Today’s Important Editorials 19th April 2017

Lonely and disinterested

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Excess focus on bilateralism is leaving India isolated in its larger neighbourhood

Lines of defence

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The inclusion of paper audit trails to the EVMs is costly but perhaps unavoidable

Equity in debt

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The expert panel’s recommendation to review the fiscal responsibility law is timely

The Gilgit- Baltistan feint

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There are serious impediments to declaring the region Pakistan’s fifth province. The issue has been raised to placate China and distract India

Iqbal’s wrong turn

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Pakistan is grappling with the boundaries of his idea of religious toleration. India is going down the same path

No radical change in national health policy

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The 2017 national health policy document continues to be an extension of the previous two such policies (1983 and 2002)

Why Maharashtra’s farm distress is market-driven

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The Devendra Fadnavis government’s failure to buy farm produce at minimum support price (MSP) has pushed farmers to ask for farm loan waivers

Issues in public procurement

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Finally, there’s some clarity in the amended General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017, with a focus on integrity and environmental aspects.