LIVE updates: 16 killed, 36 injured in fire in Tamil Nadu cracker factory

Fire in the factory broke out when some chemicals were being mixed to produce firecrackers. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

3:55 PM

Twitter blocks 97% accounts, posts flagged by IT Ministry

Twitter has blocked over 97 per cent of the accounts and posts flagged by the IT Ministry for provocative content and misinformation around farmers' protest, a PTI report said. This followed a meeting between Twitter representatives and the Information Technology Secretary on Wednesday evening where the US-based microblogging platform was issued a stern warning to comply with local laws or be prepared for action.

 

The Ministry had questioned Twitter's delay in taking action on its order to block provocative content that could impact public law and order, whereas the American company had been quick to crack down when a similar instance occurred at US Capitol Hill. According to a PTI report,, Twitter has now complied with the orders and over 97 per cent of the accounts flagged have been blocked.

 

3:35 PM

PM Modi wants to clear path for his friends: Rahul Gandhi on farm laws

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of the new farm laws, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the PM wants to clear the path for his friends by implementing the three legislations, which will hit 40 per cent people of the country, who are associated with the agriculture business.

 

Addressing a farmers' "mahapanchayat" in Pilibanga town of Rajasthan's Hanumangarh district, Gandhi said after demonetisation and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the farm laws were another blow to the people of the country.

 

"Forty per cent people, including farmers, traders and labourers, will be hit if these laws are implemented. "After demonetisation, I had said the move was not against black money, but people did not understand it that time. Then the GST was implemented, which was an attack on small and mid-size businesses. Narendra Modi wants to clear the path for his friends," he said.

3:28 PM

New farm laws will bring investments, technologies, create employment: Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said the new farm laws will bring investments, new technologies and create employment. Addressing a gathering organised by BJP's youth wing to highlight the salient features of the Union Budget, Pradhan said the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund of Rs 40,000 crore will open new doors for agrarian development, PTI reported.

 

Noting that the Union Budget was brought at a difficult time when the economy was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister asserted that the Narendra Modi government has empowered the farmers and workers. The minister's remark come in the backdrop of protest by thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, at various border points of Delhi since late November last year against the Centre's new farm laws.

3:22 PM

Rajya Sabha adjourned till March 8

3:22 PM

Everything brought under budgetary accounting mechanism under Modi govt: FM

Everything has been brought under the budgetary accounting mechanism under the Modi government. This has brought greater transparency in the system of budgeting: 

3:19 PM

Defence budget for Capital expenditure increased over 18%: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

The allocation for Defence has not come down. In pension, the data shows a decrease because of disbursement under 'One Rank One Pension' made last year. Defence budget for Capital expenditure has increased over 18 per cent: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

3:18 PM

Centre is working towards rectifying mismanagement in MGNREGA scheme: FM

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, Centre is working towards rectifying mismanagement in MGNREGA scheme. Rs 1.15 trillion allocated for MGNREGA in current fiscal to weed out effects of pandemic. Rs 90,400 crore have already been utilised: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

3:17 PM

Increased allocation for Jal Shakti Ministry has been made to provide tap water accessible to all: FM

Increased allocation for Jal Shakti Ministry has been made to provide tap water accessible to all: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

3:11 PM

FM responds to Opposition's objections over her earlier remark using the word 'damad'

"Don't think 'damad' is the trademark of Indian National Congress. There's a 'damad' in every household," responds Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to Opposition's objections over her earlier remark using the word 'damad'.

3:10 PM

This is a Budget for a Aatmanirbhar Bharat, we respect the honest taxpayers: FM

This is a Budget for a Aatmanirbhar Bharat, we respect the honest taxpayers, and their money which is paid as tax should be properly utilised, and we should be accountable for the money we get as tax: Finance Minister 

3:06 PM

Union Budget 2021 instrument to attain Aatmanirbhar Bharat, says FM Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the Union Budget 2021-22 is the instrument through which Aatmanirbhar Bharat is to be attained and asserted that the government is also looking at "long term sustainable growth", ANI quoted the FM as saying.

 

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Budget 2021-22, Sitharman said, "It's a Budget which clearly draws on the experience, the administrative capacities and also exposure that the Prime Minister had during his long elected tenure - both as CM and as PM of this country - known for his commitment towards development, growth, and reforms. So these three things are essentially infused in the budget which is now speaking for itself in the sense that it is the instrument through which Aatmanirbhar Bharat is to be attained."

 

Besides providing 'quick short term solutions', Sitharaman said that the government is also looking at "long term sustainable growth".

 

"So post-pandemic and post-global contraction, economies have suffered across the world. And as I said in my budget speech the attempt made in this budget is to provide strong stimulus, to provide such a stimulus which can bring in a multiplier effect and therefore instead of finding quick short term solutions, even as we provide short term quick relief for those people who so desperately need it," the minister said.

3:05 PM

Modi govt removed ills from MNREGA, effectively utilised funds allocated: FM

Modi govt removed ills from MNREGA, effectively utilised funds allocated: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

3:05 PM

Highest ever utilisation of Rs 90,469 crore under MNREGA rural employment scheme: FM

Highest ever utilisation of Rs 90,469 crore under MNREGA rural employment scheme: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

3:00 PM

LIVE: Stimulus provision in Budget 2021 is for economic revival, says FM

Stimulus provision in Budget 2021, which was presented on Febuary 1, is for economic revival, reforms taken during coronavirus pandemic to revive growth, informed the union minister: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

2:57 PM

Budget 2021 aimed at sustainable economic growth in medium term: FM in RS

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said in Rajya Sabha that Budget 2021 is "an instrument for Aatmanirbhar Bharat" and that it is aimed "at maintaining sustainable economic growth in medium term". While replying to a debate on Budget in Rajya Sabha, Sitharaman said, "Budget 2021 clearly draws on the experience, the administrative capacities and also exposure that the PM had during his long elected tenure - both as CM of Gujarat and as PM of this country."

 

Stimulus provision in Budget 2021, which was presented on Febuary 1, is for economic revival, reforms taken during coronavirus pandemic to revive growth, informed the union minister. READ MORE...