Free provision of food, cash transfers, and jobs in villages see enhanced flow of funds despite a precipitous fall in revenue. Till May, defence spend was nearly 30 per cent less than the previous year.
India scored a remarkable win on food security, but trade partners will now put pressure on New Delhi to provide meaningful openings for industrial goods and services and be more accommodative on liberalising tariffs.
There was no announcement from the government on guaranteeing a minimum basic income, which is the need of the hour. The announcements on portability of ration cards and affordable rental housing to workers are for the long and medium terms. Migrant workers need immediate relief.
Admitting that persistent inflation, especially in the food sector, is a cause of concern, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday emphasised on increasing the country's agricultural production to enhance food security.
The study showed that 50 per cent of households have reduced the number of meals ever since the lockdown was imposed
Pawar alleged that the Centre neither consulted states this time, nor it called any meeting with state agriculture ministers before preparing these bills.
Do the actual numbers bear out the claims made by the government or do they suggest something else? asks A K Bhattacharya.
In her four-page resignation letter addressed to the prime minister, she said, 'In view of the decision of the government of India to go ahead with the Bill on the issue of marketing of agricultural produce without addressing and removing the apprehensions of farmers and decision of my party, Shiromani Akali Dal, not to be a part of anything that goes against the interest of farmers, I find it impossible to continue to perform my duties as a minister in the union council of ministers.'
The much-touted Food Security Bill was taken up in Rajya Sabha, with opposition terming it as a "gimmick" with an eye on elections and accusing government of violating constitutional norms by issuing an ordinance when Parliament session was less than a month away.
India has sought investment from Canada in the country's food processing sector saying it would enhance global food security.
Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan, Chair of the Ninth Ministerial Conference, and the three Vice Chairs, in a joint statement, urged 'all WTO members to come together over the next few days to make the necessary breakthroughs, working closely with WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo.'
The government is likely to firm up next week a view on how to go about the food security bill. Indications to this effect were available on Wednesday with the government sources saying a decision will be taken only after Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's return from Rome where he has gone to attend Food and Agriculture Organisation conference.
The government's fiscal deficit may exceed the target of 4.8 per cent of GDP by 0.50 percentage points in this financial year, and money-guzzling measures like decision to push the Food Security Bill are only expected to complicate the matter.
Here's the full text of President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the nation on the eve of 72nd Republic Day.
A report published in British journal The Lancet reckons India's working population will surpass China's in the mid-2020s.
The government's move to issue an ordinance to implement the Food Security Bill saw major opposition parties stepping up their attack on the United Progressive Alliance accusing it of bypassing Parliament and acting in a hurry with an eye on polls.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting five measures to conserve money for the fight against COVID-19, including a complete ban on media advertisements by government and PSUs for two years and suspending the Central Vista beautification project.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has said the government has a "very active agenda" for Parliament in the coming months when bills on land acquisition, food security and changes in income tax laws will be taken up.
Senior officials, including those from a central team, were present during the night-long operation and a close vigil is being maintained on further movement of locusts, Katiyar said. Two fire brigade vehicles loaded with insecticide had been deployed in all four Jhansi tehsils besides six vehicles were kept ready at the district headquarter. Ten municipal employees with two insecticide spraying machines were posted in every block.
'During Amit Shah's recent visit to Kerala, the strategy of concentrating the attacks on the CM on false charges was clear enough.'
In an apparent attack on Narendra Modi, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the opposition leaders only make tall claims and work for the rich while his party has stood by the poor and believes in helping them realise their dreams.
'What criteria is GoI (government of India) using to judge how long the lockdown is to continue...'
Rajni Bakshi on why eco-friendly farming while indispensable cannot immediately ensure self-sufficiency in food production for the entire nation.
Expanding its commitment to provide subsidised foodgrain to the poor, the Manmohan Singh government is looking at a host of social sector initiatives along with its soon-to-be-unveiled Food Security Bill.
The government may table the two key Bills on women's reservation and food security soon in Parliament to take the wind out of the Opposition sails.The Women's Reservation Bill, aimed at providing one-third reservation to women candidates in state Assemblies and Parliament, is bound to split the Opposition. The Food Security Bill, which will provide 25 kg of rice or wheat at Rs 3 per month to families below the poverty line, will be showcased as the government's effort.
The Cabinet on Thursday approved the stand taken by India at the recently concluded WTO meeting in Bali which endorsed New Delhi's point of view with regard to food security plan and trade facilitation pact.
"Confinement is fostering the tension and strain created by security, health, and money worries. And it is increasing isolation for women with violent partners, separating them from the people and resources that can best help them. It's a perfect storm for controlling, violent behaviour behind closed doors," UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said in a statement calling the violence against women and girls 'a shadow pandemic'.
'Respect nature, working with (it) rather than against it.'
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said that the United Progressive Alliance government's policies and programmes for rapid and inclusive growth are showing good results and the country has seen a record average economic growth in the last nine years.
This is the highest in the past five years and almost 24 per cent more than last year.
'You cannot fight a disease as complex as COVID-19 without a carefully calibrated, localised response.'
At some stage this fall in the quality of life will begin to hurt anybody's popularity, observes Shekhar Gupta.
It is time he stood up and assured the middle class that they can count on him as one of their own, says Dr Sudhir Bisht.
Talking to reporters outside Parliament, Dr Singh said: "We have wasted a lot of time in the last two-three sessions and hope this is not repeated in this session. The government is willing to discuss all issues on the floor of the House."
Party sources said apart from the Railway and General Budget, the government wanted to initiate some key legislation during the session to send a political message to voters. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has also planned to hold a meeting of the secretaries of different ministries to know each ministry's priority agenda. "We have to set the government's agenda accordingly," Bansal said.
Women and children have been given short shrift with these crucial sectors facing substantive budgetary cuts, discovers Rashme Sehgal.
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Kerry was accompanied by US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker who has already expressed disappointment over India's stand at the ongoing TFA negotiations for easing customs rule for free movement of goods.
The government on Monday said it will soon introduce a Bill to enact a Food Security law that will provide 25 kg of rice and/or wheat at Rs 3 to each family below the poverty line - a key poll promise of the Congress that heads the ruling coalition.
Even as frenzied debate continues over the Food Security Bill ordinance in Parliament, here are 7 facts that you must know about the legislation.
Cereals like millets can help alleviate malnutrition and improve public health, reports Surinder Sud.
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