-The Hindu Is India ready to cash in on its demographic dividend? A demographic dividend is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a nation and can either make or mar its citizens' present and future. When the share of the working-age population is on a rising curve while the share of dependents (those under the age of 15 and over 60) is falling, it enables workers to save (hence savings share in GDP rises)...

-Business Standard Between April and September 2014, the central govt released Rs 13,618 cr to states, against Rs 24,676 cr in the same period last year Kolkata: The Union government has severely cut the funds for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, one of the largest job-creation programmes in the world, even as it deliberates on framing new norms for it. Compared to last financial year, there has been nearly a 45...

-The Times of India Jagdish Bhagwati and Arvind Panagariya, hereafter BP, have argued for phasing out the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in favour of cash transfers ("Rural Inefficiency Act", ToI, 23 October). It's surprising-and amusing-that two eminent economists have chosen to make a case based on prior beliefs and some sophomoric wordplay ('mis'leading economists), rather than on the available evidence. A survey by one of us of the empirical literature...

-Outlook Ahmedabad: Expressing concerns for the marginalised and small farmers in the country, the Chief Justice of India H L Dattu today said it would be "immensely helpful" for agricultural community if state governments could minimise acquiring and handing over farm land to corporates even as he stressed for "fair" compensation to agriculturists. "Apart from the discussion on impact of climate change on farmers' community, the discussion can also think of how...

-The Hindu Business Line Now that the gains from the first round have petered out, we need to embrace biotech to boost farm productivity As India seeks to ignite the next agrarian revolution, it must try and absorb some of the lessons of the Green Revolution. Currently, agricultural productivity and growth vary from State to State, resulting in regional disparities. Through targeted policymaking, investment in rural infrastructure and research, and ongoing support...