News for 'Ministry of Environment'

Pak summons Indian envoy, protests violation of airspace

Pak summons Indian envoy, protests violation of airspace

Rediff.com11 Mar 2022

"Pakistan Air Force continuously monitored the complete flight path of the flying object from its point of origin in Sirsa in India till its point of impact near Mian Channu and initiated requisite tactical actions in accordance with standard operating procedures," Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar said.

Govt depts to add over 1.4 lakh jobs between 2019 and March 1, 2021

Govt depts to add over 1.4 lakh jobs between 2019 and March 1, 2021

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

Over 1.4 lakh jobs are estimated to be created between March 2019 and March 2021 in various central government departments, according to the Union Budget presented on Monday. The strength of government establishments was 32,71,113 as on March 1, 2019, which is estimated to increase to 34,14,226 by the first day of next month - an increase of 1,43,113, it said. The budget documents have given a break-up of the jobs estimated to be created in central government departments between 2019 and March 2021.

Delhi gasps for breath: Govt orders 50% WFH, primary schools shut

Delhi gasps for breath: Govt orders 50% WFH, primary schools shut

Rediff.com4 Nov 2022

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that primary schools will be closed from Saturday in view of spike in pollution levels in the national capital.

The Importance of Smriti Irani

The Importance of Smriti Irani

Rediff.com19 Jul 2021

Being made a member of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs makes her an important player in BJP politics, observes Rashme Sehgal.

Modi to release 8 Namibian cheetahs into MP park on his birthday

Modi to release 8 Namibian cheetahs into MP park on his birthday

Rediff.com14 Sep 2022

The large carnivore got completely wiped out from India due to their use for coursing, sport hunting, over-hunting and habitat loss.

Agnipath will change composition of region-, caste-based regiments

Agnipath will change composition of region-, caste-based regiments

Rediff.com14 Jun 2022

The scheme is aimed at slashing the salary and pension bills of the three services, which have been increasing rapidly.

Modi's plane flies over Pak airspace en route to Italy

Modi's plane flies over Pak airspace en route to Italy

Rediff.com31 Oct 2021

Prime Minister Modi's plane Boeing 777, 300ER, K7066 entered the Pakistani airspace from Bahawalpur, passed through Turbat and Panjgur and via Iran and Turkey reached Italy, The Express Tribune reported.

IAF inducts India-made light combat helicopters 'Prachand'

IAF inducts India-made light combat helicopters 'Prachand'

Rediff.com3 Oct 2022

The 5.8-tonne twin-engine gunship chopper is armed with air-to-air missiles, 20 mm turret guns, rocket systems and other weapons.

75 coal mines to go under the hammer in second round of auction

75 coal mines to go under the hammer in second round of auction

Rediff.com25 Feb 2021

In order to keep the interest of new and small players intact, the coal ministry is offering only small- and medium-sized coal mines in the second round.

Indian legal system a hurdle for aircraft lessors: Air India to govt

Indian legal system a hurdle for aircraft lessors: Air India to govt

Rediff.com12 Dec 2022

Tata Group-owned Air India has informed the Centre that aircraft lessors wish to set up their special purpose vehicles (SPVs) outside India since they aren't enthused about the Indian 'legal structure' and are loath to take risks. Indian airlines have a combined fleet of about 700 planes; over 85 per cent are on lease. A majority of lessors are based in Ireland due to its attractive tax policy, light-touch regulations, and swift legal system.

India successfully cultures UK-variant of Covid strain: ICMR

India successfully cultures UK-variant of Covid strain: ICMR

Rediff.com3 Jan 2021

The ICMR claimed that no country has yet reported successful isolation and culture of the UK-variant of SARS-CoV-2.

Tejas beats China's JF-17 to emerge as Malaysia's top choice

Tejas beats China's JF-17 to emerge as Malaysia's top choice

Rediff.com3 Jul 2022

It is learnt that the Chinese JF-17 was cheaper but could not match the technical parameters of the Tejas Mk-IA variant and the offer of maintenance of the Su-30 fleet as proposed by India.

'People of Ladakh feel betrayed'

'People of Ladakh feel betrayed'

Rediff.com21 Feb 2023

'The Government of India should start a dialogue with the people of Ladakh, but the trouble is they are not willing to listen to our grievances.'

'Shankar is chained for 17 hours a day'

'Shankar is chained for 17 hours a day'

Rediff.com14 Jan 2022

'There are around 80 to 100 elephants in zoos around the country.' 'We should not keep them in captivity for our entertainment.'

