-Tehelka.com The Sen-Bhagwati ‘debate' on economic policy is focussing on the wrong issues Several things are quite remarkable about the recent debate between Professor Amartya Sen and Professor Jagdish Bhagwati. The first surprise is that such a debate could become a major news item at all, making headlines and filling screen time on news channels, when it is about economic strategies that are normally discussed only in relatively small academic and policy...

-The Telegraph The Supreme Court today raised more questions on the appointment of contract or ad hoc teachers by some states, saying "a populist measure cannot destroy the fabric of education". It asked the Gujarat government to furnish by Monday a "long chart" explaining the rules, eligibility and qualifications prescribed for such appointments. "A populist measure cannot destroy the fabric of education. Unless you give us (details of) the selection process adopted, we...

-The Times of India No obituary notice can do justice to Justice J S Verma. A judge for over 25 years, Chief Justice of India (CJI), Chairman National Human Right (NHRC), Verma Commission on Security Lapses, Verma Commission on rape laws. The list is endless. Many judges hanker for post-retirement jobs, Justice Verma did not. A CJI has to chair of NHRC. He did not ask for the job, but did...

-The Times of India Surrender will become more lucrative for Maoists across the country from April 1. The finance ministry has approved the home ministry's proposal to increase its share of financial contribution for each surrendered ultra by 25 times for senior Maoists and 15 times for foot soldiers. A senior ultra (politburo member or state/zonal/district committee commander) will get Rs 2.5 lakh, while a junior cadre will get Rs 1.5 lakh...

-The Hindu Effective spending, reworking the affiliation system and breaking academic bureaucracy are key to better universities Although Indian higher education suffers from many dysfunctionalities and the system overall is characterised by “pinnacles of excellence in a sea of mediocrity”, it does reasonably well by some international comparisons. Here are a few examples: — India is a global leader in terms of GDP spent by public and private sources on higher education. India...