Tag: India

FCRA violation: CBI registers FIR against Oxfam India, searches its office

[ad_1]
New Delhi: The CBI registered an FIR against Oxfam India and its office-bearers for alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and carried out searches at its office here, officials said on Wednesday.
The FIR against the Indian arm of the global NGO Oxfam was registered based on a complaint from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The complaint, which is now part of the FIR, has alleged that though Oxfam India’s FCRA registration ceased, it planned to circumvent the law by taking other routes to channelise funds.

“Email communication found during IT (income tax) survey by the CBDT shows that Oxfam India has been planning to pressure Indian government for renewal of FCRA through foreign governments and foreign institutions,” it alleged.
“The Oxfam India has the reach and influence to request multilateral foreign organisations to intervene on its behalf with the Government of India,” it alleged.
The complaint alleged that this exposed Oxfam India as “a probable instrument of foreign policy of foreign organisations or entities” which have funded it liberally over the years.
It alleged that Oxfam India routed funds of its foreign affiliates such as Oxfam Australia and Oxfam Great Britain to certain NGOs and exercised control over the project.
“From the email found during IT survey by the CBDT it appears that Oxfam India is providing funds to the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) through its associates/ employees in the form of commission. The same is also reflected from the TDS data of Oxfam India which shows payment of Rs 12.71 lakh to CPR in the F.Y. 2019-20…,” the complaint has alleged.

It said the organisation got FCRA registration to carry out social activities but payment made to the Delhi-based think tank CPR through its associates or employees in the form of commission — professional or technical services — is not in the line with its stated objectives.
“This is violation of section 8 & 12(4) of the FCRA 2010,” it alleged.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out searches at the office of Oxfam India in Delhi Wednesday, officials said.
In a statement earlier this month, Oxfam India said it is fully compliant with Indian laws.
“Oxfam India is fully compliant with Indian laws and has filed all its statutory compliances, including Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) returns, in a timely manner since its inception. Oxfam India has been cooperating with all government agencies since its FCRA registration wasn’t renewed in December 2021,” the NGO said.
The group has filed a plea in the Delhi High Court against the decision to not renew its FCRA registration, it said.
“In times of growing inequality and greater need for action on poverty eradication, Oxfam India has been and will continue to work in Public and National interest. Oxfam India believes this is our constitutional duty as an organisation, irrespective of obstacles and hurdles in the path,” it had said.
The CBI in its FIR registered on Tuesday also alleged that Oxfam India continued to pay sub grants to various partners even after coming into force of FCR Amendment Act, 2020 which prohibited such transfers.
“The FCRA Amendment Act, 2020 (section 7 of the FCRA, 2010), states that FCRA registered association would not be entitled to transfer or sub grant any of the FC to other organization whether registered or unregistered under the FCRA, 2010. The amendment came in force from September 29, 2020. Oxfam India transferred funds to its partner NGOs, violating section 7 of the FCRA, 2010,” it said.
[ad_2]
#FCRA #violation #CBI #registers #FIR #Oxfam #India #searches #office
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 19, 2023
Mercury soars across India

[ad_1]
New Delhi: Heatwave conditions continued unabated as temperature hovered in the range of 40 to 44 degrees Celsius over most parts of the country on Tuesday, with Hamirpur and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh sizzling at 44.2 degrees Celsius.
Delhi’s primary weather station, the Safdarjung Observatory, registered a maximum temperature of 40.4 degrees Celsius, four notches higher than normal. This is the fourth consecutive day that the maximum temperature settled above 40 degrees Celsius here.
The Pusa and Pitampura areas experienced heat wave conditions with maximum temperatures settling at 41.6 degrees to 41.9 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Cloudy weather and light rain may provide some relief from the heat in the city on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The IMD said a western disturbance active over the western Himalayan region is predicted to bring light rain in the northwestern plains starting Tuesday.
Earlier this month, the MeT office predicted above-normal maximum temperatures for most parts of the country from April to June, except parts of the northwest and the peninsular regions.
Above-normal heatwave days are expected in most parts of central, east, and northwest India during this period.
The meteorological department has issued an ‘orange’ alert with a warning of severe heatwave conditions for two days from Tuesday in Patna, Banka, Jamui, Nawada, Aurangabad, Supaul and several other districts of Bihar.

