News for 'Ministry of Petroleum'

India sets ball rolling for monetising govt assets

India sets ball rolling for monetising govt assets

Rediff.com16 Mar 2021

The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (Dipam) has asked ministries, government departments, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) to send a list of assets that can be monetised under the proposed National Monetisation Pipeline. The list will be used for creation of an asset monetisation dashboard, which will keep a track of such assets. The government, meanwhile, has asked CRISIL to prepare a road map for monetising assets of PSUs and government departments.

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.

Agnipath: Govt offers sops as violent protests continue

Agnipath: Govt offers sops as violent protests continue

Rediff.com18 Jun 2022

In Bihar, where a bandh had been called, a railway station and a police vehicle were torched, an ambulance attacked and security personnel injured in stone-pelting incidents on the fourth consecutive day of the agitation, while protesters vandalised Ludhiana railway station in Punjab and blocked roads and rail tracks in West Bengal, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.

Rajasthan to begin e-auction to mine sandstone for Ram temple

Rajasthan to begin e-auction to mine sandstone for Ram temple

Rediff.com14 Jun 2021

The Rajasthan government will soon begin an online auction of a special pink sandstone variety, much sought after by builders including those constructing the Ram temple in Ayodhya, found in the Bansi Paharpur area of Bharatpur.

FinMin cites 'green shoots' of recovery after policy measures

FinMin cites 'green shoots' of recovery after policy measures

Rediff.com23 Jun 2020

The finance ministry on Tuesday cited "green shoots" of recovery in agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors, and said the prompt policy measures taken by the government and RBI have helped reinvigorate the economy with minimal damage. Stating that the agricultural sector remains the foundation of the Indian economy, the ministry said that a normal monsoon, as has been forecast, should support the rebooting of economy.

Budget 2022: Centre may not target sharp fiscal correction

Budget 2022: Centre may not target sharp fiscal correction

Rediff.com28 Dec 2021

While presenting her 2021-22 Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had set a fiscal deficit target of 6.8 per cent of nominal gross domestic product (GDP) against the 2020-21 Revised Estimate of 9.5 per cent. The fiscal correction in the upcoming 2022-23 Union Budget is unlikely to be that steep. Even as discussions among top Budget-makers are ongoing, the fiscal deficit target for 2022-23 may likely be in the range of 6.5-6.8 per cent.

Rajapaksa won't resign under 'any circumstances'

Rajapaksa won't resign under 'any circumstances'

Rediff.com6 Apr 2022

The Government also defended the President's decision to enforce a state of emergency, that had given him sweeping authority to act in the interests of public security and preserving public order, including suspending any laws, authorising detentions and seizing property, saying it was declared after attempts were made to attack the President's Office and other public property.

How to get licence for selling petrol, diesel

How to get licence for selling petrol, diesel

Rediff.com4 Aug 2020

Govt's move will facilitate entry of global giants such as Total SA of France, Saudi Arabia's Aramco, BP Plc of the UK, and Trafigura's downstream arm Puma Energy.

The flip side of oil companies' digital drive

The flip side of oil companies' digital drive

Rediff.com4 Jun 2020

OMCs' Digital India move is likely to have an impact on more than 80.3 million Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana consumers, majority of whom are not exposed to digital transact.

How Long Will GST Growth Continue?

How Long Will GST Growth Continue?

Rediff.com27 Oct 2022

It is now becoming increasingly clear that rising imports have played a significant role in sustaining the buoyancy in revenues from GST, notes A K Bhattacharya.

Govt brings ordinance to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR

Govt brings ordinance to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR

Rediff.com29 Oct 2020

Violation of the provisions entails a punishment of a jail term up to five years or with fine up to Rs 1 crore or with both, the ordinance released by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Thursday said.

MHA issues fresh guidelines on lockdown exemption

MHA issues fresh guidelines on lockdown exemption

Rediff.com25 Mar 2020

The guidelines listed several services including government and private offices that will be out of bounds during the period, while exempting establishments such as hospitals, ration shops, dairies, banks, insurance offices, and print and electronic media. Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment through e-commerce has also been exempted from the purview of the lockdown.

Covid-hit India needs 5000 tonnes of medical oxygen a day

Covid-hit India needs 5000 tonnes of medical oxygen a day

Rediff.com20 Apr 2021

According to industry figures, the pre-Covid demand for liquid medical oxygen (LMO) before the pandemic was 700 tonnes per day across the country. Now, with the second wave, the demand has gone up more than seven times, reports Jyoti Mukul.

India's Russian revolution: Why refiners are buying more Russian crude

India's Russian revolution: Why refiners are buying more Russian crude

Rediff.com10 Jun 2022

India may see a structural shift in supplies of crude oil with Russia emerging as a key source of fuels, a development that reduces New Delhi's dependence on West Asian oil, gives Indian refiners better bargaining power with price-setter Saudi Arabia, and improves overall energy security. The unexpected surge in supplies of Russian crude in the last few months, unthinkable until the war in Ukraine, may also deliver other unforeseen gains such as boosting exports of refined fuels to Europe, which historically has counted on Russian shipments. India has jumped on to the bandwagon of opportunistic buying of Russian crude but if calibrated carefully, Urals crude can be a long-term asset for India refiners.

