-BBC   The Indian government has approved an ambitious scheme to provide affordable housing to millions of slum dwellers. The plan is expected to benefit 32 million people in 250 cities and aims to give property rights to the owners of the houses built under the scheme. A cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has approved the first phase of the scheme, Home Minister P Chidambaram said. The scheme aims to check...

-The Times of India   While participation of the Anna Hazare group in the drafting of the Lokpal Bill to check corruption in public life is uncertain, the government is set to draw a line that will see a conditional inclusion of the Prime Minister and exclusion of higher judiciary and actions of MPs in Parliament. Despite having opened the web of consultations wide with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee seeking the opinions...

A caveat: Is the Lokpal the right authority to investigate judges? Legal luminaries think otherwise. Five Points Of Contention Pro-Lokpal Bill activists want the higher judiciary to come under the purview of the new law. Jurists think otherwise. Point: Nowhere in the world is there an ombudsman to whom the entire higher judiciary is made accountable Counterpoint: The Lokpal Bill must ensure powers to probe corruption charges against SC and HC judges Independence of...

Congress firm but Baba Ramdev, BJP to fight UPA government's “fascism” The Union government swung into damage control mode on Sunday, in the wake of the early morning swoop by the Delhi Police on the Ramlila grounds and the bundling out from the national capital of a trembling yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who had exchanged his saffron garb for a white salwar kameez in the hope of escaping unnoticed. But this...

-BBC   India's Uttar Pradesh state has unveiled a new policy making it easier and more profitable for famers to sell land, following recent angry protests. Chief minister Mayawati said it would ensure a seller's market for farmland. It would also smooth the way for land to be developed for infrastructure. Land for industry is a burning issue as India tries to balance a growing economy with the interests of the poor. Last month the...