Page 7 - Centre

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

Kerala seeks Rs 24,000 crore special financial package from Centre

Kerala has sought a Rs 24,000 crore special financial package from the Centre, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. He also said that Andhra Pradesh has sought Rs 15,000 crore for developing state capital Amravati and Rs 17,144.06 crore for various sectors, including Polavaram irrigation projects. In addition, he said Bihar has also requested for about Rs 785 crore for various projects. "A letter dated 27th June 2024 was received from the Finance Minister of Kerala in which the State Government of Kerala has requested for a special financial package of Rs 24,000 crore for the state," the minister said. In addition, a request for a special capital investment support of Rs 5,000 crore was also made for developing the Vizhinjam Port region in Kerala. Chaudhary further said request has also been received from Andhra Pradesh for financial support for various sectors, including Polavaram irrigation projects (Rs 17,144.06 crore

Govt considering potato imports from Bhutan amid rising prices, lower yield

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare's first advance estimate indicates that potato production is projected to be around 58.99 million tonnes this year

White category industries may skip pollution permits: Environment Ministry

The ministry has suggested eliminating 'consent to establish' (CTE) and 'consent to operate' (CTO) for industries classified under the non-polluting 'white category'

Centre denying special status for Bihar evokes cryptic response from Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday came out with a cryptic response to the Centre's refusal to grant special category status to the state. Kumar, whose JD (U) is a key ally of the ruling NDA at the Centre, was asked about the Union government's statement in Parliament the day before. "You will get to know all things slowly, and slowly (sab kuchh dhire dhire jaan jaaiyega)," the longest-serving CM of the state said, in reply to a volley of questions he faced from journalists at the Bihar Assembly. Flashing his trademark smile of ambiguity, the veteran leader rushed inside the House, waving at the posse of journalists that stood trying to read his impregnable mind. Notably, after the Lok Sabha polls in which the BJP fell short of majority, becoming heavily dependent on allies, the JD (U) had held a national executive meeting where a resolution was passed raising a fresh demand for special status. Leaders of the JD (U), which has two ministers in the Union government, insis

Budget 2024: FM's speech sparks praise for employment scheme, angel tax cut

Budget 2024: Industry experts react to Finance Minister's announcement of three employment-linked incentive schemes, abolition of angel tax, among others

Going to be a milestone Budget of Amrit Kaal, says PM Narendra Modi

Modi hits out at Opposition over protests during the special session

Centre denies Bihar's 'special category' status; no new designation allowed

The Centre said that no new states are being awarded 'special category' status at present, as the Indian Constitution does not accommodate such classification

Govt buys onions at 74% higher prices in Maharashtra ahead of state polls

In 2023, the average rate at which the Centre procured onions from Maharashtra was Rs 16.93 per kg. This year, it is procuring at around Rs 29.5 per kg via direct benefit transfer

NEET-UG 2024 row: Evidence shows that question paper was leaked, says SC

The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said that it is assessing the character of the leak, rather than confirming its occurrence

Centre initiates action against Kolkata CP, DCP for 'maligning' Raj Bhavan

The Union Home Ministry has initiated disciplinary action against Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and a DCP for allegedly maligning the office of the West Bengal Governor by promoting and spreading canards, a central government official said. The Union ministry action came after West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose submitted a report to it regarding Goyal and Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner (DCP) Central Indira Mukherjee, alleging that they were "functioning in a manner which is completely unbecoming of a public servant", he said. Bose, in his report, submitted to the Home Minister in the last week of June, has highlighted the issues of Kolkata Police officers not allowing the victims of post-poll violence to meet him despite him giving them the requisite permission, he said. "The Union Home Ministry has initiated disciplinary action against IPS officers based on a detailed report submitted by Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose," the official told PTI. The copies of the lett

NEET-PG 2024 exam: Question papers to be prepared two hours before exam

Originally scheduled for June 23, the NEET-PG exam was postponed just hours before its commencement due to allegations of irregularities in the undergraduate exam

'Cut, copy, paste job': Opposition attacks Centre over new criminal laws

The three new criminal laws, passed in Parliament last December, have faced intense criticism from Opposition leaders

Govt aims to make Northeast gateway of 'Act East Policy': President Murmu

The government is working to make the northeast a strategic gateway under its 'Act East Policy' and has increased the allocation for the region's development by more than four times over the last 10 years, President Droupadi Murmu said on Thursday. Addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament after the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha, Murmu said that for the first time, work on inland waterways has started in the northeast on a large scale and it will benefit the region immensely. "My government has increased the allocation for the development of the northeast region by more than four times over the last 10 years. The government is working to make this region a strategic gateway under its Act East Policy," she said. India's 'Act East Policy' focuses on the extended neighbourhood in the Indo-Pacific region with ASEAN as its core. The objective of the 'Act East Policy' is to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationships with countries i