Page 20 - Central Government

Will start massive protest if dues not cleared by Centre in 7 days: Mamata

West Bengal CM and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday gave the Centre a seven-day ultimatum to clear all dues to the state failing which the party would launch a massive protest. Banerjee made these remarks during a programme at Raj Bhavan to celebrate the 75th Republic Day. Banerjee said, "If the central government does not clear the funds, then we (TMC) will initiate a massive protest." According to West Bengal government's figures, the Centre owes the state Rs 9,330 crore under the PMAY, Rs 6,900 crore under MGNREGA, Rs 830 crore under National Health Mission, Rs 770 crore under PM Gram Sadak Yojna, Rs 350 crore under the Swachh Bharat Mission, Rs 175 crore for mid Day Meals, as well as money under other schemes. Banerjee had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 20, and discussed the issue of pending central funds. After the meeting, she said Modi proposed that officials from state and Centre can sit together and clear the issues. Earlier this week, a team of st

Delhi AQI severe for second time in 3 days, Centre delays stricter curbs

The Centre on Friday decided to delay implementation of stricter measures to curb pollution in Delhi-NCR despite the 24-hour average AQI in Delhi breaching the 400-mark for the second time in three days. Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 409 at 4 pm, a level requiring authorities to invoke stricter curbs under Stage III of the Centre's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to control air pollution. The CAQM sub-committee for operationalisation of GRAP convened an emergency meeting and took stock of the air quality situation, projected AQI and meteorological forecasts, a statement said. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), a dip in temperature and foggy weather allowed accumulation of pollutants in Delhi on Friday. Forecasts by the IMD and the IITM suggest an improvement in Delhi's air quality from Friday itself. It is expected to be in the 'very poor' category in the coming days, the ...

My govt took country out of darkness staring at youngsters: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday that his government took the country out of the darkness staring at youngsters 10-12 years back, as he told young voters that their votes will decide India's future direction and approach. In a virtual address to young voters organised by the youth wing of the ruling BJP, he said they have the responsibility of making the country developed in the next 25 years in the same way the young generation during the 25 years before Independence had for its freedom. Taking a swipe at opposition parties, Modi said the youth is against corruption and "parivarwaad" (nepotism), adding that family-run parties never allow other youngsters to move ahead. "The mindset of leaders of these parties is anti-youth. You have to defeat these family parties with the strength of your votes," he said. The circumstances prevailing in the country 10-12 years back had made the future of youngsters dark, he said, asserting that things have changed now. The countr

Bengal CM Mamata calls on Guv Bose, discusses state budget, other issues

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Governor CV Ananda Bose on Wednesday evening. The two leaders held discussions over several issues, including the budget session of the state assembly next month, Raj Bhavan officials said. "I am feeling pain, despite that I have come for the meeting. As per the verdict of the Supreme Court, we had a very good meeting. I will come again on January 26," Banerjee said, referring to the injury she received on her forehead after her car made a sudden halt to avoid a collision with another vehicle. She said the meeting was fruitful. Bose and the TMC government have been at loggerheads over various issues, including the appointment of vice-chancellors in state-run universities. The state government has been claiming that the governor's appointment of VCs was illegal as he did not consult the Education Department. The state government had moved the Supreme Court, which ordered the preparation of a final draft of the list of names proposed fo

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders bags Rs 1,070 crore worth contract from MoD

The patrol vessels will be equipped with multipurpose drones, artificial intelligence capability, and wirelessly controlled remote water rescue craft to boost Indian Coast Guard's capability

Namibian cheetah births 3 cubs: What is India's total cheetah count now

As part of the Centre's ambitious 'Project Cheetah', a total of 20 cheetahs were relocated to India from Africa. Of these, seven imported cheetahs have died since March 2023

Budget 2024-25: Govt may increase capex to propel economic growth

With private investment still muted, the government is likely to maintain its momentum on increasing capital expenditure, especially for the infrastructure sector in the upcoming Budget to propel economic growth. Post COVID-19, the Budget has been laying special emphasis on capex. It has kick-started a dormant cycle for the economy. As a result India has witnessed over 7 per cent growth in the last three years, the highest among the large economies of the world. During the current financial year, the government has made a record high provision of Rs 10 lakh crore towards capex. During 2020-21, the government earmarked Rs 4.39 lakh crore which increased by 35 per cent to Rs 5.54 lakh crore in the subsequent year. Another 35 per cent hike in capex was done in 2022-23 to Rs 7.5 lakh crore which subsequently reached a high of Rs 10 lakh crore, an increase of 37.4 per cent. In the upcoming Budget too, the government is expected to earmark a large amount towards capex as such investment

Central governments show fiscal prudence in Lok Sabha election years

Emkay Research study shows fiscal deficit trend much healthier than in FY19

Budget 2024: Rs 7,500 cr Delhi Metro corridor linking Haryana, UP on cards

The project is estimated to cost Rs 7,500 crore and will extend from Rithala in Delhi to Kundli in Haryana, which is the sixth corridor of the phase IV project

Xi's China also banned private tutoring in 2021. Here's what happened next

The Indian govt has brought in new regulations for coaching centres, including a ban on enrolling students under the age of 16. China's experiment may have lessons

Fine over high fee, 16 years age limit: New coaching centre norms explained

The development follows amid increasing cases of suicides by students in Rajasthan's Kota and elsewhere, stemming from a mental-health epidemic due to study pressure and other related stress

