-The Business Standard NC Saxena, a former member of the National Advisory Council believes that the regulatory regime in the states continues to be oppressive. In an e-mailed interview with Aditi Phadnis, Saxena says that the fundamental problem in India is the low tax-GDP ratio and neither the last government nor the current one seems Interested in increasing revenues. Edited excerpts: * The new government appears to be watering down a lot...
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Setting diesel free is a good idea -Paranjoy Guha Thakurta
-TheGoan.net As had been anticipated, on October 18, the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to decontrol the prices of diesel, the most widely-used petroleum product in the country. Riding on an unexpected fall in world prices of crude oil, the government was able to simultaneously announce a sharp fall in consumer prices of diesel by Rs 3.37 per litre (in Delhi). But the decision...
More »Govt allows field trials for GM mustard, brinjal -Chetan Chauhan
-The Hindustan Times The environment ministry has allowed field trials of two varieties of genetically modified (GM) brinjal and mustard, almost 18 months after the previous government ordered a freeze on such tests. In a reply to an RTI query early October, the ministry said on August 21, it permitted the Delhi University to hold trials for a mustard variety and Maharashtra-based Bejo Seeds Pvt Ltd to test Bt brinjal. The decision does...
More »India gains support for its stand against WTO at food security meet in Rome -Jitendra
-Down to Earth India presents its case on potential damage posed by WTO's trade facilitation agreement; civil society groups support India India made a strong pitch for food stockpiling for public food security at the 41st session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) earlier this month at the FAO headquarters in Rome. The meeting of the intergovernmental body, attended by representatives of governments, UN food agencies, civil society and private...
More »Dump RTI pleas not in public Interest, Maharashtra government tells departments -Samrat Phadnis
-The Times of India KOLHAPUR (Maharashtra): The state general administration department has issued a notice asking all government sections not to entertain applications under the Right to Information (RTI) Act if they do not constitute "public Interest". The order, coming from an administration under President's Rule, seeks to prevent use of the information to settle personal disputes and is being seen as a relief, especially by government officers who were often targeted...
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