LIVE: India, China to hold another 'working mechanism' meet on Thursday

The WMCC talks are headed by joint secretary-level officials from both sides. Stay tuned for the latest news of the day

6:10 PM

Cabinet approves hike in sugarcane FRP, to benefit 10 million farmers

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a hike in the fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane by Rs 10 to Rs 285 per quintal, for upcoming crushing season 2020-21 (October-September).

 

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its assent fto the proposal in this regard by the Department of Food under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

5:53 PM

Latest News LIVE: Cabinet approves setting up of National Recruitment Agency

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of the 'National Recruitment Agency' to conduct the Common Eligibility Test, said Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar. This, he argued, will benefit the youths seeking jobs, news agency IANS reported.

 

Elaborating on the benefits of the agency, C. Chandramouli, the DoPT Secretary said, "There are more than 20 recruitment agencies in the Central government although we are making exams of just three agencies common as of now. In due course, we will be able to have a Common Eligibility Test for all the recruitment agencies."

 

The National Recruitment Agency (NRA) was proposed by the Modi government in the Union Budget this year. The agency is slated to be an independent organisation which will conduct a Common Eligibility Test, for selection to government jobs or so said the proposal during the Budget.

5:35 PM

Tablighi Jamaat: Enforcement Directorate conducts multi-city raids

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted multi-city searches in connection with a money laundering case filed againstTablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, trusts linked to the Jamaat and others, officials said. They said various premises in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and a few other locations are being raided to collect evidence.

 

The action is being carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED said. The central probe agency had filed a money laundering case in April against Maulana Saad and others after it took cognisance of a Delhi Police complaint against these entities.

5:31 PM

Militant killed in encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district

5:22 PM

Fans of Sushant Singh Rajput burst crackers celebrating the Supreme Court's decision to have CBI probe

5:18 PM

SC invokes Article 142 of Constitution for CBI into SSR death case, cites 'complete justice'

The Supreme Court ruling ordering a CBI probe into the unnatural death of Sushant Singh Rajput will be remembered as a case where a single judge bench exercised the powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, according to an IANS report.

 

Justice Hrishikesh Roy cited the Justice L.S. Panta judgement, "Under Article 142 of the Constitution, this court in exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any "cause" or "matter" pending before it. The expression "cause" or "matter" would include any proceeding pending in court and it would cover almost every kind of proceeding in court, including civil or criminal."

 

The apex court cited that its power under Article 142(1) to do "complete justice" is entirely of different level and of a different quality.

4:56 PM

Health Ministry's 'eSanjeevani' telemedicine service records 200,000 tele-consultations

The 'eSanjeevani' digital platform of the Union government has provided two lakh tele-consultations,the health ministry said on Wednesday. This milestone was achieved in 10 days only sinceAugust 9 when Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan presided over a review meetingwith states and Union territories to commemorate the completion of 1.5 lakh tele-consultations.

 

In a short span of time since November 2019, tele-consultation by 'eSanjeevani' has been implemented by 23 states (which covers 75per centof the population) and other states are in the process of rolling it out

 

"In what can be seen as a big push for the 'Digital India' initiative of the prime minister, the eSanjeevani platform has proved its usefulness and easy access for the caregivers and the medical community, and those seeking healthcare services in the time of COVID-19," the ministry said

4:40 PM

Maharashtra govt allows resumption of inter-district bus services of state transport corporation

4:35 PM

Three more airports to be leased to private firms for 50 years, says govt

The airports in Jaipur, Thiruvanthapuram and Guwahati airports will be leased to private companies for development, operation and maintenance on a public-private partnership (PPP) model for 50 years, said the government on Wednesday as it sought to open up the aviation sector, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The three airports are part of the six airports won by the Adani group under a competitive bidding process. The group had in February signed a concession agreement with state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) to manage airports in Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangalore but approval regarding the other three had been deferred.

 

Privatisation of airports, development of maintenance repair and overhaul facilities along with freeing up of defence airspace for passenger aircraft have been proposed as the government’s relief plan to support the aviation sector amid the pandemic. READ MORE...

4:30 PM

Those involved in the dastardly crime will be brought to justice: Sushant Singh Rajput's family

4:27 PM

Prashant Bhushan moves SC, seeks deferment of hearing on sentence till review plea considered

A day before the scheduled hearing on quantum of sentence, activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan who has been held guilty of criminal contempt for his two derogatory tweets, moved the Supreme Court seeking deferment of the proceedings till a review petition is filed and considered, news agency PTI reported.

 

The top court on August 14 held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for his derogatory tweets against the judiciary saying they cannot be said to be a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary made in the public interest.

 

The apex court had said it would hear on August 20, the arguments on the quantum of sentence to be awarded to Bhushan in the matter. A contemnor can be punished with simple imprisonment of up to six months or with a fine of up to Rs 2,000 or with both.

4:27 PM

Tamil Nadu govt announces ex-gratia of Rs 300,000 each to kin of deceased in Rajamala landslide

4:10 PM

Cabinet approves proposal for leasing out Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal for leasing out airports at Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram through public-private partnership (PPP). Adani Enterprises had won the rights to run six airports -- Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Guwahati -- through PPP model after a competitive bidding process in February 2019, according to a PTI report.

 

These six airports are owned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Adani Enterprises had signed the concessionaire agreement with AAI for three airports - Ahmedabad, Mangaluru and Lucknow - on February 14, 2020.

 

At a press conference on Wednesday, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the cabinet has approved the proposal for leasing out Jaipur, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram airports through PPP model.

4:02 PM

Govt to set up National Recruitment Agency to hold common govt job exam

The government on Wednesday approved the proposal to set up a National Recruitment Agency (NRA) to conduct a common examination for jobs in the government and state-owned banks. This “historic decision”, Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said, was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

This Common Eligibility Test will help "youngsters of the country find jobs easily”, said Javadekar, explaining that this will remove the hassle of multiple tests for various government jobs and make the process smoother and simpler. “Candidates for government jobs appear for multiple examinations and pay repetitive fees. The NRA will remove these pain points with a common test for multiple government jobs.”

Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh called this a "revolutionary reform”. READ MORE...

3:50 PM

Merit list of Common Entrance Test will remain valid for 3 years: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on National Recruitment Agency