Page 35 - Central Government

'Govt must rethink strategy in dealing with ecologically fragile states'

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday voiced concern over the situation in Sikkim and urged the Centre to declare both the Sikkim flash floods and Himachal Pradesh floods as national disasters. He also expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the Sikkim flash floods. The situation in Sikkim is precarious as several people have lost their lives and many, including our brave Army personnel, are missing due to cloudburst and flash floods, he said. "Our thoughts are with the people of Sikkim who are battling these distressing times. The Union Government must do everything possible to rescue people in safer locations and find the missing persons, whose count is reportedly steadily increasing," Kharge said in a post on X. He said a lot of damage has been done to the infrastructure, and the Union and the state government must work together in the medium and long term to rebuild this beautiful state. The Congress party and its workers shall help i

Can digital crop survey solve India's problem of incoherent estimates?

The question of production numbers has been a puzzle that most governments have found difficult to solve

K T Rama Rao denounces Centre's apathy towards Palamuru irrigation project

Ahead of the Prime Minister's visit to Telangana to launch several projects, BRS working president K T Rama Rao on Sunday sought to question Narendra Modi over the Centre's alleged apathy towards the Palamuru irrigation project at Mahabubnagar in the state. Rama Rao posted on X (formerly twitter) a purported video of Modi in 2014 questioning the then UPA government about its callous attitude towards the Palamuru project. Rama Rao said he wants to "show the mirror" to Modi in view of the NDA government's apathetic attitude towards the project during the last 10 years. "PM @narendramodi Ji, Back in 2014, you had questioned the UPA Govt about their indifferent attitude towards Palamuru irrigation projects and asked if they were sleeping for 10 years! Today, after seeing 10 years of BJP's apathy towards Mahbubnagar, I want to show the mirror to you," he said. "What assistance did you give to Palamuru irrigation projects in last ten years? A Big ZERO. That's exactly the the Number of se

Centre's action plan to check air pollution in Delhi takes effect

The Graded Response Action Plan -- a set of anti-air pollution measures implemented in Delhi-NCR during the winter -- came into effect on Sunday. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), an autonomous body tasked with improving the air quality in Delhi and its adjoining areas, made crucial changes to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) last year and again in July. The new changes include strict restrictions on the plying of overage vehicles and a complete ban on the use of coal and firewood in eateries, restaurants and hotels when the Air Quality Index (AQI) breaches the 200-mark. BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers will be immediately banned in Delhi and Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar if the AQI crosses the 400-mark. The CAQM, a statutory body formed under an Act in 2021, amended the GRAP in 2022 to ensure proactive implementation of anti-air pollution steps based on forecasts up to three days in advance. Earlier, the authorities would

Centre mulls proposal to allow satellite firms provide wireless service

According to experts, the move to provide mobility services authorisation to GMPCS licence holders will prepare the way for firms such as Elon Musk-owned Starlink to compete with telecom firms

After filling most NCLT vacancies, Centre eyes faster resolution

After boosting NCLT's strength, the MCA has asked the body to expeditiously dispose of crucial cases, especially M&A, under the Companies Act

Vivad se Vishwas - I scheme: Govt grants Rs 256 crore in relief to MSMEs

The Ministry of Finance said in a release that this move will increase the flow of bank credit by freeing up guarantees

Centre working on action plan to increase investments in startup sector

Officials said that ministries will have to expand their capacity to support the growing number of startups in the country

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin slams Centre for zero NEET PG cut-off decision

Condemning the decision, CM Stalin said, "They are accepting that 'eligibility' in the National 'Eligibility' Cum Entrance Test is meaningless"

Big Tech companies meet: Govt to clear air on digital data privacy

MeitY officials have already conducted meetings with consumer protection groups who have pushed for immediate enactment of the Privacy Act

Govt announces higher gratuity, other benefits for LIC agents, employees

The finance ministry increased the gratuity limit from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for LIC agents

After laptops, tablets, govt moots import licence for broadband gear

Senior telecom industry executives said that such a move would make home broadband services more expensive and lead to supply chain bottlenecks

Process on amendment in Arbitration, Conciliation Act underway: Govt to SC

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the consultative process on the proposed amendment in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is going on, prompting the apex court to defer the hearing on the issue involving the appointment of arbitrators. Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, told the top court that the term of the expert committee set up by the Centre to go into the functioning of the arbitration law in the country has been extended and that their report is now expected by early November. Taking note of the submission, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud adjourned the hearing on the legal question whether a person who is ineligible to be an arbitrator can nominate another person as an arbitrator till mid-November. "The Attorney General states that a consultative process on the proposed amendment in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is being carried out. Hence, it is submitted that reference t

Please inform us about real 'Mann ki Baat': Kapil Sibal's dig at govt

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal took a swipe at the government on Wednesday over a G20 booklet praising Mughal emperor Akbar, alleging that it has one face for the world and another for "India that is Bharat". Sibal cited a G20 booklet titled "Bharat: The Mother of Democracy", the 38th page of which talks about Akbar. "Good administration should embrace everyone's welfare, regardless of religion. That was the kind of democracy the third Mughal Padishah Akbar practised," the booklet said. In a swipe at the government, Sibal said on X, "G20 Magazine: Government hails Mughal emperor Akbar as proponent of peace and democracy! One face: For the world another: For India that is Bharat! Please inform us about the real mann ki baat!" The booklet said Akbar introduced the doctrine of "Sulh-i-Kuli ie universal peace, as a tool against religious discrimination". "To create a harmonious society, he propounded a new syncretic religion known as 'Din-i-llahi' or Divine Faith. He also established the

Oppn slams decision to cut import duty on apples from US, Centre defends

However, the Centre reiterated that the move to slash import duty on apples from the US would have no "negative" impact on the growers

Centre sanctions outlay of Rs 1,164 cr for IDS for Himachal, Uttarakhand

These incentives include the Central Capital Investment Incentive for Access to Credit (CCIIAC) at 30 per cent of the investment in Plant and Machinery with an upper limit of Rs 5.00 crore

Karnataka CM questions Centre over denial of rice, calls BJP inhumane

The statement was made by the Karnataka CM at an event that was held at Madhugiri in Tumakuru district to celebrate the completion of 10 years of the 'Ksheera Bhagya' scheme

Govt approves Rs 3,760 cr viability gap funding to boost energy storage

This move would help get Rs 9,500 crore or more of investments into battery storage system

Govt to organise campaign during Oct 2-31 for improving cleanliness

During the implementation phase, ministries and departments will make efforts to achieve the targets identified in the preparatory phase

HC upholds Centre's decision to include all medical devices as drugs

The Delhi High Court has upheld the Centre's decision to include all medical devices within the ambit of "drug" under the law regulating drugs and cosmetics. A bench headed by Justice Rajiv Shakdher rejected petitions by the Surgical Manufacturers and Traders Association challenging the central government's 2018 and 2020 notifications first declaring four medical devices as drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and then spreading the net to cover all medical devices. The court said the decision to include all medical devices as drugs was a policy matter and no case for interference was made out as there was no arbitrariness or unreasonableness. MHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare), in its wisdom, thought it fit to bring all medical devices within the ambit of the expression 'drug '. This is clearly a policy matter, the bench, also comprising Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju, said in a recent order dated September 1. To our minds, there is no manifest arbitrariness or ...