-The Indian Express Assam is SITting on a volcano, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today, as fresh deaths were reported from violence-hit Kokrajhar district, with three people killed late last night. A group of 10-12 miscreants attacked village Ranighuli, barely 10 km from the district headquarters, with AK-47s at around 10.30 last night, leaving Hasinru Ali (30), Sofiel Rahman (26) and Asmat Ali (22) dead and two persons injured. Kokrajhar SP Sunil...

-The Economic Times Reserve Bank of India Governor D Subbarao has said the proposed elimination of fuel subsidy can lead to a massive 2.6% spike in inflation, an assessment that makes it even more difficult for the government to bite the bullet. While a hike in diesel and cooking gas prices may be long overdue, the government is hard-pressed to contain inflation ahead of crucial assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh...

-The Economic Times The government may ban wheat exports by private traders under open general licence despite having enough stocks to feed the country for two years due to concerns about high global prices and the drought-like SITuation back home that has triggered a 20% rise in wheat futures in a month. "There are chances that private traders may divert all the available wheat in the market -- released at subsidised rates...

-The Times of India The empowered group of ministers headed by agriculture minister Sharad Pawar is likely to meet again on Wednesday to discuss measures to counter the impact of spreading drought. The meet, the second in successive weeks, will take place after the India Meteorological Department officially announced a 15% deficit in rainfall for the monsoon season of 2012. Pawar has just concluded his first tour of drought affected states...

-The Indian Express As drought pushes up food prices, India must invest in new irrigation methods The speculation on the delay of the monsoons and below-normal rainfall this year is not new to India. But the drought in the maize belt of the United States — that is, in the Midwest — was unexpected. The impact of the drought will be felt on wheat and soya bean production. This will eventually lead...