Governance Community

Tata Sons have purchased Air India Airlines again to save it from its losses. The government on Monday signed a share purchase agreement worth Rs 18,000 crore with Tata Sons for the sale of the national carrier Air India. In this months timeline, the government had accepted an offer made by Talace Pvt. Ltd., a unit of the holding company of the salt-to-software conglomerate, to pay ₹2,700 crore cash and take over ₹15,300 crores of the airline’s debt. However, on October 11, 2021, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was issued to the Tata Group, confirming the government’s willingness to sell its 100% stake in the airline. Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey tweeted, “Share Purchase Agreement signed today by Government with Tata Sons for strategic disinvestment of Air India.” Based on the agreement, the sale also includes the ground handling arm of Air India– AISATS. In the bid race, Tatas beat the Spicejet promoter Ajay Singh and the reserve price of Rs 12,906 crore set by the government for the sale of its 100% stake in the loss-making carrier. This deal will be the first privatisation since 2003-04, Air India will be the third airline brand under Tatas Umbrella. The company already holds a majority interest in AirAsia India and Vistara, a joint venture with Singapore Airlines Ltd.

The businesses in India are now seeking government support to meet up the Electric Vehicle target. The target to make all vehicles electric is by 2030 in the country. The businesses are now expecting support from the government to help them meet the mark, which is merely a decade away. More than 25 companies, including automakers Mahindra & Mahindra and Volvo, oil giant Shell, and clean mobility startups, demand India set strict targets and frame supportive policies for the transition from fuel vehicle to electric vehicles, as per the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). For the first time that companies in India have made this push to switch towards clean mobility. This demand was raised weeks ago at the United Nations conference on climate change- which will be an important event to bring out more commitments to stop global warming. Joe Phelan, director at the WBCSD in India, said, “after the rapid growth in India’s renewable energy sector, transport decarbonization is India’s next ample opportunity to deal with the issue of climate change. Source: economicstimes.com

Uttar Pradesh and Kerala Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Pinarayi Vijayan held an emergency meeting to resolve the coal crisis that led to a power shortage problem. About the same, Kerala Electricity Minister K Krishnakutty said the decision on a power cut in the state would be taken after 19th October. Currently, Kerala is facing a shortage of 100 MW and trying its best to bridge the demand-supply gap through an automated management system and buying electricity at a higher price. Yogi Adityanath had directed the UP-Power Corporation Chairman M Devaraj to do a detailed review of the supply of coal to the state’s power plants; he referred to take all essential steps to ensure enough coal supply. Many other states have also raised the concern of power blackout due to a shortage of coal. The Union Ministry of Power said it had directed state-run NTPC and Damodar Valley Corporation to ensure power supply to Delhi. Ministry also claimed that many states are not supplying enough power to their public and imposing load shedding to sell electricity in power exchange at a higher rate. The distribution companies have been instructed to not sell power in the power exchange at a higher rate, as it is their duty first to ensure 24X7 electricity supply to their customers. Source: Monetcontrol.com

The India-UK tussle over vaccine recognition has been going on after the UK government raised a few issues with India’s inoculation authentications. India too made 10-day quarantine obligatory for travelers coming from the UK. Indian travelers completely vaccinated with the two portions of Covishield won’t need to be quarantined in the United Kingdom, beginning from October 11, British high magistrate to India Alex Ellis tweeted on Thursday, stopping the continuous India-UK tussle over acknowledgment of immunization against Covid-19 in the two the nations. “Good evening! From Monday, 11th October, travellers from India to the UK, double jabbed by Covishield or any other vaccine recognised by the UK regulator does not have to quarantine. So it will easier and cheaper to enter the UK. This is great news,” Alex Ellis said in a video message, saying thanks to the Indian government for the nonstop collaboration with the UK government. The UK is open for Indian travelers for quite a long time and handled a large number of visas to understudies, business travelers, and vacationers, the British high official said in his message. “Some of the noise about this issue in the last few weeks just shows how keen people are to travel to the UK and I am delighted by that… Let’s open up more flights between the countries…” he said. The issue began after the UK changed its movement rules from October 4 and didn’t at first notice Covishield in the rundown of its acknowledged immunizations against Covid-19. Then, at that point, the UK government acknowledged the Covishield antibody as it is a definition of the Oxford-Astrazeneca immunization, currently perceived by the UK administrative position, yet didn’t acknowledge India’s immunization endorsements, produced by Cowin. A few rounds of talks were held among India and the UK government to end this impasse as not perceiving India’s antibody testament implies travelers vaccinated with the two portions of Covishield need to go through the required quarantine in the UK. While the discussions went on, India likewise forced a comparable limitation on individuals coming to India from the UK. It said independent of the immunization status, all UK travelers in India should be quarantined for 10 days. Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla had communicated his mistake with the UK’s Covishield check. The public authority emphasized that there was no issue with either Covishield or the immunization testament. While the endorsement holds fast to the worldwide principles, India exported Covishield to the UK, the government said. Source: thehindustantimes.com

