-The Economic Times The ills of Indian agriculture are many and well documented: highly fragmented land holdings, inadequate mechanisation, low quality and quantity of inputs, high dependence on monsoons, and so on. But the sector may do better in the future. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's success in raising the pace of agricultural growth in Gujarat and his government's intention of introducing agri reforms-the recent raising of import duty on sugar, meant to...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The large difference between wholesale and retail prices of onions in markets such as Delhi, Indore, Chandigarh and Mumbai has taken the government by surprise despite several steps announced by it, including an advisory to states to crack down on hoarding and speculation. Data available with the government showed that last week, the key kitchen ingredient was available for Rs 12.75 a kg in the wholesale...

-The Business Standard   A CAIU will be set up to analyse and collect field data for a transparent and accountable labour inspection system The Union labour ministry has approved a more liberal inspection scheme aimed at simplifying business regulations and bringing "transparency and accountability" in the system. For this purpose, a Central Analysis and Intelligence Unit (CAIU) will be set up to analyse and collect field data "for a transparent and accountable labour...

-The New Indian Express   KARIMNAGAR: With a weak monsoon predicted for this season by weather officials, farmers who want to prepare for Kharif are in a fix. Upland area farmers in Husnabad, Illanthakunta, Sircilla, Bheemdeverapalli, Elkathurthy and some other mandals are facing a miserable situation as they have to depend on rain god and borewells in the absence of irrigation facility. Those farmers in other areas and depending on canals, local tanks...

-The Times of India   MUZAFFARPUR: Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday claimed at Kanti primary health centre (PHC) near here that 92% of the children affected by acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) had not been administered vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis (JE). Launching a two-day JE vaccination drive in Muzaffarpur district from Kanti, the minister said it is a subject of research whether the AES is a form of JE or not. The...