News for 'Public Affairs Centre'

All about the Infrastructure Finance Secretariat

All about the Infrastructure Finance Secretariat

Rediff.com13 Jul 2022

During his first Union Budget in July 2014, former finance minister Arun Jaitley announced the setting up of an institution called 3P India, with an allocation of Rs 500 crore. The intention was to mainstream public-private partnerships (PPPs) in India. The plan was to bring together the capacities of the government and private sector to push PPP projects.

PFI, 8 other outfits banned under UAPA for 5 years for terror links

PFI, 8 other outfits banned under UAPA for 5 years for terror links

Rediff.com28 Sep 2022

The Centre has imposed a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) and several of its associates for their alleged terror activities.

CBI names Omidyar among 10 NGOs in FCRA scam case

CBI names Omidyar among 10 NGOs in FCRA scam case

Rediff.com12 May 2022

The Central Bureau of Investigation has named 10 non-government organisations, including the US-based Omidyar, as accused in the case of allegedly conspiring to illegally facilitate the registration and renewal of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act licences.

Centre to build memorial for Netaji, 25 more files declassified

Centre to build memorial for Netaji, 25 more files declassified

Rediff.com29 Apr 2016

The documents consist of five files each from the Prime Minister's Office and Home Ministry, and 15 files from Ministry of External Affairs pertaining to the period between 1956 and 2009.

Aligarh Muslim University Needs Urgent Reforms!

Aligarh Muslim University Needs Urgent Reforms!

Rediff.com7 Mar 2023

Is it a divine, sacrosanct university, a holy cow, prohibiting human intervention?

Centre scraps wheat tender

Centre scraps wheat tender

Rediff.com15 Sep 2007

The government has decided to scrap a plan to purchase wheat through a series of small domestic tenders in different parts of the country, fearing that private traders may corner most orders.

Stain on Modi govt's legacy will never wash off: Cong on Bilkis case convicts

Stain on Modi govt's legacy will never wash off: Cong on Bilkis case convicts

Rediff.com18 Oct 2022

Singhvi said when the release was ordered on August 15, the Modi government maintained a studied and deliberate silence on freeing the criminals, an action which has drawn legitimate criticism the world over and "exposed our system to widespread shame and ridicule".

No, Friends is Not The Best Sitcom Ever!

No, Friends is Not The Best Sitcom Ever!

Rediff.com14 Jul 2023

'The pride of the devoted Seinfeld fan is that he happens to love a show that doesn't take his love for granted, so that even on repeat viewings he is never really sure what directions an episode might take,' observes Sreehari Nair.

Repeat Covid infections increase organ failure, death risk: Study

Repeat Covid infections increase organ failure, death risk: Study

Rediff.com11 Nov 2022

The study also indicated that the risk seems to increase with each infection.

The Crown Season 5 Review

The Crown Season 5 Review

Rediff.com9 Nov 2022

The new season of The Crown is a bit of a dreary watch, observes Deepa Gehlot.

SC notices to Centre, others on plea against Jet-Etihad deal

SC notices to Centre, others on plea against Jet-Etihad deal

Rediff.com8 Oct 2013

The apex court issued notices to the Centre, ministries and departments concerned, Jet Airways and United Arab Emirate's Etihad Airways on the petition challenging the deal and sought their responses within four weeks.

Govt invokes Modi, tells SC not to invest time in examining sedition law

Govt invokes Modi, tells SC not to invest time in examining sedition law

Rediff.com9 May 2022

The Centre Monday urged the Supreme Court not to invest time in examining the constitutional validity of the penal law on sedition, saying it has decided to re-examine and re-consider the provision which can only be done before the competent forum.

When Pakistan Was Keen On A Kashmir Solution

When Pakistan Was Keen On A Kashmir Solution

Rediff.com3 May 2023

Manmohan Singh and Musharraf felt that what they were embarking upon, if successful, could lead to a future of boundless potential for the two countries and for the relationship that was hard to foresee from the prism of the existing situation and the historical position and orthodox ideas on both sides.

Govt reshuffles bureaucrats, Air India chairman is aviation secretary

Govt reshuffles bureaucrats, Air India chairman is aviation secretary

Rediff.com22 Sep 2021

Air India Chairman Rajiv Bansal has been appointed as the new aviation secretary as part of a major top-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre on Wednesday. K Rajaraman, additional secretary in the department of economic affairs, has been appointed as secretary, department of telecommunications, a personnel ministry order said.

