Latest News LIVE: Cabinet approves revised guidelines for DTH services

Changes have been approved for 100 per cent foreign direct investment in the sector. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news updates.

11:55 PM

Puri's Jagannath temple reopens; Covid negative report mandatory for entry

The Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha's Puri reopened for devotees on Wednesday after nine months. Visitors from outside Puri, however, will have to produce COVID negative reports to enter the shrine. The much-awaited 'darshan' of the sibling deities, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath, began at 7 am only for servitors and their family members amid strict adherence to the Covid-19 guidelines, officials said.

The temple remained closed since March 20 due to the Covid-19 outbreak. This was for the first time in the history of the 12th century shrine that devotees were denied the opportunity for having 'darshan' of the deities, they said. "It was a matter of luck for any human being to have darshan of the deities at Jagannath Dham. We are blessed to get that opportunity in the first phase," an elderly woman said after visiting the temple.

Servitors and their family members have been allowed to have darshan in the first phase from December 23-25, while residents of the Puri municipality area will get the opportunity from December 26-31. The temple will be opened to general devotees from outside Puri from January 3, Collector Balwant Singh.

11:09 PM

Bengal thrives on merit, cannot allow it to turn into Gujarat: CM Mamata

Taking a jibe at the oft-repeated claim by BJP that the Gujarat model of development will be implemented in West Bengal should the party win the next state polls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday said that the people will have to prevent this from happening. The national anthem, the national song and the 'Jai Hind' slogan were all given to the world from West Bengal, she said at an event here.

 

"Bengal thrives on excellence and merit. We cannot allow to turn it into Gujarat", the TMC supremo, who is a vocal critic of BJP, said. "The soil of Bengal is the source of life. We have to protect this soil. We have to take pride in this. There is no one who can come from outside and say this place will be turned into Gujarat," the TMC supremo said iterating her 'outsider' charge against the saffron party.

 

"Our message is that we are for all... Humanity is for all whether he is a Sikh, Jain, Muslim or a Christian. We don't allow any division among them", she said.

10:11 PM

No cold day conditions observed in country today: IMD

9:34 PM

Agencies must ensure ban on sale, use of firecrackers during Christmas, New Year's: CPCB

8:21 PM

Pre-Budget talks: FinMin gets suggestions on fiscal policy, green growth

The government received a host of suggestions concerning fiscal policy, taxation and green growth, among others, from various stakeholders during the customary pre-Budget meetings convened by the Finance Ministry through video conferencing. More than 170 invitees representing 9 stakeholder groups participated in 15 virtual meetings chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Finance Ministry said in a release.

 

The series of pre-Budget consultation meetings for Budget 2021-22 were held from December 14 to December 23, 2020. This is the first time in the history of Budget making exercise that such consultations meetings were held in virtual mode due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The stakeholder groups were from different sectors including financial and capital markets, health, education and rural development, water and sanitation, trade union and labour organization, services and trade, infrastructure, energy and climate change, agriculture and agro processing, industrialists and economists, among others, the statement said. READ MORE...

7:29 PM

Cabinet decision on post-matric scholarship will ensure greater educational access to SC communities: PM Modi

6:43 PM

India loses Cairn case in arbitration; asked to pay Rs 8,000 crore in damages

India loses Cairn case in arbitration; asked to pay Rs 8,000 crore in damages

 

In a major setback, Indian government has lost arbitration to energy giant Cairn under the retrospective tax amendment to the law in a verdict that came late night on Tuesday. India has been asked to pay damages worth Rs 8,000 crore to the UK oil major. The verdict comes three months after India lost arbitration to Vodafone over the retrospective legislation. Read more

6:13 PM

Cabinet approves merger of four film media units with NFDC

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday extended support to the cinema sector in India by approving to merge four film media units.

 

The units are Films Division of India, Directorate of Film Festivals, National Film Archive of India, and Children's Film Society. These bodies will be merged with National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) by expanding the Memorandum of Articles of Association of NFDC, which will then carry out all the activities performed by them.

