-The Indian Express On the surface, the sugar crisis in Uttar Pradesh may seem to be inching closer to a resolution. But cane farmers may have unwittingly mortgaged their land, signing up for crop loans from public sector banks, with the money so raised being used by the mills to pay arrears of a different set of farmers. This model, of mills rotating working capital loans from banks, to deliver pending payouts...

-Outlook Aizwal: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that the UPA government's policies and programmes for rapid and inclusive growth are showing good results and the country has seen a record average economic growth in the last nine years. "The UPA government's policies and programmes for rapid and inclusive growth are showing good results. We have seen a record average rate of economic growth in the last nine years, which is higher...

-The Hindu Registering land documents and marriages has become hassle-free: apply online for appointment and head to the office at specified time. The Registration Department website (http://www.tnreginet.net) provides the link to online appointment. Booking of appointment can be done one month in advance. Visitors will have to indicate any one of the time slots given (10 a.m. to 11 a.m., noon to 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.). Six tokens...

India's landmark Right to Information Legislation is called the biggest single step since independence to build transparency in governance. However, its remarkable success is owed only to just 0.3 per cent of Indians who file RTI applications. It's anybody's guess as to what would be the impact if even one or two per cent of Indians began to ask tough questions to hold their rulers accountable. It is noteworthy that...

-The Hindu Mining companies have received favourable impact assessments even as they do great damage to the environment because regulators are willing to look the other way Last week, world leaders concerned about economic development got together at the International Monetary Fund, and gave a series of most instructive interviews. Our Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, said that his problem was the slowing down of India's economic growth and reduction in government revenues....