-Deccan Herald Many of India's agricultural practices have barely changed in decades. Reform is long overdue. Nearly a quarter of a century after India launched its first big liberalising reforms in 1991, setting off a new spurt of growth, one area of the country’s economy remains hardly touched: farming. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a 24-hour, state-run television channel for farmers in May, but has fostered no public debate about how to improve...

CGNet Swara was launched as part of the Knight International Journalism Fellowships, a program of the International Center for Journalists. CGNet Swara is a voice-based portal, freely accessible via mobile phone, that allows anyone to report and listen to stories of local interest. Reported stories are moderated by journalists and become available for PLAyback online as well as over the phone (+91 8050068000). ...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Government has decided to pump in Rs 50,000 crore to develop basic irrigation infrastructure and water conservation models over next five years under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (Prime Minister Agriculture Irrigation Scheme) that is aimed to irrigate every farm in the country under its motto 'Har Khet Ko Pani' (water for every farm) to increase productivity through efficient use of water - 'more...

-Down to Earth As per government documents, the current year’s progress report on MGNREGA shows that around 33,000 structures have been completed and work on around 1.1 million structures is still on After the Centre’s ambitious target of constructing one toilet per second to spruce up rural development failed, it has come up with another 'impractical' target. Now, the NDA government PLAns to construct 42 water harvesting structures every hour under the...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: NITI Aayog has decided to pay up to 36% higher salaries to young professionals to draw the best talent, along with capping the age limit at 32 years in line with the government's efforts to bring in younger people to contribute to policymaking at the think tank that rePLAced the erstwhile PLAnning Commission as per the revised guidelines issued recently, the Aayog has fixed the...