PETROTECH-2016, the 12th International Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition will be organised at New Delhi from 5 to 7 December, 2016

PETROTECH-2016, the 12^th International Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition will be organised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at New Delhi from 05^th to 07^th December, 2016. Briefing the media in New Delhi today the Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary Sh. K.D. Tripathi said that PETROTECH-2016 is poised to be the most important energy event in India in compassing the entire gamut of the oil and gas industry i.e. upstream, midstream and downstream, as well as related sectors such as alternative energy, engineering and technology.

Along with the three days Conference with an anticipated participation of over 100 eminent speakers and 6000 delegates, the event will also have an Exhibition with participation of over 600 exhibitors from over 50 countries. The theme for this year’s PETROTECH Conference is “Hydrocarbons to fuel the future: Choices and Challenges”. With this theme, PETROTECH-2016 aims to explore areas of growth in petroleum technology, exploration, drilling, production and processing, refining and other related issues. The Conference would be a platform for national and international experts from oil and gas industry to exchange views and share knowledge, expertise and experience across various segments.

Sh. Tripathi said that with steady economic growth and being the third largest energy consumer, India is today brightest spot for investors, traders and industrialists. With India looking to expand its energy portfolio and with 100 per cent FDI in Petroleum & Natural Gas sectors, organising such an event to showcase India’s Hydrocarbon industries to the world becomes all the more important.

The main event will be held at Vigyan Bhawan while the PETROTECH-2016 Exhibition will be held at Pragati Maidan. As part of India's growing engagement in the energy domain with countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Middle East, Europe and the US, 49 ministerial delegations have been invited to participate in the Conference. In addition, there  will be 2 Ministerial Sessions on “Hydrocarbons to fuel the future: choices and challenges” and “Transforming India: key initiatives”; 3 Plenary Sessions on “Oil price volatility: challenges and opportunities”, “India rising: resilience and reforms” and “India, manufacturing hub for the hydrocarbon sector”; 5 Theme Sessions on “Natural Gas: road towards cleaner and prosperous future”, “Beyond Fossil Fuels”, “Gearing for growth: talent requirements and expectations”, “Future of upstream: a techno-managerial challenge” and “The growing prominence of Asian refining”; Roundtable discussions on BRICS and CELAC countries; CEO Conclave; Exclusive forum on Women in the hydrocarbon industry and Yuva Youth Form; and Technical Programmes.

More and upto date information about the event can be obtained by following the twitter handle @petrotech2016 or facebook.com/petrotech.in

Pak troops violate ceasefire 4 times, 5 hurt

Jammu, Oct 3 (PTI) Intensifying action, Pakistan troops today violated ceasefire four times by resorting to heavy mortar shelling and firing on Indian Army posts and civilian areas along LoC in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, leaving five civilians injured and several shops ablaze.

Reports said in the retaliatory action by the Indian Army, one Pakistani post Twiven1 has been been destroyed.

The firing and shelling is going on in various areas along the LoC, officials said.

Pakistan resorted to firing and shelling in Shahpur, Krishnagati, Mandi and Sabzian sectors in Poonch district, officials said.

"Pakistan troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Mandi and Sabzian sectors of Poonch district from 1345 hours today," Defence spokesman Col Manish Mehta said.

They fired 120 mm, 80 mm mortar bombs, automatic weapons and small arms, he said, adding the exchanges are going on.

Earlier, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Poonch using small arms, automatic and mortar bombs (in Shahpur) in Poonch, the spokesman said.

"It has appropriately been responded to, we have given them befitting reply. The ceasefire violation is still on," he said.

A Police officer said the firing started at around 1045 hours and is going on.

Pakistan troops resorted to brief firing in Krishnagati sector of Poonch district around 0100 hours, officials said.

In shelling, five people were injured in Shahpur Kerni and Saujian sectors, officials said, adding the injured have been hospitalised.

The injured have been identified as Refeela Bi (18) and Gulam Mohmmad of Shahpur, Shah Begum (35 years) of Qasba, Hafiza Akhtar (17 Years) of Gangrian and 10 year Usma.

A Police officer said that one mortar shell landed in a security force camp in Gangrian in Saujian and it hit oil containers resulting in fire.

In the fire several shops were gutted, he said, adding there was no loss of life or injury to any one in the fire.

