News for 'US Department of Agriculture'

Kerala panchayat bans use of 'sir/madam' to address officials

Kerala panchayat bans use of 'sir/madam' to address officials

Rediff.com2 Sep 2021

Don't get amused if officials of a local village panchayat in Palakkad, Kerala, are seen politely persuading visitors to call them by their name or designation instead of usual salutations like 'sir' or 'madam'.

Day 29: Farmers protesting at Delhi borders remain resolute

Day 29: Farmers protesting at Delhi borders remain resolute

Rediff.com24 Dec 2020

Security remained tight at the Delhi borders with hundreds of personnel deployed at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri as thousands of farmers have been staging their protests at the borders for nearly a month now. This has also led to traffic congestion forcing police to divert vehicular movement.

Torrid summer, acute coal shortage trigger blackouts in many states

Torrid summer, acute coal shortage trigger blackouts in many states

Rediff.com28 Apr 2022

From Jammu and Kashmir to Andhra Pradesh, consumers are facing power cuts ranging from 2 hours to 8 hours.

Goa govt wants farmers to chant Vedic mantra for good crop

Goa govt wants farmers to chant Vedic mantra for good crop

Rediff.com23 Nov 2018

The state government has started advising farmers to adopt 'cosmic farming' in which they need to chant 'Vedic mantra' for 20 days in the farm for better quality and quantity of their crop.

ISRO back in action; plans to launch geo imaging satellite on Aug 12

ISRO back in action; plans to launch geo imaging satellite on Aug 12

Rediff.com10 Jul 2021

The 2,268-kg GISAT-1 was originally slated to be launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore district, about 100 kms north of Chennai, on March 5 last year but was postponed a day before the blast-off due to technical reasons.

Over 7000 Assam evictees reel under epidemic fears

Over 7000 Assam evictees reel under epidemic fears

Rediff.com29 Sep 2021

Forced to cross the Nanoi, a channel of the Brahmaputra, over 7,000 people uprooted from their homes and farms in Darrang district of Assam now use the stream's muddy water to drink and cook and defecate in the open as `Swachh Bharat' toilets built in their villages are now guarded by policemen who do not allow them to re-enter any part of the lands they have been thrown out of.

Sitharaman to meet heads of PSBs next week

Sitharaman to meet heads of PSBs next week

Rediff.com9 Nov 2021

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to meet heads of public sector banks (PSBs) next week to review performance of the lenders and progress made by them to support the economy battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Banks would be urged to sanction loans for productive sectors to accelerate revival of the economy, sources said. According to sources, the two-day meeting would commence on November 17 and undertake a comprehensive review of various segments, progress in government schemes including Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

Modi's dream: Of drones and technology

Modi's dream: Of drones and technology

Rediff.com27 May 2022

There was an environment of "indifference" towards the use of technology in governance before 2014 due to which the poor and the middle class suffered the most, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday. He asserted the current government has ensured last-mile delivery of services with the help of technology, including drones. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating India's biggest drone festival in Delhi, he said, "At a time when we are celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, it is my dream that everyone in India should have a smartphone in his or her hand, every farm should have a drone and every house should have prosperity." The enthusiasm being seen in India about drone technology is amazing and indicates possibilities of an emerging sector of employment generation, the prime minister said.

Vashi market to shut for a week, Mumbai faces vegetable shortage

Vashi market to shut for a week, Mumbai faces vegetable shortage

Rediff.com9 May 2020

The government of Maharashtra decided to shut operations at APMC Vashi mandi between May 11 and 17 after confirmed cases of Covid-19 surpassed 80 in the APMC and over 450 across Navi Mumbai, where the mandi is located.

Once land of dreaded dacoits, can Chambal be arable land?

Once land of dreaded dacoits, can Chambal be arable land?

Rediff.com27 Aug 2020

The ravines, which are sharp, steep mud hillocks, stretch over three states - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, once home to several dreaded dacoits have long been the subject of several projects and government schemes to make them agriculturally viable.

What Modi must do to boost growth

What Modi must do to boost growth

Rediff.com30 Sep 2020

'The answer for a quicker boost to growth is simple -- run a much larger deficit, use the resulting public resources to ensure adequate price support for agriculture, subsidise wage costs of MSMEs and accelerate public sector construction-intensive activities,' advises Nitin Desai.