Besides, a yellow’ warning has also been sounded in Begusarai, Nalanda, Gaya, Arwal, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Buxar, Khagaria and Munger regions of the state.
The meteorological department uses four colour codes – green (no action needed), yellow (watch and stay updated), orange (be prepared) and red (take action) – for weather warning.
“People are advised to avoid heat exposure and dehydration,” a senior official of the Bihar Disaster Management Department said.
In West Bengal, Bankura recorded the highest temperature at 43.7 degrees Celsius, while capital city Kolkata’s maximum was 40 degrees Celsius.
Hot weather conditions continued to prevail in Haryana and Punjab with the maximum temperature settling above the 40 degree-mark in most parts of the two states.
In Haryana, sizzling heat swept across Hisar as the mercury settled at 41.4 degrees Celsius, according to a report of the meteorological department here.
Karnal also experienced a hot day recording a high of 40.7 degrees Celsius.
Ambala recorded a high of 39.7 degrees Celsius, Narnaul recorded a high of 40.2 deg C while Bhiwani registered a high of 39.6 degrees Celsius.
Bathinda in Punjab recorded a maximum temperature of 41 degrees Celsius. The mercury settled at 36.6 degrees Celsius in Amritsar and at 41.2 degrees Celsius in Patiala.
Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, recorded a high of 39.4 degrees Celsius.
Prayagraj and Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh were the hottest at 44.2 degrees Celsius, with the weather department predicting rain/thundershower at isolated places over
western parts of the state.
Lucknow recorded the maximum temperature of 41.3 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 24.5 degree Celsius.
The desert state of Rajasthan also saw the temperature rising with Chittorgarh recording 43.2 degrees Celsius followed by Kota (42.8 degrees), Banswara (42.7 degrees), Phalodi (42.2 degrees), Dholpur (42 degrees), Alwar and Sawai Madhopur (41.7 degrees each), Tonk (41.6 degrees), Churu and Pilani (41.4 degrees each), Barmer (41.2 degrees) and Jaipur (40 degrees Celsius).
However, the MeT has predicted light rain and thunderstorm in Jodhpur and Bikaner divisions and in Jaipur, Ajmer and Bharatpur divisions on April 19 and 20.
It has also predicted a fall in temperatures by 2-3 degrees in the next two days.
Reeling under the scorching sun, people in lower hills of Himachal had some relief as maximum temperatures dropped by few notches following light rains at several places.
Una recorded a high of 37.4 degrees, while Dhaulakuan was hottest in the region with a maximum temperature of 38.7 degrees.
The popular tourist destinations of Shimla, Manali, Dharamsala and Narkanda posted a high of 25.4 degrees, 21 degrees, 28.2 degrees and 19.2 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) forecast severe heat wave conditions in one mandal and heat wave conditions in 117 more across the state on Tuesday.
“While the heat wave is expected to hit seven mandals in Alluri Sitarama Raju district, 16 in Anakapalli, four in East Godavari, two each in Eluru, Palnadu, Visakhapatnam and Nandyala, six in Gunturu and 10 in Krishna,” the disaster management department said in a statement.
Out of the 117 mandals, Chintur and Nellipaka in Alluri Sitarama Raju district are likely to record 44.7 degrees and 44 degrees Celsius, respectively on Tuesday, it said earlier in the day.
Some areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall, while the plains were lashed by rains, officials said on Tuesday.
Around three inches of snowfall was recorded in Machil near the Line of Control (LoC).
The plain areas, including Srinagar city, were lashed by overnight rains, bringing down the temperature, they said.
The weather office said intermittent rain is likely to continue till Tuesday evening.
Intermittent light to moderate rain or snowfall over higher reaches is very likely at many places on Wednesday.
During this wet spell, thunderstorm with strong gusty wind reaching 20-30 kmph and hailstorm is also possible at some places in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the death toll due to sunstroke at the ‘Maharashtra Bhushan’ award event in Navi Mumbai rose to 14 after the death of a 34-year-old woman while seven patients are undergoing treatment, a civic official said on Tuesday.
[ad_2]
#Mercury #soars #India
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 18, 2023
Nepal PM likely to visit India on April 28: Reports

[ad_1]
New Delhi: Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, is likely to visit India on April 28, according to reports citing sources.
Quoting the sources in Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the reports said that the date of visit was proposed to Kathmandu by New Delhi.
Prachanda is likely to be in India on a three-day visit, the sources added.

