Page 6 - Government

'One nation, one election' to improve govt efficiency, economy: CII

Expressing its support to simultaneous elections that would synchronize the electoral cycles at the central and state levels, industry body CII said 'One Nation One Election' would enhance governance efficiency, and foster economic development. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) presented its views to the High-Level Committee on One Nation One Election (ONOE) on Friday. The High Level Committee on One Nation One Election, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind held its fifth meeting. "CII's view was based on the economic benefits of streamlining the electoral process, that would enhance governance efficiency, and foster economic development," the industry body stated. It argued that asynchronous multiple elections lead to frequent disruption in policy making and administration, leading to uncertainty about the government's policies. "It also affects the working of the Government due to its officials being roped in for election duties. Investment decisions by the privat

Youth should strive to become job providers instead of job seekers: Pradhan

The youth should focus on becoming entrepreneurs and create employment opportunities as envisioned by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 instead of job seekers, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday. "The youth must not be satisfied by becoming job seekers, but strive to be job providers, as envisioned by the NEP 2020. This is an opportune time to focus on entrepreneurship and creating new unicorns," Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan said while addressing the first convocation of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai. The minister said the youth must not be satisfied by becoming job seekers, but strive to be job providers, as envisioned by the NEP 2020. "This is an opportune time to focus on entrepreneurship and creating new unicorns," he added. Pradhan urged everyone to work towards creating an ecosystem to facilitate ideas that will transform into unicorns of the future. The 'GenZ' are the cat

Centre will give all help to Maha's cooperative sector: Minister Verma

Union minister BL Verma on Saturday said the Centre will provide all help for the development of the cooperative sector in Maharashtra. The Union minister of state for cooperation was speaking at the Maharashtra State Urban Cooperative Banks Conference (MSUCBC) 2023-24 being held here. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Minister for Cooperation Amit Shah, many steps have been taken for development in the country through the medium of cooperation. The Union government will provide all help for development of the cooperative sector in Maharashtra," Verma said. He said the Narendra Modi government had created a separate ministry for cooperation, which was ensuring all stakeholders were getting support and solutions were being found for problems facing the sector. Speaking on the occasion, Union minister of state for health Bharti Pawar said the government must provide help to the Nashik District Central Cooperative Bank so that the institution

French farmers to continue protests despite govt's offer of concessions

French farmers vowed on Saturday to continue protesting, maintaining traffic barricades on some of the country's major roads a day after the government announced a series of measures that they do not fully address their demands. The farmers' movement, seeking better remuneration for their produce, less red tape and protection against cheap imports has spread in recent days across the country, with protesters using their tractors to shut down long stretches of road and slow traffic. They've also dumped stinky agricultural waste at the gates of government offices. While some of the barricades were gradually being lifted on Saturday, highway operator Vinci Autoroutes said the A7, a major highway heading through southern France and into Spain, was still closed. Some other roads were also partially closed, mostly in southern France. Vinci Autoroutes noted that the blockades on two highways leading to Paris have been removed. The highway from Lyon, in eastern France, to Bordeaux, in the .

Modi govt empowered people without any discrimination: FM Sitharaman

Speaking at an event at DU's Hindu College, Sitharaman highlighted the difference between the previous governments and the Modi government's last 10 years

India to ask European Union for measures to align emission trading systems

India's government has several proposals it will raise with the EU, according to the people

Income tax filers more than double to 77.8 million in 10 years: Govt data

The number of tax payers filing income tax returns has more than doubled to 7.78 crore in the past 10 years, as per government data. Releasing key statistics, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Tuesday said the number of Income Tax Returns (ITRs) filed in FY23 stood at 7.78 crore, showing an 104.91 per cent increase as compared to the 3.8 crore ITRs filed in 2013-14. During the same period, the net direct tax collections increased 160.52 per cent from Rs 6,38,596 crore in FY14 to Rs 16,63,686 crore in 2022-23, it said. The government has budgeted to collect Rs 18.23 lakh crore from direct taxes (personal income tax and corporate tax) -- 9.75 per cent higher than Rs 16.61 lakh crore mopped up last fiscal. According to CBDT data, gross direct tax collections increased 173.31 per cent to Rs 19,72,248 crore in FY23 from Rs 7,21,604 crore in FY14. At the same time direct tax-to-GDP ratio went up from 5.62 per cent to 6.11 per cent. The cost of collection, however, has decreas

Prez Murmu confers 'bal puraskars', urges kids to play sports for wellbeing

Cautioning youngsters against excessive use of electronic devices, President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said it is leading to an increase in various health issues and urged them take up at least one sports. Murmu was addressing a gathering at the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar function here. The award was given to 19 children -- nine boys and 10 girls -- from 18 states and Union Territories for exceptional bravery, artistic prowess, innovative thinking and selfless service. She also stressed on the importance of responsible use of technology. While commending the use of technology by children for educational and personal development, the president cautioned against its misuse, citing concerns such as deep-fakes, financial frauds and child exploitation. "Social media, while a powerful tool for communication and awareness, is also misused for spreading rumours. Therefore, it is essential to stay vigilant and avoid such activities as a wrong step can jeopardise your future," Murm

