Activists say the rules undermine the spirit of the law The proposed draft Right to Information (RTI) rules, prepared by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India, have invited more criticism than praise. RTI activists say the rules dilute the very spirit of the RTI Act 2005, instead of strengthening it. The new rules aim to amend the existing ones. DoPT uploaded the rules on its website inviting comments...

Journalists should uphold accuracy and fairness and make a conscious attempt to present diverse views on a situation or an issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here on Saturday. Inaugurating the year-long centenary celebrations of the Kerala Kaumudi here on Saturday, Dr. Singh said: “Journalists who inform and educate the public are conscience keepers of society who point out lapses of the administration and government and also society at large. A...

The Kendriya Vidyalayas have decided to Merge their quota for SCs and STs within the 25 per cent reservation to be offered to children of disadvantaged groups under the Right To Education Act. But the move has sparked controversy with education activists saying it would leave very few seats for the disadvantaged sections. They have argued that the 25 per cent quota should be offered separately. Lawyer and social activist Ashok Agrawal...

The chamber said concrete steps need to be taken to promote investment, given that recent data shows the investment growth rate slowed from 38.1% in 2007-08 to 36.5% in 2009-10 The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Tuesday called for the government to provide tax incentives on agricultural activities in the forthcoming Budget to encourage private participation and adoption of new technologies in the sector. “CII has recommended encouraging private sector participation...

The Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council (NAC) has pinned its hopes on the new food minister, K.V. Thomas, to see its version of the food security bill past Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Planning Commission deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia. The NAC’s perpetual grouse was that Thomas’ predecessor, Sharad Pawar, was not only indifferent but also opposed the idea of social inclusion in the food sector, and managed to convince the...