It is not about farmers

Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram’s view of agriculture does not appear to differ very much from that of his predecessor Pranab Mukherjee who presented the budgets for the previous four years. There are incremental allocations for the same schemes that have become the hallmark of the second term of the UPA government: a focus on taking the Green Revolution to the eastern states and offering higher credit to farmers at hugely subsidised interest rates but no initiatives that will lift farmers from the debt-ridden operations or offer a vision of agriculture that is sustainable.

Bihar launches agriculture roadmap

Bihar has launched an agriculture roadmap for the state, with the aim of ushering in a ‘Rainbow Revolution’.

Can President Mukherjee redress this farmer’s grievance?

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, who will be in Bihar for two days starting October 3, may face some embarrassing moments during his maiden v

In the name of the farmer

Small cultivators will gain little from the Rs 575,000-crore credit largesse; companies and big farmers benefit the most

India set for mission Mars

The flop show of Chandrayaan-1 has not brought down India’s space-conquering spirit. The government has allocated Rs 125 crore to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for an ambitious Mars Orbiter Mission. When asked when this mission will be launched, Satish S, ISRO press officer, says the organisation is eyeing a November 2013 launch. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which is India’s oldest space launch vehicle, will be used to fire the mission into space.

Science and technology remain out of focus in budget

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee did not make any specific mention of science and technology during the budget speech. But the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the apex body for funding science and technology endeavours and capacity building in the country managed to  scoop Rs 2,477 crore up from Rs 2,349 crore last year. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the public funded body for scientific and industrial research, under Department for Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) has been allocated Rs 2,013 crore.

To fast track India’s industrial growth, FM gives sops to mining

With Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee attributing India’s slowdown to lack of industrial growth, sectors involved in manufacturing and mining were bound to have got sops. Coal mining projects have been exempted from paying any customs duty while importing exploration and mining equipments. He has also scrapped taxes on imported coal used by power companies.

Budget: Thumbs down from farmers and GM industry

Though Pranab Mukherjee in his budget has pumped in money in agriculture more than last year, it has failed to make farmers happy. The Union finance minister increased the plan outlay for the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation from Rs 17,123 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 20,208 crore in 2012-13.

Rural health, malnutrition get attention

Supply of free generic medicines, increased funding in public health sector and universal access to healthcare were some of the promises the Central government made prior to the budget. But none of the issues found a mention as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s presented the budget in Parliament today.

Real estate: Market happy, but civil society finds it lacking

With schemes to improve housing for the urban poor, this year’s Budget has been largely hailed as real-estate friendly.