Chandragupta Maurya was the first king to establish an empire in India. He died a monk.
The government's decision to impose a 20 per cent export duty on parboiled rice and a $1,200 per tonne minimum export price (MEP) on basmati rice has pulled down overseas shipments of the former by almost 83 per cent and around 30 per cent of basmati exports in a month. Data sourced from various trade agencies and shippers showed that between August 25 and September 20, export of basmati rice has shrunk from 342,605 tonnes in 2022 to around 241,083 tonnes in 2023. Similarly, export of parboiled rice, after the imposition of 20 per cent duty during the same period, has dropped from 1.16 million tonnes in 2022 to just around 204,190 tonnes in 2023.
The US is expected to push for sweeping changes in India's policies, ranging from tariff reductions to regulatory overhauls, that could benefit American firms and exporters, under the proposed bilateral trade agreement with India, think tank GTRI said on Sunday.
In the coming months, globally as well as in India, rice might remain a hot potato.
The visitor returns not just with the jewel-like beauty of the country imprinted on the mind, the body rejuvenated by hot stone massages, but also with the captivating stories and myths that are built into every important structure -- whether a tourist magnet or an off-the-beaten track spot.
India's exports grew marginally by 0.7 per cent to $41.97 billion in March, while the trade deficit stood at $21.54 billion in the month, the latest government data showed on Tuesday.
The Lucknow-born Shukla, former NASA astronaut Mission Commander Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary are part of the Axiom-4 mission that marks the return to space for the three nations.
India's decision to ban the export of non-basmati white rice has pushed up global prices, prompting multilateral lending agencies, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to call for a reconsideration of the move. Though nothing has been spelled out yet officially, sources said, the government might consider requests for government-to-government sale of non-basmati white rice, especially to West African nations where India is a major supplier. Also, traders and exporters of specialty regional rice varieties like sona masuri or gobindo bhog feel that they have been short-changed.
India's exports rose 9.03 per cent to $38.49 billion in April, the highest in six months, driven by healthy growth in sectors such as electronics and engineering goods, while the trade deficit widened to a five-month high of $26.42 billion. According to the commerce ministry data released on Thursday, imports increased by 19.12 per cent year-on-year to $64.91 billion in April due to a rise in shipments of crude oil and fertiliser.
'My life has been quite difficult. I felt I could see it in words. I thought if everyone else can write, then I can too.'
What tasks they accomplished, how they stayed fit, what did they eat, whom did they meet, what they brought back... amazing stories from an epic voyage.
Basic fermented rice is served up with a wide range of ingredients to make a wonderfully, comforting meal.
Stunning landscapes, natural beauty, clean beaches, cultural wealth, mouth-watering food, shopping options, safety for solo travellers, warm hospitality, easy visas, and connectivity make Vietnam a must-visit destination, discovers Ramesh Menon.
Over the years, with some amount of experimenting, I have learnt exactly what freezes well and what does not.
A simple, one-pot dish of fragrant basmati rice, spices and fresh fish.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday attributed early arrival of the southwest monsoon and heavy rainfall in a short span for the inundation of low-lying areas in Mumbai, which disrupted road and railway traffic.
A day after Yann Sommer's brilliant goalkeeping display helped Inter Milan reach the Champions League final at the expense of Barcelona, it was Gianluigi Donnarumma's turn to shine as Paris St Germain booked their ticket for the showdown in Munich.
Arsenal snapped a season-long jinx against Newcastle United with a nervy 1-0 win in their last Premier League home game on Sunday.
A nine-year-old boy from Odisha lit the funeral pyre of his father, who was killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The boy, Tanuj Kumar Satpathy, was speechless and overwhelmed as he followed the ritual of throwing puffed rice while accompanying his father's body to the crematorium. The incident has shocked the state, and the Chief Minister has offered financial assistance and a job to the deceased's family.
India's fresh restrictions on limiting access to Bangladeshi exports appear to be in response to Dhaka denying certain value-added items from the Northeast to enter that country through the land transit points.
Eating foods rich in fibre, healthy fats and essential nutrients are some of the healthiest ways to reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) while increasing HDL (good cholesterol), says Dr Swarup Swaraj Pal, senior cardiovascular and thoracic consultant surgeon at Gleneagles Hospitals.
Bethica unusually uses brown poha and green bananas to make crispy vadas.
The Supreme Court of India has criticized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for focusing solely on its own fundamental rights while pursuing a money laundering case related to the Nagrik Apurti Nigam (NAN) scam in Chhattisgarh. The court questioned the agency's attempt to transfer the case to New Delhi, noting that the agency's petition under Article 32 of the Constitution is typically reserved for individuals seeking redressal for fundamental rights violations.
Images from the Champions League semi-final second leg between Paris St Germain and Arsenal, at Parc des Princes, Paris, France, on Wednesday.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday launched payment of cash in lieu of the additional 5 kg of rice to beneficiaries under the government's 'Anna Bhagya' scheme.
Stuffed rice paper rolls are light, nutritious, unusual and yum.
Masoom 2 will also feature Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah.
She shares the milestones, routines and insights that defined her fitness journey and the lessons she learnt along the way.
There are challenges galore before him, and it is not going to be easy. In the next four years, he has to conjure a system that changes the optics about him and the BJP both nationally and internationally so that he can ride back on his own, claim the top slot, and not have to lean on a coalition, asserts Ramesh Menon as Modi 3.0 completes a year in power.
This traditional pulao is a key part of any Bengali comfort meal.
Homemade suhi can be as tasty as anything you can order at a restaurant.
Images from the Champions League semi-final first leg between Arsenal and Paris St Germain at Emirates Stadium, London, on Tuesday.
Bournemouth won away at Arsenal for the first time in the Premier League on Saturday, and completed a memorable double to boost their chances of playing in Europe next season, thanks to a second-half fightback en route to a thrilling 2-1 win.
A round-up of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg between Real Madrid and Arsenal, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.
A summary of Sunday's action in the Premier League.
'I always cook from my heart,' says New York Chef Vijaya Kumar who won his third Michelin Star recently.
Stop frying your masala fish. Eliminate excess oil by baking it.
A plant-based tasty one-bowl meal.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after a Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday said that the government has decided to go for open market tender to procure rice, whose process will start from Thursday.
Chef Abinas Nayak uses rice and walnut in his recipe for Rice Coconut Laddoos to give this Indian sweet a special new taste.