Why rape victims were on beach late at night, asks Goa CM

Why rape victims were on beach late at night, asks Goa CM

Rediff.com29 Jul 2021

The CM said that parents have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their children.

Modi Cabinet reshuffle: Who got what

Modi Cabinet reshuffle: Who got what

Rediff.com8 Jul 2021

Fifteen Cabinet ministers and 28 Ministers of State were sworn-in by President Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday evening.

This Budget Is Harder Than Last Year's

This Budget Is Harder Than Last Year's

Rediff.com28 Jan 2022

The challenges before the coming Budget are more daunting than those in 2021, reveals A K Bhattacharya.

Full text: President Murmu's address to Parliament's Budget Session

Full text: President Murmu's address to Parliament's Budget Session

Rediff.com31 Jan 2023

'Wherever in the world there is political instability, those countries are beset with severe crises today. But India is in a much better position than the rest of the world due to the decisions taken by my government in the national interest,' President Droupadi Murmu said in her address to both Houses of Parliament.

MAPPED: Monsoon rainfall across the country

MAPPED: Monsoon rainfall across the country

Rediff.com26 Jul 2019

The above map shows the amount of rainfall received by each district from June 1 to July 24, 2019.

India aims for record 298.3 m tonne foodgrain output in 20-21

India aims for record 298.3 m tonne foodgrain output in 20-21

Rediff.com16 Apr 2020

Riding high on the hopes of a normal monsoon, the agriculture ministry aims to increase foodgrain production by 6.35 million tonnes to a record 298.3 million tonnes in the 2020-21 crop year. The foodgrain output in the 2019-20 crop year (July-June) is estimated at an all-time high 291.95 million tonnes, as per the second advance estimates released by the ministry in February.

Bhagat Singh never lived at Khatkar Kalan

Bhagat Singh never lived at Khatkar Kalan

Rediff.com23 Mar 2022

Bhagat Singh was born on September 28, 1907 in Banga village in Lyallpur district, now Faisalabad in Pakistan Punjab.

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.

Mamata visits Abhijit Banerjee's mother after Nobel win

Mamata visits Abhijit Banerjee's mother after Nobel win

Rediff.com17 Oct 2019

The West Bengal chief minister during the meet said that the state government was keen to utilise the Nobel winner's services.

Area under kharif crops at all-time high of 108 mn ha

Area under kharif crops at all-time high of 108 mn ha

Rediff.com29 Aug 2020

Though agriculture ministry officials are confident of a bumper harvest due to record increase in kharif acreage, experts and farmers said the on-ground situation in some crops is not that encouraging as incessant rains since the last few weeks and pest attack could impact the final yield.

Govt announces liberalisation of policies governing geo-spatial data

Govt announces liberalisation of policies governing geo-spatial data

Rediff.com15 Feb 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the liberalisation of policies governing the acquisition and production of geospatial data is a "massive step in government's vision for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat". The reform will benefit country's farmers, start-ups, private sector, public sector and research institutions to drive innovations and build scalable solutions, he said.

GDP is expected to pick up in Q3, says CEA Subramanian

GDP is expected to pick up in Q3, says CEA Subramanian

Rediff.com29 Nov 2019

Department of Economic Affairs secretary Atanu Chakraborty said that equity capital flows have been positive this year.

2 local leaders held for 'inciting violence' during Assam eviction drive

2 local leaders held for 'inciting violence' during Assam eviction drive

Rediff.com27 Sep 2021

Two local leaders were arrested for allegedly inciting violence during the eviction drive at Sipajhar in Assam's Darrang district on September 23 in which two persons, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed in police firing and over 20 injured, an official said.

Assam girl student in shorts made to wrap curtain around legs in exam

Assam girl student in shorts made to wrap curtain around legs in exam

Rediff.com17 Sep 2021

A 19-year-old girl appearing for an examination in Assam was made to wrap a curtain around her legs by an invigilator who chafed at her wearing shorts, provoking outrage and allegations of gender bias, and prompting university authorities to order an inquiry. The girl's family has, however, decided against taking the matter further in the interest of her mental well-being and academic future.

