Page 9 - Centre

BJP govt at Centre fighting with everyone, alleges Delhi CM Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday accused the BJP government at the Centre of "fighting with everyone", including states, judges, farmers as well as traders. Citing a news report on the Collegium system of appointment of judges becoming a major flashpoint between the Supreme Court and the Centre, Kejriwal advised the Narendra Modi government not to meddle in others' work. "Why does the central government fight with everyone? With judges, Supreme Court, state governments, farmers and traders? The country will not progress by quarrelling with everyone. Do your job and let others do theirs. Don't interfere in other's work," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. The AAP government in Delhi is involved in a running battle with the Centre-appointed Lt Governor over a range of governance and jurisdiction-related matters. Last month, Kejriwal along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and AAP MLAs marched to Raj Niwas over an alleged delay in approving his government's ...

Working for welfare of deprived, backward sections our priority: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that welfare of the deprived and backward sections is the Central government's priority. Modi, during a virtual address at the Krishnaguru Eknaam Akhand Kirtan' in Assam's Barpeta district, also said special provisions have been made in the Union Budget 2023-24 to increase the interest rates on women's savings to empower them. The PM, draped in a white and green 'gamosa', said that the demand for the traditional hand towels have gone up in the last eight years. Lakhs of women organised under Self Help Groups (SHGs) are weaving these. Behind every gamosa' is the hard work of the women of Assam, he said. The month-long kirtan, which began on January 6, is being held at the Krishnaguru Sevashram.

'Higher for longer' interest rate approach needed to inflation down: IMF

Global central banks need to make clear to financial markets the probable need for interest rates to remain higher for longer in order to bring inflation sustainably back down, the IMF said

NHRC sends notices to Centre, others on high death rate of factory workers

The NHRC has sent notices to the Centre and various states and Union Territories over the reported high death rate of workers in accidents at registered factories, officials said on Thursday. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in a statement, said it has taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper article that according to the Ministry of Labour and Employment's Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) data, three people died and 11 were injured each day on an average between 2017 and 2022, due to accidents at registered factories in the country. Reportedly, as many as 3,331 deaths were recorded between 2018 and 2020, but only 14 people were imprisoned for offences under the Factories Act, 1948, it said. The data collected by DGFASLI from Chief Inspectors of Factories and Directors of Industrial Safety and Health represents that only registered factories provided the figures, whereas, 90 per cent workers in India are employed in the informal

Centre asked SC to finalise MoP for appointment of judges, says Rijiju

The government on Thursday said it has suggested to the Supreme Court that the search-cum-evaluation committee for the appointment of judges in the apex court and chief justices of high courts should consist of a representative nominated by the Centre. In a written reply to two separate questions in the Rajya Sabha, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also said the Centre has not asked the Supreme Court to include a government nominee in the collegium for appointments to the higher judiciary. Rijiju said in a communication to the apex court January 6, the government has also emphasised the need to finalise the memorandum of procedure (MoP) in view of various judicial pronouncements. The MoP is a set of documents that guide the elevation, appointment and transfer of Supreme Court and high court judges. The minister said for the appointment of judges in the high courts, the committee should consist of a representative each nominated by the Centre and the respective state governments. The ...

Call on FY24 green bond, H2 borrowing to be taken together: Ajay Seth

We are at 57 per cent of GDP for the central government, we have to see that every year we nibble away may be a percentage point, said Ajay Seth, Economic Affairs Secretary

Devolution to states: Cess, surcharge help Centre keep major chunk of taxes

Among a few tweaks to surcharges, Sitharaman announced the Centre would reduce the highest surcharge levied under personal income tax from 37 per cent to 25 per cent under the new tax regime

Gati Shakti push: 18 road projects headed for the fast lane in FY24

62 critical projects to be awarded by FY25

Govt exploring legal options on pending CCI approval of 16 mergers

Seeks solutions within statutory framework of Competition Act to speed up approvals

Centre notifies GACs to look into complaints against social media firms

The Centre on Friday notified three grievances appellate committees that will address users' complaints against social media and other internet-based platforms. According to the notification, each of the three GACs (grievances appellate committees) will have a chairperson, two whole-time members from different government entities and retired senior executives from the industry for a term of three years from the date of assumption of office. The first panel will be chaired by the chief executive officer of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Ashutosh Shukla and Punjab National Bank's (PNB) former chief general manager and chief information officer Sunil Soni have been appointed as the whole-time members of the panel. The second panel will be chaired by the joint secretary in charge of the Policy and Administration Division in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Indian Navy's retired ...

