-NDTV The government has approved export of two million tonnes of wheat from central pool stock in order to clear storage space for new crops. The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in Delhi today. "CCEA has approved export of two million tonnes of wheat from government stock with floor price of $ 228 (about Rs. 12,400) per tonne," Food Minister KV Thomas told PTI after the meeting. The...

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's direct involvement in the finance ministry has renewed reform vigour among officials, who plan steps to reform fuel pricing and accelerate domestic oil exploration, government and industry officials said. According to officials fuel pricing reforms are expected after mid July post Presidential poll, which would include a hike in diesel rates by atleast Rs 3 per litre and limiting highly subsidized cooking gas cylinders to four refills...

-The Times of India Rashtrapati Bhawan has defended granting clemency to an unprecedented 35 death row convicts saying the power to pardon was not a private act of grace but a constitutional obligation.  A statement from the President's office said President Pratibha Patil had not acted in haste or played to the gallery and the clemency petitions had been commuted only after due examination and on the aid and advice of the...

The government plans to roll out a nationwide free medicine scheme by November, which will offer quality essential drugs to all the patients in state-run hospitals and treatment centres, a senior health ministry official said. LC Goyal, additional secretary in the ministry of health and family welfare, said the scheme would offer 348 essential drugs as well as their combinations to patients. These drugs account for about 28 per cent of...

-The Hindustan Times Indian high courts were supposed to deliver justice in Right To Information (RTI) cases. But, they have themselves enforced rules that make implementation of the transparency law --- RTI Act --- difficult.     A study done by a government institute ---- Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration --- aimed at evaluating efficacy and reasonableness of rules prescribed under RTI Act finds that many high courts have prescribed rules to...