-Business Standard Those who want to help India's farmers should be working much harder to figure out what they really need It’s election season in India and the money is flowing. Governments in many states have begun waiving tens of millions of dollars’ worth of loans to poor farmers in an effort to buy their loyalty. The argument – widely accepted by politicians and journalists, the demographic groups with the least fiscal...

-The Hindu Business Line First nation-wide, agri market intelligence system — to help farmers get better price — will become operational from next kharif The Government will give out price and demand forecasts for various major foodgrains and price-sensitive horticulture crops such as onions from the forthcoming kharif season helping farmers take informed decision on growing different crops, a senior official of the Agriculture Ministry said. “We will be making pre-seasonal as well...

-The Telegraph Call to govt to act against covert promotion A paediatricians’ network has asked the Government to act against violations of a law on baby food substitutes, claiming companies are organising “scientific sessions” to influence doctors into recommending their products. The Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India has asked the Union health ministry to authorise health officers or paediatricians in the district hospitals to look out for and file complaints against violations of...

-The Hindu Business Line TN, Kerala, M.P. ranked on top, according to data The Ministry of Commerce and Industry data show that 230 out of the 373 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in India are operational and have provided employment to as many as 20 lakh people. In Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Punjab and Chandigarh all approved SEZs are operational while among four States which have more than 50 approved SEZs, Tamil Nadu tops the chart...

-Newsclick.in In the flagship programme for setting up micro-enterprises (PMEGP), the estimates of employment are highly inflated. In response to a question put up by a group of MPs in Lok Sabha, Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Gangwar said on December 17 that the Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) has “generated” 17.6 lakh jobs since 2014-15. He gave year-wise figures till November 30, 2018. These figures seem to be highly inflated and...