Financial Aid

Nitish Kumar transfers ₹10,000 each to 2.5 mn women in poll-bound Bihar

On September 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the scheme under which an initial amount of ₹10,000 was provided as financial assistance

CM Mamata hikes Durga Puja grant to ₹1.1 lakh, waives taxes for committees

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hiked the Durga Puja grant to Rs 1.10 lakh for 40,000 committees, waived taxes, announced an 80 per cent electricity concession, drawing cheers from organisers and criticism from the opposition ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. Addressing a mega coordination meeting of Puja committees at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here, Banerjee said the enhanced financial assistance, up from Rs 85,000 last year, was a recognition of Durga Puja's cultural significance and its status as a UNESCO-recognised intangible heritage. Durga Puja is not just a religious celebration. It is the lifeline of Bengal's cultural identity, our praner utsab' (festival of the heart). We are proud that UNESCO has recognised this. It's our collective responsibility to preserve that glory, Banerjee told a packed audience of organisers and top bureaucrats. Along with the increased grant, Banerjee announced an 80 per cent concession on electricity bills for Puja pandals, a waiver of

Air India to give ₹25 lakh interim aid to kin of plane crash victims

Air India on Saturday announced it will provide an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh to the families of the deceased and survivors of the Ahmedabad plane crash. This interim payment is in addition to the Rs 1 crore compensation already announced by the parent company, Tata Sons, Air India said in a statement. Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers, including 12 crew members, crashed in the Meghaninangar area shortly after takeoff from the Ahmedabad International Airport on Thursday afternoon, killing 270 persons, including 241 passengers on board. "As part of our continued efforts, Air India will be providing an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh or approximately 21,000 GBP each to the families of the deceased and to the survivor, to help address immediate financial needs," Air India said. This is in addition to the Rs 1 crore or approximately 85,000 GBP support already announced by Tata Sons, it said. "Air India stands in solidarity with the families of the passengers w

Harvard hit with new $450 mn grant cut amid growing clash with Trump admin

President Donald Trump's administration is cutting another USD 450 million in grants to Harvard University a day after the Ivy League school pushed back against government allegations that it's a hotbed of liberalism and antisemitism. In a letter to Harvard on Tuesday, a federal antisemitism task force said Harvard will lose grants from eight federal agencies in addition to USD 2.2 billion that was previously frozen by the Trump administration. The letter said Harvard has become a breeding ground for virtue signalling and discrimination and faces a steep, uphill battle to reclaim its legacy as a place of academic excellence. There is a dark problem on Harvard's campus, and by prioritising appeasement over accountability, institutional leaders have forfeited the school's claim to taxpayer support, the letter said. It was signed by officials at the Education Department, Health and Human Services and the General Services Administration. University officials did not immediately provid

India rolls over $50 million support for Maldives amid debt crisis

China and India remain the Maldives' biggest creditor nations and both regional rivals vie for influence in the strategically located Indian Ocean nation

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann calls Centre for special financial package

Asserting that Punjab is the sword arm of nation, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said the Centre should give special package to the border state. Mann put forth his views during an all-party meeting convened by Punjab Governor and UT Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. Interacting with reporters later along with Governor Kataria, the chief minister said whether it is war or any other exigency Punjab and Punjabis are always on the forefront. Punjab always faces the first brunt during every war and escalations, said Mann, adding the state needs special treatment for its enormous contribution. He said that Punjab besides being the food bowl of the country has always been its sword arm but its contribution has been hitherto ignored. Mann said that special package should be given to Punjab on lines of one given to Jammu and Kashmir and some hill states. The state government will also raise the demand of border area allowance for doctors, teachers, Anganwadi and oth

HC discharges Gautam Adani, Rajesh Adani in market regulations case

When the offence of cheating itself is not made out, then even the charge of criminal conspiracy becomes unsustainable, it added

Mahila Samriddhi Scheme: Delhi women can apply for ₹2,500 aid from March 8

The Delhi govt is set to launch the Mahila Samriddhi Scheme on March 8, offering ₹2,500 monthly assistance to eligible women aged 18-60 with annual household incomes below ₹3 lakh

Priyanka Gandhi asks PM for unconditional aid for Wayanad landslide victims

Highlighting the immense loss of lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure, she expressed disappointment over the inadequacy of the recently announced Rs 529.50 crore relief package

Could US aid cuts open opportunities for China to expand global influence?

Experts argue that freezing foreign aid weakens USA's soft power, allowing China to strengthen its influence, especially in Southeast Asian countries

Budget 2025: Maldives gets more aid from India, but what about Bangladesh?

