-The Business Standard   Assessment note says panel acts as control commission, especially in fund allocations to states An assessment of the Planning Commission by the Independent Evaluation Office has found the panel exceeds the scope of its authority by acting as a "control commission", particularly with regard to the allocation of funds to state governments. This is despite the fact that the commission was set up as a recommending body, through a...

-The Navhind Times   THAT climate will remain in a state of flux is a given. The fallout of global warming will be periodic extreme heat and drought, as was experienced by the United States and some other food-exporting countries in 2012, sending food prices close to record levels. At the same time, many countries, including China and India will experience heavy rains and floods from time to time, damaging food production. Even...

-The Indian Express   New Delhi: In the manmohan singh PMO, the CPIO was K Salil Kumar and the First Appellate Authority was Krishna Kumar.   Moments after Narendra Modi took oath on May 26, the Prime Minister's Office instantly launched a new version of its website http://www.pmindia.gov.in and http://www.pmindia.nic.in but 15 days later it's yet to disclose key details required under the Right to Information Act.   These include: names of officers designated as Central Public Information...

-The Business Standard   Officials said some talk had already started on appointing only senior sectoral advisers instead of full-time members The Narendra Modi government is looking for an adviser in the Planning Commission, even as the deputy chairman is yet to be appointed, perhaps a sign of the current priorities. 'The Commission's role might be truncated to an advisory body alone. The Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) might also see its role...

-Outlook   The UPA-II government spent nearly Rs 187 crore to publicise schemes under the 'Bharat Nirman' programme in the election year 2013-14. According to an RTI response by the Directorate of Advertising & Visual Publicity, the manmohan singh-led government spent Rs 186.98 crore in the election year 2013-14. Giving details of Bharat Nirman campaign of UPA-2, DAVP said in 2013-14, the election year, Rs 186.98 crore were spent whereas in 2012-13, the figure...