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 …
With construction of Delhi Metro's second phase on full-stream, and the first section between Dilshad Garden and Shahdara up for completion by the year-end, the state budget has allocated a sum of Rs 819.93 crore for Metro rail in 2008-09. The money will be utilised for construction of eight new …
Delhi finance minister Dr A K Walia has done a P Chindambaram act in this election year budget by waiving off the Delhi Vidyut Board-era arrears to the tune of Rs 2,539 crore. Admitting that discoms were finding it impossible to recover pending dues, the Congress-led government has announced that …
Despite the recommendations of the planning commission, the Yamuna was somewhat sidelined in this year's budget. Other than the interceptor sewage system, which will not be in place before 2012, and installing sewerage systems in unauthorised colonies, which has been in the pipeline since last year, no new proposals were …
For parched Delhiites, the budget this time promises a more comfortable year, even if the summer months may not be its target. With outlay of Rs 1,507 crore the government hopes to improve water supply and sanitation in the city. However, several of the schemes and plans mentioned in the …
A few months away from elections and hurtling towards the Commonwealth games deadline of 2010, the Delhi government has in its 2008-09 Budget made an unprecedented 41% hike in the allocation for the transport sector
In an election year, finance minister A K Walia gives attention to social welfare, hikes subsidies for students and pensions for senior citizens and widows; says development should have a human face TIMES NEWS NETWORK Underlining that the key focus area of this budget is to help "people in society …
Planning Commission recommends Rs 10,000 crore The Planning Commission today recommended the annual plan size of the National Capital Territory of Delhi at Rs 10,000 crore, a whopping Rs. 1000 crore more than the existing plan, and asked the Sheila Dikshit government to give an increased impetus to the Yamuna …
The ambitious North East Water Resources Authority (NEWRA) may be gasping for breath but not dead. The Centre has decided to continue with services of the High Level Group (HLG) constituted to look at various options. The proposal ran into rough weather after Arunachal Pradesh objected to it. The Arunachal …
An inter-ministerial group (IMG) has cleared the $8-billion (Rs 32,000 crore) CTL project of the Tata group and its partner Sasol of South Africa, the world's largest producer of oil from coal. This will pave the way for similar projects awaiting government clearance, including one by Reliance Industries Ltd. Significantly, …
Worried that contractors and traders may take undue advantage, the Planning Commission has shot down a proposal by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, headed by Renuka Chowdhury, to dish out ready-to-eat meals at Anganwadi centres to children in the age group 3-6 years under the Integrated Child Development …
The Plan outlay of Maharashtra for 2008-09 has been pegged at Rs 25,000 crore inclusive of additional Central Assistance of Rs 250 crore for projects of special interest to the State. This was agreed at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Chief …
A plan of Rs 25,000 crore for Maharashtra for the year 2008-09 was on Wednesday approved by the Planning Commission at a meeting in New Delhi. The approval was given during today's meeting of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh with Planning Commission deputy chairman Dr M S Ahluwalia. This year's plan …
Govt's annual report doubts ability to eliminate revenue deficit. Calling double-digit growth a tough task, the government today cited foreign capital inflow and inflation as the macroeconomic challenge to high sustained growth in its Economic Survey for 2007-08. "If you wish me to sum up in one phrase the outlook …
A bag full of surprises: Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Raghavji arrives at the Vidhan Sabha in Bhopal to present the State Budget on Wednesday. Finance Minister Raghavji on Wednesday presented in the State Assembly the Madhya Pradesh Budget for 2008-09 with a budgetary deficit of Rs.91.43 crore. The Minister announced …
Ashok Dasgupta Elections are due in many State Assemblies this year P. Chidambaram With Assembly polls due in a number of States during the year-end and the general elections in 2009, it is a foregone conclusion that the Union budget for the next fiscal, to be presented by Finance Minister …
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Monday. Haryana's Annual Plan for 2008-09 was pegged at Rs.6,650 crore at a meeting here on Monday between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The Plan …
A review of the role of planning should look at the possibility of expanding its role to municipalities, districts and panchayats rather than limiting it. Feb 23-29, 2008
A wealth fund with dedicated funds from forex reserves would add muscle to India's race for energy supplies around the world. Awakening from a deep slumber, policymakers have begun to recognise the immense possibilities that burgeoning foreign exchange reserves offer a country facing a host of scarcities. By the latest …
The Planning Commission on Tuesday suggested a slew of measures to reform Punjab's power sector, including charging differential peak and non-peak tariffs for commercial users in the state. At a meeting to finalise the state's Annual Plan for 2008-09 on Tuesday, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal discussed at length the …
The conclusions of the recent report of the Planning Commission's expert group on groundwater management and ownership, from an earth-science perspective, are poorly informed and simplistic. The report is conspicuous in its failure to seek counsel from the nation's scientific, professional and public institutions that have expertise and interest in …
