-The Indian Express The Congress may be quick to attack the ruling NDA government for attempting to dilute the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) since it came to power, and for its poor implementation this year, but the high-profile constituencies of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi have performed dismally under the scheme, ranking below the national average on most key parameters. MGNREGA, introduced in...

-The Indian Express I recently witnessed protests in Berlin, against industrialised farming and the planned free-trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, under the banner "We Are Fed Up". Trade issues resonate across Europe, but in India, farmers are oblivious to the inevitable consequences of trade agreements. However, the government seems keen to address issues related to farmers. Yet, success on the farm front can be delusional if...

-Business Standard Likely to carry out mid-term appraisal; states could continue with annual Plans Contrary to popular belief, the National Democratic Alliance government may not scrap the 12th five-year Plan (2012-13 to 2016-17) formulated by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Instead, it may carry out a course correction, in consultation with ministries and state governments. A model for such a structured rectification would be firmed up at the first governing council meeting...

-HowIndiaLives.com The fall is more perceptible in states ruled by the Congress-led UPA than the ones ruled by BJP-led NDA The government's flagship rural employment guarantee scheme is on the decline. On almost every key metric, the scheme drafted under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)-which promises 100 days of employment a year to every rural household that demands it and mandates payments of wages within 15 days-is showing...

-The Hindu The 14th Finance Commission, chaired by former Reserve Bank Governor Y.V. Reddy, has not submitted a unanimous report. Abhijit Sen, commission member, gave a dissent note to the report. The Modi government has not yet announced its decision on the report submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee's office in mid-December. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley did not table it in Parliament during the Winter Session. Mr. Jaitley is expected to present...