Page 19 - Centre

Centre's response sought on plea seeking details on 'Chinese Encroachment'

Swamy filed the RTI application on November 10, 2022, seeking information on Chinese encroachment on the Indian territory

Govt notifies amendments to decriminalise Cable Television Networks Rules

In a bid to boost investor confidence, the government on Thursday notified amendments to the Cable Television Networks Rules that provide the operational mechanism for implementation of the decriminalised provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act. Section 16 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 dealt with the punishment for contraventions under any of its provisions. This section had provision for imprisonment, which might extend up to two years in case of the first instance and five years for every subsequent offence. The imprisonment provisions have been now replaced with a monetary penalty and other non-monetary measures like advisory, warning and censure, an official statement said. These measures will be enforced through the designated officer defined in the rules notified on Thursday. Moreover, Section 16 now introduces an appeal mechanism against the order made by the designated officer. The punishments specified under Section 16 of the

No constraint of funds for rural job scheme MGNREGA, says Centre

The Union Rural Development Ministry on Thursday said there was no constraint of funds for the rural job scheme MGNREGA and reiterated that funds for West Bengal were not released due to non-compliance of central directives. In a statement, the ministry said, "Funds of State of West Bengal have been stopped from March 9, 2022 as per provision of Section 27 of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 due to non-compliance of directives of Central Government." The statement came on a day West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress conducted a march to the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata to protest against the Centre over MGNREGA dues. The TMC had also staged protests in Delhi on October 3 and 4 demanding release of funds by the Centre. In its statement, the ministry said that by October 4, Rs 56,105.69 crore out of the Rs 60,000 crore budget for the scheme has been released. "Availability of funds is not a constraint for the implementation of the programme," it said. The mini

Didn't run Chinese propaganda, govt treats criticism as sedition: NewsClick

All funding received by NewsClick has been through appropriate banking channels, said the online website in a statement on Wednesday

Centre hikes LPG subsidy for Ujjwala beneficiaries to Rs 300 per cylinder

The Ujjwala beneficiaries currently pay Rs 703 per 14.2-kg cylinder as against the market price of Rs 903

SC directs Centre to look into mediation process over SYL canal dispute

The court came down heavily on the Punjab government for not taking steps for construction of the canal. The court remarked that Punjab has to co-operate in the process.

Got political clearance to travel abroad after filing plea: Delhi Mayor

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Wednesday informed the Delhi High Court that she was granted political clearance by the Centre for her travel to Brisbane for a programme. Justice Subramonium Prasad was told by the counsel for Oberoi that the mayor got the political clearance on Tuesday after filing the petition. However, this was disputed by the Centre's counsel, who submitted that the clearance was given before the petition was filed. "I got the permission yesterday after the petition was filed. I mentioned the matter before the chief justice's bench at 12 pm and got the political clearance thereafter, the court may record my statement," Oberoi's counsel submitted on her behalf. The judge disposed of the plea, noting that the grievance of the petitioner no longer survives. The matter was mentioned for urgent hearing by the mayor's lawyer on Tuesday and the chief justice's bench agreed to list it on Wednesday. Oberoi had sought permission to travel abroad to attend the 2023 Asia Pac

Have urged Centre to implement OPS for Delhi govt employees: CM Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday voiced support for the old pension scheme and said he has requested the Centre to implement it for Delhi government employees. His remarks came amid a massive protest at the Ramlila Maidan here by central and state government employees from more than 20 states for the restoration of the old pension scheme. "We strongly support the demand of govt employees to bring back OPS. NPS is an injustice against employees. We have implemented OPS in Punjab and have written to Centre for implementing it for Del govt employees. Some other non-BJP govts have also implemented OPS," Kejriwal said in a post on 'X'.

7th round of commercial coal mine auction: Centre sign pacts with 6 bidders

The Centre on Friday entered into pacts with six bidders, including Hindalco Industries and NLC India Ltd, which bagged coal blocks under the seventh round of coal mines auction. The government had launched the seventh round of auctions for commercial mining of coal blocks, putting 106 mines under the hammer. In a statement, the coal ministry said that successful bidders encompass entities such Hindalco Industries Ltd, NTPC Mining Ltd, NLC India Ltd, Shri Bajrang Power & Ispat Limited and Nilkanth Mining Ltd. The mines for which these agreements have been executed are Meenakshi West, North Dhadu (Eastern Part), North Dhadu (Western Part), Pathora East, Pathora West and Sherband. Of the said blocks, four have undergone partial exploration and the other two are fully explored. The estimated total revenue generation annually from these blocks stands at approximately Rs 787.59 crore, based on production at an aggregated peak rate capacity (PRC) level of seven metric tonne per annum .

Rajasthan CM Gehlot urges PM Modi to enact social security law at Centre

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enact a social security law at the Centre and said India would become a "vishwaguru" or world leader only when starvation and malnutrition end in the country. Addressing the National Conference of Nursing Council at Birla Auditorium here, Gehlot said everyone in the nation should get social security along with health services and education, adding that there should be no shortage of water and electricity. He added that India will become a global leader only when "hunger and malnutrition will end in our country", asserting that "the 'Right to Social Security Act' should be implemented at the Centre. Referring to other welfare schemes, including gas cylinder for Rs 500, 100 units of free electricity and Annapurna food kit to poor families, Gehlot said they were not needed if the right to social security was made a law in the country. The chief minister said the opposition leaders in the ...

