-Down to Earth Scanty rainfall, heat up to 48°C mar paddy prospects    Punjab has been able to bring only 77,000 hectares (ha) under direct-seeded rice (DSR) through June 30 this year, way below the 1.2 million ha (mha) it targetted. This is also substantially less than last year’s 0.6 mha and 0.5 mha in 2020. High temperatures and deficient rainfall are mainly to blame, said farmers. Other challenges included closed canals, erratic...

-The Telegraph The number of persons arrested in the case has gone up to four Guwahati: Three more persons have been arrested on charges of damaging a dyke that led to the flooding of Silchar in Assam on June 19 with water from the overflowing Barak river that runs along the town. The number of persons arrested in the case has gone up to four after the arrest of Mitu Hussain Laskar, Nazir...

-Newsclick.in A finance ministry note has reportedly warned against too much spending on food and other subsidies. The scheme for providing 5 kg food grain to every individual in addition to the subsidised ration given to ration card holders may be finished after September. Called the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), it was started during the first lockdown in April-May 2020 and has been extended every six months. It is...

-PTI/ The Hindu Business Line Registration certificates of wheat to exporters having valid letter of credit The commerce ministry's arm Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued registration certificates for about 1.6 million tonne of wheat to exporters having valid letter of credit, after the ban order of May 13, an official said. The government is allowing wheat shipments for which irrevocable letters of credit (L/C) were issued on or before May...

-Hindustan Times Some violations of the air and water acts, the environment protection law, and the public liability insurance law that deals with providing relief to victims of accidents while handling hazardous substances in industries will be decriminalised to remove the fear of imprisonment, the ministry said. New Delhi: Violation of certain environmental regulations may soon be decriminalised, although they would attract stiffer penalties, according to public consultation papers released by the...