News for 'Public Distribution System'

Smart ration cards need to be smarter

Smart ration cards need to be smarter

Rediff.com22 Sep 2016

PDS: Smart ration cards need to be smarter

Budget in 2 minutes: 'Bad bank' gets nod, discoms to get funds & more

Budget in 2 minutes: 'Bad bank' gets nod, discoms to get funds & more

Rediff.com2 Feb 2021

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her third Budget on February 1.

Top ministers, stars take part in Modi@2 gala event

Top ministers, stars take part in Modi@2 gala event

Rediff.com29 May 2016

Top Union ministers on Saturday joined a gala event, which had a smattering of Bollywood actors, including megastar Amitabh Bachchan, aimed at publicising the "achievements" of the Narendra Modi government on completion of two years in office.

Issue with locomotive's equipment: Rail Min on Bikaner-Guwahati train mishap

Issue with locomotive's equipment: Rail Min on Bikaner-Guwahati train mishap

Rediff.com14 Jan 2022

Vaishnaw said that the actual reason behind the accident could be ascertained only after dismantling the engine's equipment.

Faceless IT assessment, citizen's charter from today: PM

Faceless IT assessment, citizen's charter from today: PM

Rediff.com13 Aug 2020

"The emphasis is on making every rule, law, policy people-centric, and public-friendly. This is the use of the new governance model and the country is getting its results," Prime Minister Modi said while speaking at the launch of a platform for 'Transparent Taxation -- Honoring the Honest'.

All political parties are in favour of freebies: SC

All political parties are in favour of freebies: SC

Rediff.com23 Aug 2022

The bench said it has to balance the equity and it was not against any policy of the government or the scheme.

Monthly rise in kerosene price to turn around oil sector's fortunes

Monthly rise in kerosene price to turn around oil sector's fortunes

Rediff.com14 Jul 2016

Inclusive of the July hike of 25 paise, a monthly increase of similar amount would result in a saving of Rs 2.25 a litre for the current financial year alone.

Should umpire's call in DRS be retained?

Should umpire's call in DRS be retained?

Rediff.com23 Feb 2021

The MCC's World Cricket Committee which includes greats like Shane Warne, Kumar Sangakkara, Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting, recently discussed the controversial umpire's call aspect of the Decision Review System.

'Ministry should end controversies related to GDP computation'

'Ministry should end controversies related to GDP computation'

Rediff.com30 Jun 2020

There has been criticism of the official statistics ever since MoSPI came out with new methodology to estimate the GDP on the base year of 2011-12 compared to earlier 2004-05.

'Sebi won't interfere with IPO valuations'

'Sebi won't interfere with IPO valuations'

Rediff.com13 Dec 2021

'Sebi has to make sure that investor interests are protected and at the same time, there isn't over-regulation so that companies don't get discouraged to list here.'

Food ordinance: Now for Cong to draw full political mileage

Food ordinance: Now for Cong to draw full political mileage

Rediff.com6 Jul 2013

The Congress will only be able to gain from the bill if its benefits percolate down to the people within the next eight months, says Anita Katyal

Farmers 'apologise' to people for road blockade, inconvenience

Farmers 'apologise' to people for road blockade, inconvenience

Rediff.com14 Dec 2020

Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, which is spearheading the protests at Delhi border points, distributed handbills in Hindi to commuters on the Jaipur-Delhi Highway near Haryana-Rajasthan borders, where hundreds of farmers have been camping for almost past three weeks now, to convey their apology, and also reiterate their demand for legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price.

Cong media managers get crash course on hardselling food schme

Cong media managers get crash course on hardselling food schme

Rediff.com22 Jul 2013

The United Progressive Alliance's growth story' and food security scheme dominated a Congress workshop on Monday where its media managers from across the country were given training to disseminate party's message on key issues ahead of next Lok Sabha polls.

