-The Hindu The debate over the cartoons used in NCERT textbooks as aids to learning have thrown up a range of issues. The discussion has crystallised around a set of oppositions: motivated political correctness of our elected representatives vs. the necessity of preemptory parliamentary intervention on educational material appropriate for schools; institutional autonomy vs. political responsibility of a state presiding over a diverse and FRAught society; the hubris of ‘experts’ vs....

-The Hindustan Times Thousands of tribals living in forests across will now be able to claim land as Tribal Affairs ministry on Thursday relaxed norms in a bid to thwart attempt of forest department official to reject the claims.   As per the new rules notified under the Forest Rights Act, the ministry had allowed tribal and forest dwellers to submit all available evidence to claim land in forest areas. The forest department...

-MoneyLife.in Less than a week ago, the rainfall deficiency was nearly 50% of average. In a span of just six days, the deficiency was cut almost in half. Combine this feat with the fact that monsoon covered the entire country, four days earlier than normal and how does the glass now look? This is one season, so unpredictable that explains the heightened media interest in the monsoon progress. Much has been hyped...

-The Indian Express Enact a law to regulate assisted reproduction industry, protect donors and recipients The death of 17-year-old Sushma Pandey, an underage egg donor in Mumbai, has drawn attention to assisted reproduction, which has grown to the proportions of an industry but is not regulated by a legislative FRAmework or competent institutions. While her death cannot be immediately linked to the fact that she was a donor, it must underline the...

-The Telegraph The Maharashtra government today cleared a proposal to ban the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutkha and paan masala. The state has become the fourth, after Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, to impose such curbs. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting presided over by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan this evening, sources said. But there was no announcement as the Assembly’s monsoon session is on. It could be done...