Page 17 - Centre

NITES approaches Centre against 'unethical' transfer practices of TCS

IT workers' union NITES (Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate) has approached the Ministry of Labour and Employment against the alleged "unethical transfer practices" of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). An email to TCS seeking comments on the issue did not elicit a response. NITES has issued a statement saying it received more than 180 complaints that TCS has allegedly been "systematically forcing" more than 2,000 employees to transfer to different cities without proper notice or consultation, causing immense hardship to them and their families. Pune-based NITES claimed that the company has cautioned the employees that failure to comply with the transfer directions will result in disciplinary actions. "We are deeply concerned about the unethical transfer practices of Tata Consultancy Services... We have urged the Ministry of Labour and Employment to investigate TCS' actions and take appropriate measures to protect IT workers from such unethical practices," NITES Preside

Centre gave Rs 571 cr for infra in tribal villages in Gujarat: CM Patel

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday said the state has so far received Rs 571 crore from the Union government for providing basic infrastructure in tribal-dominated villages under the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana. He was speaking at a gathering in Ambaji town of tribal- dominated Danta taluka in Banaskantha district on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas and launch of the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra'. "The Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allotted Rs 571 crore for developing basic infrastructure in 2,803 tribal-dominated villages of Gujarat under the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana," Patel said. To strengthen healthcare facilities in tribal areas, the state government recently approved the setting up of medical colleges in Dahod, Valsad, Banaskantha and Navsari districts, the chief minister noted. "Prime minister Modi has shown the path for the welfare and development of tribals living in the areas ranging from Ambaji to Umargam, from

Centre to seek bids for $960 million EV battery production program

The government will seek bids from potential investors next month, they said

1st division mandatory in Bachelor's & Master's for IIM directors' post

The Centre has notified new norms for the appointment of directors of Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), making it mandatory for applicants to have first class degrees in both Bachelor's and Master's, along with a PhD or equivalent from a reputed institute. Also, the President will now be a "Visitor" to the prestigious B-schools with powers to appoint chairperson of the board of governors, appointment and removal of directors and dissolving the board for not performing duties or complying with visitor's directions. Under the new rules, the eligibility for appointment as an IIM director now will be having a "distinguished" academic record with "first class degree in both Bachelor's and Master's level, and with PhD or equivalent from a reputed institute". Earlier, the criteria used to be a "distinguished academic with PhD or equivalent" and there was no mention of the required division for the degrees. Recently, there was a controversy over the appointment Dheeraj Sharma as ...

Govt bans Meitei extremist groups as 'unlawful associations' for 5 years

As per the notification, the order will be effective from Monday (November 13, 2023) for a period of five years

Air fares fixed by airlines, no governmental control: Centre tells HC

The Centre on Friday told the Kerala High Court that airlines are free to charge air fares as per their operational viability and that it does not interfere in commercial aspects of the airline nor fixing of the airfare. In an affidavit, the union government said the dynamic pricing adopted by the airlines was a global practice and the change in prices are based on algorithms that take into account competitor pricing, supply and demand and other external factors. "Airlines are free to charge airfares as per their operational viability. The government does not interfere either in commercial aspects of airline nor fixing of airfare by them," the affidavit read. In response to a plea filed by one Zainuabideen, challenging the hike by the airlines operating in the Gulf sector in their fares during festival seasons, the central government said dynamic pricing plays a crucial role in determining how airlines improve their revenue per flight. It said the airlines are required to establish

Govt relaxes norms for various small savings schemes including PPF

The government has relaxed the norms for various small savings schemes, including the Public Provident Fund (PPF) and Senior Citizen's Savings Scheme. For the Senior Citizen's Savings Scheme, the new norms provide three months to open an account against one month's time at present. As per the gazette notification dated November 9, an individual can open an account under the Senior Citizen's Savings Scheme within three months from the date of receipt of the retirement benefits and proof of the date of disbursal of such retirement benefits. The deposit in such an account will earn interest at the rate applicable to the scheme on the date of maturity or the date of extended maturity, the notification said. In the case of the Public Provident Fund, the notification has made some changes with regard to the premature closure of accounts. This scheme may be called the Public Provident Fund (Amendment) Scheme, 2023, the notification said. According to the notification, some changes have

Ruling LDF to hold agitation against 'negligence' of Centre towards Kerala

Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) on Friday announced its decision to take the fight against the alleged negligence of the BJP-ruled Centre towards the state's development needs to New Delhi. The agitation, scheduled for January next year, aims to highlight the challenges faced by the state on the financial front due to what the CPI(M)-led alliance alleges as the Centre's negligence. LDF Convenor E P Jayarajan said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, along with his Cabinet colleagues, Left MLAs, MPs, and other leaders, will participate in the protest. This move is seen as the LDF's political narrative against the BJP-led NDA in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. Speaking after a meeting of LDF leaders at the CPI(M) headquarters here, Jayarajan criticised the Central government for neglecting Kerala across various sectors. He alleged that the state was facing financial difficulties due to the Centre's policies. "The state is not receiving the benefits it deserves, with Rs 5

