-The Hindu Business Line New Delhi: The issue of one poverty number continues to absorb the NITI Aayog, and indications are that its task force on elimination of poverty will suggest having separate indicators for different social schemes such as health and housing. “A debate has been on within the task force on whether there should be one poverty number or separate indicators for different schemes… Discussions are also taking place on...

-The Hindu Business Line The proposed crop insurance overhaul is a welcome step The Centre’s move to come out with a new crop insurance policy has not come a moment too soon. The initiative seems keen to address two main impediments to enhance the coverage of crop insurance — high rates of premium under the Modified National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (MNAIS), particularly in relation to the sum insured, and inaccuracies in estimating...

-PTI New Delhi: Wheat production in India, the world’s second-largest producer, is likely to fall below 90 million tonnes for the second year in a row in 2015-16 due to an unusually dry and warm winter. Wheat output had declined to 88.95 mt in 2014-15 due to a Poor monsoon and unseasonal rains in February-March, as against a record 95.85 mt achieved in the previous year. Sowing of wheat, a major rabi (winter)...

-The Hindu Among other things, the government must work towards giving life to the National Health Policy Even as millions of Indians wish each other health, happiness and hope in the new year, they also await news on the new National Health Policy which will become the GPS in our journey towards better health. The draft policy, which was framed by the Union Health Ministry, was placed for public comment just over...

-The Times of India New Delhi: India has been attracting severe criticism from the international community for its Poor mix of contraceptive methods. This despite India registering the highest contraceptive prevalence rate for sterilisation at 36.9% as compared to other countries with similar demographics. The US trails India recording a 36.3% rate, China follows at 33.2% and Brazil at 34.2%. The huge share of female sterilisation coupled with slow pace in adoption...