-The Indian Express Experts say the reluctance of Indian men to undergo sterilisation stems from history, social taboo and sheer logistical limitations. New Delhi: A National Health Mission report released Monday has flagged the “uneven burden” women bear in family planning with latest data showing women account for more than 93 per cent of sterilisations in the country. The report also found that male sterilisation Services still remain inadequately available. The 11th...

-TheWire.in Pesticide poisoning is the leading method of suicide among both men and women in the country. It is also the method that is easiest to prevent – by banning and removing highly hazardous ones from agricultural practice through legislation. The ban on highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) currently being discussed in India will not only protect the environment and improve the public health but will also achieve another rarely acknowledged goal –...

-TheWire.in Veteran IAS officers agree there is a need for greater specialisation in the civil Services, but are unhappy with the cut in recruitments over the years and the move to bypass the UPSC system. New Delhi: The Centre’s move to allow lateral entry into empanelled bureaucracy has opened up a complex debate that has been ongoing for, at least, the last two decades. While a big chunk of the civil servants...

-Livemint.com If approved, Atal Pension Yojana will attract more people towards the scheme and provide better inflation-beating returns New Delhi: The Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority (PFRDA) has proposed to double the monthly pension limit to Rs 10,000 from the existing Rs 5,000 under the Atal Pension Yojana. The proposal is now under the consideration of the central government. If approved, it will attract more people towards the scheme and provide better inflation-beating...

-Hindustan Times Contractual in nature, the lateral entry of experts should not alarm civil Services unions. At the same time, it must be ensured that the policy is not misused for political purposes. The government’s decision to recruit 10 senior bureaucrats through lateral entry is, in principle, a bold and long-overdue step. The Indian state apparatus suffers from three key deficiencies. Contrary to the widespread impression that it is bloated, the government...