-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: The environment ministry has said the consent of tribal and forest-dwelling populations isn't necessary before deciding on diversion of forest Land for projects, possibly putting the government on a collision course with the Supreme Court. The ministry's move seems to ignore the court's April 2013 order making it mandatory to obtain such consent before diverting forest Land. It also seems to infringe upon the authority of the...

-Business Standard/ IndiaSpend.org Complex changes in local and global weather patterns will have severe implications for India's 600 million farming community The unseasonal rain and erratic weather unsettling the Indian farmer—and the nation’s agriculture, economy and politics—are no aberrations. Extreme rainfall events in central India, the core of the monsoon system, are increasing and moderate rainfall is decreasing —as a part of complex changes in local and world weather—according to a clutch of...

-Livemint.com The challenge of employment may be the next big crisis that the government may have to face Two of the burning issues currently dominating the public discourse are the amendments to the Land acquisition bill proposed by the National Democratic Alliance and the ongoing crisis in agriculture. At the centre of all this is the Indian farmer, who, on the one hand, is struggling to save his Land from draconian amendments to...

-The Indian Express The debate on the Land acquisition bill and the tragic suicide of a farmer in Delhi compel us to reflect on a theme of enduring significance: the role of agriculture and farmers in development. What has the historical experience all over the world been? How is India’s agrarian narrative different — or identical? What can India learn from international experience? Many years ago, I wrote a book, Democracy, Development...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: In yet another bid to check air pollution in Delhi and the rest of the NCR, National Green Tribunal on Tuesday banned burning of waste in the open. It also announced a fine of Rs 5,000 on anyone who is caught burning dry leaves, plastic, rubber or any other waste material in NCR. NGT said deputy commissioners, director of horticulture, area SHOs, assistant commissioners and sanitary...