GUJARAT

3 national highways in Gujarat may be lined up for monetisation

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The government may look to add three highway stretches fromGujaratto theasset monetisation pipelineafter they were handed back to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) after the end of the 15-year concession period.

The Centres target to mop up Rs 45,000 crore from monetisation of highway projects is expected to get a boost during the next financial year as the roads are high toll earners.

The three projects in Gujarat, with a cumulative length of 377 km, can be monetized to generate Rs 18,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore, the sources estimated.

These were among the first few projects which were bid out by the NHAI under the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT-Toll) model of Public Private PARTNERSHIP (PPP).

Gujarat stares at 99% shortage of super specialists in government hospitals

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At a time when the state is battling a massive surge in Covid-19 cases, it is faced with an alarming deficit of super specialists in government hospitals.

Going by government data itself,Gujaratis faced with a 99% shortfall in super specialist doctors like surgeons, paediatricians, obstetricians-gynaecologists and the like.

This deficit of specialist doctors is the highest among all major states of the country. If Gujarat was compared to all states, it is ranked second from bottom with onlyMizoramfaring worse than Gujarat.

According to data released in the Handbook of Statistics of India States (2020-2021) by the Reserve Bank Of India, Gujarat has a requirement of 1,392 super specialists, and its shortfall is 99% at 1,379. Among all states, only Mizoram fares worse with a 100% shortfall against the requirement of 36 super specialists.

All other states fare better than Gujarat in terms of the deficit of super specialists in government healthcare systems.

Maharashtra(64%), Madhya Pradesh (96%),Rajasthan(80%),Bihar(46%), Uttar Pradesh (71%) West Bengal (54%) and several other states have a lesser Percentage of deficit of super specialists as compared to Gujarat.

NDDB, GCMMF join hands for genomic selection in Gujarat

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The National Development Board,GujaratCo-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) and other milk unions of Gujarat have decided to collaborate on expanding reference Population forgenomic selection. It will extend benefits of improved genetics to the farmers of the state.

NDDB, GCMMF and the milk unions will work together to develop standard operating procedures for recording, take up data analysis and monitor the quality of data collected.NDDBs executive director Meenesh Shah and GCMMFs managing director RS Sodhi inked an MoU to this effect during a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, which was attended by many milk unions of the state.

Shah said that genomic selection is dependent on size of reference population that are performance recorded and genotyped. Accuracy of genomic selection increases with expansion of reference population.

The project will fast-track genetic progress in cattle and buffaloes not only for their milk production potential but also for regular Reproduction, reduced disease incidences and improved appearance.

Around 1.9 lakh animals will be recorded in next five years for their milk production capacity, fat, SNF and protein content of milk, reproduction regularity of animals, disease incidence, animals body type, animals behaviour among others. Out of the recorded animals, more than 80,000 will be genotyped and related data will help in genomic breeding value estimation with more accuracy.

Gujarat has fourth richest assembly

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ased on GSDP places Gujarat at the fourth position with Rs 16. 4 crore.
Based on the data collated by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) for across India, Karnataka had the richest assembly with Average value of assets of its MLAs at Rs 34 crore after the 2018 election. It w as followed by Andhra Pradesh (2018 election) and Maharashtra (2019 election) at Rs 27 crore and Rs 22 crore. The top five list was completed with Tamil Nadu at Rs 12 crore after the 2021 election.

Gujarat pips all states in exports, clocks 118% rise

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ExportsfromGujarathave touched a record high, crossing the Rs 5 lakh crore mark for the first time ever. Importantly, the feat has been achieved in the first half of 2021-22.

Experts believe that the annual exports from the state were likely to cross Rs nine lakh crore this fiscal.

Gujarat had beenexportinggoods worth about Rs 4.50 lakh crore annually. However, in the current financial year, the exports have touched Rs 5.16 lakh crore in the first six months (April to October), which is a 118% jump compared to the same period last year.

Millennia of Buddhist heritage in Gujarat

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The excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Vadnagar, PM Narendra Modis hometown, since 2015 have unearthed the ancient town and, overall, the regions Buddhist past. The finds include multiple votive stupas, relics, artifacts, and structures. Experts said that along with the nearby Taranga hills, the region gives a snapshot of about 1,400 years of .

The major finds from the excavations by the state archaeology department in the 2000s and later excavations by the ASI at Vadnagar and Taranga are on display at the three-day international Buddhist symposium at Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh. The symposium will be inaugurated by PM Modi on Wednesday, Buddha Purnima.

Gujarat-basedstartupsseem to have begun the current financial year on a positive note with seven of them cumulatively raising aroundRs 77 croreso far in fiscal 2021-22.

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According to experts, startups raising more funds is a function of a maturing startup ecosystem inGujarat. Explaining this, Anupam Jalote, CEO, International Centre for and Technology (iCreate), said, Increasing number of investors are now seeing startup funding as a good avenue for investing their corpus, as startups reflect promising Growth. The surge in the quantum of funds raised is also a reflection of a maturing ecosystem.

Jalote further explained that in the post-pandemic digital boom, a large chunk of tech startups such as providers of AI-driven solutions, fintech startups and even those in the electric vehicle segment are raking in the maximum funds followed by the other sectors.

Combined Commanders’ Conference to began at Kevadiya in Gujarat

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A three-day Combined Commanders’ Conference l began at Kevadia in Gujarat.

Theaterisation of armed forces, self-reliance in DEFENCE sector and evolving threats in the region will be the focus areas during the three-day annual event.

During the conference, the setting up a new air defence command and maritime command is likely to be discussed at length.

The formation of theatre commands will synergise the capabilities and combat potential of the three forces during war and peace.

Gujarat’s investor base expands 2.8x in 10 years

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According to data by theNational Stock Exchange(NSE), the total number of investors from Gujarat stood at 69 lakh in the fiscal year 2023, up 2.8x since fiscal year 2013. The number of investors increased sharply since the Covid pandemic, as 60% of these investors were registered after April 2020. Experts attribute the rising number of investors to greater awareness, lower bank interest rates and improved financial Literacy, besides better gains.

The Investment into equities from Gujarat has increased sharply over the past decade. Ten years ago, Gujarat accounted for 7% (Rs 1,568 crore) in the daily Average turnover of Indian investors. This has grown to 13% at Rs 13,961 crore during the fiscal year 2023,” said a top official of NSE on condition of anonymity. He added, “Gujarat based investors’ investment Growth rate has now surpassed the national average.”

Technology is one of the biggest factors that lured young professionals into opening demat accounts and beginning their investment journey, according to Industry players. A slew of websites and apps which simplify trading coupled with better gains on investments have lured many youngsters.

Gujarat in talks with Bharat Biotech to scale up Covaxin production, says DBT

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The state governmentsGujarat Biotechnology Research Centrealong with Hester Biosciences andOmniBRxhas firmed up its discussions withBharat Biotechto scale up the Covaxin technology and to produce minimum 20 million doses per month, said the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under theUnion ministry of Science and Technology.

A triparty consortium has been formed with the government of Gujarat as the lead partner, to explore the prospects of manufacturing theCovidvaccine through technology from Bharat Biotech.