IOC Should Not DIE!

IOC Should Not DIE!

Rediff.com23 Aug 2021

If IOC is not allowed to run its own affairs, then we can see it close down in the next 10 to 15 years, warns Sudhir Bisht.

Rajapaksa faces new crisis as dissidents plan to ditch govt

Rajapaksa faces new crisis as dissidents plan to ditch govt

Rediff.com5 Apr 2022

The dissidents, led by former president Sirisena's Sri Lanka Freedom Party, would leave the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna coalition with its 14 Members of Parliament, party sources said after their meeting with the President on Monday.

India loses ONGC Videsh-discovered Farzad-B gas field in Iran

India loses ONGC Videsh-discovered Farzad-B gas field in Iran

Rediff.com17 May 2021

India on Monday lost the ONGC Videsh Ltd-discovered Farzad-B gas field in the Persian Gulf after Iran awarded a contract for developing the giant gas field to a local company. "The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has signed a contract worth $1.78 billion with Petropars Group for the development of Farzad B Gas Field in the Persian Gulf," the Iranian oil ministry's official news service Shana reported. "The deal was signed on Monday, May 17, in a ceremony held in the presence of Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh in Tehran." The field holds 23 trillion cubic feet of in-place gas reserves, of which about 60 per cent is recoverable.

India deploys warships in Gulf amid US-Iran tension

India deploys warships in Gulf amid US-Iran tension

Rediff.com8 Jan 2020

The Indian Navy said warships and aircraft were deployed to establish presence, provide a sense of reassurance to the Indian merchant men

CNG, cooking gas will now be cheaper

CNG, cooking gas will now be cheaper

Rediff.com31 Mar 2020

Prices of natural gas, which is used to produce fertiliser and generate electricity and is also converted into CNG for use in automobiles as fuel and cooking gas for households, are set every six months -- on April 1 and October 1 each year.

60 oil & gas blocks to go under the hammer

60 oil & gas blocks to go under the hammer

Rediff.com18 Jul 2017

India is the third largest consumer of petroleum products, after the US and China.

2 firefighters die in gas well blaze in Assam

2 firefighters die in gas well blaze in Assam

Rediff.com10 Jun 2020

The two firefighters had gone missing after the well caught fire on Tuesday and their bodies were recovered by a National Disaster Relief Force team on Wednesday morning, said Oil India Spokesperson Tridiv Hazarika.

Govt to focus on LPG cost in next leg of Ujjwala scheme

Govt to focus on LPG cost in next leg of Ujjwala scheme

Rediff.com14 Apr 2021

With the price of a cylinder touching Rs 800, it's becoming increasingly unaffordable to an already price-sensitive population, threatening to risk one of the most-celebrated campaigns of the Modi regime, reports Twesh Mishra.

NSE in firefighting mode to minimise reputational harm after Sebi's order

NSE in firefighting mode to minimise reputational harm after Sebi's order

Rediff.com28 Feb 2022

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has got into firefighting mode to control the reputational damage caused by the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (Sebi's) order against its former managing director and chief executive officer Chitra Ramkrishna and others. According to sources, the exchange's management over the past one week has met several key stakeholders, including officials in the finance ministry and Sebi, major shareholders, and trading members, trying to distance itself from the controversy. The exchange plans to hold more meetings in the coming week to ensure that trading volumes and confidence in the bourse don't get impacted, they added.

In Karnataka, Centre-state battle is over free cooking gas

In Karnataka, Centre-state battle is over free cooking gas

Rediff.com13 Mar 2018

Rebuffing petroleum ministry, Siddaramaiah launches Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana-like scheme months before state polls

Air India passengers may face flight disruptions from Friday

Air India passengers may face flight disruptions from Friday

Rediff.com10 Oct 2019

The three oil PSUs have told Air India that if it did not make the monthly lump sum payment, they will stop fuel supply from October 11 at six major domestic airports.

Futures trading in petrol, diesel may get Sebi nod

Futures trading in petrol, diesel may get Sebi nod

Rediff.com29 May 2018

Petrol and diesel are among the 90-plus commodities that have been approved by the government for derivatives trading

Will HPCL, too, get the coveted Maharatna status?

Will HPCL, too, get the coveted Maharatna status?

Rediff.com11 Mar 2019

If cleared, the ONGC arm will become the first subsidiary company of an existing Maharatna to get into this superior league among government-owned entities.

Oppn corners govt on price rise, unemployment; says breaching states' rights

Oppn corners govt on price rise, unemployment; says breaching states' rights

Rediff.com2 Feb 2022

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, charged the government with not delivering on its various promises, including generating two crore jobs per year.

