-The Economic Times The parliamentary standing committee on food is giving a final shape to the UPA-II government's ambitious Food Security Bill. It is likely to submit its report during this session which is likely to end on December 21. Committee chairman Vilas Muttemwar summoned senior food ministry officials on Monday to study the availability of grains and the ministry's readiness to roll out the project. The government, however, is likely to present...

-DNA Bhopal: The state government on Tuesday said the 'cash transfer scheme' announced by the Central government recently was already in place here.   "The process of transferring amounts of subsidy directly into bank accounts of Beneficiaries is already in place in Madhya Pradesh with a view to preventing leakage in govt subsidy schemes and ensuring transparency in selection of Beneficiaries", read a press statement issued by the government.   According to it, Chief Minister...

-The Times of India CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: Chief election commissioner V C Sampath on Tuesday expressed his disapproval over the Centre's decision to go ahead with the direct cash transfer scheme when assembly elections were round-the-corner in Gujarat. Himachal Pradesh, the other state that went to polls, is yet to know the result, and model code of conduct is still in force. Sampath, who was in Chennai to review the ongoing summary revision of...

-The Hindustan Times The Election Commission on Tuesday ticked off the Union government for announcing the implementation of Aadhar-based direct cash transfer scheme during election time in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and directed it to keep the process in abeyance in the two poll-bound states. The three-member commission, in its meeting chaired by chief election commissioner VS Sampath, in its order stated that the government's announcement was "avoidable", keeping in mind the...

-The Indian Express The Petroleum Ministry has asked the Prime Minister’s Office to defer the rollout of the direct cash subsidy transfer scheme by at least three months. The ministry told the PMO on Monday that its oil marketing companies are not ready to implement the scheme even in the 51 districts identified in the first phase. Pointing out that bank accounts need to be opened on behalf of the Beneficiaries, the...