-The Hindu As inflation is driven by supply-side factors, tax policy can be used to cushion its impact With the Union Budget 10 days away, many economic observers are now focused on what support the Centre can offer the economy, which is still struggling to recover from the pandemic. Some analysts believe that the government must keep its spending in check to prevent price rise from getting out of control. Retail inflation...

-The Telegraph Rainy weekend forecast for Kolkata and Bengal South 24-Parganas which encompasses a major portion of the Sunderbans is the most cyclone-affected district in the country, finds a study carried out by the India Meteorological Department in Pune. The first-of-its-kind analysis called Climate Hazards and Vulnerability Atlas of India was conducted recently by the wing of climate research and services at the IMD. The finding was based on all cyclones which passed within...

-Down to Earth The fact 2021 was among the world’s hottest years despite these cooling forces shows just how strong the long-term warming trend is Well, it’s official: 2021 was one of the planet’s seven hottest years since records began, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) declared this week. The year was about 1.11℃ above pre-industrial levels — the seventh year in a row that the average global temperature rise edged over 1℃. The...

-Down to Earth The government is trying to gradually withdraw from procurement operations, MSP regime with this move, feel farmers A recent draft proposal by the Union government to change the moisture content limit for wheat and paddy has farmers worried ahead of the rabi procurement season that begins April 2022.  The ideal moisture content in wheat may be reduced to 12 per cent from 14 per cent and in paddy to 16...

-The Telegraph The apex court acted after some states rejected monetary claims by thousands of families that had lost members to the pandemic The Supreme Court on Wednesday chastised the states for rejecting the monetary claims by thousands of families that had lost members to Covid and ordered the governments to directly reach out to orphaned children with financial succour. The court said no application for ex gratia should be rejected outright on...