Nearly 65% of adults in the Arab region remain excluded from formal financial systems, according to a new report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The Annual SDG Review 2025 paints a sobering picture of persistent financial exclusion that is undermining the region’s ability …
Amidst the high voltage campaign to tom-tom Bihar’s achievements for registering an unprecedented growth rate of 13.13 per cent for the year-2011-12, there exists a dark story. Almost half of the state’s population still lives below poverty line (BPL). According to sources in the Planning Commission, the background note, prepared …
Thomas promises way forward for stuck legislation in a fortnight discussion on with Planning Commission, others Union food minister K V Thomas on Monday said a ‘Plan B’ was being prepared for getting the stuck Food Security Bill cleared, but would not explain what this consisted of. The Bill, to …
The Coal Ministry is preparing a draft on public-private partnership (PPP) in the form of mining, development and operations (MOD) agreement for exploration of coal mines by private entities in close association with Coal India Limited (CIL) to push up coal production and induct new technology through private sector participation …
Environment Ministry, PCI express concern over ‘slackness’ JAMMU: Notwithstanding the fact that Jammu and Kashmir has been categorized as sensitive from climate change point of view, the State Government has remained insensitive towards preparation of State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) and missed several deadlines set-up by the Union …
The coal ministry has expressed urgency in setting up a regulator for the coal sector. The ministry has told a Group of Minister (GoM) that the time is ripe for a watchdog in the sector that is bogged down by monopoly, and in view of the recommendations by the Planing …
New Delhi After being held up for over four months, the government will finally approve a proposal to levy import duty on power equipment to protect the interest of domestic engineering firms such as Bhel and L&T from an onslaught of cheap imports from China. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) …
The Planning Commission has sought information from the state government on status of PPP (public private partnership) projects taken up in infrastructure sector (as on March 31, 2012). The information on such projects is to be furnished to the apex planning body by June 29 to facilitate their inclusion in …
Officials Blame Centre’s Lopsided Policy Gandhinagar: After experiencing a sharp rise in cotton production for two years in continuation, top Gujarat government officials estimate the possibility of an abrupt fall in 2012-13. “The fall may be 25 per cent or more”, a senior state government official told TOI. In fiscal …
Revamping of power distribution network in 283 towns JAMMU: Noting that Jammu and Kashmir has embarked on minimizing the Transmission and Distribution losses, the Planning Commission of India has given a positive response to the State Government on funding Rs 1245 crore worth project proposals aimed at revamping the power …
The coal scare for the embattled power sector is only set to get worse. While the Planning Commission’s Working Group for the Twelfth Plan has pegged the requirement for coal imports at 213 million tonnes (MT) by 2017, fresh estimates made by consulting firm Mercados suggests that only about 114 …
An old-time fisherman, Ahmed Kaka, 63, from Luni village off the Kutch coast of Gujarat, complains that several species of fish have disappeared. “Earlier, we would capture 129 different species, including large pomfret and octopus, but today, these have all vanished,” said Mr Kaka. Mr Kaka’s views are shared by …
What the standing committee report on the land acquisition bill left out. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development’s 31st report on land acquisition released this May does not want the state-led “dominant domain” principle extended to public-private partnerships and private sector projects. It displays faith in eminent domain, land …
The coal ministry has conveyed to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) that it may not be possible to accept Planning Commission’s proposal to institutionalise a price pooling mechanism to encourage import of coal. The arrangement, the ministry argues, will hike the price of domestic coal by about 6 per cent …
Rich countries must stop lecturing developing countries and accelerate their own efforts to cut emissions. There is no shortage of people telling India what to do on low-carbon growth, but there is a shortage of understanding of what India is doing. Even the UNDP in its recent Asia Pacific Human …
New Delhi: The Annual Plan for Meghalaya for 2012-13 was finalised at Rs 3939 crore here on Thursday at a meeting between Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and his Cabinet colleagues. This is an increase of Rs 1212 crore over the …
AGARTALA, June 7 (IANS): Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has assured the cash-strapped North-east States that his ministry and the Planning Commission would soon work out strategy to provide special financial aid. Tripura Finance Minister Badal Choudhury said on Thursday that Mukherjee also said the central government intended to involve …
Commission says these are meant for shared public use A day after a Right to Information query revealed that the Planning Commission had splurged over Rs. 30 lakh on renovating toilets at its headquarters in Delhi, the Commission disputed that it was wasteful expenditure. The Commission said the amount was …
The Annual Plan for Manipur for 2012-13 was on Wednesday pegged at Rs.3,500 crore at a meeting here between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi. During the discussions on the State's performance, Mr. Ahluwalia pointed out that while Manipur has been performing satisfactorily, …
Planning Commission dy chairman defends . 35L spent on toilets. While the government wants India to tighten its belt, the Planning Commission can afford to, well, flush with cash. On Wednesday, Commission chief Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that . 35 lakh spent on two toilets in his office was not …
New Delhi: The Planning Commission, mandated to keep a watchful eye on expenses incurred by states and central ministries, found it hard on Wednesday to justify spending Rs 35 lakh of public money on renovation of two toilets at its headquarters, Yojana Bhavan. The panel, under attack for wasting a …
