Page 6 - Central Government

Trade settlement in rupee: Govt, RBI devise country-specific plan

To start with, a small number of banks will be allowed to manage cross-border transactions in domestic currency with a particular country

Winter session: Oppn demands discussion on border issue with China

Matters will be taken up in keeping with House norms: Centre at all-party meet

Govt wants Delhi-Centre power dispute case be referred to larger SC bench

The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that it has filed a fresh plea seeking reference to a larger bench of nine or more judges a matter involving a constitutional issue related to the control of services in the national capital. The Delhi government, represented by senior advocate A M Singhvi, opposed the Centre's plea before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha, saying, "this will only create delay and such tactics cannot be allowed". Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said at the outset "there are no facts to be controverted. But, I have filed an IA (interim application) stating that this matter (Delhi-Centre case) may have to be referred to a larger bench". Singhvi opposed the submission, saying it amounted to seeking a review of the apex court order which had said the matter did not require reference to a larger bench and the only issue remaining between the parties was the dispute pertaining to control

Centre tells fertiliser companies, states to promote Nano urea use

At present, the capacity of Nano urea is 50 million bottles per year

LG recommends Delhi Police proposal to Centre to extend law on bootleggers

The said Act is applicable for the prevention of dangerous activities of bootleggers, drug offenders, immoral traffic offenders, land grabbers, food adulteration offenders, fake document offenders

Wheat acreage up nearly 10% as rabi sowing nears halfway, shows data

Usually wheat is sown in around 30.5 million hectares of which so far around 15.28 million is already sown

Constitution Day: How India's founding document came to make history

Ideas and practices of a variety of world political systems were reshaped and reimagined for the republic

Centre appoints 3 Indian Foreign Service officers to different posts in PMO

Three Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers were on Thursday appointed to different posts in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Deepak Mittal, a 1998-batch IFS officer, has been appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the PMO, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said. Vipin Kumar and Nidhi Tewari have been appointed as Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary respectively in the PMO. Kumar is a 2013-batch IFS officer and Tewari belongs to the 2014 batch. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved extension in the tenure of Rudra Gaurav Shresth, Joint Secretary in the PMO, for a period of two months beyond February 9, 2023 or until three weeks after joining of Mittal as the OSD, whichever is earlier, it said.

Verify Aadhaar before accepting it as proof of identity, says UIDAI

Card can be verified using the QR code available on all forms of the identity document

Wrong to assume having judge in EC appointment will ensure clarity: Govt

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday it was a wrong presupposition that the mere presence of someone from the judiciary in the panel for appointment of Election Commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner would ensure transparency and independence. A five-judge bench headed by Justice K M Joseph was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, "A presupposition that only with the presence of the judiciary, independence and fairness will be achieved, that is an incorrect reading of the Constitution. Mere presence of someone from judiciary will ensure transparency is fallacious statement." Mehta told the bench also comprising Justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar that the petitioners' proposal that a collegium-like system with the Chief Justice of India as one of the members be put in place in the absence of law for the appointment of ECs and CEC cannot be done. "This court cannot say that in the absence of law, thi

About 160,000 jobs being generated every month: Railway minister Vaishnaw

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday claimed that about 16 lakh jobs are being generated every month by the Central government. Vaishnaw was addressing a 'Rozgar Mela' (employment fair) programme organized in Ajmer by the Central Reserve Police Force. He said that about 16 lakh jobs are being created every month under this Central government and transparency is the key of the Narendra Modi government, according to an official statement. The railway minister said, "India has emerged as a source of energy with full of opportunities even in the situation of global economic crisis." He said that today the life of every class of society has become easier due to the Centre's schemes. Calling upon the youth to adopt the mantra of 'Nation First, Always First', he said that only those people achieved success in life who always put the nation first in their duty. Referring to the challenges faced by the youth, Vaishnaw said, "If they remember only one thing, only one mantra, then t

We will have to be tough on Naxalism: Centre tells SC during a hearing

"We will have to be tough on Naxalism," the Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday during a hearing on a plea seeking an SIT investigation into an alleged massacre in a Chhattisgarh village in May 2013 which is already being probed by the CBI. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told a bench of Justices M R Shah and M M Sundresh that there are organisations which send their fact-finding teams to the place of occurrence of Naxal incidents. Such fact-finding teams come out with a pre-determined conclusion faulting the security forces and then petitions are filed in the courts, he said. The bench was hearing a plea seeking the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) comprising officers from outside Chhattisgarh to probe and prosecute the members of the combined forces for the alleged massacre in Bijapur district's Edesmeta village on May 17, 2013, in which eight people were killed. The plea has also sought a direction to pay compensation to the victim

