News for 'National Welfare Fund'

Can Modi Change India's Freebie Culture?

Can Modi Change India's Freebie Culture?

Rediff.com23 Aug 2022

Blame the voter, who invariably chooses the promise of hand-outs today in preference to a vague promise of, say, better schools tomorrow. Getting the Supreme Court to issue an edict, or Parliament to pass a law, is no solution, observes T N Ninan.

When A Param Vir Chakra Hero Retires

When A Param Vir Chakra Hero Retires

Rediff.com22 Feb 2022

A salute to the youngest Param Vir Chakra Awardee, Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav who has retired from the Indian Army.

Mary Kom-led IOA committee to probe wrestlers' claims

Mary Kom-led IOA committee to probe wrestlers' claims

Rediff.com21 Jan 2023

Besides legendary boxer MC Mary Kom and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, the panel includes archer Dola Banerjee and Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) president and IOA treasurer Sahdev Yadav.

Nikki Haley, the doer who loves to be underestimated

Nikki Haley, the doer who loves to be underestimated

Rediff.com14 Feb 2023

Dubbed as "Jobs Governor", Haley turned South Carolina's economy around during her tenure as governor and transforming the state into a manufacturing powerhouse. She cut taxes, repealed burdensome regulations, and turned South Carolina into "the Beast of the Southeast". Under her leadership, figures note, the state's unemployment rate hit a 15-year low, and when she left office, South Carolina was at full employment.

Will 2022 see some daunting labour reforms?

Will 2022 see some daunting labour reforms?

Rediff.com31 Dec 2021

Ushering in a big wave of reforms by implementing the four labour codes, setting up the national social security fund to cover over 38 crore informal sector workers and improving the ease of doing business will top the agenda of the labour ministry in the New Year. In a major move, the ministry launched the e-Shram portal on August 26, 2021 for creating a national database of over 38 crore informal sector workers. It will help the government to ensure last-mile delivery of benefits of various social security schemes to the informal-sector workers.

Unease in MVA as ally Cong writes to Uddhav, demands to implement CMP

Unease in MVA as ally Cong writes to Uddhav, demands to implement CMP

Rediff.com30 Mar 2022

The CMP could not be implemented properly in the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, said state Congress chief Nana Patole in the letter.

Mann slams farmer unions for frequent stirs, says people facing difficulties

Mann slams farmer unions for frequent stirs, says people facing difficulties

Rediff.com18 Nov 2022

Mann said blocking roads by holding sit-ins had become a "trend" during the past few days, taking on the farmers' unions virtually head-on in an uncommon thing for any chief minister of the agrarian state.

India's richest 1% own more than 40% of total wealth: Oxfam

India's richest 1% own more than 40% of total wealth: Oxfam

Rediff.com16 Jan 2023

The richest one per cent in India now own more than 40 per cent of the country's total wealth, while the bottom half of the population together share just 3 per cent of wealth, a new study showed on Monday.

Travel, hospitality industries stare at Rs 5-trn revenue loss

Travel, hospitality industries stare at Rs 5-trn revenue loss

Rediff.com20 Apr 2020

Besides urging the Centre for extension of loan moratorium, the hotel and travel industries have also demanded deferment of GST and advance tax payments and waiver of fees for all forthcoming licences and permits.

Drop in health expenditure amid pandemic surprises experts

Drop in health expenditure amid pandemic surprises experts

Rediff.com18 Jul 2020

The ministry of health and family welfare spent Rs 3,948 crore in May this year compared to Rs 7,816 crore in the corresponding month of the previous year. On the other hand, at Rs 12,930 crore, the expenditure had risen almost 200 per cent in April against Rs 4,327 crore in the corresponding month of 2019-20.

Why India's gig workforce is still outside purview of basic benefits

Why India's gig workforce is still outside purview of basic benefits

Rediff.com7 Apr 2023

If you have seen Zwigato, Param Kumar's story will sound familiar. Laid off from his job as a repairman at a Gurugram-based water purifier provider, he now delivers groceries and food for a mobile-based delivery app, in Delhi. Kumar, who started making deliveries last August, told Business Standard that he is working longer hours than his older salaried job as an RO repairman, and has no paid leaves or health insurance. Kumar is part of India's estimated 7.7 million-strong force of gig workers.

How the wealth of India's richest can make a difference

How the wealth of India's richest can make a difference

Rediff.com16 Jan 2023

The richest one per cent in India now own more than 40 per cent of the country's total wealth, while the bottom half of the population together share just 3 per cent of wealth, a new study showed on Monday. Releasing the India supplement of its annual inequality report on the first day of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, rights group Oxfam International said that taxing India's ten-richest at 5 per cent can fetch entire money to bring children back to school. "A one-off tax on unrealized gains from 2017-2021 on just one billionaire, Gautam Adani, could have raised Rs 1.79 lakh crore, enough to employ more than five million Indian primary school teachers for a year," it added.

