POLITICS
Rajasthan’s landmark minimum income bill to provide relief to the urban poor
The bill guarantees 125 days of work in a year to those who can work, and a monthly pension to those who can’t. An unemployment allowance would be provided if work is not given to any household demanding it
BUSINESS
As demand for MNREGA jobs rises, not all are successful at getting work
The scheme rarely lives up to its promise of guaranteeing 100 days of work.
BUSINESS
Milk prices unlikely to go up until Diwali as production increases
The pause in price increases will come as a relief for consumers who have had to pay 15 percent more for milk over the past five quarters.
INDIA
Milk wars: Amul’s expansion plan is signal for other state cooperatives to shape up
Amid the political storm over milk procurement, state cooperatives must ensure better remuneration to their dairy farmers if they are to check Amul’s forays into their turf.
BUSINESS
Purchase incentive scheme to promote electric vehicles, FAME, nowhere close to sales target
The second phase of Faster Adoption of Electric Vehicles (FAME) was launched in 2019, with a sales target of 15.62 lakh EVs by March 2022. The scheme was then extended till March 2024. However, only about half the targeted vehicles had been sold till February 2023.
BUSINESS
How the Bournvita brewhaha has energised a debate over regulations
With 37.5 percent sugar, Bournvita claims to support “physical strength”, “mental strength” and “immune strength,” as the FSSAI stands meekly by, like a good boy.
AUTOMOBILE
Fate of EV incentives uncertain as sales fall short, subsidy allegedly misused
Two parliamentary panels want the scheme to be extended, but the government appears reluctant. Some experts say a PLI scheme would be better.
INDIA
Why activists are opposing app-based attendance at MGNREGS work sites
The system seeks to capture attendance at rural employment generation scheme sites through the National Mobile Monitoring System app. Activists argue that workers do not always have access to smartphones, and are not comfortable with technology. They are also against the govt directive to ensure that wages paid are seeded with Aadhaar.
BUSINESS
AC, refrigerator manufacturers and cold beverage makers expect hot sales in the summer, boost production
Already, thanks to zooming demand, the retail price of air conditioners, refrigerators, packaged water and aerated drinks are up year-on-year.
BUSINESS
Maggi “Chotu” price hike dents Nestle’s sales volumes and revenue growth in December quarter
Sales growth remained strong in mega and large cities despite the price increase, with metros and Tier I towns showing nearly 20 percent growth year-on-year.
BUSINESS
Budget 2023: New schemes for agri sector notwithstanding, little evidence of doubling of farmers’ income
In fact, farmer incomes have fallen in many states. However, the FM has rolled out some new initiatives with an eye on the long term.
BUSINESS
Union Budget 2023: Many surprises on rural development front
Allocation for the largest centrally sponsored scheme, the MGNREGS, has been slashed. There has been a substantial increase in the budgetary allocation for the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana. The budgetary allocation for the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana has been retained at Rs 19,000 crore.
BUSINESS
Budgeted allocation for fertilisers in FY24 squeezed on fight fiscal consolidation roadmap
The FM has been forced to allocate only Rs 1.75 lakh crore, against estimated actual expenditure of over Rs 2 lakh crore. In the past years, actual expenditure has been much above the budget estimates.
BUSINESS
Budget 2023: Agriculture credit target set at record Rs 20 lakh crore
The focus will be on animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries, the finance minister said.
BUSINESS
Room for growth: Economic Survey lists out hits and misses in the agri sector
While the promise of doubling farm income has been unmet, there has been progress on credit growth to the sector and insurance cover for crops, even as it highlights the perils of climate change
BUSINESS
Budget 2023: Cattle insurance scheme likely to be announced in budget
The scheme could broadly be modelled on the PMFBY. Cattle owners may be asked to pay a minimal premium, with the remaining amount being shared equally by the Central and state governments
BUSINESS
MC Interview | Sodhi wants to take up advisory roles in dairy industry after ending his tenure as MD of Amul
Under Sodhi’s watch, the cooperative started sourcing milk from states other than Gujarat, increased its total milk purchases manifold, strengthened the distribution and sales network and entered new product categories.
BUSINESS
Rural development department needs funds to support welfare schemes
Funds are needed to clear wage pendency in the rural job guarantee scheme and to catch up with missed targets in rural housing and road projects.
BUSINESS
Budget 2023| With inflation fears subsiding, the FMCG sector wishes for more money in the hands of consumers
Price hikes may have improved the topline of FMCG companies, but also led to consumer downtrading, specially in personal and home care categories
BUSINESS
India’s logistics sector is far from improvement despite a national policy, costs remain high, hurting export competitiveness
A Parliamentary Standing Committee has found that many of the suggestions the panel made last year to various ministries, on ways to lower logistics costs and augment infrastructure, have not been implemented
BUSINESS
HUL seeks to expand market presence with pair of acquisitions in health and wellness segment
In a presentation, the company management said the market for vitamins, minerals and supplements has revenue potential of Rs 30,000 crore a year in the next 4-5 years.
BUSINESS
Tata Consumer tries to poke a drinking straw into Bisleri as the FMCG seeks to slake India's thirst
It is not clear whether Bisleri Chairman Ramesh Chauhan will retain some stake. Reports say deal could be worth about Rs 7,000 crore. Succession planning seems to be the reason for Bisleri. TCPL stands to gain nearly 130 co-packers, and over 5,000 distributors.
BUSINESS
Fertiliser subsidy bill likely to more than double this fiscal
Officials say import bill will remain inflated, despite a significant jump in the domestic production of urea. Russia-Ukraine, export ban by China and higher demand from the US chief concerns. One analyst said the subsidy bill could exceed Rs 2 lakh crore.
BUSINESS
Railways aims for better fiscal health; parliament debates cut in concessions
The standing parliamentary committee requested that senior citizen concessions be brought back while scrutinising concessions to railway employees.
