Coal block allocations were 'illegal and arbitrary', says apex court
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India RM Lodha on Wednesday rescinded the allocation of 214 out of 218 coal blocks. In a judgement last month, it had ruled that the allotment was "illegal and arbitrary". However, the bench gave Coal India Limited six months time to take over these coal blocks and for the previous allottees to get their affairs in order. The court also imposed an additional levy of Rs 295 per metric tonne of coal extracted by the earlier allottees.
Centre transfers 50 bureaucrats in two days
The central government has transferred 50 bureaucrats at the level of additional secretary and joint secretary over the past two days. The orders for 48 of the central government officials arrived late on Tuesday night. Mass transfers of high-ranking officials are unusual at the Centre, though a common practice in the states. As many as 40 of those transferred were Indian Administrative Service officers.
Indo-China border standoff continues, despite mild withdrawal by PLA
Despite the withdrawal of 150-200 People's Liberation Army soldiers from the Chumar sector in eastern Ladakh, the standoff against Indian troops along the Line of Actual Control was maintained on Wednesday. Senior Indian army commanders have demanded the total withdrawal of Chinese troops from the Chumar sector, and ordered 1,500-odd troops to maintain their position along eight "tactical locations". The dispute stemmed from India's objection to the construction of a road in a disputed area near Chumar on September 10.
No final decision Shiv Sena-BJP and Congress-NCP alliances
The fate of Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliances remained in limbo on Wednesday, as both sides were unable to decide on seat-sharing arrangements. On Wednesday, the Congress released their first list of 118 candidates for October's Maharashtra assembly elections and rejected the NCP's demand for 140 out of 288 seats and half the Chief Minister's tenure. Meanwhile, the BJP rejected a deal that saw smaller parties in the alliance contesting 14 seats from the former's quota, and stated its own wish to contest 130.
Cabinet clears Swachh Bharat Mission
The union cabinet on Wednesday cleared the "Swachh Bharat Mission" that seeks to promote cleanliness and sanitation in cities. The mission will be launched during Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2. The programme will be implemented over a five-year period that will cover 4,401 towns, at an estimated cost of Rs 62,009 crore. Under the programme, each town is to receive 2.5 lakh community toilets, 2.6 lakh public toilets, and solid waste management facilities.
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A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India RM Lodha on Wednesday rescinded the allocation of 214 out of 218 coal blocks. In a judgement last month, it had ruled that the allotment was "illegal and arbitrary". However, the bench gave Coal India Limited six months time to take over these coal blocks and for the previous allottees to get their affairs in order. The court also imposed an additional levy of Rs 295 per metric tonne of coal extracted by the earlier allottees.
Centre transfers 50 bureaucrats in two days
The central government has transferred 50 bureaucrats at the level of additional secretary and joint secretary over the past two days. The orders for 48 of the central government officials arrived late on Tuesday night. Mass transfers of high-ranking officials are unusual at the Centre, though a common practice in the states. As many as 40 of those transferred were Indian Administrative Service officers.
Indo-China border standoff continues, despite mild withdrawal by PLA
Despite the withdrawal of 150-200 People's Liberation Army soldiers from the Chumar sector in eastern Ladakh, the standoff against Indian troops along the Line of Actual Control was maintained on Wednesday. Senior Indian army commanders have demanded the total withdrawal of Chinese troops from the Chumar sector, and ordered 1,500-odd troops to maintain their position along eight "tactical locations". The dispute stemmed from India's objection to the construction of a road in a disputed area near Chumar on September 10.
No final decision Shiv Sena-BJP and Congress-NCP alliances
The fate of Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliances remained in limbo on Wednesday, as both sides were unable to decide on seat-sharing arrangements. On Wednesday, the Congress released their first list of 118 candidates for October's Maharashtra assembly elections and rejected the NCP's demand for 140 out of 288 seats and half the Chief Minister's tenure. Meanwhile, the BJP rejected a deal that saw smaller parties in the alliance contesting 14 seats from the former's quota, and stated its own wish to contest 130.
Cabinet clears Swachh Bharat Mission
The union cabinet on Wednesday cleared the "Swachh Bharat Mission" that seeks to promote cleanliness and sanitation in cities. The mission will be launched during Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2. The programme will be implemented over a five-year period that will cover 4,401 towns, at an estimated cost of Rs 62,009 crore. Under the programme, each town is to receive 2.5 lakh community toilets, 2.6 lakh public toilets, and solid waste management facilities.