-The Indian Express Cash transfers seem to be the latest fad. With elections looming, the Prime Minister’s National Committee on Direct Cash Transfers has been tasked with an ambitious mandate to provide vision and direction to enable direct cash transfers of subsidies under various government schemes and programmes to individuals to enhance efficiency. Certain activists warn against an ill-considered and hasty transition from food to cash. Others believe directly transferring the...

-The Times of India ALLAHABAD: From December 1, for booking a ticket in any reserved class of the train, a passenger will have to produce one of the prescribed proofs of identity failing which the said passenger will be treated as ticketless traveler and will have to pay fine accordingly. This provision will, however, not affect the existing provision of Tatkal scheme where during the journey, the passenger is required to show...

-The Times of India The Prime Minister is expected to formally kick off cash transfer of subsidies and entitlements, one of the most ambitious policy initiatives of UPA-2, on Monday. The scheme for cash transfers is visualized as a game-changer for UPA-2, like NREGA was for UPA-1, and is expected to give rich dividends at the elections. Manmohan Singh is expected to set January 1, 2013 as the launch date for the...

-Outlook Government today approved the proposal to extend the ongoing scheme for erdication of dry toilets in urban areas into the 12th Five Year Plan with revised features and cost estimates. According to the decision approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Government would extend the financial support to the state governments for the Integrated Low Cost Sanitation Scheme. The estimated cost for running the programme of the Ministry of Housing and...

-The Economic Times Get ready for an era of widespread droughts, super storms, flash floods, excessive rainfall, high food prices, higher levels of migration and higher outlays to survive extreme weather. The events of the past year make it clear that this is no longer a dire warning. Climate scientists predict extreme weather will become more common in the coming years if the world doesn't act decisively to address climate change. Yet, governments...