-The Hindu Aadhaar-based Biometric Authentication does nothing in the battle against graft — there are better alternatives In a sickening way, October 2017 was like October 2002. Fifteen years ago, in Rajasthan’s Baran and Udaipur districts, there was a spate of starvation deaths. The government of the time made up fanciful stories to deny that the deaths had anything to do with hunger or government failure. In October 2017, the death of an 11-year-old...

-The Hindu Business Line After decades of neglect, Delhi’s government schools are finally turning the page with much-needed improvements to facilities and teaching methods. But problems such as staff shortage and a broken primary education system refuse to go away easily Delhi’s bustling IP Extension has a familiar skyline — a linear arrangement of ageing residential complexes. A gleaming new building in their midst catches the eye. Until recently, the Rajkiya Sarvodaya...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The major changes in GST rates in the 28 per cent bracket and measures to simplify filing and compliance are seen as an effort by the government to correct an "image problem" dogging the tax reform in key consumer and trader constituencies ahead of the Gujarat elections. It was felt a perception had gained ground that middle class activities like eating out and items like cosmetics...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: At a time when the government is pushing the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the fire at Delhi's largest landfill site only highlights the magnitude of India's garbage problem. Bhalswa -- the landfill that caught fire -- had crossed the permissible height by at least 30 meters as per the norms laid by environment ministry. In the last two decades, Indian cities have seen a rising tide of...

-The Hindu On the need for action-oriented research in development policy A whole new way of looking at poverty and development policy is taking shape in the world of economics. Traditionally understood as meagreness of material resources, there is a growing realisation that poverty also depletes mental resources. Understanding of how poverty impacts behaviour, what the absence of resources does to a person’s mindset can vitaminise the poverty-fighting policy toolkit. Insights, well-designed qualitative...