In a joint meeting on Wednesday held between the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) Engineers and Green Marshals and Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai, it was concluded with the decision of starting the anti-dust campaign from 7th October 2021. The campaign initiated by the Delhi Government will start effectively from today and will continue till October 29. In a recent move, Rai had launched the ‘Advanced Green War Room’ and ‘Green Delhi App’ for people in Delhi to send their complaints and concerns regarding 10 different kinds of pollution during the winter season. Rai told India TV, “Last year the anti-dust campaign showed good results. This time it will be run in a more systematic manner. We had a meeting with all government construction agencies on September 14 and with private agencies on September 17. In the meeting, we discussed the 14-point agenda.” This notice will be given on any irregularity because no explanation comes in two days, then a penalty will be imposed as per the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines of 2016. During the campaign, thirty-one teams consisting of 17 DPCC and 14 Green Marshals will go to the ground from today to monitor the areas with their respective vans. Source: India Today.

After the continued friction between Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Paras regarding using the name Lok Janshakti Party, the Election Commission (EC) allocated separate party names and symbols to these two leaders. Days after barring Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Paras from using the name of Lok Janshakti Party or its symbol, the ‘bungalow’. While issuing separate letters to Paswan and Paras, the poll panel announced the name ‘Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)’ and election symbol ‘Helicopter’ to the Chirag Paswan Group. On the other hand, the commission allotted ‘Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party’ as party name for Paras group and election symbol as ‘Sewing Machine’. In the coming by-election, these two parties are asked to use the newly allotted symbol and party names only if any candidate from these parties will participate in the election. In an Interim order on October 2, the election commission barred both factions from using the name of Lok Janshakti Party or its symbol until the dispute between them did not settle down. The interim order was signed by Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and fellow Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey. Source: thewire.in

A senior BJP Leader, Devendra Fadanvis, publicly stated that ups and downs are part of politics. BJP is very optimistic about getting another chance to form a government in Maharashtra again. This statement in public by Fadanvis, while addressing a gathering of Mathadi workers in Navi Mumbai on the occasion of the 88birth anniversary of labour leader late Annasaheb Patil, the former chief minister, raised the concern for a speedy resolution of issues concerning head loaders. He also said issues of Mathadi workers would have been solved by now if his government had been in power. As the leader of the opposition, he said in the assembly that we all should keep working together towards solving the issues of Mathadi workers. Source: economictimes.com

Based on a report by India Today, according to sources, it has been revealed that the International Community has denied the acceptance of the forceful Taliban government as it has not fulfilled the criteria of inclusivity as promised. “International community will not recognize any power that comes by force. Another demand was of an inclusive government, even that’s not fulfilled. As many as 14 ministers are proscribed terrorists,” the sources told India Today. They added further, “Pakistan was involved in the government formation, the ISI chief was in Kabul just before the government was formed.” Speaking about the QUAD Summit, it has been notified that new initiatives on COVID-19 vaccines, climate change and new emerging technology will be unfolded in due course of time. The US has ruled out India’s inclusion in the trilateral military alliance of the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, known as AUKUS. On the possibility of the dilution of the QUAD’s agenda, sources said, “No comparison between Quad and AUKUS. The Quad approach is not a politico-military initiative. AUKUS is military in nature.” On the US saying it will allow only fully vaccinated to travel to America from November, sources said, “The US has been more liberal, we have administered well over 800 million vaccines. We are pushing for mutual recognition of vaccination certificates to partner countries. CoWin platform is an open-source digital platform. It provides full details – QR code.” Source: India Today

Member of NITI Aayog Dr. V K Paul on Friday said that the discussion of the Indian Government is going on with the vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer on various issues, including indemnity waiver. He added, “We are in touch with Moderna and Pfizer. The discussion is on hold as it is a process of negotiationand dialogue. We are seeking solutions on contractual and commitment issues. The process, for now, is ongoing”. Before this, in June, the US-based biotechnology company, Moderna, announced that India had granted permission for its COVID-19 vaccine to be imported into the country for restricted and emergency usage. Whereas Pfizer had not even applied for the and emergency use authorization in the country. Source: zeenews.india.com

Uddhav Thackeray announced that the Maharashtra Government is ready to extend full support if the Union Minister of States for Railways Rohasaheb Danve takes the initiative to launchthe Mumbai NAGPUR Bullet train project. Thackeray said,” We need to focus on public welfare keeping aside politics, as the people also expect the same from us as leaders. We, therefore, have to meet the public’s expectations as far as possible. He added that I am giving my word that full support from our side will be provided if the States Railway Minister takes the Mumbai-Nagpur bullet train project initiative. Source: ndtv.com