India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
New Delhi: The 238th meeting of Central Board of Trustees (CBT), EPF recently approved Simplified and Liberalized Partial Withdrawals to Enhance Member Convenience and Retirement Security. Under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, the took a number of decisions. 1. To enhance Ease of Living of EPF members, CBT decided to simplify the partial withdrawal provisions of EPF Scheme by merging 13 complex provisions into a single, streamlined rule categorized into three types namely, Essential Needs (illness, education, marriage), Housing Needs and Special Circumstances. 2. Now, members will be able to withdraw upto 100% of the eligible balance in the Provident Fund including employee and employer share. 3. Withdrawal limits have been liberalized -- education withdrawals allowed up to 10 times and marriage up to 5 times (from existing limit of total of 3 partial withdrawals for marriage & education in all). 4. Requirement of minimum service has been uniformly reduced to only 12 months for all partial withdrawals. Earlier, under 'Special Circumstances,' the member was required to clarify the reasons for partial withdrawals viz. natural calamity, lockouts/closure of establishments, continuous un-employment, outbreak of epidemic etc. This often led to rejection of claims and consequent grievances. Now, the member can apply without assigning any reasons under this category. 5. A provision has been made for earmarking 25% of the contributions in the Members' account as Minimum Balance to be maintained by the member at all times. This will enable the member to enjoy high rate of interest offered by EPFO (presently 8.25% pa) along with compounding benefits to accumulate a high value retirement corpus. This rationalization enhances ease of access while ensuring members maintain a sufficient retirement corpus. 6. Scheme provision simplification along with greater flexibility and zero need for any documentation will pave the way for 100 % auto settlement of claims for partial withdrawal and ensure ease of living. 7. Complementing the above, it is also decided to change the period for availing premature final settlement of EPF from the existing 2 months to 12 months and final pension withdrawal from 2 months to 36 months. The liberalization of partial withdrawals ensures members can meet immediate financial needs without compromising their retirement savings or pension entitlements.
nion Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje cited statistics in the Lok Sabha on Monday to show that youth unemployment rates in India were lower than global levels. The minister cited a report by the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Institute for Human Development (IHD) which states that the worldwide youth unemployment rate was 15.6 per cent in 2021. Further, as per World Employment and Social Outlook Trends, 2024 by ILO, globally, in 2023, the youth unemployment rate was 13.3 per cent. On the other hand, the latest annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS ...Read More >
India's foreign direct investment (FDI) reached $81.04 billion in FY 2024-25, marking a 14% growth over the previous year, as investors lauded the country's liberalized policy regime and proactive economic reforms at an Investor Roundtable held in New Delhi. The event, hosted on June 5 at Vanijya Bhawan, brought together over 90 representatives from industrial parks, multinational firms, and business associations, with more than 50 industrial parks from states including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu participating in discussions. Union Minist ...Read More >
New Delhi: With an eye on bidding for the 2036 Olympics, the Union Cabinet approved a strategic roadmap named Khelo Bharat Niti on Tuesday that would serve as a guiding document for India's elevation among the top five sporting countries. The Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 will supersede the National Sports Policy first introduced in 1984 and upgraded last in 2001 and would facilitate in formulating plans and schemes for betterment of the country's sporting ecosystem. It's aim is to put best modern technical and administrative practices in place for India to be a strong contender to host the 2036 Su ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, July 2: In a significant move aimed at reducing pension-related legal disputes and ensuring swifter justice for India's growing population of retired Government employees, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today , while chairing the first-ever "National Workshop on Pension Litigation" organised by the Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare at Vigyan Bhawan here, said that in no case should the vital energies of our elder citizens be allowed to be consumed inconsequentially for avoidable reasons because they may be "retired from Government service but not retired from service to ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) YouTuber Samay Raina appeared before the National Commission for Women (NCW) in Delhi on Tuesday, months after he was summoned in connection with allegedly offensive and sexist content aired during his show "India's Got Latent", officials said. Raina was also among the five social media influencers who appeared before the Supreme Court in a case seeking action against them for ridiculing persons suffering from disabilities. Raina submitted his statement in response to the allegations to NCW officials. Officials said further steps will be considered after reviewing his ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday announced renewal of a scheme to promote registration of employers and employees to expand Employees' State Insurance (ESI) coverage across India. Originally introduced in 2016, SPREE (Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers/Employees) has facilitated the registration of over 88,000 employers and 1.02 crore employees. The renewed SPREE will be open from July 1 to December 31, 2025, offering a one-time opportunity for unregistered employers and left-out workers, including contractual and temporary staff, to enrol un ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved an employment-linked incentive (ELI) scheme with an outlay of nearly ₹1 lakh crore to generate over 3.5 crore jobs in the next two years. "You saw in the last Budget that the Finance Minister announced a clear package for an employment-linked scheme. Since then, a lot of good work has been done, and we came up with