India’s largest public school chain has accepted that it has failed to improve standards of education in its primary classes two years after it launched a revamp plan, following concerns over learning levels of children. In a letter to all its 981 schools spread across the country, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has said an internal survey to assess the revamp has found “shortcomings” on all parameters. The revamp plan...

The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Tuesday approved a scheme for providing highly subsidised sanitary napkins to adolescent girls in the rural areas to promote menstrual hygiene. The scheme, to be launched in 150 districts across the country in the first phase, will cost Rs.150 crore for the current financial year. Approved by the Mission Steering Group – the highest decision-making body – of the National Rural Health...

The Human Resource Development Ministry has refuted allegations of misuse of grants provided by the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), as reported in the media. In a statement issued here, the Ministry said expenditure under the SSA was incurred as per well-defined norms articulated in the SSA Framework of Implementation and the Manual of Financial Management and Procurement. Up to 6 per cent of...

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the decision on free power to the farm sector will be discussed in the cabinet but rejected the Planning Commission's contention that it was responsible for the alarming depletion of groundwater in the state. "The farmers of Punjab have been using ground water for the crops and the state has helped whole country to overcome food crises many times," Badal said, reacting to...

To work out a methodology for identifying the urban poor for implementing the scheme  Panel to be headed by Prof S. R. Hashim, former Member of the Planning Commission The scheme will focus on granting property rights to slum-dwellers and urban poor The Planning Commission has set up a committee to work out a methodology for identifying the urban poor for implementation of the Rajiv Awas Yojana initiated by the Union Ministry...