All posts tagged: government clarification

Centre clarifies passport is not proof of citizenship, cites 1967 law

Centre clarifies passport is not proof of citizenship, cites 1967 law

Published by Webster

The Centre on Thursday clarified that an Indian passport has never been regarded as conclusive proof of citizenship, stating that no new policy has been introduced and that the legal position has remained unchanged for decades. The clarification came a day after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated during a media briefing that a passport is primarily a travel document and should not be treated as definitive proof of Indian citizenship. The remarks triggered criticism from Opposition leaders, prompting the government to explain the legal basis for its position. The government said the distinction is rooted in the Passports Act, 1967, and has also been upheld by judicial pronouncements, including a Bombay High Court ruling in 2013. Government cites Passports Act, 1967 In its clarification, the government referred to Section 20 of the Passports Act, 1967, which empowers the Central Government to issue a passport or travel document even to a person who is not an Indian citizen under specific circumstances. “Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions relating to issue of a passport …

Finance Ministry not involved in printing NEET-UG re-exam papers: Government

Finance Ministry not involved in printing NEET-UG re-exam papers: Government

Published by Webster

The government on Saturday dismissed media reports claiming that the Ministry of Finance’s secured printing press may be used to print question papers for the NEET-UG re-examination, calling the claims fake.  In a post on social media platform X, PIB Fact Check said reports circulating in sections of the media linking the Finance Ministry to printing of NEET-UG re-examination papers were incorrect. “Several sections of the media are claiming that the NEET-UG re-examination question paper may be printed in the secured printing press of the Ministry of Finance,” PIB Fact Check said. Labelling the claim as fake, the government clarified that the Finance Ministry is not involved in printing question papers for the NEET-UG re-examination. “Ministry of Finance is not printing the NEET-UG re-examination question papers,” the fact-check unit said. In addition, PIB Fact Check urged people to rely only on official sources for verified information and cautioned against sharing unverified claims. It further asked people to report suspicious content related to the central government to PIB Fact Check through its official channels. The clarification …

No proposal to monetise temple gold holdings approved: Govt

No proposal to monetise temple gold holdings approved: Govt

Published by Webster

The government on Tuesday dismissed as `false, misleading and baseless` reports and social media claims suggesting that it was planning to introduce a gold monetisation scheme for temple trusts and religious institutions across the country.  The Ministry of Finance, in an official clarification, said certain media reports and social media posts were falsely claiming that the Centre was planning to issue gold bonds to temples in exchange for temple gold reserves or had approved a proposal for monetisation of temple gold holdings. “The speculation and rumours suggesting that the Government is planning to introduce a monetisation scheme for gold held by temple trusts or any religious institution across the country are completely false, misleading and without any basis,” the statement said. The government also rejected claims that gold plates installed on temple towers, doors or other temple structures would be treated as “Strategic Gold Reserves of India”. “It is clarified that claims suggesting that gold plates on temple towers, doors, or other temple structures will be considered as ‘Strategic Gold Reserves of India’ are false, …