-The News Minute The use of plastic or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles for packaging medicines such as syrups and liquid orals has been banned by the government. Reports say that this ban will lead a price hike for certain drugs meant for children, women and senior citizens. According to a Times of India report SV Veeramani, president, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) confirmed the move, "There would be estimated 25-30% cost increase...

-The Hindu Business Line   Two young women's organic business helps small farmers salvage their soil and livelihood Kolkata schoolmates Avantika Jalan and Rashmi Sarkar run Mana Organics, a social enterprise that helps small farmers improve soil fertility through chemical-free methods and navigate the country's complex food supply chain. Organic produce from its two projects in Tinsukia, Assam, and three villages in Madhya Pradesh are sold in New Delhi and Kolkata. Early days Registered as...

-The Hindu Business Line   Polyhouse farms yield more than a same-size land holding in this salubrious corner of the country Until a few years ago, monkeys and pigs destroyed everything the farmers grew in the villages around Jubbar Hatti, 25 km from Shimla. Today the same farmers earn big money from growing exotic vegetables like bell capsicum or carnation flowers, but inside a cluster of polyhouses spread across five panchayats in a...

-Economic and Political Weekly The National Democratic Alliance government has constituted the IPR Think Tank which, among other things, is to draft the National Intellectual Property Rights Policy. India may not have a policy per se but it has a strong legislation on IPRs, a functioning patents office and mechanisms to grant patents as well as protect consumer interests. The Think Tank has other issues it needs to address, but is...

-Business Standard India, China, the Gulf and other large developing economies form the fastest-growing market for the refrigeration industry Despite India changing its stance and keeping quiet, select developing countries were able to delay the launch of formal talks on the phasing out of climate change-causing refrigerant gases under the Montreal Protocol, meant to deal only with ozone-depleting substances. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had signed a pact with US President Barack Obama during...