BJP gives up Maharashtra Rajya Sabha seat to RPI

BJP gives up Maharashtra Rajya Sabha seat to RPI

The BJP has given up its Rajya Sabha seat in Maharashtra to accommodate Ramdas Athawale, the chief of its junior ally, the Republican Party of India-A, a party official said here Monday. Athawale will file his nomination Tuesday, the last date for filing the nominations, on a ticket given from the BJP’s quota, said RPI […]

Bharti removes tweet criticising president

Bharti removes tweet criticising president

Criticising President Pranab Mukherjee’s comment against “populist anarchy”, Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti Monday asked in a tweet whether the 1984 and 2002 riots were agitations? He later deleted the tweet. “If AAP actions were Anarchy, what would Hon President consider 1984 and 2002 riots as? Agitation? Lol. A good joke Mr President !!!” Bharti […]

Airbus A380s to operate in India, benefiting passengers

Airbus A380s to operate in India, benefiting passengers

More travel options and lower fares await air passengers after the government Monday allowed Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, to fly into the country. The civil aviation ministry lifted the ban imposed in 2008 on the ground that operation of A380s could work against the interest of Indian carriers. Industry insiders said not […]

Lalit Modi to wait longer for RCA election results

Lalit Modi to wait longer for RCA election results

Former IPL czar Lalit Modi will have to wait longer to know the result of his bid to head the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) as the Supreme Court Monday posted further hearing of the matter to March 4. Elections to the cricketing body were held Dec 19, 2013. A bench of Justice Anil R. Dave […]

India ranked 155th on Yale’s environmental performance index

India ranked 155th on Yale’s environmental performance index

Despite an improvement in overall performance, India comes out worst among other emerging economies, including China, in efforts to address environmental challenges, with dramatic declines on air quality, according to Yale University researchers. India ranks 155th out of 178 countries in the 2014 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) issued by Yale University, while China ranks 118th, […]

Iran, world power to finalise nuclear talks next month

Iran, world power to finalise nuclear talks next month

Iran and the six world powers will resume nuclear negotiations in New York in February to finalise a comprehensive agreement on the dispute, an official said Monday. The new series of nuclear negotiations will be held in the presence of Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and representatives […]

India to review gold import curbs by March end: Chidambaram

India to review gold import curbs by March end: Chidambaram

chidThe government will, by March end, review and may revisit some of the restrictions imposed on gold imports, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said Monday. Addressing an event to mark the International Customs Day here, Chidambaram hinted at easing the curbs on gold imports if there is a firm grip on the current account deficit (CAD). […]

India’s spices exports rise by 32 percent

India’s spices exports rise by 32 percent

India’s spices exports jumped by 32 percent to $1.39 billion in the April-November period of the current financial year, according to data released by the Spices Board of India. In terms of US dollar value spices exports rose by 32 percent in the first eight months of the current fiscal while in rupee term the […]

Jains declared minority community

Jains declared minority community

ainThe Jain community has been included in the list of minorities, an official statement from the minority affairs ministry said Monday. They will be in addition to the five communities already notified as a minority. These are Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis). The cabinet last week approved notification of Jains as a minority […]

SC notice to Andhra, Odisha over labourers’ torture

SC notice to Andhra, Odisha over labourers’ torture

Taking suo motu congnizance of media reports that the hands of two migrant labourers were chopped off in Odisha, the Supreme Court Monday issued notice to the state government and also to Andhra Pradesh, where the contractor who hired them was based. The notice is returnable in four weeks. The bench of Chief Justice P. […]