-The Times of India The government is facing a pincer attack over its reform decisions with opposition parties ranging from BJP to the Left planning nation-wide protests, possibly on the same day, against UPA-2's bid to allow FDI in sectors like multi brand retail and civil aviation. Regional parties like Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal (U) also joined the chorus of protests, demanding a rollback of the hike in diesel prices along...

-The Hindustan Times The government’s go-ahead to FDI in multi-brand retail on Friday drove another wedge between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee threatening to take “hard decisions” if the decision wasn't reconsidered within 72 hours. Banerjee, who  has also demanded a rollback of the diesel price hike, said the decision was a “big jolt” and called an emergency meeting of her party in...

-The Business Standard Are in talks with political parties for support, fear foreign players will invoke equal-treatment clause in bilateral pacts between India and other nations As the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairsgave a green signal to the 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, though leaving the implementation decision to the states, the traders’ community is all out to protest against the big policy decision. Calling the move unfortunate, Confederation of...

-The Economic Times After one failed attempt in 2009, the Delhi government is making yet another effort to make plastic bags history in Delhi. This time the proposed blanket ban comes with zero tolerance to even plastic used to cover school books, magazines and invitation cards. These are some of the provisions of a proposal of the environment department for imposing a ban on not just sale and use but even...

-The Economic Times A change in the national accounts, slated to take place sometime in the next two years, will show that a resurgent farm sector is now the second biggest contributor to the economy, displacing manufacturing and financial services. The unexpected reversal is not just a statistical artefact. Instead it is an outcome of a change in the terms of trade, the price of agricultural produce compared to industrial output since...