a comprehensive plan. This is an Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme, with a focus on the manufacturing sector," Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said at a Cabinet briefing. Under the scheme, first-time employees will get an incen ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: In a significant move aimed at reducing pension-related legal disputes and ensuring swifter justice for India's growing population of retired government employees, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Wednesday, while chairing the first-ever "National Workshop on Pension Litigation" organised by the Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare at Vigyan Bhawan here, said that in no case should the vital energies of our elder citizens be allowed to be consumed inconsequentially for avoidable reasons because they may be "retired from government service but not retired from service to t ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI) In a bid to promote Unified Pension Scheme, the government has made necessary changes to provide tax benefits to employees opting for UPS at par with those under National Pension System (NPS). The inclusion of UPS under the tax framework marks another step forward in the government's effort to strengthen retirement security for central government employees through transparent, flexible and tax-efficient options, the finance ministry said in a statement. "The government has decided that tax benefits as available under NPS would apply mutatis mutandis to UPS as it is an ...Read More >
COIMBATORE: The Employees' State lnsurance Corporation (ESIC) has approved the Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE 2025) during its 196th meeting held in Shimla under the chairmanship of Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports. The scheme aims at expanding social security coverage under the ESI Act. It will be active from 1st July to 31st December 2025 and provides a one-time opportunity for unregistered employers and employees, including contractual and temporary workers, to enroll without facing inspections o ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Banking, postal and other services are likely to face disruption on Wednesday as more than 25 crore workers affiliated with central and sectoral trade unions have announced to go on strike across the country to protest against new labour codes and privatisation, and press for demands such as minimum wage of Rs 26,000 and old pension scheme, according to union leaders. The general strike is expected to disrupt services in sectors like banking, insurance, postal, coal mining, highway and construction, a trade union official said. Also Read | PM Modi in Brasilia: PM Naren ...Read More >
EPFO has now set a final deadline of January 31, 2025, for employers. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has granted a final extension for employers to process and upload pending applications for the Validation of Options/Joint Options related to pensions on higher wages. According to the Ministry of Ministry of Labour & Employment, this extension follows multiple requests from employers and their associations for more time to complete the required submissions. The online facili ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) Two people died and four others were injured after a fire broke out at a house in east Delhi's Old Govindpura area on Tuesday evening, an official said. Police have identified the deceased as Tanveer (28) and Nusrat. A call was received at Jagatpuri police station at 8.46 pm regarding a fire incident at Band Gali, Old Govindpura, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Prashant Gautam said. When a police team reached the spot, it found that 10 people were trapped inside a residential building that caught fire, the DCP said. With the help of police personnel and fir ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 17: In a major move that could bring relief to over 7 crore Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) members, the Centre is reportedly considering a proposal to allow full or partial withdrawal of EPF savings after 10 years of service. According to a Moneycontrol report, the retirement fund body has floated this idea to address the needs of those who wish to exit the formal workforce earlier than the official retirement age of 58. Currently, EPF members can withdraw their full balance only upon retirement or after remaining unemployed for over two months. However, many in ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): Following the Union Cabinet's approval of the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme to support employment generation, former secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Sumita Dawra, said that the scheme is expected to generate over 3.5 crore jobs. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme to support employment generation, enhance employability and social security across all sectors, with special focus on the manufacturing sector. Speaking to ANI about the scheme, fo ...Read More >
SHILLONG, July 2: The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation Regional Office (EPFO RO), Shillong, conducted an engagement session with local employers on Wednesday, to disseminate information about the newly approved Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme in a move to promote formal employment and enhance social security coverage in the region. As part of the broader communication and outreach efforts, the interaction was spearheaded by EPFO RO Shillong officials, who briefed representatives from a few prominent establishments. The interaction served as an informative platform where the pro ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, July 10: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today unveiled the 'NITI Aayog's Roadmap for Strengthening State Science and Technology Councils' at NITI Aayog complex, here. He called upon the States and UTs to align with Centre's vision and thereby also align with S&T efforts in the making of Viksit Bharat@2047. The roadmap is a major step toward building a robust and coordinated science and technology ecosystem across the States to fuel Ind ...Read More >
