-The Hindu There are huge differences in the quality of school education across the country, according to the ranking. There are huge differences in the quality of school education across the country, according to a Niti Aayog ranking released on Monday. Among 20 large States, Kerala was the best performer with a score of 76.6%, while Uttar Pradesh came in last with a score of 36.4%. However, Haryana, Assam and Uttar Pradesh showed...

-The Hindu Business Line Insurance companies say changing guidelines under PMFBY have increased their costs Chennai: With insurers increasing premium rates every year, farmers and the government -- State and the Centre -- are coughing up more under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Sample this: In 2016-17, the premium rate was 10.75 per cent (of sum insured). This increased to 12.36 per cent in 2017-18 and to 12.60 per cent in...

-The Hindu Why the right to Internet access and digital literacy should be recognised as a right in itself Recently, in Faheema Shirin v. State of Kerala, the Kerala High Court declared the right to Internet access as a fundamental right forming a part of the right to privacy and the right to education under Article 21 of the Constitution. While this is a welcome move, it is important to recognise the...

Almost one in every five suicides in the world is committed by self-poisoning with pesticide, which mostly occur in rural, agricultural areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), states a new publication entitLED 'Preventing Suicide: A resource for pesticide registrars and regulators'. Published jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the booklet says that the adoption of green revolution technology...

-Newsclick.in This bounty for corporate houses comes at a time when common people are reeling under a slowdown, joblessness is at record levels and incomes are stagnating. Continuing her series of press conferences, that are becoming like a treasure hunt for corporates, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced today that corporate tax rates will be slashed from the current 30% (average) to 25.17% including all cess/surcharge. Actually, if no other concession is avaiLED...