Page 42 - Centre

Excise policy case: BRS minister slams BJP; says Centre targeting KCR govt

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Minister Jagdeeshwar Reddy on Wednesday slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party govt for targeting party MLC K Kavitha after she was summoned by ED on March 11 in Delhi liquor policy case.Speaking to the media, Reddy said that the BJP Government under Prime Minister Modi is targeting Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao-led government in Telangana and Kejriwal-led AAP government in Delhi."BJP has been violating the Constitution & misusing the constitutional agencies and trying to suppress the opposition parties," said Jagdeeshwar Reddy, BRS Minister."In Kavitha's issue, I have been maintaining that this case is nothing but political vendetta and the case was registered after a BJP MP made allegations," he said.BRS Minister claimed that they (BJP) are attempting to suppress the AAP govt, and more than that, they're trying to damage CM KCR's morale because he's exposing BJP and PM Modi."That's why all this is being done by BJP Govt. These cases can ...

Centre brings crypto assets under PMLA, wrongdoing can be probed by ED

India, as G20 president, is looking to drive the narrative on dangers of cryptos

Centre wants to make women members of SHGs lakhpati: Giriraj Singh

Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday said the government has resolved to make members of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) lakhpatis. He was speaking after inaugurating a one-day workshop of women and an exhibition at Shahapur in Thane district. More than 25,000 women attended the function. "There are 86,000 SHGs in India which include 9 crore women. In the last eight years, the government has disbursed Rs 6.26 lakh crore to these women. It is the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make each and every member of SHGs a lakhpati. We are working in that direction. 'Lakhpati Didi' programme is being implemented in the country," he said. Singh said the income of women members of SHGs in Thane district will go up and the GDP of the district will improve.

JEE: Delhi HC seeks govt's response on plea seeking relaxation for students

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Centre and other respondents and sought a response to a plea seeking relaxation for the students appearing for the JEE Advance 2023.

Centre likely to identify five coastal shipping projects for PPP in FY24

The aim is to connect vital, high-demand economic areas which have an infrastructure deficit or traditional transport like roadways and railways that have reached saturation

Cess, surcharge collections increase by 133% between FY'18 and FY'23

There has been a rise of 133 per cent in collection of major cess and surcharges levied by the Centre during the five year period between 2017-18 and 2022-23, as it went up to Rs 5,10,549 crore

Centre to create ethanol carryover stock for next year as demand may go up

The government is planning to create a carry over stock of ethanol for the next year anticipating a rise in demand for E20 fuel in the country, according to a senior food ministry official. E20 fuel is a blend of 20 per cent ethanol with petrol. The government aims to achieve the 20 per cent ethanol blending target by 2025. "Ethanol blending is going well. Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have started dispensing E20 fuel in about 100 outlets in 31 cities in the country. We have started E20 fuel, if it goes well then the requirement will be more," Additional Secretary in the food ministry Subodh Kumar said. Like sugar, the government "plans to create a carryover stock of ethanol" with OMCs and distilleries for 2023-24 ethanol year (December-November) and more sugar would be diverted for the same, he said. The government has kept the 12 per cent ethanol blending target in the ongoing 2022-23 ethanol year, while 15 per cent for the next year. "About 120 crore litres has been blended wi

Delhi Waqf Board assails before HC de-listing of 123 properties by Centre

The Delhi Waqf Board on Tuesday assailed in the Delhi High Court the de-listing of its 123 properties by the Centre. The board contended all these properties are either dargahs, mosques or graveyards, which have always remained in its possession and cannot be taken away now on the basis of a report of a two-member committee. As the court listed the matter for further hearing next week, senior counsel Rahul Mehra, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner, urged for directions for maintenance of status quo on possession of the properties. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri said an interim order cannot be passed without hearing the Centre, adding even as per the order under challenge, only physical inspection of the properties is directed. The central government counsel said, As on date, only inspection may happen, if at all. I have to hear them also. Nothing is going to happen, said the judge. The Land and Development Office (L&DO) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) recentl

Govt explains guidelines for paid endorsements by social media influencers

Disclosure must be placed in endorsement message in a manner that is clear, prominent, and hard to miss

Twitter did not appear before Review Committee over takedown orders: Centre

The Central government on Monday submitted its arguments against the petition challenging the blocking orders filed by Twitter in the Karnataka High Court. Additional Solicitor General R Sankaranarayanan placed the arguments before the single judge bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit. On behalf of Twitter, senior advocates Arvind Datar and Ashok Haranahalli had presented the arguments in December 2022. The arguments for the Central government was delayed due to time sought by the Centre's counsels. The ASG informed the court on Monday that Twitter had not appeared before the Review Committee to challenge the blocking orders but instead approached the High Court. The Central government submitted details of the responsibilities of intermediaries like Twitter and the difference between the laws regarding intermediaries in India and the United Kingdom. The court was also given details of the account holders whose Twitter handles were blocked for objectionable content. The format of the

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Centre authorises states to conduct Aadhaar authentication of prisoners

The Centre has authorised state governments to carry out Aadhaar authentication of prison inmates on a voluntary basis so that they will be able to get health care, skilling, vocational training, interview with relatives and legal aid, among other services. In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said the decision has been taken after it was authorised under Rule 5 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020, for the targeted delivery of financial and other subsidies, benefits and services. The Aadhaar authentication will be carried out on the prison inmates on a voluntary basis using Yes/No authentication facility for delivery of various benefits or facilities to which they are entitled, such as correctional reform measures, health, skilling, vocational training, interview with relatives, legal aid, etc, the notification said. The prison authorities of the states and Union Territory administrations shall adhere to the ...

