Page 11 - Centre

Federalism for development

Federalism in development planning is necessary for maintaining more vigorous growth and a higher degree of political harmony

Centre's projects in Maldives gain pace, despite strained security ties

New Delhi has spent nearly Rs 7.71 billion ($93 million), or almost twice its budgeted 4 billion on projects in the Maldives during this fiscal year, which ends in March, according to an official

Policy on progression of women army officers to be in place by Mar 31: Govt

The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Monday a detailed policy on career progression of women officers in the Indian Army will be in place by March 31, 2024. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the submission of senior advocate R Balasubramanian, appearing for the Centre, and directed that an updated status report be filed on this by April 1. "By March 31, 2024, a detailed policy will be in place on career progression of women officers and command in regular major unit," Balasubramanian told the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. Senior advocate V Mohana, representing some women officers, said all 225 male officers who were promoted have been granted command position in regular major units. She said out of 108 women officers, only 32 were granted command position in regular units. On December 4 last year, the apex court was told that deliberations were underway to formulate a policy to deal with the issue of career progressio

Farmers' protest: Centre proposes 5-year plan to buy pulses, maize at MSP

A panel of three Union ministers on Sunday proposed the buying of pulses, maize, and cotton crops by government agencies at minimum support prices for five years after entering into an agreement with farmers. Speaking to the media after a more than four-hour-long meeting with farmer leaders here, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said the innovative and out-of-the-box idea came up during the discussions. The minister said the farmer leaders will decide on the proposals put forward by the government by Monday morning. "Cooperative societies like the NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will enter into a contract with those farmers who grow 'tur dal', 'urad dal', 'masoor dal' or maize for buying their crop at MSP for next five years," said Goyal. There will be no limit on the quantity (purchased) and a portal will be developed for this," he added. It will save Punjab's farming, improve the groundwater

Farmer leaders to inform about decision on govt proposals by Feb 20: Goyal

"The farmers' union will tell us their decision by morning. We will also have discussions with NCCF and NAFED after returning to Delhi," he added

Farmers' protest: Internet ban extended in parts of Punjab till Feb 24

The suspension of internet services has been extended in certain areas of some Punjab districts, including Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib, till February 24 on the orders of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Earlier, the internet services were suspended from February 12 till 16 in view of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march. According to the ministry's February 16 order, internet services will remain suspended in areas falling under Shambhu, Julkan, Passian, Patran, Shatrana, Samana, Ghanaur, Devigarh and Balbhera police stations in Patiala; Lalru police station in Mohali; Sangat police station in Bathinda; Killianwali police station in Muktsar; Sardulgarh and Boha police stations in Mansa; and Khanauri, Moonak, Lehra, Sunam and Chajli police stations in Sangrur; and areas under Fatehgarh Sahib police station. The Centre used its special powers under the Telegraph Act of 1885 to suspend internet services in these areas of Punjab. "In exercise of the power conferred by section 7

Farmers' march: Govt requested time for talks, says farm leader Pandher

Earlier, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda on Friday said that efforts to find a solution continue and the next round of talks with farmers will take place on Sunday

Ahead of meet with Centre, farmers demand ordinance for MSP guarantee

A day before the crucial meeting with Union ministers, farm leaders on Saturday asked the Centre to bring an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to MSP, while a tractor march and dharnas were held in support of farmers protesting at the borders of Punjab. Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai and farmer leaders from Punjab will meet on Sunday for the fourth round of talks. The two sides met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15, but those talks remained inconclusive. On the fifth day of their 'Delhi Chalo' march -- called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha -- the farmers stayed put at the Shambhu and Khanauri points of the Punjab-Haryana border as they press the Centre to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Saturday demanded that the Centre should bring an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to MSP, a key demand of protesting ...

TMS Ep 630: Centre vs states, PLI scheme, small-caps, bullet train #TMS

Do states have a case against the Centre on fiscal transfers? How can India rejig the PLI scheme? Is there more room for downside in small-caps? What are the key features of the bullet train corridor?

PM SVANidhi scheme has restored dignity of street vendors: Hardeep Puri

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said the PM SVANidhi scheme has restored the dignity of street vendors who are no longer solely dependent on informal credit channels where they were forced to pay "exorbitant interest rates". The scheme has extended more than 80.42 lakh loans to 60.94 lakh street vendors amounting to Rs 10,678 crore by facilitating collateral-free first working capital loan up to Rs 10,000 in the first tranche, and Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000 in the second and third tranches respectively, Puri said. The Union housing and urban affairs minister was speaking at a PM SVANidhi (PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi) mega camp here. Puri said the PM SVANidhi scheme was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic when India's street vendors were among the worst affected. "The aim of the SVANidhi Yojana was to restore the swarozgar, svavlamban, swabhimaan of street vendors," he said, adding that it has not only resulted in financial inclusion of street vendors but has als

Govt starts centralised processing of filings under companies law, LLP Act

The government has operationalised the central processing centre for processing filings under the companies law and LLP Act in a "time-bound and faceless manner" as part of efforts to further improve the ease of doing business. Initially, 12 forms and applications under the companies law will be processed at the Central Processing Centre (CPC). From April 1 onwards, other forms and applications will be processed through the centre. "As of now, 4,910 forms have been received by CPC after commencing operations. The forms shall be processed a time-bound and faceless manner," the corporate affairs ministry said in a release on Friday. Later, forms/applications filed under Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Act are also proposed to be centralised. Based on filing trends, the ministry said it is expected that about 2.50 lakh forms will be processed through CPC annually, once it is fully operational. With the establishment of CPC, the ministry noted that jurisdictional Registrar of ...

