This indicates that the Pay Commission is going through the last round of discussions. It is not clear when VII CPC will submits its report.
From July, mobile phone users will be able to retain their numbers when they relocate to any part of the country, even if they change operators. Minister of Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday announced that full Mobile Number Portability (MNP) will become operational from July.
Talking to reporters during a press conference in New Delhi, Prasad also announced that state-run mobile phone company-BSNL will start free roaming from June 15.
Hitting out at the previous UPA regime, Prasad, in an apparent reference to the 2G scam, said that his government has transformed the working of the telecom ministry.
“One year ago, when we came to power, Sanchar Bhawan was in news for all the wrong reasons. Today there is hope and positive environment,” he said, adding, “I can say with confidence, lobbyists and middleman have no space in the department.”
Commenting on a question concerning the controversial Section 66 A of the IT Act, Prasad said the government fully backs freedom of speech.
“The government of India fully supports freedom of speech. The case was pending in the court before I joined the ministry,” he said.
When asked about frequent call drop complaints by consumers, the minister said he is aware of the issue and has asked officials if a scheme of disincentive for the operators can be put in place.
“Call drops due to lack of towers. As far as installation is concerned it is subject to local law. No point to raise bogey of cell tower radiation and then complain of call drop,” Prasad said.
New Delhi, June 1:
Enforcement Directorate (ED) today told a special court that former Telecom Minister A Raja had “illegally” granted 2G spectrum licences to ineligible firms for which Rs 200 crore was allegedly transferred to Kalaignar TV, owned by DMK supremo M Karunanidhi’s family.
Commencing final arguments in the 2G scam—related money laundering case, special public prosecutor Anand Grover alleged that a conspiracy was hatched by Raja and other accused and Rs 200 crore was the “proceed of crime“.
He claimed that the amount was transferred to Kalaignar TV through various firms and was returned only when Raja was called by the CBI for questioning in 2G spectrum scam case.
“Kalaignar TV was owned by Kanimozhi (DMK MP) and Dayalu Ammal (wife of M Karunanidhi) who both are related to DMK supremo M Karunanidhi and Raja also belonged to the same party,” Grover told Special CBI Judge O P Saini.
He further alleged that “the conspiracy was hatched by A Raja and others, including the companies, for illegally granting telecom licences to ineligible firms.”
Grover also said that the money was transferred to the TV channel through various companies in a circuitous route.
The arguments today remained inconclusive and would continue on July 27.
Raja, Kanimozhi, Dayalu Ammal and 16 others, including nine firms, are facing trial in the case.
ED on April 25 last year had filed a charge sheet against the accused for alleged offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
READ ALSO: New ITR forms to be far more simplified, Jaitley says
The statement also said that the last date for submission of tax returns will be extended to August 31, 2015.
With regard to the controversial provision of disclosing details of foreign visits, the release said that the assessee will be required to disclose only the passport number.
“In lieu of foreign travel details, it is now proposed that only passport number, if available, would be required to be given in Forms ITR-2 and ITR-2A. Details of foreign trips or expenditure thereon are not required to be furnished,” it said.
READ ALSO: Rs 2 lakh penalty for not answering tax authorities queries
Further, the ministry has done away with disclosure of details of dormant accounts which are not operational during the last three years.
“As regards bank account details in all these forms, only the IFS code, account number of all the current/savings account which are held at any time during the previous year will be required to be filled-up. The balance in accounts will not be required to be furnished,” the statement added.
READ ALSO: Tax lens only on multiple foreign visits
The simplified I-T return forms are being brought after the earlier version was opposed by industry, MPs and assessees for its cumbersome disclosure norms.
The salaried individuals and those persons who do not have business/professional income are required to file I-T returns in either ITR-1 or ITR-2 by July 31 every year.
NEW DELHI: As the death toll in the current heat wave crossed the 2,000 mark, this has become the fifth deadliest ever heatwave in the world and the second deadliest in India, according to an international database of disasters.
Weathermen are predicting that there are a few more days left in the ongoing heatwave which has killed the most number of people in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana, while affecting large parts of the rest of the country.
The deadliest heatwave on record in India is the 1998 one in which 2,541 people died. The most lethal heatwave in the world was the one that crippled Europe in 2003, killing 71,310 people. These figures are maintained in the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) maintained by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRE)
( COURTESY: THE TIMES OF INDIA )
New rate of service tax will be introduced from 1st June 2015, which will result in paying more for each and every thing. The present rate is 14% an increase of about 1.64% from the earlier 12.36%. While the government continuously declares about ‘achche din’, the people are compelled to pay more and more and bear the burden.
Modi Government is determined to finish the PSUs. The latest is that it has decided to close 5 PSUs viz. HMT Watch, HMT Chinar Watch, HMT Bearing, Thungabhadra Steel and Hindustan Cables. It is expected by the government to get Rs. 22,000 crore from the sale, while the cost, including VRS etc. will be around Rs. 1,400 crore.
These companies are situated in the heart of the cities, have a lot of land and building assets in addition to the infrastructure. Since these are treated as sick companies, the sale will be done just like distress sale, meaning that the companies may be handed over for a meagre price compared to its assets as has been sold in the earlier NDA regime companies like VSNL, Centaur Hotel and others.
Union Power Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha will be the next Cabinet Secretary.
He will replace Ajit Seth, who will demit office on June 12 after a four-year stint, with three extensions.
“The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Pradeep Kumar Sinha, IAS (UP Cadre, 1977 batch) as the next Cabinet Secretary, with effect from June 13, 2015,” an official statement said. Sinha was the Power Secretary since July 2013 and was earlier Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping.
He has held several other important positions in the Union Government and Uttar Pradesh.
The Prime Minister has also approved Sinha’s appointment as Officer on Special Duty in the Cabinet Secretariat, with effect from the date of assumption of charge, till June 12, 2015, the statement said.
Sinha will hold the post at least till June 12, 2017 unless given an extension.
(Courtesy: Business Line)
The defence veterans have dubbed Modi government as ” NATO”; not North Atlantic Treaty Organisation but “No Action,Talks Only”. They have come down heavily on the Central Government for not implementing the one rank one pension despite so many assurances. It is reminded that the issue of implementing “OROP” was one of the promises made by BJP in their election manifesto. Just like other popular promises in the manifesto,”OROP” also is being neglected by the BJP government in spite of repeated assurances. This approach is only towards the common people and for the corporates and rich the government is eager to do even beyond their demands. In these circumstances, the defence veterans have decided to hold Mass Dharna in New Delhi on 14-06-2015 in protest against the sheer negative approach of Modi government towards their genuine issues.
It is really a shame on the Government and the people of India. India now leads in the maximum number of hungry people in the world. As per the report of the State of Food Security in the World 2015, India has 194.6 million people who are in the hunger list. Almost every one out of four is undernourished.
Earlier it was China, having more hungry people. But it has now diminished sharply. Even Nepal and Bangladesh has reduced the hungry people. But in India, the reduction has been nominal. Out of 172 countries, India ranks first in poverty and hunger.
The neo-liberal policies being practiced by the UPA and NDA governments, have created more and more billionaires and trillionaires. At the same time more people have become poor and poorer.
Prime Minister Mr. Modiji, is ‘Achche Din’ only for the rich and corporates. What about the poor people who gave vote for you for the promised ‘Achche Din’?