-The Indian Express   Supporting the ongoing discourse in India over the issue of FDI in the retail sector, the United States has said even though it is of view that this is in the benefit of India, it would desist to comment on India's internal affairs. "I think they have to work through their domestic political process and I don't want to comment on their internal affairs at this point," the Under...

-The Hindu   The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has rejected the National Identification Authority of India (NIAI) Bill, which was meant to give a legal backing to the Aadhaar project and its aim of using biometrics to create a unique identity for every resident of India. Sources in the Committee say the Bill has been rejected in its current form on the grounds of the project's high cost, as well as concerns...

-The Times of India   Facing complaints over government officials dealing with lawmakers, the government has put in place a code of conduct of sorts which deals with everything from rising to receive and see off an MP, besides inviting MPs to public functions.  To begin with, the office memorandum from the department of personnel and training has asked officials to acknowledge receipt of a letter within 15 days and reply within the...

The Union minister for communications and information technology, Kapil Sibal, is a knowledgeable lawyer, and someone who is reportedly committed to the freedom of speech. He would not lightly propose regulations that contravene Article 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech and expression) of our Constitution. So how is one to explain his recent proposals on controlling online speech? Or even the immoderate IT Rules that have been in force since April? This controversy...

-The Times of India   The Centre has been critical of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for taking out a series of adverse findings on government policies, but the contribution of the apex auditor seems to have been recognized by the United Nations which has appointed CAG Vinod Rai as chairman of its panel of external auditor. Rai as chairman will oversee the audit of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), besides...