Handicapped by the chaotic roll out of a goods and service tax (GST) last year and a shock, overnight move to take high value banknotes out of circulation in late 2016, India’s economy is expected to post growth of 6.Below is a list of expectations across markets and corporate sectors.Mumbai: India’s government will unveil its budget for the 2018/19 fiscal year on Thursday, with investors expecting increased investment in key areas such as agriculture, and a slew of incentives for businesses.TaxesReduce corporate tax rate to 25 per cent from 30 per centCut Minimum Alternative Tax to 15 per cent from 18.The government is widely expected to increase spending to ensure growth recaptures momentum, but most investors expect it to be prudent as loosening fiscal deficit targets by too much would likely spark a sell-off in the bond market.5 per centEnhance tax deductions, exemptions for individualsMay tax long-term capital gains in investments.

AgricultureEstablish fund to guarantee credit to encourage investment in agriculture sectorAllocate more funds for crop insurance schemesIncrease spending for dams and canals, micro irrigation systemsProvide subsidies for building cold storage to avoid wastage of perishable cropsReduce fertiliser subsidiesBanksAllow full tax deduction for provisioning of non-performing assets at lendersRaise the threshold for tax deduction on the interest paid on bank deposits from current 10,000 rupeesReduce the tenure of tax-exempted retail term deposits to minimum of 3 years from current 5Allow tax relief for proceedings under insolvency codeInfrastructureIncrease investment by 10-15 per cent in roads from 2017/18 budgetProvide support for key road projects, including Bharatmala project, which will connect western and eastern IndiaIncrease railways investments by 10 per cent from 2017/18 budgetTech/ITProvide greater incentives for digital transactionsSupport digital payments infrastructureRationalise tariff structure, excise duties for mobile phones, tablet computersLower GST rates for telecom services to 12 per cent from 18 per cent.

AutosAnnounce policy on scrapping commercial vehicles that do not comply with emission norms if operational for over 15 yearsLower GST rates on electric vehicles, currently at 12 per centReal estateSet single-window clearance for all real estate projects, especially housing to avoid execution and project delaysGive infrastructure status to real estate to help bring down finance, project غير مجاز مي باشدts, make homes more affordableReduce battery powered electromagnetic flowmeters kf700e GST rate for projects under construction from current 12 per cent Spend more on affordable housingReduce GST rate for home purchases to 12 per cent; stamp duty could also be cutOil and GasReduce “cess” duty to 8-10 per cent from 20 per cent for oil and gas exploration and productionSet more beneficial GST rates for natural gasReduce or exempt city gas distribution companies from excise dutyExempt LNG imports from paying basic customs dutyProvide subsidy aid to downstream companies selling LPG, kerosene below market pricesMetals and MiningDecrease in basic customs duty on coking coal across gradesDecrease in export duty on iron ore above certain grade levelsHike basic customs duty on aluminium scrap to protect domestic industryAccelerate minerals explorationGoldCut import tax on gold to 2-4 per cent from 10 per cent to prevent smuggling.75 per cent in the 2017/18 fiscal year ending in March, which would be the slowest in three years

However, with the easing of lockdown restrictions and gradual opening of industries, gas demand has been now restored to normal levels. "As far as some projects are concerned, the supply chain disruption has pushed back the anticipated completion dates."The onset of COVID itself will impact project progress to some extent and the company is identifying opportunities for Capex and Opex optimisations," it said.However, since April 20, 2020, onshore operations have also been restarted in places where these were stalled and are near normal at present. "Going forward it is anticipated that a combination of higher oil and gas prices, rationalization in expenses and some statutory relief will help the company to protect and maintain our activity level.In a note on the material impact of COVID-19 pandemic submitted to stock exchanges, ONGC said operations and production have gone on uninterrupted during the nationwide lockdown imposed on March 25 to contain the spread of the coronavirus.ONGC top management closely monitored the operations, resulting in uninterrupted supply chain for smooth operations as well as supplying essential items required for safety and wellbeing of operational employees, and for continued production of oil and gas for the nation.

