The Food Security Bill is seen as a quick fix to the problems of poverty in India. While there is no denial of a large mass of Indian people affected by hunger and malnutrition, there is a need to look into the provisions of the Bill and not just what it claims to do. Will it threaten the PDS? Will a few households be excluded from the new scheme? Newsclick discusses the defects in the Bill with Smita Gupta, Economist at the Institute of Human Development.

Newsclick discusses with Deepak Nayyar, eminent Economist, India's External Credit Balance Crisis. Nayyar says the situation is serious and we have the seeds of a macro-economic crisis in the external sector. The Current Account Deficit is at a level which is unsustainable. Financing it in the short term is no solution. He says unless there is a beginning to address the fundamentals in the external sector, the situation cannot be remedied. Talking about the export sector, Nayyar says, “ We have killed auto parts exports by entering into Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN and there are serious concerns on the FTA with the European Union.”

Yesterday, the UPA government raised the price of LPG cylinders by Rs 50, the price of diesel by Rs 3 and price of kerosene by Rs 2. This is the umpteenth time since the government of the 'aam admi' has increased the prices of essential commodities for the common people. This huge increase in the prices of essential commodities comes in the backdrop of a situation where the inflation rate of the country is very high.

The ongoing India EU FTA has far reaching consequences for the agricultural sector and its production for both the partners. To better understand the scenario, a brief overview of the background is necessary.

The ongoing India EU FTA has far reaching consequences for the agricultural sector and its production for both the partners. To better understand the scenario, a brief overview of the background is necessary.