Manmohan Singh clarifies his office's involvement in the deal that's facing criticism from the opposition and the media.
Prime Minister's Office on Friday came down heavily on former media adviser Sanjaya Baru accusing him of "misusing" a privileged position for commercial gain in writing a book in which he says Manmohan Singh had been undermined by the Congress party.
Referring to the note, Sinha said the official who initiated it was not a part of the negotiating team.
The prime minister told all senior PMO officers on Thursday to drop the bureaucratic way of working and think creatively on implementing the UPA government's agenda and improving delivery systems.
'The BJP's numbers in this government are almost the same as those enjoyed by the Congress under P V Narasimha Rao when the reform process was kicked off in 1991.' 'As before, the only constraints on the prime minister's actions are internal, not external.' 'They come from his own assessment of the political consequences of any action,' points out Mihir S Sharma.
Central Bureau of Investigation Director Ranjit Sinha on Monday admitted before the Supreme Court that certain changes were made in the coalgate draft report on suggestions given by Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, Attorney General G E Vanahvati and the officials of PMO and Coal Ministry.
"It has come to the attention of the PMO that one Dr M V Rao has circulated visiting cards and greeting cards describing himself as advisor to the prime minister.
At least three Israelis were killed and six others injured when Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem, breaking an uneasy peace in the city since the outbreak of the current round of violence in the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday made it clear that he will work for strengthening the federal structure of the country and would like his office to consider issues, especially those raised by the states on priority and with sensitivity.
Along with the order, the ministry had sent a list of 24 names of former secretaries, who would be entitled to these facilities.
In just about four days of its launch, the official Facebook page of the Prime Minister's Office has attracted over 1.1 million 'likes'. The cover photo on the Facebook page of PMO India shows 63-yead-old Narendra Modi at work. He is an avid user of the social media.
The Prime Minister's Office has refused to give information on the expenses incurred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Singapore saying it is too "vague" and "wide".
Vijnana Bharati or Vibha, an RSS-affiliated organisation, lashed out at the Prime Minister's Office and called upon the PM to constitute Scientific Advisory Committee 'on an urgent basis'.
The complaint was made to the Prime Minister's Office by lawyer Suren Uppal alleging that the Essar Group had ordered its former security chief Albasit Khan to tap into its business rivals' telephone conversations.
The Prime Minister's Office has asked the Coal Ministry to monitor closely the process of allotment and auction of coal mines to ensure that there is no disruption in the production of dry fuel.
They've also asked to explain how the disclosure of the documents would impact the country's economic interests.
The PMO also directed a careful watch on the intensity and spread of rainfall over the next week or so, especially in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday rejected a claim by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi that Sir Creek was being 'handed over' to Pakistan, terming it as 'mischievous' and questioned its timing.
The Central Information Commission has directed the PMO to answer the question within 15 days.
'Someone who cannot even take his cabinet into confidence, how will he take the NDA alliance into confidence?'
To offset the impact of high import costs, the Planning Commission has said that CIL should adopt a pooling formula on prices by combining rates of imported and domestic coal.
Gandhi also called upon the government to immediately put money into the hands of the poor and provide a financial package to the industry to help revive the economy.
Amidst the storm over CAG report on coal block allocation, the Prime Minister's Office has expressed displeasure over inaction by the Coal Ministry in cancelling blocks where mining has not taken place and asked it to expedite the matter by September 6.
The Prime Minister's Office had raised concerns over the bilateral air services agreement (ASA) signed between India and Abu Dhabi earlier this year, raising the number of flights from 13,700 to 50,000 each week.
Former Army Chief Gen VK Singh, whose last days in office were marred by a legal battle with the government in the Supreme Court, has sought to drag the Prime Minister's Office over his age row and the Tatra truck scandal saying a senior bureaucrat there was "orchestrating" the issues.
The Finance Ministry, late Thursday night, came out with draft guidelines on General Anti Avoidance Rule -- a budgetary proposal to check tax evasion.
Seeking to streamline overseas visits of ministers, the Prime Minister's Office has asked them to give at least 10-day prior notice and file a detailed report about the outcome of the visit on return.
Turning down an RTI appeal, the Prime Minister's Office has said releasing secret files about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's widow Emilie Schenkl and daughter Anita Bose may upset relations with foreign countries.
Within days of its debut on the Twitter, the Prime Minister's Office is exploring ways to best utilise the social networking site by addressing grievances of common people apart from looking at the possibility of having a Facebook account.
A confidential note from the Prime Minister's Office has instructed foreign office heads of missions and union ministries to not serve no non-vegetarian food at banquet-dinner or lunches at 7 Race Course Road in the prime minister's presence. The instructions are extended to banquets hosted in the PM's honour on foreign soil as well.
An employee of the Prime Minister's Office has been arrested in connection with a case of alleged embezzlement.
The Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday tried to play down Monday's meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, saying that it was a routine matter.
Tightening the procedure for official foreign visits by bureaucrats, the Centre has said that proposals for trips abroad should go through the Prime Minister Office and screening committee of secretaries for approval.
The biggest challenge will be to convert his regime into a coalition of minds. But given the fact that he is instinctively an authoritarian leader and supporter of the hard Hindutva line, the survival of his government will depend on his ability to balance between his heart and mind, between instinct and pragmatism, asserts Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author of Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times.
"The prime minister has had some preliminary and exploratory discussions on this matter with some political leaders. News reports mentioning specific names are speculative and premature," PM's media adviser Sanjaya Baru clarified.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday exchanged jibes over the red diary that a sacked state minister claims records financial misdeeds of the CM and his colleagues.
