-The Hindu The National Democratic Alliance government has just introduced a cess of 0.5 per cent on all taxable services for the Swachh Bharat campaign. In February 2016, it will introduce a 2 per cent cess on airfares for all domestic flyers except those flying to remote locations, and international travellers. This cess is meant to fund losses that airlines may incur in connecting to hinterland locations. The Central government loves...

-Hindustan Times The prospect of the youngest offender in the Delhi gang rape case walking free has stirred public opinion in recent weeks, with a string of protests and the parents of the victim urging authorities to detain the convict. Parliament is expected to take up amendments to the juvenile justice bill on Tuesday, a rare political response to public anger over the case, but the outrage has helped mask two crucial...

-The Hindu All govt departs and ministries have been asked to provide electronic options for all payments and receipts by March 31, 2016. The Prime Minister’s Office has set an ambitious target to shift at least 90% of all government transactions that involve payments or receipts from Citizens and businesses to electronic or paperless mode by the end of 2016, replacing the use of cash, demand drafts, cheques and challans in government...

-The Indian Express The juvenile justice bill, to be debated by the Rajya Sabha today, confuses revenge with justice Our Parliament is on the verge of committing a heinous crime against its youngest Citizens as it discusses the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014 in the Rajya Sabha today. If it passes this bill, it would be placing a sword of Damocles over every Indian born after 1997, including...

-The Pioneer Pollution alarm bell might be ringing aloud in Delhi, but several other cities are also facing similar grim situation due to rising air pollution and its impact on the health of the Citizens. Recent data available from the Government shows that number of people suffering from respiratory diseases believed to be associated with air pollution exposure has shot up from 3.16 crore in 2012 to 3.48 crore in 2014. The...