Govt leniency to help projects without green clearance

Govt leniency to help projects without green clearance

Rediff.com24 Mar 2017

Projects to pay for clean up if environmental damage is found

India's tryst with coal and clean energy is coming unstuck

India's tryst with coal and clean energy is coming unstuck

Rediff.com17 May 2022

India's jugalbandhi with coal and clean energy is coming unstuck, neither achieving adequate renewable generation nor ensuring sufficient coal-fired power in the quest to become a $5-trillion economy. Six months have elapsed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ambitious climate agenda for India at COP26 at Glasgow. The net zero emissions target by 2070 is a distant one, but there are nearer-term plans to meet 50 per cent of energy demand with renewables by 2030 by increasing capacity to 450 Gw. A cursory look at the balance sheet of India's climate progress since November reveals ponderous progress towards meeting the renewables target even as the country is scrambling to expand coal-fired generation in the face of a power crisis.

Plastic straws cause FMCG firms indigestion

Plastic straws cause FMCG firms indigestion

Rediff.com27 Jun 2022

The industry may account for just 0.05 per cent of the total volume of single-use plastics in the country. And the product it uses is just one among the 22 - including spoons, forks, plates, knives and trays - that will be banned across the country from July 1 by government order. Yet, it is the plastic straw that is at the centre of public focus as fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies make a last-ditch effort to get the government to extend the deadline.

What Modi Told the Coal Minister

What Modi Told the Coal Minister

Rediff.com13 Jan 2020

'The day I took charge, the PM told me you do the following -- stop imports, talk to all stakeholders and involve them to make mining more industry-friendly without affecting the environment.'

'I Will Remove Corruption From Goa'

'I Will Remove Corruption From Goa'

Rediff.com2 Feb 2022

'If you weed out corruption, you will bring glory to Goa.'

Every River Is Under Attack By The Sand Mafia

Every River Is Under Attack By The Sand Mafia

Rediff.com28 Oct 2022

The demand for minerals, boulders and sand is so great that it has fueled a black market and the goons who control this trade do not hesitate to kill law enforcement officers and reporters who have tried to expose them.

Armed forces to get 70 ha land in Gulmarg, Sonamarg

Armed forces to get 70 ha land in Gulmarg, Sonamarg

Rediff.com6 Jan 2022

The armed forces can undertake infrastructure development even in ecologically fragile areas which are declared "strategic areas" by the government.

Put Covid norm violators on flights in no-fly list: HC

Put Covid norm violators on flights in no-fly list: HC

Rediff.com3 Jun 2022

The Delhi high court on Friday called for strict action against those found violating masking and hand hygiene norms at airports and in aircraft, observing that the Covid-19 pandemic has not abated and keeps rearing its ugly head.

How safe are India's electric scooters?

How safe are India's electric scooters?

Rediff.com31 Mar 2022

The government-appointed expert committee, which probes incidents of Ola Electric's S1 Pro and Okinawa vehicles catching fires, has added the latest case of fire involving PureEV electric scooter to its investigation, a senior government official told Business Standard. "A team comprising experts from Indian Institute of Science (IISC) and Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) are investigating the cases. "As soon as the report is submitted, we shall take appropriate action," said Giridhar Aramane, secretary at the ministry of road transport and highways.

SpiceHealth, AAI in blame game over Covid fiasco at Amritsar airport

SpiceHealth, AAI in blame game over Covid fiasco at Amritsar airport

Rediff.com13 Mar 2022

SpiceHealth had on January 6 and January 7 tested 469 passengers who arrived on two charter flights from Italian capital Rome and found 298 of them to be COVID-19-positive.

Data protection bill: Govt hopes to pass new law by next Budget session

Data protection bill: Govt hopes to pass new law by next Budget session

Rediff.com4 Aug 2022

After withdrawing the personal data protection bill, the government is hopeful of getting a new legislation passed by the next Budget session of Parliament, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said. The government on Wednesday withdrew the Personal Data Protection Bill from the Lok Sabha. The Joint Committee on Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, headed by BJP member P P Chaudhary, had tabled its report in Lok Sabha on December 16, 2021.

Govt hopes to pass new data protection law by Budget session

Govt hopes to pass new data protection law by Budget session

Rediff.com4 Aug 2022

After withdrawing the personal data protection bill, the government is hopeful of getting a new legislation passed by the next Budget session of Parliament, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said.

Divestment's Tough Climate Call: The hurdle in govt's fund-raising path

Divestment's Tough Climate Call: The hurdle in govt's fund-raising path

Rediff.com4 Jan 2022

There is money to buy the central public sector enterprises, but buyers will need a firm assurance that the disvestment programme will keep environment issues front and centre of their corporate plans.

Changes in tribal rights and green rules 'save' 130 mines

Changes in tribal rights and green rules 'save' 130 mines

Rediff.com18 Jan 2017

The changes were made to several regulations in a coordinated manner by the environment ministry, the tribal affairs ministry and the mines ministry over a year.

