A new pension program is set to provide advantages for employees of the central government. The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a new pension policy on Saturday that will benefit approximately 2.3 million central government employees. This policy introduces a framework that guarantees a monthly payout equivalent to 50% of the basic pay, addressing the concerns of federal staff unions that have advocated for assured retirement benefits. In April 2023, Modi established a committee chaired by the then Finance Secretary, TV Somanathan, to revise the existing pension system, known as the New Pension Scheme (NPS). This initiative was prompted by widespread dissatisfaction, which escalated into a political issue, leading some opposition-led states to revert to the older, financially burdensome Old Pension Scheme (OPS). The newly introduced system, termed the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), will provide 50% of the average basic pay earned by a fed
Shortly before the Prime Minister's visit to Ukraine, the chief of the Russian Navy is in India. NEW DELHI: In anticipation of Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to Ukraine on August 23, the Chief of the Russian Navy has arrived in India to explore opportunities for enhancing maritime collaboration between Moscow and New Delhi. Admiral Aleksandr Alekseyevich Moiseyev is on an official visit to India from August 19 to 22, during which he engaged in extensive discussions with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi on Monday. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized the lateral entry of individuals into senior government positions, labeling it an affront to Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis. India is striving to maintain a delicate strategic equilibrium between its enduring partnership with Russia and the US-led Western bloc, which has consistently expressed concerns regarding the close relationship between New Delhi and Moscow. Additi