Page 15 - Centre

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra reaches out to 100 million people: Govt

Government's mega outreach programme 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' on Friday crossed a key milestone of connecting with 10 crore people of which 7.5 crore have taken a pledge to build a developed India by 2047, officials said. Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra said the yatra, flagged off on November 15 last year, was expected to reach out to more than 14 crore people by the time it concludes on January 25. He said 3,500 outreach vans were on the ground taking information about the government's schemes to the citizens. Chandra said health camps were turning out to be a major attraction during the yatra and more than 2.2 crore people have been screened at such events. "Since its launch on November 15, 2023, over 7.5 crore individuals have pledged their 'Sankalp' a commitment to building a Viksit Bharat by 2047," an official statement said. The number of participants in the yatra is higher than the population of countries like Australia, Canada, Germany, France,

Govt determined to connect holy city of Ayodhya with world: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the Union Cabinet's approval to the proposal to name Ayodhya airport as 'Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham', asserting that his government is determined to connect the holy city of Lord Ram with the whole world. He said the move was a tribute to Maharishi Valmiki. At a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi, the proposal to name Ayodhya airport as 'Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham', was approved. Besides, it was also decided to declare the airport as an international airport. In a post on X, Modi said, "Our government is determined to connect the holy city of Lord Shri Ram, Ayodhya, with the whole world. In this regard, along with declaring the airport as an international airport, the proposal to name it 'Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham' has been approved." "This step is a respectful tribute to Maharishi Valmiki ji on behalf of our family members across the country," t

SC collegium recommends five names to Centre for judgeship in four HCs

The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud has recommended five names to the Centre for appointment as additional judges in four high courts. The collegiums, also comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai, also recommended the names of additional judges -- justices Rahul Bharti and Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, both from the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, for appointment as permanent judges. One of the recommendations said additional judge Justice Abhay Ahuja be also considered for appointment as permanent judge in the Bombay High Court. Several collegiums resolutions, uploaded Thursday night on apex court website, provided details of the deliberations leading to recommendations of names of judicial officers and advocates for judgeship in high courts. The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the name of Smt. Chaitali Chatterjee (Das), Judicial Officer, for appointment as Judge of the High Court at Calcutta in the following terms..., one of the .

ED summons: Sharad Pawar backs Kejriwal, accuses Centre of misusing power

Backing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over Enforcement Directorate summoning him, Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the Centre was misusing power to discourage those who do not have similar political views. Addressing party workers here, Pawar said summons have been sent by the central probe agency to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren as well and feared he too could be arrested. Pawar said in the last 10 years, people have voted Kejriwal to power, adding that Aam Aadmi Party ministers have been jailed and steps were being taken to arrest him as well. "He has been issued notices to appear before the ED. The chief minister of the country's capital. Everyone in Delhi knows he is a simple man with a clean image. It will not be surprising if he is arrested," Pawar claimed. "This means efforts are being made to discourage those who do not have similar political views by misusing power," Pawar alleged. Kejriwal, who is also the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nation

Govt launches 9th round of oil, gas blocks for bidding, ONGC wins big

In the ninth bid round, 28 blocks, with an area of approximately 136,000 square kilometres, are on offer for bidding

Govt relaxes quality control order norms for ACs to enable ease of business

Quality control orders (QCOs) issued by the government aim to not only improve the quality of manufacturing standards but also enhance the brand and value of 'Made in India' products

Discussions started on next meeting of INDIA bloc, says Tejashwi Yadav

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday said that discussions were on among leaders of the INDIA bloc on the next meeting of the coalition, where some key decisions were expected. Yadav was approached with queries here by journalists who wanted his take on reports in a section of the media that a meeting was likely to be held in the virtual mode. The young RJD leader, who along with his father and party president Lalu Prasad, has been present at all meetings of the newly-formed coalition held so far, said, "There are discussions with regard to the date and the modalities. It will be made known to all when a headway is made." One of the key decisions expected at the meeting is defining the role of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) president, who had junked the BJP around two years ago vowing to defeat the NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by bringing the opposition together. The longest-serving chief minister of Bihar has been maintaining that he was past all ...