President, PM pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi

New Delhi, Oct 2 (PTI) The nation today remembered Mahatma Gandhi on his 147th birth anniversary, with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders paying floral tributes to him at his memorial here.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior BJP leader L K Advani also paid tributes to the Father of the Nation.

"Gandhiji made this world a better place. His ideals, dedication to the poor & struggle against injustice inspire," the Prime Minister said in a tweet.

Clad in a white kurta and pyjama, Modi, who arrived at 7:40 AM, paid homage to the Mahatma by offering rose petals at his memorial and performing a 'parikrama' (circumambulation) around it.

Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Rao Inderjit Singh, and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad too joined in paying homage to the Father of the Nation.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who arrived along with his deputy Manish Sisodia, also paid tributes to the Mahatma on his birth anniversary.

Ambassadors of several countries and other dignitaries attended the function. A large number of school children had also gathered at the venue to pay homage.

An all-faith prayer meeting was held on the occasion. 

Go to Pakistan and work there, Raj Thackeray tells Salman

Mumbai, Oct 1 (PTI) Stepping up his attack on Bollywood superstar Salman Khan for opposing the ban on Pakistani artistes in India, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday asked him to go and work there.

"Our soldiers don't have any personal animosity with Pakistani soldiers. The bullets our soldiers face are not filmy. Salman gets up after being hit by a bullet," Raj said, reacting to Salman's remarks, adding "I have seen his tubelight blinker many a time."

"I am also an artiste and artistes don't fall from the sky. Pakistani artistes have refused to condemn Uri terror attack. Why should our artists speak up for them?," Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief told reporters here.

Raj said the 50-year-old actor should work in Pakistan if he has so much love for artistes of the neighbouring country.

"Artistes should know its always 'nation first'. Artistes are not inseparable from society. Is there a dearth of talent in our country?," he said, adding those supporting Pakistani artists will face opposition from his party.

Raj said he does not buy the argument that there is no justification in banning Pakistani artists since they are not terrorists.

"How does that concern me if the people are good. I am seeing only terrorists who come to kill our people," he said, adding film industry was only concerned about the business of their films.

Raj said what would happen if Indian soldiers keep aside their arms to hear a Ghulam Ali concert. "What will happen then. Are soldiers our servants? ...they are protecting us."

Interestingly, Raj is on good terms with Salman and is a regular visitor to the actor's home during the Ganpati festival.

Salman had on Friday said artistes from Pakistan should not be treated like terrorists and art and terrorism should not be mixed.

The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association has passed a resolution to ban Pakistani actors from the industry in the wake of the Uri attack, which left 19 soldiers dead.

The resolution came after Indian Army announced that seven terror launch pads were targeted across the LoC by special forces during a 'surgical strikes'

64,275 declarants disclose Rs 65,250 cr black money: Jaitley

New Delhi, Oct 1 (PTI) In the biggest ever blackmoney disclosure, at least Rs 65,250 crore of undisclosed assets were declared in the one-time compliance window, yielding Rs 29,362 crore in taxes to the government.

While the blackmoney declarations will go up once all the online and manual filings of undisclosed assets filed at the end of the four-month window on September 30 are compiled, the government will get nearly Rs 14,700 crore or half of the due taxes, this fiscal.

Announcing the declarations made under the Income Declaration Scheme (IDS), Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said 64,275 declarants disclosed an amount of Rs 65,250 crore.

"Some disclosures have not been tabulated... This figure could be revised upward once the final tabulation is done," he told a news conference here.

Government had offered a one-time chance to holders of income and assets that had illegally escaped taxes, to come clean by paying a tax and penalty of 45 per cent.

On the declarations compiled so far, the government will get Rs 29,362.5 crore in tax and penalty. The declarants can pay this amount in two instalments up to September 30, 2017.

Half or Rs 14,681.25 crore will accrue this fiscal.

Last year, under a similar scheme for foreign black money holders, 644 declarations of undisclosed foreign income and assets were received, and just Rs 2,428 crore was collected in taxes.

"We will maintain secrecy of these declarations," Jaitley said, adding the tax would accrue to the Consolidated Fund of India and would be used for welfare of public.

The average declaration per declarant comes to Rs 1 crore.

A total tax of Rs 9,760 crore was collected under the Voluntary Income Disclosure Scheme (VIDS) amnesty scheme brought by the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram in 1997.

