India

New Delhi, Feb 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stomach for free-market economics faces a major test on Saturday when the first full Budget will be unveiled by Finance Minister Arun Jaitely. Reaping the benefits of low global prices for oil, India's main import, Modi's government sees itself in a sweet spot with spare cash to modernize ageing roads and railways without busting fiscal deficit and

New Delhi, Feb 27: Breaking his silence in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today denounced communalism and asserted that his government stood for unity wherein all religions prosper within the framework of the Constitution. "My government's only religion is 'India first', my government's only religious book is 'Indian Constitution', our only devotion is 'Bharat Bhakti' and our only prayer

New Delhi, Feb 27: Pitching for 'Big Bang' reforms, the pre-budget Economic Survey on Friday called for improving business environment by making regulation and taxes less onerous to help push growth to 8.1-8.5 per cent next fiscal, and to double digits in the coming years. "India has reached a sweet spot and there is scope for Big Bang reforms now," said the Survey on the eve of the new government

New Delhi, Feb 27: PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the swearing-in of the PDP-BJP alliance government on Sunday that will see him return as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister. The meeting comes after the BJP and PDP reached a consensus on a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) that will form the basis of their unique coalition government in Jammu and

Chennai, Feb 27: Demanding the immediate release of 66 Tamil Nadu and Puducherry fishermen from Sri Lanka, National Democratic Alliance ally Paattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on Friday alleged that they were arrested from Indian waters and urged the Centre to warn the neighbouring country that such arrests will affect bilateral ties. “The assault and arrest of our fishermen is regretful. The Centre

New Delhi, Feb 26: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today spared passengers from any hike in fares but made changes in freight rates to rake in more money while ruling out privatisation. Presenting the first full-fledged Rail Budget of the Modi government for 2015-16, he made adjustments in freight rates that exempted salt but would hike rates on carriage of cement, coal and coke, iron or steel and

New Delhi, Feb 26: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today spared passengers from any hike in fares but made changes in freight rates to rake in more money while ruling out privatisation. Presenting the first full-fledged Rail Budget of the Modi government for 2015-16, he made adjustments in freight rates that exempted salt but would hike rates on carriage of cement, coal and coke, iron or steel and

Mumbai, Feb 26: Stepping up its resistance against the land acquisition law, the Shiv Sena today said it will fiercely oppose the bill and not commit the sin of "damaging" the interest of farmers at the cost of being in power. Calling it as a "draconian" law that will finish off the very existence of farmers, the BJP-ally in Maharashtra said the Government cannot budge an inch forward by

New Delhi, Feb 26: In the wake of Rahul going on leave this week, AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh attested to the theory that he was angry with the old guard resisting his ideas, specially his attempt at democratization of the party. "Some people believe they will lose the clout they enjoy today if party workers are empowered in local bodies, PCCs and elections (within) are held

New Delhi, Feb 25: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today said best efforts are being made to fulfil people's aspiration in the NDA government's first full-fledged Rail Budget. Prabhu will present the Rail Budget 2015-16 tomorrow in the Lok Sabha. "We have tried our best to fulfil people's aspirations and expectation (in the budget) despite the fact that railways is passing through hard times,"