-The Hindu It is not just domestic firms that are potential beneficiaries of the new farm laws; foreign agribusinesses are a danger too The Farmers’ movement for the repeal of the three farm laws which affect them closely but have been rammed through without consulting them, has now entered its second month. It is of historic significance. It is not just about minimum support prices but also about the survival of the...

-The Indian Express The Centre is within its rights to enact laws promoting barrier-free trade of farm produce (inter- as well as intra-state) and also dismantling stockholding restrictions. But that can be only after the farmer has sold. In November 2019, the Fifteenth Finance Commission submitted its interim report, wherein it proposed special “performance based incentives” to states that carried out agriculture sector reforms. These reforms specifically pertained to their enacting and implementing...

-The Telegraph A large segment of the protesters who travelled are Adivasis fighting for their land titles under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 The tent seemed more spacious and the winter didn’t bite as much. After spending four days on the road in a cramped tempo with 14 others, Chhagan Chaudhari, 60, extended his legs and wrapped himself with a thick blanket as he prepared to sleep on December 25 night in...

-TheWire.in The finance ministry had said, "Market fee is not a tax and the concerned APMC provides facilities in mandis in exchange for the amount." New Delhi: Amid the raging protests against the disputed agrarian laws passed by the Centre, a far more widespread and deeper controversy has emerged over the taxes levied across state agricultural markets. Members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have been criticising the Agricultural Produce Market Committee tax...

-TheCitizen.in 90% rise in Indian billionaires’ wealth There has been a 90% rise in Indian billionaires’ wealth over past decade. It is not accidental. The BJP led government reduced corporate income tax from 30 to 22 percent starting from the financial year 2019/20. New corporates established in India after October 2019 will only pay 15 percent. It has also provided many other opportunities, incentives and foregoing exemptions to corporations. Meanwhile the Union government...