-Economic and Political Weekly There are basic methodological and conceptual problems with recent research that ends up arguing that private school education is more effective than public education. Such findings have obvious policy implications but it is critical that research that informs policy is based on a correct reading of facts, keeping the larger vision of education in mind. Recent research into the cost effectiveness of public education vis-à-vis private education concludes...

-PTI NEW DELHI: The government will on priority distribute nearly 27 million tonnes of wheat it procured this year under the relaxed quality norms through ration shops, welfare schemes and open market sales. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) procured 28.08 million tonnes of wheat this year, of which 26.62 million tonnes was purchased under the relaxed quality norms because the crop got damaged due to unseasonal rains early this year. FCI generally...

-Business Standard A report published by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) on Thursday revealed a sharp 24 percentage points drop in the number of rural households using kerosene for lighting, and an equal increase in electrified households since 1999-2000, the date of the last such relevant survey. Titled 'Energy Sources of Indian Households for Cooking and Lighting', the report traces the usage patterns of primary sources of energy in cooking and...

-ANI About 75 tribal groups have been identified and categorized as particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) by the government. To cater to their overall wellbeing and development, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has further revised the Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) Scheme to provide 100 percent financial assistance through state governments. The scheme focuses on activities such as housing, land Distribution, land and agricultural development, animal husbandry, the construction of link...

-Hindustan Times A nutrition plan within the National Food Security Act meant for pregnant women and lactating mothers, a vulnerable group that skews India’s hunger indices, looks quietly buried. It still runs as a trial in 52 districts, two years after the landmark legislation was signed into law. The Centre hasn’t yet begun budgeting for it to expand the maternal health scheme to cover the whole country. While a parallel scheme under...