Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday clarified that the Economic Survey and the Union Budget project different rates of nominal GDP growth for 2019-20 because they use different base figures. However, she added that the two rates were consistent with each other. While the Union Budget presented on July 5 …

Some important topics for discussion include how to replicate Brazil’s success of domestic coffee consumption The World Coffee Producers’ Forum (WCPF) is scheduled to discuss a range of issues critical to the economic sustainability of coffee farmers round the globe at its two-day conference that commenced on Wednesday. WCPF is …

SIAM seeks measures to save jobs in a sector that employs close to 37 million people With domestic automobile sales continuing on a downward spiral, the industry on Wednesday cautioned that if immediate concrete measures are not taken by the government to help arrest the fall, job cuts may soon …

‘Top-line growth likely to be lowest in a decade’; global concerns to hit IT sector With companies all set to releaseresults for the first quarter of the current financial year, market participants appear to be unanimous in predicting a subdued quarter for most sectors. According to most brokerages, the overall …

Now is the “right moment” for peace in Afghanistan, President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday as he once more called on the Taliban to negotiate with his government. The Taliban have steadfastly refused to discuss peace with Mr. Ghani, whom they consider a U.S. stooge heading an illegitimate regime. But …

Sri Lanka’s Parliament on Wednesday began debating a no-confidence motion against the government for failing to prevent Easter suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people. The Opposition Marxist Peoples’ Liberation Front submitted a motion accusing the ruling coalition of failing to prevent the April 21 attacks despite the “fact …

President Rouhani terms seizure of tanker ‘a foolish act’ Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani warned Britain on Wednesday of “consequences” over the detention of an Iranian oil tanker off the coast of Gibraltar. “I point out to the British that you initiated insecurity (on the seas) and you shall grasp the …

Food park plan on Assam jumbo corridor shelved The plan for a mega food park in Assam’s Soniptur district has been shelved after a team of wildlife experts found 50% of its area encroaching a major elephant corridor and setting it up would severely disturb their movement. The survey and …

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would consider the plea seeking urgent hearing of a PIL petition challenging the constitutional validity of Article 370 which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir and limits Parliament’s power to make laws for the State. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi …

The Union Cabinet approved the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, a previous version of which had lapsed when the Lok Sabha was dissolved in May. The Bill looks at providing social, economic and educational empowerment to transgender persons, a statement said. Sending the Bill to the Parliament again …

The Union Cabinet approved an amendment to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The Bill, which had been introduced earlier but lapsed in Parliament when the Lok Sabha was dissolved in May, was approved by the Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash …

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved ‘Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019’ to tackle the menace of ponzi schemes in the country. The Bill, which will replace the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019, will be introduced in the ongoing session of …

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the third phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III) under which 1.25 lakh km of roads in rural areas will be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs. 80,250 crore by 2024-25. “This would facilitate easy and faster movement to and …

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday cleared the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019. The Bill, which replaces an Ordinance promulgated in March this year, provides for the incorporation of the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) for creating an autonomous regime for institutionalised arbitration. The Bill, moved by Union …

The Assam government has sent a proposal to the Centre for fast-tracking the establishment of 10 detention centres across the State to house people who would be excluded from the final National Register of Citizens (NRC). The Supreme Court-monitored register, being updated on the basis of its 1951 avatar, has …

Calls for ‘unrelenting blows’ on Army Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has released a video asking its cadres to inflict “unrelenting blows” on the Indian Army and the government in the Kashmir Valley to “bleed” the economy and make the country suffer. This is the first time Zawahiri has issued a …

‘Sikhs for Justice’ is based abroad The Union Home Ministry has banned the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a group advocating secessionist and pro-Khalistani activities in India. The group was advocating Referendum 2020, an online campaign for Khalistan, a separate land for the Sikhs. Its founder Avtar Singh Pannu was seen …

The occupational safety Bill will be introduced “in the ongoing session.” “The decision will enhance the coverage of the safety, health and working conditions provisions manifold,” a government statement said. While the code will be applicable to all trades, including IT establishments and service sector, where more than 10 workers …

It is currently undergoing integration The Indian Air Force is looking to adopt a new European visual range air to air missile across its fighter fleet. The Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile of European missile-maker MBDA has been approved for fitting on Jaguar jets. The IAF was looking to integrating …

Plea questions the role of the agency in the State The Jammu & Kashmir High Court has directed the Union Home Ministry, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the J&K Government to submit its objections to a plea questioning the functioning of the NIA in the State. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, …