An announcement regarding the visit will be made officially by the two nations in a week’s time, the reports said .
Dahal had earlier visited India after attending the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, during his first tenure as Prime Minister.
In 2016 again, he had visited New Delhi while his second tenure as the premier.
Subscribe us on

[ad_2]
#Nepal #visit #India #April #Reports
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 18, 2023
Pension scheme in India: A timeline

[ad_1]
Dr. Dhrubash Karan Mathur
It is an established fact that the Central Government has been paying 50 percent of the last pay drawn, after fulfilling required conditions, as pension to their employees who retire from service on attaining the age of superannuation before 1st April 2004. It was at the age of 55 years, gradually raised to 58 years, extending to 60 or 62 years in specific cadres by Central / State Governments. At the same time, it was felt that in the long run, the existing pension structure was highly disadvantageous to pensioners as the pension for them was not revised as and when the pay scales for in service Government employees were revised. Keeping in mind the fact that money has been reducing its value very fast year after year with the addition of old age problems of senior citizens, a frequent upward revision of pension was essential and inescapable.
Not caring for pensioners’ requests/ demands for revision of their pension the Government deliberately omitted it in the terms of reference of I, II and III Central Pay Commission (CPC). Not finding any positive response from the Government a bold step for justice was taken by one NAKARA after he retired as Financial Advisor to the Ministry Of Defence. He filed a writ petition in Supreme Court (SC) for revision of pension and payment from retrospective effect. The Government of India (GOI) was compelled to ask IV CPC to take up the problems related to CG retirees also with its terms of reference.
The landmark judgement delivered by the Constitution Bench of SC, headed by the then Chief Justice (CJ) Y.V.Chandrachud on 17th December 1982 is the beginning of the evolution of pension structure for the past pensioners and in the history of pensioners movement. It gave the pensioners a new lease of life. In the judgement the SC has affirmed that:

“State’s obligation to provide security in old age, as an escape from undeserved want, is recognised. As a first step, pension is treated not only as a reward for past services but with a view of helping the employee to avoid destitution in old age. The QUID PRO QUO was that when the employee was physically and mentally alert, he rendered the best unto the master expecting the master to look after him in the evening of his life. A pension on retirement therefore exists solely for the purpose of providing benefits. Pension is not the nature of alms being doled to beggars. Pension is therefore deferred wages. Pension is their statutory, inalienable and legally enforceable right and it has been earned by the sweat of their brow. The senior citizens need to be treated with dignity and courtesy befitting their age.”
The court, therefore, held that pension is not a bounty nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweet will of the employer. It is not an ex-gratia payment, but a payment for past services rendered. It is a social welfare measure , rendering socio economic justice to those who in the heydays of their life, ceaselessly toiled for their employers on an assurance that in their old age , they would not be left in lurch, The court finally decided in favour of pensioners dictating the following. “A pension scheme consistent with available resources should therefore provide pension so that the pensioner should be able to live (i) free from want, with decency, independence and self respect and (ii) at a standard of living equivalent at the pre-retirement level.”
Subsequently, the V CPC constituted in April 1994 with justice Ratnavel Pandian as
Chairman stressed that:
“Pension is not the nature of alms being doled out to beggars. The senior citizens need to be treated with dignity and courtesy befitting their age. Pension is their statutory, inalienable and legally enforceable right and has been earned by the sweat of their brow. As such it should be fixed, revised, modified and changed in ways, not entirely dissimilar to the salaries granted to the serving employees.”

The sudden twisted decision of the Government to dispense with the pension scheme itself through a bill passed in the Parliament and implemented from 1st April 2004 came as a rude shock to the then newly appointed Government employees. However, the employees appointed earlier that cut off date were not affected and continued to draw pensions under the OLD PENSION SCHEME (OPS) with Government funds. A new pension scheme with 10% contribution of employees’ salaries under the name NEW PENSION SCHEME (NPS) / NATIONAL PENSION SCHEME was introduced which was not at all beneficial in any way to employees and much against the observations made by SC and the Chairman of V CPC way back in 1982 and 1994 respectively. Moreover refunding the highly diluted money with some additional benefits is beneficial to pensioners to maintain dignity, a reasonably good standard of living, and independence in the evenings of their lives.
The employees under the NPS have been pleading with the Government to revert back to OPS. While a few State Governments have responded positively, the Central Government seems to be not in its favour because of huge recurring expenditure involved costing heavily the ex- chequer. Consider it as a social welfare scheme to provide socio economic justice to senior citizens who are in the evenings of their life facing old age problems clubbed with ever increasing prices of essentials of daily life.
Dr. Dhrubash Karan Mathur, Rtd. Professor, Osmania University, Former Principal, Nizam College (Autonomous)
[ad_2]
#Pension #scheme #India #timeline
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 18, 2023
Russia, India negotiating on free trade agreement

[ad_1]
New Delhi: Visiting Russian Minister of Trade and Industry, Denis Manturov, said on Monday that India and Russia are deliberating on a free trade agreement (FTA), a move which could enhance commercial relations between the two nations.
The talks between the two countries on a possible FTA are likely to further accelerate economic relations between both the nations, despite Europe and America urging India to distance itself from Russia due to the latter’s invasion of Ukraine in February last year.
India’s imports from Russia have grown more than four times to $46.33 billion over the last fiscal, mainly due to oil purchases from that country.

