Persistent hunger and pervasive malnutrition are serious problems in the developing world. Recent literature suggests that well-designed public policies towards provisioning of social protection/security and strengthening of support measures to smallholder agriculture appear to be effective in reducing hunger and malnutrition.

The UPA government's policies on infrastructure have not translated into any substantial benefits for the poor.

After the many rounds of drafting and redrafting that went into the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009, it was hoped that the Act would be an effective instrument for any child to demand her basic entitlement. Yet, a close look at the provisions reveals disconcerting features.

The UPA government seems to have grown complacent about its budgetary allocations for the social sectors.

The impact of climate change on the world of today and the future is undeniable. Stipulated emission reduction targets for developed countries are still too modest under the Kyoto Protocol and the US, the world's largest polluter remains outside the agreement. The scientific community warns that a global coordinated response with participation of the major emitters and rapidly growing economies of China and India is the only way forward to avoid the worse predicted effects of global warming. This paper reviews the debates and attempts to trace the path to the future.