-PTI New Delhi: The Reserve Bank has asked banks to ensure customers’ lockers remain safe and there is “no negligence” that could render banks liable to claims by locker holders, parliament was informed today. Besides, banks are being probed by the fair trade regulator CCI for alleged cartelisation in providing locker services to their customers. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley said there is no specific...

-The Hindu The Supreme Court directive should lead to better access under the Food Security Act The National Food Security Act, 2013, has met with prolonged political indifference, but there is some hope now since the Centre has been asked by the Supreme Court to ensure that States implement key aspects of the progressive law. The directives in the Swaraj Abhiyan case underscore the depressing reality that several State governments have not...

-PTI The government has formed a committee in its bid to make drugs more affordable in the country, parliament was informed on Tuesday. “Government has constituted a committee of joint secretaries for ensuring enhanced affordability, availability and accessibility of drugs for the citizens,” Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh L. Mandaviya said in a written reply to Lok Sabha. Elaborating on the terms of reference of the committee, the minister said...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: As many as 24 states are likely to scrap the no-detention policy in schools from 2018 with the Union Cabinet and parliament approving the amendment of the relevant provision of the right to education act that allows the states to bring back evaluation-based promotions. According to a senior official, the change in the Right of Children for Free and Compulsory Education Act became necessary due to...

-The Hindu In reply to RTI plea, Lok Sabha Secretariat says Centre did not follow procedure. A Lok Sabha Secretariat reply to a Right To Information request made by one of the petitioners who has challenged the cattle slaughter ban rules in the Supreme Court reveals that the rules were never laid before the parliament, which the government should have done before implementing them. Having triggered an avalanche of litigation across the country,...