-The Hindu   Only seven women have made it to Parliament from the State over the past 65 years. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (Kerala): In all the elections held in Kerala, women have for outnumbered men in the State's electoral rolls, but their share in the electoral sweepstakes has been miniscule in both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Only seven women have made it to Parliament from the State over the past 65 years, including Annie Mascarene,...

-The Business Standard Hailstorms may cause Rs 12k-cr crop damage, El Niño a bigger worry India's hope rally will be at risk if El Niño actually strikes this year. Even if a reformist government comes to power in May, global weather forecasts seem to suggest India is faced with the prospect of an erratic rainfall, as a result of the waters of the Pacific Ocean warming (known as the El Niño effect). It...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Political parties including Congress and BJP have ignored a four-week deadline set by the Central Information Commission (CIC) and could be liable for Rs 25,000 fine or even deregistration. The commission had issued a showcase notice on February 7 to six national political parties - Congress, BJP, NCP, BSP, CPI and CPM - seeking an explanation on why they had not complied by its June 3...

-The Hindu     Representatives of more than 100 farmers' organisations release a charter of demands Although the time for freebies is over as Lok Sabha elections have been announced and the model code of conduct is in place, more than 20 lakh farmers across the country have sought assurance from political parties for a minimum income security for agriculture households. The income guarantee must reflect "inter-sectoral parity" which should match the salary of a...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: The UPA has hiked wages for national job scheme workers by 4-18 per cent in what appears to be a "parting gift" before the elections, but failed to match "arbitrary" revisions in minimum wages for agricultural labourers in 12 states, including Bengal. According to the new wage rates under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Act, an MGNREGA labourer in Haryana will get Rs 236 a day, the...