Page 18 - Centre

Delhi's AQI to turn 'severe', Centre holds off implementing stricter curbs

The Centre on Monday refrained from implementing stricter measures to curb pollution in Delhi-NCR, even though air quality in the region is predicted to turn 'severe' on January 30. This is the third time since January 24 that the central government has decided against employing disruptive measures to control air pollution. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi stood at 356 at 4 pm on Monday. It is likely to deteriorate to the 'severe' category (AQI above 400) on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. If the AQI breaches the 400-mark, authorities in Delhi-NCR are required to invoke stricter curbs under Stage III of the Centre's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to control air pollution.

Centre's policies main hindrance in creation of new Kerala: CM Vijayan

The Chief Minister claimed that the proportion of tax resources to be distributed to the states has declined from 42 per cent during the 14th Finance Commission to 41 per cent during the 15th Finance

Kashmiri Pandits urge Centre to increase relief, jobs in Budget session

The displaced Kashmiri Pandits on Friday urged the Centre to increase their monthly relief amount and allocate a new employment package featuring 5,000 jobs in the Kashmir Valley during the upcoming Budget session. A Kashmiri Pandit family, lacking any government employee as its member, currently receives "meagre" Rs 13,000 per month for sustenance without any enhancement during the last one decade. The families with government employees, however, do not receive such relief. "I request the central government to keep a separate amount for the Kashmiri Pandit community in the forthcoming Budget. I will press for implementation of two things and will urge the Finance Ministry and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ji. There should be enhancement of relief amount to the community as early as possible in this Budget session," Head of Kashmiri Pandit Volunteers (KPV) Vikram Kaul told PTI. Expressing optimism, he hoped that the BJP government, despite a perceived lack of significant initiativ

INDIA bloc will fight against injustice across country, says Rahul Gandhi

The Rahul Gandhi-led 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' entered West Bengal on Thursday with the Congress leader exuding confidence that the opposition INDIA bloc will fight against injustice across the country. Accusing the BJP and RSS of spreading hatred and violence, Gandhi said the word 'Nyay' (justice) has been attached with the yatra as "injustice is prevailing across the country." "We have attached the word 'Nyay' (justice) in the yatra as injustice is prevailing across the country. BJP and RSS are spreading hatred and violence. The INDIA bloc will fight against injustice across the country," he said while addressing reporters here. Gandhi was welcomed by state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury. The yatra entered West Bengal through Bakshirhat in Cooch Behar district in the northern part of the state.

150,000 youth rendered unemployed: Rahul slams govt over Agnipath scheme

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked the government over the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, alleging that 1.5 lakh youths, who had been promised appointment under the previous process, were left unemployed and frustrated. Gandhi posted on YouTube his interaction during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra with youths who had reportedly cleared the earlier recruitment process but were not given appointment. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "The Agneepath scam has betrayed the patriots of India - promising 1.5 lakh youth appointments under the old recruitment process while giving them unemployment and frustration in return," he said. "The government should either give them recruitment or compensation - we will not stop until we get 'justice for youth'," Gandhi said. The Agnipath scheme, announced on June 14, 2022, provides for the recruitment of youngsters in the age bracket of 17-and-a-half to 21 years for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of the

Centre plans to eliminate 9,000 accident prone spots on NHs by May 2025

Some highways in the country have old engineering defects, but the new roads and highways are incorporating road safety features, Highways Secretary Anurag Jain said

IESA launches new report on semiconductor and ESDM policies in India

IESA's latest report compares and contrasts the various policies and incentives offered by different states, and provides insights and recommendations for the stakeholders

Govt forms panel to examine steps to safeguard interests of SCs: Report

A high-level panel has been formed to examine the administrative steps that can be taken to safeguard the interests of scheduled caste communities like the Madigas, sources said on Friday. The panel will seek to ensure fair allocation of benefits to the most disadvantaged communities within the Scheduled Castes, which have been overshadowed by comparatively affluent and influential groups. "On the directions of the prime minister, a committee of secretaries has been constituted under the chairmanship of cabinet secretary," a source privy to the matter said. "It will examine the administrative steps that can be taken to safeguard the interests of the scheduled caste communities, like the Madigas and other such groups, who have represented that they are not evenly getting their due share of benefits," he said. The committee will comprise secretaries of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Personnel and Training, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the Department of Legal Affai

Unfounded fears of adverse impact of GM seeds affecting farmers: Centre

The apex court reserved its order on a plea seeking moratorium on release of genetically modified organisms into the environment

Govt okays Rs 235 cr for administrative reforms, public grievance redressal

The Centre has approved an outlay of Rs 235 crore for a revamped scheme for administrative reforms to be implemented in the next two financial years in the the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, an official statement issued on Thursday said. The scheme will take up ambitious next-generation administrative reforms matching with the new aspirations of 'Viksit Bharat', it said. This revamped scheme has two verticals -- administrative reforms and a comprehensive system for redressal of public grievances, said the statement issued by the Personnel Ministry. "The government has approved an outlay of Rs 235 cr for revamped scheme for administrative reforms of DARPG to be implemented in next two years (2024-25 and 2025-26 ) of the 15th Finance Commission cycle," it added. The scheme for administrative reforms with an allocation of Rs 107 crore seeks to utilise the resources for Prime Minister's awards for excellence in public administration for 2024-25 and 2025-26,

