The Hindu
Front Page / NATIONAL
NGT raps Environment Ministry: A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that the MoEF had not “applied its mind” while amending a notification published on December 9, 2016, exempting construction projects from the process of environment impact assessment (EIA) and prior environmental clearance.
Ban on import of exotic skins: In a landmark decision that will spare the lives of tens of thousands of animals from the exotic leather industry, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade has banned the import of skins of reptiles and fur of minks, foxes and chinchillas.
Be mindful of speedy justice: HC: Delhi High Court observed that “courts, while endeavoring to deliver speedy justice, must not hand out hasty decisions without any concern for justice” and that docket explosion is a problem for the judicial system to contend with but does not concern the individual litigant who comes to court seeking justice.
SC asked to resolve conflict over ‘rape’ definition in two laws: An exception to Section 375 (rape) in the IPC allows a man to go scot-free despite having sex with his 15-year-old ‘wife’.
How will EC decide on the party symbol row: The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 empowers the EC to recognise political parties and allot symbols. Under Paragraph 15 of the Order, it can decide disputes among rival groups or sections of a recognised political party staking claim to its name and symbol.
Editorial/OPINION
Reading between the lines: The Supreme Court verdict on electoral malpractice ensures that future legal challenges to election victories based on identity politics will walk the fine line of text, context and subtext.
Keeping the streets safe: There is the other factor of inadequacies of police leadership that have become glaring over the years.
ECONOMY
Export infrastructure scheme on the anvil: The Centre will tie up with the States to soon roll-out a new scheme called ‘TIES’ — or Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme — to boost export infrastructure.
‘Repayment of micro loans hit by note ban’: A CRISIL study showed that 9 per cent of micro enterprises are facing trouble servicing debt and paying salaries and unorganised players are expected to suffer most due to lower growth expectations.
New norms likely for top PSU bank posts: The Banks’ Board Bureau is working to ensure that leadership roles in state-run banks would only be given to those with at least six years of service left, in order to ensure accountability of their actions.
Science and Technology
Living near heavy traffic increases risks of dementia: WHO estimates the number of people with dementia in 2015 at 47.5 million, a number that is rising as life expectancy increases.
Indian Express
We are all accountable: Blame the nation as a whole for the poor implementation of demonetisation.
Let the budget be: Opposition to advancing the Union budget on account of assembly elections is misplaced.
Live Mint
How to go about chasing black money: The focus of any sustainable reform of the taxation structure must be on reducing flows of tax evasion, not going after existing caches of black money.
Charting our artificial intelligence future: In the great software of the universe, we will remain a beautiful bug, and AI will increasingly become a normal feature.
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