Government Policy, Finance and general News and Articles

In a move to prevent misuse of Reserved Train Tickets and reduce cases of travelling on transferred tickets, Ministry of Railways has decided that with effect from 15th February 2012, anyone of the passengers/the passenger booked on the ticket issued from computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS counters) and Internet (i-ticket) undertaking journey in AC-3 tier, AC-2 tier, 1st AC, AC Chair Car and Executive Classes will have to carry one of the nine prescribed pr.. Full Article

The Ministry of Railways has decided to increase the advance reservation period for booking reserved train tickets from existing 90 days to 120 days on experimental basis (excluding the date of journey) w.e.f. March 10, 2012. Full Article

The Supreme Court has directed the Singapore-based firm Speak Asia, accused of duping investors to the tune of Rs 1,300 crore, to deposit before it the amount payable to investors and concerned authorities. A bench of justices Dalveer Bhandari and Dipak Verma asked the mediator, appointed by it earlier, to ascertain the exact amount which is payable by Speak Asia to the investors and other authorities and directed the company to deposit the same within two weeks after th.. Full Article

The Union Budget, delayed because of elections in five states, will now be presented on March 16, four days after Parliament will begin its Budget session. The budget session, which normally commences in the third week of February, will start on March 12 with President Pratibha Patil addressing the joint sitting of members of both the Houses of Parliament. Full Article

Though the effects of deflation are just the opposite to those of inflation, deflation also poses its own menacing threat to economic stability in a system. Effects of Production. Deflation adversely affects the level of production, investment activity, employment, and income level in an economy. Full Article

The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that the main reason for decline in the GDP growth is slowdown in industrial growth, in particular in investment growth. The Finance Minister said that the negative growth in mining sector along with slowdown in construction sector has also contributed to the decline in GDP growth. The Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee was reacting to the figures of advance estimates of GDP for the year 2011-12 which were released here .. Full Article

(i) The policy recommends production of Concentrate of Poppy Straw (CPS) in India by a company or body corporate. This would enable India to retain its status of a traditional supplier of Opiate Raw Material (ORM) to the rest of world, while remaining competitive. (ii) The consumption of poppy straw by addicts will be gradually reduced and finally stopped in a time frame decided by the States. Full Article

The Supreme Court has ruled that mandatory death penalty for an offender under the Arms Act was unconstitutional as it violated fundamental rights guaranteed to a citizen.A bench of Justices Asok Kumar Ganguly (since retd) and J S Khehar said Section 27(3) of the Arms Act, which imposed mandatory death penalty, was also "ultra vires and void" as it restricts the powers of the court in awarding sentences to an accused in such cases. Full Article