News for 'Ministry of Agriculture'

Despite normal monsoon forecast, Centre tells states to be drought-ready

Despite normal monsoon forecast, Centre tells states to be drought-ready

Rediff.com9 May 2017

The exercise, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said, will help ease any possible impact of sub-par rainfall on farmers.

Deregulation to make India a trillion-dollar geospatial economy

Deregulation to make India a trillion-dollar geospatial economy

Rediff.com8 Mar 2021

A business in India wanting access to maps and geospatial data would typically have to wait months before it got what it wanted. All this is set to change with the new guidelines on geospatial data, report Neha Alawadhi and Peerzada Abrar.

Himanta Biswa Sarma to be next Assam CM, swearing in likely on Monday

Himanta Biswa Sarma to be next Assam CM, swearing in likely on Monday

Rediff.com9 May 2021

Sarma's name was proposed by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and seconded by BJP state party president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and newly elected Haflong MLA Nandita Garlosa.

Panel suggestions likely to lessen farmers' woes

Panel suggestions likely to lessen farmers' woes

Rediff.com24 Apr 2018

Regulated electronic platforms such as e-spot markets or spot exchanges may be deemed as authorised markets.

SC not impressed by Centre's claim of drop in farmer suicides

SC not impressed by Centre's claim of drop in farmer suicides

Rediff.com21 Aug 2015

Government's claim of a "considerable" drop in farmers' suicides in the country did not impress the Supreme Court which on Friday said there should be no such cases at all.

What can we next expect from Xi?

What can we next expect from Xi?

Rediff.com1 Mar 2021

It will be interesting to see whether India-China border tensions figure during the deliberations of PLA deputies to the NPC and CPPCC, notes Jayadeva Ranade, the distinguished China expert and retired RA&W officer.

SKM says no consensus yet on ending farmers' protests

SKM says no consensus yet on ending farmers' protests

Rediff.com7 Dec 2021

Another farmer leader and SKM member said the agitation is likely to be called off on Wednesday as there have been some positive responses from the government side on the farmers' demands.

Lumbini as backdrop for Modi-Deuba meet, India-Nepal sign 6 MoUs

Lumbini as backdrop for Modi-Deuba meet, India-Nepal sign 6 MoUs

Rediff.com16 May 2022

Modi and Deuba discussed ways to strengthen ongoing cooperation and develop new areas in the multifaceted bilateral partnership.

Maha portfolios: Ajit Pawar gets finance; Aaditya tourism

Maha portfolios: Ajit Pawar gets finance; Aaditya tourism

Rediff.com5 Jan 2020

With this allocation of portfolios, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP has got most of the 'plum' ministries.

Inflation situation 'very alarming': Kaushik Basu

Inflation situation 'very alarming': Kaushik Basu

Rediff.com22 Jul 2021

India's wholesale price-based inflation is at a 30-year high, leading to a "very alarming" situation for the country, former World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu said on Thursday. He, however, doesn't see any risk of hyperinflation, but cautioned that if retail inflation follows wholesale prices, it might lead to "inflationary crisis". Participating in a virtual event organised by the Asia Society, India, Basu said the inflationary situation in India is at a "very risky bend".

Dear Nirmalaji, please make cooking oil cheaper

Dear Nirmalaji, please make cooking oil cheaper

Rediff.com5 Jan 2021

A newspaper vendor from Neknoor in Maharashtra tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar what he would like to see in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget.

At 4.4%, farm sector's 2016-17 growth lower than expected

At 4.4%, farm sector's 2016-17 growth lower than expected

Rediff.com1 Mar 2017

Crops including fruit, vegetables account for 60% of GDP in agriculture, forestry, fishing sector.

Be punctual, avoid work from home: PM to ministers

Be punctual, avoid work from home: PM to ministers

Rediff.com12 Jun 2019

The prime minister also asked senior ministers to hand-hold the new incumbents, sources said after the meeting.

Pak divided on lifting onion export ban

Pak divided on lifting onion export ban

Rediff.com10 Jan 2011

The Pakistan government on Monday appeared divided over resuming onion exports to India with the Agriculture Ministry not averse to lifting the ban but the Commerce Ministry has some reservations.

Govt may slash defence budget by up to 40%

Govt may slash defence budget by up to 40%

Rediff.com6 May 2020

That would result in the military under-spending about Rs 80,000 crore over the financial year.

