In order to understand why the Union Budget 2021-22 is being termed as ‘transparent’, it has to be read simultaneously with the 15th Finance Commission Main Report for 2021-26. But first, let us discuss 'fertilizer subsidy'. The budget documents for Union Budget 2021-22 show that the spending on ‘fertilizer subsidy’ was slashed from Rs. 1,33,947 crore in 2020-21 (revised estimate) to Rs. 79,530 crore in 2021-22 (budget estimate). However, the budgetary...
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Budget, like farm laws, is marred by gap between intentions of government and ground realities of agriculture -Ajay Vir Jakhar
-The Indian Express Investment in human capital, science and research remains the Achilles heel of Indian policy. The budget allocation for agriculture research and education has constantly declined from 0.31 per cent of the gross value added of agriculture and allied activities in 2011-12 to 0.24 per cent now Seven years of low crude prices, five years of above normal monsoon topped by good agriculture production, and everything looked positive for a...
More »Create protocols and decommission the ageing large dams speedily, recommends latest UNU-INWEH study
Large dams that cause environmental degradation and large-scale displacement, among other things, have been opposed in India by civil society organisations (CSOs), such as Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), National Alliance of People's Movement (NAPM) and People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). A recently published study by the United Nations University's Canada-based Institute for Water, Environment and Health along with other partner organisations reveals that tens of thousands of existing large...
More »Don’t doubt Indian vaccines -G Padmanaban
-The Hindu Vaccination is important to prevent a second wave Several people have questioned the emergency approval given to the indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine. They have demanded efficacy data and cast aspersions on the regulatory machinery. Such views will only increase vaccine hesitancy. It is not the case that the vaccine developed indigenously is being pushed by vested interests, while the international vaccines are great. Questions have been raised about the Moderna and...
More »In Significant Victory for Home Buyers, SC Rejects Developer’s Appeal on Excess Sale Area -Newsclick.in
-Newsclick.in ‘In fact, this is a common practice adopted by majority of builders/developers which is basically an unfair trade practice,’ the NCDRC had said in its order. In a significant victory for home-buyers the Supreme Court dismissed a builder’s appeal on January 12 and upheld the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission’s (NCDRC) ruling in favour of a home-buyer. It had held that the builder’s demand for more money over the contractual sale,...
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