-PTI The implementation of the Right to Education Act in Bihar hit a roadblock with over 25,000 private schools across the state observing a total strike on Wednesday paralysing teaching works to protest against the state government's bid to 'impose registration' on schools. The strike was called by the Confederation of four school associations -- Independent Schools' Association, Christian Minority Association, Bihar Public Schools and Children Welfare Association and Muslim Education Welfare...

-The Indian Express   The inquiry of the National Minority Commission has held the local administration and police department responsible for “over-reacting” and “acting in panic” during the recent communal clashes between Meo Muslims and Gurjjars in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. NCM chairperson Wajahat Habibullah told The Indian Express that the initial report of the inquiry team had been finalised and sent to the Rajasthan government. The report had found that the local...

Of late, there has been a debate on whether public programmes such as school education, scholarships, health-care delivery and access to microcredit can be targeted at beneficiaries based on religion; some consider this ‘unconstitutional' and argue that it amounts to discrimination. I highlight the constitutional provisions and argue that there is nothing in the Constitution which bars identification of beneficiaries based on religion. Religious identity is listed on a par...

Drawing a cartoon of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Madhya Pradesh, another Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled State, proved too costly for the cartoonist of leading Indore-based eveninger Prabhat Kiran. He landed behind bars for his “crime.” Harish Yadav (39) was arrested under Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) for a cartoon...

-The Indian Express   Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday termed the suggestion to deny privileges to those families in Kerala who do not follow the two-child norm as “ridiculous”, saying the states cannot provide benefits on the basis of the number of children that a family has. “It (the recommendation) is not being implemented anywhere. Anybody can say anything but the state will not provide on the basis of the...