NRHM to become National Health Mission soon

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgVp43vxmp7Orza4R6Hgzx7QJE7KP59_7-ywUiu7l2EQxswIRg-1Y4yS_WFOlpM_wOqE4HjhT0wBPkqa0VJFHQoD2C5cwO4TZL7b-EW2axi-29GXHG7HMWYiUeBayiWgDjX8iP5tOFaE/s1600/06SM_HOSPITAL_380585f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgVp43vxmp7Orza4R6Hgzx7QJE7KP59_7-ywUiu7l2EQxswIRg-1Y4yS_WFOlpM_wOqE4HjhT0wBPkqa0VJFHQoD2C5cwO4TZL7b-EW2axi-29GXHG7HMWYiUeBayiWgDjX8iP5tOFaE/s320/06SM_HOSPITAL_380585f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;"> The government proposes to convert the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) into a National Health Mission to provide health care to the urban poor also, in the course of the 12th Plan. </div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;">Universal access to free generic essential medicines in public health institutions in a phased and time-bound manner will be ensured.</div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;">Announcing major initiatives to provide universal healthcare, President Pratibha Patil on Monday said the government would endeavour to increase both Plan and Non-Plan public expenditure in the Centre and the States taken together to 2.5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of the 12th Plan.</div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;">“People need to be healthy if they have to learn, earn and lead a productive and fulfilling life. Our National Rural Health Mission has started making a difference as reflected in the health indicators,'' Ms. Patil said in her speech to the joint session of the first day of the Budget session of Parliament, as she recounted the achievements of this ambitious programme. </div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;">The Infant Mortality Rate declined from 58 per thousand live births in 2005 to 47 in 2010 and Maternal Mortality Ratio from 254 per one lakh deliveries in 2004-2006 to 212 in 2007-2009. The Janani Suraksha Yojana registered impressive gains with 1.13 crore women benefiting during 2010-11. Polio has been almost eradicated from the country. The World Health Organisation has decided to take India off the list of countries with active endemic wild poliovirus transmission.</div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;">Pointing out that in spite of increased investment in the health sector over the last 7 years, public expenditure on healthcare continues to be low, the President said the government would strengthen district hospitals to provide advanced level secondary care under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke and The National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly.</div><h3 style="text-align: justify;">Health insurance scheme</h3><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;">The immensely popular Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, under which health insurance cover is already being provided to around 2.64 crore families, will be expanded. It is expected that by the end of the 12th Plan around 7 crore families will be provided health insurance cover, she announced.</div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;">Building on the platform provided by the Right to Education, integration of skill training with education at all levels is being emphasised. A National Vocational Education Qualification Framework is being developed to set common principles and guidelines for a nationally recognised qualification system, Ms. Patil said.</div><h3 style="text-align: justify;">Skill training</h3><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;">The government aims to provide skills training to 85 lakh people during 2012-13 and 800 lakh people during the 12th Plan. It will set up 1,500 new Industrial Training Institutes and 5,000 Skill Development Centres under Public Private Partnership at an estimated cost of Rs.13,000 crore.</div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;">The Higher Education and Research Bill has been introduced in Parliament. A National Commission for Higher Education & Research is being constituted to set a roadmap for the future. The government also intends to launch a National Mission for Teachers aimed at improving teacher education and faculty development.</div><div class="body" style="text-align: justify;">To provide all students access to higher education irrespective of their paying capacity, the government intends to set up a Higher Education Credit Guarantee Authority for providing limited credit guarantees through risk-pooling for educational loans, she added.</div></div>

NRHM to become National Health Mission soon

The government proposes to convert the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) into a National Health Mission to provide health care to the ...

