Despite criticism of the appointment process, and pendency , the Supreme Court appears to enjoy public confidence like no other institution As the Supreme Court of India approaches its final week of hearings for the year, a look back shows it has dominated the national consciousness by ruling on myriad issues. The court was conceived by the framers of the constitution to deal mainly with fundamental questions of law. But India’s top...

China, India, Brazil say a pact must recognize the historical responsibility of nations that caused the problem to act first United Nations (UN) secretary general Ban Ki-moon said a global warming treaty may be ”beyond our reach” this week as India and China rejected pressure for developing nations to adopt mandatory pollution targets. “We must be realistic about the opportunity of a breakthrough in Durban,”” Ban said at UN climate talks...

The government is likely to recalibrate its retail foreign investment strategy, while simultaneously trying to bridge the political divide with allies and states. Government sources said with neither the opposition nor the allies, Trinamool and DMK, objecting to 100 per cent FDI in single-brand retail approved by the cabinet, the commerce and industry ministry would work on a notification to operationalise the decision. “Our understanding is we can work on rules for...

The Trinamool Congress rode to power earlier this year on the strength of popular resentment against the acquisition of land for commercial development, but farmers in West Bengal seeking higher compensation say the party is no longer as receptive to their demands. That maybe because, while the Trinamool Congress-led state government has said it won’t acquire private property for industrial use, it is keen on creating jobs and is, therefore, allotting...

Chanting loudly, thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets to the venue of the 17th United Nations Climate Change Conference to demand that their voices be heard for "immediate and drastic" carbon emission reductions to save the planet. Dubbing Saturday the "Global Day of Action", demonstrators from international and national non- governmental groups as well as labour, women, youth, academic, religious and environmental organisations came together to highlight civil society’s demands...