-The Hindu New Delhi: The measures come a year after the setting up of a "High Power Committee" following a series of media reports criticising the government for being indifferent toward traffic congestion in Delhi. The Ministry of Urban Development on Sunday announced a package of Rs. 19,762 crore for decongestion of the national capital and recommended a set of stringent measures, including the introduction of a Congestion Tax. “The explosive growth in...

-The Indian Express Political will and public participation will need to come together for India to become a leader in solar power on a global scale Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making major strides in energising India THRough solar power. During the UN conference on climate change held in Paris in 2015, PM Modi and the French President Francois Hollande launched the International Solar Alliance, to be headquartered in India. The...

-Business Standard Official panel points to bid deficiencies in rural job guarantee, pensions, housing and other programmes Wage payment delays are a distressing feature of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), an official panel says. This has to be adequately addressed, by  the Centre and states, to keep the programme’s spirit alive, it has said. It and some other findings of concern are the result of a multi-state Common Review...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: A high-powered government appointed panel on "Decongestion of Traffic in Delhi" has recommended disincentivizing use of private vehicles THRough deterrent parking pricing and congestion tax. It has also recommended no more huge investment in building flyovers and signal-free corridors. The panel has recommended Rs 20,000 crore interventions THRough BRTS, buses, walking and cycling infrastructure. Headed by urban development secretary Rajiv Gauba, the committee has noted that 21...

-Hindustan Times Chennai: The year was 1986. It was a hot, humid day in June when Dr Suniti Solomon first discovered that the deadly HIV/AIDS virus had made its way to India. Then a young doctor, Suniti was testing 100 sex workers as a part of a research project at the Madras Medical College (MMC). Little did she known that a small, humble Madras laboratory’s preliminary research would precipitate a medical challenge on...