Page 2 - Government

Madagascar president says coup underway as soldiers join protests

An attempted coup is underway in the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar, the country's president said on Sunday. A statement from President Andry Rajoelina's office said it wishes to inform the nation and the international community that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force has been initiated. The statement did not immediately identify who was attempting to overthrow the government, but members of the armed forces joined youth-led protests against Rajoelina on Saturday. The protests against service failures and alleged government corruption and nepotism have been going on since Sept. 25.

Assam govt announces results for 7,650 Grade III recruitment posts

Results of 7,650 Grade III posts in Assam government were declared on Friday, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claiming that nearly two lakh appointments are being given under his regime. Along with the results of the Grade III posts for 50 departments conducted under Assam Direct Recruitment Examinations (ADRE), selection list for more than 600 posts was also declared separately. "Once again, we have delivered on our promise of clean, transparent, and merit-based recruitment. With the declaration of ADRE and other results today, Assam stands tall setting a new benchmark for honesty, fairness, and opportunity in public appointments," Sarma said in a post on X. "We have also set a new record delivering more than what we promised," he said, adding that, "We had pledged 1 lakh appointments, and today we are well on our way to achieving nearly 2 lakh appointments a true testament to our commitment to the youth of Assam." The future of the young generation is secure, and their

Govt pitches for sector-specific CSR framework for coal companies

The government on Tuesday stressed on the need for a corporate social responsibility framework for companies operating in the coal sector to serve as a guide to promote responsible and sustainable practices. The move also aims at reducing environmental impact and enhancing stakeholder engagement among private as well as public sector coal companies. "Given the growing presence of private players in the sector, a need has been felt for a sector-specific CSR framework for coal companies," the coal ministry said in a statement. The corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies of coal PSUs have been formulated within the policy directives provided under the Companies Act, 2013, the Companies (CSR Policy) Rules, 2014 and guidelines of Department of Public Enterprises (DPE). Over the years, coal PSUs have taken remarkable initiatives in the areas of health, education, environment, sanitation, sports, etc. The coal ministry organised a stakeholders' consultation to deliberate upon CSR

CAG Murthy launches GASAB site to boost government accounting transparency

Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) K Sanjay Murthy on Friday launched the website of GASAB, aimed at improving accessibility and transparency in government accounting standards. Addressing the 37th board meeting of the Government Accounting Standards Advisory Board (GASAB), he said that initiatives and the work of all the organised accounting services in GASAB reflect the commitment towards improving transparency in government accounting and the standard-setting process. Murthy stated that the standard-setting work undertaken by GASAB is an exercise entailing multiple stakeholder interaction and feedback from subject matter experts. The due process of GASAB envisages a well-laid-down process of the selection of topics and the preparation of standards through a robust and inclusive consultative process with members, stakeholders, including specialists and the public, he added. Pivoted on good governance, fiscal prudence, efficiency, and transparency in public finances, .

Govt aims to make India global hub for green energy, hydrogen export: Joshi

The government is targeting to make India a global hub for production, utilisation, and export of green energy, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday. The Minister for New and Renewable Energy made the remarks in a virtual address to the World Hydrogen India conference organised by S&P Global Commodity Insights in the national capital. India has achieved the goal of having 50 per cent of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil resources five years ahead of schedule, Joshi said. "This phenomenal growth in renewables has set the stage for our next target, making India a global hub for the production, utilisation, and export of green energy," he said. India's total non-fossil fuel installed capacity stands approximately around 250 GW, the minister said. On green hydrogen, Joshi said the government's Green Hydrogen Programme is moving from vision to action with incredible speed. A stable, predictable, and rewarding investment environment is being created to support this

Government extends CDS Gen Anil Chauhan's tenure by 8 months till May 2026

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan's tenure has been extended up to May next year, the government said on Wednesday. Gen Chauhan's current stint as the top military officer is scheduled to end on September 30. The defence ministry said the government has approved the extension of service of Gen Chauhan as Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, up to May 30 next year or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He has been serving as the Chief of Defence Staff since September 30, 2022.

BASAI seeks govt clarification on GST rates for biostimulants products

The Biological Agri Solutions Association of India (BASAI) on Monday said it has sought clarification from the government over GST applicable on biostimulants. Biostimulants, which aid plant growth, have been regulated under the Fertiliser (Control) Order (FCO) 1985 since 2021. As of August, the government has officially notified and fully approved 146 biostimulant products under the FCO. Addressing a media conference, BASAI President and Chairperson Sandeepa Kanitkar said biostimulants are the need of the hour amid climate change challenges. "The tool box of the farmer now has to be changed. If it is not changed, then we will end up having the same kind of productivity," Kanitkar said. Listing out challenges in the sector, BASAI CEO Vipin Saini said there is confusion over GST for biostimulants. "At some places, biostimulants are classified under 5 per cent GST category and in some places under 18 per cent. I believe it should be under 5 per cent category." There is misinterpreta

