News for 'NITI'

More than 30k docs volunteer to join fight against COVID-19

More than 30k docs volunteer to join fight against COVID-19

Rediff.com3 Apr 2020

"30,100 volunteer doctors, including retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or private doctors have signed up to the government to battle COVID-19 pandemic," the official said.

Govt exploring possibility to produce Covaxin abroad

Govt exploring possibility to produce Covaxin abroad

Rediff.com21 May 2021

To address the shortage of COVID-19 jabs in the country, the government is exploring the possibility of boosting production of vaccines, including identifying manufacturing sites for indigenously developed Covaxin outside India, sources said.

No short-term silver bullet for growth or jobs: CEA

No short-term silver bullet for growth or jobs: CEA

Rediff.com25 Mar 2021

The investment climate is going well in India and the private sector should skill their workforce in the interest of its business, Chief Economic Advisor K V Subramanian said on Thursday asserting that he does not foresee any difficulty in demand and supply of the workforce. Addressing 'Times Network India Economic Conclave', Subramanian further said job creation is part of the virtuous cycle that starts with private investments flowing into the country resulting in production, growth, job creation and increase in aggregate demand which in turn leads to more investments in the economy. The investment climate is going well in India. Other things will follow, though with a lag...it is for the private sector to start recognising that it is in their own business interest that they should skill their workforce. This, in turn, will raise the average level of skills in India," he said.

More than 38k docs volunteer to join fight against COVID-19

More than 38k docs volunteer to join fight against COVID-19

Rediff.com29 May 2020

'38,162 volunteer doctors, including retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or private doctors have signed up with the government to battle COVID-19 pandemic'

'Should We Hand Over PSBs To Private Sector'?

'Should We Hand Over PSBs To Private Sector'?

Rediff.com10 Aug 2022

'We have to think of the repercussions if public sector banks are privatised and if they go to foreign hands.'

AC local train fare in Mumbai to be slashed by 50%: Minister

AC local train fare in Mumbai to be slashed by 50%: Minister

Rediff.com30 Apr 2022

A notification issued by the railway board in the evening said new fares would come into effect from May 5.

Bihar Oppn ready to embrace Nitish if he ditches BJP

Bihar Oppn ready to embrace Nitish if he ditches BJP

Rediff.com8 Aug 2022

Amid a brewing political storm in Bihar, the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal on Monday said it was ready to "embrace" Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his Janata Dal-United if he broke ranks with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Looking at lockdown star weddings

Looking at lockdown star weddings

Rediff.com26 Nov 2020

Apart from embracing parenthood, we saw a lot of celebrities getting married amidst the lockdown!

Nitish Kumar, The King Of Somersaults

Nitish Kumar, The King Of Somersaults

Rediff.com16 Aug 2022

Wait for a while before he does another somersault... But one thing is reasonably certain -- the twice betrayed BJP may not embrace him again, predicts Virendra Kapoor.

Kejriwal Is Eyeing 2027 Gujarat Poll

Kejriwal Is Eyeing 2027 Gujarat Poll

Rediff.com8 Dec 2022

That AAP managed a sizeable vote share in Gujarat is creditable. The BJP can no longer ignore AAP's growing presence in its strongest bastion, explains Ramesh Menon, long-time observer of Gujarat politics.

Govt readies portal to speed up Rs 2.5 trn-plus asset monetisation drive

Govt readies portal to speed up Rs 2.5 trn-plus asset monetisation drive

Rediff.com27 Jul 2021

The government has developed an asset monetisation dashboard for monitoring real-time progress of its ambitious Rs 2.5 trillion-plus pipeline, and providing visibility to investors. The portal has been prepared as the government tries to provide a one-stop shop to investors keen on taking over assets of government departments and ministries.

India should have 4 capitals on a rotation basis: Mamata

India should have 4 capitals on a rotation basis: Mamata

Rediff.com23 Jan 2021

She also slammed the Centre for its decision to observe January 23 as 'Parakram Diwas' to commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and said the Narendra Modi government did not consult with her before announcing it.

How BSNL can turn around its fortune post Rs 1.64-trn govt package

How BSNL can turn around its fortune post Rs 1.64-trn govt package

Rediff.com1 Sep 2022

Just a few weeks ago, Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw did some tough talking with the senior managers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, the ailing state-owned telecom service provider. The message was clear: They had to perform, quit by taking the voluntary retirement package or be compulsorily retired from service. The terse message from an otherwise polite and soft-spoken minister came just days after he announced a second and bigger package of Rs 1.64 trillion as part of a four-year turnaround plan for BSNL.

Yogi, the saffron-clad monk who will be UP CM again

Yogi, the saffron-clad monk who will be UP CM again

Rediff.com10 Mar 2022

The BJP's 2022 assembly election win may have further consolidated Adityanath's stock within the BJP. The saffron party is now set to win the UP state polls twice in a row, a feat achieved by no other party in three decades.

