News for 'Ashwini Vaishnaw'

Govt plans to complete 5G auction in July

Govt plans to complete 5G auction in July

Rediff.com24 Dec 2021

The government is looking at a time frame within the first two weeks of July to kick off and complete the upcoming 5G auctions, according to discussions between officials and stakeholders. It is expected that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will give its recommendations on the base price by March, after which the necessary cabinet clearances will be given. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had earlier looked at undertaking the auction in the first quarter of 2022 but decided to push it back. Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had also said that the auctions are likely to take place in April-May.

'Jai Shri Ram', 'Har Har Mahadev' heard during FM's budget speech

'Jai Shri Ram', 'Har Har Mahadev' heard during FM's budget speech

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

Most of the members, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were seen wearing face masks. However, members had crowded the Lok Sabha chamber, while hardly a handful of others, including union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Piyush Goyal, were seen seated in the Rajya Sabha chamber.

Railways may restore seniors concession in sleeper, gen class; tweaks age limit

Railways may restore seniors concession in sleeper, gen class; tweaks age limit

Rediff.com27 Jul 2022

Also on the cards is tweaking the age criteria by extending the concessional fare to those above 70 years, as against the earlier 58 for women and 60 for men, they said.

Bihar train accident: Faulty tracks suspected; top-level probe ordered

Bihar train accident: Faulty tracks suspected; top-level probe ordered

Rediff.com12 Oct 2023

The probe report has estimated the cost of damage due to the accident at more than Rs 52 crore.

No transaction with NSO Group: MoD on snooping row

No transaction with NSO Group: MoD on snooping row

Rediff.com9 Aug 2021

NSO Group, an Israeli surveillance software company, has been under increasing attack following allegations that its Pegasus phone spyware was used for surveillance on journalists, activists and political leaders in several countries including India. NSO has denied any wrongdoing.

'Railways plans to carry 10 billon passengers every year by 2030'

'Railways plans to carry 10 billon passengers every year by 2030'

Rediff.com12 Jan 2024

'We carry 6.5 billion passengers every year. We have crossed seven billion this year, and are targeting 10 billion by 2030.'

In 8-10 months, stage will be set for India's semiconductor biz: Minister

In 8-10 months, stage will be set for India's semiconductor biz: Minister

Rediff.com24 Feb 2022

The government will undertake a detailed evaluation of applications it has received in response to the mega semiconductor scheme and expects to complete the entire process and sign agreements with companies in next 8-10 months, according to Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw. Vaishnaw said he is happy with the response that came in within a short period of time, when the ministry invited applications under the Rs 76,000 crore semiconductor programme. The government is confident of seeing one of the big global players in semiconductor industry coming in the next round, Vaishnaw told PTI in an interview. He asserted that many other players too are "seriously evaluating" India's semiconductor programme, and that the ministry is in discussions with several companies.

'Modiji how afraid are you?': Congress says Twitter blocked its account

'Modiji how afraid are you?': Congress says Twitter blocked its account

Rediff.com12 Aug 2021

The Congress has accused Twitter of acting against Gandhi's account under pressure from the government.

Uproar over Pegasus row washes out Day 2 of Lok Sabha

Uproar over Pegasus row washes out Day 2 of Lok Sabha

Rediff.com20 Jul 2021

Opposition members, including from the Congress and the TMC, started raising slogans and showing placards to attack the government on the snooping issue as soon as the House met for the day at 11 am.

IT minister changes Twitter handle, briefly loses 'blue badge'

IT minister changes Twitter handle, briefly loses 'blue badge'

Rediff.com12 Jul 2021

Junior minister for electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar briefly lost the verified blue badge on his Twitter handle on Monday after he changed his username on the microblogging platform.

5G: Samsung Looks Beyond Jio

5G: Samsung Looks Beyond Jio

Rediff.com9 Aug 2022

With Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE excluded from participating in the 5G roll out, their absence leaves a vacuum in the market which will have to be filled by three vendors: Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung.

Rs 1.40 lakh crore budgetary support for Railways

Rs 1.40 lakh crore budgetary support for Railways

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

The Railway ministry has been allocated budgetary support of Rs 140367.13 crore in the Union Budget on Tuesday - Rs 20,311 crore more than the revised figures of the previous fiscal. Overall, the national transporter is set to get a capital expenditure (CapEx) push of Rs 2.45 lakh crore in the financial year 2022-23, 14 per cent higher than the budgeted capital expenditure of Rs 2.15 lakh crore for the current financial year. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech for 2022-23 said that India will manufacture 400 new, energy-efficient Vande Bharat trains in the next three years.

Bill Gates lauds Digital India initiatives

Bill Gates lauds Digital India initiatives

Rediff.com1 Mar 2023

India's sprawling digital public infrastructure received a glowing endorsement from billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Wednesday as he praised the country's "great" digital network, reliable and low-cost connectivity, and said this will be the cheapest 5G market. Under the G20 presidency of India, a session on 'Building resilient and inclusive economies- the Promise of Digital Public Infrastructure' was held on Wednesday in New Delhi, where the Microsoft co-founder spoke of India's digital identity Aadhaar, its payment infrastructure, and rapid strides that the country has taken in bringing more people into formal banking system. "India in particular, by laying the groundwork for digital public infrastucture starting with identity system, allows people to build on top of that.

