-The Hindu PM Modi to head panel that will give strategic advice On the first day of the New Year, the Modi Government set up NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) in place of the Planning Commission. The Prime Minister will head the new institution tasked with the role of formulating policies and direction for the Government. Its Governing Council will comprise State Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors of Union Territories. The...

-The Hindu When a law is enacted after considerable debate and consultation, it will be wise to study the experience of its implementation for some time before it is amended, in order to address perceived difficulties. Any such amendment within the first year of its entry into force, especially one pushed through as an ordinance, will be inevitably perceived as hasty, even if on the positive side it is meant...

-The Hindu Kochi (Kerala): With the tribespeople resorting to e-trading, as many as 14 products are expected to reach the doorsteps of customers across the world through a mouse click. The tribespeople of Chalakudy are trying out e-commerce to find better markets for their exclusive forest produce. With the tribespeople resorting to e-trading, as many as 14 products including forest honey collected from the rain forests of Chalakudy, wild turmeric (kasthoorimanjal) and kallurvanchi,...

-The Hindu Nammalvar remembered on his first death anniversary Salem (Tamil Nadu): To encourage people undertake organic farming and to produce vegetables on their own, three types of vegetable seeds and two types of spinach seeds were distributed free of cost to the public here on Tuesday. As part of observing the first death anniversary of organic farming scientist G. Nammalvar, ‘Seed Day' was celebrated here. Members of Green City Association and Easan...

-The Hindu The policy also makes denial of health care an offence The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has suggested making health a fundamental right, similar to education. This key proposal in the draft National Health Policy, 2015, suggests making denial of health an offence. Thirteen years after the previous health policy, the draft, now in the public domain for stakeholders' suggestions and comments, has addressed the issues of universal...