The changing stances of the Planning Commission reflect the influence of the political climate. THE short note on the history of the Planning Commission on its website concludes thus: “For the first eight Plans the emphasis was on a growing public sector with massive investments in basic and heavy industries, but since the launch of the Ninth Plan in 1997, the emphasis on the public sector has become less pronounced and...

There are fears that curative health care will be left to the private sector, while the public system will handle preventive and low-quality care. AN issue of The Lancet earlier this year highlighted some of the problems with public health in India, acknowledging that “it is in crisis”. The robust economic growth over the past 20 years has not translated into better health indices; indeed the decline of infant and child...

Says such a marriage is not a “valid marriage”; but it is “not invalid”   Marriage of a person with a girl whose age is below 18 is voidable. It will subsist until it is annulled by a court under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, the Madras High Court has ruled. Such a marriage is not a “valid marriage” in the strict sense; but it is “not invalid”, it said. In a...

With only a few States having sent in their comments on the Food Ministry's draft National Food Security Bill, 2011, till the closing date on Friday, the Centre is planning to extend the date by a month or two, official sources said. Despite Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs K.V. Thomas having written to all States and Union Territories last week to send in their comments, not even his...

-PTI The implementation of the Right to Education Act in Bihar hit a roadblock with over 25,000 private schools across the state observing a total strike on Wednesday paralysing teaching works to protest against the state government's bid to 'impose registration' on schools. The strike was called by the Confederation of four school associations -- Independent Schools' Association, Christian Minority Association, Bihar Public Schools and Children Welfare Association and Muslim Education Welfare...