Who will be India's new oil regulator?

Who will be India's new oil regulator?

Rediff.com16 Dec 2021

Former oil secretary Tarun Kapoor, present and former chairmen of ONGC and a former director of IOC, are among over a dozen people who have applied for the top job at the oil and gas regulator, PNGRB, sources said. Kapoor, who superannuated as Secretary to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas last month, is the most prominent name in the list of 13 persons who have applied to become the chairman of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) chairman and managing director Subhash Kumar and his predecessor Shashi Shanker are also in the race and so is G K Satish, who superannuated as Director for Planning and Business Development from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) a couple of months back.

How Modi plans to change babudom

How Modi plans to change babudom

Rediff.com11 Jun 2019

The PM is keen to fill 40 per cent of joint secretary level openings with outsiders.

Whither The Middle Class?

Whither The Middle Class?

Rediff.com12 Jul 2022

Ajit Balakrishnan on how to arrest a worldwide decline.

INSACOG suggests booster doses for people above 40 years

INSACOG suggests booster doses for people above 40 years

Rediff.com3 Dec 2021

'Vaccination of all remaining unvaccinated at-risk people and consideration of a booster dose for those 40 years of age and over, first targeting the most high-risk / high-exposure may be considered,' the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Sequencing Consortium (INSACOG) said in its weekly bulletin dated November 29.

Rajiv Kumar assumes charge as chief election commissioner

Rajiv Kumar assumes charge as chief election commissioner

Rediff.com15 May 2022

Kumar said the Commission will follow the time-tested methods of consultations and consensus building in bringing about any reforms and will not shy away from tough decisions, according to an Election Commission (EC) statement.

India makes RT-PCR must for passengers from 7 more nations

India makes RT-PCR must for passengers from 7 more nations

Rediff.com2 Sep 2021

These seven countries are South Africa, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.

'We need India-centric solutions, not Harvard-centric'

'We need India-centric solutions, not Harvard-centric'

Rediff.com29 Aug 2019

'The government is sincerely working on employment generation. Unfortunately, they are depending on these people from Harvard. Their wrong policies are killing jobs. The government has to come out of the Western framework on which they depend upon a lot.'

8 dead, 31 missing in avalanche in Uttarakhand's Chamoli

8 dead, 31 missing in avalanche in Uttarakhand's Chamoli

Rediff.com24 Apr 2021

A total of 430 BRO workers were at the road-construction site when the avalanche occurred on Friday, Uttarakhand Director General of Police Ashok Kumar said.

Bihar BJP launches fresh attack on Nitish over central aid

Bihar BJP launches fresh attack on Nitish over central aid

Rediff.com7 Feb 2022

The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar came under fresh attack on Monday from state Bharatiya Janata Party president Sanjay Jaiswal whose party seems annoyed with junior ally Janata Dal-United's shrill demands for special assistance from the Centre.

Wheat export: Madhya Pradesh is ahead of Punjab, Haryana

Wheat export: Madhya Pradesh is ahead of Punjab, Haryana

Rediff.com25 Apr 2022

The surge in wheat export from India owing to the Ukraine crisis has once again demonstrated how farmers in states that have flexible marketing frameworks and low taxes benefit more from an emerging situation. The bulk of the wheat exported from India, trade and industry sources say, is being sourced at rates significantly higher than the state-mandated price of Rs 2,015 per quintal in Madhya Pradesh (MP), Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Gujarat - states which have low mandi taxes compared to Punjab and Haryana. This is not only benefiting farmers there but could also lead to significant savings for the states in procurement costs in the months to come.

On Modi's birthday, India jabs record 2.5 cr Covid doses

On Modi's birthday, India jabs record 2.5 cr Covid doses

Rediff.com18 Sep 2021

The total number of doses administered in the country has crossed 78.68 crore.

Govt fast-tracks approval for foreign-produced COVID vaccines

Govt fast-tracks approval for foreign-produced COVID vaccines

Rediff.com13 Apr 2021

The first 100 beneficiaries of such foreign vaccines shall be assessed for seven days for safety outcomes before it is rolled out for further immunisation programme within the country, the Union health ministry said.

Positivity rate, active cases reducing: Govt on Covid crisis

Positivity rate, active cases reducing: Govt on Covid crisis

Rediff.com22 May 2021

Addressing a press briefing, Niti Aayog member (health) VK Paul said that though there has been an overall decline in case burden but the positivity rate is still over 10 per cent in 382 districts.

Budget could push for private investments in public infrastructure

Budget could push for private investments in public infrastructure

Rediff.com25 Jan 2022

These could include strengthening the public-private partnership (PPP) dispute resolution mechanism, uniform PPP institutional framework, easier terms for infrastructure companies accessing bond markets, and tax sops, Business Standard has learnt. Investment in infrastructure projects with high multiplier effect has been the Centre's main plank to revive the economy, create employment and boost consumption.

