Delhi

New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) The Modi 2.0 government in its first Cabinet meeting Friday approved a new scheme, which assures minimum monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to all shopkeepers, retail traders and self employed persons after attaining the age of 60 years, fulfilling its poll promise.

The decision taken at the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here will benefit 3 crore retail traders and shopkeepers.

New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) The newly appointed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the full Budget for 2019-20 on July 5 in the Lok Sabha.

This will be first full Budget of Modi 2.0 government.

In view of the general elections, the interim Budget for the current fiscal was presented by the then Finance Minister Piyush Goyal.

New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) Sonia Gandhi was once again elected leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) at a meeting of party MPs at the Central Hall of Parliament on Saturday.

The meeting was attended by the party's 52 newly elected Lok Sabha MPs and Rajya Sabha members.

Gandhi, who represents Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli in Lok Sabha, is the chairperson of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) A Delhi court Wednesday reserved for June 3 its order on application of Robert Vadra, accused in a money laundering case, to travel abroad.

Enforcement Directorate opposed the plea, in which Vadra sought permission to travel to the UK and other countries citing health reasons.

Vadra has told the court that as per Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, he has a "small tumour in the large intestine for the further management of which he can take a second opinion in London if he wishes so".

New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) The Delhi High Court Friday granted four more months to the CBI to complete its probe in a bribery case involving the agency's former special director Rakesh Asthana.

Justice Mukta Gupta allowed the CBI's plea seeking extension of time to complete its investigation in the case lodged against Asthana, DSP Devender Kumar and middleman Manoj Prasad.

On January 11, the court had granted 10 weeks to the probe agency to complete its investigation. The CBI had approached the high court after completion of 10 weeks time.

New Delhi, May 30 (PTI) In the backdrop of reports that a decorated former army officer has been declared a foreigner by a tribunal in Assam, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the NRC state coordinator to ensure that fair procedure is adopted in dealing with the claims and objections on inclusion of citizens in the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC).

New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) A meeting of opposition parties, which was scheduled for Friday and meant to deliberate over their reasons for defeat, has been cancelled due to non-availability of some leaders, sources said Thursday.

After facing a drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress had convened a meeting of opposition parties in Parliament on May 31 to discuss the possible reasons for their defeat.

They were also expected to discuss their strategy for the Parliament session which is likely to begin from June 6.

New Delhi, May 30 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday described his new council of ministers as a blend of youthful energy and administrative experience.

Soon after President Ram Nath Kovind administered oath to Modi and the council of ministers, the PM in a tweet said the team is a "blend of youthful energy and administrative experience."

He said it has people who have excelled as parliamentarians and those who have had distinguished professional careers.

"Together, we will work for India's progress," he said.

New Delhi, May 30 (PTI) One-third of the total ministers in the Modi's 2.0 Cabinet are the first-timers, which includes BJP president Amit Shah and former foreign secretary S Jaishankar.

Two former chief ministers -- Ramesh Pokhriyal (Uttarakhand) and Arjun Munda (Jharkhand) -- have taken oath as Union ministers for the first time.

This will be the first innings as Union ministers for six Cabinet ministers and 13 Ministers of State in the Modi government.

Most prominent among them are Shah and Jaishankar, who are likely to get high profile ministries.

New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) Following is the list of portfolios allocated to Ministers of State;

1. Faggan Singh Kulaste: Minister of State in the Ministry of Steel.

2. Ashwini Kumar Choubey: Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

3. Arjun Ram Meghwal: Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

4. General (Retd) V K Singh: Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.