Page 9 - Indian Government

Govt sets wheat procurement target of 30-32 mn tonnes for 2024-25 season

The government has fixed a conservative target of wheat procurement in the range of 30-32 million tonnes for the 2024-25 rabi marketing season, according to the food ministry. The lower target has been fixed despite the Ministry of Agriculture hoping for a record wheat production of 114-115 million tonnes in the 2023-24 crop year (July-June). The target was fixed after a deliberation with state food secretaries in a meeting chaired by Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra in the national capital on Wednesday. "After deliberations, the estimates for wheat procurement during the ensuing rabi marketing season of 2024-25 were fixed in the range of 30-32 million tonnes," the ministry said in a statement. Apart from wheat, the ministry has fixed a rabi paddy procurement target in terms of rice in the range of 9-10 million tonnes. The government has also set a procurement target of 6,00,000 tonnes for rabi coarse grains /millets (Shri Anna). In the meeting, the Centre has asked states and

Working with Indian govt over therapy for sickle cell anaemia: Bill Gates

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, in a meeting with Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, said that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the government of India are working with the private sector to come up with a cost-effective therapy for sickle cell anaemia for the whole world."India has a sizeable disease burden; it is an even bigger challenge in Africa. Currently, the costs of available therapies are unaffordable--even for high-income countries like the US--and it might be an area for partnership between the foundation and the Government of India, working with the Indian private sector to come up with a cost-effective therapy for sickle cell anaemia for the whole world," Bill Gates said.He further said, "The foundation has been privileged to have a strong partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, working on a range of health priorities, including maternal and child health, anaemia, infectious diseases, including vaccine-preventable diseases, digital .

Govt's semiconductor strategy makes progress with $21 billion in proposals

Israel's Tower Semiconductor Ltd. is proposing a $9 billion plant, while India's Tata Group has put forward an $8 billion chip fabrication unit

Govt hopes to sell 1.5 mn tonnes each of 'Bharat' rice, atta in 4-5 months

The government hopes to sell 15 lakh tonnes each of FCI rice and wheat flour (atta) under the 'Bharat' brand in the next 4-5 months, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said on Thursday. The government is retailing Bharat atta and rice through three agencies -- National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (Nafed), National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd (NCCF) and Kendriya Bhandar. The government started retailing of 'Bharat Atta' since November last year, while sale of 'Bharat rice' commenced from February 6 in order to keep prices under check. State-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) is providing the grains to these agencies for retail purposes. Briefing the media, the Secretary said, "after the introduction of Bharata atta, prices are stable in the market... We are thinking as it has an impact on atta, similarly Bharat rice will ensure moderation in prices." Bharat Rice sale quantity is low at present but it will pick up in the coming days, he

UPSC CSE 2024: Registration for prelims exams started on upsc.gov.in

The registration for UPSC Civil Services Preliminary exam 2024 has been started today, on February 14. The test will be held on May 26 and the application window will be open till March 5

India considering to extend parboiled rice tax in risk to world supply

Any such move could add to the rally in benchmark Asian rice prices, which are hovering near a 15-year high after India began restricting sales of key varieties in 2023

Govt appoints members for new finance panel to recommend on federal taxes

The panel will submit its report by Oct. 31, 2025 covering a period of five years commencing on April 1, 2026

Welfare schemes without discrimination true secularism, says PM Modi

Modi launched slew of development projects worth Rs 19,100 crore in Bulandshahr

SAI Recruitment 2024: Apply online for 214 Coach and other positions

Sports Authority of India (SAI) under Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is seeking applications for 214 positions on its official website. Applications can be submitted online by Jan 30, 2024

CEED, UCEED 2024 answer key: Know how to download and raise objections

The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay is expected to release the answer key for the Common Entrance Exam for Design (CEED) and the Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design (UCEED) today

EMRS Result 2023-24 announced online for Teaching and Non-Teaching posts

EMRS Result 2023-24 has been announced online. Applicants can download the EMRS Result 2024 for all positions of TGT PGT JSA Lab attendants and so on

NCL Recruitment 2024: Apply for 150 Assistant Foreman posts at nclcil.in

From January 15 to February 5, interested and qualified applicants can submit their applications for the 2024 NCL Assistant Foreman recruitment through the official website at nclcil.in

