LIVE: Last date for PAN-Aadhaar linking extended to June 30, 2021

The government on Wednesday extended the deadline for linking PAN with biometric Aadhaar by three months till June 30. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

4:05 AM

John Kerry to visit Abu Dhabi, New Delhi and Dhaka between April 1-9 for consultations on climate crisis

8:46 PM

Govt cuts interest rates on small savings schemes effective from April 1

Ministry of Finance on Wednesday announced a cut in small savings rate from 4 percent to 3.5 percent for the first quarter of the financial year starting April 1, 2021.

 

Term deposits of one-five years will fetch interest rate in the range of 4.4%-5.8%.

 

Ministry of Finance said 1-year time deposit rates have been reduced to 4.4 percent from 5.5 percent, 2-, 3-, 5- and 5-year recurring deposit rates are cut to 5.5 percent, 5.5 percent 6.7 percent and 5.3 percent from earlier rates of 4.4 percent, 5.0 percent, 5.1 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively. READ MORE...

8:24 PM

LIVE: Last date for PAN-Aadhaar linking extended to June 30, 2021

8:07 PM

I-T refunds of over Rs 2.24 trillion issued this fiscal till Mar 29

The Income Tax Department on Wednesday said it has issued refunds worth over Rs 2.24 lakh crore to more than 2.37 crore taxpayers till March 29 in the current fiscal year.

 

This include Rs 85,012 crore personal income tax refunds to 2.33 crore taxpayers and Rs 1.39 lakh crore worth corporate tax refunds in 2.85 lakh cases.

 

CBDT issues refunds of over Rs 2,24,829 crore to more than 2.37 crore taxpayers between 1st April, 2020 to 29th March, 2021, the I-T department tweeted.

8:02 PM

OMCs to reduce LPG cylinder cost by Rs 10 from April

State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) will reduce the price of domestic LPG cylinder by Rs 10 per cylinder from April 1.

 

Domestic LPG cylinder will cost Rs 809 per cylinder in Delhi, effective April 1. In a statement on Wednesday, OMC major Indian Oil Corporation said that prices of crude oil and petroleum products in the international market have been on a constant uptrend since November 2020.

7:40 PM

Cost of domestic LPG cylinder to reduce by Rs 10 per cylinder effective April 1: Indian Oil Corporation

7:39 PM

All schools and colleges in seven districts of MP to remain closed till April 15

All schools and colleges in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Betul, Chhindwara, Khargone, Ratlamcities to remain closed till April 15. Bus services to and from Maharashtra to remain suspended till April 15: Madhya Pradesh Government

7:08 PM

Stage set for second phase of Assam Assembly polls on Thursday

The stage is all set for the second phase of Assembly elections in BJP-ruled Assam on Thursday for 39 of the 126 Assembly constituencies where the electoral fate of 345 candidates, including 26 women aspirants, will be decided.

 

The over a month-long hectic campaigning ended on Tuesday for the seats located mostly in central and southern Assam, and comprising six reserved for Scheduled Tribes and five for Scheduled Castes.

 

Assam Chief Electoral Officer Nitin Khade said that all preparations have been completed to conduct free, fair, peaceful and smooth elections on Thursday, when 73,44,631 voters, including 36,09,959 women, are eligible to cast their votes across 10,592 polling stations including 556 all women managed polling stations. Khade told the media that the electorate comprises 89,875 voters aged 80 years and above and 90,000 first time voters.

7:07 PM

Kerala assembly election 2021: Priyanka Gandhi addressed poll rally in Thrissur today

6:57 PM

Farmers to march to Parliament on foot in May: Samyukt Kisan Morcha

Announcing their plans for the upcoming two months, farmers, who have been protesting against the new farm laws at the Delhi borders, said they will march to the Parliament on foot in May, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha said on Wednesday.

 

"The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha met yesterday, and decided that the farmers will be undertaking a march to the Parliament. The date for the march is yet to be decided. "It will be joined not just by farmers, but also by women, and unemployed individuals, and labourers who have been supporting the movement," farmer leader Gurnaam Singh Chaduni said.

