News for 'Public Affairs Centre'

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.

Lakshadweep: Opposition intensifies protests against administrator

Lakshadweep: Opposition intensifies protests against administrator

Rediff.com25 May 2021

The anti-BJP parties have alleged that Patel unilaterally lifted restrictions on the use of alcohol in the Muslim-majority islands, banned beef products, citing Animal Preservation and demolished fishermen's sheds built on the coastal areas, saying they violated the Coast Guard Act.

What's working against Mamata

What's working against Mamata

Rediff.com9 Feb 2021

First, Mamata's pampering of lawless elements masquerading as Trinamool Congress cadres. Second, her promotion of her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, as a possible successor and the adoption of Prashant Kishor as her political adviser. Neither has gone down well with either her followers or the public, observes Amulya Ganguli.

FRL independent directors threaten to 'expose' Amazon

FRL independent directors threaten to 'expose' Amazon

Rediff.com11 Nov 2021

Independent directors of Future Retail Ltd are collating information and will expose the details of contradiction and misrepresentation made by Amazon before the Competition Commission of India (CCI), said FRL independent director Ravindra Dhariwal. Speaking to PTI, Dhariwal said the independent directors are "collating" all the pieces of information together, going "deeper into each and every representation" which Amazon had made before the CCI and showing how its "intent was totally contradictory." "We are going out to point exactly to CCI, this is what they have told you and this is what the internal documents are saying. "We are going to expose the details of contradiction and details of misrepresentation, which they have made," Dhariwal said adding "We are going to show the true face of Amazon to the whole world". In November 2019, Amazon had acquired a 49 per cent stake in Future Coupons Pvt Ltd (FCPL), a company that holds a stake in FRL.

Punjab plans resolution/bill to counter farm laws

Punjab plans resolution/bill to counter farm laws

Rediff.com5 Oct 2020

Addressing public rallies at Barnala chowk and Bhawanigarh in Sangrur, the chief minister vowed to do whatever it takes to protect the farmers and the state from the 'devastating' effects of the 'black laws'.

Modi's Kashmir Invite: What Lies Ahead?

Modi's Kashmir Invite: What Lies Ahead?

Rediff.com23 Jun 2021

>All old signposts have been uprooted and milestones bulldozed. New ones have yet to emerge. The old order stands degraded in the new landscape whose contours are indistinct, observes Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the distinguished commentator on Kashmir affairs.

US Treasury's David Malpass bags World Bank's top job

US Treasury's David Malpass bags World Bank's top job

Rediff.com5 Apr 2019

The World Bank's executive board unanimously selected 63-year-old Malpass, who is currently Under Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs, as the bank's 13th President for a five-year term beginning April 9.

Modi's Surgical Strike

Modi's Surgical Strike

Rediff.com12 Jul 2021

Modi seems to have an innate faith in his capabilities to handle the myriad challenges confronting the nation and would rather manage the affairs of the nation as a CEO would of a large industrial-business empire, observes Virendra Kapoor.

Govt seeks Rs 23,100 cr interim dividend from RBI by March 31

Govt seeks Rs 23,100 cr interim dividend from RBI by March 31

Rediff.com8 Jan 2019

This amount will include Rs 13,100 crore that Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Garg has been publicly seeking from the central bank's contingency reserve fund since 2017-18 (FY18).

SC asks govt if protesting farmers protected against Covid

SC asks govt if protesting farmers protected against Covid

Rediff.com8 Jan 2021

The top court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, whether protesting farmers are protected from COVID-19.

Govt bans 118 Chinese mobile apps, including PUBG

Govt bans 118 Chinese mobile apps, including PUBG

Rediff.com2 Sep 2020

The banned apps include Baidu, Baidu Express Edition, Tencent Watchlist, FaceU, WeChat Reading and Tencent Weiyun, besides PUBG Mobile and PUBG Mobile Lite, according to an official statement.

Mufti slapped with PSA for pro-separatist stand

Mufti slapped with PSA for pro-separatist stand

Rediff.com9 Feb 2020

60-year-old Mehbooba Mufti had been under preventive detention since August 5 last year, when the Centre announced abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution granting a special status and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories -- Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Beware of Chinese propaganda!

Beware of Chinese propaganda!

