Page 48 - Centre

Judges should be committed to nation, not the govt: Law Minister Rijiju

The Law Minister also emphasised that people will not vote on the work of judges but their work is open for scrutiny in public opinion

Govt gives nod to procure Pralay ballistic missiles for armed forces

The Defence Ministry has given the nod to procure 120 Pralay ballistic missiles for the armed forces that are likely to be deployed along India's border areas along Pakistan and China

Parl panel concerned over poor fund usage for smart meters manufacturing

A Parliamentary panel has expressed disappointment over poor utilisation of budgetary allocation of the Centre's National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM)

Centre should apologise for 'misleading' people on Ram Setu: Bhupesh Baghel

The Union government should apologise for "misleading" the country on the Ram Setu issue, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Saturday, adding that when the Congress-led UPA government stated the same thing in the past, it was dubbed as "anti-Ram". He was speaking to reporters at a helipad here. Responding to a question about Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh's statement in Parliament on Ram Setu, Baghel said, When the Congress government (at the Centre) said the same thing, we were branded as anti-Ram. "The government of these so-called devotees of Lord Ram stated in Parliament that there is no solid evidence of it (Ram Setu), so now in which category they should be put? They should apologise for misleading people." The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) too did not comment on the government's stand, and had they been real devotees of Ram, they would have criticized the government, the Congress leader added. Replying to the question whether the .

Hold mock drills at health facilities: Govt to states as Covid cases rise

To ensure the readiness of the COVID-19 health facilities to meet the increase in clinical care needs due to any spurt in cases, the Union health ministry has asked the states and Union territories to hold mock drills at all health facilities on Tuesday. In view of a surge in the Covid trajectory in many countries, it is necessary that the requisite public health measures are put in place in all the states to meet any exigencies, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to the states on Saturday. The preparedness of the Covid health facilities is crucial to ensure that all the districts are in a state of readiness to meet the increase in clinical care needs due to any spurt in cases, Bhushan said. "It has therefore been decided to hold mock drill at all health facilities (including identified COVID dedicated health facilities) across the country on Tuesday, 27th December," he said in the letter. "The objective of this exercise is to ensure operational readiness of the

SC issues notice to Centre on plea seeking caste-based census for OBCs

The Supreme Court has sought response from the Centre and others on a plea seeking directions for a caste-based census for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the upcoming Census. A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha issued notices to the Centre, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and others while seeking their replies. It also tagged the matter with a similar case pending before it. The top court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Krishan Kanhaya Pal who said that the governments are unable to share the benefits of the welfare schemes with all sections among backward classes due to a lack of caste-based survey and a caste-based census of the OBCs is of 'vital necessity'. The petition had contended that concrete policies cannot be formulated in the absence of concrete data. Pal had stated that despite the announcement made by the then Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in 2018, there would be a census of the OBC population during the 2021 Censu

Union Cabinet revises OROP for defence personnel, family pensioners

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved revision of the 'One Rank One Pension' scheme for defence personnel and family pensioners, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said. It will lead to enhanced pension according to the OROP proposal, he said. The benefit would also be extended to family pensioners, including war widows and disabled pensioners, the government's official spokesperson tweeted after Thakur announced the Cabinet decision at a press conference.

Centre to convert DAE technologies for societal use launched at BARC

Atal Incubation Centre was launched at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai on Thursday with the signing of agreements to help convert technologies into viable commercial products. To mark the occasion, the Atal Incubation Centre Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (AIC-BARC) signed agreements with MSME industries for the incubation of prominent Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) technologies for societal and industrial applications. The technologies for which incubation agreements have been entered on this occasion are aligned with India's global commitments of achieving Net Zero, providing access to safe drinking water, and spurring the growth of potential import substitutes for advanced and affordable healthcare in the country, Rajesh Vatsa, Head, Public Awareness Division of the DAE said in a statement. These include the technologies for Alkaline Water Electrolyser for Green Hydrogen production; DC Accelerator for Wastewater Treatment; novel Gamma Monitoring; and X-Band ...

Centre okays GSI's bid to purchase 2 coastal vessels worth Rs 245.07 cr

The Centre on Thursday said it has given its go-ahead to a proposal by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to purchase two coastal vessels costing Rs 245.07 crore. The induction of these vessels will increase the exploration activities of GSI in the marine sphere which has huge resources of heavy minerals within the territorial waters of the east and west coast of the country, it added. "The Ministry of Mines has approved the proposal of the Geological Survey of India to procure two coastal vessels as a replacement to the existing vessels here today. The project is at an estimated cost of Rs 245.07 crore," according to an official statement. The proposed vessels are planned to go further beyond the territorial waters for collecting baseline data as well as identifying mineral potential areas.

