Page 3 - Central Government

Centre earns ₹551 cr from scrap, e-waste disposal in cleanliness drive

The Centre has earned over Rs 550 crore from disposal of scrap during a month-long special cleanliness campaign, an official statement issued on Friday said. The Union government's "special campaign 5.0" for cleanliness and disposal of pending matters has witnessed record participation and measurable outcomes across ministries, departments and their field offices during October, this year, it said. During its implementation phase beginning from Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 to October 31, the ministries and departments conducted about 7 lakh cleanliness campaigns, achieving 97 per cent of the target, the statement issued by the Personnel Ministry said. During the campaign, 202.97 lakh square feet of office space was freed for productive use and about Rs 551 crore revenue earned through scrap and e-waste disposal, it said. A total of 6.69 lakh public grievances and 14,524 appeals were redressed, it said. About 13 lakh physical files were weeded out and 15.70 lakh e-files were reviewe

Centre to set up transport authority to drive multimodal corridors

Industry titans seek port-led industrialisation, ease of doing business

Southern states lead in household debt charts, Delhi least indebted: Mospi

According to experts, this reflects people's ability to take on higher debt and service it due to greater prosperity in the region

Large pvt banks see green shoots, expect credit demand revival in H2FY26

Attribute this to fiscal, monetary measures

Five states plan to borrow ₹17K cr via state development loans next week

The state bond auction will be held on Monday due to market holidays on Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, T-bill auctions are slated for Thursday, and there will be no G-sec auction on Friday

Centre refuses deadline extension for pharma firms after Coldrif deaths

The decision to turn down requests from drug manufacturers for more time came after it was highlighted that Sresan Pharmaceutical, the company that produced Coldrif, did not upgrade its facilities

Govt revises Per Drop More Crop scheme guidelines to boost micro-irrigation

The Centre has introduced new flexibility under the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme to encourage micro-level water storage and conservation projects. The Union Agriculture Ministry has revised the guidelines for the scheme, expanding the "other inventions" section. Now, states and Union territories can plan micro-level water management activities, such as diggi construction and water harvesting systems-based on local needs, the ministry said in a statement. These systems can be developed for individual farmers as well as community use, ensuring sustainable water availability for micro-irrigation. Earlier, funds for such activities were limited to 20 per cent of the total allocation for each state/UT and 40 per cent for northeastern states, Himalayan states, and UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. "Now, states/UTs have been given greater flexibility to exceed these limits as per their specific requirements," the ministry said. These initiatives aim to help farmers adopt ...

Centre reclassifies limestone as major mineral amid rising industrial use

The move, effective October 10, 2025, follows NITI Aayog's panel advice and brings limestone under central regulation as its use grows in large industries

Centre okay ₹707 cr for Assam, Gujarat floods; ₹904 cr for fire services

A high-level committee headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved Rs 707.97 crore of additional central assistance for Assam and Gujarat that were hit by floods and landslides in 2024. The committee has also approved Rs 903.67 crore for Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for the expansion and modernisation of the state fire services. "A high-level committee, headed by the Union home minister, has approved Rs 707.97 crore of additional central assistance to Assam and Gujarat, affected by floods and landslides in 2024," an official statement said. The assistance has been provided from the NDRF, subject to an adjustment of 50 per cent of the opening balance for the year available in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Of the total amount of Rs 707.97 crore, a share of Rs 313.69 crore has been approved for Assam and Rs 394.28 crore for Gujarat. Of the total outlay of Rs 903.67 crore given to Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and

Centre plans ₹20,000 cr risk guarantee fund to boost infrastructure growth

The government is considering a proposal for creation of a Rs 20,000 crore risk guarantee fund for the infrastructure sector to push investment by the private sector. The establishment of a risk guarantee fund for the infrastructure sector is expected to attract private sector investment by sharing project risks, thereby reducing the burden on project developers, sources said. The fund with initial corpus of Rs 20,000 crore may be managed by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC), sources said, adding, the fund would underwrite development risk of a new project. Besides, there should be additional safeguards by way of a minimum stake by the developer and risk-based premiums may be charged. The fund would cover losses arising from policy uncertainty and other non-commercial risks, thereby encouraging lenders to extend larger loans to big projects, sources added. For the fund to be successful, sources said, the fund's guarantee must be bankable and there must be .

Centre releases additional ₹1.01 trn tax devolution to state governments

The Centre has released an additional instalment of tax devolution of Rs 1,01,603 crore to state governments ahead of the upcoming festival season. In view of the upcoming festive season and to enable states to accelerate capital spending and finance their development/welfare-related expenditure, the Union government has released an additional tax devolution of Rs 1,01,603 crore to state governments on October 1, 2025, the finance ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. This is in addition to the normal monthly devolution Rs 81,735 crore due to be released on October 10, 2025, it said. The additional instalment of devolution to states is in line with the principle of cooperative federalism and the aim of becoming 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. Currently, 41 per cent of taxes collected by the Centre is devolved in instalments among states during a fiscal year.

