-The Hindu GADCHIROLI: A week ago, six militants of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) were shot dead by commandos of Maharashtra’s anti-Naxal C-60 force at Govindgaon, a village in Gadchiroli district. Shankar Anna alias Munneshwar Jagatu Lakada, 43, was leading the Maoist squad that organised a meeting on the night of January 19 at Govindgaon, villagers say. Gadchiroli police say Shankar Anna was secretary of the CPI (Maoist) Aheri area committee and...

-The Hindu Belgaum: Vijay Karnataka journalists Mrityunjay Yellappamath (Chikkodi) and Raju Ustad (Belgaum) were beaten up on Wednesday, allegedly by around eight youths. The police have arrested four persons following a complaint by the journalists at the APMC police station. The arrested are Basavaraj Siddappa Lakati, Syed Patel, Suresh Singari and Mahantesh Kudachi. Mr. Yellappamath and Mr. Ustad, who, along with other journalists, met Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil, said that they were...

-The Hindu Unless the government regulates the growth of the private sector and makes it accountable, the worn-down public health infrastructure cannot be revitalised The absence of a well thought out policy framework for strengthening the health system is the most important issue facing the health sector in India. In the government, there is no clarity on what the nation’s health system should be 10 years hence. Should it be a public...

-The Times of India MUMBAI: The Union government and regulatory bodies appear to be serious in ending the pharma-doctor nexus and curb unethical marketing practices. In its latest effort, the Medical Council of India has directed doctors, Hospitals and medical colleges to prescribe generic medicines as far as possible. Generic medicines are more affordable versions of branded medicines sold by companies. In its directive dated January 21 to the principals of medical...

-PTI Triggering a fresh debate in the context of the brutal gangrape in Delhi and youth protests that followed, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday raised a question whether the country's legislature reflects emerging India or does it need radical reforms. Asking whether corruption has overtaken morality in life, he said elected representatives must win back people's confidence and the anxiety and the restlessness of the youth has to be channelised towards change...