Ram Temple Consecration: Central govt offices get half day off on Jan 22

The consecration ceremony will be held in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya. The event, expected to be celebrated with much pomp and show, will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and about 8,000 guests

Govt offices to remain closed for half a day for Ram Temple consecration

All central government offices across the country will remain closed for half a day on January 22, due to the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, a Personnel Ministry order issued on Thursday said. The 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the new idol of Ram Lalla at the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple is scheduled for Monday. The ceremony is set to be performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya will be celebrated on 22nd January 2024 across India. To enable employees to participate in the celebrations, it has been decided that all central government offices, central institutions and central industrial establishments throughout India will be closed for half day till 1430 hours on 22nd January 2024," it said in the order issued to all central government ministries/ departments. When contacted, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh told PTI that the decision has been taken in view of the "overwhelming" public ...

HC notice to Centre, Karnataka govt on madrasa inside ASI protected mosque

The High Court of Karnataka has ordered issuance of notices to the state and central governments on a PIL petition alleging that a Madrasa was being illegally run in the premises of an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected mosque in Srirangapatna in Mandya district. A division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit heard the petition by Abishek Gowda on Wednesday and issued notices to the respondents to file their objections and adjourned the hearing. The petitioner alleged that the Madrasa inside the Juma Masjid in Srirangapatna had damaged the original structure with the construction of structural alterations, demolition of compound, construction of toilets, destruction of ancient carvings besides cooking and consumption of food daily. "All the above acts are totally illegal and a violation of Section 7, Rule 7 & 8 of the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act and Rules," he claimed. The petitioner further submitted that .

Fertiliser subsidy bill to fall up to 34 % to Rs 1.8 trillion this fiscal

The government's fertiliser subsidy bill is likely to decline 30-34 per cent to Rs 1.7-1.8 lakh crore this fiscal due to fall in global prices and lower imports of urea, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday. Asked about any adverse impact on imports due to problems in Red sea, the minister asserted "there is no shortage of fertilisers in the country". Addressing a press conference, chemicals and fertilizers minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted that the urea imports are estimated at 40-50 lakh tonnes this fiscal, lower from around 75 lakh tonnes imported in the previous year, helped by higher domestic production and increased use of nano liquid urea. "Ministry of External Affairs is making necessary interventions and our Navy is giving protection to Indian cargo vessels," Mandaviya told reporters. According to exporters, freight rates have skyrocketed by up to 600 per cent due to the Red Sea crisis which would hurt the world trade. The geopolitical tension around th

Report filed on need of change in law on granting driving licence: Centre

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that a government-appointed committee has submitted a draft report after examining a legal question that whether a person holding a driving licence for a light motor vehicle is also entitled to legally drive a transport vehicle carrying unladen weight not exceeding 7,500 kilograms. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud granted time to the Centre till April 15 to resolve the issue and said if the matter remains unresolved, it will hear the pleas and pronounce a verdict. "Actually, it is a part-heard matter. We have substantially heard it.... We will give you (the government) the time to resolve the matter. If it is not resolved, then we will hear the matter and lay down the law. "Ultimately, if Parliament wants to intervene, then it can always do so...," the bench, also comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, P S Narasimha, Pankaj Mithal and Manoj Misra, said. The bench granted time till mid-February for th

Bond index inclusion soon: Govt may opt for longer-term G-secs in FY25

However, the tenure of securities is not announced in the Budget and communicated to the market during the release of the half-yearly borrowing calendar in March and September

Piyush Goyal to meet 40 unicorn startups including Zerodha, Boat, Lenskart

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will hold discussions with senior representatives of 40 unicorn startups like Lenskart, Zerodha, and Boat here on Wednesday, an official said. Issues which will figure in the deliberations include ways to further promote sustainable growth of the sector, risks, domestic capital mobilisation and position India on the global startup landscape, the official said. Startup firms valued over USD 1 billion are categorised as unicorns. "Unicorns from different sectors and cities will be there. The sectors which would see participation include fintech, e-commerce and logistics," the official added. The other firms who would attend the meeting include CarDekho, and EasyMy Trip. The government has taken a series of steps to promote the startup ecosystem in the country. Over 1.17 lakh startups are recognised by the government. They are eligible to seek certain tax incentives. The Startup India initiative was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra

Govt cuts windfall tax on crude petroleum to Rs 1,700 a tonne effective Tue

On Jan. 2, the government had lifted the windfall tax on petroleum crude oil to 2,300 rupees a tonne from 1,300 rupees a tonne

Govt eases import curbs on some silver items for certain industries

The government on Monday eased import curbs for some silver items like semi-manufactured silver paste, sheets, and tubes for electrical, electronics and solar industries, to be used as inputs for their manufacturing process. The import of these items for R&D purposes by the government or government-recognised institutions shall also be without restrictions, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification. Earlier, the import of these goods was put under the restricted category, which mandates importers to seek a license from the government for inbound shipments. "Import of semi-manufactured silver paste, sheets, plates, strips, tubes, electrodes, wires, silver brazing alloys (in any form), by electrical, electronics and engineering industries, including glass and solar industries, as input for their own manufacturing process on 'actual user' basis shall be free," it said. Import of these items for any other purposes shall be through specified agencies as ...