-IPSNews.net NEW DELHI: India’s stance on sustainable development goals is evolving as there are differing voices on what should be done. Over the next 15 years, the global development agenda will be preoccupied with the ambitious challenge of achieving 17 SDGs and 169 targets. The SDGs follow the Millennium Development Goals which were conceptualized as a set of eight goals on diverse development dimensions including poverty alleviation, gender equality, health and...

-The New Indian Express BHUBANESWAR: Implementation of several schemes including Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) in the farm sector will be affected because of the drastic cut in Central allocations. Other programmes to be hit by the Central decision include Rainfed Area Development Programme (RADP), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and Sub-Mission for Seed and Planting Material (SMSP). Sources said the State Government will continue to implement the programmes...

-Hindustan Times The Centre has decided to slash its share of funds in about 18 social sector schemes including flagship education programme Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in a cutback that has been criticised by states. The central government and states would contribute equally for programmes such as SSA, Rashtriya Uchchtar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), a departure from the previous 65%-35% formula. Sources said the department of economic affairs...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: India has eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus. It has been reduced to less than one case per 1000 live births across the country, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has validated adding India to the list of countries that have successfully battled the disease. "This is a huge achievement for India which until a few decades ago reported 150,000 to 200,000 neonatal tetanus cases annually," WHO regional...

-The Indian Express   Reduce Centrally sponsored schemes, specify their objectives and timelines.    A Niti Aayog taskforce chaired by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has apparently recommended that 25 per cent of the funds under Centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) be made available to states as untied monies. If this recommendation is accepted, states would receive a total of Rs 42,000 crore during 2015-16 itself. This recommendation should be viewed in...