SC says govt must simplify COVID-19 death certification process 

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Union government what it plans to do in cases of COVID-19 patients whose death certificates cited some other reason for the cause of death. The court suggested that the government should simplify the process for certifying COVID-19 deaths. It asked the government whether the reason of death could be given as COVID-19 in the certificate if the family could produce a COVID-19 report, no matter whether the patient died in a hospital or outside. The court pointed out that some patients were not even given their medical records.

SOURCE: The Hindu

India receives $64 bn FDI in 2020, fifth largest recipient of inflows

The World Investment Report 2021 by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), released Monday, said global FDI flows have been severely hit by the pandemic and they plunged by 35 per cent in 2020 to USD 1 trillion from USD 1.5 trillion the previous year. Lockdowns caused by COVID-19 around the world slowed down existing investment projects, and prospects of a recession led multinational enterprises (MNEs) to reassess new projects. The report said in India, FDI increased 27 per cent to USD 64 billion in 2020 from USD 51 billion in 2019, pushed up by acquisitions in the information and communication technology (ICT) industry, making the country the fifth largest FDI recipient in the world.

SOURCE: The Indian Express

Power ministry extends timeline for transmission charges waiver for RE

The power ministry on Friday announced the extension of timeline by two years for waiver on inter-state transmission charge for electricity generated from solar and wind sources. Now, the waiver would be available till June 30, 2025. Earlier, it was applicable till June 30, 2023. Besides, the waiver would now be available for Hydro Pumped Storage Plant (PSP) and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects also. Further, it said that the order promotes the development of solar, wind, Hydro Pumped Storage Plant and Battery Energy Storage System, trading of RE in the power exchanges and seamless transmission of RE power across the states.

SOURCE: Business Standard

EAM Jaishankar to address UNSC debate on Afghanistan on June 23

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to address the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on Afghanistan on Wednesday. Earlier, India has noted the United States’ decision to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and has expressed concerns over the probable increase in the violence and targeted killings in the war-torn country. In a statement in April, the Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi is of the view that an Afghan peace process should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled and any political settlement must be inclusive and should preserve the socio-economic and political gains of the past 19 years. India has also called for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.

SOURCE: Business Standard

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