-The Hindustan Times All colleges may soon have to get accredited, and foreign varsities will be able to offer joint degrees with Indian universities – without the enactment of laws making accreditation mandatory and allowing foreign institutions entry into India. With 14 bills aimed at a plethora of higher education reforms stuck at different stages of parliamentary approval, the UPA has decided to try and use existing laws to draw up regulations...

-Outlook Koraput (Odisha): Inquiry conducted by the administration has shown serious irregularities in implementing MGNREGA at Lamtapur block in Odisha's Koraput district, officials said today. Projects worth several lakhs of rupees have been started at various panchayats of the block under the MGNREGA without any work order being issued. "It was found during inquiry that without any work order and funds several works have been executed at the block under the MGNREGA. Work...

-Outlook A parliamentary panel today questioned the Delhi Police chief over the gang rape incident in the capital and said deficiencies like vacancies at officer level and lack of vehicles to patrol the streets existed. Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home to face questions on 'growing atrocities against women in Delhi'. Home Secretary R K Singh, who was also to appear before the panel, could not attend...

-The Telegraph The government today set up a commission of inquiry to identify lapses that may have led to the bus gang rape and “fix responsibility” even as the capital limped back to normal after a violent weekend. Police let vehicles ply on the 2.5km stretch between India Gate and Rajpath, locked down for the past two days since Sunday’s protests. The decision to set up the commission is the latest among several...

-Outlook In an attempt to name and shame rapists, the government has decided to prepare a data base of all rape convicts across the country and their photographs, names and addresses would be made public. Minister of State for Home R P N Singh said he has directed the National Crime Records Bureau to prepare a directory of all rape convicts and upload their photographs, names and addresses on its website. "We are...