Research by the Asian Centre for Human Rights, released on 18 September 2013, provides renewed evidence of marginalisation of Scheduled Tribes (STs) or adivasis in government employment, and in fact suggests that such exclusion is growing in some areas despite policies of reservation. (The entire report can be accessed here). Until May 2013, the number of backlog adivasi vacancies with the Central Government was 12,195 posts. Breaking up these figures...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Onion prices have again hit the roof in Mumbai, Delhi and other major cities after stabilizing briefly in August, leading the Centre to suggest that traders and speculators might be "artificially" increasing onion prices and has asked whether a seasonal shortage in supplies is being exploited. "Governments of Delhi and Chandigarh were addressed to look into the possibility of traders and speculators creating an artificial...

-The Times of India Mumbai/DELHI: Has the government's statistical office erred with data collection relating to food prices, either by chance or design, for calculating the two inflation indices, Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for August? Else how can someone explain the fact that while food prices as shown in WPI for August exhibit a higher rate of inflation now than a year ago, food inflation as measured...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The rate of inflation accelerated to a six-month high in August on the back of spiralling onion prices, posing yet another challenge for RBI ahead of the monetary policy review as it struggles to tame volatility in the foreign exchange market. Data released on Monday showed the wholesale price index (WPI) rose an annual 6.1% in August, higher than previous month's 5.79%. The inflation rate...

-The Hindu     The Land Act leaves plenty of room for States and the Centre to bypass it and acquire land under other laws that do not provide adequate compensation and rehabilitation The amended version of the Land Acquisition Act has been passed, but it does not entirely settle the issues of dubious takeover of land and failure to pay fair compensation. Although renamed the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land...