-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: CBI director Ranjit Sinha has said infrastructure building through the public-private partnership model could lead to a spike in corruption cases as the potentially lucrative contracts may encourage collusion between big firms and state officials. "This route is full of pitfalls and it has opportunities for corrupt activities with big scope for collusion among promoters of consortiums to whom such projects are awarded and corrupt public servants...

-The Hindu A unique cell phone-based networking system in Chhattisgarh helps Adivasi Gonds share local news and air grievances. Deep in the jungles of Chhattisgarh, a straightforward, earthy man named Naresh Bunkar, field co-ordinator of the Adivasi Santha Manch, picks up his mobile phone and dials +918050068000, a long-distance number in Bangalore. He immediately cuts off and waits. Within seconds, he gets a call from the dialled number, and he hears a...

-Live Mint In the past year, ration cards are being replaced with smartcards that can track food doled out through the PDS system New Delhi: Mohanlal Kapoor, a street vendor in north India, holds a card entitling him to subsidized food for his wife and four children. To get supplies, the Kapoors must battle an estimated 15 million families in their state toting similar pieces of paper that they're not entitled...

-PTI NEW DELHI: Considering biotechnology to be area of focus in improving farm productivity, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Tariq Anwar said there is a need for "healthy scientific debate" on the issue. "Bio-Technology is expected to play a major role in improving productivity. There is need for a healthy scientific debate on the whole topic since it has been contentious not only in India but across the world with strong...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: When CAG Shashi Kant Sharma was elected in New York with a thumping majority as a member of the UN Board of Auditors on Friday evening it was an unusual strategic alliance that worked in his favour. China and Pakistan teamed up with India to defeat US-backed the Philippines, and ensure that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India occupies the prestigious post for the next...