-The Indian Express The latest data compiled by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on recruitment over the last three years through the main agencies show a declining trend in selection and recruitment, from 1,13,524 cumulatively in FY2015 to 1,00,933 in FY2017. New Delhi: In terms of employment prospects, beneficiaries of the 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections in the general category, which was passed in Parliament last week,...

-The Indian Express It would have made more sense — economically, legally, politically, morally, constitutionally — to have limited 10 per cent EWS reservation to those with farming or rural backgrounds The last few years have seen the so-called dominant farming communities — especially the Jats, Marathas, Patidars and Kapus — mount violent agitations demanding quotas in government jobs and higher educational institutions, whether under the OBC (Other Backward Class) or...

-The Indian Express West Bengal has withdrawn from flagship programme PMJAY, joining 3 other states that have stayed out. What are the reasons behind the states’ reluctance; what could this mean for the programme’s future? New Delhi: On Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that her state is withdrawing from Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). Delhi, Telangana and Odisha have stayed out of the programme, while reports...

-The Indian Express Trucks carrying sugarcane were stopped on the Pune-Bengaluru highway near Tandulwadi in Sangli districts, bringing traffic to a halt. Kohlapur: Harvesting and transportation of sugarcane in western Maharashtra remained paralysed for the third day on Sunday due to a protest by farmers against sugar mills over partial payment of dues. Led by Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghthana, a prominent organisation of farmers in this region, the farmers in the sugarcane heartland...

-The Times of India GANDHINAGAR (Gujarat): A survey conducted by Gujarat education department found that of 32,772 government schools, 12,000 schools are run by just one or two teachers, and there are 15,171 schools which have less than 100 students. Official records show 8,673 (26% of total schools) government schools have less than 51 students while 6,498 (20%) schools have less than 100 students. In all, 15,171 (46%) government schools have...