Amid a controversy over not releasing of caste census data, the government today set up an expert group headed by NITI Ayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya to collate caste count even as it blamed the states for not being able to complete the consolidation of different categories. Brushing aside suggestions that the government avoided giving the caste count in the survey report due to political reasons ahead of Bihar polls, finance minister Arun Jaitley said that it will be good if the states, who are "politicising" it, send their recommendations of caste consolidation at the earliest. He said that the caste census conducted by the Registrar General of India has come out with 46 lakh categories of caste, subcaste, different surnames in the caste and clan names, which have been sent to the states eight-nine months back for clubbing them to consoldiate the caste count.

39 more drugs to become affordable; diabetes, digestive disorder medicines in price control list

 The government has brought 39 more drugs, including the ones used to treat diseases such as diabetes and digestive disorders, under price control as part of its efforts to make medicines affordable in the country.  the prices of formulations including Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride, Cefotaxime, Paracetamol, Domperidone and Metformin+Glimepiride have been fixed. The new medicines are the latest additions to the price control list, which covers over 500 drugs.

Officials told to file details of assets and liabilities early

All central government officers have been asked to file details of their assets and liabilities, as mandated under the Lokpal Act, at the earliest to avoid last minute rush, the Centre said today. all Central Secretariat Service (CSS) Officers are requested to file the returns.Employees need to give details like cash in hand, bank deposits, investment in bonds, debentures, shares and units in companies or mutual funds, insurance policies, provident fund, personal loans and advance given to any person or entity, among others.

Approval for Phase II of eCourts mission mode project

The union cabinet today gave its approval for the second phase of eCourts Mission Mode Project at an estimated cost of Rs 1670 crore. It envisages enhanced ICT enablement of courts through universal computerisation, use of cloud computing, digitization of case records and enhanced availability of e-services through e-filing, e-payment gateways and mobile applications. The Phase II of the eCourts project would also help in the automation of workflow management in courts thereby contributing to better court and case management. Touch screen based kiosks and video conferencing facility will be installed at all court Complexes and corresponding jails. Hand held process service devices will be provided to process servers to ensure transparent and time bound delivery of court notices and summons.

Oil Ministry reinstates Shashi Shankar as ONGC director

The Oil Ministry has reinstated Shashi Shankar as Director (Technology and Field Services) of Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) pending an inquiry into alleged irregularities in an unawarded Rs 23 crore tender of 2011.The Ministry had on February 23 suspended Shankar following allegations of irregularities in a tender for buying 21 Blowout Preventers (BOP). However, a chargesheet against him could not be filed within the stipulated 90 days.

Government further cuts gold, silver import tariff value

Government today further slashed the import tariff value of gold to $376 per 10 grams and of silver to $498 per kg due to weak global prices. For last fortnight, the tariff value of gold was fixed at $382 per 10 grams and silver at $516 per kg. Gold is the second-largest import item for India after petroleum. Higher gold import bill adversely affects the country's current account deficit, which occurs when value of import of goods and services is more than exports.

CSK and RR may work under BCCI control: IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla

The controversy-ridden IPL remains a "robust" product, its Chairman Rajeev Shukla said on Thursday insisting that the event will come back stronger with a minimum of eight teams. Shukla, among a host of questions, was asked about the future of IPL and the number of teams it will have after the two-year suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. "We are always concerned about IPL and let me assure you the next edition will be a bigger success. IPL is a robust product and this judgement (suspension of teams) should not affect IPL as a product. The idea is to have the tournament in full format with a minimum of eight teams. We can't hold the event with six teams," Shukla made it clear.

India foils Colgate-Palmolive bid to patent nutmeg mouthwash

India had foiled an attempt by consumer goods giant Colgate-Palmolive to patent a mouthwash formula containing herb extract by citing ancient texts that show it was traditionally used in ancient medicinal practices. Traditional Knowledge Digital Library of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR-TKDL) had submitted proof in the form of references from ancient books, which said the herb and its extracts of Myristica Fragrans were used for oral diseases in Indian systems of medicine.

6 Britons held for terror links deported, Indian still in jail

Indian embassy officials in China were expected to have consular meeting with Rajiv Mohan Kulshrestha, detained along with 13 other foreigners in China for their alleged "terror links. However, six Britons who were detained along with the Indian and others, have been deported to UK.They allegedly watched promotion videos of a banned terror group in their hotel rooms. All the 20 members were linked to the South Africa-based charity, Gift of the Givers founded by Indian-origin Imtiaz Sooliman.