News for 'Urban Development Ministry'

Govt urges banks to close inoperative Jan Dhan accounts

Govt urges banks to close inoperative Jan Dhan accounts

Rediff.com7 Jul 2025

State-owned banks have received guidance from the government to close Jan Dhan accounts whose beneficiaries are unwilling to keep them active, amid rising instances of such accounts being misused by fraudsters as mule accounts to defraud people, people aware of the development said.

Majority of cities yet to develop master plan

Majority of cities yet to develop master plan

Rediff.com29 Aug 2012

Only 24 per cent of over 7,000 cities and towns in the country have developed their master plans, the Union Urban Development Ministry said on Wednesday and asked them to expedite the process of preparing documents to infuse more development.

Obviously some ministers are unhappy with portfolios: Ajit Pawar

Obviously some ministers are unhappy with portfolios: Ajit Pawar

Rediff.com22 Dec 2024

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar acknowledged that some ministers are unhappy with the portfolios assigned to them in the new cabinet, which includes a high number of ministers. Pawar said that the work on pending projects will begin soon after the ministers take charge of their respective ministries. The budget session of the Maharashtra legislature will commence on March 3.

PM for revamp of urban governance

PM for revamp of urban governance

Rediff.com21 Oct 2014

Modi pitched for revamping urban governance while linking it to the 'Digital India' mission and 'Swachh Bharat' campaign.

Remember Smart Cities? What Happened?

Remember Smart Cities? What Happened?

Rediff.com8 Apr 2025

Among the cities that have fully implemented their projects are Agra, Varanasi, Madurai, Coimbatore, Udaipur, Pune, Surat, and Vadodara

Trouble Brewing Between Shinde, Fadnavis?

Trouble Brewing Between Shinde, Fadnavis?

Rediff.com21 Jan 2025

Is a sulking Eknath Shinde on the way out as Shiv Sena chief?

As Scorching Temp Grips India, NDMA Drafts Heatwave Plan

As Scorching Temp Grips India, NDMA Drafts Heatwave Plan

Rediff.com28 Mar 2025

With the summer approaching sooner than scheduled, Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, and West Bengal have already started experiencing heat waves with temperatures soaring above 40°C.

How UPI, AePS, Wallets Are Changing India

How UPI, AePS, Wallets Are Changing India

Rediff.com24 Jul 2025

UPI has catapulted India into the forefront on the global digital payments landscape. Working hand in hand, the AePS payments system is making life easy for rural folks, notes Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

EV charging in 15 minutes could be a reality soon!

EV charging in 15 minutes could be a reality soon!

Rediff.com23 May 2025

'The testing and certification have been completed, and implementation could occur within a year, depending on the number of vehicles.'

Improve Customer Service, Banks Told, Or Else!

Improve Customer Service, Banks Told, Or Else!

Rediff.com28 May 2025

In 2023-2024, 95 scheduled commercial banks received over 10 million complaints from their customers. The process of KYC at many banks has become 'HYC' -- harass your customer, points out Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Not All Need Subsidies: Finance Secy

Not All Need Subsidies: Finance Secy

Rediff.com31 Mar 2025

'If in our cities, all urban bus transport services are free, then the taxpayers are paying for it, or if electricity were to be made free, that's a huge cost to the rest of the people'

SC orders CBI probe on 'builders-banks nexus'

SC orders CBI probe on 'builders-banks nexus'

Rediff.com29 Apr 2025

Observing an "unholy nexus" between the banks and developers to dupe homebuyers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the CBI to register seven preliminary enquiries against builders in NCR, including Supertech Limited.

Rs 1 Trillion Welfare Funds Idle in States

Rs 1 Trillion Welfare Funds Idle in States

Rediff.com25 Feb 2025

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Grameen has the highest unutilised amount (Rs 13,111 crore) compared to any other centrally sponsored scheme.

Are we not creating class of parasites? SC slams poll freebies

Are we not creating class of parasites? SC slams poll freebies

Rediff.com12 Feb 2025

The Supreme Court on Wednesday deprecated the practice of announcing freebies prior to elections, and said people were not willing to work as they were getting free ration and money.

The Politics of A Caste Census

The Politics of A Caste Census

Rediff.com2 May 2025

While data can empower communities, it reinforces identities, making local politics more caste-centric, with decisions increasingly contested on the grounds of representation.

Such dynamics could lead to shifting alliances and, in the worst case, local governance getting paralysed as each group demands proportional power-sharing, explain Amitabh Kundu and Mehebub Rahaman.

Will money in hand from tax breaks spur housing demand?

Will money in hand from tax breaks spur housing demand?

Rediff.com21 Apr 2025

Real estate developers are hoping that the slew of tax concessions announced in Union Budget 2025, set to take effect this financial year, will spur demand for affordable and mid-segment housing, even as the broader housing market shows signs of fatigue.

Bungalow allotted to foundation not Meira Kumar: Ministry

Bungalow allotted to foundation not Meira Kumar: Ministry

Rediff.com27 Dec 2013

A foundation in the name of former Deputy Prime Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram and father of Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has been allotted a bungalow in the prime Lutyen's Delhi for 25 years.

Real estate could be exempted from central environmental rules

Real estate could be exempted from central environmental rules

Rediff.com13 Jul 2016

Urban ministry changes rule before public consultation by environment ministry

'As Tunnels Increase We See More Incidents'

'As Tunnels Increase We See More Incidents'

Rediff.com7 Mar 2025

'Balancing tunnel developments with ecological realities is a major challenge and, when overlooked, can contribute to mishaps.'

