Jharkhand numbers better than Bihar, Chhattisgarh; but chief minister Munda beset with own problems Controversial as it may have become, Planning Commission data indicates that poverty levels have fallen in Jharkhand in spite of well documented bouts of political instability that have often plagued the Maoist-hit state. The latest data released by the commission suggests that the number of poor in Jharkhand dipped by 6.2 per cent between 2004-05 and 2009-10, a...

-The Business Standard   The Union government on Thursday approached the Supreme Court with a presidential reference on various issues relating to its recent judgment in the 2G spectrum scam. The apex court, meanwhile, would take up the government's review petition tomorrow. The presidential reference, under Article 143 of the Constitution, and the review petition raise similar issues. The main concern of the government is the perceived interference of the judiciary in the...

-The Indian Express   A magazine published by a trust headed by a senior RSS leader claims to have become the most widely circulated periodical for children in the country. The sudden swell in readership is thanks to the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, which has taken a lifelong subscription of Devputra for primary and secondary schools. The circulation has leapfrogged to 3,71,438.   The state education centre paid the trust, Saraswati Bal Kalyan...

-IANS The interim report of the two-member commission probing the Adarsh Society scam, related to the housing society originally meant for war heroes and Kargil widows, is likely to be submitted to the Maharashtra government Friday, officials said. However, it was not clear when or whether it would be tabled before the state legislature, the sources added. The report by the two-member commission of inquiry, comprising retired Justice J.A. Patil and former state...

Issues raised in reference go beyond those raised in clarificatory petition filed in Supreme Court The cabinet on Tuesday cleared a request by the department of telecommunications (DoT) for a presidential reference on the 2 February Supreme Court judgement cancelling 122 licence allocated to nine companies in January 2008, in an attempt aimed at clarifying seven issues arising from that order. One of the seven involves the allotment of telecom licences between...