The worries of state procurement and storage agencies may accentuate, as the wheat crop this rabi season is likely to have a higher output this year. The Ministry of Agriculture has projected a crop size of 82 million tonnes as compared to 80.71 million tonnes last year. “Although a bonus of Rs 20 a quintal is a pittance, it will not dissuade farmers from growing wheat, as it is a stable crop...
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Obama visit: Fate of millions of farmers hangs in balance by Devinder Sharma
He came, he spoke, and he got 54,000 jobs. This was on Day One of his India visit. By the time he flies out of New Delhi on November 9, US President Barack Obama would have charmed his way through to force open Indian agriculture to American corporations . And therein hangs the fate of millions of small and marginal farmers. Top on the agenda is the push to make Prime...
More »Six information officers fined for delaying RTI reply by Ashutosh Shukla
City-based Right to Information activist (RTI) Shailesh Gandhi, in his capacity as a central information commissioner, recently passed a landmark order under the RTI Act. In an order dated October 22, he fined six public information officers (PIOs) of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Rs25,000 each, the highest penalty amount allowed under the Act. The total fine comes to Rs1.5 lakh, which is the highest penalty levied for a single...
More »Plan panel backs FDI in retail, revives debate by Gaurav Choudhury
The Planning Commission has made a strong pitch for opening up the country’s retail sector to foreign direct investment (FDI). The longstanding debate on this issue has gained an added edge with the forthcoming visit of US President Barack Obama next month. US business has for long been demanding that India open up its retail sector. “FDI in multi-brand retail trading should be permitted, since it will have both positive direct...
More »Govt divided on retail FDI as FinMin says no by Surajeet Das Gupta
The government is divided over allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand and foodgrain retailing. While the Ministry of Finance is opposed to any change in the existing retail FDI policy, the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Ministries, along with the Planning Commission, are open to the proposal mooted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. At present, FDI in these areas of retailing is banned. The finance ministry’s position gains significance in...
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