-The Indian Express These enterprises — whom she broadly categorises as ‘rural commercial capital’ — enjoy privileged access to formal credit networks. In her insightful study of the working of agricultural markets in West Bengal, British development studies scholar Barbara Harris-White has documented in detail how trade in farm produce is controlled through a web of rural and semi-urban agro commercial enterprises. These enterprises — whom she broadly categorises as ‘rural commercial capital’...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The environment ministry has said that a report reviewing the requirement of environment clearance for real estate projects and buildings is now "not traceable." This reply was given on an RTI enquiry filed in July that had asked for a copy of a committee report headed by K Kasturirangan, member, Planning Commission in 2013. The RTI had also asked for a report submitted by an expert...

-Business Standard Court to hear petition against release, field testing of all GM crops on that day The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the commercial release of the genetically modified (GM) variety of mustard till October 17, on a petition that this could have severe consequences on the environment and human health. The petition, filed a day earlier by an Aruna Rodriguez, had sought a moratorium on open-field trials and commercial release of...

-The Hindu Held to account by the Supreme Court, the Central government is using opaque methods to change the key provisions of the employment guarantee scheme and make it targeted instead of universal. There is a pithy saying in Hindi that the elephant has two sets of teeth, one for show and the other to eat. This seems an apt description of the approach of the Narendra Modi government towards the implementation...

-PTI WASHINGTON: The Indian administrative service, which is hamstrung by political interference and outdated personnel procedures, need urgent reform or risk institutional decline, according to a top US-based thinktank. "Unfortunately, the IAS is hamstrung by political interference, outdated personnel procedures, and a mixed record on policy implementation, and it is in need of urgent reform," the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in its report on 'The Indian Administration Service Meets Big...