Page 10 - Indian Government

Centre to spend $300 mn to mitigate floods, conserve water in big cities

The federal government spending, the first flood control measure focused on water bodies, was approved recently and will also incorporate early-warning systems, said Krishna S. Vatsa

Govt's lateral entry U-turn due to criticism by Oppn in LS, RS: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday claimed that the Centre's move to withdraw the latest advertisement for lateral entry in bureaucracy was due to the criticism by the Leaders of the Opposition in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha -- Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge -- along with others. The remarks came after Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh wrote to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Chairman Preeti Sudan and asked her to cancel the advertisement so that marginalised communities get their rightful representation in government services. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh tagged Singh's letter and said on X, "A letter from a Union Minister working under a non-biological PM to a Constitutional authority without a date. What pathetic governance this is." "Even so, this is clearly the impact of the criticism of the Leaders of the Opposition in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and others," he said in another post. Reacting to the ...

India directs airports, ports, to stay alert as Mpox cases rise globally

Earlier, PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, led a review meeting to assess the nation's preparedness for Mpox

Some put political interest above national interest: Vice President Dhankar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar on Saturday said here that some people in the country have put their political interest above the national interest and wished that wisdom would prevail on them. The Vice President expressed hope that such people would take counsel from the supreme sacrifices made for achieving freedom for our country. Some people in the country for reasons which are not appropriate have put their political interest above national interest. Let us hope and pray they get wiser, said Dhankar, addressing a Swarna Bharat Trust meeting at Venkatachalam in Nellore district. Dhankar's remarks came a day after he expressed concern that a person holding a constitutional position is asking the Supreme Court to take suo-motu cognisance to give wings to a narrative aimed at destroying our economy. The Vice President comments were seen as an apparent attack on Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. He noted that the freedom achieved through supreme sacrifices should be .

Centre implementing several schemes for development of villages: Shivraj

Observing that the Union government is implementing several programmes for development of villages, Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said poverty-free villages were his dream. The Minister was addressing the gathering after attending the 66th General Council meeting of the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj here on Tuesday, an official release said. Chouhan also launched an online Gram Rozgar Sevak (GRS) course. Two MoUs with JNU, New Delhi, for PhD programmes and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi, were signed. "Nobody should be poor in villages and everyone should be employed. Mahatma Gandhi's vision was Gram Swaraj. When we talk about the development of villages, infrastructural development takes the front seat. Villages need proper road connectivity, potable water, strong and spacious school buildings, Panchayat Bhawan, health facilities, etc," the release quoted him as saying. Recalling tha

In view of PM's assurance, state govt has to make rehab plans: Kerala Guv

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said with Prime Minister Narendra Modi assuring that resources will not be an issue in rehabilitation of those affected by the landslides in Wayanad district, it is for the state government to chalk out a detailed plan for the same. Responding to reporters' queries here, Khan said the Prime Minister has suggested the preparation of a long-term plan for the rehabilitation of landslide victims, and assured that resource constraints will not hinder its implementation. "I feel very confident after this assurance from the PM. It is a blanket statement," he said. He also pointed out that help for the victims was coming from all quarters across the country. Khan said that on Monday he received Rs 3.5 lakh from Sathrughna Swami temple towards the relief and rehabilitation work. Besides that, his office has been receiving cheques from other parts of the country which have been sent to the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. "So people are coming forwa

Oppn defaming country, refugees know India is safe for minorities: Rijiju

Six recognised minorities, technically and by definition we are minority but by no means, emotionally, socially.... no one in this country is minority, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju added

Kerala not alone, Centre will spare no effort to help rehabilitation: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited the landslides-hit Wayanad district and assured that the Central government will "spare no effort" in helping Kerala in the relief and rehabilitation while describing the tragedy as "nature displaying its furious form". Modi, who arrived in the hill district by helicopter from Kannur airport, conducted an aerial survey, walked through the disaster-stricken Chooralmala to get a firsthand view of the destruction caused by the July 30 landslides, visited one of the relief camps and interacted with survivors, including two children who lost their loved ones in the tragedy. He spoke to survivors, heard their concerns and needs, and tried to comfort them. Modi placed his hands on the heads and shoulders of the victims as they broke into tears while recounting their ordeal. Ayyappan, a survivor of the devastating landslides that swept through Mundakkai hamlet in Wayanad and one of the few who got to interact with Modi, said that the "PM ...

V-P expresses concern over narrative of B'desh unrest taking place in India

Taking strong exception to some remarks by a few Congress leaders comparing the situation in Bangladesh with India, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said efforts by some to infuse a narrative that what happened in our neighbourhood is bound to happen in our country is deeply concerning. "How can a citizen of this country having been a Member of Parliament, and the other who has seen enough of Foreign Service takes no time in saying that what happened in the neighbourhood will happen in India," Dhankhar said while addressing the legal fraternity here at a platinum jubilee function of the Rajasthan High Court. "Efforts by some to infuse a narrative that what happened in our neighbourhood is bound to happen in our Bharat, is deeply concerning," he said. Though Dhankhar did not name anyone, he was apparently referring to the recent remarks by senior Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Mani Shankar Aiyar. At a recent event, Khurshid had said what is happening in Bangladesh c

'Caught napping at wheels': Cong slams govt over trade deficit with China

The Congress on Saturday hit out at the Centre over the issue of trade deficit with China and said that while other countries around the world had taken measures to restrict uncontrolled Chinese imports, "our government has been caught napping at the wheels". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the data revealed by the government in the Rajya Sabha shows that India's trade deficit with China has surged by about 16% over the last two years from USD 73,306.2 million in FY22 to USD 85,079.03 million in FY24. "Governments across the world are taking note of China's industrial overcapacity and its dumping of goods overseas. However, unlike most governments that have taken proactive measures to restrict uncontrolled Chinese imports, our government has been caught napping at the wheels," Ramesh said in a post on X. "Our domestic industries are being decimated and shutting down, unable to compete with the onslaught of cheap Chinese goods," the Congress ...

