-The Hindu     Genetically modified crops, whose ecological effects are irreversible, could become a mainstay of Indian agriculture thanks to collusion between the government and the biotech industry The final report of the Supreme Court-appointed Technical Expert Committee (TEC) on field trials of genetically modified crops is packed with revelations on what is wrong with institutional governance and regulation in India when it comes to GMOs (genetically-modified organisms). The report's release late last...

-The Economic Times When the voting stops on August 19, the scorecard, which is currently 9-0, may well read 12-0. An emphatic and embarrassing rejection of state and corporate plans to mine bauxite atop the Niyam Dongar hilltop in the Kalahandi district of Odisha. Twelve tribal villages that call this mountain range home have, in all likelihood, secured their religious rights over the hill and its natural resources, including 72 million...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said intercepted phone conversations of former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia indicated her alleged influence in every field of decision-making and wondered why investigating agencies, despite being aware of the Radia tape contents, did not take action for four years. "We are unable to appreciate one thing. Virtually in every field, which should be with the government, a private person, call her...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: "Can citizens expect fair governance," asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday, exasperated by the repeated reference to alleged involvement of middlemen in the Radia tapes, a cache of intercepted phone conversations of former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia with businessmen, politicians, journalists and bureaucrats. After going through the court-appointed team's analysis of transcripts of all 5,831 telephone intercepts, the CBI's 2G scam probe team through senior advocate...

-The Times of India JAIPUR: Social activist Aruna Roy and Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan activist Nikhil Dey have announced a daylong protest on August 6 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the proposed amendment of RTI Act to keep political parties out of its ambit. Roy demanded that all political parties spell out their stand in public on the proposed amendment before the commencement of monsoon session on August 6. "None...