-The Hindu There is no organised conspiracy against NGOs. It is in the nature of power to exercise greater control, and exempt itself from accountability. The recent changes in the rules governing foreign funding of NGOs under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) have been widely discussed. The last word on it will perhaps never be written. The UPA government initiated this and we see some concrete changes now. Sifting through the...

-The Hindu The country is ranked third in the South Asian region. India figures in the top 50 countries in the world for an effective criminal justice system, according to a new study that ranks countries on how the rule of law is experienced by citizens. However, the study finds that it is among the worst performing countries when it comes to civil justice. The Rule of Law Index 2015, released by the U.S.-based...

-The Indian Express While the Home Ministry has decided to put grants from US-based Ford Foundation under the “prior approval category” and also on its watch list in the interest of “national security”, some government-backed educational and research institutes that receive grants from the Foundation have said the US-based organisation helped build institutions in India. Among the beneficiaries of such grants are at least 10 that are also funded and supported by...

-The Hindu Union Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday hinted that the government could bring out new, improved guidelines if security establishments demanded that the IT Act be strengthened in the wake of the quashing of its Section 66A by the Supreme Court. He, however, added this will be done "objectively" after the "widest consultation." "National security is of utmost importance. If, in the light of the Supreme Court...

-The Indian Express The forthcoming budget is expected by some to be make-or-break or path-breaking, by others, to provide a legislative or economic roadmap for the rest of this government's term. Most likely, it will focus on issues within the purview of the finance ministry, namely, macro management, taxation, expenditure, the financial sector and balance of payments. The abolition of the Planning Commission and the 14th Finance Commission recommendations on tax devolution...