-The Indian Express Government must step up private sector involvement in agricultural research. Why Bharat Ratna awardee C.N.R. Rao called the acts of politicians "idiotic" is for him to elaborate. Perhaps he was referring to those advocating a ban on GM research in India. After all, Rao has vehemently urged a five-fold increase in funding for research and development in agriculture. That includes research on GM crops. On the food front, we have...

-Outlook The Centre is mulling a plan to extend more financial incentives for its employees for acquiring advanced educational qualifications while in service. The Ministry of Personnel has sought suggestions from all central government departments in this regard. As per the existing scheme, an employee gets a maximum of Rs 10,000 for acquiring a Post Graduate degree in computer science, information technology or veterinary science, or for a Ph.D, post his or her...

-PTI NEW DELHI: To boost research and innovation, 12 states will receive Rs 120 crore each under Rashtriya Uchchatara Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) programme which seeks to improve quality of higher education. The funds, sanctioned under the research, innovation and quality improvement component, will support research programmes like base research, key technology (R&D), high-end (R&D), etc during the current Five Year Plan. The innovative programmes will be funded as per the decision of RUSA's...

-The Hindu More than 800 NGO representatives walk out of the climate talks Warsaw: The developed countries must step up to the plate to come true on their existing commitments to fight climate change, said Jayanthi Natarajan, Indian Environment Minister, while addressing the U.N. climate negotiations. "There is a huge ambition gap between what developed country have pledged and what is required by science and their historical responsibilities. The irony is that developing...

-Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Blog For those who see agroecological approaches as necessary for achieving the food, health, and environmental targets of post 2015 agenda, agroecology is not only central to maintaining ecosystem integrity, but also to realizing food sovereignty of those involved in food production and consumption. IATP's new report, Scaling up Agroecology: Toward the Realization of the Right to Food, begins from five principles of agroecology, presents examples...