Cabinet paves way for privatisation of govt-owned insurers

Cabinet paves way for privatisation of govt-owned insurers

Rediff.com29 Jul 2021

The Union Cabinet has approved amendments to the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act, paving the way for privatisation of government-owned insurers. The amendments, approved by Cabinet, will remove the clause for the Centre to hold at least 51 per cent in public sector insurance companies at any given time. It will also have an enabling provision for the transfer of management control from the government to the potential buyer of the public sector insurance company. The finance ministry will move amendments to the insurance Act in the ongoing Parliament session.

'Nation building can't be done by people on sabbatical'

'Nation building can't be done by people on sabbatical'

Rediff.com7 Aug 2017

'We do not want people who are air dropped and who fly out once the job is done.' 'Ever since liberalisation started, we keep on hearing that it's going to be jobless growth.' 'This speaks of the failure of the foreign returned policy makers.' 'When questions are raised, answers should be given and not a resignation.'

Centre rushes high-level Covid teams to 4 states

Centre rushes high-level Covid teams to 4 states

Rediff.com19 Nov 2020

The teams will visit the districts reporting high number of COVID cases and support the state's efforts towards strengthening containment, surveillance, testing, infection prevention and control measures, and efficient clinical management of positive cases.

Recruitment for trial of Covaxin in 6-12 age group to start from Tuesday

Recruitment for trial of Covaxin in 6-12 age group to start from Tuesday

Rediff.com14 Jun 2021

In the trial, the vaccine will be given by the intramuscular route in two doses on day 0 and day 28.

UPSC takes 31 pvt sector experts as jt secretaries

UPSC takes 31 pvt sector experts as jt secretaries

Rediff.com8 Oct 2021

Minister of state for personnel Jitendra Singh said it is a major step to place the right talent for the right role.

No mixing of Covid vaccines or single-shot dose: Centre

No mixing of Covid vaccines or single-shot dose: Centre

Rediff.com1 Jun 2021

"First dose (of Covishield) and then, after 12 weeks, the second dose. There is absolutely no change. Covaxin also has a two-dose schedule. First dose and then second dose after 4-6 weeks. This schedule is being followed to take our vaccination schedule forward and no confusion must be created on this," he said.

Govt orders 66 cr Covishield doses from SII by Dec

Govt orders 66 cr Covishield doses from SII by Dec

Rediff.com9 Sep 2021

The development comes after Prakash Kumar Singh, the Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at SII, informed the Union health ministry that the firm would be able to supply 20.29 crore doses of Covishied in the month of September.

'They robbed us of thousands of acres'

'They robbed us of thousands of acres'

Rediff.com2 Mar 2022

'The government is just laying foundation stones everywhere.' 'It has hardly inaugurated anything.'

'This government prefers only ease of doing business, they are not interested in ease of living'

'This government prefers only ease of doing business, they are not interested in ease of living'

Rediff.com31 Jan 2022

'We are worried for the workers because in the private sector, jobs are not secure, there is no decent work condition and there is no social security.' 'That's why we are opposing the economic policies of this government.'

Covid: Centre allocates foreign aid to states, UTs

Covid: Centre allocates foreign aid to states, UTs

Rediff.com4 May 2021

The Union health ministry on Tuesday said that aid received from other countries has been distributed in different states to help deal with the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Pandemic keeps uber rich off charities, contribution drops to 11%

Pandemic keeps uber rich off charities, contribution drops to 11%

Rediff.com22 Mar 2022

In spite of a massive jump in the number of the uber rich and rich becoming richer, their contributions to charity continued to decline during the COVID-19 pandemic when a whopping 200 million-plus were forced into poverty, says a report. While CSR (corporate social responsibility) spends have increased from 12 per cent in FY15 (two years into mandatory CSR spends) to 23 per cent in FY21, charity by the uber rich slipped from 18 per cent of the total funding in FY15 to a paltry 11 per cent in FY21, says global consultancy Bain & Company and charity-focused domestic consultancy Dasra in their India Philanthropy Report 2022. The report said that donation from private foreign companies has contracted from around 26 per cent in overall private giving in FY15 to around 15 per cent in FY21.

Govt assessing impact of 2nd COVID wave for possible stimulus

Govt assessing impact of 2nd COVID wave for possible stimulus

Rediff.com25 May 2021

With the world's worst outbreak of COVID pandemic stalling a nascent economic recovery, the government has begun assessing the impact of the second wave of infections on different sectors and may look at providing support at an appropriate time to segments requiring fiscal help. Some of the economic indicators, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections, still provide confidence and incoming data will throw some more light on the state of the economy, sources said. Services sectors like hospitality, tourism and aviation which had just started recovering were hit hard by the second wave of COVID, the sources said, adding these segments might need some support on an urgent basis from the government.