Has India done a China to its trade partners? Against huge opposition and popular discontent over the years, the Cabinet last week cleared 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and allowed 100 per cent FDI in single-brand retail. The move appears crafty in that it tries to change the perception of a reform impasse in the government while simultaneously aiding India’s negotiators to meet their peers...

-The Times of India   Traders across the country have downed their shutters to join the protest against government's decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail.  The impact of the strike has been visible in several cities. In some cities, shopkeepers took out marches demanding a rollback of the government move.  In Maharashtra, around 35 lakh small and medium traders have kept their shops shut in response to the bandh.  "We have received...

  -The Times of India Shops and commercial establishments in many cities across the country have downed their shutters to protest government's decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail. However, the impact of the strike is varied from state to state. In Maharashtra, round 35 lakh small and medium traders have kept their shops shut in response to the bandh. "We have received good response for the bandh in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai...

Farmers, a holy-cow constituency considered more valuable than small traders to the political class, have begun to ask uncomfortable questions to those opposing foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail. Several farmer groups, some of them led by politicians with ties to the Congress, have asked why some parties are standing in the way of a measure that is expected to reduce the clout of middlemen and increase farm earnings. Although Prime Minister...

-The Times of India Promotion of organized retail and contract farming to improve farm production and modernize the agriculture supply chain as well as direct marketing initiatives are among the highlights of the report on consumer affairs prepared by a group of chief ministers chaired by Gujarat CM Narendra Modi.  In a report submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in March, the committee headed by Modi prioritized reducing farm gate to retail...