-The Times of India The government is likely to incorporate significant amendments to the whistleblowers protection Bill that will keep matters pertaining to national security, public order, Cabinet papers and foreign relations outside the Bill's purview. The exemptions can be seen as a "dilution" of the Bill by activists, but are seen to be necessary after it was pointed out that revealing sensitive details regarding national security could become "lawful" if provisions...

-The Friday Times How are demographics changing in Assam and Bengal? And what does this mean for 'indigenous' communities? Garga Chatterjee considers the argument for territorial purity The Assam state of the Indian Union has seen violence flare up suddenly from July 6th. With more than 40 people reported dead and upwards of one and a half lakh displaced in a week, the Kokrajhar riots between Bodos and Muslims have again brought...

-The Hindu The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) has criticised the August 9 order of the National Green Tribunal, allowing the filling of the Maheshwar dam up to 154 metres and generation of 400 MW electricity from the dam. Saying the order was given on a “completely erroneous basis,” the NBA said the tribunal “ignored the Central Electricity Authority’s opinion” that no electricity could be generated at 154 metres. “The tribunal based its order...

-The Indian Express The Reddy brothers’ iron grip on Bellary has come undone. Mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy is already in jail. In the most severe blow to the family since his arrest, his younger brother Somasekhara Reddy has now been detained for questioning by Andhra Pradesh’s Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly bribing a CBI judge in Hyderabad to grant bail to Janardhana Reddy. Friday’s “catch” — it has not yet been declared...

-IANS At least 2,000 people were taken to safer places after the Hati river in Odisha's Kalahandi district overflowed Sunday due to heavy rainfall during the last three days, an official said. Mihir MoHAnty, an officer of the state disaster management department, told IANS that those moved to safer places from the low-laying areas were being provided dry and cooked food. The river was flowing two feet above the danger mark at Junagarh...