Page 2 - Central Government

₹22 cr penalty levied on IndiGo for December chaos: Govt to Delhi HC

The government also placed before the court, in a sealed cover, its report on the inquiry conducted into the incident

Centre, BJP counter Congress-led Opposition campaign against VB-G RAM G

As the Centre pushes VB-G RAM G to replace MGNREGA, the BJP and Congress lock horns over federalism, funding burdens and the future of rural jobs

Punjab urges Centre for special economic package and fiscal support

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday urged the Centre to extend immediate fiscal assistance and announce a special economic package for Punjab, pointing out that the state endured a difficult 2025 marked by border tensions and the worst floods in decades. During a pre-Budget meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here, Cheema submitted a detailed memorandum laying out Punjab's key financial requirements and policy demands for the 2026-27 Union Budget. He said the state, being the country's first line of defence, suffered severe economic disruption due to prolonged security tensions along the international border, followed by a devastating monsoon disaster that was officially declared a calamity of severe nature by the home ministry. Explaining the scale of devastation, the Punjab finance minister said the floods impacted more than 2,300 villages and nearly 20,000 families across the state. Cheema informed Sitharaman that comprehensive ground-level

Govt issues new draft of Pesticides Management Bill to curb spurious sales

Industry says absence of regulatory data protection in new draft could hamper research; welcomes no pricing control

Centre prohibits oral nimesulide doses above 100 mg, cites safety risks

The Union Health Ministry has banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of all oral formulations containing the popular painkiller nimesulide above 100 mg, citing serious risks to health, an official notification said. The decision was taken following a recommendation by ICMR, the apex health research body of India, it said. "The Central government is satisfied that the use of all oral formulations containing Nimesulide above 100 mg in immediate release dosage form is likely to involve risk to human beings and that safer alternatives to the said drug are available," the notification issued on Monday said. It stated that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest to prohibit the manufacture, sale and distribution of the drug in the country for human use. "Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and after consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, the Centre, hereby prohibits the manufacture, sal

Govt plans to amend SARFAESI Act to include special situation funds

Centre is considering amending SARFAESI to include special situation funds as financial institutions and to require borrowers to file representations within 30 days of a demand notice, sources said

Hold awareness meetings on G RAM G law: Centre to gram panchayats

According to an official letter issued a few days ago, the gram sabhas should ensure active participation of villagers, workers, women, SC/ST households and other vulnerable groups

Centre proposes allowing captive miners to sell surplus mineral output

Draft mineral concession rules propose letting captive mine owners sell surplus output after meeting end-use needs, alongside steps to ease operations and promote deep-seated exploration

MGNREGA work demand dips during peak sowing and harvest time, shows data

MGNREGA data show work demand typically dipped between July and November over the past 10 years before rising from December

PMIS: Internship offer acceptances fall 12.4% in second pilot round

The Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) aims to provide internship opportunities to one crore youth in the top 500 companies in five years

Cabinet clears India-Oman CEPA ahead of PM Narendra Modi's Muscat visit

CEPA expected to boost bilateral trade beyond current $10.6 billion, with focus on petroleum, urea, and manufactured goods

We set own air standards; global rankings not official, says govt

Government tells Parliament that India relies on its own air-quality standards and city-level assessments

Parl panel asks govt to scale up Bharat Small Modular Reactors platform

It has recommended that NPCIL, with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), fast-track the development and deployment of advanced indigenous reactors

Delhi HC pulls up Centre over IndiGo crisis; orders passenger compensation

Delhi High Court criticised the Centre and DGCA over the IndiGo disruptions and directed airline to immediately begin compensation under the DGCA's 2010 circular, with the next hearing on Jan 22, 2026

SC declines to intervene in IndiGo cancellations, cites govt action

The cancellations, which began on December 2, have drawn criticism from passengers and government authorities

IndiGo flight disruptions: Govt imposes caps amid surge in ticket prices

The government on Saturday capped the airfares in the range of Rs 7,500 to Rs 18,000 depending on the distance amid soaring air ticket prices due to the IndiGo flight disruptions. The fare limits, excluding applicable charges, are not applicable for business class and UDAN flights, the civil aviation ministry said in an order. However, the order did not provide clarity on whether the caps are applicable for economy class tickets or both economy and premium economy class tickets. Under the limits, for a flight flying up to 500 kilometres, the fares are capped at Rs 7,500 and for 500-1,000 kilometres, the ticket price cap is Rs 12,000. For flights operating 1,000-1,500 kilometres, the fares are limited at Rs 15,000 and for above, 1,500 kilometres, the cap is Rs 18,000. The cap means that for a Delhi-Mumbai flight, which is covered in a distance of over 1,300 kilometres, the fare for at least the economy class is capped at Rs 18,000. The limits will be in place till the situation ..

Weaponised vigilance: Baseless complaints are paralysing administrators

Former Defence Secretary calls for accountability for false complaints, warns of systemic risk-aversion in bureaucracy

DPIIT chief asks industry to make realistic demands on deregulation, safety

DPIIT secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia urged industry to seek "realistic" regulatory relaxations, balancing ease of doing business with public safety, as panels review laws to cut compliance burden

Flag pending deregulation issues, Cabinet Secretariat tells states

The Cabinet Secretariat is conducting a deregulation exercise to enhance ease of doing business across 23 priority areas

Govt does not give LIC directions on its investment decisions: FinMin

LIC's investment in Adani Group cos as of September 30 stood at Rs 48,284.62 crore