Page 16 - Centre

Centre launches new car programme for safety rating of passenger vehicles

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways stated that the programme shall be applicable on type approved vehicles of category M1, manufactured or imported in the country on or after October 1, 2023

Prevail upon Lanka to secure release of 45 fishermen, TN CM tells Centre

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin requested the Centre on Thursday to immediately take up through appropriate diplomatic channels the apprehension of fishermen from the state with Sri Lanka and secure the release of 45 fishermen and 138 boats. Expressing "a deep sense of anguish" on yet another incident of apprehension of six Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy on December 13, he said this was the third such occurrence in a week. "Six fishermen from Jegathapattinam fishing harbour, Pudukkottai district, who ventured for fishing in a mechanised fishing boat were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy along with their fishing boat," the Chief Minister said in a letter to Union External Affairs Minister C Jaishankar, a copy of which was made available to the media here. He said the Sri Lankan Navy continued to infringe upon the traditional rights of our fishermen, and their frequent arrests have jeopardised the livelihoods of the fishermen and have instilled fear and panic in the ..

Kerala govt moves SC over Centre's interference in the state's finances

The Kerala government suffered a cumulative expenditure loss or resource deficiency of Rs 1.07 trillion over FY 2016-23

Delhi BJP MLAs allege that AAP govt is running away from debates

Ahead of the winter session of the Delhi assembly later this week, BJP MLAs on Wednesday alleged that the AAP government was running away from debates on issues related to the people of the city. No immediate reaction was available from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the charge. There are eight BJP MLAs in the 70-member House as against AAP's 62. At a joint press conference here, Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri alleged that the Kejriwal government in the last four years did not allow notices of the BJP legislators over issues related to Delhi. He claimed that his party's MLAs have given notices for debates on issues like the poor condition of transportation, compensation to farmers, pollution in the Yamuna, old age pension and non-issuing of ration cards. The winter session of the Delhi Assembly will begin on Friday. Apart from tabling revised estimates of the budget, debates on different issues are likely in the House during the two-day session. Bidhuri also char

Bengal CM Banerjee seeks audience with PM to press for state's dues

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said she has sought an audience with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press the demands for the financial dues which the Centre owes to the state. Banerjee told reporters at the Bagdogra airport near Siliguri in north Bengal that she will be visiting the national capital and sought an appointment in any of the three days between December 18 and 20. "I will go to Delhi accompanied by few MPs of the party this month and have sought an audience with the Prime Minister to press for the state's dues which the Centre owes to us," she said. "I have sought an appointment with the Prime Minister in any of the days on 18, 19 and 20th of this month," she added. Banerjee said that the Centre is collecting GST from the state but not sharing the proceeds. "Many of the funds which the state is eligible for getting under various central schemes like MGNREGA are also not forthcoming. The state is being deprived of its financial dues from the ...

Centre allocates Rs 81 cr for education, health infrastructure in Tripura

This financial sanction will pave way for crucial infrastructure projects, including the construction of a science building at MBB College and a women's hostel at Gandatwisa Government Degree College

U-WIN in pilot phase, no plan to share data with pvt cos through API: Govt

The U-WIN portal is presently under the pilot phase of implementation and there are no plans to share data with private companies through API (Application Programming Interface), Parliament was informed on Friday. The U-WIN portal is linked with the Co-WIN portal and the beneficiary records from Co-WIN can be accessed through U-WIN using the registered mobile number for facilitation of registration of children, Minister of State for Health S P Singh Baghel said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. The U-WIN portal only captures the vaccination status and does not create an electronic health record of the patients. "A security audit of the U-WIN portal has been completed by the CERT-In empanelled agency as per the mandate of the government of India to ensure data protection. The U-WIN portal is presently under the pilot phase of implementation and there are no plans to share data with private companies through API," Baghel said.