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India to step up engagement with the Arab League

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6132" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Having cast its lot with the Arab League on the Syria question, India will step up its multilateral engagement with the Arab world in the coming months with a series of events that will include a visit to Cairo by External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna to confabulate with the Arab League and to re-engage Egypt, which is stepping out of the rigid policy confines of the Mubarak era. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span>During his three-day visit, starting on March 2, Mr. Krishna will hold talks with the Foreign Ministers of the Arab League. </span> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span><span>India will be stepping up its engagements at a time when the unfolding situation in Syria might tally with the current strategy of casting its lot with the Arab League by calling for early elections in the violence-wracked country.</span></span> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span><span><span>Trade between the Arab countries and India in the last few years has exceeded $120 billion and over 60 lakh Indians live and work in the Arab world.</span></span></span> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In order to maintain its pro-Palestinian credentials after two high-level interactions with Israel in Tel Aviv and New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs officials will also ascertain the possibility of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian leadership. On the Afghan question, too, the Arab countries are trying to facilitate talks between Kabul and the Taliban. </li> </ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">But the bottom-line during the visit would be an exploration of new venues of interest and cooperation.</li> </ul></div></div>

India to step up engagement with the Arab League

Having cast its lot with the Arab League on the Syria question, India will step up its multilater...

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India, Italy discuss easing of business visa regime

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">India and Italy discussed easing of the business visa regime, with Rome stating that it has already started working towards streamlining the process. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The issue of putting in place an effective visa regime for businessmen and professionals was raised during a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi in New Delhi. Mr Giulio, who is on a visit to India, is heading a business delegation mainly representing the construction sector.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Both the countries had agreed last year to explore the possibility of using the certification from industry chambers to endorse the credentials for issuing business visa. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Mr Sharma, during his visit to Rome in February 2011, had raised concerns over grant of visa to which Italy had assured that flexibilities will be explored for granting long-term multiple entry visas under the new Schengen visa regime.</li> </ul></div>

India, Italy discuss easing of business visa regime

India and Italy discussed easing of the business visa regime, with Rome stating that it has already started working towards streamlining t...

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Centre in favour of decriminalisation of gay sex

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Centre today on Feb 28 favoured decriminalisation of gay sex in Supreme Court, contradicting its earlier stand. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>As the proceedings began in the case, Additional Solicitor General Mohan Jain told a division bench that as per the government decision there is no legal error in the Delhi High Court verdict which had decriminalised gay sex in 2009. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Supreme Court pulled up the Centre for shifting stand on the issue and asked the government not to make mockery of the system. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The stand taken by Jain, who appeared for the Union Health Ministry, was contrary to the argument by Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra, who had appeared for the Ministry of Home Affairs and had opposed decriminalisation of gay sex.</li> </ul></div>

Centre in favour of decriminalisation of gay sex

The Centre today on Feb 28 favoured decriminalisation of gay sex in Supreme Court, contradicting its earlier stand. As the proceedings bega...

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Navy to induct Russian-origin nuclear submarine

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">In a major boost to its underwater strike capabilities, India will receive its Russian-origin nuclear-powered Akula II class submarine next month.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The nuclear submarine 'Nerpa' will arrive Vishakhapatnam next month on a ten-year lease, Defence Ministry sources said here.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The submarine is scheduled to arrive at its home base Vishakhapatnam in the second half of March, they said, adding the deal is worth USD 920 million. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>An Indian crew had set sail with the the Akula II class rechristened as INS Chakra to India at the end of January. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>After the 'INS Chakra' joins the naval fleet, it would be for the first time in more than two decades that the Indian Navy would have a nuclear attack submarine. This will also propel India in the elite league of six nations operating nuclear submarines. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>India is also working on developing indigenous nuclear submarines of the Arihant class. The first submarine named INS Arihant was launched for sea trials recently and is expected to start operational patrols by the end of this year.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Navy will have three submarines of this class by the end of this decade.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>India already possesses or is in the process of developing a family of nuclear-capable missiles including the Agni series, Prithvi variants, naval missile Dhanush, and submarine-launched Sagarika. </li> </ul></div>

Navy to induct Russian-origin nuclear submarine

In a major boost to its underwater strike capabilities, India will receive its Russian-origin nuclear-powered Akula II class submarine nex...

