-Scroll.in Like Chhattisgarh earlier, now West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh are covering over 80% rural poor under the ration system, and have reduced grain pilferage. Is the public distribution system in India irreparably dysfunctional, or can it effectively provide nutrition and economic support to the poor? In the last three years since the National Food Security law was passed, a number of state governments have expanded the provision of subsidised foodgrain, and the...

-Livemint.com Imports may total 5 million metric tonnes in 2016-17, the most since 2006-07, according to estimates New Delhi: India may import the most wheat in a decade as output declines in the world’s second-biggest producer. Imports may total 5 million metric tonnes in 2016-17, the most since 2006-07, according to the median estimate of seven traders surveyed by Bloomberg. Production is set to decline 1.8% to 85 million metric tonnes in the...

-Livemint.com Majority in India own a house, but that does not mean opulence like it would mean in an advanced country A year ago, the Union cabinet gave its approval to the “Housing for all by 2022” mission with a special focus on providing affordable housing to economically weaker sections in urban areas. While it is still early days to assess the scheme’s progress, what exactly is the housing situation in...

-The Indian Express NDA’s existing agricultural policies are ill-equipped to achieve the stated goal of doubling them in five years. As the Narendra Modi government completed two years in office, almost each arm of government issued hordes of advertisements celebrating achievements and delineating policies and programmes that were transforming India. The ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare came out with a big picture of PM Modi, spelling out 10 points reflecting the...

-The Hindu For both categories, the 45-59 age group reported the highest proportion while the 15-29 reported the lowest West Bengal and Chhattisgarh had the highest proportions among people who reported to be smokers and alcohol drinkers respectively, data from the Sample Registration System (SRS) Baseline Survey 2014, released by the Registrar General of India show. A fourth of West Bengal men smoke and a third of Chhattisgarh men drink — the highest...