Page 15 - Anurag Thakur

Top headlines: DGCA extends curbs on SpiceJet; Wipro fires 300 employees

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the national logistics policy, which aims at reducing transportation cost and improve global performance of the sector.

Union Cabinet has approved National Logistics Policy: Anurag Thakur

Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week unveiled the policy which seeks to cut transportation costs by promoting seamless movement of goods across the country

Govt approves Rs 19,500-cr PLI scheme for manufacturing solar PV modules

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a Rs 19,500-crore production linked incentive (PLI) scheme on 'national programme on high efficiency solar PV modules' with an aim to attract Rs 94,000 crore investment in the sector. One of the the benefits expected from the PLI scheme is that about 65,000 MW per annum manufacturing capacity of fully and partially integrated solar PV modules would be installed. Giving details about the Cabinet decision, information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur said that about 2 lakh direct jobs would be created in the sector. The national programme aims to build an ecosystem for manufacturing of high efficiency solar PV modules in India and reduce import dependence in the area of renewable energy. The initiative is expected to reduce import substitution of about Rs 1.37 lakh crore. Solar PV manufacturers will be selected through a transparent selection process. PLI will be disbursed for 5 years after commissioning of solar PV manufacturing plants and s

I&B Minister Anurag Thakur pitches for bringing back neutrality in news

Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday made a strong pitch for bringing back neutrality in news, saying shrill debates may get television channels eyeballs but not credibility. Addressing a function organised by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), Thakur said the biggest threat to mainstream media is not from new age digital platforms, but mainstream media channels itself. "If you decide to invite guests who are polarising, who spread false narratives and who shout at the top of their lungs, the credibility of your channel goes down. Your decisions regarding the guest, the tone and visuals define your credibility in the eyes of the audience," the minister said. He said the viewer may stop for a minute to watch a television news show, but will never trust the anchor, the channel or the brand as a transparent source of news. Thakur said mainstream media organisations have a great challenge to provide truthful, accurate, and reliable ..

Anurag Thakur grills Cong over Bharat Jodo Yatra, says India already united

Taking a pot shot at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, Anurag Thakur said that India is already united under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi

BJP's Anurag Thakur calls AAP 'bewdi sarkar' amid Delhi liquor scam faceoff

The CBI had filed a case against alleged corruption in the 2021-22 excise policy. The excise policy was subsequently withdrawn by the AAP government

Education in AAP govt's words, liquor in work: BJP's Anurag Thakur

Education may feature prominently in the words of the Aam Aadmi Party but it is "liquor" which drives their work, Union minister Anurag Thakur said on Friday as the BJP kept its attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia over the alleged excise scam. He said the AAP government in Delhi did not make "pathshala" (schools) but opened many "madhushala" (liquor vends) and questioned the "silence" of Kejriwal and Sisodia to the queries raised by him over the "scam", now being probed by the CBI. "The liquor scam has unmasked the AAP and showed how it is neck-deep in corruption. Why are its leaders not answering the questions raised by us over its excise policy," Thakur said. The AAP government should answer as to why Rs 144 crore was returned to liquor dealers besides Rs 30 crore earnest money, he asked. "If the excise policy was correct, then why was it withdrawn? The truth is serious corruption has occurred. Their health minister is in jail on corruptio

Anurag Thakur launches 'Azadi Quest', a series of online educational games

As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur launched 'Azadi Quest', a series of online educational mobile games

Anurag Thakur on two-day Himachal Pradesh visit to mark state's 75 years

Union Minister Anurag Thakur is on Monday arriving on a two-day visit to his home state Himachal Pradesh, officials said. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur will attend two programmes to mark 75 years of the formation of Himachal Pradesh at Dadasiba Maidan in Kangra district and Amb Maidan in Una district on Monday, the officials said. Anurag Thakur will also attend similar programmes at Bambalu in Hamirpur district and Bangana in Una district as the chief guest on Tuesday, according to the officials. Exhibitions of various departments depicting the development of the hill state have also been put up, through which the development journey from the formation of the state till now will be displayed. Information about various welfare and developmental schemes being run by the Centre as well as the state government will also be given during the functions.