The projects under execution include development of KG-D5 block in Bay of Bengal.While about 9 per cent of the company&pipeline flowmetermount in any position z 6000 series39;s natural gas output was impacted by inability of customers to take supplies due to the coronavirus lockdown, lower oil and gas prices had impacted its revenues, the company said.New Delhi: State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic will impact the speed of execution of its projects and the company is identifying opportunities for optimisation of capital and operating expenditure."With the imposition of lockdown, onshore # operations were hampered in quite a few places which resulted in idling of drilling rigs and equipment.Crude oil production was almost at the same level as before the COVID-19 outbreak but natural gas "output was down by 9 per cent on account of less demand and offtake by customers due to the lockdown," it said.

"Lower oil and gas prices are expected to impact internal resource generation capacity, but given low gearing levels at standalone basis fund raising for the same is not expected to be an issue," it added."Also, there have been some disruptions in supply chains especially in the international arena but these have not yet had any major impact on day-to-day operations."Management is well abreast of all the challenges and attempts are also underway to seek assistance from the government for rationalisation of existing taxes and duties structure," it said.The company borrowed short-term funds to manage liquidity position during the lockdown.ONGC said it currently has the financial capability to sustain its operations and activities including capital and operating expenditure, though both these are being closely examined afresh for possible optimisation and rationalisation."It may however be stated that the COVID will impact the speed of execution of various projects and if COVID remains around for a long time, some disruptions in activity levels at local basis cannot be ruled out," it said.The company is currently implementing several projects to bring oil and gas discoveries on both east and west coast to production.. However, close monitoring is in progress to ensure that supplies and normalcy is attained at the earliest," it said

Besides the 9 fields, 149 marginal fields, that contribute about 5 per cent of the domestic production, were to be clustered and bid out.Oil and gas acreage or blocks in all future bid rounds turbine flowmeter will be awarded primarily on the basis of exploration work commitment, it said adding companies will not have to share any profit with the government on oil and gas produced from less explored areas.The proposal brought before the panel, which was appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October last year to boost stagnant output from ageing fields of public sector oil companies, was to give private/foreign companies complete marketing and pricing freedom after getting from them an enhanced production profile for the fields..Sources said, 64 small and marginal fields of ONGC and two of Oil India Ltd (OIL) were recommended to be bid out within four months and NOCs allowed to retain 54 others (49 by ONGC and 3 by OIL) where enhanced oil recovery/improved oil recovery schemes were under implementation.

New Delhi: State-owned ONGC's nine biggest oil and gas fields including Mumbai High and Vasai East came tantalizing close to being sold to private and foreign companies but the plan was nixed after strong opposition from within the government, sources said. The recommendations have been accepted by the government. Pricing and marketing freedom for any new field development plan that they bring was also recommended. The overhauled policy notified by the government provides for complete marketing and pricing freedom for oil and gas produced from areas bid out in future bid rounds.Private and foreign companies have generally shied away from taking up exploration blocks and have instead been lobbying for getting a stake in producing oil and gas fields of ONGC and Oil India Ltd (OIL) saying they can raise output by bringing in capital and technology. National oil companies (NOCs) were to get 10 per cent of incremental output over business as usual (BAU) scenario, sources said.

While ONGC opposed giving away on a platter to private/foreign sector what it discovered after years of toil and spending billions of dollars over last four decades, some in government were not convinced by the incremental potential toyed to get the proposal through, they said adding it wasn't clear how the incremental output numbers were arrived at in absence of any real basin or field study by the panel. Multiple sources in Niti Aayog and government said the plan to give away fields producing 95 per cent of India's current oil and gas could not go through because of very strong opposition from Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) as well as some quarters within the government who found something amiss in the proposal.A high-level committee headed by Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar late last year considered "transferring" western offshore oil and gas fields of Mumbai High, Heera, D-1, Vasai East and Panna as well as Greater Jorajan and Geleki field in Assam, Baghewala in Rajasthan and Kalol oilfield in Gujarat to private/foreign companies. NOCs, on the other hand, contend that they do not have pricing and marketing freedom and they too can get the technology provided the same is provided.The final report that the committee submitted on January 29, had watered down the proposal by recommending freedom to NOCs to choose field specific implementation model including farm out, joint venture or technical service model for raising output from the fields that contribute 95 per cent of the current output