Rediff.com11 Jan 2019

China has been trying to build lobbies of influence and mould public opinion in India since at least 2017, and large sums have been invested in the effort, reveals former RA&W officer Jayadeva Ranade.

Rlys to run more local trains in Mumbai from today

Rlys to run more local trains in Mumbai from today

Rediff.com1 Jul 2020

The trains will, however, only carry essential services personnel identified by the State government.

Lockdown 4.0 till May 31: What's allowed, what isn't

Lockdown 4.0 till May 31: What's allowed, what isn't

Rediff.com18 May 2020

States and Union Territories have been given the powers for delineation of Red, Green and Orange Zones as per COVID-19 situation, the MHA said. All shops, except those in containment zones and malls, will be allowed to open from Monday with staggered timings during lockdown 4.0, it said.

Govt places order for 11 mn doses of Serum vaccine Covishield

Govt places order for 11 mn doses of Serum vaccine Covishield

Rediff.com11 Jan 2021

Dispatch of the vaccine is likely to start by early Tuesday morning, sources said. According to the order placed, each dose of the vaccine has been priced at Rs 200 and with GST of Rs 10, it would cost Rs 210.

Like Rajini, ill-health may mar Sasikala's political plans too

Like Rajini, ill-health may mar Sasikala's political plans too

Rediff.com23 Jan 2021

At 70, going by hospital records made public, most age and health-related arguments put out against super-star Rajinikanth's entry into politics, before he withdrew citing a 2016 kidney-transplant, hold good for Sasikala, too, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

Why Ashok Chawla quit as NSE chairman

Why Ashok Chawla quit as NSE chairman

Rediff.com11 Jan 2019

The move comes after CBI gets sanction to prosecute him in Aircel-Maxis case

CoWIN portal in Hindi, other languages from next week: Govt

CoWIN portal in Hindi, other languages from next week: Govt

Rediff.com17 May 2021

The CoWIN portal will be made available in Hindi and 14 regional languages by next week, while 17 more laboratories will be added to the INSACOG network to monitor the variants of COVID-19, the health ministry said on Monday.

Piyush Goyal to meet PSB chiefs on Monday ahead of Budget

Piyush Goyal to meet PSB chiefs on Monday ahead of Budget

Rediff.com25 Jan 2019

Goyal is expected to discuss the targets for the banks for 2019-20, as well as priority sector lending, recovery on non-performing assets, and the bankruptcy proceedings of various companies, which owe money to the banks.

Govt ready to do everything to revive economy: FM

Govt ready to do everything to revive economy: FM

Rediff.com12 Aug 2021

Expressing the government's commitment to continue with reforms, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday assured India Inc that it is ready to do everything required to revive and support economic growth hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stressing that there is a need to promote growth as it helps bring down poverty, she however said it would not be at the cost of inflation. RBI has been mandated to keep inflation at 4 per cent, with tolerance level of 2 per cent on either side.

'White House has heard us'

'White House has heard us'

Rediff.com28 May 2021

'They are starting to move more quickly and we would just like to continue to see bold action being taken.'

COVID-19 testing capacity scaled to 95,000 per day: Vardhan

COVID-19 testing capacity scaled to 95,000 per day: Vardhan

Rediff.com9 May 2020

A total of 15,25,631 tests have been conducted so far across 332 government and 121 private laboratories.

How Stalin is different from Karunanidhi, Jaya

How Stalin is different from Karunanidhi, Jaya

Rediff.com29 May 2021

Unlike the regimes of Jayalalitha, Palaniswami and Karunanidhi, ministers are actually getting to make decisions on their own, with the unmentioned rider that they would be held responsible and accountable, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Rafale petitioners guilty of leaking sensitive security info: Govt

Rafale petitioners guilty of leaking sensitive security info: Govt

Rediff.com13 Mar 2019

'This puts the national security in jeopardy,' the Centre said.

Centre dares for note ban debate; Opposition firm on PM's apology, voting

Centre dares for note ban debate; Opposition firm on PM's apology, voting

Rediff.com7 Dec 2016

Jaitley said the Opposition has been using the zero hour to raise the issue for 'getting footage on TV'.

