Ashwini Shrivastava, PTI

Stories by Ashwini Shrivastava, PTI

Flyers duty free allowance of cigarettes, cigars halved

Flyers duty free allowance of cigarettes, cigars halved

Rediff.com   13 Jul 2014

In another step against smoking, the government has reduced by 50 per cent the duty free allowance of cigarettes to 100 sticks and 25 cigars in airports. The decision comes barely a day after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley proposed 'sin tax' and announced increase in excise duty on cigarettes in the range of 11 to 72 per cent.

Modi sarkar to modify Lokpal rules

Modi sarkar to modify Lokpal rules

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2014

Taking the first step towards appointment of Lokpal, the government has decided to modify rules to give more powers to the search committee mandated to recommend names for appointment of chairperson and members of the anti-corruption body.

Sensex ends flat after hitting new life-time high

Sensex ends flat after hitting new life-time high

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2014

Profit booking in realty, oil and gas, capital goods, power and metal stocks pulled the index down to the day's low of 25,347.33 points.

After Fin Min objection, Railways stops officers' promotion

After Fin Min objection, Railways stops officers' promotion

Rediff.com   1 Jun 2014

A scam had come to light in two lesser-known services-- Railway Board Secretariat Service and Railway Board Secretariat Clerical Service -- where promotions were being made allegedly without following due procedures and bypassing Union Cabinet's jurisdiction.

E-filers' I-T accounts unauthorisedly accessed

E-filers' I-T accounts unauthorisedly accessed

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2014

Income tax online return accounts of certain people have been unauthorisedly accessed, the Finance Ministry has warned.

Poll effect: Suspected securities deals under scanner

Poll effect: Suspected securities deals under scanner

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2014

The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau, lead agency under Finance Ministry to gather and disseminate intelligence related to financial crimes, has traced illegal flow of money through Private Placement Programme, which involves offering of securities to select individuals or groups, upto 50 in numbers, official sources said.

Will BJP spoil Cong hat-trick in Chhattisgarh's Sitapur?

Will BJP spoil Cong hat-trick in Chhattisgarh's Sitapur?

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2013

The Bharatiya Janata Party may spoil a hat-trick of wins for the Congress from Sarguja's Sitapur assembly seat as the sentiment on the ground suggests that it could well be the anti-incumbency factor which rules the vote in Sitapur.

Modi's anointment as PM candidate unconstitutional: Vajpayee's niece

Modi's anointment as PM candidate unconstitutional: Vajpayee's niece

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2013

Former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla on Saturday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying the anointment of Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate was against the Constitution.

Congress-BJP spar over 'rice bowl'

Congress-BJP spar over 'rice bowl'

Rediff.com   13 Nov 2013

Chhattisgarh, popularly known as the rice bowl of central India, is witnessing politics over the foodgrain with ruling the Bharatiya Janata Party and main opposition the Congress trying to attract voters through it.

PMO declines information on meetings with Walmart lobbyists

PMO declines information on meetings with Walmart lobbyists

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2013

PMO was asked to give details of lobbyists, advisers and representatives of Walmart.

FinMin detects Rs 2,280 cr black money routed through PPP

FinMin detects Rs 2,280 cr black money routed through PPP

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2013

About Rs 2,280 crore (Rs 22.80 billion) unaccounted income being allegedly routed through Private Placement Programme (PPP) has been detected by economic intelligence sleuths.

Foreign banks can open zero-balance accounts

Foreign banks can open zero-balance accounts

Rediff.com   12 Sep 2013

Withdrawals from basic savings bank deposit accounts are capped at four a month, including withdrawals via ATMs.

Govt unveils new telecom licence norms

Govt unveils new telecom licence norms

Rediff.com   2 Aug 2013

The government on Friday unveiled long awaited Unified Licence norms that provide for delinking of spectrum from operational permits and allows companies to offer services using any technology.

Unlike Modi, Rahul not in Uttarakhand for photo-op: Congress

Unlike Modi, Rahul not in Uttarakhand for photo-op: Congress

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2013

The Congress on Tuesday sought to differentiate Rahul Gandhi's visit to flood-hit Uttarakhand from that of Narendra Modi, saying he is not going for "photo-ops" even as it faced the Bharatiya Janata Party attack for deriding the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's rescue efforts.

India to deploy hovercraft for surveillance in 'Harami Nala'

India to deploy hovercraft for surveillance in 'Harami Nala'

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2013

India is planning to deploy a hovercraft for keeping surveillance in 'Harami Nala'-- a 22 km long water channel accessible from Pakistan -- infamous for being prone to infiltration from the neighbouring nation.

Do you think smoking within limits is harmless? Tell us!

Do you think smoking within limits is harmless? Tell us!

Rediff.com   31 May 2013

Half of the smoking population in the country thinks smoking 'within limits' is harmless, a survey by a private general insurance firm has found.

15 Indian-American students qualify for Spelling Bee semis

15 Indian-American students qualify for Spelling Bee semis

Rediff.com   30 May 2013

A total of 15 Indian-American students, including six girls, have made it to the national Spelling Bee semifinals, making it almost one-third of the total 42 candidates who have qualified.

BJP has committed suicide by expelling me: Jethmalani

BJP has committed suicide by expelling me: Jethmalani

Rediff.com   30 May 2013

A day after being expelled from the Bharatiya Janata Party, veteran lawyer Ram Jethmalani today hit back, saying by doing so, it has committed "suicide" which will please the "corrupt" government and their collaborators within the party.

Liyaqat Shah gets bail, no linkage with terror plot: Court

Liyaqat Shah gets bail, no linkage with terror plot: Court

Rediff.com   17 May 2013

Suspected Hizbul terrorist Liyaqat Shah, arrested by the Delhi police for allegedly conspiring to carry out terror attacks in the national capital, was on Friday granted bail by a special national Investigation Team court.

'Panicked' Gehlot misused CBI against Kataria: BJP

'Panicked' Gehlot misused CBI against Kataria: BJP

Rediff.com   16 May 2013

The BJP on Thursday alleged that the CBI action against its leader Gulab Chand Kataria is nothing but a "conspiracy of CM Ashok Gehlot", who is "panicked" seeing the massive support the party is getting in poll-bound Rajasthan.