The statutory authorities responsible for authorizing and regulating such activities may also be accountable for their lapses, if any, in dealing with the matter," the NGT said.It took suo-motu cognisance on the basis of media reports on the leakage of hazardous gas, Styrene from a chemical factory owned by the South Korean company LG Polymers. The incident has caused damage to Orifice plate flowmeter the environment and habitat..It said that the committee may specifically report on the sequence of events, causes of failure, the extent of damage to life, human and environment, steps to be taken for compensation of victims and restitution of the damaged property among others.Styrene gas is a hazardous chemical and as per rules, it requires on-site and off-site emergency plans to ensure prevention of damage.NGT said that the committee may visit and inspect the site at the earliest and give its report before the next date via email and site visit may be initially conducted by members available locally in consideration with outside members online.NGT's principal bench headed by its Chairperson AK Goel also issued notice to Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (PCB) and District Magistrate of Vishakhapatnam.

The Tribunal has also sought a report from a 5-member committee comprising former Judge of Andhra Pradesh High Court, Justice B Seshasayana Reddy, Former Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University, Professor Ch V Rama Chandra Murthy, Head of Chemical Engineering Department of Andhra University, Professor Pulipati King, CPCB Member Secretary and Director of CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology.The NGT has directed LG Polymers, India, at whose plant the gas leakage occurred, to forthwith deposit an initial amount of Rs 50 crore taking note of damages caused due to the incident.Stressing that it is necessary to ascertain the facts relating to the extent of damage, the extent of the failure and consider remedial measures, the bench listed the matter for May 18 for further hearing."Such an entity is liable to restore the damage caused under the Environment Law, apart from other statutory liability.

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday issued notices to LG Polymers, Union Environment Ministry, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others regarding the Vizag gas leak incident.The bench has directed the District Magistrate of Vishakhapatnam and Regional Office of Andhra Pradesh PCB to provide logistic support to the Committee to enable their fact-finding and reporting.On Thursday, a styrene gas leak at the plant of LG Polymers in RR Venkatapuram village in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh had claimed 11 lives.NGT noted that there appears to be a failure to comply with the rules and other statutory provisions and leakage of hazardous gas at such a scale adversely affecting public health and environment clearly attracts the principle of 'Strict Liability' against the enterprise engaged in a hazardous or inherently dangerous industry.Further hearing in the matter is scheduled for May 18

But, they said, if carbon emissions remain unchecked, deoxygenation is ultimately not a risk to be dismissed.Now a new study adds to the grim tableau: the risk that warming at the far end of the scale could rob our planet of oxygen..“There may be very little warning signs before the disaster actually happens.“The mesغير مجاز مي باشدe from this study is that there may be another disaster approaching us as a consequence of global warming, and it may be much worse than all other consequences identified previously,” co-author Sergei Petrovskii told the AFP.“We have identified another possible consequence of.“It would mean oxygen depletion not only in the water but also in the air,” said the team. “The danger.The UN’s climate science panel, considered the authority on the subject, has said the globe could become 4. “Should it happen, it would obviously kill most of life on Earth.

