Page 22 - Modi Govt

Nation's air pollution crisis result of policy failure: Congress slams govt

Accusing the Modi government of "poor policy-making" in dealing with air pollution, the Congress on Sunday demanded that the forthcoming Union Budget must provide a path forward to resourcing and equipping India's local bodies, state governments, and the Centre in tackling this "grave public health crisis". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said earlier this month, a study revealed that 7.2 per cent of all deaths in India are associated with air pollution -- about 34,000 deaths each year in just 10 cities. A new study by the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi has evaluated the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) and brought to light the policy chaos that has resulted in this public health crisis, he said in a statement. "The current budget of the NCAP, including the 15th Finance Commission's grants, is about Rs 10,500 crore -- spread across 131 cities! The programme is therefore desperately underfunded -- and yet, and of this meagre amount, onl

Paswan backs caste census but says if made public, data will create divide

Union minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has pitched for a nationwide caste census but warned against making the figures public as it will lead to "division" in society, and said no discussion within the ruling NDA has taken place so far over simultaneous polls and the Uniform Civil Code, both part of the BJP's manifesto. In an interaction with PTI editors, he flagged concerns about the UCC and said he cannot take a position unless a draft on it is placed before him. He, however, asserted that his Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) strongly supports the concept of simultaneous polls. Asked about his views on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and if he supports it, Paswan said, "We don't have a draft for it yet. Until unless we go through that draft, because there are a lot of concerns... India is a country of diversities." Be it language, culture or lifestyle, everything is different in different regions of the country, he said, wondering "how can you bring everyone under one

Union Budget 2024 to signal next steps for IDBI Bank privatisation

IDBI Bank's market capitalisation is around Rs 95,000 crore. The government could secure close to Rs 29,000 crore for the sale of 30.5% of its 45.5% stake

Budget 2024: PM Modi allies Nitish, Naidu demands billions, pile pressure

For now, it seems that Modi will likely be able to manage those demands without blowing out the budget deficit.

PM Modi's new govt spending plans to remain in line with early projections

A modest expenditure plan could give an extra fillip to India's bond market, where benchmark yields are edging toward a 2-year low

Union Budget expectations highlights: Real estate sector seeks tax relief

Budget 2024 highlights: FM Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to present the Union Budget 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha on July 23

Sena (UBT) jabs Shinde's Sena over non inclusion of minister in NITI Aayog

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday took potshots at the rival Shiv Sena over its minister not finding a place in the reconstituted NITI Aayog. "No place for Shinde Sena in the reconstituted NITI Ayog. When 'Niti' is only immoral power grab, can understand the exclusion," Rajya Sabha member Chaturvedi said in a post on X. The Narendra Modi-led NDA government on Tuesday reconstituted the NITI Aayog, with four full-time members and 15 union ministers, including from BJP allies, as either ex-officio members or special invitees. Union Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge) Prataprao Jadhav, who is also MoS in the Health Ministry, did not find a place in the reconstituted committee. Jadhav belongs to the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, an ally of the BJP. The Sena (UBT) has often dubbed the Shiv Sena as the party of those who have usurped power by "betraying" Uddhav Thackeray. The National Institution for Transforming India, be

51% of applications under PM Cares scheme for Covid orphans rejected

9,331 applications were received for scheme, according to data shared by the Women and Child Development Ministry

Budget 2024: Green tech, vehicle scrapping aid; auto sector's wishlist

Budget 2024: During the Interim Budget presentation, Nirmala Sitharaman had highlighted that the Centre is keen on expanding and strengthening the electronic-vehicle ecosystem

Doda terror attack: 4 soldiers killed; What's fuelling terrorism in Jammu

Doda terror attack: Officials informed that the encounter operation, still underway, began when troops launched a search operation in Desa forest belt of Doda

Centre to bring OTT, content creators under broadcasting regulations

Broadcasting Services Regulation (BSR) Bill latest updates: A draft Bill will likely be shared with stakeholders in the next few weeks

Budget 2024: Kharge attacks PM Modi on 5 economic issues on inflation, jobs

Budget 2024: In a post on social media platform 'X', Kharge pointed out economic problems related to inflation, and problems faced by youth and farmers

To mark 1975 Emergency, Centre declares June 25 as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas'

Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the commemoration will serve as a reminder of "what happened when the Constitution was trampled over"

Budget 2024: PM Modi, FM Sitharaman hold talks with Niti Aayog, economists

Budget 2024: Niti Aayog Vice-Chairperson Suman Bery and other members of the government think tank also attended the talks

Is your iPhone compromised by 'mercenary spyware attack'? What Apple said

Apple notes that these sophisticated attackers invest "exceptional resources" to selectively target a small group of people

Modi govt's Budget to send India's soaring stocks higher, shows survey

The upcoming government budget will likely boost consumer spending and infrastructure building, which bode well for businesses, strategists and investors surveyed by Bloomberg said

Budget 2024: Centre may hike Provident Fund limit to Rs 25k after a decade

Budget 2024: For the Provident Fund, the current limit of Rs 15,000 came into effect after the wage ceiling for coverage was revised almost a decade ago in September 2014

PM Modi gets warm welcome from members of Indian diaspora in Moscow

PM Modi greeted members of the Indian diaspora, who were outside The Carlton Hotel to welcome him, shaking hands and interacting with the children

People widely supported Amritpal Singh, govt must release him: SGPC chief

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami on Saturday batted for the release of jailed Waris Punjab De activist and Lok Sabha MP Amritpal Singh, "considering the huge support people have given to him". The Khalistani sympathiser, who won the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat in Punjab as an Independent while being lodged in a jail in Assam's Dibrugarh district under the National Security Act, was sworn in as MP on Friday. Asked about Amritpal Singh after the SGPC chief inaugurated a laboratory at Miri-Piri hospital in Haryana's Kurukshetra, Dhami said, "People have given huge support to him. The governments should consider this, respect it and he (Amritpal) should be released." The apex Sikh body chief pointed out that Singh won from the Khadoor Sahib constituency by a margin of around two lakh votes. Singh, who styled himself after slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was arrested in Punjab's Moga last year after he and his supporters barged i

Crony capitalism thriving under Modi: Congress on Jio, Airtel tariff hikes

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala questioned the Centre's intent, asking how the companies were unilaterally allowed to increase the rates without any oversight and regulation