Indian iPhone users may get to use 5G services from next week

Indian iPhone users may get to use 5G services from next week

Rediff.com3 Nov 2022

The users of 5G-enabled Apple iPhones will be able to try 5G telecom services - wherever available publicly in the country - from next week, both on standalone (Reliance Jio) and non-standalone networks (Bharti Airtel). Airtel and Jio customers who download the iOS 16 Beta software update as part of its 'Apple Beta Software Program' can try the service and send their feedback to the company. The final updated software will become available sometime in December.

Can't wait to return, says Apple CEO Tim Cook on last day of India visit

Can't wait to return, says Apple CEO Tim Cook on last day of India visit

Rediff.com21 Apr 2023

After a five-day long visit, Apple CEO Tim Cook left India with a note that he can't wait to return to the country. The visit of Cook coincided with 25 years of the iPhone maker's presence in India. Cook arrived in India on Monday. The visit started with the launch of the first official Apple store in Mumbai on April 18 followed by a second in the national capital on April 20.

Agnipath: Nationwide protests affect 340 trains, 234 cancelled

Agnipath: Nationwide protests affect 340 trains, 234 cancelled

Rediff.com17 Jun 2022

The Railways cancelled 234 trains while 340 trains have been affected so far due to protests against the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the defence services, the Railways said on Friday.

Railways may scrap new dedicated freight corridors, enhance existing ones

Railways may scrap new dedicated freight corridors, enhance existing ones

Rediff.com25 May 2022

This alternative is being planned as the existing projects continue to be delayed due to land acquisition troubles. The ministry is thinking of adding new track lines to its existing eastern and western DFCs passing major areas in the proposed stretches, senior officials said.

Parl panel meet on Pegasus deferred due to BJP members' protest

Parl panel meet on Pegasus deferred due to BJP members' protest

Rediff.com28 Jul 2021

BJP members of the panel who were present in the meeting room didn't sign the attendance register in protest leading to a lack of quorum required for holding the meeting.

13 coaches of express train derail in Rajasthan, 26 hurt

13 coaches of express train derail in Rajasthan, 26 hurt

Rediff.com2 Jan 2023

The injured, two of them seriously hurt, have been admitted at the Bangad Hospital in Pali, they said, adding the incident led to the disruption of traffic on the route with nearly two dozen trains cancelled or diverted.

Indian telcos surpass 3-year 5G rollout target in six months

Indian telcos surpass 3-year 5G rollout target in six months

Rediff.com1 Mar 2023

Indian telecom operators have surpassed the three- year 5G network rollout target given to them within six months and now the government is making efforts to enhance adoption of 5G applications across various key segments, a senior government official said in Barcelona. Department of Telecom Additional Secretary VL Kantha Rao told PTI at "India Evening" event on the sidelines of Mobile World Congress 2023 that the government has hosted over 50 companies at the India pavilion and the delegation is here to showcase indigenously-developed 4G and 5G technology stack. "When the spectrum was allocated to telecom service providers for 5G rollout, we gave a minimum rollout obligation saying that within one year they have to cover a few cities within three years, a few towns and so on and so forth.

CBI meant to investigate crimes, not railway accidents: Kharge to PM

CBI meant to investigate crimes, not railway accidents: Kharge to PM

Rediff.com6 Jun 2023

In his letter to Modi, Kharge hit out at the railway minister for seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe, saying the law enforcement agency is meant to investigate crimes, not railway accidents.

How 3 trains collided in Odisha: Railways hints at...

How 3 trains collided in Odisha: Railways hints at...

Rediff.com4 Jun 2023

They described the functioning of the interlocking system which prima facie seemed to have been part of the problem which led to the accident, in which at least 275 people were killed.

AC local train fare in Mumbai to be slashed by 50%: Minister

AC local train fare in Mumbai to be slashed by 50%: Minister

Rediff.com30 Apr 2022

A notification issued by the railway board in the evening said new fares would come into effect from May 5.

5G Spectrum Auction Unlikely Before 2023

5G Spectrum Auction Unlikely Before 2023

Rediff.com27 Sep 2021

'We are targeting the 5G tender around January-March 2023.'

5G spectrum auction likely in April-May 2022

5G spectrum auction likely in April-May 2022

Rediff.com11 Nov 2021

The auction for the 5G spectrum is likely to take place around April-May next year, Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday. While relief measures announced in September this year for telecom operators marked the first set of reforms, the government will bring out a series of further reforms and "telecom regulatory structure should change in coming 2-3 years", Vaishnaw said. Speaking at the 'Times Now Summit 2021', the minister said India's telecom sector regulation has to be benchmarked with the global best, and added that "so, we will come with a series of reforms in this, such that the global benchmark of regulations is achieved in India".

Info sought from Twitter, GitHub over app 'auctioning' Muslim women

Info sought from Twitter, GitHub over app 'auctioning' Muslim women

Rediff.com3 Jan 2022

Police has has also sought information from GitHub platform about the 'Bulli Bai' app developer.

