-The Indian Express Despite deforestation and human encroachment, the country’s forest cover has remained stable around 20% since Independence. This is because the loss of natural old-growth forests is compensated on paper by expanding monoculture plantations. Since Independence, a fifth of India’s land has consistently been under forests. The population has increased more than three times since 1947, and from 1951-80, a total 42,380 sq km of forestland was diverted — some...

-The Indian Express Minimum temperatures are likely to come down by 2-3 degrees Celsius in Northwest, Central and Western India over the next 48 hours, the IMD said. The current spell of rain in North and Central India will be beneficial to the standing rabi crop, especially wheat, though there are concerns over chana (chickpea) and masur (lentil) that are in the maturity or harvesting stages. “This rain is very good for wheat...

-The Indian Express The incident comes just days after a woman was refused treatment at a Community Health Centre (CHC) in Jaunpur district in UP, for not furnishing an Aadhar card or any other kind of identity proof. Gurgaon (haryana): Denied admission for not furnishing an Aadhaar card, a woman gave birth just outside the doors of Gurgaon’s Civil Hospital Friday as a crowd looked on. Forced to leave the premises, the...

-The Hindu Chief Justice Dipak Misra says no third party has the right to harass a couple, in reference to honour killings Two adults are free to marry and “no third party” has a right to harass or cause harm to them, said Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, speaking against honour killings on Monday. “When two people get into wedlock, no one should interfere. Neither parents, society, khap or panchayat... no one...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: As different states have come out with various schemes to protect farmers from price volatility, the Centre has expressed its willingness to support them all within the existing schemes and may even spend more in 2018-19 to procure agricultural and horticultural commodities at remunerative prices. "We will not reject states' requests. We would like states to procure as much as required to reduce farmers' pain and...