A new study by the scientists of the Britain’s University of Leicester says, average global warming of 600C would be a threshold at which the phytoplankton’s vital oxygen-generating abilities, determined by water temperature, would be impairedGlobal warming has triggered an array of apocalyptic scenarios for future generations, from worsening flow measurement Manufacturers drought, storms and floods to melted icesheets and rising seas.80C warmer this century on worst-case-scenario greenhouse gas emission trends..”Warming of 60C exceeds mainstream projections, although the International Energy Agency (IEA) has previously warned it is possible if nothing is done to reverse the rise of greenhouse-gas emissions.. But once the critical threshold is passed (as estimated at 60C), then the catastrophe will develop fast,” he explained by email.UN members negotiating a climate rescue pact in Le Bourget have embraced a goal of limiting global warming to 20C over pre-Industrial Revolution levels, or less.Their study, based in the peer-reviewed journal the Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, is based on a computer model of phytoplankton, the microscopic sea plants which produce about two-thirds of the oxygen in the atmosphere. Last month, Britain’s weather office said 2015 was on track to hit the halfway, 10C, mark.. is probably more real than to be drowned,” they wrote.

The team said research into the effects of warming on oceans so far had focused on sea level rise and species loss.Average global warming of 60C (10.Many scientists say that if this temperature is ever reached, it could result from unbridled carbon emissions over a very long period — or from a tipping point such as the release of methane gas from melting permafrost, which would cause warming to accelerate at a stroke.8 degrees Fahrenheit) would be a threshold at which the phytoplankton’s vital oxygen-generating abilities, determined by water temperature, would be impaired, they say.. Global warming that can potentially be more dangerous than all others,” say a pair of scientists from Britain’s University of Leicester.. Their study was based on mathematical modelling, rather than observational research, and the authors acknowledged they did not factor in certain natural processes, such as ocean circulation, which could influence the outcome

47 billion on Reliance-BP-Niko combine for producing in seven years ending March 31, 2016 about 338.So, a notice was sent, they said, adding that the government is also pressing Reliance to pay USD 174. But Reliance had at that time stated that the methods were flawed.9 million of additional profit petroleum after certain غير مجاز مي باشدts were disallowed because of KG-D6 output being lower than the target.The panel headed by Singapore-based arbitrator Lawrence Boo has concluded hearings on the validity of the government&gas flowmeter39;s demand that Reliance and its partners BP plc of UK and Canada's Niko Resources pay for "unfairly" producing natural gas belonging to state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), sources privy to the development said..New Delhi: An international arbitration tribunal has concluded hearing in the USD 1.At the time, Reliance disputed the government's demand as being based on a "misreading and misinterpretation of key elements of the PSC," and it said that such a demand was without precedent in the oil and gas industry.The oil ministry on November 4, 2016, slapped a demand of USD 1.332 million British thermal units of gas that had seeped or migrated from ONGC's blocks into their adjoining KG-D6 in the Bay of Bengal.

Shah, however, said the compensation should go to the government as it is the owner of all unproduced natural resources.The Shah panel, in its August 28, 2016, report, concluded that there has been "unjust enrichment" to the contractor # of the block KG-DWN-98/3 (KG-D6) due to the production of the migrated gas from ONGC's blocks KG-DWN-98/2 and Godavari PML. It on November 11, 2016, slapped an arbitration notice.71 million royalty paid on the gas produced and adding an interest at the rate of LIBOR plus 2 per cent, totalling USD 149.Under the direction of the Delhi High Court, the government had appointed a one-man committee under retired Justice A P Shah to go into the issue.Reliance is the operator of the KG-D6 block with 60 per cent interest while BP holds 30 per cent.After deducting USD 71.It relied on a report produced by petroleum industry consultant DeGolyer and MacNaughton which concluded that gas had migrated from ONGC-controlled parts of the sea floor and the geological formations beneath it into areas controlled by the private companies. The غير مجاز مي باشدt recovery issue is being arbitrated separately.

