-Outlook Even the worst-governed states can improve their PDS and ensure grain for the poorest. Look at Madhya Pradesh. THE National Food Security Act (NFSA),  2013, is not in very good health. Two years after it came into force, just a few states are implementing it. Others are still struggling with the identification of eligible households, public distribution system (PDS) reforms and other preparations. Yet, recent evidence suggests that some states...

-The Indian Express As many as 512 offences against the State were registered across the country last year. With 72 cases, Kerala accounts for 14 per cent of the total, followed by Assam (11 per cent) and Karnataka (9 per cent). Kerala has recorded the highest number of cases registered in 2014 for offences against the State, data released by the National Crime Records Bureau has revealed. These cases have been lodged under...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: Education ministers and representatives from every state today pressed for revoking the no-detention policy till Class VIII and bringing back the system of performance based promotions that the Right To Education Act had done away with five years ago. The meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) also heard suggestions to make Class X board exams compulsory. Ministers from 19 states and representatives from others said the...

-Deccan Herald Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have earned the ignominy of topping the chart of child marriages in the country. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report depicts a worse picture of south India as five states from the region — Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana — together account for almost half of the 280 cases of child marriage in the country. However, the data shows the biggest lacuna...

-Livemint.com Farmers’ welfare is a multi-dimensional issue, with the farm ministry playing a small but significant role Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to rename the ministry of agriculture to ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare may be symbolic, but is at the least a recognition of the stress in rural economy. The stress, particularly in the farming sector, is now all too obvious with the increase in suicides being reported in many...