Latest news with #Rs22
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
State, Union govts vie to celebrate Rajendra Chola birth anniv
Trichy: Birth anniversary celebrations of Rajendra Chola I have turned out to be grander this year with both the Tamil Nadu govt and the Union govt organising separate events to honour the emperor's legacy. The state govt's celebration of Aadi Thiruvathirai, the festival marking the birth anniversary of the Chola monarch, was jointly launched by ministers Thangam Thennarasu, S S Sivasankar, R Rajendran, and MP Saminathan in the presence of Chidambaram MP Thol Thirumavalavan on Wednesday at Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple at Jayamkondam in Ariyalur district. The temple was built by Rajendra Chola. Tamil development minister M P Saminathan announced during the event that the state govt would install a 35-feet statue of Raja Raja Chola, the father of Rajendra Chola I. The statue would come up in the Rs55 crore Chola museum proposed at Thanjavur. Finance minister Thangam Thennarasu said the state govt has already allocated Rs22 crore to develop the grand museum. The ministers heaped praise on chief minister M K Stalin for sanctioning Rs19.2 crore to redevelop Cholagangam tank built by the king near the temple. Meanwhile, the Union govt organised parallel celebrations from Wednesday which will culminate in the cultural and spiritual events on July 27. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Enhance Online Presence and Get Customers [Try Now] Undo A PIB statement said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, TN governor R N Ravi, Union culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and minister of state for parliamentary affairs L Murugan would participate in the celebrations on the day. State govt sources said CM M K Stalin was set to participate in the celebrations on Sunday with Modi. However it was cancelled due to his hospitalisation. It would be Thangam Thennarasu who is most likely to represent the state govt at the event. "Kalakshetra Foundation will present a Bharatanatyam performance, followed by Devaram Thirumurai chanting by traditional Othuvars. A booklet on Devaram hymns will be released. The festival will conclude with a musical presentation by maestro Ilaiyaraaja,'' said the statement. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will curate special exhibitions on Chola Shaivism and temple architecture, in addition to organizing heritage walks and guided tours, it added.
NDTV
11 hours ago
- NDTV
Important Tips To Save Yourself From Cybercrime And Online Fraud
Cybercrime in India has seen a significant rise in the past five years as the citizens lost more than Rs22,845 crore to criminals in 2024, which is nearly 206% from the previous year, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday (July 22). This steep increase calls for cybercrime and fraud awareness to stay safe in the online world. What is Cybercrime? A criminal activity that either targets or uses a computer, a computer network or a networked device is called cybercrime. Cybercriminals or hackers commit such crimes mostly to make money. Tips to save yourself from cybercrime The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal has outlined cyber safe practices which may help in making our online experience productive. Password Protection The users are advised to use strong passwords with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. The passwords should be created with at least 12-16 characters. Also, it is said that people must avoid password reuse and create unique passwords for each account to prevent unauthorised access. The users can consider using a password manager to generate and store passwords securely. Operating System Kaspersky, a cybersecurity company, noted on its website that users should keep software and operating systems up to date, which will ensure that they benefit from the latest security patches to protect their computer. Two-Factor Authentication The users can also enable two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone or a biometric scan. Also prefer authentication apps over SMS-based 2FA for added security. Online World The users must be cautious with emails and links from unknown senders and verify the sender's identity before clicking on links or downloading attachments. Don't use public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities like online banking or shopping. The users can also use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt their internet traffic. Always ensure that websites have HTTPS and a padlock symbol in the address bar, which indicates that it is a secure connection. Data Backup and Monitoring The users are advised to back up important files and data to an external drive or cloud storage. Regularly check bank and credit card statements for unauthorised transactions and enable transaction alerts for unusual activities. Device Security Keep your operating system, apps and security software updated to patch vulnerabilities. Install reputable antivirus software and keep it updated. The users can also enable firewall protection to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic. Cybercrime in India According to Bandi Sanjay Kumar, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) stated that 36,37,288 incidents of financial fraud committed by cyber criminals were reported on NCRP and CFCFRMS in 2024 as