News for 'Department of Government Efficiency'

Infant deaths in Kerala spur demand for NHRC probe

Infant deaths in Kerala spur demand for NHRC probe

Rediff.com1 Dec 2021

Days after three infant deaths were reported in Kerala's backward tribal Attapady, the National Human Rights Commission has been petitioned about the issue seeking its urgent intervention and detailed probe.

PM kicks off 'Rozgar Mela' to provide 10 lakh jobs

PM kicks off 'Rozgar Mela' to provide 10 lakh jobs

Rediff.com22 Oct 2022

In his address after more than 75,000 people were given appointment letters for various government jobs in the first tranche, Modi acknowledged the challenges facing the economy the world over with many countries hit by a record inflation and unemployment and said India is making every effort to come out of the situation unscathed.

Direct tax collection grows 26% from April-Nov

Direct tax collection grows 26% from April-Nov

Rediff.com31 Jan 2023

The gross tax revenues have touched 65 per cent of the Budget estimates at Rs 17.81 lakh crore during the first eight months of the current fiscal till November, propelled by corporate and personal income tax mop-up, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23 presented in Parliament on Tuesday. The survey, authored by Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran, said the 'substantial reforms' in India's taxation ecosystem post-2014 and policy reforms have removed the distortionary incentives from the economy. Reforms like GST, reduction in corporate taxes, exemption of sovereign wealth funds and pension funds from taxes, and removing Dividend Distribution tax have reduced the tax burden on individuals and businesses.

What's Greenwashing?

What's Greenwashing?

Rediff.com21 Apr 2023

Greenwashing is making misleading or false environment-friendly claims about a product. Consumers in India currently do not have any way of telling whether a claim is authentic or greenwashing. And one never hears of action against any company for making false claims of being environment-friendly.

Those behind Balasore train crash have been identified: Rail minister

Those behind Balasore train crash have been identified: Rail minister

Rediff.com4 Jun 2023

Talking to reporters at the accident site, he said the issue is of electric point machine, a vital device for railway signalling, and electronic interlocking.

Nandan Nilekani to join govt panel on curbing digital monopolies

Nandan Nilekani to join govt panel on curbing digital monopolies

Rediff.com6 Jul 2021

Infosys chairman and Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani will join a panel set up by the central government, along with eight other members, to advise the government on designing and accelerating adoption of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), aimed at curbing digital monopolies. The larger idea is to give 'free and fair' choice to consumers to buy products on an online platform, a senior government official said.

'Allow The Magic Of Mother Nature To Inspire Your Soul!'

'Allow The Magic Of Mother Nature To Inspire Your Soul!'

Rediff.com6 Jun 2023

Movie folk mark World Environment Day by inspirational messages and useful information.

Parliament passes bill to ban strikes by essential defence services

Parliament passes bill to ban strikes by essential defence services

Rediff.com5 Aug 2021

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and some other members sought that the bill be referred to a standing committee for scrutiny.

Government mulls selling $3 billion stake in ONGC

Government mulls selling $3 billion stake in ONGC

Rediff.com15 Jul 2014

The government will decide in August whether to sell a 5 percent stake in ONGC, a senior oil ministry official said, in a deal that would be worth $2.9 billion at current market prices.

How drones can give wings to farmers

How drones can give wings to farmers

Rediff.com13 Nov 2022

So far, the drones that were considered important for the agriculture sector were nature-made winged-insects - a key component of the bee-based natural pollination cycle. The new-age drone is a whirring machine with rotors that can help farmers plan and grow and manage their crops. For the farm sector in India, which has had low levels of mechanisation, the impact of drones can be tremendous. The use of drones can help it leapfrog to modernisation in the same way that mobile phones helped India overcome its traditional lack of connectivity.

Dept of Public Enterprises now part of FinMin

Dept of Public Enterprises now part of FinMin

Rediff.com7 Jul 2021

The government has merged the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) with the finance ministry to give it a better control over state-owned firms and facilitate its ambitious privatisation programme. Finance ministry will now have six departments while DPE's hereto parent ministry, the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises will now be called the ministry of heavy industries. Previously, the disinvestment ministry - created under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government - was merged with the finance ministry and is now a department under it. Also, Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) was abolished and administration of foreign investments was given to the finance ministry (FinMin).