Centre's 'step motherly' treatment hurting Kerala: Finance Min Balagopal

Going through a "growth phase", Kerala is poised for very good development in infrastructure, industrial as well as services sectors that will create more job opportunities, according to the state's Finance Minister K N Balagopal. Amid concerns over the state's financial health, he asserted revenue generation has made a "giant leap" to Rs 71,000 crore in the last fiscal but the central government's "step motherly" treatment has resulted in a liquidity crunch. In an interview with PTI, Balagopal cited reports by various agencies, including the recent Fitch Ratings, to affirm that the "state is now going through a very good economic growth phase." In recent months, the Left-ruled Kerala has been raising its voice against BJP-led Centre's moves on the fiscal front, including alleged delay in releasing GST funds and curbs on the state in terms of raising money. Referring to the steps taken by the finance department for better revenue generation, the minister said through efficient tax

Centre extends Piyush Goyal's tenure as National Intelligence Grid chief

The Centre on Wednesday extended the tenure of senior bureaucrat Piyush Goyal as the chief executive officer of National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), a Personnel Ministry order said. A 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Nagaland cadre, Goyal was appointed to the post in August 2022. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved extension in Goyal's tenure as the CEO, NATGRID beyond March 25, 2024 for a period up to November 19, 2025, it said. The NATGRID is a federal intelligence gathering organisation created to enhance the country's counter-terrorism capabilities. In another order, the ACC approved extension in central deputation tenure of Sukriti Likhi as Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser, Ministry of Steel for a period up to September 19, 2025. Likhi is a 1993-batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre.

Centre keeps option open to reduce market borrowing in second half of FY24

Government will also issue Treasury bills worth Rs 3.12 trillion in the third quarter of 2023-24. Each of these weekly T-bill auctions will be to the tune of Rs 24,000 crore

Centre-Delhi services row: SC asks for common compilation of arguments

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a common compilation of submissions be filed by both the parties in a petition by Delhi government challenging the central government's law establishing pre-eminence of the lieutenant governor over the elected AAP dispensation in controlling services in the national capital. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was urged by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi government, that the matter be listed before a five-judge Constitution bench for urgent hearing. I can't express the agony of the (Delhi) administration, the senior lawyer said. There are older Constitution bench matters. We are listing and there are two seven-judge bench matters also coming up. All these are also important and are pending for years, the CJI said, adding it may be listed after some time. The bench, however, asked Singhvi and Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain to sit together and decide the

Centre, RBI officials to finalise 2nd half borrowing plan today: Report

India plans to borrow about Rs 6.55 trillion in the second half of the current fiscal year that started April 1, according to government's budget estimates

Centre's response sought on plea raising issue of assistance to PwD

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to respond to a plea which sought that quantum of assistance to persons with disabilities should be 25 per cent higher than those given to others under similar social welfare schemes. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud issued notice to the Centre seeking its response on the petition filed by Delhi-based organisation 'Bhumika Trust' and posted the matter for hearing after four weeks. The bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, requested Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to assist the apex court in the matter. The top court noted the petitioner has relied on the proviso to section 24 (1) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Section 24 of the 2016 Act deals with social security and section 24 (1) says, "The appropriate government shall within the limit of its economic capacity and development formulate necessary schemes and programmes to safeguard and promote the right of perso

'Will withdraw plea from SC if guv gets pending RDF released by Centre'

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday said the state government will withdraw its petition in the Supreme Court on the pending rural development fund (RDF) if the governor gets it released from the Centre. Cheema was responding to Governor Banwarilal Purohit's letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday in which he had stated it would be appropriate to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court on the state government's plea. Chief Minister Mann, in a letter on Thursday, had asked the governor to take up the issue of the pending RDF worth Rs 5,637.40 crore with the president and the prime minister. The state government had moved the Supreme Court in July on the RDF issue. On the governor's statement that the state's debt rose by Rs 50,000 crore under the AAP dispensation, Cheema asked him not to talk about debt as it was inherited from previous governments. Responding to the governor's response on the RDF issue, the finance minister said the Punjab governmen

BJP struggles in Rajasthan due to lack of public connection: Sachin Pilot

Congress leader Sachin Pilot criticises the central government for playing 'hide and seek' with Women's Reservation Bill, says there was already consensus

New Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar unveiled, to be awarded on National Space Day

The Centre on Thursday unveiled a new set of national awards in science, technology and innovation, called the 'Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar', and scrapped nearly 300 awards by various science departments. An official statement said the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar will be one of the highest recognitions in science, technology and innovation, to be given across four categories -- Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri, Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar and Vigyan Team. Scientists will be selected across 13 domains by a committee headed by principal scientific advisor to the government. "People of Indian Origin staying abroad with exceptional contributions benefiting the Indian communities or society shall also be eligible for the awards," it said. The Vigyan Ratna award will recognise lifetime achievements and contributions in any field of science and technology while the Vigyan Shri will acknowledge distinguished contributions. All the awards will carry a citation and a medal. The Shanti Swarup

LS adjourns till Sept 20 after Centre introduces Women Reservation Bill

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the bill in the first sitting of Lok Sabha in the new Parliament building. The bill has been named Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam