News for 'Ministry of Agriculture'

False assertions: India condemns UK lawmakers' debate on farmers' stir

False assertions: India condemns UK lawmakers' debate on farmers' stir

Rediff.com9 Mar 2021

The Indian High Commission made its displeasure known despite the British government earlier reiterating that the three New Delhi laws on agricultural reform were a "domestic matter".

Centre extends free foodgrain scheme for 6 months until Sept

Centre extends free foodgrain scheme for 6 months until Sept

Rediff.com26 Mar 2022

A decision in this regard was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Budget 2020: Farm experts pitch for scrapping GST on agri-inputs

Budget 2020: Farm experts pitch for scrapping GST on agri-inputs

Rediff.com18 Dec 2019

Bharat Krishak Samaj demanded that the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana should be replaced with a new crop insurance and compensation scheme.

Dear Nirmalaji, spend more on education

Dear Nirmalaji, spend more on education

Rediff.com21 Jan 2021

Monalisa Mondol, a law student from Tripura, tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar what she would like to see in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget.

India's personal data protection bill may threaten innovation, growth: USTR

India's personal data protection bill may threaten innovation, growth: USTR

Rediff.com29 Apr 2022

The US on Thursday raised concerns over India's Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill and draft non-personal data governance framework, claiming these could potentially threaten innovation and economic growth. In its latest 'Special 301' Report, the US Trade Representative (USTR) kept India on the priority watch list, maintaining the country remains one of the world's most challenging major economies with respect to protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP). In December 2021, a joint parliamentary committee released a report recommending changes to the PDP Bill, 2019, that could undermine important IP protections in India.

Data, AI can add $450-500 bn to India's GDP by 2025: Nasscom

Data, AI can add $450-500 bn to India's GDP by 2025: Nasscom

Rediff.com18 Aug 2020

Nearly 45 per cent of this value is likely to be delivered by 3 sectors - consumer goods and retail, agriculture and banking and insurance, the Nasscom report said.

Farmers urge people to skip one meal on Kisan Diwas

Farmers urge people to skip one meal on Kisan Diwas

Rediff.com23 Dec 2020

Farmer leader Kulwant Singh Sandhu had said that 32 farmer unions from Punjab held a meeting on Tuesday and discussed the next course of action.

Farmers say nothing new in govt letter, seek 'concrete solution'

Farmers say nothing new in govt letter, seek 'concrete solution'

Rediff.com21 Dec 2020

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said that the government, in its letter, mentioned that it wants to hold talks over its earlier proposal of amendments in the new agri laws.

SEE: Locust clouds over Gurugram

SEE: Locust clouds over Gurugram

Rediff.com27 Jun 2020

The dark cloud of locusts, spread across two kilometres, crossed the suburban city, touched the Delhi-Gurugram border but did not enter Delhi.

Industries in rural areas allowed to operate from April 20

Industries in rural areas allowed to operate from April 20

Rediff.com15 Apr 2020

Fresh guidelines issued by the Union home ministry on Wednesday permit industries operating in rural areas to run from April 30 with strict social distancing norms.

US calls for dialogue to resolve farmer protests

US calls for dialogue to resolve farmer protests

Rediff.com5 Feb 2021

Recognising that peaceful protests are a hallmark of a thriving democracy, the United States has said that it encourages dialogue between the protesting farmers and the Indian government to resolve their differences.

Exercise maximum restraint: UN human rights body on farmers' stir

Exercise maximum restraint: UN human rights body on farmers' stir

Rediff.com6 Feb 2021

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a tweet said the rights to peaceful assembly and expression should be protected both offline and online.

Exports rise 5.37% in Jan; trade deficit narrows to $14.75 bn

Exports rise 5.37% in Jan; trade deficit narrows to $14.75 bn

Rediff.com2 Feb 2021

The country's exports grew 5.37 per cent year-on-year to $27.24 billion in January 2021, mainly driven by healthy growth in pharma and engineering sectors, according to provisional data of the commerce ministry. Trade deficit during the month narrowed to $14.75 billion from $15.3 billion in January 2020. It was $15.44 billion in December 2020. Imports in January 2021 rose 2 per cent to $42 billion.

States keen on linking central grants with reforms

States keen on linking central grants with reforms

Rediff.com19 Jul 2019

The high-level panel also asked the government to work towards re-orienting subsidies in a targeted manner from the crop sector to the non-crop sector and redesign the electronic National Agriculture Market.

Has BJP's Operation Nitish Begun?

Has BJP's Operation Nitish Begun?

Rediff.com1 Aug 2022

Nitish Kumar has to make an existential choice: Between governance and politics, argues Aditi Phadnis.

Why India's oil import bill is likely to go up

Why India's oil import bill is likely to go up

Rediff.com3 Feb 2022

India must be prepared for a big, fat fuel import bill in FY23 - barring any further avatars of the Covid virus - as refiners crank up runs, or crude processing rates, to meet the growing demand for fuels, and crude prices soar. Capacity additions by an Indian state-run refiner will reinforce the need for foreign crude. Demand for all fuels is expected to increase by 3-8 per cent next fiscal from 2021-22, reaching pre-pandemic levels, according to analysts and industry experts.

Premature to link extreme heat in India, Pak solely to climate change: WMO

Premature to link extreme heat in India, Pak solely to climate change: WMO

Rediff.com30 Apr 2022

The global body added that national meteorological and hydrological departments in both countries are working closely with health and disaster management agencies to roll out heat health action plans.

Govt announces post-retirement jobs for Agniveers as protests erupt

Govt announces post-retirement jobs for Agniveers as protests erupt

Rediff.com15 Jun 2022

The Centre on Wednesday announced a raft of post-retirement employment possibilities for 'Agniveer' like priority in recruitment to the central armed police forces (CAPF) and Assam rifles but that failed to assuage the concerns of the opposition Congress which warned the 'transformative' 'Agnipath' scheme will reduce the operational effectiveness of the armed forces.

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

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

Rediff.com3 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.

Why Ukraine conflict may see a slowdown in Indian fuel imports

Why Ukraine conflict may see a slowdown in Indian fuel imports

Rediff.com25 Mar 2022

India's appetite for imported crude oil may wane in fiscal year (FY) 2023 from record levels in pre-pandemic 2019-20 fiscal as higher oil prices, a spillover from the conflict in Ukraine, and increasing use of biofuels affect domestic demand for petroleum products. Brent crude surged to a nine-year high, shy of a July 2008 record $147.50 a barrel, before declining to around $100 a barrel - but the volatility in commodity rates will slow global economic growth and use of fuels. Demand for all oil products may grow at only 2-3 per cent in FY23, slower than the current fiscal and nearly half the 5.5 per cent growth estimated by the petroleum ministry, according to industry officials.

Modi starts pre-Budget meets to brainstorm on economy

Modi starts pre-Budget meets to brainstorm on economy

Rediff.com19 Jun 2019

Tuesday's meeting at the PM's residence, attended by all the five secretaries in the finance ministry besides top officials of other economic ministries and NITI Aayog, cleared a five-year vision plan for the government to make India a $5-trillion economy by 2024.

Next week British MPs will debate India's press freedom, protestors' safety

Next week British MPs will debate India's press freedom, protestors' safety

Rediff.com3 Mar 2021

British lawmakers will debate the issue of press freedom and safety of protesters in India next Monday in response to an e-petition which had crossed the 100,000-signature threshold required for such a debate, the House of Commons Petitions Committee confirmed on Wednesday.

Not 'logical' to include MSP in talks: Govt to farmers

Not 'logical' to include MSP in talks: Govt to farmers

Rediff.com25 Dec 2020

The agriculture ministry also reiterated it is ready to find a "logical solution" to the issues raised by protesting farmer unions.

Interest waiver: Banks start crediting accounts

Interest waiver: Banks start crediting accounts

Rediff.com4 Nov 2020

Banks have started refunding borrowers the compound interest charged on specified loan accounts during the moratorium period. Last week, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had asked all lending institutions, including non-banking financial companies, to ensure that the scheme of waiver of interest on interest for loans up to Rs 2 crore for the six-month moratorium period is implemented by November 5.

MEA draws Capitol Hill parallel as US reacts to farmers' protest

MEA draws Capitol Hill parallel as US reacts to farmers' protest

Rediff.com5 Feb 2021

Hours after the Joe Biden Administration reacted to the farmer protests, India on Thursday said the comments must be seen in their entirety and compared reactions to the violence at the Red Fort with those seen after storming of the United States Capitol.

BJP action against its leaders after threats from external powers: Cong

BJP action against its leaders after threats from external powers: Cong

Rediff.com5 Jun 2022

Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala accused the BJP of pushing India into a dark age of religious polarisation to "subserve its parochial political agenda in the short term".

Pakistan always first in our neighbourhood policy, says China

Pakistan always first in our neighbourhood policy, says China

Rediff.com14 Apr 2022

China on Thursday told Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that it will always put its "all-weather ally" as a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy as it praised his commitment to promote the USD 60 billion CPEC initiative.

Govt writes to farmers, inviting them for new round of talks

Govt writes to farmers, inviting them for new round of talks

Rediff.com21 Dec 2020

In a letter to 40 union leaders, Union Agriculture Ministry Joint Secretary Vivek Aggarwal said the Centre is making all efforts with "an open heart" to find an appropriate solution to resolve all the concerns raised by farmers.

Global Indian Diaspora seeks repeal of farm laws

Global Indian Diaspora seeks repeal of farm laws

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

India has called the remarks by foreign leaders and organisations on protests by farmers as "ill-informed" and "unwarranted", asserting that the matter pertains to the internal affairs of a democratic country.

India says Trudeau's remarks constitute 'unacceptable interference'

India says Trudeau's remarks constitute 'unacceptable interference'

Rediff.com5 Dec 2020

India summoned Canadian High Commissioner Nadir Patel, and told him that the comments made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and others in his cabinet on the farmers' protest constituted an 'unacceptable interference' in the country's internal affairs and these actions, if continued, will have a 'seriously damaging' impact on the bilateral ties.

Desis in US launch rose campaign in support of protesting farmers

Desis in US launch rose campaign in support of protesting farmers

Rediff.com14 Feb 2021

A group of Indian diaspora organisations launched a rose campaign on the occasion of Valentine's Day on Sunday in support of the farmers protesting against the new farm laws in India.

How nation greeted NaMo on his 71st birthday

How nation greeted NaMo on his 71st birthday

Rediff.com17 Sep 2021

Birthday greetings poured in for him from all quarters, with his supporters and Bharatiya Janata Party workers offering prayers for him and organising events to mark the occasion.

Budget: Govt hikes farm credit target to Rs 15 lakh cr

Budget: Govt hikes farm credit target to Rs 15 lakh cr

Rediff.com2 Feb 2020

The government also proposed promoting 'one product one district' for better marketing and export of horticulture crops. It also called on states for early implementation of three key central model laws on land leasing, agriculture produce and livestock marketing and contract farming.

Govt releases guidelines for lockdown 2.0

Govt releases guidelines for lockdown 2.0

Rediff.com15 Apr 2020

Fresh guidelines were issued by the government on Wednesday for enforcing the second phase of the coronavirus lockdown, with the Union home ministry barring all kinds of public transport and prohibiting opening of public places during this period.

Internet restored at Ghazipur protest site, fortification continues

Internet restored at Ghazipur protest site, fortification continues

Rediff.com3 Feb 2021

Internet services remained disrupted for the fifth day at the site on Delhi's outskirts where protesters are occupying a stretch of the Delhi-Meerut highway since November, even as a Ghaziabad Police officer told PTI that online connectivity has been restored but there could be glitches.

PM unveils Gati Shakti master plan for infrastructure

PM unveils Gati Shakti master plan for infrastructure

Rediff.com13 Oct 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a Rs 100 lakh crore national master plan for multi-modal connectivity that aims to develop infrastructure to reduce logistic costs and boost the economy. PM Gati Shakti targets to cut logistic costs, increase cargo handling capacity and reduce the turnaround time, Modi said at a function to launch the plan. The plan aims to lend more power and speed to projects by connecting all concerned departments on one platform, he said, adding the infrastructure schemes of various ministries and state governments will be designed and executed with a common vision.

Ensure democracy's norms maintained: US Caucus to India

Ensure democracy's norms maintained: US Caucus to India

Rediff.com8 Feb 2021

During the meeting, the leadership of the India Caucus, which is the largest country-specific caucus in the House of Representatives, condemned the violence on January 26 in Delhi.

Twitter blocks 250 accounts for 'provocative' posts linked to farmers stir

Twitter blocks 250 accounts for 'provocative' posts linked to farmers stir

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

Twitter has blocked several accounts and tweets after the government asked the microblogging platform to take action against 250 handles and posts for containing 'false and provocative content' related to the ongoing farmers' agitation, according to sources.

Needed: Comprehensive farm reform

Needed: Comprehensive farm reform

Rediff.com14 Jan 2021

As far as possible, investment in the agriculture sector must be from the government, and not the private sector, states Santushti Raj Thapar.

'Locusts don't attack people'

'Locusts don't attack people'

Rediff.com28 May 2020

'They attack standing crops and vegetables.' 'They don't attack people.' 'People are just panicking.'