Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who enjoys the status of a Cabinet minister, on Monday appeared before a parliamentary standing committee headed by BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, a former finance minister. This committee is scrutinising the 12th Plan (2012-17) document.

The first legislative business of the Budget Session, which is likely to begin either on February 21 or 22, is set to be the enactment of a law to provide stringent punishment for crimes against women.

At a time when the 12th plan (2012-17) document talks about 120 per cent increase in the Gross Budgetary Support for planned expenditure, the second year of the plan (2013-14) period may see only fiv

As the ruling UPA-II is set to enter the last year of its tenure after the Budget Session of Parliament, the government is preparing to enact a law during the session to constitute an equal opportunity commission to look into issues related to minorities, particularly Muslims.

Even as the Centre has rolled out “Direct Cash Transfer” scheme in select 20 districts for only about seven welfare programmes in the first phase from January 1 this year, the Planning Commission is of the view that the entire gamut of welfare and subsidy schemes should be brought under it as a matter of policy and implementation should be left to the discretion of the states.

In a move, which has the potential of stirring the West Bengal politics in a big way, the Planning Commission on Thursday favoured denationalisation of coal sector and dismantling of Coal India Ltd’s

Notwithstanding several lacunae found by the chief ministers of the Opposition-ruled states in the 12th Plan document and in the approach in which the Centre treats them, many of them welcomed Plannin

The states, which have been projecting themselves as pro-minority, top the list of having maximum number of Muslims in the BPL category. These states include Assam, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar, according to the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO). These four states comprise 60 per cent of the country’s Muslim population.

Taking a cue from its Himachal victory, the Congress’ election coordination committee led by AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi is focusing on Opposition-ruled states ahead of the 2014 general electi

It’s not merely cricket pundits and spectators who are raising questions about batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar’s form. People from the league of his new avatar — member of Parliament — have started questioning his form in parliamentary jargon. The President had recently nominated Mr Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha.