-The Times of India   Admissions of the disadvantaged or BPL (Below Poverty Line) category children under Right to Education (RTE) Act at various schools across the city was not without debate and dissatisfaction on Tuesday. At two of the schools, the education department authorities had to intervene for smooth implementation of the draw of lots of the applicants for kindergarten and class one. At St. Xavier's Senior Secondary Co-ed School, BHEL, parents raised...

Is the majority of India veg or non-veg? Well, contrary to impression, the land of Gandhi and Buddha is predominantly non-veg. It may well have been majority vegetarian country at some point of time but the new trend is that more and more people are taking to non-vegetarian diets. A new policy paper, “Veg or Non-Veg? India at the Crossroads,” published by Brighter Green, a New York-based public policy action...

-The Telegraph The Planning Commission has set up a committee to suggest an increase in corporate funding for Higher Education and research. Such funding, mostly seen in developed countries, has remained low in India. The government has so far been the main source of funds for the sector but it is now finding it difficult given the scale of expansion required. The committee, headed by N.R. Narayanamurthy, will develop a framework for engagement...

-The Times of India Out of the candidates contesting in the first phase of state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, at least 38 percent have criminal cases registered against them, 51 percent are millionaires and only seven percent are women. Almost all major political parties have fielded candidates who have criminal cases registered against them. Samajwadi Party has 28 out of 55 (51 %), Bahujan Samaj Party 24 out of 55 (44...

The hunger and malnutrition situation in the country has shown marginal improvement, according to the HUNGaMA report. ONE area that has always bothered policymakers in a growth-obsessed economy is the state of the social sector, in particular figures indicating the numbers of people going hungry or are homeless and children who are out of school, the poor nutritional status of women and children, and the high infant and maternal mortality rates....