Govt headhunter body recommends B Sairam as next Coal India Chief

Government headhunter PESB has recommended B Sairam, the current CMD of Northern Coalfields Ltd, as the next Chairman of coal behemoth CIL. The key tasks for a new Coal India CMD would involve addressing operational challenges such as increasing production and improving coal evacuation when there is a great push by the government to ramp up the domestic output to bring down the reliance on coal imports. Northern Coalfields Ltd (NCL) is a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd (CIL). The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) recommended his name for the key post on Saturday. PESB said on its website that its recommends the name for B Sairam for the post of Chairman and Managing Director, Coal India Ltd. The recommendation of the Sairam came after 10 other applicants, including Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Mineral Exploration And Consultancy Ltd (MECL) and CMD of Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) -- another CIL arm -- were interviewed for the key post. The current Chairman of Coal

Govt may mandate silver jewellery hallmarking after six months: BIS

The government will consider making hallmarking of silver jewellery and articles mandatory after evaluating the effectiveness of the process, which has been introduced on a voluntary basis. On September 4, the government announced introducing voluntary hallmarking for silver jewellery and articles, effective September 1, implementing a digital identification system to ensure metal purity for consumers. "We need some time to evaluate it. Six months should be enough. We will look at this for six months, and after that, we will consider whether to make it mandatory or not," Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Director General of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), told PTI on Friday. The official made the remarks in reply to a question about whether the government may consider making hallmarking of silver jewellery mandatory. BIS is the National Standard Body of India established under the BIS Act 2016 for the harmonious development of the activities of standardisation, marking and quality certificati

Nepal protests: Gen Z leaders meet Prez, army chief to form interim govt

Representatives of the protesting 'Gen Z' group, Nepalese President Ramchandra Paudel and Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel were holding talks at the army headquarters in Bhadrakali on Thursday to pick a leader to run an interim government, sources said. Former chief justice Sushila Karki, Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah and two others were among those being considered by the protesting Gen Z group to lead the interim government, they added. The interim leader will replace Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, who resigned on Tuesday following a violent student-led agitation. An Army spokesperson confirmed that discussions are ongoing with various stakeholders. He, however, did not provide any names. We are holding rounds of talks with different stakeholders. The talks are mainly focused on finding a way out from the current stalemate and at the same time maintaining law and order situation in the country, the Army spokesperson said. There were dozens of youths eagerly waiting outside the Army .

Govt notifies wider scope for fast track mergers under Companies Act

The government has notified rules expanding the scope of fast track mergers under the Companies Act, 2013, bringing in more categories of companies within the simplified route for amalgamations and demergers, an official statement said on Thursday. The move will provide quicker turnaround for corporate restructuring. The framework will particularly benefit unlisted entities and groups looking at internal reorganisations without the need for lengthy tribunal approvals. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has amended the Companies (Compromises, Arrangements and Amalgamations) Rules, 2016, through a notification issued on September 4, 2025, following stakeholder consultations. The changes flow from the Union Budget 2025-26, which promised measures to ease doing business and cut delays in approvals. Under the revised framework, fast track mergers or demergers can now be undertaken two or more unlisted companies (other than section 8 companies) which meet prescribed thresholds of ..

France's prime minister loses confidence vote, toppling his government

Legislators toppled France's government in a confidence vote on Monday, a new crisis for Europe's second-largest economy that obliges President Emmanuel Macron to search for a fourth prime minister in 12 months. Prime Minister Franois Bayrou was ousted overwhelmingly in a 364-194 vote against him. Bayrou paid the price for what appeared to be a staggering political miscalculation, gambling that lawmakers would back his view that France must slash public spending to repair its debts. Instead, they seized on the vote that he called to gang up against Bayrou a 74-year-old centrist who was appointed by Macron last December. The demise of Bayrou's short-lived minority government now constitutionally obliged to submit its resignation to Macron after just under nine months in office heralds renewed uncertainty and a risk of prolonged legislative deadlock for France as it wrestles with pressing challenges, including budget difficulties and, internationally, wars in Ukraine and Gaza and t

From complexity to clarity: GST Council ushers in a new era of tax reforms

The shift from four slabs to a leaner two-tier structure 5% for merit goods and 18% for standard goods, with 40% for sin and luxury items is the most far-reaching change since GST's inception

Kerala's professional talent pool grows 172% in five years: Report

A new LinkedIn Talent Insights report released on Friday highlights a 172 per cent growth in Kerala's professional talent pool over the past five years, the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), an advisory body to the state government, said. The findings were presented at the Skill Kerala Global Summit in Kochi. According to K-DISC, this growth places Kerala ninth among Indian states, with nearly 40 per cent of its workforce concentrated in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Kozhikode. The most common roles among professionals include software engineers, accountants, and teachers, reflecting technology, finance, and education as the backbone of Kerala's economy, the advisory body said in a statement. The report highlights a significant inflow of skilled professionals returning from abroad, particularly from the Gulf region. About 52 per cent of Kerala's global returnees came from the UAE, bringing expertise in business operations, finance, and ...

