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By Avik Chattopadhyay The spark On February 1, 2021, after the budget presentation, on being asked by a television reporter why there was no mention of electric mobility , Nitin Gadkari, the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, made an interesting remark. “The country needs to explore more self-sufficient and self-reliant methods of powering mobility to reduce our dependence on imports!” This was significant and one needs to read between the lines; especially if one couples the National Hydrogen Mission [NHM] that was announced by the Finance Minister. On February 8, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy told the media that the draft of NHM will be ready in two months. Link this with the fact that Delhi inducted Hydrogen-CNG buses in its fleet in October 2020. Fast forward a few weeks, and on February 23, the Indian Auto LPG Coalition [the industry body of auto LPG stakeholders] impressed upon the government to promote a few alternative clean energy ... » Learn More about Opinion: ‘Atmanirbhar’ alternatives to electric mobility!

For Quick Alerts Subscribe Now Will you marry her? SC asks govt employee accused of rape View Sample For Quick Alerts ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS For Daily Alerts #Nitish Kumar Bihar Cabinet Expansion: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar set to give BJP 9 more berths, JDU settles with 8 #Nitish Kumar Nitish calls Uttarakhand CM to enquire about flood situation, offers support #Nitish Kumar This is why Nitish Kumar did not call Lalu Yadav to inquire about his health #Nitish Kumar 'We are firmly with NDA': JD(U) amid talks of discord within ruling Bihar alliance #Nitish Kumar Nitish Kumar chuckles over demand for ‘Bharat Ratna’ to Sonia Gandhi #Nitish Kumar Nitish Kumar's close confidant RCP Singh becomes new JD(U) president Just In 36 min ago GST collection rises 7% to Rs 1.13 lakh crore in February 47 min ago West Bengal polls: TMC likely to drop several ... » Learn More about Vaccination will be absolutely free in entire Bihar: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

Video Player Close HAIKOU, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Hainan Free Trade Port will recruit top experts from all over the world to promote port construction in the south China island province. According to a press conference on Monday, the recruitment involves three positions, including the chiefs or legal representatives of the tourism promotion bureau of Sanya, the development bureau of the bonded harbour in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone, and a logistics company under the state-owned China Hainan Rubber Industry Group Co., Ltd. Zhang Yingduan, deputy head of the organization department of the Hainan Provincial Party Committee, said both domestic and overseas candidates can apply for the positions. Hainan is in urgent need of international experts with global vision and advanced management experience, said Zhang, adding that recruiting talent worldwide is conducive to promoting the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port. China last year released a master plan for the ... » Learn More about Hainan Free Trade Port to launch global exec recruitment

Now is the time to take some bold steps to structure a unified power market, notes Vinayak Chatterjee A t an energy conclave recently, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said, “. . . the government’s mission is to have one nation, one grid, one price”. He could not have put this issue in perspective more succinctly. Echoing a similar call, Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian, in a well-argued chapter titled 'Powering One India' in the 2015-16 Economic Survey, outlined seven ground realities that suggest prioritising this task. One, in 2014-15, the addition to generation capacity was 26,500 Mw, much higher than the average annual addition of around 19,000 Mw over the previous five years. However, this ability to produce more power has not been matched with the ability to lift more power. Power plant load factors are at historic lows of around 60 per cent because of the stressed financial situation of discoms. Two, it is for the first time in the country that ... » Learn More about Why we need a national market for electricity

He underlined need for more pvt players in farm sector Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday emphasised on farmers getting more avenues to sell crops and said a food processing revolution was needed in the country for value addition to farm produce and to realise better prices. Addressing a webinar on effective implementation of Budget provisions regarding the Agriculture Ministry, he underlined the need for increased participation of private players in the farm sector, including in research and development (R&D) work. Without making any direct reference to the three new farm reform laws or to the three-month-old agitation by farmers, Modi said there is a need for expanding options for the country's farming community to sell agri produce . "Today the need of the hour is that farmers of the country get more and more options to sell their produce," he said. Restrictions had a negative impact on the sector, he added. While the Modi government says the three ... » Learn More about PM says farmers should get more avenues to sell crops

