Dilasha Seth &Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee In New Delhi

Stories by Dilasha Seth &Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee In New Delhi

What are locusts? And why are they such a big menace?

What are locusts? And why are they such a big menace?

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2020

Swarms of immature pink locusts and adult yellow locusts are currrently active. Not only are fresh locusts swarms expected to arrive in the coming weeks, but even those already present in India have mated and are breeding new offspring.

Covid-19 crisis: Revival in rural demand overstated, say economists

Covid-19 crisis: Revival in rural demand overstated, say economists

Rediff.com   3 Aug 2020

Much of the rural recovery story is based on the premise of agriculture doing well. Even if it clocks a growth of 2.5-3 per cent this year, it is still just around 15 per cent of the overall GDP. The non-farm sector, which constitutes a bigger portion of the overall rural economy, is now hampered by disruptions and lockdowns.

Covid-19 impact: Job scheme planned for urban poor, migrants

Covid-19 impact: Job scheme planned for urban poor, migrants

Rediff.com   2 Aug 2020

The plan could mature into either an umbrella programme for urban youths similar to the Garib Kalyan Rozgaar Abhiyaan or a modified urban-focused version of MGNREGS.

Rainfall in Aug, Sep to be normal, says IMD

Rainfall in Aug, Sep to be normal, says IMD

Rediff.com   1 Aug 2020

The met department said that rainfall in August is projected to be within the normal range at 97% of LPA. In August and September, India receives around 43 mm of rainfall.

As labourers get jobs in farms, MGNREGA work demand drops

As labourers get jobs in farms, MGNREGA work demand drops

Rediff.com   1 Aug 2020

However, demand was still much higher compared to the previous years, underlining the scheme's vital role in providing employment to the rural poor, a vast majority of whom are migrants.

For milk cooperatives, it's a problem of plenty

For milk cooperatives, it's a problem of plenty

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2020

The demand for milk and milk products slumped during the Covid-19 lockdown mainly from hotels, restaurants, sweetmeat shops which were shut to control the spread of the disease.

Monsoon gains wiped off on scanty July rains

Monsoon gains wiped off on scanty July rains

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2020

Between June 1 and July 28, about 32 per cent of the 685 districts in the country did not receive adequate rainfall.

Google tax in line with WTO rules: Govt

Google tax in line with WTO rules: Govt

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2020

The government said that far from targeting any US entity, the purpose was to ensure fairness, healthy competition, and to exercise the ability of governments to tax businesses having a nexus with the Indian market through digital operations.

How chana saved govt's plan to distribute free pulses

How chana saved govt's plan to distribute free pulses

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2020

Distributing chana is easier than other varieties of pulses as it only requires cleaning and sorting and can be consumed whole; it was also abundantly available with Nafed.

Google tax mop-up drops 30% in Q1

Google tax mop-up drops 30% in Q1

Rediff.com   16 Jul 2020

E-commerce companies that fall within the scope of the equalisation levy include Adobe, Uber, Udemy, Zoom.us, Expedia, Alibaba, Ikea, LinkedIn, Spotify, and eBay.

Will govt's move to limit use of herbicide glyphosate hit India's food security?

Will govt's move to limit use of herbicide glyphosate hit India's food security?

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2020

Kerala, Punjab, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are among the major agriculturally important states that have banned the use of glyphosate citing its adverse impact on human health.

Customs to clear pharma raw materials from China

Customs to clear pharma raw materials from China

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2020

Apart from them, consignments of 11 top importers, including LG, Samsung, Toyota, Honda, and Siemens, will also be allowed entry, relieving them of the 100 per cent inspection rule.

Kharif crop sowing picks up pace as monsoon moves in

Kharif crop sowing picks up pace as monsoon moves in

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2020

Data from department of agriculture showed that kharif crops had been sown in around 31.56 million hectares till Friday, which was 104.25 per cent more than the same period last year. Acreage of almost all crops was higher than last year.

Can we ever keep China out of Indian industries?

Can we ever keep China out of Indian industries?

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2020

Experts say while the increasing demand for a ban on Chinese goods might make for good optics, the reality is that India is still heavily dependent on that country in a wide range of industries like electronics, mobile devices, auto, pharma, telecom equipment, and fertilisers.

Corporate heavyweights give govt a breather

Corporate heavyweights give govt a breather

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2020

Tax department feels that the second quarter would be much better than the first quarter of the year as the economy has started improving.

Why there's such a gap between wholesale and retail food inflation?

Why there's such a gap between wholesale and retail food inflation?

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2020

Since March 2020, WPI food inflation rate continued to fall but the CPI-food inflation rose, signaling a breakdown in supply chain from the mandis to the final household.

Frozen parota eaten by well-off, so 18% GST fine: Govt

Frozen parota eaten by well-off, so 18% GST fine: Govt

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2020

According to government sources, frozen parota (layered flatbread) does not qualify as a staple item and is not eaten by the poor. It is consumed by a class that can afford to pay taxes, hence falls in the 18 per cent category with the likes of biscuits, pastries, and cakes.

MP, not Punjab is now the top wheat-procuring state

MP, not Punjab is now the top wheat-procuring state

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2020

Till date, MP has procured around 12.77 million tonnes of wheat, which is expected to reach 13 million tonnes by the time the process ends in the next few weeks.

India's tax-to-GDP ratio plunges to a decade low of 9.88%

India's tax-to-GDP ratio plunges to a decade low of 9.88%

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2020

While the ratio determines the extent to which the government is able to finance its expenditure, it is also an indicator of tax compliance. Developed countries have a higher contribution of tax to their GDP.

How COVID-19 derailed govt's plan on GDP and CPI

How COVID-19 derailed govt's plan on GDP and CPI

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2020

The revision of the consumer price index and GDP base years from 2011-12 and 2012, respectively, were dependent on the outcomes of the consumer expenditure survey of 2017-18 that the government decided to junk recently.