-The Hindu It has become irrelevant after the crippling budget cuts After facing a massive budget cut last year, the future of the Panchayati Raj Ministry continues to look bleak. After the BJP government shuttered two of its key programmes — the Backward Regions Grants Fund (BRGF) and the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) — several officials at the Ministry feel it would soon be closed down and turned into a...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: India's annual toll of premature deaths from air pollution is likely to rise to 1.7 million over the next two decades despite planned initiatives to lower power SECtor and transport emissions, says a study that highlights the need for more action. Released today by the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), the study cautions that rising incomes, urbanisation and industrialisation are raising energy consumption in India and worsening air...

-The Times of India Jaipur: Frequent snags in the server of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) have led to disruption in the distribution of food grains through the fair price shops in Rajasthan resulting in many violent incidents in the state. The state government has sought the help of the Union food ministry to take up the matter with UIDAI. Dr Subodh Agarwal, principal SECretary, food and consumer affairs of...

-PTI New Delhi: Under pressure to control pulses prices, the Centre is hopeful of clinching a long-term deal with Mozambique for assured supply of lentils after the two countries had positive talks last week. Indian delegations last week visited pulses growing nations, Mozambique and Myanmar, to explore government-to- government arrangement for assured supply of lentils, especially tur, on a long term basis. "The delegation is back with long term solution in sight. The...

-The Hindu Former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah has written to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, following the removal of a chapter on the Right to Information Act from school text books. In a letter dated June 24, Mr. Habibullah, chairperson of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, cited SECtion 26 of the RTI Act to point out that the law places a statutory duty on State governments to educate the citizenry, particularly...