-The Hindu Mumbai: While the Aadhaar card is not yet made mandatory for citizens of India, the government agencies in future can make it compulsory for availing benefits from their pro-people schemes. "If a certain authority feels that the Beneficiaries of a particular scheme need to possess Aadhar cards, they can make it mandatory for them for that particular scheme," said Nandan Nilekani, Chairman, Unique Identification Authority of India, on Monday here. Mr....

-Outlook Itanagar: In pursuance of the Centre's initiative to ensure food for all, Arunachal Pradesh today launched the National Food Security Ordinance (NFSO) 2013 commemorating the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. As per the provisions of the Ordinance, a person belonging to priority households would be entitled to receive 5 kg of food grains per person per month at subsidised price. Supply of rice is to be made available to the eligible persons...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Accepting the argument of political parties that poll promises or "freebies" are related to the Directive Principles of State Policy, the Election Commission is considering a pragmatic set of guidelines that would allow freebies as long as they are targeted at the economically and socially weaker sections, religious minorities, women and populations living in remote, border or insurgency/disaster-hit areas. Directive principles are broad policy guidelines considered...

-The Hindu While the UPA is showcasing cash transfers as a key initiative and has even made a provision for it in the National Food Security Bill (NFSB), there is a strong resistance to it. Major Opposition parties are moving amendments against cash transfers, food coupons and cash allowances in lieu of food even as the law is to come up for approval. So far, Delhi and Bihar are keen on providing cash...

-The Hindu Among the 18 States which stand to lose are Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhi, Uttarakhand and some north-eastern States. Even as the National Food Security Bill is pending in Parliament, the Centre has conveyed to certain States that their foodgrain allocation would decline in spite of the mandatory 75 per cent rural and 50 per cent urban populations being covered under the proposed new law. Among the 18 States which...