“We pay special attention to the issues of mutual access of production to the markets of our countries,” Manturov said during an industry event.
He added that along with the Eurasian Economic Commission, Russia is looking forward to fast-track negotiations on a free trade agreement with India.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who was also present at the event, said that the Covid-19 pandemic had disrupted discussions on an FTA between the two countries, but expressed hope that talks will resume on it soon.
Subscribe us on

[ad_2]
#Russia #India #negotiating #free #trade #agreement
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 17, 2023
India an emerging space economy: Jitendra Singh

[ad_1]
Shillong: India is one of the very few countries that have built end-to-end capability in space technologies, Union Minister of State for Space Jitendra Singh said on Monday.
Addressing the precursor event of the G20 Space Economy Leaders Meeting (SELM), Singh said India is an emerging space economy.
“India is one of the very few countries that have built end-to-end capability in space. Over the years, space technology has penetrated all walks of life. As a result, there is a huge demand for space-based services which have huge commercial potential,” he said.

He said the government has decided to open up the space sector for the private sector and help companies to enhance their participation in end-to-end space activities with the hand-holding of ISRO.
The increased private industry participation will eventually result in an increased contribution of India in the global space economy, he said.
G20 sherpa of India Amitabh Kant said the G20 countries should collaborate on three key areas — manufacturing in space, mining in space and energy in space.
“I suggest three key areas of collaboration — manufacturing in space, energy in space and mining in space. These will form the foundation on which the G20 will be able to build the civilisation of its shared vision,” he said.
“I am firm in my belief that we must start by developing and implementing new space applications for socio-economic development,” he said.

He also insisted that policies that create an enabling environment for development and trade in the new space era should be formulated by G20 to allow further collaboration among the member countries.
Speaking at the programme, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the Indian Space Policy 2023 will allow more start-ups to enter the sector.
“With the government clearing the space policy, start-ups would be encouraged to enter the sector and make investments,” he told PTI on the sidelines of the event in Shillong.
“India has a huge resource of entrepreneurs. I am happy that the policy will allow youngsters to venture into this sector. On behalf of the state government, we will support them,” he added.
With all states of the Northeast hosting G20 events, Sangma said the region was contributing to the overall economic activity of the country.
He lauded the North Eastern Space Application Centre for assisting the state in forecast rainfalls, allowing it to prepare for floods.
[ad_2]
#India #emerging #space #economy #Jitendra #Singh
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 17, 2023
UPI dominates as India records 88 bn payment transactions, valued at Rs 150 tn in 2022.

[ad_1]
New Delhi: Led by Unified payments interface (UPI), payment modes like debit and credit cards, prepaid payment instruments – mobile and prepaid cards processed 87.92 billion transactions worth Rs 149.5 trillion in 2022, a report showed on Monday.
The UPI Person-to-Merchant (P2M) and Person-to-Person (P2P) are the most preferred payment modes among consumers with a market share of 40 per cent and 44 per cent, respectively, in terms of transaction volume (UPI was 84 per cent in total).
In 2022, UPI clocked over 74.05 billion transactions in volume and Rs 126 trillion in terms of value, according to the report by Worldline, a global leader in payment services.

The average ticket size (ATS) for UPI P2P transactions was Rs 2,753 and ATS for UPI P2M transactions was Rs 687 (by December 2022).
However, in terms of value, UPI P2M accounted for 18 per cent share whereas UPI P2P accounted for 66 per cent of digital transactions, according to the report.
Payment through credit and debit cards accounted for 7 per cent in volume and 14 per cent in value.
“The adoption of multiple payment solutions is a boon in our journey to realise the dream of a less-cash India,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, CEO, Worldline India.
For UPI, the transaction volume and value almost doubled since last year as it recorded a 91 per cent increase in volume and over 76 per cent increase in value in 2022 as compared to 2021.

