-The Economic Times The India of today would, perhaps, be among the most emotion-driven societies in the world. There would have been nothing wrong per se in this if emotions determined how an individual were to live his or her life, and influenced personal decisions. The big danger is when emotions become the Rosetta Stone to interpret the current and emerging needs of the nation, putting ASIde facts, objectivity, scientific temperament...

-The Economic Times A new book by Bibek Debroy on Gujarat looks at how this much-talked about state has performed in economic terms. The author argues history, luck and administrative clarity have been the determining factors. There has been a discernible pickup in Gujarat's growth performance since the 10th Plan (2002-07), the five-year Plans being natural periods for breaking up the timeline. It's tempting to argue that there is nothing exceptional in...

-The United Nations The United Nations today reported that global food prices slightly increased in September after two months of stability, and warned that despite increased cereal production in low income countries, global harvest of this commodity is expected to decrease this year. During September, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Food Price Index rose by 1.4 per cent from its level in August. The rise to 216 points from 213...

-Outlook Indian MPs would soon float a forum to advocate elimination of stigma and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy. "Next parliament session, we will float a forum to end leprosy and advocate the rights of persons affected by the disease," Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Trivedi said at an international symposium on leprosy and human rights in ASIa. Also supporting the cause were Minister of State for Human Resource Development and Lok Sabha...

-The United Nations A top United Nations official today strongly encouraged governments to adopt special temporary measures, such as quotas, to boost the number of women in parliament and decision-making positions, pointing to the progress achieved by women in India as a result of affirmative action. “Here in India, quotas have spurred one of the world’s greatest successes in women’s empowerment and grassroots democracy,” Michelle Bachelet said in her keynote address to...