01.06.23 Daily [Assam] APSC Current Affairs

Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for two national highway (NH) projects in Assam.

The minister also inaugurated two NH projects in the northeastern state. The total cost of all the four projects is about Rs 1,450 crore.

Gadkari virtually laid the foundation stone for the construction 4-lane Mangaldai Bypass (15 km) on NH 15 at a project cost of 535 crore, and the construction of a 13 km four-lane Daboka-Parakhuwa stretch on NH 29 worth Rs 517 crore.

It is the direction of the Prime Minister to give priority to the development of road and projects in Assam and the entire northeast. In this regard, agencies have been created to undertake road and infra projects in the northeastern states to provide them with better connectivity throughout the year, he said.

An agreement has been made with theUniversal Postal Union (UPU)to establish a regional office inNew Delhi, which will provide development cooperation and technical assistance to the region.This decision was approved by theUnion Cabinet, led by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, and will allow India to play a more active role in the postal sector, with a focus on South-South and Triangular cooperation.

India will provide staff, an office setup, and a project expert for field work, to implement training and capacity building projects, E-Commerce and trade promotion, and enhance postal technology in coordination withUPU.

This initiative will strengthen diplomatic ties and enhance Indias presence in the global postal forum, with particular emphasis on theAsia-Pacific region.

Indias defense exportshave achieved a record-breaking milestone, skyrocketing from 686 crore rupees in 2013-14 to nearly 16 thousand crore rupees in 2022-23. This impressive Growth of 23 times demonstrates Indias advancement in theglobal defense manufacturing .

With exports reaching more than 85 countries, Indias defense sector has demonstrated its ability to design and develop high-quality products to the international community.

Currently, 100 companies are engaged in exporting defense goods.

The government has implemented several policy initiatives and reforms in the past nine years to bolster defense exports.

TheAtmanirbhar Bharatinitiatives have greatly benefitted India by promoting indigenous design, development, and manufacturing of defense equipment within the country.

This strategy aims to reduce dependence on imports in the long run.

The scheme has been extended beyond March 31, 2021, with additional features such as lawyers halls, toilet complexes, and digital computer rooms to enhance convenience for lawyers and litigants, in addition to court halls and residential units.

TheNyaya Vikas Portalprovides stakeholders with convenient access to information regarding funding, documentation, project monitoring, and approval. It offers four efficient methods for logging into the portal, empowering users with seamless accessibility.

Dubai has surpassed other cities worldwide to become the preferred FDI destination for Indian investors. In 2022, India accounted for 12 percent of the announced FDI projects in Dubai, placing it third behind the United States (20 percent) and the United Kingdom (13 percent). With a significant increase in FDI projects from 78 in 2021 to 142 in 2022, Indias confidence in Dubais potential is evident.