Govt earns Rs 577 cr through vehicle challans

The Centre has informed the Lok Sabha that the number of road accidents and fatalities have reduced as well as the government has earned over Rs577 crore revenue through challans since the implementation of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. In a written reply, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said a total of 38,39,406 challans have been issued since the implementation of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the amount earned so far is estimated over Rs577 crore. IANS

7 lakh vacant posts in Central depts

There were nearly seven lakh vacant posts in different central government departments as on March 1 last year, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. Of the total of 6,83, 823 vacant posts, a total of 5,74,289 are in Group C, 89,638 in Group B and 19,896 in Group A category, as on March 1, 2018, according to a data given in a written reply by Minister of State for Personnel, Jitendra Singh. Based on the vacancies reported by the user departments, the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has started recruitment process to fill up 1,05,338 posts during the year 2019-2020, he said. PTI

New IT rules for social media soon

The government is finalising new IT rules for social media companies that would mandate traceability of originator of information on such platforms and removal of malicious content within 24 hours of notice, Parliament was informed on Thursday. The proposed new norms include deployment of technology-based automated tools or appropriate mechanisms for proactively identifying and removing or disabling public access to unlawful information or content, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Sanjay Dhotre said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. PTI

Hema Malini raises monkey menace

BJP’s Mathura MP Hema Malini on Thursday raised the issue of monkey menace in religious places and was supported by LJP’s Chirag Paswan and TMC’s MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay who also recounted their personal experiences. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, the BJP’s filmstar-turned-politician called monkey menace at religious places a matter of concern about which the government needed to do something. Suggesting setting up of a monkey safari in Mathura for their safety, she said there should be fruit-bearing trees in forests as monkeys had picked up food habits of humans which were not healthy for them. TNS

Azad steps in, prevents RS adjournment

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad stepped in to help salvage the House from a possible second adjournment by prevailing over his party and other agitating members. When the House re-assembled after the first adjournment for an hour for the Question Hour, Congress and Left members continued with their protests against Naidu’s rejection of their notices seeking suspension of business to discuss government’s yesterday decision to disinvest PSUs. Just when it appeared that the situation was spinning out of control, Azad gestured to the members to calm down and allow the proceedings, breaking the logjam. TNS