1.   

India to have third-largest GDP by 2030: Montek Ahluwalia

India will become the third-biggest economy in the world by 2030, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia said today. "By the year 2030, India will have the third-largest GDP in the world. China will be No. 1, the US will be No. 2 and India will be third," he said in a speech delivered at the convocation of the 125th course of the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla near here. "The challenge of defence forces is to defend and protect the interests of the nation that will have the third-largest GDP in 17 years.

2.   

Conference of Agriculture & Horticulture Ministers of North-Eastern States Inaugurated

Agriculture Minister Shri Sharad Pawar today called upon agriculture and horticulture ministers of the north eastern states to make the best use of the funds being allocated to these states under various schemes. Addressing the inaugural function of the Conference of Agriculture and Horticulture Ministers of North-Eastern States in Gangtok today, Shri Pawar said, the north eastern region holds tremendous potential on account of its fertile land, abundant water resources, dependable rainfall and vast biodiversity on the agricultural front.

3.   

India to take tough stand at WTO meet

With elections in mind, the Cabinet Committee on WTO-related matters, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has apparently given the mandate to Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma to take a tough stand on India's strategy at the coming ninth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC9) in Bali, Indonesia. Although it has decided to agree to an interim measure that will remove the limit on food subsidies, it will seek "binding commitments" from developed countries to continue with the adhoc agreement until a permanent solution is fully achieved.

4.   

World agricultural output continues to rise, despite predictions of decline

The year 2013 has been a great year for global agriculture. Record world production of rice and healthy production of wheat and corn produced strong harvests across the world. These gains were achieved despite continuing predictions that world agricultural output is headed for a decline.The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that world rice harvests for 2012/2013 were a record 469 million metric tons.