Coal production in the country increases by 10.75% in 2023: Govt

In a public statement, the Ministry of Coal said the production of Coal India Limited (CIL) has risen to 71.86 million tonnes (mt) in December 2023, as compared to 66.37 mt in December 2022

India launches a single-window portal for medical devices management

The Drugs Controller General of India said that the National Single Window System (NSWS) has been established as a 'genuine single-window system which acts as a one-stop shop for all approvals'

Govt extends PLI scheme for auto sector by a year with 'partial amendments'

The Ministry of Heavy Industries on Monday announced the extension of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components by one year with "partial amendments". This decision has been made after receiving the approval of the Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS). "In pursuance of the approval of EGoS, the Ministry of Heavy Industries has made partial amendments in the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for the Automobile and Auto Component Industry and Guidelines of the Scheme. These amendments, effective from the date of publication in the Official Gazette, aim to provide clarity and flexibility to the scheme," an official statement said. Under the amended scheme, the incentive will be applicable for a total of five consecutive financial years, starting from the financial year 2023-24. The disbursement of the incentive will take place in the following financial year 2024-25. The scheme also specifies that an approved applicant will be eligible for

Himachal govt issues notification to grant ST status to Hatti community

The Himachal Pradesh government on Monday issued a notification granting Scheduled Tribes (ST) status to the Hatti community of Sirmaur district's Transgiri area. Members of the community, who reside in 154 panchayats of the area, had been demonstrating against the state government over not implementing the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Act, 2023, and notifying the community as ST. After a Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told a press conference that the state government had sought a clarification from the Centre regarding scheduled castes status among the Hatti community in September last year after the law department raised some objections. "I was in continuous touch with Union Home Minister Amit Shah," he said. "I had promised that a notification would be issued in this regard within 24 hours after the clarification is received and the promise stands fulfilled in 10 hours," Sukhu said, adding that he would go to Nahan on January 3

Three groups join for talks with Centre to Naga Political Issue's solution

Three Naga groups have come together and decided to pursue negotiations for a solution to the decades-old Naga Political Issue with the Centre jointly. The decision was taken on Saturday during a meeting attended by leaders of the three groups -- National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) led by Akato Chophy, NSCN led by Khango and Naga National Council (NNC) led by Z Royim. All three are splinter groups. "The three groups have come together to have a joint political venture in 2024," said Akato, while addressing journalists after the meeting here in the presence of leaders of the other two groups. Asked if they have already approached the Centre with their decision to hold a dialogue, he said, "We have made separate approaches in the past but now we will make a joint effort on the Naga issue." Akato also affirmed that they would be holding a dialogue separate from the negotiations being held by the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPGs) with the Centre.

AAP vs BJP after Delhi, Punjab tableaux rejected for Republic Day parade

Delhi Art, Culture and Languages Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday said the BJP-led central government rejected the tableaux of Delhi and Punjab for the Republic Day parade to "exact revenge on the AAP", which governs the national capital and the border state. Addressing a press conference, Bharadwaj said the Centre has rejected Delhi's tableaux for three consecutive years now. The last time Delhi's tableau featured in the Republic Day parade was in 2021. It showcased the Shahjahanabad redevelopment project, according to officials. Bharadwaj said Delhi's tableau this year would have showcased schools in the city and the mohalla clinic model. "The tableau of Delhi, which is the capital of the country, was rejected by the Centre. Its tableau was rejected for the 2022 parade and then for the 2023 parade and now it has been rejected again for the 2024 parade," the minister said. The theme of the Republic Day parade was "Nari Shakti" in 2023 and "Viksit Bharat" for 2024, he said. "

ULFA signs peace accord with Centre, Assam govt to join mainstream

The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Friday signed a peace accord with the central and Assam governments agreeing to shun violence and join the mainstream. The agreement, signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, came after 12 years of unconditional negotiations between the ULFA faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa and the government, officials said. The peace pact is expected to end decades old insurgency in Assam. However, the hardline faction of the ULFA headed by Paresh Baruah is not part of the agreement. Baruah is believed to be residing at a place along the China-Myanmar border. The ULFA was formed in 1979 with the demand for a "sovereign Assam". Since then, it has been involved in subversive activities that led to the central government declaring it a banned outfit in 1990. The Rajkhowa faction joined peace talks with the government on September 3, 2011, after an agreement for Suspens

