Page 30 - Centre

Over 6,000 posts of Captain, Major ranks vacant in Army: MoS Ajay Bhatt

Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said that in order to mitigate the shortage, a proposal to make short service entry more attractive is under consideration

PLI scheme incentive outgo could be less than Rs 40,000 crore by FY25

Govt estimates indicate not all 14 schemes may have fully taken off

Govt to launch Ayushman Bhav to achieve 100% coverage of health schemes

The Union health ministry is planning to launch 'Ayushman Bhav' programme to ensure optimum delivery of all state-run health schemes to every intended beneficiary, including those in the last mile. Ayushman Apke Dwar 3.0, Ayushman Sabha, Ayushman Mela and Ayushman Gram are some of the activities planned under the programme, official sources told PTI. "The aim of the campaign is to ensure comprehensive and saturation coverage of all health schemes so that every eligible beneficiary is able to avail their benefits," an official source said. Ayushman Apke Dwar 1 and 2 drives have been conducted successfully. Under the Ayushman Apke Dwar 3.0, an intensive drive will begin from August 1 to ensure full saturation, the sources said. Ayushman Sabha will be a village-level campaign led by the village health, sanitation and nutrition committee to ensure the benefits of all the health schemes of the central and state governments reach the intended beneficiaries, they said. These will also ..

Centre grants sanction to prosecute joint drugs controller in bribery case

The government has granted the sanction to prosecute Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation's joint drugs controller S Eswara Reddy, clearing the decks for initiating a trial against him for allegedly taking a bribe to favourably recommend Biocon Biologics' insulin injection, officials said Sunday. The CBI submitted the sanction for prosecution, accorded by the Director (Vigilance) in the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare, before a special court here. Repeated calls made to the office phone of Reddy seeking his comments remained unanswered. The agency has also received the sanction against Animesh Kumar, Assistant Drugs Inspector, who is a co-accused in the case, they said. Apart from Reddy and Animesh Kumar, the CBI had also arrested Biocon Biologics' Associate Vice President L Praveen Kumar, Synergy Network India Private Limited director Dinesh Dua, who allegedly gave Reddy Rs 4 lakh as bribe, and Guljit Sethi, an alleged conduit of Biocon Biologics. The arrests

Punjab govt didn't use Rs 218 cr aid by Centre for flood relief: Jakhar

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar Sunday hit out at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the flood situation in the state, accusing him of not utilising Rs 218 crore fund released by the Centre for relief measures. Jakhar was in Patiala to visit flood-hit areas in Sanour in the district. He was accompanied by Jai Inder Kaur, the daughter of former chief minister Amarinder Singh. Addressing the media here, Jakhar said the Central government released Rs 218 crore for Punjab without even considering the previous year's utilisation certificate of the funds meant for the disaster relief from the state government. Jakhar said people had to suffer loss of life and property because of the "gross negligence" and "inefficiency" on the part of the AAP dispensation. The state government failed to handle the flood situation and ruling party MLAs were busy in photo-ops, he charged. He alleged the state government failed to take necessary measures including cleaning of drains and the strengthening of .

HP CM requests Centre to release pending disaster fund of over Rs 315 cr

To address the immediate needs of people affected due to rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Saturday requested the Centre to release the state's pending disaster relief fund of over Rs 315 crore. The chief minister said the state's disaster compensation worth Rs 315.8 crore has been withheld for the past few years. The delay was attributed to objections raised by the Accountant General, which the state government has successfully resolved through persistent efforts, Sukhu said in a statement issued here. The pending funds include Rs 121.71 crore allocated for 2020-21, Rs 133.56 crore for 2021-22 under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and Rs 61.07 crore for 2019-20 under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), the statement added. Stating that all objections have been cleared now, the chief minister urged that the funds be released at the earliest as the hill state is witnessing severe devastation caused by incessant rains a

