5% GDP growth in Q1 a surprise, but government’s steps will help economy: RBI Governor
NEW DELHI: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Monday termed the low GDP growth of 5 per cent as a “surprise” but expressed confidence that the economy will look up with a host of measures taken by the Narendra Modi government. He further said that the RBI has been cutting rates to give a boost to […]
Dearth of quality people in north India: Labour minister on unemployment
NEW DELHI: Union labour minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar has said there was no dearth of employment opportunities in the country, but recruiters visiting north India complain of lack of “quality people” to fill vacancies, drawing flak from opposition leaders who accused him of insulting people of the region. The comments came amid criticism of the […]
India announces Rs 70,000 crore package for exports, real estate sectors to boost growth
NEW DELHI: India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced an over Rs 70,000 crore package for the exports and real estate sectors, including setting up of a stressed asset fund, as the government continued with firefighting measures to pull the economy out of a six-year low growth rate. A Rs 20,000 crore fund, with […]
RBI proposes Rs 200 crore minimum capital for small banks under ‘on tap’ licence regime
NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday proposed a minimum equity capital of Rs 200 crore to set up a small finance bank (SFB) under the ‘on tap’ licence regime to expand the banking services through high technology-low cost operations. Releasing the draft guidelines for ‘on tap’ licensing of SFBs in the […]
MMTC not to import onions from Pakistan over Kashmir, modifies tender
NEW DELHI: Amid protest, state-owned MMTC has barred suppliers from sourcing onions from Pakistan while modifying its tender for import of 2,000 tonnes of the key kitchen staple. Last week, MMTC had issued a tender for import of onions from Pakistan, Egypt, China, Afghanistan or any other origin which created uproar from farmers and political […]
312 Sikh foreign nationals removed from blacklist, they can now visit India
NEW DELHI: The government of India has removed from its blacklist names of 312 Sikh foreign nationals involved in anti-India activities and only two persons figure on the list now, a Home Ministry official said on Friday. The decision has been taken after a review carried out by different security agencies on the Adverse List […]
Narendra Modi launches pension schemes, inaugurates Jharkhand’s Vidhan Sabha building
NEW DELHI: In another major effort to secure the lives of the farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana at Ranchi, the Capital of Jharkhand. The Scheme shall secure the lives of 5 Crore Small and Marginal Farmers by providing a minimum pension of Rs 3000 per month, […]
India to inaugurate second multi modal terminal on Ganga at Sahibganj in Jharkhand
NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation’s second riverine Multi Modal terminal built at Sahibganj in Jharkhand on 12 September. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the state of the art terminal through a two -way digital communication system at an event in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The Minister of State […]
UN human rights chief urges India to ease lockdown, curfew in Kashmir
NEW DELHI: The UN’s top official on human rights on Monday said she was “deeply concerned” about the Indian’s government’s actions in Kashmir and called for an end to lockdowns and communication blockage. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, asked India and Pakistan to uphold the rights of Kashmiris as the two […]
Odisha to approach Centre for amendments in new MV Act
NEW DELHI: The ruling BJD has said that the Odisha government will approach the Centre for bringing some amendments in the new Motor Vehicles Act because of resentment among people over the hefty fines for violations of traffic rules. Senior MLA and BJD Spokesperson P K Deb on Sunday said the state government will write […]
India forms task force to identify infrastructure projects worth Rs 100 trillion
NEW DELHI: The government of India on Saturday said it has constituted a high-level task force to identify infrastructure projects for Rs 100 trillion investment by 2024-25 as India aims to become a $5 trillion economy. The task force, headed by the economic affairs secretary, will draw up a ‘National Infrastructure Pipeline’ of Rs 100 […]
NSA Ajit Doval says totally convinced most Kashmiris support abrogation of 370
NEW DELHI: National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval on Saturday said he is “totally convinced” that a majority of Kashmiris support the abrogation of Article 370, and assured them that restrictions in Kashmir are aimed at preventing Pakistan from creating more mischief through their proxies and militants. In a wide-ranging interaction with a select group […]
Odisha to provide free treatment to accident victims
NEW DELHI: The Odisha government will provide initial free treatment to accident victims at three private hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, a senior official said. The three hospitals have trauma care facilities, he said. “The state government will bear medical expenses of accident victims for 48 hours after their admission into the hospitals,” Health Secretary […]
To create jobs,Congress government reduces land rates for industries in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh government has decided to reduce land allotment rates by 30 per cent in industrial areas in the state to promote industrialisation and create jobs, officials said on Saturday. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel while addressing representatives of industrial and commercial sectors at an event held here late Friday […]
ED arrests Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivkumar for ‘money laundering’
NEW DELHI: The ED Tuesday arrested Congress’s troubleshooter from Karnataka D K Shivakumar here in connection with a money laundering case following repeated questioning over the past few days, officials said. The former cabinet minister and sitting MLA from Kanakapura seat appeared before the central probe agency for questioning for the fourth time on Tuesday […]
Uttar Pradesh power tariff to increase up to 12 per cent
NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission on Tuesday approved up to 12 per cent hike in power tariff for various categories of power consumers to make up for increased expenditure of state distribution utilities. The commission, however, also abolished the regulatory surcharge of 4.8 per cent for state discoms, giving relief to customers […]