News for 'Public Distribution System'

Diesel demand drops for first time in a decade

Diesel demand drops for first time in a decade

Rediff.com6 Dec 2013

For the first time in more than a decade, diesel demand has declined this fiscal as monthly price hikes and increased power generation clipped consumption, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Chairman R S Butola said.

Nadella goes lite with Skype and LinkedIn, targets semi-skilled

Nadella goes lite with Skype and LinkedIn, targets semi-skilled

Rediff.com22 Feb 2017

"We can celebrate technology, but if it doesn't truly empower every Indian and every Indian organisation to achieve more...we would have achieved nothing," the Microsoft CEO said in Mumbai.

Internet, satellite communication existed in Mahabharata era: Tripura CM

Internet, satellite communication existed in Mahabharata era: Tripura CM

Rediff.com18 Apr 2018

The CM said he was proud that he was born in a country which had the "best communication system" and "best culture" in the whole world.

Raghuram Rajan on how India should lift lockdown

Raghuram Rajan on how India should lift lockdown

Rediff.com30 Apr 2020

Former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan said that Rs 65,000 crore is required to help the poor affected by the coronavirus-induced lockdown. He also laid stress on the need to restart the economy while taking precautions.

e-Rupee: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

e-Rupee: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

Rediff.com24 Nov 2022

The RBI refuses to classify a cryptocurrency as an asset since it doesn't have future cash flow and its value is always fluctuating because of speculation. There is also no consumer protection, observes Tamal Bandyopadhyay, and hence the e-rupee trial run.

Banks wrote off NPAs over 10 lakh crore in last 5 financial years: FM

Banks wrote off NPAs over 10 lakh crore in last 5 financial years: FM

Rediff.com13 Dec 2022

Banks have written off bad loans worth Rs 10,09,511 crore during the last five financial years, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Parliament on Tuesday. The non-performing assets (NPAs), including those in respect of which full provisioning has been made on completion of four years, are removed from the balance sheet of the bank concerned by way of write-off, she said in a reply to Rajya Sabha. "Banks write off NPAs as part of their regular exercise to clean up their balance sheet, avail tax benefit and optimise capital, in accordance with RBI guidelines and policy approved by their boards.

'When people are about to die of hunger, you have to step in big time'

'When people are about to die of hunger, you have to step in big time'

Rediff.com1 Apr 2020

'Most of the measures the finance minister announced will take effect after the lockdown.' 'By that time, millions of people will be starving.'

How govt employees can be made accountable

How govt employees can be made accountable

Rediff.com24 Aug 2016

Privatisation is still regarded as beyond the pale but public-private partnerships have gained in popularity.

Nithyananda's Kailasa cons 30 US cities with 'sister city' pact

Nithyananda's Kailasa cons 30 US cities with 'sister city' pact

Rediff.com17 Mar 2023

Self-proclaimed godman and fugitive Nithyananda's 'United States of Kailasa' has signed a 'cultural partnership' with over 30 American cities, a media report has said, days after the city of Newark in the United States state of New Jersey said it rescinded a 'sister-city' agreement with the fictional country.

Nasal Covid Vaccine Available In Jan

Nasal Covid Vaccine Available In Jan

Rediff.com28 Dec 2022

The vaccine would not have production scalability issues unlike Covaxin, Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 virus vaccine.

Chennai to switch to shutdown mode from June 19, Rs 1,000 dole again: TN CM

Chennai to switch to shutdown mode from June 19, Rs 1,000 dole again: TN CM

Rediff.com15 Jun 2020

The proposed lockdown, sans present relaxations, will be implemented from June 19 to 30 and on two Sundays (June 21 and 28) there shall be a full scale shutdown without any relaxations.

Why Governor Dhankar is shooting darts at elected Mamata

Why Governor Dhankar is shooting darts at elected Mamata

Rediff.com4 May 2020

What makes Dhankar so outspoken? Could it because as governor he will be in the driver's seat if the Trinamool Congress performs below par in the elections next year? Shikha Shalini reports.

