-The Telegraph Differences over proposed changes to the law dealing with rape prompted the government to refer an amendment bill to a group of ministers today but the deadlock could not be resolved after the first round of discussions. The empowered group of ministers, headed by P. Chidambaram, is scheduled to meet again tomorrow and place its views before the cabinet on Thursday. The government is then expected to call an all-party...

-The Telegraph India is not creating enough productive jobs — and the spirit of enterprise is being strangled by excessive and onerous Labour Laws. The Economic Survey tabled in Parliament today said: “India has to focus on an agenda to create productive jobs outside agriculture, which will help us reap the demographic dividend and also improve livelihoods in agriculture.” The survey, which singled out job creation for special mention with an entire chapter...

-The Hindu Instead of the present opaque system, a high-level, broad-based Committee should be formed to choose the country’s “most important” constitutional functionary In May this year, the present Comptroller and Auditor-General will retire on completing 65 years of age. Given the Government of India’s exasperation with him, it seems very probable that for the next CAG, it will look for someone who is likely to be bland and ignorable, and quite...

-Outlook Production at leading automobile companies in the Gurgaon-Manesar belt, including Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp and Suzuki Motorcycle India, will be hit tomorrow as workers have decided to stay away from work in support of the two-day strike called by central trade unions than began today. "We had a meeting with representatives of different unions in the region and we have agreed to go on a one-day strike tomorrow in support of...

-Economic and Political Weekly The government’s response to the protests led by the youth against the gang rape incident in New Delhi, in the form of an ordinance has not met the aspirations of the many protestors and the woman rights’ organisations. It can in fact be accused of being vindictive, having ignored the thoroughgoing recommendations of the government appointed justice Verma committee's report. Albeena Shakil (albeenashakil@gmail.com) is a women rights’ activist...