Wheat procurement in the country reached 119.26 lakh tonnes (lt) until April 23, against 159.23 lt year-ago, official data show. Though there is a drop in Punjab, as much as 31.64 lt was bought in last six days from April 19 for the Central Pool stock, which indicates that the procurement is back on track. Procurement by the food Corporation of India (FCI) got affected by untimely rains earlier this month in Punjab resulting in higher grain moisture.

The secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Nidhi Khare during a series of interactions with representatives of pulses industry in the run up to operationalisation of online stock monitoring from April 15, 2024, emphasised that anyone found to be indulging in forward trade of pulses would be dealt with firmly as per various provisions of Essential Commodities Act.

The Centre is working systematically with farmers in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh for the first time to sow kharif pulses such as tur, urad and moong even before sowing for the season starts, with a promise to procure an unlimited quantity of their produce at the minimum support price (MSP).

India expects no major impact on its exports from the conflict between Israel and Iran, an Indian commerce ministry official said on Tuesday, adding that the government is monitoring the situation in the region and is in touch with exporters.

Batting for enhanced cooperation between India and the ASEAN countries, External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar on Tuesday highlighted that the two sides, through greater collaboration, can play a major role in the emerging regional architecture of the Indo-Pacific.