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.

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.

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.

Govt to introduce 16 bills, but election results likely to cast shadow on winter session

Govt to introduce 16 bills, but election results likely to cast shadow on winter session

Rediff.com6 Dec 2022

The results of the assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are likely to play out during the winter session of Parliament beginning Wednesday.

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

Little choice for beverage cos but to import paper straws

Little choice for beverage cos but to import paper straws

Rediff.com23 Jun 2022

Parle Agro, which sells beverages such as Frooti in small tetra packs, has already started importing paper straws. Dabur India, which sells its fruit juices in tetra packs under the brand Real, is also considering importing paper straws.

SC suggests Project Tiger-like plan to save great Indian bustard from extinction

SC suggests Project Tiger-like plan to save great Indian bustard from extinction

Rediff.com30 Nov 2022

Coming to the rescue of the critically endangered great Indian bustard (GIB), the Supreme Court on Wednesday mooted the idea of launching 'Project GIB' on the lines of 'Project Tiger', which was started in 1973 to save the big cats, and sought the government's view on the proposal.

PIX: Eid celebrated across the country with fervour

PIX: Eid celebrated across the country with fervour

Rediff.com10 Jul 2022

People came out of homes in large numbers, offered namaz at mosques, greeted each other with hugs and exchanged food and gifts across the length and breadth of India to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha on Sunday.

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.

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.

'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.'

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.

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.

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.

North East Win Modi's Success Story

North East Win Modi's Success Story

Rediff.com16 Mar 2023

The North East is a sizeable success story for the Modi government politically and for the BJP electorally. It will be an unpleasant surprise if they choose to blow it, bowing to their basic, polarising instinct at any point, points out Shekhar Gupta.

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.

'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.'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Akash for sale to wary of China nations

Akash for sale to wary of China nations

Rediff.com31 Dec 2020

India is pursuing sales to South East Asian countries that are wary of Chinese aggression, including Vietnam and the Philippines.

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.

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.

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.

Dry run for Covid inoculation next week

Dry run for Covid inoculation next week

Rediff.com26 Dec 2020

An important focus of the dry run will be on management of any possible adverse events following immunisation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Delhi-NCR's air quality on brink of 'emergency'

Delhi-NCR's air quality on brink of 'emergency'

Rediff.com10 Nov 2020

The smog reduced the visibility to merely 300 meters in the morning affecting traffic, an official of the India Meteorological Department said.

Dry run for COVID-19 immunisation drive in 4 states next week

Dry run for COVID-19 immunisation drive in 4 states next week

Rediff.com25 Dec 2020

Each state will plan it in two districts and preferably in five different session-type settings -- district hospital, community health centre or primary health care centre, urban site, private health facility and rural outreach.

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.

Prakash Javadekar can walk the tightrope

Prakash Javadekar can walk the tightrope

Rediff.com6 Jul 2016

Prakash Javadekar set a scorching pace of changes in the environment ministry during his two-year tenure. He has the talent to calm ruffled feathers in the education sector, while proceeding with the government's agenda in this space.

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.

Shah, Sitharaman stand tall among ministers

Shah, Sitharaman stand tall among ministers

Rediff.com22 Jul 2021

Strengthening the portfolios of the home minister and the finance minister is a message that should not be missed, points out A K Bhattacharya.

India wants normal ties with all neighbours, including Pak: MEA

India wants normal ties with all neighbours, including Pak: MEA

Rediff.com25 Jun 2021

India on Thursday said it desires normal relations with Pakistan and it was for that country to create a conducive atmosphere by taking 'credible, verifiable and irreversible' action against cross-border terrorism.

'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.'