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Maritime States Development Council

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Maritime States Development Council

Recently, the 17th meeting of the Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) was held on 15^th October, 2019 in New Delhi. Consider the following statements about the MSDC:

Constituted in 1998, MSDC is an apex advisory body for the development of the Maritime sector and aims to ensure integrated development of only Minor Ports in India.
Its function is to assess in consultation with State Governments, the future development of existing and new Minor Ports by the respective Maritime States either directly or through captive users and private participation.

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	Only 1

	B	Only 2

	C	Both 1 and 2

	D	Neither 1 nor 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is B

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) is an apex advisory body for the development of the maritime sector and aims to ensure integrated development of both Major and non-Major Ports.
It was constituted in May, 1997 to assess in consultation with State Governments, the future development of existing and new Minor Ports by the respective Maritime States either directly or through captive users and private participation.
Further, MSDC also monitors the development of minor ports, captive ports and private ports in the Maritime States with a view to ensure their integrated development with Major Ports and to assess the requirements of other infrastructure requirements like roads/rail/IWT and make suitable recommendations to the concerned Ministers.

Related Question

Thenzawl Golf Resort Project

In which of the following north-eastern state, Thenzawl Golf Resort Project has been virtually inaugurated?

	A	Mizoram

	B	Nagaland

	C	Tripura

	D	Meghalaya

Your Ans is

Right ans is A

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

On 4th August, 2020, Tourism Ministry virtually inaugurated the state-of-the-art Thenzawl Golf Resort project in Mizoram.
The project was implemented under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
It was sanctioned under the Integrated Development of New Eco-Tourism under Swadesh Darshan-North East Circuit at Thenzawl and South Zote, District Serchhip and Reiek, Mizoram.
The Golf Course is designed by Graham Cooke and Associates, one of the top-ranked Canada based Golf Course architectural firm.

National Investment And Infrastructure Fund

Consider the following statements with reference to the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF):

It is a collaborative investment platform for international and Indian investors, anchored by the Government of India.
It was set up in December 2014 to catalyse funding into the country’s core sectors.
It invests across asset classes such as infrastructure, private equity and other diversified sectors in India, with the objective to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for its investors.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

	A	Only 1

	B	1 and 2

	C	1 and 3

	D	1, 2 and 3

Your Ans is

Right ans is C

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is India’s first infrastructure specific investment fund that was set up by the Government of India in February 2015.
The objective behind creating this fund was to maximize economic impact mainly through infrastructure investment in commercially viable projects, both Greenfield and Brownfield.

Funds

Master Fund

The Master Fund is an infrastructure fund with the objective of primarily investing in operating assets in the core infrastructure sectors such as roads, ports, airports, power etc.

Fund of Funds

The Fund of Funds anchor and/or invest in funds managed by fund managers who have good track records in infrastructure and associated sectors in India.
Some of the sectors of focus include Green Infrastructure, Mid-Income & Affordable Housing, Infrastructure services and allied sectors.

Strategic Investment Fund

Strategic Investment Fund is registered as an Alternative Investment Fund II under SEBI in India.
The objective of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund II (“Strategic Fund”) is to invest largely in equity and equity-linked instruments.
The Strategic Fund focuses on green field and brown field investments in the core infrastructure sectors.

Zoram Mega Food Park

In which of the following north-eastern states, Zoram Mega Food Park has been established?

	A	Mizoram

	B	Arunachal Pradesh

	C	Nagaland

	D	Tripura

Your Ans is

Right ans is A

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

Recently, the government has operationalized the first Mega Food Park (MFP) of Mizoram i.e. Zoram Mega Food Park.
It has been set up under the ‘Mega Food Park Scheme’.
It is located in Khamrang village in Kolasib District, Mizoram.

Benefits

It will boost the North-East Region’s potential to become an organic destination of the world due to its rich agricultural and horticultural produce.

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port

Recently, which of the following port has been renamed as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port?

