-Livemint.com Damage to rabi crops like wheat, mustard has been reported from UP, Punjab, Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra, Haryana New Delhi: Unseasonal rain and hailstorm in the past few days have damaged winter crops in parts of at least six states across central, north and western India. So far, damage to rabi crops like wheat, mustard and chickpea has been reported from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It may not...

-PTI Farmers warned of fungal disease stripe rust or yellow rust attack on crop because of conducive weather conditions Chandigarh: Untimely rains accompanied by hailstorm and strong winds in Punjab and Haryana will hit wheat crop which was to be harvested next month, feared farm experts, saying showers at this stage were “unfortunate” for growers who were hoping for bumper yield. “Rains along with strong winds at this point of time are not...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: Shopkeepers and street vendors across India who wish to continue providing commodities in PLAstic bags would need to pay Rs 4,000 per month to local authorities under new rules intended to discourage free carry bags. The Union environment ministry today announced revised rules to manage India's massive burden of PLAstic waste. The rules will introduce this waste management fee on vendors, while imposing a collect-back system for brand-owners...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday notified stringent PLAstic waste management rules to regulate use of the hazardous material and handle the waste generated by it. Besides, it also banned use of PLAstic carry bags of less than 50 microns in thickness as against the existing norms of less than 40 microns. Be it manufacturers, shopkeepers, street vendors or waste generators including individuals, institutions and organisers of big...

-People’s Democracy In the last week of February, a panel set up by the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body ruled against India on a comPLAint by the US in early 2013 that India’s Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) for some solar power projects violated WTO prohibitions on measures that result in “less favourable treatment” of international trade partners. The panel was ruling on an appeal by India in response to the original injunction...