Lankan Oppn to move no-trust motion against Gotabaya govt

Lankan Oppn to move no-trust motion against Gotabaya govt

Rediff.com8 Apr 2022

The SJB has begun to collect signatures from MPs for the no-confidence motion, according to media reports.

In soup for criticising Constitution, Kerala minister resigns

In soup for criticising Constitution, Kerala minister resigns

Rediff.com6 Jul 2022

Kerala Minister Saji Cheriyan on Wednesday announced his resignation amidst mounting criticism from various quarters, including the Opposition, over his controversial remarks against the Constitution recently.

In its zeal to sell A-I, govt goes slow on others

In its zeal to sell A-I, govt goes slow on others

Rediff.com13 Oct 2021

The Centre's push to sell Air India on priority has led to delays in other strategic divestment proposals, such as privatising United India Insurance, as well as ongoing transactions, such as Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), revealed multiple officials involved in the process. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) is yet to take new privatisation recommendations of the NITI Aayog to the core group of secretaries on disinvestment (CGD) headed by the Cabinet secretary, said one of the officials. The priority now is to ensure all approvals for Air India are in place since the government intends to hand over the national carrier as early as this month.

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.

PSU banks had worst time in Dr Singh-Rajan tenure: FM

PSU banks had worst time in Dr Singh-Rajan tenure: FM

Rediff.com16 Oct 2019

"I'm taking a minute to respond... I do respect Raghuram Rajan as a great scholar who chose to be in the central bank in India at a time when the Indian economy was all buoyant," Sitharaman said during the lecture organised by the Deepak and Neera Raj Centre on Indian Economic Policies of the Columbia University.

Indian missile lands in Pak 'accidentally', probe ordered

Indian missile lands in Pak 'accidentally', probe ordered

Rediff.com11 Mar 2022

The defence ministry on Friday said a technical malfunction in the course of a routine maintenance led to the accidental firing of a missile on March 9.

What if LTTE's Prabhakaran were alive...

What if LTTE's Prabhakaran were alive...

Rediff.com14 Feb 2023

The Indian authorities have to reconfirm that Prabhakaran is dead. It may require seeking assistance from Interpol and also involve the re-opening of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, and more so, the investigations, formally or otherwise, asserts N Sathiya Moorthy.

Govt extends FCRA renewal deadline of NGOs till Mar 31

Govt extends FCRA renewal deadline of NGOs till Mar 31

Rediff.com31 Dec 2021

However, organisations such as the Missionaries of Charity will not be eligible for the extension benefits as their applications for a renewal of the FCRA registration have already been rejected, according to a notice issued by the ministry of home affairs.

Europe and the problem of Islamic radicals

Europe and the problem of Islamic radicals

Rediff.com3 Nov 2020

Europeans believe that what is under attack is their way of life, their secular faith, the long-fought right to keep religion out of the public sphere, observes Virendra Kapoor.

Bilkis case: SC says govt reply bulky, lacks factual statements

Bilkis case: SC says govt reply bulky, lacks factual statements

Rediff.com18 Oct 2022

The Supreme Court on Tuesday remarked the Gujarat government's reply to pleas challenging the remission granted to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case is very bulky wherein a series of judgments have been quoted but factual statements are missing.

The 5 men who will decide how funds get shared by Centre and states

The 5 men who will decide how funds get shared by Centre and states

Rediff.com28 Nov 2017

The panel will also recommend a fiscal consolidation road map for the central and state governments, study the impact of GST on the divisible pool, and propose performance-based incentives for states.

India emerged stronger despite pandemic: PM

India emerged stronger despite pandemic: PM

Rediff.com23 Mar 2021

Addressing the BJP parliamentary party meeting, Modi said he relished all these challenges during the pandemic and the country also overcame them.

Pak flag display: Centre says will deal firmly with anti-national acts

Pak flag display: Centre says will deal firmly with anti-national acts

Rediff.com28 Apr 2015

The government on Tuesday asserted in Lok Sabha that it will not allow anti-national acts.

