-The Times of India In a decision that jeopardizes land allocated to corporates and institutions such as Microsoft, Wipro, Infosys, Emaar, Indian School of Business and Lanco, the Andhra Pradesh high court on Tuesday refused to entertain petitions that challenged the power of the Andhra state wakf board to notify 1,650 acres of in Manikonda village of Ranga Reddy district as wakf land. The court asked the companies to approach the tribunal...

-The Times of India   The highways ministry has ordered a probe into alleged corrupt practices used by two private highway developers in three World Bank-funded projects - Lucknow-Muzaffarpur, Grand Trunk Road and the Third National Highway Project. Highways minister C P Joshi claimed that those found guilty would be held responsible and appropriate action will be taken against them. He said, "We have asked NHAI to investigate and submit the report. We...

 Madhya Pradesh cancelled licences of seven 'gutkha' companies and banned its manufacture and sale in the state from April 1. MP is the first state in the country to ban tobacco, magnesium carbonate and nicotine-based 'gutkha' following provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation 2011.  Health minister and government spokesman Narottam Mishra said gutkha manufacturing licences in the state will not be renewed. "Gutkha makers...

When the fledgling Indian government drafted its higher education policy after Independence, it formed two separate tiers for teaching and research: colleges and universities in one, exclusive research establishments in the other. The intention was of the noblest, to deploy our best talent exclusively to create an indigenous knowledge pool; in particular, to provide research input for the nation’s development. Sixty years down the line, the outcome has patently failed those...

Call it a conspiracy theory, but if the Centre is to be believed, there could be a link between the hike in foreign funding for NGOs and protests against the Kudankulam plant. Sources said foreign contribution to 12 NGOs in two districts — Tirunelveli, where the plant is based, and neighbouring Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu — has increased sharply over the last four years, ever since agitations against the plant started....