Reliance, 6 other firms get licence to sell auto fuel

Reliance, 6 other firms get licence to sell auto fuel

Rediff.com19 Jul 2021

The ministry of petroleum and natural gas has granted seven authorisations to companies for selling automobile (auto) fuels in the country. These new approvals are under the relaxed guidelines for authorisation to market transportation fuels that were revised in 2019. This is expected to make the competition more intense in India's petroleum retail business. According to a top oil ministry official, a fresh marketing authorisation has been granted to Reliance Industries (RIL) under these norms. This is being done since RIL's existing retail marketing authorisation has been transferred to its subsidiary Reliance BP Mobility

PM visit to sow seeds of change in Israel agri ties

PM visit to sow seeds of change in Israel agri ties

Rediff.com29 Jun 2017

Modi's visit to dwell on water conservation, Israel's expertise in desalination may also be tapped

Sitharaman may announce 2nd coronavirus relief package this week

Sitharaman may announce 2nd coronavirus relief package this week

Rediff.com6 Apr 2020

The finance ministry is working on a second relief package for the Indian economy hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak and the 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the contagion, sources said. Last month, the government announced a Rs 1.70 lakh crore relief package in the form of foodgrains and cash transfers for the poor and vulnerable section of the society to help them deal with the hardships caused by the lockdown. Now, the government is working on a stimulus to be given to hard-hit sectors of the economy after the lockdown is lifted, sources said, adding that an announcement is expected in the next few days depending on the severity of the pandemic.

FinMin report confirms worst fears: Growth has slowed down

FinMin report confirms worst fears: Growth has slowed down

Rediff.com3 May 2019

The Indian economy appears to have slowed down in 2018-19 due to lower private consumption, tepid growth in fixed investment and muted exports, a finance ministry report has said.

Farmer agitation 'infiltrated by Leftists, Maoists': Goyal

Farmer agitation 'infiltrated by Leftists, Maoists': Goyal

Rediff.com12 Dec 2020

"We now realise that the so-called farmer agitation hardly remains a farmers' agitation. It has almost got infiltrated by Leftist and Maoist elements, a flavour of which we saw over the last two days when there were extraneous demands to release people who have been put behind bars for anti-national (and) who have been put behind bars for illegal activities," Goyal, the Minister for Railways, Commerce and Industry and Food and Consumers Affairs, said at FICCI's annual meeting.

2nd Covid wave triggers downward re-rating for infra sector

2nd Covid wave triggers downward re-rating for infra sector

Rediff.com30 Apr 2021

Developers grappling with labour shortage and getting construction material to sites could be among a list of problems.

Why high food inflation is good news for the farmer

Why high food inflation is good news for the farmer

Rediff.com14 Jan 2020

While rising food inflation is a matter of grave concern for a significant chunk of the population and for policy makers as well, it marks a turnaround in the fortunes of the farmer, reports Sanjeeb Mukherjee.

Terror attacks in JK see major drop after scrapping Article 370: Govt in LS

Terror attacks in JK see major drop after scrapping Article 370: Govt in LS

Rediff.com14 Dec 2021

The number of terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir has shown significant decline since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

UN chief, 36 UK lawmakers express support for farmers' protest

UN chief, 36 UK lawmakers express support for farmers' protest

Rediff.com5 Dec 2020

Thousands of farmers are protesting on various borders of Delhi since November 26, seeking repeal of three farm laws enacted in September.

Bommai allocates portfolios, some ministers express displeasure

Bommai allocates portfolios, some ministers express displeasure

Rediff.com7 Aug 2021

The chief minister, who had on Wednesday expanded his new cabinet by inducting 29 ministers, had played it safe by and large retaining old faces, as 23 of them were Ministers in the previous Yediyurappa cabinet, while six were new.

India expected to harvest bumper kharif crop in FY21

India expected to harvest bumper kharif crop in FY21

Rediff.com23 Sep 2020

Foodgrains production in 2020-21 is projected to be a record 144.52 million tonnes, which is 0.80 per cent more than the production in 2019-20.

Nirmala Sitharaman gets defence, Piyush Goyal gets railways

Nirmala Sitharaman gets defence, Piyush Goyal gets railways

Rediff.com3 Sep 2017

In the third reshuffle since coming to power, Prime Minister Modi raised the strength of his Council of Ministers from 73 to 76.

