-The Indian Express Proposing a complete overhaul of the existing environmental governance framework, a government-appointed expert committee has recommended measures that would make it easier to set up industrial or infrastructure projects, but would also ensure that those who flout pollution norms or violate green laws are penalised heavily. Among the measures suggested by the four-member committee headed by former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian are: creation of new institutions...

-The Times of India Bhagalpur: The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and System of Root Intensification method for wheat, also referred to as System of Wheat Intensification (SWI) are likely to augment agriculture production manifold besides catering to the ever increasing demand for rice and wheat. "Through SRI, we can harmonize with the world view that 'rice and wheat are life support food for millions'," said the agriculture scientists and experts adding...

-The Hindu Business Line   The Open Government Data initiative is gaining ground, but it needs to be in step with the Central Information Commission Open government data (OGD) is fashionable. Governments and public institutions in Europe and other parts of the globe are making increasing numbers of datasets available to the public by means of national, regional, local or thematic portals, in keeping with their political commitments towards open government and open...

-The Hindu To address climate change, India has committed itself to a 20-25 per cent reduction in intensity of carbon emissions by 2020, but the international community will want more U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping have just signed a historic bilateral accord on climate change and clean energy cooperation in Beijing. This accord will have impacts in the run-up to the Paris Conference in December 2015 when the...

-The Times of India Margao: Perhaps for the first time since it was established in 2006, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Margao, has undertaken demonstration of newer varieties of paddy in its farm on a large scale, thereby signifying its shift from its earlier role of sustaining and supporting agriculture in the state to research and innovation. In all, 11 new varieties of...