Adani slips to No 30, group stocks lose Rs 12 lk cr in 1 month

Adani slips to No 30, group stocks lose Rs 12 lk cr in 1 month

Rediff.com26 Feb 2023

Gautam Adani was the world's third and Asia's richest man a month back but a damning report by a US firm triggered a massive sell-off in shares of his apples-to-airport group, plunging his own wealth by $80 billion and the tycoon slipping to No.30 on the world billionaire index. Adani's sprawling conglomerate, which spans from sea ports to airports, edible oil and commodities, energy, cement and data centres, is under attack by US short-seller Hindenburg Research, which successfully deflated electric-vehicle maker Nikola Motors in 2020. Hindenburg, which held short positions in unidentified shares of Adani Group firms through its US-traded debt and offshore derivatives, on January 24 accused the conglomerate of "brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud" and using a number of offshore shell companies to inflate stock prices.

China logs nearly 60,000 Covid deaths in last 30 days

China logs nearly 60,000 Covid deaths in last 30 days

Rediff.com14 Jan 2023

The average age of those who died was 80.3, and 90 per cent of the fatalities were aged 65 or over, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

Govt places second purchase order for 1 crore doses of Covishield

Govt places second purchase order for 1 crore doses of Covishield

Rediff.com4 Feb 2021

The Centre on Wednesday placed a second purchase order with the Serum Institute of India for the supply of one crore doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield', each costing Rs 210, including GST, sources said.

GN Azad is 'Mir Jafar', 'vote-cutter' propped by BJP: Jairam Ramesh

GN Azad is 'Mir Jafar', 'vote-cutter' propped by BJP: Jairam Ramesh

Rediff.com28 Jan 2023

Jairam Ramesh said the Congress has to be the "fulcrum" of any Opposition alliance to take on the BJP in the 2024 general elections as it is the only political force with a pan-India presence.

China says India is 'misleading the public' on Sikkim standoff

China says India is 'misleading the public' on Sikkim standoff

Rediff.com5 Jul 2017

China on Wednesday accused India of "trampling" on the Panchsheel principles and asked New Delhi to "correct its mistakes" as soon as possible by pulling back troops.

Stock limits on edible oils extended to cool prices

Stock limits on edible oils extended to cool prices

Rediff.com4 Feb 2022

In a bid to further cool down edible oil prices and curb hoarding, the Centre on Friday extended stock limits on edible oils and oilseeds till June 30. Besides, the government has specified the stock limits that have to be imposed by states that have not implemented the earlier order on the limits. In October 2021, the ministry of consumer affairs had imposed stock limits till March 2022 and left the decision to states to decide on the stock limits based on available stock and consumption pattern.

'Centre to continue pressing RBI for relaxing norms, funds'

'Centre to continue pressing RBI for relaxing norms, funds'

Rediff.com6 Nov 2018

The government wants the RBI to part with most of its profit as dividend.

'Khalistanis are a microscopic minority in Punjab'

'Khalistanis are a microscopic minority in Punjab'

Rediff.com4 Apr 2023

'The Khalistanis get bulk of the money from abroad.' 'Where did Amritpal's Mercedes come from, which costs well over Rs 60 lakhs?' 'Where does his fleet of vehicles come from?' 'Local Punjabis can certainly not contribute this kind of money.'

Warlike situation in Arunachal, Guv in danger: Centre to SC

Warlike situation in Arunachal, Guv in danger: Centre to SC

Rediff.com29 Jan 2016

The Centre said the reports of the governor mention that law and order situation has been deteriorating every passing day and there was 'total collapse' of the law and order machinery.

Centre opens 10 joint secy level posts for 'outstanding individuals'

Centre opens 10 joint secy level posts for 'outstanding individuals'

Rediff.com10 Jun 2018

The initiative is being called lateral recruitment to senior positions in the government.

Why Is It An Attack On India?

Why Is It An Attack On India?

Rediff.com7 Feb 2023

India's Right-wing has sought to own our democracy by making itself appear the stuff of majority, and sometimes, a national ethos older than the Constitution on which our democracy is based, argues Shyam G Menon.

Does China Really Want Indian Territory?

Does China Really Want Indian Territory?

Rediff.com26 Dec 2022

The Chinese aren't after territory. Their target is our national will, morale and the sense of autonomy we feel in making our strategic choices. They are attacking India and the Modi government at their weakest point, asserts Shekhar Gupta.