How a tortoise made due diligence process NPA-free

How a tortoise made due diligence process NPA-free

Rediff.com28 Dec 2022

Only NIIF has stayed the course as a viable infrastructure financing institution.

One Fears For What Is To Come

One Fears For What Is To Come

Rediff.com26 Nov 2022

The most important institutions have been and are being undermined with almost no resistance, warns Aakar Patel.

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.

Why EVs can be only slightly cleaner than petrol cars in India

Why EVs can be only slightly cleaner than petrol cars in India

Rediff.com14 Apr 2021

Given India's reliance on coal, electric vehicles could at best be 10% more efficient than petrol in terms of CO2 savings.

US calls for dialogue to resolve farmer protests

US calls for dialogue to resolve farmer protests

Rediff.com5 Feb 2021

Recognising that peaceful protests are a hallmark of a thriving democracy, the United States has said that it encourages dialogue between the protesting farmers and the Indian government to resolve their differences.

Govt saved Rs 10,000 crore in interest costs in FY22

Govt saved Rs 10,000 crore in interest costs in FY22

Rediff.com9 Jun 2022

Union finance secretary T V Somanathan recently said the Centre had saved Rs 10,000 crore in FY22 on interest payments after adopting new accounting mechanisms for central government agencies and centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) for state governments. Speaking at an event, Somanathan said due to these, there was an unspent balance of Rs 1.2 trillion with state agencies from CSS as on March 31, 2022. This means this amount will be reduced from the Centre's borrowing for now and it can be considered a short-term saving for the exchequer.

Why's Stalin Backing Arrested Minister?

Why's Stalin Backing Arrested Minister?

Rediff.com15 Jun 2023

At the end of the day, Stalin expressing solidarity with an arrested colleague is one thing, especially if he too felt that the minister had been wronged, but for him to retain the person in office sets a bad precedent, which would not go unnoticed by voters, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

SC-STs not on level with forward class in 75 years: Centre to SC

SC-STs not on level with forward class in 75 years: Centre to SC

Rediff.com6 Oct 2021

"That is a fact of life because we are not being able, after 75 years, to bring the SCs and STs to the same level of merit as the forward classes," Attorney General K K Venugopal told a bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao.

Faceless IT assessment, citizen's charter from today: PM

Faceless IT assessment, citizen's charter from today: PM

Rediff.com13 Aug 2020

"The emphasis is on making every rule, law, policy people-centric, and public-friendly. This is the use of the new governance model and the country is getting its results," Prime Minister Modi said while speaking at the launch of a platform for 'Transparent Taxation -- Honoring the Honest'.

Govt dissolves Ordnance Factory Board, transfers employees

Govt dissolves Ordnance Factory Board, transfers employees

Rediff.com28 Sep 2021

As part of the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) package, the central government had announced on May 16 last year that it would improve autonomy, accountability and efficiency in ordnance supplies by corporatisation of the OFB.

Cabin crew, guards among 1,600 Air India employees opting for VRS

Cabin crew, guards among 1,600 Air India employees opting for VRS

Rediff.com1 Jul 2022

More than 1,600 employees of Air India, the former state-run carrier now owned by the Tata group, have opted for voluntary retirement under a scheme announced on June 1. These employees comprise 22 per cent of permanent staff (around 7,000). The airline has a total employee strength of around 10,800, including those on contract.

With BMC Polls In Sight, Modi's Gifts To Mumbai....

With BMC Polls In Sight, Modi's Gifts To Mumbai....

Rediff.com19 Jan 2023

Modi knows that the BMC elections are critical for his party which has never won a majority in the city's 227 wards.

'Deeply concerned' about security of Chinese in Pakistan, Xi tells Sharif

'Deeply concerned' about security of Chinese in Pakistan, Xi tells Sharif

Rediff.com2 Nov 2022

On his maiden visit to Beijing, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during which the two leaders agreed to strengthen the all-weather friendship and the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Monsoon Session: 14 bills ready to be tabled, govt promises discussion

Monsoon Session: 14 bills ready to be tabled, govt promises discussion

Rediff.com17 Jul 2022

After an all-party meeting in New Delhi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi also said that some of these 32 bills have already been discussed by standing committees of Parliament.

COVID: Kerala model still a success

COVID: Kerala model still a success

Rediff.com22 Dec 2021

'Kerala is on a par with global standards.'

