-Frontline The NCRB data used to justify the new law bringing down the age of responsibility for criminal action are open to interpretation. Often the SAMe data can be interpreted in different ways to arrive at contrary conclusions. Portions of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data have been quoted ad nauseam by the government and the media alike to justify the changes made in the juvenile justice law. Experts from the...

-The Indian Express Twelve states presently show a negative balance with long overdue unpaid wages, threatening the continuation of the scheme. Despite the recent revival, there is crisis looming for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) as the Rural Development Ministry has exhausted more than 95 per cent of its budget provision for the scheme. The fund squeeze has forced Rural Development Minister Birender Singh to write to Finance...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The first ever survey of learning achievement of class X students has shown that majority of the states/Union Territories are performing below the overall average score in all subjects. The survey by NCERT was done with a SAMple of 2.77 lakh students in 7,216 schools across 33 states/UTs. NCERT is also putting in place a system whereby feedback from surveys will be given to states, examination...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: Delhi High Court today dubbed the Kejriwal regime’s vehicle-rationing report as “vague” and asked it to submit on Friday a revised one having specific data on changes in pollution levels from January 1-7. Focussing on “insufficient” public transport and “inconvenience” caused to commuters, the court asked the government to consider winding up the odd-even scheme on Friday instead of carrying on for a fortnight. The 8am to 8pm rationing...

-The Indian Express Also seek higher allocation for Price Stabilisation Fund in a pre-Budget meet Farmers’ organisations, food and fertiliser companies and agriculture experts on Monday urged finance minister Arun Jaitely to ensure that farmers get  remunerative prices for their produce and make sufficient Budget outlay to create  irrigation facilities in the remaining rain-fed areas. They also sought increase in the outlay for expanding the number of agriculture market yards and higher allocation...