Page 38 - Central Government

SC seeks response of govt on PIL alleging vacancies in industrial tribunals

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought response of the Centre on a PIL seeking directions for filling up vacancies in the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Courts (CGIT-cum-LCs). A bench comprising Chief justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra took note of the plea of Labour Law Association (LLA) that out of 22 tribunals, nine do not have presiding officers and vacancies are likely to arise in 2023 in three more tribunals. The lawyer for the association said one of the presiding officers of a tribunal is set to demit office on Wednesday. While issuing notice to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the bench said, Why you have come to us so late. The Officer is retiring on July 5. List (the petition) on Monday. Serve (the copy of the petition) on Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Balbir Singh. We cannot pass an ex-parte order extending tenure of a judge. The CJI said that on the administrative side, he had perhaps nominated a Supreme Cou

Centre to soon notify rules for setting up GST appellate tribunals

The Centre will soon notify rules for setting up GST appellate tribunals and appoint members after approval from the GST Council, a senior CBIC official said on Monday. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) member (GST) Shashank Priya said the department is working to expand the taxpayer base and doing data triangulation with the corporate taxpayers in income tax regime. As per data, currently, only 40 per cent of the corporate income taxpayer base is also registered under GST. As many as 1.39 crore businesses are registered under GST, almost double of the number when GST was launched six years ago on July 1, 2017. Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue buoyancy, which was 1.25 after introduction of the indirect tax regime in 2017, has risen to 1.40 in the last two years. Average monthly GST revenue increased from Rs 89,885 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 1.50 lakh crore in 2022-23. In 2023-24, the average revenue stands at Rs 1.69 lakh crore per month. "We are not following a

States borrow only 84% of Rs 1.9-trillion notified amount in first quarter

This initiative entails providing special assistance to State Governments through 50-year interest-free loans, amounting to a total of Rs. 1.3 trillion during the financial year 2023-24.

Centre to come up with list of critical minerals, draft policy this week

The critical minerals list is likely to have more than 40 minerals

Electricity usage above 200 units in Delhi to cost more, Atishi slams govt

Power consumers in Delhi with monthly usage of over 200 units will have to pay more after an 8 per cent hike in the power purchase adjustment cost (PPAC), prompting Minister Atishi to allege that electricity is getting costlier in the city due to the Centre's "mismanagement". Atishi, the power minister in the city government, told reporters on Monday that the hike will not impact consumers whose electricity consumption is 200 units or below. There will be a 8 per cent hike in PPAC surcharge in power bills of those consumers who do not get subsidy, she said. "I just want to tell the consumers that only the Centre is responsible for this hike. It has forced the use of imported coal, which is 10 times costlier than domestic coal. This is despite no lack of coal mines or availability of coal in the country," she said. The PPAC is revised every three months and it can increase or decrease depending on the prevailing prices of fuel such as coal and gas used in power generation. Harish ..

Centre withdraws draft live animal export Bill amidst stiff opposition

The Bill had drawn strong objections from animal rights activists, right-wing groups and Jain religious leaders

Congress ministers fixing commission rates for department work: Bommai

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai lashed out at the Congress govt in the state and said that it did not make advance preparations to provide rice

Congress to stage protest against Centre over rice supply issue on June 20

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said the Congress will hold protests at all district centres against the BJP government at the Centre on June 20, as he accused it of ensuring that the state doesn't get the required amount of rice to implement its 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, which provides additional 5 kg of rice for BPL families. Noting that the state government is making all efforts to procure rice from other sources and from producing states, he indicated that there may be slight delay in rolling out the scheme against the scheduled date of July one. "I want to congratulate BJP national President J P Nadda, as they (BJP) have walked the talk", Shivakumar said sarcastically. "It was reported in the media quoting him that if BJP loses the election central schemes to the state will get affected, he has kept up his word. Even as the Prime Minister speaks about federal structure..." Speaking to reporters here, he said, the BJP government at the Centre is indulging in

'Pettiness and Vengeance': Cong slams govt over renaming of Nehru Museum

The Congress on Friday hit out at the government over renaming of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society here as Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society, calling it a "petty act" and asserting that legacies don't get erased by renaming buildings. Nearly a year after the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya was inaugurated on the premises of the Teen Murti Bhavan, the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society (NMML) has been renamed as Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society. In a special meeting of the NMML, it was resolved to change its name to Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society, the Culture Ministry said Friday. The meeting was presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who is the vice president of the Society, it said. Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Pettiness & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) has been a global intellectual lamdmark .

Congress slams Centre's decision to rename Nehru Memorial Museum, Library

The Congress on Friday slammed the Centre's decision to rename the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library as the Prime Ministers Museum and Society

AP govt neck deep in graft, when will Centre initiate action: Naidu

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday accused the YSRCP dispensation in Andhra Pradesh of being "neck-deep in corruption" and sought to know when will the Union government initiate action against Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. Addressing a public meeting in his Assembly constituency of Kuppam, he claimed the BJP leaders were making mere statements castigating the YSRCP government for alleged corruption. "The Union ministers should announce when are they going to initiate action against this corrupt chief minister," Naidu said. He vowed that once TDP is back in power, he will make sure that all those who looted granite in Kuppam pay back. Naidu said that the TDP's mini-manifesto has promised justice for all sections of the society, including women, youths and farmers. Once assets are created, revenues will go up which will be equally distributed among the poor in the shape of welfare schemes, he added. Assembly elections in the state are slated to be

Sudhansh Pant named new health secy, Chanchal Kumar to be aviation secy

Senior IAS officer Sudhansh Pant has been named as the new Health Secretary as part of a top-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre on Tuesday. Pant, a 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Rajasthan cadre, is currently Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. He has been appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Department of Health and Family Welfare. The officer will take over as Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, upon retirement of Rajesh Bhushan on July 31, 2023, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said. T K Ramachandran, chairman of V O Chidambaranar Port Trust, Tuticorin, will be Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in place of Pant. Chanchal Kumar, Managing Director of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd., has been named as the new Civil Aviation Secretary. "The officer will join as Officer on Special Duty, ..

