Moving ahead with the ambitious plan for direct electronic cash transfer, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday set up a high-powered committee headed by him which will identify the schemes to be covered and ensure smooth rollout of the programme within specified timelines.

Land acquisition and corruption will be among a string of issues to be highlighted by Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which on Wednesday described the UPA government's decision to launch direct cash transfer scheme as a "bribe to voters".

The ambitious direct cash transfer scheme, to be launched from January one next year, will cover 29 welfare schemes initially, the government said on Tuesday while describing it as a "game-changer" but dismissing suggestions that the roll-out hinted at mid-term polls.

With the ambitious direct electronic cash transfer scheme set for a roll out from January 1, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday directed all the ministries concerned to work in close coordination, particularly with regard to enabling poor people to open bank accounts smoothly.

The government will roll out its ambitious scheme of transferring cash to beneficiaries of select schemes in 20 districts on Tuesday, but food, fertilizer and fuel subsidies will not be covered in the initial phase.

With land prices skyrocketing in the NCR, the common man cannot even dream of owning a house which is one of the most common needs.

Moving a step further towards fulfilling the poll promise for free distribution of laptops and tablets to Class XII and X students respectively, Samajwadi Party led Uttar Pradesh government has launched a website which is dedicated towards providing all necessary information to the students eligible to avail the benefits of the scheme.

Gujarat Congress' poll promise of providing 100 sq yard of plots to rural poor and middle class women received a huge response, with the party receiving 16.42 lakh forms in the state on Monday, a press release issued by the opposition party claimed.

Canara Bank on Tuesday introduced a retail loan scheme for salaried and non-salaried individuals for purchase of consumer durables.

Kerala-based Muthoot Finance Limited, a leading gold loan company, on Thursday said it has tied up with Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Finance, to act as a service provider for the National pension scheme.