News for 'Public Affairs Centre'

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.

Don't create atmosphere of fear, SC tells ED in Chhattisgarh liquor scam hearing

Don't create atmosphere of fear, SC tells ED in Chhattisgarh liquor scam hearing

Rediff.com16 May 2023

Don't create an "atmosphere of fear", the Supreme Court Tuesday told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after the Chhattisgarh government alleged the probe agency is "running amok" and is trying to implicate Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam in the state.

BJP's Giri defeats SP's Tiwari in straight contest in Gola Gokarannath

BJP's Giri defeats SP's Tiwari in straight contest in Gola Gokarannath

Rediff.com6 Nov 2022

District election officer Mahendra Bahadur Singh said Aman Giri won by a margin of 34,298 votes. He received 1,24,810 votes while Tiwari got 90,512 votes.

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.

Infra Brushstrokes For The Budget

Infra Brushstrokes For The Budget

Rediff.com30 Jan 2023

7 key areas that the Budget must address to re-energise the infrastructure sector, suggests Vinayak Chatterjee.

After SC rap Punjab governor says budget session on March 3

After SC rap Punjab governor says budget session on March 3

Rediff.com28 Feb 2023

Amid a tussle with the Aam Aadmi Party government, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that he has summoned the assembly for the budget session on March 3, even as the top court told both sides that constitutional discourse has to be conducted with a sense of decorum and mature statesmanship.

As Budget session convenes, Oppn seeks debate on Adani row, govt to go by rules

As Budget session convenes, Oppn seeks debate on Adani row, govt to go by rules

Rediff.com30 Jan 2023

The session will commence with the maiden address of President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament. The address essentially highlights the government's achievements and policy priorities.

Asthana's posting: Delhi HC pulls up petitioner for 'copy-paste' plea

Asthana's posting: Delhi HC pulls up petitioner for 'copy-paste' plea

Rediff.com23 Sep 2021

The Delhi High Court Thursday termed as "copy-paste" a petition filed before it challenging the appointment of IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as Delhi Police Commissioner and warned the petitioner that such activity shall not be repeated in the future.

Lankan Prez sacks brother Basil Rajapaksa as FM; invites Oppn to join unity Cabinet

Lankan Prez sacks brother Basil Rajapaksa as FM; invites Oppn to join unity Cabinet

Rediff.com4 Apr 2022

Basil had negotiated the Indian economic relief package to help Sri Lanka tackle the current foreign exchange crisis.

SC agrees to hear plea against provisions of places of worship law

SC agrees to hear plea against provisions of places of worship law

Rediff.com5 Aug 2022

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on September 9 a plea challenging certain provisions of the 1991 law which prohibit filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.

Unified MCD comes into existence, Gyanesh Bharti new commissioner

Unified MCD comes into existence, Gyanesh Bharti new commissioner

Rediff.com22 May 2022

With the special officer and the new commissioner taking charge, the exercise to reshuffle and reorganise the municipal staff will begin.

Singapore extends Rajapaksa's stay by 14 days: Report

Singapore extends Rajapaksa's stay by 14 days: Report

Rediff.com27 Jul 2022

Rajapaksa, 73, fled Sri Lanka after the July 9 uprising when people broke into the President's House after months of public protests against him for mishandling the country's worst economic crisis since 1948.

SII urges Mandaviya to reduce gap between booster and 2nd Covid jab to 3 months

SII urges Mandaviya to reduce gap between booster and 2nd Covid jab to 3 months

Rediff.com3 Feb 2022

Serum Institute of India has urged Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to consider reducing the gap between the second and the precaution dose of Covishield from the current nine months to three, in line with Centre's revised guidelines for officials on election duty, official sources said on Thursday.

Why Statehood Needs To Be Restored In J&K

Why Statehood Needs To Be Restored In J&K

Rediff.com25 Jul 2023

The best, wisest, and fairest next step in strengthening our own cause is to restore statehood to Jammu & Kashmir and allow the resumption of robust political activity. That's a box that remains unchecked on the Modi government's report card as we approach the fourth anniversary of Kashmir's Constitutional shift, notes Shekhar Gupta.

On Justice Gowri's appointment, SC says cannot quash collegium's recco

On Justice Gowri's appointment, SC says cannot quash collegium's recco

Rediff.com10 Feb 2023

The Supreme Court, which had on February 7 refused to entertain two pleas seeking to restrain Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri from taking oath as an additional judge of the Madras high court, on Friday pronounced the reasons for the dismissal of the petitions.

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.

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.

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.

What Went Wrong For Cyrus Mistry At Tatas

What Went Wrong For Cyrus Mistry At Tatas

Rediff.com16 Jun 2023

If Cyrus's protestations of having no knowledge of his imminent dismissal are to be taken at face value, he was extraordinarily naive and insulated from the ground reality. There were enough straws in the wind to suggest that his relations with Ratan were fast deteriorating to a point of no return.

Nuclear Or Conventional Submarines: What Should India Pick?

Nuclear Or Conventional Submarines: What Should India Pick?

Rediff.com13 Jun 2023

The status of the current submarine force level is alarming and we need to address the threat perceptions expeditiously. Critical decisions pertaining to national security cannot be delayed any further due to the rapidly changing maritime threat perceptions and growing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean region, asserts Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).

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.

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.

Is Sharad Pawar Buying Insurance?

Is Sharad Pawar Buying Insurance?

Rediff.com5 May 2023

Sharad Pawar reckons that the NCP has value as a united, going concern, not as a gaggle of leaders in search of followers, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

'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.

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.

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.

AIADMK-BJP Snipe At Each Other

AIADMK-BJP Snipe At Each Other

Rediff.com26 May 2023

The BJP and the AIADMK are unable to sort out ideological differences, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Treat them as your own people: HC raps Centre for pellet gun injuries

Treat them as your own people: HC raps Centre for pellet gun injuries

Rediff.com1 Aug 2016

The court asked the Centre to explain why the injuries suffered by people are above the knees.

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.

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.

Modi, Mamata, Akhilesh among CMs to skip Centre's meet

Modi, Mamata, Akhilesh among CMs to skip Centre's meet

Rediff.com12 Apr 2013

The chief ministers' conference on Monday is likely to be a dull affair with most of the non-Congress state leaders giving it a miss. So far only six chief ministers, all from Congress, have given their commitment to attend the meeting, official sources said.

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.

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.

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?