-The Hindustan Times The government has shielded its officials from harassment by anti-corruption sleuths but left the private sector at the mercy of the police under a proposed anti-bribery law targeting the private sector. The home ministry’s proposed amendment to the Indian Penal Code (IPC) criminalises bribery amongst individuals, trusts and firms and prescribes a maximum jail of 7 years for the guilty. But it gives the police a free hand to...

-PTI The bank deposits of Himachalis stood at about Rs 50,000 crore but the state is under huge debt, according to a state Finance Ministry official. The percentage of people keen on increasing their savings was 75 per cent in the state while it was 33 per cent in the country, the official said. The increase in income of farmers from horticulture, off season vegetables, milk, animal husbandry and poly houses and fat...

-The Hindu Death toll in Uttarakhand alone is 28 After weeks of deficient monsoon in the northwestern region, the three Himalayan States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, as well as Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday faced cloudbursts, landslips and floods, causing at least 31 deaths. Authorities issued a flood alert as the level in the Chenab, Tawi, Ujh and Basantar rivers approached the danger mark in Jammu. In Himachal Pradesh, the police...

-The Economic Times Sales of inverters and batteries jumped about 30% for the quarter to June, as a delayed monsoon pushed up power consumption in energy-deficient India.  Manufacturers of power backup systems say they expect good profits this year, as the increase in sales will offset the rise in input costs due to a weak rupee. The country's largest battery maker Exide Industries said growth was robust despite a 4%-5% rise in prices....

-The Times of India There has been a major power failure in north India since late Sunday night affecting at least six states. The states affected include Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. "Yes there are problems with Northern Grid, we are trying to restore it", said SK Soonee, CEO of Power System Operating Co (PSOC). PSOC manages the Northern Power Grid. Officials sources said while the exact reasons for the grid...