1.   

Pakistan Punjab CM meets Manmohan Singh, extends invite to visit Pakistan

Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Thursday and handed over an invitation from Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit Pakistan. Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of the Pakistan prime minister, was with Manmohan Singh for around 20 minutes in the morning. “He extended an invitation from Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit Pakistan and his village,” a source told IANS.

2.   

CCEA approves implementation of agri schemes in 12th Plan

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today approved implementation of various schemes related to agriculture, including continuation of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), in the 12th Plan with a combined outlay of over Rs 80,000 crore. The RKVY is a State plan scheme that provides 'considerable flexibility' and autonomy to states in planning and executing programmes for incentivising investment in agriculture and allied sectors.

3.   

Approval of Integrated Mission for Development of Horticulture during 12th Plan

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for implementation during the 12th Plan with an outlay of Rs. 16,840 crore, a centrally sponsored scheme. Out of this, State governments will be contributing a sum of Rs. 866 crore in the States where the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) sub-scheme is implemented.

4.   

India get attractive bids in wheat export tenders

Two Indian state-run traders received bids for wheat exports at prices above the government-set floor, trade sources said on Thursday, showing interest in purchases from the world's second-biggest wheat grower. PEC Ltd and MMTC Ltd offered to sell a total of 210,000 tonnes in their latest export tenders as part of a government plan to allow overseas sales of 2 million tonnes by end-March. PEC Ltd received the highest bid at $287 per tonne in a 35,000 tonne tender for shipment in January of supplies from the east coast.