A survey to identify the country’s poor looks set to miss its December 2011 deadline since it has not even started in 20-odd states, including Bengal. The “socio-economic caste census” is being conducted by the rural development ministry, urban housing and poverty alleviation ministry, and the registrar-general of India. One reason that a rural development ministry official cited for the delay is Bharat Electronics Limited’s failure to supply enough low-cost tablet computers...

A sudden spurt in employment opportunities in Bihar is posing a peculiar problem for the rest of the country. More than 50 per cent of Bihar's labour force which usually migrates to other states is choosing to stay back for jobs. Till a few years back, Ram Vilas worked as construction labour in Delhi. With Bihar's economy looking up, Vilas has returned to the pavilion, armed with a job in hand. "I...

-The Hindustan Times   Press Council of India (PCI) chairman justice Markandey Katju has agreed to withhold the letter he had written to PM Manmohan Singh seeking punitive powers for the Council in a stormy session that witnessed four walkouts. “Declaring he is no dictator but a democrat, he agreed to go with the members when they did not agree to many of his 22 suggestions," a member told HT on condition of...

Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh today questioned the policy of providing free electricity to farmers in certain states, saying excessive pumping by cultivators had led to a depletion in groundwater levels. “In district after district, groundwater tables are falling. And there is no doubt that free electricity has caused excessive use of water. Our policies on pricing of water also do not lead to conservation. So we have to rethink on...

-The Telegraph   The Supreme Court today directed the government to provide information about all mercy petitions pending before the President and governors. An apex court bench passed the ruling while hearing the plea of Punjab militant Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar. Bhullar wants his death sentence to be commuted to life term because of inordinate delay in deciding on his mercy plea. The bench, headed by Justice G.S. Singhvi, observed that it could not confine...