-Business Standard Gold imports in January-March 2017 were the most since the same quarter of 2013 January-March 2017 has been the best fourth quarter in terms of gold imports since early 2013. Gold imports in the last quarter stood at 230 tonnes, and more than 100 tonnes is estimated to have been imported in March alone. But for the blip in December, gold imports have gone up significantly following the government’s announcement of demonetisation,...

-Livemint.com The National Mission for Clean Ganga has decided to conduct a study on ‘Hilsa’ fish in the Ganga river for its better conservation and management New Delhi: Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has brought 20 kg of ‘Hilsa’ fish as gift for President Pranab Mukherjee during her ongoing India visit but the species has seen a consistent decline in the country. Thus for its better conservation and management, the National Mission for...

-The Indian Express New national commission for backward classes must address the gaps and lags in the Mandal project The government’s decision to set up a National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (NCSEdBC) in place of the existing National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) meets long-standing demands. The Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEdBCs), and the Forum of BC MPs have asked for its constitution and the NCBC and...

-Scroll.in RTIs filed by Scroll.in show complaints about enrolling agencies demanding bribes and doing fraud enrolments. On Wednesday, the Unique Identification Authority of India said that it had blacklisted the enrolment agency that had inadvertently leaked details of former Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni’s application to join the Aadhaar programme. The day before, Dhoni’s wife Sakshi had sent a tweet to Information and Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informing him of...

-Livemint.com Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh have started their own versions of Tamil Nadu’s Amma canteens that provide food at heavily subsidized rates New Delhi: The late J. Jayalalithaa’s government in Tamil Nadu had launched Amma Unavagam (Mother’s canteen) with much fanfare in 2013. Meant to provide wholesome food at heavily subsidized rates, the canteens which are run by the government but staffed by women from self-help groups have been a runaway...