Government Policies

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Trade resents losses due to government's faults

It is now for the industry associations to agitate the matter before the government

Network Planning Group under PM Gati Shakti approves 4 infra projects

The Network Planning Group (NPG) under the PM Gati Shakti initiative has approved four infrastructure projects related to railways, an official statement said on Friday. In October 2021, PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan was launched with an aim to develop an integrated and planned infrastructure to reduce logistics costs. All logistics and connectivity infrastructure projects, entailing an investment of over Rs 500 crore, are routed through NPG. "NPG under PM Gati Shakti at its 46th session examined and recommended four infrastructure projects," the commerce and industry ministry said, adding that these projects will be developed in tandem with PM Gati Shakti principles using the integrated and holistic approach. These projects will also provide multimodal connectivity, seamless movement of goods and passengers, it said. The four projects are construction of broad-gauge double line between Sawai Madhopur and Jaipur in Rajasthan, broad-gauge line between Junagarh to Nabarangpu

Govt working to make Assam Police "zero vacancy force": Assam CM Sarma

The government is working to make Assam Police a "zero vacancy force" and equip it with the latest technological interventions to deal with modern-day crime

Government releases new rules for online gaming, prohibits betting

The government on Thursday released new rules for online gaming which prohibit any game that involves betting and wagering, and entail a framework of multiple self-regulatory organisations (SROs). Online games involved in wagering or betting will fall foul of new online gaming rules, Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar told reporters here. There will be multiple SROs, and these SROs will have participation from all the stakeholders including but not limited to the industry. "We are dealing with a framework which allows for all online gaming to be determined as permissible or not, by an SRO and there will be multiple SROs," Chandrasekhar said. Permissibility will be determined with the simple principle of whether wagering is involved and "if wagering is involved, the SRO will be in a position to say that those online games are not permissible.

Rs 40,700 cr loan sanctioned under Stand-Up India, focuses on job creation

As much as Rs 40,710 crore loan has been sanctioned to over 1.8 lakh accounts under the government's flagship Stand Up India Scheme, which is focussed on economic empowerment and job creation, according to official data. Of the funds sanctioned since the inception of the scheme in 2016, about 80 per cent of the loans have been given to women entrepreneurs. The scheme was launched on April 5, 2016 to promote entrepreneurship amongst women, Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories by providing them loans for starting a greenfield enterprise in manufacturing, services or the trading sector and activities allied to agriculture. In the first year, Rs 3,683 crore was sanctioned which has now swelled to Rs 40,710 crore as on March 31, 2023, the data showed. As much as Rs 33,152.43 crore was sanctioned to 1.44 lakh accounts of women while 26,889 loans worth Rs 5,625.5 crore were to SCs and 8,960 loans worth Rs 1,932 crore to STs under the scheme. The scheme has since bee

New payment mechanism of railways: 30 days max, else govt will pay interest

The step is expected to eliminate the "biggest risk" faced by contractors, meaning that railways will ensure that payments are made within the stipulated time, said the railway minister at an event

Ahead of Gudi Padva, Maha gifts Rs 100 ration kits to 16.3 million families

Ahead of the auspicious Gudi Padva festival on March 22 and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's 132nd birth anniversary on April 14, the Maha govt will gift Rs 100 food kits to around 1.63 crore ration cardholders

Docs in MP call off indefinite strike within hours, govt to set up panel

Hours after they launched a state-wide indefinite strike on Friday, government doctors in Madhya Pradesh called off their stir following an assurance from state Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang that a high-powered committee would look into their demands, including those related to promotions. The government doctors began the strike in the morning hours, but it was withdrawn by around noon. On Thursday, nearly 16,000 government doctors across the state had gone off-duty for two hours to protest what they called "bureaucratic interference in their work and promotions". Talking to reporters, minister Sarang said, "A delegation of doctors met me. A high-powered committee will be formed to look into their demands. The panel will submit its recommendations to the government and action will be taken on it in a stipulated time." The delegation of doctors also met Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Talking to PTI, president of Association of Medical Officers Medical Education .

