-The Hindu ‘Historically disadvantaged groups most excluded from access to public goods’ Dalits, Adivasis and Muslims continue to be the worst-hit communities in terms of exclusion from access to public goods, according to the 2016 Indian Exclusion Report (IXR) released by the Centre for Equity Studies (CES) in New Delhi on Wednesday. “The 2016 Report reviews exclusion with respect to four public goods: pensions for the elderly, digital access, agricultural land, and legal...

-The Hindu Online media companies don’t take responsibility for their content, he says Sam Pitroda, regarded as the father of India’s telecom revolution, says that he is deeply concerned with the way social media is being misused globally to propagate lies, hatred and false ideas. In an interview, Mr. Pitroda says that in India also, social media has not been used effectively and technology is not meant to be misapplied. He says...

-Hindustan Times Withdrawals from ATMs in March this year stood at 2,259 billion — 0.6% more than what people withdrew in the same month last year. Cash transactions are back in vogue despite the government’s push for a less-cash economy post-demonetisation, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data on ATM cash withdrawals indicate. Withdrawals from ATMs in March this year stood at 2,259 billion — 0.6% more than what people withdrew in the same...

-The Hindu State government preparing its response to the model groundwater Bill circulated by Central government The State government does not favour the idea of pricing groundwater for agriculture. The government, which is fine-tuning its response to the model groundwater Bill circulated by the Central government, feels that the text of the model Bill provides scope for the idea, which, if translated into action, will only attract controversies, says a senior official. Though...

-TheWire.in After the government cancelled certain cesses that were meant for labourers’ welfare in preparation for the GST, activists suspect that many such moves may be around the corner. Assaults on the hard-earned rights of several categories of workers have been on the rise in recent times, evidenced by the cancellation of cesses meant to be utilised for workers’ social security. If left unchecked, such changes can lead to much bigger losses...