-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The government on Sunday formally moved to bury the Planning Commission before January 26 with strong support from regional parties. The only resistance came from Congress-ruled states, which failed to garner support, except from the Bihar government controlled by Nitish Kumar, once a supporter of decentralization in decision-making. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who discussed the role of the Planning Commission with chief ministers, had announced the...

-The Times of India CHENNAI: The city corporation seems to be leaving no stone unturned in its effort to market the popular Amma canteen scheme. Every team of visiting officials, the civic body's officials ensure, is shown around at least one of the subsidized canteens. The visitors, from across the country or even abroad, may have come to study the style of functioning of the city administration but get to see one...

-PTI New Delhi: After the recent failure of WTO talks, India on Wednesday hoped that by September it will convince the multi-lateral trading body about the need for developing nations to give subsidies on food stocks so that it is relieved of the "draconian sword". Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitaraman told Rajya Sabha that the tough position adopted by India and the recent talks in Geneva had been supported by many least developed...

-Tehelka Bureau Though well-meaning, the new Land Acquisition Act is far from being a perfect legislation. But the urgency to amend a law even before a real field test signals a larger agenda. By all counts, this was expected. Long before he became the BJP and subsequently the nation's chosen one, Narendra Modi had made it clear that his model of development gains from the ease of doing business. Then, days ahead...

-The Times of India CHENNAI: They attracted the attention of officials from across the world and now the corporation's vigilance department is turning a hawk eye on Amma canteens. A year after the subsidized canteens were launched, the vigilance department has found discrepancies in their functioning and the complaints range from poor accounting and stock-keeping to vegetables being sold in the open market. The corporation's vigilance officers conducted surprise checks last week...