Page 11 - Central Government

Centre approves oil and gas exploration in Assam Wildlife Sanctuary area

The Centre's wildlife panel has approved a proposal to carry out oil and gas exploration in the eco-sensitive zone of the Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam's Jorhat district. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, approved the proposal by Vedanta Group's Cairn Oil & Gas during its meeting on December 21, according to the minutes of the meeting. Assam's principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden had recommended clearance for the project in August last year, citing "national interest". The Forest Advisory Committee of the Union Environment Ministry had also granted in-principle approval during its meeting on August 27 last year. According to the minutes of the NBWL meeting, a team comprising officials from the Union Environment Ministry, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and the Assam Forest Department inspected the project site, located about 13 km ..

Govt likely to conduct interviews for RBI deputy governor next week

Government panel consisting of RBI governor, Cabinet secy, DFS secy to interview candidates

Centre clears Rs 120 crore for immediate Wayanad rehabilitation: Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court on Friday said the Centre has agreed to the freeing up of Rs 120 crore for immediate use by the Kerala state government in connection with the rehabilitation proceedings ongoing at Wayanad, where a massive landslide occurred on July 30 last year. While hearing a case taken on its own for prevention and management of natural disasters in the state in the wake of the landslides that devastated three villages in Wayanad district and claimed over 200 lives, a Division Bench of Justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Easwaran S recorded the Central government's consent to free up Rs 120 crore of arrears owed by the state to the Centre in airlift charges over the years. "The said amount can accordingly be used in relaxation of the SDRF/NDRF norms of the Central Government," an order of High Court stated. Additional Solicitor General of India A R L Sundaresan placed before the High Court a letter, dated January 2, of the Assistant Director (DM), Ministry of Home Affairs

Only the centre has the power to cancel Neet, clarifies TN CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday said the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test would have been abolished had the Indi alliance captured power, but only the Central government can now cancel the test. The DMK has consistently opposed NEET and was involved in efforts aimed at scrapping the test, he told the Assembly. "NEET did not enter Tamil Nadu as long as our leader Kalaignar (late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi) and late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa were in power. The exam was introduced only during your regime," Stalin said responding to the Leader of the Opposition AIADMK Edappadi K Palniswami's charge that the ruling dispensation had done precious little to abolish NEET despite its promise in the run-up to the 2021 assembly election. "Does Opposition Leader Palaniswami not know that only the Union Government can cancel NEET? If the Indi alliance had come to power at the Centre, then NEET would have definitely been cancelled," Stalin said responding to a volley of

Projects worth Rs 50,000 crore mooted for robust inland waterways

The discussions around projects and potential interventions in the sector took place at the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC)

Centre releases tax devolution of Rs 1.73 trillion to state govts

A higher amount is being devolved this month to enable states to accelerate capital spending and finance their development and welfare-related expenditures

Punjab govt rejects Centre's agricultural marketing policy blueprint

Further concerns were raised about the policy's focus on promoting direct purchase from farms by exporters and bulk buyers, which could bypass the established mandi system and commission agents

Govt may introduce one-time amnesty scheme to resolve Customs disputes

The official said around 35,000 customs cases, involving over around Rs 50,000 crore are currently pending across various courts

HMPV cases in India highlights: Mumbai reports first case, 6-month-old child tests positive

HMPV Cases in India updates: Catch all the major news updates on human metapneumovirus cases here

V Narayanan appointed as new chairman of Isro, to take office on Jan 14

According to an official order from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Narayanan has been appointed to serve in these roles for the next two years, until further notice

HMPV cases in India highlights: Health Secretary urges states to raise public awareness on HMPV

HMPV Cases in India updates: Catch all the major news updates on human metapneumovirus cases here

Centre notifies procedure for export of certified organic products

The government has laid out a procedure for export of certified organic products, requiring mandatory certification under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) for such shipments, according to a public notice. The Directorate General Of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in a public notice said that a product will be allowed to be exported as "organic product" only when accompanied by a Transaction Certificate (TC) issued by a certification body accredited by the National Accreditation Body for such items under the NPOP of the Department of Commerce. India has fixed a target of USD 2 billion exports for organic food products by 2030. It added that exports of these goods shall only be certified as such if produced, processed, packed and labelled as per the standards laid down in the NPOP. "Procedure for export of certified organic products has been notified," it added. The revised edition of the NPOP will come into force with effect from 180 days from January 5. The commerce ...

Govt to switch on massive subsidy to supercharge EV infrastructure

Subsidy to support 72,300 fast charging stations across the country

Centre pushes transfer to states to meet capital expenditure goals

Experts feel despite government efforts there has been a lag in capex pick up but there is a good case for continued push towards such expenditure

Work demand under MGNREGA rises 8.3% in December 2024, shows data

Data sourced from the MGNREGA website showed that 21.58 million households sought work under the scheme in December

Centre to address high mining taxes in upcoming consultations with states

The SC last year permitted states to impose additional taxes on mining activities, indicating that royalty collected by states under Sec 9 of the Mines and Minerals (Dev & Reg) Act, 1957 is not a tax

Centre not to release the Good Governance Index 2023; what is it?

The Good Governance Index was launched on December 25, 2019, to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, observed as Good Governance Day

Debt sustainability: A roadmap for India's states and local governance

SNGs in India are accountable to the Union government but are not uniformly as diligent in maintaining fiscal resilience and debt sustainability

NGT issues notice to Centre over ozone levels exceeding limits in Delhi

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Centre on the "feasibility and mechanism" for implementation of the CPCB's recommendations for controlling ozone levels, which were found beyond the permissible limits in some areas of the national capital. The green body earlier directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and other agencies to submit relevant material explaining why ozone levels in these areas exceeded permissible limits. It had also sought "targeted approaches" that could be adopted for these areas. In an order dated December 23, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel noted that the CPCB had submitted a report dated December 20 about the measures for control of ozone levels along with some suggestions or recommendations. The CPCB report said, "It has been recognised globally that control of ozone is only possible through control of its precursors. It is also evident that control of local sources of it

Year of judicial milestones: Landmark SC verdicts, policy shifts in 2024

From taking a strong stance against 'bulldozer justice' to overruling past judgment on legislative immunity for bribery, the top court set several precedents during the year to uphold the constitution