News for 'Defence and Telecom Ministries'

FDI inflow hits all-time high of $83.57 bn in 2021-22

FDI inflow hits all-time high of $83.57 bn in 2021-22

Rediff.com20 May 2022

Total foreign direct investment into India rose 2 per cent to the "highest ever" $83.57 billion in 2021-22 on account of various measures like policy reforms and ease of doing business taken by the government, the commerce and industry ministry said on Friday. Total FDI comprises equity inflows, reinvested earnings and other capital. In 2020-21, the inflow stood at $81.97 billion. It was $74.39 billion in 2019-20 and $62 billion in 2018-19. "India has recorded the highest ever annual FDI inflow of $83.57 billion in 2021-22," the ministry noted in a statement.

Why India denied China 5-G trial

Why India denied China 5-G trial

Rediff.com3 Jun 2021

Given the security dilemma prevailing between India and China, India should curb the operation of Chinese telecom companies in India, asserts Dr Rup Narayan Das.

Mobile operators rush to rework equipment sourcing pacts

Mobile operators rush to rework equipment sourcing pacts

Rediff.com14 Apr 2021

While the government has not barred procurement of equipment from Chinese companies, the process to amend the general financial rules (GFR) 2017 has started. This will impose restrictions on bidders in public procurement from countries that share a land border with India, reports Megha Manchanda.

Central trade unions begin two-day nationwide strike

Central trade unions begin two-day nationwide strike

Rediff.com28 Mar 2022

Talking to PTI Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), said, "The two-day nationwide strike by the joint forum of central trade unions has begun this morning". About the impact of the agitation, she said that the entire coal belt (mining area) is affected in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. She also said that there is a good response in industrial areas of Assam, Haryana, Delhi, West Bengal, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Bihar, Punjab, Rajasthan, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The AITUC official noted that the banks and insurance sectors are affected all over India, while steel and oil sectors are also seeing partial impact due to the strike. Kaur said that she has got preliminary reports that markets are closed in Odisha.

Two-day all India strike from Monday may hit essential services

Two-day all India strike from Monday may hit essential services

Rediff.com27 Mar 2022

The strike notices were given by workers' unions of various sectors such as coal, steel, oil, telecom, postal, income tax, copper, banks and insurance.

Govt revises FDI norms to shield firms from takeover

Govt revises FDI norms to shield firms from takeover

Rediff.com18 Apr 2020

The government on Saturday made its prior approval mandatory for foreign investments from countries that share land border with India to curb 'opportunistic takeovers' of domestic firms following the COVID-19 pandemic, a move which will restrict Foreign Direct Investment from China.

Karunanidhi saw the 2G episode -- from the leak of the CAG report to the weak defence put forth by Congress leaders -- as politically motivated

Karunanidhi saw the 2G episode -- from the leak of the CAG report to the weak defence put forth by Congress leaders -- as politically motivated

Rediff.com9 Apr 2021

Karunanidhi was convinced that using the 2G cases against the DMK and reopening the fodder case against Lalu Prasad Yadav were products of the Congress leadership's short-sightedness. A revealing excerpt from A S Panneerselvan's Karunanidhi: A Life.

Trai reiterates its proposals on 3G spectrum

Trai reiterates its proposals on 3G spectrum

Rediff.com15 Jan 2015

The regulator added that a split auction of 2100 MHz, used for 3G services, will 'artificially increase the market price of 2100 Mz in February 2015 (auction) because of the severe supply constraint'.

Cabinet clears policy on PSU privatisation

Cabinet clears policy on PSU privatisation

Rediff.com28 Jan 2021

The policy was part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat package announced by Sitharaman in May 2020 as a coherent policy where all sectors would be opened for private sector participation.

With 5G spectrum shrinking, telcos may stay off auction

With 5G spectrum shrinking, telcos may stay off auction

Rediff.com25 Sep 2019

It is learnt that the defence ministry is refusing to let go of its 100 MHz spectrum, which was allotted earlier. In that case, the department of telecommunications (DoT) will be left with only 175 MW of 5G spectrum of the total 300 MHz.

The growing tussle between the govt and CAG

The growing tussle between the govt and CAG

Rediff.com22 May 2022

In a first, the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) officers reached out to several ministries in the last week of April as part of a confidence-boosting measure. The meeting brought the CAG officials and those from the ministries across the table to discuss the pain points in their relations. CAG of India Girish Chandra Murmu took this novel step because of growing tensions between those audited and the auditor.

