Topic: Modi govt 2019
APMC laws had shackled farmers, Modi govt’s ordinance makes them as free as other sectors
The govt hasn’t done away with APMCs but given farmers the ability to sell outside mandis. Arguments that the ordinance violates the Constitution are flawed.
Modi govt has been on a mission to finish Hurriyat. Geelani’s exit shows it’s succeeding
Syed Ali Shah Geelani quit the Hurriyat Monday, blaming his fellow hardline separatists for ‘not reacting properly’ after Article 370 was scrapped.
More reform for IAS officers as Modi govt adds new criteria to pick joint secretaries
Starting with the 2007 batch, IAS officers can’t join the central govt as joint secretaries straight from their state cadres, a DoPT office memorandum said.
Modi govt walks the talk on agriculture reforms. Now, fix the loopholes
Modi govt has made actual legal changes to implement its policy statements on agriculture reforms. It should now plug loopholes to realise their full potential.
Modi govt says no foreign training for officials this year, cites Covid & austerity measures
Govt officials are sent for mid-career training to universities in the US, UK and Australia, but a 15 June order has stopped that for financial year 2020-21.
Modi govt’s Jan Aushadhi outlets will now sell ayurvedic products like amla and triphala
The 5,500 outlets under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana have only sold generic allopathic medicines and surgical equipment so far.
Is Modi govt trying to decongest Indian cities? Its economic package gives that impression
Economic package assumes people will go back to villages, and rural incomes need to be boosted. Modi govt seems to be trying to give them employment there.
Let states do it — Modi govt could take same route for land reforms like it did for labour
States that have brought in their own land acquisition laws or propose to do so will be asked to align them with the 6 March SC verdict on compensation clauses.
Modi govt claims it’s paying 85% of migrants trains’ cost but has no ‘ticket’ to prove it
Railway officials say if fares are being borne by states, Centre’s claim of paying 85% is inexplicable, and there’s no official communication explaining it.
Silencing the IRS — the story of Modi govt’s face-off with an elite civil service
The three IRS officers were discharged of their duties for authorising a contentious report advocating a tax hike to boost the Covid-stricken economy.
Meat-lover who wants to save the planet? 3D printed steaks are your solution
It can take up to 15,000 litres of water to produce a single kilogram of beef. But there is now a growing amount of interest in meat alternatives.
This is what Modi govt wants 3 loss-making insurance firms to do to turn profitable
The Modi govt has attached conditions for its capital infusion into OlCL, NICL and UIICL, focussing on profitability and improving customer service.
Defence
Indian Army to order second batch of 72,000 Sig 716 assault rifles from US
The new rifles will replace the existing Indian Small Arms System (Insas) rifles used by the forces and manufactured locally by the Ordnance Factories Board.
Uttar Pradesh is India’s broken heartland, break it into 4 or 5 states
Uttar Pradesh, our largest state by population and most powerful, is also the worst governed. A state with 1-in-6 Indians has no hope because of its size.