-The Times of India NEW DELHI: haryana does not have much area under forest cover — most of its land (80%) is under cultivation — but it still diverts more forest land than any other state for non-forestry purposes, such as construction, infrastructure and industrial projects. Along with Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra, haryana accounted for more than 50% of the total diversion of forest area (56,069 hectares or 560.69 sq...

-TheWire.in The government needs to create a workable, inclusive system of land titling and records to allow land markets to function effectively and reduce judicial burden. Land is one of the most litigatious and controversial subjects in India. The lack of a proper system to maintain land records and provide persons with conclusive titles results in frequent and long drawn legal conflicts. Determining who the unchallenged land owner continues to be is...

-Livemint.com Rising input costs and lack of remunerative prices have turned the terms of trade against the Indian farmer While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to retain its stronghold of Gujarat in the recent state assembly elections, it conceded significant ground to the Congress in rural and semi-rural constituencies. The results bring to the fore the problem of rural discontent, as farmers intensify their protests against non-remunerative prices for their produce...

-The Indian Express The Supreme Court had, in 2006, ordered that a Police Complaints Authority be set up in each state to look into complaints against officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police and above New Delhi: A police Complaints Authority, which will look into grievances against police personnel, will be formed in Delhi soon. The Supreme Court had, in 2006, ordered that a Police Complaints Authority be set up...

Although life expectancy at birth for both the sexes has improved over the last quarter of a century, a recent report points out that ‘non-communicable diseases’ (NCDs) now account for a larger proportion of total deaths vis-à-vis ‘communicable, maternal, neonatal and nutritional disease' (CMNNDs). The report entitled India: Health of the Nation’s States - The India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative, which has been prepared after two years of intense collaborative...