-The Indian Express Unused priority sector lending funds of commercial banks will be used to set up the Rs 20,000 crore corpus of the proposed MUDRA Bank. The bank will use at least 65 per cent of its funds for lending to micro enterprises run by members of scheduled castes and tribes. Typically, domestic commercial banks deposit their lending shortfall from priority sector to the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund of the NABARD...

-The Hindu Nine amendments have been adopted. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015, popularly known as the land bill, was adopted by the Lok Sabha after debating it for two days. Congress and Biju Janata Dal walked out ahead of the voting, to protest the removal of a clause that makes it mandatory to get farmers' consent prior to the acquisition of land...

-Hindustan Times Massive budget cuts in the education sector in the 2015-16 Budget got activists and NGOs working in the sector worried. The outlay for programmes such as the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, National Nutrition Mission, Rashtriya Madhayamik Shiksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) and mid-day meal scheme have seen significant cuts. The allocation for ICDS Scheme has been reduced from Rs 18,195 crore in 2014-15 budget estimates to Rs 8,335.8 crore in...

-The Hindu Bengaluru: Acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission's recommendations by the Union government is likely to cost the State dear, particularly in implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes. Karnataka is expected to feel the pinch despite higher allocation in the form of its share from Central taxes. The hike in the Central pool of taxes is likely to be nullified with reduction in allocations proposed in the Union budget for 2015-16 for...

-The Hindu Business Line   Economic Survey says Parliament can pass laws to override States' powers to create such a thing The Budget has proposed the setting up of a national agriculture market. Agriculture in the country is a State subject and thus all the States have set up Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) to regulate the marketing of agricultural commodities. Thus, APMCs have been considered an inhibiting factor for establishment of a national...