-The Indian Express Price and technology-led incentives alone will not help boost pulses and oilseeds production in the country. Indian agriculture is governed by an impossible trinity or “trilemma” that requires it to meet three simultaneous objectives — global competitiveness, social inclusiveness and environmental sustainability — each often at odds with the other two. Official policy has largely tilted towards supporting the first two goals, with token, if not grudging, acknowledgement of...

It was a Rashomon moment for the readers of the First Common Review Mission report when they heard activists complaining about the pension system of Rajasthan during a recent press conference held in the capital. The First Common Review Mission (CRM) report, which was prepared during the month of May this year by a team of 32 experts had observed that pension related payments under the National Social Assistance Programmes (NSAP)...

-CIVICUS.org The 2016 State of Civil Society Report summarizes the key events, issues and trends affecting Civil Society around the world. The 5th annual report draws on contributions from more than 30 of the world's leading experts on Civil Society as well as investigative work from the CIVICUS staff, which was conducted in close partnership with hundreds of activists in the field. Please click here to read the full report. ...

-IPSNews.net UNITED NATIONS: Despite their contribution to social justice, Civil Society organisations came under “serious attack” in 109 countries in 2015, according to a new report published by CIVICUS Monday. “Civil Society freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly have been under serious attack in 109 countries around the world in 2015 alone,” said Mandeep Tiwana, Head of Policy and Analysis at CIVICUS, an international organisation representing Civil Society organisations, at a...

-The Indian Express The court ruled that more than 1500 cases of alleged fake encounters in Manipur in the last 20 years "must be investigated." New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday said that indefinite deployment of armed forces in the name of restoring normalcy under AFSPA “would mock at our democratic process”, apart from symbolising a failure of the civil administration and the armed forces. The court also said that “ordinarily our armed...