-Live Mint   In Gujarat public funds are committed to supporting private investment. This does not benefit the poor Amidst the clamour of India's colourful 2014 general election, a public debate of great import for India's future is underway. Leading political candidates debate which development model is best suited for a country of vast economic potential and embedded historical impoverishment. Most opinion polls rate Narendra Modi as the front-runner in the 2014 general election....

-United States Department of Agriculture (Economic Research Report)   The Indian State of Chhattisgarh implemented a number of well-publicized reforms to improve distribution of subsidized food grains, many of which have been incorporated into the recently passed National Food Security Act. ERS researchers show that food aid consumption in the State increased in response to these reforms, and that the increase in food aid helped improve food security in the State. Please...

-Outlook New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today referred to its larger bench a plea challenging Delhi government's guidelines making Aadhaar mandatory for getting a National Food Security card. The petitioner pleaded that the apex court had, in its interim order of September 23 last year, said no person should suffer for not having an Aadhaar card and it is not mandatory for getting social welfare benefits. Justice Manmohan observed that the matter...

-Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Agriculture) The two-day National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign has come out with detailed strategy for maximising crop production during the coming kharif season. The focus will be on ensuring timely availability of fertilizers and quality seed and also sufficient credit to farmers. Based on inputs from States and the Fertilizer Ministry, it is established that sufficient quantities of fertilizers and seeds are available in...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The government spends Rs 3.65 to deliver Re 1 of food while 57% of subsidized food grains do not reach the intended beneficiaries. These startling findings by the Independent Evaluation Office point to massive corruption and pilferages in the existing public distribution system. The agency's initial findings reveals that close to 36% of food grains are siphoned off in the supply chain, raising a serious question...