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday emphasised on farmers getting more avenues to sell crops and said a food processing revolution was needed in the country for value addition to farm produce and to realise better prices. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a webinar on effective implementation of budget provisions regarding agriculture and farmers’ welfare in New Delhi. Photograph: / Rediff.com Addressing a webinar on effective implementation of Budget provisions regarding the agriculture ministry, he underlined the need for increased participation of private players in the farm sector, including in research and development (R&D) work. Without making any direct reference to the three new farm reform laws or to the three-month-old agitation by farmers, Modi said there is a need for expanding options for the country's farming community to sell agri produce. "Today the need of the hour is that farmers of the country get more and more options to sell their ... » Learn More about Farmers should get more avenues to sell crops: PM

Once the new rules kick in, you will have less cash-in-hand and may feel tempted to scale back on savings and investments, alerts Bindisha Sarang. Kindly note the image has only been posted for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Marcus Winkler/Pixabay The government has notified the draft rules under the Code on Wages 2019. According to it, from April 2021 your wage (which includes basic pay and dearness allowance) must be at least 50 per cent of total pay for the purpose of calculation of gratuity and provident fund contributions. Experts say the new rules will enhance social security. Prashant Singh, business head compliance and payroll outsourcing, TeamLease Services says, "On the one hand, it will reduce employees' take-home salaries. On the other, they are likely to get higher gratuity payments. Employers' contribution to employees' retirement corpus may also rise." These changes may, however, require employees to tweak their ... » Learn More about Time to tweak your personal financial plans

For Quick Alerts Subscribe Now Toolkit: Nikita Jacob’s anticipatory bail plea to be heard on March 9 View Sample For Quick Alerts ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS For Daily Alerts #Summer Above normal summer temperatures likely across country except South, central India: IMD #Summer Find Out The Best Way To Stay 100% Sun Protected This Summer! #Summer July 2019 hottest month ever #Summer The Best Healthy Treat For You - Hatsun Yoghurt Shake #Summer No relief for Delhites: Expect a hot day ahead #Summer Hottest summer in China since 1961, says a study Just In 2 min ago Farmers Protest: Road connecting Ghaziabad via Ghazipur reopens for vehicular traffic 3 min ago Interpol notice issued against Iqbal Mirchi’s wife, two sons 13 min ago Out on bail, sexual assault accused shoots dead woman's father in UP's Hathras Must Watch ... » Learn More about Scorching summer approaching north India: IMD

India was strong and resolute when it came to handling the border issue and dealt with it in an effective manner, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday in an apparent reference to the standoff between India and China. IMAGE: A Border Security Force soldier guards a highway as Indian army convoy makes way towards Leh, bordering China in Gagangir. Photograph: Yawar Nazir/Getty Images Similarly, India also dealt effectively with the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact by fashioning its own response after listening to everyone, he said at the inaugural session of the 'Asia Economic Dialogue' organised by the Pune International Centre. "Last year, we had three big developments which all impacted us nationally. They impacted the world as well -- one was COVID-19, the second was its economic impact and the third was the challenges that we found on our border which obviously had implications," the external affairs minister said. "In each of these cases, I ... » Learn More about We were resolute and strong: Jaishankar on border issue

For Quick Alerts Subscribe Now Coronavirus: Planning to get vaccinated tomorrow, says Harsh Vardhan View Sample For Quick Alerts ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS For Daily Alerts #Harsh Vardhan Centre committed to strengthen connectivity, bring development in north-east region: Harsh Vardhan #Harsh Vardhan Dr Harsh Vardhan should say he is not endorsing Patanjali's Coronil, says Indian Medical Association #Harsh Vardhan IMA ''shocked'' over Patanjali’s claim on Coronil; demands explanation from Harsh Vardhan #Harsh Vardhan Harsh Vardhan appeals to healthcare, frontline workers to get vaccinated against COVID #Harsh Vardhan India stands on threshold of vaccinating each and every Indian against COVID-19: Vardhan #Harsh Vardhan About 18-19 vaccine candidates against COVID-19 in pipeline: Harsh Vardhan Just In 11 min ago Spectrum auctions underway; 2,251.25 megahertz ... » Learn More about ‘If someone dies 4 days or 10 days after inoculation, you can’t link it to vaccination’: Harsh Vardhan