1. Govt approves Kirit Parikh panel recommendations on natural gas pricing
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
The government on April 7 fixed natural gas price at $7.92 per MMBTU (million British thermal units) for the rest of April under the new pricing formula suggested by the Kirit Parekh Committee.
An overview of the news
However, the final rates for consumers have been capped at $6.5 per MMBTU.
The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the oil ministry said in the order that the price of natural gas for April 8 to April 30 would be $7.92 per million British thermal units.
This price has been fixed on the basis of 10 per cent of the average cost of imported crude oil.
The Union Cabinet, while changing the pricing formula, capped the rates for consumers at $6.5 per MMBTU. This limit will be applicable for two years till March 31, 2025.
“The price for gas produced by ONGC/OIL from their old fields shall be subject to a ceiling of $6.5 per MMBTU,” the order said.
The government has approved a floor price of $4 per MMBTU for the next two years to cover the cost of gas production for state-owned firms ONGC Ltd and OIL Ltd.
The new rates will bring down the prices of CNG and compressed natural gas (CNG) transported through pipelines and used in various industries including auto fuel and petrochemicals and fertilizer sector, by up to 10 per cent.
2. Global trade expected to grow 1.7% in 2023: WTO
Tags: Economy/Finance International News
The world trade organization (WTO) on 5th April revised its global trade growth outlook for 2023 upwards to 1.7% from last October’s estimate of 1%.
An overview of the news
The World Trade Organization said in its forecast that trade growth for 2024 is expected to be 3.2 percent.
However, the WTO said the forecast is highly uncertain and at a downside risk given the impact of ongoing global tensions, food supply problems and monetary policy tightening.
Global trade growth in 2023 is still projected to be low, despite a slight increase in gross domestic product (GDP) estimates since last fall.
Global commodity trade volumes are expected to grow by 1.7 percent this year, following a 2.7 percent increase in 2022, given the effects of the war in Ukraine, continuing high inflation, tight monetary policy and uncertainty in financial markets.
World Trade Organisation (WTO)
It was set up on 1st January 1995 replacing the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT).
Its main purpose is to promote rule based trading systems in the world and it also settles trade related disputes between the member countries.
The headquarters of WTO is in Geneva, Switzerland.
There are 164 member countries.
Director General of WTO : Dr Ngozi -Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria
Report released by WTO : World Trade Report
3. Monetary Policy Committee maintains Repo rate at 6.5 percent
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
The six-member Monetary Policy Committee, headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, announced the status quo on policy rates on 6 April.
An overview of the news
The Reserve Bank of India announced its bi-monthly monetary policy and kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.50 per cent.
In the MPC meeting held in February, the repo rate was increased by 0.25 percent to 6.50 percent.
At that time, RBI had said that the key policy rate had been increased by 0.25 per cent to keep retail inflation under control and maintain a high growth rate.
The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate will remain unchanged at 6.25 per cent and the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 6.75 per cent.
In the financial year 2023, there has been an increase of 6 percent in the production of food grains in the country.
According to RBI, there is an estimate of reduction in inflation in the financial year 2024.
GDP growth in FY2024 could be 6.5%. The current account deficit stood at 2.7% of GDP in the October-December quarter of FY23.
What is the repo rate?
Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country (RBI in India's case) lends money to commercial banks when they are short of funds. Here the central bank buys securities.
What is the Monetary Policy Committee?
Under Section 45ZB of the amended RBI Act 1934, the Central government is empowered to constitute a six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to determine the policy interest rate required to achieve the inflation target.
The first such MPC was constituted on September 29, 2016.
As per the RBI Act, the MPC must meet a minimum of four times in a year.
The next meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee will be held from 6 to 8 June 2023.
4. DigiPortfolio launched by DBS Bank India
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
DBS Bank India has launched a new investment solution called ‘digiPortfolio’, which uses technology and human expertise to provide customised investment options for investors.
An Overview of the News
The platform is available on the bank’s digibank platform and offers a one-stop solution for investors to put money into ready-made baskets of mutual funds, with diverse portfolios to cater to different investor risk profiles.