The three-member panel is likely to give its award in July, they said.55 billion was made on Reliance, BP and Niko. Boo, a professor at universities in China, Australia and Singapore, and head of the Singapore-based Arbitration Chambers, was last year appointed as president of the tribunal by its two other members -- government's arbitrator and former Supreme Court Judge G S Singhvi and Reliance-appointed arbitrator, former English High Court Justice Bernard Eder.86 million, a total demand of USD 1.55 billion claims made against Reliance Industries and its partners for allegedly syphoning gas from deposits they had no right to exploit and is expected to pronounce a judgement next month. The government's compensation claim flowed from the report of the Justice (retd) A P Shah Committee.The government, sources said, accepted the recommendations of the committee and consequently, decided to claim restitution from Reliance-BP-Niko for "the unjust benefit received and unfairly retained". The remaining 10 per cent is with Niko Resources.Originally, ONGC had sued Reliance for producing gas that had migrated from its blocks KG-DWN-98/2 (KG-D5) and Godavari PML in the KG basin to adjoining KG-D6 block of Reliance

According to the report, a strong network of 15,000 CNG and 1,500 LNG stations by 2030 would have the potential to transform the Indian mobility scenario, with an expected 33 million natural gas vehicles as compared to 3.Nomura Research Institute Ltd (NRI Consulting & Solutions) in its report on &magnetic flowmeter39;Transforming Mobility Through Natural Gas' also said the implementation of BS-VI emission norms from April 1, 2020, will increase price differential between CNG and diesel vehicles, making CNG vehicles more attractive."As an automobile fuel, natural gas is a proven technology in terms of providing better air quality, sustainability and eco-friendliness," he added.3 million in 2019.

Commenting on the potential of NGVs in India, NRI Consulting & Solutions India Partner and Group Head Ashim Sharma said these vehicles can play a big role in transforming mobility in India. As many as seven states that benefited after the 10th round of CGD (city gas distribution) make up 55 per cent of the total vehicle sales in the country as of 2017-18.A favourable policy is required for promotion of NGVs through development of CNG infrastructure to increase customer acceptance and provide غير مجاز مي باشدt-competitiveness, Sharma said.It said CNG infrastructure has grown rapidly in India.New Delhi: Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are likely to account for 50 per cent of sales of new three- and four-wheelers in India by 2030, on the back of rapidly developing infrastructure and غير مجاز مي باشدt reduction due to domestic manufacturing, according to a report.

The report said demand push resulting from countrywide infrastructure will incentivise original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to launch dedicated NGV platforms leading to better economies of scale and efficient products.Localisation of NGV components such as LNG cryogenic cylinders and certain CNG powertrain components will reduce acquisition غير مجاز مي باشدt for customer boosting their total غير مجاز مي باشدt of ownership, it added.."After the 9th and 10th round, CGD infrastructure will cover 52 per cent area and # 72 per cent population and will make natural gas accessible across the country," the report said

By arrangement with Dawn .Writers have dreamed up ideas and possibilities out of nowhere, and future scientists have again and again been inspired enough to look into turning them into reality.Back in the 1980s, Douglas Adams famously conceived of the Earth as a backward planet in an uncharted corner of the galaxy — a galaxy otherwise filled with far more advanced and varied life forms, cultures, and civilisations. From this to the idea of a “space cable” — a line strong and flexible enough to link the Moon/ satellites to the earth so that payloads can be ferried up and down, originally dreamt up by Isaac Asimov — which is also being worked upon at Nasa, the very idea of science fiction becoming reality is utterly beguiling. If it’s just us, seems like an awful waste of space”.Initially worked on by the good people at the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, US, there are numerous accounts of other scientists and inventors currently working on its development. To put it in Douglas Adams’ words, “Resistance is futile”. Clarke, science fiction writer, futurist and inventor who was amongst the giants in his field.)What is encouraging is that space exploration continues to be worked upon, and we seem to be closer than ever to breaching the final frontier. He commented that “Two possibilities exist: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not; both are equally terrifying”.