Centre directs states to disclose stock to check unfair practices

The Union Food Ministry on Tuesday directed state governments to ensure compliance with the June 12 wheat stock limit order and ensure disclosure of stocks, thereby checking unfair trade practices. In a virtual meeting with state food secretaries, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra asked state governments to obtain disclosures of wheat stock held by wholesalers/traders, retailers, big chain retailers and processors to check the unfair practices and to bring transparency in the availability of wheat. The central government on June 12 notified stock limits on wheat for wholesalers, traders, retailers, big chain retailers and processors till March 31, 2024. It also decided to offload wheat and rice under Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). "The measures were aimed at cooling down the prices and prevent hoarding and speculation," an official statement said. A user manual regarding submitting the stock has also been shared with state governments for ease of filling up the data on the portal ...

Centre asks employees to take 'Y-Break - Yoga at office chair' to de-stress

The Centre has asked its employees to take a short duration 'Y-Break - Yoga at office chair' to de-stress, refresh and refocus. In an order, the personnel ministry has asked all central government ministries/departments to adopt and promote this new Yoga protocol for the people at workplace. "Y-Break at workplace was introduced by the Ministry of AYUSH with an aim to get de-stressed, refreshed and re-focused at the workplace. The feedback of the protocol has been very encouraging. The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Ministry of AYUSH has added new features for the officials, who owing to their busy schedule, cannot go out and practice Yoga," it said. The officials can now benefit themselves while sitting in their office chair by practicing a short duration Yoga protocol namely "Y-Break@workplace yoga" at chair to refresh, de-stress and refocus, said the order dated June 12. In order to spread awareness about the "Y-Break@workplace - yoga at chair", all ministries/departme

Cong hits back at govt over ex-Twitter CEO claims over 'raiding' its office

Congress on Tuesday mounted pressure on the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre over the former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's remarks and asked if the Narendra Modi government will answer

Top headlines: Banga calls for new playbook, centre to review PLI scheme

Business Standard brings you the top headlines at this hour

Centre's reforms in governance will create future-ready civil servants: Min

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said the Centre's reforms in governance would create future-ready employees empowered by digital training platforms. Addressing the first National Training Conclave organised by the Capacity Building Commission at the International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Pragati Maidan here, he said Mission Karmayogi is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of consistent capacity building. "Mission Karmayogi has been designed as a comprehensive programme which would enable civil servants and other government employees to acquire the skills, knowledge and abilities necessary for delivering high-quality public service in a rapidly evolving world," said Singh, the minister of state for personnel. The National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) or Mission Karmayogi aims to create a competent civil service rooted in Indian ethos, with a shared understanding of the country's priorities, working in harmonisation for ...

Delhi first to be attacked, similar ordinances coming for others: Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday hit out at the Centre over its ordinance on control of services in the national capital, saying Delhi is the first to be "attacked" and similar ordinances will be brought for other states also. Addressing the Aam Aadmi Party's "Maha Rally" at Ramlila Maidan, Kejriwal, who is also the party's national convener, claimed the Centre's ordinance was an insult to the people of Delhi. "The BJP can abuse me and I don't mind that. But I won't tolerate the insult of the people of Delhi," he said. Braving scorching heat, thousands of people gathered at Ramlila Maidan to participate in the "Maha Rally" that was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as well as senior AAP leaders and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal. Addressing the rally, Kejriwal accused the BJP-led Centre of not believing in the Constitution. "When Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he does not accept the Supreme Court's decision, it is 'Hitler shahi' (dictatorship). This black ...

Central govt spent Rs 30,000 crore on Goa's development: CM Pramod Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday that in the last nine years, Rs 30,000 crore has been spent by the Central government on the developmental works of the coastal state

Central govt taking holistic approach to revolutionise healthcare: Shah

The Centre has taken a holistic approach to revolutionise healthcare by implementing a series of initiatives including Ayushman Bharat, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Sunday. Shah, who was in town to take part in the silver jubilee celebrations of the Kochi-based Amrita Hospital, also inaugurated two research centres under the institution. Addressing the gathering, Shah said Mata Amritanandamayi has made immense contribution in creating appreciation for India's rich, spiritual culture and traditions. "She has taught the art of giving to the world. Even after 50 years of serving millions of people, her humility is striking. Amma's ashram built 1,200 houses in Gujarat after the 2001 earthquake. Those villages are locally called Amma's villages. That is the gratitude of the people for the help provided by her in their hour of need," he said. Shah said in the last nine years, the central government has taken a holistic approach to transform healthcare with the launch of ...