-Scroll.in In this environment of majoritarianism, we must seriously consider proportional representation, adds SY Quraishi. SY Quraishi, who was Chief Election Commissioner from July 2011 to June 2012, is known to be outspoken about several issues regarding electoral reform both when he was in the Election Commission and after he retired. He has asked for public funding of political parties, putting an expenditure cap on them, financial transparency among parties, and...

-The Hindu The imposition of Aadhaar-based biometric authentication in the Public Distribution System threatens to disrupt recent progress with PDS reforms. It also deprives millions of people of essential food entitlements. India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) has improved steadily during the last 10 years. The system used to be most ineffective and corruption-ridden, with leakages of around 50 per cent at the national level, going up to 80 or 90 per cent...

-PTI Major rivers are flowing above danger mark; NDRF teams sent to Varanasi, Allahabad and Ghazipur Ten persons were killed and lakhs affected due to floods in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, where major rivers are flowing above danger mark on Wednesday. Two boys were feared dead after they were washed away in flash floods in the Tawi river in Jammu on Wednesday. In Uttar Pradesh, two persons were killed in floods...

-PTI At least 22 persons have been killed, 23.71 lakh people affected in Bihar The Ganga and five other rivers are still flowing above danger mark in many parts of Bihar, triggering a flood-like situation in the districts situated along the banks of the river, while in Uttar Pradesh water level of major rivers has crossed the red mark at several places in the State. At least 22 persons have been killed while...

-The Indian Express Bundelkhand: Most of the casualties were due to house collapses, while at least four people were swept away due to the strong water currents in Mahoba and Banda. Lucknow: Having borne the brunt of drought year after year, Bundelkhand is facing the other extreme this monsoon. The heaviest rains in over a decade have inundated 500 villages and caused severe waterlogging in small towns, claiming nearly a dozen lives...