DoT wants services to free up spectrum fast

DoT wants services to free up spectrum fast

Rediff.com17 Jan 2007

The Department of Telecom has asked the Group of Ministers on telecom spectrum to direct the Ministry of Defence to immediately release 20 Mhz spectrum in the 1,800 Mhz band for mobile phone operators.

Govt okays project to boost army communications in border areas

Govt okays project to boost army communications in border areas

Rediff.com2 Oct 2020

The project will be rolled out by government-owned company ITI within three years, they said, adding that the contract for its implementation was signed with the telecom entity on Thursday.

Modi meets top American CEOs in first engagement in US

Modi meets top American CEOs in first engagement in US

Rediff.com23 Sep 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his engagements in the US on Thursday by meeting with leading American CEOs from five different key sectors and highlighted the economic opportunities in India.

BSNL seeks change in tender norms from MoD

BSNL seeks change in tender norms from MoD

Rediff.com17 Feb 2010

State-run telecom major Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd has written to the defence ministry to amend the conditions for floating tenders, including having own manufacturing facility in India, for setting up alternative communications network for defence forces."We have written to the defence ministry for change in tender conditions as some companies have said that the current conditions are very strict," said a senior BSNL official.

Raja seeks FM's help to usher in 3G services

Raja seeks FM's help to usher in 3G services

Rediff.com20 Oct 2009

The defence ministry has decided to release only that 3G spectrum that is to be auctioned and that too in phases. In fact, the armed forces have not released spectrum already in use as envisaged in their agreement with department of telecommunication.

DoT mulls single-window clearance

DoT mulls single-window clearance

Rediff.com6 Feb 2006

Not just China, Hong Kong too may come under new FDI rules

Not just China, Hong Kong too may come under new FDI rules

Rediff.com29 Apr 2020

FinMin had, recently, notified changes in FDI rules that made prior approval of the government mandatory for foreign investments from countries that share a land border with India. Hong Kong was ranked 14th on the list of countries with FDI flows to India, contributing $4.2 billion between April 2000 and December 2019, the data from DPIIT shows. India received FDI worth $2.34 billion from China in the same period.

DoT to invest Rs 1000 cr on spectrum

DoT to invest Rs 1000 cr on spectrum

Rediff.com19 Apr 2006

The government announced a Rs 1000-crore (Rs 10-billion) project to convert wireless operations of defence services on Optical Fibre Cable, a move that is estimated to release 45 MHz of spectrum.

Spectrum storm continues; Raja seeks FM's help

Spectrum storm continues; Raja seeks FM's help

Rediff.com27 Oct 2009

The DoT issued the information memorandum last week, saying auction would start on January 14 and for this to happen, the blocks of spectrum to be auctioned must be identified latest by the first week of December.

FDI inflows seen to grow further in the New Year

FDI inflows seen to grow further in the New Year

Rediff.com21 Dec 2021

A series of steps taken by the government to promote ease of doing business and liberalisation of foreign direct investment norms have helped India receive record FDI inflows so far this year, and implementation of measures like PM Gati Shakti, single window clearance and GIS-mapped land bank are expected to further push investments in 2022. Notwithstanding the global slowdown and the COVID-19 pandemic, total foreign direct investments into India rose to a record $81.72 billion in 2020-21. During April-July this fiscal, FDI (foreign direct investment) into the country increased by 62 per cent to $27.37 billion.

How spectrum swapping will help debt-laden telcos

How spectrum swapping will help debt-laden telcos

Rediff.com21 Nov 2014

Apart from other things, this would have put a spanner in the government's Digital India campaign.

Will move Cabinet for further FDI liberalisation: Minister

Will move Cabinet for further FDI liberalisation: Minister

Rediff.com17 Jun 2013

Before leaving on a 10-day foreign visit starting Monday, Sharma said he would address concerns of foreign retail sector investors and ensure help in setting up stores.

Why Air Indias' privatisation sailed & BPCL's is dragging on

Why Air Indias' privatisation sailed & BPCL's is dragging on

Rediff.com19 Dec 2021

Changing tracks helps. But, not taking the beaten path isn't always helpful. This is the story of two of India's biggest privatisations - Air India and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL). Nearly two decades after the last privatisation, a landmark divestment concluded this year when the loss-making national carrier Air India was sold to the Tatas.