Centre issues new guidelines to ensure timely pension and retirement dues

The Centre has issued comprehensive guidelines for effective inter-ministerial coordination for timely payment of retirement dues and issue of Pension Payment Orders of central civil services employees. Major procedural reforms such as clarification on vigilance clearance before retirement has been included for reducing the delay in issuance of Pension Payment Orders (PPOs)/ePPOs, an official statement issued on Tuesday said. "It has been clarified that no pension can be delayed for the want of vigilance clearance as per the specific provisions under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021," it said. It has been underlined that each ministry/department should ensure that vigilance clearance in respect of their retiring employees is issued within three months prior to retirement, said the statement issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. The key policy measures for systemic improvement are digitisation of service records, universalisation of Bhavish

AFSPA extended for six months in parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was on Friday extended for six months in entire Manipur, except the jurisdiction of 13 police stations, in view of the prevailing law and order situation there. The AFSPA, under which a particular state or some areas are declared "disturbed", has also been extended to nine districts in Nagaland and 21 police station areas in five other districts of the state for six months, according to a notification issued by the Union home ministry. The law was also extended to Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and three police station areas, bordering Assam, in Namsai district in the state. The extension of the disturbed area in the particular areas in the three states will be effective from October 1 for six months. The AFSPA, often criticised as a draconian law, gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest and open fire if they deem it necessary. "And whereas, a further review of the law and

Supreme Court seeks Centre's response on plea to curb yellow pea imports

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought response from the Centre on a PIL seeking import curbs on yellow peas, which is considered a substitute to pulses, on the grounds that its supply is affecting the livelihood of farmers growing pulses. A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh issued notice on a PIL filed by 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' and asked advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the farmers' body, to examine whether there is sufficient production of pulses in the country. "We are inclined to issue notice but the net result should not be that the end consumers suffer," the bench said. Bhushan said the import of yellow peas at a cheaper price of Rs 35 per kg is affecting the farmers growing pulses like 'tur dal' (pigeon peas), 'moong dal' and 'urad dal' who get a MSP of Rs 85 per kg. "There have been numerous reports of expert bodies, including those of the government, which have asked the government to not import yellow peas as it would impact large-scale

Centre claiming undue credit for GST cuts, initiated by state: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday claimed that the Centre was taking undue credit for lowering GST rates, though the move was initiated by the state. Her statement came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an address to the nation, said a GST savings festival will begin from the first day of Navratri' on Monday, which, coupled with the income tax exemption, will be a "double bonanza" for most people. Without naming the Prime Minister, Bannerjee said, We are losing Rs 20,000 crore as revenue, but we are happy about the lowering of GST. But why are you (Modi) claiming credit for it? We had sought a lowered GST. It was our suggestion at the GST Council meeting with the Union Finance Minister (Nirmala Sitharaman.

Centre not imposing any language on any State: Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said the Centre was not imposing any language on anybody. He termed those who claim that Centre imposes the three language policy on States as "politically motivated". "We are not imposing any language on anybody. For Class 1 and 2, there will be two language formula. One will be mother tongue. Here, it will be Tamil language. Government of India's condition is that you have to teach in Tamil in primary school. You can teach another language that is your choice," he said. Pradhan was speaking to reporters in the presence of professor V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, after taking part in the 'Think India Dakshinapatha Summit 2025'. Elaborating about the three language policy, he said from Class six to ten there is three language formula. "One language will be mother tongue. The rest two will be your choice. No language will be imposed by the Government of India on any State," he said. To a query on how the three language policy

Telangana govt blames Centre for inaction on US H-1B visa fee hike

Attacking the Centre over US President Donald Trump's decision to raise the H-1B visa fee to USD 100,000 annually, the Congress government in Telangana on Saturday alleged that the NDA regime has failed to address the issue. State IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, who condemned Trump's move, said it would have an adverse impact on Indian tech companies and job aspirants. India tops the list of countries availing H-1B visas, followed by China. Either to bring pressure on the American government or to hold consultations over Trump's actions, the BJP government at the Centre has completely failed in addressing the issue, he told reporters. He further alleged that the central government was troubling states over their rights. Does the Centre not have the time to address the impact on southern states because of several American decisions in recent times? he asked. Sridhar Babu said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar must launch diplomatic ..

Domain expertise, aptitude now key to top govt post: PM's principal secy

The government has quietly ushered in reforms in governance and domain expertise, aptitude and reputation now guide appointments across central government and state-run companies, P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, said on Saturday. Addressing the convocation ceremony at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai, Mishra said the strategic shift in the selection process of senior bureaucrats in a credible, fair and objective manner is bringing about a transformative change. "Domain expertise, aptitude and reputation now guide appointments across the central government and PSUs. He emphasised that these changes have been sustained for nearly a decade, quietly reshaping governance to meet the aspirations of a fast-evolving India," he said. India is progressing with courage and confidence under Prime Minister Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047', driven by the mantra of 'Reform, Perform and Transform', he said. Mishra congratulated MBA, Executive MBA and Ph

Centre seeks transfer of pleas against online gaming law from HCs to SC

The Centre has sought the transfer of pleas challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 from three high courts to the Supreme Court to avoid conflicting verdicts. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran has agreed to list for hearing next week the plea of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for transfer of three pending cases from the high courts of Karnataka, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh to the apex court. "(The) Union has filed a transfer plea... The Online Gaming Regulation Act has been challenged before three high courts. If it can be listed on Monday since it's listed for interim orders before the Karnataka High Court," the Centre's counsel said. Besides seeking the transfer of pleas, the Centre sought a stay of all proceedings in the writ petitions" in different high courts till the transfer petition was disposed of. Due to multiple litigations pending before various High Courts involving same or ...

Rajit Punhani takes over as FSSAI chief with focus on new food norms

Rajit Punhani, a 1991-batch IAS officer, has taken charge as CEO of FSSAI as the regulator prepares to finalise new food labelling rules mandating display of key nutritional information