Discussions between Union ministers, farmer leaders 'positive': Munda

A marathon meeting between three Union ministers and leaders of protesting farmer unions concluded without a resolution here late Thursday with Union Minister Arjun Munda asserting that the discussion was "positive and another round of talks would be held on Sunday. The farmer leaders said they will continue to stay put at the two border points between Punjab and Haryana. Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai represented the Centre at the meeting over the farmer unions' various demands, including a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also joined the meeting at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 here. The meeting started at around 8:45 pm on Thursday and lasted for around five hours. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Munda said the talks took place in a good atmosphere an

Govt-farmer leaders meeting ends, next round of talks on Sunday

Three Union ministers held talks with the leaders of protesting farmer unions here for more than five hours on Thursday night, amid a standoff between the protesters and security personnel at two points on the Punjab-Haryana border. Both sides have agreed to hold another round of talks on Sunday. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also joined the meeting at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 here. Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai represented the Centre at the meeting over the farmer unions' various demands, including a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. The talks that lasted for more than five hours ended early Friday. The discussions will continue and another round of talks will be held at 6 pm on Sunday, Munda said after the meeting, terming the talks as positive. The Punjab chief minister said th

Fiscal federalism: No breakthrough in talks with Centre, says Kerala FM

Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal on Thursday said there was no "breakthrough" in the meeting between the state officials and Centre over the issues of fiscal federalism. A four-member group, headed by Balagopal, held a meeting with central government officials, including the Union Finance Secretary. The Kerala government has approached the Supreme Court, accusing the Centre of interfering in the exercise of its "exclusive, autonomous and plenary powers" to regulate the state's finances by imposing a ceiling on net borrowing. "There was no positive outcome at today's meeting... there was no breakthrough. We submitted the most feasible options (to the Centre)," Balagopal said at a press briefing in the national capital. The meeting was convened after the Centre on February 13 told the apex court that it is open to discussions with Kerala to resolve the dispute. Apart from Balagopal, other members of the group are Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister KM Abraham, Financ

Panel of 3 Union ministers hold talks with farmer leaders in Chandigarh

Meanwhile, there was no report of any clash between farmers and the Haryana security personnel at the two Punjab and Haryana border points - Shambhu and Khanauri - on Thursday

Why Modi govt running away from giving legal guarantee of MSP: Congress

Hitting out at the Centre over the farmers' protests, the Congress on Wednesday asked why it is "running away" from giving legal guarantee on MSP despite repeated promises and claimed the farmers have "lost faith" in the Modi government. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also spoke with a farmer injured in police action during a protest march and accused the Modi government of having a "dictatorial attitude" towards the country's food providers. In a post in Hindi on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh asked why the Modi government is "running away" from giving legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price for crops despite repeated promises. "In 2011, Narendra Modi, as Gujarat chief minister and chairman of a working group, had submitted a report to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which said that 'In order to protect the interest of the farmers, we must ensure through legal provisions that no transaction between farmer and trader should be done below MSP'," he said. In many

Farmers' Protest: Opposition tears into Centre, BJP appeals for peace

The Congress slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Centre stating that the "dictatorial Modi government" is hell-bent on curbing the voice of farmers"

Return 50% of tax amount paid by Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray to Centre

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray has said the Centre should return 50 per cent of the funds collected from Maharashtra as taxes for the development of the state. Speaking at a local event in Mumbai on Sunday, the former Maharashtra chief minister also referred to the recent protest rallies held in New Delhi by southern states like Karnataka and Kerala over similar demands. Thackeray claimed that when Maharashtra sends Re 1 to the Centre as tax, it gets back only seven paise (Re 1= 100 paise). "What happens to the remaining amount? What kind of revadis (freebies) you distribute?" he asked. "I am stating that when Maharashtra gives you Re 1, give us half of it back to develop the state. You are looting our state. When we (opposition INDIA bloc) come to power, I will assert on changing the current tax-sharing formula to increase Maharashtra's share," Thackeray said. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also took a dig at "Modi ki Guarantee" commitment of the central government, claim

White Paper presented by Centre exposed Congress, says Anurag Thakur

Anurag Thakur, during a visit to Dharamshala, said "The White Paper has exposed the Congress...Family was important for Congress. The policies of Congress have caused great harm to the country...

Centre can't help if states empty coffers via tall poll promises: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the central government can't help the states which empty their treasuries after making unrealistic election promises. All states should prepare their budget taking into account development programmes and social welfare commitments, he said at an event here when asked about the allegation of discrimination against some states in the release funds by the Centre. The governments of West Bengal, Kerala and Karnataka recently held protests in the national capital alleging that they were not given their due share of funds, a charge refuted by the finance minister. Shah said in the white paper, tabled in Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has given details about the funds given to the states. "The white paper has details of how much funds we have given to the states, how much more funds we have given than what Congress used to give to every state - be it BJP or opposition ruled," he said at the ET NOW Global Business Summit 2024.