	A	Kolkata Port

	B	Paradip Port

	C	Vishakhapatnam Port

	D	None of the above

Your Ans is

Right ans is A

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

On 3rd June, 2020, the government announced the renaming of Kolkata Port Trust after Syama Prasad Mukherjee at a function to mark the 150th-anniversary celebrations of the port trust

Kolkata Port

The Kolkata Port is the first Major Port as well as the only riverine port of the country.
It came to be governed by a Trust on October 17, 1870, on appointment of the Commissioners for Improvement of the Port of Calcutta as per Act V of 1870.
It features in The First Schedule, Part I—Major Ports of the Indian Ports Act, 1908 and is governed by the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.

Ports Of Call

Consider the following statements with reference to the Ports of Call:

Ports of call are intermediate stops for a ship on its scheduled journey for taking on supplies or fuel.
Port of call can include both inland harbours and marine seaports that cater to vessels transiting internationally.
Presently there are six ports of call in India. They are Kolkata, Haldi and Karimganj.

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	Only 1

	B	1 and 3

	C	Only 3

	D	1 and 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is D

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

Port of Call means an intermediate stop for a ship on its scheduled journey for cargo operation or taking on supplies or fuel.
It can be defined as the port of a country where cargo or a passenger (cruise) ship halts to discharge or load the cargo or to embark or disembark passengers.
For the cruise ship, port of call is the premier stop from where they take on passengers for their cruise holidays.
For cargo ships, a port of call is a port attended within a voyage to load or unload the cargo, or for bunkering or repairs carried out on the ship etc.
Port of Call can include both inland harbours and marine seaports that cater to vessels transiting internationally.
When a vessel makes the initial customs entry into a country, the first port which it will attend will be considered as the “First Port of Call”.
Presently India has six ports of call. They are Kolkata, Haldia, Karimganj, Pandu, Shilghat and Dhubri.

Vadhavan Port

In which of the following state, Union Cabinet has given in principle approval for setting up India’s 13th major port?

	A	Tamil Nadu

	B	Maharashtra

	C	Karnataka

	D	Gujarat

Your Ans is

Right ans is B

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

On 5^thFebruart, 2020, the Union Cabinet approved the setting up of the country’s 13^thmajor port at Vadhavannear Dahanuin Maharashtra at a total cost of Rs 65,544.54 crore.
The Vadhavan port will be developed on “landlord model” (where infrastructure is leased to private firms or industries and chemical plants).
A special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be formed, with the government planning to hold 51 percent stake in the project.
The SPV will develop the port infrastructure including reclamation, construction of breakwater, besides establishing connectivity to the hinterland. All the business activities would be undertaken under the private-public partnership mode.

Impact

With the development of Vadhavan port, India will break into the countries with top 10 container ports in the world.

Central Road And Infrastructure Fund

Consider the following statements about the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF):

The budget 2018 has amended the Central Road Fund Act, 2000, and has renamed the Central Road Fund as Central Road and Infrastructure Fund.
As per the amendment, the share for each infrastructure areas and projects from the CRIF shall be finalised by a Committee, constituted by the Central government.
The fund comprises of a cess imposed along with excise duty on petrol and diesel.

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	1 and 2

	B	2 and 3

	C	1 and 2

	D	1 , 2 and 3

Your Ans is

Right ans is D

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

Budget 2018 amended the Central Road Fund Act, 2000, and renamed the Central Road Fund the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund.
The objective of the amendment was to use proceeds of the road cess under CRIF to finance other infrastructure projects such as waterways, some portion of the railway infrastructure and even social infrastructure, including education institutions and medical colleges.
The fund comprises of a cess imposed along with excise duty on petrol and diesel.
As per the amendment, the share for each infrastructure areas and projects from the CRIF shall be finalised by a Committee, constituted by the Central government. The Committee will be headed by the Finance Minister.
The amendment prescribes that road cess is first credited to the Consolidated Fund of India and later, after adjusting for the cost of tax collection, should go to the CRIF.
Now, the administrative control of Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) falls under the Ministry of Finance. Earlier it was under the domain of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Gujarat’s New Port Policy

Recently,the Gujarat government has revised its existing port policy.Consider the following statements about the revised policy:

It allows ports of any size more than five million metric tonnes, to be set up as a commercial port.
It allows the existing 32 captive jetties in the state to handle “third-party” cargo without any restrictions.