 

Confirming the development, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar tweeted on Wednesday: "I thank PM @narendramodi's commitment to support the Indian film sector. Bringing @Films_Division, @nfdcindia, @CFSINDIAORG, @DFF_India & @NFAIOfficial into one body will ensure synergy & efficiency in the industry and take Indian cinema to even greater heights."

 

This move is aimed at convergence of activities and resources and better coordination, thereby ensuring synergy and efficiency in achieving the mandate of each media unit.

5:57 PM

FM Nirmala Sitharaman concludes pre-Budget meetings for Union Budget 2021-22

5:31 PM

India successfully test-fires medium range surface-to air missile off Odisha coast

India on Wednesday successfully test-fired a medium range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) from Odisha coast, PTI reported. The missile was fired from a ground mobile launcher at launch pad number-1 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) near here at 3.55 pm, and it hit the target with accuracy. An unmanned air vehicle (UAV), 'Banshee', was first flown into the air, which was hit by the MRSAM.

 

The DRDO has jointly developed the missile in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries.

 

The MRSAM has been manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd. After its induction into the Indian army, the missile will significantly enhance the combat effectiveness of the defence forces. The entire mission trajectory from the launch to plunging into the sea was monitored by various radars and electro-optico instruments.

5:15 PM

Cabinet approves revised guidelines for DTH services: Prakash Javadekar

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved revision in guidelines for providing direct to home (DTH) services in the country under which licenses would be issued for 20 years, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said. He said the change in guidelines would also allow 100 per cent FDI in the DTH sector.

 

While the Commerce Ministry had spoken of 100 per cent FDI in the DTH sector, the guidelines of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry needed to be changed.

 

Changes have been approved for 100 per cent foreign direct investment in the sector. Till now, the FDI was limited to 49 per cent, Javadekar told a media briefing. The TRAI was consulted in this regard, he added.

4:57 PM

PM Modi to release PM-KISAN instalment to 9 crore farmers on Dec 25

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the next instalment of the financial benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) on December 25 via video-conferencing, his office said on Wednesday. With the push of a button, Modi will enable the transfer of more than Rs 18,000 crore to over nine crore beneficiary farmer families, it added. Modi will also interact with farmers from six states during the event, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

 

"The farmers will share their experiences with PM-KISAN and also on various other initiatives taken by the government for the welfare of farmers," it said.

 

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to small and marginal farmers, payable in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

 

The programme comes amid protests by various farmer unions against three farm laws recently enacted by the Modi government. The government has insisted that these reforms are in the interest of farmers.

4:56 PM

Cabinet approves Rs 59,000 cr post-matric scholarship scheme for over 40 mn SC students in five years

4:45 PM

Sensex rallies 437.49 points to close at 46,444.18; Nifty surges 134.80 points to 13,601.10

Sensex rallies 437.49 points to close at 46,444.18; Nifty surges 134.80 points to 13,601.10

4:18 PM

Cabinet approves revision in guidelines for providing DTH services in India: Prakash Javadekar

4:07 PM

PM will enable transfer of over Rs 18,000 cr to more than 9 crore beneficiary farmer families under PM-KISAN

4:05 PM

Railways conducts first trial run of Metro train up to Dakshineswar in West Bengal

3:53 PM

Rupee rises 8 paise to finish at 73.76 (provisional) against US dollar

3:08 PM

More than 3.82 crore Income Tax Returns already filed till Dec 22, 2020: CBDT

2:52 PM

Two dead in ammonia leak accident at IFFCO unit in Uttar Pradesh

Two people have died in a major ammonia gas leak accident at IFFCO's Phulpur fertiliser unit in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, though the leakage was restricted and normalised in a short time, the company said on Wednesday. About 14 out of 16 employees, including three contract labourers who were rushed to hospital for treatment, are stable now, the fertilizer cooperative major said in a statement.

 

"Our emergency response group, fire and safety team and plant operating staff bravely fought with the emergency situation and restricted the leakage to small area within the plant and normalized it in a short time," IFFCO said.

