-The Times of India NAGPUR: The state cabinet has given a go ahead for distribution of over 7540 solar powered agricultural pumps in the state. It will be on a pilot basis under a Central scheme. State cabinet on Tuesday decided to allocate Rs 22.25 crore for the project estimated to cost Rs 445 crore. The Union government has decided to give a big push to solar energy and fixed a target...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government has downsized its first large-scale initiative for women, trimming the plan for a rape crisis centre in every district to one centre per state and Union territory. Union women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi had suggested 660 Nirbhaya Centres - one each in the 640 districts and another 20 in the six metros. Now, there will be just 36, their locations decided by...

-The Indian Express "If we did not have a patent system, it would be irresponsible, on the basis of our present knowledge of its economic consequences, to recommend instituting one." So said Fritz Machlup, a wise American economist several decades ago. His words remain as true now as they were then. For, the patent system is one of the most faulty legal regimes that one could possibly have conceived. It purports...

-The Hindustan Times The government has chosen the Ordinance route to put into force several legislative Bills over the past months. Many of these are expected to be tabled in Parliament in the upcoming budget session. HT explains four of them. What is an ordinance? As per Article 123 of the Constitution, when Parliament is not in session, the President has the power to promulgate an Ordinance - which has the same force...

-The Hindu Business Line The Subramanian panel report on environment regulation should not be accepted in a hurry Environmental governance in India is becoming increasingly contentious. Environmental quality is declining sharply on indicators such as air, water and forest cover. At the same time, there are calls for regulatory flexibility to enable pursuit of a "development agenda". One of the underlying reasons for the failure of environmental regulation has been the adhocism of...