What Tamil Nadu Does Today, India May Do Tomorrow

What Tamil Nadu Does Today, India May Do Tomorrow

Rediff.com23 Mar 2023

Tamil Nadu's latest budget offers path-breaking initiatives and major boost for social infrastructure, which other state governments are sure to follow in the coming years, predicts N Sathiya Moorthy.

Say goodbye to the national health policy

Say goodbye to the national health policy

Rediff.com11 Mar 2015

Expenditure on health in India is at a global low of 1.2% of GDP.

How Modi government is helping COVID orphans

How Modi government is helping COVID orphans

Rediff.com21 Jun 2021

'We will ensure that every child is protected,' says Priyank Kanoongo, chairperson, NCPCR.

Govt orders Rs 50,000 ex gratia for kin of Covid victims

Govt orders Rs 50,000 ex gratia for kin of Covid victims

Rediff.com28 Sep 2021

This comes as Supreme Court is hearing a petition filed by lawyer-cum-petitioner, Gaurav Kumar Bansal, seeking an ex gratia compensation for those family members, who died due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

'I am unable to fund my party's campaign'

'I am unable to fund my party's campaign'

Rediff.com3 May 2018

Former PM H D Deve Gowda on his party's prospects in the coming elections.

How the wealth of India's richest can make a difference

How the wealth of India's richest can make a difference

Rediff.com17 Jan 2022

Indian billionaires saw their combined fortunes more than double during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their count shot up by 39 per cent to 142, while the wealth of the ten richest is enough to fund school and higher education of children in the country for 25 years, a new study showed on Monday. In its annual inequality survey released on the first day of the World Economic Forum's online Davos Agenda summit, Oxfam India further said that an additional one per cent tax on the richest 10 per cent can provide the country with nearly 17.7 lakh extra oxygen cylinders, while a similar wealth tax on the 98 richest billionaire families would finance Ayushman Bharat, the world's largest health insurance scheme, for more than seven years. The COVID-19 pandemic saw a huge rush for oxygen cylinders and insurance claims during the second wave last year.

'No one is forcing KJo to dedicate his film to Uri martyrs'

'No one is forcing KJo to dedicate his film to Uri martyrs'

Rediff.com24 Oct 2016

'He voluntarily felt the need to honour our martyrs with a mention in his credit titles.'

Tata Starbucks found guilty of profiteering Rs 4.51 cr

Tata Starbucks found guilty of profiteering Rs 4.51 cr

Rediff.com30 Apr 2019

Tata Starbucks had hiked the base price of one its coffee variant after the GST Council cut tax rates on restaurants from 18 per cent to 5 per cent with effect from November 15, 2017.

Will Kerala Go North-East Way To BJP?

Will Kerala Go North-East Way To BJP?

Rediff.com13 Mar 2023

If Kerala wants to sustain its room for independent thinking and talk back to Delhi when needed, it should put its finances in order. Or - if one takes the North East example - Kerala's political posturing may end up commensurate with its financial dependence on others, suggests Shyam G Menon.

Govt reduces MNREGA allocation to Rs 73,000 cr

Govt reduces MNREGA allocation to Rs 73,000 cr

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

The Centre has allocated Rs 73,000 crore to the rural employment guarantee programme Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act for the next fiscal 2021-22, substantially lower than the actual expenditure of Rs 1.11 lakh crore in the current fiscal which included an additional Rs 40,000 crore for the scheme given by the government in the wake of the pandemic's impact on the economy.

No govt job, subsidy if more than 2 kids: UP population draft bill

No govt job, subsidy if more than 2 kids: UP population draft bill

Rediff.com10 Jul 2021

Suggestions have been invited from the public to improve the draft bill and July 19 is the last date for it.

Obama appoints Indian American to national science board

Obama appoints Indian American to national science board

Rediff.com4 Jul 2014

Dr Sethuraman 'Panch' Panchanathan, senior vice president, Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development, ArizonaStateUniversity, was last week appointed to the United States National Science Board by President Barack Obama.

LS passes bill extending Indian laws to Antarctic research stations

LS passes bill extending Indian laws to Antarctic research stations

Rediff.com22 Jul 2022

Amid protests by Opposition members seeking a debate on price rise, the Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, which seeks to extend the application of domestic laws to research stations set up by India in the Antarctic region.