Congress will undertake caste census after coming to power at Centre: Rahul

The Congress will undertake caste census after coming to power at the Centre, said party leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday. Addressing a huge rally in Maharashtra's Nagpur on the occasion of the Congress' 139th foundation day, he said unemployment in the country has reached its highest point in the last 40 years. He said his party will undertake caste census after returning to power at the Centre. Speaking at the event, named 'Hain Tayyar Hum', where the Congress kickstarted its campaign for next year's Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi said there is a battle of two ideologies in the country. "Unlike the BJP, even a junior Congress worker can question and disagree with top party leaders, he said. Vice chancellors are being appointed not on the basis of merit but because they belong to a particular organisation, he said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and many top party leaders from Maharashtra and other states took part in the event, while its former president Sonia Gandhi and gen

Centre's rejection of Delhi govt's R-Day tableau political move, says AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday accused the BJP-led Centre of scuttling the Delhi government's plans of showcasing its health and education models at the Republic Day parade by rejecting its tableau in a political move. Addressing a press conference, the party's chief national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said the government was not provided any reason for the exclusion. "This decision is driven by politics. The Delhi government wanted to showcase its education and health model at the Republic Day parade. But Delhi and Punjab tableaux were excluded from selection," she alleged. Kakkar also claimed that the tableaux of BJP-governed states like Assam, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh have been given opportunities to showcase their tableaux continuously for the last five years. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday slammed the BJP for not including the state's tableau in the Republic Day parade, calling it a step towards removing the word Punjab from the national anthem. "If the

Good Governance Day: Govt launches new features on Mission Karmayogi portal

The Centre will launch curated training programmes for government employees on Good Governance Day on Monday, an official statement said. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is going to celebrate Good Governance Day on December 25, the statement issued on Sunday said. Singh, the Union Minister of State for Personnel, will launch three new features on the iGOT (integrated government online training) Karmayogi platform: My iGOT, blended programmes, and curated programmes, it said. My iGOT delivers targeted training courses on the home page of individual officers that directly address the unique capacity-building needs of the officer as identified in the capacity-building plan for their ministries/departments thereby facilitating a highly personalised, focused and targeted capacity-building experience, it said. More than 28 lakh users have onboarded the platform till now with about 830 high-quality e-learning courses being made available on the platform, said the statement

Centre issues Rs 5,488 cr additional instalment of tax devolution to Bengal

West Bengal has received Rs 5,488.88 crore as additional instalment of tax devolution by the Centre. On Friday, the Centre had disbursed Rs 72,961.21 crore to all states as tax devolution for funding various social welfare measures and infrastructure development schemes. This comes in addition to the tax devolution instalment due to states on January 10, 2024, the government said. The Centre disburses tax devolution funds in 14 yearly instalments. In the latest allocation, Uttar Pradesh received the largest share at Rs 13,088.51 crore. This was followed by Bihar (Rs 7,338 crore), Madhya Pradesh (Rs 5,727.44 crore), West Bengal (Rs 5,488.88 crore), Maharashtra (Rs 4,608.96 crore), Rajasthan (Rs 4,396.64 crore) and Odisha ( Rs 3,303.69 crore).

Centre releases additional Rs 73k crore tax devolution to states

Money released for financing social welfare measures and infrastructure development: Finance Ministry

India aims to commission new research station in Antarctica by 2029: Rijiju

India aims to set up a new research station in Antarctica near the Maitri station in the eastern part of the icy continent by 2029, Union Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Thursday. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Rijiju said the site for the new research station -- Maitri-II -- has been identified and a preliminary topographical survey for the approach road is underway. The existing Indian research station -- Maitri -- is very old, the minister said, adding that it is imperative to build a new research station. The proposed project envisages adherence to environmental protocols for Antarctica and improving the quality of Indian scientific research in the southernmost continent. India has been operating the Bharati research station in the Larseman Hills area -- a 40 square kilometre ice-free region along the south-eastern shore of the continent -- since 2012. Bharati is about 3,000 kilometres away from Maitri, which was commissioned in 1989. Sharing the different