-The Times of India   NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday kicked off online environment clearances for industrial and infrastructure projects which have for long been hobbled by the slow pace of green approvals. As part of the transition to an e-window mechanism, for the next three weeks, project developers will be required to submit a hard copy of the application besides filing it online. From July 1, the system will be fully...

-Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)     Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, has asked for thorough streamlining of systems in the distribution of free generic drugs to government health institutions at all levels throughout the country. The Free Drug Programme's formal launch would be preceded by working out all logistical details with respect to procurement and distribution in consultation with the state governments. The...

-Down to Earth   New minister, Prakash Javadekar, says India will present its case on climate change forcefully at international forums The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (name changed by the new government) will now accept the online applications for environment clearances for the development projects. Prakash Javadekar, the new environment minister, launched the system for online applications for environment clearances after he took charge of the ministry on May...

The ADR was set up in 1999 by a group of professors from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad. Based on its Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the Supreme Court in 2002, and subsequently in 2003, made it mandatory for all candidates contesting elections to disclose criminal, financial and educational background prior to the polls by filing an affidavit with the Election Commission. Since 2002 ADR has been conducting multiple...

It is a citizens’ group working to promote transparency and accountability in government functioning and to encourage active participation of citizens in governance in India. SNS is an independent non-governmental organization and is not affiliated to, or supported by, any political party. It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 as Society for Citizens’ Vigilance Initiative. SNS has pioneered the effort of using the RTI Act for political accountability...