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Nationwide trade unions' strike hits key services

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Public sector banking operations remained paralysed throughout the country while transport services were hit in some states as the nation-wide 24-hour strike called by 11 major trade unions evoked a mixed response. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Life in major cities, including capital Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, was normal though it was affected in states like Kerala, Odisha and Tripura while the strike had a mixed response in West Bengal where the Trinamool Congress government pulled all stops to neutralise the strike.<span> </span></li> </ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>Reason for strike</em></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Employees of public sector banks have gone on a one-day strike opposing outsourcing of non core activities to the private sector among other things. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Central trade unions have sponsored the strike demanding guarantee of labour rights, end to the contract labour system, bringing workers in the unorganised sector under the social security net and pension benefit for all workers.</li> </ul></div>

Nationwide trade unions' strike hits key services

Public sector banking operations remained paralysed throughout the country while transport services were hit in some states as the nation-...

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After NCTC, CMs oppose RPF Amendment Act

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">After National Counter-Terrorism Centre proposal some of the Chief Ministers are now gearing up to block another initiative of the Union government, the RPF Amendment Act.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In what can be another headache for the UPA, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that the latest proposal goes “against the federal structure of the constitution.”  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>This was exactly the same argument put forward by a group of CMs when they had made their apprehensions clear on the NCTC. Chief Ministers of states like Orissa, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Bihar, Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Tripura had opposed the creation of NCTC which was expected to be operational on March 1.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The proposal to empower RPF with police powers has come under attack from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi too.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span>The provisions being inserted by the proposed amendment of the Railway Protection Force Act, 1957 is not in consonance with the schemes provided under article 246 of the Constitution of India, Modi said.</span> </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span><span>"Public order" and "police" are state subjects and proposing an amendment on these subjects under entry 22, 30 and 93 of Union List with entry 2 of the concurrent list in schedule VII of the Constitution of India is, not only a step to infringe upon powers of the state but also a serious blow to the federal structure of the Country, he said.</span></span></li> </ul></div>

After NCTC, CMs oppose RPF Amendment Act

After National Counter-Terrorism Centre proposal some of the Chief Ministers are now gearing up to block another initiative of the Union g...

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Antony calls for global efforts to uproot threat of piracy

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6121" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Defence Minister A K Antony has called for global efforts to uproot the threat of piracy. Inaugurating the Annual National Maritime Foundation Conference in New Delhi , Mr. Antony said, India has already submitted certain proposals at the United Nations. He said, if ever there was a need for consensual and cooperative effort, it is in relation to piracy and India has put forward certain proposals at the United Nations.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Defence Minister pointed out that the Indian Navy has made significant contribution to the global anti-piracy efforts in the Indian Ocean Region, IOR, since 2008. Mr. Antony said that the challenge of piracy is yet to be effectively quarantined.  </li> </ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Defence Minister also voiced concern at the military presence of world’s major powers in the IOR despite the waters being far from their shores.</li> </ul></div></div>

Antony calls for global efforts to uproot threat of piracy

The Defence Minister A K Antony has called for global efforts to uproot the threat of piracy. Ina...

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Various projects to be undertaken by Railways in next five years

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">High Speed trains, Dedicated Freight Corridors and modernisation of 19000 kilometres of track, are among the ambitious projects to be undertaken by the Indian Railways in the next five years at a cost of over 8.2 lakh crore rupees. These are the recommendations of the Expert Group Chaired by Sam Pitroda, submitted to Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi in New Delhi. These also include a High speed railway line between Ahmedabad and Mumbai with 300 kilometers per hour speed. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Modernisation of 100 major stations and Radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking systems for wagons, coaches and locomotives are also on the anvil. Speaking on the occasion, Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi said, to ensure safety, modernisation is a requirement and the roadmap laid out by the Expert Group looks at a future where the Indian Railways contributes to two per cent of the country's GDP. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Mr. Trivedi said, for various ambitious plans of the government including the Food Security Bill, fast movement of goods is a necessity. The Expert group has also recommended to develop Public-Private Partnership models to attract private investment to augment core capabilities including High speed railway lines, elevated rail corridors, private freight terminals and Loco and coach manufacturing. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Mr. Sam Pitroda, the Chairman of the Expert Group who attended through video conferencing from Chicago, said the Railways would strengthen 11,250 bridges to sustain higher load at higher speed, eliminate level crossings and implement automatic signalling system. He said, 15 focus areas of the Railways have been identified for revamping. He further said, the recommendations include that the Railway Board be reorganized along business discipline and reflect the Chairman as CEO.</li> </ul></div>

Various projects to be undertaken by Railways in next five years

High Speed trains, Dedicated Freight Corridors and modernisation of 19000 kilometres of track, are among the ambitious projects to be unde...

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Tourism Ministry introduces three new categories of awards

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Ministry of Tourism has introduced three new categories of awards from this year as part of National Tourism Awards. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>A new award called the Best State for Campaign Clean-India has been introduced to encourage states to put into place effective mechanisms for maintaining cleanliness at tourist destinations. Apart form this, two new categories of awards are introduced for Best Heritage City and Best Heritage Walk.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>According to an official release, the President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil will give away these awards on Wednesday in New Delhi. AIR Correspondent reports that the Ministry presents these national awards to various segments of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry in the country.</li> </ul></div>

Tourism Ministry introduces three new categories of awards

The Ministry of Tourism has introduced three new categories of awards from this year as part of National Tourism Awards. A new award called...

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SC directs centre to implement rivers-interlinking project

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6129" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Supreme Court directed the centre to implement the ambitious interlinking of rivers project in a time-bound manner. Observing that the project has already been delayed resulting in an increase in its cost, a three judge bench, headed by S H Kapadia, appointed a high-powered committee to chart out and execute the project. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The committee will comprise of Union Minister of Water Resources, its Secretary, Secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and four expert members appointed by Water Resources Ministry, Finance Ministry, Planning Commission and MoEF.  </li> </ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Representatives from state governments, two social activists and senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, who has been assisting the court in the case, will also be members of the committee. </li> </ul></div></div>

SC directs centre to implement rivers-interlinking project

The Supreme Court directed the centre to implement the ambitious interlinking of rivers project i...

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Indian special envoy holds talks with Norway’s Foreign Minister

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6130" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">India's special envoy M. Ganpathy had positive discussions with Norwegian Foreign Minister in Oslo regarding early return of the children, taken away from an NRI couple there.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Mr. Ganpathy was rushed to Norway as a special envoy and met Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store to find an expeditious and amicable solution to the custody row of Aishwarya and Abhigyan who were taken away by child welfare officials in Norway and placed in foster care. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>An official spokesperson in the MEA, Syed Akbaruddin, said in a tweet that the Indian special envoy has had positive discussions with the Norwegian Foreign Minister in Oslo. He also tweeted that Special Envoy will meet Norway's Minister of Children, Equality And Social Inclusion, Audun Lysbakken later. </li> </ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, BJP and CPI-M joined the grandparents of the two children and held a sit-in near the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi, launching a four-day protest demanding Norwegian government to send the kids back to India immediately.</li> </ul></div></div>

Indian special envoy holds talks with Norway’s Foreign Minister

India's special envoy M. Ganpathy had positive discussions with Norwegian Foreign Minister in...

