-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Public Accounts Committee chair K V Thomas had to backtrack on his remarks suggesting PM Narendra Modi could be summoned to answer queries on demonetisation with the panel concluding that this is against rules. The meeting of the PAC on Friday saw BJP members vehemently object to Thomas's comments, arguing that he had quoted precedents incorrectly and rules governing financial committee do not permit calling ministers...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Given the rapid proliferation of TV channels, the Supreme Court suggested on Thursday that the Union government set up a statutory mechanism to decide people's grievances against programmes broadcast on the visual medium. A bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud said, "We are of the view that the competent authority, having framed the rules under the Cable TV Network (Regulation)...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court told the Centre on Thursday that it must file its response in four weeks to a PIL by NGO 'Common Cause' seeking permission for private FM radio stations and community radio services to broadcast news. Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Prashant Bhushan told a bench of Justice T S Thakur and Justice D Y Chandrachud that the government on one hand permitted private...

-Bangalore Mirror ICAR researchers say subsidised electricity benefitting only medium and large farmers Stating that the policy decision to provide free or subsidised electricity has been a key driver for widespread groundwater exploitation, estimates by ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Ballari, reveal that in Karnataka, groundwater depletion has forced farmers to drill up to depths of 200 to 300 metres, costing about Rs 2.5-3 lakh for a successful...

-The Times of India HYDERABAD: The extent of arable land in Telangana has registered a decline due to growth in industry, construction of houses, urbanisation and infrastructure development. This was revealed by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics of the government in its report on agricultural statistics for 2015-16. The report revealed that the land put to non-agricultural uses rose from 8.19 lakh hectares in 2008-09 to 8.92 lakh hectares in 2015-16. The...