'The Modi government has given farmers freedom'

'The Modi government has given farmers freedom'

Rediff.com22 Sep 2020

'The farm bills will not bring in corporate zamindari'

'Ready to serve life term if single rupee found in offshore account'

'Ready to serve life term if single rupee found in offshore account'

Rediff.com4 May 2014

Former Telecom Minister A Raja on Sunday said he was ready to serve life imprisonment if a single rupee or dollar was found in any offshore account in his name.

No diesel price hike till new govt takes over

No diesel price hike till new govt takes over

Rediff.com23 Apr 2014

Amid a spate of government proposals at its door, the Election Commission has asked all Union government departments to route their proposals through the Cabinet Secretariat.

It's Raining Billions For Gujarat!

It's Raining Billions For Gujarat!

Rediff.com3 Nov 2022

Hemant Shivsaran lists the number of projects the Modi government has announced since August to woo Gujarat voters.

Covid's 4 Lasting Scars On The Economy

Covid's 4 Lasting Scars On The Economy

Rediff.com6 Oct 2021

Expect a more modest out-turn of around 5 per cent (if not less) because of the longer-term scarring effects of the Covid shock, the sharply slowing growth in the pre-Covid years and some scepticism about the growth-efficacy of some of recent official policy initiatives, explains Shankar Acharya, former chief economic advisor to the government.

Inflation under check in 2015? Not quite!

Inflation under check in 2015? Not quite!

Rediff.com29 Dec 2015

The country saw two straight years of deficient monsoons.

Blanket bans can be counterproductive: WHO India head

Blanket bans can be counterproductive: WHO India head

Rediff.com18 Jan 2022

Stressing on the need to protect both lives and livelihoods, he said public health action in India and across the world must be continually guided by evidence from four key questions -- how transmissible is the variant, severity of the disease it causes, how well vaccines and prior SARS-CoV-2 infection protect and how common people perceive risk and follow control measures.

Indo-American Chamber slams new e-com rules

Indo-American Chamber slams new e-com rules

Rediff.com6 Jul 2021

The proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, that are envisioned to protect consumer interests, may further compound the impact of multiplicity of regulations on the e-commerce sector, the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) had told the ministry of consumer affairs. IACC, the apex bilateral chamber for Indo-US business, had told the government that the proposed amendments would increase compliance liabilities that risk severely impairing the growth of the sector.

Will Modi's I-Day speech push reforms?

Will Modi's I-Day speech push reforms?

Rediff.com6 Aug 2014

With Narendra Modi about to make his first Independence Day speech, there is a buzz in Delhi that Modi will make some big announcements to signal major reforms and directional shifts. But we have to wait and see if it happens, says Mohan Guruswamy.

Solution to Delhi's power problem lies with its residents

Solution to Delhi's power problem lies with its residents

Rediff.com2 Jun 2015

Delhi power minister Satyendra Jain in an interview to Rediff.com contributor Upasna Pandey, says thatdiscoms will be able to cater to the peak power demand of up to 6,500 MW, provided residents cooperate by reducing peak time usage.

Digital currency race: China leads. India must catch up

Digital currency race: China leads. India must catch up

Rediff.com23 Oct 2020

India should not be left behind. It should join the seven central banks which are studying feasibility and safeguards necessary to eliminate risks, particularly from hacking, advises former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.

All you wanted to know about the food security bill

All you wanted to know about the food security bill

Rediff.com29 Aug 2013

Sakshi Balani presents an FAQ on the Food Security Bill that was passed by Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

'Some people don't want the poor to get food'

'Some people don't want the poor to get food'

Rediff.com29 Aug 2013

The stock and foreign exchange markets have had a negative reaction to the government's biggest social security programme, the National Food Security Bill. Food minister K V Thomas questions the rationale behind such a response

'Vaccine hesitancy has more or less gone'

'Vaccine hesitancy has more or less gone'

Rediff.com11 Oct 2021

'Demand is wonderful. We have crossed 10 million on many days.' 'The Swedish trade commissioner recently said, "You guys are vaccinating the entire Sweden in one day".'

