-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Several social sector schemes, such as MGNREGA, housing, irrigation, education and connectivity, are expected to see a significant increase over the next two financial years as the government ramps up spending in key areas ahead of the 2019 elections. According to the medium-term expenditure framework statement tabled in Parliament by finance minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday, the Centre's total spending is set to reach Rs 26...

-The Hindu The Supreme Court directive should lead to better access under the Food Security Act The National Food Security Act, 2013, has met with prolonged political indifference, but there is some hope now since the Centre has been asked by the Supreme Court to ensure that States implement key aspects of the progressive law. The directives in the Swaraj Abhiyan case underscore the depressing reality that several State governments have not...

-PTI New Delhi: The Reserve Bank has asked banks to ensure customers’ lockers remain safe and there is “no negligence” that could render banks liable to claims by locker holders, Parliament was informed today. Besides, banks are being probed by the fair trade regulator CCI for alleged cartelisation in providing locker services to their customers. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley said there is no specific...

Will you go and make complaints to the same public official against whom you have a grievance? Of course not. However, in a judgement dated 21 July, 2017 by a two-judge Supreme Court (SC) bench, it has been observed that officers in charge of implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), were also designated as District Grievance Redressal Officers (DGROs) by several state governments. Section 15 of NFSA The SC...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: As many as 24 states are likely to scrap the no-detention policy in schools from 2018 with the Union Cabinet and Parliament approving the amendment of the relevant provision of the right to education act that allows the states to bring back evaluation-based promotions. According to a senior official, the change in the Right of Children for Free and Compulsory Education Act became necessary due to...