Ashwini Choubey

Govt okayed 43 projects in eco-sensitive zones in 5 years: Ashwini Choubey

The Centre granted environmental clearance to more than 80 per cent of the proposals for "projects and activities" in the eco-sensitive zones of the country in the last five years, Union minister Ashwini Choubey informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday. He also said the Standing Committee of National Board for Wild Life (SCNBWL) recommended a total of 689 proposals in the last five years. The minister said the environment ministry approved 43 of the total 53 proposals received in the last five years for "projects/activities" in the default eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) according to the provisions of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006. ESZs are eco-fragile areas within 10 kilometers of the borders of protected areas, including national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. According to government data, SCNBWL recommended 153 proposals in 2018-19; 71 in 2019-20; 85 in 2020-21; 149 in 2021-22 and 231 in 2022-23.

NCAP funds remain largely unused in Delhi-NCR cities, govt data shows

Cities in Delhi-NCR and covered under the National Clean Air Programme have utilised less than 40 per cent of the funds allocated to curb air pollution levels, the Centre informed Parliament on Thursday. According to data presented by Union Minister of State for Environment Ashwini Kumar Choubey, the central government released Rs 428.61 crore to Delhi, Noida, Alwar, Meerut, Faridabad and Ghaziabad between 2019-20 and 2023-24. Of this, only Rs 170.58 crore (around 40 per cent) has been utilised. Delhi received Rs 38.22 crore but utilised only Rs 10.77 crore. Similarly, Noida utilised only Rs 0.95 crore of the Rs 26.42 crore allocated to it under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Alwar utilised a meagre Rs 0.04 crore from its allocation of Rs 15 crore. Meerut and Ghaziabad, receiving funds under the 15th Finance Air Quality Performance Grant, utilised Rs 81.93 crore and Rs 76.89 crore from their allocations of Rs 139.19 crore and Rs 136.25 crore, respectively. The NCAP, laun

CCPA issued 20 notices to IAS coaching institutes for misleading ads

Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued 20 notices to IAS coaching institutes across the country for misleading advertisements and imposed penalties on eight such institutes, said Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, in his written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.The Minister said that the Department of Consumer Affairs is continuously working for consumer protection and empowerment of consumers through the enactment of progressive legislation. With a view to modernising the framework governing consumer protection in the new era of globalization, technologies, e-commerce markets etc Consumer Protection Act, of 1986 was repealed and the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 was enacted.Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, misleading advertisement in relation to any product or service is defined as an advertisement, that-- (i) falsely describes such product or service; or (ii) gives a false guarantee to,

North East Express train derails In Bihar; Over 100 injured

Quality regulator has seized more than 40,000 toys since 2021: Minister

Toys have to get the Bureau of Indian Standards' certification and meet its safety norms

BIS has published 21,890 standards so far: Consumer Affairs Minister to RS

Ashwini Kumar Choubey says the standards also facilitate trade, provide investment confidence, foster innovation and support govt policies and regulations

GM mustard safe for food, feed use and cultivation, says govt

Says GM technology important for food security, import reduction

Land diversion proposals involving 12 mn trees approved in last 5 yrs: Govt

'At the same time, as many as 20.81 crore seedlings were planted under the compensatory afforestation scheme,' Ashwini Kumar Choubey told the Lok Sabha in a written reply

No plan to change 'forest cover' definition at present, says govt

India has "no plan", at present, to change the definition of "forest cover and very dense forest", Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, has said in the Rajya Sabha.

Overall Covid seropositivity among healthcare workers over 25%: minister

Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday

India will become coronavirus-free, says MoS Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey

With vaccines of Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech being granted permission for restricted use, Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey stated India will become corona-free

Union Minister Choubey under isolation after testing Covid-19 positive

Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey has said that he has tested positive for Covid-19 and is under home isolation

Indian manufacturers can produce 34.8 mn RT-PCR combo kits per month: Govt

Quoting an ICMR survey, Ashwini Choubey said Indian manufacturers can manufacture around 34.8 million RT-PCR test kits per month

1,100 domestic PPE kit manufacturers developed by govt till date: Choubey

He was talking about increase in the production capacity of PPE kits in the country since the beginning of the lockdown

Govt in talks with Russia for advancement of Covid-19 vaccine: Health Min

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has informed that it has received information about one Covid-19 vaccine developed and approved in Russia

Son of Union Minister, Arijit Shashwat booked for violence in Bhagalpur

Several persons, including two police personnel, were injured in the clashes that witnessed heavy stone-pelting, arson and exchange of fire

Will work to reduce people's dependence on medicines, says Ashwini Choubey

Cleanliness and good health were linked, says Ashwini Choubey