Bamboo ceases to be a tree, freed of Forest Act After 90 years, the bamboo has legally ceased to be a tree. The government amended the Indian Forest Act and removed the bamboo — taxonomically a grass — from a list of plants that also included palms, skumps, brush-wood and canes. In doing so, the government hoped to...

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President nod to ordinance that will amend Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code After the President assent to an ordinance to amend the bankruptcy code now, wilful defaulters and entities whose accounts have been classified as NPAs will be barred from bidding for assets. The amendments aim to keep out such persons who have either wilfully defaulted or have associated...

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Cabinet approves setting up of 15th Finance Commission The Union cabinet approved the setting up of the 15th Finance Commission, which will decide on the distribution of tax proceeds among centre, states and local bodies in the post-goods and services tax (GST) era. The recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, chaired by former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor...

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Russia finds 1,000-times normal level of radioactive isotope after nuclear accident Russia's meteorological service had measured pollution of a radioactive isotope at nearly 1,000 times normal levels in the Ural Mountains. Extremely high pollution of ruthenium 106 found in samples from two meteorological stations in the southern Ural Mountains region. Background:: The data appears to support a report by the...

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