Government Policies National

Parliament Sees Bill for After-Hours Work Protection

By BPN News Desk December 7, 2025

A new bill introduced in the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 could soon give employees in India the legal right to ignore work-related calls and emails after official hours. The bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha on December 6, 2025, by Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party. What the Bill Proposes Under the […]

Government Policies National

Gratuity Eligibility Reduced to One Year Under New Labour Rules

By BPN News Desk November 22, 2025

India’s labour law overhaul has introduced a key change that allows fixed-term employees to receive gratuity after completing just one year of service. Earlier, gratuity eligibility required a minimum of five years of continuous employment. The change took effect on 21 November 2025 and marks one of the biggest updates to employee welfare rules in […]

Government Policies National

Cabinet Clears ₹25,060 Crore Export Promotion Mission

By BPN News Desk November 14, 2025

The Union Cabinet has approved a six-year Export Promotion Mission (EPM) with a total outlay of ₹25,060 crore aimed at boosting India’s export capabilities. The mission will focus on MSMEs, first-time exporters and labour-intensive industries, including textiles, leather, and handicrafts. The initiative is designed to improve India’s global trade competitiveness through

Government Policies National

India Mulls ₹1 Trillion Bailout for State Power Distributors

By BPN News Desk October 30, 2025

The Indian government is considering a bailout of over ₹1 trillion (around US $12 billion) to support debt-laden state-run power distribution companies (discoms). The proposal, led by the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Finance, is expected to be announced in the Union Budget in February. Bailout Linked to Reforms To access these funds, […]

Government Policies National

Cabinet Approves Terms For 8th Pay Commission

By BPN News Desk October 29, 2025

The Union Cabinet has cleared the terms of reference (ToR) for the 8th Central Pay Commission, which will review the pay, allowances and pensions of central government employees and pensioners. The commission is expected to submit its report within 18 months, with revised pay scales likely to take effect from January 1, 2026. What The […]

Government Policies National

SC: Railways Must Pay Victims Despite Technical Lapses

By BPN News Desk October 9, 2025

The Supreme Court has ruled that Indian Railways cannot deny compensation to accident victims solely on the basis of technical or procedural lapses. The court held that confirming a valid train ticket for the same date and route is sufficient to establish a bona fide claim. Case Background & Judgment The decision came while overturning […]

Government Policies National

Education Ministry Mandates Zoho Office For Official Work

By BPN News Desk October 5, 2025

The Union Ministry of Education has instructed all its departments and staff to use the Zoho Office Suite for official documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. The directive is part of the government’s push for digital self-reliance under the Swadeshi and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. What The Order Says A circular issued by the Department of Higher Education […]

Government Policies National

Cabinet Clears 3% DA Hike from July

By BPN News Desk October 1, 2025

The Union Cabinet has approved an additional 3% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, effective July 1, 2025. This raises the DA/DR rate from 55% to 58% of basic pay or pension. Who Will Benefit The hike will benefit about 49.19 lakh central government workers and […]

Government Policies National

Centre May Extend Committees’ Term to 2 Years

By BPN News Desk September 27, 2025

The central government is considering extending the tenure of parliamentary standing committees from the current one year to two years. The move is aimed at ensuring continuity and allowing committees to examine bills, policies, and reports in greater depth. Current Term Expiry Most standing committees are scheduled for reconstitution as their one-year term ended on […]

Government Policies National

CBDT Extends Tax Audit Deadline To October 31

By BPN News Desk September 25, 2025

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has officially extended the deadline for filing income tax audit reports for the Financial Year 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26) from September 30 to October 31, 2025. Judicial Backing This move follows interim orders from the Rajasthan High Court (Jodhpur Bench) and Karnataka High Court, both of which directed […]