-Livemint.com Linking MSPs to a multiple of costs and ignoring other dynamics, such as demand and global prices, risks creating distortions and disincentivizing productivity Government policymaking seems to be making a volte-face from supporting consumers (by keeping food inflation low), to supporting producers (by raising food prices). In the 2018-19 Union budget, the government “decided to keep minimum support prices (MSP) for all unannounced crops of kharif at least at one-and-a-half times of...

-The Hindu Rather than just increased budgetary outlays, farmers need plans that will rescue them from crop failure Similar to the last two Budgets, this year’s pro-agriculture intentions are palpable through increased outlays to the agricultural sector and initiation of various programmes. They seem impressive, but closer scrutiny shows that the measures may be of little help to stem the tide of agrarian distress. There are some real challenges confronting three...

-The Hindu Business Line Bankers call for a coordinated approach to deal with the stressed loans issue New Delhi: The RBI’s revised framework for stressed loans may prove to be disastrous and seems ill timed for an economy that is just recovering from twin policy blows of demonetisation and GST implementation. Though there are long-term benefits of administering such a bitter pill, the short-term risks are significant, say bankers. “This (revised NPA framework) is...

-TheWire.in A new UN study also notes that the intersection of gender with other forms of discrimination – caste, race/ethnicity, religion etc – is what further marginalises women and girls from poor and deprived sections of the society. New Delhi: Not only are women poorer, more hungry and more discriminated against than men in India, but the average Dalit woman in the country also dies 14.6 years younger than those from higher...

-The Pioneer DALTONGANJ (Ranchi): Can name of registered MGNREGA labourer be deleted without his/her consent? MGNREG Act says no. However the scene is frequent at Manika and Barwadeeh blocks in Latehar district. Information suggests that as many as 152 deletions have taken place in Manika while 130 deletion in barwadeeh block which has caused non-payment of wages of these and several other MGNREGA labourers. These labouers claimed to have worked for six months...