Guidelines on search, seizure of digital devices of journalists soon: Govt

The bench, however, questioned the two-year delay by the govt since the filing of the petition before it and said, "When did we issue notice? Some time frame has to be followed. Two years have passed"

Centre says over 106,000 companies voluntarily exited in last five years

More than 1 lakh firms voluntarily exited under the companies law in nearly five years, the government said on Monday. Besides, many companies have sought voluntary liquidation under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). "From FY 2018-19 to FY 2023-24 (up to 30th November, 2023) 1,06,561 companies have exited voluntarily under section 248(2) of the Companies Act, 2013. "From FY 2018-19 to FY 2023-24 (up to 30th September 2023) final reports of 1,168 companies have been submitted by liquidators under section 59 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code), of which final dissolution orders have been passed by NCLT in 633 cases during the said period," Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh told the Lok Sabha. Section 248(2) of the Companies Act pertains to voluntary exit of companies while Section 59 of the IBC relates to voluntary liquidation of companies. In the last five years, Singh said the time taken for voluntary exit under Section 248(2) of the Companies Act, 2013 has

HC seeks Centre's stand on PIL against deepfakes, artificial intelligence

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the Centre's response on a public interest litigation against the unregulated use of artificial intelligence and deepfakes. Deepfakes are videos or images that are created using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered deep learning software that show people saying and doing things that they didn't say or do. A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan observed that technology cannot be "reined in" and the issue raised by the petitioner required deliberations which only the government could undertake. "There is no easy solution. It requires a lot of deliberation. It is a very complicated technology," the bench, also comprising Justice Mini Pushkarna, said. Maintaining that the matter required balancing several factors as there were certain positive uses of the technology, the court added, "It is something that only the government with all its resources can do." The central government counsel said it was public knowledge that the government was

Clear stand on plea against use of officials to highlight work: HC to govt

The plea claimed that it's a political propaganda and that these communications are for the benefit of the ruling party at the Centre

Centre says over 120,000 new companies incorporated during Apr-Nov

More than 1.2 lakh new companies were incorporated in the country in the first nine months of the current financial year, higher than the registrations during the year-ago period, according to the latest official data. According to data from the corporate affairs ministry, which is implementing the companies law, 37,482 Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) were incorporated during April-November in 2023-24. "1,22,317 Companies got incorporated from 1st Apr to 30th Nov 23 as against 1,15,233 incorporations last year for the same period. "37,482 LLP got incorporated from 1st Apr to 30th Nov 23 as against 23,531 Incorporations last year for the same period. @FinMinIndia," the ministry said in a post on social media platform X.

Centre owes Jharkhand Rs 1.36 trillion over mined coal: Hemant Soren

The Centre owes Rs 1.36 lakh crore to Jharkhand on account of coal that is mined from the state, Chief Minister Hemant Soren claimed on Friday. Addressing a public meeting here, he alleged that when asked about this money, the Centre resorts to tactics for evading it. "Coal is extracted from Jharkhand and on account of it, Rs 1.36 lakh crore is outstanding with the Centre. When asked about the outstanding amount, it evades with one reason or the other. Those who have ruled the state for 20 years never asked for this amount or the rights of the state. This money belongs to the people of Jharkhand," he said. Soren alleged that the Centre has stopped providing funds for housing for the poor, and natural disasters such as drought. "Today, we are building this state on our own. One has to fight for one's rights. Sometimes long movements have to be made for this. For this, we have to unite. We will fight this battle of ours together and will retain our rights," he said. Sharpening his .