Losses on diesel sales fall to Rs 2.49 per litre

Losses on diesel sales fall to Rs 2.49 per litre

Rediff.com16 Jul 2014

After a spike, losses on sale of diesel have fallen by nearly a rupee to Rs 2.49 per litre as international oil rates have moderated.

Ahead of polls, unease in Bihar's ruling alliance

Ahead of polls, unease in Bihar's ruling alliance

Rediff.com4 Sep 2020

There have been media reports that the LJP was unhappy over the return of the Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular into the National Democratic Alliance fold and contempleting fielding candidates against JD-U nominees.

Govt puts on hold hike in LPG, kerosene rates

Govt puts on hold hike in LPG, kerosene rates

Rediff.com2 Jul 2014

The government on Wednesday put on hold a hike in LPG prices in states including Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, where an increase in local levies had led to a rise in fuel rates.

Digital Rupee: Pros And Cons

Digital Rupee: Pros And Cons

Rediff.com4 Feb 2022

'The Digital Rupee will be equal to the Indian rupee in value and backed by the full faith and credit of the RBI/Indian government.'

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.

'How will we survive this lockdown?'

'How will we survive this lockdown?'

Rediff.com10 Apr 2020

Sheela Bhatt reports from Firozabad, the country's centre for glass bangles, on what life is like for its workers in the wake of the national lockdown.

Govt confirms, Aadhaar deadline will be extended

Govt confirms, Aadhaar deadline will be extended

Rediff.com30 Aug 2017

Several petitions have been filed in the apex court challenging the government's move making Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits of various social welfare schemes.

'Minimum government, maximum governance' in public sector banks

'Minimum government, maximum governance' in public sector banks

Rediff.com27 Aug 2014

The Bharatiya Janata Party regime will have to make good on this election slogan to restore state-owned banks to health, says Rajiv Lall.

Home ministry compiles data of 10L sexual offenders to fight crime

Home ministry compiles data of 10L sexual offenders to fight crime

Rediff.com27 Apr 2022

The details of the sexual offenders convicted under the charges of rape, gang rape, harassing women and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act are available on the database.

How India Saved More Than 100,000 Lives

How India Saved More Than 100,000 Lives

Rediff.com15 Mar 2023

The vaccination drive was only one important part of India's globally recognised pandemic management and response strategy, observes Dr Vinod K Paul.

'We won't discuss any issue with this committee'

'We won't discuss any issue with this committee'

Rediff.com12 Jan 2021

'This four-member committee cannot supersede the four-five member ministerial committees, 25 top-level government bureaucrats, with whom we have had nine rounds of discussions each of which lasted for more than six-seven hours.'

Modi's smart strategy to select top guys at public banks

Modi's smart strategy to select top guys at public banks

Rediff.com5 Nov 2014

The BJP had not filed till May the expenses statement for the Karnataka Assembly elections held last year in July.

Farmers must climb down

Farmers must climb down

Rediff.com11 Dec 2020

The government's predicament is a result of its own doing: That of not ensuring adequate buy-in by the stakeholders before passage of the laws, notes Vivek Gumaste.

Shah appeals for peace in Manipur, to 'visit soon'

Shah appeals for peace in Manipur, to 'visit soon'

Rediff.com26 May 2023

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appealed to the people of Manipur to maintain peace and promised that justice will be ensured to all sections of the society.

Experts pitch for voluntary use of facemask to meet Covid XE challenge

Experts pitch for voluntary use of facemask to meet Covid XE challenge

Rediff.com12 Apr 2022

Voluntary use of masks must be promoted in the country in view of Covid-19's new XE variant, healthcare experts said, calling it the single-most effective intervention against all variants of the coronavirus.

Who Will Admit To Committing Fraud?

Who Will Admit To Committing Fraud?

