Page 18 - Centre

Govt orders 'technical' probe as Opposition cites iPhone hacking alert

According to Apple's support page, alert notifications are sent to particular users when they are individually targeted because of who they are or what they do

Citizens don't have right to know source of electoral bond funds: Centre

Attorney General R Venkataramani said that the Constitution has not conferred citizens with a fundamental right to know the source of electoral bond funds

Centre gives nod for Jamrani Dam Project, says Uttarakhand CM Dhami

The Uttarakhand chief minister further said that along with solving the problem of drinking water and irrigation, the farmers will also get benefit from this project

Centre estimates 3.79% lower kharif rice production at 106.31 mn tonnes

The country's rice production is estimated to decline by 3.79 per cent to 106.31 million tonnes in the kharif season of the 2023-24 crop year (July-June) due to poor rainfall in key growing states, according to the Agriculture Ministry's latest estimates released on Friday. Rice production stood at 110.5 million tonnes during the same season in the previous crop year. Rice is the main kharif crop and its harvesting is underway. According to the first advance foodgrains production estimate released by the ministry, maize production is estimated to be 22.48 million tonnes in the kharif season 2023-24, lower than 23.6 million tonnes last year. Among pulses, tur production is expected to be slightly higher this year at 3.42 million tonnes as against 3.31 million tonnes the previous year. Moong production is estimated to be 1.40 million tonnes, lower than last year's 1.71 million tonnes. Oilseeds production is estimated to decline to 21.53 million tonnes from 26.15 million ...

Retail onion price up 57%; Centre steps up buffer sale to provide relief

As all-India average retail onion price shoots up by 57 per cent to Rs 47 per kg, the Centre on Friday decided to step up the sale of buffer onion at a subsidised rate of Rs 25 per kg in retail markets in order to provide relief to consumers. The all-India average retail price of onion rose to Rs 47 per kg on Friday, from Rs 30 per kg in the year-ago period, as per the data maintained by the consumer affairs ministry. In the national capital, retail price of onion was at Rs 40/kg on Friday as against Rs 30/kg in the year-ago period, the data showed. "We have been offloading buffer onions since mid-August and we are stepping up the retail sale in order to check further rise in prices and provide relief to the consumers," Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told PTI. According to the ministry, onion is being offloaded from the buffer stock in both wholesale and retail markets in states where there is a sharp rise in prices. Since mid-August, about 1.7 lakh tonne of buffer on

Govt launches hackathon to tackle 'dark patterns' on some online platform

This is the third hackathon the consumer affairs department is organising after the successful hackathon on onion and tomato, he said

Farm loan waivers, high MSP: How Chhattisgarh govt is banking on farmers

Chhattisgarh Assembly elections: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has promised to waive off farmers' loan if the Congress retains power

Centre extends mandate on imported coal power plants to run till Jun 2024

The order issued using an emergency clause mandates power plants based on imported coal to operate to meet the country's high electricity demand

V Karthikeyan Pandian: From bureaucrat to Cabinet minister in 24 hours

Retired bureaucrats have, in recent times, played an important role in the state's politics

India's fiscal position 'solid' amid global headwinds: Finance ministry

'West Asia situation, oil prices new challenges'

Extended Safai Karmachari Commission's tenure till March 2025: Centre to SC

The Centre has told the Supreme Court the current tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karmachari (NCSK) has been extended till March 31, 2025 and steps will be taken to fill up the vacant posts in the panel. The top court took note of the affidavit of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment that besides extending the tenure of the panel, the chairman, vice-chairman and one more member have been appointed till March 31, 2025. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta said it has no reason to believe that the central government will not do the needful and disposed of the PIL filed by lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy. As per the counter affidavit filed by the respondents (Centre), the current tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karmachari has been extended till 31.03.2025. It is further informed that Chairman, Vice-Chairman and one more member have been appointed for a period till 31.03.2025 and four post of members are lying vacant due to absence

Will issue funds to West Bengal if satisfied with transparency: Centre

The pending MGNREGA funds for West Bengal will be issued when the Centre is satisfied with the "transparency" in the implementation of the scheme, Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh said on Friday amid an ongoing tussle between the state and the Centre on the issue. At a press conference on the achievements of the Rural Development Ministry here, the minister was asked about the West Bengal government's allegation that funds for the rural development scheme have not been released to the state for almost two years. "Payments will be made to West Bengal when the Centre is satisfied over transparency in implementation of the scheme... Have we not given money to Bengal, we are giving them money under other schemes," Singh said. Top leaders of the Trinamool Congress held protests in the national capital on October 2 and 3, demanding that the Centre release the dues. The Centre has alleged that there is corruption in the implementation of the scheme in the Trinamool ...