PM reviews preparations for vaccination against COVID-19

PM reviews preparations for vaccination against COVID-19

Rediff.com30 Jun 2020

The PM directed officials to evaluate various technology tools to ensure efficient and timely vaccination in due course of time. He also emphasised that detailed planning for such large scale vaccination should be undertaken immediately.

551 oxygen generation plants to be set up through PM CARES: PMO

551 oxygen generation plants to be set up through PM CARES: PMO

Rediff.com25 Apr 2021

The basic aim behind establishing PSA oxygen plants at government hospitals in the district headquarters is to further strengthen the public health system and ensure that each of these hospitals has a captive oxygen generation facility.

Need to balance national interest, right to privacy: SC on Aadhaar issue

Need to balance national interest, right to privacy: SC on Aadhaar issue

Rediff.com24 Jan 2018

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, hearing a petitions challenging Aadhaar, said no system in the world was secure and the issue was not as to how data is collected, but how the information so collected are used or misused.

CPSE assets sale to bring about paradigm shift in infrastructure: FM

CPSE assets sale to bring about paradigm shift in infrastructure: FM

Rediff.com9 Mar 2021

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said monetisation of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) assets is based on the principle of value creation for the government and investors and would bring about a paradigm shift in infrastructure augmentation and maintenance. Chairing the National Workshop with the states/UTs on Asset Monetisation organised by Niti Aayog, the minister sought the collaboration of states for the holistic development of infrastructure. She said India can become a $5 trillion economy, while striking the right balance between fiscal imperatives and socio-economic welfare, through active collaboration between the public and private sector.

GST arm finds P&G India guilty of profiteering

GST arm finds P&G India guilty of profiteering

Rediff.com23 Apr 2019

There have been complaints from consumers that the firm has increased the base price of products and then charged the lower GST rate, thereby keeping the MRP of products the same in pre and post tax rate cut.

Winter session begins today, farm law repeal among 26 bills on agenda

Winter session begins today, farm law repeal among 26 bills on agenda

Rediff.com29 Nov 2021

The government's agenda also includes the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021.

Why is govt borrowing from the market?

Why is govt borrowing from the market?

Rediff.com24 Feb 2021

To make possible discretionary spending including capex and that on welfare, the government decided to borrow more than planned in FY21 -- Rs 12.7 trillion.

Dropout Who Built $100 Mn PhysicsWallah

Dropout Who Built $100 Mn PhysicsWallah

Rediff.com13 Jun 2022

'With our focus and strategy we can solve at least 20 per cent per cent of India's education problems.'

Govt has no business to be in business: Modi

Govt has no business to be in business: Modi

Rediff.com24 Feb 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the government has no business to be in business and his administration is committed to privatising all PSUs barring the bare minimum in four strategic sectors. "It is government's duty to support enterprises and businesses. But it is not essential that it should own and run enterprises," he said. Modi also said the Centre's policy is to either monetise or modernise public sector enterprises, with the intent that the government has "no business to be in business".

'We have to be prepared for the invisible enemy'

'We have to be prepared for the invisible enemy'

Rediff.com10 May 2023

'Unlike on the western and eastern borders where there is an enemy at the gate, here there is an invisible enemy which is building its own capability and can come into play at a time and place of his choosing.'

Govt launches web portal for COVID vaccine development

Govt launches web portal for COVID vaccine development

Rediff.com28 Sep 2020

The National Clinical Registry for COVID-19 will collect systematic data on clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory investigations, management protocols, the clinical course of COVID-19, disease spectrum and outcomes of patients.

Aadhaar mandatory for MGNREGS work from April

Aadhaar mandatory for MGNREGS work from April

Rediff.com8 Jan 2017

However, ration card, driving licence, voter identity card, Kisan passbook with photo, job card issued under MGNREGS and a certificate issued by a gazetted officer or a tehsildar will be admissible as proof of identity for people to get the benefits under the scheme till the time they get Aadhaar.

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.

How Ukraine war may give wings to Jet's international plans

How Ukraine war may give wings to Jet's international plans

Rediff.com6 Jul 2022

Jet Airways is looking to lease around 20 Airbus A320 aircraft from lessors by 2024 as it aims to restart operations and fly international routes in the next one-and-a-half years. Jet's A320 aircraft fleet, according to sources, will be a mix of the Ceo and the more fuel-efficient Neo variants. These planes were originally intended for Russian airlines but could not be delivered following western sanctions on Russia over its Ukraine invasion.

Well-being of farmers a priority for govt: Modi

Well-being of farmers a priority for govt: Modi

Rediff.com30 Apr 2015

Reaching out to different sections of society, including farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the well-being of 'annadaata' is a priority for the government