-The Business Standard The economic logic - and political reasons - behind the giant shift of spending power to the states Interim Budgets are not supposed to do this. This is precisely what they are not supposed to do. They are not supposed to lay out a policy change so vast it disempowers the next central government. But that's what P Chidambaram has done - and it appears to have been...
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Lok Sansad presses for passing of five key bills
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The National Campaign for Peoples' Right to Information (NCPRI), Disabled Rights Group (DRG), National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), and the National Coalition for Strengthening of Prevention of Atrocities Act (NCSPA), who have formed a coalition called the Lok Sansad, continued their agitation at Jantar Mantar to press for the passing of five pending "consensus bills" in Parliament. The coalition stated that now that...
More »When the state listens -MR Madhavan
-The Indian Express Pre-legislative scrutiny is a first step towards greater transparency in law-making. The committee of secretaries chaired by the cabinet secretary has decided that all bills proposed by the government should go through a process of pre-legislative scrutiny. This follows the recommendation of the National Advisory Council, which had suggested that all bills be taken through this process in order to garner public feedback at an early stage. Let us quickly...
More »Budget 2014: Political move? UPA shifts power over huge spending to states
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The next government at the Centre will have far less money to play with, thanks to something Chidambaram has done. He has transferred substantial control over spending on centrally-sponsored schemes such as employment guarantee and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to the states. In the coming year, the amount is Rs 3.4 lakh crore. State governments will be pleased. Political observers see it as a move to curry...
More »Polls to cost country Rs 3,500 crore this year -B Sivakumar
-The Times of India CHENNAI: The Election Commission has estimated that the 2014 Lok Sabha elections will cost the exchequer Rs 3,500 crore. That's about 150% more than the amount spent for the 2009 polls (Rs 1,400 crore). This does not include the expenses incurred for security and the amount Political Parties will spend. "Every state will send the expenditure statements to the Centre for reimbursement. The Union law ministry will peruse...
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