-The Financial Express The Narendra Modi government's decision to disallow field trials of 15 varieties of genetically modified (GM) crops came on top of several state governments virtually thwarting such trials of 45 GM crop varieties approved by the regulator during the previous UPA regime. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) gave approval for 45 GM crop trials ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. However, states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha,...

-Tehelka Bureau Though well-meaning, the new Land Acquisition Act is far from being a perfect legislation. But the urgency to amend a law even before a real field test signals a larger agenda. By all counts, this was expected. Long before he became the BJP and subsequently the nation's chosen one, Narendra Modi had made it clear that his model of development gains from the ease of doing business. Then, days ahead...

-The Hindu Business Line Hyderabad: The news of 11,772 farmers committing suicide did not hit the headlines when the NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) released its data for 2013 early this week. The gravity of the problem somehow didn't get the attention it deserved. Perhaps, we are quite used to the numbers since they have always remained north of 10,000 in the last few years. Those who closely follow developments in Indian...

-The Business Standard The programme would be extended to include all identified villages in 13 districts in the state in a phased manner starting with the Rabi crop season this year Hyderabad: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat), in partnership with the government of Andhra Pradesh, would cover six million hectares in the state under the dry land farming programme Bhoochetana. The programme would be extended to include all...

-The Economic Times Most state governments have sought a relook at UPA's Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, pushing the Centre into convening an all-party meet, probably as early as the next fortnight. A consensus at the meeting of all parties heading state governments will let the Centre amend the law in the current monsoon session itself. This revision of the land law is imperative for the Centre to execute major infrastructure...