-PTI/ NDTV.com Supreme Court: "If such a meaning is applied, it would render all Government facilities such as education, healthcare to be freebies, which is unconscionable," submissions filed by senior advocate P Wilson on behalf of DMK, said. New Delhi: Welfare schemes provide uplift of weaker sections and cannot be described as "freebies", the DMK has told the Supreme Court. Opposing the plea filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay seeking action against political parties...

-The Tribune Karnal: The state Government has banned the sale, stock, distribution and use of 10 insecticides for 60 days. These insecticides are mostly used for basmati paddy. The “residual effect” of these insecticides sometimes leads to the rejection of export consignments of basmati rice. The banned insecticides include Acephate, Buprofezin, Carbendazim, Chlorpyriphos, Methamidophos, Propiconazole, Thiamethoxam, Tricylazole, Profenophos and Isoprothiolance. Last week, the Punjab Government had imposed a similar ban on 10 insecticides. The...

-PTI/ Newsclick.in The economist said the word 'freebies' indicates the class position of those who use it. New Delhi: Economist Jayati Ghosh said that 'basic needs' like nutrition, healthcare, housing and education, which the Government should provide for its citizens, are not freebies, while asserting that the poor are more entitled to receive their basic needs. Ghosh noted that the word 'freebies' indicates the class position of those who use it. "India has one...

-The Telegraph While the BJP and Opposition continue with their political machinations, the larger issues on the ground are these: climatic aberrations and consequent losses How are we supposed to deal with long, dry spells as well as sudden and extreme rainfall in the same season? Or drought in one state and floods in another,for that matter? While the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Opposition continue with their political machinations, the larger...

-Business Standard There is a possibility of a 10-15-million tonne drop in kharif rice production due to drought in several major growing states in eastern India Wheat prices in some markets have touched Rs 2,522 a quintal and cereal inflation is expected to remain sticky in the months ahead due to low wheat stocks in central granaries. Nomura India in a report said lower rice output will put pressure on domestic rice...