FM to intervene in spat over 3G spectrum release

FM to intervene in spat over 3G spectrum release

Rediff.com22 Oct 2009

The government has projected to garner up to Rs 35,000 crore (Rs 350 billion) from sale of radiowaves, mainly 3G spectrum, to telecom operators in the current financial year.

Govt to free up spectrum

Govt to free up spectrum

Rediff.com26 Sep 2003

Mr NSA, what are you doing about Huawei?

Mr NSA, what are you doing about Huawei?

Rediff.com24 Dec 2018

Chinese equipment contracts had been given by many public sector undertakings and government companies for their networks, even in sensitive places such as the north east.

Report says Reliance got over 100m tax waiver from France post Rafale deal

Report says Reliance got over 100m tax waiver from France post Rafale deal

Rediff.com13 Apr 2019

MoD dismissed the report saying it draws 'conjectural connection between tax exemption to a private company and procurement of Rafale jets'.

Stalemate on 3G spectrum continues

Stalemate on 3G spectrum continues

Rediff.com17 Nov 2009

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee met telecom minister A Raja and defence minister A K Antony on Monday in an effort to resolve the issue, highly placed sources said, adding that there was no consensus on the spectrum slots to be auctioned.

DoT plans to auction 3G spectrum in February: Trai

DoT plans to auction 3G spectrum in February: Trai

Rediff.com2 Dec 2014

Telecom companies as well as the regulator have been of the view that the auction should take place only when adequate spectrum is made available, and the bidding should be held simultaneously for both the services -- 2G and 3G.

Bureaucratic reshuffle: Rajiv Gauba replaces Mehrishi as Home Secy

Bureaucratic reshuffle: Rajiv Gauba replaces Mehrishi as Home Secy

Rediff.com21 Jun 2017

A total of 16 secretaries have been appointed to various central government departments.

Modi sarkaar abolishes all UPA GoMs, EGoMs

Modi sarkaar abolishes all UPA GoMs, EGoMs

Rediff.com31 May 2014

Dismantling a legacy of United Progressive Alliance rule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has abolished all the 30 GoMs and EGoMs and told ministries and departments to take decisions on pending matters.

Little spectrum on offer, next auction could be brutal

Little spectrum on offer, next auction could be brutal

Rediff.com7 Nov 2014

DoT committee rejects most Trai suggestions for freeing airwaves for sale.

120 kmph winds, heavy rains: What Nisarga has in store

120 kmph winds, heavy rains: What Nisarga has in store

Rediff.com2 Jun 2020

The storm is likely to impact Mumbai, Thane and other coastal districts of Maharashtra like Raigad and Palghar along with Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Bhavnagar and Bharuch districts of Gujarat and Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Preparations for the impending cyclone were discussed at a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, a home ministry statement said.

PMO refers 2g issue to EGoM

PMO refers 2g issue to EGoM

Rediff.com25 Jun 2010

The decision had been communicated to the department of telecommunications, a senior official of the department told Business Standard.

Govt officials deny reports of PMO and other websites being hacked

Govt officials deny reports of PMO and other websites being hacked

Rediff.com28 Apr 2015

Government websites -- including those of the Prime Minister's Office, home and petroleum ministries, and the department of telecommunications -- were out of service for many hours on Monday. An official attributed the cause to firewall problems.

India expects to raise Rs 64,840 crore from spectrum auction

India expects to raise Rs 64,840 crore from spectrum auction

Rediff.com6 Jan 2015

Income will be higher as spectrum in 2,100-MHz band will also be auctioned

A bureaucrat for 'the little guy'

A bureaucrat for 'the little guy'

Rediff.com6 Mar 2021

Rahul Khullar's guiding credo was that a civil servant must never lose sight of his client: The little guy. The evil men are those who are decision-makers but abdicate their responsibility of taking decisions, leading people to lose confidence in public institutions.

2G case: Kanimozhi, others oppose CBI's plea on additional witnesses

2G case: Kanimozhi, others oppose CBI's plea on additional witnesses

Rediff.com9 Oct 2014

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi on Thursday sought the dismissal of a Central Bureau of Investigation plea seeking special court's permission to summon some additional witnesses, including Enforcement Directorate Deputy Director Rajeshwar Singh, in the 2G spectrum allocation case.