The Maharashtra government on Monday allocated Rs 36,000 crore for the Ladki Bahin scheme but did not announce a hike in the allowance, proposed to increase Motor Vehicle Tax by 1 per cent on CNG and LPG vehicles, as it presented a Rs 7,00,020 crore budget for the fiscal 2025-26. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, tabled his 11th state budget in the legislative assembly and announced a new industrial policy, focussing on Rs 40 lakh crore investment and generation...

Synopsis Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announces advanced research on blending 15% ethanol in diesel and sets a goal to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025. Efforts in fast-tracking ethanol infrastructure, flex-engine cars, and bio-CNG from waste are discussed to reduce India’s fossil fuel dependency. Agencies Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that the research around blending 15 per cent ethanol in diesel is in advanced stages, and the government is exploring ways to p...