What will Maharaj do after Maharaja is sold?

What will Maharaj do after Maharaja is sold?

Rediff.com25 Nov 2021

There is no reason for keeping an entire ministry with a total staff strength of 2,300, just for the oversight of a few aviation sector laws and regulatory bodies, notes A K Bhattacharya.

Govt rejects Walmart-Flipkart's bid to enter food retail sector

Govt rejects Walmart-Flipkart's bid to enter food retail sector

Rediff.com1 Jun 2020

The department for promotion of industry and internal trade has rejected Walmart-backed Flipkart's proposal seeking approval for entry to the food retail sector, citing a regulatory issue, an official said on Monday. The government permits 100 per cent foreign direct investment in food retail for food produced and manufactured in India.

20 Ways the Indian Military CHANGED

20 Ways the Indian Military CHANGED

Rediff.com12 Jun 2021

20 defence ministry reforms 'is a reflection of the resolve of the government to make the defence sector stronger and more efficient.'

No change in fiscal year; applicability of stamp duty extended by 3 months

No change in fiscal year; applicability of stamp duty extended by 3 months

Rediff.com30 Mar 2020

The finance ministry said the notification pertains to putting in place an efficient mechanism for collection of stamp duty on security market instruments transactions through stock exchanges or clearing corporations authorised by stock exchanges and depositories.

Do we need so many income tax staffers?

Do we need so many income tax staffers?

Rediff.com11 Aug 2021

The preliminary processing of tax returns is already undertaken with the help of technology. There is now greater scope of using more technology to reduce the human interface even further, notes A K Bhattacharya.

Renewable energy: Investments may cross $15 bn in 2022

Renewable energy: Investments may cross $15 bn in 2022

Rediff.com24 Dec 2021

After witnessing cloudy skies this year, the country's renewable energy sector is expected to boom with a likely investment of over $15 billion in 2022 as the government focuses on electric vehicles, green hydrogen, manufacturing of solar equipment as well as achieving the ambitious 175 GW renewable capacity target. India, which has an installed renewable energy generation capacity of a little over 150 GW, aims to reach 175 GW in 2022. Out of the total mix, 100 GW would be from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydro power projects.

Draft ecommerce policy to ensure goods sold online meet standards

Draft ecommerce policy to ensure goods sold online meet standards

Rediff.com15 Mar 2021

Conformity assessment procedures will be put in place to verify that goods and services sold on e-commerce platforms meet required standards and technical regulations, according to the draft e-commerce policy. The policy, which is under discussion, also stated that actions and things which cannot be done by the online platform entities "can also not be done" by any of its associates and related parties. Government may, from time to time, notify parties which fall in the definition of associates and related parties, it said.

Centre asks 50% junior staff to resume work from office

Centre asks 50% junior staff to resume work from office

Rediff.com18 May 2020

Till now, only 33 per cent of such employees were asked to attend office due to the novel coronavirus-triggered lockdown. Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said the move will help towards normal functioning of central government offices.

Govt moves bill in LS to ban strikes by essential defence services

Govt moves bill in LS to ban strikes by essential defence services

Rediff.com22 Jul 2021

The Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021, introduced by Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt amid din created by the Opposition over three new agri laws and the alleged Pegasus snooping controversy, seeks to replace an ordinance issued in June.

This Budget Is Harder Than Last Year's

This Budget Is Harder Than Last Year's

Rediff.com28 Jan 2022

The challenges before the coming Budget are more daunting than those in 2021, reveals A K Bhattacharya.

'I am very angry with the stars'

'I am very angry with the stars'

Rediff.com30 Jan 2023

'When I watched KGF, I was like, 'What kind of world are we living in? Who are these people'?'

Find innovative methods to check frauds: PM to auditors

Find innovative methods to check frauds: PM to auditors

Rediff.com21 Nov 2019

Stressing the need to make evidence-based policy formulation an integral part of governance, the prime minister said auditors must resort to technical tools to iron out any chances of fraud in organisations and give a new identity to new India.

K'taka probes Covid report of SA national; 10 'untraceable' in Bengaluru

K'taka probes Covid report of SA national; 10 'untraceable' in Bengaluru

Rediff.com4 Dec 2021

A day after two cases of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus was detected in the state, the Karnataka government on Friday ordered a probe into test reports of the 66-year-old South African national, that allowed him to leave the country.