According to the Survey, the reforms in agriculture that are being brought about through these laws have been sought by various expert committees for the last 20 years

The government banned the export of all varieties of onion except those cut, sliced, or broken in powder form, to increase the availability of the commodity in the domestic market and contain rising prices; Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, exuded confidence that India is on the path to economic recovery after a severe shock in the first quarter of this fiscal; The Central government is planning to spend Rs 65,560.98 crore under Prime Minister Atma Nirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana to identify gaps in health infrastructure and effectively face the challenges of COVID-19-like pandemics, epidemics, and disasters in future. Watch this and more news on News Blast.Also Read: Petrol, diesel witness price cut for second day straight; check latest fuel rates

According to Sivakumar, Group Head - ITC's Agri-Business and Information Technology, while the actual investment figures will be decided after the rules and guidelines evolve, the company has already commenced work in terms of putting the plans together

Farmers are finding newer ways, and means, to conduct transactions in times of lockdown

Last week, the ministry had reduced the stock holding limit for retailers to 5 tonnes from 10 tonnes while that on wholesalers to 25 tonnes from 50 tonnes

State-run trading firm MMTC has already floated a tender for buying 21,090 metric tonnes (MT) of onions from Turkey and Egypt and the shipments are expected to arrive mid-January

10% rise in female commuters in Delhi's public buses, Shashi Tharoor heads parliamentary panel to probe WhatsApp snooping issue and more news on News Blast. Watch the video

Delhi air pollution: AQI worsens to 'very poor' again; Chandni Chowk, Noida in 'severe' categoryThe air quality in Delhi worsened on Wednesday and dipped further on Thursday morning. At 9:30 am on Thursday, Delhi's AQI was recorded in the 'very poor' category, while some parts of the Delhi-NCR region witnessed thick smog worsening the air quality to 'severe' category. The overall AQI in Delhi was recorded at 340, which falls in the 'very poor' category. 10% rise in female commuters in Delhi's...

The government is also facilitating private imports and also relaxed phytosanitary and fumigation norms till December

Unemployment, liquidity crunch and scepticism around monsoons may have resulted in a consumption dip, but the appetite to consume very much exists.

The decision came amid reports about farmers selling freshly harvested onions at as low as Rs 1.50 a kg in Maharashtra, the top producer of the bulb in the country.

A farmer from Maharashtra has sent Rs 6 to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to mark his protest against crashing prices of onions

Chandrakant Bhikan Deshmukh, resident of Andarsul in Yeola tehsil, has sent a money order of Rs 216 to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Wholesale prices at the Asia's biggest onion market at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra have crashed to Rs 6 per kg on Friday compared to Rs 48.50 per kg in the year-ago period, official data showed.

\"The total onion was sold for Rs 1,523.2. Out of the earnings, the middlemen took away Rs 91.35 as commission, labour charges were Rs 59 and Rs 18.55, and Rs 33.30 was paid against miscellaneous charges. Rs 1,320 was paid to the truck driver, who transported the produce to APMC.\"

State-owned MMTC has floated a fresh tender for import of 2,000 tonnes of tur dal, to be delivered by next month, to further improve supply of pulses in the country.

AAP govt accused the Centre of being behind the onion sale probe but maintained that it was ready to face any investigation.