The investment options on the platform are chosen and made up of mutual funds that have been carefully selected by Morningstar, which has over 37 years of industry research experience, ensuring that portfolios are regularly adjusted to offer the best possible returns.
The digiPortfolio platform is run by Quantifeed, making it automated and easy to use, with two plans starting at a minimum investment of ₹10,000 and ₹50,000, offering portfolio construction, monitoring, and rebalancing services powered by Morningstar.
DBS Bank India aims to simplify the investment process, bridge the knowledge gap and help balance growth and safety while making investment decisions, hoping that through digiPortfolio, many of its customers will be more confident about participating in the Indian capital markets.
About DBS Bank
Its full document The Bank of Singapore Limited and The Bank Limited is a Singapore multinational banking and financial services corporation based in Marina Bay, Singapore.
The organisation was formerly known as the Development Bank of Singapore Limited before its current name was introduced on 21 July 2003 to represent its credit status as a leading bank.
The banks were established on 16 July 1968 by the Government of Singapore from the Economic Development Board to carry out business activities.
5. India, Malaysia can now trade in Indian rupee
Tags: Economy/Finance International News
The Ministry of External Affairs announced on 1 April that India and Malaysia have agreed to settle trade in the Indian rupee.
An overview of the news
In July 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed settlement of international trade in Indian currency.
This step has been taken only after this decision of the RBI.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs,trade between India and Malaysia can now be settled in Indian Rupee (INR) in addition to the existing methods of settlement in other currencies.
The RBI initiative is aimed at facilitating trade growth and supporting the interests of the global trading community in the Indian Rupee.
Kuala Lumpur-based India International Bank of Malaysia (IIBM) has introduced this system in India by opening a special Rupee Vostro account through Union Bank of India.
Vostro accounts are used to make payments in domestic currency.
What is a Vostro Account?
Vostro is a Latin word meaning "your", hence, Vostro Account means "your account".
Vostro account is defined as an account maintained by a correspondent bank on behalf of another bank.
For example HSBC's Vostro account is being handled by SBI in India.
A Vostro account is established to enable a foreign correspondent bank to act as an agent or provide services as an intermediary for a domestic bank.
About Malaysia
Prime Minister - Anwar Ibrahim
Capital - Kuala Lumpur
Currency - Malaysian ringgit
Official Language - Malay
Official Religion - Islam
6. MOIL Limited records 2nd highest Production since inception in FY’23
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
MOIL Limited has registered its second highest production since inception with production of 13.02 lakh tonnes of manganese (Mn) ore in the financial year 2022-23, registering a growth of 6% over the previous year.
An overview of the news
The company has also achieved a capital expenditure of Rs 245 crore in FY23, which is 14% higher than FY2021-22.
MOIL has achieved the best ever exploratory core drilling of 41,762 meters in FY23, which is 2.7 times the average exploration achieved in the last 5 years.
The sales turnover of electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) reached a new high, more than 2 times that of the previous year.
EMD is a 100% import substitution product, mostly used for manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and batteries.
About MOIL
MOIL is a Schedule “A” Miniratna Category-I Company under the Union Ministry of Steel.
It was originally incorporated as Manganese Ore (India) Limited in 1962 and its name was changed to MOIL Limited during 2010-11.
The company operates 11 manganese ore mines in India. It has 7 mines located in the Nagpur and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra and four in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.
At present the Government of India owns 53.35% shares in the company, Government of Maharashtra (5.96%), Government of Madhya Pradesh (5.38%) and Public (35.31%).
Headquarter: Nagpur, Maharashtra
CMD MOIL Limited : Ajit Kumar Saxena
7. India’s Defence exports touch all-time high of 15 thousand 920 crore rupees
Tags: Economy/Finance Defence National News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on April 1 said that India’s defence exports have reached an all-time high of 15 thousand 920 crore rupees in Financial Year 2022-2023.
An overview of the news
India exported military hardware worth Rs 8,434 crore in 2020-21, Rs 9,115 crore in 2019-20 and Rs 10,745 crore in 2018-19.
The amount was Rs 4,682 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 1,521 crore in 2016-17.