Namo Bharat: PM Modi flags off India's first regional rapid transit system

17-km stretch connects Sahibabad and Duhai Depot

Horticulture output rises to 351.92 mn tonne in 2022-23: Govt data

India's horticulture production is estimated to have risen annually by 1.37 per cent to 351.92 million tonne in 2022-23 due to better productivity, according to government data. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Wednesday released the second advance estimates of the area and production of various horticultural crops for the year 2022-23. According to this estimate, total horticulture production in the country is expected to be a record 351.92 million tonne in 2022-23, with an increase of about 4.74 million tonne (1.37 per cent) as compared to the previous year, an official statement said. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that "along with food grains, horticulture is also continuously recording record production in the country, which is the good result of the hard work of our farmers, the efficiency of scientists and the farmer-friendly policies of the central government under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is committed to th

Cabinet hikes DA by 4% for central govt employees; MSP hiked for 6 crops

The DA hike, effective from July 1, 2023, will lead to enhanced salaries for the month of November, along with arrears for the period from July to October

Govt may divest 7% stake in Hudco, Torrent Pharma's promoters get exemption

Sebi has granted open offer exem­ption to the promoters of Torrent Pharma and Torrent Power

SC directs Centre to apprise it about rice fortification labelling norms

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to apprise it about steps taken to comply with a provision of the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2018, that labels on bags containing fortified rice should carry an advisory that it is harmful for people suffering from sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia. A bench of Justice S K Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia asked the Union of India to file an affidavit within four weeks and inform it about the action taken. "Counsel has entered appearance for the Union of India and will obtain instructions as to what steps have been taken in respect of the subject matter of the grievance in the present petition and as to whether any action has been taken on the representation already made by the petitioner(s). "An affidavit be filed in this behalf within four weeks. List immediately after four weeks," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by Rajesh Krishnan and others seeking compliance with clause 7(4)

Govt looking at eligibility criteria for direct overseas listing of firms

The Corporate Affairs Ministry is looking at various aspects, including the possible eligibility criteria, to prepare the rules for direct overseas listing of Indian companies, a senior official said on Friday. Currently, overseas listings by local listed entities are carried out through American Depository Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depository Receipts (GDRs). The official said the ministry is in discussions with finance ministry as well as other stakeholders to finalise the rules for Indian companies to list overseas. Various aspects such as eligibility criteria are being discussed for permitting overseas listing. It is also being looked at whether both listed and unlisted domestic companies could be allowed to list abroad but things are under discussion, the official said. The provision is part of the companies law, which is being implemented by the corporate affairs ministry. For the direct overseas listing framework, an enabling provision would be made under the Companies Act,

'We can't kill a child,' says SC on termination of 26-week pregnancy

"We cannot kill a child," the Supreme Court observed on Thursday while hearing the Centre's plea seeking recall of its order allowing a married woman, a mother of two, to terminate her 26-week pregnancy. While making it clear that the top court has to balance the rights of the unborn child, a "living and viable foetus", with its mother's right of decisional autonomy, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud asked the Centre and her lawyer to talk to the woman about the possibility of retaining the pregnancy for a few weeks more. "Do you want us to tell the doctors at AIIMS to stop the fetal heart?" the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, asked the counsel appearing for the 27-year-old woman. When the counsel responded with a "no", the bench said when the woman has waited for over 24 weeks, can't she retain the foetus for some more weeks so there is the possibility of a healthy child being born. The bench has posted the matter for resumed hearing at

Setting up national, regional GST tribunals has started: Centre tells SC

The Supreme Court took note of the Centre's submissions on Tuesday that the process of setting up the national and regional GST tribunals has started and disposed of a PIL on the issue. The top court had, on August 6, 2021, issued notices to the Centre and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council on the public interest litigation (PIL) matter filed by lawyer-activist Amit Sahni. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was told by Attorney General R Venkataramani that the Union finance ministry issued a notification on September 14 and the process of setting up the tribunals has commenced. The bench asked the attorney general whether the tribunals have become functional. The topmost law officer in the country said the process is on. The bench disposed of the PIL and assured senior advocate Mahabir Singh, who appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioner, that he may come back if the tribunals are not made functional.