Extra 1 mn tonnes sugar exports possible if output meets estimate: Govt

India, the world's second largest sugar producing nation after Brazil, has a cushion to export an additional 1 million tonnes of the sweetener if the domestic output reaches an estimated 33.6 million tonnes this year, a senior food ministry official said on Monday. The government will take a call next month on allowing more quantities of sugar exports, after assessing domestic production, he said. Sugar availability is comfortable in the country and as a result wholesale and retail prices of the sweetener are on a decline in the last one month. The food ministry has allowed 6 million tonnes of sugar exports for the current 2022-23 marketing year (October-September). India exported a record 11 million tonnes of sugar in the previous year. "More exports are possible and we have a cushion for exports of additional one million tonnes, suppose the overall production reaches the estimated 33.6 million tonnes this year," the official said. Sugar production has already reached 24.7 milli

Violence against women a hidden issue in country: Rahul at London event

Rahul Gandhi, during an interaction with the Indian diaspora in London, said that he found during the Bharat Jodo Yatra that the main issues in the country are price rise and violence against women

Govt nod to nano liquid DAP important to make farmers' life easy: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the government's approval to nano liquid DAP fertiliser, saying it was an important step towards making life easier for farmers. Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday said the government has approved the launch of nano liquid DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertiliser for the benefits of farmers and making the country self-reliant. Tagging Mandaviya's tweet on the approval by the government, Modi said in a tweet in Hindi, "An important step towards making life easier for our farmer brothers and sisters." In another tweet, responding to the tweet threads by Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Tourism, Shripad Y Naik, Modi expressed happiness on the construction of National Waterways-68 that has reduced the distance between Panjim to Vasco in Goa by 9 km and the journey can now be completed in just 20 minutes. Modi said that the connectivity between Panjim to Vasco in Goa will provide

Centre saved $27 bn in schemes using DBT method: Economic Affairs secy

India saved over USD 27 billion in key central government schemes through direct benefit transfer as it is swift and eliminates corruption, Ajay Seth, Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs said here on Sunday. Delivering his keynote address at the second meeting of the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion, Seth said Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), created by India is inherently scalable, interoperable, innovation-friendly, and inclusive and has completely transformed government to people, people to people and people to business interactions. And since the transfers are all direct, end to end, and swift, there is little scope for corruption and leakages and removal of duplicate/ fake beneficiaries. In our own experience, DBT has entailed a saving of more than USD 27 billion just across key central government schemes, the official said. In India, DPI enabled DBT emerged as a boon in providing succour and relief to millions of citizens whose livelihood was impacted. T

Centre should increase Delhi's share of water, says Saurabh Bhardwaj

AAP's national spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj, who will soon be joining the Delhi cabinet as a minister, said that the city's population has risen manifold since 1994 but its water share has remained unchanged and asked the Centre to increase it. Bhardwaj said the priorities of the AAP government are infrastructure and providing clean water to the residents in Delhi, apart from education and health. "We are trying to beautify stretches of Delhi with street furniture and creation of walking and sitting spaces. At 10 places, one-kilometre-long stretches have been redeveloped. Now the plan is to extend it to the rest of Delhi," he told PTI in an interview. Bhardwaj, who is also the vice-chairman of the Delhi Jal Board, said they have promised that before the next election, Yamuna will be cleaned. "The sewage that goes into Yamuna we will trap it and through different sewage treatment plants and release clean water into the river. Human waste flows into drains from all unauthorised ...

Centre to daily monitor revenue receipts, expenses to check fiscal deficit

From March 1 onwards, the finance ministry has begun monitoring of revenue receipts like tax collections and even expenses, to control fiscal deficit in the current fiscal

'Chhattisgarh govt to carry out survey of beneficiaries for housing scheme'

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday said if the Union government did not conduct a survey of eligible beneficiaries for a housing scheme, the state government will carry it out itself. Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the Governor's address in the Legislative Assembly, Baghel said his government was committed to provide pucca houses to all eligible beneficiaries. The motion of thanks was passed after discussion. The last Census took place in 2011 and it was necessary to collect information about the changes in the lives of common citizens so that eligible beneficiaries could get the benefit of welfare schemes, the chief minister said. The Union government should ascertain the details of constructed pucca houses, toilets built under the Swachh Bharat mission, benefits under the Ujjwala gas Scheme, 'doubling' of farmers' income, household electrification and the status of employment of beneficiaries of skill development programs in the last 12 ..

Centre to focus on holistic development of Kerala, says Mandaviya

The Union govt has given special focus on holistic development of Kerala, based on the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishvaas, Sabka Prayaas, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya