Topics Covered – New CSR Policy, M-Sand, Flash Drought, New Geospatial Policy
CSR
1. As per the new provisions, every entity that intends to undertake any CSR activity will have to register itself with the Central Government by filing the form CSR-1 electronically with the Registrar of Companies, with effect from April 1, 2021.
2. All companies with a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more, a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or more, or net profit of Rs 5 crore or more, are required to spend 2 percent of their average profits of the previous three years on CSR activities every year. The amended CSR rules allow companies to set off CSR expenditure above the required 2 percent expenditure in any fiscal year against required expenditure for up to three financial years.
3. In the event of the company failing to spend the earmarked two percent of net profits towards CSR, it will “have to specify the reasons for not spending the amount” and, unless the unspent amount relates to any ongoing project, transfer it to a government notified fund.
4. Administrative Expenditure – 5%
5. Multi-Year Scheme
6. Default-No Jail – 1 Cr Rs Fine On Company + 2 Lakh Rs Fine on Defaulting Officer
7. Impact assessment
M- sand
The Rajasthan government has brought a policy on manufactured sand (M-sand), giving industry status to the units producing it for construction work and reducing the dependence on bajri (riverbed sand).
Highlights of the new Policy:
The policy will enable the investors to set up M-sand units by utilising the incentives offered by the State government.
What is M-Sand?
M-sand is a substitute of river sand for concrete construction.
Manufactured sand is produced from hard granite stone by crushing.
The crushed sand is of cubical shape with grounded edges, washed and graded to as a construction material.
The size of manufactured sand (M-Sand) is less than 4.75mm.
Its significance:
It can be dust-free, the sizes of m-sand can be controlled easily so that it meets the required grading for the given construction.
It is well graded in the required proportion.
It does not contain organic and soluble compounds that affect the setting time and properties of cement thus the required strength of concrete can be maintained.
It does not have the presence of impurities such as clay, dust, and silt coatings.
Flash Drought
Flash drought is characterized by rapid onset and intensification caused by high evapotranspiration due to extreme heat, wind and high incoming solar radiation. It can develop in as little time as 10 to 15 days.
Sindh – Ganga Plain
Study – Not only is summer but also during monsoon (When rain doesn’t occur for 15 to 20 days and temperature is very high – Soil humidity decreases rapidly)
In 1979, India faced a severe flash drought, affecting about 40% of the country and taking a toll on agriculture.
Read Yourself – Mahajan Aayog (Justice Mehar Chand Mahajan)
246 Villages to be transferred to Maharashtra and 247 to have remained with Karnataka
Glacial Lake Outburst Flood
800 New lakes have formed in Himachal Pradesh (Reason – Glacial Melting)
Size is increasing continuously
Geospatial sector in India: New Policy
Geospatial data
Geospatial data is all of the data that represents the objects on the surface of the Earth, be it natural or man-made. Geospatial data can be static, like locations of roads, or dynamic, like a moving vehicle.
Why is India liberalising the geospatial sector?
India is rapidly moving towards infrastructural development that has become necessary to be at par with countries across the world. With initiatives like Smart Cities and Digital India, sophisticated systems like urban public transport, delivery and logistic, and global technological advancements to roll out products like e-commerce, automated drones, etc in place, geospatial data is of key importance to undertake mapping to ensure proper development. However, India is riddled with a lack of data. With the resolution and precision required to undertake this task, if the government sets out to do it on its own, it could take a long time to complete.
Quick mapping is the need of the hour so that follow-up works can be carried out sooner by the private sector.
The current geospatial policy
The geospatial policy that was in place till now had not been reviewed over several decades and therefore, placed strict restrictions on companies and innovators to take prior approvals and go through other stringent procedures and the result red tapism before they could undertake the collection, preparation, publishing, generation, dissemination and updating of the digital geospatial data and maps in India.
This meant that the geospatial sector in India had been majorly controlled by the Union Government and several central agencies like Survey of India. Since the policy had not been reviewed in decades, as per the laid down norms, the collection of geospatial data was only done from the point of view of security and therefore, it was to only remain under the control of the government and the defence forces. Any private company wanting to create such data had to take permission from the concerned department, along with getting the approvals of Union Defence and Home Ministries.
What does the new geospatial data policy say?
With this new policy, Indian entities would not have to get prior approvals, licences or security clearances, etc, to acquire and produce such data and related services, including maps. Moreover, with the new policy, the government has decided to make available all of the geospatial data collected using public funds to all Indian entities for economic, developmental as well as scientific purposes, barring the data that has been collected for classified purposes by security or law enforcement agencies.
एकाम्र क्षेत्र
भुवनेश्वर के पुराने शहर का क्षेत्र शामिल है जो इस मंदिर की वास्तुकला का केंद्र है और हिन्दुओं का पवित्र शहर माना जाता है। परमार्दि के अनंतवसुदेव के शिलालेख के अनुसार यह एक पवित्र क्षेत्र था।
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