-PTI NEW DELHI: With onion prices soaring to Rs 80 per kg in major cities, the government today took steps to boost supplies of the commodity by importing them and curbing their exports. Fearing that prices of the politically sensitive commodity could get out of hand, the government asked cooperative major NAFED to import onions from Pakistan and Iran, according to an official statement. The government also imposed a minimum export price (MEP)...

-The Hindu blog The state that pioneered the successful noon-meal scheme may just have cooked up the next big idea. In his latest book, 'An Uncertain Glory - India and its contradictions', economist-philosopher and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has devoted almost ten pages to sing Tamil Nadu's praise for its efficient delivery of public services. "Tamil Nadu's capacity for innovation and creative thinking in matters of public administration is an important example for...

-PTI Prices expected to cool down in first week of Sept once supplies from AP and Karnataka increases Much to the discomfort of consumers, onion prices today touched Rs 80 per kg in most retail markets in the national capital despite normal supply in the wholesale markets. Wholesale price of onion have increased by Rs 5 to Rs 50-55 per kg in Azadpur mandi, according to the Onion Merchant Traders Association. Onion supply to...

The declining trend in food price inflation globally may not hold true for inflationary trends faced domestically due to a weakening Indian Rupee vis-a-vis the US Dollar. The recently released FAO Food Price Index (nominal) has shown a declining trend in July for the third consecutive month owing to lower international prices for grains, soy & palm oil, meat, dairy and sugar. (See links below) Based on FAO Food Price...

-Frontline Once more, without feeling: the government's latest poverty estimates. YET again the Central government has mired itself in controversy by releASIng its latest poverty estimates based on the consumption expenditure survey of the NSSO (National Sample Survey Office) Survey of 2011-12. The Planning Commission's poverty line, using methodology suggested by the Tendulkar Committee in 2010, is now apparently defined as the spending of Rs. 27.20 per capita per day in rural...