-Outlook An in-depth operational Safety review of two atomic power plants at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan by an expert team from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) began today in the first such exercise in India after the Fukushima nuclear accident. A 12-member Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) of the IAEA will review the programme and activities essential to plant operation based on the global nuclear watchdog's Safety standards and proven good practices. A Nuclear...

-The Hindu The question that must be asked, is whether India is willing to compromise on its laws and the Safety and rights of its citizens to protect the business interests of reactor suppliers In 2010, under pressure from multinational nuclear suppliers, the Manmohan Singh government pushed through a law to protect them from the consequences of a nuclear accident. The law makes it impossible for victims to sue the supplier, even...

-The Hindu Highlighting the possible disastrous consequences of field trials of Genetically Modified (GM) crops, an expert committee has recommended to the Centre to implement a 10-year moratorium on such trials on Bt. Transgenics in all food crops. In its interim report submitted to the Supreme Court, the Technical Expert Committee (TEC) said: “Based on current overall status of food Safety evaluation of Bt. Transgenics, including the data on Bt. Cotton and...

-The Times of India Get ready to shell out more for your train journey and several other services provided by the government — from parcels to patents. Pawan Kumar Bansal, the new railway minister, on Monday hinted at an increase in passenger fares with a caveat that it was not meant to earn a profit for the state-run transporter. "Fares will not be increased for the sake of increasing fare. If fare...

Environmentalists, civil society groups and scientists working with marginal farmers have welcomed recommendation of the Supreme Court appointed Technical Expert Committee (TEC) placing a 10-year moratorium on field trials of GM crops in India. The TEC freeze advice includes field trials of Bt transgenics in all food crops which are used directly for human consumption. (See links below for the actual report and more details) The TEC, which was appointed in...