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 …
New Delhi Power, cement and steel companies, which are facing uncertainty due to environmental and other regulatory issues over their captive coal blocks, can now relax. This is because the government will soon come out with a policy on allocation of alternative coal blocks to them. The group of ministers …
The Planning Commission in its 12th Plan (2012-17) document has suggested implementation of the UPA’s flagship rural employment programme scheme, MGNREGA, in mission mode. According to the document, a copy of which is with this newspaper, the programme should be implemented by an autonomous society called the MGNREGA Mission, which …
PEs demanding lower valuation for power biz, more say in management Infrastructure company Lanco Infratech is selling its roads business and is facing headwinds in securing the right price for its power business as bankrupt state electricity boards fail to pay up and fuel remains scarce due to monopoly coal …
The Planning Commission has distanced itself from the government’s decision to appoint a committee to reconsider the way poverty numbers are estimated, indicating a deep divide between the political masters and the technocrats at institution charged with laying down development agenda for the country. On Thursday, Minister for Planning Ashwini …
The government on Thursday set up an expert technical group headed by Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) Chairman C. Rangarajan to review the Tendulkar Committee methodology for estimating poverty and overhaul the norms in keeping with the present-day prices. The move follows all-round criticism of the Planning Commission's estimates …
Recommending scrapping of two controversial hydro-power projects in Karnataka and Kerala that had run into difficulty due to opposition from environmentalists, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) has suggested setting up of a statutory authority to protect the Ghats. The report of the panel, headed by Madhav Gadgil, formerly …
The Planning Commission today announced the constitution of a new expert panel to be headed by the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council chief C Rangarajan to revisit the methodology for estimation poverty levels. The move comes in the wake of the Plan panel facing strident criticism for having fixed the …
Move A Rejection Of 28/Day Poverty Line Formula New Delhi: After the public outcry over the controversial Rs 28 a day poverty formulation, the Planning Commission has put the poverty debate in a deep freeze with the government setting up yet another expert group to take a relook at the …
11th plan target could not be met due to environmental problems The Planning Commission and Power Ministry are believed to have reached a consensus over fixing the capacity addition target at 90,000 MW for the next five years. Earlier, Power Ministry had proposed a target of adding 76,000 MW in …
Apparently giving preference to political considerations over eligibility norms, the Centre is all set to clear the Kochi Metro Rail project, which will have three coaches in the first phase and will thus be the smallest metro in the country. The matter is likely to come up in the Union …
Kolkata The Prime Minister’s Office is asking state-run power utilities to follow the West Bengal model in terms of tariff. The said model keeps a margin after realising the real cost of production. The move may have been prodded by the Planning Commission, which is pushing the Centre to raise …
Millions of Indians are facing a new health risk. Increasing water scarcity is forcing farmers to grow vegetables and fodder using untreated sewage waste water across urban and rural cities. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FAAI) has in the past issued several warnings on pesticide residues and …
Dharavi's officer on special duty (OSD) and the committee of experts (CoE) added one more year to the already delayed Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) by coming up with alternative plans in mid-2009. Gautam Chatterjee, OSD, and the CoE, with three of its 10 members from the Society for the Promotion …
Inter State Truck Terminus also in pipeline SHILLONG: In a move which could slightly ease the traffic congestion in the city, the Planning Commission “in principle” has approved the much awaited Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT). Informing this here recently, Transport Minister AT Mondal said that following the approval, the …
Dismissing the perception of policy paralysis surrounding the Union government, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia feels the government should raise petroleum prices as part of tough decisions and to attract international investment. He feels people must be educated on the importance of raising fuel prices so that petroleum …
State had sought . 2,281 crore for relief measures in 15 drought-hit districts. The union government has approved an assistance of Rs 575 crore to Maharashtra towards drought relief work. “The decision was taken on Friday by a high-level committee comprising finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, home minister P Chidambaram, agriculture …
Steps for resolution of issues raised by him to be discussed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has deputed a senior official from his office to meet Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand to discuss further measures that could be taken for an early resolution of issues raised by the Ganga Seva Abhiyanam. The …
CHENNAI: Forest and tree cover has declined in Tamil Nadu and the State has not prepared its own forest policy even though five years have passed since a recommendation to do this was made by the National Forest Commission, says a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. …
The Planning Commission hailed it as a future fuel and the industry projected it as a viable biofuel crop. But the Union Rural Development Ministry led by Jairam Ramesh feels otherwise. Citing negative reports, the Ministry has put on hold the Jatropha plantation programme for biofuel purpose. It has thus …
The Centre is contemplating to hike retail prices of urea by 10 per cent. The proposal is likely to be put up before the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs soon for its consideration. A panel, led by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, had last year approved a new draft urea policy, …