Centre extends PM-eBus Sewa scheme tender deadline to January 31

This is the second deadline extension for the scheme. The deadline was first extended from December 15 to January 16

Happy 69th Birthday to Mamata Banerjee: All about her political journey

On January 5, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee celebrated her 69th birthday. The TMC chief is broadly addressed to as 'Didi' (elder sister) and 'Bengal's tigress' by her fans and supporters

Power consumption dips marginally by 2.3% to 119.07 bn units in Dec: Govt

The country's power consumption dipped 2.3 per cent to 119.07 Billion Units (BU) in December, marking its first monthly decline in eight months due to lower demand for heating equipment, especially in the north, on account of mild winter, according to government data. Earlier in April 2023, power consumption had dipped nearly 1.5 per cent to 130.08 BU compared to 132.02 BU in the year-ago period. In December 2022, power consumption stood at 121.91 BU, higher than 109.17 BU recorded in the same month a year ago, the data showed. The peak power demand met -- the highest supply in a day -- rose to 213.62 GW in December. The peak power supply stood at 205.10 GW in December 2022 and 189.24 GW in December 2021. Experts said that power consumption as well as demand remained lower due to mild winters in the first fortnight of December. However, consumption and demand rose after mercury dipped sharply in the second half of the month, especially in North India. The data showed that peak powe

DSSSB Recruitment 2023: Apply for 109 Section Officer positions from Jan 9

Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) has announced notification for the recruitment to the position of Section Officer (Horticulture) today, December 26 at dsssb.delhi.gov.in

French judge to decide on extending stay of 303 passengers, mostly Indians

The 303 passengers, mostly Indians, of a plane detained by French authorities since Thursday over suspected "human trafficking", are set to appear before a judge on Sunday at the airport to decide on their continued detention. The plane that took off from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates carrying 303 passengers and bound for Nicaragua was grounded at the Chalons-Vatry airport in Marne on Thursday over suspected "human trafficking. Hearings before a judge of freedoms and detention will begin this Sunday to decide whether or not to keep in the waiting area of the airport the passengers of the flight, BFM TV, a French news broadcast television and radio network, reported. Francois Procureur, lawyer and president of Chalons-en-Champagne, said: I don't know if this has already been done in France. Vatry airport, in Marne, 150 km east of Paris, is preparing to become a courtroom. The airport mostly serves budget airlines. The 303 passengers must appear before the judge from 9 am this .

Govt sells 0.34 mn tn wheat, 13,164 tn rice in open market to check prices

The government has sold 3.46 lakh tonnes of wheat and 13,164 tonnes of rice through e-auctions to bulk consumers as part of its effort to boost domestic supplies and control retail prices. The government is selling wheat and rice from its buffer stocks to keep retail prices under control under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). Food Corporation of India (FCI), the government's nodal agency for food grains procurement and distribution, is conducting the e-auctions. The Centre has allocated 101.5 lakh tonnes of wheat for the OMSS till March 2024. "The 26th e-auction was held on December 20 wherein 4 lakh tonnes wheat and 1.93 lakh tonnes rice was offered. In the e-auction, 3.46 lakh tonnes wheat and 13,164 tonnes rice was sold at a weighted average of Rs 2,178.24 per quintal for wheat and Rs 2905.40 per quintal for rice," an official statement said. To control the retail prices of rice, wheat and atta, the government is organising weekly e-auctions of both wheat and rice. The minim

Satcom firms to be allocated spectrum only for point-to-point connections

The government will allocate spectrum to satellite services companies only for point-to-point connection and not for direct transmission of services to retail consumers, sources said on Tuesday. The Telecommunications Bill, 2023 has proposed allocation of spectrum to satellite communication companies through the administrative method which means without auction. "The administrative allocation of spectrum to satellite companies will be for point-to-point connection only. If they will provide services like access service providers (mobile operators), then allocation will be through auction," a source who did not wish to be identified, said. He said the government will be open to amend the telecommunications law as per market dynamics and requirement.

Govt lashes out at IMF for saying currency intervention excessive

As a result, the IMF reclassified India's foreign-exchange regime to a "stabilized arrangement" from a "floating" system, it said in its annual Article IV country report released on Monday