Page 5 - Centre

Centre blocks six YouTube channels streaming pro-Khalistan content

At least six YouTube channels allegedly promoting pro-Khalistan sentiments have been blocked at the instance of the government, a senior official said on Friday. Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra said six to eight YouTube channels, operating from foreign countries, have been blocked over the past 10 days. He said the channels with content in Punjabi language were trying to foment trouble in the border state. The government action came in the wake of supporters of radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh storming a police station in Ajnala with swords and guns to demand the release of one of their aides. Singh was last year anointed head of 'Waris Punjab De', which was founded by actor and activist late Deep Sidhu, at an event held at Moga's Rode, the native village of slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Another senior official said YouTube has been taking action on the government's requests to block channels within 48 hours. The officia

Govt's efforts to avoid power crisis set to boost LNG imports in summers

An early onset of hot weather has already pushed power demand to near-record levels, stoking fears of a repeat of the intense heat wave last year

Lies on migrant workers a fallout of call for oppn unity against BJP: TN CM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has alleged the "lies spread" regarding the attacks on migrant workers in the state was a fallout of his recent call for opposition unity to dislodge the ruling BJP at the Centre next year and blamed the saffron party functionaries for doing so. In his "Ungalil Oruvan" question and answer series, the chief of the ruling DMK asserted no migrant worker in the state has been assaulted as alleged. Many such workers were employed in Tamil Nadu for a long time and never have they faced any issues, he said. "Some have been preparing fake videos and spreading lies.The BJP functionaries in north India have done this with an agenda. You will understand the conspiracy behind doing so, if you notice that such lies were spread the very next day I highlighted the need for political organisations opposed to the BJP joining hands at the national level," he said. At his birthday rally here on March 1, attended by leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun

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Excise policy case: BRS minister slams BJP; says Centre targeting KCR govt

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Minister Jagdeeshwar Reddy on Wednesday slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party govt for targeting party MLC K Kavitha after she was summoned by ED on March 11 in Delhi liquor policy case.Speaking to the media, Reddy said that the BJP Government under Prime Minister Modi is targeting Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao-led government in Telangana and Kejriwal-led AAP government in Delhi."BJP has been violating the Constitution & misusing the constitutional agencies and trying to suppress the opposition parties," said Jagdeeshwar Reddy, BRS Minister."In Kavitha's issue, I have been maintaining that this case is nothing but political vendetta and the case was registered after a BJP MP made allegations," he said.BRS Minister claimed that they (BJP) are attempting to suppress the AAP govt, and more than that, they're trying to damage CM KCR's morale because he's exposing BJP and PM Modi."That's why all this is being done by BJP Govt. These cases can ...

Centre brings crypto assets under PMLA, wrongdoing can be probed by ED

India, as G20 president, is looking to drive the narrative on dangers of cryptos

Centre wants to make women members of SHGs lakhpati: Giriraj Singh

Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday said the government has resolved to make members of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) lakhpatis. He was speaking after inaugurating a one-day workshop of women and an exhibition at Shahapur in Thane district. More than 25,000 women attended the function. "There are 86,000 SHGs in India which include 9 crore women. In the last eight years, the government has disbursed Rs 6.26 lakh crore to these women. It is the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make each and every member of SHGs a lakhpati. We are working in that direction. 'Lakhpati Didi' programme is being implemented in the country," he said. Singh said the income of women members of SHGs in Thane district will go up and the GDP of the district will improve.

JEE: Delhi HC seeks govt's response on plea seeking relaxation for students

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Centre and other respondents and sought a response to a plea seeking relaxation for the students appearing for the JEE Advance 2023.

Centre likely to identify five coastal shipping projects for PPP in FY24

The aim is to connect vital, high-demand economic areas which have an infrastructure deficit or traditional transport like roadways and railways that have reached saturation

Cess, surcharge collections increase by 133% between FY'18 and FY'23

There has been a rise of 133 per cent in collection of major cess and surcharges levied by the Centre during the five year period between 2017-18 and 2022-23, as it went up to Rs 5,10,549 crore

Centre to create ethanol carryover stock for next year as demand may go up

The government is planning to create a carry over stock of ethanol for the next year anticipating a rise in demand for E20 fuel in the country, according to a senior food ministry official. E20 fuel is a blend of 20 per cent ethanol with petrol. The government aims to achieve the 20 per cent ethanol blending target by 2025. "Ethanol blending is going well. Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have started dispensing E20 fuel in about 100 outlets in 31 cities in the country. We have started E20 fuel, if it goes well then the requirement will be more," Additional Secretary in the food ministry Subodh Kumar said. Like sugar, the government "plans to create a carryover stock of ethanol" with OMCs and distilleries for 2023-24 ethanol year (December-November) and more sugar would be diverted for the same, he said. The government has kept the 12 per cent ethanol blending target in the ongoing 2022-23 ethanol year, while 15 per cent for the next year. "About 120 crore litres has been blended wi

