11843 stories by IPA Staff
Navies Of India & Japan To Hold Joint Exercise
In a first, Indiaa nd Japan have decided to conduct a joint exercise involving their navies later this year off that country. A decision to this effect was taken during the meeting between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba at the 6th India...
Prepare India For 2-Front War: Parliamentary Panel
Taking a dig at India’s defence expenditure which was lowest compared to countries like China and Pakistan in terms of GDP, a Parliamentary panel said there was an urgent need to build defence capabilities to fight a ‘two-front war’. The panel highlighted huge gaps between the required and existing...
The world's most economical missile programme?
The recent launch of the Agni 5, the intercontinental ballistic missile, makes it a good time to look at how the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is managing its finances and funding for ambitious projects. IndiaSpend carried out a 10-year study of available figures and found DRDO seemingly...
Sc Asks Army To Take Call On Trial Procedure
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today ruled that the Central Government’s permission was required to proceed with the criminal prosecution and trial of five Army personnel on charges of killing five persons in a fake encounter in Pathribal in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on March 25, 2000....
A breather for Biyani
Deal with Aditya Birla Group will help Biyani move closer to his goal of making his company debt-free by March ’13 MUMBAI: Life has turned full circle for Kishore Biyani. He set up a garments company in 1987 that went on to become Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd (PRIL), the...
Now, IRDA says single-premium policies can stay
MUMBAI: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has taken a U-turn in its stance on single premium life policies by deciding to allow companies to sell such policies after threatening to halt them, citing high risk. Life insurers have been lobbying that these products are not as risky as...
Gogoi In Firm Control In Assam
By Barun Das Gupta KOLKATA: Assam politics has for quite some time been as dull as ditchwater. People have lost all interest in the ongoing talks between the ULFA leaders and the Centre. They have realized that the talks will continue for a long time without producing any tangible...
Sexual Offences Bill Will Defeat The Purpose
By Rashmi Saksena What a vulgar move, what an indecent proposal! How gross can the Union Cabinet get by recently passing a Bill that seeks to make it illegal for below 18 year olds to have sex. Before I raise the hackles of conservatives, concerned parents of adolescent girls...
BJP Preparing For Civil Polls
From Pradeep Kapoor LUCKNOW: After drubbing in UP assembly polls, BJP is gearing up for better performance in civic polls scheduled in June-July. Civic polls are biggest test for newly appointed state BJP Luxmi Kant Bajpai who has to ensure good performance for party. Senior BJP vice-president and MLA...
Power Sector Needs Rs 13.72 Lakh Crore For 12th Five-Year Plan Period: Government
NEW DELHI: The country’s power sector requires Rs 13.72 lakh crore in funding for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17), the government said today. “The Working Group on Power for formulation of the 12th Five-Year Plan has estimated total fund requirement of Rs 13,72,580 crore for the power sector,” Minister...
India Can Make World's Cheapest Nuclear Reactors: Department Of Atomic Energy Chief
MUMBAI: Now,India can build cheaper nuclear reactors, than even South Korea. Talking to TOI on the eve of his retirement, Dr Srikumar Banerjee, secretary in the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), said India can now manufacture nuclear reactors at $1,700 per unit. Come May, Banerjee will make way for...
Coal Ministry Revises Guidelines For Mine Closure Plans
MUMBAI: The coal ministry has issued revised guidelines for preparing mine closure plans, incorporating a few stringent provisions. Mine owners would now have to open escrow accounts with scheduled banks, with the Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO) as an exclusive beneficiary. When the final mine closure scheme is implemented by...
Mines Ministry Plays Safe, Taps Ag On Clearing Leases
NEW DELHI: Keen to stay clear of the minefield of scandals and lawsuits, the Union mines ministry has asked the attorney general (AG) whether mining lease applications can be disposed of under the first-come-first-served (FCFS) policy, until upcoming legislation makes auction mandatory. The ministry’s concern is that granting mineral...
Coal Shortage To Trigger Power Tariff Hike
NAGPUR: Shortage of coal in various plants, providing power to MSEDCL, and wet coal problem in 2011 will prove costly for power consumers this year. MSEDCL had purchased electricity from the two power exchanges to make up for the reduction in generation in Mahagenco and NTPC plants. The cost...
ICVL May Come Under Steel Ministry Fold
NEW DELHI: International Coal Ventures Ltd (ICVL), a consortium of state-run firms with the mandate of acquiring coal assets abroad, may come under the jurisdiction of steel ministry after NTPC expressed its desire to opt out of the venture. “There is a question mark on the shape of ICVL....
CIL Signs Fuel Supply Pacts With 10 Power Firms: Chatterjee
NEW DELHI: State-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) has entered into fuel supply agreements (FSAs) with ten power firms for supplying a minimum assured quantity of fuel to power producers as per the government directive. “It’s ten on last count…Everyday they are doing,” Zohra Chatterjee, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal,...
Government Appoints Ministerial Panel As RIL, Essar CBM Price Differ
NEW DELHI: The oil ministry plans to take coal bed methane (CBM) pricing matters to a ministerial panel as it sees a wide gap between prices offered by customers to Reliance Industries and Essar, a move that can further delay approvals, government and industry officials said. “Reliance CBM price...
India Ships In 10% Less Iran Oil In March Vs Feb-Trade
NEW DELHI: India shipped in about 10 per cent less oil from Iran in March from the previous month, Reuters data showed, its second straight cut since the United States urged consumers to rein in purchases to pressure Tehran over its nuclear programme. India’s imports from Iran were up...