While the idea has remained intact, the development of the device itself has been gone in two ways, depending on the scientists involved. Thus it is that the handheld medical tricorder portrayed in the Star Trek series — you know, the one used by Dr McCoy to run non-invasively over a patient’s body to diagnose within seconds vital signs, damage, etc — is now almost a reality. Recent events give hope that humanity may yet breach the final frontier. (The only change to this prologue came as a nod to feminism, when in the context of the exploration of space, the phrase “where no man has gone before” was changed to “where no one has gone before”. Behind it were decades of complex mathematical and technological calculations, from the macro to the micro, and strings of plastic tube flowmeter coding and pre-programming. (For the riposte to that, by the way, one must turn to astronomer and astrophysicist Carl غير مجاز مي باشدan, who remarked that “The universe is a pretty big place.)We may be tantalisingly close to finding out, though.Last February, Elon Musk’s research/ exploration company SpaceX sent up — just because it had the capability of doing so — to orbit hopefully near Mars, a Tesla Roadster, the payload carried by SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, now the world’s most powerful rocket.

Research on astrophysics, satellite technology, and space exploration, etc, has never really ceased (though funding cuts have occurred), and the big minds that walk amongst us have doggedly gone on with their work.It has often been said that the science fiction of yesteryear becomes the real science of today.Far from our world of war and unease, dizzyingly exciting things are happening.It’s a seductive image, a cherry red battery-operated sports vehicle floating in the darkness of space, its glossy paint reflecting the Earth, a gloved mannequin seated behind the steering wheel and with the words “Don’t panic” (from the Hitchhiker, which Musk has said directly inspired him to go into space research) emblazoned across its dashboard.While not yet available on the mass market, the very fact that some version of such a device has actually been invented is absolutely fascinating.Anyone with the slightest familiarity with the Star Trek series will have recognised the title of this humble piece of writing, taken as it is from the text prologue that has preceded every episode and film for decades.

But to my mind, the most interesting observation of all came from Sir Arthur C.In a world beset with war, poverty, the fallout of pollution and climate change, etc, it is a rather beautiful thought that there are, to borrow the title of Daniyal Mueenuddin’s book, in other rooms, other wonders. In his “trilogy of five parts”, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, he postulates that humanity has not yet managed to contact/ detect any alien life forms because they are waiting for us to get over petty issues such as war and famine and grow up a little. The playfulness of the exercise really must be admired.With a high level of sensors of various sorts, it will be either a standalone device that measures matters such as blood pressure and temperature, etc, capable on its own of analysing the data, or through a connection to a medical database through the Internet.Then, in November, came Nasa’s InSight spacecraft touchdown on Mars, unmanned and rendered historic by the fact that the landing was achieved with scientists’ hands off the controls, with no real-time input from Earth

The new elevated link road will pass over it. “The study did reveal that the extension by construction of elevated link road is feasible.P.S. “Coordination with various agencies like that of the BMC and the railways will be required,” Mr Khandare added.The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is planning to connect the Eastern Freeway to Marine Drive and P D’Mello Road by constructing an elevated link road to connect both and also decongest the traffic at the Sardar Vallabhai Patel (SVP) Road.

The Central Railway authorities have asked the state government to decide whether shifting of the Harbour magnetic flowmeter Line corridor for the extension will be feasible. Apart from this, the MMRDA has initiated steps towards extending the Eastern Freeway up to the General Post Office (GPO) junction to decongest traffic at the P D’Mello Road. In this respect, an empowered committee on infrastructure was conducted at Mantralaya. Madan, metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA. The idea behind the project is to decongest traffic around Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and also allow smooth flow of traffic, as commuters will no more have to face traffic jams in areas like Pydhonie, CST and Dongri to travel towards Chowpatty, after which Marine Drive is minutes away.

Once that is in our hand we will start the work on the extension,” said U. “The work on the extension is possible once we get Right Of Way (ROW) for carrying out the work. “There were various studies carried out by the MMRDA itself prior to this and we are in the process of giving it a final shape,” said Sanjay Khandare, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA. The Eastern Freeway is currently from Orange Gate on P D’Mello Road in the south and ends at the Indian Oil Junction on the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link road in the north. After drafting a concrete plan on this we will prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for the same,” her said