As AQI improves, ban on BS-III petrol, BS-IV diesel cars lifted in Delhi

The Central government on Thursday lifted a ban on non-essential construction work and plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR amid a progressive improvement in air quality in the region. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) noted a significant improvement with an AQI of 316 at 2 pm, well below the threshold for invoking Stage-III actions under the air pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan. Preventive measures are in place and the forecast suggests further improvement, said the statutory body responsible for forming air pollution reduction strategies for the region and their implementation. However, Stage I to Stage II actions remain in effect to prevent a shift to the 'severe' category. The Stage III restrictions were activated on Sunday after air quality plummeted to 'severe plus' levels. The curbs include a ban on non-essential construction work and the plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in the .

Cong accuses Centre of surrendering Rs 1 trn agri-budget in 5 years

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday that there is no proposal to lift export restrictions on wheat, rice, and sugar

Presenting alternative vision with Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress leader said said that the idea of his Yatra is to make sure that even if people are from a small state, they should feel equal to all people in the country

PowerMin issues electricity rules, eases open access and transmission

The rules now allows consumers which have specified energy load and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) to establish, operate and maintain their dedicated transmission lines themselves without licence

Centre extends PM-eBus Sewa scheme tender deadline to January 31

This is the second deadline extension for the scheme. The deadline was first extended from December 15 to January 16

Budget 2024: Govt may raise exemption in lower bracket under old I-T regime

The measures, along with announcements to improve the direct tax system, are those which the government feels will not hurt the fiscal deficit numbers now

Centre, state, exporters to discuss ways to boost exports on Jan 16

The Centre, state governments and industry representatives will meet on January 16 to discuss ways to boost the country's exports, an official said. Issues which are expected to figure in the meeting include rupee payment challenges, need of global shipping, and challenges being faced by traders on account of the Red Sea crisis, and uncertain global economic situation due to the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas conflict. The meeting will be chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. They all are members of the Board of Trade (BoT). "There are over 135 members of BoT. It is meeting on January 16 at Bharat Mandapam," the official said. Headed by the minister, the board includes participants from various states, Union Territories, and senior officials from the public and private sectors. In the meeting, representatives of export promotion councils present their views on the export sector. The board provides an opportunity to have regular discussions and consultations

Centre lodges strong protest with Britain over visit of envoy to PoK

India has registered a strong protest with the UK over the visit to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) by its High Commissioner to Islamabad along with another British official. The ministry of external affairs said such "infringement" of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity is "unacceptable". "India has taken a serious note of the highly objectionable visit of the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, along with a UK Foreign Office official, to Pakistan occupied Kashmir on January 10," it said. "Foreign Secretary has lodged a strong protest with the British High Commissioner in India on this infringement," the MEA said. "The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are, have been and shall always remain an integral part of India," it said in a statement.

Govt acts against Indian firm for undisclosed links with Chinese group

Cracking the whip for hiding the beneficial ownership links to a Chinese group, the Registrar of Companies (RoC) has slapped penalties totalling more than Rs 21 lakh on an Indian company and its related individuals as well as entities. Besides, the Indian company Metec Electronics Pvt Ltd has been directed not to enter into fresh agreements with entities of Metec Group of Companies in China and Hong Kong. An official in the know on Friday said Metec Electronics Pvt Ltd had portrayed itself as a standalone entity, with shareholdings held by two foreign nationals -- Chen Feiyan and Yang Wen -- and an Indian national. The company had denied any relationship with China's Metec Group of companies and claimed that the relationship was limited to buying goods only, the official said. However, the official said the company was "actually operating as a group company of the Metec Group of companies of China". For the violations, RoC, NCT of Delhi and Haryana have imposed penalties on the ..

Centre reviews progress of PLI schemes in all 14 sectors: Govt official

The government on Friday reviewed the progress of the production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes for all the 14 sectors, an official said. The meeting assumes significance as the government has disbursed Rs 2,900 crore till March 2023 under the scheme. The empowered committee in PLI has also approved Rs 1,000 crore disbursal to beneficiary firms of the electronics sector. The scheme was announced in 2021 for 14 sectors like telecommunication, white goods, textiles, manufacturing of medical devices, automobiles, speciality steel, food products, high-efficiency solar PV modules, advanced chemistry cell battery, drones, and pharma with an outlay of Rs 1.97 lakh crore. Senior officers from different ministries, including the commerce and industry ministry and heavy industries ministry, participated in the review, the official said. The purpose of the schemes is to attract investments in key sectors and cutting-edge technology; ensure efficiency and bring economies of size and scale in