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], July 13 (ANI): Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, took part in the latest edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle on Sunday, as part of a special rally organised under the theme Cycling Rally with Public Sector Undertakings in Gandhinagar. The initiative, aimed at promoting fitness and sustainable living, aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi Fit India Movement and has been gaining momentum across the country. Mandaviya said, Sundays on Cycle has become a series taking forward PM Modi vision of Fit India. Cycling is the solution to ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Ravada A Chandrasekhar took charge as the new State Police Chief on Tuesday. He succeeds Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who retired on June 30. His tenure will run until July 1, 2027. A 1991-batch IPS officer currently serving as Special Director with the Intelligence Bureau, Chandrasekhar is on central deputation. He was selected over Nitin Agarwal, who topped the official list of probables. The appointment order, issued by Kerala Chief Secretary Dr A Jayathilak on behalf of the Governor, was released soon after a cabinet meeting held on Monday. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh's Godav ...Read More >
Gandhinagar, July 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) The 31st edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle was held successfully nationwide this Sunday morning as Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya led a group of over 500 participants here. Organised this week in partnership with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), the pan-India cycling drive witnessed participation from over 7000 locations across the country, reinforcing the message of "Fitness Ki Dose, Aadha Ghanta Roz". The participation included 3000 Namo Fit India Cycling clubs. "Fit India 'Sundays on Cycle' has now become a powerfu ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 13 (PTI) Subscribers of the retirement fund body EPFO may soon be able to withdraw money from their accounts through ATMs, a top official said. Union Labour Secretary Sumita Dawra has reportedly stated in a media report that the labour ministry is upgrading information technology infrastructure to provide enhanced services to the Indian workforce. She further said that claimants, beneficiaries or insured individuals will be able to access their claims through an ATM. According to the media report, the withdrawal will be capped at 50 per cent of the Employees' Provident Fund ( ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 18 (VOICE) The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on Wednesday gave a final opportunity till January 31, 2025 to employers to upload wage details regarding over 3.1 lakh pending applications for Pension on Higher Wages.Employers have also been requested to submit replies or update the information in 4.66 lakh cases by January 15, 2025 where clarification has been sought by the EPFO. The EPFO said that the final opportunity is being given as, in spite of so many extensions, it has been observed that more than 3.1 lakh Applications for Validation of Options/Joint Optio ...Read More >
The Bihar government on Thursday (June 5, 2025) sanctioned compensation of ₹8.25 lakh under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, to the family members of the 11-year-old Dalit girl who was raped and brutally assaulted with a knife, and later succumbed to her injuries at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on June 1. The State also announced a monthly pension of ₹7,700 for the victim's family, in addition to the allotment of a house under the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana. According to officials, the girl, who was transferred from Muzaffarpu ...Read More >
The Punjab Cabinet approved amendments to the state's conversion policy, facilitating industrial plot conversions into various uses. This move addresses industrialists' concerns, aims to streamline estate management, and enhance business ease. Additional policies target micro and small enterprise operations and restructure state financial directorates for efficiency. The Punjab Cabinet has given the green light to amendments in the conversion policy, offering opportunities for industrial plots t ...Read More >
Dr. Mandaviya noted that such partnerships reflect a holistic approach to national wellness, where corporations are not just profit-driven entities but collaborators in India's developmental journey through physical and mental well-being. In a powerful reaffirmation of India's nationwide fitness movement, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) is set to host the 31st edition of "Fit India Sundays on Cycle" on July 13, 2025, across more than 6,000 locations. The event, which has grown from a modest initiative to a full-blown citizen-led fitness revolution, is expected to witness over ...Read More >
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], July 13 (ANI): The 31st edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle was held successfully nationwide on Sunday morning as Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya led a group of over 500 participants in Gujarat's Gandhinagar, as per a release from SAI media. Organised this week in partnership with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), the pan-India cycling drive witnessed participation from over 7000 locations across the country, reinforcing the message of "Fitness Ki Dose, Aadha Ghanta Roz". The participation included from 3000 Namo Fit India Cyclin ...Read More >
The minister, while speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event to launch department of youth affairs' initiatives against drug addiction, also reiterated the government's position that Pakistani athletes will not be stopped from coming to India for multi-lateral sporting engagements. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said the long-awaited National Sports Governance Bill will be tabled in Parliament during the monsoon session beginning July 21. The minister, while speaking to t ...Read More >
Lucknow, Jul 17 (PTI) To curb illegal mining and transportation, the Uttar Pradesh government is deploying advanced technologies under the Integrated Mining Surveillance System (IMSS), a release said on Thursday. Mining activities are already being monitored through drones, geo-fencing, RFID tags, and AI-powered check gates. Now, the state is set to introduce 'Weigh-In-Motion' (WIM) technology to accurately track vehicle overloading. Also Read | 'Arvind Kejriwal Used Government Funds to Buy Mobiles Costing Up to INR 1.63 Lakh', Claims Delhi Minister Ashish Sood. According to the official re ...Read More >