Union Government launched ENVIS portal use

The Government today reiterated the need to reach out to the people on environmental issues and creating more awareness among them. ENVIS Portal runs parallel with the objectives of Digital India which works on improving the digital literacy in the environment sector and deliver services digitally. It will play important role integrating network of ENVIS centres. The purpose of the scheme is to integrate country-wide efforts in environmental information collection, storage, collation, retrieval and dissemination. The ENVIS network presently consists of 69 centers.

Arun Jaitley releases India, Bharat 2016 Reference Annual books

Information & Broadcast Minister (I&B) Arun Jaitley on Thursday released the 'India 2016' and 'Bharat 2016 Reference Annual' books.

The Bharat 2016 and India 2016 Reference Annual books give a comprehensive digest of country's progress in different fields. The book deals with all aspects of development from rural to urban, industry to infrastructure, science and technology, art and culture, economy, health, defence, education and mass communication.

The books have sections on general knowledge, current affairs, sports and important events.

Cabinet approves WTO's trade facilitation pact

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal for notification of commitments under the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The agreement, which is part of the WTO's Bali ministerial package of 2013, contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and custom compliance issues.

"These objectives are in consonance with India's ease of doing business initiative," said an official release.

The Cabinet also approved the ratification and acceptance of the Instrument of Acceptance of Protocol of TFA to the WTO Secretariat and constitution of the National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF).

The committee would be set up under the joint chair of the revenue and commerce secretaries to facilitate both domestic coordination and implementation of the provisions of the agreement.

The agreement will come into force after it is formally accepted by two-thirds of the WTO membership. Till now, 69 countries of the 162 members of the WTO have ratified this pact.