-Counter Currents The Aadhaar scheme of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is to provide India's billion-plus people with a unique identification number. Enrolling into the scheme was and still is not mandatory, though it was mentioned that it would be difficult for people to access public services in the absence of enrolment. The scheme requires individuals to provide their photograph, fingerprints and iris scan together with documentary personal information,...

-The Times of India AHMEDABAD: Was BJP MP Dinu Solanki in touch with a prime accused in the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethava, who was gunned down outside Gujarat high court on July 20, 2010? The CBI is investigating a possible link between Solanki and Bahadursinh Vadher, a constable who is the prime accused in the case. The central agency questioned the MP for the third consecutive day in Ahmedabad on...

-Outlook The Supreme Court today asked an NGO to file a separate plea on the expose alleging collusion between the prosecutor and one of the accused in the 2G scam, saying that "contradictory" reports have emerged on it. "Newspapers' reports are contradictory and you (Centre for Public Interest Litigation) move an application," a bench of justices G S Singhvi and K S Radhakrishnan said. The court's remark came when advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing...

-Live Mint The project is part of the country’s ambitious cash-transfer plan for selected welfare programmes Bangalore: Karnataka will start transferring cash directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries of India’s rural job guarantee scheme on a PILot basis in seven districts later this year, the state government said. This is part of the country’s ambitious cash-transfer plan for selected welfare programmes that the central government wants to eventually adopt across the...

-The Economic Times Cash transfer in various forms has been used in many countries to target support to the poor and achieve social objectives. In India, its introduction has generated more passion than rational debate. The scheme is not a magic bullet, but if properly implemented and targeted, cash transfer is a very sensible instrument of social assistance. In India, the rationale for introducing the scheme seems to be to check...