Govt scraps requirement to fill out Air Suvidha form for foreign arrivals

The government on Monday scrapped the requirement to fill out Air Suvidha form for people flying into India from foreign countries amid declining coronavirus cases. The revised guidelines for international arrivals will be effective from November 22, according to a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Earlier, the guidelines had required that passengers arriving in India from overseas should fill up the Air Suvidha form. The form was introduced in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, the civil aviation ministry said the use of masks is not compulsory during air travel but passengers should preferably use them. As per the MoHFW's latest guidelines, air travellers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their country. On arrival, the passengers should ensure physical distancing and thermal screening of all the arriving international passengers will be done by

SC seeks Centre, Delhi govt replies on plea of conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar

The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the Centre and the Delhi government on plea of conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar seeking that he be shifted from the Mandoli jail here to any other prison in the country. A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and CT Ravikumar, which was hearing two separate petitions of Chandrashekhar, asked him to move a representation to jail authorities on increasing the visiting hours with his lawyers. Chandrashekhar, through his lawyer, claimed that he was assaulted in Mandoli jail, which is evident from his medical records and said that he is facing a threat to life in the prison. He said 28 cases are pending against him in six cities across the country and for that he needs to meet his lawyers for 60 minutes every day as against the 30 minutes each twice a week provided under the Delhi Prison Rules. Chandrashekhar's counsel said after his disclosure statements that Rs 10 crore was allegedly extorted by Delhi's Jail minister Satyendra Jain, he is facing

Centre committed to exploring waterways potential for NE's benefit: Sonowal

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the Central government is working to explore the full potential of inland waterways as it is an important means of communication for the development of the interior parts. He also underlined the role of waterways in ensuring greater economic vibrancy in the North Eastern region. After reviewing the progress of waterways projects for Barak Valley of Assam on Saturday, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on Saturday said, "Northeast India is rich and its richness must reach the world in order to make people aware of our rich heritage and resources. Inland Waterways comes as a wonderful avenue for us - the people of Northeast - to take our produce out into the global trade map in an efficient and economical way." Sonowal, who hails from Assam, said the Central government is working towards unlocking this potential of the North East by enabling the river systems to act as a conduit of growth and development. "As the engine of New .

Govt scraps export tax on low grade iron ore, some steel intermediates

The import duty concessions on anthracite/PCI coal, coking coal, coke and semi coke and ferronickel have also been withdrawn.

Govt raises maximum tenure of PSU banks' CEOs to 10 years to retain talent

As per a government notification dated November 17, 2022, the term for the appointment has been extended to 10 years, from the earlier 5 years, subject to superannuation age of 60 years

Cong slams Govt for filing petition against release of Rajiv case convicts

The Congress on Thursday took a swipe at the government for filing a review petition in the Supreme Court against the release of convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, saying it is "a case of belated wisdom". "Government's decision to file review petition against the release of Rajiv Gandhi assassination convicts is a case of belated wisdom dawning," said AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal. "BJP government has been blatantly apathetic towards this case. What's the point in locking the door after the horse has bolted!" he said on Twitter. Facing criticism from the Congress, the government on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking a review of its order for premature release of six convicts in the assassination case. The Centre said the order granting remission to the convicts, who had assassinated the former prime minister, was passed without affording it adequate opportunity for hearing despite it being a necessary party to the case. The government ...

No difference in condition of roads in Maharashtra and Bihar: Jairam Ramesh

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh, who is walking with Rahul Gandhi in Bharat Jodo Yatra, on Wednesday said the condition of roads in Maharashtra and Bihar is equally bad and took a dig at the Central government over the road construction. Talking to reporters in Washim, Ramesh said the condition of roads in Maharashtra is bad unlike in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He said he experienced difficulty in walking on roads in Maharashtra leg of the foot march. The Yatra continued on the 10th day of its Maharashtra leg on Wednesday in Washim district in the Vidarbha region. "There is a minister in the Modi government who holds an important portfolio and it is believed that after Sher Shah Suri, he has constructed all roads. He has an image of a master road builder. He also boasts of his work. What has happened to Marathwada and Vidarbha?'' Ramesh asked. He said Maharashtra is number one in investment "but I have to say there is no difference in terms of

SC asks Centre to check practice of forceful religious conversion

A very serious issue that threatens the freedom and security of the country and its citizens, says top court