As of December 2022, the total number of POS terminals deployed by merchant acquiring banks crossed the 7.55 million mark – a 37 per cent YoY growth.
The total number of credit and debit cards in circulation by the end of 2022 was 1.02 billion, the report showed.
In 2022, credit cards volume and value stood at 2.76 billion and Rs 13.12 trillion respectively.
The debit card transactions volume and value stood at 3.64 billion and Rs 7.4 trillion, respectively.
By December 2022, the number of prepaid payment instruments was 16.23 billion. Out of which, 13.34 billion were wallets and 288.8 million were cards, said the report.
[ad_2]
#UPI #dominates #India #records #payment #transactions #valued
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 17, 2023
Haj Committee of India organises one-day training program

[ad_1]
Hyderabad: In order to effectively guide selected pilgrims of Haj 2023, the Haj Committee of India organized a one-day online training program for Haj aspirants across the country. Apart from Telangana, Haj pilgrims from other states of the country participated in the program.
Telangana Haj Committee Chairman Mohammed Salim, Executive Officer B Shafiullah, and other officials participated in the online program at the Haj Committee office while representatives of district Haj societies participated online.
In the training program, the pilgrims are informed about the new changes regarding Haj by the Saudi government. It was emphasized that the pilgrims should be made aware of the precautionary measures and duties and rituals from arrival to departure.

Chief Executive Officer Haj Committee of India Mohammad Yaqoob Sheikh, Mufti Mohammad Manzoor Ziai, Charanpreet Singh Bakshi Joint Secretary Ministry of Minority Affairs, Shahid Alam Consul General Jeddah, Muhammad Hashim Consul Haj Jeddah and office bearers of Customs, Immigration and other departments participated in the meeting.
Chairman Haj Committee Mohammad Salim said that training camps will be organized in Telangana as usual. At the same time, selected Haj pilgrims from Telangana are facing problems as a result of the non-receipt of SMS related to important updates. Pilgrims have to rely on newspapers for important information.
The Haj Committee of India is sending necessary SMS timely, while no local system has been prepared by the State Haj Committee.
The Telangana Haj Committee should introduce an SMS system to keep the pilgrims informed about the training camps, payment of installments, commencement of Haj camp, and other information.
1.75 lakh pilgrims from India will perform Haj this time and extraordinary arrangements are being made by the Government of Saudi Arabia. Efforts are being made to keep the accommodation of Indian pilgrims close to Harmeen.

[ad_2]
#Haj #Committee #India #organises #oneday #training #program
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 17, 2023
India holds 100th G20 meeting under its presidency of bloc

[ad_1]
New Delhi: India celebrated a key milestone in its G20 presidency on Monday with the hosting of the 100th meeting of the grouping, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
The Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) in Varanasi is the 100th meeting of the grouping under India’s presidency that began on December 1 last year.
The second Health Working Group in Goa, the 2nd Digital Economy Working Group in Hyderabad and the Space Economy Leaders’ Precursor Meeting in Shillong are also being held on Monday, according to the MEA.

India’s G20 presidency will continue till November 30.
The Group of Twenty (G20) comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, T rkiye, United Kingdom, and United States) and the European Union.
The G20 members represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world’s population.
[ad_2]
#India #holds #100th #G20 #meeting #presidency #bloc

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 17, 2023
Show with Rahman to launch Abdu Rozik’s nine-city India tour

[ad_1]
Mumbai: Tajikstani singer and former ‘Bigg Boss 16’ contestant Abdu Rozik, is all set to embark on a thrilling nine-city tour across India, starting on April 30.
Abdu’s tour will start with his performance alongside A.R. Rahman in Pune and then he will be performing in different cities including Hyderabad, Kerala, Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Rajasthan, and Delhi.
Moreover, during the tour, opportunity will be given to emerging talents to perform with Abdu and showcase their skills.

Abdu said: “I have been so blessed to have the chance to even perform with such a huge legend and icon of the music industry, AR Rahman, his management and his amazing family have supported me from day one, giving me encouragement and guidance. I will be forever grateful.”
‘Bigg Boss 16’ contestant said that with this initiative, he wants other talented musicians to get a stage to perform and show their skills.
“This is why now with my management, I want to also give others a chance who are like me and just need the right person somewhere to notice them. I will never forget where I came from and there is still a long way till I make it but I’m grateful for the chance and prayers that someone took on me,” he added.
Abdu has also planned the launch event of his first restaurant, ‘Burgiir’, on May 11 in Mumbai. He will personally meet and deliver burgers to customers.

[ad_2]
#Show #Rahman #launch #Abdu #Roziks #ninecity #India #tour
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 17, 2023