Asit Ranjan Mishra &Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee

Stories by Asit Ranjan Mishra &Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee

Have You Heard About The Potato Crisis?

Have You Heard About The Potato Crisis?

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2024

Amid the political blame game over Bengal's potato ban, which led to shortages in Jharkhand and Odisha, Uttar Pradesh farmers are the unlikely winners.

Sovereign Gold Bonds On Way Out

Sovereign Gold Bonds On Way Out

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2024

'It has also outlived its initial purpose of reducing physical gold imports.'

What Will RBI Governor's Agenda Be?

What Will RBI Governor's Agenda Be?

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2024

As RBI governor, Sanjay Malhotra will have to give the highest priority to the interest of the economy while deciding on the growth-inflation trade off at Mint Street.

Countdown Begins To Budget 2025

Countdown Begins To Budget 2025

Rediff.com   7 Dec 2024

It will be the second Budget of the Modi 3.0 government and eighth straight Budget for Nirmala Sitharaman, rare in Indian polity.

Low Wages A Corporate Risk: CEA

Low Wages A Corporate Risk: CEA

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2024

'Not paying workers enough will end up being self-destructive or harmful for the corporate sector itself.'

This Winter To Be Warmer Than Normal

This Winter To Be Warmer Than Normal

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2024

The cold wave days in December too are expected to be 'below-normal' this year.

PMAY-G survey to use 'face recognition' tools to identify new beneficiaries

PMAY-G survey to use 'face recognition' tools to identify new beneficiaries

Rediff.com   20 Nov 2024

A fresh survey to identify a minimum of eight million new beneficiaries of the flagship rural housing scheme, in addition to the 12 million already identified, will use the latest face-recognition tools to minimise gaps, a senior official said on Tuesday. The survey, which has already started across the country for building the fresh 20 million new rural houses over the next five years, can also be done by the beneficiary himself/herself as well through the Awaassoft mobile application specially created for this purpose.

MGNREGA participation dipped in first 6 months this FY compared to last

MGNREGA participation dipped in first 6 months this FY compared to last

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2024

Fewer people participated in MGNREGA during the first six months of this financial year (April-September) compared to the same period last year, a recent analysis of the scheme's performance by LibTech showed.

Tomato price volatility exposes gaps in India's agriculture supply chain

Tomato price volatility exposes gaps in India's agriculture supply chain

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2024

Tomato prices have been on the boil for more than a month. Data from major cities show that the spike has been between 125 and 150 per cent at the wholesale level. Soaring vegetable prices, including tomatoes, pushed the retail inflation rate to a nine-month high of 5.49 per cent in September, according to government data. Though reports say prices are expected to come down in the next few weeks after supplies improve from Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, how long will the respite last is anybody's guess.

Global firms form 'good rice alliance' for Indian farmers

Global firms form 'good rice alliance' for Indian farmers

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2024

Four big global companies - Bayer, GenZero (a wholly-owned arm of financial major Temasek), Shell and Mitsubishi - have decided to scale up their carbon credit programme in nine states to empower farmers. The credits are generated through the adoption of smart agriculture practices - Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR). Since over a year, the project, which was being run on a pilot basis, has positively impacted 10,000 farmers, covering more than 25,000 hectares.

'We Are Lucky To Have Modi'

'We Are Lucky To Have Modi'

Rediff.com   16 Oct 2024

'We don't have to go abroad for anything.' 'Anyone who thinks we have a lot to learn from the US needs to have his head examined.' 'We are in a new era.'

US tariffs risk Chinese goods flooding India

US tariffs risk Chinese goods flooding India

Rediff.com   4 Oct 2024

India stares at the risk of an influx of Chinese products as US tariffs on a range of Chinese goods, including solar panels, electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, syringes, and steel, are set to take effect from September 27. With higher tariffs reducing China's access to the US market, there is concern that China may divert its exports to other markets, including India, which could lead to potential dumping of goods. This situation could challenge Indian industries, particularly in sectors where competition with Chinese products is already fierce.

India's agriculture growth dips in Q1 as heatwave stings crop output

India's agriculture growth dips in Q1 as heatwave stings crop output

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2024

Gross Value Added (GVA) growth in agriculture and allied activities in the first quarter of the 2024-25 financial year (Q1FY25) dipped to 2.7 per cent at constant prices from 4.2 per cent in Q1FY24 due to a drop in output of some crops following heatwave in the main growing months. Low post-monsoon rains, which dried most of the reservoirs in several states across the country, also impacted the production of many crops. At current prices, the growth was estimated at 8.5 per cent as against 4.1 per cent in Q1FY24 due to a spike in food inflation during the April to June months of FY25.

'Industry Has To Help Us'

'Industry Has To Help Us'

Rediff.com   16 Aug 2024

'There will be 200 ITIs developed as hubs, while 800 will be developed as spoke, connected with five National Skill Training Institutes.'

Textile industry joins hands with ILO

Textile industry joins hands with ILO

Rediff.com   15 Aug 2024

With cotton still figuring in the list of commodities that are produced using practices such as child labour, the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has entered into an understanding with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to create awareness, share technical know-how and knowledge about better labour standards. These standards, which are part of ILO Fundamental Principles and Rights to Work (FPRW), will be tried on a pilot basis in major cotton-growing districts of Madhya Pradesh for one year starting in 2024.

What Modi May Say In I-Day Address

What Modi May Say In I-Day Address

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2024

'Given our turbulent neighbourhood, the prime minister is likely to emphasise on democratic dividend as the reason behind India's continuous prosperity.'

Imports of pulses may dip in FY25 on good monsoon

Imports of pulses may dip in FY25 on good monsoon

Rediff.com   12 Aug 2024

After climbing to the highest level in more than five years to 4.7 million tonnes in FY24, India might import fewer quantities of pulses this financial year at 4-4.5 mt on the back of good monsoon and higher domestic production, Bimal Kothari, chairman of India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), said in New Delhi on Friday. Kothari was addressing reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on pulses titled "Bharat Dalhan-2024".

Customs duty cut on silver likely to give Centre breather for now

Customs duty cut on silver likely to give Centre breather for now

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2024

The steep cut in Customs duty on silver in the FY25 Budget to 6 per cent from 15 per cent may provide the government temporary relief by checking the spurt in silver imports from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). In FY24, silver imports from the UAE jumped to $1.7 billion from only $11.18 million in FY23, according to commerce department data. In May, about 87 per cent of India's silver imports came from Dubai.

What Centre Will Shell Out For AP, Bihar

What Centre Will Shell Out For AP, Bihar

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2024

While Andhra Pradesh is expected to receive Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore, Bihar is likely to get Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore in FY25.

Hunger in India came down to 13.7% during 2021-23: UN-FAO report

Hunger in India came down to 13.7% during 2021-23: UN-FAO report

Rediff.com   1 Aug 2024

In what could come as a piece of good news, hunger in India - as measured by the Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) by the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) - has come down from 16.6 per cent of the population in the 2020-2022 to 13.7 per cent in 2021-23, the latest report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2024) showed. This means that around 39.3 million people have come out of undernourishment between the two periods, NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand said on Tuesday.