Centre fixes MSP for 14 kharif crops, most hike for ragi, jowar

The Centre Wednesday raised the minimum support prices (MSP) of 14 crops for the kharif marketing season 2025-26, with moong seeing the lowest increase and ragi the highest. The MSP for paddy was pushed up by 3%

3 projects get Cabinet nod in push to freight traffic, connectivity

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved three major infrastructure projects to boost connectivity and freight traffic: a 4-lane Badvel-Nellore Corridor in Andhra Pradesh; 4-lining of the 135-km Wardha-Balharshah rail line in Maharashtra; and 4-lining of the 41-km Ratlam-Nagda rail line in Madhya Pradesh.

VENTURING AWAY

In 2024-25, FOREIGN direct investment (gross) into India stood at $81 billion. But net FDI-essentially the difference between direct investment to and that by India - fell to just $353 million, down from $10.1 billion in the previous year. The reasons for this stunning collapse can be traced to an increase in investments by Indian firms abroad and greater repatriation/disinvestment by foreign firms from the country. Coming at a time of subdued domestic private investments, and when the country is trying to emerge as an attractive destination for firms moving operations out of China and integrate itself to a greater extent in global supply chains, this fall raises questions. Are both domestic and foreign firms finding more attractive investment opportunities in jurisdictions other than India? Do other countries offer a more favourable risk-return ratio? This deserves closer attention.

A vicious loop 

As Tensions Between India and Pakistan escalated, attention moved to the ways in which multilateral agencies (such as the IMF) wanted to be economic saviours for a near rogue nation - this, despite warnings that good money might actually be chasing bad money in a vicious loop. With the World Bank reiterating that it will provide $20 billion over the next 10 years to Pakistan, followed by the IMF's largesse to Islamabad, these multilateral agencies need to introspect about the need and justification for such aid.

OF BETRAYAL AND YEARNING

"Being in a body, he craves for food; being in a body, he spreads the lie. Beware! Don't slight me for being in a body. Get into a body like me for once, and see for yourself, Ramanatha." These words of Devar Dasimayya, the 11th century weaver-saint, come to mind as I read the last lines from the English translation of Banu Mushtaq's anthology of short stories, Heart Lamp. "If you were to build the world again, to create males and females again, do not be like an inexperienced potter. Come to earth as a woman, Prabhu! Be a woman once, oh Lord!"

Good news in single digits 

The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey for 2022-23 and the 2023-24 reports by the National Statistics Office (NSO) enable us to arrive at estimates of poverty and inequality for recent years. Several researchers have drawn up estimates using the 2022-23 survey. Very few have, however, used the 2023-24 survey. We look at trends in head count ratio, the depth of poverty and trends in inequality from 2011-12 to 2023-24

Taking friends for granted 

For Decades, Israel has relied on the political cover of its closest allies, the United States, Britain, France, Canada, and Germany, during its periodic military operations in the Gaza Strip. These offensives were often described by Israeli military officials as "mowing the grass," a cynical phrase implying that occasional large-scale strikes are necessary to keep Hamas's strength in check. But as Gaza smoulders under one of the most destructive military campaigns in recent history, the moral and political foundations of international support to Israel are beginning to crack.

With a little help from nature. 

Mumbai Stands At a crucial crossroads, presented with a once-in-a-generation opportunity on its west coast to redefine its public spaces and build a resilient future. Traditionally, open areas in our densely populated city have meant parks, maidans, and promenades. But as we navigate the escalating challenges of climate change, we need a 21st-century public space - a coastal forest that could be rooted in our ecological past and address the climate realities of our future

Must register all projects, act on complaints, PM tells RERA heads

Asking state governments to ensure the mandatory registration of all eligible real estate projects under the Real Estate Regulatory Authorities Act, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked all Chief Secretaries to monthly monitor activities of RERAs in their respective states so that grievances of homebuyers are resolved on time, The Indian Express has learnt.

Centre forms 12 additional teams to review Jal Jeevan schemes

The Centre on Wednesday added 12 teams of Central Nodal Officers to the 100 already deployed for ground inspection of Jal Jeevan Mission schemes across the country.

Indian players double down on Na-ion chemistry as China tightens Li-ion stranglehold

A Super-Fast charging sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery that can charge up to 80 per cent in just six minutes and claims to last over 3,000 charge cycles, nearly comparable with the more ubiquitous lithium-ion batteries.

India Inc profit growth slows in 4th qtr amid uncertain economic environment

The Corporate sector witnessed a subdued performance in the quarter ended March 2025, with both profit and sales growth slowing down. The weak macroeconomic conditions and shifting geopolitical landscape, marked by trade uncertainties, have cast a shadow over the industrial horizon. An analysis of fourth-quarter results of 1,787 companies listed on stock exchanges, conducted by Bank of Baroda, showed that the profit after tax (PAT) of these companies grew by 9.2 per cent in Q4 FY25, compared to 12.6 percent in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. In absolute terms, their net profit stood at Rs 3.43 lakh crore, as against Rs 3.13 lakh crore attained in the quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Pause on US student visa interviews, lens on social media

The Donald Trump administration has asked US embassies around the world to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it expands scrutiny of applicants' social media posts.

WHY NIGERIA IS WITNESSING A RESURGENCE OF BOKO HARAM

A Resurgence of Boko Haram attacks is shaking Nigeria's northeast, as Islamic extremists have repeatedly overrun military outposts, mined roads with bombs and raided civilian communities since the start of the year. This has raised fears of a possible return to peak Boko Haram-era insecurity despite the military's claims of success.

Size of economy: India vs others.

Niti Aayog Ceo Bvr Subrahmanyam on Sunday said India had overtaken Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, citing data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"We are the fourth largest economy as I speak. We are a USD 4 trillion economy as I speak," PTI quoted Subrahmanyam as saying.

Subrahmanyam's statement triggered self-congratulatory elation among some, even as it provoked scepticism among others, some of whom claimed - also citing IMF data - that India is still the world's fifth-largest economy.