Having ensured the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha, UPA-2 in its “Report to the People” released here this evening said that political empowerment is a powerful and indispensable tool for eliminating gender inequality and discrimination.

With education reforms on the top of the UPA government agenda, the report card of first year’s performance of UPA-2 released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday gave positive review of the HRD ministry.

The Prime Minister’s “Report to the People 2009-10” says his government has pursued a foreign policy which combined India’s firm commitment to its core national values with dynamic adaptation to changes in the international environment.

In a major boost for the health sector, the report card for the first year of UPA-2 stated that the over 20,000 doctors and paramedical personnel have been added to the public health system in the country.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said the writ of the “state” would be enforced in dealing with the challenge of Naxalism and declared his government’s intent to fight terrorism “root and branch”. He also viewed that the price rise can be tackled with a “firm action” and assured that his government will take corrective steps to rein in inflation.

Tribal state Jharkhand on Tuesday once again came under Central rule after President Pratibha Patil accepted the recommendation of the Union Cabinet to this effect. Earlier in the day the Cabinet decided to recommend President’s Rule in the state, as the Congress and BJP gave up their efforts to form an alternative government following resignation of chief minister Shibu Soren.

With Union law minister and AICC in-charge of Andhra Pradesh M. Veerappa Moily refuting the claims made by MP from Kadappa YSR Jganmohan Reddy that he has been allowed by the central leadership to continue with his “Odarpu” yatra, the standoff between Congress and the young leader appears to have remained as it is.

A 20-year-old Merchant Navy student committed suicide at his hostel in east Delhi’s Uttam Nagar on Tuesday afternoon, apparently after allegedly facing harassment at his hostel.

A day after Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) rejected demands for power tariff hike, one of the three discoms on Tuesday refuted claims of the statutory power regulator on financial position of the power distribution companies. Amidst DERC and discoms engaged in claims and counter claims, the Delhi government on Tuesday hoped the amicable solution to the stand off by stating that it too has options to intervene in the matter.

The ministry of tourism has launched a scheme of offering subsidy on interest for loans availed of by licenced guesthouse owners for upgradation of their premises in the wake of the Commonwealth Games. The ministry has also a heaved a sigh of relief following increase in the number of “definite” rooms in the last couple of months.