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CII has backed further simplification of the regulatory framework, expansion of the ambit of the national single-window system (NSWS) portal and revamp of the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) system to minimise tax disputes, among steps to make it easier for doing business in India. «Simplifying regulatory frameworks, reducing compliance burdens and enhancing transparency should continue to remain our focus agenda for the next several years,» Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said in a press release on Saturday. The CII has pitched for centralised regulatory approval through NSWS, wherein all central, state- and local-level approvals are provided, bringing transparency and faster regulatory clearance for businesses. The industry body has suggested phase-wise onboarding of central ministries and states on the portal, incentivising the states to shift to the portal once the central ministries have been integrated into the portal.

Union home minister Amit Shah has set a deadline of March 2026 to wipe out Maoism from the country. Last year, 287 Naxalites were killed, 1,000 arrested and 837 Maoists surrendered in Chhattisgarh. Giving details about the operation, officials said, «The gunfight broke out in the morning at a forest in the Indravati National Park area when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation,» said Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P.

Neville Noronha, the chief executive of Avenue Supermarts that operates DMart retail stores, said the foundational ethos and principles that have guided the company should remain unchanged, irrespective of leadership transitions. «We operate on straightforward, fundamental business principles, and these must stay intact. While strategies and operational details might evolve, the culture of the company should never be compromised,» he said in a chat with ET, a day after announcing his plan not to extend his contract as CEO. Noronha has spent more than two decades in the supermarket chain. On Saturday, Avenue Supermarts announced that Anshul Asawa will replace Noronha in February 2026, after the latter chose not to continue.

AIIMS to arrange hip replacement surgery for jailed British national Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman arrested in 2018 in a money laundering case connected to the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper case. Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal passed the order on an application filed by James who has claimed that his total hip replacement surgery could not be avoided, considering that he was suffering from «excruciating pain» in day-to-day activities. James, who was extradited in 2018, claimed that the doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had advised the surgery. «The Director, AIIMS is requested to arrange for the total hip surgery, as advised by the doctors of AIIMS as per the medical prescription dated December 30, 2024, and to fix the surgery i.e. total hip replacement, as stated in the report, preferably, in the first/second week of February, 2025 as per the convenience of the operating surgeon,» the judge said in an order passed on January 9.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday announced India batter Shreyas Iyer as their captain for the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The franchise secured Iyer’s services at the IPL 2025 mega auction for a record-breaking Rs 26.75 crore. Punjab fended off stiff competition from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) in an intense bidding war to sign the star batter. While Iyer became the most expensive player in IPL auction history for a brief moment, he was later surpassed by Rishabh Pant, who fetched an even higher bid.

loan disbursal with several of them completely stopping acquisition of new-to-credit customers amid rising asset quality stress. The sector's asset quality may have also worsened as collection efficiency has faltered for several lenders. Heads of the microfinance lenders however expressed hope that the sector would bounce back but it may take a couple of quarters from now. It is now in the process of healing with guardrails being in place to protect it from further degeneration, they said. The sector contributes 2.03% to the country's GDP and supports 13 million jobs.

eco-sensitive zone of the Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam's Jorhat district. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, approved the proposal by Vedanta Group's Cairn Oil & Gas during its meeting on December 21, according to the minutes of the meeting. Assam's principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden had recommended clearance for the project in August last year, citing «national interest». The Forest Advisory Committee of the Union Environment Ministry had also granted in-principle approval during its meeting on August 27 last year.

Joe Biden will likely talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu soon, his national security adviser said on Sunday, as U.S. officials race to reach a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal before Biden leaves office on Jan. 20. Jake Sullivan told CNN's «State of the Union» program that the parties were «very, very close» to reaching a deal to halt the fighting in the enclave and free the remaining 98 hostages held there, but still had to get it across the finish line. Biden was getting daily updates on the talks in Doha, where Israeli and Palestinian officials have said since Thursday that some progress has been made in the indirect talks between Israel and militant group Hamas, Sullivan said.

