Port Blair, Jan 22: A large scale Joint Military exercise “EXERCISE KAVACH” involving assets of Army, Navy, Air Force and Cost Guard is being conducted in the coming week under the aegis of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), the only Joint Forces Command of the country. The exercise would involve participation and deployment of elements of Army’s Amphibious Brigade along with supporting forces including Special Forces of Navy, Armour/Mechanised components, Naval Ships comprising Destroyers, ASW Corvettes and Landing Ships with ship-borne helicopters of Eastern Naval Command and ANC, Jaguar Maritime Strike and Transport aircrafts from Indian Air Force and assets of Coast Guard.

Port Blair, Jan 22: The Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has demanded payment of DA/DR to Central Govt. employees and pensioners at the current rate of 28% from January, 2021. In a letter sent to Smti. Nirmala Sitaraman,Union   Finance Minister recently,  Shri T S  Sreekumar, General Secretary of the Association said that the economical condition of the country has improved considerably after September,2020.The GST collection is steadily improving and it touched at an all time  record of Rs 1,15,000 Crores in December,2020.Further commendable recovery has been reported from industrial sector  and equity market.  He also pointed out about the remarkable improvement in covid-19 situation in the country and mentioned the crucial role played by Government employees and workers for this achievement.

Port Blair, Jan 22: The Mobile Food Testing Laboratory (MFTL) of Food Safety Department visits various areas of South Andaman District for carrying out analysis of food samples at the door step of general public. During the past three months 320 numbers of food samples were analyzed through MFTL and Rs.22,200/- has been collected as analysis fee. Further the MFTL conducts awareness programmes and training programmes on safe & hygiene food, good hygiene practices and good manufacturing practices etc. For the last three months 56 numbers of awareness programmes were organized and altogether 673 public & Food Business Operators (FBOs) participated in the programmes.

Port Blair, Jan 22: Issuance of E-Way Bill has been made mandatory nationwide since inception of GST, however, it was made compulsory from May 2018 in Andaman & Nicobar Islands considering internet connectivity and other logistical issues.

Port Blair, Jan 22: A delegation led by the President, AATO, Shri M.Vinod met Shri Sunil Kumar Singh, Secretary Tourism at his office today and discussed various issues pertaining to tourism industry.