Congress slams govt over bid to privatise steel plants, suffocate industry

The Congress on Saturday attacked the government over attempts to privatise steel plants, alleging the country's industrial base is being "suffocated" and Union Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy is party to it. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh cited a written reply in the Rajya Sabha by Kumaraswamy. "Yesterday in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister for Steel revealed that the Modi Government has attempted and failed to privatise 4 steel plants and is currently attempting to privatise another 2," Ramesh said on X. None of these six privatisations were necessary, he argued. "Perhaps the Government's incompetence in enacting its own decisions, however ill-founded, is a small mercy," he said. However, these PSUs are now in a state of inactivity, and will be for an indeterminate period of time, Ramesh said. "The Government will not invest in them - in fact, there is evidence that the Government is actually systematically trying to further throttle these units t

Govt panel considering major cut to food weighting in new CPI basket

The panel, under the statistics ministry, is discussing a proposal to reduce the weight of food in the consumer price basket by as much as 8 percentage points

Commerce ministry developing e-platform to connect exporters, MSMEs, govt

The government on Tuesday said it is developing a trade connect e-platform to connect exporters, MSMEs and entrepreneurs with various stakeholders including Indian missions abroad, export promotion councils, and other partner government agencies. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha that the platform will provide information on trade events taking place in different parts of the world, benefits available due to India's free trade agreements (FTAs) and other international trade-related information and data. "The government has initiated the creation of a trade connect e-platform to connect Indian exporters, MSMEs and entrepreneurs with various stakeholders including Indian Missions Abroad, Export Promotion Councils, and other partner government agencies," he said. Replying to a separate question, Prasada said that the major districts which are recording healthy export growth include Jamnagar, Kanchipuram, Mumbai, Pune, ..

Govt releases Haj policy 2025, Haj Committee of India quota now 70%

Out of the total Haj pilgrims quota allocated to India, 70 per cent would be handled by the Haj Committee of India while the remaining 30 per cent will be allocated to private Haj Group Organisers, according to the government's Haj Policy for 2025. In 2024, the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) was allotted 80 per cent while the private Haj Group Organisers got 20 per cent of the quota. While the order of priority was 70 plus applicants, ladies travelling without mehrams (LWM) and the general category in 2024, the new Haj policy has prioritised 65 plus applicants followed by ladies without mehrams and then the general category. "It is decided that considering the arduous nature of the Haj pilgrimage, a companion is a must for pilgrims aged 65 or above and no pilgrim aged 65 or above will be registered as a lone member under reserved category," the new haj policy lays down. In the 2024 policy, which was a continuation of the 2023 policy, a companion was a must for 70 plus age pilgrims.

Bangladesh unrest: Cabinet Committee on Security meets to assess situation

The meeting came as Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled her country and landed in India on her way to London

Viksit Bharat a vision document in work for a developed India by 2047: Govt

Viksit Bharat is not a project but a vision document under preparation, outlining the growth trajectory for India to become a developed nation by 2047, the government said on Monday. Replying to supplementary queries on whether financial assistance has been provided to states for Viksit Bharat projects during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister for Planning Rao Inderjit Singh said, "It is not a project per se". Viksit Bharat, Sing said, "It is a vision document that is under preparation...As Viksit Bharat is not a project, therefore, provision of financial assistance to states does not arise". Replying to a question on the policy steps taken in the infrastructure and connectivity sector to boost growth and development, the minister stated that the government firmly believes that these sectors are going to be growth engines for Viksit Bharat. "Infrastructure development is an ongoing priority of the government to boost growth and development," the minister added.

2 proposals received for 8th pay panel, not under consideration: Govt

The government has received two representations for the constitution of the 8th Central Pay Commission, but no such proposal is currently under consideration, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. The 8th Pay Commission is due for implementation on January 1, 2026. "Two representations have been received for constitution of 8th Central Pay Commission in June 2024. No such proposal is under consideration of the government, at present," Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. Usually, the pay commission is constituted by the Central Government every 10 years to revise the remuneration of government employees. The 7th Pay Commission was constituted in February 2014. Its recommendations were implemented from January 1, 2016. In order to compensate central government employees for erosion in the real value of their salaries on account of inflation, dearness allowance (DA) is paid to them and the rate of DA is revised periodically every si

Big bond funds managers in India argue that long-term rates going down

Yields on 30-year bonds have dropped more than 40 basis points this year to 7.04 per cent on Friday

Tax certificate not mandatory for all travelling abroad: Finance Ministry

Applicable to those involved in serious financial irregularities, tax dues over Rs 10 lakh

Govt to handle $5.1 bn bond payments for MTNL amid liquidity crisis

The company is no longer solvent, said the person, who requested anonymity