Pakistan increases defence budget by 15 per cent Islamabad: Pakistan's cash-strapped new government announced a hefty 15 per cent hike in its defence budget to Rs 627 billion, with the powerful Army getting the lion's share of the outlay.

The government increased the allocation for defence in its budget for fiscal 2013-14 to Rs 627 billion (about $ 6.32 billion), marking an increase of little more than 15 per cent over the outlay for the current fiscal.

The allocation for the three defence services amounted to 15.73 per cent of the federal budget of Rs 3.985 trillion for fiscal 2013-14. The Army got the lion's share of the outlay with Rs 301.54 billion. The air force was allocated Rs 131.18 billion while the outlay for the navy was Rs 62.80 billion.

Further details, including allocations for weapons acquisition programmes, were not immediately available. Official budget documents presented in parliament said a sum of Rs 627 billion had been allocated for the defence services for 2013-14, compared with Rs 545 billion (about 5.82 billion dollars) provided in the fiscal year ending on June 30....more    
03:06 AM, Jun 13, 2013

Cabinet likely to take up Ordinance on Food Bill on June 13 New Delhi: The Cabinet is likely to consider on Thursday a proposal to promulgate an Ordinance for implementing the government's most ambitious Food bill. The Food Security bill, a pet project of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, was tabled in the Budget session of Parliament but could not be taken up for discussion due to pandemonium in the Lok Sabha over various scams. However, government is keen on issuing an Ordinance...  
06:15 PM, Jun 11, 2013

Railways to launch SMS-based service for hygiene complaints New Delhi: Railways have decided to launch an SMS-based service for immediate response to passenger complaints regarding housekeeping service in coaches. The service will be launched on a few select trains to facilitate passengers to contact onboard staff through SMS or phone call for complaints related to cleanliness in coaches, toilets and other problems faced during journey. An On-site Passenger Complaint Redressal System (OPCRS) is being developed as envisaged in...  
05:25 PM, Jun 09, 2013

Cong for special Parliament session if there is unanimity
by IANS
New Delhi: Holding the opposition's "disruptionary tactics" responsible for not allowing passage of the Food Security and Land Acquisition Bills in Parliament's Budget Session, the Congress on Saturday expressed its willingness for a special session if the other parties were agreed. Congress spokesperson PC Chacko also said that the party will take "disruptionary tactics" of the opposition to the people, alleging they had displayed "least inclination" towards passing pro-people legislations...  
11:22 PM, May 18, 2013

TWTW: Cyrus Broacha takes on Parliament stalemate

In this episode of The Week That Wasn't, Cyrus Broacha talks about Parliament stalemate, Karnataka polls result and much more. ...
12:45 PM, May 12, 2013

Sonia hugs Sushma, triggers rumours of backchannel talks New Delhi: Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday hugged Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj in the Central Hall of Parliament. The two exchanged pleasantries and spoke for a few minutes. The meeting between the two came days after Sushma had attacked Sonia for destroying spirit of democracy. Last Friday, Swaraj had accused Sonia of instigating her MPs to disrupt her speech in the Lok Sabha. Sonia, who has been under attack from...  
06:58 PM, May 07, 2013

Parliament disruptions: A negation of democracy?
by IANS
New Delhi: Daily disruptions and ruckus inside Parliament - that Vice President Hamid Ansari said has been described as "competitive hooliganism" - have become routine and both the government and opposition blame each other for it, but experts say it is a negation of democracy and probably a way to get media coverage. "The way parliament has been functioning, it is a total negation of democracy," Jagdeep Chhokar, a retired...  
06:10 PM, May 07, 2013

Sonia, Kamal Nath meet PM as Parliament remains stalled New Delhi: 1:00 pm: As the Lok Sabha resumed, uproar continued in the House with BJP MPs demanding Manmohan Singh's resignation. The Lok Sabha has now been adjourned for the day and the Food Security Bill may again be taken up on Wednesday. 12:40 pm: The Congress Core Group is meeting in Parliament to chalk out a strategy to end Parliament deadlock. 12:17 pm: Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Parliamentary...  
11:21 AM, May 07, 2013

Parliament stalled, will UPA be able to get Food Bill passed? New Delhi: The Opposition is in no mood to relent saying it will not let Parliament function without the resignations of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. On Monday, there was uproar in the Lok Sabha with the BJP, its allies and the Left storming the well of the House even as the National Food Security Bill was taken up for discussion....  
08:54 AM, May 07, 2013

