-Newsclick.in The Modi government seems to have lost all control over the economy – or perhaps, was never in control. The Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government has been proclaiming ad nauseum that it has kept prices of essential items under control throughout its rule since 2014. That the prices of some commodities, especially food items, did not rise constantly is a fact, although for many other commodities, like fuel, prices did...

-The Indian Express Discussions of rural poverty fail to factor in multi-dimensional changes in the sector in the last five years Rural poverty in India has been the subject of discussion in recent times. Low increase in prices of agricultural commodities and the slower increase in rural agricultural wages have been seen by some as signs of a crisis for the rural poor. Many acknowledge the role of pro-poor public welfare...

  Air quality in North India in general and Delhi National Capital Region (Delhi NCR) in particular plunged to its lowest point in recent years during October-November thanks to a variety of factors. Through media reports one comes to know that stubble burning (also called paddy straw burning/ crop residue burning) is chiefly responsible for the public health crisis in India's capital and its nearby regions. Data accessed from the website...

-The New Indian Express Maharashtra, MP, Karnataka and AP are major producers of onions in India. These states were severely hit by the monsoon this year, which destroyed their farm produce. The prices of basic commodities like fuel and onions are skyrocketing just as the festive season is around the corner. While Fuel Prices hit a yearly high on the back of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the US-China...

-The Hindu Finance Bill provides for rise of Rs.5/litre While the Budget has effected a hike in the duties and cess on petrol and diesel amounting to Rs.2 per litre, the government has given itself the leeway for a further increase of levies by Rs.5 per litre, Revenue Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey said. While Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a Rs.1/litre increase in the Special Additional Duty (SAD) on petrol and diesel...