-The Economic Times There has been a change of guard at the power ministry and Jyotiraditya Scindia, the new man in charge, has described his task as daunting. To simplify the many complexities, it's worth keeping in mind an adage that's particularly apt for rural India: Nothing is more expensive than no power. While on one hand there are thousands of villages that still remain to be electrified, on the other even...
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Plan panel to have discretionary powers on release of funds to States -Aarti Dhar
-The Hindu Giving itself discretionary powers on release funds to States under various Central schemes, the Planning Commission has decided to restructure 16 Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) into Additional Central Assistance (ACA) Schemes. The new funding pattern will be effective from 2013-14. While restructuring the CSSs will give more flexibility to the States to utilise the funds, it will also give the Planning Commission absolute control over the quantity of money to...
More »Politics aside, is Gujarat a great growth story?-Bibek Debroy
-The Economic Times A new book by Bibek Debroy on Gujarat looks at how this much-talked about state has performed in economic terms. The author argues history, luck and administrative clarity have been the determining factors. There has been a discernible pickup in Gujarat's growth performance since the 10th Plan (2002-07), the five-year Plans being natural periods for breaking up the timeline. It's tempting to argue that there is nothing exceptional in...
More »Punjab govt inks MoU with TERI to tackle environmental issues
-PTI The Punjab government today inked a Memorandum of Understanding with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to address issues pertaining to climate change, sustainable development, conservation and optimal use of water. The MoU was signed by Principal Secretary of science, technology, environment and non-conventional energy department, Karan Avtar Singh and Director General of TERI, Dr Rajendra K Pachauri, in the presence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Appreciating the joint efforts taken...
More »The era of cheap food may be over-Larry Elliott
-The Guardian A spike in prices caused by poor harvests and rising demand is an apt moment for the west to reassess the wisdom of biofuels The last decade saw the end of cheap oil, the magic growth ingredient for the global economy after the second world war. This summer's increase in maize, wheat and soya bean prices – the third spike in the past five years – suggests the era of...
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