Govt looks to sell shares of RIL held through SUUTI

Govt looks to sell shares of RIL held through SUUTI

Rediff.com6 Sep 2021

The government is looking to sell shares of Reliance Industries (RIL) held through Specified Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India (SUUTI) and is soon going to appoint an intermediary to manage it. The plan is to sell about 8 lakh shares of RIL that will help the government garner around Rs 180 crore. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) will appoint an intermediary that will act as a custodian of these shares. The intermediary, based on its market analysis, will offload these shares at the best price, said an official. A final approval on the proposal is expected soon.

Land acquisition a major hurdle for India's infra, energy sectors

Land acquisition a major hurdle for India's infra, energy sectors

Rediff.com10 May 2018

According to data shared with the Lok Sabha, 19 road projects awarded after May 2014 were facing delays

PM slams Central Vista critics as he inaugurates new defence offices

PM slams Central Vista critics as he inaugurates new defence offices

Rediff.com16 Sep 2021

He also asserted that ease of living and ease of doing business were behind the spirit of the work being done under the Central Vista project.

India's exports dip 5.4% in Oct, trade deficit narrows

India's exports dip 5.4% in Oct, trade deficit narrows

Rediff.com3 Nov 2020

After recording positive growth in September, India's exports declined 5.4 per cent to $24.82 billion in October on account of dip in shipments of petroleum products, gems and jewellery, leather, and engineering goods. Trade deficit in October narrowed to $8.78 billion as against $11.76 billion, as imports also fell 11.56 per cent to $33.6 billion during the month under review.

WPI inflation at all-time high of 10.49% in April

WPI inflation at all-time high of 10.49% in April

Rediff.com17 May 2021

The wholesale price-based inflation shot up to an all-time high of 10.49 per cent in April, on rising prices of crude oil and manufactured items. Also, a low base of April last year contributed to the spike in inflation in April 2021. The WPI inflation was 7.39 per cent in March 2021, and (-) 1.57 per cent in April 2020. This is the fourth straight month of uptick seen in the wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation.

Govt approves plan to turn surplus rice into sanitizer

Govt approves plan to turn surplus rice into sanitizer

Rediff.com21 Apr 2020

The government allowed sugar companies and distilleries to make hand sanitizers using ethanol. Sugar companies supply ethanol to oil marketing companies for blending with petrol.

Puri conveys India's concerns over high oil prices to OPEC

Puri conveys India's concerns over high oil prices to OPEC

Rediff.com16 Jul 2021

India, the world's third-biggest oil consumer, has conveyed to OPEC countries its concern over high oil prices that are threatening to impact the nascent economic recovery after the devastating pandemic. New Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has made phone calls to key OPEC nations to convey the desire for an affordable price for consumers. After calling his counterparts in Qatar and the UAE, he called Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) kingpin Saudi Arabia on Thursday evening.

Another desperate attempt by the govt to rein in fiscal deficit

Another desperate attempt by the govt to rein in fiscal deficit

Rediff.com7 Feb 2019

The combined fertiliser, food and petroleum subsidy budgeted estimate for FY19 is Rs 2.64 trillion, while the revised estimate is Rs 2.66 trillion. If the carrying forward to FY20 does not happen, the revised estimates for the major subsidies could actually cross Rs 3 trillion for the first time ever.

Why ONGC is grappling with existential crisis

Why ONGC is grappling with existential crisis

Rediff.com20 Jul 2021

It is rare for Cabinet ministers to tick off state-owned companies publicly, yet that was what then petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan did for ONGC. Speaking at an event on June 29, Pradhan said he has asked India's premier exploration company to find fresh oil acreages fast. "Do it yourself through some joint venture (or) through a new business model. But the government cannot permit you to hold resources for an indefinite time." The reason for this stricture is India's rising dependence on imported oil and gas. Or, to put it another way, falling domestic production (see chart: "Crude truth"), especially from ONGC, which faces a simple problem.

GVR, the man who put the bite in Sebi's orders

GVR, the man who put the bite in Sebi's orders

Rediff.com22 Mar 2021

In a tribute to GVR, former Sebi chairman C B Bhave says, a brilliant mind, he delighted in hard work and meticulous preparation.

Eight core sectors' output up 8.9% in June

Eight core sectors' output up 8.9% in June

Rediff.com30 Jul 2021

The output of eight core sectors grew 8.9 per cent in June, mainly due to a low base effect and uptick in production of natural gas, steel, coal and electricity, official data showed on Friday. The eight infrastructure sectors of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity had contracted by 12.4 per cent in June 2020 due to the lockdown restrictions imposed to control the spread of coronavirus infections. In May this year, these key sectors had recorded a growth of 16.3 per cent, while it was 60.9 per cent in April.

PM meets ministers, Nadda amid Cabinet reshuffle buzz

PM meets ministers, Nadda amid Cabinet reshuffle buzz

Rediff.com14 Jun 2021

For the past one week, Modi has been holding in-person meetings with Union ministers apparently to take stock of the work done by the government in the last two years and to discuss various issues.