Page 9 - Indian Government

Step up surveillance, wear masks: Mandaviya says in LS amid Covid concerns

Amid a spurt in Covid cases in some parts of the world, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday asked states to remain alert and create awareness about wearing face masks and using hand sanitisers, especially in view of upcoming festivals and new year celebrations. Making a statement in Lok Sabha, Mandaviya said the continuously evolving nature of the virus poses threat to global health in a way that impacts virtually every country. The minister said India has been reporting 153 new cases on an average every day as against 5.87 lakh on a daily basis across the world. "In view of upcoming festivals and new year celebrations, states also need to focus on ensuring effective awareness within the community on adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour which includes use of masks, hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene practices, besides following physical distancing," he said. Mandaviya said states have been advised to focus on heightened surveillance within the community and to ...

Ensure genome sequencing, boost scrutiny as Covid surges: Centre to states

Amid a fresh global surge in Covid-19 cases, the central government has briefed all states to conduct genome sequencing of samples, the additional chief secretary of Health informed

Latest LIVE: Mandaviya holds high-level meeting to review Covid situation

Catch all the live updates from across the globe here

Latest news LIVE: India crosses milestone of 2.2 bn Covid vaccine doses

Catch all the latest news from around the world here

India eyes quality control measures for rubber, cement industries: Report

India aims to implement quality control measures for the light engineering, rubber, cement and concrete building materials industry by next year, a government source said

Here is why the Centre should hand over a lower share of taxes to states

The Centre should share only 25 per cent of tax revenues with states, and the states should be allowed to impose their own income tax

JSPL sees 'very good reason' to consider RINL, NMDC: MD Bimlendra Jha

State-owned companies marked out for divestment are attractive assets, he says in interview

270 urban forest projects approved since 2020: Govt tells Parliament

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

Rajnath lays wreath at National War Memorial on occasion of Vijay Diwas

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday laid wreath at the National War Memorial on the occasion of Vijay Diwas, commemorating India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War

Modi govt is sounding friendlier toward free trade for some nations

In recent months, senior Indian officials have insisted that their nation intends to integrate further with the global economy

Sundar Pichai coming to India; govt to discuss 'Made in India' Pixel phones

According to a recent media report, Google plans to shift half the production of Pixel devices out of China, and the Indian govt wants India to become an assembly base as well

India-China trade rises 34% in FY22 thwarting Centre's self-reliance goals

otal merchandise trade between India and China rose 34% to $115.83 billion in the 12 months to March 2022

Govt extends bid submission deadline till Jan 7 for IDBI Bank sale

The government on Wednesday extended the deadline to submit preliminary bids for the IDBI Bank privatisation till January 7. The government and LIC together are looking to sell 60.72 per cent of IDBI Bank and had invited bids from potential buyers in October. The last date for submitting an Expression of Interest (EoI) or preliminary bids was December 16. Following that transaction advisors received requests for an extension of the deadline. In a notice, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) said the last date for submission of EoI is January 7, 2023, instead of December 16, 2022. Also, the last date for submission of physical copies of the EoIs has been extended to January 14, from December 23. The government and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) hold 94.71 per cent of IDBI Bank and are looking to offload 60.72 per cent in the state-owned bank. The successful bidder will have to make an open offer of acquisition of 5.28 per cent of the public ...

1.6 mn cybercrime incidents reported since 2020; over 32,000 FIRs: Govt

Over 16 lakh cybercrime incidents have been reported in the country in the last three years following which more than 32,000 FIRs were registered, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal' (www.cybercrime.gov.in) allows easy reporting of all types of cyber crimes and the incidents reported on this portal are routed automatically to the respective State and UT law enforcement agency for further handling as per the provisions of law. "As per the data maintained, more than 16 lakh cybercrime incidents have been reported and more than 32,000 FIRs have been registered from January 1, 2020, to December 7, 2022," he said replying to a written question. The minister said, the 'Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System' has been launched for immediate reporting of financial frauds and to stop siphoning off funds by fraudsters. So far, financial fraud transactions amounting to more th

Winter session: 16 Bills on govt agenda; Cong to seek discussion on China

The results of the assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are likely to play out during the Winter session of Parliament beginning Wednesday. The government plans to introduce 16 bills during 17 sittings in the session, while the Congress will seek to corner the government over a host of issues including the situation on the border with China. A day after the session starts, votes for the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly polls will be counted. The outcome is likely have a bearing on the proceedings whichever way the verdict goes as parties may use the verdict to corner rivals. Exit polls had on Monday predicted a big majority for the BJP in Gujarat and a dead heat in Himachal Pradesh where most pollsters gave an edge to the ruling party over the Congress. The Winter session is also likely to be the last session to be held in the existing Parliament House. Outlining the issues that the Congress will raise, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh had said last week, t

President Murmu pays floral tributes to Ambedkar on his death anniversary

President Droupadi Murmu paid floral tributes to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his death anniversary at his statue in the Parliament.

Given directions to Coal India to conclude wage pact: Pralhad Joshi

Coal minister Pralhad Joshi has given directions to Coal India to conclude the wage pact of its non-executive workforce at the earliest. The minister has said that all pending issues should be sorted out and emphasised that he would not allow the trade unions to go on strike on the issue. Wages of non-executive workers, who account for over 90 per cent of Coal India's (CIL) workforce, are revised every five years. Workers are seeking a 28 per cent increase in wages, while Coal India has offered a 10.5 per cent raise, according to a union leader. "Normally the agreement takes place between Coal India and labour unions... I have told management (of Coal India) to have a cordial relation with them and have a cordial meeting with them and sort out the issue. I want that whatever the issues are pending should be sorted out," Joshi told PTI. Stating that from the past five-six months the negotiations between Coal India management and trade unions on wage revision are underway, the minis

Centre to convene all-party meet Monday to finalise G20 summit strategies

The Centre will convene an all-party meeting on Monday to solicit suggestions, discuss and finalise strategies for the G-20 summit which India will host in September next year. Presidents of nearly 40 parties have been invited to the meeting by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also likely to attend the meeting at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. India officially assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1. New Delhi is expected to host over 200 meetings across the country, including Hyderabad, beginning in December this year. The next G20 Leaders' Summit at the level of heads of state or government is scheduled to be held on September 9 and 10 next year in New Delhi. Several G20 meetings will be held in various parts of the country. West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee, who will arrive in Delhi later on Sunday, will be part of the all-party ...

Just when things look…: Beware the surprise that catches you unprepared

As the system emerges from the Covid trauma and India shifts its sights to long-term targets, attention must turn to the underlying weaknesses that may scupper ambitious aspirations, writes T N Ninan

Sanjay Malhotra takes charge as Revenue Secretary in Finance Ministry

Senior bureaucrat Sanjay Malhotra on Thursday took charge as the secretary in Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. Malhotra replaced Tarun Bajaj, who superannuated on November 30. A 1990-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, Malhotra was working as an officer on special duty (OSD) in the revenue department since October this year. Prior to that, he was serving as the secretary in Department of Financial Services (DFS). Malhotra takes over as the top bureaucrat in the revenue department at a time when the government is preparing for the Union Budget 2023-24 to be tabled in Parliament on February 1. He would be looking into various tax-related proposals for the Budget and would also be the ex-officio Secretary to the GST Council. Malhotra is an IIT-Kanpur alumnus and holds a master's degree in public policy from the Princeton University, US. Shri Sanjay Malhotra takes charge as Secretary, Department of Revenue @FinMinIndia, in North Block, New Delhi, today. Prior to his