-The Hindu Former PM Manmohan Singh says change undermines federal polity New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday remarked that the Centre ought to have consulted the State governments before introducing additional terms of reference for the 15th Finance Commission seeking to create separate funds for Defence and Internal Security. Asserting that unilateralism was not good for a federal polity and cooperative federalism, Mr. Singh said the best course would have...

-The Hindu National Capital Region Planning Board also released regional plans for 7 districts The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) on Friday released the functional plan for micro and household enterprises in the NCR that aims to boost micro, small and household enterprises, and approved regional plans for seven districts. Addressing the NCRPB Board meeting, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister of State (independent charge) Hardeep Singh Puri told NCR states to...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The information technology ministry does not appear to be in favour of linking Aadhaar with social media accounts as the measure has the potential to clash with earlier court judgments on privacy and use of the biometric identification card, top officials in the ministry said. The officials, requesting anonymity, said that the measure has to be carefully thought out before any decision to allow any linkage...

-The Hindu The factories in Vetapalem are in an immediate need of mechanisation ONGOLE: The cashew industry, which has flourished for hundreds of years in Vetapalem village near Chirala town in Prakasam district, is beginning to show the first warning signs of a slump. Cashew units are reportedly struggling to sustain operations in the wake of a shortage of raw material and a skilled workforce, with fingers being pointed at the Mahatma Gandhi...

-Livemint.com * The report was released on the sidelines of the 14th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Conference in Greater Noida * Representatives from over 198 countries and agencies are engaged in deliberations in the conference on strategies needed to mitigate drought New Delhi: As climate risks become more profound on agricultural activities, a report by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has highlighted that the number...