Kejriwal a 'kingpin' in Delhi's 'liquor scam': BJP's Anurag Thakur

BJP on Saturday sharpened its attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, with Union Minister Anurag Thakur describing him as the "kingpin" of the "liquor scam" in the capital. Addressing a press conference here, Thakur said the AAP should not try to divert attention from the excise scam by raising other issues as its "real face has been unmasked". Taking a dig at Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Thakur referred to him as "Money Shh", alleging that alleges he makes money and maintains silence. Thakur was flanked by Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta and Lok Sabha member Manoj Tiwari. The CBI on Friday morning carried out searches at the residences of Sisodia and IAS officer Arava Gopi Krishna apart from 19 other locations after registering an FIR in connection with the alleged corruption in implementation of the Delhi excise policy.

Delhi Excise Minister has become excuse minister, says Anurag Thakur

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday dubbed Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as an excuse minister after the latter claimed he was paying the price for honesty as the CBI searched his premises in connection with the excise scam. Sisodia, who also holds the excise portfolio in the Delhi government, said the agency probe against him was to derail his work to improve education facilities in the national capital. Responding to it, Thakur said in a statement, The excise minister has become excuse minister". Today, the issue is of liquor licenses and corruption involved in it. The minister concerned is Manish Sisodia. He reversed the excise policy the day the probe was handed over to the CBI. Why was this step taken, because there was corruption in the issuance of liquor licenses, Thakur said. The minister said the fear of a CBI probe had compelled Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Sisodia to link the searches by the central investigative agency

Govt blocks 8 YouTube channels third time in 5 months, uses new IT Rules

78 such channels blocked since 2021, I&B Minister told Parliament recently

Indian sporting federations: Caught between a rock and a hard place

The recent ban on AIFF is just one more in a long list of sporting bodies that have been hauled over administrative lapses.

1.5% interest subvention on short-term agri loans of up to Rs 3 lakh: Govt

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved interest subvention of 1.5 per cent on short-term agriculture loans of up to Rs 3 lakh for all financial institutions, a move aimed at ensuring adequate credit flow in the farm sector. The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved restoring interest subvention on short-term agriculture loans of 1.5 per cent for all financial institutions, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said. The 1.5 per cent interest subvention will be provided to lending institutions (public and private sector banks, small finance banks, regional rural banks, cooperative banks and computerised Primary Agriculture Credit Societies) for the financial year 2022-23 to 2024-25 for providing short-term agri loans of up to Rs 3 lakh to farmers. "This increase in Interest Subvention support requires additional budgetary provisions of Rs 34,856 crore for the period of 2022-23 to 2024-25 under the scheme," an official statement said. The incre

Union Cabinet enhances ECLGS corpus by Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 5 trn

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved raising the outlay of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECGLS) by Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 5 lakh crore and the additional amount will be earmarked for enterprises in the hospitality and related sectors. In the 2022-23 Union Budget, there was a proposal for raising the limit of ECLGS from Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh crore to help hospitality sector hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The hike in the amount has been made on account of the severe disruptions caused by the pandemic in the hospitality and related sectors, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said while briefing the media on various decision taken by the Cabinet. He said that loans worth around Rs 3.67 lakh crore have been sanctioned under ECLGS till August 5, 2022.

Anurag Thakur urges youth to hoist Tricolour from August 13 to 15

Union Minister Anurag Thakur has urged the youth to unfurl Tiranga at their homes from August 13 to 15 as a part of the celebration of "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign in the country

15th Electric Vehicle Technology Expo 2022: EVT Expo begins in Delhi

15th Electric Vehicle Technology Expo 2022: Details, When and Where you can Watch. Know everything about the Electric Vehicle Technology Expo 2022 scheduled in Delhi from August 5-7.

9 TV channels taken off air for code violation: I&B Minister Thakur

Thakur said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had also issued directions to block 94 YouTube-based news channels and 19 social media accounts, websites and mobile applications

Govt spent Rs 3,339 cr for print and electronic media ads in 5 yrs: Thakur

The government spent Rs 3,339.49 crore on advertisements in the print and electronic media over a five-year period from 2017, Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. In a written reply, Thakur said the government had spent Rs 1,756.48 crore on advertisements in the print media from 2017-18 till July 12 this year. The expenditure on advertisements in the electronic media in the same period was Rs 1,583.01 crore. The expenditure was incurred by the government through the Central Bureau of Communication, Thakur said. The minister said there was no expenditure incurred by any ministry or department of the government on advertisements in foreign media through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Khelo India: Around Rs 9.5 cr gets released under 'Sports for Women'

Around Rs 9.5 crore have been released under the "Sports for Women" component of the Khelo India Scheme to increase women's participation in sports since 2020, Union Minister Anurag Thakur informed