India remains on high alert, says official
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Friday said that settling the border dispute between India and China was critical for maintaining good relations between the two countries. While India's ties with China were improving, the country still needs to to remain on a "very very high alert", he said. Noting that India needs to be "particularly concerned" about the Easter Sector of the border, Doval added that China's claims on territories in Arunachal Pradesh were "in contravention of accepted principles" on the matter. His remarks came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Beijing to "reconsider its approach" on several issues affecting the relationship between the two countries.

Home Ministry places postings under Delhi LG 
The Union Home Ministry on Thursday released a notification stating that the posting and transfer of bureaucrats in Delhi fell under the jurisdiction of the state's Lieutenant-Governor. The notification made it optional for the Governor to consult with the state's chief minister, depending on the former's discretion. This led Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Central government of trying to run the Delhi government by proxy. The row between Kejriwal and Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung broke out after the chief minister voiced his opposition to the appointment of Shakuntala Gamlin as acting state Chief Secretary and alleged that Jung was trying to take over the administration of the state.

BJP accuses UPA of violating rules
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday accused the Congress-led former United Progressive Alliance government of violating the rules of the Golden Quadrilateral highways project. BJP national spokesperson MJ Akbar said that a report by Cobrapost revealed how the norms of the project had been altered so that the Congress could satisfy "crony capitalism and crony contractors". The report by news portal said that the rules of the project, which aims to connect Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata through four-lane highways, were altered by the former government to favour the private sector in at least two cases.

Rajya Sabha panel to summon Revenue Secretary  
The Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha examining the Goods and Services Tax Bill will summon Revenue Secretary Shaktikanta Das to its next meeting to gain a better understanding of the provisions of the bill, officials familiar with the matter said on Friday. "The committee has also decided to meet next on 29 May and then on 16 June," an official said. The Bill aims to subsume various Central and State taxes including the excise duty into a single tax regime to create a common market.

Passport controversy unnecessary, says Geelani's son
An unnecessary political controversy was being created over issuing a passport to Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader's son said on Friday. "By making this hue and cry, what they want to say is that we in Jammu and Kashmir have no right to apply for a passport," said Dr. Naseem Geelani. On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs had refused to process the separatist leader's application for being "incomplete". The Bharatiya Janata Party said that before Geelani was issued the document, he should acknowledge that he was an Indian.