Centre to install 22 new mobile towers in bordering areas of Arunachal

The Central government has decided to install 22 new mobile towers in the bordering areas of Arunachal Pradesh to improve the mobile connectivity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) here

Govt committed to macroeconomic fundamentals, financial stability: FinMin

The government remains committed towards strong macroeconomic fundamentals and financial stability despite global headwinds, a finance ministry report has said. The current global economy is navigating through incredibly rough waters attributed to global uncertainties, the unfolding of conflict in Ukraine, the reaction of financial and commodity markets to the changing scenarios and tight monetary policy, etc. "However, despite hurdles, the Indian economy has performed reasonably well as compared to other major economies and shown its resilience amidst the global slowdown and global uncertainties," as per the statement on Half Yearly Review of the Trends in Receipts and Expenditure in relation to the Budget at the end of the first half of FY'23. The budget 2022-23 was presented against the backdrop of recovery from the unprecedented Covid-19 crisis and clues of global uncertainties on account of the war in Ukraine, it said. The fiscal policy led by favourable macroeconomic ...

Govt likely to sell 11% stake in IRFC by FY24 as part of disinvestment plan

Senior officials say govt plans to bring own shareholding down to 75%;

Import of 2 pets allowed as passenger baggage without DGFT authorisation

The government has allowed persons transferring their residence to India after two years of continuous stay abroad to bring up to two pets -- dogs or cats -- as passenger baggage without permission from the directorate general of foreign trade. This is part of the clarification issued by the commerce ministry for import of pet animals. "Import is allowed as passenger baggage, without DGFT authorisation, only to persons transferring their residence to India after two years of continuous stay abroad. Only cats and dogs can be imported under baggage rules," the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said in a trade notice to all international airlines, all embassies and consulates of India abroad; and concerned pet owners. The notice was issued by the government following representations received for clarity on norms for import of pets. It also said that permission would be required for import of more than two pets. A person who has not stayed continuously for more than two year

India's coal production to touch 1 billion tonnes next fiscal: Centre

India's coal production will touch one billion tonnes in the next financial year from 900 million tonnes this fiscal ending March, as the country gears up to stop the import of thermal coal by 2024-25, Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi informed Parliament on Monday. Replying to queries in the Rajya Sabha during the Question Hour, the Coal Minister said India's domestic coal requirement will reach 1,500 million tonnes by 2030, for which the nation needs to scale up its production. "As far as production is concerned, in FY14 it was 566 million tonnes. This year our total production will be 900 million tonnes, this means all our PSUs are producing to the optimum level," Joshi said in the Rajya Sabha. Without naming any political party, the minister said the previous regime was riddled with scams whereas the current dispensation led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ensuring energy security for India. "...Our requirement by 2030 will be 1,500 million tonnes, and for that, we have to

HFCs to move regulator, govt to address rate hike and other industry issues

Also plan to take up issues such as impact of IRAC norms, status of Automatic Data Flow requirement, among others

Centre's globalisation, liberalisation policies pro-corporates: Kerala CM

The BJP-ruled Centre's policies of globalisation and liberalisation have created a situation wherein farmers of the country have no hope or social security while big corporates are protected and encouraged at the expense of the general public, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Friday. Speaking at the All-India Kisan Sabha's national conference here, Vijayan lashed out at the Centre for its alleged anti-farmer and anti-people policies and claimed that the BJP was trying to divide the country along social, economic and communal lines. He alleged that while ignoring the plight of the farmers, the Central government was busy protecting big corporates by writing off their debts and providing them with loans at low interest rates. Besides that, the Centre was more interested in privatising public sector undertakings (PSUs) to fill its coffers rather than try to run them effectively, he claimed. "However, Kerala has adopted a stand contrary to that of the Centre and this

Increase personal I-T exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh in Budget: Assocham

Industry body Assocham on Thursday made a strong case for doubling the income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh in the forthcoming Budget so that the economy gets a consumption boost. Currently, the maximum amount of income which is not chargeable to income tax is Rs 2.5 lakh. In case of persons in the age bracket of 60-80 years, it is Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for senior citizens who are above the age of 80. During a media interaction, Assocham President Sumant Sinha opined that companies in sectors like steel and cement are now beginning to make plans to increase capacities. Talking about the downside risks, he shared that globally, the world might go into recession and that will impact the external sector, and therefore may affect India's gross domestic product (GDP). In its pre-Budget recommendations, the chamber said the government should increase the exemption limit for income tax to at least Rs 5 lakh so that more disposable income is left in the hands of consumers and the econ

Govt to support farmers to produce more pulses, streamline imports

The government on Thursday said it will take steps to support farmers for increasing pulses production and also streamline imports as part of its objective to make available the products at affordable rates. The Department of Consumer Affairs will take all necessary steps required to support Indian farmers to produce more pulses, according to an official statement. Importers will also be supported for seamless imports of pulses so that the pulses are available to the consumers at affordable prices, throughout 2023, said Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary Department of Consumer Affairs during a meeting with pulses associations. Further, Singh reiterated the importance of both domestic production and the imports of pulses especially Tur, Urad and Masoor. "Global availability in the coming year is expected to be better with increase in production expected from Myanmar, where arrivals have started and pulses sowing intentions in African countries indicating increase in area coverage under ..

Delhi High Court reserves order on batch of pleas regarding Agnipath scheme

The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its order on three batches of pleas challenging Centre's Agnipath scheme

Wheat stocks to fall further by 13% but will be sufficient, says Centre

Wheat stocks in India's government warehouses will fall by about 13% by early next month from current levels but will be sufficient for welfare schemes of the country