-The Hindu Hundreds of undertrials languish in overcrowded south Chhattisgarh prisons even as their trial proceeds sluggishly, says an RTI reply With most information regarding prisons closely guarded in the country, in conflict zones — some north-eastern States, Kashmir or Chhattisgarh — it is even more so. The only information about prisons that percolates to public space is about how inmates are becoming master painters, singers or dance drama designers. While those...

-The Hindu SP, BSP unhappy with some provisions A Bill providing for tougher punishment for crimes against women, including rape, acid attack, stalking and voyeurism, was approved by the Union Cabinet on Thursday, after a Group of Ministers, constituted to prescribe safeguards, completed its examination of the draft law in a record two days. On March 18, The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013, will be discussed at an all-party meeting before it goes...

-The Business Standard This has meant the GNI per capita has more than doubled from $1,229 in 1990 In recent years, India's growth has undoubtedly been spectacular. Income growth a year has averaged about five per cent from 1990 through 2012. This has meant the gross national income (GNI) per capita (purchasing power parity, in dollar terms) has more than doubled from $1,229 in 1990. However, even if one discounts the drop in...

-Financial Times Up to 80 per cent of the world’s middle classes will live in developing countries by 2030 thanks to surprising recent gains in poverty reduction, according to a United Nations report published on Thursday. “Never in history have the living conditions and prospects of so many people changed so dramatically and so fast,” concludes the UN’s latest Development Report. “The world is witnessing an epochal ‘global rebalancing’.” This year’s report, launched...

-The Hindu Most of them were conned into coming to Bangalore Bangalore: Officials of the Revenue Department and the Tahsildar’s Office (Bangalore South) raided a private brick factory in Channenahalli near Tavarekere on Bangalore’s outskirts and rescued 14 bonded labourers on Thursday. Amongst the rescued were five women and six children, who were freed from the CGR factory owned by two brothers — C.R. Lokesh and C.R. Mahesh — a rescue team member...