Government notifies ITR forms for AY 2023-24, makes no substantial changes

The finance ministry has allowed individuals against whom search and seizure operations were carried out by the I-T authorities to file revised income tax return in ITR-1 form for assessment year(AY) 2023-24. However, there are no substantial changes in the six income tax return forms catering to individuals, professionals and businesses, notified by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on February 10. This year, CBDT has notified ITR forms 1-6, as well ITR-V (verification form) and ITR acknowledgement form in advance, a move that will give taxpayers enough time to prepare for relevant disclosures. The I-T department earlier used to notify ITR forms for the relevant financial year either by March or April. Income tax return forms have been notified for Assessment Year 2023-24 (for income earned in 2022-23). As per the modified norms, individuals on whom search and seizure operations have been carried out by tax officials can now file revised return under section 153 C on the ba

Bombay HC refuses to stop tender for sanitary napkins for govt school

The Bombay High Court on Friday rejected a petition that objected to certain conditions in Maharashtra government's tender to procure sanitary napkins for girls in state-run schools, noting that the safety and hygiene of the students are important and that the clauses are necessary to maintain quality. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice S V Gangapurwala and Justice Sandeep Marne disposed of the petition filed by a start-up owned by a 69-year-old man challenging the conditions imposed by the state in its tender for the supply of sanitary napkins to 9,940 government schools. Safety and hygiene of school girls are important and for that purpose, the quality has to be maintained. We do not find any illegality in the tender conditions, the court said. The conditions were that the bidders had to have three years of experience in supplying sanitary napkins and an annual turnover of Rs 12 crore. Additional government pleader B V Samant told the court that the tender has the condition

Israel's tech industry speaking out in criticism against govt policies

Israel's tech industry has long been the driving force behind the country's economy. Now, as Israel's new government pushes ahead with its far-right agenda, the industry is flexing its muscle and speaking out in unprecedented criticism against policies it fears will drive away investors and decimate the booming sector. The public outcry presents a pointed challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who champions Israeli technology on the international stage and has long boasted of his own economic prowess. It also highlights how deep and broad opposition to the government's policies runs, from political rivals, to top members of the justice system and military. Tech leaders say that since the government took power last month, a cloud has emerged over their industry, with foreign investors spooked at what some say is a country regressing rather than striving for innovation. They fear the government's plans to overhaul the judiciary and pledges by some top officials to advance .

Constitution withstood test of time: President Murmu ahead of Republic Day

The government did not overlook low-income groups, said Droupadi Murmu, President of India

Fair price shop owners oppose decision to stop PMGKAY, threaten agitation

Fair price shop dealers have opposed the government's decision to stop the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY), saying that they will incur a loss of Rs 484 crore due to the move

Centre proposes self-regulatory body for online gaming companies

The gaming companies will have to appoint a Grievance Officer who will be an employee of the online gaming intermediary and shall be a resident of India

Maruti Suzuki blames high taxes for low car ownership in the country

Car-industry growth in India has slowed to 3% from 12% in the past twelve years, partly due to poor government policies, Bhargava said

Centre never questioned intention of opposition leaders: Rajnath Singh

"We have never questioned the intention of leaders in the opposition, we have only debated on the basis of policies. Politics is done by speaking the truth," he said

270 urban forest projects approved since 2020: Govt tells Parliament

Nagar Van Yojana, launched in 2020, aims to enhance green cover, biodiversity in cities

Contribution of cesses to central govt's tax kitty doubles to over 18%

States have been concerned about increasing cases of Centre imposing cesses for garnering additional revenue

SC reserves verdict on demonetisation, asks govt, RBI for submissions

AG said note ban's success or failure in curbing black money not a reason to invalidate the decision judicially as the move was made in good faith, after following due process