Page 5 - Centre

'Environment laws toothless': SC raps Centre over rising Delhi pollution

Delhi's air quality index (AQI) stood at 354 on Wednesday, marking an increase from the previous 24-hour average of 327, which falls under the 'very poor' category

Centre launches system to block international spoofed calls, curb fraud

The Indian government has launched a new system to block international calls disguised as local numbers, aiming to protect citizens from financial scams and cybercrime

Steel ministry favours temporary tax to check imports, says report

India, world's 2nd biggest crude steel producer, became a net importer of the alloy in the fiscal year to Mar 31, 2024, and the trend has continued since then, with imports from China rising steadily

CJI Chandrachud names Justice Sanjiv Khanna as successor; approval pending

Upon government approval, Justice Khanna will become the 51st Chief Justice of India, with six-month tenure until his retirement on May 13, 2025

Govt set to tighten quality norms amid rising substandard steel imports

The Centre is preparing to expand its steel quality control norms following a review that revealed an increase in substandard imports, primarily from China, threatening local industry

Ahead of polls, Maharashtra eyes Rs 15 lakh OBC 'non-creamy layer' limit

The Maharashtra cabinet aims to raise the OBC 'non-creamy layer' income limit from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh, expanding reservation access before Assembly elections

Tomato price skyrockets: Govt steps in with Rs 65/kg relief in Delhi-NCR

Amid soaring tomato prices surging beyond Rs 90 per kg in Delhi, the Centre has launched tomato sale at Rs 65 per kg at 50 locations to stabilise the market, with plans for expansion to other cities

Govt to limit Chinese CCTV use, boost local suppliers post-Lebanon crisis

The government's updated policy on surveillance cameras, expected to be implemented on October 8, will likely push Chinese companies out of the market, giving Indian firms an advantage

Reliance Industries secures Centre's approval for transfer of channels

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the Rs 70,350-crore merger between Reliance Industries and Disney's Indian media assets on August 28, 2024

Centre reduces export duty on parboiled rice to 10% from 20%: Govt order

India had imposed a 20% duty on parboiled rice exports in 2023 after its crop was affected by below-normal rainfall

Kejriwal set to vacate CM bungalow; AAP requests govt accommodation for him

AAP MP Raghav Chadha said that as the leader of a national party, he is entitled to government-provided accommodation and the Centre should grant him that

Centre considers early rollout of social security for gig economy workers

The Ministry of Labour and Employment is urging digital gig economy aggregators to prepare for extending social security benefits to temporary and freelance workers

Centre should protect territorial integrity of Manipur: CM to guv

Amid a fresh bout of violence in Manipur, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday appealed to the Centre to take steps to protect territorial integrity of the state, according to an official. Singh also urged the central government not to give in to the demand for a separate administration raised by Kuki Zo groups, said the official on condition of anonymity. The chief minister made these appeals in a memorandum submitted to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya when he, along with a number of MLAs and the assembly Speaker, called on him at Raj Bhavan and held a meeting. In the memorandum to Acharya, Singh said the Centre should ensure peace in Manipur and give adequate power to the elected state government, according to the official. Singh also called for revoking the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. The SoO pact was signed by the Centre, the Manipur government and two conglomerates of Kuki militant outfits Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF). The

Centre asks states, UTs to report on security of doctors before Sep10

It comes after Supreme Court had directed on Aug 22 to hold meeting with secretaries and directors general of police so as to ensure that states, UTs put into place certain basic minimum requirements

Centre okays Rs 14,000-crore for 7 new schemes to boost farmer income

Seven new schemes aim to leverage technology, crop science in agri sector

Doc safety meet: Centre asks states to hold night patrols, control access

This comes a day after the ten-member National Task Force (NTF), appointed by the Supreme Court, met for the first time to formulate a protocol for the safety and security of healthcare professionals

Chirag Paswan hails Centre for seeking cancellation of lateral entry

Union minister Chirag Paswan on Tuesday asserted that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre has reaffirmed its "commitment towards SCs, STs and OBCs" by asking the UPSC to withdraw the advertisement for "lateral entry" into the bureaucracy. Addressing a press conference here, Paswan also slammed the Congress-led opposition for "selective criticism" of the ruling NDA and accused the previous governments of failure to fill up posts reserved for the deprived castes. "I thank my Prime Minister for seeking cancellation of lateral entry, on behalf of my Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). This government has set a precedent. Hopefully, regimes of future will show a similar sensitivity to public sentiments", Paswan said. Asked about the criticism being faced by the government over the issue, he said "When the opposition points a finger at us, it needs to remember three fingers get pointed at itself. Why did these parties, while in power, ensure recruitments against posts reserved for SCs

Mpox alert: Govt tells airports to stay vigilant, assigns 3 nodal hospitals

Current assessment shows the risk of a large outbreak of the disease, with sustained transmission remains low in India, which has no detected cases of mpox so far

I&B ministry extends feedback deadline for Broadcasting Bill to October 15

The draft of Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024 was circulated for feedback as part of an ongoing consultation process that started in November 2023 with the upload of the initial draft

Bangladesh crisis: In talks with Dhaka amid attacks on Hindus, says govt

In reply to questions by political leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Jaishankar did not rule out the role of foreign countries in the unrest in Bangladesh