Don't believe rumours; enough stocks of grains, edible oil, sugar, pulses with Centre: Joshi
Also read: Operation Sindoor updates on May 9, 2025
He asked people not to believe in propaganda messages regarding food stocks in the country. 'We have ample food stocks, far exceeding required norms. Don't pay heed to such messages. Traders, wholesalers, retailers or business entities which engage in trading of essential commodities are directed to cooperate with law enforcement agencies. Any person indulging in hoarding or stockpiling shall be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act,' the Minister said.
The Food Ministry said in a statement that the current rice stock stands at 356.42 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) against a buffer norm of 135 LMT. 'Similarly, wheat stock is 383.32 LMT against a buffer norm of 276 LMT, thus demonstrating a strong surplus over the required buffer norms, ensuring nationwide food security,' the Ministry said, adding that the country currently holds approximately 17 LMT of edible oil stocks. 'Domestically, the availability of mustard oil is ample during the ongoing peak production season, further supplementing edible oil supply,' it added.
On sugar, the Ministry said the ongoing sugar season started with a carry-over stock of 79 LMT. 'Production is estimated at 262 LMT, after accounting for the diversion of 34 LMT for ethanol production. As of now, around 257 LMT of sugar has already been produced. Considering the domestic consumption of 280 LMT and exports of 10 LMT, the closing stock is expected to be around 50 LMT which is more than the consumption of two months. The production outlook for the 2025–26 sugar season is also promising due to favourable climatic conditions,' the Ministry said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — August 2, 2025
Misplaced remark U.S. President Donald Trump's remark, calling India a 'dead economy', is both inaccurate and disappointing, especially when leading global institutions continue to recognise India as among the fastest-growing major economies. That the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have all projected India's economic stability is a clear indication of economic vitality, not decline. With a young and dynamic population — in sharp contrast to aging demographics and slowing growth in many advanced economies, India's demographic strength, combined with prudent macroeconomic policies and digital advancement, positions it as a key driver of future global growth. Mr. Trump's comments appear to be politically charged rather than fact-based. Rukma Sharma, Jalandhar, Punjab What is odious is that Mr. Trump did not stop with just announcing tariffs. He has revived the U.S's old myopic game of trying to maintain a geo-political strategic balance in South Asia by supporting Pakistan, India's war-happy neighbour. One cannot but notice the fact that Mr Trump has been upping the ante against India ever since it successfully carried out post-Pahalgam retaliatory strikes against Pakistan's terror infrastructure. That India proved its military prowess with minimum collateral damage and the use of indigenous armaments has not gone down well with the Trump administration. Nalini Vijayaraghavan, Thiruvananthapuram The cartoon (Inside pages, 'On the draw' August 1), on Mr. Trump's decision, may be a correct portrayal. The U.S. President is publicity savvy and wants to take the credit when it comes to all major global events. He wants the Nobel Prize and has shamelessly expressed his desire. He is just another politician and not a statesman. Imposing shockingly high tariffs will hurt the business of the exporters to the United States of America, which will, in turn, affect the economies of many countries. Mr. Trump does not care one bit about the sufferings of others. He is whimsical, which is a bad trait for anyone in power. Here is an elected leader who is an example of how one should not be. V. Lakshmanan, Tirupur, Tamil Nadu One cannot help notice these contrasts — ISRO and NASA have successfully launched their NISAR satellite into orbit, which highlights the power of science and cooperation, but the U.S. President seems intent on giving pinpricks to India and the Indian government. One wonders how things will play out. Dhanaraj S., Bodinayakanur, Tamil Nadu The debate in Parliament The parliamentary debate on Operation Sindoor unfolded as expected, with few surprises. The ruling party remained determined to portray the operation as an unqualified success, while key questions raised by the Opposition were left unanswered. Vital issues deserving serious deliberation such as Mr. Trump's repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire, and the alarming security lapses in Pahalgam were largely ignored. From the outset, the ruling party's reluctance to engage in a substantive debate was unmistakable. Repeated references to events under the past dispensation did little more than deflect attention from the core concerns. One can only hope that future parliamentary discussions will rise above partisan posturing and offer genuine, meaningful exchanges. V. Nagarajan, Chennai Civic responsibility India-Bangladesh relations may be strained but there are areas of policy in that country which may be worth considering in India. I recently came across a video on YouTube, on an organisation called BD Clean ( It is a platform of 50,000 volunteers who work with the aim of ensuring a clean Bangladesh and bringing about a change in mentality in the disposal of garbage. The transformation in the country has been spectacular with heavily polluted areas undergoing remarkable transformations. It is an idea that is worth emulating in Indian cities and towns. V. Subramaniam, Chennai