Republic Day: CM Mann slams Centre for not including Punjab's tableau

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday slammed the BJP-led Centre for not including the state's tableau in the Republic Day parade, saying there cannot be anything more shameful than this. He said in the country's freedom struggle, Punjab and Punjabis made 90 per cent contribution -- be it Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Madan Lal Dhingra and thousands of unknown martyrs who made supreme sacrifices to give the country its independence. "Punjab's tableau for Republic Day not included this time. There cannot be anything more shameful than this. The BJP government has shown its mindset...," Mann said in a video message. He said the entire world wants to see Punjab's rich culture and contribution of Punjabis towards the nation's freedom struggle. On Punjab's tableau not being part of the Republic Day parade, Mann said, "We strongly condemn this. Punjab cannot be overlooked at such events". It is painful, he said, adding that his part

Determination of fake news cannot be in sole hands of govt: Editors Guild

The Editors Guild of India on Tuesday urged Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, to expunge the draft amendment to IT Rules 2021

States do Centre a good turn

A sharp reduction in states' deficit augurs well for the Centre's fiscal planning

GM mustard not developed as herbicide-tolerant, Centre tells SC

Top court says it is it is more concerned about the risk factors of GM Mustard

Govt should scrap windfall profit tax on domestic crude oil: FICCI

The government should scrap the windfall profit tax on domestically produced crude oil as the levy is adversely impacting the capex-intensive exploration of oil and gas, the industry said in its recommendation for the forthcoming annual budget. India first imposed windfall profit taxes on July 1, joining a growing number of nations that tax super normal profits of energy companies. At that time, a Rs 23,250 per tonne (USD 40 per barrel) windfall profit tax on domestic crude production was levied. The new tax, which was also slapped on the export of petrol, diesel and ATF, is calibrated every fortnight in step with international oil prices. Industry chamber FICCI in its recommendations for the Budget, said such levy is in addition to all other existing levies. "It is recommended that the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on petroleum crude should be removed or if there is a need to continue the levy for some time as an extraordinary measure then the rate be changed to an ad-valo

Centre's three new national cooperatives signal sector's growing clout

But, critics say the approach in forming should have been bottoms-up instead of top-down

Arvind Kejriwal asks Centre to take note of mass layoffs in tech firms

Expressing his concerns at the mass layoffs across several tech firms, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asked the centre to assess the situation in the country and take right steps. Several multi nationals have retrenched in the recent past leading to job cuts in the US and other countries. "The youths are being retrenched in large numbers from the IT Sector. The Central government must review the Indian situation and take right steps," Kejriwal said in a Hindi tweet. Earlier this month, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that the company will lay off 10,000 workers, about five per cent of its total workforce, terming it a hard choice the tech giant had to make to remain a "consequential company" amid global economic uncertainties. Microsoft is the latest firm after Facebook and Amazon to cut jobs as the bloodbath in the technology sector continues in 2023. Describing the current times as a period of "significant change," Indian-origin Nadella said customers who ramped

Wrestlers call off protest after Sharan asked to step down as WFI president

The aggrieved grapplers called off their protest late on night after getting assurances from the govt that their grievances would be addressed

India govt switches bonds maturing in 2024 with RBI in cash-neutral deal

Indian government bought back bonds maturing in 2024 from the Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday, while also issuing bonds maturing in 2032 worth a similar quantum, the central bank said on Wednesday

SC permits Centre to seek reference of Delhi govt-LG row to larger bench

The Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the Central government to file additional submissions seeking reference of the Delhi-Centre power dispute to a larger bench of nine judges