Meet Subhash C Garg, the new DEA secretary

Meet Subhash C Garg, the new DEA secretary

Rediff.com23 Jun 2017

DEA is currently headed on an interim basis by Corporate Affairs Secretary Tapan Ray

Kejriwal to go on indefinite fast from March 1 for full statehood to Delhi

Kejriwal to go on indefinite fast from March 1 for full statehood to Delhi

Rediff.com23 Feb 2019

He claimed the people of Delhi were facing "injustice and humiliation" since independence because the government elected by them lacked power to work for them.

Govt paves way for regulation of OTT platforms, online news

Govt paves way for regulation of OTT platforms, online news

Rediff.com11 Nov 2020

There was no law or autonomous body governing digital content in India so far. Now, OTT and other platforms, including digital news websites, are expected to fall within a governmental framework of rules and regulations.

Govt orders SFIO probe into chit fund companies

Govt orders SFIO probe into chit fund companies

Rediff.com25 Apr 2013

A special task force has been set up under to carry out all investigations into such companies.

Rs 3.03-lakh cr scheme to improve power discoms gets nod

Rs 3.03-lakh cr scheme to improve power discoms gets nod

Rediff.com30 Jun 2021

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved a five-year-long reform-based result-linked power distribution scheme worth Rs 3.03 lakh crore, for strengthening system of utilities to improve efficiency. Briefing after the CCEA meet here, Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh said, "We have done a lot for power distribution reforms. It needs to be strengthened. Today, the Cabinet has approved the new scheme worth Rs 3.03 lakh crore, including Rs 97,000 crore central outlay." He said the funds would be given to power distribution companies (discoms) to strengthen their system.

E-com firms look to get a fillip ahead of festive season

E-com firms look to get a fillip ahead of festive season

Rediff.com13 Oct 2020

This year, festive sales are expected to push up the annual gross merchandise value of e-commerce companies to around $38 billion, a 40 per cent growth over the previous year.

Govt set to breach fiscal deficit target

Govt set to breach fiscal deficit target

Rediff.com8 Jan 2020

If the fiscal deficit for the year can be maintained at Rs 7.04 trillion, the deficit as a percentage of GDP will slip to 3.44 per cent

18 oppn parties to boycott Prez's address to Parliament

18 oppn parties to boycott Prez's address to Parliament

Rediff.com29 Jan 2021

A day before the start of the Budget session of Parliament, as many as 18 opposition parties, led by the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party, the Shiv Sena and the Trinamool Congress, decided on Thursday to boycott the President's address to the joint sitting of both Houses in solidarity with the farmers protesting against the new farm laws.

Economists tell Sitharaman to focus on reviving growth

Economists tell Sitharaman to focus on reviving growth

Rediff.com21 Dec 2019

At a pre-Budget meeting, the FM was asked to ensure that NBFCs come out of the liquidity crisis they are facing with the help of RBI. They also spoke about the futility of trying to achieve a 3 per cent fiscal deficit target over the medium term.

Govt to expedite 32 road projects along China border

Govt to expedite 32 road projects along China border

Rediff.com22 Jun 2020

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and attended by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) among others.

Will revoke farm laws when Cong comes to power: Rahul

Will revoke farm laws when Cong comes to power: Rahul

Rediff.com6 Oct 2020

Once a Congress-led government is formed at the Centre, the farm laws will be revoked and dumped into the 'dustbin', he said, addressing a gathering in the evening here on the conclusion of his 'Kheti Bachao Yatra' (save the farming march), which began from Punjab's Moga district on Sunday.

India rejects Pak's list of terrorists involved in 26/11 attacks

India rejects Pak's list of terrorists involved in 26/11 attacks

Rediff.com12 Nov 2020

In a strongly-worded reaction on the issue, Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava said India has repeatedly called on Pakistan to give up its 'obfuscation and dilatory tactics' in discharging its international obligations in the trial of Mumbai terror attacks.

Parliament adjourned sine die a day before schedule

Parliament adjourned sine die a day before schedule

Rediff.com22 Dec 2021

The tumultuous Winter session of Parliament ended on Wednesday a day before schedule with proceedings in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha marred by repeated disruptions by the opposition over which the government and the Congress traded charges and the presiding officers expressed their anguish at the conduct of some MPs.

When Nature Challenges A CM

When Nature Challenges A CM

Rediff.com6 Jan 2022

The chief minister still has time to repair the damage but he will have to act all-round, both at the government and party levels, suggests N Sathiya Moorthy.