How our dismal education scene is linked to our intolerance What’s common to the Salman Rushdie episode, India’s dismal educational scenario—as underlined by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and Pratham’s 7th Annual Survey of Education Report (ASER)—and its appalling ranking on the Global Hunger Index (GHI)? It’s clear even on the surface: a deep disconnect between India’s claims on democratic superpower status and its grim reality. If you probe...

The smart card versus unique identity number battle between P. Chidambaram and Montek Singh Ahluwalia will hit the ground tomorrow at Porthapur village in Andaman and Nicobar Islands when the home minister hands out the first tranche of 2.56 lakh resident identity cards. The resident cards are a rival to the unique identity number conceived by the Planning Commission to establish authentic identification for each resident and cut out corruption in...

-The Telegraph   Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh today asked social organisations run by the Catholic Church to help the government carry out development programmes in Maoist-hit tribal areas but cautioned them against “religious Mobilisation”. At an event held by Caritas India, Ramesh asked the Catholic organisation to help break down the “trust deficit” between the government and the tribal communities. But he added that Caritas should observe a certain “Lakshman rekha”. “I expect...

-PTI Economies of Indian states can grow 1.08% faster with every 10% increase in Internet and broadband connections, says a study released today by Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). Consequently, for every 10% increase in Internet and broadband penetration, India could potentially add $17 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the report said. "Our first major finding is the existence of a positive and significant coefficient on Internet....

-The Telegraph   Team Anna will start its campaign in the five poll-bound states from Saturday, almost two weeks ahead of the earlier plan it had announced. The group said it would not ask voters to back or oppose any particular party but make them aware of every party’s stand on the Lokpal bill. Team Anna had earlier said it would start its campaign from February 3 in Uttar Pradesh. Its tour plan now...