The government has set a target of manufacturing defense hardware worth Rs 1,75,000 crore and taking defense exports to Rs 35,000 crore by 2024-25.
In recent years, the government has implemented various measures to promote domestic defense production.
Steps taken by the Government to boost defence production
Simplified defence industrial licensing, relaxation of export controls and grant of No Objection Certificate.
Specific incentives introduced under the foreign trade policy.
Defence Production & Export Promotion Policy 2020.
The government had issued two "positive indigenization lists" which included 209 items that could not be imported.
The government has also announced two dedicated corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh to act as clusters of defense manufacturing.
The vision of the government
To achieve a turnover of $25 billion, including exports of $5 billion in aerospace and defence goods and services by 2025.
8. Axis Bank and Shriram Housing Finance partner for co-lending
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
Axis Bank and Shriram Housing Finance Limited (SHFL) entered into a strategic partnership through the Yubi Co.Lend platform under the co-lending model.
An Overview of the News
The partnership aims to address the needs of unorganized sector customers, including self-employed or salaried borrowers, who have limited access to credit due to lack of sufficient income proof.
The partnership will provide secured MSME loans and home loans to middle and low-income group borrowers in rural and semi-urban areas.
The collaboration between Axis Bank and SHFL will address the credit gap faced by MSME and home loan borrowers by using their wide customer reach and rigorous credit underwriting and appraisal tools.
This partnership is in line with Axis Bank's India Banking mission of financial inclusion in rural and semi-urban areas in a seamless digital manner.
About Shriram Housing Finance Limited (SHFL)
It is a subsidiary of Shriram City Union Finance Limited (SCUF) and was established in 2011. It is registered with National Housing Bank (NHB) and provides housing finance solutions to individuals, groups and corporate entities.
The company primarily focuses on catering to the needs of the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Groups (LIG) of the society. It also caters to the needs of the middle-income group (MIG) and self-employed individuals.
As on December 31, 2022, the company had 2,901 branches across 19 states and 1 union territory.
It has been ranked 8th in the Great Place to Work® Institute's Best Workplaces for BFSI 2020 list.
9. Aditya Birla Health Insurance partners with UCO Bank
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
Aditya Birla Health Insurance Company Limited (ABHICL) has entered into a partnership with UCO Bank to distribute health insurance products through the bank's branches across India.
An Overview of the News
UCO Bank's network of 3164 branches and over 40 million customers will allow ABHICL to expand its national footprint.
Through the partnership, UCO Bank's customers and employees will have access to ABHICL's health-first insurance solutions, including incentive wellness benefits and chronic management programs.
ABHICL now has 17 Bancassurance Partners with over 80,000 Direct Selling Agents across India.
CEO of UCO Bank - Soma Shankar Prasad
CEO of Aditya Birla Health Insurance - Mayank Bathwal
About Aditya Birla Health Insurance Company Limited (ABHICL)
It is an Indian health insurance company that offers a range of health insurance products to individuals, families and corporations.
It is a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited, one of the largest conglomerates in India.
ABHICL has tie-ups with over 5,500 network hospitals across India, providing customers easy access to cashless medical treatment.
Additionally, ABHICL offers wellness programs to help customers maintain a healthy lifestyle.
10. India Post Payments Bank launches WhatsApp Banking Services
Tags: Economy/Finance
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has announced the launch of WhatsApp Banking service in collaboration with Airtel, a leading private sector telecom company.
An overview of the news
According to the Ministry of Communications, with this new service of India Post Payments Bank, customers can now easily access various banking services from their WhatsApp account through their mobile phones.
Under this new arrangement, it will be delivered to customers through WhatsApp messaging solution Airtel IQ.
Airtel will enable IPPB customers to seamlessly connect with the bank on WhatsApp.
With this, customers will not only be able to avail multiple banking services conveniently, but will also be able to avail a host of services like locating the nearest post office.
WhatsApp messaging will enhance the convenience of connecting with the bank directly at the customers' fingertips.
With this, the Digital India Mission of the Central Government will also be taken forward.
IPPB is a public sector bank which was launched in 2018 with the objective of providing banking services to the unbanked population of India.
