-Centre for Science and Environment New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released here today the first detailed independent evaluation and analysis of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) – government’s flagship national agricultural insurance programme. Across the world, agriculture insurance is recognised as an important part of the safety net for farmers to deal with the impacts of extreme and unseasonal weather due to climate change. Releasing the report...

-The Indian Express According to sources, the ministry is of the view that it would be easier to replicate such elements in JNVs, which are also residential schools. These schools, run by the Centre, provide quality education to talented students from rural areas, selected through an entrance test. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has advised the HRD Ministry to include elements of military schools (Sainik Schools) — aimed at promoting discipline, physical...

-Scroll.in Terms of agreement give private players 30-year lease over parts of government district hospitals. Niti Aayog and the Union ministry for health and family welfare have proposed a model contract to increase the role of private hospitals in treating non-communicable diseases in urban India. The agreement, which has been been shared with states for their comments, allows private hospitals to bid for 30-year leases over parts of district hospital buildings...

-PTI NEW DELHI: Transactions through debit and credit cards rose by merely seven per cent post demonetisation, as against a surge of over 23 per cent in overall digital transactions, top government officials told a parliamentary panel. Officials from various ministries gave a presentation to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on 'Demonetisation and Transformation towards Digital Economy'. The digital transactions in all modes increased by 23 per cent to 27.5 million in...

-Outlook Indians’ confidence in their government was higher in 2007, fell to 55 percent in 2012. It stands at 73 percent now. Numbers, facts and a bit of laziness can change perception. Mainstream media reported this morning that ‘India tops global index of countries with the most confidence in their government’, which is incorrect. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Government at a Glance report mentions that “73 per cent Indians...