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 …
The Andhra Pradesh Government has requested the Centre to sanction free electricity connections to about 20 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) consumers. The free-power supply for the poor was sought under the under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyuti Karan Yojana programme during the 12th plan period with an aim to provide …
The coal ministry has shot down a Planning Commission proposal to formulate a policy to “pool” domestic and international coal prices. The move was aimed at taming the rapidly increasing input costs for end-use industries, by bringing a uniformity in raw material rates in the key infrastructure sectors of power …
The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel has proposed a three-layer system — comprising the (WGEA) Western Ghats Ecology Authority (as the apex body), the State authorities and the district ecology committees — to address the environmental challenges of the Western Ghats. The Madhav Gadgil-led expert panel has proposed that the …
Fund shortage and lack of concern, or at times will, on the part of the government were among the hurdles in the setting up of sewage treatment plants. Certain environmentally critical steps seen as ‘farmer unfriendly’ were also avoided. The Planning Commission, which is keen to include environmental performance as …
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has pointed to “operational” shortcomings in the government’s efforts to tackle the decades-old Maoist insurgency through developmental work and urged greater political involvement to deal with it more effectively. The minister made the suggestion in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after touring Left-wing …
ITANAGAR: The newly formed Nabam Tuki Government has paved way for massive private investments in various viable sectors of the State with the Cabinet today unanimously adopting the State PPP Policy 2011. This path-breaking initiative will open up the gates for development of various infrastructure sectors, both physical and social, …
It aims zero power cuts, reduction in technical losses & easy distribution tariffs. The government is planning to replicate the PPP (public-private-partnership) model in the electricity distribution sector, after having successfully implemented it in works related to roads, flyovers, airports and ports. Planning Commission member B K Chaturvedi is heading …
The uncertainty over the Lokpal Bill has overshadowed an equally significant National Food Security Bill, which was cleared by the Union Cabinet last week and is to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The Bill has been in the eye of the storm over targeted coverage of beneficiaries …
New Delhi With India Inc and various government departments blaming the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) for delaying clearances for developmental projects, the ministry has said that the delay is not on its part but on the part of the industry in starting and completing the projects on time. …
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday expressed her “strong opposition” to the draft Food Security Bill, 2011 and urged the Centre to exempt Tamil Nadu from the purview of the Bill. In her letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she said the proposed Bill was replete with “confusion and inaccuracy.” The …
Sector with 14% share of IIP will slow down growth & affect power sector investments. An unprecedented crackdown on corruption in India’s mining industry, led by the Supreme Court and state-level agencies such as Karnataka’s Lokayukta, coupled with rigorous enforcement of environmental norms is resulting in collateral damage to the …
KOCHI: The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) on Tuesday informed the Kerala High Court that the Kochi Metro Rail project would be placed before the Union Cabinet for final approval after a meeting of the Planning and Investment Board, scheduled next week. Tom Jose, Managing Director of Metro Rail Ltd, …
New Delhi With more than 1,800 projects awaiting forest clearance in the country, the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has cited non-submission of essential information and documents by the respective state governments for the delay. While Punjab and Haryana lead the pack with the former waiting for the forest …
Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday reiterated his demand that the Centre should not put any cap on the number of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act. The Food Bill-2011 has already received the approval of the Union cabinet and would be soon tabled in the Parliament. About …
Wants To Stop States From Hijacking Credit New Delhi: The Union rural development ministry has decided to ape Planning Commission’s discussion with states for annual finances to send a stronger message about Centre’s authorship on welfare schemes, a move aimed at addressing the longstanding gripe of Congress that states were …
Maharashtra says it could go against existing franchisee norms Power distribution utilities of three States including Maharashtra have objected to the proposed suggestions by a sub-group of the Task Force on Private Participation in the Power Sector of the Planning Commission. They feel the proposals could go against existing franchisee …
If a Planning Commission sponsored committee has its way, farmers will soon have to compulsorily pay for every unit of electricity consumed by them for irrigating the land. Arguing that farmers should be treated like any other consumer, the High Level Panel (HLP) has suggested that they pay at least …
Bhopal : Small forest produce should be given facilities on par with agriculture in the country. This was said by former member of Planning Commission Dr. D.N. Tiwari at the plenary session of an international conference on the topic ‘Sustainable livelihood based on non-wood forest produce’ at Academy of Administration …
SHILLONG: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing Central Sector, Centrally Sponsored and Special Area Programme for the integrated socio-economic development of all Scheduled Tribes in the country. These schemes/programmes are meant for welfare of the tribal people including those living in the Maoist affected areas. A list of major …
ITC, Pepsi et al to deepen rural outreach For the first time, the Centre plans to partly route its farm subsidies through large companies with expertise in rural linkages, such as Nestle, ITC, Adani, Marico, Tata Chemicals and PepsiCo. A blueprint is being created under which the government will partly …
