-The Business Standard UID can shift focus from the government's functioning to the intended beneficiaries and ease of access The central government is seriously thinking of putting in place a technology-based platform to hand over subsidies directly into the hands of their intended beneficiaries. A number of pilots are under way for handing over, for example, Kerosene subsidies for household consumption. While this is largely a central government initiative, state governments...

-The Hindu Direct cash transfer of subsidies through the Aadhaar card would be rolled out in 51 districts across 15 States from January 1, 2013, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram announced on Saturday. The scheme would aim to cover the entire country by the end of 2013, he said. Speaking at the annual Bankers’ Conference (BANCON), Mr. Chidambaram said banks would play an essential role in the direct cash transfer, as every...

-The Times of India The government is looking into demands for raising the six-cylinder annual cap on supply of subsidized cooking gas refills to each family, oil minister M Veerappa Moily told the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Friday. Separately, minister of state for petroleum Panabaaka Lakshmi told the House that state-run fuel retailers have issued more than 10 lakh new cooking gas connections since the government capped the supply...

-Outlook Kochi: Reserve Bank Governor D Subbarao today ruled out introduction of Islamic banking in the country but said other methods for channelising funds based on the principles of Islamic law can be looked at. "Islamic banking is not possible", he said, adding the central bank could look at other vehicles based on Islamic banking principles to channelise NRI funds. Replying to a question on the issue, Subbarao said: "There are some legal...

-Express News Service Dikshit releases Delhi Statistical Handbook, says city an attractive destination for all. With more than 5 lakh vehicles added to the roads in the last year, Delhi recorded the biggest jump ever in motor vehicle registrations. But as the number of vehicles increased, no significant change in road length was recorded in the Capital. The figures were made available when Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit released the Delhi Statistical Handbook, 2012,...