-The Hindu There is little doubt that US universities have a long way to go in terms of making women safe on campus In the wake of the high-profile gang rape incident in New Delhi on December 16, media and public comments have significantly centred on anti-woman attitudes in Indian society, particularly among young men. This line of introspection is indeed warranted, for there can be little doubt that these values have fuelled...

-The Times of India KOLKATA: Days ahead of the Bengal Leads Summit much-touted investment summit by the Mamata Banerjee government in Haldia, former chief minister BuddhadebBhattacharjee on Sunday alleged that the state government's faulty policy on land acquisition and SEZ will drive away even the existing industries in Bengal. Bhattacharjee argued what good is a policy if it isn't enabling new industries in the state. "Infosys wants an SEZ status. Wipro wants...

-The Business Standard Reetika Khera Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi* “Aadhaar is being made de facto compulsory for welfare schemes. With two-thirds without Aadhaar, they are bound to be denied entitlements” There are three components of the government’s direct benefit transfer scheme — computerisation, extending banking services and linking the benefits with Aadhaar. The real game-changers are the first two, whereas Aadhaar-enabled transfers carry the risk of excluding current beneficiaries. The Central government has...

The total expenditure on central schemes for the poor and on the major subsidies exceeds the states' share of central taxes. These schemes are chronic bad performers due to a culture of immunity in public administration and weakened local governments. Arguing that the poor should be trusted to use these resources better than the state, a radical redirection with substantial direct transfers to individuals and complementary decentralisation to local governments...

-The Indian Express The Supreme Court on Wednesday noted that there was no need to amend existing laws relating to rape since legal provisions already provided for completion of the trial within two months. “It is all about the implementation. The only thing you have to do is to implement the existing laws. We have also clarified in several cases. No further amendment is required in the law as it sets the...