Centre asks Delhi to ramp up healthcare preps for pollution-triggered rush

The Union Health Ministry has asked Delhi and its neighbouring states to make necessary healthcare preparations to deal with any rush of patients triggered by poor air quality that may worsen in the upcoming festive season. In a letter to the health departments of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan this week, Director General of Health Services Atul Goel said air pollution not only accounts for acute illnesses but also precipitates exacerbation of chronic illnesses of respiratory, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. "The consequences are graver for vulnerable population such as children, pregnant women, older people, those with pre-existing illnesses, and those exposed due to their occupations such as those involved in traffic policing and municipality work, etc.," Dr Goel said and urged the state authorities for necessary healthcare preparedness. This would require increased allocation of beds, stock updates on medicines and equipment related to case ...

Govt extends date for submitting claims under Vivad se Vishwas to Dec 31

The finance ministry on Thursday extended the deadline by two months till December 31 for submitting claims to settle pending disputes relating to government contracts. The Vivad se Vishwas II scheme was launched on July 15 to settle disputes in government contracts and the last date for submitting claims by contractors was October 31. In an office memorandum, the Department of Expenditure said lt has been decided that the claims under the Vivad se Vishwas II scheme can now be submitted till December 31, 2023. The scheme is applicable to all domestic contractual disputes where one of the parties is either the government of India or government undertakings. Under the scheme, for court awards passed on or before April 30, 2023 the settlement amount offered to the contractor will be up to 85 per cent of the net amount awarded/upheld by the court. For arbitral awards passed on or before January 31, 2023, the settlement amount offered is up to 65 per cent of the net amount ...

Govt to send flying squads to monitor farm fires in Haryana, Punjab: Report

The Centre will dispatch flying squads to Punjab and Haryana to monitor stubble burning incidents and submit daily reports, government sources said on Thursday. This decision was made at a meeting chaired by the cabinet secretary on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by chief secretaries and other senior officials from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, as well as the Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) and secretaries from the ministries of environment, agriculture, housing and urban affairs, and power. During the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary directed the Punjab administration to take effective actions to prevent further stubble burning in the remaining days of this harvest season, the sources said. District magistrates, senior superintendents of police, and station house officers have been instructed to ensure there is no further stubble burning. The CAQM has been tasked with deploying flying squads to Punjab and Haryana and submitting daily reports

Centre taking steps to promote AYUSH system of medicine: MoS Mahendrabhai

Union Minister of State for Ayush Munjpara Mahendrabhai on Wednesday said the Centre is taking steps for the promotion and propagation of the Ayush system of medicine in the country. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has made significant progress in reinventing the proven benefits of the traditional system of medicine to enrich the quality of lives of the people, he said. Our traditional medicine systems are efficacious, Mahendrabhai, who was accompanied by Rajesh Kotecha, Special Secretary in the Ayush Ministry, said at a press conference here. Talking about the ministry's flagship National Ayush Mission (NAM) programme, he said it is being implemented with the vision to provide Ayush healthcare services throughout the country. The Ministry of Ayush is working on the operationalisation of 12,500 Ayush Health and Wellness Centres (AHWCs) under NAM by 2023-24, the minister said. Replying to a question, he said that modern and traditional medicine

Centre releases tax devolution to states early citing festive season

The lowest devolution for the month of November is to Goa and Sikkim at Rs 281 crore and Rs 283.10 crore

Centre cannot 'pick and choose' names from collegium resolutions: SC

The bench noted in its order that 14 first-time recommendations and five reiterated recommendations are currently pending with the Centre

India's total tax receipts likely to exceed Budget Estimate in FY24

Monthly GST mop-up in FY25 could be Rs 1.7-1.8 trillion

Draft national policy for distribution of sanitary napkins ready: Centre

The court was hearing a plea seeking to issue directions to governments to provide free sanitary pads to girls studying in Classes 6 to 12

Supreme Court dismisses Popular Front of India's plea against Centre's ban

The Centre had banned the PFI for five years for its alleged links with global terrorist organisations and for trying to spread communal hatred in the country

Extra NREGS funding may not be enough if work demand stays robust: Experts

Expenditure on the scheme has been around Rs 77,634 crore till October end

Govt sends notice to Apple about 'state-sponsored attacks' alert on iPhones

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw rejected the allegations of hacking by the government and said that they would conduct a thorough probe

Electoral bonds scheme aims to eradicate use of black money: Centre to SC

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that almost every country, including India, was grappling with the problem of use of black money in elections and the electoral bonds scheme was a "conscious attempt" to eradicate the menace of "unclean money" in the poll process. Arguing before a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said the apex court may not take this particular scheme as a standalone attempt in the direction of dealing with the menace of black money. Mehta highlighted steps taken by the government to deal with black money including digitised payments and action taken against 2.38 lakh "shell companies" between 2018 and 2021. "The use of black money in elections and politics in general and elections in particular...every country is grappling with this problem. Country-specific issues are being dealt with by every country depending upon the circumstances existing. India is also