-The Indian Express Mainstay of the state’s economy, three-fourths of India’s total production, Kashmir apples have survived spot-less through the Valley’s 30-year insurgency. Is this about to change, as the Centre takes over procurement in its bid to Restore ‘normalcy’, militants strike back with threats, and growers watch their fruit rot? An Indian Express report An olive-green mine-proof Caspir vehicle of the Army stands in front of a long, tin-roofed platform...

-The Hindu Business Line Mumbai: Thousands of distraught customers of Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank gathered at the bank’s branches in Mumbai for a second day on Wednesday to protest against the Reserve Bank of India’s direction to impose Restrictions on withdrawal amounts. Some of them said they would initiate legal action. “I had saved up for my daughter’s marriage in December, but my money is now stuck,” said Harshit Rane, a customer....

-PTI MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India has ordered Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank not to do any business for six months and capped depositor withdrawals at Rs 1,000, throwing the lives of thousands of traders, self-employed and daily wage earners into disarray. The regulator has also appointed an administrator for the bank. Defaults appear to have surged in the past six months amid tight economic conditions and some lumpy loans...

-The Indian Express Through this month, regional provident fund offices have been sending out queries in a specified format to companies seeking “employment data of the proportion of SC & ST employees in total employment”. THE MINISTRY of Labour and Employment has kicked off a survey that requires establishments contributing to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), including from the private sector, to furnish information on the number of SC and...

-The Hindu Powerful lobbies with vested inteRests see agroecology as a threat to their influence on farming systems Agroecology is recognised worldwide as a system that enhances fertile landscapes, increases yields, Restores soil health and biodiversity, promotes climate resilience and improves farmers’ well-being. Its practices are supported by many agricultural scientists, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, farmers’ groups and several NGOs. It is therefore surprising that...