-The Hindu No qualified candidates to contest; seven posts fall vacant Jaipur: The impact of the amended Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 to include minimum educational qualification as an eligibility criteria for contesting the Panchayat elections, is now becoming visible with reports of posts going vacant pouring in from across the State. Worse, the Sikar police have Arrested a gang of people who have reportedly sold fake marks sheets and Transfer Certificates to...

-The Indian Express The NDA government took over from the UPA more than eight months ago but it appears to be deja vu for activists fighting against the constitutionality of Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, which empowers police to Arrest people for social media posts. Following the previous government's line, the NDA regime has lent its support to the validity of Section 66A, saying the "danger was present and clear"...

-Livemint.com For the same level of learning outcomes and at their current efficacy levels, govt schools require additional spending far greater than current education budget The new Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) shows that deterioration in learning outcomes has been Arrested in 2014, but absolute numbers are still dismal. Less than half of class 5 students can read a text of class 2 level; less than half of class 8 students...

-The Hindu Tirupur (Tamil Nadu): "Farming population has shrunk in the country by about 25 per cent since Independence and continues to dwindle at a steady pace. Farmers' suicides are still a concern. "To Arrest the trend and save the farm sector, the farming community should be given adequate representation in the newly constituted NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog that replaced the Planning Commission". This is one of the...

-The Hindu The absence of state accountability is at the core of issues facing tribal communities The Report of the High Level Committee on Socio-Economic, Health and Educational Status of Tribal Communities of India, under the chairmanship of sociologist Virginius Xaxa, was circulated last week. The 431-page report details the situation of tribal communities: Scheduled Tribes, de-notified tribes and particularly vulnerable tribal communities. Taking on board the findings and demands of social...