LAW AND GOVERNANCE
Supreme Court Raps Centre Over Patanjali’s Misleading Ads
The Supreme Court criticized the government’s inaction against Patanjali Ayurved for making false claims about the effectiveness of its products and criticizing allopathy during the Covid-19 pandemic. The court questioned why the government did not take legal action against Patanjali despite its own committee’s statement that Patanjali’s products should only be used as supplements. It emphasized the need for the government to dispel suspicions of complicity in allowing Patanjali’s misleading ads. The court also reprimanded Baba Ramdev for violating its directives on misleading advertisements and rejected his apology, warning against perjury.
AAP’s Sanjay Singh Granted Bail in Money Laundering Case
AAP leader Sanjay Singh, arrested in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor policy scam, was granted bail by the Supreme Court. The court allowed him to continue his political activities during the bail period. The Enforcement Directorate did not object to his bail, noting exculpatory statements by a key witness and no recovery of money. The court’s bail order came after Sanjay Singh’s challenge to the Delhi High Court’s refusal to grant him bail. The case involves allegations that Singh was a key conspirator in the scam and received proceeds of crime.
Delhi Court Criticizes ED for ‘Faulty’ Investigation
A Delhi court criticized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its defective, delayed, and faulty probe in a money-laundering case. The court issued a notice to the investigating officer (IO) to explain why disciplinary action should not be recommended for the defective investigation. The court called it a case of investigation colored with motivation or an attempt to let certain people off the hook. It noted the IO’s failure to conduct a fair and proper investigation, leading to guilty persons going free. The court also criticized the 10-year delay in completing the probe, highlighting the need for investigating agencies to conclude investigations promptly to prevent loss of evidence.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
Support for Value Addition – Support to R&G Units
(Ministry of Commerce and Industry)
Details
- Objective: Enhance coffee product quality and value addition.
- Beneficiaries: Roasting Units, Gourmet Roasting Units, and small roasting units.
- Subsidy: Up to 40% or 50% of machinery cost, with a ceiling of ₹10,00,000.
- Disbursement: Via PFMS after post-installation inspection approval.
- Eligibility: Individual units, partnerships, SHGs, Growers’ collectives.
- Components Eligible for Subsidy: Roasting, grinding, and packaging machinery.
- Priority: First-come, first-served basis, subject to fund availability.
- Exclusions: Previous subsidy recipients, units installed before 07-04-2022, and up-gradation projects.
India-Afghanistan Fellowship
(Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare)
Details
- Objective: Support agricultural human resource development in Afghanistan.
- Fellowships Offered: 276 annually for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. programmes.
- Benefits: Monthly fellowship, tuition fee, hostel fee, research grant, and group insurance.
- Eligibility: Good knowledge of English, specific educational qualifications for each programme.
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