"In 1997, the tax collected was Rs 9,760 crore," Jaitley said, adding that VDIS and IDS cannot be compared as the two schemes are different.

While IDS is not an amnesty scheme, VDIS provided blanket amnesty, he said. Taxation under IDS is charged at the rate of 45 per cent while the effective rate of tax in the 1997 scheme was in single digit.

Jaitley also listed out the steps taken by the government to unearth unaccounted money in over two years, including Rs 56,378 crore during search operation and Rs 16,000 crore from non-filers of tax returns

High alert over possible attacks by Pak-based terror groups

New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI) The Centre today issued a country- wide alert asking states to step up vigil to foil any attempt by Pakistan-based terror groups to avenge the surgical strike on their launch pads in PoK even as Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed security situation along the Indo-Pak border.

Security agencies were also apprehending stepped up action by militants currently operating in Jammu and Kashmir targeting security forces and civilians following yesterday's surgical strike by special forces of the Army on seven terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK).

Security was strengthened at vital installations across Punjab and a high alert has been sounded at all airbases across the state while evacuation of people residing in villages along the International Border continued.

During the hour-long meeting with the country's top security brass, Singh instructed the officials to ensure that the forces posted along the border remain on alert as the situation along the Indo-Pak border continues to be volatile, official sources said.

The Army, meanwhile, trashed reports in Pakistan about Indian casualties during the operation, saying one member of the special forces received minor injury during exfiltration but it was not due to any enemy or terrorist action.

The operation was a clinically planned one and the attack on the seven launch pads were carried out simultaneously, sources said.

The sources said it was a moonless night and total darkness helped the special forces bring in the element of surprise with total effectiveness.

It has been estimated that casualties was at least 40 on Pakistani side but there was no official confirmation.

Choppers also hovered over several sectors on the Indian side of the LoC to divert attention of the Pakistani security forces guarding various posts..

Public release of 8th batch of 25 declassified files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on Web Portal

The 8^th batch of 25 declassified files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose were released online on web portal www.netajipapers.gov.in. today by Shri N.K. Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Culture. The present batch of 25 files pertains to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), inclusive years 1951-2006.

It may be recalled that first lot of 100 files relating to Netaji, after their preliminary conservation treatment and digitization, were put in the public domain by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on 23 January 2016, on the occasion of the 119^th birth anniversary of Netaji. Subsequently, 175 files were released in 6 more batches between March and August, 2016.  In all, 275 files belonging to the Prime Minister’s Office (58 files), Ministry of Home Affairs (37 files), Ministry of External Affairs (171 files) and the Cabinet Secretariat (9 files) have been put in the public domain in the portal www.netajipapers.gov.in.

The present release of 25 files will further meet the continued public demand to access these files and this will also facilitate scholars to carry out further research on the doyen of the freedom movement.      

These files having passed the scrutiny of the specially constituted Committee having experts from the field of Archives which looks into the aspects such as:

1.      To ascertain the physical conditions of the files and carry out necessary repair and conservation wherever needed, through Conservation Unit.

2.      To verify the quality of digitization for enabling the digitized records to upload in the web portal ‘www.netajipapers.gov.in’.

3.      To check if there is any duplication in the files that are being released on the internet for use by the researchers and general public.

It may be reiterated that in 1997, the National Archives of India had received 990 declassified files pertaining to the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) from the Ministry of Defence. Further, in 2012, 271 files/ items pertaining the Khosla Commission, and 759 files/ items of Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry, in total 1030 files/ items were received from the Ministry of Home Affairs. All these files/ items are already open to the public under the Public Records Rules, 1997.

India briefs envoys of 25 countries including P5

New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) India today briefed top envoys of 25 countries including the US, China, Russia, the UK and France after the Indian Army said it has carried a "surgical strikes" on seven terror launch pads across the LoC,inflicting "significant casualties" on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar briefed the envoys in the South Block to convey the "context" of carrying out the strikes, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup confirmed.

The Foreign Secretary told them that it was "a classic counter-terrorism operation more than a military one" and that it was to neutralise terrorists who were trained to carry out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and other major Indian cities.

They were also told that India has no plans for any further operation as of now but added the armed forces will not allow terrorists to carry out any attacks.

An all-party meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh was also informed about it.

