As the Lokpal Bill gets mired in a tortuous birthing, the debate shifts to who exactly has the right to pass a law Why Politicians Hate Civil Society     * Unelected activists stealing Parliament’s right to make laws, undercutting role of parliamentarians     * Demands like an all-powerful Lokpal directly impact political-bureaucratic class and the status quo     * Rigid deadlines, fasts unto death to press home issues are akin to holding government...

Social development zones (SDZs) represent a new approach to creating education and health institutions in the country connecting emerging opportunities in policy. These also address some major constraints that Indian private investment faces today in investing in these two critical sectors of development that directly impact on unlocking human potential. These opportunities are presented by the commencement of Rajiv Awas Yojana, a property-rights driven effort at moving towards a slum-free India...

Footage of the fracas replayed at ANHAD meeting Old Rafiq Ansari is inconsolable, shocked and quite simply beyond words as he comes to grips with the loss of his seven-month-old grandson — a death he considers almost surreal. Baby Naushad, who died in his mother's lap when two bullets struck him last Friday, was one of the four killed in police firing on protesters. Villagers of Bhajanpur and Rampur were protesting against the...

Swami Ramdev is a yoga instructor in saffron robes; he walks on wooden sandals and has an elastic body, an involuntary wink, flowing black hair and a full beard. He claims to have renounced worldly pleasures, but that excludes flying in private jets. He is at the helm of a thriving business in traditional treatments, herbal products, media and textiles that is worth at least hundreds of millions of dollars. Nebulous...

-The Times of India   Lawyers of the four district court complexes in the capital on Monday decided to strike work for a day on June 8 to protest against the malady of corruption in society and police swoop on yoga guru Baba Ramdev's supporters on Saturday night to evict them from the Ramlila Maidan. The Bar Associations of Patiala House Court, Tis Hazari Court, Dwarka Court and Rohini Court have...