DDC chairperson elections by Feb 20, seats reserved for women, STs, SCs

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commission on Monday overruled all objections and representations filed against its draft reservation order for offices of District Development Council last week, clearing the decks for elections to DDC chairpersons in the Union Territory. It was found that none of the objections/ representations so received had any merit. […]

Pak army shells forward posts along LoC in Poonch

Pak army shells forward posts along LoC in Poonch

Jammu: The Pakistan army on Monday violated the ceasefire and shelled forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, officials said. The Indian Army retaliated befittingly to the Pakistani aggression, they said. “At about 1745 hours today, Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with […]

Military back in power in Myanmar, Suu Kyi detained

Military back in power in Myanmar, Suu Kyi detained

Nay Pyi Taw: On the morning the country’s new Parliament session was to begin after elections won by a landslide by Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD party, a presenter on military-owned Myawaddy TV announced that the military had taken control of the country for one year. The presenter said the reason for the takeover was […]

VDC member shoots at father in Kathua

VDC member shoots at father in Kathua

Kathua/Jammu: A village defence committee (VDC) member allegedly shot at his father in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday. Balkar Singh opened fire from his .303 rifle on his father, Krishan Singh, after an altercation between them over some domestic issue at village Dasanu in Dingaamb area of Hiranagar sector, they […]

Govt handing over India’s assets to crony capitalists: Rahul Gandhi on Union Budget

Govt handing over India’s assets to crony capitalists: Rahul Gandhi on Union Budget

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Centre on Monday following the presentation of the 2021-22 Union Budget, alleging that the Narendra Modi government plans to handover India’s assets to crony capitalists. The government on Monday budgeted Rs 1.75 lakh crore from stake sale in public sector companies and financial institutions, including […]

Govt rationalising customs duties on gold, silver: FM

Govt rationalising customs duties on gold, silver: FM

  New Delhi:Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the government is rationalising customs duties on gold and silver. Presenting the Union Budget for 2021-22, she also said customs duties on certain auto parts, solar equipment, cotton and raw silk have been raised. On the other hand, the finance minister said customs duty on naphtha has […]

Teenage girl killed, 4 of a family injured in Kupwara road accident

Teenage girl killed, 4 of a family injured in Kupwara road accident

    Kupwara: In a tragic incident, a family on way towards Srinagar to visit an ailing young relative met with an accident near Kralpora in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, resulting in death to a teenage girl and injuries to four others. Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a vehicle bearing registration […]

Govt committed to farmers’ welfare, MSP system strengthened, sharp increase in payment to farmers: FM

Govt committed to farmers’ welfare, MSP system strengthened, sharp increase in payment to farmers: FM

New Delhi:Stressed that the government is committed to farmers’ welfare, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the MSP regime has undergone a “sea change” to assure price at least 1.5 times of production cost with sharp increase in procurement of foodgrains and payment to farmers. In her budget speech for the next fiscal, she […]

Govt pegs fiscal deficit at 6.8% in FY22

  New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the government estimates fiscal deficit of 6.8 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the next financial year beginning April 1. However, the fiscal deficit in 2020-21 is estimated to soar up to 9.5 per cent due to rise in expenditure on account of […]

Rural infra development fund increased to Rs 40,000 cr in FY22: FM

Rural infra development fund increased to Rs 40,000 cr in FY22: FM

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the allocation to rural infrastructure development has been increased to Rs 40,000 crore for the next fiscal from Rs 30,000 crore in FY21. Presenting the Union Budget for 2021-22, she also said the operation green scheme will cover 22 more perishable commodities while announcing the development […]