Congress attacks Centre for distributing appointment letters after delays

The Congress on Saturday hit out at the government over the holding of Rozgar mela, saying it was distributing appointment letters in instalments as if it has fulfilled the BJP's promise of giving 2 crore jobs every year. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said there are 30 lakh posts lying vacant in various government departments and the sanctioned posts being filled now are those that were to be filled long ago. He claimed about 20,000 MSME industries have shut down in the country in just three years. "In government departments alone, 30 lakh posts are lying vacant. But the event-Jeevi head of the Modi government, Modi ji by distributing recruitment letters in instalments is showing as if he has fulfilled the BJP's promise of giving 2 crore jobs every year. "Those are sanctioned government posts and they should have been filled long ago," he said in a tweet in Hindi. Kharge claimed that in the last nine years, events of Start-Up India, Skill India, Stand-Up India were organis

Youth to survey farm areas and crops sown instead of patwaris in MP

Under this, a survey of sowing areas and crop types in the fields will be done by local youth instead of patwaris, the traditional authorities who maintain ownership records for a given area

Govt nods Semiconductor Lab modernisation as brownfield chip making unit

The government has approved the modernisation of the Semiconductor Laboratory as a brownfield chip manufacuring unit, Parliament was informed on Friday. Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a writtten reply to the Rajya Sabha said that till date only one proposal of Micron Technology Inc for setting up a semiconductor ATMP unit in India with a capital investment of Rs 22,516 crore (USD 2.75 Billion) has been approved. "Government has also approved modernisation of Semiconductor Laboratory, Mohali as a brownfield Fab," the minister said. In response to a separate question if steps taken by the government will lead to a decline in import of semiconductor, Chandrasekhar said that Micron Technology Inc's ATMP has been approved in the month of June 2023 and the company has projected construction period of 18 months. "Hence decline in imports may not be expected in near term," Chandrasekhar said.

Chinese mobile cos evade Rs 9,000 cr in tax in India, Rs 1,629 cr recovered

Chinese smartphone makers, including Oppo Mobile, Vivo India and Xiaomi Technology, have been found evading taxes worth Rs 9,000 crore in India, Parliament was informed on Friday. Data shared by the Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha showed tax evasion of around Rs 9,000 crore, comprising customs duty and GST, has been detected between 2018-19 and 2022-23. The government has recovered Rs 1,629.87 crore from the companies during the period. According to the data, Oppo Mobile India Pvt Ltd has been found evading Rs 5,086 crore in taxes which includes Rs 4,403 crore in customs duty and Rs 683 crore in the form of GST. Vivo has evaded taxes worth Rs 2,923.25 crore comprising Rs 2,875 crore in customs duty and Rs 48.25 crore in GST, according to the written reply by Chandrasekhar. Tax evasion of Rs 851.14 crore has been detected in the case of Xiaomi Technology India Pvt Ltd comprising Rs 682.51 crore in customs duty and Rs 168.63 crore in ...

Action taken against pharma cos following reports of deaths abroad: Centre

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation in coordination with state authorities initiated action against pharma companies following reports of deaths and injuries due to their substandard drugs in the Gambia and Uzbekistan, the government informed Lok Sabha on Friday. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has issued a notification on May 22 this year for amendment in the export policy of cough syrups, making it compulsory for manufacturers to get certificate of analysis from a government-approved laboratory before exporting their products with effect from June 1, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in a written reply. Responding to a question, Pawar said that subsequent to reports from Sri Lanka, Gambia and Uzbekistan, the CDSCO in coordination with state drug controllers carried out joint investigations at the manufacturing units of the cough syrups and drugs in question. After deaths of children were reported in the Gambia, the CDSCO in coordination wi

Centre-run hospitals asked to prescribe generic medicines only: Mandaviya

The government aims to open 10,000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) by March to improve the common man's access to generic medicines, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told the Lok Sabha on Friday. Till June 30, 9,512 PMBJKs have been opened across the country. The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 prescribes that every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters, he said in a written response to a question in the House. The Directorate General of Health Services has directed all Centre-run hospitals to prescribe generic medicines only. Similar instructions also have been issued to all CGHS doctors and wellness centres. Under the free drug initiative of the National Health Mission (NHM), support is provided for provision of essential generic drugs free of cost in public health facilities. In order to promote the PMBJP scheme, the Department of Pharmaceuti

Centre asks Twitter to take down Manipur video under Section 69A

Social media platforms have been asked to take down the video as it could further disrupt the law and order situation in the state

