-Outlook Development activities including thermal power projects, mining and other polluting industries should not be allowed in a 60,000 sq km ecologically sensitive "natural landscape" of Western Ghats, a mountainous range that passes through six states, a Government panel said today. In its report, the 10-member high-level working group, headed by eminent scientist K Kasturirangan, has not recommended any regulatory mechanism for the remaining 96,000 sq km area of the Western...

-The Hindu     This demographic potential offers India and its economy an unprecedented edge Every third person in an Indian city today is a youth. In about seven years, the median individual in India will be 29 years, very likely a city-dweller, making it the youngest country in the world. India is set to experience a dynamic transformation as the population burden of the past turns into a demographic dividend, but the benefits...

-The Economic Times WASHINGTON: As India gears up to provide food security cover to 67% of its population, a report compiled by Global Development Network says that the challenges to food security and rural Livelihood is fast growing not only in India but in entire South Asia. The report says that the problem can be addressed by investment in agriculture and rural Livelihoods on a priority basis. "Financial investment in agriculture research...

-www.esocialsciences.com and Iris Knowledge Foundation Every third person you meet in an Indian city today is a youth.  In about seven years the median age in India will be 29 years, very likely of a city-dweller, making it the youngest country in the world. The State of the Urban Youth India 2012: Employment, Livelihoods, Skills is published by IRIS Knowledge Foundation (IKF), Mumbai India for the UN-HABITAT Global Urban Youth Research...

-The Times of India After the job guarantee scheme played a crucial role in UPA's reelection, the government is working on a plan to reach out to 100 million tribals to ensure remuneration for minor forest produce. The government will unveil an ambitious initiative by June, after the Cabinet clears the policy. The plan is to have a mechanism to fix the minimum support price for a list of 10-15 non-timber forest...