Page 9 - Centre

Congress slams govt over 'surge' in rejection rates of EPF final settlement

The Congress on Friday slammed the government over the reported surge in rejection rates of Employees Provident Fund final settlement and claimed the defining feature of the "anyay kaal" of last 10 years has been that no community could to get their full due. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X which claimed the rejection rates of EPF final settlement have been surging, up from around 13 per cent in 2017-18 to nearly 34 per cent in 2022-23. "The defining feature of the 'Anyay-kaal' of the last 10 years has been that no community is able to get its full due: Women are left out of the job market, the youth are unable to seek employment and the farmers are unable to get adequate prices," he alleged. "Even the 'shramik', the worker who earns his living through wages, is unable to access his/her own earnings. The EPFO, the government-run organization that administers the Provident Fund for India's workers, has seen a sharp rise in

Centre launches 2nd round of critical mineral auction worth Rs 30 trillion

The inaugural round for the auction of critical minerals in the country commenced on November 29. The minister disclosed that over 180 potential bidders have procured the tender documents

Centre releases third instalment of Rs 1.42 trillion to states in February

The Centre generally releases 14 instalments to the states in a year, one each in 11 months and three in March. The latest release is yet another additional devolution

SC sets deadline for Centre to fix standardised hospital charges nationwide

The plea sought for the Centre to determine the fee chargeable to patients based on Rule 9 of the Clinical Establishment Rules 2012

Coal sector contributes Rs 70,000 cr every yr to Centre, states: Govt

The coal sector contributes over Rs 70,000 crore every year to the Centre and states, through GST, royalties and other levies, the government said on Monday. These funds play a significant role in the socio-economic development and infrastructure enhancement in those coal-bearing areas, the coal ministry said in a statement. "The coal sector contributes over Rs 70,000 crore annually to the Centre and state governments through royalties, GST, and other levies," the statement said. "Coal production generates substantial revenue for both Centre and state governments, with royalty collections reaching Rs 23,184.86 crore in the fiscal year 2022-23," the statement said. Coal is the single-largest contributor to railway freight, with an average share of nearly 49 per cent of the total freight income amounting to Rs 82,275 crore in 2022-23 alone. This revenue contribution has surpassed 33 per cent of total railway earnings.

How the government lost the script on MSP to farmers

An agitation, perhaps scripted to end in a compromise, is unexpectedly rewriting itself

Amended surrogacy law likely to boost market potential, say experts

The Centre on Wednesday amended the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021, effecting a change that comes after years of debate and advocacy and likely to benefit couples struggling with infertility

Centre dedicated towards welfare of farmers, says Union min Arjun Munda

The ongoing farmers' agitation has prompted the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to call for inclusive dialogue from stakeholders across the agricultural sector

CAIT urge govt to include traders, other stakeholders in talks with farmers

They stressed that any proposed measures would have far-reaching implications, affecting every stakeholder involved in the agricultural supply chain

More efforts needed on both sides for consensus: Munda on farmers' protest

The Union Minister highlighted the graph of grain production under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also emphasised the achievements in the horticulture sector

Kerala govt slams Centre's stand over 'conditional' nod to borrow money

The Kerala government has flayed the Centre's stand to allow the state to borrow money only if it withdrew the case before the Supreme Court, terming it "highly disappointing" and detrimental to fiscal federalism. Addressing media here on Monday, state Finance Minister K N Balagopal claimed that the central government has informed the apex court that if Kerala withdraws its petition, the government will give the state permission to borrow around Rs 12,000 crore on Monday itself. "The state government has filed the case in the Supreme Court for the fund which is rightfully ours," he said. "The Union government's stand is highly disappointing and will affect the fiscal federalism of the state and the day-to-day activities of the state government," Balagopal added. "Our lawyer Kapil Sibal argued for us and said we were seeking the amount that is rightfully ours. We have filed the petition seeking the fund as per our constitutional rights. They have asked us to withdraw our plea and it