Union Budget 2025: India's foreign aid drops to Rs 5,483 crore in Budget 2025; Maldives sees a hike to Rs 600 crore, Afghanistan's aid doubles, while Myanmar faces a cut amid ongoing internal turmoil

US rejects Prez Maduro's reelection, keeps financial lifeline for Venezuela

Things seemed to be looking up for Venezuela in 2022. Following years of authoritarian rule and withering economic sanctions, President Nicols Maduro had agreed to work toward a democratic presidential election. The White House, in return, granted him a financial lifeline: a permit for US energy giant Chevron to pump and export Venezuelan oil. Oil wells roared back to life and massive tanker ships returned to Venezuela's coast to be filled with heavy, hard-to-refine crude destined for the US. Maduro's promised election was neither fair nor free, and the longtime president was sworn in this month for a third six-year term despite credible evidence that his opponent got more votes. Yet, the sanctions reprieve the US offered to support the restoration of democracy is still helping fill state coffers. Venezuela's opposition says Maduro's government has earned billions of dollars from exports allowed by the permit. The White House has ignored calls from the main opposition coalition, as

MIT goes tuition-free for families earning below $200k in 2025: Details

Known as a global leader in STEM, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's financial aid programme addresses student debt in the US, which surpassed $1.6 trillion in 2020

CM Shinde seeks women's support for increasing Ladki Bahin aid to Rs 3,000

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said the financial assistance under the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme could even be raised to Rs 3,000 if women in the state support his government. Shinde also wondered why the opposition was jealous over his government's welfare initiatives and exuded confidence that the ruling Mahayuti alliance of the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP will retain power in the upcoming state elections. He was speaking on Tuesday at a congregation of seers at the Kanheri Math in Kolhapur on the occasion of the 'dharma dhwaj' inauguration. Under the Mahayuti government's flagship welfare scheme 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana', introduced ahead of the state polls, married, divorced, and destitute women aged 21-65 are receiving Rs 1,500 per month as stipend with the annual family income of beneficiaries capped at Rs 2.5 lakh. Shinde criticised the opposition for criticising the government over the Ladki Bahin scheme and asked why was it getting jealous. "If the dear

IMF, Ukraine reach deal that would give access to $1.1 bn in financial aid

The IMF is a key international lender to Kyiv and its four-year $15.6 billion programme is a crucial part of a bigger global economic support package to Ukraine

Budget 2024: HP to get aid to overcome losses due to last year's floods

Himachal Pradesh, which suffered major losses due to floods last year, would be provided aid through multilateral development assistance, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said during her budget speech in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Heavy rains triggered floods and landslides in the hill state last year and about 550 people died during the monsoon season. The Himachal Pradesh government has requested the Centre to release Rs 9,042 crore as financial assistance following a post-disaster assessment carried out by a central team. "Himachal Pradesh suffered extensive losses due to floods last year and our government would provide assistance to the state for reconstruction and rehabilitation through multilateral development assistance," Sitharaman said. The state received three spells of very heavy rains last year. It received 223.9 mm of rain from July 8 to July 12 against the normal of 42.2 mm, 111.2 mm from August 11 to August 14 against the normal of 41.7 mm, an excess of 167 per cen

Coal India to offer Rs 1 lakh to eligible UPSC aspirants: How to apply?

As part of Centre's 'Mission Karmayogi', the state-owned Coal India is powering a CSR initiative to offer Rs 1 lakh financial assistance to eligible UPSC candidates

No moratorium on repayment of loans during trawling ban period: Kerala govt

The Kerala government on Wednesday made it clear that no moratorium has been granted on repayment of loans availed by fishermen during the time of the ongoing 52-day-long trawling ban imposed in state waters. However, several measures, including free rations, were given to the fishermen's families during the trawling ban period from June 10 to July 31, state Fisheries Minister Saji Cheriyan told the state assembly. He was replying to a question raised by MLA E K Vijayan (CPI-M) during the Question Hour. The fishermen, who use mechanised vessels, and those engaged in other related work in the sector lost jobs during the ban, and they are being given free rations, the minister said. Under the financial relief scheme, those fishermen, who are members of their welfare fund board, would get assistance of Rs 4,500 during this time. Of this, Rs 1500 each is contributed by the union and state governments and the rest is the share of beneficiaries, he noted. While replying to a question,

India announces financial aid of $1 mn for landslide-hit Papua New Guinea

India on Tuesday announced an immediate financial aid of USD 1 million to provide relief and assistance to people hit by a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea. A massive landslide hit Enga province of the island nation on May 24 that buried hundreds of people and caused major destruction. Over 2,000 people were killed in the landslide, according to media reports from that country. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences and conveyed India's readiness to extend all possible support and assistance to the Pacific island country in its time of difficulty. "As a close friend and partner under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) and as a gesture of solidarity with the friendly people of Papua New Guinea, the government of India extends an immediate relief assistance of USD 1 million to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts," it said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday

Russia's assault opens new front, diverts Ukraine forces as aid trickles in

Russian troops were locked in intense battles with Ukrainian soldiers around the embattled town of Vovchansk in northeast Ukraine on Monday, pushing ahead with a ground offensive that opened a new front and put more pressure on overstretched Ukrainian forces. Moscow's renewed northeast offensive, launched late last week, was the most significant border incursion since the full-scale invasion began. In just two days, Moscow has captured between 100 to125 square kilometers (38 to 47 sq miles) that includes at least seven villages, most of them already depopulated, according to two open source monitoring analysts. Vovchansk, among the largest towns in the area whose pre-war population of 17,000 had dwindled to just 2,500 before Russia renewed its ground assault last week, has emerged as a key focus of the pitched battles engulfing the Kharkiv region. By Monday, only 200 to 300 residents remained, said Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov, as Russian forces closed in from three sides. Poor