It's the right time for Modi govt to reduce subsidy burden

It's the right time for Modi govt to reduce subsidy burden

Rediff.com22 Sep 2015

The government chose moral persuasion to make people give up subsidies, notes Rahul Khullar.

Recent breakthroughs on vaccines offer ray of hope: UN chief

Recent breakthroughs on vaccines offer ray of hope: UN chief

Rediff.com21 Nov 2020

This week, global drugmakers Pfizer and BioNTech said their COVID-19 vaccine candidate is 95 per cent effective, including in adults over 65 years of age.

Govt may link food subsidy with Aadhaar

Govt may link food subsidy with Aadhaar

Rediff.com29 Jul 2014

In other welfare schemes, such as those for cooking gas, pension and scholarships, which are linked to DBT, cash is transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries.

Fear and loathing in Jharkhand

Fear and loathing in Jharkhand

Rediff.com21 Sep 2018

'The Jharkhand government is increasingly intolerant of voices of dissent.' 'Recently 20 persons, including activists, writers and academics, were booked for sedition.' 'Many of them have been critical of the government's apathy towards Adivasis,' notes Siraj Dutta.

Meet Kavitha Kuruganti, the farmers' champion

Meet Kavitha Kuruganti, the farmers' champion

Rediff.com27 Nov 2020

Kavitha Kuruganti has been fighting for decades to ensure farmers are respected and get their due from the Indian nation. In order to ensure they don't struggle for a living, she works to ensure sustainable farm livelihoods and farmers' rights.

RS clears 3 bills within minutes, Left walks out

RS clears 3 bills within minutes, Left walks out

Rediff.com23 Dec 2015

K N Balagopal (Communist Party of India -Marxist) said the Congress and the BJP were acting as A-Team and B-Team and not allowing the House to discuss the bills.

Drones will deliver critical drugs at your doorstep

Drones will deliver critical drugs at your doorstep

Rediff.com17 Sep 2019

Maharashtra govt, California-based Zipline to launch the automated delivery service funded by Serum Institute.

Aadhaar not must, says Centre as Opposition forces RS adjournment

Aadhaar not must, says Centre as Opposition forces RS adjournment

Rediff.com28 Jul 2016

Venkaiah Naidu said Aadhaar will not be made mandatory till the entire population gets such cards or UID numbers.

As India preps for vaccine, cold storage facilities seen critical

As India preps for vaccine, cold storage facilities seen critical

Rediff.com8 Oct 2020

Some vaccine frontrunners are in advanced stages of trial and could hit the market by early next year, making the task of securing "last mile connectivity" and ensuring that nothing goes wrong before the shot is administered more urgent.

'Modi realises his position is shaky at the moment'

'Modi realises his position is shaky at the moment'

Rediff.com21 Sep 2021

'There is a sense within the government and Modi that things are not as good as they were in 2019.'

Why there was an SMS outage this week

Why there was an SMS outage this week

Rediff.com11 Mar 2021

Instead of relying on technology that is not in their control, businesses should stop using SMS based OTPs and start using other software-based or hardware-based token authentication, which are in their control, says Venkata Satish Guttula.

Cyclone Jawad: Rain lashes Odisha, Bengal; more to come

Cyclone Jawad: Rain lashes Odisha, Bengal; more to come

Rediff.com5 Dec 2021

The system moved north-northeastwards at 20 kmph in the last six hours and is over west-central Bay of Bengal, 90 km from Gopalpur, 120 km from Puri and 210 km from Paradip, the weather office said in its 11.30 am bulletin.

Will the real Mr Modi please stand up?

Will the real Mr Modi please stand up?

Rediff.com26 Feb 2021

Human memory about policy issues is short. That alone can explain why many are deliriously happy with his latest slogans and ignore seven years of poor 'doing business' climate, taxtortion, extortionate oil prices, and high dependence on babus and the big State that has kept the enterprise system stifled, observes Debashis Basu.