-The Times of India The government is moving rapidly to enable cash transfers through the Aadhar platform with 51 districts to be covered by January 1, 2013, and half the country four months later — a bid to rollout an initiative aimed at streamlining subsidies while also earning votes. The plan is to put money directly into bank accounts of beneficiaries of government schemes like scholarships, cheap food under the Public Distribution...

-Outlook The government today ruled out extension of the deadline for enforcing the Right to Education Act beyond March 2013 as several states are yet to achieve the RTE standards for school infrastructure. HRD minister M M Pallam Raju said that while Bihar Education Minister demanded the need for extending RTE deadline some other Education Ministers did not support such an extension. Talking to reporters following the conclusion of the Central Advisory Board...

-The Economic Times It's extreme weather season in Asia again. Deadly cyclones, blinding rain, floods and mudslides are becoming the norm from Nepal to Fiji. The world's policymakers must reflect on extreme weather patterns while budgeting their nations' finances. In Thailand last year's floods caused losses of $46.5 billion. Reconstruction costs will reach at least $50 billion, according to the government and UN's assessments. In Pakistan widespread flooding two years ago affected 20...

-The Indian Express A family which lives in a Janta flat in West Delhi was left speechless after the Delhi Jal Board sent a Bill of Rs 2.39 crore for water dues. Paramjit Singh, a resident of CB block in Hari Nagar, was handed the Bill three days ago and told to pay up. He had last received a water Bill on December 24, 2011. Worried, the family began making inquiries. Singh’s wife...

-Kafila.org Even though Hiamchal Pradesh voted on November 4, Gujarat has been hogging all the limelight. The election in Gujarat is only in the third week of December. Gujarat captures our political imagination as a ‘role model state’ whereas Hiamchal Pradesh is just in our tourism agenda as a top holiday destination. It is hard for anyone to notice Himachal as a political entity among the big brothers like Uttar Pradesh,...