Budget: Crores proposed for big schemes
Announcements include allocation for easy finance to 5 lakh landless farmers, soil testing labs, extensive irrigation scheme, organic farming in north east, rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, community radio stations, more AIIMS, IIMs, IITs, scientific warehouses for agriculture goods and river interlinking.
Budget: Relief in income tax, FDI in defence
Exemption limit raised from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh, senior citizens exempted till Rs 3 lakh. FDI lmit in defence and insurance upto 49 per cent.
Railway Budget: New trains, no fare hike
58 new trains proposed, including five 'Jansadharan' trains and an equal number of premium trains
Railway Budget: FDI, bullet train announced
A bullet train in Mumbai- Ahmedabad sector and setting up of a diamond quadrilateral network of high speed rail connecting major metros and growth centres.
New definition of ‘poor’
New poverty line defined as Rs 32 earning per day for rural India, Rs 47 for urban India. Earlier, it was Rs 27 and Rs 33 respectively. The new limit adds 100 million more ‘poor’ to the country.
Fatwas not binding: Supreme Court
The court said it would be illegal to impose these religion-based opinions on personal issues on citizens in violation of their fundamental rights.
SC dismisses plea against Article 370
The petition contended it was a temporary provision that had lapsed with the dissolution of Jammu and Kashmir’s constituent assembly in 1957 and was inconsistent with the Indian Constitution.
To have passport, travel abroad is fundamental right
Delhi High Court directs the Centre to re-issue passport to a man, who had lost it thrice. The MEA had contended that the petitioner failed to keep a valuable government document safely.
Expansion of highways in five states
Covering over 676 kilometres in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh at a total cost of about Rs 13,987 crore.
NGT directs coal firms to follow clean norm
As per the MoEF notification, coal and power companies are banned from supplying and using coal having more than 34 per cent ash content as it poses danger to environment and public health.
Delhi officials to inspect rain harvesting structures
National Green Tribunal had directed that land, completion certificate or occupancy certificate will not be allotted to any society unless a rain harvesting system is installed and made operational.
Himachal Pradesh to ban sale of loose cigarette
Decision was taken after finding that cigarettes sold loose do not carry any warning signs on them and school and college going students often take advantage of buying a single cigarette as majority of them cannot afford buying entire pack.
Loans can’t be denied for lesser marks: Madras HC
An engineering student was denied bank as he scored only 59 per cent marks and not the minimum 60 per cent.
Now, explore Ladakh without special permits
Indian tourists no longer require inner line permits to visit exotic and remote locales in Ladakh.
This is a weekly roundup of policy news from July 6- July 13, 2013