-IANS NEW DELHI: Imposition of 18 per cent rate on pesticides under the Goods and Service Tax (GST) system has become a cause of worry not only for farmers but crop protection product manufacturers as well. Manufacturers say it will increase agricultural input costs, putting additional burden on farmers as use of pesticides is essential owing to its role in controlling pest and increasing productivity. As the current farming season is at...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India today told the Supreme Court that it was not in favour of publishing the list of loan defaulters who owed public sector banks Rs 500 crore or more because such disclosure might involve the statutory, contractual and fiduciary rights of the defaulters. Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for the Reserve Bank, argued that the grant of loans was covered by various statutes, including...

-Hindustan Times There are at least four million domestic workers in India, mostly women, minors and migrants who belong to the lowest end of the economic spectrum. It is time to implement the ‘Domestic Workers Welfare and Social Security Act, 2010’ Bill. The problem of domestic workers being ill treated is not a new one. The recent case of a minor girl in Noida being accused of stealing; and the counter allegations...

-Livemint.com Despite facing discrimination at every step, Kaushal Panwar managed to achieve her dreams. But she says her identity, for people around her, is still that of a Dalit. It’s like hitting a brick wall with bare fists. You could just give up, thinking you’ll make no more than a scratch. Or you could smash through one day, with the help of a chalk and a slate. When the little Dalit girl first...

-CivilSocietyOnline.com New Delhi: An estimated 50 percent of children in the National Capital Territory of Delhi are undernourished, but a State Food Commission that can address the problem has not been set up. The Food Security Act of 2013 stipulates the setting up of food commissions in the states to monitor mid-day meals served in government schools and supplementary nutrition provided in anganwadis, which are mother and child care centres. It has been...