Rediff.com27 Apr 2023

Banks do extensive investigation before declaring an account fraud; they owe it to us as they deal with our money. Why would they try to fix an innocent borrower? asks Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Aadhaar-based PDS reforms fail the last-mile test

Aadhaar-based PDS reforms fail the last-mile test

Rediff.com25 Mar 2018

Last-mile verification with Aadhaar-Based Biometric Authentication have the worst record among other options available to check PDS pilferage. So the Centre's insistence on that option is bewildering, says Reetika Khera.

Why nutri-cereals are good for you

Why nutri-cereals are good for you

Rediff.com18 May 2018

Cereals like millets can help alleviate malnutrition and improve public health, reports Surinder Sud.

Oil marketing cos to get Rs 11K crore on subsidy in Q1

Oil marketing cos to get Rs 11K crore on subsidy in Q1

Rediff.com11 Aug 2014

Fuel retailers sell diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene at government controlled rates which are below market price. The loss they thus incur is made good through cash subsidy from the government and dole from upstream firms like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.

'The middle class has a selfish attitude'

'The middle class has a selfish attitude'

Rediff.com7 May 2020

'Oh god, these workers will now spread the virus! Their only concern was to think about themselves.' 'The middle class was only concerned with flattening the curve of coronavirus and they were not bothered about how these workers live in one room with 10 people or 20 people.'

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.

In final speech as VP Naidu deplores 'freebie culture'

In final speech as VP Naidu deplores 'freebie culture'

Rediff.com9 Aug 2022

The remarks by Naidu in his last address as the country's Vice President came even as Telangana's ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi RS said the welfare of poorer sections of society is not a freebie and that welfare measures taken by governments should continue.

ED alleges Rs 2,000-cr liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, names IAS officer as kingpin

ED alleges Rs 2,000-cr liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, names IAS officer as kingpin

Rediff.com7 May 2023

The ED said its investigation also revealed that from 2019 to 2022, the sale of 'unaccounted illicit' liquor was almost 30-40 per cent of the total liquor sale in the state.

Budget's farm-related proposals are a watershed

Budget's farm-related proposals are a watershed

Rediff.com3 Feb 2018

Announcing MSP at an elevated level will not be enough. Growers must be able to procure inputs, such as quality seeds, plant nutrients and irrigation water at reasonable prices, says Kunal Bose.

Govt saved Rs 10,000 crore in interest costs in FY22

Govt saved Rs 10,000 crore in interest costs in FY22

Rediff.com9 Jun 2022

Union finance secretary T V Somanathan recently said the Centre had saved Rs 10,000 crore in FY22 on interest payments after adopting new accounting mechanisms for central government agencies and centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) for state governments. Speaking at an event, Somanathan said due to these, there was an unspent balance of Rs 1.2 trillion with state agencies from CSS as on March 31, 2022. This means this amount will be reduced from the Centre's borrowing for now and it can be considered a short-term saving for the exchequer.

Banks alert customers about mobile banking malware targeting over 200 apps

Banks alert customers about mobile banking malware targeting over 200 apps

Rediff.com21 Sep 2022

Several Indian banks have alerted their customers not to download apps from any source other than official app stores. Banking customers are being targeted by a new type of mobile banking malware campaign using SOVA Android Trojan. This malware captures the credentials when users log onto their net-banking apps and access bank accounts. The new version of SOVA appears to be targeting more than 200 mobile applications, including banking apps and crypto wallets.

'Indian cities generate some of the most lethal forms of unsanitary living'

'Indian cities generate some of the most lethal forms of unsanitary living'

Rediff.com17 Oct 2022

'Mumbai's corroding infrastructure, Delhi's pollution, Bangalore's rain water drainage, Kolkata's electricity -- these are all real and serious life threatening situations.'

'Modiji should have paid more attention'

'Modiji should have paid more attention'

Rediff.com4 Dec 2018

'There is no money with the villagers as there is little work.'