compared to 24,42,978 such incidents in the previous year. The minister said that 10,29,026 cyber crimes were reported on NCRP in 2022, with a 127.44% increase over the previous year. Meanwhile, 15,96,493 incidents were reported in 2023, showing a 55.15% rise. And 22,68,346 cases were reported in 2024, reflecting a 42.08% increase. The minister also informed that so far, more than 9.42 lakh SIM cards and 2,63,348 IMEIs, as reported by police authorities, have been blocked by the Centre. The minister said as per CFCFRMS, a financial amount of more than Rs5,489 crore has been saved in more than 17.82 lakh complaints reported on it so far. "Cyber crime incidents reported on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, their conversion into FIRs and subsequent action, ie, filing of chargesheets, arrests and resolution of complaints, thereon are handled by the state/UT law enforcement agencies concerned as per the provisions of the law," Kumar said.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt poised to do away with cross-subsidies for gas
Listen to article The government is set to end cross-subsidy for domestic gas consumers and introduce a direct budgeted subsidy model by 2026, in line with the mechanism established for the Power Division. The federal government is locked in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility to replace cross-subsidies with direct subsidies commensurate with the consumer income levels under the Benazir Income Support Programme. In a recent meeting, the Petroleum Division informed the cabinet that they were engaged with the IMF and the new system was likely to be developed by 2026. It said that it had already hired advisory firm KPMG and a dedicated group had been formed to examine the replacement of cross-subsidies as part of efforts to revitalise the gas sector. It was revealed that residential consumers were benefitting from a cross-subsidy of over Rs150 billion, financed by imposing higher tariffs on captive power plants, industrial and commercial consumers. The Petroleum Division added that, as part of reforms agreed with the IMF, a levy had been imposed on the captive power plants. As a result, gas prices for them have increased, consumption has declined and the ability to cross-subsidise residential consumers has gone down. It was highlighted while discussing a court case in Balochistan relating to Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). SSGC receives around 111 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas from Balochistan fields (Sui and Zarghon), which is insufficient to meet winter demand from domestic consumers in the province, which peaks at 210 mmcfd. To make up for the deficit, SSGC diverts gas from its sources in Sindh, which in turn faces low pressure and load management in winter. SSGC claims that more than 26 billion cubic feet (bcf) – 59% of the total of 44 bcf supplied to Balochistan — was either stolen or illegally consumed by tampering with gas meters. The Petroleum Division said that, as reported, while SSGC's operations in Sindh recorded unaccounted-for-gas (UFG) losses of 9.5% during financial year 2022-23, the losses in Balochistan stood at a staggering 59.7%. The loss resulting from low or no recoveries in Balochistan was estimated at Rs22 billion. Despite persistently high UFG losses, SSGC continued to operate and invest in the area to support the government's socioeconomic development agenda and to comply with orders issued from time to time by the Balochistan High Court regarding maintenance of adequate supply pressure during winters. The Balochistan High Court restrained SSGC in May 2023 from charging more than Rs5,700 in monthly gas bills. It also constituted a commission for making recommendations on gas tariffs to be charged in the colder areas of Balochistan. The commission made the following domestic tariff recommendations: for summer, 200 cubic metres at Rs250 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), totaling Rs2,551 per month; and for winter, 590 cubic metres at Rs500 per mmBtu, totaling Rs8,848 per month. Over five months, the maximum amount payable would be Rs62,092. Consumption above 590 cubic metres would attract the non-protected category tariff of Rs5,174 per month. The Petroleum Division shared that the Balochistan High Court, through its order dated June 13, 2024, directed SSGC to implement the commission's recommendations with retrospective effect from November 2023, resulting in revenue losses. In accordance with the notified tariff effective from February 1, 2025 under Section 8(3) of the Ogra Ordinance, 2002, monthly charges for two slabs were worked out as under: For consumption up to 200 cubic meters, the notified rate is Rs4,200 per mmBtu, totaling Rs15,827, plus Rs2,000 in fixed charges, taking the total monthly bill to Rs17,827. For consumption above 400 cubic meters, the gas charges are Rs106,441 plus Rs2,000 in fixed charges, totalling Rs108,441. The Petroleum Division argued that the tariff structure recommended by the commission conflicted with the government's approved tariff, causing revenue losses. It was further outlined that the Balochistan High Court's order was challenged by SSGC in the Supreme Court. The apex court, through its order dated October 24, 2024, directed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to thoroughly review the commission's report and finalise recommendations through hearings and consultations with all relevant parties. The cabinet was informed that Ogra held a hearing on November 11, 2024 and issued its findings on November 22. In its report, Ogra emphasised that commission members could not cite any statutory provision for recommending a special tariff for Balochistan consumers.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
