According to the finance ministry, advance tax collection increased by 53.50 percent to Rs 4.60 lakh crore so far this fiscal year, indicating a recovery in the economy. Direct tax collections for 2021-22, as of December 16, show that net collections are at Rs 9.45 lakh crore compared to Rs 5.88 lakh crore over the year-ago period, representing an increase of 60.8 percent.
India's 3rd largest refiner Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd has tied up with the country's nuclear research institute for an electrolyser technology for green hydrogen as it seeks to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. India is aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2070 and wants to raise the share of renewables in its energy mix to 50% by 2030 from 38% currently.
At present Indian companies import electrolyser plants.
The Cabinet approved implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for 2021-26. The PMKSY is an umbrella scheme, consisting of two major components being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, namely, Accelerated Irrigation Benefits. HKKP, in turn, consists of four sub-components.
Global engineering and product development digital services firm Tata Technologies announced that it has been selected by European aerospace major Airbus as a strategic supplier. The company will become engineering, manufacturing engineering, and services strategic supplier (EMES3).
The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) based out of Silicon Valley awarded the Global Entrepreneur of the Year Award- Business Transformation to Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla, the Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group. Mr Birla received the award for his extraordinary leadership of a globally diversified conglomerate during the unprecedented period of global turmoil induced by the pandemic.
Mr Birla becomes the first Indian industrialist to receive this prestigious award.
Wipro announced that it will acquire Austin, Texas-headquartered Edgile for USD 230 million, a move that will strengthen the IT major's play in the cybersecurity services space. Edgile's experienced cybersecurity and risk management professionals will allow Wipro to further enhance its cybersecurity and risk consulting capabilities for the benefit of its customers.
Maheshwari (Former Twitter India head)has partnered with Tanay Pratap, who has been a Senior Software Engineer with Microsoft, for the ed-tech venture. Earlier in August, he had relocated to the US as the Senior Director, Global Strategy and Operations of the company.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari predicted toll revenue of the NHAI will soar to Rs 1.40 lakh crore per annum in the next three years from Rs 40,000 crore per annum currently. Addressing an event here, the Road Transport and Highways Minister said that there is a huge opportunity for investors in India’s infrastructure sector as the traffic density is rising every year.
The State Bank of India (SBI) has acquired a minority stake in JSW Cement Limited, part of USD 13 billion JSW Group. The PSU Banking behemoth has invested Rs 100 crore in the company via compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS). The SBI transaction with JSW Cement comes close on the heels of the Rs 1,500 cr investments made by two global private equity investors.
This capital infusion will support JSW Cement’s capacity expansion from current 14 MTPA.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced its partnership with Udemy Business to encourage continuous learning and skill development for its employees. NPCI offers programs to build capability in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Blockchain, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Advance Open Source, And a few others.
India is celebrating the birthday of legendary mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan Aiyangar on December 22. The day is celebrated as National Mathematics Day or Maths Day. Ramanujan was a prodigious Indian mathematician who, despite having no formal training in advanced mathematical concepts, mastered trigonometry at the age of 12.
In 2012, Government announced December 22 as National Mathematics Day.
India and Asian Development Bank have signed a $ 350 million policy-based loan to improve access to urban services by accelerating policy actions and reforms to enhance service delivery and promote performance-based central fiscal transfers to urban local bodies. The first subprogram will establish essential policies and guidelines for urban reforms at the national level.
NITI Aayog signed a Statement of Intent with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). The partnership focuses on mainstreaming millets and supporting India in taking lead globally in knowledge exchange using the opportunity of 2023 as an International Year of Millets.
Government of India observed 2018 as a year of millets.