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India reiterates Arunachal is ours

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6112" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Highly-placed government sources have reacted sharply to Chinese remarks that India should refrain from taking any action that could "complicate" the border issue.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei had "asked India to work with China to maintain peace and stability in border areas" after Defence Minister AK Antony visited Arunachal Pradesh for its statehood celebrations. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Reacting to the remarks, government sources reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of India and that it was not the first time Antony had visited the northeastern state.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>China routinely takes exception to any high level visits of Indian officials to Arunachal Pradesh which it claims is a part of Southern Tibet. It was part of the discussion of the past 15 rounds of border talks by the Special Representatives by the two countries. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>China also denies visa to people of Arunachal Pradesh as part of its claim to the area.  </li> </ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">In a recent case, visa was denied to a senior Indian Air Force officer to visit China as part of defence delegation prompting New Delhi to scale down the size of the delegation. </li> </ul></div></div>

India reiterates Arunachal is ours

Highly-placed government sources have reacted sharply to Chinese remarks that India should refrai...

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CBEC to issue Bio-metric cards soon to check fraud

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6113" style="display: block;"> <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) will soon issue bio-metric cards to custom house agents to check fraud and misuse of services.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>CBEC chairman SK Goel said Bio-metric smart cards will be issued first in Mumbai in all the three Customs zones.  </li> </ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">He gave information that a fraudulent person will not be able to file documents anywhere in the city as his fingerprints would not match and his photo would be flashed across all zones.</li> </ul></div></div>

CBEC to issue Bio-metric cards soon to check fraud

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) will soon issue bio-metric cards to custom house a...

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'Give freedom to states in use of rural funds'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has made a strong pitch for flexibility in use of funds under his ministry and suggested to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that 50 percent of his ministry's annual allocation be given to states as flexi-funds by the end of 12th Plan.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The minister, who was in Kerala on a three-day visit, called for a change in architecture of rural development programmes so that better developed states reap as much benefit as those lower on the development parameters.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Ramesh said that rural development programmes did not have "built-in flexibility" and were "too rigid". He said that rural development schemes were focused more on states that were backward and did not reflect the needs of states like Kerala which has high literacy and effective grassroots organisations.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The rural development ministry, which monitors some key flagship schemes of United Progressive Alliance Government (UPA), pumps in around Rs 90,000 crore every year in rural development schemes.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The demand for greater flexibility in rural schemes also came from Kerala Rural Development Minister KC Joseph who met Ramesh and participated with him at a Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) meet in Alapuezha district.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Joseph demanded that coir industry in the state should be included in MGNREGA and working hours under the scheme should be 9 am to 4 pm as there is high participation of women. </li> </ul></div>

'Give freedom to states in use of rural funds'

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has made a strong pitch for flexibility in use of funds under his ministry and suggested to Prime...

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Indian Railways fall under CCI's ambit:

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Delhi High Court has held that the Indian Railways is an 'enterprise' and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) is empowered to hear complaints against it for alleged abuse of its dominant position in goods transport sector.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Holding that there is a "commercial angle" to the services rendered by the railways, Justice Vipin Sanghi dismissed the railway ministry's plea challenging the CCI jurisdiction to decide cases related to it. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The railways had taken a plea that it was not an "enterprise" as defined under the Competition Act and the CCI lacked jurisdiction to hear a complaint that it was allegedly abusing its dominant position in the trade of goods transport.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The judgement, which broadened the ambit of the panel by bringing railways' commercial activities under it, came on the plea of the public carrier against a CCI verdict. </li> </ul></div>

Indian Railways fall under CCI's ambit:

The Delhi High Court has held that the Indian Railways is an 'enterprise' and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) is empower...

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WHO removes India from polio endemic countries’ list