NMC to levy licence fees on shop signboards over 20sqft
Nagpur: In a move that could impact thousands of commercial establishments across the city, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) Skysign department is set to levy licence fees on all shop boards measuring over 20 square feet — both illuminated and non-illuminated. Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Revenue) Milind Meshram confirmed that the department already initiated a survey to identify such boards under Hanuman Nagar zone and will gradually extend it to other zones. As per rules, NMC is empowered to charge Rs62.50 per sqm per month for illuminated boards, and Rs22 per sqm per month for non-illuminated ones, he said. Citing the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations (Regulation and Control of Sky Sign and Advertisement) Rules, 2022, Meshram said, "There is a clear provision that mandates urban local body permission for any form of digital or illuminated shop signage boards. Even non-illuminated boards above a certain size fall under regulation." In addition to civic clearance, no objection certificates (NOCs) from the traffic police, local police station, and MSEDCL (power utility) are also required before erecting such boards. While the regulation isn't new, earlier efforts by the civic body to implement this fee structure were met with stiff resistance. Several shopkeeper associations launched protests, terming the move as an additional financial burden. Political parties too sided with the traders, pressuring the civic administration to withdraw the proposal. However, with the dissolution of NMC general body and an administrator at the helm, officials say it is the right time to enforce long-pending regulations without political interference. "There's no elected body in place to stall the enforcement. We now have a window to implement it strictly and systematically," said a senior official in the revenue department. The rule aims to regulate visual clutter and ensure that signage is safe, uniform, and does not obstruct traffic visibility or urban aesthetics. "Most of these large boards are erected without any permission or safety checks. It's not just about revenue — it's also about public safety and orderly urban design," Meshram said. The civic body expects to generate significant revenue through this initiative, especially from prime commercial zones like Dharampeth, Sitabuldi, and Itwari, where oversized and illuminated shop boards are rampant. NMC plans to complete the survey across all ten zones in the coming months and begin issuing notices to violators. Traders will be given time to regularise their signage or face penalties under the MMC Act.
Business Recorder
12-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
SPI-based inflation rises
ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Index (SPI)-based inflation continued to show an upward trend as it increased by 0.95 for the current week ended on July 10, 2025 compared to 0.73 in the previous week. According to the data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), major increase is observed in the prices of chicken 22.61percent, tomatoes 13.45percent, onions 6.25percent, potatoes 2.79percent, garlic 2.36percent, sugar 1.90percent, gur 1.89percent and rice basmati broken 0.84percent. On the other hand, decrease is observed in the prices of LPG 2.56percent, mustard oil 0.81percent, moong0.41percent, cooking oil 5-litre 0.20percent, and wheat flour and vegetable ghee 2.5kg 0.02percent each. Weekly SPI inflation up 0.73pc During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 19 items increased by 37.25percent, six items decreased by 11.77percent and 26 items remained stable at 50.98percent. The Year-on-Year trend depicts a decrease of 1.23percent. A major decrease is observed in the prices of onions 50.04percent, tomatoes 45.66percent, electricity charges for Q1 37.62percent, garlic 22.80percent, wheat flour 22.19percent, mash 20.46percent, tea Lipton 17.93percent, potatoes 12.97percent, masoor 9.37percent, and diesel 1.58percent, while a major increase is observed in the prices of ladies sandal 55.62percent, sugar 29.17percent, moong18.89 percent, beef14.71percent, chicken 13.77percent, gur 12.66percent, vegetable ghee 2.5kg and 1kg 12.46percent each, firewood 10.44 percent, powdered milk 9.41 percent, lawn printed 7.89 percent, and shirting 7.31 percent. The SPI for consumption groups of Rs17,732 to 22,888 with an increase of 1.06 percent was recorded at 300.90 against previous week's calculation of 297.63, the SPI for the income group Rs22,889-29,517 with an increase of 0.99percent was recorded at 325.06 points against previous week's recording of 321.87 points, the SPI for the income group Rs29,518-44,175 with an increase of 1.02 percent was recorded at 315.58 points against previous week's reading of 312.40 and SPI for the monthly income group above Rs44,175 registered an increase of 0.88 percent was recorded at 317.79 points against 315.02 points of the previous week calculation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