Draft rules issued for govt staff to work from home post-lockdown

Draft rules issued for govt staff to work from home post-lockdown

Rediff.com14 May 2020

Asserting that central government employees may have to work with staggered attendance and variable working hours, the personnel ministry has come out with a draft framework for 'work for home' for the staff post-lockdown. The department of personnel and training may provide options for work from home to the eligible officers/staff for 15 days in a year as a matter of policy, it said.

Labour pain for pvt domestic airlines as staff threaten mass leave over pay

Labour pain for pvt domestic airlines as staff threaten mass leave over pay

Rediff.com21 Jul 2022

Failure to reinstate salary even two years after the drastic cuts has landed the airline industry in a massive industrial relation crisis. While employees of Air India had organised a strike back in 2011, it is for the first time that private airlines are facing serious stress related to workers. IndiGo witnessed two of them, back to back. In the first instance, around 50 per cent of the IndiGo flights were delayed as a large number of crew members went on mass sick leave, apparently to participate in a rival airline's walk-in job interview.

India's rising medical devices imports hurt small and medium units

India's rising medical devices imports hurt small and medium units

Rediff.com19 Jul 2022

India's medical devices imports surged 41 per cent to touch Rs 63,200 crore in 2021-22, led by a 48 per cent year-on-year (YoY) jump in imports from China to Rs 13,538 crore, the commerce ministry data analysed by the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) has showed. Local industry players say this has led to several small and medium units to shut shop. Rakesh Vaid of Usha Fabs, a garments exporter, had started making N95 masks in his Gurgaon factory during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Judges appointing judges a myth, judiciary just a player in process: CJI

Judges appointing judges a myth, judiciary just a player in process: CJI

Rediff.com26 Dec 2021

The notion that 'judges are themselves appointing judges' is a myth as the judiciary is just one of the many players involved in the process of selecting judicial officers, Chief Justice of India N V Ramana said on Sunday.

'Don't expect major cuts in direct tax rates'

'Don't expect major cuts in direct tax rates'

Rediff.com18 Jan 2023

'You may see some movement indicating a simpler tax regime with less exemptions but with fewer tax rates making life simpler for taxpayers.'

449 infra projects show cost overruns worth Rs 4.29 lakh crore

449 infra projects show cost overruns worth Rs 4.29 lakh crore

Rediff.com21 Mar 2021

As many as 449 infrastructure projects, each worth Rs 150 crore or more, have been hit by cost overruns totalling more than Rs 4.29 lakh crore, according to a report. The ministry of statistics and programme implementation monitors infrastructure projects worth Rs 150 crore and above. Of the 1,736 such projects, 449 reported cost overruns and 547 were delayed.

Did NDA govt help Vedanta's Tuticorin factory?

Did NDA govt help Vedanta's Tuticorin factory?

Rediff.com25 May 2018

The environment ministry till May 2014 (still under UPA) ordered that cases like Vedanta's expansion plans need to consult people. But in December 2014, the NDA government reversed this position and in March 2015 the environment ministry extended Vedanta's environmental clearance till December 2018. This it did even while the question of the need for public hearing by projects in different kinds of industrial parks was being contested in the courts. This allowed the company to carry out construction.

AMU's Governance Structure Is Democratic, Not Divine

AMU's Governance Structure Is Democratic, Not Divine

Rediff.com18 Mar 2023

These self-appointed well-wishers of AMU are basically for the control or police model of university governance. They have no faith whatsoever in the democratic functioning of the universities, observes Faizan Mustafa, former dean, Faculty of Law, and Registrar, Aligarh Muslim University.

Sri Lanka asked to exercise caution while handling Indian fishing boats

Sri Lanka asked to exercise caution while handling Indian fishing boats

Rediff.com27 Mar 2022

During a virtual meeting of the joint working group on fisheries on Friday, both countries agreed that the use of force could not be justified under any circumstances.

RBI stresses on need to mainstream green finance

RBI stresses on need to mainstream green finance

Rediff.com20 Sep 2021

There is a need to mainstream green finance and devise ways for incorporating environment impact into commercial lending decisions, RBI Deputy Governor M Rajeshwar Rao has said. Addressing climate risk in the financial sector should be the joint responsibility of stakeholders as it would affect the resilience of the financial system in the long run, he said. Rao made these comments while speaking at the CAFRAL Virtual Conference on Green and Sustainable Finance, recently.

Why the axe fell on 3 senior ministers

Why the axe fell on 3 senior ministers

Rediff.com9 Jul 2021

To believe that the key job of his senior ministers is to ensure that his image be kept intact whatever be the outcome of his policies is to expect too much even of someone as ambitious as Narendra Modi, asserts Rashme Sehgal.

Govt cancels Rs 200-crore green fine on Adani

Govt cancels Rs 200-crore green fine on Adani

Rediff.com2 Jul 2016

Adani Ports & SEZ was ordered to pay for damage to environment during the UPA govt