-The Hindustan Times New Delhi: In the run-up to the 2014 general elections, it's party time in India. No fewer than 142 political parties have been registered with the Election Commission in the past two months. From 1,392 parties in August-September, the number swelled to 1,534 by mid-November. Godmen, builders, property dealers and retired bureaucrats are among those who have floated the parties, ostensibly to have a say in the world's largest democracy. Election...

-Outlook Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kamlung Mosang has sought the help of Centre in overcoming the challenges in implementing the National Food Security Act in the state, official sources said. In a memorandum submitted to Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution K V Thomas at Guwahati yesterday, the minister sought funds from the Centre for meeting the expenses of the state food commission,...

-Outlook Itanagar: Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh is facing a food crisis with no stock of rice in the sub-depot at Ziro of the Food Corporation of India, an offical said today. Non-availability of rice in the sub-depot since October 20 last has created a visible food crisis in Kurung Kumey district, District Food and Civil Supply Officer Nabam Tagum said. The people of the district are solely dependent on public distribution...

-Down to Earth Data also shows higher marginationalisation of the country's Scheduled Tribes The latest data released by the Census of India shows that the child sex ratio (number of girls per 1,000 boys) among Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the country has declined faster than in other categories of the population between 2001 and 2011. But the number of girls born per 1,000 boys is still higher in the ST category than...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: In what appears to be another grim outcome of climate change, a study has found that forests in eastern Himalayas are gradually 'browning', with trees withering and foliage declining even during productive seasons. Similar changes were noted in tropical mountain forests across the world. Among the 47 protected areas across five biodiversity hotspots selected for the study, were Kangchendzonga national park in Sikkim and Namdapha national...