The state of Rajasthan was falling behind their sterelisation targets of 21,000 persons a year, so they came up with an innovative plan with the hope that at least 6000 people will volunteer for sterilisation.

Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan has launched a lottery prize scheme to promote sterilisation in which anyone who voluntarily opts for sterilisation from now to September 30 will be entered into a lottery to win prizes. The first prize is a Tata Nano car. Other prizes include motorcycles and televisions.

According to census data released this year, India's billion-plus population is poised to grow in the next few decades making the country the world's most populated, surpassing China.

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The Supreme Court of India ordered a special investigation into undeclared money and accused the government of 'serious lapses' and half-hearted efforts in handling the issue.

The government insists it is doing everything possible to uncover funds stashed in overseas banks, but is hamstrung by legal restrictions and a dearth of exchange agreements with a number of tax havens.

A special committee has been appointed by the Court to take the investigations forward.

It is estimated that the amount of illicit money kept secretly in overseas banks by wealthy Indians and corporations ranges between $500 billion to $1.4 trillion.

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According to a study entitled The Global Innovation Index, jointly conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and global business school INSEAD, India is the 9th most efficient country when it comes to innovation.

Per the innovation efficiency index, India has improved its rank from 101st in 2010 to 9th this year.

The Index ranks countries on the basis of enabling environment provided to industry and institutions to achieve innovative practices.

The study that was released in Geneva puts Cote d'Ivoire at the top of the list.

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In the remote southern village of Nada, villagers gave up on the power grid and installed solar power that has changed the lives of its families.

Across the country 40 percent of rural households lack electricity and one third of its 30 million agricultural water pumps run on subsidised diesel. Recently however decentralised solar installations have been installed in some areas that are finally receiving their first experience of light with the help of small companies and aid programmes that bypass the central electricity grid and deliver solar panels to the rural poor.

Among the companies gearing up to fill the dark gap, is Selco Solar Light Pvt.Ltd. who fitted solar panels to 125,000 homes in Karnataka state.

Low income customers do not have it easy however, they still need help with everything from setting up a first bank account, to negotiating loans and navigating contracts. The changeover is time consuming but economically viable.

That said, India' government hopes that in two years the off-grid solar yield will quadruple, and provide power to millions of rural Indian homes with modest energy needs.

India, desperate to expand its energy options plans new nuclear plants and coal-firing plants and is also working to take advantage of its vast renewable energy opportunities.

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PM Manmohan Singh has had two heart surgeries, but keeps punishing schedules, working 18 hours a day from his office with its attached residence.

He rises early, walks the lawns and is all set for work around 7 am. He often has breakfast meetings with associates and reads the newspapers then. His appointments begin at 9 am and continue unabated except for his timely meals that he is particular about since his multiple coronary bypass in 2009.

He retires for lunch around 1 pm and returns to work a couple of hours later. His evenings are usually packed with engagements and he works late into the night. He also works through weekends.

His ability to scan files and minutiae is legendary as is his patience.

His schedule requires him to regularly address academic, industry, government and constitutional bodies and he delivers a couple of speeches a week on an average. PM Singh, a family man, is not much for social dos nor does he entertain. He does watch television, with his wife Gursharan never far from his side.

There is a flinty toughness in the PM's decisions and delivery, that will almost certainly be used when the government tees off with a resurgent Opposition in Parliament next month.

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