The Hindu

Front Page / NATIONAL

Election Commission seeks funds for paper trail units:  Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi has requested the Union Law Ministry for urgent release of funds, given the “prevailing environment,” to facilitate procurement of VVPAT (voter verifiable paper audit trail) machines for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Rs. 7 lakh in fake currency notes seized by BSF from Bengal border: Fake currency notes of ₹2,000 denomination with the face value of ₹7 lakh have been seized by the BSF after an operation along the Indo-Bangladesh International Border (IB) in West Bengal’s Malda district.

Editorial/OPINION

Outrageous defiance:  Justice C.S. Karnan’s continuance as a judge makes a mockery of the rule of law

Carpool for cleaner air: High-occupancy toll lanes will combat air pollution and foster a more disciplined driving culture

The strange case of Kulbhushan Jadhav: The military trial and summary sentencing to death of Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan, with the Indian High Commission denied consular access to him, has plunged IndiaPakistan relations into a crisis again.

Economy

Indian Railways draft policy aims at boosting tourism: The Indian Railways (IR) plans to introduce dedicated train services for domestic and international tourists, catering to customers at all income levels.

Environment

Showers prove summer coolers for national parks: The summer showers in parts of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts in the last week of March and the beginning of April have provided a reprieve from forest fires to both Bandipur and Nagarahole national
parks.

Science and Tech.

31 new seismological observatories soon: Thirty-one seismological observatories are expected to come up in the country by the end of the year to boost information gathering capabilities.

Indian Express

Lost in implementation : The budget session of Parliament has been a productive one. Parliament passed 18 bills. Four of these are for implementing the Goods and Services Tax regime, and five relate to the Union budget.

Just tinkering : Food minister’s suggestion of regulating portion sizes in restaurants trivialises the problem of food wastage