Delhi Waqf Board assails before HC de-listing of 123 properties by Centre

The Delhi Waqf Board on Tuesday assailed in the Delhi High Court the de-listing of its 123 properties by the Centre. The board contended all these properties are either dargahs, mosques or graveyards, which have always remained in its possession and cannot be taken away now on the basis of a report of a two-member committee. As the court listed the matter for further hearing next week, senior counsel Rahul Mehra, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner, urged for directions for maintenance of status quo on possession of the properties. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri said an interim order cannot be passed without hearing the Centre, adding even as per the order under challenge, only physical inspection of the properties is directed. The central government counsel said, As on date, only inspection may happen, if at all. I have to hear them also. Nothing is going to happen, said the judge. The Land and Development Office (L&DO) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) recentl

Govt explains guidelines for paid endorsements by social media influencers

Disclosure must be placed in endorsement message in a manner that is clear, prominent, and hard to miss

Twitter did not appear before Review Committee over takedown orders: Centre

The Central government on Monday submitted its arguments against the petition challenging the blocking orders filed by Twitter in the Karnataka High Court. Additional Solicitor General R Sankaranarayanan placed the arguments before the single judge bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit. On behalf of Twitter, senior advocates Arvind Datar and Ashok Haranahalli had presented the arguments in December 2022. The arguments for the Central government was delayed due to time sought by the Centre's counsels. The ASG informed the court on Monday that Twitter had not appeared before the Review Committee to challenge the blocking orders but instead approached the High Court. The Central government submitted details of the responsibilities of intermediaries like Twitter and the difference between the laws regarding intermediaries in India and the United Kingdom. The court was also given details of the account holders whose Twitter handles were blocked for objectionable content. The format of the

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Centre authorises states to conduct Aadhaar authentication of prisoners

The Centre has authorised state governments to carry out Aadhaar authentication of prison inmates on a voluntary basis so that they will be able to get health care, skilling, vocational training, interview with relatives and legal aid, among other services. In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said the decision has been taken after it was authorised under Rule 5 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020, for the targeted delivery of financial and other subsidies, benefits and services. The Aadhaar authentication will be carried out on the prison inmates on a voluntary basis using Yes/No authentication facility for delivery of various benefits or facilities to which they are entitled, such as correctional reform measures, health, skilling, vocational training, interview with relatives, legal aid, etc, the notification said. The prison authorities of the states and Union Territory administrations shall adhere to the ...

Extra 1 mn tonnes sugar exports possible if output meets estimate: Govt

India, the world's second largest sugar producing nation after Brazil, has a cushion to export an additional 1 million tonnes of the sweetener if the domestic output reaches an estimated 33.6 million tonnes this year, a senior food ministry official said on Monday. The government will take a call next month on allowing more quantities of sugar exports, after assessing domestic production, he said. Sugar availability is comfortable in the country and as a result wholesale and retail prices of the sweetener are on a decline in the last one month. The food ministry has allowed 6 million tonnes of sugar exports for the current 2022-23 marketing year (October-September). India exported a record 11 million tonnes of sugar in the previous year. "More exports are possible and we have a cushion for exports of additional one million tonnes, suppose the overall production reaches the estimated 33.6 million tonnes this year," the official said. Sugar production has already reached 24.7 milli

Violence against women a hidden issue in country: Rahul at London event

Rahul Gandhi, during an interaction with the Indian diaspora in London, said that he found during the Bharat Jodo Yatra that the main issues in the country are price rise and violence against women

Govt nod to nano liquid DAP important to make farmers' life easy: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the government's approval to nano liquid DAP fertiliser, saying it was an important step towards making life easier for farmers. Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday said the government has approved the launch of nano liquid DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertiliser for the benefits of farmers and making the country self-reliant. Tagging Mandaviya's tweet on the approval by the government, Modi said in a tweet in Hindi, "An important step towards making life easier for our farmer brothers and sisters." In another tweet, responding to the tweet threads by Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Tourism, Shripad Y Naik, Modi expressed happiness on the construction of National Waterways-68 that has reduced the distance between Panjim to Vasco in Goa by 9 km and the journey can now be completed in just 20 minutes. Modi said that the connectivity between Panjim to Vasco in Goa will provide

Centre saved $27 bn in schemes using DBT method: Economic Affairs secy

India saved over USD 27 billion in key central government schemes through direct benefit transfer as it is swift and eliminates corruption, Ajay Seth, Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs said here on Sunday. Delivering his keynote address at the second meeting of the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion, Seth said Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), created by India is inherently scalable, interoperable, innovation-friendly, and inclusive and has completely transformed government to people, people to people and people to business interactions. And since the transfers are all direct, end to end, and swift, there is little scope for corruption and leakages and removal of duplicate/ fake beneficiaries. In our own experience, DBT has entailed a saving of more than USD 27 billion just across key central government schemes, the official said. In India, DPI enabled DBT emerged as a boon in providing succour and relief to millions of citizens whose livelihood was impacted. T