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

	A	Only 1

	B	Only 2

	C	Both 1 and 2

	D	Neither 1 nor 2

Your Ans is

Right ans is C

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

The Gujarat government announced a new port policy that removes restrictions on 32captive jetties operating in Gujarat, and turns them into commercial ports.
This policy allows ports of any size more than five million metric tonnes, to be set up as a commercial port.
It allows the existing 32 captive jetties in the state to handle “third-party” cargo without any restrictions.
The existing 32 captive jetties handle cement, ammonia, sponge iron, crude, coal, gas and over-dimensional (cargo that protrudes beyond the loading deck) cargo, and the operation of RO-RO ferries (which transport cars and other road vehicles).
Now, the captive jetty owners can now make investments in expansion and modernisation of these jetties. The government has also allowed them to handle cargo belonging to their group companies.

Impact

The move is expected to boost infrastructure and attract investment in the port and logistics sector.
The policy paves the way for the state to attract Rs. 4,000 crore fresh investments in the port sector.

National Infrastructure Pipeline

Recently, the government constituted a high-level task force to draw up National Infrastructure Pipeline(NIP)worth $1.4 trillion.Consider the following statements about the NIP:

The NIP will be guided by the task force consisting of six members and led by the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs.
The National Infrastructure Pipeline would include only brownfield projects costing above Rs 100 crore each.
The task force is mandated to submit its report on the pipeline for 2019-20 by October 31, 2019 and on the indicative pipeline for 2021-25 by December-end, the ministry said.

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below?

	A	1 and 2

	B	2 and 3

	C	1 and 3

	D	1, 2 and 3

Your Ans is

Right ans is C

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

On 8^th September, 2019, the Central Government constituted a task force to draw up a National Infrastructure Pipeline for each of the financial years from 2019-20 to 2024-25.

About NIP

The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) will be guided by the task force consisting of six members and led by the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs. NITI Aayog CEO or a nominee by him/her will also be part of the task force.
The NIP would include greenfield and brownfield projects costing above Rs. 100 crore each.
The terms of reference of the task force for FY20 have also been notified and it will submit its first report on the NIP by 31 October, 2019. Another report on the indicative pipelines for financia l years 21-25 w ill also be submitted by the committee by 31 December 2019.

Term of Reference

It includes identifying technically feasible, financially and economically viable infrastructure projects that can be started in 2019-20.
It will also enable robust marketing of the pipeline of projects requiring private investment through the India Investment Grid (IIG), National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and other such entities.
It will suggest measures to monitor the projects so that cost and time overruns are minimized.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Solar Attractiveness Index

According to the latest Solar Attractiveness Index, released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, which among the following states has emerged as the best state for setting up a roof top solar projects?

	A	Gujarat

	B	Andhra Pradesh

	C	Telangana

	D	Karnataka

Your Ans is

Right ans is D

Your Answer Is Correct

Your Answer Is Wrong

Explanation :

On 21^st August, 2019, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy released Solar Attractiveness Index (SARAL).
Karnataka has emerged as the best state for setting up of roof top solar projects, followed by Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh.
Jammu and Kashmir has been ranked last in the index.
The SARAL system currently captures five aspects:
- robustness of policy framework
- implementation environment
- investment climate
- consumer experience
- business ecosystem in the states

Significance

It would incentivise rooftop solar by creating healthy competition among the states and will encourage all states to adopt the best practices being followed by top ranking states.
It will help to meet the National target of achieving 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022, of which 40 GW is expected to come from grid connected solar rooftops.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

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