-The Hindu Business Line   The Bill does not take into account the extremely varied nature of land markets. It looks like the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation And Resettlement Bill is going to be finally presented in Parliament for passage in the current session. The full details of what is in the current Bill aren't known because over 150 amendments may have been made to the last version that was available for public scrutiny. But...

-Hard News While Narendra Modi's apologists will selectively quote from the latest CAG audit report on state finances that revenue earning has registered an upswing, they will compulsively forget that "the fiscal deficit of Rs 11,027 crore in 2011-12 was met out from a net borrowing of Rs 15,083 crore". The CAG has remarked that "an increase of 41 per cent in the market borrowing in 2011-12 over previous year for...

-The Hindu Business Line Plans start from Re 1/day to hook those who have never logged in via smartphones Mumbai: Telecom operators are going the sachet way, launching low-cost packs to hook the new cell phone-Netizen. From one rupee a day to Rs 25 for seven days' usage, telecom service providers are coming up with novel plans to attract mobile Internet users. Aircel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone India have launched, or are launching,...

-The Hindu Business Line After the 1980s, special Interest groups have preferred to knock on the doors of the judiciary. In India today, matters of public Interest seem to get their due only when the Supreme Court has added its two cents. Interest groups, representing both general and special Interests, petition the judiciary actively. In an era where virtually all institutions in India have been vulnerable to political capture, the judiciary seems like...

-Down to Earth Two developments in the last week essay the progress of panchayatiraj in the past 20 years. The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj issued public notifications asking village panchayats to hold the next village council meeting in April/May. It is an irony that the highest unit of government i.e. the union government decides the dates of meetings for the lowest tier of governance. The notification violates the letter and...