 

A technical enquiry committee, headed by an executive director rank officer, has been set up to find out the cause of the incident which took place on Tuesday night, it added.

 

"We deeply regret the sad and unfortunate accident happened yesterday night around 10.30pm due to mechanical failure at #IFFCO #Phulpur Ammonia Urea unit in #Prayagraj. Our employees at the site fought bravely to handle the situation," IFFCO CEO and Managing Director U S Awasthi tweeted.

 

In the statement, IFFCO said the accident took place as tie rods of an ammonia plunger pump suddenly broke and got detached leading to heavy ammonia leakage.

2:31 PM

Tamil Nadu govt allows 'Jallikattu', says Covid-19 guidelines must be followed during events

1:45 PM

Ammonia plunger broke caused ammonia gas leakage at plant in Prayagraj: IFFCO

An ammonia plunger broke which led to heavy leakage of ammonia gas at the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) plant in Phoolpur, Prayagraj, and claimed two lives, said IFFCO on Wednesday.

 

"An unfortunate accident took place in urea-1 plant of IFFCO Phoolpur at 10:30 pm yesterday. The tie rods of an ammonia plunger pump suddenly broke and got detached leading to heavy ammonia leakage. Two employees died tackling the accident," said IFFCO. Thirteen employees and three contract labourers also got affected, it said.

 

"Out of them, six people have been shifted to a hospital in Prayagraj, while 10 are receiving treatment in our township hospital. Two of them have been discharged. Condition of remaining 14 is stable," IFFCO added.

 

IFFCO's emergency response group, fire and safety team and plant operating staff "bravely fought with the emergency situation" and restricted the leakage to small area within the plant and nromalised it in a short time. A technical enquiry committee, headed by an executive director rank officer has been set up to find out the cause of the accident. A detailed investigation will be conducted to ascertain the cause of the incident, said MM Ahmad, Unit Head Phoolpur, IFFCO earlier today.

1:26 PM

Prakash Javadekar to hold press conference on Cabinet decisions at 4 pm today

Prakash Javadekar to hold press conference on Cabinet decisions at 4 pm today

1:25 PM

Spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi asks DDCA to remove Jaitley name from stands, quits membership

Lambasting the DDCA for deciding to install a statue of its late former President Arun Jaitley at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground, spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi has asked the body to remove his name from the spectators' stand, named after him in 2017.

 

Lashing out at the Delhi and District Cricket Association's (DDCA) culture, which he alleged promotes nepotism and puts "administrators ahead of cricketers", Bedi also renounced his membership of the body.

 

He made the demand in a scathing letter addressed to DDCA President Rohan Jaitley, the son of the late politician, who was a minister in the BJP-led NDA government and died last year owing to multiple health issues.

12:28 PM

Kisan Diwas 2020: RLD leaders Ajit Singh, Jayant Chaudhary and others pay tribute to Chaudhary Charan Singh

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leaders Ajit Singh, Jayant Chaudhary and others pay floral tribute to the former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on his birth anniversary at Kisan Ghat, in New Delhi

 

10:27 AM

Maharashtra: Ward boy arrested for allegedly molesting a woman recuperating from surgery in a Mumbai hospital

10:25 AM

Jagannath Temple in Puri reopens for devotees after nine months

10:18 AM

Delhi weather update: IMD forecasts minimum temperature of 3.7 degrees Celsius in Delhi

IMD forecasts minimum temperature of 3.7 degrees Celsius in Delhi

9:12 AM

Former BJP minister Choudhary loses DDC election in Jammu by 11 votes

Former BJP minister Sham Lal Choudhary lost by a razor-thin margin of 11 votes in Suchetgarh constituency of Jammu district in the maiden District Development Council (DDC) election, officials said on Wednesday.

 

The Gupkar alliance led by Farooq Abdullah was leading the tally by winning over 110 out of 280 seats on Wednesday, followed by the BJP, which emerged as the single largest party, bagging 74 seats, including three in the Kashmir Valley for the first time.