 

Addressing a press conference, he said that the march would be carried out in a "peaceful" manner, and special care would be taken that "what happened on January 26 is not repeated".

6:36 PM

Mamata has lost ground in Bengal, speaking of 'gotra' is sign of desperation: Prakash Javadekar

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said that TMC chief Mamata Banerjee has realised that she has lost ground in West Bengal and is speaking about her 'gotra' in desperation, but this "drama" will not help her party win the assembly election.

 

"You are disclosing your gotra and are opposing 'Jai Shri Ram' and also disallowed Ma Durga's immersion during Durga Puja. People understand everything as to who is genuine and who is not," he told reporters.

 

Javadekar claimed that the people of the state have already made up their mind to bring the BJP to power and the Lok Sabha election result indicated the people's will to reject Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress.

5:59 PM

West Bengal set for second phase polling in 30 seats, all eyes on Nandigram

The stage is set for the second phase of assembly poll in West Bengal on Thursday when more than 75 lakh voters will decide the fate of 191 candidates in 30 seats as eyes are set on the high profile Nandigram constituency where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is pitted against her protg turned adversary Suvendu Adhikari.

 

All 10,620 booths where polling will be held this phase have been declared as sensitive by the Election Commission, which has deployed around 651 companies of central forces to provide security, officials said.

 

Besides, the state police will also be deployed at strategic locations during the polling which will begin at 7 am.

5:38 PM

LIVE: Protesting farmers to block KMP expressway for 24 hours on April 10

Protesting farmers to block KMP expressway for 24 hours on April 10: Samyukta Kisan Morcha

5:29 PM

BJP leaders distributing large sums of money alleges Mamata

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that BJP leaders were distributing large sums of money running into crores of rupees to influence electoral outcome and asked for action by the Election Commission.

The Trinamool Congress supremo also accused BJP of bringing in "hired goons" from outside states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to create disturbance here and urged the ECI to ensure free and fair assembly polls.

"There are several BJP leaders sitting in hotels with huge amounts of money and distributing from there. They are conducting horse trading," Banerjee alleged.

5:15 PM

Retail inflation for industrial workers rises to 4.48% in Feb

Retail inflation for industrial workers rose to 4.48 per cent in February, due to higher prices of fuel and certain food items. It had stood at 3.15 per cent in the previous month of January, PTI reported.

 

"Year-on-year inflation for the month (February 2021) stood at 4.48 per cent compared to 3.15 per cent for the previous month (January 2021) and 6.84 per cent during the corresponding month ( February 2020) of the previous year," the labour ministry said in a statement.

 

Similarly, it stated that food inflation stood at 4.64 per cent as against 2.38 per cent of the previous month and 8.33 per cent during the corresponding month (February 2020) a year ago.

4:45 PM

Pakistan lifts ban on Indian cotton, sugar as prices rise, tensions ease

Pakistan lifted a nearly two-year old ban on Indian sugar and cotton imports, government sources said, a step towards reviving suspended trade between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

 

Pakistan's Economic Coordination Council, a top decision-making body, on Wednesday allowed the private sector to import 0.5 million tonnes of white sugar as Islamabad tries to keep soaring domestic prices in check, government officials told Reuters.

 

Pakistani buyers have already started making inquiries about buying Indian sugar and cotton, which is being offered at lower prices than supplies from other countries, five dealers said.

4:26 PM

Mamata writes to oppn leaders, underscores 'assaults' by BJP, govt on democracy

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written personal letters to non-BJP leaders highlighting the "assaults" by the BJP and its government on democracy and constitutional federalism of India.

 

Ahead of the second phase of polls in the state, Banerjee's letter, which was released by the TMC on Wednesday, seeks to drum up support from opposition leaders by stating how non-BJP states have suffered due to the saffron party led Centre's actions.

 

"I am writing this letter to you, and to several leaders of non-BJP parties, to convey my serious concerns over a series of assaults by the BJP and its government at the Centre on democracy and constitutional federalism in India. Referring to the passage of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill by the two Houses of Parliament, she said that it is an "extremely grave" development.

