Read Current Affairs
- India's first certified Green Municipal Bond (GMB) was issued by Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, successfully raising ₹150 crore for a state-of-the-art Tertiary Sewage Treatment Plant (TSTP).
- This advanced facility ensures that treated water meets stringent quality standards, enabling its reuse in industrial applications.
- The project follows the Public-Private Partnership Hybrid Annuity Model (PPP-HAM), with 40% funding from the municipal body.
- Municipal bonds are non-convertible debt instruments issued by local bodies empowered under Article 243W of the Constitution.
- Green bonds, in particular, finance environmentally sustainable projects like climate mitigation and low-carbon infrastructure.
- The GMB is significant as it supports sustainable development by aligning with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment principles.
- Additionally, it offers a low-cost, long-term capital solution that is often more affordable than traditional bank loans. By tapping into a broader investor base, such bonds address funding gaps in essential urban infrastructure projects.
- The United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) Special 301 Report has placed India, along with seven other nations, on its Priority Watch List, citing persistent concerns over the protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights. IP encompasses innovations and creations such as inventions, literary works, trademarks, and artistic expressions.
- India faces several challenges in its IP ecosystem, including restrictive patentability criteria—like Section 3(d) of the Patents Act, 1970—which limits patent grants for incremental innovations. Enforcement remains weak due to poor coordination among authorities and lenient penalties, contributing to India's inclusion in the 2024
- Notorious Markets List. Trademark-related issues such as counterfeiting and subpar examination processes also persist. Additional regulatory burdens, like the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024, affect foreign applicants.
- However, India is taking steps to improve its IP regime through initiatives like the National IPR Policy (2016), NIPAM, SIPP, and reforms under the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024. Specialized IP Divisions in high courts further reflect progress.
- The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI), conducted its first-ever Forward-Looking Survey on Private Sector Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Investment Intentions under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008.
- The survey revealed that private sector CAPEX rose by 66% from FY22 to FY25, reaching approximately ₹6.5 lakh crore. Manufacturing enterprises led the investment, contributing 48% of the total CAPEX in FY24-25.
- Most investments in 2024-25 were directed toward core assets, with some also targeting value addition and strategic diversification.
- Capital expenditure refers to long-term investments in assets such as property, technology, and infrastructure, playing a crucial role in business growth, competitiveness, and investor confidence.
- However, private sector CAPEX faces challenges including difficulty accessing affordable finance, project structuring risks, and delays in clearances and land acquisition.
- Overall, CAPEX is vital not only for expanding operational capacity but also for maintaining and upgrading existing assets to drive sustainable economic growth.