Sugar prices have been rising, and the government has been offering sweet nothings. But on Tuesday the entire Opposition - even UPA's allies - will put the government in the dock over price rise. At this juncture, a Notification by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is certainly bad news for the beleaguered government. Though sugar exports are banned, the DGFT issued a notice on February 15 allocating 10,000 Metric tonnes...

After more than six months wait, HRD minister Kapil Sibal on Friday signed the file for the Notification of the Right to Education Act, 2009, in the next few days and its implementation from April 1. Delay in working out the finances and funding pattern between the Centre and states were the reasons given by HRD ministry for sitting on the Notification. But the funding pattern is yet to be...

The Bt brinjal furore has brought to light a little-known government Notification that plucked 190 species of plants out of the protective sphere of a law on biodiversity, triggering fears among some environmental groups that these biological resources may now be plundered with ease. The environment ministry had declared in the Notification last year that the provisions of the National Biodiversity Act — India’s only legislation to protect its biodiversity —...

The nationwide public consultations on commercialisation of Bt brinjal concluded here on Saturday amid chaos and deep divisions among stakeholders over the acceptability of genetically modified food crops. Disclosure of details of a gazette Notification that has kept 190 plant species, including brinjal, out of the purview of the Biological Diversity Act added to the controversy. The exercise, which witnessed frequent disruptions by both pro and anti-GM technology groups, saw tempers...

During the last 10 days two land acquisition Notifications have been set aside. The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) has quashed a Haryana government’s 2002 Notification for inappropriately releasing land to private developers. Similarly, the Allahabad High Court has repealed a UP government’s Notification under which land was acquired for a private project in 2005. Both Notifications have been cancelled on account of procedural lapses. However, these rulings highlight...