FinMin expects FY14 economic growth at 5.5%

FinMin expects FY14 economic growth at 5.5%

Rediff.com9 Oct 2013

The Finance Ministry expects the economic growth in the current fiscal to improve to 5.5 per cent from 5 per cent last year on back of likely pick up in agricultural output on account of good monsoon rains.

Fuel demand slips to 9-month low in May

Fuel demand slips to 9-month low in May

Rediff.com11 Jun 2021

India's fuel demand in May slumped to its lowest in nine months as restrictions to curb the second wave of COVID infections stalled mobility and muted economic activity. Fuel demand fell 1.5 per cent to 15.1 million tonnes despite the low base of May 2020 and was down 11.3 per cent when compared to the previous month, according to data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the oil ministry. India was under one of the world's strictest lockdowns in May last year, which brought all mobility and economic activity to a grinding halt.

Reshuffle was based on anything but performance

Reshuffle was based on anything but performance

Rediff.com6 Sep 2017

Non-performers were not punished, performers were not rewarded, points out Utkarsh Mishra.

Modi reconstitutes Niti Aayog; Shah ex-officio member

Modi reconstitutes Niti Aayog; Shah ex-officio member

Rediff.com6 Jun 2019

Rajiv Kumar will continue as vice-chairman of the body, along with other full-time members V K Saraswat, Ramesh Chand and V K Paul.

After Dec's surge, veggie prices dip on rise in arrivals

After Dec's surge, veggie prices dip on rise in arrivals

Rediff.com15 Jan 2020

Prices have continued to move up in Delhi's markets, wholesale and retail, on supply worries and spoilage due to record cold weather.

Want to be a professional drone pilot?

Want to be a professional drone pilot?

Rediff.com27 Aug 2020

There's a need to train 40,000 pilots over the next year-and-a-half.

52 errors in J-K Act: Cabinet Secretary foxed by typos in notes

52 errors in J-K Act: Cabinet Secretary foxed by typos in notes

Rediff.com29 Sep 2019

Following several instances of poor drafting of Cabinet notes and bills in the recent past, on September 11, the Cabinet Secretariat wrote to all ministries and departments to read up paragraph 55 of the 'Handbook of Writing Cabinet Notes'. Archis Mohan reports.

PM hails women power, releases over Rs 1600 cr for self-help groups

PM hails women power, releases over Rs 1600 cr for self-help groups

Rediff.com12 Aug 2021

Faulting previous governments for not taking adequate measures to economically empower women in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his government was constantly creating an environment in which women self-help groups can connect villages with prosperity as he released Rs 1,625 crore as capitalisation support fund to over four lakh such groups. In a virtual interaction with the women self-help groups (SHGs) under the "Aatmanirbhar Narishakti se Samvad" (dialogue with self-reliant women) initiative, Modi said in a changing India, opportunities are increasing for women to move forward. The movement of woman SHGs has intensified in the last 6-7 years with over 70 lakh of them working across the country, a figure over three times more than earlier, he said, adding over eight crore women are connected with these groups.

Who botched up the migrant crisis?

Who botched up the migrant crisis?

Rediff.com20 May 2020

'Why has this turned out to be one of the greatest humanitarian crisis that has caught the Centre and the states in a bind with no answers to this unexpected tsunami?' asks Brigadier Narender Kumar (retd).

Ms Sitharaman, You FAILED Us On The Budget

Ms Sitharaman, You FAILED Us On The Budget

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

This was the one Budget that required radical departures on all these fronts, when it had none, asserts, Shreekant Sambrani.

Why costly diesel is a bigger worry than petrol

Why costly diesel is a bigger worry than petrol

Rediff.com8 Mar 2021

While consumers feel that petrol pinches directly, diesel hurts indirectly, as it is an input in almost all the goods and services we use.

Barber shops, e-commerce allowed in orange, green zones: MHA

Barber shops, e-commerce allowed in orange, green zones: MHA

Rediff.com2 May 2020

The MHA on Friday, while extending the lockdown for two more weeks till May 17, lifted many restrictions in green and orange zones. There are no restrictions on sale of non-essential items by e-commerce platforms in green and orange zones, a home ministry spokesperson said, adding barber shops and salons are also allowed to open in these areas.

India battling climate change and it is getting worse, warn experts

India battling climate change and it is getting worse, warn experts

Rediff.com16 May 2022

The experts said that climate change is not only raising temperatures and making India's heatwaves hotter, but also changing weather patterns that further drive dangerous weather extremes.