The Government of Indiahad set up a special borrowing window in October, 2020 to meet the estimated shortfall of Rs.1.10 lakh crore in revenue arising on account of implementation of GST. The borrwoings are being done through this window by the Government of India on behalf of the States and UTs.  The borrowings have been done in 10 rounds. The amount borrowed so far was released to the States on 23^rd October, 2020, 2^nd November, 2020, 9^th November, 2020, 23^rd November, 2020, 1^st December, 2020, 7^th December, 2020, 14^th December, 2020, 21^st December, 2020, 28^thDecember, 2020 and 04^th January, 2021.

The amount released this week was the 10^th instalment of such funds provided to the States. The amount has been borrowed this week at an interest rate of4.1526%.So far, an amount of Rs.60,000 crore has been borrowed by the Central Government through the special borrowing window at an average interest rate of 4.6892%.

In addition to providing funds through the special borrowing window to meet the shortfall in revenue on account of GST implementation, the Government of India has also granted additional borrowing permission equivalent to 0.50 % of Gross States Domestic Product(GSDP)to the states choosing Option-Ito meet GST compensation shortfall to help them in mobilising additional financial resources. All the States have been given their preference for Option-I. Permission for borrowing the entire additional amount of Rs.1,06,830 crore(0.50 % of GSDP) has been granted to 28 States under this provision.

The amount of additional borrowing permission granted to 28 States and the amount of funds raised through special window and released to the States and Union Territories so far is annexed.

Statewise additional borrowing of 0.50 percent of GSDP allowed and amount of funds raised through special window passed on to the States/UTs till 04.01.2021

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Goa has earned itself the unique distinction of becoming first ‘Har Ghar Jal’ State in the country as it successfully provides 100% Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in the rural areas covering 2.30 lakh rural households. Harnessing the immense benefits of efficiently utilising the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) whichaims to improve the quality of life and bring ‘ease-of-living’ to rural communities, the Chief Minister of Goa, Shri PramodSawant announced that all ruralhomes in the State now have a tap water supply.State’s commitment and brisk efforts have ensured advancement and achievement of targets well before time.

In June, 2020, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat wrote to the Chief Minister of Goa expressing his happiness on the State’s Annual Action Plan (AAP) to provide 100% Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in rural areas by 2021 and extended full support for the implementation of Mission reiterating that providing potable water is a national priority for the Union Government. Accordingly, fund allocation to Goa in 2020-21 has been increased to Rs. 12.40 Crore. Besides, the State could also explore through convergence of various programmes like MGNREGS, SBM (G), 15^th FC Grants to PRIs, District Mineral Development Fund, CAMPA, CSR Fund, Local Area Development Fund, etc. for strengthening of drinking water sources, water supply, grey water treatment & re-use and operation & maintenance.

The two districts of Goa i.e.North Goa with 1.65 lakh rural households and South Goa with 98,000rural householdsin 191 Gram Panchayats are fully saturated with assured piped water supply through tap connections. To strengthen the water testing facilities, the State is in process of getting 14 water quality testing laboratories NABL accredited.  Jal Jeevan Mission mandates training 5 persons in very village especially women to be trained in using Field Test Kits, so that water can be tested in the villages.

Goa’s achievement is an example for other Statesto emulate and ensure every rural home gets tap connection and especially in these times of CoVid-19 pandemic, it is all the more imperative to have assured safe water supply within households. This silent revolution happening in rural India in terms of household tap water connections is a work in progress for a ‘New India’.

Having achieved the universal access, the State now plans for sensor-based service delivery monitoring system so as to monitor the functionality of water supply i.e. potable water in adequate quantity and of prescribed quality being provided to every rural household on regular and long-term basis.

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With Punjab other state like Maharashtra ,Dehli ,Orrisa and West Bangal also opposed final year exam in view of corona crisis.

Meanwhile The human resource development (HRD) ministry will meet state education secretaries this week to sort out differences over conducting mandatory final-year and final-semester exams, with the apex education regulator University Grants Commission (UGC) refusing to accept unilateral decisions by state governments to scrap these exams against its directives.

“Few states are not following protocol and announcing cancellation of exams at colleges and universities. What they are ignoring is that a degree without UGC approval does not mean anything. It’s there in the UGC Act, and it’s binding. They are putting students’ future at risk and creating confusion,” said an official.
The UGC guidelines are mandatory and, as of now, there is no going back, said the official, adding that the states’ position on cancelling exams may not stand legal scrutiny.

On the other side Himachal Pradesh: After allowing the entry of tourists to visit Himachal Pradesh, the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation has issued the standard operating procedure for opening of tourism units in the State. The tourists who wish to visit Himachal Pradesh have to adhere to the guidelines issued by the state government. They have to register themselves on “Covid-19 e-pass.hp.gov.in” web portal 48 hours before visiting Himachal under tourist category. The tourists have to carry COVID test certificate (RTPCR) issued by ICMR certified laboratory with a negative report and this should not be more than 72 hours old. In addition, the tourists must have downloaded AarogyaSetu App on their mobiles.

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Odisha, the first State in the country to undertake this unique initiative, came up with online portal and toll free number 104 urging people to register. These foreign returnees will have to mandatorily give a disclosure about their health status and travel history within 24 hours of arrival.

Meanwhile The Gurgaon administration on Tuesday suggested all multinational firms, IT corporations, industries and company places of work to permit their workers to make money working from home until March 31 amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The advisory comes whilst a 29-year-old lady, who works in an IT agency within the metropolis, on Tuesday examined optimistic for the novel coronavirus, the primary such case in Gurgaon.

Stating that arrival from foreign countries was a major source of infection, the government said the incentive was meant for undergoing home quarantine. The 48-hour window for those who entered Odisha on or after March 4 began from Tuesday morning.

According the government, this will help the State in tracking persons who are already in the State, sensitise them about home isolation and keep a watch on their health for effective monitoring of the situation and medical advice.

The government also threatened legal action against foreign returnees found concealing their health status and travel history soon after the first coronavirus positive case was detected in State.

“We have received information that foreign universities have been shut down. Students and professionals are returning home. The crisis is going to only multiply,” said Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy.

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The Union Minister stated that 1 Lakh MT of Onions was the target but since the Onion growing season had ended across the world and international prices were high, Orders were placed strategically in small lots and over a period of time to ensure international prices don’t increase drastically. The Union Government had planned the imports based on the initial demand and has already contracted almost 40,000 MT of Onions which will arrive in India before the end of January. So far, 12,000 MT of Onions have arrived in the country and is ready for distribution among the State Government.

Shri Paswan further added that the main concern is to protect the interest of consumers and for ensuring that, the domestic supply is being augmented with imports so that prices are moderated and overall availability is increased. He said that there has to be a coordinated effort between the Central and State Governments and the consumers to ensure this objective is achieved. Therefore, the Union Minister exhorted all State Governments to honour the demands they had placed initially and may even go beyond their initial demand and distribute the imported Onions in their respective States to ensure that prices are moderated.

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