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
'Balanced', 'forward-looking': Pakistan hails 19% tariffs under U.S. trade deal
Pakistan on Friday (August 1, 2025) announced that the U.S. has imposed a 19% tariff on its exports and termed the step as a "balanced and forward-looking" move that enhances the country's competitiveness in the American market. The new rate is down from the previous 29% tariff announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Welcoming the "successful conclusion" of the tariff-related discussions with the U.S., the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said, 'As per the outcome of these talks, a tariff of 19% will be applicable for Pakistani exports to the U.S. market.' The decision reflected a 'balanced and forward-looking approach by the U.S. authorities, keeping Pakistan competitive relative to other South and Southeast Asian countries', it said. The Ministry said the revised tariff level is expected to support Pakistan's export potential, especially in key sectors such as textiles, "which remain the backbone of the country's export economy'. Pakistan's exports to the U.S. rose by 11.06% to $5.552 billion from $4.999 billion in the first 11 months of the last fiscal. The Ministry said the current tariff presented a 'significant opportunity to expand Pakistan's footprint in the U.S. market'. 'It is now essential for Pakistani exporters and trade bodies to adopt an aggressive and focused marketing strategy to capitalise on this development,' it said. The statement also pointed out a substantial potential for growth in other sectors. 'The Government of Pakistan looks forward to further positive engagements and close cooperation with the United States in the areas of investment, artificial intelligence, crypto currency, mines and minerals, energy, and other emerging sectors," it said. The Ministry said Pakistan will continue to engage closely with Mr. Trump and the U.S. administration to promote the shared goals of economic development and mutual prosperity. The revised tariff for Pakistan came after the U.S. and Islamabad finalised a trade deal in Washington on Wednesday. In a social media post on Wednesday, the U.S. President said, 'We have just concluded a deal with the country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive oil reserves.' However, it was not immediately clear what massive oil reserves in Pakistan Mr. Trump was referring to. Meanwhile, Khurram Schehzad, Adviser to Pakistan's Finance Minister, in a social media post said, 'Pakistan is possibly the only country which the U.S. has offered its investments as well, besides a competitive trade deal.' The 'deal signals a strategic deepening of economic ties and shared growth', he said. Pakistan has long claimed to have large oil deposits along its coast, but no progress has been made to tap those deposits. It has been trying to lure in investments to tap into these reserves. The country currently imports oil from West Asia to meet its energy demands. Mr. Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that raised tariffs for over five dozen countries with Washington's negotiations for trade deals went down to the wire ahead of the August 1 deadline. The tariffs in the list range from 10% to 40%, with Japan being charged 15%, Laos and Myanmar (40% each), Sri Lanka (20%) and the United Kingdom (10%).
The Print
3 hours ago
- The Print
AKSI Aerospace bags Rs 85 cr order from global drone maker, plans USD 5 mn investment
At its 50,000 sq. ft. facility in Hyderabad, the company designs and produces essential drone subsystems, including autopilots, lithium batteries, battery management systems (BMS), navigation units and composite airframes. The company also announced an investment of USD 5 million (around Rs 44 crore) in the next two years to expand and upgrade its facility in Hyderabad. Mumbai, Aug 1 (PTI) AKSI Aerospace Group on Friday announced that it has bagged an order for the supply of drone subsystems worth Rs 85 crore from global drone manufacturer FIXAR. 'The facility has bagged an order of Rs 85 crore from global drone manufacturer, FIXAR,' AKSI Aerospace, which showcased its drone development capabilities at the 6th International Drone Expo in New Delhi, said in a statement. Pankaj Akula, Managing Director of AKSI Aerospace Group, said that the company expects a twofold increase in revenue from the facility to Rs 70 crore in the next fiscal from expected Rs 35 crore in the current fiscal year. Akula claimed that AKSI Aerospace received recognition for its role post Operation Sindoor, where its indigenously manufactured drone components were deployed by the Indian armed forces. PTI IAS BAL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
