-Press Information Bureau (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved setting up of 3500 model schools in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs) in 27 States/UTs with certain modifications. This is under the scheme for setting up of 6000 model schools at block level as a benchmark of excellence. This decision will ease the extra financial burden of the State / UT Governments resulting in effective implementation...

-The Business Standard A sting, Operation Prime Minister, by a TV news channel had said opinion polls could be manipulated by research agencies The Election Commission (EC) of India cannot ban opinion polls ahead of elections; all it can do is remind the Union government about its long-pending request. And, this is what India's highest poll-conducting body is planning to do, following a TV news channel's sting operation code-named ‘Operation Prime Minister', which...

-The Hindu In the case of technologies with benefits and risks, it is important to have regulatory mechanisms which can help analyse them in an impartial manner It is 61 years since the beginning of new genetics based on the discovery of the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. It is also 31 years since the production of transgenic plants. The first patent for a living organism went to Dr. Anand...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Differently-abled people took to the streets in protest as Parliament adjourned sine die without passing the much-awaited Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill on Friday. The bill, which seeks to broaden the ambit of disability from the existing seven to 19 categories, could not be passed primarily due to disruptions in Parliament on Telangana and other issues. The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha on February...

-The Hindustan Times A "progressive Punjab agriculture summit", scheduled in SAS Nagar from February 16 to 19 is a welcome step. The event comes close on the heels of an earlier summit on industry. Together, agriculture and industry form a strong fulcrum for Punjab's economic growth and prosperity. However, at present, both are in a grip of crisis; and perhaps unable to face the future challenges/opportunities on their own. It calls for...