Page 4 - Centre

New setting, old demands: Centre, farmers to revive stalled discussions

With MSP talks set to resume this week, the Centre prepares to pitch assured pulses procurement - aligning with Budget policies - to protesting farmers

Govt depts engage contractual services as per their requirement: Centre

The Central government ministries or departments engage contractual services as per their requirement after completing all necessary procedural formalities, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. The government's response came on a question "whether any rule has been framed or guidelines issued by DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) for appointments in central government's ministries/departments, institutions and PSUs etc. on contractual basis". "The government posts are filled up in accordance with the recruitment rules. However, keeping in view the administrative exigency of work, efficiency and economy of operations and unavoidable circumstances, contractual appointments and outsourcing for services is also sometimes resorted to," Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply. The ministries/departments as per their requirement engage contractual services after completing all necessary procedural formalities, he said. In a separate reply

Nirmala Sitharaman set to script history today with 8th straight Budget

Nirmala Sitharaman became India's first full-time woman Finance Minister in 2019 after PM Modi's re-election. Since then, she has presented seven Union Budgets, including the 2024 interim one

Economic Survey: PPPs in infra projects need 'wholehearted acceptance'

EcoSurvey says PPP contract management and execution capacities need substantial improvement

Centre launches occupational shortage index to boost job opportunities

Additionally, the ministry launched the multilingual e-Shram microsite facility to ensure that unorganised workers have seamless access to both state and central government welfare programmes

Cabinet approves hike in ethanol procurement prices for state-run OMCs

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a rise in ethanol procurement price for Public Sector OMCs, setting it at Rs. 57.97 per liter for the 2024-25 EBP Program

Union Budget 2025-26: Ships likely to be granted infrastructure status

Inclusion in the harmonised master list of infrastructure sectors will allow developers in the sector access to infrastructure lending at easier terms

Chhattisgarh to open doors to 300,000 houses under PMAY-Gramin scheme

More than 847,000 houses have already been sanctioned under the scheme, said state government officials

Centre looking to expand network of stroke units, says health secy

The medtech industry is also looking for an opening in stroke care, with experts suggesting collaborations such as public-private partnerships (PPP)

Centre is not releasing sufficient funds to Tamil Nadu: State FM Thennarasu

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Sunday criticised the Centre for not releasing sufficient funds to the state despite the government's prudent management of its finances. He also claimed that the state's borrowings are within the limits prescribed by the Finance Commission. Minister for Finance and Environment & Climate Change said the comments made by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami that the state finances are in the doldrums were wrong, and added that the opposition party leader should not make such comments in a public forum. "The 15th Finance Commission in 2021-22 prescribed the borrowing limit to 28 per cent but our borrowings were at 27.01 per cent and again in 2022-23, the Finance Commission prescribed 29.3 per cent but our borrowings were at 26.87 per cent, below the limit prescribed by the Commission," Thennarasu told reporters here. "Similarly for the year 2024-25, that is last year, the Finance Commission fixed the borrowings limit to ...

Centre amends norms to boost capex loans to states amid spending decline

The government aims to bridge the FY25 capex gap, with Rs 11.1 trillion budgeted but only Rs 5.13 trillion spent by November, marking a 12.3 per cent year-on-year decline

Govt to table motion for JPC on 'One Nation, One Election' in LS today

The motion in the Lok Sabha aims to form a Joint Parliamentary Committee for reviewing Bills related to 'One Nation, One Election' today. The panel will comprise 21 MPs from the Lower House

'One Nation One Election' Bill tabled; Congress calls it unconstitutional

The govt tabled the 'One Nation One Election' Bill today; Congress and SP called it unconstitutional and sought its immediate withdrawal

Centre releases 1st instalment of Rs 1,050 cr for Maha Kumbh: CM Adityanath

The Centre on Tuesday released the first instalment of Rs 1,050 crore of its Rs 2,100 crore grant for the upcoming Maha Kumbh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said and extended gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Adityanath said that under the successful guidance of Prime Minister Modi, the "double-engine" government is determined to make the world's largest cultural and spiritual gathering 'Prayagraj Mahakumbh-2025' divine and grand. "In this series, a special grant assistance of Rs 2,100 crore was approved by the Central government, out of which the first instalment of Rs 1,050 crore has been released today. This support from the Central government will help in realizing a clean, safe and well-organized Mahakumbh for the devotees," he said in a post on X. "Heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister for this gift which is helpful in realizing the concept of divine-grand-digital Mahakumbh," he added. Organised after a gap of every 12 years, the Maha Kumbh will be

Centre declares snakebites 'notifiable disease', mandates to report cases

The Centre has urged all states to make snakebite cases and deaths a "notifiable disease" under relevant provisions of the State Public Health Act or other applicable legislation making it mandatory for all government and private health facilities (including medical colleges) to report all suspected, probable snakebite cases and deaths. Snakebites are an issue of public health concern and in certain cases, they cause mortality, morbidity and disability, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said in a letter. The farmers, tribal population etc. are at higher risk. In order to address the issue of snakebite, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has launched the "National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE) from India by 2030" in consultation with relevant ministries and stakeholders, Srivastava mentioned. The objective of the action plan is to halve the snakebite related deaths by the year 2030, she underlined. The p

Govt approves 'One Nation One Subscription': All you need to know about it

Union Cabinet approves 'One Nation One Subscription' scheme, granting government higher education institutions access to 13,000 global journals with Rs 6,000 crore funding

Centre issues guidelines for disability reservation to ensure fairness

The Centre has issued comprehensive guidelines to streamline reservation and identification of posts for persons with at least 40 per cent disabilities, mandating periodic identification of such posts and formation of committees to assess them. The guidelines also state that if a post is deemed suitable for them, all subsequent promotional posts will also be reserved for persons with disabilities. The guidelines are in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. The move comes after the Delhi High Court flagged inconsistencies in implementation of the the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 and criticised entities like the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) for unauthorised actions in identifying posts. The high court earlier this month observed that KVS had overstepped its authority by independently identifying posts for PwBDs and highlighted inconsistencies in the understanding of the Act among various departments. The court mandated the

Centre launches PAIR programme to enhance research in higher education

Each PAIR network will consist of one hub and up to seven spoke institutions

Central govt approves fire services projects worth Rs 725 cr for 3 states

A high-level committee, headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Monday approved three projects worth Rs 725.62 crore for the expansion and modernisation of fire services in Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal. The committee has approved Rs 376.76 crore for West Bengal, Rs 201.10 crore for Odisha and Rs 147.76 crore for Chhattisgarh under the 'Expansion and Modernisation of Fire Services' in the states, an official release said. The high-level committee comprised of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Vice Chairman NITI Aayog Suman K Bery as members. To fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a disaster-resilient India, the Ministry of Home Affairs under the guidance of Home Minister Shah has taken several initiatives to ensure effective management of disasters in the country, the release said. A number of steps have been taken to prevent any extensive loss to life and property during disasters by strengthening the disaste

Govt extends tenure of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri till July 14, 2026

The Centre on Monday extended the tenure of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri till July 14, 2026, according to a Personnel Ministry order. Misri, a 1989 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, assumed charge as India's Foreign Secretary on July 15. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved extension of Misri as Foreign Secretary beyond the date of his superannuation on November 30 for a tenure up to July 14, 2026 or until further orders, whichever is earlier, in terms of provisions of FR 56 (d), the order said. The provisions allow extension in the service of a foreign secretary beyond the date of superannuation in public interest, officials said.