-IANS The government wants to plug leakages in the public distribution system (PDS) before it implements the ambitious National Food Security Bill and has asked states to complete the process of computerisation of data on beneficiaries by October this year. The proposed law, a pet project of United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, aims to give legal right to cheaper foodgrain to 63.5 per cent of the population. According to a senior official...

-The Business Standard Census details show spread of mobiles, TVs, bank accounts, even in poverty-stricken states household power connections still a big lack The past decade has seen the weakest sections of the society make rapid gains in their material wellbeing, acquiring assets such as cell phones, televisions, two-wheelers and bank accounts, though almost half the population of scheduled castes and tribes (SC and ST) continue to live by the light...

-PTI Not satisfied with the pace of enrolment for Adhaar number, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today asked Chairman of Unique Identification Authority Nandan Nilekani to expedite the process in the city. In a meeting with Nilekani, Dikshit expressed her unhappiness in slow progress in enrolment for Adhaar numbers and asked him to take steps in removing the hurdles. "I explained about the slow progress in the enrolment for the Adhaar numbers. We...

-The Hindu A Lancet study reports that suicide is the second highest cause of death among the young The medical journal, The Lancet has published a study today which should bring attention to a little known human tragedy which is being played out across our country. The research is based on the first national survey of the causes of death, conducted in 2001-03, by the Registrar General of India. Many people die...

-The Hindustan Times Bollywood star Aamir Khan had two simple prescriptions for a Parliamentary committee to reduce high health costs for citizens. First, make doctors prescribe generic medicines rather than brands. Second, set up a regulator to ensure big pharmaceutical don’t take over smaller ones and monopolise the medicine market. Khan and his team were invited on Thursday by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce headed by BJP MP Shanta Kumar, which...