-The Hindu Business Line Last week, the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016 was passed by the Lok Sabha. Earlier in the week, the Bill was returned by the Rajya Sabha with five key amendments, but these were turned down and the LS passed it as a Money Bill. What is it? The Aadhaar Bill plans to use the identification number issued by the Unique Identification...

-Business Standard India should invest in mapping the country's aquifers and take steps to aid groundwater recharge to check a looming water crisis, experts said. With 40 per cent of the country under the impact of consecutive failed monsoons, water rationing could become a norm in many parts of the country in the coming summer, they warned. According to a recent Central Water Commission report, water levels in the Maharashtra reservoirs are 58...

-Livemint.com Karin Hulshof says from being primarily funded by govts of the developed world, Unicef in India is now increasingly funded by private companies Devolution of higher funds to states in India is leading to decentralisation of programmes undertaken by the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef), said Karin Hulshof, Unicef’s regional director for South Asia, during a three-day visit to Odisha. The agency is engaging more with state governments than...

-Business Standard Forest Rights Act allows government to divert forest lands for other purposes only after prior consent of the tribals through gram sabhas Forest rights of tribals over their traditional lands in Ghatbarra village of Surguja district have been taken away by the Chhattisgarh government to facilitate coal mining of Prasa East and Kete Besan coal block. The block has been allocated to Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RVUNL) and Adani Minerals...

-The Hindu The Aadhaar Bill has been passed with no public consultation about the privacy safeguards necessary for such a database and no provision for public or independent oversight. The rights to liberty and freedom of expression cannot survive if the right to privacy is compromised. The Central Government has forced the Aadhaar Bill through Parliament in a week. Aadhaar has had an invasive and controversial presence well before the government’s attempt...