ODISHA

Ease of biz ranking bares odisha’s gaps in implementation

Odisha going downhill to occupy the 14th slot in the latest ease of doing business ranking vis-a-vis the 7th business-friendly State in 2015 could prove a dampener for the State Government’s endeavour to make the upcoming ‘Make in Odisha’ drive a success.

Because the State’s poor show is attributed to a below-40-per cent score in feedback category, which otherwise is a barometer of reality check for the State’s business policy on ground. This is important because it reflects investors’ confidence in the State.

While Odisha scored around 92.09 in the reforms-evidence score, the showing was pathetic in all important ‘feedback’ indices with a mark of a mere 39.2 per cent. Even in the reforms-evidence category, Odisha failed to score over 95 per cent when Jharkhand scored a perfect 100 because Odisha fared poorer in the Single Window System (SWS) reforms area notwithstanding the steps taken like Go-Swift portal for tracking investor applications. The latest ranking analysis shows in SWS Odisha fared poor among all major States.

Reason for low scoring in SWS: Odisha laid emphasis on web-based time-bound ‘clearances’ to investment proposals, but States like Uttar Pradesh scored over Odisha as it ensured a time-bound ‘service-delivery’ to entrepreneurs for registration or licensing processes in vital arenas like labour, environment, land allotment, construction permits, power/electricity connections and State taxes.

The poor on-ground feedbacks on SWS made Odisha fare poorer to finish 16th in the overall feedback ranking in country.

The World Bank had asked for enforcing timelines in ‘service-delivery’ and provisioning ‘punitive’ measures for violations.

Odisha’s policy enabler to facilitate a business startup is not that conducive here as startup investors have to wait for 15 days for Entrepreneurial Memorandum (EM-I) registration and around 38 days for EM-II registration against 7 days and 15 days in its nearest competitor States.

More so, when Odisha is venturing into attracting investment in the manufacturing sector other than core sectors, quality infra information would be most sought-after by a prospective investor.

And Odisha’s new IPR has no provision to extend its offer of GIS based comprehensive industrial data on infrastructures like road, water pipeline and sewerage systems unlike Gujarat, indicated the analysis.

INTERNATIONAL

· Krill fishing poses serious threat to Antarctic ecosystem

A new report says thatIndustrial fishing for krill in the pristine waters around Antarctica is threatening the future of one of the world’s last great wildernesses.
A study by Greenpeace found industrial fishing taking place in the feeding grounds of whales and penguins, with vessels involved in oil spills and accidents. It also highlights incidents of fishing boats being involved in groundings, oil spills and accidents pose a serious threat to the Antarctic ecosystem.
A global campaign has been launched to create a network of ocean sanctuaries to protect the seas in the region. The commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resourceswho manages the seas around Antarctica will decide on the sanctuary proposal at a conference in Australia in October.

India becomes Vice Chair of the Asia Pacific Region of World Customs Organisation

India has become the Vice-Chair (Regional Head) of the Asia Pacific Region of World Customs Organisation (WCO) for a period of two years, from July, 2018 to June, 2020.

The WCO has divided its Membership into six Regions. Each of the six Regions is represented by a regionally elected Vice-Chairperson to the WCO Council.

Being the Vice Chair of AP Region of WCO will enable India to take on leadership role.

WCO represents 182 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade.

France Won Its Second World Cup Title

France overwhelmed Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium to lift the trophy for the second time in 20 years.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup was the 21st FIFA World Cup.

It took place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018.

Golden Boot: Henry Kane

Best player: Luka Modric

Best goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois

Fairplay Award: Spain

· HSV1 virus linked to Alzheimers disease

Scientists have found evidence of a linkbetween herpes infection and Alzheimer’s disease as well as the potential of antivirals in reducing the risk of the neurodegenerative disease.
A study by Taiwanese epidemiologists shows that Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV1) which infects most humans in their youth or later and remains in the body for life in dormant form within the peripheral nervous system leads to an increased risk of developing the disease.
Scientists believe that these safe and easily available antivirals may have a strong part to play in combating the disease in these patients.

NATIONAL

· Entire Men’s Hockey Team Included In TOP Scheme

In a departure from the norm, the Mission Olympic Cell included the entire Indian hockey teamin the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme, rewarding the players for their silver medal-winning performance at the Champions Trophy.
Athletes from different sports have been included in TOP Scheme individually but it is the first instance that an entire team has been made beneficiary of the financial assistance scheme. Each of the 18 members of the hockey team will now get a monthly allowance of Rs 50,000.

· Ministry of mines organized 4th National conclave on mines and minerals at Indore

The Ministry of Minesorganized the 4th National Conclave on Mines & Minerals at Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan was the chief guest of the conclave.
For the first time, the conclave had an exhibition in which States put up stalls to showcase their more than 100 mineral blocks which have been prepared to be put up on auctions during 2018-19. An app of NALCO–NAMASYAwas also launched by the Ministers.
Mines ministers also held a roundtable conference with the industry leaders, in which several key issues related to statutory clearances were discussed.

· Haryana top state in per capita revenue collection under GST

Haryana is also the fourth highest generator of e-way bills in the country. About 1.12 crore e-way bills were generated in Haryana between April 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018.
Haryana has widened the tax base by 82.22 per cent and logged 19 per cent hike in revenue collections.

· ISRO join hands with J&K to set up telemedicine centre at 12,700 feet

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) joined hands with J&K’s Directorate of Health Services-Kashmir(DHS-K) to set up atelemedicine center at an altitude of 12,700 feet to provide service to pilgrims en route to the Amarnath shrine.
The Panjtarni Base Camp Hospital on the Pahalgam cave shrine route will provide real-time treatment for high-altitude and other ailments that pilgrims frequently face in the region. An Intensive Care Unit will be set up to handle critically ill patients.
The country‘s top hospitals like Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, (PGIMER), Chandigarh; the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi; the Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, etc. will be available through the telemedicine facility.

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