Category:

Policy

At Rs 5.18 tln in FY21, pvt sector investments lowest since FY05: Report

What is more worrying is that the gross fixed capital formation rate has been plunging continuously from 34.3 per cent in FY12 to 28.8 per cent in FY20 and is expected to go down further to 26.7 per cent in FY21, he warns. Again, among all the new investment projects announced until FY17, government-run companies dominated with a share of 58 per cent but even this has been coming down since then it plunged to 32 per cent in FY21 from 49 per cent in FY20, shows the report

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IT Ministry directs WhatsApp to withdraw new privacy policy: Govt sources

The IT Ministry believes that the changes to WhatsApp privacy policy and the manner of introducing the said changes undermines the sacrosanct values of informational privacy, data security and user choice and harms the rights and interests of Indian citizens, government sources said.

The government has given seven days to WhatsApp to respond to the notice and if no satisfactory response is received, necessary steps in consonance with law will be taken, sources informed.

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Covaxin phase II/III clinical trials for 2-18 age group to begin in 10-12 days: Govt

“Covaxin has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), for Phase II/III clinical trials in the age group of 2 to 18 years. I have been told that trials will begin in the next 10-12 days,” Paul said during a press conference.
Hours after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that the new COVID variant detected in Singapore is “deadly for children” and may bring in third wave of the disease in the country, Paul reassured that children will not get serious COVID-19 infection, adding that the situation is being closely monitored and reports referring to the variant are being examined.

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Cairn Energy sues Air India to enforce $1.2 bln arbitration award – court filing

Cairn filed the lawsuit on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking to make Air India liable for the judgement that was awarded to Cairn. The lawsuit argued that the carrier as a state-owned company, is “legally indistinct from the state itself.”
The move ratchets up pressure on India’s government to pay the sum of $1.2 billion plus interest and costs that the British firm Cairn was awarded by an arbitration tribunal in December. The body ruled India breached an investment treaty with Britain and said New Delhi was liable to pay.

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MoF wants staffs of banks and insurance companies to be vaccinated on priority

`In the light of the recent government’s decision to open up vaccination to all persons above the age of 18 years from 1st May 2021.,I would  request you to kindly consider putting in place a special dispensation in your State/UT, to enable the employees/ staff of banks and insurance companies to avail of vaccination easily and on priority basis.This will go a long way in assuring them about their safety/life and will also boost their morale in continuing to provide their best services to customers.” said Madnesh Mishra, joint secretary, MoF

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Govt extends retirement age of LIC chairman from 60 to 62, Kumar to get an extension soon

The new rules which were earlier proposed by the ministry of finance (MoF) and were approved by the the Appointments committee of Cabinet(ACC), headed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,on April 22, says “the chairman, LIC may be appointed for period of three years, which was earlier five years, or till he/she  attains the age of 62 years whichever is earlier.’’
Another important change in the new rules specifies that only managing directors of corporation are eligible for the selection of chairman whereas under the earlier norms, MDs , executive directors(EDs) and zonal managers (Selection Grade) were all eligible to be part of selection process for  the post LIC chairmanship.

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India’s fiscal response to COVID conservative, need large stimulus: Report

Azim Premji University’s .report, ‘State of Working India 2021: One Year of Covid-19,’ said the impacts of the second wave are still unfolding and may be as large, or larger than the first one.

Further, coming as it does on the back of depleted savings, debt, and reduced fallback options, the second wave can lead to potentially larger impacts on work, incomes, food security, health and education, the report said.

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