Delhi government decided to enhance financial powers of bureaucrats:

The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi Government on 11 March 2015 decided to enhance financial
powers given to top bureaucrats. The decision was made in order to increase efficiency of all
its departments and to clear projects.
Main points of the proposal
Fund allocation to Head of Departments (HoDs) and administrative secretary will be
increased. The expenditure limit of the every HoD will be increased to 3 lakh rupees per year
from existing is 2 lakh rupees per year, while expenditure limit of secretaries will be
increased to 5 lakh rupees from existing 3 lakh rupees.
HoD will be allowed to shell out one lakh rupees on conveyance per month, at present,
they are eligible for 30000 rupees for hiring conveyance. They can also shell out up to 2 lakh
rupees on petty works, repairs and day to day and annual maintenance of the building.
Secretaries will not be required to take nod from the Finance Department for executing the
works and schemes which cost up to 10 crore rupees, at present, the limit is up to 5 crore
rupees. They can shell out 7 lakh rupees on petty works, at present it was 5 lakh rupees.
Approval of the financial department will be required for all schemes costing from 10 crore
rupees to 15 crore rupees.
Further, for all schemes above 15 crore rupees, up to 50 crore rupees will need approval of
the empowered finance committee, headed by State Finance Minister.
For projects up to 100 crore rupees, approval of the Chief Minister will be required and for
projects costing more than 100 crore rupees approval of the council of the ministers will be
needed.

India and Seychelles signed four agreements to boost security cooperation

India on 11 March 2015 signed four agreements with the Indian Ocean island nation Seychelles
to boost security and maritime partnership. The agreements were signed during the visit of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to Seychelles.
The four agreements were signed in following categories:
Cooperation in hydrography
Cooperation in renewable energy
Cooperation in Infrastructure development
Cooperation in Sale of navigation charts and electronic navigational charts
Modi also launched the Coastal Surveillance Radar Project in Seychelles, describing it as another
symbol of the cooperation between the two countries. He also announced that India will grant free
visas to for three months to the citizens of Seychelles.
Moreover, Seychelles will continue to make an enormous contribution to the safety and security of the
Indian Ocean Region. With this visit, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Seychelles in
34 years. Indira Gandhi had visited the country in 1981.

India and Mauritius inked five MoUs to give impetus to bilateral relations

India and Mauritius inked 5 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) on 11 March 2015 to give new impetus to
bilateral co-operation between the two nations. The MoUs were signed in Port Luis in presence of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Sir Anerood Jugnuth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a five day official tour of three ocean nations, namely Seychelles, Mauritius
and Sri Lanka. The journey started on 10 March 2015 and will conclude on 14 March 2015.
This
The

is

the
five

first

visit

to

MoUs

Mauritius

which

by

were

an

Indian

signed

Prime

Minister

between

the

in
two

over

three

nations

decades.
include

MoU in the field of Ocean Economy: The agreement provides for mutually beneficial cooperation for exploration
and capacity development in the field of marine resources, fisheries, green tourism, research and development of
ocean

technology,

exchange

of

experts

and

other

related

activities

MoU on Programme for Cultural Cooperation for the year 2015-18: The programme will help to enhance
bilateral cooperation and will also enhance greater people-to-people participation between the two countries.
MoU on the Protocol for the importation of fresh mango from India: The aim of this Protocol is to facilitate
importation of fresh mango fruits from India by Mauritius to enable the Mauritian to relish the flavor of the worldrenowned

Indian

mangoes.

MoU for the Improvement in Sea and Air Transportation Facilities at Agalega Island of Mauritius: This will help in
betterment of the condition of the inhabitants of this remote Island. These facilities will enhance the capabilities of
the

Mauritian

Defence

Forces

in

safeguarding

their

interests

in

the

Outer

Island.

MoU on Cooperation in the field of Traditional System of Medicine and Homeopathy: This MoU will promote
cooperation in the field of traditional system of health and medicine between the two countries. It envisages
exchange of experts, supply of traditional medicinal substances, joint research and development and recognition
of the traditional systems of health and medicine in both countries. It also aims at promotion and popularization of
the

various

Indian

traditional

systems

which

fall

under

AYUSH.

Beside the summit-level talks and exchange of documents of the MoUs, India also offered a concessional line of
credit of 500 million US dollars to Mauritius for key infrastructure projects.

Also, fee on the Electronic Travel Authorisation to visiting Mauritian citizens was waived off. The fee was waived
off with an aim to enhance people-to-people contact between the two nations along with promotion of tourism.
The

two

Comment

Prime

Ministers

also

discussed
and

ways

to

combat

climate

change.
Analysis

The MoUs which were signed during the visit of Prime Minister Modis visit can be seen as an approach to revive
the cultural ties between the two nations along with economic as well as maritime security options.
The MoU on the co-operation in the Ocean Economy lays ahead a chance for the two nations to develop new

areas of ocean economy and follow sustainable practices in use of blue assets. It also provides a chance to
boost

scientific

and

economic

partnership

as

well

as

understanding

of

marine

ecology.

Besides, these MoUs will also broaden the regional cooperation and enhance peace and prosperity in maritime
region.