-PTI New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) will start giving State-specific monsoon forecast from next year. “IMD will start making State-wise monsoon forecast from 2017 apart from zone-wise predictions,” Union Minister for Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan said. The Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences M Rajeevan said from 2018-19 it will be extended to include other seasons. The IMD currently gives zone-specific daily monsoon forecast during the season for north-west, central India,...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: A draft education policy has suggested that the curriculum be drawn up with the objective of making every student feel proud of being Indian, a source told The Telegraph today. The content of every subject, particularly in school, should be designed weaving in values like righteousness, truth and the students' responsibility to themselves and the country, the source said, summarising recommendations submitted to the Union human resource development...

Situation alarming: More than one-third population hit by drought   The country is facing severe drought for the second consecutive year. Conservative estimates from official sources show that over a quarter of rural habitations are facing drinking water scarcity. Although both India Meteorological Department and Skymet have predicted a more than normal rainfall during June-September, 2016, the water storage available in 91 major reservoirs of the country has declined from 22 percent...

-The Hindu Business Line New Delhi: The All India Bread Manufacturers Association (AIBMA) has said that bread makers will do away with the use of potassium bromate as an additive in bread and bakery products. On Thursday, the AIBMA, which represents the organised bread manufacturers in the market, said that it proposes to stop use of potassium bromate with immediate effect, without waiting for a formal notification from the FSSAI. Industry players...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: Several parents in northern India seeking treatment for children with congenital heart disorders appear to favour boys over girls, a team of cardiologists reported today, corroborating earlier findings that gender bias may be denying even life-saving health care to girls. The cardiologists at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana have said that even the promise of free treatment has not eroded the underlying gender bias among...