Acting ED Director Rahul Navin empanelled as additional secretary at Centre

Acting ED Director Rahul Navin has been empanelled by the Union government to hold an additional secretary rank at the Centre. Navin is a 1993-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the Income Tax cadre. An order issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Thursday empanelled Navin in the additional secretary (AS) rank along with 15 other officers from various cadres. He was appointed as the in-charge director or head of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in September following the end of tenure of Sanjay Kumar Mishra. Navin holds expertise in international taxation laws and treaties and has been serving as the Special Director (vigilance) in the ED since his appointment at the agency from the Income Tax department in 2020. The ED director post is an additional secretary rank post. Mishra, a 1984-batch IRS officer, was promoted to the secretary rank while heading the ED. The ED is a federal probe agency tasked to investigate financial crimes under three law

Cabinet approves Rs 1,261 cr scheme to provide drones to 15,000 women SHGs

Centre to bear 80 per cent of the cost of drone estimated at Rs 10 lakh

SC backs Centre's decision to extend Delhi chief secy's tenure by 6 months

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Centre's decision to extend the tenure of Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, who was all set to demit office on November 30, by six more months. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Candrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said, the Union government's decision "cannot be construed to be violative of law. We clarify that this (the order upholding the extension of tenure) is based on our prima facie view without any consideration to issues pending adjudication before the constitution bench (examining the amended law dealing with services in the national capital), it said. The bench said the union ministry of home affairs is empowered to extend the tenure of the chief secretary who deals with all issues related to Entry 1, 2 and 8 (police, public order and land) of the seventh schedule of the State List of the Constitution. It said these subjects are beyond the legislative and executive ambit of the Delhi government and hence, pr

Centre says 125 new projects taken up for exploration of critical minerals

The government on Wednesday said 125 new projects have been taken up in the current financial year for exploration of critical minerals. There is high demand for critical and strategic minerals, and the demand is usually met by imports. Critical minerals are used in various sectors, including renewable energy, defence, and agriculture. "I am happy to announce that this financial year, we have taken up 125 new projects for exploration of critical minerals," Mines Secretary V L Kantha Rao said at an event here. Further, he said the government is offering an incentive of 25 per cent on discovery of critical minerals by exploration agencies. Recently, 24 minerals were notified as critical and strategic minerals through an amendment in the mining rule. India has committed to achieving 50 per cent of cumulative installed electric power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.

Centre, Delhi's stand sought on PIL against nursing courses only for women

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the stand of the Centre and city government on a petition challenging provisions allowing only female candidates to apply for admission to B.Sc (Hons) Nursing courses offered by AIIMS, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and Delhi University. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Mamohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna issued notice on the public interest litigation by the Indian Professional Nurses Association and asked the governments as well as the institutes and Indian Nursing Council to file their replies within four weeks. Advocate Robin Raju, appearing for the petitioner, said the petition challenged the gender-based eligibility and that in view of the shortage of nurses in the country, persons of all genders should be permitted to apply to the course. The plea said the petitioner was a non-governmental registered body working for the welfare of nurses across India and was moving the instant petition to highlight the concern that even today .

China pneumonia outbreak: Centre asks states to review healthcare readiness

The Union Health Ministry has advised states to immediately review public health preparedness in view of recent reports indicating a surge in respiratory illness in children in northern China. In a statement on Sunday, the ministry said it has decided to proactively review preparatory measures against respiratory illnesses as a matter of abundant caution. "This is noted to be important in view of the ongoing influenza and winter season that results in an increase in respiratory illness cases. The Government of India is closely monitoring the situation and indicated that there is no need for any alarm," it said. In a letter to all states and Union territories, the Union health secretary has advised them to immediately review public health and hospital preparedness such as availability of beds, drugs and vaccines for influenza, medical oxygen, antibiotics, personal protective equipment, testing kits and reagents, functionality of oxygen plants and ventilators, and infection control ..

Ayushman Bharat HWCs renamed as Ayushman Arogya Mandir, gets new tagline

The government has decided to rename the Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres as 'Ayushman Arogya Mandir' and the Union Health Ministry has sent a letter to the states and Union territories to implement the rebranding exercise, official sources said. States have also been asked to upload photographs of rebranded primary health facilities on the Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) portal, they said. The rebranded AB-HWCs will also have a new tagline -- 'Arogyam Parmam Dhanam'.