Page 27 - Centre

Union Cabinet approves recommendations of Parl panel on Mediation Bill

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the Mediation Bill including reducing the maximum timeline for completing mediation proceedings from 360 to 180 days. The official amendments to the law ministry bill are likely to be tabled in the Monsoon session of Parliament beginning Thursday. The Mediation Bill, 2021 was introduced in Rajya Sabha in December 2021. Later it was referred to the parliamentary committee on law and personnel which gave its report. The official amendments cleared by the cabinet are based largely on the recommendations made by the parliamentary panel, sources said. Under the other key recommendation of the panel accepted by the government, pre-litigation mediation has been made voluntary instead of mandatory. According to the bill pending in the upper house, compulsory pre-litigation mediation in matters of civil or commercial disputes has been provided for before parties approach a court or tribunals. In case of exceptional circumstances, a pa

Govt reduces price of subsidised tomato to Rs 70 from Rs 80 per kg

The Union government has reduced prices of subsidised tomatoes to Rs 70 per kilogramme from Thursday from Rs 80 per kg now to provide relief to common man from high retail prices. The Centre is selling tomatoes to people at a subsidised rate of Rs 80 a kg in Delhi-NCR and some other key cities through the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED). The all-India average retail prices of tomatoes is ruling at nearly 120 per kg, although the key kitchen item is selling as high as Rs 245 per kg at some places. In the national capital, the rate has come down to Rs 120 per kg. "The Department of Consumer Affairs has directed NCCF and NAFED to sell tomatoes at retail price of Rs 70 per kg rate from July 20, 2023 in view of the declining trend in tomato prices," an official statement said. The tomatoes procured by NCCF and NAFED had been retailed, initially, at Rs 90 per kg and then reduced to

Govt to hold stakeholder talks for ACC battery PLI scheme on July 24

"The new bids proposal is in the final stages. Industry consultations will happen on July 24," said top government officials, adding, "The fresh tender is likely in the first half of next month"

Centre rolls out mandatory quality norms for insulated flask, bottles

The government on Wednesday said it has issued mandatory quality norms for insulated flask, bottles and containers with a view to containing import of the sub-standard goods and boost domestic manufacturing of these products. A notification in this regard was issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on July 14. These items - resin-treated compressed wood laminates and insulated flask, bottles and containers for domestic use - under the quality control orders (QCO), cannot be produced, sold/traded, imported and stocked unless they bear the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) mark. Now, manufacturing, storing and sale of non-BIS certified products are prohibited as per the BIS Act, 2016. The violation of the provision of the BIS Act can attract a penalty of imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of at least Rs 2 lakh for the first offence. In case of second and subsequent offences, the fine will increase to Rs 5 lakh minimum and extend up to ten

Odisha being neglected, not given enough funds by Centre: Naveen Patnaik

Odisha is facing constant neglect in transfer of state share and central funds, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik

Health min moots Centre, state be empowered to regulate drugs, cosmetics

The Union Health Ministry has mooted that either the Centre or state authorities be empowered to regulate the manufacture of drugs and cosmetics, changing its earlier proposal of allowing only the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to do so. As of now, all manufacturing activities relating to drugs and cosmetics are regulated by only the state governments through their drug control organisations, official sources told PTI. The draft bill also mentions that the Central government may regulate, restrict or prohibit selling, stocking, exhibiting or offering sale or distribution of any drug online by notification. The latest draft of the New Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2023, which seeks to replace the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940, is yet to be approved by the Cabinet. It, however, features among the 21 key bills that are on the agenda for the Monsoon session of Parliament. The latest version of the draft bill states, "No person shall himself or by an

Centre starts process to refund Rs 5,000 cr to investors of 4 Sahara Group

The Centre on Tuesday started the process to refund Rs 5,000 crore of depositors whose funds are struck in four cooperative societies of Sahara Group, a move that is likely to help crores of small investors awaiting return of their hard-earned savings. On March 29, the government had said money will be returned to 10 crore investors of the four cooperative societies within 9 months. The announcement followed a Supreme Court order directing transfer of Rs 5,000 crore from Sahara-Sebi refund account to the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS). Launching a 'CRCS-Sahara Refund Portal' to facilitate the refund, Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said: "The process of returning the amount of Rs 5,000 crore to the investors is starting today in a transparent manner on a trial basis. This is beginning of refund of monies to the depositors (of Sahara Group)". He further said after the completion of Rs 5,000 crore payment, another appeal will be made in the Supreme Court to return th

Ordinance promulgated as officers targeted by Delhi govt: Centre to SC

The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that the ordinance on control of services in Delhi was promulgated as officers working in the vigilance department were "targeted" by the city government, and bureaucrats and officials were humiliated. In an affidavit filed in the apex court, the Centre claimed that after the May 11 judgement of the constitution bench of the top court, ministers in the Delhi government started a "witch-hunt" and harassment of officers to influence their decision making. A five-judge constitution bench of the apex court had on May 11 said the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over administration of services except for public order, police and land. "To elaborate the above, the officers working in the vigilance department, that is the department which handles serious vigilance issues relating to complaints of corruption, thus involving, criminal and other politically sensitive cases, came to be specifically targeted by the elected ...