Govt okays Rs 235 cr for administrative reforms, public grievance redressal

The Centre has approved an outlay of Rs 235 crore for a revamped scheme for administrative reforms to be implemented in the next two financial years in the the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, an official statement issued on Thursday said. The scheme will take up ambitious next-generation administrative reforms matching with the new aspirations of 'Viksit Bharat', it said. This revamped scheme has two verticals -- administrative reforms and a comprehensive system for redressal of public grievances, said the statement issued by the Personnel Ministry. "The government has approved an outlay of Rs 235 cr for revamped scheme for administrative reforms of DARPG to be implemented in next two years (2024-25 and 2025-26 ) of the 15th Finance Commission cycle," it added. The scheme for administrative reforms with an allocation of Rs 107 crore seeks to utilise the resources for Prime Minister's awards for excellence in public administration for 2024-25 and 2025-26,

Hitting the mark: Govt on course to stick to FY24 borrowing target

Next financial year also likely to see similar target

Coal sector PSUs brought 18,849 hectares under green cover in decade: Govt

The public sector units operating in the coal sector have brought 18,849 hectares under green cover in the last 10 years by planting 42.3 million saplings, the government on Monday said. The move shows the commitment of the coal sector to environment-friendly sustainable mining practices, the coal ministry said in a statement. The coal public sector units have identified about 3,075 hectares of afforested non-forest de-coaled land suitable for Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA). The proposals have been submitted to the respective state forest departments by coal PSUs for appropriate notification of the afforested non-forest de-coaled land as an ACA land bank to expedite forest clearance for future coal mines requiring forest land diversion, the coal ministry said in a statement. Bishrampur Opencast Project by Coal India arm South Eastern Coalfields Ltd in Surajpur District of Chhattisgarh is an example of adherence to Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA) guidelines,

DMs of all districts in Delhi to spend a night in villages, hold talks

District magistrates of all 11 districts in Delhi will spend the night in villages on Sunday, hold consultations with residents and chalk out development work plans, officials said here. The exercise will be undertaken on the direction of Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) V K Saxena, they said on Saturday. After a 'Samvaad @Raj Niwas' dialogue initiative with representatives from 180 villages earlier this month, the LG announced that DMs will be spending a night in the villages in their respective districts, according to Raj Niwas officials. Accordingly, the district magistrates will reach the villages on January 7 morning and spend the night there as well. During the stay, the officials will hold 'Samvaad' sessions with residents of the areas and neighbourhood villages, and prepare a plan to be implemented by the executing agency Delhi Development Authority (DDA), they said. The exercise is aimed at chalking out a restoration and development plan for Delhi's villages, in consultatio

Truck drivers' strike highlights: Strike called off after two days

Catch all the latest updates on the the truck drivers' strike here

Govt asked Apple to soften impact of hack warnings, says Washington Post

An Apple security expert was also summoned from outside the country to a meeting in New Delhi and the expert was pressed to come up with alternative explanations for the warnings, it said

NE to create entrepreneurship development centres in 100 govt institutes

Entrepreneurship development centres (EDCs) will be established in over 100 government-run skill training institutes in the Northeast to provide the youth with mentoring and handholding support, and assist them in developing financial linkages, a release said on Saturday. The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) has been assigned the responsibility of establishing these centres in all 104 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and three National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in the eight states of the region. The project is under the flagship central scheme 'Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement' (STRIVE), being implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The project is aimed at creating a pool of 107 trained mentors who shall operate from the ITIs and NSTIs and act as 'change agents' to drive the entrepreneurial movement among the youth, the release said. It is targeting 29,500 enrolled students of ITIs and NSTIs from .

Zerodha's Nithin Kamath joins Centre's reconstituted startup advisory panel

Kamath said that he was excited to join the council and that India needs to unlock its domestic capital to nurture startups

Govt tables Telecommunications Bill 2023 in Parliament: Check details

The Centre will take temporary possession of telecom network in case of any public emergency or in the interest of public safety, under the Telecommunications Bill, 2023

New SIM Card Rules to be implemented from December 1, check the details

The government is set to implement new SIM card rules from December 1. The guidelines were announced on August 1, 2023. Here's all you need to know about it

Luxon sworn in as New Zealand prime minister, says economy is top priority

Christopher Luxon was sworn in as New Zealand's prime minister on Monday and said his top priority was to improve the economy. The 53-year-old former businessman leads a conservative coalition after his National Party struck a deal on Friday with two smaller parties following a general election last month. After the swearing-in ceremony, which was presided over by Governor-General Cindy Kiro, Luxon told reporters the job was an awesome responsibility". He said he would hold his first Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and look to quickly finalise a 100-day plan. He said he also planned a visit to Australia before Christmas Day. Luxon said he needed to get a Treasury briefing on the state of the government's finances. We are concerned and worried that it's been a deteriorating picture for a number of months now, Luxon said. Under the coalition agreement, Luxon has promised to deliver tax cuts and train 500 more police officers within two years. He has also promised less government bureau

Govt has broken many real, perceived and exaggerated barriers: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Saturday that his government has broken many real, perceived and exaggerated barriers, laying the foundation for building a developed, grand and prosperous India. Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here, he referred to the theme of the event - 'Beyond Barriers' - and said the 2024 Lok Sabha poll results will see people supporting the ruling BJP "beyond barriers". The media group's theme of its 2047 summit will be "Developed Nation: What Next", he said in a lighter vein in reference to his government's call for making the country developed by the centenary of its independence. The prime minister cited a host of development measures taken by his government to highlight the changes, asserting that India's growing middle class and reducing poverty will become the foundation for a massive economic cycle. The country has risen to become fifth largest economy in the world and will occupy the third position in our third term, he ...