Newspaper Must Read Articles of The Day– 26 March 2015

The Hindu

National

• ‘Millers skim off Rs. 200 cr daily’ – The CAG is conducting an audit of financial dealings between government institutions and rice mills in eight major rice-producing States. It is alleged that Rs. 200 crore black money gets generated daily through false reporting of income from sale of paddy by-products by the millers.

• Centre makes it clear: no going back on legislation –The land ordinance could be re-promulgated before April 5, when it lapses.

• Lunar tunnels can house future human colonies, say scientists – Lava tubes or natural tunnels can  safely house permanent bases on the Moon, scientists have said.

• India vote at U.N. not anti-gay, explains government – India voted at U.N. for the withdrawal of benefits to same-sex couples. Govt explains that this was an issue of whether citizens of a country was governed by their laws or others’ decisions.

• Venkaiah for sharing GST with municipalities – Indian municipalities are the “weakest” in the world in terms of access to resources, financial autonomy and revenue-raising capability; So revenue from Goods and Services Tax should be shared with municipalities, says Minister.

International

• India, Qatar sign prisoner exchange deal – It will allow Indian prisoners in Qatar to complete their remaining sentence in India and vice versa.

• Lee’s Singapore model seen as benchmark for China – Singapore has shown  how Chinese culture  can be successfully integrated with Western culture for progress.

Business

• Windfall gain – The spectrum auction has concluded at Rs.1,09,874 crore. This is the highest ever in  Indian history.

• Exciting times ahead for Digital Media – India’s media and entertainment industry will grow at 13.9 per cent over the next five years, says KPMG.

Opinion-Editorial

• Land swap: can a deal be clinched? – India and Bangladesh should solve the land boundary disputes by exchange of  disputed territories. If so  it will help future cooperation, development, and trade.

• India’s Oscars? – Whenever  “National” Awards are declared,  different states and regions only count how many awards their language cinema has won.

• Victory for free speech – The Supreme Court judgment on Section 66A of the IT Act described it  “vague” and having a “chilling effect on free speech”.

SCI-TECH & AGRI

• Corruption in governance breeds antibiotic resistance – Corruption found to be dangerous for health; this is because of low supervision and enforcement of laws that cover drugs, food and water safety, says study.

Indian Express

Editorials & Columns

• Getting RBI out of debt – Govt should manage its own debt not RBI; Public Debt Management Agency is a good idea, says the author.

• Transmission defect – RBI cut the repo rate twice  in 2015,  but most banks are have not lowered their lending rates.

• Anti-science, absurd – The parliamentary committee has ignored several research findings and asked the Govt to set up a  medical board to examine the health effects of tobacco on Indians. Pictorial warnings on tobacco-product packages should be made compulsory after that, they say.

LiveMint

• RBI’s currency challenge – RBI knows that the rupee is overvalued, but continues to say that it will not act.