4:21 PM

LIVE: 'Time has come for united struggle against BJP,' Mamata to Sonia

3:50 PM

Mamata di is scared, she will lose Nandigram: J P Nadda at election rally

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Wednesday remarked that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was 'scared' and she would lose the Nandigram seat to her former ministerial colleague Suvendu Adhikari.

 

Speaking at a public gathering in Dhaniakhali, Nadda said: "Mamata di has been saying that we are not distributing food to the poor. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi made arrangements from March to November 2020 to send 5 kg rice, 5 kg wheat, 1 kg dal to Bengal during COVID-19, what did the Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers do? Who are the chalchors (rice thieves)?"

 

He mentioned that people who snatch the rights of common men of West Bengal are now claiming to provide rights to them.

3:44 PM

RBI extends timeline for processing of recurring online transactions

3:08 PM

Govt approves Rs 10,900 crore PLI scheme for food processing sector

The government on Wednesday approved a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the food processing sector, entailing an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the scheme which will help create 2.5 lakh jobs, boost exports and ensure availability of a wider range of value-added products for consumers.

 

"The PLI for the food processing sector with Rs 10,900 crore incentive has been approved. The decision is a fitting tribute to our farmers," Food Minister Piyush Goyal said while briefing the media about the cabinet decisions.

 

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the government in the Budget had announced PLI scheme for 12-13 sectors. PLI has been announced for six sectors already.

 

"Today, PLI for the food processing industries has been approved," he said. This will boost production of value-added food products, attract foreign investment, create job opportunities besides benefiting farmers with remunerative prices for the produce, he added.

2:58 PM

Cabinet briefing LIVE: PLI scheme for food processing sector approved

2:46 PM

Cabinet briefing LIVE: PLI scheme for food processing sector approved

2:45 PM

PLI (Product-Linked incentive) announced for food processing industry: Prakash Javadekar

2:41 PM

SC-appointed committee on three farm laws submits report

The Supreme Court appointed three-member committee of agricultural economists has submitted its report to the top court on the three contentious farm laws in a sealed cover.

 

The committee comprises four members: Bhupinder Singh Mann, National President, Bharatiya Kisan Union and All India Kisan Coordination Committee; Dr. Parmod Kumar Joshi, Agricultural Economist, Director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute; Ashok Gulati, Agricultural Economist and Former Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices; and Anil Ghanwat, President, Shetkari Sanghatana. Mann resigned later. The committee had also sought views, and suggestions of the general public through a public notice, which was published in major newspapers.

 

Speaking to IANS, Anil Ghanvat confirmed that the committee has submitted the report, but declined to divulge any details on the content. He added the contents will not be public till Chief Justice S.A. Bobde takes it up for hearing and discussion. The hearing in the matter is expected after April 5 when the court reopens after Holi vacation.

2:34 PM

Cabinet briefing LIVE: PLI scheme for food processing sector approved

2:17 PM

Higher TDS if PAN not linked with Aadhaar by today

As per the directives of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), it is mandatory for all Permanent Account Number (PAN) card holders to link their Aadhaar with PAN on or before March 31.

 

'If your Aadhaar is not linked then your PAN will be considered inoperative and this will have an impact on the TDS rate at the time of receiving any policy payouts', insurance companies have informed policy holders.

 

If PAN and Aadhaar are not linked, then the TDS rate on taxable payout will be 20 per cent as per Section 206 of the Income Tax Act 1961, effective from April 1. PAN if not linked with Aadhaar by March 31, 2021 shall remain inoperative till such period, it is linked. Inoperative Pan means TDS will be deducted at higher rates, ITR cannot be filed and a penalty of Rs 10,000 may be imposed.

2:02 PM

LIVE: SC-appointed panel on three new farm laws submits its report to SC

1:42 PM

Waze procured explosives found in SUV near Ambani's house: NIA

The gelatin sticks found in an SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai last month were procured by suspended police officer Sachin Waze, NIA sources claimed on Wednesday.

 

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case, has also found that Waze along with his driver parked the SUV near Ambani's house, a PTI report said.

1:00 PM

800 companies of security forces to be deployed for West Bengal election 2021 phase 2

800 companies of security forces to be deployed for West Bengal election 2021 phase 2