-Outlook The state elections rolled out smoothly, but it's money power which ruled on the ground As we celebrate the smooth working of a massive electoral exercise-simplistically dubbed by many as the semi-final to the greatest show on earth, General Elections 2014-a realisation has dawned that the role of ‘money power' is reaching alarming proportions. Sure, elections are more fool-proof today than in the past, and most (rightly) salute the EC...

-Economic and Political Weekly The Tamil Nadu state government has started 283 subsidised restaurants - amma unavagams - in nine urban centres. This initiative has been a hit with a wide spectrum of urban consumers. However, the majority of the patrons seem to be the working urban poor. These initiatives have been accused of being "populist" but this model of providing affordable cooked food in urban areas promises to not only...

-The Hindustan Times Bali: After five days of hard negotiations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Saturday reached a historic deal designed to ease movement of goods across countries and allow developing nations more options to feed their poor - as India successfully lobbied in favour of state-funded welfare schemes. "For the first time in our history, the WTO has truly delivered," WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo broke down while announcing the deal...

-The Business Standard India remained firm on its stance as World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations reached the third day in Bali. As Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma ruled out any possibility of a compromise, whispers were already being heard of a possible collapse of the talks. Edited excerpts from the minister's press conference, which invited admiration as well as sharp criticism: * India has exceeded the de minimis requirements of the...

-Outlook Bali: Dismissing the suggestion that India was insisting on food security because of the ensuing general elections at home, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma today said New Delhi was only pursing an old proposal and stressed that "no agreement" would be better than a bad one. The Minister, at a packed press conference, made it clear that New Delhi was not prepared for any compromise on the food security issue,...