Significantly, earlier in the day American National Security Advisor Susan Rice had spoken to Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and said the US wants Pakistan to "combat and delegitimise" UN-designated terrorist entities, including LeT and JeM.

Uri attack avenged: India conducts surgical strikes at Pak terror launchpads across LoC

Surgical strikes by India killed as many as nine Pakistani soldiers and 35-40 terrorists planning to infiltrate into India, TV reports said.

Indian army's director general of military operations Lt General Ranbir Singh speaks during a media briefing in New Delhi, India, September 29, 2016.

New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) Seven terror launch pads were targeted across the LoC by special forces of the Indian Army during the 'surgical strike' overnight in which heliborne and ground forces were used, defence sources said today.

The sources said the operation began at around mid-night last night and ended at around 4:30 AM this morning.

The terror launch pads targeted were in the range of 2 to 3km from the Line of Control(LoC) and were under surveillance for over one week, the sources said.

They said the operation was a combination of heliborne and ground forces.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said India carried out 'surgical strike' on terror launch pads across the LoC, inflicting "significant casualties" on terrorists and those who are trying to support them.

He said "based on very credible and specific information which we received yesterday that some terrorist teams had positioned themselves at launch pads along the Line of Control with an aim to carry out infiltration and terrorist strikes in Jammu & Kashmir and in various other metros in our country, the Indian army conducted surgical strikes last night at these launch pads."

The announcement of the strikes by the Indian army was made soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS).

The DGMO said he had spoken to the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations and explained India's concerns and also shared with him details of the operation.

"It is India's intention to maintain peace and tranquility in the region, but we can certainly not allow the terrorists to operate across the Line of Control with impunity and attack the citizens of our country.

"In line with Pakistan's commitment made in January 2004 not to allow its soil or territory under its control for any terrorist activities against India, we expect the Pakistani army to cooperate with us with a view to erase this menace of terrorism from our region," he said.

India climbs steadily in the Global Competitiveness Index; Improves its ranking by 16 places for the second year in a row;. Now placed 39th among 138 countries, ahead of BRICS countries other than China.

The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that in an extremely positive development, data released today by the World Economic Forum (WEF) shows that India’s ranking in the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) has improved by 16 places for the second year in a row. According to the latest ranking, he said that India is placed 39^thamong 138 countries, ahead of BRICS countries other than China which is ranked 28^th.

The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley further said that the India’s rank has steadily improved from 71 in 2014-15 to 55 in 2015-16 and to 39 in the latest report. With this improvement in its ranking, India has covered a long distance and is well on its way to emerge as a major player in the global economy, he added.  

The Global Competitiveness Index released by the World Economic Forum is one of the major studies which indicates how a country scores in the scale of global competitiveness. The Index is calculated by aggregating indicators across 12 pillars which again are clubbed together in three broad sub-indices, namely basic requirements, efficiency enhancers and innovation and sophistication factors. The report covers both business and social indicators which, directly or indirectly, impacts the competitiveness of the country in the global arena.

The landmark improvement in the Global Competitiveness rankings India is in consequence of the structural reforms and policy initiatives taken by GOI in the last two years and should be viewed as an encouragement to us to continue with the agenda of reforms which would further streamline economic decision making and help us move up on the index of global competitiveness.

The 12 pillars underlying GCI include Institutions, Infrastructure, Macroeconomic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labour market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication and innovation. India’s competitiveness has improved this year across the board, in particular in goods market efficiency, business sophistication and innovation. The macroeconomic environment also improved due to better monetary and fiscal policies and lower oil prices.

The Report analyses how India’s competitiveness score had stagnated between 2007 and 2014 till the new government took office and undertook a range of reforms including opening the economy to foreign investors and international Improvements in infrastructure which were small and faltering during most of the past decade, actually picked up after 2014 when the government increased public investment and speeded up the approval procedures. Similarly, the institutional environment deteriorated until 2014, as mounting governance scandals and inefficiencies led to a loss of trust in public administration but this trend was reversed in 2014. Macroeconomic conditions also followed a similar path and the country was able to keep a lid on inflation and reduce both the current account and fiscal deficits. India also ranks 8^th in the strength of investor protection. There is however no room for complacency and Government will continue to focus on areas which need improvement. In the coming months and years, significant improvement in goods market efficiency may be expected from the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax which will reduce fragmentation of the domestic market.