The government has started work on the rules and bylaws of the proposed Food Security Act, even as the Bill is being debated by a standing committee of Parliament.

The food ministry has appointed Hyderabad-based Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) as consultant for the finer points. ASCI will work with ministry officials and analyse the delivery mechanism of the department of food and public distribution, including Food Corporation of India and state governments.

Centre to set targets and give funds operational plan to come from states

The Planning Commission will give a big thrust on health through a much wider programme than the existing National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), in the 12th five-year Plan that begins from today. It would be a pan-India programme, meant to incentivise states to increase their annual spending on health.

The path drawn up by the government’s first-ever official agriculture survey in suggesting more private investment in farming is likely to find resonance in this year’s Budget.

Officials said apart from infrastructure and skill development, agriculture could be the next big focus area. In 2009-10, private sector investment in agriculture stood at Rs 1.09 lakh crore, constituting 82 per cent of the total investment in the farm sector.

Bt cotton has doubled the seed industry and boosted the fortunes of seed firms. But yields still need to improve

In the last 10 years, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton and its impact on farmers has perhaps been the most talked about topic in Indian agriculture since the ‘Green Revolution’ of the 1960s and 1970s. Not only has farmers’ income from growing Bt cotton risen by almost 67 per cent in the last one decade—the crop was first introduced in 2002—but Bt has made India a front-ranking,

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has proposed a Rs 150-200 crore nationwide project to develop genetically modified (Bt) cotton, with genes to provide multiple protection against virus, fungi, etc, beside being reusable.

This has gone to the ministry of agriculture for clearance. The idea is to involve a pan-India network of major agricultural institutes and universities like the Ludhiana-based Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana;

The government’s plan of ushering in a green revolution in eastern states doesn’t seem to have taken off in the country’s biggest paddy (de-husked) rice producing state of West Bengal. Till January 20, only 50 per cent of the total funds allocated for the state were released by the Centre.

Officials said a reason for the low funds was the lack of fresh proposals from the state.

‘Extra expense won’t exceed Rs 100,000 crore, will be spread over 5 years’.

Critics have slammed a bloated subsidy that has been proposed for the food security bill, but officials in the government strongly believe that the resultant additional burden will not be above Rs 27,000 crore to meet the commitments under the proposed legislation.

Once bitten, twice shy. Fearing repeat of a recent fiasco triggered by its move to permit FDI in retail, the union cabinet on Tuesday deferred a decision on what can be called the present government’s most ambitious social welfare scheme: the Food Security Bill. For, differences continue to persist within UPA-II over the content and subsidy implications of the proposed legislation.

120,000 new HIV infections were reported in 2009.

The 12th five-year plan will strive for a 60 per cent reduction in new Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections by 2017. The plan document will also incorporate recommendations of a Planning Commission working group constituted to suggest measures to strengthen AIDS control in the country.

Bill has provision for free meals, besides an allowance of Rs 6,000 to all pregnant women.

Ahead of assembly elections in seven states next year, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is planning a big push towards its social security agenda. For, its Cabinet note on Food Security Bill has incorporated a provision for free meals, besides a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 for six months to all pregnant women and lactating mothers across the country.