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that health and education will be the key priorities of the 12th Five-year plan. He said that the public expenditure on health had been increased from less than one per cent of GDP in 2006-07 to an estimated 1.4 per cent of GDP by the end of the Eleventh Five-Year plan. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Dr. Singh stressed the need to work harder to achieve the goal of increasing public expenditure on health to two and a half per cent of GDP.  </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Inaugurating the Polio Summit, 2012 in New Delhi today, Dr. Singh asserted to accelerate the efforts for providing universal access to healthcare. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Dr. Singh said there was a need to work towards hassle free and cash less outpatient care in public hospitals. The Prime Minister said the Government's massive effort to rid the country of the terrible scourge of Polio had shown result. Expressing satisfaction over the completion of one year without a single new case of polio in India, he said it had become possible because the Centre and the states had worked in close partnership. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>He also lauded the work of NGOs and 23 lakh volunteers who repeatedly vaccinated children even in the remotest areas of the country. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Earlier, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced that World Health Organisation had taken India's name off the list of Polio endemic countries. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Minister said it had been done in view of remarkable progress in containing new case of polio in the country and not a single polio case has been reported for more than past one year. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Azad said the Government was aware of the risks that persist not only on account of indigenous transmission but also importation from other endemic countries and a zero tolerance plan has been put in place across the country. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>It is reported that there were four countries in the list including Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan. India will now have to remain Polio free for the next two years to achieve the Polio free status.</li> </ul></div>

WHO removes India from polio endemic countries’ list

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that health and education will be the key priorities of the 12th Five-year plan. He said that t...

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Chinese delegation hold talks with India to step up tourism

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">A Chinese delegation led by Vice Chairman of China National Tourism Administration Wang Zhifa, called on Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai. They discussed ways to step up tourism between the two countries. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Speaking on the occasion Sahai said, efforts are on by the two friendly neighbours for increased cooperation to boost people-to-people exchange between India and China. He said, improving the tourism prospects of the Buddhist circuit is also being explored. Sahai told the Chinese delegation that India needs investments in the hotel and hospitality sector and 22 lakh hotel rooms are required in the country. He said that hundred per cent FDI is permitted in the hotel sector. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Chinese delegation also included Ambassador of China to India Zhang Yan and Director of China National Tourist Office in New Delhi Liu Shijun. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Sahai also said that he met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday and sought budget allocation of 50 thousand crore rupees for his ministry. This, he said, will help to increase the arrival of tourists by another five million in the country.</li> </ul></div>

Chinese delegation hold talks with India to step up tourism

A Chinese delegation led by Vice Chairman of China National Tourism Administration Wang Zhifa, called on Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kan...

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US keen to invest in North East

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6106" style="display: block; text-align: justify;"> <ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>United States Ambassador Peter Burleigh said trade missions from his country will visit the north eastern region soon to explore possibility of investment in key sectors. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"Trade missions of US to India's major cities are going on and we are in the process of expanding it to other areas including the north east," he said. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"We are learning about increasing business opportunities in the N E region and American companies have shown interest for investments," the envoy, who is on a visit to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, said. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Climate change and renewal of energy were being focussed on by the USA, Burleigh said his country was, however, open to collaboration in almost all major areas of interest. "We are open to exploring virtually any area for investment." </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>USA was currently participating in a conservation programme at Kaziranga National Park in Assam, he said and expressed satisfaction at the 'amazing' pace of development activities taking place in the state and its congenial atmosphere for investment.</li> </ul></div></div>

US keen to invest in North East

United States Ambassador Peter Burleigh said trade missions from his country will visit the north...

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India seeks exclusion of its waters from war zone notification

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">India will make a fresh appeal before the London-based Joint War Committee, a body of insurance underwriters, to exclude India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from the war zone notification as there have been no piracy incidents in Indian waters for the last nine months. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Navy has sanitised the country’s EEZ. There have been no piracy-related incidents over the last three quarters and India is keen to see that its waters up to 78 degree East are excluded from the war zone notification. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>If that is not possible, at least its EEZ should be out of the zone, said Union Shipping Secretary K. Mohandas and Director General of Shipping S. B. Agnihotri at a press conference. </li> </ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Exclusion of India’s EEZ from the war zone has implications on premiums on insurance cover. More importantly, it has a security angle to it. Once within the war zone list, ships plying the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea will hug the Indian coast for safety from perceived threats.</li> </ul></div>

India seeks exclusion of its waters from war zone notification

India will make a fresh appeal before the London-based Joint War Committee, a body of insurance underwriters, to exclude India’s Exclusive...

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