Maha Kumbh mela in Prayagraj. An official statement said 3,134 special trains will be run in 2025 which is around 4.5 times more than those operational during the Prayagraj Ardh Kumbh held in 2019. These special services will supplement the 10,000 regular trains operational on this route. Kumbh Mela is a major Hindu pilgrimage and festival. It has the distinction of being the largest peaceful gathering in the world, drawing crores of devotees who come to bathe in India's sacred rivers. This year, there will be 1,869 short distance mela special trains to cater to requirements of passengers coming from within Uttar Pradesh and nearby areas. Another 706 trains long distance and 559 ring trains will also function. No ring rail services were plying during the 2019 Kumbh. This circular railway network runs parallel to a ring road, catering to very short distance journeys where there is regular passenger demand.

Senior advocate Iqbal Chagla, one of India's leading lawyers, passed away on Sunday here, family sources said. He was 85. Iqbal Chagla, son of former Bombay High Court Chief Justice M C Chagla, was unwell for a few days. He was the father of the sitting judge of the Bombay HC Justice R I Chagla. As per the sources, his last rites will be performed on Monday at the Worli crematorium.

underperforming stores and an e-commerce fulfillment center. These changes will take effect by mid-2025.

It will be his first visit to Spain as the external affairs minister. «During the visit, the external affairs minister will meet the leadership of Spain and hold discussions with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Manuel Albares, on the entire gamut of bilateral relations and regional and global matters of mutual interest,» the MEA said.

Turbli.com, which analyzed over 10,000 routes connecting 550 of the world’s largest airports, here are some of the most turbulent flight routes in 2024.

Anand Mahindra finally addressed the secret behind his strong social media presence. The billionaire, who commands an impressive 11.4 million on X, refuted rumours that he had an army of social media experts at his beck and call. I am often asked if I have got an office that manages my tweets. If you think my office can produce those posts, then I have got a truly fabulous team who lives inside my head!”

If you're struggling with today’s challenge—Wordle #1303 for January 12, 2025—don’t worry, we’ve got all the hints and the solution you need. Read on for a breakdown that helps you solve today’s puzzle without spoiling the fun.

Elon Musk’s opinions have often landed him in controversy, but that hasn’t stopped him. Through his social media platform X, Musk has become a vocal commentator on global politics, fuelling debates and shaping narratives. His involvement in Donald Trump’s 2024 US presidential election victory highlights how he leverages X to amplify his political influence and forge alliances with key figures. In November, Trump announced that Musk would lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), alongside Indian American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Experts believe his advisory influence could shape national and international policies, potentially benefiting his ventures, including X, Tesla, and SpaceX.

Rajeev Shukla on Sunday said that the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin on March 23. He made the announcement after the BCCI Special General Meeting in Mumbai on Sunday. Further, the BCCI has announced the appointment of a new commissioner for IPL for a one-year term. The next meeting is scheduled for January 18-19 and will finalise the squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Designed as a quicker, more accessible version of the New York Times’ iconic Crossword, the Mini has carved out a devoted following over the years. For those who want to solve today’s Mini puzzle and are seeking assistance, we’ve compiled all the hints and answers for January 12, 2025.

Yuvraj Singh, Yograj Singh, made headlines with his controversial claims yet again. He revealed that he had a near-violent encounter with India's World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev after being dropped from the Indian team. Yograj talked about how he was angry at Dev for being dropped from the team after the latter became captain of both the North Zone and the Indian cricket team. Yograj, who thought that injustice was done against him, confronted the former captain at his home, armed with a pistol. “When Kapil Dev became captain of North Zone and India, he dropped me for no reason,” said the 66-year-old in a recent appearance on the podcast «Unfiltered by Samdish».

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Experts writing about the forthcoming budget and making weighty proposals usually focus on routine macro parameters: the fiscal deficit, capital and revenue accounts, growth in gross domestic product (GDP), inflation rate and interest rates. These are important parameters and merit close attention to understand the economy’s growth path.

The letter sent to the district magistrates of all 75 districts in the state and also marked to the divisional commissioners emphasizes the urgency of the measure, citing data that shows a significant number of two-wheeler accident victims do not wear helmets. It also highlights directions issued by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath earlier this month during a review of road safety measures in the state.