-PTI People can now buy postal orders online to file RTI applications after payment of fee through a postal department website. Earlier this facility was only available to Indian citizens living abroad. "This facility has been provided for Indian citizens to facilitate them to seek information from the Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) under the RTI Act, 2005. "Debit or Credit Cards of any Bank powered by Visa or Master can be used to...

-Deccan Herald Karnataka: Bellary district is gifted with abundant sunshine. Yet, not much thought has been given to tap solar energy and replace the polluting fossil fuels. But Yallappa D, an agricultural engineer, is making a difference, though in his own humble way. Yallappa's creative mind had been at work since he joined BTech course in Agriculture Engineering at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Raichur five years ago. Driven by a...

-The United Nations Seeking to ensure that the world can feed a fast growing population, expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, the United Nations today published voluntary international standards to improve conservation of the crops that are crucial to food security by preserving biodiversity in gene banks and in the field. "As the world's population grows and continues to face a wide range of climate, environmental and other challenges, maintaining a...

-The Business Standard Mumbai: The Ministry of Agriculture proposes drastic reduction in the market fee and commission charges paid in the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee ( APMC) markets. To this effect, it also suggest abolishing the present system of licensing of traders / commission agents by substituting it with system of registration. Accordingly, there will be a single unified registration for the main market and collection...

-The Indian Express     Policy design should worry less about public versus private, and more about choice and accountability. The most noteworthy aspect of the Aam Aadmi Party's manifesto is the explicit focus on service delivery. This is what its government will be evaluated on, and attention has shifted from the AAP's political success to how it will deliver on these promises. The ideas below reflect learnings from over a decade of research...