Page 35 - Indian Government

$1.2-trn 'PM Gati Shakti' plan can snatch away factories from China

Under a $1.2 trillion mega project called PM Gati Shakti -- Hindi for strength of speed -- Modi's administration is creating a digital platform that combines 16 ministries

Govt issues draft guidelines for RRBs listing; minimum net worth Rs 300 cr

In a bid to enable regional rural banks (RRBs) to raise resources by listing on stock exchanges, the government has issued draft guidelines that set certain basic criteria, including net worth of at least Rs 300 crore during the previous three years. They should also have capital adequacy above the regulatory minimum level of 9 per cent in each of the preceding three years. The RRBs should have a track record of profitability and earned operating profit of minimum Rs 15 crore for at least three out of the previous five years, according to the draft guidelines issued by the finance ministry recently. Besides, there should not be any accumulated loss and the lender should have given return on equity of minimum 10 per cent in three out of the preceding five years, it said. As per the draft norms, the responsibility of identifying suitable lenders for issuing initial public offering (IPO) has been left with the respective sponsor banks. The sponsor bank would take into account the ...

Govt to soon launch national tele-mental health prog, toll-free helpline no

The government is working on launching a national tele-mental health programme and a toll-free helpline number soon to enable wider access to mental health assistance across the country. The national tele-mental health programme (NTMHP) was first announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2022-23. "The pandemic has accentuated mental health problems in people of all ages. To better the access to quality mental health counselling and care services, a 'National Tele-Mental Health Programme' will be launched," she had said. This will include a network of 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence, with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) being the nodal centre and the International Institute of Information Technology, Bengaluru (IIITB) providing technological support. As part of the programme, at least one tele-MANAS (Tele-Mental Health Assistance and Nationally Actionable Plan) cell would be established in each state an

Govt approves productivity-linked bonus to railway employees for 2021-22

The government has given approval to Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days wage to eligible non-gazetted railway employees for the financial year 2021-22, an official statement said on Saturday. The decision is likely to benefit around 11.27 lakh non-gazetted railway employees. This, however, excludes RPF/RPSF personnel, it said. This payment will be made before Dussehra/puja holidays, bringing smile to lakhs of families ahead of the festive season. The financial implication of payment of 78 days' PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs 1,832.09 crores. The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB is Rs 7,000 p.m. The maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is Rs 17,951 for 78 days, the statement said. The payment of PLB would serve as an incentive and result in motivating a large number of railway employees, particularly those involved in execution and operations of railways, to improve their productivity and ensure safety, .

Centre to put curbs on imports of some items to arrest rupee's fall: Report

The authorities have already started to track the imports of select products, including electronics. However, a final decision is still to be made

Banks unwilling to extend new credit to Voda Idea without promoter funding

Talks between Vodafone Idea Limited and its lenders to raise Rs 10,000 crore in debt have been ongoing for more than 9 months

India eyes $550 million incentives to woo companies like Apple, Dell

The technology ministry has floated the revamped program to electronics industry executives for consultation, including payments that could exceed a half a billion dollars per company

Public sector banks plan to establish verticals for big data, analytics

PSBs will also launch digital-only goods, services in the upcoming year with minimal data entry requirements, automated checks, and underwriting for consumers

Rajasthan empowers police to act against banned PFI, similar organisations

The Rajasthan home department on Thursday released an order empowering the state police to act against the Popular Front of India (PFI) and other similar organisations. The order was released following the Centre's notification banning the PFI and affiliates for five years. The department has ordered the Director-General of Police, Additional Director-General of Police (Anti-Terror Squad and Special Operations Group), commissioners of Jaipur and Jodhpur, Inspector General range and Superintendents of Police and district courts to act against these organisations under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). In a notification issued late on Tuesday night, the Union Home Ministry said the central government is of the opinion that the PFI and its affiliates have been involved in subversive activities, thereby disturbing public order and undermining constitutional set up of the country and encouraging and enforcing a terror-based regressive regime.

GIFT city-based lessors likely to lease out 60-odd aircraft by March 2023

The 11 aircraft leased out of GIFT City to date include helicopters, regional aircraft, trainer aircraft and private jets

India signs deal with Armenia for export of missiles, weapon systems

Armenia is also set to get anti-tank rockets as well as a range of ammunition from India under the bundled deal

Top Headlines: FinMin won't exhaust forex for rupee; govt extends PMGKAY

Amid fast-depleting forex reserves, the Finance Ministry signalled that it was not in favour of selling the dollar to defend any particular level of the rupee

LIVE: R Venkataramani appointed as new Attorney General of India

He will serve the post for three years from the date of his assuming office. Venkataramani has appeared frequently in indirect tax cases.

Govt bans Popular Front of India for 5 years with immediate effect

On September 22, multi-agency teams spearheaded by NIA arrested 106 leaders and activists of the PFI in 15 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country

India rules out tax policy changes for inclusion of bonds in global indices

The government doesn't plan to waive capital gains taxes, and it's concerned that foreign inflows will increase the volatility of local markets

India doesn't believe quality of democracy decided by others: Jaishankar

India does not believe that the efficacy or the quality of democracy should be decided by others, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday, observing that each country approaches democracy, human rights, and good governance from their history, tradition, and societal context. We spoke over the last two days of our commitment to practicing and furthering democracy, human rights, and good governance," Jaishankar told reporters during a joint news conference with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Each country approaches the issues from its history, tradition, and societal context, Jaishankar said. Our yardstick for judgment are the integrity of the democratic processes, the respect and credibility that they command with the people, and the nondiscriminatory delivery of public goods and services. India does not believe that the efficacy or, indeed, the quality of democracy should be decided by (others), he said. As the world's two biggest democracies, we're also .

MP MLA on foot-march of Chitrakoot's Siddha Pahad to seek govt's attention

To seek attention of the Centre and Madhya Pradesh government on development of Chitrakoot, BJP MLA Narayan Tripathi began a three-day 'dharmayatra' on the surrounding of 'Siddha Pahad'

Govt bonds' inclusion into JPMorgan index pushed to next year: Report

Indian government bonds will likely only be included in the JPMorgan emerging market global index early next year as New Delhi still needs to address various operational issues

National Clean Air Programme: Govt to reduce 40% particulate matter by 2026

The Centre has set a new target of 40 percent reduction in particulate matter concentration in cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) by 2026, updating the earlier goal of 20 to 30 percent reduction by 2024, officials have said. According to the Union Environment Ministry, 95 of the 131 non-attainment cities covered under the NCAP have witnessed an overall improvement in PM10 levels in 2021 as compared to 2017 levels. Twenty cities, including Chennai, Madurai and Nashik, have met the national standards for annual average PM10 concentration (60 microgram per cubic metre). The acceptable annual standard for PM2.5 is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. PM2.5 are fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller, and pose the greatest risk to health. The 132 cities covered under the NCAP did not meet the prescribed national ambient air quality standards for five consecutive years (2011-2015). "The goal of 20 to 30 percent reducti

Small oil and gas field operators ask govt for exemption from windfall tax

The central government from July 1, 2022, levied a tax on crude and petroleum products to capture supernormal profits of energy companies amid a sharp rise in global oil prices