-The Hindu Kochi: The task of mechanising agriculture operations in the marshy fields of coastal Kerala will soon become a reality. As part of its efforts to revive the traditional practice of Pokkali farming, the Kerala Agriculture University has developed a machine that enables mechanised transplantation of paddy seedlings in Pokkali fields. Along with this, the varsity has also developed a combined harvester for Pokkali fields, which is being fine-tuned after on-field...

-The Statesman   Koraput (Odisha): In order to foster greater food security among the community, pressure groups have been formed at village, gram panchayat and block level in Kundra block of Koraput district. The group will be supported by well-known NGO, CYSD. "The main role of the pressure groups is to strengthen the advocacy process and facilitate better access to the Public Distribution System (PDS).These groups conduct meeting and interaction regularly to discuss...

-PTI United Nations: About 27 per cent of women aged 20 to 49 years were married before age 15 in India, UNICEF said in a report titled "Ending Child Marriage - Progress and prospects." India has the sixth highest prevalence of child marriages in the world, with one in every three child bride living in India, a United Nations report said. Child marriage among girls is most common in South Asia and sub-Saharan...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: A Constitution bench has ruled that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are entitled to affirmative action in promotions, quashing a 1997 government memo that withdrew the benefit. Friday's verdict by the five-judge Supreme Court bench does not necessarily mean that the Centre and state governments - to which the judgment applies equally - are bound to offer benefits in promotion to all Dalit and tribal employees from...

-Outlook India To the social subsidy whiners, please check corporate write-offs column The TV anchor asked eagerly of Arun Jaitley whether he would take hard decisions or, in the case of a bad drought, revert to loan waivers and (obviously wasteful) subsidies. The finance minister replied that it depended on the situation as it unfolded but he hoped he wouldn't have to return to such steps. "We hope so too," said...