Minority affairs ministry adds UMEED portal module to aid women, orphans

In a significant step toward strengthening inclusive welfare mechanisms, the Ministry of Minority Affairs on Wednesday launched an additional module on the UMEED Portal, which enables widows, divorced women, and orphans to apply for maintenance support from certain Waqf properties. The new functionality enables widows, divorced women, and orphans to apply for maintenance support from Waqf-alal-aulad properties, in accordance with Rule 8(2) of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Rules, 2025, framed under a section of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. In a significant stride toward strengthening inclusive welfare mechanisms, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has launched the additional module on the UMEED Portal, an official statement said. The launch of this module marks a forward-looking step in making Waqf administration more people-centric, transparent and digitally enabled, the Ministry of Minority ...

India-Africa trade surpassed $100 bn in 2024-25: MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh

Union minister Kirti Vardhan Singh on Wednesday said India-Africa trade has crossed USD 100 billion and New Delhi has emerged as one of the top-five investors in the continent. Addressing the inaugural session of the 20th CII India-Africa Business Conclave in the national capital, Singh said India has extended concessional loans worth over USD 12 billion and USD 700 million in grant assistance for projects across Africa, apart from offering 50,000 scholarships for African youth, of which more than 42,000 have already been utilised. "This year's theme is different as we have decided to move from project partnership and growth partnership to the spirit of 'Co-creating a Shared Future', which signifies the sentiment attached to this remarkable journey," the minister said. "India's bilateral trade with Africa has crossed the magical figure of USD 100 billion in 2024-25 compared to USD 56 billion in 2019-2020. With cumulative investments over USD 75 billion from 1996-2024, India is among

Centre tightens wheat stock norms for wholesalers, retailers and processors

The government on Tuesday further tightened wheat stock-holding norms for wholesalers, small and big chain retailers, and processors to curb hoarding and check price rise. "As part of continuous efforts to moderate prices of wheat before the upcoming festive season, The central government has decided to revise the wheat stock limit applicable until 31st March 2026," the food ministry said in a statement. According to the revised norms, wholesalers are allowed to maintain wheat stock up to 2,000 tonnes instead of 3,000 tonnes, retailer can hold 8 tonnes for each outlet instead of 10 tonnes, while big chain retailer can hold eight tonnes for each outlet instead of 10 tonnes earlier. Processors will be allowed to maintain 60 per cent instead of 70 per cent of their monthly installed capacity multiplied by the remaining months of this fiscal year. In 2025, the government revised wheat stock limits twice: first on February 20, reducing limits to 250 tonne for traders and four tonnes per

Govt hikes registration renewal fee of motor vehicles older than 20 years

The transport ministry has raised the registration renewal fee for motor vehicles older than 20 years to discourage people from keeping them. The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), in a notification, announced that the renewal fee for light motor vehicles (LMVs) older than 20 years has been doubled to Rs 10,000 from Rs 5,000. According to the notification, for motorcycles older than 20 years, the renewal fee will rise from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. For three-wheelers and quadricycles, the renewal cost will increase from Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,000. In case of imported two- or three-wheelers, the cost of the renewal of the certificate of registration will be Rs 20,000, while for imported vehicles with four or more wheels, it will be Rs 80,000. The draft amendment was issued in February and finalised on August 21. The ministry, in October 2021, increased the registration and renewal fee for motorcycles, three-wheelers and cars. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ordered ...

Peak power demand unlikely to reach 277 GW this summer due to rains: CEA

Peak power demand is unlikely to touch the projected 277 GW this summer as intermittent rains have reduced the use of cooling appliances such as air conditioners, a top government official said on Friday. "No, I don't think that it (peak power demand) will go to that level now. If this kind of rain continues, then it will not reach," Ghanshyam Prasad, the Chairperson of Central Electricity Authority (CEA) told PTI on the sidelines of BNEF Summit in the national capital. The regulatory body chief was responding to a question whether the peak power demand would touch the projected level of 277 GW. The CEA formulates short-term and perspective plans for the development of the electricity system, and coordinates the activities of the planning agencies. The government had projected 277 gigawatt (GW) of peak power demand for 2025-26. Various government sources had expected the peak demand to hit the 277 GW level by September. Prasad also said that 277 GW was not a target, but a projecti

Karnataka HC slams govt bike taxi ban, upholds operators' right to work

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday came down on the state government's ban on bike taxis, calling its arguments against the service 'thin' and "legally untenable". Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru, heading the bench, noted that bike taxis are permitted in at least 13 states across the country and have emerged as a lawful and essential mode of urban transport. He observed that such services are not a luxury but a necessity, especially for affordable and efficient last-mile connectivity. Rejecting the government's stance that the Motor Vehicles Act prohibits bike taxis, the court said the State cannot deny livelihoods by citing the absence of a formal policy. A mere lack of regulation cannot be the basis for a blanket ban that deprives thousands of their right to work under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, the Chief Justice remarked. The court also asked the Advocate General (AG) to ensure that no coercive or punitive action is taken against bike taxi operators in the interim. Th