News for 'Public Distribution System'

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

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.

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.

'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.'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

'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".'

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.

'The Food Ordinance is a small step in the right direction'

'The Food Ordinance is a small step in the right direction'

Rediff.com8 Jul 2013

Implementing the Food Ordinance is the bigger challenge and there are many provisions of the National Food Security Bill which need to be expanded and strengthened.

How to revive India's corrupt and debt-ridden power sector

How to revive India's corrupt and debt-ridden power sector

Rediff.com26 Oct 2015

Hard and unpopular decisions are needed - not just another round of financial repackaging to sort out the discom mess.

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.

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.

How India's economic crisis affects the common man

How India's economic crisis affects the common man

Rediff.com29 Aug 2013

This columnist cannot pretend to be an economic expert but can certainly point out that the statistics being reeled out on a daily basis now, have added to the economic burden of the people, says Seema Mustafa.

'COVID-19 vaccine will be made in India'

'COVID-19 vaccine will be made in India'

Rediff.com12 Jun 2020

'I can say with confidence that any future SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, developed anywhere in the world, would have to be manufactured in India, if it is to be affordable and of high quality.'

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.

The invisible men and women of Aadhaar

The invisible men and women of Aadhaar

Rediff.com1 Aug 2017

It was supposed to be a panacea against corruption, leakage and a magic wand for financial inclusion. But everywhere you look are people who enrolled, only to fall through the cracks again.

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.

'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.'

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.

Why cryptocurrencies will continue to grow in India

Why cryptocurrencies will continue to grow in India

Rediff.com6 Jan 2022

The future of cryptocurrencies in India appears uncertain but that has not deterred young Indians from embracing the so-called 'fourth industrial revolution' world, where interconnectivity and smart automation, much of it relying on blockchain technology, drive human civilisation. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has repeatedly warned of macroeconomic instability and even "serious consequences" if cryptocurrencies turn mainstream. The country's monetary authority wants a China-like total ban on crypto, not even allowing these currencies to be treated as investments. Though Parliament's website had listed the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill as one seeking a total ban of cryptocurrencies in the country, it was not presented in the Winter Session. India now has the highest number of cryptocurrency investors in the world.

Why India should focus on income-based reservation

Why India should focus on income-based reservation

Rediff.com15 Sep 2014

Dr M Ponnavaikko, vice chancellor, Bharathidasan University explains why the Indian education system requires needs to be revamped.

Why India can't export its way out of trouble

Why India can't export its way out of trouble

Rediff.com3 Nov 2015

India must streamline reforms, only then it will see success.

Coal India won't conduct e-auction till situation stabilises

Coal India won't conduct e-auction till situation stabilises

Rediff.com15 Oct 2021

Amid the low stock position at the electricity generating plants, state-owned CIL has asked its subsidiaries to refrain from conducting any further e-auction of coal, except special forward e-auction for the power sector, till the situation stabilises. The development assumes significance as the supply of coal is being prioritised to the power sector to replenish the dwindling stock in the wake of reports of an electricity crisis looming large. "In view of the current low stock position at the powerhouse end, supply of coal is being prioritised to the power sector to replenish the dwindling stock...coal companies are advised to refrain from conducting of any further e-auctions of coal with the exception of special forward e-auction for the power sector, till the situation stabilises," Coal India said in a recent letter to its arms, including Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL), Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL).

Budget proposes major boost for infra sector

Budget proposes major boost for infra sector

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

Expressing commitment to augment the country's infrastructure, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday proposed to significantly enhance capital expenditure to Rs 5.54 lakh crore in the next fiscal, besides creating institutional structures and giving a big thrust to monetizing assets to achieve the goals of the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP). Sitharaman said NIP, that was launched in December 2019 with 6,835 projects, has now been expanded to 7,400 projects and around 217 projects worth Rs 1.10 lakh crore under some key infrastructure ministries have been completed. "For 2021-22, I propose a sharp increase in capital expenditure and thus have provided Rs 5.54 lakh crores which is 34.5% more than the BE of 2020-21," the finance minister said.

Who shouldn't take jab? Vaccine makers issue fact sheet

Who shouldn't take jab? Vaccine makers issue fact sheet

Rediff.com19 Jan 2021

The fact sheet also asked people to inform the vaccinator or a supervising official about their medical condition before taking the vaccine.

Tax parity with ULIPs tops Afmi's wish list ahead of Union Budget

Tax parity with ULIPs tops Afmi's wish list ahead of Union Budget

Rediff.com5 Jan 2021

The pre-Budget proposals sent to the finance ministry aim to bring uniformity in tax treatment for investments in different financial sectors, mitigate hardship to retail taxpayers, and encourage participation in mutual funds.

Franklin Templeton AMC's senior officials, trustee fined

Franklin Templeton AMC's senior officials, trustee fined

Rediff.com14 Jun 2021

Sebi on Monday imposed a penalty totalling Rs 15 crore on senior officials of Franklin Templeton AMC and its trustee for violating regulatory norms in the case of winding up of six debt schemes in 2020. However, a spokesperson of Franklin Templeton said they disagree with the findings in Sebi's order and intend to file an appeal with the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT). A fine of Rs 3 crore has been levied on Franklin Templeton Trustee Services Pvt Ltd and Rs 2 crore each on Franklin Asset Management (India) Pvt Ltd President Sanjay Sapre and its chief investment officer Santosh Kamat, according to the Sebi order. In addition, the regulator imposed a penalty of Rs 1.5 crore each on fund managers -- Kunal Agarwal, Pallab Roy, Sachin Padwal Desai and Umesh Sharma -- as well as former fund manager Sumit Gupta.

How Aadhaar card can make your life easier

How Aadhaar card can make your life easier

Rediff.com19 Oct 2015

Supreme Court allows more instruments to use the biometric card.

Why Amma's canteen must be replicated nationwide

Why Amma's canteen must be replicated nationwide

Rediff.com27 May 2016

Sanjeev Nayyar visits an Amma canteen in Chennai, and comes back impressed

After ordinance, Rahul Gandhi speaks out on Adarsh

After ordinance, Rahul Gandhi speaks out on Adarsh

Rediff.com27 Dec 2013

After embarrassing his own government by publicly thrashing its ordinance on convicted legislators in public, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday trained his guns at the Maharashtra government for rejecting the Adarsh Inquiry Commission report.