How BSNL can turn around its fortune post Rs 1.64-trn govt package

How BSNL can turn around its fortune post Rs 1.64-trn govt package

Rediff.com1 Sep 2022

Just a few weeks ago, Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw did some tough talking with the senior managers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, the ailing state-owned telecom service provider. The message was clear: They had to perform, quit by taking the voluntary retirement package or be compulsorily retired from service. The terse message from an otherwise polite and soft-spoken minister came just days after he announced a second and bigger package of Rs 1.64 trillion as part of a four-year turnaround plan for BSNL.

Modi flags off Kerala's 1st Vande Bharat train, launches Kochi Water Metro

Modi flags off Kerala's 1st Vande Bharat train, launches Kochi Water Metro

Rediff.com25 Apr 2023

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor were also present with the PM as he interacted with the students inside the train.

'Consensus' at all party meet not to stall LS amid fresh row over Pegasus

'Consensus' at all party meet not to stall LS amid fresh row over Pegasus

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

While Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke about the consensus, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said there is no need for a separate discussion in Parliament on the Pegasus issue during the budget session.

Not So Near, Yet Not So Far From BJP

Not So Near, Yet Not So Far From BJP

Rediff.com30 Aug 2023

Call it the art of staying rooted yet bending with prevailing political winds. With Telangana going to the polls in December, and assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra and Odisha scheduled next year, what factors have influenced parties' recent moves?

'Public AI infrastructure we create would help startups'

'Public AI infrastructure we create would help startups'

Rediff.com9 Jan 2024

'Similar to the case of the digital payment system where the government created a public platform and others joined in, we are exploring a similar structure to create a PPP platform where the compute required for AI could be accessed by the small player.'

Pegasus: RS MP moves SC seeking court-monitored probe

Pegasus: RS MP moves SC seeking court-monitored probe

Rediff.com25 Jul 2021

A massive political row has erupted after media reports claimed that Pegasus spyware was used to conduct surveillance on about 300 Indians, including ministers, political leaders, government officials and journalists.

Modi Cabinet reshuffle: Who got what

Modi Cabinet reshuffle: Who got what

Rediff.com8 Jul 2021

Fifteen Cabinet ministers and 28 Ministers of State were sworn-in by President Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday evening.

6 killed, 45 injured as Bikaner-Guwahati Express derails in Bengal

6 killed, 45 injured as Bikaner-Guwahati Express derails in Bengal

Rediff.com14 Jan 2022

"Since some of them are in a critical condition, the death toll may go up," Jalpaiguri DM Moumita Godara Basu said, adding rescuers thoroughly searched each coach for survivors and bodies through darkness and thick fog.

Varun, Maneka, Swamy among big names dropped from BJP national exec

Varun, Maneka, Swamy among big names dropped from BJP national exec

Rediff.com7 Oct 2021

Union ministers Rao Inderjit Singh and Prahlad Patel, Subramanian Swamy, known for his strong views on a host of issues, Suresh Prabhu, Dushyant Singh, who is the son of former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, Vijay Goel, Vinay Katiyar and S S Ahluwalia are among those who have not found a berth in the new list while Union minister V K Singh is no longer a regular member and has been named as a special invitee.

Take my phone, I don't care: Rahul on snooping row

Take my phone, I don't care: Rahul on snooping row

Rediff.com31 Oct 2023

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that people in his office, several party and other opposition leaders have been sent a warning by Apple of state-sponsored attackers targeting their phone, and alleged that as soon as the Adani issue is touched, probe agencies and snooping are deployed.

Rail Accidents Surged By 37% In 2022-2023

Rail Accidents Surged By 37% In 2022-2023

Rediff.com13 Jun 2023

In 2021, the Railways boasted of a historic feat -- no passenger deaths in train accidents in two years. However, the derailment of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express in 2022 brought the Railways back to its forgetful past.

CBI begins investigation into Balasore train accident with filing FIR

CBI begins investigation into Balasore train accident with filing FIR

Rediff.com6 Jun 2023

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday started its investigation into alleged criminal negligence leading to the Balasore train accident which claimed 278 lives after registering a first information report (FIR), officials said.

Illegal snooping not possible in India: IT minister in Lok Sabha

Illegal snooping not possible in India: IT minister in Lok Sabha

Rediff.com19 Jul 2021

More than 300 verified mobile phone numbers, including of two serving ministers, over 40 journalists, three opposition leaders and one sitting judge besides scores of business persons and activists in India could have been targeted for hacking through an Israeli spyware sold only to government agencies, an international media consortium reported on Sunday.

Why telcos fear 5G rollout is unviable

Why telcos fear 5G rollout is unviable

Rediff.com10 Jun 2022

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has bluntly told the government there is no reason for its members to roll out 5G networks as they will be unviable if 'captive private wireless networks' are allowed to be run by enterprises. The COAI, which has Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea as its key members, has written to Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw saying there is 'no business case for the roll out of 5G networks'. Permitting such captive networks will 'diminish the revenue so much that there will be no viable business case left for the telecom service providers and there will not remain any need for 5G network roll out by telecom service providers (TSPs)'.