Budget 2026 for agriculture: The opportunity to strengthen India’s crop protection backbone

The intent around the proposed Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 marks a significant move as it aims to align India’s regulatory framework with contemporary realities. (AI image) By Susheel KumarIndian agriculture stands at an important inflection point. On the one hand, the country speaks with confidence of becoming a global food powerhouse, a trusted supplier to…

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Union Budget 2026: Teachers, technology and the true cost of school education reform

Union Budget 2026 is being pitched around growth, skills and competitiveness, but school education still gets judged by access—more classrooms, more enrolment. Education leaders argue the real test now is outcomes. Shiv Nadar School CEO Arti Dawar says sustained investment in teacher development, modern pedagogy, industry exposure and equitable tech access is essential to turn…

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Economic Survey 2025-26 key highlights: GDP growth pegged at 7.4%, inflation at historic lows; banks and exports strengthen amid tariffs

India is set to remain the world’s fastest-growing major economy, with real GDP growth projected at 7.4% in FY26, even as the global environment remains fragile due to geopolitical tensions, trade fragmentation and financial vulnerabilities, the Economic Survey 2025–26 said on Wednesday.Tabled in Parliament by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the survey said India’s macroeconomic…

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Economic Survey 2026: Will India-US trade deal be sealed this year? What the document says

India’s ongoing trade talks with the United States may finally reach the finish line this year, the Economic Survey 2026 has suggested. The Economic Survey, presented in Parliament by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, said the development would help in bringing down uncertainty on the external front.“At the same time, ongoing trade negotiations with…

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