-The Times of India NEW delhi: Every household in India will get a proper toilet and the entire country will be open-defecation free (ODF) much before the Modi government faces election next year, top government functionaries said. This is the biggest flagship programme led by the PM. While urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said his ministry will hit the target a year before the October 2019 deadline, the sanitation ministry...

-The Telegraph delhi: Explosions triggered by a fire ripped through a plastic and firecracker factory in delhi on Saturday evening, killing at least 17 workers in the capital's worst blaze since the 1997 Uphaar cinema tragedy. "Our firemen reported that the fire was in a firecracker factory at the basement, ground and first floors," chief fire officer Atul Garg said. "It was not a big fire. But explosions inside the factory resulted...

-The Times of India NEW delhi: Beno Zephine, India's first 100% visually-impaired person to join the Indian Foreign Service in 2015, was among 111 women felicitated by President Ram Nath Kovind for their remarkable journey as "first ladies" in their respective fields. Currently serving in the Indian embassy in Paris, this young woman's story showcases how will power coupled with support at home can help overcome any physical disability. In the absence...

-Down to Earth The average agricultural growth has reached its lowest in the last four years to 1.9 per cent While presenting Union Budget 2017-18, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gave much emphasis on farmers. He even announced an increased budget outlay for agriculture, which made media houses declare it as a budget for rural India. Soon, the dust settled down and reality came to the surface. The budget was increased by...

-The Telegraph New delhi: The Centre is examining Finland's school education model, focused on each child learning at her own pace, to see how much of it India can emulate. The Prime Minister's Office sent a note to the human resource development ministry this month asking it to study Finland's system, highlighting the 100 per cent government funding, flexible curriculum and teaching methods, and the high salary of and rigorous training for...