SC junks petition seeking action against comedian for show 'Bas Kar Bassi'

From trying to find a middle ground in DERC appointments to hearing plea against police encounters in Assam, here's a list of important developments in the apex court today

'Delhi govt trying to paralyse Capital': Centre files affidavit in SC

Centre defends Delhi ordinance, says Kejriwal govt harassing vigilance dept officials

EV makers face legal action over wrongful FAME II incentive claims

An official was quoted as saying that the companies that claimed incentives wrongfully under FAME II would have to pay them back first

Centre to seek ideas to amend PCPNDT Act to address sex ratio imbalance

The Centre and states will work on a mission mode to address the issue of sex-ratio imbalance, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Saturday and stressed on ensuring "comprehensive and saturation coverage" of all health schemes. He said that concerns over sex-ratio imbalance across the country were discussed at the Swasthya Chintan Shivir here. It has been decided that the Centre and states will work on a mission mode to address the issue, the minister said on the last day of the two-day conclave in the Uttarakhand capital. The Centre will also seek suggestions from states for amending the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, for its effective implementation at the ground level to address sex-ratio imbalance, according to official sources. India's Sex Ratio at Birth has improved from 904 females per thousand males in 2017-2019 to 907 in 2019-2020. It was recorded at 898 in 2014-2016, according to Sample Registration System (SRS) ...

Centre doing its best to help calamity-hit states, says Anurag Thakur

The Centre is doing its best to help states, including Himachal Pradesh, that have been hit by natural calamities in their hour of crisis, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said on Saturday. The Union government has already released Rs 361 crore in two installments and more financial aid will be released shortly, he said. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses of about Rs 8,000 crore as heavy rain wreaked havoc in the hill state, triggering landslides and flash floods and damaging roads and other infrastructure. According to the state emergency response centre, the losses amounted to about Rs 4,000 crore till Friday night and Sukhu had sought an interim relief of Rs 2,000 crore from the Union Home Ministry. On Saturday, Thakur visited the Dharmapur assembly segment in Mandi district and various regions of Hamirpur district where he met victims of the recent flood. The sight was shocking and beyond expectation, Thakur, who holds the U

Centre standing with states in this time of crisis: Nadda on rain aftermath

Asserting that the Centre is standing with states dealing with the aftermath of heavy rains, BJP president J P Nadda has said the Union government has "released" a second instalment of "Rs 181 crore" for Himachal Pradesh. Nadda, who visited the flood-affected areas in Kullu and Mandi districts on Friday, said the Centre's grant will help reduce the debt burden of the state that has increased due to the damage caused by the rains. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the advance release of the second instalment of the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), amounting to Rs 180.40 crore for 2023-24, as an interim relief to Himachal Pradesh, an official statement said on Friday. The release of funds will help the state government undertake relief measures for those affected by the rains, the statement said. To support those affected in Himachal Pradesh, the central government had released the first instalment of the central share of Rs 180.40 crore to the state

Govt offers firms more time to seek IT hardware production incentives

The window to apply for the scheme - PLI 2.0 for IT Hardware - was previously supposed to close on July 15

21% unorganised workers opted out of Centre's pension scheme in six months

PM-SYM is a voluntary contributory pension scheme that aims to bring millions of unorganised workers into the social security net

Centre appoints Justices Ujjal Bhuyan, SV Bhatti as Supreme Court judges

The Collegium in its resolution said that it resolves to recommend the appointments of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, and Justice S Venkatanarayana Bhatti by following the order of seniority

Centre imposes import restrictions on certain gold jewellery, articles

The government on Wednesday imposed import restrictions on certain gold jewellery and articles, a move which would help cut import of non-essential items. Now an importer would need a permission of licence from the government for importing these gold products. However, the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said that the restrictions will not be there for imports under the India-UAE free trade agreement. In a notification, the DGFT said that the import policy of these products "has been amended from free to restricted with immediate effect". Imports of pearls, precious and semi-precious stones dipped by 25.36 per cent to about USD 4 billion during April-May this fiscal. Gold imports too contracted by about 40 per cent to USD 4.7 billion in the same period. Overall merchandise imports during April-May this fiscal declined 10.24 per cent to USD 107 billion. The merchandise trade deficit for April-May 2023 stood at USD 37.26 billion against USD 40.48 billion during April-May

GST Council's decision on online gaming was unanimous: Revenue Secretary

The government's decision, announced late on Tuesday, created an uproar in the online gaming industry, with shares of casino operator Delta Corp & other online gaming firms plunging in Wednesday trade

Centre approves release of Rs 7,352 crore disaster relief fund to 22 states

The fund is the primary fund available with state governments for responses to notified disasters