rollout, which is thought to be the quickest in the world. In a statement made on Thursday, the Union Minister further attributed India’s technological progress to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s innovative initiatives. Vaishnaw, who was representing India at the meeting, presented a presentation on the country’s digital public infrastructure and highlighted how it is being built to offer large-scale solutions. “India is clearly emerging as a technology powerhouse and a trusted partner because of PM Modi ji’s visionary programs like Digital India and Make in India. Today globally, there is a strong interest in learning from India’s growth journey as technology developers,” Vaishnaw said in a statement.  

In order to support India’s commitment to sustainability, an ESG (environmental, social, and governance) task force will be established in the textiles sector, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Commerce and Industry, announced on Saturday during the soft launch of the Ministry of Textiles’ e-commerce website for handloom and handicrafts in Rajkot, Gujarat. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel also attended the event, which was a part of the “Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam.” The Union Minister attended the Chintan Shivir, which took place during the two-day event in Somnath and Rajkot, where discussions on many facets of the industry were held alongside officials from the Ministry of Textiles. Speaking at the event, Goyal stated that productive discussions about boosting the vibrancy of the textile industry had taken place. He continued by saying that some exporters and manufacturers receive certification for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance, which assures them two times the value. To ensure this certification for more exporters and producers, efforts are being made. The minister also discussed the textile industry’s 2030 export target of attaining $100 billion and its 2030 overall target of $250 billion. Goyal stated that one of PM Narendra Modi’s five commitments were that in order to move forward with assurance, we must return to our roots. According to him, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have a common history and culture in addition to having a robust traditional and modern textile sector.  

As part of his push for sustainable transport, Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated on Thursday that by 2025, 121 new airports would be completely carbon neutral. There are already roughly 25 airports in India that only use green energy, according to Scindia. Scindia emphasised that India and the European Union share a common purpose in addressing climate change when speaking remotely at the two-day EU-India aviation meeting after testing positive for Covid19. The aviation sector has adopted a number of actions to reduce its carbon footprint and mitigate emissions in response to mounting demand to do so. In order to encourage airports to use 100% green energy by 2024 and attain net-zero emissions by 2030, according to Scindia, the Indian government has pushed through a number of policies in the sector. 25 AAI airports have already reached this goal, and 121 more are anticipated to do the same by 2025, according to Scindia. As part of the bid documents for future airports, the government has enforced the usage of renewable energy, the Union Aviation Minister also stated. Additionally, we are attempting to promote the usage of sustainable aviation fuel. Indian airline operators have already used biofuel that has been blended with ATF in demonstration flights, according to Scindia. While urging EU members to collaborate with India in the development of adaptable technologies to assist the goal of reducing emissions from the aviation industry, Scindia said that India has changed its legislative framework to boost aircraft production in the nation. The government has lowered the GST rate on maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services from 18% to 5% and permitted 100 percent foreign direct investment in the industry to improve the regulatory environment for MRO service providers. To make it easier for MRO service providers to conduct business, additional new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) criteria have been introduced. Scindia urged participants in the EU aviation industry to seize these chances and join the world’s aviation market which is expanding rapidly. The EU-India aviation summit, which began on Thursday, will concentrate on the two regions’ air transport relations, the post-Covid recovery of air traffic, enhancing sustainability, ensuring safety, and developing unmanned aircraft systems.  

Devusinh Chauhan, the Union minister of state for communications, pledged the commitment of the Centre to deploying the newest 5G services across India in record speed, noting that India has already covered 600 districts with 5G services in less than 200 days. The minister stated that the “Antyodaya” vision, which is important in promoting inclusive welfare and development, served as the inspiration for the new public policies of the central government when addressing at the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) meeting in Hyderabad. According to the Union MoS, “India has covered 600 districts with 5G in less than 200 days, that is one of the fastest in the world,” and “India has the second largest telecom network with the lowest data rate in the world. The development of indigenous 4G, 5G technologies in a short span of time has surprised the world.” Addressing at the gathering, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment A. Narayanaswamy stated that the ‘Digital Antyodaya’ approach and the Accessible India campaign for bridging the digital divide by making technology accessible to all demonstrate how sympathetic the current government is to differently abled people.