THE report submitted in December 2016 by the committee on digital payments, headed by the former finance secretary Ratan Watal draws lessons from the recent studies conducted by Earnest & Young, Mastercard and Visa. The appointment of the eleven-member committee was notified in August 2016 only.

THEY are away from their families and support systems and live in a state whose language they cannot speak. Thousands of migrant workers from Bihar, UP, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Orissa and Bengal are today stranded in Hyderabad without money in the wake of prime minister's demonetisation drive. There are about 30,000 migrant workers in and around Hyderabad in the construction sector, working under contractor and supervisors for big and small construction companies. Their wages are usually paid fortnightly or monthly.

CHIEF Justice of India T S Thakur in an open court accused the government of trying to “decimate the judiciary and lock justice out”. Citing the case of the Karnataka High Court, the CJI said that one entire floor of courtrooms was locked up because there were no judges. In the Allahabad High Court, half of the sanctioned strength of 160 judges are lying vacant.

DEAR Son,I know you are only twelve years old and wondering why I am writing to you on such a subject as sexual harassment. But son, as you might have read in Hindustan Times, a newspaper you distribute to all the subscribers in your class, nine eminent Indians have written open letters on rape to their children, friends and colleagues. Moreover, I noticed that in your Civics textbook, you are learning about discrimination between men and women. Also, you told us about a workshop in your school for girls and boys.

EARLY voting for the presidential elections in the US is already on, though officially the election is scheduled for November 8. We are witnessing in the US a bitter and ugly campaign, often with personal insinuations crossing the limits of political decency. Wild accusations, with little concern for facts and truths are hurled at each other by both the Democratic and Republican parties and between the chosen candidates of the two parties – Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.