Some projects under the Smart Cities Mission would not be able to meet the June 30 deadline and the respective state governments would be responsible for completing them thereafter, Union Housing and Urban
Quick media management help centre to avert crisis related to CAG report on coal block policy. For the past two years, it was the thorn in the government’s flesh. But on Thursday, the national auditor
The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) is set to give teeth to the Environment Protection Act by increasing penalties against those breaking environmental laws. Sounding a despairing note, environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan told this reporter, “The present `1 lakh penalty for environmental violations is ridiculous. The penalty should be both imprisonment as well as financial penalty.
New Delhi The proposed diesel price decontrol may come sooner than expected with a special scheme to insulate farmers from its adverse impact through a cash subsidy. Initially, state governments will be responsible for delivery of the subsidy, the cost of which will be borne by the Centre. When the Aadhaar technology platform becomes operational, it will be used for transferring the subsidy.
Parliament was today rocked by reports of an alleged coal scam to the tune of Rs 10.7 lakh crore with the Opposition forcing adjournment of both the Houses till noon and subsequently, for the day. As soon
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for an hour Tuesday morning after opposition members created a ruckus over the government's new concept of people living on less than Rs.28 per day in urban areas and Rs.22.50
The Planning Commission on Monday released the latest poverty estimates for the country showing a decline in the incidence of poverty by 7.3 per cent over the past five years and stating that anyone with a daily consumption expenditure of Rs. 28.35 and Rs. 22.42 in urban and rural areas respectively is above the poverty line. The new poverty estimates for 2011-12 will only add to the furore triggered by the Commission's affidavit in the Supreme Court in October in which the BPL cap was pegged at an expenditure of Rs. 32 and Rs. 26 by an individual in the urban and rural areas respectively at the going rate of inflation in 2010-11.
Rejecting criticism that General Budget was not bold and he lost the opportunity, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday suggested his critics to look at ground realities in the political sphere. He also said that any reduction in subsidies and hike in petroleum product prices could be considered only after consultations with allies. In his customary post-Budget interaction with industry leaders, Mr Mukherjee said, “... Knowing the mood of the persons who matter here (in Parliament), I had to be extra careful and I had to make my colleagues extra careful. Therefore, many of things which could have been done,
Even though the Union Budget 2012-13 has alluded to the possibility of freeing prices of diesel and fertiliser, the UPA is yet to build consensus amongst its allies on these contentious issues. “The Budget
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, presenting the 2012 budget on Friday said the growth of the Indian economy, estimated at 6.9 per cent during this fiscal year, was “disappointing”. “The global crisis has affected us. India’s gross domestic product (GDP) was expected to grow at 6.9 per cent in 2011-12, after having grown at 8.4 per cent in each of the two preceding years,” the finance minister said at the beginning of his seventh budget presentation in the Lok Sabha.
New Delhi Food minister K V Thomas on Thursday ruled out clearance of food security Bill in the ongoing Budget session of Parliament, saying consultations are still on to sort out problems raised by states and that it can be taken up only in the next Monsoon session. “How can it come in the Budget session...Parliamentary Standing Committee is yet to submit its report,” Thomas said on the sidelines of a function of food and consumer affairs ministry here.