Budget 2018: What the rural sector can expect

Budget 2018: What the rural sector can expect

Rediff.com24 Jan 2018

The Budget allocation for Ministry of Agriculture and allied activities has grown by 114% since 2010-11

RBI caps lending limits of NBFCs to bring them on par with banks

RBI caps lending limits of NBFCs to bring them on par with banks

Rediff.com20 Apr 2022

In yet another move to close the regulatory gap between banks and shadow banks, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated exposure limits to the non-banking finance companies, in line with commercial banks. In the large exposure framework released on Tuesday, the regulator capped aggregrate exposure of NBFCs which are in the upper layer toward one entity at 20 per cent of capital base. The limit can only be extended by another 5% with board's approval. For a particular borrower group, the cap is at 25 per cent, with additional 10 per cent if exposure is towards infrastructure.

What Swadeshi Jaagran Manch wants changed in Modi's farm laws

What Swadeshi Jaagran Manch wants changed in Modi's farm laws

Rediff.com7 Oct 2020

'The SJM has requested the government to bring a change in the law which will ensure MSP as the floor price for all farmers below which nobody should buy anything from them.'

Why implementing PM-KISAN may not be easy

Why implementing PM-KISAN may not be easy

Rediff.com5 Feb 2019

Experts say improper records could lead to large-scale leakages and pilferage and benefits going to ineligible people.

Bharat Biotech's Krishna Ella wins Covaxin fight

Bharat Biotech's Krishna Ella wins Covaxin fight

Rediff.com22 Mar 2021

'He came back from the US only to work for his country.' 'He has invested his fortunes to build this company and is married to his work.' 'Rarely does one see such commitment.'

APMC mandi in Navi Mumbai to go digital to combat coronavirus

APMC mandi in Navi Mumbai to go digital to combat coronavirus

Rediff.com16 May 2020

People in the know said plans were afoot to begin the sale of all food grains through online, with a major quantity through auctions that would be later extended to other commodities.

2 gorillas at US zoo test positive for COVID-19

2 gorillas at US zoo test positive for COVID-19

Rediff.com17 Jan 2021

According to the zoo, two of the gorillas had started coughing on Wednesday, following which San Diego Zoo Global initiated the process of testing fecal samples from them for SARS-CoV-2 through the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System.

Govt says avian flu confirmed in 6 states

Govt says avian flu confirmed in 6 states

Rediff.com8 Jan 2021

The Centre said bird flu has been confirmed so far in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat, and asked these six states to contain the disease as per the action plan.

How 'correct' is the MSP formulation?

How 'correct' is the MSP formulation?

Rediff.com11 Jul 2018

The sample size of 8,100 farmers across 19 states has not changed in the last three decades, and the methodology of the sample survey too remains unchanged

Cyclone Tauktae: 8 dead in Karnataka, 121 villages affected

Cyclone Tauktae: 8 dead in Karnataka, 121 villages affected

Rediff.com17 May 2021

Six people have lost their lives so far in the Cyclone Tauktae-hit coastal and surrounding Malnad districts of Karnataka, officials said.

The Best Wildlife Photographs, 2022!

The Best Wildlife Photographs, 2022!

Rediff.com25 Oct 2022

The winners of the Natural History Museum's prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition were announced at an awards ceremony in London. American photographer Karine Aigner was announced as this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Brace for a hot summer in North India

Brace for a hot summer in North India

Rediff.com5 Mar 2019

"The season averaged maximum temperatures in Himachal Pradesh, West Rajasthan, Konkan, Goa, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh are likely to be higher than normal by 0.5-1.0 degree Celsius," the Met department has said in its forecast.

Monsoon likely to be 'near normal' this year: IMD

Monsoon likely to be 'near normal' this year: IMD

Rediff.com15 Apr 2019

Monsoon is likely to be 96 per cent of the long period average

'ISRO's goal is to develop a rocket company'

'ISRO's goal is to develop a rocket company'

Rediff.com27 Jan 2022

'We have all the technologies available, but it should be converted to something that can be commercially viable.'

India to go slow on trade deal with US

India to go slow on trade deal with US

Rediff.com27 Feb 2020

Trump had said a comprehensive trade agreement with India would take much longer to finalise than earlier expected.