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2:30 PM

Centre has no proposal to amend Official Languages Act: MHA

MoS for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai clarified that the Central government has no proposal to amend the Official Languages Act to include Scheduled languages other than Hindi and English as its official languages as suggested by the Supreme Court. The Minister clarified this in a written reply in Rajya Sabha to the unstarred question posed by Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) founder and Member of Parliament (MP) Vaiko.

2:18 PM

Centre in SC favours time bound trial of pending cases against lawmakers

The Centre favoured expeditious disposal of pending cases against former and sitting lawmakers on Wednesday before the Supreme Court and said these matters "must reach their logical conclusion" within a time frame.

 

A bench of Justices N V Ramana, Surya Kanta and Hrishikesh Roy was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, that he has no problems with the suggestions made for speedy disposal of case by senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, appointed as amicus curiae in the matter.

 

Mehta said that if proceedings of any of these cases against lawmakers are stayed by the high court, then the top court may direct the it to decide the matter in a time bound manner.

2:11 PM

Volvo Car India partners with HDFC Bank to launch Volvo Car Financial Services

Volvo Car India on Wednesday said it has partnered with HDFC Bank to launch Volvo Car Financial Services to enable buyers get easy finance for its vehicles.

 

The service facilitates finance of up to 100 per cent of ex-showroom price of the car and offers convenient repayment options, with no foreclosure charges under specific conditions, the company said in a statement.

 

Other features of the financial service include loans for up to 7 years and option to finance insurance, extended warranty, service package and accessories.

1:59 PM

Revenues of Indian airlines fell by 85.7% in April-June period due to Covid-19

The revenue of Indian airlines fell by 85.7 per cent to Rs 3,651 crore during the first quarter of 2020-21 in comparison to the corresponding period a year ago due to Covid-19, said Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday. Moreover, employee count at the Indian carriers went down from 74,887 on March 31 to 69,589 on July 31, a decrease of 7.07 per cent, Puri stated in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

 

"The revenue of airport operators has reduced from Rs 5,745 crore during April-June 2019 to Rs 894 crore during April-June 2020," he said.

 

The minister said the employee count at airports has reduced from 67,760 on March 31 to 64,514 on July 31.

1:52 PM

Prime concern is to protect depositors, ensure financial stability: RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is more concerned about the depositors interest and preserving financial stability than giving doles to the industry, governor Shaktikanta Das indicated to industry captains on Wednesday.

 

“The primary concern in the banking system is the protection of depositors’ money. Ultimately, it is the depositors’ money that is being lent out,” governor Das said in an interaction with the governing council of the industry lobby group Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). Read more

1:41 PM

CBI probe for Kerala gold loan firm case: HC seeks Centre's call

Acting on six different petitions, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday passed an interim order seeking Centre's view on the need for a federal probe into a gold loan firm's claim of having gone bust, besides asking police to treat each complaint as an individual case against the company.

 

The high court directed the Personnel Department of the Centre to take a call on the need for a CBI probe into the manner in which the leading finance firm -- Popular Finance -- went bust leaving thousands of depositors in the lurch.

1:28 PM

Just 2 papers for power connection: Govt drafts easier, user-friendly rules

In a first-of-its-kind move, the Union power ministry on Wednesday announced it had drafted rules providing for the Rights of Electricity Consumers to simplify the procedure for electricity connection. Just two documents would be required for an electricity connection with load of up to 10 kw. Recognising that consumers were the most important stakeholders, the ministry invited suggestions and recommendations from the public on the draft by September 30. Read on...

1:16 PM

49 security personnel & 45 civilians killed in terrorist-related incidents and 25 security personnel from August 5, 2019 to September 10, 2020 in J&K: MoS MHA

49 security personnel & 45 civilians killed in terrorist-related incidents and 25 security personnel & 26 civilians killed in ceasefire violations from August 5, 2019 to September 10, 2020 in J&K: MoS MHA in a written reply on 'civilian & security personnel deaths post revocation of Art 370'

12:52 PM

Security provided outside Amitabh Bachchan's home as precaution after Jaya Bachchan's parliament remarks on drugs row

12:37 PM

Tourism could be engine of growth: RBI governor

Tourism could be engine of growth and there is a lot of pent-up demand which needs to capitalised: RBI Governor

12:30 PM

Economic recovery is likely to be gradual, says Shaktikanta Das

Addressing the FICCI National Executive Committee Meeting, the central bank chief said that the economic recovery is not fully entrenched. He added that the GDP data for the first quarter (Q1) was a telling reflection of how COVID-19 affected the economy.

 

12:22 PM

Interests of depositors and financial stability were kept in mind while framing the loan restructuring scheme: RBI Governor

12:21 PM

Tourism could be engine of growth and there is a lot of pent-up demand which needs to capitalised: RBI Governor

11:59 AM

Karnataka: Actors Diganth and Aindrita Ray arrive at Central Crime Branch office in Bengaluru to appear before it in connection with a drug case

11:57 AM

SC dismisses Centre's appeal & upholds arbitration award in favour of Vedanta & Videocon

Centre had appealed against arbitration award allowing Vedanta & Videocon to recover $499 mn, instead of capped $198 mn, for development of Ravva oil-gas fields off Andhra coast b/w 2000-07.