-The Hindu Bangalore: Many corporates have responded positively to the government’s advice to increase their overall budget by 65 per cent for safety and security, especially of women, revealed a survey undertaken by ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF). According to the findings of the survey on ‘Women Safety and Security Budgets for 2013-14’, some corporates have hiked their budget by 65 per cent while others are in the process of doing it. The...

-The Times of India ROHTAK: A khap panchayat in Kaithal district of Haryana decided to ease some gotra restrictions for marriages on Sunday. The leaders of Chahal khap announced that it would not object to a marriage in which the grandmothers of the couple have the same gotra. The condition that the couple's gotra and their mothers' gotra should not match will continue to exist. "The khap would not have any objection if...

-The Times of India WASHINGTON: For liberal, leftist torchbearers, NaMo is still No Go — even virtual contact is anathema. The man at the center of the agitation resulting in Wharton Business School cancelling the keynote address by Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi (NaMo for headline writers and tweeple) has a long record of liberal activism, and believes the decision by the alumni enhances the prestige of both the students and the...

-Live Mint Move may help the Congress renew its appeal to a traditional constituency; activists raise objections In yet another move that the ruling Congress Party hopes will help renew its appeal to a traditional constituency, the ministry of rural development has indicated it is likely to accept the recommendations of a panel that has suggested the universalization of pensions. The task force headed by Planning Commission member Mihir Shah was set up...

-Live Mint An investigation found DCGI cleared drugs without conducting mandatory clinical trials After five rounds of consultations in six months, a committee tasked with making recommendations on cleaning up India’s drugs-approval process and ending the cosy relationship between doctors, pharmaceutical companies and government officials had no suggestions to offer by way of a crackdown. It has, instead, suggested setting up 20 sub-committees. The report submitted to the health ministry in November is...