-NITI Aayog Working Paper, ISBN: 978-81-953811-7-3 Abstract -  The importance of agriculture in an economy usually declines as it climbs the development ladder. Raising agriculture productivity has been known to be an important precursor. Labour productivity in agriculture can either be increased by higher land productivity or higher land availability per farmer and mechanisation. In India, however, the dramatic increase in land productivity through industrial farming has caused severe environmental damage and...

-The Hindu Reviving the official household spending survey is only a FIRst step India’s official statistical machinery is gearing up to relaunch the All-India Household Consumer Expenditure Survey, traditionally undertaken quinquennially, from July 2022. If it fructifies, the result may be known towards the latter half of 2024, provided the Government permits the release. The last such Survey (2017-18), did not get such a sanction — its results reportedly indicated the FIRst...

-Hindustan Times Data from Punjab agriculture department says an estimated 1.34 lakh acre was under mustard cultivation in 2021-22, highest in last 15 years. Since 2007, farmers are sowing mustard on 30,000 hectares or 74,000 acres every year Bathinda: After diversifying to mustard crop (about 44% jump) in the 2021-22 rabi season, enterprising farmers are now reaping profit by selling the produce for up to Rs.7,000 per quintal, 28% higher than this...

-South Asia Netwrok on Dams, Rivers and People In addition to destruction of rivers eco-system and disruption of environmental services to riparian communities, the illegal and unsustainable sand mining practices in India have also been causing avoidable violence and accidents resulting in scores of human deaths and injuries on annual basis. However, there is no comprehensive picture emerging on this man made disaster. To fill the gap, SANDRP has been trying...

-The Telegraph CM Yogi Adityanath had on April 18 directed state government officials to carry forward welfare measures for transgender people Noida: The Social Welfare Ministry of Uttar Pradesh has proposed a FIRst of its kind voluntary registration for transgender people in the state, aimed at devising welfare measures for the marginalised community, according to officials. The ministry has proposed a budget of Rs 200 crore for the welfare of transgender people...