MHA | Business Upturn

SEBI releases list of individuals & entities under UN Security Council sanctions

News Desk — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 09:47:56 +0000

Markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), on Friday informed market intermediaries about the updated list of entities and individuals under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions.

Recently the security council updated its sanctions list added more individuals and entities who have allegiance to terrorist organisations ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaeda. In a similar way, the market regulator in a public order also shared a list of entries as mentioned in the security council press release.

As per SEBI norms, registered intermediaries must ensure that accounts are not opened in the name of those who were mentioned in the updated list of individuals and entities subject to various sanctions such as freezing of accounts, denial of financial services as approved by the Security Council committee established under various United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs).

SEBI has asked these intermediaries to continuously check and scan all their existing and new accounts so that no account is held or linked to such individuals or entities in the list as per Clause 2.8.1 of SEBI Act, 1992, “Guidelines on Anti- Money laundering Standards and Combating Finance of Terrorism (CFT) / Obligations of Securities Market Intermediaries under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and Rules.”

The market regulator has also advised brokerage firms, depositors and the regulatory body for mutual funds Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) to circulate the press release to its respective members, participants and asset management companies for necessary actions if someone involves in these activities.

Government issues ₹12,434 crore to expedite 32 road projects along India-China border

Divya Joyce — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 05:55:20 +0000

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued ₹12,434.90 crore for expediting the construction of 32 roads on the India-China border under Phase-2. This was stepped up in the wake of the standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. Phase-2 and Phase-3 construction were held-up due to delay in security and environment clearances and land acquisition issues, the official said.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and attended by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) among others. Border Roads Organisation, Central Public Works Department, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police are engaged in the construction work. The roads connecting border outposts will come up in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

For Phase-3, additional 50 roads have been proposed with road connectivity between the three phases, a total of 73 roads are being constructed along the Sino-Indian border. Of these, the CPWD is working on 12 and the BRO on 61, under the direct supervision of the MHA, which is the nodal authority for all border infrastructure-related projects.

The Indian Army and China’s People Liberation Army are locked in a tense border standoff over the past six months in Ladakh, where the minimum temperature has dipped to sub-zero levels. The two sides have so far held eight rounds of military talks to resolve the crisis.

BRO was entrusted with the task of completing 61 border roads and the work was completed on 29 such projects. The work on 32 projects was delayed due to multiple issues.

ITBP personnel maintain vigil along 3,488 km of the India-China border and operates 180 outposts at altitudes ranging from 9,000 feet to 18,750 feet in the western, middle, and eastern sectors of the India-China border — from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal. It has 14 training centres, with a sanctioned strength of 89,437 personnel. Recently, MHA sanctioned an additional 47 border outposts and staging camps as temporary outposts for patrolling teams.

MHA announces Unlock 4 guidelines, will be in effect from September 1

Anjana Krishna — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 15:26:47 +0000

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the guideline for the fourth phase of unlocking on Saturday allowing more activities outside containment zones. The new guidelines were framed after discussing with State governments central ministries and departments.

Schools, colleges, swimming pools, and indoor theatres will remain closed, other activities will be allowed. International air travel, specifically permitted by the MHA will happen. Metro services will be resumed from 7th September in a phased manner. Sports, academic, cultural, entertainment and religious activities will be permitted from 21st September, with a maximum attendance of 100 people. 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff will be allowed to work from schools. Students of classes 9-12 may be permitted to visit schools for guidance from the school staff. Skill or entrepreneurship training also permitted in National Skill Training Institutes. Only laboratory work permitted for postgraduate and PhD students in their institutes.

Lockdown to be followed strictly in containment zones, with strict perimeter control and only essential services allowed. Vulnerable people including, children, pregnant women and people above 65 advised to stay at home.

No restrictions in inter-state and intra-state travel and no prior permissions required for such travel either. Shops encouraged to maintain social distancing at all times. States and Union Territories cannot impose lockdown without consulting with the Central government. MHA will be monitoring the implementation of the National Directives.

Cinema halls to remain shut till August 31: Ministry of Home Affairs

Shipra Parashar — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 05:40:39 +0000

The Ministry of Home Affairs released nationwide Unlock 3 guidelines yesterday, which opened up some more activities outside the containment zones, but cinema halls along with other places still remain shut. The guideline further revealed that the restriction on cinema halls will remain in place till August 31.

The entertainment industry has been hit hard by the four-month-long COVID-19 lockdown. As shoots for several films have already begun and with cinema halls still getting no-go from the government, more and more production houses are going to take the second possibility, which is the digital OTT release. The trend started with Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann’s starrer Gulabo Sitabo which was released on Amazon Prime.

Meanwhile, Disney+Hotstar have lined up seven new releases which include Laxmmi Bomb (Akshay Kumar and Kiara Advani), Bhuj: The Pride of India (Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha and Sanjay Dutt), Sadak 2 (Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur and Pooja Bhatt), The Big Bull (Abhishek Bachchan), Khuda Haafiz (Vidyut Jammwal) and Lootcase (Kunal Kemmu and Rasika Dugal). Other OTT platforms like Netflix have also bought digital rights of Janhvi Kapoor-starrer ‘Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl’.

MHA issues new guidelines on lockdown and non-contained zones

Aayush Agarwal — Sat, 30 May 2020 15:56:53 +0000

The Ministry Of Home Affairs has issued a new statement on the policy guidelines of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Today on the 30^th May, 2020 this Saturday new guidelines were issued. Areas outside the containment zones will resume activities till 30^th June, 2020. Moreover, the Government states the contained zones on the other hand will have lock down extended till the same date. Throughout the country the night curfew will take place from 9 pm to 5 am.

The guidelines mention that there will be no restriction on inter-state or intra-state movement of people or goods. However, the ministry has clarified that if a state/UT proposes movement then it will have to give notice in advance. While all activities will be allowed outside containment zones, the below mentioned activities will be allowed in a phased manner, with SOPs prescribed by the Health Ministry. These phases will commence slowly once each implemented.

Phase 1 will include Religious monuments of practice. Malls, hotels and restaurants will be allowed to open from 8 June except in containment zones.
Phase 2: Schools, colleges, training institutions will be opened after consultations with stakeholders. The decision for this will be taken in July.
Phase 3: Decision on metro travel, cinema halls, gyms, international air travel, social/political and other large congregations will be taken based on the assessment of the situation