2G: LS approves extension of JPC till the end of Monsoon Session New Delhi: The Lok Sabha has approved the extension of the term of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on 2G scam till the end of Monsoon Session. The Monsoon Session is likely to begin around July 23. Facing a combined Opposition and allegations of bias, the chairman of JPC, PC Chacko had held informal consultation with the members. Sources say the BJP had agreed for an extension. The tenure of the...  
03:19 PM, May 06, 2013

2G: Chacko to move resolution for extension of JPC beyond May 10 New Delhi: Chairman of the joint Parliamentary Committee on the 2G scam PC Chacko is likely to move a resolution in the Lok Sabha seeking extension of the JPC beyond the Budget Session. Sources say that the BJP has agreed to the extension of the JPC beyond May 10. After Lok Sahba Speaker Meira Kumar expressed her inability to remove him as JPC Chairman as demanded by 15 opposition members...  
02:30 PM, May 06, 2013

LS stalled after uproar over Sarabjit's death, other issues New Delhi: Lok Sabha proceedings were paralysed on Thursday as members created uproar over the death of Sarabjit Singh, acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in anti-Sikh riots case and Chinese incursions. As soon as the House assembled for the day, Akali Dal members rushed to the Well waving placards and demanding appeal in court against the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in anti-Sikh riots case. They held placards...  
03:45 PM, May 02, 2013

Food, Land Bill on Lok Sabha agenda on Thursday New Delhi: Despite BJP escalating confrontation in Parliament, government has listed two key bills, including the ambitious National Food Security Bill, for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill piloted by Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh is also on the legislative agenda of the Lok Sabha Thursday. Congress has often dubbed the Food Bill and the Land Bill as "game-changers" as...  
09:15 PM, May 01, 2013

Finance Bill passed by Lok Sabha with 12 minor amendments New Delhi: Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Finance Bill taking in consideration all the amendments proposed even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) walked out of the House protesting against coal scam. The Bill was passed with 12 minor amendments. The passage of the bill effectively brought to an end the budgetary process that started with the budget speech by the Finance Minister P Chidambaram on February 28. The...  
03:14 PM, Apr 30, 2013

Restaurants bandh: More than 20,000 eateries shut across Mumbai

Hotels and restaurants across the country are on a one-day token strike to protest against what they call excessive taxation announced in the Union Budget. ...
05:32 PM, Apr 29, 2013

Govt gets Oppn on board on Finance Bill New Delhi: There seems to be a breakthrough in the efforts to end Parliament deadlock as the government has managed to get the Opposition on board to pass the Finance Bill. Sources say that the Finance Bill is likely to be taken up on Tuesday along with demands for grants. The demands for grants for four ministries were agreed upon in consultation with opposition parties. This came after Parliamentary Affairs...  
12:41 PM, Apr 29, 2013

Live: After uproar, both Houses adjourned for the day New Delhi: 2.04 pm: Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have been adjourned for the day. 12.19 pm: The all-party meet called by Meira Kumar ends. 12.19 pm: Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm after uproar over demand for PM's resignation over coal scam. 12.09 pm: "I have been saying that China is preparing to capture Indian territory on the border but the government and the Chair has...  
11:39 AM, Apr 29, 2013

Economic reform agenda runs into political hurdle New Delhi: A Parliament deadlocked yet again over corruption scandals threatens Finance Minister P Chidambaram's ambitious reform agenda, dealing a harsh dose of political reality on the heels of his North American roadshow to sell the India story. Two long-stalled reforms - one to lift the foreign ownership cap in insurers to 49 per cent from 26 per cent and another that would simplify land acquisition for factories - were...  
08:38 AM, Apr 29, 2013

Oppn shows no signs of relenting as Parl resumes today New Delhi: Parliament will resume on Monday after a wasted week that saw adjournments and uproar over various issues such as 2G scam, coal scam and the Delhi minor rape. The opposition, however, is still not in a mood to relent and is all set to attack the government over the coal scam yet again. In a bid to break the deadlock, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath is likely to...  
07:56 AM, Apr 29, 2013

NCP warns UPA over Finance Bill; will Oppn let Parl function? New Delhi: Pressure seems to be growing on the UPA government from within its own constituents. With the first week of the reconvened session of Parliament almost being a washout, the National Congress Party (NCP) has thrown a sharp hint. It says that any failure to pass the Finance Bill in Parliament this session can bring the UPA government down. The NCP leaders will hold a two-day meet in Mumbai...  
09:13 AM, Apr 27, 2013