THE DEBATE on the National Food Security Bill, tabled in parliament three months ago, is on full swing. Economists from both sides are arming their arguments with facts and logic. The people who would benefit of this Legislation are in a dilemma. This prompts the consideration that the experts must try to see the issue from the ground reality of food security and its beneficiaries. Undoubtedly, it’s a great and historical...

-The Telegraph Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may call a meeting of floor leaders of all parties in the Rajya Sabha on Friday to discuss amendments to the Lokpal bill that could not be passed after the midnight drama on the last day of the extended winter session. Sources said the government would not insist on the inclusion of a Lokayukta clause in the bill. The clause had become the main bone of...

Montek Singh says he is willing to revise poverty estimates on the basis of expert opinion Though the incidence of poverty has come down over five years from 2004-05 to 2009-10, it is a startling fact that inequality has increased, with fewer people controlling income. Union Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia admitted on Tuesday that income distribution was not at the desired level and inequality increased in both rural and...

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee maintained on Sunday that the budgetary proposal to amend the Income Tax Act with retrospective effect from 1962 to assert the government's right to levy tax on merger and acquisition (M&A) deals involving overseas companies with business assets in India is not Vodafone “case specific,” but an enabling provision to protect the fiscal interests of the country and avert the chances of a crisis. Faced with all-round...

-The Hindu Legislation in this regard likely to be in place by this month-end: Ramdas One year of rural service for medical students will be made compulsory from this year, Medical Education Minister S.A. Ramdas announced this at the graduation day of the first batch of the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) here on Saturday. As many as 148 candidates graduated on Saturday. Despite not receiving an enthusiastic response from the audience...