Federalism for development

Federalism in development planning is necessary for maintaining more vigorous growth and a higher degree of political harmony

Centre's projects in Maldives gain pace, despite strained security ties

New Delhi has spent nearly Rs 7.71 billion ($93 million), or almost twice its budgeted 4 billion on projects in the Maldives during this fiscal year, which ends in March, according to an official

Policy on progression of women army officers to be in place by Mar 31: Govt

The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Monday a detailed policy on career progression of women officers in the Indian Army will be in place by March 31, 2024. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the submission of senior advocate R Balasubramanian, appearing for the Centre, and directed that an updated status report be filed on this by April 1. "By March 31, 2024, a detailed policy will be in place on career progression of women officers and command in regular major unit," Balasubramanian told the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. Senior advocate V Mohana, representing some women officers, said all 225 male officers who were promoted have been granted command position in regular major units. She said out of 108 women officers, only 32 were granted command position in regular units. On December 4 last year, the apex court was told that deliberations were underway to formulate a policy to deal with the issue of career progressio

Farmers' protest: Centre proposes 5-year plan to buy pulses, maize at MSP

A panel of three Union ministers on Sunday proposed the buying of pulses, maize, and cotton crops by government agencies at minimum support prices for five years after entering into an agreement with farmers. Speaking to the media after a more than four-hour-long meeting with farmer leaders here, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said the innovative and out-of-the-box idea came up during the discussions. The minister said the farmer leaders will decide on the proposals put forward by the government by Monday morning. "Cooperative societies like the NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will enter into a contract with those farmers who grow 'tur dal', 'urad dal', 'masoor dal' or maize for buying their crop at MSP for next five years," said Goyal. There will be no limit on the quantity (purchased) and a portal will be developed for this," he added. It will save Punjab's farming, improve the groundwater

Farmer leaders to inform about decision on govt proposals by Feb 20: Goyal

"The farmers' union will tell us their decision by morning. We will also have discussions with NCCF and NAFED after returning to Delhi," he added

Farmers' protest: Internet ban extended in parts of Punjab till Feb 24

The suspension of internet services has been extended in certain areas of some Punjab districts, including Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib, till February 24 on the orders of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Earlier, the internet services were suspended from February 12 till 16 in view of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march. According to the ministry's February 16 order, internet services will remain suspended in areas falling under Shambhu, Julkan, Passian, Patran, Shatrana, Samana, Ghanaur, Devigarh and Balbhera police stations in Patiala; Lalru police station in Mohali; Sangat police station in Bathinda; Killianwali police station in Muktsar; Sardulgarh and Boha police stations in Mansa; and Khanauri, Moonak, Lehra, Sunam and Chajli police stations in Sangrur; and areas under Fatehgarh Sahib police station. The Centre used its special powers under the Telegraph Act of 1885 to suspend internet services in these areas of Punjab. "In exercise of the power conferred by section 7

Farmers' march: Govt requested time for talks, says farm leader Pandher

Earlier, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda on Friday said that efforts to find a solution continue and the next round of talks with farmers will take place on Sunday

Ahead of meet with Centre, farmers demand ordinance for MSP guarantee

A day before the crucial meeting with Union ministers, farm leaders on Saturday asked the Centre to bring an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to MSP, while a tractor march and dharnas were held in support of farmers protesting at the borders of Punjab. Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai and farmer leaders from Punjab will meet on Sunday for the fourth round of talks. The two sides met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15, but those talks remained inconclusive. On the fifth day of their 'Delhi Chalo' march -- called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha -- the farmers stayed put at the Shambhu and Khanauri points of the Punjab-Haryana border as they press the Centre to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Saturday demanded that the Centre should bring an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to MSP, a key demand of protesting ...

TMS Ep 630: Centre vs states, PLI scheme, small-caps, bullet train #TMS

Do states have a case against the Centre on fiscal transfers? How can India rejig the PLI scheme? Is there more room for downside in small-caps? What are the key features of the bullet train corridor?