Modi's top 4 retain portfolios; Nadda gets health, Shivraj agri

Modi's top 4 retain portfolios; Nadda gets health, Shivraj agri

Rediff.com10 Jun 2024

Among the new entrants to the Union cabinet, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been given the agriculture and rural development portfolios, Bharatiya Janata Party president J P Nadda the health portfolio and former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar the power portfolio.

India to go all out to win bid for 2036 Olympic Games

India to go all out to win bid for 2036 Olympic Games

Rediff.com29 Jan 2025

The IOA president maintained the conference will serve as a platform where global expertise meets Indian innovation through discussion on urban transformation, technological advancements, sustainability and inclusive governance.

Govt eases rules, Gauba to stay as cabinet secretary till after 2024 LS polls

Govt eases rules, Gauba to stay as cabinet secretary till after 2024 LS polls

Rediff.com3 Aug 2023

With the completion of this third extension, Rajiv Gauba will become the longest serving cabinet secretary of the country. Till now, B D Pande had been the longest serving cabinet secretary from November 2, 1972, to March 31, 1977.

MVA govt planned to arrest Fadnavis, when I objected...: Shinde

MVA govt planned to arrest Fadnavis, when I objected...: Shinde

Rediff.com18 Aug 2024

The MVA government had planned to arrest Devendra Fadnavis and when he objected, they planned to arrest him as well, said Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

Centre may evict Congress from Akbar Road HQ

Centre may evict Congress from Akbar Road HQ

Rediff.com24 Sep 2016

Can Congress keep Akbar Road HQ two yrs since notice?

Substantial allocation for Metro projects

Substantial allocation for Metro projects

Rediff.com28 Feb 2011

The government on Monday earmarked a substantial amount to the Urban Development Ministry for spending on extension of Metro networks in Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai in the Budget 2011-12.

Illegal VIP structures in Lutyens's Delhi to stay

Illegal VIP structures in Lutyens's Delhi to stay

Rediff.com8 Nov 2007

According to the list being finalised by the Central Public Works Department, about 10 politicians and senior bureaucrats, who have been found violating building norms in the LBZ, may get relief from the Urban Development Ministry. The ministry will grant the relief to VIPs like former Deputy Prime Minister and senior BJP leader L K Advani, Union Ministers Suresh Pachouri and Kumari Selja, former Governor of Maharashtra P C Alexander and IB Director P C Haldar.

Why Eknath Shinde Is Miffed With Thackeray Sarkar

Why Eknath Shinde Is Miffed With Thackeray Sarkar

Rediff.com21 Jun 2022

Was it Uddhav's back-seat driving of Shinde's ministry Did Shinde feel slighted by Aaditya Thackeray's rapid ascent in the Shiv Sena? Was his spat with Sanjay Raut on Monday the last straw?

Smriti Irani gets I&B ministry after Naidu resigns

Smriti Irani gets I&B ministry after Naidu resigns

Rediff.com18 Jul 2017

The move comes after Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday resigned after he was chosen as the National Democratic Alliance's candidate for the vice presidential election.

SmartCity project to be rolled out after cabinet nod

SmartCity project to be rolled out after cabinet nod

Rediff.com1 Apr 2015

SmartCity project is in advanced stage.

Bumper kharif production to lower food inflation in coming months: FinMin

Bumper kharif production to lower food inflation in coming months: FinMin

Rediff.com26 Nov 2024

Prospects of a bumper kharif harvest are expected to lower food inflation in the coming months, making the country's inflation outlook benign, the Union Ministry of Finance (FinMin) said in its monthly economic report for October released on Monday.

Parliamentary panel to probe CWG irregularities

Parliamentary panel to probe CWG irregularities

Rediff.com14 Jan 2011

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Urban Development has called top officials from the ministry to brief it on the role and performance of various agencies under it in implementing the Games-related projects.

Prachanda out, Oli sworn in as Nepal PM for 4th time

Prachanda out, Oli sworn in as Nepal PM for 4th time

Rediff.com15 Jul 2024

The leader of Nepal's largest communist party was appointed as prime minister on Sunday by President Ram Chandra Paudel to lead the coalition government with the Nepali Congress (NC), the largest party in Parliament, apart from other smaller parties.

Crippling story of India's urban infra projects

Crippling story of India's urban infra projects

Rediff.com8 Feb 2016

Of the 538 projects examined, 294 suffered from cost overruns, 303 from time overruns, and 166 projects suffered both time as well as cost overruns.

Is Ajit Pawar Making Eknath Shinde Insecure?

Is Ajit Pawar Making Eknath Shinde Insecure?

Rediff.com3 Dec 2024

'Ajit Pawar is trying to sideline us; he is trying to be in the BJP's good books at our cost.'

Delhi Metro will be bigger than London Metro: Nath

Delhi Metro will be bigger than London Metro: Nath

Rediff.com20 Jan 2011

Kamal Nath on Thursday took over as Urban Development Minister with an ambitious plan of giving a boost to urban transportation for which he intends to expand Delhi Metro network to make it bigger than its London counterpart by 2017.

Post-retirement residence for Patil finalised

Post-retirement residence for Patil finalised

Rediff.com24 Jun 2012

A post-retirement residence for President Pratibha Patil has been finalised in Pune by the government, after she had to give up an accommodation following a controversy.

Smart City project & key schemes set for launch next month

Smart City project & key schemes set for launch next month

Rediff.com29 May 2015

Smart city projects to be launched in June, other housing schemes to follow.

Govt report card shows slow start to key projects

Govt report card shows slow start to key projects

Rediff.com3 Mar 2015

The 'Smart Cities' project is one that has faced many hurdles.

'Smart city' project fails to address real urban problems

'Smart city' project fails to address real urban problems

Rediff.com2 Sep 2015

The 'Smart city' programme is in danger of becoming cosmetic - creating showpieces instead of addressing endemic urban problems.