The Planning Commission on Thursday approved Rs 14,000 crore for 60 Naxal-affected districts on the condition that states would have to undertake governance reforms and improve the performance of existing flagship programmes. The decision comes two days before Home Minister P. Chidambaram,   Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh and Tribal Affairs Minister Kanti Lal Bhuria discuss development issues with officers of the rebel-hit districts. The money in the Integrated Action Plan...

The West Bengal Government on Thursday announced subsidies on diesel for agricultural purposes and on power which will benefit consumers of up to 200 units of electricity monthly. 78 lakhs to benefit While the subsidy on diesel for the agricultural sector will be one rupee per litre, nearly 78 lakh consumers of power across the State will benefit from subsidies that will cost the State Government Rs. 120 crore annually. State Finance Minister...

Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a move to check insertion of "paid news" items in the print and electronic media by political parties and candidates during elections. State chief electoral officers (CEOs) have been directed to form a committee in each district for the purpose. The move assumes significance in view of the fact that assembly elections are round the corner in Bihar. The practice of getting advertorials...

Huge rain deficit for some pockets in the region The southern region has received 11 per cent more rain Tiruchi has the highest rainfall deficiency of 85 per cent Even though the on-going south-west monsoon has been the most benevolent so far over the southern peninsula, there are some pockets in the region, which are still facing huge deficiencies. The region, which consists of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, apart from Lakshadweep...

There’s more bad news for Bangalore’s private and unaided schools. The state government has decided to modify the concept of ‘neighbourhood’, which now means that schools will have to consider poor students living within a radius of 6km of the neighbourhood, instead of 3km as laid down by the Centre in the Right to Education Act (RTE). Under the RTE Act, all state governments have to establish schools for poor children...