Over 463,000 recruited in govt jobs in 5 years: Centre tells Parliament

More than 4.63 lakh candidates have been recruited in government jobs in the five years till March this year, Parliament was informed on Thursday. "Total candidates recommended by UPSC, SSC and RRBs from 01.04.2018 to 31.03.2023 including SCs, STs and OBCs are 4,63,205. Apart from this, SSC and RRBs have recommended 1,03,196 candidates for appointment in the 1st quarter of 2023-24," Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. The government has issued the instructions to all ministries and departments for timely filling up of vacant posts, he said. "Rozgaar melas being organised by government of India are expected to act as catalyst in filling up of all vacant posts," Singh said. In another reply, the minister said that filling up of vacant posts in various ministries and departments is a continuous process. "Rozgar mela is expected to act as a catalyst in further employment and self-employment generation and provide gainful service

Centre says 37 passengers placed on 'No Fly List' this year till July 15

The civil aviation ministry on Thursday said 37 passengers have been placed in the 'No Fly List' this year till July 15, and the action was taken mainly for not wearing masks or for not obeying the instructions of crew members. In recent times, there has been an increase in the number of incidents involving unruly air passengers. Minister of State for Civil Aviation VK Singh told the Lok Sabha that a total of 63 passengers were placed in the 'No Fly List' during the year 2022 for varying periods as recommended by an airline's internal committee. "In 2023, 37 passengers have been placed in "No Fly List" upto 15.07.2023. The majority of the passengers placed in 'No Fly List' were for violation related to not wearing masks or not obeying the instructions of the crew members," he said in a written reply. To a query on whether the government plans to widen the ambit of the powers of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to tackle such incidents, the minister replied in the ..

Row over services: HC refuses to entertain plea against Centre's ordinance

The Delhi High Court Thursday refused to entertain a plea challenging the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, promulgated by the Central Government. A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula noted that the issue of challenging the constitutional validity of the ordinance is already pending before the Supreme Court and granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the apex court. "Will the Supreme Court and the high court hear the same matter? You approach the Supreme Court," the bench said. The high court allowed the petitioner to withdraw the petition. "It is noticed that the challenge to the constitutional validity in respect of such ordinance is pending before the Supreme Court and the matter is listed today. "The petitioner seeks withdrawal of the petition with a liberty to moved an appropriate application in the pending matter. The writ petition is disposed of as withdrawn with the liberty," the bench

31 bills to be introduced in Lok Sabha in the monsoon session of Parliament

The government is likely to discuss a total of 31 bills in the monsoon session of Parliament, including bills that have already been introduced in the lower house

Delhi govt's challenge to Centre's ordinance referred to constitution bench

The Supreme Court Thursday referred to a constitution bench for adjudication the Delhi government's petition against the Centre's recent ordinance taking away the control of services from the city dispensation. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra said the detailed order referring the case to a larger bench will be uploaded on the apex court website later in the day. We will refer it to the constitution bench, the bench said after hearing brief submissions advanced by senior advocates Harish Salve, Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and the Delhi government respectively. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared on behalf of the Centre. The top court had recently issued notices to the Centre and the lieutenant governor on the plea while refusing to grant an interim stay on the ordinance on control over services in Delhi. The Centre had on May 19 promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory

BJP 'Brijbhushan Janata Party', Centre be held accountable for Manipur: AAP

Terming the BJP as "Brijbhushan Janata Party'', the AAP on Thursday said the Centre should be held accountable for the alleged parading naked of two women in violence-hit Manipur. Addressing a press conference here, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar demanded strict action against the perpetrators and questioned the delay in identifying them. "Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the incident and said he was full of anger. Manipur has witnessed violence for nearly 77 days. Why did it take so long so to express this anger?" she asked. Tension mounted in the hills of Manipur after a May 4 video surfaced on Wednesday showing two women from one of the warring communities in the state being paraded naked by a mob from the other side. Kakkar said the BJP-led Centre should be held accountable for the incident "After the video surfaced, police issued a statement that an FIR has been registered and they are trying to identify the accused. In the video that

Centre to act against Twitter on video of Manipur women being paraded naked

In the horrific video, two women are seen being paraded naked and molested by a group of men, who then drags them to a field. The women were allegedly gang-raped later