-Down to Earth World Bank report says heart diseases have replaced TB and sepsis as two of the five leading causes of deaths between 1990 and 2010 Reasons for premature deaths in India have seen a significant shift over the past two decades. In 1990, the top five reasons were communicable diseases. In 2010, two of the top five reasons for premature deaths are non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Diet-related risks are the leading...

-The Hindu Those opposing GM crops ignore scientific evidence of their harmlessness and are depriving the nation of the wider benefits of agri-biotechnology It is unfortunate that the technical group appointed by the Supreme Court has chosen to stick with its recommendation for an indefinite moratorium on GM crop trials. There is fierce opposition from activists even to the introduction of the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill (BRAI) in Parliament, meant to evolve...

-PTI NEW DELHI: Due to lack of adequate storage infrastructure, fruits, grains and vegetables worth Rs 44,000 crore go waste every year, Food Processing Industries Minister Sharad Pawar informed Rajya Sabha on Friday. Pawar sAid during Question Hour that the value of annual wastage of fruits and vegetables was estimated at Rs 13,309 crore. However, if the wastage value of rice, wheat, cereals and others are taken into account, it would go...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Responding to growing allegations of wrongful arrests of Muslim youth in terror cases, the government is planning to provide legal assistance to those who have been jailed on prima facie "doubtful" charges. Sources in the home ministry sAid that officials have been asked to formulate norms for identifying those who may have been wrongly booked. The development follows the decision of the Centre to set up 39...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: In a report on Union government accounts tabled in Parliament last week, the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) has raised serious questions on the government's claim of its expenditure, saying the "integrity of the data provided to audit on Plan expenditure was doubtful". There is huge variation in Plan expenditure as per data maintained by different wings of the government. According to the finance accounts, the...