Auction for Sale (Re-issue) of Government of India Floating Rate Bonds Auction for Sale (Re-issue) of Government Stock

Government of India have announced the Sale (re-issue) of (i) “Government of India Floating Rate Bonds 2024” for a notified amount of Rs. 2000 crore (nominal) through price based auction,



PM greets NDRF team, on their 12th Raising Day celebrations

PM greets NDRF team on their 12th Raising Day celebrations



Text of PMs statement ahead of Budget Session of Parliament, 31.01.2017

Text of PMs statement ahead of Budget Session of Parliament, 31.01.2017



News story: British Embassy Kabul Programme Fund 2017-18

British Embassy Kabul Programme Fund bidding round now open.

The British Embassy Kabul have a dedicated fund for supporting projects which further our priorities in Afghanistan. The fund will support projects implemented between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018.

How to apply to the 2017-18 bidding round:

We are looking for a range of relatively large-scale bids (£100k – £600k), which can achieve an impact in one year. We may also consider larger or smaller-scale bids in some areas, if they can still demonstrate that they can achieve an impact.

Currently we are inviting bids in the area(s) of:

Social Cohesion and Countering Extremism [closing date: 12th February 2017]

Bidders should submit bids that focus on:

  • Strengthening Afghan Civil Society organisations who focus on Countering Extremism to develop their capacity to research, design and implement local programmes to counter violent extremism.
  • Research activities to support the ongoing Peace and Reconciliation process.
  • Programmes designed to improve social cohesion, encourage plurality of voices and build resilience in communities.

Project bids for further priority themes will be invited throughout February 2017. Please check this site for details and closing dates.

In all thematic areas, successful bidders will be expected to demonstrate:

  • That the project proposal provides good value for money;
  • That the project proposal has a clear, achievable impact, and responds to a local demand or need;
  • That their organisation has the capacity to deliver the project to a high standard;
  • How the project helps build Afghan capacity (International NGOs/companies should aim to partner with a local Afghan counterpart where feasible);
  • That the impact of the project will be sustainable beyond the end of the funding period (i.e. 31 March 2018);
  • That they have carefully considered all risks and have proposed suitable mitigation methods.

N.B. Bids for projects in Afghanistan’s provinces will be given a higher priority.

To apply, you should:

  • Read all the documents and requirements
  • Complete the project concept note form and submit your proposal to BEKProgrammeFund@hotmail.com by the date given above in the theme header. Please ensure the theme area of the bid is included in the subject line.

Implementers who have been successful at the initial concept note stage will be contacted by the British Embassy and invited to submit a full proposal by late March 2017.

Implementers whose proposals are awarded funding will be notified by April 2017, with an expectation that activity could begin shortly afterwards, and end by 31 March 2018.

Before bidding please familiarise yourself with the following key documents:

PDF, 326KB, 11 pages

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PDF, 151KB, 2 pages

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PDF, 257KB, 18 pages

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How are the EU and Turkish border fences and walls going?

Last year I drew attention to the big work programme highlighted on the EU website to strengthen Turkey’s borders as part of its Visa Liberalisation programme with the EU.  The officials wrote that they needed “ditch excavation, lighting, wire entanglement, trellis fence, road maintenance and construction and modular wall construction” along the extended  Turkish  border with Syria and Iraq. It would be good to have an update on how far they have got with their 900 km Syria/Turkey wall.

I raise it again because many in the EU are hostile to Mrs Trump’s proposal to extend the already substantial USA/Mexico wall. I wonder why they apply different standards to this wall than to the ones the EU is helping finance and design closer to home. I invite proponents of the EU to tell us why they think these two walls are different, and why they support the Turkish one which is part of the EU/Turkey Agreement.

The EU approved border controls including ones along EU borders can incorporate watch towers, constant camera surveillance and plenty of “guards” to deal with any problems at crossing points. The 10th action point in the 72 point “Visa Liberalisation Roadmap”  is to ensure sufficient well trained guards and surveillance equipment at crossing points.   The 33rd point in the 72 point “Visa Liberalisation roadmap” agreed with Turkey by the EU is to “ensure effective expulsion of illegally residing 3rd country nationals.”

If it is moral to oppose border walls and barriers in Mexico, surely it is similarly necessary to oppose them in Europe and Middle East?